Author: On Common Ground News

My day started out something like this: Me: God, can I ask you a question? God: Sure. Me: Promise you won’t get mad? God: I promise. Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today? God: What do you mean? Me: Well, I woke up late. God: Yes. Me: My car took forever to start. God: Okay. Me: At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait. God: Hmmm. Me: On the way home my phone went dead just as I picked up a call. God: Okay. Me: And on top of all that,…

The Resource Center for Community Action (RCCA) hosted its Thanksgiving mobile food pantry distribution on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. Volunteers helped pass out food boxes during the half-day give away. Food also as given away at Mayor’s Park in Lovejoy, Georgia on Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year marked the second year that RCCA has held the Community Thanksgiving giveaways at two locations. RCCA’s free giveaway was one of several efforts to assist those in need in the local area. The Unique Corvettes Club also pitched in to assist 50 needy families at…

MARTA will suspend all rail service west of Five Points Station after normal operations at 1:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, in preparation for the planned implosion of the Georgia Dome. The 25-year-old facility will be imploded at 7:30 a.m. MARTA, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, City of Atlanta and other agencies are working on the temporary service plan to help ensure a seamless, safe commute for MARTA riders. A portion of MARTA’s train tunnels lay almost directly under the implosion site, situated just west of downtown Atlanta, and two rail stations—Dome and Vine City—sit within the blast…

A crowd celebrated the grand opening this past Saturday for the city of Stonecrest’s new City Hall. Mayor Jason Lary, his wife Debra, and the five-member City Council held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the historic occasion of the newly-formed city of 50,000 residents. Congressman Hank Johnson and his wife, DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, were among several dignitaries and officials who spoke before the ceremony. The half-day of festivities included performance by Arabia Mountain High School Band, talent from Salem Middle and Flat Rock Elementary  and entertainment by R&B band, Gritz and Jelly Butter , as well as…

Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced his plans to run for re-election for another term. “I want to thank the people of Georgia’s 4th Congressional District for entrusting me with the honor of representing them in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Johnson said. “Having served during the terms of three presidents, and I am committed now more than ever to public service. Because of the daunting challenges we face as a nation, I want to continue working to bring people together to get things done in Congress for the American people and my constituents specifically.” Johnson also…

By Mark Brock DeKalb County put four teams through to the Sweet 16 of the GHSA State Playoffs with three in host roles this weekend. The Class 6A No. 1 ranked Tucker Tigers (10-1) play host to a familiar playoff opponent as the No. 5 ranked Northside Eagles of Warner Robins travel up I-75 for a 7:30 pm date on Friday at Adams Stadium. The two teams have met in the state playoffs four times and are all even at 2-2 in the series that has featured some exciting finishes over the years. Tucker won 22-7 at Hallford Stadium…

  On Nov. 7, 70 percent of DeKalb County voters approved a one-cent special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) to address serious transportation needs and other capital improvements. Proposed by DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and the 12 cities wholly within the county, the measure will increase the current sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent in April 2018. “For the first time in DeKalb County’s history, voters have approved a blueprint for success with the passage of the SPLOST,” said CEO Michael Thurmond. “We take this vote of trust seriously and…

The newly-formed city of Stonecrest is reviewing proposed changes to the city’s charter that include making the mayor’s position full time, clarifying responsibilities and powers of the position and separating the executive branch from legislative branch. The changes are among several recommendations the City Council discussed at its Nov. 8 work session, which lasted four hours. “We’re looking at several things in the charter and making suggestions to forward to the General Assembly,” said Councilman George Turner, noting that the upcoming Legislative Session begins in January. “We’re looking at having a full-time mayor. I believe we need a full-time mayor,…

                                                               Victor Gomez-Perez         Miguel Angel Ruiz-Serma      Jorge Alberto Vargas The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office Surge team, along with state and local agencies, have made three major drug busts over the last three weeks, seizing over $3.5 million in cocaine and heroin. The most recent seizures and arrests were made on Nov. 1 when a search warrant was executed by the team and DEA…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and the Stonecrest City Council would like to thank the citizens for their overwhelming support of DeKalb County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), which was overwhelming approved by voters on Nov. 7. The citizens of Stonecrest were vital to the passage of SPLOST. “The $47 million that Stonecrest will receive over the next six years will give us the ability to address many of our neglected infrastructure needs, including paving roads and repairing potholes,” said Mayor Lary. “We will move swiftly to engage the citizens of Stonecrest to complete a series of transportation improvement…