Author: On Common Ground News

A DeKalb County jury has found a man guilty of fatally beating his fiancé’s 2-year-old son in 2012. Devin Sawyer was convicted of felony murder, first-degree child cruelty, aggravated assault and three counts of aggravated battery for the Nov. 24, 2012 death of Michael Weeks, Jr. “No amount of prosecution can replace the loss that young Michael’s family must continue to endure,” DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said. “Our children are our most precious resource. We hope this verdict gives them some comfort in knowing that justice was done.” Young Michael’s mother left him at her apartment with Sawyer…

The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) has launched a new chat feature to assist customers with child support cases online. The chat feature allows customers to obtain information about a new or existing child support case and discuss programs that might assist unemployed or underemployed parents with meeting the terms of their child support orders. “The Division of Child Support Services is continually looking for ways to meet our customers’ needs so Georgia’s children can benefit from the support of both of their parents,” said Tanguler Gray, director of DHS Division of Child Support Services. “This includes providing multiple…

The Department of Driver Services (DDS) is reminding drivers that they can go online to replace their licenses and avoid an in-person trip. Secure online services are available at www.dds.ga.gov 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Summer is our busiest time of year, so why come in to a center if you don’t have to?” asked DDS Commissioner Bert Brantley.  “A replacement license (or ID) is typically mailed out in just a few days.  And we will provide a receipt that you can print and legally drive with, eliminating any reason to visit in person for this service.”…

In an effort to improve player safety while teaching the proper fundamentals of tackling, the Atlanta Public Schools Department of Athletics is purchasing state-of-the-art tackling dummies this fall for all of its high schools that compete in football. The “Shadowman” dummy was displayed on Wednesday, July 20, at Lakewood Stadium. Representatives from Shadowman Sports conducted demonstrations for the coaching staffs of all 10 APS high schools with football teams. Shadowman Sports designed its new tackling dummy in an effort to reduce injuries by cutting down on player-on-player contact during tackling drills. Additionally, the dummy is “mobile” so players can still…

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted July 19 to issue a call for a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) referendum to be placed on the Nov. 8 elections ballot. The referendum calls for the renewal of the one-cent sales tax to fund transportation projects and other improvements in the county. If passed, the new program will take effect when the current SPLOST expires on March 31, 2017. The county and all 16 Gwinnett cities have agreed to share the proceeds from the SPLOST as they have since 2001. The new program could raise an estimated $950 million…

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has let a $482,000 contract to rehabilitate 10 bridges maintained by the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation. Georgia Bridge & Concrete, LLC, was the lowest of the four responsive bidders. The company will rehabilitate bridges in all four commission districts with funds from the 2014 SPLOST. “We let a bridge rehab contract every year. This is both to ensure our bridges are up to Georgia DOT standards and to extend the useful life of the structures,” District 3 Commissioner Tommy Hunter said. Many of these roadways need to have the deck joints replaced at…

Gwinnett County Administrator Glenn Stephens has appointed Kathy Holland as director of the Department of Planning and Development. The Board of Commissioners will consider ratifying her employment agreement during Tuesday’s meeting. The department consists of planning, development and strategic infrastructure planning divisions. Holland has served as the acting department director since last November. Born in Ohio, she moved to Georgia with her family in 1968. She worked as a senior development review analyst at Gwinnett County for 15 years before leaving in 1997 to start her own consulting business. Holland returned to the County in 2002 as development review manager.…

A former DeKalb County Board of Commissioners chief of staff and a man who did business with the county were indicted Tuesday, July 19, for theft and conspiracy. Morris Williams and Douglas Wayne Cotter were charged on two counts of theft by taking and one count each of conspiracy to defraud a political subdivision. Cotter also was indicted for making a false statement. “County employees and those who do business with the county are held to a higher standard because they provide or use resources to further the best interests of DeKalb citizens and businesses,” DeKalb County District Attorney Robert…

John Evans has resigned as president of the DeKalb County NAACP branch effective July 16 to focus on his non-profit organization, Operations Lead. Teresa Hardy, 1st vice president, will take the reigns as president adhering to the organization’s constitution and bylaws. Cherry Willis, 2nd vice president, will become 1st vice president, and Zepora Roberts, 3rd vice president, will become to 2nd vice president. “We are honored to have been under Mr. Evan’s leadership for over 16 years and send many blessings as he continues to fight for the people,” said Hardy.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a suspect in the June 20 shooting death of a man on the Northeast Expressway in Atlanta. DeKalb Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested 25-year old Juan Carlos Moulier, Jr., of Atlanta on warrants issued by the DeKalb County Police Department for the felony murder of Tommy Jackson during an attempt to take money from him. Moulier is also accused of felony armed robbery. The arrest took place without incident on the access road of Northeast Expressway.  Moulier was taken to the DeKalb Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division prior to being booked into…