Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Watershed Management repair work is well underway and proceeding as expected to replace the 48-inch water main that broke Wednesday morning near Buford Highway. Crews laid the first 48-inch pipe overnight, and have mobilized additional joints to begin installing today. Work is expected to be complete Friday evening. Yesterday, crews isolated the large water main and water pressure was restored throughout most of the county. A boil water advisory remains in place for DeKalb County Watershed customers until microbiological tests confirm water is safe for consumption. Samples for testing were drawn from 49 sites throughout the county…

Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) invites students, parents, staff and community members to the “On The Scene with Dr. Green” community conversation on Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m., Druid Hills Middle School, 3100 Mount Olive Drive, Decatur. The event will begin promptly at 7 p.m., at Druid Hills Middle School. Dr. Green will give a brief statement about the state of DCSD before answering questions directly from the audience. “On The Scene with Dr. Green” is an opportunity to learn more about your schools and to have your concerns addressed. To learn more, visit…

Lance Hammonds, a chemical sales manager and community activist, has qualified for the DeKalb County School Board District 6. “I am very excited about the opportunity to continue to serve the families of DeKalb County,” said Hammonds.  “I am running because I believe the key to a prosperous community is academically superior schools with achievement outcomes that rival the top schools in the nation. I want to make DeKalb County Schools the destination of choice for young families looking for the best education for their children.” Hammonds said he believes quality education requires a community commitment. Hammonds is a SE…

The upcoming Cultural Exchange Breakfast will feature a discussion on school safety and and safety in the community at large at the upcoming meeting. The community also will have a chance to meet candidates who are running for public offices in May. The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 10, 9 a.m., at Greater Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church/House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur (H.F. Shepherd Multiplex Building). DeKalb School Board member Vicki B. Turner, and her husband, Stonecrest District 2 Council member Robert Turner are hosting the free breakfast meeting.

Parent Academy returns to Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) on Saturday, March 10, for its 14th semester of improving lives. This free half-day conference offers classes for parents, teens and tweens at Rockdale Career Academy (RCA), 1064 Culpepper Road, Conyers, from 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The community is invited to participate in roundtable discussions on school safety at the beginning of the event. Online registration is available at www.rockdaleschools.org/parentacademy. Paper registration forms are available at each RCPS school. Interim Superintendent Shirley Chesser, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric J. Levett, and Conyers Police Department Chief Gene Wilson will open the day…

The Georgia Department of Labor is working with several partners on a job readiness event and accompanying job fair in Rockdale County in March. A job fair will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at at Restoration Storehouse Center, 1400 Parker Road S.E., Conyers. the same location. Partners include the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, WorkSource Atlanta Regional, Restoration Storehouse, Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council, Georgia Piedmont Technical College and The Stellar Consulting Group. Those who attended the readiness event on March 6 will be given early entry to the job fair. Attendees will be able…

    DeKalb County officials will initiate a full-scale investigation into the cause of today’s (March 7) massive water main break, DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said this afternoon. The break forced the shutdown of schools, government offices and businesses and flooded streets. “We will determine whether the break was the result of a systematic failure, improper maintenance, wear and tear or physical tampering,” Thurmond said. “I am committed to making sure our infrastructure is protected and maintained in a manner that will ensure quality service to the citizens of DeKalb County.” Thurmond said he was alerted of the water main…

Stonecrest City Councilman George Turner today urged the community to pitch in and help Salem Middle School’s Symphonic Band to cover expenses for their trip to Carnegie Hall this month. Turner said the band is excited about representing the new city of Stonecrest and urged the community to rally around the band by giving a donation. Coordinator Sandra Harris said the band still needs about $15,000 to cover 8 to 10 scholarships for students and road tolls that must be for the trip to New York City. The band will perform on March 26. “We have about 50 students…

After consulting with local government and health officials, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will reopen on Thursday, March 8. “We have been in constant dialogue with our partners at DeKalb County and the DeKalb County Board of Health. Following that consultation, we will reopen our campuses while taking great care to ensure we have a healthy learning environment,” said Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green. “We have a good plan that covers sanitation, food service and other aspects of our operations impacted by the water event today. We’ll be ready for our students.” “As importantly, we ask each of our…

Qualifying for the 2018 elections began on Monday, March 5, and ends on Friday, March 9, at noon. Here is a look at how some of the key local races are shaping up so far on the third day of qualifying:   DeKalb County Board of Commissioners District 2 Jeff Rader, Democrat, Incumbent District 3 Felton Wright, Democrat Larry Johnson, Incumbent District 7 Gregory Adams, Democrat, Incumbent State Court Judges Johnny Panos (I) Alvin T. Wong (I) Board of Education, District 2 Candice D. McKinley Marshall Orson (I) Board of Education, District 4 Allyson…