Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA –Community leaders, residents, and family members gathered on Thursday, Aug. 7, to celebrate a woman whose impact reached far beyond DeKalb County, her hometown. DeKalb County officially renamed Ellenwood Park as the Alice White Bussey Legacy Park, honoring the late trailblazer, who broke barriers in business, government, and community service. Dr. Bussey passed away on March 7, 2025. The Decatur resident was 77. The 46-acre park, located at 4100 River Road in Ellenwood, was renamed to recognize Bussey’s decades of advocacy that helped bring vital resources to the park itself and the Ellenwood Library to the County Line/Ellenwood area,…

CONYERS, GA—The City of Conyers Police Department is set to enhance its emergency response capabilities with $1.3 million in federal funding allocated by U.S. Congressman David Scott to purchase a Mobile Command Vehicle for the City of Conyers. The funding is part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Appropriations Bill, which awaits final passage by Congress. Lawmakers aim to approve the bill by Sept. 30, though enactment could occur later in the fiscal year. The state-of-the-art Mobile Command Vehicle will serve as an operational hub for strategic coordination between police, fire and other emergency workers during major incidents—enabling faster, more…

DECATUR, GA— The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections (BRE) will hold a Special Called Meeting for a board retreat and strategic planning session on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m.  This meeting will be in person at the Courtyard Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory Hotel, 130 Clairemont Ave., Decatur, GA 30030. Public comments may be made in person or submitted by sending an email of one printed page or less at a minimum font of 12 to electionspubliccmnt@dekalbcountyga.gov which must be received between 35 and five minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting. The body of your email must include your first and last name. The BRE Special Called meeting will be held in-person and not live streamed. By…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb Regional Land BankAuthority Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. at 178 Sams Street, Training Room A1201-A & A1201-B (first floor), Decatur.   The public also can attend the meeting virtually at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81020464767?pwd=viAQ85iuujAGmr64keBGzGgsEARdd E.1 Meeting ID: 810 2046 4767 USA 602 333 0032 USA 8882709936 (US Toll Free) Conference code: 436320 The meeting agenda is as follows: Approval of June 12, 2025 Meeting Minutes Treasurer’sReport III.  Attorney’s Property Title Status Report Chairman’sReport ExecutiveDirector’s Report – Tamika Churchill ▪       Other VII. Adjournment

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Jimmy David Mills, 60, received a life sentence for terrorizing a Brookhaven couple during a violent home invasion and stabbing, ending a nearly 5-year court case, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston’s Office announced this week. A jury found Mills guilty of Home Invasion in the First Degree, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Knife during the Commission of Certain Felonies, and Criminal Trespass in connection with the Sept. 20, 2020 incident, Boston’s Office stated in a press release.  Immediately following the guilty verdicts on July 31, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney L. Johnson, who presided over the…

Rockdale, GA – Chief State Court Judge V.T. McRae on Tuesday, Aug. 5, announced his intention to run for a full term in the 2026 election.  Gov. Brian Kemp appointed McRae in Nov. 2024 to fill the unexpired term of former Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr., who resigned to seek another office.  McRae stated that he is dedicated to ensuring justice, enhancing community service, and implementing innovative courtroom solutions for all. “I have dedicated my life to service—as a soldier, an attorney, and now as your Chief Judge. I fought for justice on the battlefield, in the courtroom, and on the bench. As a devoted…

CONYERS, GA –Long-time business owner and civic leader Brad Smith has announced his candidacy for mayor of Conyers in the upcoming November municipal election.  Praising outgoing Mayor Vince Evans for his leadership,  Smith said he plans to build on a momentum that continues Conyers’ foundation of fiscal responsibility and growth, and its cohesion within the City Council and staff leadership.   Smith said that he believes that his long-standing community service and business background in Rockdale County makes him uniquely qualified to lead the city.   Smith served eight years on the Rockdale County Board of Education and during his tenure, he said…

Update: The EBT Interactive Voice Response (IVR) went back online this morning, however, DHS is instructing Conduent to shut the IVR down temporarily, DHS said at 4:32 p.m. Aug. 5.  DHS encourages all EBT cardholders to download the ConnectEBT app on their Android or Apple device and to lock their EBT card between purchases and select the “lock my card everywhere” function to deny all in-state, out-of-state, and online transactions.  DHS will provide updates once the IVR is back online.  ATLANTA–The Georgia EBT call center, operated by Conduent for the Department of Human Services (DHS), is expected to resume service on Tuesday, Aug. 5, following a cyberattack on July…

DECATUR, GA–A 28-year-old Jonesboro, Georgia man has been arrested for fatally shooting a 34-year-old woman while stealing her Louis Vuitton purse from her.   The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit with assistance from United States Marshals Task Force arrested Travis Davis of Jonesboro on July 29 in connection with the murder and armed robbery.   According to arrest warrants, Davis allegedly shot Lorenza Tucker at a LaVista Road shopping center in Tucker, on May 30, while taking a Louis Vuitton purse from the victim.  Davis is charged with Felony Murder and Armed Robbery Weapon.  Investigators located Davis at a residence in…