Author: On Common Ground News

The FBI says a suspect has been arrested in connection with an armed bank robbery that occurred in Conyers on Aug. 3. Special Agent in Charge (SAC) J. Britt Johnson, FBI Atlanta, in conjunction with Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson announced the arrest of Kevin Simons, aka “Kevmurda,” 28, of Cincinnati/Cleveland, Ohio. Simons was arrested on Aug. 12 in Steubenville, Ohio by FBI agents from Cincinnati FBI’s Cambridge Resident Agency and the Cleveland Field Office, working along with the Steubenville Drug Task Force. Simons is currently being held in Ohio on State of Georgia charges of armed robbery in connection…

ATLANTA Dunwoody Nature Center hosts 23rd Annual Butterfly Festival Venture inside two enormous tents overflowing with hundreds of gorgeous, free-roaming butterflies Saturday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. Bring the family for a day of activities including a Birds of Prey show, live animal encounters, games, educational booths, crafts, music, food and drinks. The price is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-12 and free to children ages 3 and under. For more information, visit http://www.dunwoodynature.org/ or call 770-394-3322.   Musical production offers glimpse into the lives of women of…

The Conyers Police Department is hosting its first ever Shop with A Cop (SWAC) 5K race and fun run on Saturday, Oct. 1. Every December, law enforcement personnel accompany children from families experiencing financial hardships to the Conyers Wal-Mart to shop for Christmas gifts. Historically, SWAC has been funded through personal and business donations as well as fund-raising efforts by the Conyers Police Department’s Explorer and Volunteers in Police Services programs.  This year, the department is offering the 5K race and fun run to help raise these funds while providing an opportunity for the community to get to know their…

The South DeKalb Business Association will present Kimberly King, EEO Director of Georgia’s Department of Transportation, as its keynote speaker. The meeting will be held on Aug. 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at One Georgia Center, 600 W. Peachtree St., N.W., Atlanta. King has served as the Equal Employment Opportunity Director for DOT since Dec. 10, 2012. An attorney by trade, King has more than 20 years of legal experience in the practice areas of civil rights, human resources and collective bargaining. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law and was licensed to…

Some DeKalb youths mixed nighttime basketball with learning life skills when DeKalb Workforce Development teamed up this summer with the DeKalb County Police Athletic League (PAL) Plus Midnight Basketball League. “Providing educational and life skills training along with this summer sports program is a win-win for DeKalb County and for the participating youth,” DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May said. Melfred Garrison, an employment and training analyst senior with DeKalb Workforce Development’s youth department, offered training and employment opportunities to youth participating in the league that targeted males and females ages 15-19, teens in need of community service hours or who…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) announced its 22 school-level Teachers of the Year who will compete for the title of Rockdale County Teacher of the Year. One teacher at each school was selected by their peers for the honor of being named his/her school’s Teacher of the Year. All 22 Teachers of the Year are educators to whom others look for inspiration and direction. Competition for the Rockdale County Teacher of the Year begins with the school-level candidates completing a comprehensive application addressing their teaching philosophy and their reasons for deciding to serve the community as educators. The applications will…

Fifty-seven established and emerging leaders have been selected to participate in Leadership DeKalb’s Class of 2017. On the brink of its 30th year anniversary, Leadership DeKalb welcomes its new Program Chair Sandra Zayac ’15, Partner at Arnall Golden Gregory LLP. “The Class of 2017 will have an opportunity to explore the current issues faced by DeKalb government and businesses and to experience the largely overlooked beauty of DeKalb’s natural resources and culture. The program provides an emotional journey that will challenge assumptions and change perspectives,” said Sandy Zayac ’15. Members of the Class of 2017 includes: Brent Adams, President,…

DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau (Discover DeKalb) announces the hiring of Neil Hibbert, CGMP to fill the newly created Director of Sales position. “We are excited to have such a great addition to our team. Neil brings years of industry experience and knowledge needed to support the execution of our business and fill in the gaps,” said James Tsismanakis, executive director of Discover DeKalb. Neil, a hospitality and sales industry veteran, will manage the DCVB sales team, as well as, focus on corporate group bookings in DeKalb. Since starting his career as a sales assistant, Hibbert has continuously held progressive…

On Common Ground News will present “A Night of Smooth Jazz” on Saturday, Aug. 20, 7 to 11 p.m., at the Lithonia Amphitheater. Jazz legends Ronnie Laws, Lonnie Liston Smith and Joey Sommerville will headline the concert under the stars. Other special guests include Jaman Laws, Julie Dexter, Rhonda Thomas, Groove Centric and DJ Naturel. JFly Music Group, LLC is producing the star-studded affair, which will be hosted by Morris Baxter from 91.9 WCLK. “We are excited to present  “A Night of Smooth Jazz” with internationally-known drummer JFly. He is known around the world as a talented musician who has…

Six arrests have been made in connection with the death of 15-year-old Keiara Palmer, who was killed in a drive-by shooting on Glenwood Road in Decatur. The arrests were made on Aug. 10 after a joint investigation by the DeKalb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Section, Gang and Intelligence Unit, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad and the U.S. Marshalls joined forces. Two juveniles and four adults were arrested: Roderick Harris, 17; Michael Miller, 22; Sharod Jackson, 18; and Roderick Jackson, 18. All were taken into custody and charged with felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and six counts of…