Author: On Common Ground News

Qualifying for the 2018 elections began on Monday, March 5 and ends on Friday, March 9 at noon. Here is a look at how some of the key local races are shaping up so far:   DeKalb County Board of Commissioners District 2, Jeff Rader, Incumbent District 3, Felton Wright District 7, Gregory Adams, Incumbent State Court Judges Johnny Panos (I) Alvin T. Wong (I) Board of Education, District 2 Marshall Orson (I) Board of Education, District 4 Allyson Gevertz Board of Education, District 6 Dijon “Twin” Dacasta Soil & Water Commission Carol Hayes …

Chief Judge David B. Irwin has qualified to run for re-election as a Superior Court Judge for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit. Judge Irwin was first elected in 1998 and has served as a Superior Court Judge since Jan. 1, 1999. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Irwin was a trial lawyer for 17 years, a former Public Defender for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit and he served as a Member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Judge Irwin is married to Lisa Irwin, a retired Rockdale County public school teacher. They have two adult children, who were educated in the…

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that Amy Carter will serve as Deputy Commissioner for Rural Georgia at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). At GDEcD, Carter will lead state efforts to help rural Georgia communities become more competitive for economic development projects and identify new strategies for attracting jobs and investment outside the Metro Atlanta region. This change will take effect on March 15. “Promoting the growth and success of rural Georgia is essential to securing a more prosperous state for generations to come,” said Deal. “Amy’s experience working with students and her time in public service have given her an understanding…

Work Session Agenda 03072018 FINAL VERFSION 030618 CITY OF STONECREST, GEORGIA Honorable Mayor Jason Lary, Sr. Council Member Jimmy Clanton, Jr. — District 1                                           Council Member Rob Turner- District 2 Council Member Jazzmin Cobble — District 3                                         Council Member George Turner- District 4 Council Member Diane Adoma — District 5 WORK SESSION AGENDA March 7, 2018 10:00 A.M. Stonecrest City Hall 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. Stonecrest, Georgia CALL TO ORDER: Mayor, Jason Lary ROLL CALL: City Clerk OPENING REMARKS: Mayor Jason Lary AGENDA ITEMS EXECUTIVE SESSION: WHEN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS REQUIRED, ONE WILL BE CALLED FOR THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1)…

by Mark Brock, DCSD Athletics Department A 13-4 run in the final three minutes of the second quarter helped propel the No. 4 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines to a 54-41 Class 5A boys’ semifinal victory over the Hiram Hornets at Fort Valley State University on Saturday. The win sends the Wolverines (23-7) to their eighth state championship game in 12 playoff appearances for a school that just started playing basketball in 2005. Hiram had cut a nine-point Miller Grove lead to just five (18-13) with 4:22 left in the first half on a pair of Devon Wilkerson free throws and a…

Congressman Hank Johnson has formally filed to run for re-election. The congressman filed his qualifying papers at the Georgia State Capitol this morning (March 5). “I have no doubt that when the voters look at my record fighting for the Fourth District – fighting for small businesses, consumers, women’s rights, equal pay and middle-income and working people – I will be re-elected,” said Congressman Johnson. Congressman Johnson serves on the Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) and Judiciary Committees. He is the top Democrat on the Judiciary subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet (IP). Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District includes portions…

The Family of Willie Whonya Lowery, Jr. is calling for a GBI investigation into Lowery’s death, which occurred at the DeKalb County Jail, the Davis Bozeman Law firm said. “While in the custody of DeKalb County jail, Mr. Willie Lowery was hung to death and the family deserves the Sheriff’s full cooperation with the GBI so the truth can be exposed,” said Attorney Mawuli Davis, who is representing the family. The Sheriff’s Office said the death of Lowery, 19, remains under internal investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards. Lowery had been in custody at the DeKalb County…

The MARTA Police Department has made an arrest in the Feb. 25 shooting aboard an eastbound train near Kensington Station. Thoth Gray, 34, was taken into custody on March 2, by MARTA’s Special Operations Response Team and the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Gray was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. “Although I regret this incident occurred, our detectives with very few leads were able to identify the suspect in less than 32 hours,” said MARTA Police Chief Wanda Y. Dunham.…

DeKalb County author Leslie Royal and former Chick-fil-A owner husband Tony Royal recently traveled to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC to attend the viewing and pay their respects to Rev. Billy Graham who died on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at his home in the North Carolina’s mountains at age 99. The Lithonia residents, who attend Berean Christian Church, said they are long-time supporters of Graham’s ministry and that they dropped everything on their schedule to attend the wake. “When Tony learned that there would be a public viewing, it was important to him to go and pay his…

By Valerie J. Morgan Rockdale County voters will no longer cast their election ballots at school precincts. The county is taking voting out of schools and moving precincts to other locations effective May 22, when the General Primary and non-partisan elections will be held. Supervisor of Elections Cynthia Welch said the Board of Elections and Voter Registration approved the moves to ensure the safety of students and staff. Although the moves come in the wake of the recent mass high school shooting in Parkland, Florida that claimed 17 lives, Rockdale has been working on a plan since last summer, Welch…