Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a suspect in the murder of a man earlier this month during an armed robbery. Atlanta resident Tyrin J. Maddox, 21, was taken into custody without incident today(Jan. 18) at a Thomasville Drive residence in Atlanta on arrest warrants charging him with the Armed Robbery and Murder of Springfield, Illinois resident Devalon Davis, 20, on Jan. 5, 2023 on White Oak Drive in Decatur. According to the warrants, Maddox took a weapon and marijuana from Davis and shot him multiple times, causing his death at the scene. Sheriff’s deputies…

By Mark Brock, DCSD Athletics Specialist  DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Southwest DeKalb’s Aziz Bello entered the game with just a couple of minutes to play to score two points and grab two rebounds to help the Panthers stave off the Druid Hills Red Devils for a 41-33 to finish off a Region 6-4A sweep at home.  Xzaviah Taylor’s drive for a bucket with 4:33 to play gave the No. 3 ranked Panthers (14-2, 9-0) a 16-point lead (39-23). Southwest DeKalb would go the next 4:15 without a point while Druid Hills behind six points from David Sledge trimmed the lead to…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is sponsoring a mobile food distribution for military veterans on Jan. 27, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Atlanta VA Arcadia Clinic, 250 N. Arcadia Ave., Decatur. The food giveaway will mark the third that Cochran-Johnson has hosted in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Soldiers Angels. Cochran-Johnson allocated $10,000 in 2022 to provide the three food distributions for Veterans, two of which were held in September an d October 2022. Each recipient will receive a box containing approximately 75 pounds of food packed by volunteers and loaded into cars, pushcarts…

CONYERS, GA – The graduation rate for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) enrolled in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs increased to an all-time high of 99.13% for 2022, surpassing the state-wide rate at 97.1, district officials said. Officials said the rate applies to students who complete a Career Pathway. The state also released the district’s graduation rates for Pathway completers in the areas of Advanced Academics, World Language, and Fine Arts. RCPS graduation rates in these areas are 99.48%, 98.82%, and 96.25%, respectively.   RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts applauded students and staff members.  “I continue to be proud of the…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Are you dreaming of vine-ripe tomatoes and fresh green veggies? Now is the time to stake your claim at any of Gwinnett’s 10 community gardens. Gardeners of all skill levels are invited to apply for the 2023 to 2024 growing year. The cost is $35 per year for a 4-foot by 8-foot raised platform garden plot. Once payment is received, plots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Gwinnett County provides water, tools, soil, mulch and educational resources at each site, while gardeners are responsible for maintaining and harvesting their plots. Gardeners must also participate in 12…

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it will open a Business Recovery Center at noon Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Spalding Senior Center in Spalding County. The center will provide help to Georgians applying for SBA disaster loan assistance for losses due to severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred Jan. 12.   “Our Business Recovery Centers are one of the most powerful resources at SBA’s disposal to support business owners in the midst of a disaster,” said Francisco Sanchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Assistance. “Business owners can meet in-person with our specialists to apply for SBA disaster…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Presiding Officer Robert Patrick has named the board’s committee chairs and members who will serve for 2023.   Both, Patrick and Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, were elected by their peers to serve as presiding officer and deputy presiding officer respectively for the consecutive year on Jan. 13 at the board’s first meeting for 2023. Committee assignments were prioritized based on seniority of elected service with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and individual commissioners’ preferences. The committees were announced as follows: County Operations (OPS) Committee Mereda Davis Johnson, chair Larry Johnson, member Michelle…

DEKALB COUNTY—Dozens of supporters turned out for the DeKalb NAACP MLK parade today(Jan. 16), traveling from Green Pastures Church to Martin Luther King, Jr. High School.  Rob Hardy, executive producerof the pilot episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which is currently filming its third season, served as grand marshal of the event.  The theme of this year’s parade was “Sound The Alarm” because there is still work to be done in our community, the DeKalb NAACP stated.  https://youtu.be/fhaG24mVjDQ

ATLANTA—DeKalb County community activist Teresa Hardy was ordained as deacon at Salem Bible Church on Sunday, Jan 15, 2023. Several supporters, including family and friends, attended the ordination where Hardy and several others were promoted in ministry at Salem Bible Church under the leadership of the Rev. Jasper W. Williams, Jr., pastor emeritus, and his son, Pastor Joseph L. Williams.  Hardy has been a member of Salem Bible Church since 2002. She has actively served at Salem in the Christian Education, Political/Social Justice and Small Group Growth Leader ministries. Hardy  gave thanks to God for her new role as deacon…