Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA—Stonecrest Resorts has announced 12 new tenants coming this fall to Phase II of Priví, which is being re-developed in the former Sears building at The Mall at Stonecrest.. The list of new tenants include: Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa Baldwin’s Literary Social Bookstore & Coffee Bar 3 Degrees Infrared Sauna Suites The Lions Cage MMA Fight & Fitness Gym Garden Life Juice Bar & Café The Original Hot Dog Factory Picasso’s Splat Room Naturally Gifted Treasures & Finds Bricks 4 Kidz In addition to the businesses, Phase II will include 6,000 square feet of event space,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Jurors returned guilty verdicts against 26-year-old rapper Qamar “Q Money” Williams in connection with the shooting death of Calvin “Scotty” Chappell, 24, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced this week.    Williams was convicted of Malice Murder, Felony Murder (two counts), Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm   The fatal shooting occurred on April 15, 2019 at a home in the 3500 block of Lehigh Way in Decatur. Police responded to the scene on a ‘person shot’ call and discovered the victim deceased with several gunshot wounds…

ATLANTA – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced Sept. 29 that Maisha Harris, 45, of Atlanta, has been charged with insurance fraud and forgery. In January 2021, Harris applied for and maintained an auto insurance policy with Mercury Insurance Company. Ms. Harris failed to report all accidents occurring within 5 years of the insurance application, including an incident from 2017 wherein she was the at-fault party. Additionally, Mercury Insurance Company alerted our office to a suspected fraudulent claim stemming from a traffic accident involving Ms. Harris. “In September of 2021, Ms. Harris submitted two repair documents and multiple…

ATLANTA- The Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series will host General Election debates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Secretary of State, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, State School Superintendent and U.S. Congressional Districts One, Two, Six, Seven, Ten, Thirteen and Fourteen. The debate series will take place at Georgia Public Broadcasting (260 14th Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318) on Sunday, Oct. 16; Monday, Oct. 17; and Tuesday, Oct. 18. All debates will be available for viewers to watch live on GPB.org and The Atlanta Press Club Facebook page www.fb.com/TheAtlantaPressClub. Logistics: To ensure everyone’s health and safety, media will not be…

LAWRENCEVILLE– The County’s Public Safety Fall Festival, previously scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 1 has been postponed due to the possibility of inclement weather from Hurricane Ivan. The annual event is a collaboration between Gwinnett Police and Fire and Emergency Services. It celebrates the relationship between public safety and the community. A new date and time will be announced in the coming weeks.  

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a Fall Break Camp Oct. 7-10, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost of camp is $10 for a day of activities for children ages 5-15. Participants must provide their own breakfast, lunch and snack. To access online registration, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the “Register Online” button on the department’s homepage. Residents can also register in person at any of the locations listed below: Exchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034 Gresham Recreation Center, 3113 Gresham Road, Atlanta, GA 30316 Hamilton Recreation Center, 3263 Chapel Street, Scottdale, GA 30079…

ATLANTA—The Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners today (Sept. 28) voted unanimously to name Larry Stewart chair of the board. Commissioner Sarah Kirsch will serve as vice chair. “It is a great honor to have the opportunity to serve as chairman of the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners, continuing an incredible legacy started over 80 years ago. I trul y thank my fellow Commissioners and Mayor Dickens for their trust,” said Chairman Stewart. “I am incredibly proud of the work of Eugene Jones Jr. and this outstanding staff, who work tirelessly to ensure that affordable housing is attainable for those in need,…

LITHONIA, GA—The Board of Commissioners of the Lithonia Housing Authority (LHA) has appointed Nikki Davis as Chief Executive Officer.   Davis succeeds the agency’s long-time CEO, the late Martha Calloway, who passed away after illness on Jan. 22, 2022. Mrs. Calloway had held the position as CEO of the Lithonia Housing Authority for 20 years. Prior to her taking the helm with the LHA, Davis served in the private sector of multifamily housing, most recently as a regional manager.    Davis is a Detroit native who has lived in the Lithonia area for 30 years. She has five children and five grandchildren. Davis has served…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Class of 2022 graduates, like the state and nation, saw a dip in composite SAT scores over the previous year. The 2022 mean composite score for RCPS is 980. The mean composite score for Georgia public schools is 1052, and the mean composite score for U.S. public schools is 1028, both decreasing from 2021. RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts said the school system will focus on enhancing test preparation and providing a viable curriculum for post-secondary education. “Consistent with the state and national data, RCPS saw a decrease in our mean composite score; however, RCPS…

ATLANTA – MARTA and Soccer in the Streets, held a long-awaited community celebration to mark the official opening of StationSoccer at the Lindbergh Center rail station. Officials from the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta United Foundation, founding partners, also  celebrated the opening on Tuesday (Sept. 27). The soccer pitch, which is adjacent to MARTA headquarters on Piedmont Road in Atlanta opened in 2020, but the celebration was delayed due to COVID-19. “We are excited to officially celebrate StationSoccer at Lindbergh with our valued partners at Soccer in the Streets, the City of Atlanta, and the Atlanta United Foundation,” said MARTA…