Author: On Common Ground News

Rockdale Career Academy (RCA) invites students and families to learn about the exciting career pathways and opportunities to earn specialized industry-based certifications at the RCA Open House Night Jan. 30, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at 1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers. Students in current grades 8-11 and their parents/guardians are invited to meet RCA’s award winning instructors, who bring years of real-world industry experience and expertise. Families can tour the classrooms, workshops, kitchens, studios, laboratories and facilities where classes take place. RCA, which is open to all RCPS high school students, offers more than 23 Career, Technical, Agricultural, Education career pathways.…

State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) will host the third annual Women’s Go Red Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 2, noon to 2 p.m., room 216 of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The Women’s Go Red Luncheon will provide women with an opportunity to learn about cardiovascular health and the dangers of heart disease. The luncheon will take place during the American Heart Association’s “National Wear Red Day.” According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases while 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart…

The Nancy Guinn Memorial Library and the Rockdale County Chapter of the NAACP will host the Rev. Aldren Sadler as the inaugural speaker for the library’s “Local Voices” program series on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2 to 3 p.m. “Local Voices” spotlights community leaders and their impactful stories. Rev. Sadler will share his insightful story and heritage. Rev. Sadler is the founder and senior pastor of Church of New Beginnings in Conyers, Georgia. He has served in leadership roles for the Conyers-Rockdale Consolidation Committee, United Way of Rockdale County, Rockdale County Task Force Against Family Violence, Rockdale County Department of Family…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and the Board of Commissioners proclaimed Jan. 23 as “DeKalb County Fire Rescue Day.” Firefighters of DeKalb County Fire Rescue were recognized for their role in saving nearly 100 residents at Avondale Forest Apartments. “These incredible acts of courage and heroism during the Avondale Forest Apartments fire are testaments to the training, commitment and courage of our public safety employees, said CEO Thurmond. “I am extremely proud of our fire department, our 911 operators and administrative staff who do an extraordinary job everyday protecting our county.” On Jan. 3, DeKalb County firefighters boldly rushed to…

The Rockdale County Board of Elections is considering relocating nine voting precincts that are in schools to other public locations. The board is considering the move for the protection and safety of students, said Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch. Voters are invited to learn more about the proposal on Thursday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m., at the Rockdale Board of Elections Office, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The public meeting will be the second conducted. A meeting also was held on Jan. 25. Voters of the following Rockdale County precincts would be impacted by the change: Barksdale Precinct Barksdale Elementary School, 596…

DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling invites DeKalb County high school juniors and seniors to enter the 2018 Stop Teen Dating Violence Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest. Coleman, in partnership with Cinderella’s Gowns, Men’s Wearhouse of Stonecrest, and Lynette Clove, an independent sales director for Mary Kay, plan to give away a prom package to the winner. With February being recognized as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Stribling is encouraging DeKalb teens to promote healthy dating practices that prevent dating violence by producing a one-minute PSA. The student who creates the most impactful PSA will win a prom prize package, which…

The Stonecrest Babies “R” Us store is closing as part of the corporation’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan, officials said. The restructuring calls for the closing of up to 182 stores nationally and abroad to ease debt. According to reports, the stores haven’t had an annual profit since 2013, losing much of its share of the toy market to mass merchants such as Walmart, Target and Amazon. A manager at the Stonecrest location said the store would begin its liquidation on Feb. 8, closing for good by April. The company is holding going-out-of-business sales at 25 stores in the United…

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED By Valerie J. Morgan   State Rep. Vernon Jones said that he is working with city officials to seek legal action against Sam’s Club. Jones said Sam’s Club violated the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) when it abruptly closed the Stonecrest store on Jan. 11, and could face penalties for failure to properly notify workers and city officials of the massive layoffs. “This has been sloppy from Day 1,” Jones said. “Sam’s Club violated the federal WARN Act. I will be talking with legal counsel, officials, the community as well as employees affected. They failed…

The Stonecrest Toys “R” Us™ on Turner Hill Road is not closing as part of the corporation’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan. However, the Babies “R” Us at Stonecrest, which is owned by Toys “R” Us,™ is closing, Nicole Hayes, a spokesperson for the corporation, said today. According to reports, the company has not had an annual profit since 2013. Toys “R” Us™ plans to close up to 182 stores nationally and abroad as part of a reorganization to ease its debt, officials of the company, headquartered in Wayne, NJ, announced. The company is holding going-out-of-business sales at 25 stores…

Oct. 5, 1940-Jan. 18, 2018 Family and friends gathered today for the homegoing celebration of Gilbert “Dr. Turman,” Jr., a former principal of Southwest DeKalb High School and founder of the South DeKalb Neighborhood Coalition. Turman also was known in Newton County, where he worked as an educator before working in DeKalb. Mr. Turman died on Jan. 18. He was 77. The Rev. Aaron Park officiated the 1 p.m. funeral, which was held at Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 6275 Campbellton Road, Atlanta. Mr. Turman is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne; three children: Carla Turman Burnett (Collie); Gilbert…