Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA _ The MARTA Police Department (MPD) is partnering with car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai to provide steering wheel locks to car owners after an increase in incidents involving these vehicles while parked at rail stations. Police nationwide noticed a spike in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles after a post on social media showed how to start these cars without a key. The car manufacturers are providing 640 steering wheel locks, at no cost to MARTA, to help deter and prevent these thefts. “MARTA has experienced a significant decrease in crime over the past few years, so when we…

DECATUR, GA –– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a suspect in the murder of a Decatur man. Authorities arrested Tommie Lee Salad, 36, of Decatur, Georgia without incident on May 24 at a Woodfern Drive residence in Decatur. The arrest warrant charges him with Malice Murder in connection with the shooting death of Lewis Harmon, 39, of Decatur on April 22, 2023. According to the warrant, Harmon was found deceased at a Hooper Street residence in Decatur following an alleged domestic dispute. Salad was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–All Gwinnett County government offices, with the exception of those operations required for the safety of residents, will be closed Monday, May 29 for the Memorial Day holiday. A Magistrate Court judge will be available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center during the holiday. Monday, May 29, is a holiday in unincorporated Gwinnett County, and the Gwinnett County Solid Waste Management Call Center will be closed. Trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day. Residents who live within city limits should contact their trash and recycling provider to find out if collection will be delayed due…

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On May 25 – ahead of the Memorial Day weekend – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and Congressman Drew Ferguson (GA-03) introduced the bipartisan resolution, which designates November 9th each year as “Gold Star Father’s Day,” nationally. “There is currently no federal or national recognition for Gold Star Father’s Day,” said Congressman Johnson. “My friend and colleague Congressman Ferguson and I agree that needs to change. Just like mothers, who have had this designation since 1936, we want to honor fathers who have lost children in service to the United States of America and recognize their unimaginable loss.” “We…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Health will hold its regularly scheduled meeting via teleconference on May 25, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Public access to the video conference can be established through the following methods: Zoom Video: https://zoom.us/join | Meeting ID: 841 4683 8424 / Passcode: 793815 Zoom Audio: 301-715-8592 | Meeting ID: 841 4683 8424 / Passcode: 793815 Agenda items for the meeting include: Call to Order Approval of Minutes Regular Board Meeting Minutes of March 23, 2023 Approval of Board Budget Committee Minutes Minutes of May 22, 2023 Bylaws Committee Approval of the Proposed FY2024 Budget DeKalb…

STONECREST, GA—Hundreds of members from the community are expected to gather for an annual balloon release ceremony hosted by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday, May 28, at 11:30 a.m., 6400 Woodrow Road. Those who have lost loved ones are invited to this event on New Birth’s campus. The event is designed to recognize and honor individuals lost to violence, health-related issues and other causes of death. “We recognize that members of our community are profoundly impacted by the loss of loved ones and that difficult loss often has a lingering and lasting impact as they transition through the…

ATLANTA—Maynard Eaton, multi-award-winning journalist and media communications professional, with a career spanning over five decades, died late Tuesday evening in his sleep after a brief battle with lung cancer. Eaton has left a legacy of impactful reporting and social change. Eaton began his career in 1970 after graduating from Hampton Institute’s Mass Media Arts Program, as WVEC-TV’s first African American newsman. In 2022, Eaton came full-circle with his appointment as Endowed Professor of Journalism at Hampton University. During his occupation, Eaton has been recognized as a broadcast journalist, political columnist, media/ public relations consultant, free-lance writer, executive editor. Eaton’s most…

CONYERS, GA—The Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. recently held its Spring Koffeehouse Town Hall at the JP Carr Community Center in Conyers. Approximately 120 citizens attended the event. The forum, “Domestic Violence & Community Safety,” focused on police response to mental health episodes. The distinguished panel leading the discussion included Rockdale County Sheriff Eric J. Levett; City of Conyers Deputy Police Chief Kimberly M. Lucas; Mary M. Torres, Victim Witness Assistance Program manager, Rockdale County District Attorney’s Office; and Ashley Dykes, executive director of Project Renewal Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Inc. For more information about the…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest has been chosen to be a part of the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Good Jobs, Great Cities Learning Network. The network will help participating cities learn from their peers and other national resource providers to build a strong local ecosystem for workforce development.    Stonecrest is joined by 16 other cities in the Good Jobs, Great Cities Learning Network. The City will participate in quarterly networking calls, and have access to NLC’s and U.S. Department of Labor’s tools and resources to accelerate its effort to promote workforce success in key local industries.  …

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock visited the site of Rockdale County’s future Restorative Justice Complex, located at 2800 Highway 138 SW, Conyers, on May 22 to show support for the project. During this visit, Senator Warnock met with the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners and staff members to learn more about this portion of Rockdale County’s Stepping Up Initiative. The Stepping Up Initiative, led by Commissioner Doreen Williams, is adding the complex as an additional tool to continue to help assist those experiencing mental health issues and addictions as well as house organizations that are a part of…