Author: On Common Ground News

Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson is hosting his Memorial Day Weekend Birthday Bash on Saturday, May 26, 6:30 to 10 p.m., at the Downtown Atlanta Hilton Hotel, 255 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta. The chess champion and motivational speaker is kicking off summer with a fun and entertaining evening for families. The free event gives attendees a sneak peek at what it’s like to attend one of Hudson’s hands-on, high-energy chess camps. “There are no spectators at our events. We get everyone involved, from the students to the parentss,” said Hudson, who has hosted children’s chess camps since 2001. “We’re looking forward to…

DeKalb County School District officials held a pinning ceremony for 70 high school students who have completed its inaugural Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. The pinning ceremony was held on May 15 at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative Instructional Complex.   The students from high schools throughout the district completed the nursing course work, preparing them to enter the medical career field. Upon receiving their certification, the students became immediately employable in nursing career paths. By Spring 2019, the DeKalb School District plans to offer students enrolled in the CNA pathway further opportunities for success. This includes paths to licensed practical…

  The Turner Hill Road Chick-fil-A is celebrating the accomplishments of 14 of its graduating high school seniors.  Of the 14 who have worked for Chick-fil-A, 11 of the students are recipients of the 2018 Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship. The scholarships total $27,500. Each winner received $2,500 for their leadership, influence in the community and outstanding accomplishments academically. “It is our pleasure to offer our congratulations to the Class of 2018. The Chick-fil-A team members receiving the scholarships have played a very important and indispensable role in the restaurant and the community,” said Sam L. West, owner/operator.  The students, West said,…

Cedar Grove High senior and former intern shares advice for success  Now that Cedar Grove High School senior Jamile Ollison has graduated, he is ready for his summer job.  Ollison will join 400 youths in DeKalb who will be working at businesses throughout the county as part of the DeKalb Works summer youth employment program. Last summer, Ollison boarded a MARTA bus four days a week to work at Corporate Environmental Risk Management (CERM), an environmental engineering and project management firm located in Tucker. While on the job, he visited work sites and helped with administrative tasks around the office.…

Thanks to a partnership with Onward Academy, more than 50 DeKalb County School District (DCSD) high school graduates earned associate’s degrees in business management this year. Stone Mountain High School led the pack with 19 graduates this year who earned associate’s degrees through the dual enrollment program. Onward Academy is a DCSD dual enrollment program that allows students to earn an associate’s degree or 65 college credits through Georgia Piedmont Technical College while attending high school. DCSD partnered with Georgia Piedmont in August 2016 to offer Onward Academy at four high schools—Clarkston, Cross Keys, McNair and Stone Mountain. Onward Academy…

By Mark Brock, DCSD  Student athletes are performing well on the field and in the classroom as 26 (16 valedictorians, 10 salutatorians) earn top academic honors from 16 of DeKalb County School District’s 19 schools that participate in varsity athletics. The group of 26 represents 13 of the 15 varsity sports offered by the district with three valedictorians and three salutatorians who participated in two sports during their high school careers. The athletes represent 59 percent (59.1) of those receiving the highest honors from the 19 schools with varsity sports. Arabia Mountain’s Resident Valedictorian Odette Nawoue (UGA) was a two…

Towers High School senior Michael Elliott ended his last semester on a high note like none other. He was among a group of 18 Towers’ students who traveled to Europe during Spring Break. The trip marked the first-ever international trip in the history of the 52-year-old school, which was founded in 1966.    The Towers Titans Band traveled to London and Paris for a week filled with music education and cultural activities from March 28-April 4. The band, band director, parents and school principal visited cultural landmarks and worked with brass band music masters. Elliott called the trip phenomenal. He…

By Valerie J. Morgan  Shali Tilson, 22, died of a blood clot due to dehydration while he was in custody on misdemeanor charges for nine days at the Rockdale County Jail, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has determined.  The autopsy, conducted at the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur, stated that Tilson died on March 12 as a result of “pulmonary thrombi due to dehydration.” The autopsy also found that Tilson had “subdural hemorrhaging” and he was alone in his cell when he died. The manner of death was undetermined, the GBI said in a news release on May 24.…

  Congressman Hank Johnson easily defeated a virtually unknown challenger in the Democratic primary.  Johnson, who lives in DeKalb County, received 79.79 percent or 54,925 votes. Challenger Juan Parks received 20.21% or 13,916 votes.  Johnson will face Republican Joe Profit, who received 15,355, in the Nov. 6 General Election. Profit is a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson thanked supporters for his victory. “I want to thank everyone for all your support,” Johnson said. “I take voters’ trust in me very seriously and will do all I can to maintain your faith in me. I look forward to…

Democrat Stacey Abrams swept the first contest in her bid to become Georgia’s first black female governor. She received a whopping 76.43% (422,482 votes) after an all-out television advertising campaign against her challenger, Stacey Evans, who received 23.57%( 130,264 votes). Abrams will learn the Republican challenger she will face in November after the July 24 runoff is held between S. “Casey” Cagle and Brian Kemp.  Cagle received 39%(236,319 votes), while Kemp received 25.56% (154,864 votes). Five Republicans competed in the gubernatorial race. Other Key Statewide Races  State School Superintendent Otha Thornton, Jr., Democrat, is in a runoff with Sid Chapman.…