Author: On Common Ground News

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…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The Lithonia Police Department is investigating the theft of the Remembrance Project lynching marker, which was erected in the city’s downtown.  The NAACP DeKalb County Branch was notified on Tuesday by Lithonia Mayor Shemeka Reynolds that someone stole the Remembrance Project lynching marker sometime last week from William A. Kelly Park in Lithonia. D. E. Smith, chairperson for the Remembrance Project, was speechless when she heard about the theft. “This is unbelievable and shocking especially during Black History Month,” Smith said. “We worked so hard to get this plaque and it just hurts my heart to see it taken. It is…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County has announced the call for performers for its 2024 Rockin’ Rockdale Summer Concert Series. “We are excited for yet another season of unforgettable music and entertainment, and we invite talented artists from all genres to submit their video auditions to be headliners during this exciting event,” the county stated. “The Rockin’ Rockdale Summer Concert Series has become a beloved tradition in our community. It’s an event that brings together local residents and visitors for evenings filled with live music, dancing, and fun. This year, we’re looking for performers who can light up the stage and…