Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The Dekalb County Roads and Drainage Floodplain Management Office offers general floodplain management information on flood hazard risks, planning, prevention, and mitigation free of charge to residents.  The service provides useful information on the following: Flood zone determination and flood risk assessment. Access to, and information on historical and effective Flood Insurance Rate Map and the Flood Insurance Study. Information on Special Flood Hazard Areas and other high-hazard flood areas, such as floodways and high-velocity zones. Flood depths around structures and adjacent land areas. Historical flood information about past flooding at or near any area. Current and old…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host youth and adults to experience the art and science of beekeeping during a special Honey Harvest and Beekeeping Program from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 29, at the E.M.B.A.R.C. Community Youth Farm, 1185 Rock Chapel Rd., Lithonia. Founded in 2021, the E.M.B.A.R.C. Community Youth Farm continues to provide innovative, hands-on opportunities that connect youth and community with agriculture, food production and the natural environment. This year’s beekeeping program will highlight one of the farm’s growing successes: more than 400 pounds of honey have been harvested from the farm’s hives this year.…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A pair of Minnesota gunmen pled guilty to gang charges for their roles in the Somalian Outlawz’s gang hit in Snellville Salih Ahmad Abdi, 24, and Abdulrahman Munye Haji-Sufi, 24, pled guilty to two counts of Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the January 2022 Snellville shooting that killed 28-year-old Tewodros “Teddy” Haile and seriously injured 36-year-old Fahmi Omer Ahmed. Haji-Sufi and Abdi, who were both 19 at the time of the shooting, were sentenced to 40 years…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) will hold a Form of Government Review Workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor Street, Conyers. Facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the one-day workshop will provide the BOC with an opportunity to review Rockdale County’s current form of government and County Charter, examine alternative forms of government available to Georgia counties and better understand how potential changes may occur through home rule or legislative action. “This workshop gives us an opportunity to take a careful…

CONYERS GA—The Conyers City Council will hold a work session on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 4 p.m., in Council Chambers at Conyers City Hall, 901 O’Kelly Street, Conyers.  The City Council will meet at 6 p.m., following the work session.  Both meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on the city’s website: conyersga.com. Citizen comments are part of the work session and council meeting agendas, providing  citizens the opportunity to address the council. Agendas are available to citizens prior to the meetings on the city website at https://www.conyersga.com/government/city-government/council-agendas-and-minutes or by requesting them via City Clerk Nicole Holsomback at nicole.holsomback@conyersga.gov.  For…

DECATUR, GA ––The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with the U.S. Marshals, has arrested a suspect in a barbershop shooting. Investigators arrested Lithonia resident Lamar Dionte Jones, 27, without incident at the intersection of Covington Highway and Panola Road in Lithonia on Aug. 26. Three firearms were found inside the suspect’s vehicle at the time of the arrest. Arrest warrants charge Jones with Aggravated Assault in connection with the shooting of Renarda De’untay Milner on July 13, 2026 at a barbershop on Wellborn Road in Lithonia. No motive was given for the shooting, authorities. The suspect was transported to the…

DECATUR, GA–The charges against a man who shot and injured another man after a dispute inside a library in February have officially been dismissed. DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Shondeana C. Morris ruled that Medicus Brown, 44, acted in self-defense in the shooting that took place on Feb. 2 at the Decatur  Library, loThe Decatur Library, located at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur.  The 5 p.m. shooting at DeKalb County’s main library branch sent  shockwaves through the community and prompted the temporary closure of the library as officials assessed the incident. The library later reopened with enhanced security,…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson announced the launch of the 3rd Annual District 5 Beautification Mini-Grant Program, an initiative designed to provide financial assistance to eligible homeowners’ associations and residential civic associations for projects that enhance the beauty, sustainability, and overall quality of life in neighborhoods throughout District 5. The Beautification Mini-Grant Program encourages community-driven improvement projects that strengthen neighborhood pride, promote environmental stewardship, and create cleaner, more attractive public spaces.  Eligible projects include landscaping, neighborhood sign restoration or replacement, tree planting, façade improvements, curb painting and repairs, and other beautification efforts that make a lasting impact…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Dacula woman already in jail for attacking a man with a knife was convicted of murder and for fatally stabbing a man she was trying to buy drugs from. Carmen Marie Hunt, 52, was found guilty of malice murder and two counts of felony murder for the cold case July 2019 stabbing death of 61-year-old Ray Anthony Neal. Hunt was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. “I am thankful that our cold case team consistently worked this case to a successful conclusion,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. Neal’s sister dropped him off…

UPDATE(Aug. 27, 2026, 2:49 p.m.): Adah George has been located and is safe, the Gwinnett County Police Department stated in an afternoon report.  GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating missing juvenile Adah George. On Aug. 19, the 16-year-old was reported missing from her residence, located in the 1500 block of Hewatt Road in Lilburn. Before leaving, George stated she was going to Stone Mountain with a friend. Her current whereabouts are unknown, and detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating her. During the investigation, detectives received information indicating…