Author: On Common Ground News

 Defendant will serve 40 years for trafficking pills laced with deadly Fentanyl LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Lawrenceville man connected to two Fentanyl overdose deaths will spend 40 years in prison for selling pills containing the substance to a 22-year-old Lilburn man who died of an overdose in November 2023.  Devin Duvall Wells, 32, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, felony distribution of Fentanyl, possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with intent to distribute, and three counts of illegal use of communication facility in connection with the death of Gannon McDermott. In a related case, Wells was convicted of trafficking Fentanyl, keeping…

Rec centers to open pools for free on July 4  DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In response to the National Weather Service forecasts of heat indexes exceeding 100 degrees, DeKalb County is opening cooling centers on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5. For a list of available cooling centers, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/weather. On July 4, DeKalb County libraries will be closed. Recreation centers will open swimming pools countywide for free from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on July 4 and the following recreation centers: Redan Recreation Center,1839 Phillips Road, Lithonia Tobie Grant Recreation Center,593 Parkdale Drive, Scottsdale Mason Mill Recreation Centerat 1340 McConnell…

ATLANTA — District 4 Atlanta City Council member Jason Dozier issued the following statement in the wake of a triple shooting at a southwest Atlanta apartment complex early Tuesday morning that left two teen boys dead and a third injured. All three victims range from 12 to 14 years old, city officials said. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that occurred last night in Oakland City. Two young lives were lost because of gun violence, and another young soul was critically injured. The ages of all three victims range from 12 to 14 years old, underscoring the senselessness of this…

ATLANTA —The Atlanta City Council approved a resolution authorizing a $2 million donation to the nonprofit Star-C Corporation to support the continued administration of an eviction diversion program for low-income city residents. Since its launch in December 2023, Star-C has prevented the displacement of more than 220 families (24-R-3708). Other items that the Council adopted on July 1 include: An ordinance amending 23-O-1656 relating to “excess vacation” hours and “vacation extra carryover” hours occurring during and since the COVID-19 pandemic (24-O-1342). This item was sent to the Mayor post-haste. An ordinance ratifying the City’s application for $15 million from the U.S.…

DEKALB COUNTY–DeKalb County State Court, Division B, will host the Traffic Violators Impact Program(“TVIP”) on Thursday, July 11, 5:30 until 7 p.m. in courtroom B-8 of the DeKalb County State Court, Division B,  3630 Camp Circle, Decatur. The DeKalb County State Court hosts quarterly TVIP presentations for young drivers charged with traffic violations to raise awareness of the dangers of risky driving behaviors. Drivers charged with offenses including, but not limited to, high speeding tickets, texting while driving, or causing an accident by violating the rules of the road, will gather to hear and watch stories of young people who thought a serious crash would never happen to them, but learned the tragic consequences of taking risks and failing to pay attention while driving. Courts and prosecutors in many jurisdictions send attendees to complete TVIP for traffic citations in addition to Department of Driver Services-approved driver improvement courses. For more information, visit www.tvip.org. Participants may register online or in person at the event. There is a $50 fee for…

CONYERS, GA—Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) employees will see a range of salary increases in the 2024-2025 school year with the recently approved FY25 budget that focused on addressing student needs and remaining competitive with recruitment and retention of teachers and support staff. The Rockdale County Board of Education approved the FY25 budget of $221,929,321 at its June 27 meeting. In the state budget, the governor provided teachers with a $2,500 raise which RCPS extended to all certified staff. In addition, all certified staff will receive a step increase. This equates to a salary increase between 5% – 7% for…

ATLANTA—The Georgia Department of Transportation is reminding the public to plan travel to the July 4th fireworks shows accordingly to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday celebration. Motorists are encouraged to plan, as traffic and road closures are expected near fireworks displays. Be aware of alternative routes to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Many cities and towns throughout Georgia will host fireworks shows in the evening. The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Peachtree Road Race on July 4 also could cause delays.For detailed information on road closures for the Peachtree Road Race, please refer to the official race website. Plan your travels accordingly to ensure a…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is suspending lane closures on Georgia interstates and state routes for the upcoming July 4th holiday weekend. The suspension will begin at 12 p.m. (noon) on Wednesday, July 3, and continue until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. During this period, construction-related lane closures will be on hold to facilitate smoother travel. However, Georgia DOT urges travelers to remain cautious, as crews may still be working near highways, and some long-term lane closures may still be in place due to safety considerations. Additionally, lane closures for incident management or emergency maintenance may occur…