Author: On Common Ground News

With the announcement that Atlanta has made Amazon’s finalists’ list for its second world headquarters known as HQ2, Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary said he is ever optimistic about securing the bid. Lary said Stonecrest is still in the running because the Georgia Economic Development’s Office bid includes metro Atlanta and thus, Stonecrest. Amazon officials have narrowed the list from 238 to 20 cities, news outlets reported on Jan. 18. Lary said he is collaborating with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to win the Amazon bid for the metro area. “I said we have more land and you have more rail,”…

Gilbert Turman, a former principal of Southwest DeKalb High School and founder of the South DeKalb Neighborhood Coalition, has died, On Common Ground News learned at deadline. Mr. Turman died at home at 11 a.m. on Jan. 18, friends said. He was 77. Dr. Melvin Johnson, who was Mr. Turman’s supervisor for many years, remembered him as a “true community servant.” Mr. Turman served not only at Southwest DeKalb High School but McNair Middle and Columbia High School. “Everybody respected him as a great administrator. He looked out for everyone,” said Johnson. In 2017, DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis returned to…

Dozens of people braved the cold weather to join DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson and other officials and community leaders for the plaque unveiling ceremony of the historic naming of the Michelle Obama Walking Trail at Georgia State University-Perimeter College campus. The ceremony was held on Jan. 13. The walking trail is the first in the country named after former first lady Michelle Obama. Those in attendance expressed their excitement for the occasion. Inspired by Obama’s “Let’s Move” health initiative—a public health campaign to reduce childhood obesity, Commissioner Johnson said he wanted a walking trail to honor Obama and her…

Josie Dean, who heads Rockdale County’s Think Tank civic organization, worked with local officials to host the first-ever MLK Day Parade on Main Street in Conyers. The historic event was supported by a cross-section of the community. Following the parade, a celebration and awards program were held at the Rockdale Auditorium. Photos and videography by On Common Ground News Publisher Glenn L. Morgan

Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. On many occasions applicants for a Georgia Weapons Carry License have asked “Can my weapons carry license be revoked?” Another frequently asked question is “Can my application for renewal be denied even though my initial application was approved? The answer to both questions is yes! If, at any time during the period for which the weapons carry license was issued, the judge of the probate court of the county in which the license was issued shall learn or have brought to his or her attention in any manner, any reasonable ground to believe…

Rockdale County Department of Planning and Development, with the Atlanta Regional Commission, will hold an open house event to kick off the County’s Comprehensive Plan for the next 20 years. The Rockdale 2040 Plan first Open House will be held Jan. 25, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., in the Rockdale County Government Annex Building, 1400 Parker Road SE, Conyers.  The public is invited to attend anytime during the hours of the open house, as there will be multiple sessions to give feedback on the economic and infrastructure development for Rockdale County. During the open house, the Planning and Development Department will provide…

The Stonecrest City Council in a 5-0 vote elected George Turner as its new mayor pro tem on Jan. 16 over the objections of Councilmember Diane Adoma, the out-going mayor pro tem. “…I am adamantly upset that this Council have chosen to ambush this particular topic without giving me any notification,” Adoma said. “…I am abstaining from this vote today because we have a council who feel like they don’t have to be accountable to the people nor the charter nor the Constitution and I will not cast a vote today to remove me as a legal, sitting mayor pro…

DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will host a town hall meeting to discuss the proliferation of store closings in South DeKalb. The meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road. “People are in a panic. I’m bringing in county officials and others to discuss the store closings that are happening in our area,” said Johnson. Johnson said Andrew Baker, DeKalb’s director of planning and development, Chief Operation Officer for DeKalb County Zach Williams and Ray Gilley, president of Decide DeKalb Development Authority will be on hand to field…

Hundreds turned out for the town hall meeting on the abrupt Stonecrest Sam’s Club closing hosted tonight (Jan. 16) by State Rep. Vernon Jones. Many said Wal-Mart, the parent company for Sam’s Club, did not provide detailed answers on why the store suddenly closed Jan. 11. Glen Wilkins said performance, the future growth of Sam’s Clubs and the impact of other clubs in the area is what officials based their decision on to close the club. However, one employees said the Stonecrest store was earning over $100,000 a day. DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson blasted Wal-Mart executives in handling the…

Josie Dean, who heads Rockdale County’s Think Tank civic organization, worked with local officials to host the first-ever MLK Day Parade on Main Street in Conyers. The historic event was supported by a cross-section of the community. Following the parade, a celebration and awards program were held at the Rockdale Auditorium. Photos and videography by On Common Ground News Publisher Glenn L. Morgan