Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Delta Community Credit Union announced plans to open a new branch in Conyers, Georgia by summer 2025. The Conyers branch will be the Credit Union’s 31st in metro Atlanta and first in Rockdale County. The future location will allow Delta Community to better serve existing members and extend support to consumers in Conyers and the surrounding communities, including Stonecrest, Lithonia, Covington and Lakeview Estates. The branch will open in the Salem Gate Market Shopping Center at 1448 Old Salem Road Southeast, next to one of the shopping center’s anchor stores, Floor & Décor. The recently-built shopping center is well…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County has unveiled a transformative beautification effort along its major gateways and interstates, bringing multimillion-dollar enhancements to some of the busiest roadways in metro Atlanta, DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond announced today, Dec. 23.  The Gateway Beautification Project revitalizes critical arteries spanning approximately 20 acres along I-20 and I-85, including Chamblee Tucker, Flat Shoals, and Candler Roads and have taken shape as DeKalb welcomes tens of thousands of people this week as the holiday season takes full effect.  “These enhanced gateways will create positive first impressions of our county for tens of thousands of travelers,” DeKalb County CEO…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Sen. Raphael Warnock has successfully secured a $40 million authorization for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects in DeKalb County. “Georgians across the state rely on safe, clean, and reliable water for drinking, maintaining homes and businesses, and more,” Warnock said. “But this is the type of work that goes largely unrecognized until disaster strikes, highlighting why it is so important to secure investments today that will protect Georgia’s water infrastructure tomorrow.” The authorization was included in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024 passed by the U.S. Senate with a vote of 97-1 on Dec. 18.…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County  Commissioner LaDena Bolton and her staff, in collaboration with Amerigroup Community Care, HOT 107.9, Glamorous Gemz, and Medcura Health,iwill host a Holiday Toy Drive to support students and their families in Super District 7. The event will take place Saturday, Dec. 21, at noon, at Mercura Health, 1706 Candler Road, Decatur. This year’s drive is especially notable as District 7 contributes 50 bikes, aiming to ensure that children in District 7 experience an unforgettable holiday season, organizers said. “The Holiday Toy Drive exemplifies the power of unity and generosity within our community,” said Commissioner Bolton. “By working together with these…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the case against Tyler Merritt, 23, of Decatur. He was sentenced to life for the murder of 50-year-old Wayne Cunningham. Jurors found Merritt guilty on Dec. 19 on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, stemming from the fatal shooting on January 26, 2020.  According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded shortly before 4:30 p.m. to a report of a person injured at a motel in the 2500 block of…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry announced that effective Jan. 1, 2025, House Bill 1292 requires that real estate documents presented by self-filers, anyone who is a party to an instrument, be recorded using electronic filing. Additionally, all individuals submitting documents for electronic filing will be required to upload their government-issued ID. The ID will be verified before the filer is allowed to proceed with the filing. O.C.G.A. § 44-2-39(b)(1). Filers can upload their government-issued ID on www.efile.gsccca.org and follow the prompts to complete the verification process. For more information, see the GSCCCA e-Filing Portal Identity Verification Guide at efile.gsccca.org. Click…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– Gwinnett The Gwinnett County Solicitor-General’s Office has updated its website to provide a more user-friendly and accessible experience for the community. The new website, developed in collaboration with Accent Creative Group, offers improved navigation, mobile optimization, and translation capabilities in multiple languages.  “Our goal was to make vital information and resources within our department easily accessible and understandable for the residents of Gwinnett County,” said Solicitor-General Lisamarie N. Bristol. “We aimed to create a more approachable platform to better serve our community’s needs.” The new website is user-friendly and mobile-responsive, ensuring a seamless experience across all devices. Additionally,…

ATLANTA—IF your holiday plans involve traveling through airports, remember to add your Georgia Digital Driver’s License and ID to your Smartphone Wallet.   Your Georgia Digital Driver’s License and ID (mobile driver’s license) can help you breeze through select Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) PreCheck® checkpoints including Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport’s South Terminal. “Travel with confidence using your Georgia Digital Driver’s License or ID, always at your fingertips,” said Spencer R. Moore, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). Georgia’s Digital Driver’s License and ID are available on all platforms: Apple, Google and Samsung. “As we embrace the digital era, I…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The Atlanta Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society will host its  annual Christmas celebration on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2:30 p.m., at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, GA. This special event is free to attend and open to the public. The concert provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience classic songs performed on a traditional theatre pipe organ, of which there are only a few remaining in the United States and just a handful in the state of Georgia.  Ken Double, a theatre organist who regularly plays on the Mighty Mo at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, will lead the program on…

ATLANTA — The Develop Fulton Board of Directors unanimously approved a $538,304,353 bond inducement for Project Nexus, a transformative mixed-use economic development initiative that would revitalize an area South of I-20. This landmark project would be a pivotal investment in an area in the southern part of Fulton County that has historically been underserved, ushering in a new era of economic opportunity and community sustainability.  Project Nexus would represent a groundbreaking, half-billion-dollar investment aimed at transforming a distressed property into a vibrant hub of economic and community development. Situated in Atlanta and East Point, the project would bring together affordable…