Author: On Common Ground News

Amazon has opened “Amazon Storefronts,” a new store for customers to shop exclusively from U.S. small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon. With Storefronts, customers can shop a curated collection of over 1million products, and deals from nearly 20,000 U.S. small and medium-sized businesses, and learn more about profiled businesses through featured videos and stories.  Amazon launched the new store to offer customers an easy way to buy from small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states through the convenient and trusted Amazon experience, the tech giant said in a release. Amazon Storefronts features a variety of product categories including…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) served as the keynote speaker at Georgia State University’s (GSU) Constitution Day kick-off event at the college’s Perimeter campus in Decatur. Constitution Day, Sept. 17, marks the day 231 years ago when attendees at the Convention at Philadelphia signed the document that is the foundation of our United States government. GSU’s event focused on how America’s immigration policies can address liberty, equality and security. “When the Constitution was signed, it gave our country a foundation of justice, equality, and dignity. We’re here to celebrate that today. But it is up to us to bring those values…

Friends and supporters gathered on Saturday, Sept. 15, to remember 22-year-old Shali Tilson, who died during a nine-day stay at the Rockdale County Jail. Tilson was in jail on misdemeanor charges reportedly waiting for his family to come up with the money to post bond. According to an internal report by the Sheriff’s Office recently released last week to the media by Tilson’s attorney, Mawuli Davis, the mentally ill man was neglected. Jail logs were falsified to state that mandatory 15-minute checks on Tilson were made, Davis said. Tilson begged for help, pressing a call button that was inoperative, according…

   Photo Essay by Glenn L. Morgan Dozens of military veterans turned out for the Veterans Resource Expo, hosted on Saturday, Sept. 15, by DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw. The event, which included a free barbecue, was held at the Central DeKalb Senior Center at Mason Mill Park at 1346 McConnell Drive, Decatur.

By Valerie J. Morgan  Keith Parker has a straightforward philosophy about being a successful business leader. “No matter where I’ve worked, no matter what the entity, I’ve always focused on the same three things: employees first and foremost; customers, and then the financials. My approach has always been: If you take care of the employees and the customers, the financials will take care of themselves.”  Parker is now putting that philosophy to work as he approaches his one-year anniversary in October as president and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, Inc., the largest workforce development organization in the Southeast.  Previously,…

American Medical Response (AMR) teams in DeKalb County have begun mobilizing for deployment to assist with medical efforts as Hurricane Florence batters North Carolina and South Carolina. AMR and DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond announced that AMR has set up a command station in Stone Mountain to deploy emergency workers to provide ground ambulance, air ambulance, paratransit services, non-ambulance EMS personnel and other resources. Assistance is coming from around the country, officials said. The teams will be volunteering in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the military. “We anticipate the crews will be on a 7-14 day activation, but…

DeKalb pet owners and their dogs gathered for a day of fun in the sun at the first ever Doggie Splash Paw-looza on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Midway Park Pool in Decatur. The inaugural pool party for pooches, sponsored by DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs, celebrated the close of the summer season by allowing local pet owners to bring their dogs out for a dip in the pool. David Manuel, Interim Deputy Director at DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs as well as executive director of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, said…

By Valerie J. Morgan Stonecrest officials will consider how the city’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program will be managed when the council and mayor meet on Sept. 17 for the work session and council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting is critical. The city’s estimated $47.7 million SPLOST program has been in limbo for months, the center of a heated debate between council members and the mayor.  Mayor Jason Lary said at a Sept. 10 “Straight Talk With the Mayor” town hall meeting that he was ready to see the situation resolved.  Although…

MARTA has promoted Chief Wanda Y. Dunham from Assistant General Manager of Police and Emergency Management to Chief of System Safety, Security, and Emergency Management/Police Chief. Dunham made history in May 2006 with her appointment to Chief of Police/Assistant General Manager at MARTA, the country’s ninth largest transit agency. She is the first African-American and woman to hold this position.  “I have had the privilege of serving the customers of MARTA for the last 30 years. I am honored to take on this new role and continue providing a safe riding experience for our valued MARTA patrons,” said Chief…

MARTA and MillerCoors will provide free rides to Falcons fans on Sunday, Sept. 16 (vs. Carolina) and Sunday, Sept. 23 (vs. New Orleans). Miller Lite representatives will hand out free Breeze cards both days between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Indian Creek, College Park, H.E. Holmes, and Lindbergh rail stations. “The safety of MARTA customers is always our top priority,” said MARTA General Manager & CEO Jeffrey Parker. “By providing Breeze cards for Falcons games, Miller Lite is helping us ensure fans will have a great time and a safe ride on our transit system.” Miller Lite has…