Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS, GA—A.R. “Gus” Barksdale Boys & Girls Club is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Monday, Jan. 9. The facility was closed after several pipes burst due to subfreezing temperatures. Repairs are underway to clean up water damage inside the building, officials stated in a letter to parents.   “While we recognize this closure presents an inconvenience and hardship for many families, the safety of our Club members and staff remains our top priority. Once restoration is complete and it is safe to reopen our Blue doors, we will notify families and staff immediately,” the letter stated. For questions or concerns,…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Gwinnett Police Robbery Detectives have issued warrants for a woman accused of robbing two banks a day apart. Detectives have identified the suspect as Janae Samantha Fareaux, age 22.  On Dec1 4, a woman entered the Wells Fargo bank at 1028 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn and demanded to go to the vault.  She left without getting any money, authorities said. On Dec. 15, the same woman entered the Truist Bank at 2171 Pleasant Hill Rd. and passed the teller a note.  The suspect left with over $2,000 from the bank. Fareaux was last seen wearing a long black…

ATLANTA, GA—DeKalb County community activist Teresa Hardy is being elevated in her religious life in the New Year. Hardy will be ordained as a deacon on Jan.15, 2023, 3 p.m., at Salem Bible Church, 2283 Baker Road N.W., Atlanta. She will be among several elders and ministers who will be ordained on that Sunday afternoon at Salem, which is under the leadership of the Rev. Jasper W. Williams, Jr.  and Pastor Joseph L. Williams. As a deacon, Hardy will serve the pastors and membership at Salem in carrying out the church’s mission and vision as well as assisting with pastoral…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–A highly contagious strain of dog flu has been spreading in several U.S. cities and is circulating in the Atlanta area. DeKalb County is awaiting test results for the dogs at DeKalb County Animal Services.  Pet owners should monitor their own dogs for symptoms, which may include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, labored breathing, and lethargy, and contact their veterinarian if their pet appears ill. If your pet is showing symptoms, please keep them isolated from other dogs for 28 days to prevent further spread of the disease.For more information from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, click here.

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court, located in the DeKalb County Courthouse at 556 North McDonough Street, will remain closed until further notice due to a water pipe bursting and flooding multiple areas in the Judicial Tower.  Clerk’s Office Courthouse employees will work remotely during the cleanup and repairs. The Board of Equalization’s office remains open. All hearings for the Board of Equalization during this time will be held as scheduled. Although the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office will be physically closed during emergency repairs, the website  www.dksuperiorclerk.com remains available 24 hours a day for filing criminal, civil, real estate, tradenames…

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council will consider legislation during the Jan. 3 meeting to request that the mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction and the Atlanta Police Department develop a program to provide firearm safety storage, or lock boxes, free of charge to qualifying Atlanta residents to deter accidental shootings and reduce the theft of unsecured firearms and related crimes (22-R-4798). The Council will also consider legislation authorizing a special procurement agreement with Grady Memorial Hospital to operate the Center for Diversion Services in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement between the City of Atlanta and Fulton County for an initial term…

All Gwinnett County government offices, with the exception of those operations required for the comfort and safety of residents, will be closed for the New Year’s holiday on Monday, Jan. 2, and will reopen during normal business hours Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. A Magistrate Court judge will be available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center during the holiday. Trash and recycling collection in unincorporated Gwinnett County will not be delayed. The Gwinnett County Solid Waste Management Call Center and the hauler call centers will be closed Jan. 2. Residents can visit GCSolidWaste.com to find their hauler’s contact information. Residents who…

Holiday – Monday, Jan. 2 – County Offices Closed – New Year’s Day Holiday Holiday – Monday, Jan. 16 – County Offices Closed – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday Conyers-Rockdale Planning Commission: Thursday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m. – Rockdale Auditorium ,903 Main Street, Conyers Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Combined Work Session and Voting Session: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m., Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Zoning Public Hearing: Thursday, Jan. 26, 6 p.m., Rockdale Auditorium, 903 Main Street, Conyers Meetings of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners are streamed via Facebook live on Rockdale…

DECATUR, GA—JaNautica Lashay Whitehead, the 19-year-old whose body was found in a car at 3951 Snapfinger Parkway, near the Omega Psi Phi World Headquarters in DeKalb County, knew the suspect charged with murdering her, On Common Ground News has learned. Whitehead died violently on Nov. 26, 2022—she was shot twice in the head and was wearing her Waffle House uniform when she was killed, On Common Ground News learned after filing an open records request that was made available today, Dec. 28, for the arrest warrant for the suspect, Deeron Zyon Hicks. Hicks was arrested on Murder-Malice charges on Dec. 17,…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Board will hold a special called board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, 11 a.m., at 245 Peachtree Center Ave., Marquis One, Suite 2300, Atlanta. To view agenda and options to watch remotely, visit https://www.srta.ga.gov/grta/board/ About the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) is a state-level authority that addresses mobility and air quality in metro Atlanta. GRTA’s jurisdiction encompasses 13 Georgia counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale.  Under state law and via executive order, GRTA approves the allocation of state…