Author: On Common Ground News

by Mark Brock, DCSD Athletics Department A nice day for field events and track preliminaries on Saturday finished with defending champions Miller Grove Lady Wolverines and Lakeside Vikings holding leads heading into the track finals set for today, March 27, at Godfrey Stadium. The finals were moved from Monday to today due to the high winds and cool weather. The girls’ 4×100 meter relay gets things started at 4 p.m. Miller Grove is the defending girls’ champ and has jumped out to an early 50-29 lead over Cedar Grove with two wins and second in the field events and a victory…

All parents, students, teachers, staff and community stakeholders are invited to receive an update on the progress of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) from Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green at the annual State of the Schools Address on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a reception at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. This event also will be streamed live via Facebook at www.facebook.com/DeKalbCountySchoolDistrict. The event, hosted by Parent Councils United, gives community members a chance to receive a mid-year update on DeKalb County schools and provides an opportunity to…

At a special called meeting on March 21, the Stonecrest City Council approved an amendment to the city’s 2018 budget to fund seven new positions and four vehicles for the city’s operation. The special called meeting was held after council members deferred a decision on the budget adjustment at the regular City Council meeting on March 19. The council had several questions about the proposed adjustments to the contract for CH2M, the firm hired to oversee the management of the city. City Manager Michael Harris addressed those concerns and the council approved the budget 5-1. Councilmember Diane Adoma acknowledged receiving…

Hundreds of supporters flocked to the DeKalb County Police Department’s South Precinct in Decatur to help raise funds for a DeKalb County officer who lost his home to a fire on March 1. Officer Marty Williams, who has been with the DeKalb Police Department for eight years, said the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. The community came out on March 16 to support a fundraiser for Williams and his six children. “The turnout was bigger than I ever could have dreamed of. Not only did people show up to give monetary donations, clothes and toys but they wanted…

One hundred Lithonia High School athletes took a break from the action to give back to elementary school students with the gift of literacy. The high school students visited Stoneview Elementary School on March 22 and were paired with the younger children, to whom they read a book written by New England Patriots wide receiver Malcom Mitchell. During a visit he made recently to Lithonia High, Mitchell challenged 100 athletes to share the magic of reading with the elementary students. Mitchell talked about the importance of reading. He also told the story of how he struggled to read while a…

DeKalb County officials are urging the public to be aware of wildlife and pets exhibiting unusual behavior. On March 19, a raccoon was captured in the 1600 block of Drayton Woods Drive and later tested positive for rabies. Rabies is a disease that affects the brain. It’s usually passed from animal to animal but can be passed from animals to people. The virus is spread through saliva, usually from a bite of an animal that has the disease. Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal should seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, residents are advised to watch…

To accommodate overwhelming demand, the SPLOST business update scheduled before DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s State of the County address will now take place at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 28, in the Laurel Amphitheater at Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort, 4021 Lakeview Drive, Stone Mountain Park. The free interactive discussion between business leaders and county experts was previously scheduled for 10 a.m. The address and business luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and hosted by the Council for Quality Growth and DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $65 for Chamber members and $85 for non-members. Registration is required.…

DeKalb County, in partnership with DeKalb Municipal Association, Atlanta Regional Commission and MARTA, will host two public meetings to discuss a proposed transit study. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a high-level overview of the study, hear from transportation experts and learn from county and city residents regarding their vision for transportation in DeKalb County. The meetings will be held: Monday, March 26, 6:30 – 8 p.m., at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Road, Lithonia Wednesday, March 28, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Brookhaven City Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road NE, Brookhaven For more information, contact T.J. Sigler,…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said county officials have finished reviewing the final batch of “held” water bills, returning most of the 37,000 held bills to a normal billing cycle. Only 253 bills are now in the dispute process, Thurmond said. “Resolving the problems associated with the water billing crisis is a major step toward restoring public trust and rebuilding confidence in our billing process,” said Thurmond. “Less than one percent of customers who had bills held remain in dispute with the county. That is significant progress.” Last year, Thurmond initiated the New Day Project to resolve the county’s longstanding…

After two years of discussions, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and DeKalb County government completed the process to exchange properties at three locations, paving the way for the construction of a new elementary school and parks. “We are pleased to work out a deal that’s beneficial to all residents of DeKalb County,” said Superintendent R. Stephen Green. “The school district receives land upon which it can build a first-class campus for students, and the citizens receive new park land. Cooperation and collaboration will always lead to great results, and this exchange is proof of that.” The organizations concluded the…