Author: On Common Ground News
By Mackenzie N. Morgan Since re-opening into a full-time health clinic in October, Helping Hands in Rockdale County is succeeding at its mission in providing preventive healthcare services to save lives, its founders say. CEO Tolbert Morris recently presented Rockdale County Commissioner Doreen Williams with a basket donated by a 36-year-old woman, who was newly diagnosed with breast cancer. “She wanted to thank Commissioner Williams for sponsoring her mammogram. It was detected early, thanks to Commissioner Williams’ generosity in paying for the tests,” said Janice Morris, president of Helping Hands. The husband-and-wife team said the community in which…
The Greenhaven cityhood movement, a proposal for full-time mayor for Stonecrest and MARTA rail expansion were among the hot topics discussed at the House Delegation’s pre-legislative meeting on Dec. 5 at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in Decatur. Chairman Howard Mosby conducted the meeting with several of the state lawmakers pitching in to field questions and address issues. State legislators spent nearly three hours listening to the concerns of constituents, allowing everyone in the audience who wanted to speak to have a turn. Several spoke in support of a proposal to create the city of Greenhaven including Kathryn Rice,…
DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond will detail progress made toward fulfilling the sewer consent decree on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 Lavista Rd., Tucker, GA 30084. In December 2011, DeKalb County reached a Clean Water Act settlement in the form of a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The 8½-year consent decree calls for significant levels of sanitary sewer system inspection, assessment, rehabilitation and repair. To date, DeKalb’s progress toward fulfilling the consent decree includes cleaning 150 miles of sewer, removing more…
The transformation of Restoration Storehouse is taking shape. The agency that will oversee local nonprofit services under one roof in the former Rockdale County annex is getting a new sign. The Leadership Rockdale Class of 2018 has commissioned the creation of a sign that will be installed on Dec. 11,noon, to mark the location of Restoration Storehouse at 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The sign is one of three legacy projects the class has planned. Chris Conner and his team at Sign Solutions of east Atlanta are partnering with Leadership Rockdale on the project. “We are humbled by the…
The DeKalb County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for assistance in locating a suspect in connection with the Nov. 5 shooting death of Eric Fisher in the parking lot of the Motel 6 on Chamblee Tucker Road in Lawrenceville. According to a warrant issued on Nov. 6, 20-year-old Kaylon Janard “Hooty” Jiles of Tucker is charged with Felony Murder for shooting Eric Fisher multiple times, causing his death. Police investigating the incident said Jiles fled the scene in a black sedan. Jiles may be armed, in possession of drugs and he may be affiliated with a gang, authorities…
The Conyers Police Department along, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Safety are partnering with the Conyers Wal-Mart for the 10th Annual Shop with a Cop. Through the initiative, 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 children who may not have had a positive encounter with law enforcement until now. The partnership between the CPD and Wal-Mart makes sure that the children…
DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office will host the agency’s 10th Annual “Adopt-A-Family for Christmas” holiday event on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m., at the DeKalb County Jail on Memorial Drive in Decatur. The DeKalb County Jail’s Chaplaincy program coordinates the event with local social service agencies and faith-based organizations. Participants will include the DeKalb County Family & Children’s Services Kinship Program and Bethany House Foster Care, along with employee volunteers. Since the event began in 2007, sworn officers and civilian employees have collected and personally donated an estimated 100 bicycles and 150 dolls,…
Antioch East AME Church, 1790 Ebenezer Road, Conyers, invites the community to its inaugural Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m. The church’s mass choir will perform. Admission to the concert celebration is free.
MARTA will feature unique performances for the holidays at Five Points Station on Dec. 12 and 19. MARTA’s arts program, Artbound, is partnering with the Serenbe Institute to present performances by the Terminus Modern Ballet Theater and Serenbe Playhouse. The Serenbe Playhouse Apprentice Company will perform Playhouse Cabaret, a traveling variety show featuring holiday song and dance numbers, on Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 4:30 p.m. The performance is high energy and family friendly. Terminus Modern Ballet Theater, which includes five former Atlanta Ballet principal dancers, will perform excerpts of LORE, a folk-inspired story of family lineage…
Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is pleased to announce that Lithonia resident Jonathan Daniel, 16, is the winner of the 2017 Fourth District Congressional App Challenge. “Science and technology are transforming our world and I’m very proud of the students who participated in this year’s challenge,” said Johnson. “The app challenge allows us to showcase some of the Fourth Congressional District’s brightest young minds as they take on cutting-edge technology that is becoming an increasing part of all our lives.” Seventy-five students entered this year’s app challenge as individuals or in teams of up to four students per team. The judging…