Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Charter Review Commission will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. The hearing will be held in person at the South DeKalb Senior Center, 1931 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032. Free parking is available at the center for this evening event. The hearing will also be livestreamed and can be viewed at this link: https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23. The public can view suggested changes to the Organizational Act at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/OrgActDraft103023. AGENDA Call to Order Introduction of Charter Commission Members Present Background and Status Report from Chair Public Hearing: Remarks of DeKalb Residents (3…

DECATUR, GA.– Milscott Drive, between DeKalb Industrial Way and Church Street, will be closed to through-traffic beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, through Wednesday, Jan. 15.   Local traffic will detour to Church Street. The closure is part of the Scott Boulevard Water Main Replacement Project Phase II.   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. For more information, visit the DWM website at www.dekalbwatershed.com, call the DWM Project Information Line at 1-800-986-1108 or email projectinfo@dekalbcountyga.gov.

DEKALB – Advanced voting has been slow this election cycle for both the City of Stonecrest and DeKalb County. According to DeKalb County Deputy Communications Director Sherial Cubit, only 16,033 people voted during DeKalb’s early voting period as of Thursday, Nov. 2 and just 1,174 in the City of Stonecrest. In May 2022, there was a total of 564,034 registered voters in DeKalb County and 44,582 in the City of Stonecrest. The Tuesday, Nov. 7 General Election will give voters the opportunity to vote for two referendums in addition to candidates.  EHOST will provide tax relief for qualified homeowners, and…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — Homeowners in the Water’s Edge community in Southeast DeKalb County have won a pivotal court battle against their homeowners association(HOA) as they prepare to hold elections this month for a new board of directors. In a unanimous decision, the Georgia  Court of Appeals reversed an earlier ruling of the DeKalb County Superior Court and agreed with the homeowners of Water’s Edge that the community’s governing documents do not allow non homeowners to serve on the Board of Directors and do not  require a quorum for an election of Board members to be valid. The case was…

ATLANTA – Concluding its 176th Anniversary, the historic Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta will host its 91st production of the play, Heaven Bound! This powerful spiritual black production on the commitment to Jesus Christ, will take place Nov. 10 and Nov. 11: Eventbrite: 91st Heaven Bound Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite or   Heaven Bound is the longest consecutive running production in the United States of America, (until the global pandemic of 2019) with generational family cast members, who include Jory Young, who stars in the role of Satan (on the first night), previously played by his father, Roland Young. Young plays a drunkard on the second night, where the role of…

DEKALB COUNTY GA- Jedidja Mbungu, 30, was convicted this week and sentenced to serve life plus 5 years for the murder of 20-year-old DeA’Andre Jones. Mbundu gunned down Jones, who was unarmed, after an altercation at a Stone Mountain gas station. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on Monday, Oct. 30, against Mbungu, on charges of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony in connection with the fatal shooting ton Aug. 29, 2020, DEKALB COUNTY District Attorney Sherry Boston’s office announced. According to the investigation, Mbungu traveled to the Chevron gas station, located at 410 S. Stone Mountain Lithonia Road in Stone Mountain…

(LAWRENCEVILLE, GA–– Gwinnett County is cranking up the tunes to help shelter pets find their forever homes during National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center will host “Shelter Pets Rock” on Saturday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. to 4, p.m., with family-friendly activities, music, entertainment and local vendors. All pet adoption fees are waived at the annual event hosted by Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement. “Shelter Pets Rock is a wonderful opportunity for people to come out to the center, meet all of the amazing animals we have here and enjoy an afternoon of fun,” said Division Director Vernon Sawyer. “Shelter…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Over the weekend, Aaron “A.J.” Hawkins stopped by his alma mater, Martin Luther King Jr. High School, to break bread with his beloved Lions football team. Hawkins, a former offensive lineman who graduated from MLK in 2008, and his family provided the team and coaches a catered pre-game meal on Friday, Oct. 27. The Hawkins Group, comprised of businesses that are owned by Hawkins’ parents, Aaron and Mia Hawkins; his sister, Jade Hawkins; his wife, Michele Hawkins; and IHawkMedia, which “A.J.” Hawkins owns, thanked Kenley’s Catering and Sandwich Shop for preparing and delivering the hot meal. Hawkins said…