Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA, GA —Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that the office’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has indicted four individuals on human trafficking charges.  A DeKalb County Grand Jury returned the indictment on August 24. “We thank the DeKalb County Grand Jury for their careful consideration of the evidence in this case,” said Attorney General Chris Carr.  “Our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit looks forward to presenting our case in court. We hope to send a strong message that buyers and traffickers’ actions are equally as despicable, and we will aggressively prosecute both.” A summary of the charges against these individuals…

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Week 3 of DeKalb County School District’s(DCSD)  high school football has games on tap in DeKalb stadiums including four all-DeKalb meetings. A pair of former Region 5-5A rivals Arabia Mountain (2-0) and Columbia (0-1) meet for the ninth time in a non-region clash at Avondale Stadium on Friday at 7:30 pm. Columbia, now in Region 6-2A, leads the all-time series 5-3 following a 12-8 victory in 2019 to break a string of three consecutive wins by the Rams which now reside in Region 6-4A. Arabia won the 2018…

DECATUR, GA–A DeKalb County Grand Jury has indicted a Lithonia man in connection with the stabbing attack of a pregnant woman walking with her 3-year-old son along a Brookhaven trail this summer. Christopher Jones, 30, was indicted Monday on charges of Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Criminal Attempt to Commit Feticide, Aggravated Assault, and Cruelty to Children in the First Degree for the June 5 attack of Valerie Kasper. According to the investigation, the victim and her young son were walking along the Peachtree Creek Greenway Trailhead, when a stranger approached and attempted to speak with the woman. After…

DECATUR, GA– Due to the Labor Day holiday, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s offices and regional health centers will be closed on Friday and Monday, however, COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccine will be available throughout the weekend for community members. COVID-19 testing in the parking lot of the North DeKalb Health Center is available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and will be unaffected by the holiday. COVID-19 vaccine will be available at the Doraville MARTA station, in addition to planned mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Mobile clinics can be found be visiting dekalbhealth.net/mobile-covid-19-vaccination-clinic/#calendar.…

STONECREST, GA—Annie’s Crab Kingdom closed its doors on Sunday (Aug. 29) after opening in August 2020 during the pandemic and sustaining a yearlong run in the city. DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, speaking on behalf of her aunt, Annie Page, for whom the restaurant was named, and other family members involved in the business, said the shutdown was due to staffing shortages. Cochran-Johnson said that finding and retaining employees was very challenging Cochran-Johnson held a farewell celebration on Sunday with supporters at the restaurant, located at 6768 Browns Mill Road. She said new owners plan to open a…

CONYERS, GA— Jerimiah Stanley, 14, now has wheelchair ramp, thanks to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and YellaWood lumber company.  Until recently, Stanley had to use a makeshift ramp made of a piece of plywood to enter and exit  the brick, ranch-style home that he shares with his 78-year-old grandfather, Arthur Franklin.    Last Tuesday, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office partnered with YellaWood lumber company to build a ramp for the teen. YellaWood donated the wood needed to build the new ramp and certified contractor Toby Malcolm from Creekside Construction located in Oxford, GA volunteered his services to make and installed the new…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against a Stone Mountain man accused of beating and killing his girlfriend’s 22-month-old son. Jurors returned guilty verdicts last Thursday against 29-year-old Kevin Stewart on charges of Felony Murder and five counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree in connection with the death of the child.   The fatal beating occurred on June 6, 2018. Stewart was residing with his girlfriend and her toddler at the Stone Mountain Inn. On the day of the incident, the child’s mother left the room to…

Crews to upsize existing sewer lines Contractors have begun assessing and preparing the impacted areas. More than 4,500 feet of existing 14- and18-inch sewer lines will be upgraded to 24-inch lines. The Tilly Mill Sewer Replacement Project is part of DeKalb County’s $1.345 billion capital improvement program. More information about the Tilly Mill Sewer Replacement Project is available on the “Capital Improvement Projects” section of the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) website at www.dekalbwatershed.com. Residents may also call the DWM Project Information Line at 1-800-986-1108 or email projectinfo@dekalbcountyga.gov with questions. For more information, join the virtual townhall meeting on…