Author: On Common Ground News

The South DeKalb Improvement Association will host a community meeting on Saturday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m., at the Lithonia-Davidson Library, 6821 Church Street, Lithonia. The Housing Committee’s guest speaker will be Sheena Foster, Southeastern Regional Organizer for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC).  The NCRC is a national organization of over 600 community development and affordable housing organizations and civil rights groups.  Its utilization of the Community Reinvestment Act has resulted in: Over $62 billion in mortgage loans and community development commitments from national banks 45,900 families becoming homeowners as the result of NCRC’s foreclosure prevention and housing counseling services…

Notice is hereby given that a General Election will be held in the City of Stonecrest, Georgia on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 for the election of three (3) City Council Members. One shall be elected in Districts 1, 3 & 5. Any person desiring to be a candidate shall qualify at DeKalb County Registrations and Elections at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300 Decatur, GA 30032. Qualifying will begin on Monday, August 21, 2017 and ending Wednesday, August 23, 2017 between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. The qualifying fee for the position of City Council Member is Four…

The city of Stonecrest’s staff is growing. The new municipality, which marked its one-month anniversary at City Hall on Aug. 10, now has 15 people on staff, officials said. “A number of the critical positions have been filled,” said Adrion Bell, the city’s communications director. “The mayor is content. Every week, we chart where we are in terms of progress and we are ahead of our goals.” So far, the city’s staff includes: Michael Harris, Interim City Manager Plez Joyner, Assistant City Manager Brenda James, Interim City Clerk Nicole Dozier, Community Development Director Adrion Bell, Communications Director Audrey Mays, Account…

Veterans are invited to come out and learn about resources that are available to them at an upcoming town hall meeting. Justice For Veterans will host a town hall meeting on Aug. 15, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur. Al Bocchicchio, director of the Atlanta Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, will discuss benefits and resources that can assist veterans and their families. Bocchicchio is responsible for administering benefits and services to the estimated 773,000 veterans, service members, their families and survivors living in Georgia. The Atlanta Regional Office…

A DeKalb County employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint against County Commissioner Gregory Adams. The employee, Ashlee Wright, filed the claim through her attorneys with the County and with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that during the course of her tenure in Adams’ office he made inappropriate comments verbally and via text messages. Among Wright’s complaints are repeated requests to see photos of her in a bikini. “This is not appropriate behavior for a supervisor, much less an elected leader and the bishop of a church,” said Wright’s attorney Robert James, who is representing her with his…

Christian Anderson, a 16-year-old junior at Heritage High School in Conyers, has been selected to participate in the 2017 All American High School Film Festival. Anderson, who produced a music video, is seeking the public’s support for the chance to attend the festival Oct. 6-8 where his video will be screened at the AMC Empire Theaters in New York City’s Times Square. Anderson filmed, edited and directed the music video entitled “The Drive” for his friend and rap artist, Ahmady (Ahmad Barron), also a student at Heritage High School. The award finalists and winners will be announced at the Teen…

DeKalb County Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green set the tone for the upcoming school year with “Every Little Step,” a message about embracing the actions needed to raise student achievement, at Convocation 2017 on Aug. 4. Triscilla Weaver, regional superintendent for Region 4, leads her schools through coordinated cheers during roll call at the convocation, which was held at the Infinite Energy Center Arena in Gwinnett. Officials said the event was held in Gwinnett because DeKalb has no facility large enough to accommodate the school district’s more than 13,000 employees.

The city of Tucker officials are preparing for an overflow crowd anticipated for the City Council’s special called meeting later this month to vote on The Rise, an 88-acre mixed-use development proposed for the former Sears distribution center site. The property is located near the corner of Hugh Howell Road and Mountain Industrial Boulevard of Highway 78. While proponents say the project would boost economic development, opponents fear it will bring more traffic and congestion to the area. A crowd packed City Hall at the July 28 Planning Commission’s meeting, where plans were introduced. The Rise would be similar to…

The Rockdale Board of Commissioners on Aug. 8 awarded contracts to Sunbelt Builders, Inc. for the construction of two new fire stations that will replace antiquated facilities. The 2011 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) will fund the projects. Officials said $1,787,043 is allocated for Fire Station #2, which will be built at 778 Bell Road S.E. in South Rockdale. The new station is being moved from Troup Street Road. Fire Station #3 will be torn down and rebuilt at its current location on Old Salem Road in the central part of the county at a cost of $1,795,122,…

Dale Holmes, who retired in 2015 as assistant police chief of DeKalb County, has traded in the carefree life for a top job with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. Holmes was sworn in as the new deputy chief of the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 7. A veteran law enforcement officer, Holmes is bringing more than 30 years of experience to the county. Holmes began his law enforcement career with the DeKalb. Police Department, rising through the ranks. He served with distinction, earning P.O.S.T. supervisory and management certifications, overseeing hundreds of sworn and non-sworn personnel, managing narcotics seizures and…