Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Weather permitting, the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) construction partners this week will temporarily close interstate lanes at the locations below for the I-285/I-20 East Interchange project. The project will reconstruct the interstate system-to-system ramps at the I-285/I-20 East Interchange and add a combination of collector-distributor (CD), or connecting lanes, and auxiliary lanes along I-20 east of the interchange and I-285 north of the interchange. DAYTIME CLOSURES:  Feb. 13- 20,  9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  I-20 Eastbound: Single, right- or left-lane and shoulder closure from Wesley Chapel Road (MM 69.5) to Panola Road (MM 71.3) I-20 Eastbound: Single, right- or left-lane and shoulder closure…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett jury found a Gangster Disciple member guilty of shooting and a man he believed stole a gun from a fellow gang member. Dametris Dameon Bush, 34, was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of unlawful criminal gang activity, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the June 2025 shooting death of 29-year-old Andre Sharron Jones, Jr. Bush was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 40 years on Feb. 9. “There is no place for violent gang…

ATLANTA– Avelo Airlines has launched the return of nonstop flights from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Central Florida’s Lakeland International Airport, located between Tampa and Orlando.  Avelo will operate the route with Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, officials said in a Feb. 13 news release. This flight expands the airline’s affordable, convenient and reliable service first introduced in Atlanta in May 2024.  There will be four gflights per week on select Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to Central Florida’s Lakeland International Airport (LAL).   “We are excited to bring Central Florida back to Atlanta’s lineup of destinations, through our convenient airport in Lakeland –…

CONYERS, GA—Conyers City Council will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2at 6p.m. in Council Chambers at Conyers City Hall, 901 O’Kelly Street, Conyers. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, please call 770-483-4411. Livestream: https://www.conyersga.com/government/city-government/council-meetings/

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist MORROW, GA–Stephenson High School Jaguar junior wrestler Badesire Lubala made history for the DeKalb County School District (DCSD), winning the first wrestling gold medal for Stephenson on Feb. 12 in the GHSA State Wrestling Championships at the Morrow Center. Lubala faced off with Calvary Day School’s Brexton Bell in the Class 3A 175 championship match. Bell reached the finals with a technical fall (21-3) victory over Luella’s William McNair who had defeated Lubala twice this season. Lubala made short work of Bell with a takedown and pin at the 1:46 mark in the first…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Norcross man was found guilty of being a leading member of a fencing enterprise that profited from shipping stolen, domestically blacklisted electronic items overseas for profit. A Gwinnett County jury found Kong Zhen Ni, 41, guilty of violation of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and theft by receiving, for his part in the extensive fencing ring. He was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three years of probation and must pay a $100,000 fine. “Our office is proud to have recovered this groundswell of stolen items,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County government officewill be closed on Monday, Feb. 16, in observance of the President’s Day holiday.  The Rockdale Board of Commissioners called meeting will be held on Tuesday,FEb. 17, 2 p.m., at Assembly Hall, 901 Main St., Conyers. The link to the meeting agenda can be found in the meeting calendar below, along with the  scheduled Board of Commissioners Town Hall meeting.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is seeking community feedback after a proposal to close 27 schools primarily in South DeKalb was made public Thursday, Feb. 12.  The district said it is also considering expanding 11 schools as part of its Student Assignment Project (SAP), a districtwide effort designed to address declining enrolment, maximize resources, and ensure long-term academic sustainability. The project has been underway for 20 months with support from the HPM Building Group and 150 community leaders from throughout DeKalb who have been meeting monthly to share their ideas. “Declining enrollment is not just a number on…

Four candidates have qualified for the special election to represent House District 94, which covers portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.  Early voting begins on Monday, Feb. 16. Election Day is March 10. The Special Election runoff, if needed, will be held on April 7.   The District 94 seat was vacated in January by former Rep. Karen Bennett, who resigned amid federal fraud charges. Bennett admitted to illegally collecting $13,940 in unemployment benefits while running her physical therapy company, Metro Therapy, for a few months during the pandemic. She also received earnings as a pastor—$905  weekly—while drawing unemployment.  The candidates who have…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) is seeking the public’s help in identifying a porch pirate who stole packages that were delivered to a home in the Indian Ridge Community in Conyers on Jan. 6, at around 3:30 p.m.  The suspect entered the porch and walked away carrying three packages that were delivered. Anyone with information regarding the individual’s identity or whereabouts is asked to contact   RCSO Investigator Dwayne Turner  at 770-278-8166 or email him at Dwayne.Turner@RockdaleCountyGA.gov. Reference case  #263097.