Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson delivered her second annual State of the County address on Thursday, May 7, 2026, outlining a bold vision for DeKalb County centered on economic development, infrastructure investment, housing, innovation, and government accountability. This year’s theme, “Mission Possible: Believe the Unbelievable,” was unveiled through a cinematic, Matrix-themed presentation that framed DeKalb County’s progress as a choice to move beyond limitations and actively build the future through intentional leadership, innovation, and collective action. Throughout her remarks, CEO Cochran-Johnson emphasized a unified strategy that connects economic development, infrastructure, housing, and government operations into a single, coordinated vision for…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– All three high schools within Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) district have been named 2026 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools by Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods. The distinction is one that RCPS has achieved for more than 16 consecutive years, district officials announced.  Salem High was named an AP Expansion School. Heritage High and Rockdale County High were named AP Access and Support Schools, AP Humanities Schools and AP STEM Schools. Rockdale County High also was named an AP Humanities Achievement School. RCSD Superintendent Shirley Chesser praised the collective efforts of students, education leaders and support staff for pushing to excel as one of the state’s top…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson showed her support  —and love—for seniors by helping kick off the 37th Annual DeKalb County Senior Olympic Games on Monday, May 4.  The CEO raised an illuminated torch at the 10 a.m. opening ceremony, which was held at the Exchange Intergenerational Recreation Center in Decatur.   Excitement and applause filled the gymnasium as the crowd cheered on parade participants carrying signs and their own torch to kick off the competitions. Many snapped cell phone pictures, capturing friends and others as they filed in. The second week of the competitions runs through Thursday,…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale County Clerk of Superior and State Courts Janice Morris invites the public to attend a free notary training session on Friday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at JP Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. This informational session is designed for current notaries as well as individuals interested in becoming a notary public. Training will include an overview of basic notarial procedures and Georgia legal requirements. No registration is required. Attendance is limited to 125 participants. For more information, call the Clerk’s Office at 770-278-7900.

LILBURN, GA—The City of Lilburn in Gwinnett County is excited to announce the return of “Rock the Park,” the city’s free summer concert series, that kicks off at Lilburn City Park on June 13. This year’s kickoff takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with local favorite Happy Hour, followed by an electrifying performance from Who’s Bad, the ultimate Michael Jackson tribute experience. Guests will enjoy iconic hits and nonstop energy as they dance the night away under the stars. Guests are invited to arrive early and enjoy food trucks, sweet treats and adult beverages available for purchase before the live…

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…