Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability Department announces the debut of the World Planning Day Middle School Art Contest. The contest invites students enrolled in DeKalb County Middle Schools to illustrate the future of their community and bring a global perspective to a creative goal. Contest Guidelines: Open to all DeKalb County Middle School Students (Grades 6-8). Artwork must be two-dimensional and no greater than 11″ x 16″. Artwork should be focused on topics such as community, sustainability, beautification, transportation, etc., while answering the question “What does community look like to you?” Theme: Think Global, Plan Local Deadline for…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections meeting for the purpose of conducting its normal monthly business will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted in person at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, Georgia 30032 and is open to the public. Public comments may be made in person or submitted by sending an email of one printed page or less at a minimum font of 12 to electionspubliccmnt@dekalbcountyga.gov, which must be received between 35 and 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting. The body of your email must…

GWINNETT COUNTY GA— The Atlanta International Night Market (AINM), https://atlnightmarket.org/, is returning to the City of Lawrenceville Sept. 12-13 with free admission.   The event, in its fifth year in Lawrenceville, will feature more than 80 vendors representing food and crafts from around the world as well as cultural performances. There also will be an International Village hosting non-profits representing various regions and a K-Pop zone as well. The international night market combines cultures from Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas and has been held in various cities in the metro Atlanta area. AINM is ranked 3rd in USA Today’sReader’s Choice…

CONYERS GA—The Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP) is pleased to announce that Country Inn & Suites in Conyers News release: Country Inn & Suites is newest GIHP partner has joined as a Medalist Sponsor, further strengthening the partnership between the hospitality industry and one of the region’s premier event venues. For nearly 20 years, Country Inn & Suites Conyers has served as a trusted choice for both business and leisure travelers, providing welcoming accommodations and exceptional service. Locally owned and operated, the hotel is proud to relaunch its property and reaffirm its commitment to supporting the community through this new…

CONYERS, GA—Longtime community advocate and current City Councilwoman Connie Alsobrook has officially announced her candidacy for Mayor of Conyers in the upcoming Nov. 4, 2025 municipal election. Alsobrook filed her qualifying papers on Thursday, Aug. 21, to run for the seat.  A resident of Conyers for more than two decades, Alsobrook brings a legacy of hands-on leadership, civic engagement, and a proven record of delivering meaningful change for the people of her city. Alsobrook began her journey in service in 2005, organizing grassroots efforts such as coat drives, school supply giveaways, food distributions for the homeless, and cell phone collections…

ATLANTA– Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced the next phase of the 2025 Voter Registration list maintenance audit. “As part of our continued list maintenance audit, Georgia’s Elections Division mailed out cross-state notices to 27,450 people identified through our secure multi-state list sharing agreement as having moved out of state,” said Raffensperger. “We will be encouraging these people to cancel their Georgia voter registrations if they have moved. If they still live in Georgia or have returned to Georgia, these voters will be able to go online to the Online Voter Registration (OLVR) system, to their My Voter Page (MVP) or…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Michigan man was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two girls over the course of seven years and conceiving a child with one. A Gwinnett County jury found Carlos Leroy Benson, 55, guilty of four counts of rape and four counts of child molestation for multiple incidents between 2012 and 2019.  “You are a vile and reprehensible person,” Superior Court Judge George Hutchinson said as he sentenced Benson. “I think the evidence in this trial fully supports that you are an evil person.” Benson was ordered to serve two consecutive life sentences plus 20 years in…

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta, in partnership with Invest Atlanta and Savi Provisions, on Aug. 28, 2025 announced the grand opening of Azalea Fresh Market—a first-of-its-kind municipal grocery store located in downtown Atlanta. Azalea Fresh Market is located in the historic Olympia Building, which had house Walgreens until it closed in April 2024. The building now has been repurposed for a food market as part of Mayor Andre Dickens’ broader vision to address food desserts and provide for healthy, connected and thriving neighborhoods. Azalea Fresh Market is the result of a collaborative effort between City officials, local organizations, Savi Provisions, Independent…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Floodplain Management Office is offering residents general floodplain management information on flood hazards, planning, prevention, and mitigation free of charge. This is part of activities under the county’s Community Rating System Program (CRS). The service provides useful information on the following:  Flood zone determination and flood risk assessment  Information on the Flood Insurance Rate Map and the Flood Insurance Study  Access to previous Flood Insurance Rate Maps  Information on Special Flood Hazard Areas and other high-hazard flood areas, such as floodways and high-velocity zones Flood depths around structures and adjacent land areas Historical…