Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, working with the US Marshals Service, arrested Willie Frank Carter in Denver, Colorado on Sept. 15. According to the arrest warrant, Carter was wanted for the murder of Lamarcus Collins,42, of Lithonia, Georgia on Aug. 8, at a Ridge Way residence in Lithonia. The warrant alleges that Carter shot Collins several times with a handgun. Carter was arrested without incident and is awaiting extradition to the DeKalb County Jail.

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson and Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.) will host “Let’s Move DeKalb!” to help families sustain and get healthy and fit. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. Normally, the annual event is held indoors, but due to the pandemic, the event will be held outdoors for the second year at The Gallery at South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur. This year marks the 11th year for the Let’s Move! DeKalb! Keeping Our Families Fit and Healthy event, which is free and open to the…

ATLANTA – Georgia Power’s storm teams, dispatched to help restore power through the Mutual Assistance Network after Hurricane Ida’s devastating landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi, have returned safely to Georgia this week after a 17-day deployment.   “Our teams did incredible work, replacing literally hundreds of broken poles and nearly two-thousand spans of downed wire in an effort exceeding two weeks in harsh conditions,” said David Maske, Georgia Power’s Storm Center Director. “First helping our sister company, Mississippi Power, and then assisting Entergy, in Louisiana, we’re very proud of the work these teams did and glad they have returned safely…

TUCKER, GA—Morris Avenue, between Archdale Drive and Lawrenceville Highway, will be closed to through-traffic from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, to facilitate the installation of a manhole and sewer lines at 2214 Morris Drive, Tucker.  Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area during the road closure period advising motorists of construction work in the area and of local traffic restrictions. Questions regarding this road closure should be addressed to Gary Holland, Project Manager, Georgia Site Services Inc. at 770-876-0624.  

CLARKSTON, GA — The images from Afghanistan have been harrowing. Thousands of people desperately trying to find seats on airplanes and helicopters so they can escape the violent Taliban rule. Many who managed to flee are on their way not only to Georgia but to what’s been called the country’s most diverse square mile — Clarkston. In that community sits the DeKalb campus of Georgia Piedmont Technical College, a vital partner in providing services for refugees. Georgia Piedmont is the only school that receives federal funding…

Pictured left to right: RCPS Superintendent  Terry Oatts, RMSST/RCHS senior and 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalist Laura Goldgar, RMSST Director Amanda Baskett, RCHS Principal Eldridge Powell Rockdale County Public Schools congratulates Laura Goldgar, a Rockdale Magnet School of Science and Technology (RMSST) / Rockdale County High School (RCHS) senior distinguished as a Semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of high school seniors and are the highest scoring students in their state on the PSAT. This year’s semifinalists entered the program by taking the PSAT in 2020 as high school juniors. RMSST…

STONECREST, GA—The City of Stonecrest has postponed the Screen on the Green event, which was scheduled Saturday, Sept. 18, due to expected thunderstorms. The new date will be Oct. 2.

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is allocating a total of $55,500 from her District 7 Reserve for Appropriation funds to assist two entities in the creation of their master site plans that will enhance the quality of life in DeKalb County. The appropriations were approved by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and will be used to conceptualize site layouts for both a 10-acre Memorial Drive location to benefit the public and Ethiopian Community, as well as the enhancement of Stone Mountain’s existing Hairston Park. “It is beneficial for government agencies to support the creation and…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is encouraging residents to donate blood to the American Red Cross to help save lives. The blood drive will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at First St. Peter AME Church, 1074 South Indian Creek Drive. About 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are of African descent, are living with sickle cell disease – the most common inherited blood disorder in the country. “Whether blood is needed for a chronic condition, such as sickle cell disease, a surgical procedure or a large-scale…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–In celebration of National Preparedness Month, Rockdale County introduces Myisha Callaway, Operations Manager of the county’s 911 Communications. Calloway will mark her 10-year anniversary with the county in April 2022. She began her career with Rockdale as a trainer for the 911 Center. Click the image for video: