Author: On Common Ground News

Hands went up excitedly when State Rep. Doreen Carter asked if the class wanted to hear a story. Then the group of 4-year-olds at Voices of Faith Academy in Rockdale County were off on an adventure with Carter, who was accompanied by On Common Ground News editor Valerie Morgan. The pair read Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” the tale of the transformation of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Carter, who represents District 92, which includes DeKalb and Rockdale counties, said she was pleased to celebrate Georgia Pre-K Week with Voices of Faith Academy, where she was welcomed by…

Stonecrest leaders and community residents came together this morning to observe National Coffee With A Cop Day at the new Bojangle’s restaurant in the city of Stonecrest. The restaurant is owned by franchisee Lathan Hull, who also owns the Bojangle’s on Panola Road. In addition to Hull and his wife, Brenda, Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and City Council members Diane Adoma and Jimmy Clanton greeted the community at the event, celebrating police officers in the community. Representatives from Congressman Hank Johnson as well as DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson also attended. Mayor Lary told the crowd briefly that the…

DeKalb County School District Superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green will deliver a State of the District Address to more than 100 business and community leaders on Thursday, Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Stone Ridge Event Center, 1750 Stone Ridge Drive, Suite A, Stone Mountain. Green will discuss the school district’s E-SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) projects and progress, five-year accreditation, new marketing campaign and more. The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event. Admission is $45 for Chamber members and $55 for non-members. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/2017dcsdaddress.

It’s time to clean out those closets, cabinets, garages and attics. Pack up your household goods, toys, clothes, and other items and head to the community yard sale. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the government annex building parking lot, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The fee to set up your goods for sale is $10 per parking space for county residents or $15 for non-county residents (payable on the day of the sale). Set-up starts at 7 a.m.   Annual Halloween Fest Join the Johnson Park annual Halloween Fest. Families are…

Dijanelle Fowler, 25, was indicted on Tuesday for the murder of  her 13-month-old daughter, Skylar, whom she is accused of leaving unattended in a hot vehicle for six hours. The DeKalb County Grand Jury returned a three-count indictment against Fowler, charging her with murder in the second degree, cruelty to children in the second degree and concealing the death of a child. According to the investigation, Fowler left the child buckled in her car seat in the rear of her vehicle while she got her hair done at a Lavista Road hair salon in Tucker on the morning of June…

DeKalb County’s Third Annual Fall Harvest Festival promises a whimsical twist this year. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at UGA Extension DeKalb County, 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur. Sponsored by the “Fresh on DeK” DeKalb Mobile Farmers Market, the free festival will feature fruit smoothie demonstrations, health education and medical screenings and lots of fresh produce for sale. “It’s going to be a very festive event, so that everyone can get something from it,” said Lynwood Blackmon, DeKalb Extension director and Mobile Farmers Market manager. “The education is the most important…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blA_I18TQyo&nohtml5=1 Conyers police are looking for these suspects who broke into several vehicles at local hotels in Conyers and Covington on September 19. If you have any information you may contact Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta anonymously and will be eligible for a cash reward.www.crimestoppersatlanta.org 404 577-TIPS

DeKalb County civil rights leader John Evans is in DeKalb County Medical Center recovering from a mild stroke. Evans was admitted to the hospital last Thursday after he became ill while running an errand, his daughter said. Evans had driven himself to the grocery store when he suddenly became ill and paramedics were called.

The tech giant, Amazon, could have its very own city carved out of the new city of Stonecrest, if officials can get past several hurdles to entice the company to come to Stonecrest and the city can gain approval from the Georgia General Assembly. The idea for Amazon, Georgia is one that Mayor Jason Lary today urged the City Council to consider in thinking way outside of the box in luring Amazon, which plans to invest $5 billion in a second world headquarters that will create 50,000 high-paying jobs. Three of the City Council members—Jimmy Clanton, Rob Turner and George…

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) named Marian McDaniel, formerly the Assistant Fire Chief of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, as Rockdale County Fire-Rescue’s new Deputy Fire Chief. She began her duties today (Oct. 2). McDaniel brings nearly two decades of knowledge in public safety and emergency service to Rockdale County. Starting her career as a firefighter in 1998, McDaniel worked her way up the ranks serving the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department as a lieutenant, captain, section chief and recently retired as Assistant Fire Chief. She is involved in several Atlanta community organizations including the Atlanta Emergency Preparedness Institute, Atlanta…