Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, G—Enjoy an evening filled with festive fun for the whole family at the City of Stonecrest’s 6thAnnual Light Up Stonecrest on Dec. 6. Bring your family and friends to enjoy an evening filled with: Spectacular Christmas Lights: Witness the city’s winter wonderland. Photos with Santa (and His Reindeer!): A perfect opportunity to capture cherished holiday memories. Live Christmas Music: Enjoy classic carols and festive tunes that will warm your heart. Sweet Treats + Warm Drinks: Indulge in delightful refreshments as you stroll through the event. Gift Shop & More! Find unique holiday gifts and discover other exciting attractions. At…

CONYERS, GA–The magic of the holiday season will transport spectators to a world of nostalgia as the Conyers Christmas Parade makes it way through Olde Town on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m.  This year’s theme, “A Storybook Christmas” will offer a world of nostalgia as parade participants don festive costumes and deck out floats inspired by beloved holiday tales.  “We’re looking forward to seeing the creativity depicting beloved Christmas stories brought to life in parade entries and floats,” said Olde Town Event Coordinator Shertekia DiNardo. More than 70 parade entries are slated to participate, including the three local high school bands,…

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta will open two warming centers ahead of colder temperatures forecasted.  The warming centers will open at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28. The centers will be vacated by 9 a.m..  The two locations include: Central Park Recreation Center, 400 Merritts Ave. NE, Atlanta.  The Old Adamsville Recreation Center, 3404 Delmar Lane NW, Atlanta. Transportation will be provided at 8 p.m. on both days from the Gateway Center with return transportation provided by Fulton County from the Gateway Center upon deactivation. Activation times are subject to change based on the updated National Weather…

CONYERS, GA–The GBI has arrested and charged Conyers Police Department Lieutenant Jesus Cadena, 36, of Loganville, GA, with Theft by Deception.    Cadena turned himself in on Tuesday, Nov. 25, about 12:00 a.m. Cadena was booked into the Rockdale County Jail.  The investigation originated from an Oct.16, 2025 request from the Conyers Police Department (CPD) for the GBI Atlanta Regional Field Office to conduct an investigation into a possible theft incident involving a CPD officer.   Lieutenant Cadena used his position with the police department for the purpose of obtaining a charitable donation of property(a wood chipper) from The Home Depot in…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—State Rep. Rhonda Taylor, who represents Georgia House District 92, will host a virtual conversation on Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m., focusing on Georgia Power’s plans to meet the growing energy demands of data centers planned across Georgia. Taylor said that while opponents and many elected officials have weighed in on the pros and cons of data centers, Georgia Power has not yet publicly discussed its strategy for powering the facilities, some of which are proposed for Rockdale and DeKalb counties.   Data centers are the backbone of the internet, housing critical IT infrastructure, including servers, storage systems and…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– A Norcross man was sentenced to life in prison for committing an execution-style murder of a 22-year-old man that he shot point-blank in his ear. A Gwinnett County jury on Nov. 20 found Brian Sanchez Duarte, 32, guilty of malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the November 2022 shooting death of Alinton Joel Rivera-Zuniga. Duarte was sentenced to life in prison plus five years without the possibility of parole. “This was a senseless death,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “This verdict and sentencing send a message that deadly violence…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Due to forecasted freezing temperatures, DeKalb County will open four warming centers for residents who need shelter beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 26, 27 and 28.  The following shelters will be open:  Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road SE, Atlanta • St. Vincent de Paul, 2050-C Chamblee Tucker Road, Chamblee • Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur • Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur All transportation routes originate from Frontline Response Headquarters (2585 Gresham Rd SE, Atlanta) and are scheduled for initial pickups to be completed by 7:30 p.m. Following the initial routes, final sweeps will continue from 7:30 p.m. until…

Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Commissioner Angelique B. McClendon recently announced the receipt of a grant award of $130,382.40 to continue traffic data research. The funding is from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and includes h federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  This award is for the period of Oct.1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026 and will fund a Traffic Data Analyst position dedicated to analyzing and interpreting population-based statistics to identify problems, recommend solutions and prepare responses for program development and implementation. “I am grateful for GOHS’s continued grant support, which empowers DDS to analyze critical traffic data…