Author: On Common Ground News

Metro Atlanta’s population is booming. The metro added 75,800 new residents in the past year, increasing its population to 4,555,900 in the 10-county region. The numbers reflect the second-largest one-year increase since 2007-2008, trailing its 2016-2017 increase of 78,300, according to a new report released by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). DeKalb County added 10,600 people in the past year, its largest single-year growth in nearly two decades. The surge brings the county’s total population to 744,530. Fulton County, which took the No. 1 spot with an increase of 17,570 people now has a population of 1,020,370. Gwinnett County, which…

Angels come in all forms. For Dahjia Turner, a graduate of DeKalb County’s Towers High School, a nonprofit called Communities in Schools of Atlanta (CIS) was the godsend she needed to start her freshman year in college a few days ago. Turner had her bags packed and everything she needed for her dorm and new life at Tennessee State University in Nashville. But she didn’t have a way to get there because her family does not own a car. CIS Atlanta stepped in to help. In addition to driving Turner to the campus in Tennessee and helping her with dorm…

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has approved an $8.64 million settlement with the manufacturer that supplied 47,500 defective water meters that caused widespread billing problems in the county.  Commissioners approved the settlement with Sensus USA at its Aug. 21 meeting.    County officials say the iPerl water meters installed between 2011 and 2015 had a manufacturing defect.  Sensus USA and Kendall Supply Inc. have agreed to deliver and install 30,000 radio devices that transmit real-time customer water consumption data and reprogram 17,500 previously installed radio transmitters. The approximately $8.64 million in equipment, installation and reprogramming services breaks down as…

DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will host a Veterans Resource Expo Event on Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Central DeKalb Senior Center at Mason Mill Park at 1346 McConnell Drive, Decatur. Bradshaw is hosting the expo in collaboration with Atlanta VA HealthCare System, The Mission Continues, American Medical Response, and AMVETS Post 44. Veterans and their family members who live in and around DeKalb County are encouraged to attend. Onsite resources will include housing, VA benefits, caregiver, legal, VA burial benefits, employment and training, mental health, telehealth and women’s program. “I have heard the…

Inmates at the DeKalb County jail will have another opportunity to register to vote, thanks to the DeKalb branch of the NAACP.  Volunteers of the DeKalb NAACP are returning to the jail on Aug. 30 to distribute and collect forms for qualified inmates who want to vote by absentee ballot in the Nov. 6 General Election. Officials said 73 inmates became registered voters on June 28 with the assistance of the NAACP. “Individuals who are incarcerated and awaiting trial during election season should not have to be deprived of the right to cast a ballot,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey…

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed Clarkston Police Chief Christine Hudson to serve on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence (GCFV). Hudson was appointed to serve on the commission to fill the statutory required position for Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Hudson began her law enforcement career in 1983 with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. Hudson left the Sheriff’s Department and went to work as a patrol officer for the City of Decatur Police Department. During her tenure with the Decatur Police Department, Hudson was ultimately promoted to the rank of Police Major in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division.…

MARTA’s Artbound MOVES Program is again partnering with the Serenbe Institute to bring the Terminus Modern Ballet Theater to Five Points Station. MARTA kicked off the performances on Aug. 23 inside the faregates on the concourse level of MARTA’s biggest rail station. The next performance will be on Oct. 18, 4 to 6 p.m. Artbound MOVES and Serenbe are currently working on bringing a production of Peter Pan to Five Points Station in September. “The Artbound MOVES program is another way for us to provide unexpected moments of fun for our customers,” said MARTA Arts Administrator Katherine Dirga. “It’s also…

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) parents have an opportunity to earn their General Education Diploma (GED) through a free program. DCSD’s Family IMPACT Hub, headed by the Department of Parent & Family Engagement, is partnering with local higher education institutions to continue offering a free GED program in Fall 2018. The program will begin with an information session and class on Monday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  The session will take place at the Family IMPACT Hub, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard. Stone Mountain. Participants must be ages 23 or older and have a state-issued photo ID. Participants…

Uninsured women who haven’t had a mammogram in a year or more can get one at no cost, if they meet certain criteria. Eligible women must be 40 to 60 years old and meet income requirements. The YWCA of Greater Atlanta Health and Wellness program is offering the breast screenings along with partners Grady Cancer Center of Excellence and Emory St. Joseph’s Mobile Mammography. The free mammograms are made possible by a grant received from Susan G. Komen. To determine eligibility or to register for a free mammogram, call 404 835-1632.  For more information on this program and others visit…

AAA is sponsoring a trip to Europe for 60 eighth grade students who submit the best answers and a selfie for its “Discovery Crew” cruise.  Contest winners will receive free round-trip airfare to Amsterdam, travel insurance, money for passports, and a seven-night river cruise—including all meals and excursions—  through the Netherlands and Belgium. Students in Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin and select areas of Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota are eligible to enter for a chance to win the trip at AAA.com/DiscoveryCrew. The deadline to enter is Sept. 21, 2018.     “Many young students dream of taking…