Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA – The City of Decatur invites community members, neighbors, and partners to attend a Peace Gathering on Tuesday, December 30 at 3 p.m. As part of the gathering, the City of Decatur will welcome 19 Buddhist monks who are currently walking more than 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. Their journey began on October 26 with a shared mission to promote peace, compassion, and connection. Decatur has been selected as a site of the group’s Peace Gathering for the state of Georgi The event is open to the public and will include remarks, a moment…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has announced that the DeKalb County Police Department has received a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) grant for the 2026 grant year with an award total of $120,779.36. The DeKalb County Police Department’s HEAT Unit will use the grant to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.  “With the increase in the number of persons killed in traffic crashes in Georgia and across the nation over the last year, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with partners like DeKalb…

STONECREST, GA — New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will welcome its congregation and the community to an unforgettable New Year’s Eve Worship Experience on Wednesday, Dec. 31, offering two powerful services—one at noon and the other at 10 p.m.– as the church closes out 2025 with worship, gratitude, and bold expectation for the year ahead. The 10 p.m. Watch Night Celebration will feature a special musical guest appearance by award-winning gospel recording artist Tim Bowman Jr., known for chart-topping worship favorites including “I’m Good” and “Heal.” Designed to meet worshippers where they are, each service will feature dynamic praise and a transformative message from Senior…

DEKALB, GA–– Due to forecasted freezing temperatures and hazardous wind chills, DeKalb County will activate warming centers beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday(Dec. 29-31).  The following locations will be open for those who need to take shelter:   Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Dive, Decatur, 24 hours Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Rd SE, Atlanta, 24 hours St. Vincent de Paul, 2050-C Chamblee Tucker Road, Chamblee Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell 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…

DECATUR, GA. – After serving the citizens of DeKalb County for nearly 26 years, the last 10 years as tax commissioner, Irvin J. Johnson will retire as of Dec. 31, 2025. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead one of DeKalb’s key governmental functions: motor vehicle titling and registration, and tax billing and revenue collections. We achieved the approval of 10 consecutive and timely tax digest submissions, which resulted in the collection of tax revenues for county and school operations. Through pandemic and hybrid workforce challenges, these accomplishments were delivered effectively by a committed and excellent tax office team.…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. – The Gwinnett County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Otis Wright, 82, who was reported missing from his residence in the 1400 block of Silver Charm Lane SW. Mr. Wright was last seen inside the residence at approximately 9:00 a.m. He is described as a black male with gray hair and a clean-shaven face, standing approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 175 pounds. At the time he was last seen, Mr. Wright was wearing a white short-sleeve t-shirt, blue plaid pajama pants, red Gap hooded sweatshirt, and white or beige tennis…

Update: (Dec. 23, 2025) Both Abbott and Slavin have been located and taken into custody. SNELLVILLE, GA. – On September 17, 2025, Gwinnett County Animal Control requested assistance from the Gwinnett County Police Department 1914 Britt Drive, regarding allegations of animal cruelty. Due to the severity and circumstances of the case, detectives were also requested to respond and assist with the investigation. As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the residence. During the execution of the warrant, a total of twenty-five dogs were seized. Many of the dogs were confined to small cages containing feces…

ATLANTA— AAA is once again offering its life-saving ‘Tow to Go’ program to help keep impaired drivers off the road this holiday season. The service will be active from 6:00 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 24 2025, through 6:00 a.m  Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, across select states. ‘Tow to Go’ provides a free, confidential ride and tow for impaired drivers and their vehicles to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. Open to both AAA members and non-members, the program is designed as a last-resort safety net when other options, like a designated driver or rideshare, fall through. “The holidays are meant for joy, not tragedy caused by impaired driving,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman for AAA- The…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Three violent inmates who escaped from the DeKalb County Jail on Sunday, Dec. 21, have been captured after a female Lyft driver  was ordered to take them to Miami, Florida, 600 miles away, authorities said during a press conference on today, Dec. 23. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests of  Stevenson Charles, 24,  Yusuf Minor, 31; and Naod Yohannes. The men were arrested on Monday night and booked into the Broward County, FL  jail, after nearly a 24-hour manhunt that included multiple law enforcement agencies. The suspects reportedly received help from two accomplices in their escape…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) will host its Christmas tree recycling initiative, “Bring One for the Chipper,” providing Rockdale residents with an environmentally responsible way to recycle live Christmas trees after the holiday season. The Rockdale Recycling Center  will be open from Saturday, Jan. 3-10, 2026,, 9: a.m. to 1 p.m.. Rockdale residents are encouraged to bring their live, undecorated Christmas trees to be recycled and diverted from landfills. To celebrate the kickoff event on Jan. 3, the first 50 Rockdale residents who pre-register and drop off a tree that day will receive a free tree seedling, generously provided by…