Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by guilty plea in the case against Hannah Hackemeyer, now 20, who was charged in a single car crash that killed one passenger and injured  two others  in the Oak Grove community.    During a hearing on Feb. 11, Hackemeyer pleaded guilty to charges of Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree, Serious Injury by Vehicle, Reckless Driving and Possession of an Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area in connection with the wreck on Feb. 24, 2024.  Hackemeyer, who was 18 at the time, struck a tree while driving.  Lakeside High…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct its Regular Public Meeting on Thursday, Feb.19, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at 178 Sams Street, Room A1201 – A & B, Decatur, GA. Agenda Callto Order Adoptionof Agenda   III.  Administrative Items Approval of the Minutes Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting of January 15, 2026 Introduction of New Board of Ethics Member Report of Committees Ethics Officer’s Annual and Monthly Report Preliminary Cases  Malcolm Peeples v. Noah Hightower, Case No. 2025-12 Toni Covington Graham v. Emily Brian, Case No. 2026-1 Quinton Wright v. Rekejean Galbreath and Lascelles Powell, Case…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) will host her third annual Tech Demo Day on Thursday, March 12, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the South Wing of the Georgia State Capitol.  “I am particularly excited about this year’s Tech Demo Day because we are focusing on the future workforce in tech and beyond—our students,” said Rep. Kendrick. “I will highlight 10 students from Shiloh High School in my district during the event. I am also thankful for the partners who will be there as well.” Student honorees from Gwinnett County’s Shiloh High School include: Dante Roberts, Tania Hidalgo-Valencia, Luis Fernando…

CONYERS, GA– Conyers will host its annual Arbor Day celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center.  Mayor Connie Alsobrook, Conyers City Council members and city staff will take part in the event that honors the city’s decades-long recognition as a Tree City USA community. The celebration will feature family-friendly activities and educational opportunities, including: Free native tree saplings provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission Gardening and wildlife habitat tips from Rockdale County Master Gardeners A ceremonial tree planting in recognition of Arbor Day  The kickoff of the Fourth Annual “Treasures in…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA —  Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Chi Tau Omega Chapter recently partnered with the American Red Cross to provide life-saving CPR training to local residents. On Saturday, Feb. 7, more than 50 community members participated in the hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction designed to prepare individuals to respond quickly and effectively during cardiac emergencies involving family membersor coworkers. According to the American Heart Association, about 70% of cardiac arrests happen in homes and many are not prepared for a cardiac emergency. The American Heart Association further reports that an estimated 350,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest occur each year outside of a…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by guilty plea in the case against a former daycare worker charged in connection with alleged abuse at a Stone Mountain facility.  Today, Cherretta Hull, 79, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to 19 counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson, who presided over the plea hearing, sentenced Hull to 30 years to serve 20 in confinement. The three other defendants in the case pleaded guilty on August 14, 2024, to the following charges: Alexis Renee Swain—29 counts of…

CONYERS, GA – Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) invites the best and the brightest to meet the district’s  forward-thinking team at the RCPS Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m,. at the RCPS Board Room, 960 Pine Street NE, Conyers. Participants must pre-register by visiting www.rockdaleschools.org/jobfair. The school district is seeking outstanding candidates for teaching positions in the 2026-2027 school year. All 22 RCPS schools will be represented and interviews will be held during the Teacher Job Fair. RCPS has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three traditional high schools, a virtual campus for grades 6-12 and five…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–The Gwinnett County Police Department will host a police officer hiring event Friday, Feb. 20, from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturday Feb. 21, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prior to attending the event, candidates must submit an application. Once an application has been received, an investigator will call to set up an appointment time for the event. Those who have submitted applications but do not have an appointment are still welcome, although wait times will be longer. You are not required to attend both days of the hiring event. The process can take several hours, so…

LILBURN, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department Homicide Unit has charged Shermarcus Cockran, 31, of Lilburn, in connection with the death of a 17-year-old male. On Feb. 5, at approximately 11 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 4300 block of Stone Mountain Highway in reference to a person shot call in unincorporated Lilburn. Upon arrival, officers found a juvenile male deceased from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. Cockran told detectives that he had returned to the location after going to a gun range.  He began to clean his firearm, and it discharged a round into the wall of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County Police Department officials plan to hold the final meeting in a series of Town Halls looking at the results of 2025 crimefighting efforts and DKPD’s goals for 2026.  The Town Hall for South Precinct is scheduled for Feb. 12, 6-8 p.m., at Columbia Drive United Methodist Church, 2067 Columbia Drive, Decatur.  “We hope the community can join us to learn about how DeKalb County Police are working to keep their neighborhoods safe,” officials said in a statement.