Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale Clerk of Superior and State Courts has announced that traffic citations can now be paid online. “Adding this feature is a huge upgrade in the State Criminal and Traffic Department,” Clerk of Court Janice Morris stated in a news release today (Feb. 13). Defendants can access their citation fees and pay their fees directly onWWW.ROCKDALECLERK.COM. The new system program, Defendant Access, allows citizens to enter their citation numbers, pay their citations online, or view their citation fees. “The previous online portal was not integrated with our case management system. Using Defendant Access, the payment is received immediately…

ATLANTA – The Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) Office of Emergency Preparedness is hosting a community-wide personal protective equipment (PPE) giveaway March 1-3, 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. “PPE isn’t just for hospitals. These items are used in many businesses and homes across Fulton County,” says Donald Porter, Director of Emergency Preparedness at Fulton County Board of Health. “These giveaway events will help ensure people who need PPE have access to the supplies they rely on to stay healthy as we continue to live with COVID-19 and other illnesses.” This event is free and open to the public as well…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 20, sanitation service for residential customers will run one day late as follows: Monday, Feb. 20 – Presidents Day observed. No sanitation service. Tuesday, Feb. 21 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, Feb. 20, will be serviced on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Feb. 21, will be serviced on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Thursday, Feb. 23 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Feb. 22, will be serviced on Thursday, Feb. 23.…

ATLANTA—The East Lake Family YMCA  is seeking parade participants and vendors for its 2023 Annual Black History Parade, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25,  2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Line up will begin at 1:45 p.m. at the Y, 275 E. Lake Blvd. SE, Atlanta. The parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. and it will march to the Lakeside Drive turnaround to East Lake YMCA. For more information on how to participate, contact Vivian Moore: 404-370-5648 or e-mail vivianm@YMCAAtlanta.org.

ATLANTA—Attorney Dwight L. Thomas is one of seven attorneys featured in SuperLawyers magazine’s 20th anniversary issue. Thomas, one of two African-Americans who met the Super Lawyers stringent selection criteria, is a criminal defense attorney who has represented many high profile cases in metro Atlanta. Among his clients: rapper T.I. in a weapons case; Alfred Megbuluba on murder charges for allegedly pushing a woman from a moving Lamborghini; former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary on fraud charges concerning $900,000in COID-19 relief funding; and former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, who ran for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District with Donald Trump’s endorsement. Before entering…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in a shooting death outside a Clarkston, GA strip club. Covington, GA resident Javeon Whitney, 29, was apprehended today, Feb. 10, at a motel off LaVista Road. The DeKalb Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with the U.S. Marshals, took the suspect into custody after he unsuccessfully attempted to flee from arrest by kicking out a hotel window. Whitney was wanted on warrants accusing him of the shooting death of 37-year-old Alpharetta, GA resident Jimmy Esgaldo Leon on Dec. 14, 2022.  Another man was shot in the leg during the…

ATLANTA – Members of the DeKalb House Legislative Delegation, chaired by State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), will hold two public meetings with local officials this month. The meeting schedule is as follows: Monday, Feb.13, 12 p.m., or upon adjournment, if later) in room 510 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta; Monday, Feb. 27, 12 p.m. (or upon adjournment, if later) in room 510 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has been invited to serve as a guest speaker for the first meeting. Members of the DeKalb County Board of Education…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County will open warming centers for residents to use in the following locations for two nights, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12, beginning at 8 p.m.: Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates, GA Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood, GA Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, GA North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee, GA

CHAMBLEE, GA—During the month of March, Chamblee Municipal Court is implementing an amnesty program for individuals with outstanding traffic citations and/or active bench warrants for failing to appear in court.  The goal is to settle outstanding violations with the court, reduce arrests, and decrease the city’s overall caseload. “This program not only offers those with outstanding citations or those who have been concerned about failure to appear warrants to settle their violation, but it also helps staff reduce the backlog in cases due to continued effects of the pandemic,” said Barry Anderson, Chamblee’s court administrator. Those who would like to…