Author: On Common Ground News

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA-The Rotary Club of Stone Mountain (RCSM) invites the community to its 60th Diamond Anniversary Jazz Brunch. The event will be held on June 7, 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., at Smoke Rise Country Club, 4900 Cheddar Drive, Stone Mountain. The celebration will honor the Rotary Club’s rich history of service and provide an exciting opportunity for community residents to join with the club in honoring and celebrating the Rotary Club’s past and present members, while welcoming future members of the club. The brunch will feature live music by the Toni Byrd Quartet in partnership with the Unity…

DECATUR, GA—Robert Olsen, an ex-DeKalb County Police Officer, has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in a negotiated  deal in the shooting death of unarmed Air Force veteran Anthony Hill, 26, closing a decade-long legal battle including appeals that reached the Georgia Supreme Court.  On  May 28, Olsen, 63, entered the guilty plea to the charge of Aggravated Assault in connection with the 2015 death of Hill, who was in the midst of a mental health crisis when Olsen shot him outside of the Chamblee Tucker Road apartment complex where Hill lived.    “It has been more than a decade since Anthony Hill’s…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) Class of 2025 earned $200,807,198 in college scholarship offers, shattering previous records with a whopping 378 percent increase ($42 million) over last year.  Superintendent Devon Q. Horton announced the achievement during DCSD’s graduation ceremonies last week at Georgia State University’s Convocation Center. “We are incredibly proud of our DeKalb County Schools Class of 2025 graduates and their impressive scholarship earnings,” Horton said. “Their success shows what’s possible when adults create Intentional systems that empower students to thrive. Being purposeful truly makes all the difference.” Under Horton’s leadership, DCSD introduced the Post-Secondary P.U.S.H. Plan to increase…

The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold the 1st public budget presentation and 1st millage rate hearing to solicit feedback from the public regarding the 2025-2026 school system’s budget on Friday, May 30, 2025. The public presentation and hearing is in-person and will be held in the J. David Williamson Board Room, Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083. 10:00 am     1st PUBLIC BUDGET PRESENTATION                      1st MILLAGE RATE HEARING                     COMMUNITY INPUT – BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATE                        The meeting agenda…

LITHONIA, GA—The DeKalb County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted in connection with fatality at a residence on Rock Springs Road. Police said the incident occurred on May 16 at 5410 Rock Springs Road. The male pictured entered the home around 7:15 p.m. armed with an assault rifle.  Surveillance video shows this male and another suspect exit the house several times and place property into a silver SUV. They left the scene and, a few minutes later, the home’s resident went outside with a gunshot wound to his back. He collapsed and died on…

By Mark Brock DEKALB COUNTY, GA–An interception with 14.5 seconds to play by the Pine Ridge Panthers defense sealed a 14-6 victory over the Stone Mill Stallions in the DeKalb County Elementary Girls’ Flag Football County Championship title game at Hallford Stadium on Saturday, May 24. Pine Ridge jumped out to a 14-0 lead with a pair of touchdowns in the first five minutes of the game along with two extra points in a rematch of the Area 2 title game the previous week. Stone Mill closed the gap to 14-6 with a touchdown two minutes later but missed a…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) announced today, May 27,  the launch of its annual Summer Reading Challenge, starting on June 1. This summer, the library will provide opportunities for all ages to read more, explore library resources, and connect with their community. The theme, “Color Our World,” celebrates the many ways in which art enriches our lives. DCPL branches will offer themed programs to inspire readers, and participants can earn prizes for meeting reading and activity goals. DCPL will also host a wide variety of talented performers and presenters, who will captivate audiences with a range of activities,…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– The Rockdale County High School Class of 2005 donated a total of $1,500 to both the Rockdale County High School Class of 2025 and the Rockdale County Football Gridiron Booster Club, marking a significant highlight of its recent 20-year reunion.  The initiative showcases the alumni’s commitment to giving back to the school that helped shape their futures, said Kai Oden, Class of 2005 representative and a Rockdale resident. “Giving back to the school that set our foundation and paths is near and dear to us as we set the standard for excellence as millennial leaders,” said Oden said.…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) two book mobiles and van— called Pow, Explore, and Quest—hit the road today, May 27, to bring a summer of reading to the Gwinnett community. The two mobile libraries will travel routes that will take them to 90 stops in four clusters every week this summer. The colorful converted school buses will make nine stops per day, checking out books to students who may not have easy access to the public library. The book mobiles will travel routes in the Berkmar, Central Gwinnett, Meadowcreek, and Norcross clusters. These libraries on wheels are stocked with books for all ages—Pre-K to 12th grade. The weekly schedule (11…