Author: On Common Ground News

The city of Stonecrest’s newly-elected mayor, Jason Lary, and the five-member Stonecrest City Council will be sworn in together on May 1, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Mall at Stonecrest, officials have announced. DeKalb County Judge Ronald Ramsey will perform the inauguration, which will be a ceremonial event for all but one of the newly-elected leaders. Rob Turner, who went on a previously-scheduled vacation after he won the April 18 runoff, will take the oath of office and sign his paperwork for the first time. The others were sworn in during two private ceremonies that were held a few…

Everyone can make a positive impact on his or her community—even children. Jazlyn Spradlyn, 8, is a shining example of what young people can do to make a difference. The young Newton County resident is helping her community and the community at large by promoting literacy. Jazlyn and her 11-year-old twin brothers, Jaxson and Jayson, recently spent a Saturday handing out free bags of books at the Covington Library’s Book Festival under the supervision of their mom, Marteeta Spradling. “There is a great need for literacy in all of Georgia, but especially in Newton County, where there are many low-income…

Burlington Stores, a leading national off-price retailer, has announced that it will open a new 45,775-square-foot store this fall at Turner Hill Marketplace, 2940 Turner Hill Road, in the city of Stonecrest. The new store will be located in the former Best Buy space and will bring 50 to 100 new jobs to the community. Burlington Stores President and CEO Tom Kingsbury said the company is thrilled to provide jobs in the community and give local residents a valued shopping experience.   Burlington Facts Opening Fall 2017 45,775 square feet The store will feature ladies’ apparel, accessories, menswear, family footwear,…

Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Licensed Practical Nursing program has been ranked #1 in the state by www.practicalnursing.org, a website dedicated to providing substantive information to prospective students who are considering a career in nursing. GPTC’s practical nursing program achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) from 2012 through 2015, which was practical nursing org’s evaluation period. “I congratulate the students who passed the NCLEX-PN exam and the four full-time faculty members who shepherded them through the curriculum and testing,” said GPTC President Jabari Simama. “Their success is our success.” To…

It’s been more than 50 years since DeKalb County cleaned its major sewer lines. To remedy that, DeKalb Department of Watershed Management submitted two contracts totaling $35.4 million that were recently approved by the Board of Commissioners. “We believe the cleaning of these major sewer lines will allow us to recapture capacity and potentially reduce costs,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “This is a significant moment for the taxpayers and residents of this county because our government is working to address capacity issues in our sewer system and reduce sanitary sewer overflows.” One contract for $7.2 million will restore…

Rockdale County and the City of Conyers will host two open house events to provide an update on the county’s 2009 Comprehensive Transportation Plan. The public is invited to attend and give feedback as county officials discuss future needs. The dates and locations are: Thursday, May 4, 5:30 – 7 p.m. American Legion Post 77 674 American Legion Road, Conyers Thursday, May 11, 5:30 – 7 p.m. St. Pius Catholic Church 2621 Highway 20, Conyers County officials also will provide an update on Rockdale’s wastewater capacity plan. The plans will be unveiled at the Assembly Hall, on Wednesday,…

FEATURED EVENT Decatur “Concerts on the Square” returns Pack a picnic, spread out a blanket and enjoy an evening of music on Saturday, May 6, 7 – 9 p.m., on the on the square in downtown Decatur. The free show will feature Modern Top 40 group, “Banded,” an upbeat trio from Athens playing popular songs from the 90’s up to now. For more information about this event and other concerts in Decatur, visit www.decaturdba.com.   ATLANTA Candler Park outdoor movie series starts May 6 Families are invited to enjoy a free outdoor movie on Saturday, May 6, at Candler…

Rainbow Park Baptist Church in Decatur is hosting an awards breakfast for its GED participants on Thursday, May 4, 9:30 a.m., in the fellowship hall at 29141 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The special guest speaker for the program will be Diane Adoma, the newly-elected District 5 council member for the City of Stonecrest. Dr. Adoma will share her riveting success story of how she went from a GED to a PhD. This year’s participants will be recognized for their dedication and commitment to the program. Forty students are enrolled in the program, said Sandy Ferguson, director. Rainbow Park, under the leadership…

The South DeKalb Police Precinct Community Outreach will present the “Relatives as Caregivers” forum at its bi-monthly (1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.) community meeting on May 2, 6:30 p.m., in the South Precinct, 2842 H. F. Shepherd Drive, Decatur. The meeting will feature a DeKalb County kinship navigator, who will share information about the many resources that are available to grandparents and others who have custody of grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members. For more information, contact Marjorie Clay (marjorieclay@bellsouth.net).

Rockdale County Clerk of Courts Ruth A. Wilson, in collaboration with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority, will offer free Notary Public training for individuals who are already notaries and those interested in becoming a notary. The training will address basic notary procedures and legal guidelines for fulfilling the duties of a Notary Public in the State of Georgia. The training will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 1 to 2:30 p.m., at the JP Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. This special afternoon session is being offered to accommodate those who are unable to attend during evening…