Author: On Common Ground News

Story updated Oct. 23 LITHONIA, GA–Residents of Conyers and surrounding communities gathered on Monday, Oct. 14, for a meeting to address the recent fire at the BioLab chemical plant. The meeting was held for clients who have retained the firm and they were the only ones invited, a spokesperson from Morgan and Morgan stated in an e-mail on Oct. 23. Over 200 people attended the 4 p.m. session at the Lucious Sanders Recreation Center in Lithonia. A second session was held at 6 p.m. Three attorneys from the firm were on site, in addition to an environmental toxicologist, to discuss…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Trump signs dominated the scene as Early Voting kicked off at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Rockdale County Board of Elections office, the county’s only location for early voting. A worried voter called On Common Ground News and asked why there were no signs for Harris.  “We may have a BioLab crisis, but we still have to vote,” the caller said.  About an hour later, Harris-Walz signs joined the Trump signs. A steady stream of traffic flowed throughout the day, with Rockdale voters casting their ballots. There were few people, however, seen holding any signs to get…

DECATUR, GA – As Advance Voting gets underway this week,  DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) is urging voters to prepare before heading to the polls.  Advance Voting in DeKalb is Oct.15 through Nov. 1, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday voting is available Oct. 19 and Oct. 26,  9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday voting is available Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 demo  12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Know Before You Vote: Registered voters can vote at any DeKalb County Advance Voting site during the Advance Voting period. Locations and hours are listed below. Voters must have a valid photo ID. Weekend voting is…

 ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Board of Elections Supervisor Cynthia Willingham is reminding voters of key information to prepare for the General Election on Nov. 5, 2024. Early In-Person voting  will be held Oct. 15-Nov. 1 at the Board of Elections Office, located  at 1115 West Ave. SW. This is Rockdale’s only location for early voting. The scheduled hours for early voting and for those who wish to drop off their mail-in ballot is below: EARLY VOTING/ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOX SCHEDULE 8AM – 5PM, OCT 15 – OCT 18 (TUES-FRI) 9AM-5PM, OCT 19 (SATURDAY) 10AM-3PM, OCT 20 (SUNDAY) 8AM -…

DECATUR, GA– Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson is reminding residents that motor vehicle and property tax services are available at three office locations in DeKalb County. “With advance voting taking place at the Memorial Drive office park, customers doing business at the tag office can expect increased foot traffic and parking volume now through November 1,” said DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. “We are reminding taxpayers that the same in-person services are also available at the satellite tax offices located on Clairmont Road and in South DeKalb Mall.” Offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., at the…

ATLANTA – State Representatives Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers), Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), State Sen, Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia) and Congressman Hank Johnson recently held a follow-up meeting on Thursday, Oct. 10,  via Zoom to address ongoing concerns from the BioLab chemical fire. This meeting followed a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 8,  at the State Capitol. The follow-up meeting included Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Rockdale County leadership staff, representatives from BioLab, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and members of the Rockdale…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers), chair of the Rockdale County House Delegation, today issued a statement regarding the recent passing of Rockdale County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Kenny Johnson.  Johnson died on Tuesday, Oct. 8, after testifying before a panel of state lawmakers about the dangers posed by the BioLab chemical explosion, which occurred on Sept. 29. State Rep. Viola Davis, a registered nurse who said she has worked for 25 years in the Intensive Care Unit, rushed to Johnson’s aid to administer CPR after he spoke, walked out of the room and collapsed in a hallway. Rep. Davis…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County officials are seeking the public’s help in locating Davonte Fore, 26, a fugitive wanted in connection with the murder of a Stone Mountain transgender woman. On Friday, Oct. 4, jurors found Fore and JaQuan Brooks, 25, guilty of Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony stemming from the shooting death of Skyler Gilmore (legal name Chase Gilmore), 25, on June 4, 2021. Brooks was taken immediately into custody. Fore, who had been released on bond…