Author: On Common Ground News

Voices of Faith Church volunteers @bishopghawkins spent Thursday, March 26, celebrating the strength, joy, and determination of students who participated in track and field events in the DeKalb County Special Olympics @dcsdathletics.  VOF has been volunteering for this event since 2022.  Today, there were over 300 athletes competing for the gold and we were inspired by all of them. Moments like these remind us that ministry goes beyond the walls. So grateful to serve and support. #VoicesOfFaith #ServeTheCommunity #SpecialOlympics #FaithInAction #LoveInMotion

STONECREST, GA—Local residents have alerted city and Georgia conservation officials that packs of feral hogs are destroying residential areas and threatening safety near walking trails in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.  Community sentinel Dave Marcus, a longtime Stonecrest resident, said in a social media post that wild boar tracks recently have been spotted off Evans Mill Road near Rock Springs and Woodrow roads. Marcus said students at nearby Arabia Mountain High School have been warned not to hang outside after dusk.  “This is a problem to take seriously. They easily can do hundreds of dollars in damage to a…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – To accommodate walk-in customers applying for homestead exemptions, the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s, 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur, will have extended hours March 25 through April 1 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., weekdays only. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled online at DeKalbTax.org or by calling 404-298-4000. Over 19,700 letters were recently mailed to homeowners who may be eligible for a senior exemption, or a basic homestead exemption for the current tax year. To avoid delays, homeowners can check their exemption status and apply online before the April 1 deadline. “Whether you’re a new homeowner, a senior, disabled resident, disabled veteran,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — Residents are urged to be aware of a jury duty scam reported in DeKalb County. Individuals have received calls from scammers posing as the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, claiming the resident missed jury service and must pay a fine to avoid arrest. Callers may instruct victims to purchase pre-paid cards or provide personal information. This is a scam, county officials said. The DeKalb County Jury Management Office will never request payment for missed jury duty, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office does not solicit funds or call individuals regarding warrants, said Chief and Administrative Judge Shondeana C. Morris. “We…

ATLANTA– In celebration of Women’s History Month, DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran-Johnson alongside the Chairwomen of Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Henry counties will come together for a timely conversation on leadership, service, and the future of local communities. The sold-out event will take place on Wednesday, March 25, with a reception starting at 5:30 p.m., at Fernbank Museum in Atlanta.  Collectively, these five leaders represent jurisdictions serving more than 3 million residents across the metro Atlanta region and embody a new era of leadership defined by collaboration, purpose, and impact. “There is something extraordinary about women coming together to…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced the capture of its most wanted fugitive, Brian Tripp, who was taken into custody in Pritchard, Alabama, with assistance from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Tripp fled in January 2024, in the middle of his DeKalb County trial after being released on bond. The trial continued without him, and a jury later found him guilty of kidnapping, street gang charges, and other offenses. He was sentenced to life plus 65 years in prison. While on the run, Tripp faced additional serious charges. In April 2025, a DeKalb County Grand Jury indicted him for…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will host a series of community engagement meetings to present the Student Assignment Project (SAP) Round 2 Scenarios and gather public feedback.  The project, which includes scenarios to close several schools due to declining enrollment and repurpose others, is designed to address maximize resources, and ensure long-term academic sustainability for students across DeKalb County, officials said. Round 2 community meetings will be held March 23—30, 6 p.m.  The in-person workshops will bring families and stakeholders together in classroom settings within their high school cluster to review the scenarios in more detail, discuss…

CONYERS, GA—The City of Conyers is hosting a public information open house on Wednesday, April 15, regarding proposed improvements to West Avenue between Iris Drive and Green Street. The multidisciplinary engineering firm, Keck and Wood, will be on hand to answer questions during the open house, which will be held  from 4 to 6 p.m. at Conyers City Hall. The open house is designed as a drop-in format for citizens and businesses to view renderings of proposed changes, ask questions of city staff and engineering consultants, and to offer input and feedback on the proposed improvements. “West Avenue has been a key corridor…

STONECREST, GA– The King’s Table at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will host a free food distribution this Saturday, March 21, beginning at 10 a.m., for needy metro Atlanta residents with a special welcome extended to TSA workers impacted by recent national financial disruptions. This Saturday’s distribution, taking place at the church’s campus, located at 6400 Woodrow Rd., will provide an array of fresh produce, quality meats, and shelf-stable items to families on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizers anticipate serving more than 2,000 families. “For so many families, the weight of rising costs, global conflict, and economic uncertainty is not…