Author: On Common Ground News

Rockdale County Post 1 Commissioner Oz Nesbitt will host his annual Back to School Bash on Sunday, July 24, 4 to 6 p.m., at the Olde Town Pavilion to help kids gear up for the new school year. Book bags and school supplies will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. The Back to School Bash will also include raffle prizes and a cookout. “As kids get ready to go back to school, we want to make sure they have what they need to start the year off right,” said Nesbitt. “The success of Rockdale students depends on all…

The Conyers-Rockdale Library System will host a Local Children’s Author Expo in August. This event provides an outlet for local children’s authors to showcase their books and network while giving patrons the opportunity to purchase autographed books. The Expo will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2 – 4 p.m. in the library meeting room (lower level). For more information and author registration, please contact the Adult Services Department at 770-388-5040, ext. 118. This event is free and open to the public- all ages are welcome!

DeKalb County Police officers soon will be equipped with state-of-the-art body cameras. The DeKalb Board of Commissioners has awarded a $737,724 contract to Utility Associates of Decatur to purchase 600 BodyWorn wearable body cameras to outfit the entire uniform division. Officials showed off the new gear during a July 20 news conference. “The purchase of this technology will benefit both police officers and the public by providing an added layer of transparency and accountability,” said DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May. “This is another important investment in community-oriented policing by using technology to aid in building trust and mutual respect between…

Each year DeKalb County Fire Rescue personnel volunteer at the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation’s Camp OO-U-La for young burn victims. Camp OO-U-La, which began in the early 1980s and serves approximately 100 youth annually, offers young burn victims the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and meet other campers who share the common experience of suffering from a burn injury. One longtime volunteer is DeKalb County Fire Rescue Capt. Shawn Staton, who has served as a camp counselor for 17 years. “It’s hard to describe my experience at the camp in a few words,” said Staton, a 19-year DCFR veteran…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested two suspects, one of them a juvenile, 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 and the juvenile on warrants by the DeKalb County Police Department for the felony murder and armed robbery of Tommy Jackson. Moulier and the juvenile tried to rob Jackson during a drug transaction. Both suspects were charged with armed robbery and murder. The juvenile also was charged with failure to appear in Juvenile Court ona a…

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…