Author: On Common Ground News

Tucker Middle School, 2160 Idlewood Road, will host STEMCon Night 2018 from 4 to 6 p.m. today. The event is the result of a partnership between Dekalb County School District, Atlanta Science Festival and Northrop Grumman. The free public event invites students, parents, staff and stakeholders to a night filled with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related activities that include solving hypothetical outbreaks, extracting strawberry DNA, exploring the power of solar energy and an in-depth look at the James Webb Space Telescope. Employees from one of Tucker Middle’s STEM partners, Northrop Grumman—a global cyber-security company—will lead activities and…

MARTA will provide additional service on Thursday, March 22, and Saturday, March 24, for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The NCAA Sweet Sixteen matchups on Thursday and Elite Eight rounds on Saturday are expected to draw tens of thousands of people to Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta. MARTA will provide additional rail and bus service on both evenings, with extra trains and buses on standby. Airport service will be available on both the Red and Gold Lines until game crowds clear. In addition, Philips Arena and Five Points Stations will be staffed with more station agents to load…

Today, DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond announced Phase II of the ongoing effort to restore public trust and confidence in the DeKalb’s water billing system. This phase will focus on strengthening management and oversight, streamlining organizational alignment, completing the installation of a state-of-the-art electronic billing system, replacing aging water meters and addressing the unpaid portion of formerly held bills. “There will be no surprises for DeKalb water bill customers,” CEO Thurmond said. “Prior to any final decisions about unpaid portions of previously held bills, I will present a plan of action to a public meeting of the Board of Commissioners.” Thurmond…

The Stonecrest City Council will have a work session and special called City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 21, at City Hall to discuss a proposed ordinance to amend the city’s 2018 operating budget. The works session starts at 6 p.m. and the council meeting begins at 6:15 p.m. The amendment was deferred last night (March 19) after City Council members raised several questions concerning proposed adjustments to the contract for CH2M, the firm hired to oversee the management of the city. The amendment includes seven new positions and four new vehicles that would add over $600,000 to CH2M’s $16…

DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency is hosting two free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Workshops. The first nine-week workshop begins on April 3 and will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7–9:30 p.m. at DeKalb Fire Rescue Headquarters, 1950 West Exchange Place, Tucker. A second nine-week CERT workshop begins on April 5 and will be held on Thursday evenings from 7–9:30 p.m. at DeKalb Fire Rescue Headquarters. Participants will learn what to do before, during and after a disaster occurs. The workshop also will train citizens to care for family members and neighbors. Course topics include: Free emergency response…

On March 24,Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) will host its annual statewide candlelight vigil on March 24, 1 to 3 p.m., Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris drive S.E., Conyers. Minister Arthur Mitchell, executive minister, Springfield Baptist Church invites the community to come out and hear from Michelle Toledo Cainas, who will be the motivational speaker. Mothers Against Drunk Driving provides free services to local counties. Each victim and survivor will be provided a candle to light in memory for their loved ones.  This annual event is an evening of remembrance and hope tribute for victims and survivors of drunk and…

DeKalb County fire investigators are seeking a person of interest following a fire they said was intentionally set at the Ross Dress for Less, located in a plaza at the Mall at Stonecrest. The fire occurred on March 15 while shoppers were inside the store. No one was hurt. The 15 to 20 people were able to evacuate safely and orderly, said Captain Eric L. Jackson. When DeKalb County Fire Rescue arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the inner-most part of the store, Jackson said. Firefighters were able to extinguish the merchandise that was on fire in under 20…

Members of the Chi Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., which serves Rockdale and Newton counties, recently donated books to four local schools as part of the 2018 National African American Read-In. The sorority gave books to the media centers at CJ Hicks and Shoal Creek elementary schools in Rockdale County and Porterdale and Fairview Elementary Schools in Newton County on March 8. Volunteers also presented certificates to the teachers and students who participated in the Read-In event, which was conducted on Feb. 5 during Black History Month. The book donations and certificates officially closed out the…

All parents, students, teachers, staff and community stakeholders are invited to receive an update on the progress of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) from Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green at the annual State of the Schools Address on Tuesday, March 27, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a reception and followed by the address and Q&A. The meeting will be held at the Robert R. Freeman Administration & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. The event, hosted by Parent Councils United, gives community members a chance to receive a mid-year update on DeKalb County schools and provides an opportunity…

Transforming Faith Church to drop 10,000 Easter eggs from helicopter Transforming Faith Church and Pastor Lee May will host an Easter Egg Helicopter Drop on Saturday March 31, 1 to  3 p.m., on the football field at Southwest DeKalb High School, 2863 Kelley Chapel Road, Decatur. “We are excited about hosting another big community event in DeKalb County” said Pastor Lee.  “The day will be filled with games, food, music and lots of fun. All the activities are free for the day and the ministry will also provide free food while supplies last. First Lady Robin May said, “This is…