Author: On Common Ground News

SNELLVILLE, GA—The Gwinnett County Police Department said three people were fatally shot during a double murder and suicide early today (Jan. 30) at an apartment complex at 2300 Country Walk in Snellville. The victims were identified as Corey Jones, 52, and his wife, Dana Farmer, 56, who both lived in the Snellville apartment where the shooting took place. The shooter was identified as Frank Wilburn, Jr., 27, of Loganville. When police arrived on the scene around 1 a.m., they found two men and two women with gunshot wounds. Both women were transported by paramedics, and one of them—Dana Farmer—passed away…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Due to forecasted cold weather, DeKalb County will open five warming centers for residents on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and Thursday, Feb. 1, starting at 8 p.m. to use at the following locations: Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates 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 temperature check. For…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the case against three defendants accused of setting up and then robbing a man in Stone Mountain. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on Monday, Jan. 29, against Darnell Reed, 30, of Stone Mountain, on charges of Armed Robbery, False Imprisonment, Aggravated Assault and two counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.  Jurors found his twin brother Donnell Reed, 30, also of Stone Mountain, guilty on charges of Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, False Imprisonment and Possession of a Firearm by a First…

DECATUR, GA– Due to an agency-wide staff meeting, all DeKalb County Board of Health offices and regional health centers will be closed to the public on Friday, Feb. 2. Normal hours of operation will resume on Monday, Feb. 5, at 8:15 a.m. For more information regarding the Board of Health’s programs and services, visit dekalbhealth.net or call 404-294-3700.

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Public Schools(RCPS)  will host its Parent Academy on Saturday, Feb., 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Salem High School, 3551 Underwood Road, Conyers. The half-day event offers free workshops and to help families and their students find success this school year. This year’s theme is “Be More in 2024!” with classes and workshops focusing on wellness – physically, mentally, financially – and literacy. The event also features student performances, local community vendors and student entrepreneurs and free door prizes. RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts will open the day as the keynote speaker with the “State of the School System” overview. Afterwards,…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host Father-Daughter Dance on Feb. 8, 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive.  Registration will be open now until Feb. 7. The Father-Daughter Dance is for all ages and costs $15 per couple and $5 for each additional child. The event will include music, refreshments and dancing. To register, visit any recreation center or visit  www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the yellow banner to register online on the department’s homepage. For more information, contact LaShanda Davis, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs public relations…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington of Rockdale County has been appointed to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Local Leadership Housing Action Committee (LLHAC), a group of local leaders committed to addressing housing affordability issues. Washington joins the committee for the upcoming 2024 season after two years of successful initiatives. ARC’s LLHAC comprises city and county commissioners and mayors dedicated to enhancing housing affordability in metro Atlanta. Committee members will convene monthly, both virtually and in person, engaging in the following activities: Open and detailed discussions about the challenges of addressing housing issues within their local jurisdictions Deepening…

DECATUR,GA—DeKalb County has launched a new, modern customer water billing system. With the new implementation, customers will need to register for the new customer payment portal with their new account number at:  myaccount.dekalbcountyga.gov. An added benefit of the new system is that there are no customer fees for submitting payments online or via phone. New water bills include the updated account numbers and payment instructions. New water billing account numbers are also being mailed to all water customers. Customers who were registered for the previous portal will receive an email from Invoice Cloud (welcome@invoicecloud.com) containing their new account numbers. If customers wish…

DUNWOODY, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) presented Dunwoody High School senior Annie Peng with the Congressional Award Bronze and Silver Medals on Jan. 26. Peng earned the recognition by achieving personal goals focused on volunteerism, character development, and fitness. Peng is this year’s only recipient of the Congressional Award in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District. “I believe the Congressional Award is particularly important because it encourages commitment to public service in our young people,” said Johnson. “Generation Z has spent a better part of their adolescent and young adult years engaging politically to ensure that all people have a right…