Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, Ga. – DeKalb County is making recreation centers and libraries throughout the county available as cooling centers due to the ongoing heat advisory.  As defined by the National Weather Service’s Peachtree City Forecast Office, a heat advisory is issued when “feels like” temperatures are expected to reach or be greater than 103 degrees, or when the actual air temperature is expected to be at 105 degrees or greater.  Most DeKalb County libraries and recreation centers will be available as cooling centers, during the location’s normal business hours.  For a list of DeKalb County recreation centers, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the “Recreation Programs and Centers”…

DECATUR, GA – A mounting inventory of active, outstanding DeKalb County warrants led to a two-day task force by DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox to locate and arrest suspects this week. “Operation Safe Summer,” a multi-jurisdictional endeavor June 14-15 on some 400 warrants involved the DeKalb Sheriff’s Field Operations Criminal Process and Uniform Sections with special units from Henry County, Fulton County, and Newton County Sheriff’s Offices, and U.S. Marshals. In the past two days, agency teams made 162 endeavors (attempts to arrest) and cleared 69 active warrants. In the process, 38 persons were arrested and transported to the DeKalb…

CONYERS, GA– Raymond, a leading engineering and architectural consulting group headquartered in Conyers, is doubling its Atlanta-area corporate headquarters. The Conyers Rockdale Chamber of Commerce celebrated the expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 16 at 1035 Green St., Conyers. “We were required to move and expand our headquarters because of persistent demand for engineering and architectural services despite the pandemic across our footprint,” said Ramos, PE, founder and president of Raymond.  “The new headquarters will give our growing team a chance to collaborate in person and support the needs of our clients across the U.S.” The ribbon cutting ceremony…

PORTERDALE, GA– State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) will serve as a guest panelist for a “Kappa Koffeehouse” town hall event on small business economic development on Tuesday, June 28. The meeting will be held 6:30 – 9 p.m. at the MadLuLu, 2021 Main St., Porterdale. To register/reserve a ticket for this event, please click here. Carter will be joined by Allen Fox, director of small business outreach with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Kevin Hanna, CEO of the Rockdale Economic Development Council. This event is hosted by the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The event will address…

CONYERS, GA—The city of Conyers and Rockdale County government are partnering for a spectacular Independence Day fireworks event in the heart of Olde Town Conyers. The “Red, White and Boom” show, presented by the Conyers Convention and Visitors Bureau, is set for Sunday, July 3, 6 to 10 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs and blankets to enjoy an evening of patriotic festivities in Olde Town Conyers. Fireworks will begin at dark, or between 9:30. and 9:45 p.m. “Diverse food choices, great bands, fun and fireworks are what draws everyone together for the patriotic festivities in Olde Town,”…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest will host a Juneteenth celebration at the Southeast Athletic Complex on Saturday, June 18, 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Entry gates will open at 3 p.m. The program will include artist performances in music, dance and spoken word. Guests also will enjoy an African-American history exhibit, a kids’ fun zone and a special appearance by the Black Buffalo Soldiers. “Juneteenth is an important American holiday. It is a day of reflection, but it is also a time for us to celebrate the freedom of Black Americans,” said Mayor-Elect Jazzmin Cobble. “Stonecrest is proud…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest will inaugurate Jazzmin Randall Cobble as the City’s second mayor on Friday, June 17 at 7 p.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public. The inauguration and swearing-in ceremony will be held outdoors, and a limited number of seats will be reserved for guests with special needs or restrictions. Attendees are welcome to bring chairs. WHO:            Mayor-Elect Jazzmin Randall Cobble  WHAT:          The inauguration ceremony and swearing-in for Mayor-Elect Jazzmin Cobble. WHEN:          Friday, June 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. Entry begins at 6 p.m. WHERE:       (Former) Sam’s Club…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–The Development Authority of Rockdale County has named Alysa Jones, a rising sophomore at Heritage High School as the first-place winner of its video contest depicting the Best of Conyers and Rockdale County. Jones took home the top prize–$1,500—for her work. Two other students won second place respectively at their school: Brandon Kincaid and Michael White, graduating seniors from Salem High School who each received $1,000. The third-place winner, Amirion Wooten, a graduating senior at Rockdale County High School, received $500. Students in the Rockdale County School District were invited to create a video no longer than 5…

DECATUR, 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, June 18. Additionally, there will be juice boxes and single-serve cereal for children. Residents will receive about $45 worth of food on a first-come, first-served basis. “Metro Atlanta is experiencing the second highest inflation rates in the nation, and groceries are costing more and more every day,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. Overall, inflation increased 8.6 percent in the past year, the largest increase in 40 years, according to the Consumer Price…

CHAMBLEE, GA– A Chamblee Police officer was injured after his patrol vehicle was  rear-ended by a drunk driver. The incident occurred on June 14, at 3:59 a.m. Lieutenant Roy Collar, of the Chamblee Police Department, was assisting the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) with traffic control near the GA 400 and Interstate 285 construction zone. Lt. Collar’s police vehicle was parked on Lenox Road northbound ramp to GA 400 with emergency lights activated, when another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed rear-ended his vehicle. After impact, the suspect’s vehicle became engulfed in flames.  The driver of the engulfed…