Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA— Keith Parker announced today he will step down after nearly five years of service from MARTA. Parker will join Goodwill of North Georgia, which provides job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs, as president and CEO this fall. Led by MARTA Chairman Robbie Ashe, the Board will vote to approve an interim general manager in an upcoming session and will launch a national search for a permanent chief executive. “We are deeply grateful for his stewardship and proud of the many strides we made as an agency during his tenure, said Ashe. “As chief executive, Parker…

Nearly 800,000 young immigrants in Georgia and across the nation are now slated for deportation with President Trump’s cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced today (Sept. 5) the cancellation would take effect in sixth months. Trump is dismantling a program, authorized under the Obama Administration in 2012. The program granted renewable, two-year work permits and deportation deferrals to immigrant children who were brought to the U.S. before they turned 16.  The so-called “Dreamers”  included immigrants who are attending school and those who had no felony convictions. As of March 31,…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it would rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: “By rescinding DACA, President Trump is sending a clear and unambiguous message to his Steve Bannon-alt right supporters that they have a friend in the White House. This rescission is consistent with President Trump’s despicable pardoning of convicted civil rights violator Sheriff Joe Arpaio, which came on the heels of the President’s reference to Nazi, Klan and alt-right sympathizers in Charlottesville as “good people.” President Trump did the wrong thing in failing to protect our DACA…

The Georgia State Firefighters Association (GSFA) recognized Fire Safety Educator Jacade Long as the recipient of the 2017 Educator of the Year Award. This award honors a member of Georgia’s fire service community who has exemplified a dedication to educating residents about the significance of fire safety and prevention. Long received the award during the 2017 Georgia Fire Service Conference Awards on Aug. 26 in Athens, GA. As a fire safety educator and public information officer for the department, Long coordinates fire safety education activities for nine stations and 140 firefighters. He is credited with starting multiple, creative initiatives to…

The City of Decatur announces the addition of a year-round swimming opportunity with the opening of the Oakhurst pool facility at the Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club. The celebration begins with a ribbon cutting on Monday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m., at the Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club in Oakhurst, 450 East Lake Drive. The pool had been unused for several years. Thanks to the willingness of the Metropolitan Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs to lease the pool to the City of Decatur, the City was able to fund the renovation of the pool and create…

The DeKalb County School District is encouraging its employees and residents of DeKalb County to pitch in and help Hurricane Harvey victims. “Our thoughts and prayers of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) family go out to the Houston and Southwest Louisiana communities as they work through the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. A catastrophe of this magnitude impacts all of us, and we must come together to energize and sustain the recovery effort,” officials said on the district’s web site. The district is encouraging its employees, families and neighbors to lend assistance to use the following list to provide help:…

Conyers Middle School are planning to show their support for victims of Hurricane Harvey. The school is collecting donations Sept. 5-13. Houston, Texas officials have reported thousands of people have been evacuated and are now in shelters in need of supplies. Conyers Middle is seeking donations of bottled water, canned food, coins, clothing and toiletry items for the victims. The students are planning their Spirit Week and show their support for Harvey victims throughout the week of Sept. 11. For more information, contact Conyers Middle Principal Allison Barbour at abarbour@rockdale.k12.ga.us CMS Spirit Week Sept. 11–15 Monday – Wear your favorite…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit located and arrested 29-year-old Robert Lee Hamilton, Jr. of Lithonia at an apartment complex near Decatur, officials said A warrant had been issued for Hamilton on Aug. 28 charging him with the felony murder of a man who was killed after being shot several times on Aug. 27 at the Wesley Club Apartments in Decatur. Hamilton also had an outstanding warrant from June 3, 2017 charging him with family violence battery against a woman who allegedly lived with him at some time. Hamilton was transported to the DeKalb County Jail without incident.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a suspect in the May 15 shooting of two victims on Chupp Road in Lithonia. Lithonia resident Quinton Bentford, 30, is charged with murder and aggravated Assault involving two victims, one of whom died as a result of the shooting.  Warrants were issued on Aug. 26 for Bentford’s arrest.  He was located and taken into custody without incident by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit on Sept. 1 at a bus stop near Panola Road in Lithonia.

Women in labor at DeKalb Medical now have a new option to manage pain. Nitrous oxide, frequently used in dentist’s offices, has been proven advantageous for pain relief during labor. DeKalb Medical is the first hospital in metro Atlanta and the second in Georgia to offer nitrous oxide. Northeast Georgia Medical Center became the first in August of 2016. “Patients like using nitrous oxide because it’s safe for them and their baby. It is self-administered and allows women to manage the discomfort of labor and post-birth while remaining alert and conscious,” said Rose Horton, executive director of DeKalb Medical’s Maternity…