Author: On Common Ground News

State Rep. Vernon Jones (D-Lithonia) announced that he will introduce legislation that would create a state commission on historic monuments during the 2018 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. “The recent events in Charlottesville, Va., have spurred on calls for the removal of historical monuments and artifacts that honor a dark era in Georgia’s history,” said Rep. Jones. “While I have my personal beliefs on the matter, I propose that a bipartisan, systematic and transparent study be conducted in an effort to arrive at an inclusive solution.” Should this legislation pass and be enacted, this commission would hold statewide…

A crowd of people showed up to an evening solar eclipse workshop held on Thursday, Aug. 17 at the Hairston Crossing Library in Stone Mountain. Program participants received a free pair of eclipse glasses provided by NASA. Dozens of people hoping to snag a pair of the special solar glasses were turned away due to overcapacity. A Fernbank Science Center expert led a discussion on solar eclipses and viewing safety while fielding questions from an eager audience on topics ranging from the best viewing places, pets, and safely photographing the historic occasion. Justine and Victor McFarlane, who have 14 grandchildren,…

Rockdale County will test a paper ballot voting system being considered for Georgia when the city of Conyers holds its municipal elections in November. The Rockdale Board of Elections wants to replace its outdated voting machines, which are 15 years old, and move toward the new technology, which is being used in 17 jurisdictions across the nation, said Cynthia Welch, supervisor of Rockdale County Board of Elections & Voter Registration. The Rockdale Board of Elections approved the pilot at its Aug. 10 meeting and the city gave the nod on Aug. 16 to move forward with the project. Conyers voters…

  The DeKalb County Jail has launched a new information management system to streamline the flow of information between the jail and the county’s courthouses, courtrooms, judges, and visitors. DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann, who oversees the jail, said the new Tyler Technologies Odyssey solution is replacing the 16-year-old OJS (Online Judicial System) site. The $2.8 million Odyssey customized site at https://ody.dekalbcountyga.gov will give the public access to both the DeKalb courts case information and DeKalb Jail inmate information. Texas-based Tyler Technologies built the first phase of the site. “This new technology moves us light years ahead in jail…

Hope ran out for those searching for 78-year-old Millicent Williams of Decatur. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner positively identified the body located on Aug. 16 as Williams. She was found over a guardrail down an embankment on I-20 West, police spokesperson Shiera D. Campbell. Williams’ grandson, Gregory Anthony Williams, a 36-year-old army veteran with mental illness who had a long criminal record, was taken into custody and charged with theft by taking for being in possession of Mrs. Williams’ vehicle. Charges of kidnapping, murder and aggravated assault were added later. “He (Gregory Williams) was charged with murder because all of the…

  L-R: Georgia Piedmont Technical College President Dr. Jabari Simama, Bosch General Manager Bruno Oberle, State Senator Tonya Anderson, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Heritage High sophomore Alex Spencer, Rockdale County High sophomore TJ Hayes, Salem High sophomore Stanley Odom, Rockdale County High sophomore Toby Lanier, Haver & Boecker Exec. Vice President Claudio Caobianco, Haver & Boecker Human Resources Generalist Thomi Breedlove, Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council Exec. Director Marty Jones. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) and Rockdale Career Academy (RCA) announced the launch of an innovative German-style apprenticeship program under the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced that an additional 3,500 held water bills are being released, bringing the total to 8,500 mailed to customers this week.  Initially, Thurmond had announced 5,000 bills would be sent out the week of Aug. 14, but he said an Independent Verification Process has helped speed up the process. So far, 16,500 of the 37,000 water bills that were “held” in October 2016 will have been released since the Thurmond administration’s New Day Project was initiated in March 2017 to address DeKalb’s water billing crisis. DeKalb, which has 194,000 water customers, held the bills until it…

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and the Rockdale Fire Department are hiring. There are 37 vacancies in the sheriff’s office and 22 vacancies at the Rockdale Fire Department, Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. announced. Nesbitt is urging clergy in the community to spread the word from the pulpit on Sunday morning and during mid-week worship services that Rockdale needs to fill the positions. “We need deputies. And yes, we would love for as many of those deputies who meet the requirements to come from Rockdale County. I’m asking every local clergy member to make the announcement on Sunday…

Sen. Tonya Anderson (D – Lithonia) will host a certificate and lapel pin ceremony to recognize Vietnam War veterans from Rockdale, Newton and surrounding counties for their service and dedication to the United States. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2 p.m., at Conyers First United Methodist Church, 921 N. Main St., Conyers. “Our nation’s veterans deserve to be recognized for their service to our country and the sacrifices they have made so that we may live a happy life,” said Anderson. “Too many of our veterans, and especially our Vietnam veterans, are not recognized for their…

State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) will host House District 92 Women’s Equality Breakfast in celebration of National Women’s Equality Day on Saturday, August 26, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia. “We are celebrating the 97th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the amendment that gave women the right to vote,” said Rep. Carter. “Throughout history, women, blacks and other marginalized groups have faced roadblocks in exercising the right to vote,” Carter said. “Women were only afforded access to the ballot box 97 years ago. Through the Suffrage Movement, many brave women helped pave…