Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The first day of the 2026 GHSA Track and Field Championships has a strong DeKalb County presence with 35 individuals and 20 relay teams ready to begin competition on Monday, May 11, at the University of Georgia Track and Field Complex in Athens. Southwest DeKalb High School has 18 girls who qualified for the state meet and three of the eight relay teams.  Jayla Lee leads the way for Southwest DeKalb, having won both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles at last week’s state sectional. Lee also qualified in the triple jump. Sanaa Stanton qualified in three events as…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–– The global industrial group, Socomec, marked a major milestone on May 6 with a ribbon cutting of its new facilities at 2935 Shawnee Industrial Way in unincorporated Suwanee.  This event celebrates Socomec’s expansion and investment of $10 million in Gwinnett County and the creation of 300 jobs.   Socomec specializes in power switching, monitoring, conversion, and energy storage, as well as expert services that support each business area. Socomec launched its U.S. subsidiary in 2009 and has since invested in local manufacturing, resources, and product development, allowing for the group to support the evolving needs in the North…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A 75-year-old Lawrenceville man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing a neighbor who was walking his puppies, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday, May 7.   Stanley Nathaniel Elliott was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the February 2021 shooting death of 44-year-old Anthony Collins, who was walking his Jack Russell puppies in their neighborhood. The men got into an argument over the puppies, according to the investigation.   Elliott was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus…

CONYERS, GA– Piedmont announced the opening of its newest Piedmont QuickCare clinic in Conyers, expanding access to convenient, same-day care for non-life-threatening illnesses and minor injuries. The clinic is located inside Walgreens at 1510 Milstead Ave., bringing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare into a highly accessible retail setting.  Piedmont QuickCare clinics are staffed by board-certified family nurse practitioners trained to diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic conditions. “Piedmont strives to make receiving high-quality, patient-centered care easy and convenient for our patients,” said Monica Hum, M.D., CEO of Piedmont Rockdale. “Having a QuickCare location in Conyers provides greater access to care for…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Police detectives  are investigating a domestic dispute that led to a homicide at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Duluth.  Gwinnett County police responded to the hotel, located at 3550 Venture Parkway, in reference to a person shot during a domestic dispute on May 5.   Officers contacted multiple parties inside a room, including the victim, Ephrim Forbes, 49. Forbes was evaluated by Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services personnel and was pronounced dead at the scene, the Gwinnett County Police Department said.  All parties involved remained at the scene and have cooperated with investigators. At…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will host a Special Education Teaching Job Fair on Friday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 960 Pine Street NE, Conyers.  This event will provide an opportunity for the RCPS team to speak with interested teaching candidates specifically about special education teaching positions for the 2026-27 school year available across RCPS elementary, middle, and high schools. Ideal candidates currently hold a valid Special Education teaching certification; however, RCPS is also eager to connect with individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree, have some teaching experience, and are willing to enroll in a certification…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County Government announces the official launch of DeKalbAlert, an emergency notification system that delivers real-time alerts directly to the mobile phones of enrolled DeKalb County residents.  Owned and operated by the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the new system is designed to ensure that every resident, business owner, and visitor in the county can receive timely, accurate information during emergencies, severe weather events, public safety incidents, and other critical situations. “The safety of our residents is my administration’s highest priority,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “DeKalbAlert is our direct line to every household in this county during their most vulnerable…

 DEKALB COUNTY, GA— A positive rabies case was reported in the Lithonia area involving a deceased cat. The racoon tested positive for rabies on May 3, 2026. Georgia is a rabies endemic state, and the virus is present all year long. It is not unusual for the county to report several rabies cases each year.  Residents should make sure pets are up to date for preventative vaccination and should eliminate outdoor feeding stations and access to garbage cans. Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal should seek medical attention immediately.  Additionally, residents are advised to watch pets and contact…

ATLANTA—Rep. Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District in metro Atlanta, is inviting constituents to share how their daily lives are being impacted by the rising costs and increasing cuts to services and programs by the Trump Administration.  Johnson is hosting a virtual town hall to discuss how pocketbook issues—the costs for gas, groceries, childcare, housing, and healthcare—are disrupting lives. “I need to hear from you. Please join my virtual town hall on affordability or the lack thereof – we’re calling it the Cost of Chaos: Get Your Hands Out of My Pockets! on Thursday, May 7 from 7-8 p.m.,” Johnson…