Author: On Common Ground News

Fairfield Baptist Church, 6133 Redan Road, Lithonia, is set to celebrate its annual Homecoming and Family and Friends’ Day beginning Saturday, Aug. 5. This year’s celebration will be bittersweet as it will mark the beginning of many activities planned for the church’s retiring pastor of 40 years, the Rev. Micheal Benton. The theme is “Commemorating the Past, Celebrating the Present and Embracing the Future Together.” The event will begin with a parade, which will depart at 8 a.m. from the parking lot of New Covenant Ministries, 1760 Philips Road, Lithonia and end at Fairfield Baptist Church. Following the parade, the…

State Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) recently hosted the first meeting of the Cannabis and Hemp Symposium at the State Capitol. The symposium met to discuss the policies, opportunities and challenges of the cannabis and hemp industry within the state of Georgia. “As we make changes to our state laws regarding cannabis and hemp, it is important that we keep our communities engaged and informed,” said Mitchell. “The first Cannabis and Hemp Symposium was a success, and I look forward to future meetings as we work to increase public awareness on this industry.” The program focused on the key…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced its newly hired principals for the 2017-2018 school year on July 25. “Research shows when schools have effective leadership, student and staff performance will increase. Working with our five regional superintendents, we have identified a group of highly-qualified and highly-motivated individuals to join our team,” said Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green. “With these talented educators in place, we will continue to raise our expectations and outcomes for achievement.” The newly-hired group of principals includes: Dresden Elementary School – Jesse U. Berger Flat Rock Elementary School – Malik Douglas Kelley Lake Elementary School – Peggy…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is inviting K-12 students who live or attend a school in the Fourth Congressional District to demonstrate their technology skills by developing an app. “Science and technology are transforming our world and we must do all we can to ensure our kids are taking part in and helping shape the changing economy,” said Johnson. “I’m proud of the students who participate in the challenge. This competition has showcased some of the Fourth Congressional District’s brightest young minds as they take on cutting-edge technology that is becoming an increasing part of all our lives.” The Congressional App…

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson was recently elected chairman of the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) during the organization’s 82nd annual conference in Franklin, Ohio. The Large Urban County Caucus is the premier forum for urban county leaders and is the voice for America’s metropolitan counties before Congress and the administration. Comprised of county executives, governing board members and other senior elected officials, members of the Large Urban County Caucus focus on urban challenges and solutions, engage in peer-to-peer information exchanges and inform national policy discussions. Commissioner Johnson, who also has served as a member…

  The life of Dr. Keith E. Baird, whose trailblazing work in linguistic anthropology focused on the politics of language, will be celebrated on Aug. 12, 1 to 4 p.m., at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 2833 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur. Dr. Baird made his transition on July 13 in Atlanta. He was 94, said his daughter, Marcia Baird Burris, who was married to the late Charles “Chuck” Burris, who became the first African-American mayor of the city of Stone Mountain in 1997. Mayor Burris served until 2001. Dr. Baird’s body has been donated to Morehouse School of Medicine for use…

The City of Stonecrest will conduct a special meeting addressing zoning and sign ordinances. See below for the full agenda.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the April 18 armed robbery of the Kay Jewelers, 1620 Dogwood Ave., in Conyers, FBI officials said. Cephos Leyon “Jamal” White, 29, of Sandy Springs, and Sandrika Denise Sears, also known as Nubian Monae, Monae, 31, of Decatur, were arrested July 26 without incident by FBI agents and officers of the Conyers Police Department on warrants charging them with armed robbery. The robbery took place on April 18 about 10:30 a.m., police said. The male suspect entered the store with a black semi-automatic handgun, had a brief conversation with a store employee…

DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will propose the allocation of $215,000 for improvements to Little Creek Horse Farm in Decatur. Commissioner Bradshaw, who visited the farm earlier this year, will propose the allocation of the District 4 parks bond funding during Thursday’s (July 27) Board of Commissioners’ meeting. Little Creek Horse Farm, a 40-acre park located in Decatur that was refurbished in 2010 with park bond funds, has a 46-stall barn with an indoor arena, wash stalls and lounge. Experienced trainers provide riding lessons at the farm to children and adults of all riding abilities. “Little Creek Horse Farm…

A man convicted in connection with the shooting death of an acquaintance at a Dunwoody apartment complex will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Kashawn Mitchell, 24, has been sentenced to two life terms plus five years in prison for his role in the murder of Jaron Acklin, 24, DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston said. Acklin was shot and killed on Nov. 13, 2015 inside his apartment on Asbury Commons in Dunwoody. His body was discovered three days later by a friend who was checking on him. According to the investigation, Mitchell and an accomplice held the victim…