Author: On Common Ground News

This summer, Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) and Bread of Life Development (BOLD) Ministries are partnering to ensure Rockdale’s children receive healthy, and delicious meals throughout the summer for the fifth year. The summer program also is providing books for students to enjoy from the RCPS Summer Reading List.     The free program, which operates Monday through Friday, delivers bagged lunches and books via school bus to locations in several communities throughout Rockdale. The program serves students up to age 18. Meals must be eaten on the buses, which are air-conditioned. Students may select books to borrow and take…

By Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and June 15 has been labeled World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Elder abuse is an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to someone age 65 years of age or older. Forms of elder abuse include: physical, sexual, emotional or psychological, neglect, financial, and exploitation.  A May 7, 2018 news report by Paul Singer, Investigative Editor for WGBH News in Boston, MA, titled, New Data…

  Rockdale County’s Juvenile Court will receive approximately $2.6 million from federal, state and local grants to enhance substance abuse intervention services for Rockdale’s youths and families. Officials say the grants will help to improve Family Treatment Court outcomes including higher rates of participation, more effective substance use disorder treatment, family reunification, and less time for children in foster care. The grants awarded include: • The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration five-year grant award of $409,886 totaling $2,049,430. The funding will assist parents and their children enrolled in the Family Treatment Court…

The Office of Youth Services is sponsoring the Baby Box program, designed to work with parents to reduce the infant mortality rate in DeKalb. The next class is scheduled June 29, 10:30 a.m., at the Clarkston Library, 951 N. Indian Creek Dr., Clarkston. The deadline to register is Monday, June 25, 2018. The Baby Box program educates expecting and new parents about approved methods from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in preventing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sudden unexpected infant death and infant sleep awareness.  Participating parents will receive a Baby Box, temporary secure bedding designed to promote infant…

DeKalb County police are investigating a double shooting that left an innocent bystander dead and another person injured early this afternoon, DeKalb police spokesperson Shiera Campbell said. The shooting took place today (June 13) around 1:15 p.m. at a gas station near the intersection of North Hairston Road and Central Drive near Stone Mountain. Campbell said police, responding to a 911 call, found the body of a black male at the Quick Stop Food Mart in the 1100 block of North Hairston Road. The other victim was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, she said. “We don’t know what…

Homeowners for Better Government in Rockdale County will meet on Thursday, June 14, 7 p.m., at the Sheriff’s Office South Precinct on Georgia Highway 20. The agenda will include an open forum on concerns/issues that HOAs are having with city/county, announcements and a special guest speaker. For more information on Homeowners for Better Government in Rockdale, email E@HOFBG.net.

Joseph “Jack” H. Lumpkin DeKalb County Public Safety Joseph “Jack” H. Lumpkin will speak on Thursday, June 14, at a community meeting hosted by Pride Rings in Stone Mountain (PRISM). The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Timothy UMC, 5365 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain. Lumpkin, who assumed the position in late January, oversees police, fire rescue, animal control, emergency management, 911 and medical examiner services. Major Greg Padrick, DeKalb County Police Commander for the Tucker Precinct, also will speak at the meeting. PRISM, founded in 1995, is a non-profit, grassroots, all-volunteer organization which seeks to promote pride in the…

The DeKalb County Police Department South Precinct is hosting Summer Nights, a weekly night of games, sports and activities for DeKalb youth. Summer Nights will be held Friday evenings, June 8-Aug. 10, at  Exchange Park Recreation Center,  2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. Summer nights provides young people a safe place to interact with each other, encouraging their development, coping skills and education, as well as providing opportunities to interact with DeKalb County Police officers. Summer Nights is free to DeKalb County residents and open to youth ages 10 – 17 years old.

The Friends of Stone Mountain will hold a book sale this weekend. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16. The sale is organized by the Friends of the Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library. “Proceeds from the sale provide for adult and youth programs at our library branch,” said Friends president Mike Cooper. There will be a clearance sale on Monday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Stone-Mountain Sue Kellogg Library, which opened in 1965, is located at 952 Leon St. The library is scheduled to close later…

June 16 @ 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm Bring your bike and sense of adventure for a 6-mile, round-trip ride to the Lithonia Farmers Market for opening day. We’ll make a brief stop to hike the 1.5 mile Vaughters’ Farm Meadow Loop trail where you’ll learn about the cultural history and lands of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. Don’t forget to bring your shopping bags and cash for the market. For more information, call 770-484-3060. Details Date: June 16 Time: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm Venue Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Center 3787 Klondike Rd. Lithonia, GA 30038  Phone: 770-484-3060