Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Commissioner Gregory Adams is partnering with Pinch of Excellence’s CEO, Michelle Stanton, on the “Bags of Love” drive to assist the homeless.      Bags of Love is a clothing drive that will provide homeless citizens in DeKalb with sleeping bags, hats, gloves, heavy duty socks and other garments needed for the winter weather. The donations to help 250 homeless people were collected through November at the Manuel Maloof building in downtown Decatur.  Homelessness is a global concern and is seen right here in DeKalb. In January 2018, volunteers, including 80 from DeKalb, found 3,572 homeless people in…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two suspects in the murder of a man at a Citgo gas station in Lithonia on the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Arrest warrants for both suspects allege that the victim, Traveon Quandarius Smith, 20, was lured out of a vehicle by one of the suspects on Nov. 21 at a gas station located at 301 North Stone Mountain Road in Lithonia. Smith was then shot multiple times in the back and head, causing his death.  Warrants say that surveillance video recorded the incident. An arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 23 charging 24-year-old…

Rockdale County has been awarded a $27 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to finance the construction of a new water pollution control plant. The construction of the new plant is set to begin in the first quarter of 2019 and expected to be completed within 18-24 months, county officials said. The construction of the 3 million-gallon-per-day water pollution control plant will replace an outdated 450,000 gallon-per-day treatment plant and increase the county’s overall wastewater treatment capacity by 2.55 million gallons. The county will pay 1.89 percent interest on the 20-year…

Rockdale County government plans to help those looking to go in to business and small businesses seeking to grow through a summit it plans to host early next year.  Rockdale County, in partnership with Georgia Power, will  present the “Small Business Entrepreneurship Summit” in 2019. The summit will be held at Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Dr. SW, Conyers.  Entrepreneurs have the option of choosing from three consecutive Saturdays to attend: Feb. 16, Feb. 23 and March 2, 2019, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The summit will provide attendees with the tools needed to start or grow their business.…

The application deadline for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) 2019-20 School Specialty and Choice programs is Dec. 21.  The application is available online only at www.rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice. Students living in Rockdale County may apply for specialty programs outside of their assigned neighborhood school zone. For those without a computer or internet access, the RCPS Student Registration Office at 1143 West Avenue will be able to provide assistance during regular business hours to access the online application. Applicants to the Academy for Performing and Visual Arts at Davis Middle School and the Academy for Performing and Visual Arts at Heritage High…

By Ed Williams The Atlanta region now has a new transit authority to make decisions on public policy and funding for transit projects in metro Atlanta. The question is whether the new ATL authority is a bad deal for citizens?   Allow me to provide some background. The Georgia General Assembly created the new Atlanta-region Transit Link (ATL) authority when it passed HB930 this past spring. The new law that was created gerrymandered board member districts and put a group of people in control who are not exclusively elected by the voters.   The ATL authority was set up to serve…

By Rockdale Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr.  Guardianships can take away a person’s rights to decide to marry, make contracts, consent to medical treatment, and establish a residence. Conservatorships allow the appointee to manage the ward’s finances and assets, buy and sell property, and enter into business and commercial transactions. Both the guardianship and conservatorship can also take away a person’s right to bring and defend actions in court. There are several other, less intrusive ways to act on behalf of someone with diminished mental or physical capacity. One or more of the following alternatives may serve the needs of…

A new $7.8 million state-of-the-art senior center that will be constructed on Elam Road in Stone Mountain moved a step closer to reality after a 5-2 vote by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. “This will be an asset that will be used and enjoyed by the citizens of DeKalb County maybe for the next 25 to 30 years,” said DeKalb Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, who represents District 4, and pushed for the new senior center. The proposed senior center will be located on a 2.7-acre, county-owned parcel at 4875 Elam Road, Stone Mountain. The location was chosen following a feasibility…

Jason Philpot, 38, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 25 years, eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release Philpot, a 10-time convicted felon, was sentenced to federal prison for the armed robbery of a Waffle House and assault on police officers, whom he led on a high-speed chase and shot at after the robbery. According to U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak, Philpot and his accomplice entered the Waffle House on LaVista Road in Tucker on Sept. 30, 2014, shortly after 10:30 p.m. Philpot wore a black mask and carried an assault-style rifle while his…

The official kickoff to Conyers’ holiday season will take place  this weekend with the Olde Town Christmas Party and the 19th Annual Conyers Christmas Parade. Sponsored by the city of Conyers, the Olde Town Christmas Party takes place in the streets of the historic business district on Nov. 30, 5-8 p.m. Families are encouraged to enjoy free visits with Santa in the Conyers Depot/Welcome Center at 901 Railroad Street. Photo packages will be available for purchase and printed on-site. Visitors can also snuggle up for a hayride or train ride through the streets or roast marshmallows on Railroad Street. A free…