Author: On Common Ground News

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—The Gwinnett County Police  Department is investigating the homicide of Jonathan Royce Wiley, Jr., 21, who was gunned down at his home on Oak Vista Court in Lawrenceville on March 25. Authorities announced the victim’s identity today. Wiley was shot multiple times. The shooting took place around 2 a.m., authorities said. Wiley’s mother, Jessica Holsey-Wiley, said her son was in a downstairs room when shots rang out and awoke his girlfriend and their children, who ran downstairs and found in shot to death. “I don’t know who did this, but my boy didn’t deserve this at all, Holsey-Wiley told…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Police Department is hosting a hiring event on April 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at its headquarters 1950 W. Exchange Pl, Tucker.  The department is looking for men and women who wish to serve the residents of DeKalb County. Candidates will have the opportunity to complete the hiring process and potentially walk away with a conditional offer of employment with a start date of April 24, 2023.    The starting salary for certified officers is $59,194 with a $5,000 sign-on bonus and $55,000 for non-certified individuals with a $3,000 sign-on bonus.  For more information, contact the Background & Recruiting Unit at 770-724-7445. Candidates can also visit www.dekalbpolice.com to get…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– An arrest has been made in connection with a Decatur murder last year. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with the Georgia State Patrol, U.S. Marshall’s, Atlanta Police Department and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit today(March 24) located and arrested 19-year-old Chris L Jackson of Atlanta. The arrest took place at a Fairburn Road S.W. location in Atlanta, where  Jackson attempted to flee but was apprehended by the K9 Officer and was transported to a local hospital. Weapons were recovered during the arrest. According to reports, Jackson fatally shot Decatur resident Tarvies Thomas, 40,…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond issued an executive order on March 24 warning of dangerous and possibly life-threatening conditions to adults, children and pets in the Intrenchment Creek Park area. The executive order closes and restricts access to Intrenchment Creek Park and other county-owned properties in the area to the “given the recent and ongoing criminal activities occurring on or near the properties, including, but not limited to, the installation of hidden traps or other devices designed to injure, maim, or cause the death of adults, children, and pets.” Pictured above are…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA. – Rockdale Parks and Recreation Department is now hiring summer staff, including Full-time Recreation Leader I, Therapeutic Rec Leader II, and Lifeguards. These various positions are open for bright, creative, and enthusiastic staff to carry out our Summer Camp, Sports Clinics, Therapeutic Rec programs, and lifeguarding at Johnson Park indoor pool and Costley Mill Beach. Employment opportunities are for the season between May 1st to September 1st. Individuals interested in applying are encouraged to look on the Rockdale County website here: https://www.rockdalecountyga.gov/ and click the employment button. For more information, please get in touch with Parks and Recreation…

STONECREST, GA–A packed audience applauded as the processional with Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble and her family and entered the room to deliver her first State of the City Address on Thursday, March 23, at the Privvi Event Center inside the Mall at Stonecrest. Cobble’s  address, a pre-recorded video presentation, was part of an evening program that featured radio personality Sasha the Diva, who served as moderator for a “fireside chat” between Cobble and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. The women discussed challenges and triumphs in moving a city forward through a transition. Cobble presented her first “key to the” to…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Board of Commissioners(BOC) Chairman Oz Nesbitt will host his 14th Annual Lend-A-Ham Giveaway on April 2, 3 p.m., at the Olivia Haydel Senior, 1240 Dogwood Dr. S.W., Conyers. Nesbitt has hosted the event annually to help needy families have a ham to enjoy for Easter Sunday dinner. Volunteers will be on hand to help distribute the frozen hams, a week ahead of Easter. The hams will be given away to those in need on a first come, first served. Anyone who would like to donate a frozen ham for the event is welcome to drop off one at…

ATLANTA – State Representatives Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) and Omari Crawford (D-Decatur) have introduced House Bill 794, which would remove the official designation of Stone Mountain Park as a Confederate Memorial . The proposed legislation would also remove the word “Memorial” from the park’s official title. HB 794 is co-sponsored by every member of the DeKalb delegation. “We have been waiting too long for action by the Stone Mountain Memorial Authority to act on needed changes to the false history of the park and the carving,” said Rep. Mitchell, whose district includes the park. “We do…

CONYERS, GA—The Conyers City Council recently approved a $69,401 contract with StreetScan to perform a detailed pavement condition assessment and inspection of roads throughout the city limits. The StreetScan inspection will provide essential pavement data that will be used by the city to help identify and prioritize specific repair and maintenance projects in future years. Data collection of pavement conditions is expected to be completed this coming week.  StreetScan’s data collection provides up-to-date condition information on streets managed by the city. The company employs the latest technology via cars scanning roads and the use of scooters scanning sidewalks outfitted with…