Author: On Common Ground News

Rockdale County invites the public to the 2018 Installation Ceremony of four of its newly-elected officials on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., in Superior Court Judge Robert Mumford’s courtroom at the Rockdale County Courthouse, 922 Court St., Conyers.    The following four positions elected during the 2018 primary and general elections will be celebrated at the event:   • County Commissioner, Post 2   • District Attorney of Rockdale County   • Board of Education, Post 1   • Board of Education, Post 2 The ceremony is open to the public. No RSVPs are needed. A reception will immediately follow…

 By Ed Williams   DeKalb County was instrumental in forming MARTA in1964 and the 1971 contract which funded MARTA was fueled by support of DeKalb voters.    It was a DeKalb legislator who sponsored the bill in the state General Assembly to begin MARTA in the early sixties. There are four DeKalb MARTA board members – one of them is supposed to be a resident of South DeKalb that lives south of the boundary of City of Decatur. However, none of the current DeKalb MARTA board members meet that criteria.  We are suffering for the lack of representation. Indeed, the…

By Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. Fiduciary responsibility refers to the obligation that one party (“the fiduciary”) has to another (“the principal”) to act in his or her best interest. The various laws created to reduce abuse by fiduciaries provide assurance to principals that they will be protected from unscrupulous individuals pretending to act in their best interest.  Guardians and conservators serve as fiduciaries for incapacitated adults. Serving as guardian requires the fiduciary to manage the ward’s healthcare, general well-being, place of residency, care and support needs, and at all times, act in the ward’s best interest. Conservators must manage the…

DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is monitoring Hurricane Michael and is planning to activate the Emergency Operations Center tonight. High wind gusts are expected to accompany the storm, which could cause downed trees, power lines and power outages. DEMA urges residents to remain aware of changing weather conditions and offers the following tips: Know places to seek safe shelter in your home. Bring in or secure outdoor furniture and other objects that may be blown around. Do not place trash or recycling bins at the curb overnight. In case of loss of power do not use grills or other open…

As Georgia Lottery players continue to win statewide, Powerball is steadily increasing. Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot is $282 million to a single annuity winner. Meanwhile, three winning tickets worth $50,000 each were sold in Conyers, Newnan and St. Simons Island in the Oct. 6 Powerball drawing. Winning numbers from the Oct. 6 drawing were: 1-22-27-53-67 and the Powerball was 15. The tickets were purchased at: 212 Package Store, located at 2860 Highway 212 in Conyers; Publix Super Market #786, located at 100 Glenda Trace in Newnan; and Winn-Dixie #19, located at 220 Retreat Village in St. Simons Island. Winners have not…

Tax Commissioner Richard Steele reminds homeowners that 2018 property tax bills are due Oct. 15. Taxpayers may view and pay their bills online from any internet-connected device at www.GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com/ViewPayYourTaxes. Paying online via e-check is simple, secure and incurs no added convenience fee. Paying via debit card incurs a flat $3.95 fee and credit cards incur a 2.29 percent fee. Mailed payments postmarked Oct. 15 or prior are accepted as timely; metered mail dates are not. The payment address is P.O. Box 372, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. Payments by check may be placed in drop boxes 24/7 at any tag office. Payments…

The Rockdale County Tax Commissioner’s Office will provide limited service on Friday, Oct. 12, from 8 a.m. until noon, due to state computer system upgrades. The upgrades will impact motor vehicle in office transactions; however, renewals may still be completed online or at MVD self-service kiosks across the state. Property tax payments can be made in office all day. For more information, including online renewal information or MVD self-service kiosk locations, visit www.rockdaletaxoffice.org or call 678-278-9833.

The Cultural Exchange Breakfast, hosted by Stonecrest City Councilmember Rob Turner and DeKalb School Board member Vicki Turner, will be held Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m., on the campus of The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church/House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. The focus of the October meeting will be the final push to get people to the polls for the general election on Nov. 6.  Erica Hamilton, supervisor of elections for DeKalb County,  will be on hand to help familiarize voters with the voting equipment and provide any new information concerning voting. Fred Swann, candidate for Agriculture Commissioner,…

The proposed Atlanta Sports City complex at the Mall at Stonecrest, which was to feature a 15,000-seat stadium, multiple soccer and football fields, is in trouble. Atlanta Sports Connection, Inc. has defaulted on its $2. 25 million loan for the former Kohl’s building located at 8010 Mall Parkway. The property was scheduled to be sold on the DeKalb County courthouse steps on Oct. 2, according to a notice of sale under power, which was announced in the county’s legal organ. No one could be reached to discuss the outcome of the sale, despite efforts to contact partners Patrick Henderson and…