Author: On Common Ground News

Vietnam veterans from DeKalb County and surrounding counties will have an opportunity to take part in a public recognition of their military service at a certificate and lapel pin presentation ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 6, 11 a.m. at the American Legion Harold Byrd Post 66, 30 Covington Road, Avondale Estates.  The state’s recognition of these veterans is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service created the Vietnam War Certificate of Honor program in partnership with the Office of Governor Nathan Deal in 2015. The honors ceremony is…

Santavious Jerome Hurley, 26, received a life sentence after pleading guilty to several charges including murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault.  DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston  said Hurley entered a guilty plea ahead of his scheduled trial next week.  The charges against Hurley stem from a series of incidents beginning on the night of April 11, 2017. According to the investigation, Hurley approached two men waiting for an Uber driver outside of a gas station in the 2500 block of Gresham Road shortly before10:30 p.m. The Hurley held the men at gunpoint and demanded the victims take off their…

Rockdale County Public Schools congratulates the top three finalists for RCPS 2018 Teacher of the Year: Rockdale County High School’s Amy Baxter, Gen. Ray Davis Middle School’s Carlos Hernandez, Rockdale Career Academy’s Liz McGowan. All three received surprise visits by Superintendent Dr. Terry Oatts, Rockdale County Board of Education members, RCPS cabinet members, and leaders for the announcement on Sept.13. Baxter, Hernandez, and McGowan are in the running to be named the district’s 2018 Teacher of the Year. They and all the school-level Teachers of the Year will be honored at the Teacher of the Ceremony on Oct. 16 at…

The Atlanta Art Institute’s Photographic Imaging Department is hosting a closing reception on Sept. 15 for RESCUE, an exhibition featuring their student photos of LifeLine Animal Project shelter pets.  The exhibit will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Institute’s Janet Day Gallery, 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road. The public is invited. All donated proceeds will benefit LifeLine Animal Project.  LifeLine Animal Project provides lifesaving solutions to end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals in county shelters. LifeLine manages DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services, where it has increased adoptions by 300 percent and operates a private rehabilitative shelter…

Rockdale County government officials plan to dive into two critical subjects facing the county at upcoming events scheduled in October and November.   The public is invited to attend a Community Housing Forum on Thursday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m., at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. The purpose of this event is to showcase the county’s commitment to exploring how everyone in Rockdale County can gain access to healthy lifestyle, high-quality and affordable housing. During the forum, several key members of the Rockdale County housing and real estate industry will be sharing presentations about what the county…

DeKalb County NAACP and Alliant Health Solutions are offering training on Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) on Saturday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 3203 Glenwood Road, Decatur.  Mental Health First Aid is the help offered to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.  The first aid is given until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves.   The interactive 8-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders including depression and anxiety and psychotic disorders.  It introduces participants to risk factors and warning…

By Ed Williams What do we do when the laws are not enforced?  I write this letter to all those who wonder why I filed a complaint against the DeKalb Board of Commissioners (BOC)  for their [vote] to increase their pay by 60 percent.  The simple fact of the matter is that the police complaint is not about the amount of the BOC [compensation], it is based on the fact that the DeKalb BOC did not have the authority to vote on their own compensation. In approving the compensation increase, the members of the BOC violated the Open Meeting law…

By Rockdale Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. A Power of Attorney (“POA”) is a document in which one person often referred to as the principal grants authority to another person known as the attorney-in-fact or agent to act on behalf of the principal. The POA can be limited in scope to a specific purpose which would only grant certain authority the attorney-in-fact, or it can be general to allow the attorney-in-fact to handle all of the principal’s affairs. On July 1, 2017, a new Uniform Power of Attorney Act (the “UPOAA”) was enacted pertaining to most Powers of Attorneys (“POAs”) created…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) will serve as the keynote speaker to mark Constitution Day and kick off a week of constitutional studies at Georgia State University (GSU). The Decatur Civic and Political Awareness Club, in conjunction with Partners in Education, will host Johnson on Sept.17 in the gymnasium at GSU’s Decatur Campus, 3251 Panthersville Rd. A meet-and-greet will be held at 9:30 a.m. The program will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Congressman Johnson will deliver the keynote speech and serve on a panel that will focus on: How can our federal immigration policy addresses liberty, equality and…

Gov. Nathan Deal has issued an emergency declaration for all 159 counties in Georgia in the wake of Hurricane Florence forecast by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS). “The state is mobilizing all available resources to ensure public safety ahead of Hurricane Florence,” said Deal. “In light of the storm’s forecasted southward track after making landfall, I encourage Georgians to be prepared for the inland effects of the storm as well as the ensuing storm surge in coastal areas. GEMA/HS continues to lead our preparedness efforts as we coordinate with federal, state and local officials to…