Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has purchased a new type of water meter for use while a moratorium on the installation of current iPerl smart water meters remains in effect. “The CEO and DeKalb Board of Commissioners have directed staff to suspend the current meter replacement program, which we have already done,” said DeKalb Chief Operating Officer Zach Williams. “The issue has been the replacement of broken meters and meters for new developments. The only meters we have in stock are iPerl smart water meters, but this order of AccuStream meters gives us an alternative as the…

CONYERS—For many people, the holidays can be tough because of the strong memories and traditions with those who are now deceased. One way to handle the sadness is to celebrate the lives of loved ones with others who can relate to the difficulties the season brings. Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. in Conyers is bringing together the community for a Candlelight Remembrance Service that will include a time to reflect and fellowship. The celebration will be held on Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m., at the Rockdale Chapel,1999 Hwy.138 S.E, Conyers. “We are excited to…

DeKalb police have arrested a 24-year-old man who they say raped and strangled a pregnant woman at a DeKalb County motel. Terique Hall was charged with killing 20-year-old Ashley Mays at the Quality Inn and Suites at 3500 Snapfinger Park in Decatur. Mays’ body was discovered inside a room at the motel. Her hands and feet were reportedly bound with zip ties. The attack took place on Nov. 18, police said. Mays’ fetus did not survive, police said. Police said Hall was captured on surveillance footage leaving the motel room where the assault allegedly occurred. Images of Hall from different…

By Valerie J. Morgan DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis hugged his wife in an emotional embrace after the Georgia Supreme Court handed down its decision on his appeal on Nov. 30. The high court unanimously overturned his conviction, citing “technical errors” that occurred during his trial. The court said in a 30-page opinion that while there was sufficient evidence to find Ellis guilty of perjury and attempt to commit theft by extortion, “we must nevertheless reverse Ellis’ convictions based on certain evidentiary errors that occurred at his trial. Accordingly, we affirm in part and reverse in part to allow for a…

Jason Lary, who led the Stonecrest cityhood movement to victory, says he plans to run for mayor of the new city. Lary said that as the chief architect of the Stonecrest Yes Committee, he is ready to give birth to the vision of economic development and self-governance that he and others have worked on for so long. The referendum to create the city of 50,000 residents passed on Nov. 8 with 59 percent of the vote. “After four years of being the person who has put it together, selected the team and worked on the model for the city, I…

Students in Georgia’s Pre-K Program continue to show positive gains through the end of kindergarten across all domains of learning, according to recent research. A study, commissioned by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), found that children in the state-funded Pre-K program progressed at a greater rate during the time they participated in Georgia’s Pre-K Program than would be expected for normal developmental growth. The study, which included a sample of 1,169 children, is part of a multi-year evaluation by the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.…

The public is invited to attend a special recognition honoring Richard Oden, Chairman of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners. Oden’s term expires on Dec 31. Oden will be honored at the board’s Work Session on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m., in the Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers. Oden served eight years as Chairman. During the meeting, Chairman-Elect Oz Nesbitt and Commissioner Doreen Williams will present Oden with a proclamation declaring Dec. 13, 2016 as “Chairman Richard A. Oden Appreciation Day.” The public is welcome to share well wishes to Oden during the public comment portion of the agenda.…

Marcello Baines, the newly-elected Chairman of the Newton County Board of Commissioners, will meet and greet residents on Thursday, Dec. 8, 4 to 8 p.m., at the Lindsey Firm, 1182 Washinton St., S.W., Covington Baines is the first African American to be elected to the position and is a minister of Springfield Baptist Church in Rockdale County.

The DeKalb NAACP is organizing the 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, which will be held on the King Holiday, Monday, Jan. 16. The civil rights group’s 2017 theme is “Remembering the Dream, Honoring the Dreamer.” The grand marshal for the parade will be John Evans, former president of the DeKalb NAACP. Groups or individuals who would like to participate in the parade may register online www.dekalbganaacp.org. The deadline to register is Dec. 31. Parade participants will line up at Green Pastures Ministries, 5455 Flatshoals Parkway, at 10 a.m. The parade starts at noon and will end at…

The Conyers Police Department is hosting a toy drive for the families who have lost their homes to the wildfires raging in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The fires have destroyed more than 700 homes and businesses across Sevier County and displaced more than 14,000 residents in Gatlinburg alone. The fires have consumed more than 15,000 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains and at least seven people have been killed, according to news reports. The Conyers Police Department is asking the community to donate new toys to help make the holidays a little happier for the families. The toy drive will begin Dec.…