Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has announced that the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is one of 24 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant for the Federal 2024 Fiscal Year. Referred to as a H.E.A.T. grant, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office’s award totals $63,450.00. The goal of the H.E.A.T. program is to combat crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office H.E.A.T Unit will use the grant from…

ATLANTA – MARTA will run more frequent train service through downtown Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 30, for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl parade and game.  Beginning at 11 a.m., trains will run every 6 minutes on the Red/Gold Line between Lindbergh Center Station and Airport Station and on the Blue/Green Line between Ashby Station and King Memorial Station. At 7 p.m., service frequency will decrease to 10 minutes.   Starting at 9:30 a.m., MARTA will run a shuttle train between Five Points Station and Mercedes-Benz Stadium/State Farm Arena/GWCC Station to move people to the Peach Bowl.  Extra trains will be placed into…

DECATUR, GA– Due to forecasted cold weather, DeKalb County will open five warming centers for residents on Thursday, Dec. 28, and Friday, Dec. 29, starting at 8 p.m. each day to use at the following locations: Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estate Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta      North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee   Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road, Atlanta Anyone staying in the warming centers must follow the county’s COVID-19 protocols that include wearing a mask, social distancing and undergoing a…

LITHONIA, GA– Marbut Road, between Lithonia Industrial Blvd. and South Stone Mountain Lithonia Road, will be closed to through-traffic Tuesday, Dec. 26 to Friday, Jan. 26 to facilitate water and sewer line repair at 6720 Marbut Road, Lithonia. Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area during the road closure period advising motorists of construction work in the area and of local traffic restrictions. Questions regarding this road closure should be addressed to Eddie Spry, traffic safety operations manager, at 470-755-9085.

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond approved a $1,500 retention bonus for the county’s 6,000 employees in time for the holidays. “Our employees are DeKalb County’s most valuable asset,” CEO Thurmond said. “Their commitment, dedication and hard work during some of the toughest times in DeKalb’s history have been invaluable.” Eligible DeKalb employees received the $1,500 one-time retention incentive in November. CEO Thurmond and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners have authorized several bonuses, pay raises and pandemic-era overtime since 2020, including: April 2023: o   Starting salary for police recruits was increased to $55,000 and $51,000 for fire recruits. o  …

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Georgia Department of Natural Resources partnered to deploy two decommissioned railcars into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Savannah where over time they will develop into reef habitats for marine wildlife. Earlier this year, the dismantled older model railcars were stripped of hazardous materials and contaminants and inspected and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for deployment as artificial reef material. On Thursday, Dec. 21, the railcars were transported by barge to Artificial Reef L, an established reef about two square miles in size, located approximately 23 nautical miles…

DECATUR, GA—This year, DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson’s Tree of Love provided Christmas gifts to more than 1,000 children. The event, which celebrated its 25th anniversary, was held at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in South DeKalb. Several community partners and residents “adopted” the children by providing them with gifts based on their wish lists, which were placed on the Tree of Love.  The wrapped gifts were distributed during the closing ceremony on Dec. 16, just ahead of Christmas, organizers say. A host of District 3 volunteers, residents, and community partners operated in love, peace and…

NEWTON/ROCKDALE, GA– The Chi Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which includes Newton and Rockdale counties, is celebrating a Diamond member (someone who has served 75+ years of service) for her community service. Ophelia Underwood, who turned 100 years old in November, is still actively serving AKA. Underwood was awarded the 2023 Soror of the Year Award by the chapter during the group’s December Chapter meeting in Newton County. The Awards Committee, co-chaired by Vikki Williams and Yvonne Browder, presented the centenarian with a crown, pink stole, and the “2023 Soror of the Year” sash in honor of…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with assistance from Georgia State Patrol  SWAT, arrested a suspect wanted in connection with a triple shooting in Decatur, Georgia, last month. Demarco Boyer, a 26-year-old Decatur resident, was taken into custody on Dec. 20 at an apartment complex off Roswell Road in Atlanta. Boyer is a suspect in the Nov. 26 triple shooting at the Texaco/Circle K, located off Candler Road and Kelly Lake Road, which wounded two individuals and resulted in the death of 41-year-old Antione Lewis. Boyer was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without…