Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the case of a Lithonia man charged with shooting his wife after she filed for divorce.  Jurors found Dmante Dontrell Anderson, 33, guilty on two counts of Aggravated Assault—Family Violence, False Imprisonment, Simple Battery—Family Violence, two counts of Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and Use of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the shooting of his wife on June 14, 2019.  According to the…

DECATUR, GA– Representatives from the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office are available year-round to speak to community groups about property taxes, and help homeowners understand homestead exemptions and their tax bills. “Since 2016, this office has conducted in-person and online community presentations to help taxpayers understand homestead exemptions and their property tax bills. We will continue to offer presentations to groups such as real estate professionals, homeowner associations and senior centers that are interested in learning more about services at the tax office,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. The office conducts in-person and online seminars annually with community organizations, which have…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– During its regular board meeting on Jan. 13, members of the DeKalb County Board of Education unanimously elected Deirdre P. Pierce (District 3) as the new board chair and Allyson Gevertz (District 4) as vice chair for 2025. “I am humbled and honored to have earned the unanimous vote of my veteran and newly elected colleagues to serve as chair of our Board,” Pierce said. “I am equally grateful to have received the votes of my constituents in District 3, which returned me to what I consider to be one of the greatest servant leadership jobs I’ve…

ATLANTA –Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) was re-elected by his colleagues in the Georgia House of Representatives to continue his service as Speaker of the House for the 2025-2026 legislative session. Burns has served as Speaker since 2023 and is Georgia’s 75th Speaker of the House. He was elected on Monday, Jan. 13. “I am incredibly grateful to my colleagues in the House for their continued trust and confidence,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “Over the last two years, we have worked together to pass meaningful measures that have lowered taxes, brought historic opportunities to our state, supported our families and businesses, and…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–County leadership has elevated Gwinnett Parks and Recreation to a standalone department in a move to better serve the community and meet the growing needs of Gwinnett’s award-winning parks system. As part of the transition, County Administrator Glenn Stephens appointed Chris Minor as Director of the new Parks and Recreation Department and Lindsey Jorstad as Director of the Community Services Department. “Gwinnett’s stability can be attributed much to our longstanding practice of developing exceptional leaders within our organization, and with these two appointments, we reaffirm that practice,” said Stephens. “I am confident that Chris and Lindsey possess the values and…

UPDATE: The fugitive, Gloria Wright, 23, wanted in Rockdale County, GA in connection with the murder of her 1-year-old child has been located and taken into custody in Rochester, New York. The arrest was made possible with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals,the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office said in a statement tonight(Jan. 18).   “We sincerely appreciate the public’s ongoing support and assistance throughout this investigation. Further details will be provided as they become available,” the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office said in a statement tonight(Jan. 18).   ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is seeing the public’s help in…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management crews are continuing work to repair the 30” broken water main at 3661 Clairmont Road, officials said tonight (Jan. 15). Crews will be working overnight as they continue repairs.  A boil water advisory is still in place until further notice.   To view a map of the advisory area click here:  DeKalb Boil Water Advisory WebMap Bottled water is still available at the following distribution centers:  Fire Station 1 – 1670 Clifton Rd. Fire Station 3 – 24 N. Clarendon Ave. Fire Station 7 – 1712 Columbia Dr. Fire Station 9 – 3858 N. Druid Hills Rd. Fire Station 20 –…

ATLANTA – State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta), Edna Jackson (D-Savannah), MeKyah McQueen (D-Smyrna) and Terry Cummings (D-Mableton) celebrated 112 years of service, leadership and sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. To commemorate the milestone, the legislators introduced a House Resolution, LC 112 2652, on the first day of the 2025-2026 Session, recognizing Jan. 13, 2025, as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Founders Day. Founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 collegiate women at Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has grown into a global organization of more than 300,000 members who seek to…

Updated: Jan. 16, 2025