Author: On Common Ground News

by Valerie J. Morgan DeKalb Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson is being challenged by long-time Attorney Genet Hopewell in the non-partisan election on May 22. Johnson is seeking her third term. She was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.   Hopewell is a partner at Johnson Hopewell Coleman, where DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson is also a partner in the law firm. She has sat as a judge in DeKalb’s recorder’s, magistrate and juvenile courts. The hotly contested race is one of several local races where DeKalb incumbents are facing challengers including: DeKalb District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson  DeKalb…

H. Maxine Daniels, retired director of Voter Registration & Elections in DeKalb County, and Cynthia Welch, supervisor of Rockdale County Board of Elections & Voter Registration, have been appointed to Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s 18-member SAFE Commission.  Kemp created the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections Commission (SAFE) to study options for Georgia’s next voting system. The SAFE Commission will conduct thorough discussions on all options – including the feasibility of using all hand-marked paper ballots to all electronic machines with a voter-verified paper trail – and travel the state to solicit feedback from stakeholders. Members will conduct cost analysis…

On Monday, April 30, the first day of early voting, candidate for governor and former House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams will kick off a bus tour throughout Georgia. She will be joined by Uzo Aduba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Aisha Hinds, Rashida Jones, and local leaders as they visit Atlanta, Albany, Macon, Fort Valley, Columbus and Atlanta. The bus tour stops in Macon, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 1501 Mercer University Dr.  Abrams and the group will be in Fort Valley, 10:15-11:15 a.m., at 1005 State University Drive. The bus will be in Albany from 12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Ray Charles…

DeKalb County will receive $3.6 million in mass transit improvements through a federal grant issued to MARTA. The award will enhance public transportation in the county and includes new buses that are environmentally friendly, officials announced.   The funding from the Federal Transit Administration will upgrade and replace 40-foot diesel-fueled buses with 60-foot Compressed Natural Gas buses. The new buses will be stationed in central DeKalb County at the Laredo Bus Depot in Scottdale. They will be used to enhance service on MARTA Route 121, which connects riders to the Avondale Station and the city of Stone Mountain. The bus…

On Common Ground News salutes Stone Mountain High School. Nineteen of its students have earned Associate Degrees in business management before completing high school. Stone Mountain High School partnered with Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) in a dual enrollment initiative, “Onward Academy.” The partnership between GPTC and the DeKalb County School District through the Office of Student Advancement.  Currently, four DeKalb County schools have students who are graduating from dual degree programs this school year: Stone Mountain High School, Clarkston, Cross Keyes, and Ronald E. McNair. The following students from Stone Mountain High will graduate from GPTC on May 19:…

Three members of the 9 Trey Bloods gang were convicted in a murder case involving two female victims, DeKalb County District Sherry Boston announced. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on April 26 against 24-year-old Demetre “Flame” Mason and 25 year-old  on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and weapons offenses in connection with the murders of Shaniqua Camacho, 20, and Sonia Williams, 21.  A third defendant, Michael “Slim” Jenkins, 24, was convicted of Aggravated Assault and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act for his role in the…

The DeKalb County 911 Communications Department is seeking qualified applicants to join its communications team. Interested candidates can apply for E911 Communication Officer I positions beginning Tuesday, May 1, 2018, closing Thursday, May 31. All applicants must complete and submit the online application listed in the “job opportunities” section on the county website: DeKalbcountyga.gov. All candidates must meet minimum requirements: • At least 18 years of age  • U.S. citizen  • High School diploma or GED Applicants must successfully pass a computer skills test (keyboarding, data entry, listening and prioritization), pass a background investigation and complete a physical examination. The…

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is hiring lifeguards for the 2018 swimming season. Applications are open through July. Pool lifeguard applicants must be 16 or older, have American Red Cross certification or certification from a nationally-recognized aquatics training program and successfully pass a criminal background check. To view available positions or complete an application, visit DeKalb County’s job search portal by visiting www.dekalbcountyga.gov, clicking on “How Do I?” and selecting “Apply for Jobs.” For more information, contact LaShanda Davis, public relations specialist, at 404-371-3643.

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host the Summer Food Service Program June 4 – July 27. This ongoing effort ensures that students have nutritious meals during the summer. Applications and full program site participation requirements can be found at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks under “Programs/Events” or picked up Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur, GA. Agencies interested in becoming a program site must apply by May 11 and should call Rose Myrick at 678-698-1114 with questions.   Current program sites for summer meals are listed below.   June…

Motorists can expect detours at the city of Conyers Hardin/O’Kelly Street Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) streetscape project continues.  The intersection of Oakland Avenue and O’Kelly Street will be closed beginning Monday, May 7, to construct a roundabout. The road closure and detours are tentatively scheduled for 90 days, weather permitting, through July 9. The Hardin/O’Kelly LCI project, endorsed by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), is designed to make the area more walkable and livable.  The project length is 0.77 miles, beginning at the intersection of Hardin Street and Dogwood Drive and ending at the intersection of O’Kelly Street and Green…