Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS—Authorities are investigating a deadly house fire that claimed the life of a 40-year-old Rockdale County man late Sunday and caused injuries to his 63-year-old mother and 43-year-old sister. The fire broke out around 8:45 p.m. at 771 Robin Drive, Rockdale County Fire Chief Dan Morgan said in a news release. When firefighters arrived at the scene, the blaze was already through the roof in one portion of the structure. Authorities said the fire and a possible explosion of natural gas resulted in significant damage to the structure. The man died at the scene. The mother was transported by air…

Acting on a complaint from an accident victim, the DeKalb County Police Intelligence Unit arrested a civilian employee of the Police Department following a three-month investigation. Shirley Waters, an aide with the Auto Theft Unit, has been charged with computer invasion of Privacy for providing and selling vehicle accident information to Reginald Earl Jenkins. Felony warrants for bribery and criminal conspiracy to commit computer invasion of privacy were obtained for Jenkins and she was arrested at 1:30 a.m. on June 13.

ELLENWOOD—Grab your lawn chairs or blankets and bring the family out to enjoy a free outdoor movie on Thursday, June 16, 8:30 p.m., at Bouldercrest Park, 4184 Bouldercrest Park Road, Ellenwood. Disney’s “Inside Out” will be screened. Popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy will be served. The event is free.

It’s time to take your life back and live! The economy is recovering. How about you? Join financial education expert Doreen Carter for a personal financial management workshop on Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lithonia Woman’s Club on Wiggins Street off Main Street in the city of Lithonia. In this interactive workshop, Carter will help you assess your current financial condition, show you how to create a plan to build wealth, and cover how to protect your assets. Carter will be joined by entrepreneur philanthropist Nicola Jackson. The event is free to attend, but registration is…

Atlantans are uniting to remember the people who were killed and wounded in Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, FL. The massacre, which claimed the lives of at least 50 people and 53 injured, is being called the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Several authorities identified Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, as the shooter. Mateen was killed in a standoff with police after holding patrons of the Pulse Nightclub hostage for three hours. Reports from witnesses described the scene as a blood bath with people scurrying for cover as Mateen used an AR-15 type rifle and…

Accused serial killer Aeman L. Presley was sentenced Monday to two life sentences without the possibility for parole for killing a Decatur hairdresser and a homeless DeKalb man. Presley, 35, pleaded guilty to all charges connected to the Sept. 26, 2014 shooting death of Calvin Lewis Gholston and the Dec. 6, 2014 robbery and shooting death of Karen Pearce. “His actions were monstrous and had severe consequences on the lives of several individuals,” DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said. “Although he accepted responsibility for his actions, when a person commits crimes this terrible, he deserves to go to…

Ora Bailey still manages to smile as she welcomes customers to Beasley’s Drugstore in downtown Conyers, even though she and her husband, Jacob, are still shaken. A burglar hit their pharmacy twice in four days, stealing pharmaceuticals in a mesh laundry basket. Conyers police say the break-ins, which took place after business hours on June 2 and June 5, are among a rash of reported drugstore burglaries occurring throughout metro Atlanta.   “You expect to have things happen from time to time, but to have this happen twice so close together is really jarring. It just kind of shakes…

Tucker Middle School teacher Christine Mayfield is calling on the community to lend a hand. Her students recently competed in the Georgia Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) state competition in March where 15 of them qualified to compete in Nationals. Now, they need the community’s help in raising $7,000 to compete in finals at the 2016 National Leadership Conference, which will be held July 3-7 in San Diego, California. They have less than a week before they lose their deposit and all the money they have raised so far. “We are raising money for our 2015-2016 regional…

David Manuel says hundreds of people have signed up to walk or run in the “I Am A Father” 5K event that he is hosting on June 18 in DeKalb County. The event, now in its second year, has grown from a small project to a mammoth event that will include a health fair with vendors providing free checkups, testing for HIV, wellness information and other resources. Manuel said people from all walks of life are participating. “Last year, we had 86 participants for the 5K. This year, we have over 600,” said Manuel, who is executive director of the…

James Lewis, who heads the N the Zone Motorcycle Club, says his group is doing a charity ride on Sunday, June 12, to help provide financial assistance to a 4-year-old girl who recently had a heart transplant. The group and the N the Zone Social Club for women—the Pearls—will meet up in the parking lot on the Macy’s side of the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia, at 1 p.m., to ride to Athens. Lewis said the 28 members of the club felt compelled to help when they learned about the child and her mother. They decided to make the ride…