Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA –DeKalb County School District Superintendent Devon Horton will host two town hall meetings this month at 6:30 p.m.  Hudson will be joined by School Board member Whitney Mcginniss at the first meeting today, Oct. 3, at Druid Hills Middle School. The second town hall will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Cross Keys High School. Horton and McGinniss will each give brief opening remarks, followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees facilitated by a moderator. The Superintendent’s Cabinet members also awill ttend and provid, information on academics, operations, instructional technology, human resources, district finances,community partnerships, and…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the case against a Rochester, New York woman accused of running over her boyfriend with a car.      Jurors returned guilty verdicts on Sept. 27 against Vanessa Dates-Bell, 36, on charges of Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, Hit and Run Resulting in Serious Injury or Death and Tampering with Evidence stemming from an incident on Oct. 21, 2020.     According to the investigation, Dates-Bell and Tavorris Threadcraft, 25, had been arguing.  Threadcraft was walking near Fairington Road and Willowick Drive in Stonecrest around 1…

STONECREST, GA –Congressman Hank Johnson, along with a host of federal and local experts, will host a roundtable discussion on the housing crisis impacting renters and homeowners nationwide, notably in Georgia’s Fourth District. Speakers will discuss solutions for homelessness, escalating rents, home buying challenges, unwarranted foreclosures, and more. Registration is underway now. WHO: Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA), State Sen. Tonya Anderson, State Rep. Billy Mitchell, DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, and Clarkston Councilwoman YT Bell. There will also be representatives from Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Atlanta Legal Aid, and more. WHAT: Congressman Johnson hosting a roundtable discussion on the housing crisis WHEN: Tuesday,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The  Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a lane advisory for motorists regarding the I-285/I-20 East Interchange Project in DeKalb County. There will be lane  closures Sept. 29 through Oct. 6, as work crews reconstruct the busy interchange to improve traffic flow safety and safety at this busy interchange. The project will reconstruct the interstate system-to-system ramps at the I-285/I-20 East Interchange and add a combination of collector-distributor, or connecting lanes, and auxiliary lanes along I-20 east of the interchange and I-285 north of the interchange. When/Where:Friday, Sept. 29, through Friday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D–Lithonia) will host a virtual town hall on Thursday, Oct. 26, 6 – 8 p.m. via Zoom.  During the town hall, Rep. Kendrick will provide an overview of the 2023 legislative session and discuss upcoming legislation and events from 6 – 7 p.m. From 7 – 8 p.m., she will provide a review of House Bill 741, legislation to expand the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners. The Zoom link has been updated, click here.  WHO:             Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D–Lithonia) WHAT:          Virtual Town Hall Meeting WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 6 – 8 p.m. WHERE:       Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYuc6oqTMuHdGtl3jnpGCHg1d4Zj2oGgLm

STONECREST, GA—Seniors from throughout metro Atlanta are getting fit at Samson Health and Fitness Center—at no charge to them. The 79,000-square-foot Samson Health & Fitness Center is the health and wellness extension of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, where Dr. Jamal Bryant is senior pastor. “We are blessed to have the largest, seated senior workout class in Atlanta on Tuesdays and Thursdays, instructed by the amazing DaShaun Johnson, The Guru of Abs,” said Melanie R. Render, Samson’s director of athletics. “Over 250 seniors attend each class, and we are continuing to grow. We have also recently added free ballroom and…

LILBURN, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 74-year-old woman. South Precinct officers are actively looking for Bok Chang. She was last seen leaving the area of Ross Road in unincorporated Lilburn on foot at around 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 24. Chang was last seen wearing a short-sleeved blue blouse and gray pants. She is described as a Korean female, about  5’3 inches tall,120 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. She requires around-the-clock medical care. If anyone sees Ms. Chang, call 911.

DECATUR, GEORGIA— The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in locating murder suspect Kristoper Brown, 22, of Lithonia.  A murder warrant has been issued for  Brown in connection with the fatal shooting of  Dorian Bennett on May 3, 2023 at I-285 and Lavista Road in Tucker, Georgia. If located, do not approach the suspect, as he may be armed, investigators said. Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Kristopher Brown is asked to contact the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit by calling CrimeStoppers at 404-577-TIPS. A reward may be possible, if the information provided…

STONECREST, GA–Congratulations to Richard S. Hill, who has been named Support Employee of the Year 2023-2024 at Arabia Mountain High School, located in the City of Stonecrest. Hill, who has been with the DeKalb County School System since 2017, is head custodian at Arabia and part of the support team at the school. Staff members nominate and vote on the person(s) selected to be honored. Arabia Principal Tanya Mason recently honored Hill with an appreciation gift—Atlanta Falcons’ and Georgia Bulldogs gear. “It was nice to be recognized for the hard work that we do to maintain the school building. I feel…