Author: On Common Ground News

During its Jan. 25 awards luncheon, Georgia Piedmont Technical College announced  Crystal Wright, a nursing student,  as the college’s 2018  Student of the Year.  In addition, paralegal instructor, Kye Haymore, was announced as Instructor of the Year. “Ms. Wright and Ms. Haymore are both high achievers, and I am inspired by the respective journeys that brought them to our institution,” said GPTC President Jabari Simama.  “These women will represent the college well as they compete for regional and state titles. I am enormously proud of them.” Each year, the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) administers the Georgia Occupational Award for…

Wintry weather may have shut down roads, businesses, and school buildings recently, but Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) teachers and students didn’t miss a beat as they continued teaching and learning online and at home with Independent Learning Days the week of Jan. 17-19. Rockdale students will notbe required to make up the days since instruction continued during that time online and at home. During designated Independent Learning Days, when inclement weather prevents students from being safely transported to school, teachers use online learning platforms to give assignments and communicate with students via regular methods such as itslearning, Remind101, ClassDojo,…

DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw is launching “Quarterly in the Fourth” community breakfast meetings for District 4 constituents and other interested parties. Constituents will have an opportunity to discuss various topics and meet representatives from DeKalb County departments. The first community breakfast meeting will be held on Jan. 27, 9 a.m., at Clarkston High School, 618 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston. The focus of the meetings is to provide information and resources and to address the concerns of Commissioner Bradshaw’s constituents. Constituents will have an opportunity to discuss various topics and meet representatives from DeKalb County departments “It…

The Stonecrest City Council will hold its work session on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m., at City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. The council’s regular voting meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m., at City Hall.

Rockdale Career Academy (RCA) invites students and families to learn about the exciting career pathways and opportunities to earn specialized industry-based certifications at the RCA Open House Night Jan. 30, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at 1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers. Students in current grades 8-11 and their parents/guardians are invited to meet RCA’s award winning instructors, who bring years of real-world industry experience and expertise. Families can tour the classrooms, workshops, kitchens, studios, laboratories and facilities where classes take place. RCA, which is open to all RCPS high school students, offers more than 23 Career, Technical, Agricultural, Education career pathways.…

State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) will host the third annual Women’s Go Red Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 2, noon to 2 p.m., room 216 of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The Women’s Go Red Luncheon will provide women with an opportunity to learn about cardiovascular health and the dangers of heart disease. The luncheon will take place during the American Heart Association’s “National Wear Red Day.” According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases while 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart…

The Nancy Guinn Memorial Library and the Rockdale County Chapter of the NAACP will host the Rev. Aldren Sadler as the inaugural speaker for the library’s “Local Voices” program series on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2 to 3 p.m. “Local Voices” spotlights community leaders and their impactful stories. Rev. Sadler will share his insightful story and heritage. Rev. Sadler is the founder and senior pastor of Church of New Beginnings in Conyers, Georgia. He has served in leadership roles for the Conyers-Rockdale Consolidation Committee, United Way of Rockdale County, Rockdale County Task Force Against Family Violence, Rockdale County Department of Family…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and the Board of Commissioners proclaimed Jan. 23 as “DeKalb County Fire Rescue Day.” Firefighters of DeKalb County Fire Rescue were recognized for their role in saving nearly 100 residents at Avondale Forest Apartments. “These incredible acts of courage and heroism during the Avondale Forest Apartments fire are testaments to the training, commitment and courage of our public safety employees, said CEO Thurmond. “I am extremely proud of our fire department, our 911 operators and administrative staff who do an extraordinary job everyday protecting our county.” On Jan. 3, DeKalb County firefighters boldly rushed to…

The Rockdale County Board of Elections is considering relocating nine voting precincts that are in schools to other public locations. The board is considering the move for the protection and safety of students, said Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch. Voters are invited to learn more about the proposal on Thursday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m., at the Rockdale Board of Elections Office, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The public meeting will be the second conducted. A meeting also was held on Jan. 25. Voters of the following Rockdale County precincts would be impacted by the change: Barksdale Precinct Barksdale Elementary School, 596…

DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling invites DeKalb County high school juniors and seniors to enter the 2018 Stop Teen Dating Violence Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest. Coleman, in partnership with Cinderella’s Gowns, Men’s Wearhouse of Stonecrest, and Lynette Clove, an independent sales director for Mary Kay, plan to give away a prom package to the winner. With February being recognized as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Stribling is encouraging DeKalb teens to promote healthy dating practices that prevent dating violence by producing a one-minute PSA. The student who creates the most impactful PSA will win a prom prize package, which…