Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners approved to include Veterans Day as a paid holiday for county employees at tonight’s meeting (Feb. 21). The suggestion to amend the county’s policy to include Veterans Day as an employee holiday came from Tina Malone, procurement officer, who asked during an event for county employees why Veterans Day was not a county employee holiday. BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt praised Malone for the suggestion and thanked fellow commissioners for supporting her idea. “This is a big deal. I want to thank her for asking the question,” said Nesbitt, adding that he feels it is…

  The Conyers Police Department is conducting the annual Service Satisfaction Survey for calendar year 2016. The goals of the service satisfaction survey are to measure levels of citizen concern for safety, levels of police performance, public confidence in the department as well as to provide an opportunity for public comment on police performance. “It is helpful to know how we are viewed by our citizens to gauge the quality of our work,” said Police Chief Wilson. “We aim to judge the different facets of our job to include contact with the public, the way we protect our…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is hosting its Spring 2017 Job Fair on March 4, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., and April 22, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers. The district is recruiting teachers for the 2017-2018 school year. All 22 Rockdale public schools will be represented and may provide on-site interviews. Candidates are encouraged to bring several copies of their resume and to pre-register at www.rockdaleschools.org/jobfair. To view the full schedule of opportunities available, visit: www.rockdaleschools.org/recruiting RCPS is made up of 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three…

Rockdale’s STEM prowess was on display as the county’s brightest young scientific minds presented their research findings at the 2017 Rockdale Regional Scientific and Engineering Fair (RRSEF), which was held at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology. Out of 233 participants (76 boys, 157 girls), 29 high school and 16 middle school students were named Grand Champions and will go on to the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair in Athens, March 30-April 1. This year’s fair saw 190 projects submitted in 23 scientific categories – about 50 percent more projects than last year. These projects were…

Andrew Markham Bonar, a senior at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, has been named Rockdale County’s top 2017 STAR student, earning the highest SAT and ACT scores in the school district. Rockdale Public Schools Superintendent Richard Autry made the announcement and congratulated Bomar during a luncheon hosted by the Rotary Club of Conyers and Bank of North Georgia. Bomar selected his math teacher, Dr. Chuck Garner, as his STAR teacher. Bomar said Garner, whom he met through the school’s Math Team, inspired and pushed him to excel. He said Garner taught him calculus for…

By Valerie J. Morgan Atlanta Rotomolding has partnered with a Canadian-based company to bring 350 jobs to DeKalb County. Officials with California Innovations, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, said they chose DeKalb to expand their manufacturing operations for rotationally molded coolers and sporting goods accessories because it was a “good fit.” “We were looking on the internet and found Atlanta Rotomolding. We decided to call them and after speaking with them, we liked their track record and we decided it really was a good fit,” said Mel Mogil, president and CEO of California Innovations. Atlanta Rotomolding, a custom molder, is…

Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) and Clark Atlanta University (CAU) will offer dual admissions and joint enrollment for qualified students at both institutions beginning late spring. The two schools announced the launch of the historic partnership on Feb. 15 in the Robert W. Woodruff Library Exhibition Hall at Clark Atlanta University. The partnership program entitled “Access 4 Achievement” will offer students the opportunity to strengthen academic rigor, program-specific transfer agreements and joint faculty and teaching opportunities for graduate students and faculty at both institutions. GPTC President Jabari Simama actively sought a higher education partnership with Clark-Atlanta University to provide additional…

Water customers in the Tucker/Northlake area may notice a drop in water pressure on Feb. 24. The drop may be as much as 50 percent in some areas but DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) officials say not to worry. The situation is temporary. The DWM has scheduled a preliminary test of a 48-inch transmission water main that runs along Henderson Mill Road. The test is being conducted in preparation for repairs for the more than 40-year-old pipe. Testing will begin at 6 p.m. In the event that customers experience a water pressure drop of more than 50 percent…

Several “living legacies of DeKalb County” were recognized Feb. 14 as part of DeKalb County’s Black History Month commemoration. CEO Michael Thurmond, along with each DeKalb County commissioner, recognized a constituent during the commemoration. “In DeKalb County, we are fortunate to have everyday history makers whose acts and ideas changed the course of our future through improvements to our social, educational and economic landscape to reinforce a better community,” states the resolution acknowledging the accomplishments of the honorees. Those recognized included: Flat Rock Archives president Johnny Waits, who was recognized by CEO Michael Thurmond for his decades-long effort…

Throughout February, the members of Lou Walker Senior Center are celebrating Black History Month with events open to the public. The center is located at 2538 Panola Road in Lithonia. This year’s national Black History Month theme is “The Crisis in Black Education,” and the center’s performing arts events and speakers will deliver messages around the subject. Upcoming events include: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2:30 p.m., Crisis in Black Education presented by LWSC Drama Club Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2:30 p.m., Black History Celebration presented by LWSC Performing Arts Group Feb. 17—March 3, LWSC Photography Exhibition