Author: On Common Ground News

The City of Lithonia lost two of its committed and dedicated citizens, Brenda Drucilla Woods and Kiman Woods, in a tragic car accident on July 27. Kiman Woods, Drucilla Woods’ nephew, was a gifted musician and played at First St. Paul AME Church. Drucilla Woods was a community activist and the sister of former Lithonia Mayor Marcia Glenn. On Friday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m., there will be a musical celebration at First St. Paul AME, 2687 Klondike Road, Lithonia. There will be a joint funeral service on Saturday, Sept. 3, 1 p.m., at Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church, 2152 Rock…

STONE MOUNTAIN –The DeKalb County Fire Rescue’s Fire Investigations Unit and Stone Mountain Police Department have charged a 16-year-old with first-degree arson in connection with a fire that destroyed the playground at Jim McCurdy Park, located at 5190 Poplar Springs Road in Stone Mountain. The teen, whose identity is being withheld because he is a juvenile, has been remanded to the custody of the DeKalb County Juvenile Detention Center pending further processing. The arrest is the result of information received from residents regarding the fire that destroyed the wood-framed playground structure on Aug. 26 after 8 p.m. Information received by…

Conyers Police Department is seeking the public’s help in capturing two suspects who burglarized the Sigman Bottle Shop on Monday, Aug. 29, just after midnight. The heavier male was armed with a handgun. Any information leading to the arrest of the suspects may result in a cash reward of up to $5,000.00. Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at: 404-577-TIPS (8477). Surveillance video: https://youtu.be/CULoqzyh7lo

ATLANTA—Sen. Vincent Fort (D – Atlanta) will be a panelist at the Atlanta Black Gay Pride “A More Perfect Union – The Need for Comprehensive Civil Rights” town hall at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.  The center is located at 100 Ivan Allen Blvd., N.W., Atlanta. The town hall will examine how recent events have altered the LGBTQ movement for equality. Sen. Fort will be joined on the panel by civil rights advocates, public officials and faith and community leaders. Sen. Fort has long been an ally of the…

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The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted a 2016 millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 4.09 percent. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 20.19 mills, an increase of 0.59 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 19.4 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately $50.15 and the proposed tax increase for non‐homestead property with a fair market value of $300,000 is approximately $177.00. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. §48-5-32 and due to a technical…

A DeKalb County jury has found an Ellenwood man guilty of killing his 6-month-old daughter by violently fracturing her skull multiple times. Reginald Demarcus Johnson, 36, was convicted Monday of felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children for the April 2015 death of Jordan Johnson. “This is a tragic and horrific death,” said DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James. “It is our responsibility as parents to do everything in our power to protect our most precious commodities … our children. So to forcibly damage such a young child – then try to blame her twin brother – is repugnant and…

Yesterday, August 29th, Jim Strickland of WSB-TV presented a news story about a taxpayer who said that her mortgage company stated they were raising her escrow amount to accommodate a request by the Tax Commissioner’s Office for one installment in this current tax year. In the story, Ms. Davis, the taxpayer, expressed her concerns about not receiving a notice of change in the installment payment process from our office. Also in the story, Mr. Strickland closed by stating that the Tax Commissioner’s website had not been updated to remove the statement regarding the request that mortgage companies and tax services…

Business owner Kathy L. Harvey has announced that she has qualified as a write-in candidate for Rockdale County Probate Court judge. In November, Harvey will face Clarence Cuthpert, Jr., an attorney who defeated incumbent Charles Mays. Harvey is a Law and Public Policy Ph.D candidate at Walden University. She holds an advanced M.Sci. Degree in Law and Public Policy (MLPP), California University of Pennsylvania (CAL-U), and a MACC in Christian Counseling from Luther Rice University. She operates a business called The Counseling and Consulting Connoisseur. Harvey has two children and three grandchildren.

The Georgia Lottery is joining a new game that offers two lifetime prizes. Cash4Life is a multi-state draw game with the chance to win $1,000 a day for life, or the chance to win $1,000 a week for life. The game went on sale statewide Sunday. Drawings will be held at 9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. The first drawing in Georgia will be held July 29. Tickets are $2 per play. Players must pick five numbers from one to 60 and a Cash Ball number from one to four. Players can win $1,000 a day for life by matching all…