Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA—Alecia L. Washington emerged on Wednesday, Aug. 24, as the sole candidate who qualified for the District 3 Stonecrest City Council seat formerly held by Jazzmin Cobble. Cobble was elected mayor of the city on May 24 in a special election to fill the unexpired term of  Jason Larry and was sworn into office on June 17. According to a Notice of Candidacy released by the city on Thursday, Aug. 25, no other candidate qualified for the District 3 Council seat by the close of the qualifying period on Wednesday. The three-day qualifying period was held at City Hall Aug. 22-24.…

DECATUR,GA– On Aug. 23, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved appropriating $50,000to the 100 Black Men of DeKalb and $25,000 to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference W.O.M.E.N, Inc.  District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, sponsored the funding, which will allow both organizations to provide job training, educational assistance, computers, access to internet, and other technology assistance in communities that hhave been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic not only impacted the quality of life for many residents, but also widened the gap in access to technology,” said Davis Johnson. “This funding will also help to…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a suspect in an Atlanta shooting death that occurred in April. Atlanta resident Da’Shaun Malik Sutton, 27, was taken into custody by DeKalb Sheriff’s office investigators, assisted by the Atlanta Police Department, at a Beecher Street location in Atlanta. A Murder warrant charges  Sutton with shooting 32 year-old Xavier Cannada multiple times on April 9, 2022 at a Whitehall Forest Court residence in DeKalb County, causing his death.  Sutton was transported to the DeKalb County Jail without incident and is being held without bond.   

ATLANTA—De Louise-Lorraine Fine Frames and Hardware, Inc. today announced its partnership with Nordstrom’s popup event featuring seven black-owned companies during Black Business Month, celebrated during the month of August. De Louise-Lorraine was founded by Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, who serves as the District 7 commissioner for DeKalb County government. The in-store event will take place at the Perimeter Mall’s Nordstrom on Aug. 26-28 daily from noon to 6 p.m. The Perimeter Mall’s Nordstrom is one of six U.S. locations hosting #BuyBlack pop-up shops this month. The businesses are partnering with Nordstrom through its Fifteen Percent Pledge, as a part of Nordstrom’s commitment to buy…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a shooting death in July. Stone Mountain, Georgia resident Tremale Leeshon Hester, 19, was taken into custody without incident on Tuesday, Aug. 23, by DeKalb Sheriff’s office investigators at a food restaurant on South Deshon Road in Lithonia. An arrest warrant charges Hester with Murder in the shooting death of Lithonia resident Isaiah Artis,17, on July 17, 2022. According to the warrant, Artis was found dead after crashing a car into a telephone pole on Ashley Lane in Stone Mountain. Authorities say the victim had been…

Newton County, GA—The Newton County School System has been notified that a student at Mansfield Elementary School has tested positive for monkeypox virus. In addition, a student at Flint Hill Elementary School also is currently being tested for monkeypox, officials said. The school district notified parents at both schools via a School Messenger on Tuesday.  Parents of students considered to be close contacts, in accordance with CDC criteria, will receive separate communications advising them of next steps, district officials said in a statement. Due to HIPPA and FERPA regulations, Newton County School System cannot release information on individual students. Newton…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County Government is partnering with local faith leaders to distribute 5,000 boxes of 100 percent Georgia-grown fruits and vegetables, eggs, and chicken hindquarters on Saturday, Aug. 27. Residents will receive about $45 worth of food on a first-come, first-served basis. “Hardworking families are struggling to keep food on the table because food prices have increased every month this year and are now 12 percent higher than last summer,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “DeKalb County and our faith partners are working to lessen the impact of these rising prices.” On Saturday, Aug. 27, beginning at 9…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Floodplain Management Office offers residents general floodplain management information on flood hazards, planning, prevention, and mitigation free of charge. This is part of activities under the Community Rating System Program (CRS) of the county. The service provides useful information on the following: Flood zone determination and flood risk assessment. Information on the Flood Insurance Rate Map and the Flood Insurance Study. Access to previous Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Information on Special Flood Hazard Areas and other High hazard flood areas such as the floodways and high velocity zones. Flood depths around structures and…