Author: On Common Ground News

UPDATE: Oct. 5, 2023– Gwinnett County Police reported that Mos. Kitchen has been located safely. SNELLVILLE, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department needs the public’s help in locating a missing 72-year-old Snellville man. At approximately 7:30 a.m. today, Oct. 5, Moses Kitchen was seen leaving the area of Quinn Ridge Drive in unincorporated Snellville and walking toward Everson Road. He is described as a black male, 5-foot-9 inches tall and about 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing light-colored jean overalls. Kitchen requires around-the-clock care. If anyone sees him, he/she is encouraged to call 911. Missing Person: Moses Kitchen, 72.…

STONECREST, GA – More than 300 constituents attended the housing crisis townhall hosted by Congressman Hank Johnson at the Lou Walker Senior Citizen Center in DeKalb County Oct. 3.  The event was the second that Johnson has hosted on the housing crisis. The roundtable discussion included a panel of federal, state, and local experts, who weighed in on the crisis impacting both renters and homeowners nationwide, and notably in Georgia’s Fourth District, which Johnson represents. The roundtable offered solutions for homelessness, escalating rents, home buying challenges, unwarranted foreclosures, and more. “There is no doubt we are facing an affordability crisis in housing, impacting both…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will be honored during the Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc. (Georgia ACT) 2023 Fall Conference Oct. 24-25 in Augusta, GA. Cochran-Johnson will be recognized for her affordable housing advocacy, including rental assistance, advancing homeownership opportunities, and innovation in developing faith-based housing. Cochran’s efforts include a Housing Resolution acknowledging affordable housing as a crisis and calling upon the Georgia State Delegation to consider rental rate caps and rental registries. Additionally, she has instituted a program in partnership with Operation HOPE to promote home ownership, which has provided over $20 million…

DECATUR, GA– N. Clarendon Avenue at Church Street will be closed to through-traffic 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4–7 to facilitate the replacement of the railway line at the railroad crossing. 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 Mike Garvin, project manager, Benchmark Consulting, Inc. at 843-510-4646.

Commissioner Spencer R. Moore, Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), has been named Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors. The Commissioner, who has many years of experience in the industry, will bring his expertise to the Board and help guide the organization’s strategic mission and goals. In conjunction with Commissioner Moore’s new AAMVA role, Georgia will host the AAMVA International Conference (AIC) in 2024. AIC will bring hundreds of national motor vehicle experts to the Peach State for a week of collaboration to identify highway safety best practices, emerging technologies, and customer…

By Mark Brock DeKalb County School District Athletics Specialist DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Region play continues this weekend with key games set for DeKalb County stadiums on Thursday and Friday as DeKalb football fans get their choice of nine games. A big Region 4-5A matchup is set for Friday night at Adams Stadium as Tucker (3-3, 1-0) entertains Chamblee (3-3, 1-0) to see which team can remain at the top of the standings after two weeks of region play. Tucker is coming off a big home 48-39 victory over the Decatur Bulldogs to get their region season off to a good…

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council approved to allocate $11.6 million of the City’s affordable housing trust fund for eviction diversion efforts and to produce affordable housing units. The resolution includes focusing on units reserved for residents meeting or below 50 percent of the area median income (23-R-4167). Other items approved include: A resolution urging the mayor and the Atlanta Police Department to release the August 10, 2023, video recording of the police-related incident involving Mr. Johnny Hollman. The item was approved for immediate consideration and sent to the mayor’s office post-haste. This ordinance amends the Atlanta Housing Code to establish…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The Rev. Cynthia Hale announced that she is endorsing Commissioner Larry Johnson in the race to become DeKalb County’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “I am proud to call Larry Johnson a friend, a leader, and now, our next DeKalb CEO. Larry is a man of impeccable character with bold plans for DeKalb County that only somebody with his skills can put into practice. His inspirational leadership is exactly what we need right now,” said Hale. The Democratic primary election will be held on May 21, 2024. Hale is founding and senior pastor at Ray of Hope Christian Church,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the case against a Sarasota, Florida man accused of shooting and seriously injuring his former girlfriend in Brookhaven.  Jurors returned guilty verdicts on  Sept.28 against Mustafic Mahadi, 36, on charges of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon stemming from an incident on Feb.y 19, 2021.    According to the investigation, Mahadi and the victim had broken up that day.  After hearing the news,…