Author: On Common Ground News

With only days left until the Nov. 8 General Election, Congressman Hank Johnson and Secretary of State candidate Bee Nguyen held a “Get Out The Vote Rally” on Sunday, Oct. 30. The two Democrats joined forces for the rally, which was held at Clarkston First Baptist Church in DeKalb County.  Photos provided: Andy Phelan

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Inmates at the DeKalb County Jail apparently planned to celebrate this past Halloween weekend. Alas, those plans were foiled when a “contraband drop” of items they ordered was interrupted by the arrest of the deliveryman. David Askew, 59, was taken into custody by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 30 while he was still on the premises of the DeKalb County Jail on Memorial Drive after he allegedly sent contraband up the outside walls of the facility and into an inmate’s cell using a fishing line and a plastic bag. “This was a sizable drop,” observed…

ROCKDALE COUNTY—Are you interested in learning about tax sales? If so, mark your calendar and plan to attend Rockdale Clerk of Courts Janice Morris’ “Law Library Speaker Series” on Nov. 8, 5:30 -7 p.m., at the Conyers-Rockdale Library, 864 Green St. S.W., Conyers. Rockdale County Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart Washington and Attorney Brad Hutchins, general counsel to the Georgia Association of Tax Officials, will present a discussion entitled “Tax Sales.” Morris said she is excited about the final installment of the free 2022 Law Library Series, which has educated the public on various topics including Real Estate, Simple Divorce, Adoptions, Trusts…

By Mark Brock DeKalb Atletics Department     DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Arabia Mountain and Tucker clinched Class 5A state playoff berths and set up a big showdown on Oct. 28at Godfrey Stadium for the No. 3 seed .   The Arabia Mountain Rams (4-5, 2-2) knocked off Martin Luther King (2-7, 1-3) 27-0 to clinch its first playoff spot since the pandemic shortened the 2020 season.  Julian Shanks got the Rams on the board in the first quarter with a 19-yard pass to Kenneth Hollinger for the score. The Rams took the 7-0 into the third quarter when they extended their…

ATLANTA—A 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty to one count of Human Trafficking following an undercover online “chat” investigation by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. Demonte Engle has been convicted for soliciting a purported 14-year-old female online for sex, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced on Oct. 31. The case stems from an investigation conducted between Oct. 19, 2021 and Nov. 1, 2021. Engle falsely told an undercover officer that he was 17 years old. On Nov. 1, 2021, after days of soliciting the purported teen online, Engle offered to pay $40 to have sexual intercourse with the purported 14-year-old and traveled to…

DECATUR – The DeKalb History Center’s November Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, Nov. 15, noon to 1 p.m. will be presented by Brent Griffin, Ph.D., artistic director of the Resurgens Theatre Company, located in the historic Masonic Temple building in downtown Decatur. Those interested in attending are invited to bring their lunch for the meeting. The Lunch & Learn will be held at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse on the 2nd floor, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. Griffin will discuss the Resurgens Theatre Company, the Masonic Lodge, and the history of the building. The Theatre Company will perform Thomas Kyd’s The…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly installed18-hole disc golf course at DeKalb Memorial Park on Saturday, Nov.12, 10 a.m. The ceremony will be held at DeKalb Memorial Park,353 DeKalb Memorial Park, Atlanta. “We continue to look for ways to provide DeKalb County residents with new opportunities to engage in outdoor activities,” said Chuck Ellis, DeKalb Parks Director. “Over the last several years disc golf has grown in popularity and we are happy to provide our community with this amenity at DeKalb Memorial Park.” Over $70,000 was raised by…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– In recognition of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Rockdale County announced plans to illuminate the front of the Rockdale County Courthouse with green lights Nov. 1– 11 as part of Operation Green Light. Operation Green Light is a new national collaborative initiative of the National Association of Counties (NACo) to support military veterans. The initiative raises awareness about the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available at the county, state, and federal level. Rockdale County adopted a resolution in support of the NACo initiative on Oct.11t, designating October through Veterans Day, Nov.11,…