Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County School District has changed its plans as to how students will  make up four days of classroom time lost as a result  of Tropical Storm. The school district  has announced it will initially recover two days by extending the school day 20 minutes from  Monday, Oct. 2, to Tuesday, Oct. 31. Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 7) also will become an instructional day. The district had originally said the makeup time would run through Dec. 20. Now Superintendent R. Stephen Green is asking for ideas about how to make up the remaining two days. “The district is now considering…

CONYERS—As a pharmacist, Vince Evans knows first hand the dangers associated with opioids. “This is both a major burden for law enforcement and our community as a whole” Evans stated in a news release. According to the Center For Disease Control, 91 Americans are dying everyday due to an overdose. Evans said it is not a problem for one specific aged group, but across all groups. The epidemic has been acknowledged by gubernatorial candidate Casey Cagle on the state level and on the local level by Benny Adkins of National EMS at a recent Rockdale Board of Commissioners meeting when he…

ATLANTA—MARTA and Uber are providing 50 percent discounts to the new Mercedes-Benz (MBS) stadium for the Falcons games and special events. The discount is valid two hours before and six hours after the games in select areas of Atlanta. Customers can buy MARTA Breeze cards at the Five Points and airport ride stores, Breeze card vending machines in all stations or online at www.breezecard.com. DATES FOR DISCOUNTS: Sunday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct 15, 11…

When the President referred to NFL players who are demonstrating as “sons of bitches,” he stirred up another debate. About race. You can weigh in, too. Tell us what you think. I’ll take a knee with Kaepernick before I ever stand with Trump By Jared Sawyer If you think racism does not exist, just post something on social media about players kneeling down during the national anthem and everyone will show their true colors. The singing of the national anthem and the flyover of jets used to be the most striking moments before a…

The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) has unanimously voted to revoke the certification of DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann. The council’s vote could lead to his removal from office. Mann has 30 days to appeal the decision. Mann was arrested on May 6 for public indecency after allegedly exposing himself in Piedmont Park in Atlanta and then running from a police officer during the incident. Mann made a plea deal in July and was banned from Atlanta parks for six months and was fined $2,000. Mann now will have 30 days to appeal the decision. Efforts to reach…

Rockdale County Schools Superintendent Richard Autry has announced his retirement three days after he was arrested for driving drunk. Autry, 53, was arrested on Sept. 24 in McDonough and charged with DUI and following too closely. McDonough Police said Autry had a blood alcohol level of .195. That level is more than twice the legal limit. Police found Autry after responding to an accident in the area of Georgia Highway 155 South and Henry Parkway, according to media reports. At the scene, Autry told police he wasn’t injured but police noticed he was impaired and leaning on a gas pump…

DeKalb County and the city of Atlanta have worked through arbitration and the city is now moving forward to expand its borders. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement on Sept. 26 that allows the City of Atlanta to annex 744 acres including Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Power Co., Villa International, Synod of South Atlantic & Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Centers for Disease Control. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said the agreement addresses several concerns including traffic, development, infrastructure and outlines the responsibilities of both, the city and the county. The issues, county officials said,…

Diandra Abernathy, 41, was sentenced to 20 years to serve three with the balance on probation after pleading guilty to stealing more than $50,000 from an elderly Stone Mountain woman who was in her care. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said Abernathy was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $55, 407.619, and as part of the terms of her sentence, Abernathy is prohibited from working with the elderly. In 2014, the family of Sue Walker, who is now 90 years, hired Abernathy to assist her with medication, transportation, finances, and light housekeeping in the Stone Mountain…

Maxine Daniels was honored by staff members, family, friends and Pastor Kerwin B. Lee of Berean Christian Church at a farewell celebration, which was held on Sept. 22 at the Maloof Auditorium in downtown Decatur. Staffers and others showered Daniels with gifts and told her how much she would be missed. Maxine Daniels is retiring from her position as DeKalb County’s Director of Voter Registrations and Elections. Daniels, who served 16 years, was honored for her work at the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Sept. 26. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond and the board proclaimed Sept. 29—Daniels’ last day…

Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Chi Tau Omega Chapter, in partnership with NewRock Legal Society and other organizations, held a voter registration drive in Rockdale and Newton counties on National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 26. This year marked the fourth or fifth year the Rockdale and Newton volunteers have mobilized for the national event, said Debbie Hillman, who helped coordinate the effort. Although the groups held a daylong drive at the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office South Precinct, volunteers also visited schools and inmates, Hillman said. “We registered 26 high school students and 58 inmates,” said Hillman. Sundiata Washington, a Rockdale Magnet School senior…