Author: On Common Ground News

  The public is invited to a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) open house on Thursday, July 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 East Court Square, Decatur.  Residents will be formally introduced to the SPLOST Oversight Committee and the SPLOST Program Management Team, Moreland Altobelli.  DeKalb County will receive an estimated $388 million in revenue over the next six years as a result of the SPLOST that was approved by voters in November 2017. SPLOST funding will be used to improve roads, public safety, parks, libraries, senior centers and health centers and, combined…

by Valerie J. Morgan Rockdale County has taken another step in becoming greener. County officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 11 to celebrate becoming the first government in Georgia to purchase an electric vehicle under the state’s agreement with Kia Motors.  The Rockdale County Tax Commissioners’ Office unveiled its new Kia Soul on July 11. Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart Washington said her office was able to purchase the vehicle with the support of the Rockdale Board of Commissioners and Gov. Nathan Deal’s Automobiles Manufactured in Georgia initiative, which simplifies the process for governments to buy vehicles from Kia…

DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw is working to bring a new senior center to District 4 at 4875 Elam Road, Stone Mountain. The county owns the tract where the center is proposed.    A community meeting will be held to discuss the application and proposed project on July 18, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Sue Kellogg Library Community Room, 952 Leon St., Stone Mountain. The 21,000-square-foot senior center will include a multipurpose dining room, classrooms, fitness room and a therapeutic pool with lap lanes and other amenities. DeKalb County Community Development Department is seeking a loan guarantee in the…

The community is invited to the political forum hosted by the Southeast DeKalb Concerned Citizens Coalition (House Districts 90 and 94) on Wednesday, July 18, 6 p.m. The forum, featuring candidates in the July 24 runoff, ill be held at the Redan Trotti Library auditorium, 1569 Wellborn Road, Lithonia. 

Stonecrest City Councilman Jimmy Clanton, District 1, will host his monthly community meeting on Saturday, July 14, 10 a.m.  The meeting will be held in Room 222 at Fairfield Baptist Church, 6133 Redan Road, Lithonia.

  DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate new improvements at Hairston Park, 911 South Hairston Road, Stone Mountain. The public is invited to join park staff and county officials for the ceremony on Saturday, July 21, at 10 a.m.   Upgrades include a new playground and fitness equipment including a leg lift station, cross trainer station and sit-up bench. The Friends of Hairston Park received a $10,000 grant from Park Pride, a $15,000 grant from the UPS Foundation and DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw allocated another $242,000 toward the project…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Conyers fitness trainer Cherisse Atwater is back from the annual Essence Festival where she taught Zumba to dozens of women at the annual summer festival held July 5-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  After watching Atwater on social media, a travel agent sought out the high-energy instructor to lead a fitness class at the 2018 Essence Festival where thousands of attendees convene every year for one of the largest events celebrating African-American culture and music in the United States.  “I’ve always wanted to attend Essence Festival because of its emphasis on girl power which is what I…

The Back-to-School events were compiled by Staff writer Mackenzie N. Morgan Online registration for new DeKalb County students now underway  Families who are new to the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) can now access the district’s online registration system.  The online registration, launched July 9, is for new students only.  Parents of returning students should contact their student’s school for information. They will have the school supply lists. The first day of school for DeKalb students is Aug. 6.     Parents or guardians can visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/registration and navigate through a series of prompts to enter the vital information needed…

The Library Board of Trustees of the Conyers-Rockdale Library System has appointed Brenda Poku as the system’s new Library Director. Poku began serving on July 9.  A veteran with more than 25 years in the library industry, Poku formerly managed nine of 16 libraries in Chatham and Liberty counties. Poku’s experience and leadership includes the following:  • 2018 Migration of Integrated Library Systems (ILS) from SIRSI to PINES  • 2017 University of Georgia, PINNACLE graduate. Certificate of Leadership Development (Carl Vinson Institute of Government).  • 2016 Top 10 Georgia Libraries (Carnegie Library) Recognition. Honorable mention (Bull Street) Library.  • 2015…

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division picked up 2,348 tons of items during the free bulky item collection in June.  As part of the Operation Spring Clean Sweep 2018 initiative, the Sanitation Division serviced 5,785 homes during the five-week residential collection project.  DeKalb residents disposed of large items including furniture, mattresses and appliances, which were placed curbside for collection. Last year, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond launched the Operation Clean Sweep multi-departmental initiative focused on litter collection, illegal dumping, and removing debris, trash and debris from streets, neighborhoods, sidewalks, roadway drains and county rights of way. In two years, the free…