Author: On Common Ground News

Two major credit agencies—Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings—both have revised DeKalb County’s financial outlook from stable to positive, county officials announced today (July 24).  Additionally, Moody’s assigned DeKalb County its highest rating for short-term municipal bonds. The agency gave its MIG 1 rating, the best assessment a county can get, to DeKalb’s $43.7 million general obligation tax anticipation notes. “The improved outlook shows that DeKalb is getting its fiscal house in order,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “Our efforts to eliminate deficit spending, rebuild cash revenues and reduce the burden on county taxpayers are important steps to support long-term…

Hundreds of backpacks will be distributed during a back-to-school supplies giveaway on Saturday, July 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,  at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College campus, Building SC, 3251 Panthersville Road, Decatur. The event, sponsored by State Farm, Georgia State LIFT, Creating our Future Inc. and Beverly Cunningham Outreach Group, is open to south DeKalb families with children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grades. In addition to 500 backpacks, supplies to be given away will include calculators, notebook paper, pens and pencils. Health screenings, financial literacy information and free food will be on tap, too.

Homegoing services are planned this weekend for retired Master Sgt. Eugene Daniels, brother of Stonecrest City Councilwoman Diane Daniels Adoma. The decorated U.S. Air Force veteran will be laid to rest on Saturday, July 28, 11 a.m., at Tabernacle Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was 76. Eugene Daniels was born in Climax, Georgia. He accepted Christ at the age of 12. He completed his elementary and secondary education in Albany, Georgia.  It was there that he met and married the love of his life, Melvenia Glynn-Daniels before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Daniels earned an Associate…

By Dr. Jabari Simama First they came for the President of Georgia Piedmont Technical College, but I did not speak. Then they came for the President’s Cabinet, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a member of the President’s Cabinet. Then they came for the GPTC South DeKalb Campus, but I did not speak out— Because I was not a student at the South DeKalb Campus. Then they shut down the South DeKalb Campus, gave the Newton Campus to Athens Tech, and merged Georgia Piedmont with another college— there was no one left to speak for DeKalb.…

  Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host the third “Shop Talk” forum on Saturday, Aug. 18, at Trim Starz Barber Shop, 1910 Highway 20 SE, Suite 230, Conyers. The event, the third in the series, will feature the following speakers to answer community residents’ questions and concerns: Probate Court Judge Clarence Cuthpert State Court Judge Nancy Bills Cynthia Welch, Board of Elections Director The Shop Talk series introduces elected officials to those who may not know who they are or what their roles, duties and responsibilities are. For more information, contact Jorge Diez at jorge.diez@rockdalecountyga.gov or 770-278-7056.

Georgia Lottery officials announced today that the jackpot for Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing has been raised from $493 million to $512 million, as a result of strong sales. Five Georgia Lottery players won $10,000 each in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing. The lucky tickets were purchased in Claxton, Kennesaw, Luthersville, Mableton and Macon. The Mega Millions jackpot has grown since May 8 and has rolled 22 times. Mega Millions offers two jackpot payment options: the $512 million annuity prize paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual graduated payments; or the cash option, which is approximately $303 million. It…

By Valerie J. Morgan Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP) has announced a three-year initiative to provide affordable homeownership and new capitol to improve areas hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis in DeKalb County. ANDP President and CEO John O’Callaghan said the private, nonprofit organization is investing $20 million in the “Home South DeKalb” initiative, which will target ZIP codes such as 30038 and 30035, which have among the highest percentage of negative equities.      O’Callaghan said the initiative includes dozens of partners—from  banking and lending institutions to developers and builders to community and governmental entities—all working together to…

By Valerie J. Morgan   Conyers Police are looking for a group of armed men, believed to be teens, who brazenly burglarized 18 cars in two neighborhoods before leading police on a high-speed chase onto I-20.  Police said the group of suspects, about eight of them, broke into several cars during early morning in the Travers Creek and Windsor Creek communities as residents slept on July 18. The suspects walked from car to car, checking for unlocked doors and then breaking into locked cars, stealing various items.  One victim, Diane Strauss, said she dialed 911 after hearing her car…

Southeast DeKalb Concerned Citizens Coalition hosted a political forum on July 18 at Redan Trotti Library. DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Gregory Adams and State Superior Court Judge candidate Latisha Dear-Jackson were the only candidates in attendance of the approximately 15 invited candidates who are running in the June 24 runoff election.  About 35 community members attended the event and participated in submitting cards with a variety of questions, ranging from elected officials’ accountability to SPLOST projects. –Photos by Travis Hudgons

A DeKalb County jury has convicted a Decatur man of murder for the drowning death of his newly-adopted son. Jurors returned guilty verdicts against 44-year-old Leon Harvey Williams on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Cruelty to Children in the First Degree (three counts), Aggravated Assault-Family Violence, and Aggravated Battery-Family Violence in connection with the death of 10-year-old Kentae Williams whom he had recently adopted five months prior to the child’s death. The victim died on April 28, 2017 following a series of incidents involving Williams. According to the investigation, neighbors heard Williams, apparently upset with the child’s behavior at…