Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Twin sisters Sanaa and Sole Frederick have qualified to represent Trinidad and Tobago in the 4×100-meter relay at this summer’s Paris Olympics that begin on July 26. “Wow, Olympians,” said Druid Hills track coach Henrietta George about her two track stars making the Trinidad and Tobago squad headed to the Olympics. “My coaches and I are ecstatic about Sole and Sanaa heading to the Olympics. It has been a joy to watch their dreams come true right before our eyes.” The pair had a stellar career at DeKalb County’s Druid Hills High School under the direction of track…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston today announced convictions by jury trial in the case against two men accused in the murder of Tic Toc Food Mart owner Tesfaye Birru. Birru, 57, was ambushed by three men and shot to death as he closed up his store for the night on Feb. 19, 2020. Police found  Birru’s body in the parking lot of the Tic Toc Food Mart located  in the 2700 block of Evans Mill Road in the city of Stonecrest. He had been shot multiple times, police said. Jurors found both Ronnie Miller, 46, and Ricky Character, 24, guilty…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Denorris Hutchinson, 36, of East Point, has been convicted and sentenced to prison for trafficking two females, ages 15 and 17, in Fulton County. The 17-year-old, who had been reported as missing from Kansas City, Missouri, was recovered from a hotel in Fulton County as part of a multi-agency operation conducted in 2020. The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has now convicted 11 individuals for their involvement in the trafficking of this 17-year-old female. This total includes nine buyers and one seller, all of whom were previously sentenced to prison in a 10-defendant…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) announces its intention to adopt a 2024 millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 13.43 percent. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 18.69 mills, an increase of 2.213 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 16.477 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $350,000 is approximately $276.63 and the proposed tax increase for non©\homestead property with a fair market value of $350,000 is approximately $309.82. Each year, the Board…

CONYERS, GA— Springfield Baptist Church will host its annual Back 2 School event on Saturday, July 27, 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This much-anticipated community event will provide free school supplies, valuable resources and offer special performances, and a variety of fun activities to help students and families prepare for a successful school year. The event is open to the entire community, offering an excellent opportunity for families to gather essential supplies and information to support their educational journey. Attendees can look forward to an exciting morning filled with entertainment and the chance to connect with local educational and community resources.…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– There has recently been a renewed wave of scam phone calls from people claiming to be officers with the Gwinnett County Police Department.  Victims of these scams are often called randomly by people pretending to be police officers.  The names they provide may be a real officer’s name or a fake name with a fake badge number.  Generally, the scam caller threatens arrest, or some other action if money is not provided to them.   Variations on this scam include: A utility or service will be immediately terminated if payment isn’t received. A relative who has been arrested…

  ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) has published its meeting schedule for the remainer of 2024. The board will on summer recess with no planned meetings July 1-21. Link to View Agendas and Schedule: https://www.rockdalecountyga.gov/rockdale-board-of-commissioners-meeting-agenda/ Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Work Session/Voting Session: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. – Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers, Georgia 30012 Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Zoning Public Hearing: Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. – Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers, Georgia 30012 Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Work Session: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 10:00…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Beginning July 19 through Aug. 2, public access to the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office online property information website will be unavailable due to an annual system maintenance. Online property search, e-bills and payment functions will be inaccessible during this time. “Each year, this office works diligently to calculate property taxes and prepare for the annual digest submission,” said DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. “Following the successful approval of the county’s tax digest by the Georgia Department of Revenue, tax bills are then mailed in August.” Property tax bills are computed for nearly 260,000 property owners…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center is seeking adopters to give shelter pets a home as the center launches its “12 Strays of Christmas in July” adoption campaign. As the center reaches critical capacity, Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement is offering free adoptions — and a holiday pet care package while supplies last — until Saturday, July 20. All pet adoptions include vaccinations, microchips and spaying/neutering. “Our largest animals, the big dogs, are always the hardest to find placement for,” said Animal Welfare and Enforcement Division Director Katrina Amaro. “With the care packages and waived adoption fees, we want…