Author: On Common Ground News

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) congratulated four Redan High School graduates from the winning team for this year’s 2018 National SIFMA Capitol Hill Challenge’s Stock Market Game at his Washington, D.C. office. “These young minds deserve to be recognized and celebrated,” said Congressman Johnson, who hosted the students on June 13. “We must continue to foster all of our students’ interests in the financial market and support their efforts to become self-sufficient with their finances and their understanding of the global markets.”  The Stone Mountain team competed against thousands of students from across the country to bring the first place honor…

The DeKalb County Board of Education approved the adoption of the DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) proposed $1.832 billion budget—including $1.097 billion for the General Fund—for the 2019 Fiscal Year on June 26 at two concurrent meetings. The proposed budget focuses DCSD’s financial resources toward transportation; an increase in school resource officers; new textbooks; the new DCSD Early Learning Academy; and two new administrative regions, among other items. Also, DCSD employees will receive a total 2.5 percent pay increase during the fiscal year and a new salary step structure for both classified and certified employees will be instituted. Salary steps…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is reorganizing the leadership of its schools increasing the number of academic regional superintendents from five to seven in order to provide more support to underperforming schools.    Sean Tartt, who served for 12 years as principal of Narvie J. Harris Elementary School, and Bernetta Jones, principal of Clarkston High School, have been appointed as the two new superintendents. DeKalb’s five regions were reorganized into smaller regions and Superintendent R. Stephen Green has appointed the following leaders to the new regions: Sherry Johnson, Region 1 Superintendent;  Trenton Arnold, Region 2 Superintendent;  Sean Tartt, Region…

Avondale Estates Avondale Estates will host its Fourth of July celebration on Independence Day. The schedule of events are as follows: 9:15 a.m. –  Parade lineup at DeKalb School of the Arts, located at 1192 Clarendon Ave. 10 a.m. –  Parade begins and ends one hour later at the intersection of Clarendon Avenue and South Avondale Road Dusk – Fireworks at Lake Avondale Conyers Kick off your Fourth of July festivities on Saturday, June 30, with Conyers’ second annual Celebrate Community Parade at Conyers First United Methodist Church on Main Street at 10 a.m. Awards will be given to…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan  Volunteers from across Rockdale County and Atlanta including students, teachers, and volunteers from the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office Explorers program teamed up to help a special group of campers learn to ride a bicycle. The iCan Bike Camp, now in its fifth year, hosted 21 campers ranging from 8 years old to 43 years old, at Memorial Middle School in Conyers June 25-29. The volunteers offered a hand spotting riders during the weeklong camp. “By Day 3, we had six riders riding on two wheels without assistance. It’s amazing to see their faces filled with such…

The Office of Youth Services is currently seeking applicants who are interested in serving on the DeKalb County Youth Commission. The Youth Commission is a leadership program that provides youth with opportunities to learn about the roles of county government, participate in civic and community activities, and represent the views of DeKalb County youth. There are currently 14 scheduled vacancies on the DeKalb County Youth Commission. To apply, applicants must be DeKalb County residents entering grades 10-12. The application deadline is Wednesday, July 18. To register, go to www.dekalbcountyga.gov/youth-services/upcoming-events and click on the “student application” graphic. For more information on…

DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency is hosting two free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Workshops.  The first nine-week workshop begins on July 10 and will be held on Tuesday from 7–9:30 p.m. at DeKalb Fire Rescue Headquarters, 1950 West Exchange Place, Tucker. A second nine-week CERT workshop for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, with certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, begins on July 12 and will be held on Thursdays from 7–9:30 p.m. at DeKalb Fire Rescue Headquarters. Participants of the DeKalb CERT program coordinate their response during the search and rescue exercise. Participants learn what to do before, during…

By Sheriff Eric J. Levett The Hands-Free Georgia Act takes effect July 1. The law will require drivers to use hands-free technology when using cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. If you’re driving through Georgia get used to putting the phone down. Those cited will face a $150 fine, with fines as high as $900 for repeat offenders. First time offenders can receive 1 point against their driver’s licenses, with up to 4 points for repeat offenders. The law states that phone conversations and other forms of electronic communications can only be conducted with hands-free technology such as…

By Valerie J. Morgan Community activist Josie Dean said during a June 26 news conference that Rockdale County Sheriff’s officials are trying to silence her from speaking out about the two people who died while they were in custody of the Rockdale jail. Dean said she concurs with Attorney Mawuli Davis, who is representing the families of the deceased, that the jail deaths are the result of negligence. She said the sheriff’s office is harassing her in a threatening manner over her public statements.  The Georgia Bureau of Investigations determined that Shali Tilson, 22, died of severe dehydration on…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Capitol was shut down today (June 26) after authorities responded to a veteran who set himself on fire using gasoline and fireworks. Authorities say the unidentified veteran, who was protesting his treatment by the V.A. was extinguished and rushed to a local hospital. Authorities said no one else was hurt. Authorities had K-9 teams on the scene to investigate A bomb robot and K-9 teams were brought to the scene to check for explosives. Kenley Waller, who owns Kenley’s Catering in downtown Atlanta, said the scene was “All of the streets were shut down near the Capitol.…