Author: On Common Ground News

One DeKalb County School District (DCSD) senior has taken her love for science nationwide, earning $25,000 from one of the most prestigious science and math competitions in the United States. Lakeside High School senior Zoe Weiss was named a top 40 finalist in the annual Regeneron Science Talent Search. As a finalist—the first from Georgia since 2014 in the competition—Weiss will receive $25,000. Weiss was recognized for creating an algorithm to detect rare cell types from single-cell gene-expression data, which can help detect early disease diagnosis. In all cases that were examined, her algorithm was able to detect rare…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) invites all students, teachers and parents to a day filled with strategy, tactics and deep thinking at Stone Mountain Middle School, 4301 Sarr Parkway in Tucker. The school will host the seventh annual DCSD Chess Club Fair on Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. until noon. The event will feature chess gameplay, door prizes, recognition, refreshments and special guest speakers. One special guest will be local nonprofit founder and public speaker Orrin Hudson. In 2001, Hudson founded Be Someone, an organization that uses chess to promote self-esteem, responsibility, and critical thinking among children in…

Rockdale Constitutional Corner By Ruth A. Wilson Clerk of Courts We, in the Clerk of Courts Office, take great pride in offering high quality customer service each and every day. That requires us to be good listeners, to keep a good sense of humor and a positive outlook. Some days are harder than others, but we always smile and offer to help no matter what the issue is: Need to find a Notorious Republican so I can have some papers witnessed Where do I file this Affidavid? Is that down there where you file your Plack? Is…

Six Rockdale County Public Schools seniors and a local humanitarian were honored for their community service accomplishments in Rockdale County at the 9thannual John K. Morgan Scholarship Reception hosted by the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families (RCCF) on March 21 at the Rockdale Career Academy. The recipient of the $4,000 John K. Morgan Scholarship was Faith Shamley, a senior at Heritage High School. Heritage High School senior Jazmyn Flakes was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Rockdale County and the remaining finalists were recipients of $500 scholarships. The 2019 F. William Hughey Community Service Award was…

State Court Judge Kiesha R. Storey will host the Spring Traffic Violators Impact Program (TVIP) presentation on Thursday, April 11, 5:30-7 p.m., in Courtroom A of the DeKalb County State Court Traffic Division, 3630 Camp Circle, Decatur. Judge Storey hosts quarterly TVIP presentations to raise awareness of the dangers of risky driving behaviors for young drivers facing traffic citations. Teen and young adult drivers charged with offenses including, but not limited to, high speeding tickets, texting while driving, or causing an accident by violating the rules of the road, will gather to hear and watch stories of…

MG 34 Jalen Buckner Coach Eric Hoxie’s Arabia Mountain Rams remained in the thick of the hunt for another regular season Region 5-AAAAA crown, rolling past Miller Grove (13-3) March 25 and Miller Grove (16-4) again on March 27 in moving to 7-1 in the league and 9-3 overall. Junior Desmore Joseph (2-3; 2 RS; 1 2B) and senior Micah Sanders (2-3; 2 RBI; 1 RS) paced the Arabia Mountain offense in a 13-3 triumph over Miller Grove March 25. Freshman Devin Tavington earned the mound victory for the Rams, striking out five and walking two over three…

DeKalb School Superintendent R. Stephen Green will discuss the “State of Education in DeKalb County” and present scholarships to the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 recipients. The luncheon meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at This Is It! Banquet Hall, 2853 Panola Road, Stonecrest. The luncheon is open to business professionals and the public at large. Advance registration is $20 or $25 at the door. Chamber members are admitted free with advance registration. Visit us at https://www.greaterlithoniachamber.com

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson will hold ribbon cutting ceremonies for two new tag renewal kiosks opening in Kroger grocery stores. Ceremonies will be held on April 9, 11 a.m., at 4498 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody, and at 2 p.m., 4919 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. The new location store hours are Sunday through Saturday, 6 a.m. until 1am. The new Kroger kiosks will bring the total number to five located in DeKalb. The other three stores are as follows:            2875 N. Decatur Road                      Decatur                                  24 hours 3559 Chamblee Tucker Road Atlanta                      24 hours 6678…

Congressman Johnson Highlights Impact of Free Tax Preparation, Importance of Tax Time Savings DECATUR—On April 6, (GA-04) teamed up with the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) to inform residents about the Internal Revenue Service’s and state funded free tax preparation options available this tax season such as the Free File, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and AARP Tax-Aide programs. The event was held at Hillcrest Church of Christ in Decatur. Congressman Johnson has participated in Free File awareness events throughout Georgia’s 4th district for the past several years. “The Free File and VITA programs are…

    Stacey Abrams discusses standing in the face of adversity Democrat Stacey Abrams, who has risen to national prominence as the first African-American female gubernatorial candidate since her bid for Georgia governor in November 2018, hinted that she might seek a higher office in 2020 during a recent visit at Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain. “I stood for election thinking that my opportunity was to become governor and instead, I’m now having to argue about whether I want to be Vice President of the U.S.,” Abrams said during the church’s March 31 celebration honoring her and a group…