Author: On Common Ground News

Cynthia Welch, Rockdale County’s Director of Elections, will join fellow members of the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections (SAFE) Commission on Thursday, Aug. 30  to review vendors seeking to replace  Georgia’s  current voting machines. The 18-member SAFE Commission will meet in Grovetown, located near Augusta, to look at systems that offer a verified paper trail. “We’re giving all vendors who have an interest in providing Georgia with a new voting system, the opportunity to do that,” said Welch. “The vendors had to respond to the Request for Information (RFI) by Aug. 24.  The meeting on Thursday, Aug. 30, will start the…

by Mark Brock, DeKalb County Athletics Austin Smith scored on a 17-yard quarterback draw straight up the middle to complete the Cedar Grove Saints rally to a 34-30 victory against Hewitt-Trussville (AL) in a nationally televised game on ESPN on Saturday. The game winning 28-yard drive was set up by Rashad Jordan’s play on special teams. The Alabama Class 7A Huskies were forced to punt with under four minutes to play from their own 14-yard line. A low snap slowed down the punt attempt and Jones came flying in from the left side to get his hands on the punt…

By Valerie J. Morgan Atlantans, like the rest of America, is remembering Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. While several pre-homegoing events are planned in Detroit, where Franklin will be laid to rest, many in Atlanta also are honoring the icon singer with tributes, stories and reflections ahead of her Aug. 31 funeral. The Rev. Jasper Williams, pastor emeritus of Atlanta’s Salem Baptist Church, discussed in a video what it means for him to be chosen to deliver the eulogy at the private funeral, which will only be open to family, friends, and invited guests. Williams also delivered the eulogy…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Nearly 100 people attended the first Rockdale County Nonprofit Appreciation Brunch on Aug. 20 at the JP Carr Community Center in Rockdale County. Sponsored by Post 2 Rockdale County Commissioner Doreen Williams, the event brought together local nonprofits in honor of national Nonprofit Appreciation Day held annually on Aug.17.  “Rockdale County has over 700 registered 501c3 organization and there’s so much good that goes on that people are not aware of,” said Williams. “This really gave us an opportunity to spotlight some of the agencies that slide under the radar and recognize the valuable contributions these…

Former DeKalb County School Board member Sarah Copelin-Wood was laid to rest on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Chapel of Donald Trimble Mortuary in Decatur.   The Rev. Jerry D. Black of Beulah Baptist Church in Decatur officiated the funeral.   At the homegoing, Teresa Hardy, president of the DeKalb branch of the NAACP, presented a resolution honoring Wood, who had a long career as a community activist, which included serving 20 years with the NAACP.  Most notable among her committee memberships was serving as chair of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Rally for eight years. …

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…