Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS, GA–Conyers residents eager to learn more about their city government and community are encouraged to register for Conyers University, a free, six-week program designed to educate and personalize local government for citizens. Conyers University students will attend and participate in six weeks of sessions on Monday evenings beginning Monday, Oct. 6, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. All sessions, with the exception of the public safety session, will take place at Conyers City Hall.  Classes will be led by city staff and officials on a variety of topics and departments relevant to citizens living and working in Conyers. Each session includes…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) announces the suspension of all lane closures on Georgia interstates during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend. The suspension of lane closures will begin at 12:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, through 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, to offset the influence of holiday traffic and to reduce delays and increase safety for motorists. Motorists should note that some lane closures may still remain in place due to safety or emergency considerations.  Georgia DOT has analyzed Labor Day travel data from 2024 and predicts the following traffic flow patterns during this year’s holiday weekend…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Benjamin Ward Dobmeyer, a DeKalb County library technician, has been reported as a missing from Decatur, GA since 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2025.  Dobmeyer was last seen leaving his home off Waldrop Road on foot. Dobmeyer, 34, has brown hair and a beard, hazel eyes, and wears glasses. He is 5’10 and weighs around 210 lbs. Dobmeyer is a high-functioning autistic man and this deviation from his normal schedule is highly concerning to everyone who knows him, his family stated. Dobmeyer has no history of substance use and has never been out of contact with his…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– Gwinnett County Police have arrested four men in connection with a year-long series of entering autos, vehicle thefts, and related crimes that impacted hundreds of victims across Gwinnett County and surrounding areas. The investigation began on June 5, 2024, when the Gwinnett County Police General Crimes Unit identified a pattern of criminal activity involving a group of suspects using stolen vehicles to target cars throughout the county. Over 14 months, the group broke into vehicles, stealing credit cards, money, and firearms, resulting in hundreds of victims in Gwinnett County. Through targeted investigative methods, detectives identified the suspects and…

ATLANTA—Singers from all backgrounds are invited to perform with Pastor James C. Ward, noted choral composer and pastor of Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church, at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 28, 2026. This trip will be the church’s second appearance at Carnegie Hall following its performance of the modern-day classic, Christmas Dreams, in 2023. Responding to the overwhelming feedback from those who missed that performance, Pastor Ward is opening the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interested individual singers and groups who would like to go on the upcoming trip. “After the performance in 2023, several people said they would…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County’s Code Enforcement Division has been honored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its creation of a groundbreaking digital automation tool.  The new tool, which was built in-house using Microsoft Power Automate, eliminates manual processes and slashes the time needed to generate Notices of Violation from 10 minutes to 7.32 seconds. Equally important, the tool t has enhanced accuracy, improved workflows, and enabled staff to focus on higher-value services for residents. Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chair JaNice Van Ness applauded the Code Enforcement Division for its 2025 NACo Achievement Award.  “The team at…

STONECREST, GA– The City of Stonecrest will host its 3rd Annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Browns Mill Aquatic Facility.  Spearheaded by District 5 Councilwoman Tammy Grimes, the event aims to honor the courage of children battling cancer, support their families, and unite the community around the cause. According to the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, 47 children are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. each day. The average life expectancy for a child with cancer is just 8 years old. “Young people and their families face an unimaginable amount of uncertainty from…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reported today that there have been two unrelated in-custody deaths at the DeKalb County Jail in the past several days. No details were released, as both incidents remain under investigation. There have been five inmate deaths at the DeKalb County Jail so far in 2025 and five in 2024, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said.

LAWRENCEVILLE – A former City of Lawrenceville official is among a duo named in a sweeping conspiracy that redirected multi-million-dollar pipe-laying contracts away from qualified potential vendors to companies he controlled. Joshua Heath Morris, Lawrenceville’s former assistant gas director for operations, and businessman Westly Lee Griffin were indicted Wednesday on conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (R.I.C.O.) Act, bribery, and conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition in transactions with state or political subdivisions. “Public officials are held to a high standard,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “We intend to prosecute this case to the fullest…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Duluth man was convicted of rape for sexually assaulting a teen multiple times as she woke up to him attacking her. A Gwinnett County jury on found Anthony Dontae Murphy, Jr., 25, guilty of five counts of rape for the August 2020 incidents. Murphy was ordered to serve three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. “This defendant’s behavior is despicable,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “We are pleased with the verdict and the sentence, and we pray that this victim has been able to heal physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally from this.” The victim reported the…