Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA –The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has raised the bar for employee benefits. Sheriff Melody M. Maddox is offering detention officers’ use of an all-electric vehicle for as long as they remain with the agency and in “good standing.” In a news conference today (Sept. 22), Sheriff Maddox handed the keys to new Chevy BOLT EVs to two current detention officers, launching a program that will include a fleet of up to 150 “take- home” electric vehicles for employee use at the 24-hour facility. “Detention officers who are certified jailers have one of the toughest jobs at this agency,”…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Lawrenceville man in connection with the Sept. 18 shooting death of Lecorey Jerrell Blevins in Decatur, Georgia. Charles Louis Gandy, 30, was arrested and taken into custody today, Sept. 22, at 1695 Graves Road, Norcross, without incident. According to the arrest warrant, Gandy is charged with Malice Murder and is accused of shooting Blevins several times with a handgun during an argument at a Columbia Drive residence. Blevins was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without bond. The booking photo was not yet available,…

STONECREST, GA— Janice Allen Jackson abruptly resigned from her position as city manager on Tuesday, Sept. 20, hurling the city into yet another talespin with its everchanging cast of leadership. Neither Jackson nor city officials are saying what led to her departure. Mayor Jazzmin Cobble, who spoke briefly with On Common Ground News while she was traveling today, said Jackson’s resignation was effective immediately. Cobble said the issue was a personnel matter and declined to answer several questions including whether Jackson would receive a severance package. Cobble issued the following statement: “As of Tuesday morning, Janice Allen Jackson & Associates, LLC.…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Hank Johnson, Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, is leading a coalition of Judiciary subcommittee chairs and members of the Judiciary Committee in introducing The Circuit Court Judgeships Act of 2022. The legislation would address the massive case backlog due to a shortage of federal judges in circuits across the country. Original cosponsors include Reps. Jerrold Nadler (NY), Steve Cohen (TN), Eric Swalwell (CA), Deborah Ross (NC), Shelia Jackson-Lee (TX) and Madeleine Dean (PA). The Circuit Court Judgeships Act of 2022 would create 51 additional circuit court judgeships across 8 judicial circuits. “Our…

TUCKER, GA—The Tucker CID (Community Improvement District) announced this week that a new brewery and Korean restaurant will open soon in Tucker. The Bite of Korea will offer authentic Korean dishes including its signature  Bulgogi‌ ‌quesadillas. Photos via Facebook. “We are extremely excited that Pontoon Brewery: The Lodge and Bite of Korea are set up to open in our district within the next few weeks. The Lodge’s taproom is complete and Bite of Korea’s staff is currently undergoing training,” the CID stated in its announcement. “Once all the permits have been confirmed and approved, we look forward to grabbing good…

Gwinnett County Voter Registrations and Elections is hosting a hiring event to recruit poll workers for the upcoming election. The hiring event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, noon to 4 p.m., at the Norcross Library Branch, 5735 Buford Highway, downtown Norcross. Citizens of all backgrounds are needed, but especially bilingual individuals. If you’re interested in participating in the November election, gaining valuable work experience, and earning up to $390 per day, apply at GwinnettCountyJobs.com. Applicants can also apply in person at a Gwinnett County Public Library branch.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Jasper Watkins invites veterans and their loved ones to learn about services and assistance available to them within Gwinnett County. The town hall will be held on Monday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. Watkins, who represents District 3, will be joined by representatives from veterans’ groups around the county to share information and answer questions. For those who are unable to attend in person, the town hall will be streamed live on the County’s Facebook page  

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that all Regional Commissions recorded a rise in unemployment rates in August. “As we look toward the fall, we are committed to supporting the workforce as employers search for seasonal, full-time, and part-time employees to fill vacancies in preparation for the holiday employment season,” said Commissioner Mark Butler. The labor force rose in the Coastal Georgia Regional Commission and Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. Employment was down in all Regional Commissions and information provided references: OTM: Over the Month OTY: Over the Year Claims dropped in the Atlanta Regional Commission, Central Savannah River Regional…

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) highlighted a new report from the U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday, Sept. 21, estimating that 1.5 million borrowers across Georgia are eligible for help under the Biden Administration’s student debt relief plan. Last month, President Biden announced that the federal government will provide historic, targeted assistance to millions of working families – delivering up to $20,000 in debt relief for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for non-Pell borrowers. More than 1 million Pell Grant recipients in Georgia are eligible for relief. Johnson, a Democrat who represents Georgia’s Fourth District, praised Democrats’ push for…