Author: On Common Ground News

Flanked by mayors and leaders of the 12 cities within the county, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond held a news conference on Oct. 18 to give an overview of projects that would be funded by the new 1 percent sales tax, if voters approve three referendums now at stake. Early voting for the referendums began on Oct. 16, ahead of the General Election on Nov. 7. While city residents will vote on the referendums and their citywide elections, voters in unincorporated DeKalb County will vote only on the referendums. Passage of the Special Purpose Local Sales Tax would increase DeKalb’s…

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office is investigating allegations of a gas-for-votes offer in Conyers after receiving complaints from citizens and information from the Rockdale County Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch. State officials are looking into allegations that the Shell Gas Station, located at the intersection of West Avenue and Green Street, offered $5 of gas to the first 100 people who brought in their “I Voted” sticker and provided identification showing they live in Conyers. “We received two complaints in our office and so I went by the station to find out if they were giving away free gas to…

Job seekers looking to begin their career with Gwinnett County Government are invited to the third annual Career Expo hosted by the Gwinnett County Department of Human Resources. The free event will be held Friday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. New this year, HR representatives will be available to provide free résumé critiques. Application and interview skills training sessions will be held at 10:30 a.m. after employee testimonials and a presentation about Gwinnett County employee benefits, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Career Expo gives…

The DeKalb County NAACP is taking the old proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” to heart. The branch is partnering with the DeKalb County School District to recruit volunteers to work with faculty and students in schools throughout the district. Lance Hammonds, who serves as the NAACP branch’s second vice president and chairs the education committee, said the partnership is a concerted effort to help students achieve, particularly those in underperforming schools. Hammonds said the NAACP collaborated with Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green and Dr. Vasanne Tinsley, deputy superintendent, student support and intervention, to develop a volunteer…

Rockdale County Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch said her office is extending hours, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., the last two days of the early voting period. Extended hours will be available on Thursday, Nov. 2, and Friday, Nov. 3, to attract more voters to use the new machines Rockdale is piloting for the state of Georgia. Originally, Welch’s office was scheduled to be open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the early voting period, which runs Oct. 16 through Nov. 3. However, Welch said the hours for early voting were extended to allow people to get…

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will conduct three public meetings as a part of an upcoming redistricting effort in the Stone Mountain and Clarkston clusters. This redistricting effort could potentially address additional capacity created by the newly rebuilt Rockbridge Elementary School facility, as well as the overcrowding of elementary, middle, and high schools in the Stone Mountain and Clarkston clusters. All members of the public are invited to attend these meetings and learn more about the redistricting, which could potentially impact the following schools: Allgood Elementary School, Dunaire Elementary School, Hambrick Elementary School, Indian Creek Elementary School, Jolly Elementary…

State Rep. Doreen Carter, who represents District 92, will host the Georgia House District 92 Nonprofit Summit on Saturday, Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at Nancy Guinn Memorial Library in Conyers. This event is a gathering of nonprofits in District 92 that work to make a difference in the community. The theme of the event is “Creating Connections, Building Bridges.” “My vision for the Nonprofit Summit is to reshape the way District 92’s nonprofits work together to leverage scarce resources, and this informative event will allow nonprofit leaders to learn from one another,” said Rep. Carter. “I hope…

Katerina Taylor, president & CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, received a Walker’s Legacy Power25 Award, a national award that recognizes the achievements of local business and community leaders. Recipients of the Walker’s Legacy Power25 Atlanta Awards are women who have thrived in an array of industries, including technology, media, corporate, business, and education. Walker’s Legacy is a global platform for the professional and entrepreneurial multicultural woman. The organization inspires, equips and engages through thought-provoking content, educational programming, and a global community. The Power25 honor was given to 25 women in major metropolitan cities across the country, including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit,…

DeKalb County resident Leslie E. Royal, an author and freelance journalist who has written for national outlets for two decades, has released a new manuscript to help you discover the author in you. The how-to guide is entitled “How to Write and Self-Publish Your Book for FREE with Amazon’s CreateSpace: An Easy Way to Complete Your Manuscript in Seven Stress-FREE Steps.” Royal said the guide is for procrastinators, those with busy schedules like hers and those who don’t know where to begin. She provides step-by-step instructions on how to write and self-publish in a matter of weeks. “Over…

Rockdale’s Constitutional Corner By Tisa Smart Washington Rockdale Tax Commissioner Rockdale County property owners should start seeing tax bills arrive in their mailboxes soon, if they have not already. Some owners may give it a cursory look while others go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Whichever group you fall in, it is important to understand what’s included on the bill and how we determine the amount of tax due. Bills are mailed to the owner of record as of Jan. 1. If your property taxes are paid by your mortgage company, the bank will contact us, in…