Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—After a national search, Mayor Andre Dickens today announced the appointment of Rocsean Spencer as the city’s new  director of the Office of Contract Compliance (OCC). Spencer, whose  appointment became effective July 29,  formerly served as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at the New Orleans Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center. Her appointment marked a significant milestone as the first of its kind among convention centers nationwide. In her role as Atlanta’s OCC director, Spencer will oversee the department that links small minority and women-owned and disadvantaged businesses with City-related business opportunities, while maintaining Atlanta’s national standard for Minority Business Enterprise.…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department is mourning the loss of K9 Officer Elsa. On July 25, the officer was put to rest after battling a spine illness. K9 Officer Elsa, a Belgian Malinois, retired in October 2023, due to her advancing age.  K9 Officer Elsa began her career with the Gwinnett County Police Department in November 2016. During her career, she was deployed on 545 calls for service. During those deployments, K9 Officer Elsa was responsible for 51 patrol apprehensions, 87 narcotic apprehensions, and 133 evidence recoveries. K9 Officer Elsa spent her first four years of service with…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District, has been selected to serve on the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board. The DeKalb schools’ chief is one of only three superintendents appointed to the inaugural national advisory board. DCSD, Georgia’s third-largest school district, serves more than 92,000 students in 138+ schools and centers, behind the Cobb County School District with 106,358 students in 112 schools, and Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia’s largest school district, with 182,000 students in 142 schools. The 26-member board comprises school safety experts and education leaders who will…

  ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) announced every student in the district will be eligible to receive school meals free of cost for the 2024-2025 school year under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This includes breakfast and lunch. Families no longer need to submit a Free/Reduced Meals application, the district said. Rockdale students return to school on Tuesday, July 30, and the program will begin immediately. “We are thrilled for the opportunity to offer school meals at no cost to our students and continue to mitigate the risk of food insecurity in our community. This program is a…

  GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– A Lawrenceville man will serve life in prison for killing his estranged wife after telling police that she shot herself in his apartment.  A Gwinnett County jury found Glenroy Roberts, 53, guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the August 2022 shooting death of his wife, 45-year-old Claudia Dionne Roberts.  “This couple has sons who have to grow up without either of their parents at home,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “Domestic violence is a tragedy. We extend…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Supervisor of Elections Cynthia Willingham announced that registration is underway for a free Voter Education Training Class that will be held on Aug.17, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Rockdale Board of  Elections, 1115 West Ave., S.W., Conyers. Registration for the in-person only class closes on  Aug. 13.  Citizens and organizations planning to conduct voter registration drives are invited to the training to learn about the necessary legal requirements that must be followed. “We have been getting a lot of calls from those who want to register voters. By law, we must provide the training upon the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—W eather permitting, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) construction partners will temporarily close interstate lanes at the locations below for the I-285/I-20 East Interchange project. The project will reconstruct the interstate system-to-system ramps at the I-285/I-20 East Interchange and add a combination of collector-distributor, or connecting lanes, and auxiliary lanes along I-20 east of the interchange and I-285 north of the interchange. Where/When: I-20 from the westbound ramp to I-285 northbound (Exit 67B) Monday, July 29, through Friday, Aug. 2, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Nightly) Traffic pacing operation on the I-20 westbound ramp I-285 southbound exit…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—The City of Stone Mountain will host its National Night Out event, Aug. 6, 6 to 8 p.m., at Baptist Lawn, 5325 Manor Drive. The city’s event will feature an outdoor family movie, “Paw Patrol.” National Night Out, held the first Tuesday in August, is a community awareness event designed to promote police-community partnerships in the United States. Residents attending the city of Stone Mountain’s outdoor movie are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and/or sports chairs, as well as snacks. Free popcorn and water will be available for all to enjoy. No alcohol is permitted. The City of Stone…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is proud to announce the extraordinary school-level 2024-2025 Teachers of the Year – the women and men who go above and beyond for their students, peers and community. This year’s Teachers of the Year are: Barksdale Elementary School – Tonya Grant C.J. Hicks Elementary School – Felicia Addison Flat Shoals Elementary School – Robin Anderson Hightower Trail Elementary School – Coria Miller Honey Creek Elementary School – Maria Hernadez-Gonzalez J.H. House Elementary School – Lorraine Gilbert Lorraine Elementary School – Valencia Dawson Peek’s Chapel Elementary School – Stephanie Gordon Pine Street Elementary…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA – This Saturday, July 27, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is hosting its annual Back-to-School Rally from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to welcome families to the new school year. The first day of the 2024–2025 school year in DeKalb County, Georgia is Monday, Aug. 5. The free event has been moved from James Hallford Stadium to the District’s Administrative & Instructional Complex (AIC), located at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone Mountain. This year’s rally theme is “Disrupting for Excellence: New Levels, New Heights” and will feature live entertainment, a Fun Zone for children, school supplies, family resources, health…