Author: On Common Ground News

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced today that a new sculpture honoring champion boxer Evander Holyfield will be placed in front of the Flatiron Building in Downtown Atlanta. The nine-foot bronze sculpture, by master sculptor Brian Hanlon, will be installed on the site in early 2018. The new work honors Holyfield’s achievements, and will remind viewers of his contributions to the sport of boxing and the City of Atlanta’s proud legacy of athletic achievement. Holyfield was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2017, his first year of eligibility. “I am proud to announce that the City of…

DECATUR–Flightway Drive will be closed to through-traffic on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., from Corsair Drive to Hardee Avenue, due to filming.      Road closure signs will be in the area alerting motorists to local traffic restrictions. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Department at 404-294-2878.

Rockdale County invites the public to share in the warm spirit of the holidays at its annual Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 2, in the Rockdale County Auditorium, 903 Main St., Conyers. Festivities begin with the Hometown Holiday parade at 4 p.m. Doors open for the Tree Lighting Celebration immediately after the parade at 5 p.m. The pre-show will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the main event begins around 6 p.m. This year’s theme, “My Favorite Christmas Movie,” will feature recording artist Derrick Monk performing alongside local church and student choirs singing a medley of Christmas favorites, and a…

The Conyers Police Department is seeking the public’s help in finding the suspect who is pictured. The man shown was involved in a series of vehicle break-ins and thefts of vehicles at multiple locations in Conyers and Rockdale County. The image was taken of the suspect just before he stole a vehicle from a Shell Station, 2130 Salem Road in Rockdale County on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017.  The vehicle was recovered abandoned in College Park two days later. Any information leading to the arrest of this suspect may result in a cash reward up to $2000.00.  Tipsters will remain…

DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson prepares for a radio interview as volunteers pass out frozen turkeys in purple bags and Mission Agape gives out coats. Photos provided. A senior shows her gratitude with a smile to Rockdale BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt, who helped distribute turkeys at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News Kristy Gaiters, founder of Just About Blessing You, pictured with Bishop Gary Hawkins (left), presents turkeys to seniors at Voices of Faith Ministries Rockdale campus. JABY also gave turkeys to seniors at the church’s Stone Mountain location. Photo by Glenn Morgan/OCG News…

DeKalb County’s Department of Innovation and Technology has been recognized asa Georgia leader in innovation. The department received one of nine technology innovation awards presented at the Georgia 2017 Technology Innovation Showcase for the county’s Journey to Procurement Excellence project. “It is an honor to have been recognized again this year for how DeKalb County is transforming the delivery of services to our citizens and constituents through business and technology innovation,” said John Matelski, DeKalb’s chief innovation and information officer. DeKalb’s awarded-winning project allows for online collaboration with suppliers through the procure-to-pay lifecycle. The project replaced paper processes with electronic…

The City of Atlanta has completed its sale of the Civic Center to the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) for $31 million. AHA will partner with Weingarten Realty Investors to develop affordable housing on the site, retail and commercial space. Weingarten is the Texas firm that began talks with the city for the purchase in 2015 but reached an impasse in 2016. Mayor Reed said with the close of the sale, he is excited about the future for the site. “Good things take time. Through its focus on affordable housing, the redevelopment of the Civic Center property will give families and…

The DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Department will host a flood hazard map open house on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 5 – 7 p.m., at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. DeKalb County’s flood risk information has been revised and new flood hazard maps will be available for review. Revisions to these mapping products may affect residents and business owners in unincorporated DeKalb County, Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, and Tucker. Residents can view the new preliminary maps online at www.GeorgiaDFIRM.com. DeKalb County staff, local officials, representatives from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Federal…

The DeKalb County Public Library is developing plans to meet the future library needs of county residents. The library is seeking input from residents and asking them to participate in a survey by Dec. 9. To take the survey, go to the Library’s website at dekalblibrary.org and click on the survey link.

A single lane of Peachtree Road near the intersection of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard will be closed Monday, Nov. 27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., as crews complete emergency sewer line repairs near 4945 Peachtree Road, Chamblee. As part of DeKalb County’s $1.345 billion Capital Improvement Program, crews working on behalf of the Department Watershed Management are assessing and repairing lines to improve sewer service to the community by increasing capacity and reducing sanitary sewer overflows in the area. Motorists and MARTA passengers who use Peachtree Road at the Peachtree Industrial Boulevard intersection should expect delays and plan for extra commuting…