Author: On Common Ground News

Gov. Nathan Deal, joined by First Lady Sandra Deal, members of the King family, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and other dignitaries,  on Monday unveiled the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue at the northeast quadrant of the State Capitol. The eight-foot-tall bronze statue was created with locally sourced materials by Atlanta-based sculptor Martin Dawe of Cherrylion Studios and stands atop a 36-inch pedestal made of Georgia granite. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the completion of a years-long effort to commemorate the life and works of Georgia’s own son, Dr. Martin…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has opened a donation collection center for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and along the Gulf Coast. Collections began today at the DeKalb County Jail and the agency’s headquarters at 4415 Memorial Drive in Decatur.  The jail lobby is open 6:30 a.m. until 12 midnight and the headquarters lobby is open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. “We are partnering with the American Red Cross for the convenience of DeKalb County and nearby residents who want to support this emergency response effort,” says Sheriff Jeff Mann.  The agency will collect items and…

DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is offering tips to local residents who would like to help victims of Hurricane Harvey, which unleashed catastrophic flooding in Houston over the weekend.  At the request of DEMA’s emergency management counterparts in Texas, DeKalb offers the following tips: Do not send or transport unsolicited donations. Pay attention to agencies and volunteer organizations in the affected areas, which will list their specific needs. Only donate the items requested. Do not deploy to assist with cleanup until agencies have requested help. There are still damage assessments and basic repairs to infrastructure taking place. Due to the…

Jared Sawyer, the 19-year-old preacher, author and Morehouse College student who has appeared on national television, is in critical condition after a car accident. Sawyer was involved in a two-vehicle accident on Aug. 24. He was leaving his home in Decatur when he was exiting his subdivision and was T-boned on the driver’s side of his vehicle by another vehicle. The driver and toddler in the vehicle that hit him were not harmed. The accident occurred on the corner of Snapfinger Road and Rollingview Drive. DeKalb County Police and emergency workers arrived at the scene and Sawyer was rushed to…

Six candidates filed qualifying papers for the Tucker’s City elections, which will be held on Nov. 7. Four of the candidates are incumbents seeking re-election: Mayor Frank Auman, District1; Councilmember Honey Van De Kreke, District 2; Councilmember Matt Robbins and District 3Councilmember Michelle Penkava). In District 1, Van De Kreke will be challenged by Pat Soltys, while District 3 will see Penkava and challenger David Deaton on the ballot. Tucker’s City Council elections are staggered, meaning the three remaining seats will be on the ballot in November 2019. Here’s a look at candidates running in other municipal races in DeKalb:

The Gwinnett County Voter Registrations and Elections Division mailed its first official bilingual mass mailing Friday, Aug. 18, sending approximately 12,000 bilingual letters to Lilburn and Snellville voters advising them of city polling location changes. The Voter Registrations and Elections Division provides voter registration material and oral assistance in Spanish and continues to seek input from the public about ways to better serve the Hispanic community. The division created an online feedback form, and its staff is attending community events to publicize these new changes and recruit for bilingual poll officials. Gwinnett County is the first county in Georgia to…

Tucker city officials are preparing for an overflow crowd anticipated for the City Council’s special called meeting on Aug. 30 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 off 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…

The Friends of Stonecrest will host its first Craft Expo, “Christmas in September,” on Saturday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road (in the upper parking lot). Vendors are invited to showcase their hand-made goods. For more information regarding set up, call 770-482-3828. Proceeds will support library programs.

Eleven scholarships representing diverse roles and backgrounds, were awarded during DeKalb Medical Foundation’s annual scholarship awards reception on July 18. The Audrey and Jack Morgan Foundation Scholarship was awarded to DeKalb Medical employees who want to pursue educational opportunities and  enhance their skills and contributions to the community.  The 2017 winners are: Melissa Waters, Outpatient Rehab Services/North Decatur, who will attend the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Program and Videostroboscopy Certified Training Program; Shatavia Smith, Revenue Integrity/North Decatur, who will receive additional training at Chronicles Billing School; Jodean LaPointe, Cancer Center Clinical Trials/North Decatur, who will attend the Chamberlain College of…

The Nancy Guinn Memorial Library presented a “Special Storytime” on Aug. 24 to a group of preschoolers featuring Congressman Hank Johnson. Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties, read a favorite children’s book, “The Cat In the Hat” by Dr. Seuss. Johnson engaged the children, asking them questions along the way and encouraging them to get a library card, if they didn’t have one. Johnson had promised Rockdale library staff members that he would participate in one of the library’s reading programs after they came to Washington, D.C.  to thank him for…