Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— Joanne Howell, a 70-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia who was reported missing on Aug. 7, was found deceased at Misty Lake in Ellenwood, DeKalb County Police said on Monday, Aug. 10.  Police and fire crews responded to a reported drowning on Monday around 7 a.m. in the 3900 block of Misty Lake in Ellenwood. Water rescue teams entered the small, private lake and recovered the body, confirming shortly before noon that it was Joanne Howell, the subject of a Mattie’s Call. The medical examiner was on scene around 9 a.m. to transport the body…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) is reminding voters in Congressional District 13 that early voting for the Special Election Runoff will begin Saturday, Aug. 15, and continue through Friday, Aug. 21. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 25. Early Voting Details One early voting location will be available during the seven-day early voting period. Voters may cast their ballots at the following location: County Line-Ellenwood Library 4331 River Road Ellenwood, GA 30294  Early voting hours are: Saturday, Aug. 15: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 16: Noon to 5 p.m.; and Monday, Aug. 17,…

DECATUR, GA — Greenforest Community Baptist Church’s Social Justice Ministry will host the “Know Your Rights Forum” on Aug. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Greenforest Early Learning Center, 3250 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. A panel of experts will present on the following critical topics: Court Rights — Judge Yolanda Mack, DeKalb County State Court Health Rights — Tousha T. West, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Firearm Rights / Regulations / Safety — Representative from the DeKalb County Police Department Civil Rights / Bill of Rights — Attorney Gerald Griggs, Past President, Atlanta NAACP Moderator:  Candace McCowan, WSB-TV Anchor/Reporter Attendees will have access to resource tables offering practical tools, community services, and helpful information to support individuals…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17.   The meeting will be held at the Darro C. Willey–Administrative Center, 3560 Kensington Road, Decatur, GA 30032 To listen in on the meeting, request the link from weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than Aug.17 at noon. For more details and the agenda, click here.

DECATUR, GA—Scott Shelton has been appointed as DeKalb County’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), placing one of the County’s most experienced technology leaders at the helm of its Innovation & Technology Department. DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson stated in an announcement that Shelton brings more than 20 years of information technology leadership experience to the role, including 16 years serving DeKalb County. Having successfully led the department as interim CIO, Shelton has guided the County through a period of significant technological modernization while strengthening IT governance, enhancing cybersecurity, and advancing innovative digital services for residents and employees alike. “Technology is at the center of…

DECATUR,GA— DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson announced the appointment of Melvin K. Carter as Chief of DeKalb County Fire Rescue, elevating a 26-year department veteran and lifelong DeKalb County resident to lead one of the County’s most critical public safety agencies. Carter brings more than two decades of fire service experience and a comprehensive background in fire suppression, emergency medical services, training, fiscal administration, recruitment and retention, and strategic planning to the role. Throughout his career with DeKalb County Fire Rescue, he has held several executive leadership positions, including Deputy Chief of Operations, Deputy Chief of Training and Professional Services, and Deputy…

Rockdale County E M A Alert: UPDATE: Rockdale County Water Resources has lifted the precautionary boil water advisory for northern Rockdale County. Testing met water quality standards. RWR appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation. Please call 770-278-7400 If more information is needed. UPDATE: Rockdale County Water Resources announced on Thursday, Aug. 6,  that it is extending the Boil Water Advisory for the affected areas of North Rockdale County for an additional 24 hours. Initial water-quality testing has been completed. However, 1 test out of the 20 samples requires re-testing after inconclusive results before the advisory may be lifted. Water Resources…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– The Georgia Department of Education has released the 2025-2026 Georgia Milestones assessment results. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) students showed notable improvement in mathematics across elementary and middle grades, along with increases in Eighth Grade Science, Eighth Grade Social Studies, high school Biology, and high school Algebra Concepts and Connections. Other areas either remained steady or had a slight decrease. Because the 2025-2026 school year marked the first administration of Georgia Milestones English Language Arts (ELA) assessments aligned to the state’s new K-12 English Language Arts Standards, additional test development activities must be completed before ELA scores can be calculated and reported.   “We are seeing increases in…

DECATUR, GA — The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office, in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine, has welcomed the inaugural fellow of its newly established Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program, marking a historic milestone in forensic medicine and medical education.  The fellowship, ACGME-accredited on April 24, 2025, is the first forensic pathology fellowship in the nation sponsored by a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The program reflects a shared commitment by DeKalb County and Morehouse School of Medicine to expand access to specialized medical training while increasing diversity within the forensic pathology profession.  On…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) is launching its first-ever online real estate surplus auctions.  The initiative marks a significant step in expanding public access to surplus property opportunities by making auctions available to qualified bidders across Georgia and beyond through a transparent, easy-to-access online platform. Currently, the department has approximately 200 parcels available for sale. The current inventory features varied parcel sizes ranging from 0.05 to 17 acres, including suitable development sites, irregular remnant tracts, and wetland mitigated sites. Additional surplus real estate opportunities can be found on an ongoing basis.  “Moving our surplus real estate auctions online helps us reach a much…