Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA – To accommodate walk-in customers applying for homestead exemptions, the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office located at 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur will have extended hours on March 24 through April 1 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled online at DeKalbTax.org or by calling 404-298-4000. To avoid delays, homeowners can check their exemption status and apply online before the April 1 deadline. Letters were recently mailed to homeowners who may be eligible for a senior exemption, a property assessment freeze, or a basic homestead exemption for the current tax year. All applications, including property…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett County man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl. Isaiah Esquilin-Perez, 22, was convicted of three counts of aggravated child molestation, three counts of incest and one count of child molestation for attacks on the girl in April 2023 and previously. Esquilin-Perez was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences and mandatory sex offender registration. “We pray that this child and her family are able to find resolution and healing in this verdict and sentence,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “This defendant violated the trust of this family with his horrible actions. His punishment…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Water Resources will host its 2nd Annual Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Model Water Competition on Friday, March 28, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Johnson Park,1781 Ebenezer Road, Conyers.  This STEM-focused event challenges students from Rockdale County middle schools to design and build working model water towers. The hands-on competition fosters creativity, problem-solving, and understanding of real-world water infrastructure—critical elements for a sustainable future. In 2024, Rockdale County hosted the inaugural event, which had minimal participation. This year, the event boasts participation from three schools and 13 teams. The contest is also open this year to students…

STONECREST, GA — Hayden Quarry Road will be closed to through traffic March 24-27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to facilitate the installation of water line crossings at 7199 Hayden Road. Work will be underway between Turner Hill and Klondike Roads       Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area during the road closure period advising motorists of construction work in the area and of local traffic restrictions.  Questions regarding this road closure should be addressed to Brett Clay, project manager, for Dogwood Site Contractors at 404-831-3559

DECATUR, GA—A DeKalb County man and his girlfriend have been sentenced to decades in prison for the 2021 brutal beating death of the man’s young daughter. Investigators reported that the couple took turns beating the child until she lost consciousness after she did not do chores. The father then took her to a hospital, claiming she had been in a car accident.  The case reached its conclusion on Wednesday, March 19, when DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Nora Polk sentenced Unchinna Myrick, 28, to 50 years, with 30 years to be served in custody and the balance on probation, for…

NEWTON COUNTY, GA—An outpouring of prayers and condolences have been extended to the family of Justin Etienne, 18, a Rockdale County student who was identified as the victim fatally shot during Senior Skip Day at a Newton community park on Wednesday, March 19.  One mother said her son told her that his entire class was crying after learning about the tragedy. Etienne, the mother said, was a popular, well-liked soccer player at Salem High School.  The shooting took place at Denny Dobbs Park during a large gathering of high school students from Newton and Rockdale County as part of Senior Skip Day. …

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) will host a Kindergarten Registration Carnival event on March 27, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Centerville Community Center, 3025 Bethany Church Road, in Snellville. This special event is for families with children who will turn age 5 on or before Sept.  1, 2025. The event will feature engaging activities for children, giveaways, and is open to all Gwinnett families, regardless of their school zone.     Kim Holland, GCPS executive director of Early Learning and School Readiness, says the event will be fun for children and helpful to parents.  “We are thrilled to host the…

NEWTON COUNTY, GA— A fatal shooting at Denny Dobbs Park has shaken the community at large—in Newton and Rockdale counties—as law enforcement authorities work the case. Many students from area high schools were at the Newton County park to celebrate Senior Skip Day when the shooting occurred this evening. Newton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the shooting just before 5 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.  An 18-year-old student reportedly was killed during the shooting.   According to a Nextdoor post, students from multiple high schools were attending the “Senior Skip Day” celebration when the shooting erupted and at least…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by guilty plea in the case against a Lithonia man charged with using his cell phone to take photos and videos of women without their knowledge.  On Wednesday, March 12, Jesse William Kirk, 50, pleaded guilty to two counts of Using/Installing a Device to Observe or Record Underneath or Through an Individual’s Clothing and one count of Peeping Tom in connection with incidents in Brookhaven in 2019 and 2023.  According to the investigation, officers with the Brookhaven Police Department responded to a call about suspicious activity at the Costco…