Author: On Common Ground News

The “Ready, Set, Read! – Sports and Fitness Magic Show,” presented by Jeffrey Knight, will be held on June 23, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., at the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library, 864 Green Street, Conyers. This sports-themed show will highlight great athletes in literature, emphasizing healthy living and fitness as it encourages children to love reading. No registration is required. All ages Are welcomed. For more information, call 770-388-5040.

Because of the storms on June 14h, the movie portion of District 3’s Community Gathering and Movie Night has been rescheduled for June 23, 7 p.m., at Wonderland Gardens, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. The “Budget, BBQ & Blankets,” which included a review of the DeKalb 2016 budget and proposed SPLOST projects for District 3, had to be moved inside the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center. The outdoor movie had to be cancelled. The event is free and open to the public. Families are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. There will also be free refreshments.

Today is the last day for Tucker Middle School students in the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club to raise the funds necessary to compete in finals this July in San Diego, California. They are $25 short of their $5,000 goal.  Just a few days after On Common Ground News’ coverage of the kids’ dilemma, they received several donations and a commitment to match their fundraising efforts if they raise $2,500 from Pastor Lee Jenkins and his wife, Martica of Eagles Nest Church in Roswell. Christine Mayfield, teacher and student adviser for the student organization, said that due to the location of Nationals in San…

CONYERS—Authorities are investigating a deadly house fire that claimed the life of a 40-year-old Rockdale County man late Sunday and caused injuries to his 63-year-old mother and 43-year-old sister. The fire broke out around 8:45 p.m. at 771 Robin Drive, Rockdale County Fire Chief Dan Morgan said in a news release. When firefighters arrived at the scene, the blaze was already through the roof in one portion of the structure. Authorities said the fire and a possible explosion of natural gas resulted in significant damage to the structure. The man died at the scene. The mother was transported by air…

Acting on a complaint from an accident victim, the DeKalb County Police Intelligence Unit arrested a civilian employee of the Police Department following a three-month investigation. Shirley Waters, an aide with the Auto Theft Unit, has been charged with computer invasion of Privacy for providing and selling vehicle accident information to Reginald Earl Jenkins. Felony warrants for bribery and criminal conspiracy to commit computer invasion of privacy were obtained for Jenkins and she was arrested at 1:30 a.m. on June 13.

ELLENWOOD—Grab your lawn chairs or blankets and bring the family out to enjoy a free outdoor movie on Thursday, June 16, 8:30 p.m., at Bouldercrest Park, 4184 Bouldercrest Park Road, Ellenwood. Disney’s “Inside Out” will be screened. Popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy will be served. The event is free.

It’s time to take your life back and live! The economy is recovering. How about you? Join financial education expert Doreen Carter for a personal financial management workshop on Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lithonia Woman’s Club on Wiggins Street off Main Street in the city of Lithonia. In this interactive workshop, Carter will help you assess your current financial condition, show you how to create a plan to build wealth, and cover how to protect your assets. Carter will be joined by entrepreneur philanthropist Nicola Jackson. The event is free to attend, but registration is…

Atlantans are uniting to remember the people who were killed and wounded in Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, FL. The massacre, which claimed the lives of at least 50 people and 53 injured, is being called the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Several authorities identified Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, as the shooter. Mateen was killed in a standoff with police after holding patrons of the Pulse Nightclub hostage for three hours. Reports from witnesses described the scene as a blood bath with people scurrying for cover as Mateen used an AR-15 type rifle and…

Accused serial killer Aeman L. Presley was sentenced Monday to two life sentences without the possibility for parole for killing a Decatur hairdresser and a homeless DeKalb man. Presley, 35, pleaded guilty to all charges connected to the Sept. 26, 2014 shooting death of Calvin Lewis Gholston and the Dec. 6, 2014 robbery and shooting death of Karen Pearce. “His actions were monstrous and had severe consequences on the lives of several individuals,” DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said. “Although he accepted responsibility for his actions, when a person commits crimes this terrible, he deserves to go to…

Ora Bailey still manages to smile as she welcomes customers to Beasley’s Drugstore in downtown Conyers, even though she and her husband, Jacob, are still shaken. A burglar hit their pharmacy twice in four days, stealing pharmaceuticals in a mesh laundry basket. Conyers police say the break-ins, which took place after business hours on June 2 and June 5, are among a rash of reported drugstore burglaries occurring throughout metro Atlanta.   “You expect to have things happen from time to time, but to have this happen twice so close together is really jarring. It just kind of shakes…