Author: On Common Ground News

In celebration of National Poetry Month in April, DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host its second annual Poetry Slam on Friday, April 21, at 7 p.m., at Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur. DeKalb youth ages 5 to 17 can participate in the slam and must register by April 7. The Poetry Slam features young poets and writers from DeKalb during a special evening that celebrates the power of words, music and the triumph of hope. Admission is $5. To access online registration, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the “Register Now” button on the department’s home…

State Rep. Michele Henson (D-Stone Mountain), along with Towers Action Group, Partners in Action for Healthy Living, Inc. and Belvedere East Lake Terrace, invite the community to attend “Take Back Your Community: Communities in Action!” on Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at Bethune Middle School, 5200 Covington Highway, Decatur. The event will include presentations and a question-and-answer period with the DeKalb County Police Department and Tapestri Inc. To RSVP, contact Towers Action Group at: towersactionsgroupdekalb@gmail.com.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will roll out ten, 30-foot buses, offering right-sized service to neighborhoods with narrow and challenging roadways. The recently purchased “Vicinity” buses will allow MARTA to better navigate Community Circulator routes located throughout MARTA’s service area.  The first communities to see the new buses will include Belvedere, Boulder Park and Lovejoy and will expand “last mile connectivity.”  Additionally, the new vehicles will also be used on routes with lighter ridership, such as Routes 56 and 192, until additional Community Circulator routes are introduced. The superior turn radius, light curb weight, increased gas mileage and…

A DeKalb County jury has convicted a man who shot his girlfriend and left her to die in the middle of the street, moments before she was run over by another vehicle. Jurors returned guilty verdicts against 27-year-old Dominque Richardson on charges of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Richardson was convicted of the shooting and subsequent death of 22-year-old Taylor Holcombe. The incident happened on Oct. 24, 2015 at the intersection of Glenwood Road and Meadow Lane. The two were riding in the victim’s car, when the defendant suddenly…

Register to attend the “ABCs of Running for Office” informational session. The session will be held Saturday, April 1, at noon, CWA Local 3204, 279 Logan St, S.E., Atlanta. The workshop is open to all candidates who have not already submitted their Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions (FORM DOI) for the November 2017 elections. Elections will be held on Nov. 7, 2017, and all seats are open. Pre-registration is required for this informational session. Registration deadline is Wednesday, March 29. To RSVP for the workshop, email: ABCsofRunning@gmail.com Include your name, Cell phone number, position you are interested in…

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond will deliver an evening State of the County Address to citizens and community stakeholders on Tuesday, April 4, 7 p.m., at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, located at 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the event. “I am eager to recap my first 90 days in office with the community and share the upcoming initiatives for the remainder of the year,” Thurmond said. “This is truly an exciting time for the county.” DCTV will live stream the CEO’s speech on www.dekalbcountyga.gov.

CONYERS–The Rockdale Youth Football Association (RYFA) will kick off the start of its 2017 flag football and cheerleading season with a spirit-filled draft on Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m., at the Earl O’Neal Sports Complex, 2709 Covington Highway, Conyers. During the draft, all coaches will select their team members from an extensive roster.  The first game of the season will be held Saturday, April 8, and end with a season tournament Saturday,  May 13.  All games will be played at the Earl O’Neal Sports complex. RYFA’s coed flag football and cheerleading program is a member of the NFL…

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is accepting applications for numerous seasonal summer employment opportunities such as summer food monitors, camp counselors, recreation assistants and bus drivers until March 27. Applicants must be 18 or older unless applying for lifeguard or pool manager positions. Lifeguards and pool managers are required to be 16 or older. Proof of current certification from American Red Cross or other nationally recognized aquatic training programs is required for all aquatic positions.  All applicants selected will be required to successfully complete a drug and alcohol screening and criminal background check prior to employment. To view…

Jason Lary awoke this morning, on his birthday, with the best present ever: He is the first mayor of the new city of Stonecrest. Lary, who turned 55 today, galloped to victory in a three-way race on Tuesday night, defeating Charles Hill and Doug Favors. Lary is hosting his first meeting as mayor of the city today at the Stonecrest Library, 6 p.m., with Leadership DeKalb’s membership recruitment open house. Those who want to join the organization are invited to attend. “I’m going to do everything that I possibly can in the city of Stonecrest,” said Lary, who…

Stonecrest mayoral candidate Charles Hill held a news conference on Monday and stated that he does not have any mental health issues. His doctor confirmed that he has no such medical issues. Hill held the press conference in response to a postcard that residents in the city received on Saturday suggesting that he is bipolar and unfit to hold public office. The postcard pictured Charles Hill and a naked man (U.S. military veteran, Anthony Hill, who was bipolar and was shot and killed by a DeKalb police officer). Anthony Hill has nothing to do with the elections under way…