Author: On Common Ground News

District 2 Council member Rob Turner will host a town hall meeting on Thursday, Aug. 10, 6:30 – 8 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Stonecrest. There will be special guest speakers and updates provided on the new city. Turner invites stakeholders to ask questions and share resources. For more information, contact 470-381-8555.

Residents of The Parks of Stonecrest celebrated National Night Out on Aug. 1 with a poolside barbecue, which was held at the community’s clubhouse. Stonecrest City Council member Jimmy Clanton, who lives in the community, and organizers of the event welcomed Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary to their celebration. Like many other National Night Out events that were held throughout DeKalb County and the metro Atlanta area, residents in the Stonecrest community and law enforcement officials had a chance to meet up and learn about available resources. National Night Out was first established in 1984 and is held the first Tuesday…

The court case involving former DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson is getting under way. Watson waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty on Aug. 1 to a charge of theft by conversion for allegedly receiving advance checks from the county of over $3,000 for government travel he did not take. Robert James, who is representing Watson and is the former district attorney for DeKalb County, said his client has reimbursed the county but could not discuss the case any further at this time because he hasn’t yet seen the evidence. “We’re ramping up and reviewing evidence. That is really all that…

Three new Ford Fusions, one Ford 150 and a Ford Transit Connect are the initial vehicles in the city’s fleet. The vehicles will be used for code enforcement, building inspection, and administrative duties. The city also announced additional staff who have been hired. Lillian Lowe and Leah Rodriguez joined the Stonecrest staff as administrative assistants. Josh Roth is the city’s new building official and William Kirkland is the city’s first code enforcement officer.

The Stonecrest City Council will take a final vote on its hotel/motel tax ordinance on Aug. 7. The ordinance will assess a 5 percent tax to Stonecrest’s 10 hotels and motels for fees charged to their guest for lodging. The tax is 3 percent lower than hotel operators have been paying to DeKalb County. On June 19,the council approved an 8 percent hotel/motel tax but later found they had to rescind the ordinance until city officials get the approval of the State Legislature to charge 8 percent. Once approved, the additional 3 percent will go toward promoting and marketing tourism,…

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division processed 550 tons of furniture, metals, appliances and construction and demolition materials during Amnesty Day, a free disposal opportunity for DeKalb County residents. This Operation Clean Sweep project was held on Saturday, July 29, at the county-owned Seminole Road Landfill located in Ellenwood. Among the items dropped off and processed were 323 tons of bagged garbage and bulky items, 87 tons of yard trimmings, 123 tons of construction and demolition materials and 156 tires. More than 1,100 county residents participated in the event, saving a total of $23,815 in disposal fees. “We were delighted…

Demolition of the former Centennial Olympic Tennis Stadium in Stone Mountain officially began Aug. 1. Officials from Gwinnett County, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association and Evermore Community Improvement District expressed their farewells and shared their excitement about a new life for the site, which has been sitting empty for years. Officials say demolition is expected to take about six months. A concrete stadium with about 7,200 seats, over a dozen outdoor tennis courts and a clubhouse were constructed to host the 1996 Games that catapulted Atlanta onto the world’s stage. Gwinnett County acquired ownership of the 24-acre tennis complex…

Notaries Public have long been relied upon to deter fraud. The Notary process dates back to ancient Rome and continues to be a staple of personal, government and business transactions as a means to certify that the signatures are valid. Notarized documents are required for a wide range of legal filings and financial transactions. The proper performance of notarial duties is essential to the effective operations of government and commerce. As a Notary, you are exercising the sovereign authority delegated to you by the State of Georgia. Why do we need notaries? To deter document fraud. To ensure the integrity…

State Sen. Gloria Butler is partnering with Overcomers House Inc. to host the 9th annual “Back to School Giveaway” for residents of Gwinnett and DeKalb 
counties on Saturday, Aug. 5, at Overcomers House, Inc., 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., 2100 Fountain Square, Suite C, Snellville. “It will be a great event partnering with Overcomers House,” said Butler. “We’re supporting the community and children with their school needs. Going back to school is a stressful time for students of all ages and the fear of a new experience should not be made any harder because they do not feel prepared to…

Watchdogs for Justice (WFJ), a nonprofit organization established for the purpose of “Keeping Kids out of Prison” will conduct a free seminar on Aug. 12, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur. Attorneys Clara King, Alis Hughes, Dana Harrell and juvenile advocates Frank Conwell, Derek & Daisy Graham, Deborah Young, and Wallace Ward will discuss a variety of topics in their efforts to keep our young people out of the system. The seminar will consist of interactive skits based on actual court cases. Most of the kids can relate to the…