Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA– DeKalb County CEO-Elect Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will be the special guest on “The Amen Corner” this Friday, June 21, on WIGO-1570 AM.  The talk show, hosted by Amos King, starts at 9 a.m. Cochran-Johnson, DeKalb’s former Super District 7 commissioner, was elected in a historic runoff on June 18, becoming DeKalb’s first African-American woman, and the second woman ever in the county’s history to hold the title of DeKalb County  CEO—DeKalb’s top leadership position. Cochran-Johnson, who will be sworn into office in January, says she has received an outpouring of support and well wishes since the victorious runoff election, including a call…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the case against a Stone Mountain man accused of fatally shooting his younger brother during a fight over a fan. A jury found Quentin Hill, 31, guilty on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, stemming from the death of Westley Hill, 28. The jury reached its decision on Friday, June 14. The incident took place on New Year’s eve in 2021. According to the investigation, officers responded to a call of a person shot at…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal overnight shooting that claimed the life of a 24-year-old mother of two young children whom a relative said was pregnant. The suspect, Arkia Tate, was arrested and charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a felony in the death of Kyla Cooper. Deputies responding to a 911 person shot call found Cooper’s lifeless body at a home in the 2600 block of Golfview Terrace in Rockdale around 12:44 a.m. on Thursday. Tate, who fled the scene after the shooting, was taken into…

TUCKER, GA–A detour will be in effect for Tucker Industrial Road beginning Monday, June 24, throughMonday, Sept. 9, as crews replace aging sewer lines.   Night work will take place June 24-27 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. near the intersection of Tucker Industrial Road and Elmdale Drive.   Day work will resume on June 28. Normal construction hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.    Signs and flaggers will be in the area during the road closure to advise motorists of construction work in the area and of local traffic restrictions. For more information, visit the DWM website at www.dekalbwatershed.com, call the DWM Project Information…

All three incumbents defeated ROCKDALE COUNTY. GA— The three-member Rockdale County Board of Commissioners will be run by women beginning in January 2025. The change will come as JaNice VanNess takes office the first female  in the county’s modern history to hold the office of Chairman of the Board, after soundly defeating incumbent Oz Nesbitt, Sr.  in a heated runoff on Tuesday, June 18.. Van Ness will be joined by political newcomer Tuwanya Smith, who overwhelmingly defeated incumbent Sherri Washington for the Post 1 Commissioner seat. The third woman already serving on the Board of Commissioners is Post 2 Commissioner…

DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections to certify results June 24 DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) has concluded initial unofficial and incomplete tabulations of the June 18 Primary Election Runoff. The runoff election included five contests:  State Senate – District 55; Chief Executive Officer; County Commissioner District 4; State Court Judge Division A-3 and Board of Education – District 5. Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ballots must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21. Any provisional ballots also will be factored into the final certified results. “Throughout this election cycle, we’ve…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Lorraine Cochran-Johnson claimed the victory in Tuesday’s hotly-contested runoff with Larry Johnson, well on her way to becoming the first African-American woman who will hold the office of DeKalb County CEO. Cochran-Johnson will be the second woman ever to hold DeKalb’s top leadership position, standing on the shoulders of Liane Levetan, who was the first woman to hold the seat and succeeding the term-limited Michael Thurmond. Cochran-Johnson was ahead in the race with 25,608 votes (59.96 percent), according to unofficial results. Larry Johnson had 17,104 votes ( 40.04 percent). The winner only needs to earn 50 percent plus…

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Annual tax bills will be mailed mid-August DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson is reminding homeowners that assessment notices are not tax bills. Property owners are currently receiving their annual assessment notices ,which are estimates of potential tax bills. “It’s important to understand that this office works collaboratively with the county’s Property Appraisal & Assessment Department to provide a seamless billing and collection process for ad valorem taxes in DeKalb,” said Johnson. “Homeowners should initiate their assessment appeal with the assessor’s office before the July 15 deadline. Actual tax bills are expected to be mailed in August,…