Author: On Common Ground News

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has appointed Jabari Simama, president of Georgia Piedmont Technical College, to serve on its national Commission on Structured Pathways. The commission’s mission is to improve student pathway implementation throughout the association’s member colleges. “Structured pathways” is a relatively new term in academic circles.  To help students decide on a field of study early in their college careers, many two-year institutions are reforming their advisement processes.  As a result, college administrators are requiring advising teams to communicate more often and more effectively with students.  The objective is to help reduce confusion about which courses…

Marian McDaniel, a veteran who retired from the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, has been named Rockdale County’s Fire Rescue Department’s new deputy fire chief of administration. The position, which hasn’t been filled since the recession hit in 2009, is one that the Board of Commissioners decided to reinstate. Fire Chief Dan Morgan and Chief Joel Yoder, deputy chief of operations, had been sharing the administration responsibilities after the county put the position on hold. McDaniel began her duties on Oct. 2. She brings nearly two decades of knowledge in public safety and emergency service to Rockdale. Starting her career as…

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) has narrowed its search for a Director of Management Information Services (MIS) to two candidates. The finalists are: Maurice D. Ficklin Adult Education Center Teacher – Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta Chief Information Officer and Director Information Technology – Fulton County Government Chief Information Officer and Director Information Technology – Dougherty County School System, Albany, GA Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Univ. of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – Pine Bluff AR; Masters in Information Systems, Univ. of Phoenix, Phoenix AZ Al Yelverton Director of Information Technology – DeKalb Board of Health, Decatur Director…

The Phyllis M. Banks Performing Arts Ministry of Antioch AME Church presents its annual fall production, “Breakthrough,” which follows a teen’s journey to overcome lies, family secrets and self- destruction. The cast includes Antioch’s Performing Arts Members, along with guest actors.  Lena Weathers-Johnson is Writer/Director and Corrine Williams is President. Please arrive early to secure your seating. The performance will be followed by our Annual Soul Food Fest, featuring a home-made feast prepared by some of Antioch’s best chefs. This community event is free to the public and will be held on Sunday, Oct. 8, 5 p.m. at Antioch AME…

Hands went up excitedly when State Rep. Doreen Carter asked if the class wanted to hear a story. Then the group of 4-year-olds at Voices of Faith Academy in Rockdale County were off on an adventure with Carter, who was accompanied by On Common Ground News editor Valerie Morgan. The pair read Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” the tale of the transformation of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Carter, who represents District 92, which includes DeKalb and Rockdale counties, said she was pleased to celebrate Georgia Pre-K Week with Voices of Faith Academy, where she was welcomed by…

Stonecrest leaders and community residents came together this morning to observe National Coffee With A Cop Day at the new Bojangle’s restaurant in the city of Stonecrest. The restaurant is owned by franchisee Lathan Hull, who also owns the Bojangle’s on Panola Road. In addition to Hull and his wife, Brenda, Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and City Council members Diane Adoma and Jimmy Clanton greeted the community at the event, celebrating police officers in the community. Representatives from Congressman Hank Johnson as well as DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson also attended. Mayor Lary told the crowd briefly that the…

DeKalb County School District Superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green will deliver a State of the District Address to more than 100 business and community leaders on Thursday, Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Stone Ridge Event Center, 1750 Stone Ridge Drive, Suite A, Stone Mountain. Green will discuss the school district’s E-SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) projects and progress, five-year accreditation, new marketing campaign and more. The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event. Admission is $45 for Chamber members and $55 for non-members. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/2017dcsdaddress.

It’s time to clean out those closets, cabinets, garages and attics. Pack up your household goods, toys, clothes, and other items and head to the community yard sale. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the government annex building parking lot, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The fee to set up your goods for sale is $10 per parking space for county residents or $15 for non-county residents (payable on the day of the sale). Set-up starts at 7 a.m.   Annual Halloween Fest Join the Johnson Park annual Halloween Fest. Families are…

Dijanelle Fowler, 25, was indicted on Tuesday for the murder of  her 13-month-old daughter, Skylar, whom she is accused of leaving unattended in a hot vehicle for six hours. The DeKalb County Grand Jury returned a three-count indictment against Fowler, charging her with murder in the second degree, cruelty to children in the second degree and concealing the death of a child. According to the investigation, Fowler left the child buckled in her car seat in the rear of her vehicle while she got her hair done at a Lavista Road hair salon in Tucker on the morning of June…

DeKalb County’s Third Annual Fall Harvest Festival promises a whimsical twist this year. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at UGA Extension DeKalb County, 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur. Sponsored by the “Fresh on DeK” DeKalb Mobile Farmers Market, the free festival will feature fruit smoothie demonstrations, health education and medical screenings and lots of fresh produce for sale. “It’s going to be a very festive event, so that everyone can get something from it,” said Lynwood Blackmon, DeKalb Extension director and Mobile Farmers Market manager. “The education is the most important…