Author: On Common Ground News

City of Stonecrest will have a special called meeting on May 2, 2018. Special Called Meeting 05022018

By Sheriff Eric J. Levett  Summertime is approaching once again and it’s one of our busiest times of year. Summer brings with it many community activities, schools will be dismissing, and many of its citizens leaving for vacation. It is the goal of the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office to ensure that our citizens have a safe environment to enjoy summer activities, as well as to protect the property of those leaving for vacation. This year, there will be many activities occurring throughout the county. These events include the Grand Opening at Costley Mill Park, Milstead Splash Pad Opening, free and…

by Mackenzie N. Morgan In addition to electing local, state and federal officials, DeKalb voters who pull a Democratic Party ballot will have four straw poll questions to answer. The questions on the ballot are to gauge popular opinion about certain issues.  Here are the questions and a short summary of their background or origin:     Should the sale and distribution of bump stocks be prohibited in the state of Georgia?  This bill deals with blocking the sale of bump stocks–firearm modifications used to convert semiautomatic weapons into high powered military-style rifles allowing users to fire at the rate of…

by Valerie J. Morgan DeKalb Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson is being challenged by long-time Attorney Genet Hopewell in the non-partisan election on May 22. Johnson is seeking her third term. She was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.   Hopewell is a partner at Johnson Hopewell Coleman, where DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson is also a partner in the law firm. She has sat as a judge in DeKalb’s recorder’s, magistrate and juvenile courts. The hotly contested race is one of several local races where DeKalb incumbents are facing challengers including: DeKalb District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson  DeKalb…

H. Maxine Daniels, retired director of Voter Registration & Elections in DeKalb County, and Cynthia Welch, supervisor of Rockdale County Board of Elections & Voter Registration, have been appointed to Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s 18-member SAFE Commission.  Kemp created the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections Commission (SAFE) to study options for Georgia’s next voting system. The SAFE Commission will conduct thorough discussions on all options – including the feasibility of using all hand-marked paper ballots to all electronic machines with a voter-verified paper trail – and travel the state to solicit feedback from stakeholders. Members will conduct cost analysis…

On Monday, April 30, the first day of early voting, candidate for governor and former House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams will kick off a bus tour throughout Georgia. She will be joined by Uzo Aduba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Aisha Hinds, Rashida Jones, and local leaders as they visit Atlanta, Albany, Macon, Fort Valley, Columbus and Atlanta. The bus tour stops in Macon, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 1501 Mercer University Dr.  Abrams and the group will be in Fort Valley, 10:15-11:15 a.m., at 1005 State University Drive. The bus will be in Albany from 12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Ray Charles…

DeKalb County will receive $3.6 million in mass transit improvements through a federal grant issued to MARTA. The award will enhance public transportation in the county and includes new buses that are environmentally friendly, officials announced.   The funding from the Federal Transit Administration will upgrade and replace 40-foot diesel-fueled buses with 60-foot Compressed Natural Gas buses. The new buses will be stationed in central DeKalb County at the Laredo Bus Depot in Scottdale. They will be used to enhance service on MARTA Route 121, which connects riders to the Avondale Station and the city of Stone Mountain. The bus…

On Common Ground News salutes Stone Mountain High School. Nineteen of its students have earned Associate Degrees in business management before completing high school. Stone Mountain High School partnered with Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) in a dual enrollment initiative, “Onward Academy.” The partnership between GPTC and the DeKalb County School District through the Office of Student Advancement.  Currently, four DeKalb County schools have students who are graduating from dual degree programs this school year: Stone Mountain High School, Clarkston, Cross Keyes, and Ronald E. McNair. The following students from Stone Mountain High will graduate from GPTC on May 19:…

Three members of the 9 Trey Bloods gang were convicted in a murder case involving two female victims, DeKalb County District Sherry Boston announced. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on April 26 against 24-year-old Demetre “Flame” Mason and 25 year-old  on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and weapons offenses in connection with the murders of Shaniqua Camacho, 20, and Sonia Williams, 21.  A third defendant, Michael “Slim” Jenkins, 24, was convicted of Aggravated Assault and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act for his role in the…

The DeKalb County 911 Communications Department is seeking qualified applicants to join its communications team. Interested candidates can apply for E911 Communication Officer I positions beginning Tuesday, May 1, 2018, closing Thursday, May 31. All applicants must complete and submit the online application listed in the “job opportunities” section on the county website: DeKalbcountyga.gov. All candidates must meet minimum requirements: • At least 18 years of age  • U.S. citizen  • High School diploma or GED Applicants must successfully pass a computer skills test (keyboarding, data entry, listening and prioritization), pass a background investigation and complete a physical examination. The…