Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Twelve candidates who are seeking offices  in Rockdale County officially put their names on record run on March 4, the first day of the qualifying period.  Candidates seeking office for the 2024 elections have unti  noon on Friday, March 8, to file their paperwork. The General primary and nonpartisan elections will be held on May 21. In a surprise move, former Rockdale County Commissioner JaNice F. Van Ness qualified to run for Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Van Ness is running as a Democrat and is expected to face Oz Nesbitt, Sr., in his bid for re-election…

Decatur, GA– On Monday, March 4, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) made it official by qualifying to run for his tenth term in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District. “I am proud of my strong record in Congress,” Johnson said. “I look forward to meeting new voters, constituents and continuing to work for the people of Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.” Johnson was among several local candidates who officially made their bid for office on Monday, the first day of the qualifying period. The qualifying period ends on Friday, March 8, at noon. Since 2007, Johnson has helped bring billions of dollars in federal investments…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Police Department is hosting a one-stop shop hiring event on March 9, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1950 W. Exchange Place, Tucker. Candidates will have the opportunity to complete the hiring process and potentially walk away with a conditional offer. Maximum starting salary for certified officers is $62,164 and $57,750 for non-certified individuals. Hiring incentives include $5,000 for certified officers with 2+ years of experience and $3,000 for those with no experience. While not required, interested parties can visit. www.dekalbpolice.com to get a head start on their application. For more information, call the Police…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– A 57-year-old man is being held without bond after assaulting an 18-year-old male driver following a road rage incident. Duane Andrew Sudderth of Flowery Branch was arrested on Sunday, March 3, and booked into the Gwinnett County Jail. He was charged with Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault (two counts), Terroristic Threats, Cruelty to Children 1st Degree, Cruelty to Children 3rd Degree, Entering Auto, and Aggressive Driving. Gwinnett County Police said the incident occurred on Feb. 28 in Buford. The teen said the incident began on Peachtree Industrial Blvd. and R.H. Smith Blvd. after he and the driver of a blue…

CONYERS, GA—Join the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans in Olde Town Conyers on Friday, March 15. At 5 p.m., there will be a two-block walking parade. Get dressed in your best costume or outfit and participate in the parade. Stay for the awarding of best dressed prizes for king and queen of the parade, pet and leprechaun lookalike and performances by Irish dancers in the Olde Town Pavilion on Main Street. Support the Rotary Club in the World’s Shortest Endurance (0.1 mile) Run at 6 p.m. and refuel afterward at the food trucks and Olde Town restaurants. Children’s activities and live…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan https://youtu.be/nG-zYO5b5oI?si=RvLiBXRlMkEXzpDn ATLANTA—Talking about race and the inequalities Black and other marginalized people have faced over the centuries never gets easy, but it is important and art hubs like the Center for Puppetry Arts makes it a little easier. For Black History Month, I took my 8-year-old daughter, Luna, to see the puppet show adaptation of the children’s book, Ruth and the Green Book at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Midtown Atlanta. Ruth and the Green Book is the story of a young black girl and her family’s trip from Chicago to Alabama in the early…

CONYERS, GA— Big Haynes Creek Nature Center (BHCNC), located at the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP), has been awarded the Irene Irwin Fund Grant from the Conyers Civic League. The League’s mission is to encourage and promote the development of the arts in Conyers and Rockdale County. The grant, in collaboration with the Conyers Rockdale Council of the Arts(CRCA), was approved for just under $2,000 to refurbish a dilapidated, 7-foot-tall bird blind and rehabilitate a section of the wetlands so that birding photographers and nature enthusiasts can once again utilize the structure. Through this project, overgrowth that currently obstructs wildlife-viewing opportunities will…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—One current and one former DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) officer have been indicted in the shooting death of a man inside his Stone Mountain home.     Former DKPD Officer Russell Mathis, 30, was indicted on Feb. 28 by a DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of felony Involuntary Manslaughter and misdemeanor Reckless Conduct.  The Grand Jury also indicted DKPD Officer Jordan Vance, 30, on a charge of Reckless Conduct.   The officers surrendered today, Feb. 29, and were taken into custody by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office without incident following the Grand Jury’s indictments. Both suspects were booked into the…

 DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office(DCSO) officially opened its first on-site interfaith, interdenominational center on Feb. 28. Located inside the DeKalb County Jail, the DKSO Chapel is a dedicated venue for use by the agency’s Chaplaincy Program, which serves the spiritual needs of the jail’s inmates and agency staff members. “We are grateful for the commitment of the more than 30 DeKalb County’s faith community leaders who continue to volunteer their services as Chaplains,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Melody M. Maddox, who administered the annual Chaplain’s Oath during Wednesday’s ceremonies. “Under the direction of Lead Chaplain Pastor Quincy…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Parks & Recreation has been granted $2,380 in funding from the Atlanta Hawks Foundation due to its collaboration with the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA). The grant aims to provide more opportunities for youth sports and will enable scholarships for eligible participants in the 2024 Summer Sports Clinics. Additionally, the funding will support initiating a new cheer/dance clinic. “The support provided by the Atlanta Hawks Foundation and GRPA is of immense value to our efforts in offering accessible and enriching recreational experiences for the youth of Rockdale County,” said Jason Redmond, Director of Parks…