Author: On Common Ground News

LITHONIA, GA — DeKalb County Fire Rescue (DCFR) continues to monitor the large tree pile fire located at 2290 South Stone Mountain in Lithonia, GA, officials said on Thursday, May 28.  Crews remain on scene around the clock managing the massive pile of logs, brush, and mulch that ignited on May 5, 2026. The property is home to two primary tree care and timber businesses that specialize in tree trimming, tree removal and stump grinding. The businesses are located in  a heavily commercial and industrial corridor.  A large containment break has been established to prevent further extension, officials said.  While the pile…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Police Vice Unit investigators seized more than $900,000 worth of counterfeit designer merchandise following an investigation into the sale of fake luxury items. The investigation began after officers received a citizen’s complaint regarding counterfeit designer merchandise being sold online and in person. Investigators later identified Quentessa Gordon and Tameka Gordon as suspects connected to the operation and obtained a search warrant for a residence tied to the investigation. On May 13, investigators executed the search warrant at the residence in Lawrenceville. During the search, officers recovered a large quantity of counterfeit designer merchandise from inside…

ATLANTA—The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday, May 28, that the 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area saw record-breaking employment gains in April, with an unemployment rate of 2.8%, down from a revised 3.3% in March. A year ago, the rate was 2.9%. “Georgia has always been a state that rewards hard work, and right now, hard work is paying off in a big way,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “Every single metro area in this state added jobs in April, more Georgians are earning mortgage-paying paychecks, and our workforce is more skilled and competitive than ever. That is…

UPDATE: DeKalb County Police announced that Mervyn Mitchell has been located safely.  DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County Police Department is seeking the public’s help locating the subject of a Mattie’s Call. Mervyn Mitchell, 88, was last seen on Wednesday, May 27, around 11 p.m.,  in the 5100 block of Rock Glen Drive, Stone Mountain, GA.  Mitchell is 5’6″ and weighs 156 pounds. He was wearing navy blue pajama pants and a red and white striped T-shirt. Anyone who sees Mitchell is asked to immediately call 911 or 770-724-7710.

DECATUR, GA—On Thursday, May 28, DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management crews will repair a leak on a broken water main at 3843 Glenwood Road, Decatur. Traffic controls will be in place and motorists are advised to use caution when traveling in the area.  Motorists are also asked to please avoid the area if possible and expect traffic delays. Customers in the area will experience interruption of water service due to the water main repair.  Bottled water will be distributed at the intersection of Farris Drive and Glenwood Road for impacted residents who live on Farris Drive during the outage. For more information, contact the DeKalb…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) announced today its lineup of events and experiences for the annual Summer Reading Challenge. The Challenge starts on June 1 and runs through the end of July. The theme, “Unearth a Story,” invites everyone to dig into a good book, explore creativity and discover new things to try or do. Children and teens who reach their goals will receive a book of their choice, prize bag, popsicle from King of Pops and entries into grand prize drawings. Adults who complete the challenge will be entered into drawings for gift cards, Chromebooks, noise-canceling headphones, tote…

The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections officially certified the results of the May 19 General Primary Election during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 26, and approved dates, times and polling locations for the upcoming June 16 runoff election. The runoff election will include several contested federal, statewide and local races across Republican, Democratic and nonpartisan ballots. Democratic Runoff Contests Lieutenant Governor:Josh McLaurin and Nabilah Parkes Secretary of State:Dana Barrett and Penny Brown Reynolds Commissioner of Insurance:DeAndre Mathis and Keisha Sean Waites Commissioner of Labor:Nikki Porcher and Michelle Michi Sanchez State Senate District 10:Larry Johnson and Gabrielle…