Author: On Common Ground News

The last defendant of a group of 16 U.S. Postal Service letter carriers and clerks from the Atlanta area has been sentenced to federal prison for accepting bribes to deliver packages of cocaine–two kilograms or more at a time–in a undercover operation. The defendants received sentences of between three and nine years in prison for taking bribes as low as $250 to make deliveries. The oldest defendant sentenced was 64. According to U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak, in 2015, federal agents learned that drug traffickers had been bribing postal workers to intercept and specially deliver packages of drugs while…

The Rockdale Democratic Party has elected a new slate of officers who will take office on Jan. 1. The Party held the elections on Dec. 1. Cheryl Miles Board, who had been serving as interim chair, was elected as chair; John Penn was elected as 1st vice chair; Phyllis Hatcher was elected as 2nd vice chair; Lynn Anderson was elected treasurer and Stan Williams was elected secretary. The positions are two-year terms.

Stonecrest’s Office of Economic Development is hosting a film industry panel discussion on Monday, Dec. 10, 4 to 5:30 p.m., at Stonecrest City Hall. Panelists will discuss film industry topics including: Getting into the filming industry Listing your property as a movie set location Movies impact on local economy Past and current Stonecrest film projects Seats are limited for the event. To get your free ticket, visit: https://bit.ly/2PjnQEN Immediately following the panel discussion, there will be a “Mix & Mingle” with representatives from the film industry at the Pizza Bar located at 7301 Stonecrest Concourse, Stonecrest.  

Atlanta’s Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, founder of the Be Someone mentoring program for youths, was one of the “Points of Light” honorees selected to attend the Dec. 5 farewell ceremony for the award’s founder, President George H.W. Bush. Hudson said the organization designated Dec. 5 as his “Point of Light” Day. He became the 6,408 Point of Life honoree with the recognition and was pinned during a ceremony. The DeKalb County resident said he also will receive a certificate that was signed by President George H.W. Bush. President Bush died Nov. 30 in Houston at age 94. His wife of…

Atlanta Gas Light officials and DeKalb County leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 29 for the company’s new Atlanta Region Business Center. The 51,000-square-foot facility, located at 2105 Brannen Road in Atlanta, sits on 8.23 acres and consists of office and warehouse space, a fleet operation facility and a compressed natural gas station for Atlanta Gas Light service vehicles. Approximately 150 Atlanta Gas Light employees will relocate to the facility, which offers the company a centralized location to better meet customer needs in the metro Atlanta area and provides an opportunity for its workforce to leverage integrated technology to…

Rockdale County has created an Economic Development Taskforce committee to serve as a consistent line of communication between Rockdale County Government, the Rockdale County Development Authority and the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC). Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr, who appointed the eight-member task force, said the group will work cohesively to attract businesses to Rockdale. “We believe this serves as an additional tool for what Rockdale County Government needs to do in our community to keep businesses coming,” said Nesbitt. Mike Sullivan, Chairman of the Rockdale County Development Authority, commended the formation of the new task force…

MARTA passengers will be treated to some holiday performances by local groups.  The Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra will be featured in MARTA’s Holiday Program Series on Friday, Dec. 14, 5 to7 p.m. at the Five Points Station.

The DeKalb NAACP will celebrate its annual observance of Jubilee Day on Jan. 1, 2019 at 10 a.m., at  Rainbow Park Baptist Church, 2491 Columbia Drive, Decatur.  Jubilee Day commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863 and is considered African Americans’ Independence Day. The event is celebrated every year by NAACP branches throughout the country. The DeKalb branch of the NAACP’s 2019 program has an international theme: “Searching for Justice Worldwide!” “Prior to being emancipated from human bondage, many brave black men and women escaped to or immigrated to other countries looking…

Rockdale County government officials invite the public to the inaugural Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Event on Monday, Jan. 21, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Rockdale Career Academy Auditorium, 1064 Culpepper Drive SW, Conyers. Talented dancers from Jenae’s Dance Experience and Showtime Pros, as well as local talent from Rockdale County Public Schools will perform in a celebration that will highlight Dr. King’s legacy and his impact on civil rights, past and present, under the theme, “This is America”. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs is accepting new or gently-used coats for its first coat drive until Friday, Dec. 21. As the temperature starts to drop, the Department of Recreation Parks & Cultural Affairs is working to provide some comfort to those in need. Citizens are encouraged to drop off coat donations at one of county recreational facilities during normal operating hours: Fire Rescue Headquarters,1950 W. Exchange Place, 3rd floor, Tucker, GA 30084 Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038 Exchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034 …