Author: On Common Ground News

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. 

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction by guilty plea of a former DeKalb County Police officer charged with shooting and killing a man inside the man’s Stone Mountain home.  During a hearing on Feb.11, Russell Mathis, 32, of Tucker, entered a negotiated Alford plea to charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless Conduct stemming from the death of Marando Salmon, 37, on Nov. 4, 2022.  An Alford plea is a type of guilty plea where the defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledges the prosecution has enough evidence that the case would likely result in a conviction. …

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – An Alpharetta man pled guilty to shooting and killing a stranger at a Norcross hotel after accusing his girlfriend of flirting. Demetrius Tyree Martin, 38, pled guilty to felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault for the May 2021 shooting death of  Enrique Romero Sanchez, 45. Martin agreed to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole. “This killing was senseless,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “Violence is never acceptable, and we will always hold those who commit crimes like these accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We pray that the outcome of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 16, garbage, recyclable materials, and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on a revised collection schedule as follows: Monday, Feb. 16 – Presidents Day observed. No sanitation service. Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, Feb. 16, will be serviced on Tuesday, Feb. 17.  Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Feb. 17, will be serviced on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Thursday, Feb. 19 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Feb. 18, will be serviced on Thursday, Feb. 19. Friday,…