Author: On Common Ground News

If you’re selected for jury duty in Gwinnett County, you’ll get updates by text now. Gwinnett County Courts announced the launch of a text-based notification system to update jurors on their jury status. With the new texting platform, jurors receive automatic messages about their upcoming jury duty, as well as nightly updates throughout their service week notifying them whether or not to report for service.  The texting platform augments existing web and IVR-based systems. “Jurors have been asking for an easier, more convenient way to get their juror status. With our new text messaging system, jurors receive proactive text messages…

DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May will host a community meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10, 6:30–8 p.m. to address community concerns with high water bills and provide an update on the county’s status in mitigating those issues. The community meeting will be held in Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. On Sept. 20, May issued a moratorium through the end of 2016 on the disconnection of residential water accounts that have been contested through the Utility Customer Operations Center. Water customers who believe their bills are in error should notify the Utility Customer Operations Center at 774 Jordan Lane in…

DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry will host Adoption Day in DeKalb on Friday, Nov. 18, as part of National Adoption Month. Lunch will be served at noon and the ceremony finalizing several adoptions will take place in the Judicial Tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Courtrooms 5C, 5D, and 7C beginning at 1 p.m. November is recognized as National Adoption Month. The purpose of National Adoption Month is to focus attention on children in the Child Welfare system that are in foster care and freed, waiting to be adopted. National Adoption Day is Saturday, Nov. 19…

The Conyers Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating Pelora Turner, a 16-year-old female who was last seen by her family on Sept. 30. Iris Lang said her daughter left home walking to the library and never returned. Lang said she has not heard from her daughter for more than 30 days now. Lang is pleading for help in bringing her daughter home safely. She said Pelora’s health is at risk due to not having her medication for Lupus. Although a picture provided of Pelora to police shows the teen with braids, Pelora was wearing a straight, pressed…

A man who killed a gay rights activist will spend the rest of his life in prison. A DeKalb County judge has given Donte Lamar Wyatt four life sentences plus 41 years for the April 2015 crime spree that left a 37-year-old Atlanta woman dead. “This was a horrific, unspeakable crime, and he deserves nothing less than to spend the rest of his life in prison,” DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said of Wyatt. “Everyone should expect to be safe, especially in their own homes. What this man did was violate that sanctity for two DeKalb residents. We want…

ATLANTA Atlantic Station lures holiday shoppers with local artisans and craft beer Browse a curated selection of handmade arts and crafts and buy local craft beer at ‘Crafts and Drafts’ Saturday, Nov. 12, noon to 6 p.m., at Atlantic Station, 1380 Atlantic Drive N.W., Atlanta. The family-friendly event is free and no ticket is needed for entry. Shoppers will have access to 50 of the best local and regional independent crafters. For more information, visit atlanticstation.com. Center for Civil and Human Rights presents lecture on indigenous people’s rights A panel of leaders, activists, and educators from Indigenous Nations…

DDS reminds veterans, active military of special services Veterans Day is Nov. 11 and the Department of Driver Services (DDS) is reminding Georgia veterans and active military personnel of special licensing and testing services dedicated to them year round. “DDS welcomes the opportunity to honor Georgia’s veterans and active service members,” said DDS Commissioner Bert Brantley. “I am especially proud of the 54 veterans that are part of the DDS team and continue to serve in many roles throughout the state.” DDS supports veterans and our active military several ways including:        Offering free licenses and IDs for veterans (upon…

DeKalb County’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs will accept donations of nonperishable food items for its annual canned food drive now until Friday, Nov. 18. Citizens are encouraged to help fight hunger in their community by dropping off nonperishable items at one of the county’s recreational facilities during normal operating hours. Once all items are gathered, they will be distributed to county citizens in need. Citizens are asked to drop off donations at any of the following locations: Manuel J. Maloof Center, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia Exchange Recreation Center,…

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System (AFPLS) is seeking input from residents on what they would like to see in the Library System’s Strategic Plan. Community engagement has been the cornerstone of the Library System’s operation, and as AFPLS enters into a Strategic Plan that will take us through the next three years and the renovation of 24 branch libraries in total, it is asking to hear from residents again. The public input sessions will be held at the following locations: Sandy Springs Library – Monday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m. Sandy Springs Branch, 395 Mount Vernon Hwy., Sandy Springs …

The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement on key terms for the $192.5 million renovation of Philips Arena, subject to approval by the Atlanta City Council and the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority, officials said. The deal terms will ensure that the Atlanta Hawks remain in the City of Atlanta for decades to come and will maintain the downtown facility as a world-class, state-of-the-art venue for sports and entertainment events. Specifically: The public contribution for arena renovations is capped at $142.5 million, of which $110 million will come from a series of bonds backed by the…