Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA— Students at six DeKalb County charter schools are starting the school year with brand-new Chromebooks, thanks to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Through its Operation School Adoption initiative, launched during Sunday’s service on Aug. 3, the Stonecrest-based ministry donated 152 laptops to bridge the digital divide for local students. New Birth also presented a $10,000 donation to the DeKalb County Schools District to support initiatives aimed at improving student achievement throughout the year. Recipients of the Chromebooks include DeKalb Arts Academy, DeKalb Preparatory School, Ivy Prep Academy, Kilombo Institute, Peace Academy and Utopian Academy for the Arts.  In addition to…

CONYERS, GA–The Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC), in partnership with the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners and the Development Authority of Rockdale County (DARC), is seeking qualified development teams for the transformative redevelopment of a 35.5-acre site located at the intersection of Sigman Road and Iris Drive, near Interstate 20 in Rockdale County. This Request for Information (RFI) is aimed at gathering insights and expressions of interest from experienced developers specializing in large-scale, mixed-use projects. The vision for the property includes a vibrant live-work-play district that integrates commercial and office space, retail and dining, public parks, multi-modal transportation infrastructure,…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has appointed Alan Ferguson, Sr., Ph.D., as the County’s new Chief Housing Officer. “Dr. Alan Ferguson is one of the most accomplished housing leaders in the country,” said Cochran-Johnson. “His ability to deliver large-scale results while staying grounded in community values makes him the perfect choice to lead DeKalb’s housing strategy. We are honored to welcome him home.” A native of South DeKalb, Ferguson most recently served as Chief Housing & Real Estate Officer for the Atlanta Housing Authority, where he led efforts that delivered over 3,200 affordable housing units in fiscal year 2025, making major strides toward…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for tonight, Aug. 4, of the Rockdale County Water, Sewerage and Stormwater Advisory Council at 5 p.m. has been cancelled due to inclement weather. This meeting will be rescheduled at a future date and time. For more information on this Council, please visit:  https://www.rockdalecountyga.gov/rockdale-county-water-sewerage-and-stormwater-advisory-council-rcwss-advisory-council/

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, Aug.11, 4:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Darro C. Willey–Administrative Center, 3560 Kensington Rd., Decatur, GA 30032.  The meeting also will be livestreamed. To receive a link to the livestream, contact weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than Monday, Aug.11 at noon.   For more details and the agenda, click here.

DECATUR, GA–The DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug.11, at 6 p.m.,  2000 Airport Rd., Room 227, Atlanta. The public also can attend the meeting virtually at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/84958022051 or via phone by calling 602-333-0032 and using the conference code 482992. The meeting agenda is as follows: Approval of July 2025 Minutes  Information/Old Business Director’s Report – Hunter Hines LED Airfield Lighting Project Runway 3R/21L Keel Replacement Project Transient Landing Fee Ordinance  Revised Lease Agreement with Epps Air Service, LLC dba Aero Center Epps Atlanta, LLC for Tract 5C Noise Report – Korey Barnes July Operations and Noise Reports Other III. New Business Public…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County government has set its public meeting schedule for the month of August.  With the exception of the Rockdale County Water, Sewerage & Stormwater Advisory Council Aug. 4 meeting, which was cancelled due to inclement weather, the August calendar follows, along with the link to watch the livestream of the Board of Commissioners meetings:  Rockdale County Streaming Sites:  Rockdale County Government Facebook Page | https://www.youtube.com/@Rockdale23 |  https://www.rockdalecountyga.gov/board-of-commissioners-meeting-videos/ ROCKDALE COUNTY PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULE Rockdale County Water, Sewerage & Stormwater Advisory Council Meeting   Monday, August 4, 2025 At 5:00 p.m. LOCATION CE Steele Community Center 1040 Oakland Avenue,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public of a current telephone scam in which suspects are impersonating DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The scam callers attempt to collect a fine in lieu of arrest for outstanding warrants. They tell victims they can avoid arrest by withdrawing cash and “transferring” the funds to the sheriff’s office by purchasing a prepaid debit card and reading the card over the phone to satisfy the fine. The scammers also request deposits of cash into bitcoin ATMs. “Scammers use many tactics to sound credible,” said Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins. “They will…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Following the successful review and approval of the county’s 2025 tax digest by the Georgia Department of Revenue on Friday, Aug. 1, the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office will mail more than 250,000 tax bills to property owners beginning Aug. 15. Bills for City of Atlanta properties in DeKalb will be mailed later.  “Each year, this office along with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, CEO, Tax Assessor’s Office (Property Appraisal), GIS, Boards of Education, city governments, and county administration, work together to prepare the county’s tax digest,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. “Now my office can…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County Police are preparing for a countywide gun safe giveaway event on Aug. 9, providing free gun safes.  The event follows the tragic death of a 5-year-old South DeKalb boy who was accidentally shot in the chest on July 23 by his twin brother after the children found a gun in their mother’s purse. Their mother, LaNecia Bennett, 25, is now facing charges that include a count of second-degree murder. Gun safes will be available for free at any DeKalb County Police precinct. But in light of the recent deadly shooting, DKPD plans to hold a giveaway…