Author: On Common Ground News

L-R: Tracy Gray, RMHC Scholarship Committee; Orestes Rodriguez, Owner/Operator; Chyna Mays, Rockdale County High School (Stanford University); Emmeline Lombard, Rockdale County High School (Berry College); Javier C. Goizueta, Global RMHC; Beth Howell, Atlanta RMHC President. Rockdale County residents Chyna Mays and Emmeline Lombard received scholarships from Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Mays received a $10,000 scholarship—$2,500 for each year of college, and Lombard received a $1,500 scholarship. The Rockdale County High School graduates will be attending Stanford University and Berry College respectively. Mays and Lombard were recognized at an awards breakfast on Saturday, June 24, at the Gatewood House…

Beulah Baptist Church, 2340 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur, will host its Summer 2017 Revival, July 10-12, nightly at 7. Beulah’s pastor, the Rev. Jerry D. Black, will welcome guest revivalist, the Rev. Maurice Watson, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Largo, Maryland. Dr. Watson and Rev. Black forged a friendship years ago after meeting in Arkansas during a four-church fellowship. “We are blessed to have Dr. Watson return to Beulah for our 2017 revival,” said Rev. Black. “We are confident Dr. Watson will have a word that will empower the people of God during our Year of Destiny.” Dr. Watson’s dynamic…

The Spirit and Truth Sanctuary, 2915 Midway Road, Decatur, will present “It’s Showtime” on Sunday, July 9, 6 p.m. The concert is a tribute to George Gershwin and other movie music and will feature Bishop Carlton Pearson; Tony Thompson & New Creation Chorale & Band; Joyful Sound Chorale; and Clariece Miller Paulk. Admission is $8 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. The church’s Growing the Arts Committee is sponsoring the event. For more information, call the church at 404-243-5020.

All Gwinnett County government offices, with the exception of those operations required for the comfort and safety of residents, will be closed July 4 for the Independence Day holiday. County offices will resume normal business hours on July 5. A Magistrate Court judge will be available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center during the holiday. Trash and recycling collection in unincorporated Gwinnett County is scheduled as normal for Tuesday, July 4. The Gwinnett County Solid Waste Management Call Center will be closed that day, but hauler call centers will be open. Residents can visit www.sustainablegwinnett.com to find their hauler’s contact…

DeKalb County’s Sanitation Division will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4. Due to the holiday, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on the revised collection schedule below: Monday, July 3 – Normal collection day. Tuesday, July 4 – Independence Day observed; no collection service. Wednesday, July 5 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, July 4, will be serviced on Wednesday, July 5. Thursday, July 6 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, July 5, will be serviced on Thursday, July 6. Friday,…

Rockdale County government offices will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, in observation of Independence Day. The next meeting of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners will be held Tuesday, July 18, at 7 p.m. at the Rockdale Auditorium.

Written by Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. Petitions for Temporary Minor Guardianship are filed in the Probate Court. These petitions are generally filed when the biological parents of a minor child, less than 17 years and 6 months old, are not physically, mentally or financially able to provide for a minor child, and voluntarily consent to another person caring for the child. Even though a temporary guardianship gives authority to guardians to make all decisions regarding the safety and welfare of the child, it is not to be confused with adoption. Parents who voluntarily agree to a temporary…

MARTA announces the hire of Dr. Shelton Goode as executive director of diversity and inclusion. Goode, who started work at MARTA in June, most recently served as director of diversity and inclusion at Oshkosh Corporation, and brings more than 20 years of human resource and business development experience to the agency. “Dr. Goode has a proven track record of leading diversity and inclusion programs for major companies while creating robust training and successful outreach programs within global organizations,” said MARTA GM/CEO Keith Parker. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Goode to MARTA as we actively work to expand our diversity…

Stonecrest City Council member Diane Adoma is pleased to announce a Back-to-School event that will offer backpack giveaways, live entertainment and other activities as students prepare to head back to classes for the 2017-18 school year. The Savvy Foundation, City of Stonecrest and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church are partnering to launch the Summer LIFT & Blazing Back-to-School Festival on July 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at New Birth, 6400 Woodrow Road, Lithonia. The festival will celebrate the newly-formed city of Stonecrest while preparing students and parents for the upcoming school year and raising awareness for Minority Mental Health…

  State Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) has announced his endorsement of Marsy’s Law for Georgia, a bill that would protect crime victims’ rights under the Constitution of the State of Georgia. “In order to be effective, the scales of justice must provide balance,” said Mitchell, who represents District 88, which includes portions of DeKalb County. “It’s common sense that the victims of crime should be given the same constitutional protections that the accused and convicted already receive. I support Marsy’s Law because it enforces these rights and balances the scales.” Marsy’s Law proposes a constitutional amendment, which, if adopted…