Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA— Carolyn Biggers Frey, the mother of Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman JaNice Van Ness, has passed away.  Her celebration services will be held this weekend. Van Ness  announced in her newsletter that visitation will be held today, Valentine’s Day, from 4-7 p.m. at Scot Ward’s Funeral Services, 699 Legion Road, N.E., Conyers.   The homegoing celebration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at noon,  Rockdale Baptist Church, 1295 Smyrna Road, Conyers.  More information is provided below:  

GWINNETT COUNTY—The Georgia Department of Education has recognized Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) as the top district in the state for world language proficiency with 377 students earning the 2024 Seal of Biliteracy—more than any other school district in Georgia.  The Georgia Seal of Biliteracy honors high school graduates who demonstrate advanced proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages beyond English. To earn the seal, students must achieve  a minimum “B” average in all required English Language Arts courses and achieve a high proficiency in  a second world language through a state-approved assessment, such as Advanced Placement(AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.  Virin…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Due to forecasted cold weather, DeKalb County has extended the operation of four warming centers for residents to include Sunday and Monday, Feb. 16 and 17. The four centers will be open starting at 8 p.m.: Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road, Atlanta North DeKalb Senior/Community Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee, 30341 (See pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline.)  Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur (See pickup schedule below for transportation to Frontline.)  Exchange Park Intergeneration Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur During warming center activation, transportation pickups will be available to Frontline International according…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Rockdale County Public Schools Superintendent Terry Oatts announced his plan to retire, effective Friday, Feb. 14, after the board went into a lengthy executive session on Thursday night (Feb. 13).  Rockdale County Board of Education accepted  Oatts’ retirement and appointed Shirley Chesser, currently Chief Academic Officer, as Acting Superintendent, effective immediately. Oatts will remain a consultant for the district through March 31, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition, district officials announced. The board passed the resignation unanimously 7-0.     Oatts’ retirement announcement follows a battle with the Rockdale Board of Education over changes he requested in December 2024…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Snellville man accused of murdering a pregnant 16-year-old was back in jail on Thursday night (Feb. 13) after a grand jury added new charges for sexually abusing the teen, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office announced.    The accused killer was released from jail last August after a judge granted him a $50,000 bond against District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson’s recommendation, sparking outrage from the teen’s family.    In the indictment, Jesus Monroy, 20, was charged with malice murder, felony murder, feticide, aggravated assault, enticing a child for indecent purposes, statutory rape, child molestation and three counts of making false statements in connection with the July 15, 2024 strangling death…

Updated: 2.14.2025 DEKALB COUNTY, GA—On Tuesday, Feb. 11, a crowd celebrated the life of Matthew Ware, a beloved community servant in DeKalb County. Mr. Ware passed away after illness on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, the day before his birthday. He was 68. The 16-page program booklet honoring Mr. Ware was filled with photos and the many contributions he made as a public servant, including serving as a past chairman/vice chairman of the Board of Directors Georgia Lottery;  a four-year term on the  City Council in Athens, GA, where he served as finance chair and mayor pro tem. While in Athens,…

CONYERS, GA– Conyers will host its annual Arbor Day celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center. Hosted by Mayor Vince Evans and the Georgia International Horse Park staff, this event will take place at the nature center’s Pollinator Education Garden.  The celebration will focus on planting vital host plants for butterflies and bees, reading nature-inspired poetry, and learning how to support Monarchs and other important pollinators as the spring season approaches. A ceremonial planting will be held during the event and the Georgia Forestry Commission also will be on hand…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—All county government offices, with the exception of those operations required for the comfort and safety of residents, will be closed for the Presidents Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 17 and resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Feb. 18. A Magistrate Court judge will be available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center during the holiday. Trash and recycling collection in unincorporated Gwinnett County is scheduled as normal for Feb. 17. The Gwinnett County Solid Waste Management Call Center will be closed that day, but hauler call centers will be open.  Residents can visit GCSolidWaste.com to find their hauler’s contact information.…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct its Regular Public Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the 178 Sams Street,Room A1201 – A & B, Decatur.  Agenda  Callto Order Adoptionof Agenda   III. Administrative Items Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of Jan. 16, 2025 Ethics Officer’s YearlyReport Ethics Officer’s Monthly Report Public Comments Comments from the Board of Ethics Executive Session to Discuss Pending Litigation and Personnel Issues Motion to Convene an Executive Session Motion to Adjourn an Executive Session Motion to Approve the Executive Session Affidavit…