Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA — DeKalb County employees will see an increase in their paychecks this spring as the county’s minimum wage rises from $17.68 to $19.00 per hour, an adjustment that takes effect April 11, 2026, and will appear in paychecks dated May 1. Approved as part of the FY2026 Annual Budget, the new wage floor positions DeKalb County among the highest-paying public employers in the metro Atlanta region. Comparable jurisdictions surveyed in February 2026 came in below or just slightly above the new DeKalb rate: Cobb County at $17.34, the City of Atlanta at $17.50, Fulton County at $18.27, and Gwinnett County…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA–– A Gwinnett County Police officer has been arrested following a domestic dispute. On May 1, Gwinnett County Police responded to a domestic dispute and identified one of the involved parties as Gwinnett County Police Officer Renee Downer. Officers determined Downer and the victim were formerly in a relationship, had recently separated, and were still living together as the victim prepared to move out. Officers found that during an argument the night before, Downer pushed the victim onto a couch. During the call, officers also learned that in a prior separate incident, Downer had used law enforcement resources available…

Stonecrest, GA – The DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with the City of Stonecrest and other state and federal partners to offer a free feral hog control educational workshop and trap demonstration on Tuesday, June 2. at 5:30 p.m . at Stonecrest City Hall Annex Room at 3120 Stonecrest Blvd.  Feral hogs cause millions of dollars of damage to property, farmland and wildlife habitat across Georgia annually.  Community members, urban farmers conservationists and anyone interested are invited to attend the workshop and learn from experts with the University of Georgia, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division,  and others…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County Police Department continues its enforcement efforts targeting illegal street takeovers, resulting in five arrests early Sunday morning. Officers responded to reports of a street takeover around 1:30 a.m. on May 3 in the 2600 block of Bouldercrest Road. As officers arrived, participants attempted to flee the scene. One vehicle struck a police vehicle while attempting to leave. That vehicle was subsequently stopped by officers at a nearby gas station. Five occupants of the vehicle were arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail on the following charges: Isaac Ayes, 18: Fleeing and Eluding, Hit and…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will host its 2026 Valedictorians and Salutatorians Recognition Program to celebrate the academic achievements of the district’s highest- performing graduating seniors.  The Board of Education and Superintendent will formally recognize and honor these outstanding students for their excellence, leadership, and dedication. In accordance with Board policy, IHDA, the District certified 26 valedictorians and 27 salutatorians for the Class of 2026. This annual recognition program highlights the accomplishments of DCSD’s top scholars and underscores the district’s commitment to academic excellence and student success. The program will be held on Thursday, May 7, 5…

DECATUR, G A– The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host a free paper shredding  event on Saturday, May 16, rom 8 a.m. – noon, at the DeKalb County Sanitation  Division’s Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur. Event participants will have an opportunity to responsibly dispose of all types of documents, including sensitive personal documents such as old tax records and legal documents. All documents will be shredded on-site, and each participant will be limited to ten standard-size  boxes of paper. Shredding services will be provided by A1 Shredding & Recycling. The event is free and open only to DeKalb County residents. Proof of residency…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, May 11, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Darro C. Willey–Administrative Center, 3560 Kensington Rd., Decatur.  To listen in on the meeting, request the link from weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than May 11 at noon. For more details and the agenda, click here.

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a community meeting to discuss the Zonolite Park Master Plan on Wednesday, May 6. The meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur. County officials were joined by community leaders and residents at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 23 to celebrate new park improvements that include the installation of a new entrance sign, a wayfinding map sign, and fencing. A total of $50,854 was allocated to complete the upgrades. Contributions were provided in part through the Park Pride’s Grantmaking Program, and the DeKalb Parks Department to complete…

  DEKALB COUNTY, GA— Efforts to improve the watershed system throughout DeKalb County continue Wednesday, May 20, with the launch of the Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Replacement Project, Section I. Crews will replace 19,755 linear feet of aging pipelines. Section I of the sewer replacement project is expected to last approximately three years (May 2026 to September 2029), barring any weather or unexpected delays.  The project, which will involve several stages in its entirety, is expected to take 9 years from start to finish, officials project. Normal construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The time is almost here for food and family-friendly fun at the DeKalb County Police Department(DKPD) Safety Fair. The fairwill be held on Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 5401 Fairington Road. The free event features fun activities, food, TV and bike raffles, safety information and health screenings. For more information, call 404-468-2490.