Author: On Common Ground News

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department(GCPD) is seeking the public’s help in identifying a burglary suspect who took a shower and stole a key from a home in unincorporated Lawrenceville.  On Feb. 5, at approximately 4:40 a.m., the pictured suspect entered the basement of a residence on Cannings Lake Court in unincorporated Lawrenceville through an unlocked door.  The suspect, described as an older white male with a slender build and a tattoo on his upper right arm, took a shower before leaving the residence with a key to the home, a lighter, and a folding knife. The homeowner confronted the…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will celebrate the return of Parent Academy for its 23rd semester on Saturday, March 15. The classes and workshops will be held 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Rockdale Career Academy,1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers.   The free, half-day event for parents, tweens and teens offers free classes and resources to help families find success. To register, visit www.rockdaleschools.org/parentacademy. This year’s theme is “Thrive in 2025!” with workshops focusing on physical, financial, mental, wellness as well as literacy. The event features student performances, and local community vendors as well as student entrepreneurs.  Attendees attend two breakout sessions and can choose from dozens of…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County has announced that it will open four warming centers to assist homeless residents due to gusty winds, rain, and cold expected on Wednesday night.    The warming centers will open on March 5 at 8 p.m.: Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road, Atlanta North DeKalb Senior/Community Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee (See pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline.) Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur(See pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline.) Exchange Park Intergeneration Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur (See pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline.) During warming center activation, transportation pickups will…

DEKALB, GA –The DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 10, 6 p.m., 2000 Airport Rd., Room 227, Atlanta.  The public 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 follow Approval of February 2025 meeting minutes  Information/Old Business Director’s Report – Hunter Hines LED Airfield Project Rules and Regulations Consent to Assignment to CDH Aviation, LLC by PDK, LLC, DeKalb County Contract No. 16-903064, Lease Agreement with PDK, LLC for North Terminal Lease Area Tract N-4, 2007 Flightway Drive.   PDK, LLC is assigning and transferring all of its…

ROCKDALE COUNTY – A 15-year-old suspect has been charged and is in custody for making social media threats against a local high school, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office announced in a post on X.  Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) confirmed the social media threats were made against Heritage High School over the winter break and on Sunday, Feb. 23.  The Sheriff’s Office said the juvenile was taken into custody on Feb. 26 and faces the following charges: Two counts of Terroristic Threats (felonies) Disruption of School (misdemeanor). Investigation timeline:  Feb. 19 –The Sheriff’s Office was first alerted to a social…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA –Lee Daffin, a 57-year-old Rockdale County resident, has been charged with the murder of Jocelyn Camille Goodwine, a Rockdale resident who was reported missing on Feb. 17, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office(RCSO) announced today.   Goodwine’s body was found on Feb. 20 in Cornelia, Georgia in Habersham County, approximately 80 miles north of Rockdale County and was later positively identified.   Authorities confirmed today that Daffin and Goodwine knew one another, but did not disclose details about their relationship. Daffin became a “person of interest” after Rockdale Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check at a home in the 1100 block of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A Lithonia High School teacher has been placed on administrative leave as DeKalb County school officials investigate allegations that she was seen vaping in her classroom filled with students.  Video footage of the incident, captured by students, has been shared on social media, according to parents who spoke with On Common Ground News(ocgnews.com) today. The video shows Mrs. A. King, who teaches business classes and oversees the school’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program, vaping as she stands before the classroom.    Some parents expressed concerns about the incident but noted that King is popular among students.  “I guess…

ATLANTA— Mayor Andre Dickens has appointed Ricky Smith as the new General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective April 2.  Smith brings extensive experience in aviation leadership, having  most recently served as Executive Director and CEO of Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA). In his role, he oversaw the management and operations of Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Martin State Airport, and regional aviation initiatives throughout the State of Maryland.  As part of the leadership transition, current Interim Airport General Manager Jan Lennon will be promoted to a new role as Executive Deputy General Manager within the airport. In this role she will…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—John Pittman of Discovery High School has been named Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) 2025 Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Student of the Year. The 12th-grade student  was recognized at the CTAE award ceremony on Feb. 25. The event recognizes student achievements in CTAE courses during their high school careers. This year, 26 students were selected from a field of high-performing GCPS high school students, including Jabari Morrison of Shiloh High School, who was named 1st runner-up, and Landon Sturgeon of Mountain View High School, who was named 2nd runner-up. The 2025 GCPS local school winners are: Sebastian Ciocu-Jitian of Archer HS   Edgar Encarnacion Gomez of Berkmar HS   Vyom Thakkar of Brookwood HS   Mamadou…

Atlanta — A Special Election will be held in November for two seats on the all-Republican Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities that provide electric, natural gas, and telecommunications services in the state.   Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger formallycalled for the two special elections on Wednesday (Feb. 26), which will be on the ballot along municipal elections. Qualifying for the Nov. 4 election will be held April 1-3. A primary is set for June 17, with a runoff on July 15, if needed. The winners will compete in November’s general election. Commissioner Tim Echols, who represents a large portion of east…