Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry will host the 8thAnnual Adoption Day in DeKalb on Friday, Nov. 16,as part of National Adoption Month. A celebration lunch for the families will be served before the ceremony finalizing their adoptions will take place in the Judicial Tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Courtrooms 5C and 5D beginning at 1 p.m. November is recognized as National Adoption Month. The purpose of National Adoption Month is to focus attention on children in the Child Welfare system that are in foster care and freed, waiting to be adopted. National Adoption Day is…

The Vietnam Certificate of Honor ceremony, scheduled for  Nov. 3 at the Rockdale County High School Auditorium, 1174 Bulldog Circle, Conyers, has been postponed to the Spring of 2019. For more information on the ceremonies, contact the Georgia Department of Veterans Services Commemoration Office at certificates@vs.state.ga.us or 404-656-5933.

The World of Coca-Cola grants complimentary admission to all military members (active duty, reserves and retirees) year-round, but to show gratitude on Veterans Day to the men and women who serve the U.S., the attraction is extending a special offer to their loved ones as well. From Nov. 1-11, members of the Armed Forces may purchase up to four half-price general admission tickets for their friends and family to join them in visiting the attraction in downtown Atlanta. Tickets may be purchased with a valid Armed Forces ID card at the attraction’s ticketing windows. Veterans Day Parade The 37th Annual Georgia…

The Georgia Board of Human Services has approved a rule change providing for the development and posting of signs indicating a medical facility or other authorized location is a designated “safe place” for a mother to leave her unwanted newborn. The rule takes effect Nov. 1. The signage is related to Georgia’s Safe Place for Newborns law, which allows a mother to leave her newborn (within 30 days of birth) at a medical facility, fire station or police station in the state. The law specifying the requirements for creating and placing the signage was signed by Gov. Nathan Deal as…

The City of Atlanta and Atlanta Housing have announced a new partnership to develop 550 permanent housing units to help the city’s chronically homeless population.  The HUD-funded initiative, HomeFirst, is a collaboration that also involves Invest Atlanta, the United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness, and Partners for HOME, a public–private entity commissioned by the City to proactively manage the continuum of care for Atlanta’s homeless population. “The fight to end homelessness cannot be won by any one organization or entity. We are committed to building sustainable public-private partnerships that can impact the lives of Atlantans across all sectors” said Mayor…

When people hear the word Sheriff, who do you think they immediately visualize?  The Sheriff of Nottingham from the days of Robin Hood?  Sheriff Pat Garrett, who served in Lincoln County, who killed Billy the Kid?  The fictional Sheriff Andy Griffith of Mayberry, the model of community policing before the term was invented?  As a citizen of Rockdale County, you should know what a Sheriff is, what makes the Office of the Sheriff unique in law enforcement, why it should be called the Sheriff’s Office and not a Sheriff’s Department, and why it is important to preserve its direct accountability…

Springfield Baptist Church in partnership with the Newrock Legal Society will host a Veterans’ Resource Forum for all veterans, spouses and families of veterans from the metro Atlanta area. The resource forum will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m. to noon, at Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris Drive SE, Conyers. Resources will include understanding your veteran benefits, disability benefits, career resources, education, health care and legal resources. For more information, call 770-929-1111.

The Conyers Police Department is seeking cash, checks and Wal-mart gift cards to support its 11th Annual Shop With A Cop to buy Christmas presents for needy children in Rockdale County. The Conyers Police Department (CPD) works with the Conyers Wal-Mart, along with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Safety work on the annual project. Law enforcement personnel accompany children from families experiencing financial hardships to the Conyers Wal-Mart to shop for Christmas gifts. “The Conyers Wal-Mart has been an excellent community partner to assist the Conyers Police in spearheading this effort. Officers interact with…

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners invites citizens to its Holiday Drop-In on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. The informal drop-in event is planned to bring in holiday cheer to wrap up 2018 and provide the public with an opportunity to meet elected officials, county leaders and staff. During the free drop-in, the public can enjoy an evening of fellowship, refreshments and beverages and holiday music. The public is also strongly encouraged to bring their cell phones so they can take selfies with Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr.

Talk show host and global media celebrity Oprah Winfrey came to Georgia to rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. . Winfrey fired up a packed crowd at DeKalb County’s Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur, telling them she wanted to be part of Abrams’ historic bid for governor of Georgia. Click to watch the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKc7bEtyecs&t=568s