Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County officials are working on an initiative that would include a mobile crisis unit that responds with police on calls concerning the mentally ill, substance abuse, suicides and domestic violence. The initiative is one that former retired Lt. Col. Amos King, who heads Justice for Veterans, applauded DeKalb County’s CEO Michael Thurmond for after a meeting on Nov. 16 with the CEO, DeKalb Police Chief James Conroy and Deputy Chief Sonya Porter. “We had a good meeting. I’m glad we had the opportunity to sit down and talk,” said King, who had spent weeks pressing for a meeting to…

Bar and nightclub owners and their supporters will have a chance to have their voices heard at an upcoming public hearing. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners (BOC) unanimously voted Nov. 14 to defer action on a proposal to make the last call for alcohol sales at 2 a.m. The deferral will allow for a public hearing on Dec. 5 before commissioners consider the proposal again. The county also placed a moratorium on issuing any 2018 alcohol licenses for on-premises consumption until that vote takes place. Dozens of people wearing red turned out to speak against the proposal, saying…

A crowd celebrated the grand opening of Stonecrest’s new City Hall. Mayor Jason Lary, his wife Debra, and the five-member City Council held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 11 to mark the historic milestone for the newly-formed city of 50,000 residents. Congressman Hank Johnson and his wife, DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, were among several dignitaries and officials who spoke before the ceremony. The half-day of festivities included a performance by the Arabia Mountain High School Band and entertainment by R&B band, Gritz and Jelly, as well as tours of the 13,000-square-foot City Hall office space. Attendees…

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners has received a $22,680,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors. The loan will finance the construction of a new 3 million gallon-per-day water pollution control plant. The project will address the county’s aging infrastructure by decommissioning three water pollution control plants. The county will pay 1.89 percent interest on the 20-year loan. GEFA Executive Director Kevin Clark said the federal water and sewer programs administered by GEFA assist local governments with improving their environmental infrastructure. “I’d like to express appreciation to Gov.…

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson will perform a ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 7, 10 a.m., for a new tag renewal kiosk inside the Kroger store, 6678 Covington Highway, Decatur. The Department of Motor Vehicle kiosks are available to customers during normal store hours Sunday through Saturday. Johnson first introduced this convenience to DeKalb taxpayers in concert with Kroger, and the Georgia Department of Revenue and Intellectual Technology, Inc. in April 2016. Customers can scan their Georgia driver’s license, or enter registration information, then follow the easy-to-use touch screen prompts to renew up to 10 vehicle registrations in as…

In observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 23, sanitation collection service for residential customers will be based on a revised collection schedule as follows: Monday, Nov. 20 – Normal collection day. Tuesday, Nov. 21 – Normal collection day. Wednesday, Nov. 22 – Normal collection day. Thursday, Nov. 23 – Thanksgiving Day observed; no collection service. Friday, Nov. 24 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Thursday, Nov. 23, will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 24.

By Stacey Thibodeaux The Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce recently held its final Coffee Connections of 2017 at Hanson Aggregates Lithonia Quarry, which offered business owners and stakeholders a bus tour of the world-class operations. Hanson Aggregates supplied the rock for the concrete used to construct the new Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. Chris Edwards, office manager for the quarry, led the tour through the many layers—350 down to the bottom of Pine Mountain—where rock is excavated for various projects around the world. During the tour, Edwards discussed the quarry’s history, including the fact that the quarry at…

DeKalb Medical and Emory Healthcare have signed a Letter of Intent to develop a strategic partnership between the two institutions. The Letter of Intent signals the beginning of the process to formulate a definitive agreement to bring the two health systems together under the Emory Healthcare system. The partnership would allow for continued growth and expansion of services to even better serve the community. The two institutions anticipate finalizing the partnership in 2018, after receiving final approval from regulatory agencies. “Both Emory and DeKalb Medical have a strong and historical commitment to providing exceptional care to the community,” said…

The Conyers Downtown Development Authority (DDA) presented its third annual Outstanding Achievement Award to John Shelley for his efforts in preserving and beautifying the Magnolias Assisted and Memory Care facility located in Olde Town Conyers. The building, originally a residence built by the Tucker family in 1900, opened as a personal care home in 1983 and was acquired by Shelley in 1998. The facility is a licensed 24-room assisted living and memory care service in a former Victorian home. Shelley made façade improvements to the facility this year, as well as interior improvements such as installing new showers and…

Acclaimed author, scholar and journalist Valerie Boyd is the newest member of the DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved Boyd’s appointment as a Library Trustee at its November meeting. Boyd is the author of Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, considered the definitive biography of Hurston. The book was a winner of the Southern Book Award and was recognized as a Notable Book by the American Library Association. Currently, Ms. Boyd is editing Gathering Blossoms Under Fire: the Journals of Alice Walker, scheduled for publication in 2018. The collection…