Author: On Common Ground News

Public advised to use caution around animals acting oddly GWINNETT COUNTY– Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and the Gwinnett County Health Department advise residents to use caution and avoid animals behaving in unusual ways after a cat tested positive for the rabies virus. On Thursday, Sept.7, a rabid cat bit its owner near the 4000 block of Annistown Road in Snellville. The cat later tested positive for rabies. Rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through bites or scratches from wild animals such as foxes and raccoons. All pet owners should ensure that their pets are current on…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA— Gwinnett County will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 18, 11 a.m., to celebrate the completion of the Elizabeth H. Williams Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library and the City of Snellville Business Center. The new 44,000-square-foot facility is part of The Grove at Town Center development in Snellville. The two-story building houses the library on the first floor, while the city of Snellville will use the second floor as a business center. Features of the new library include adult, teen and children’s areas, 30 computer workstations and a multipurpose room. The library and business…

ATLANTA–DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson joined First Lady Jill Biden during her visit today (Sept. 15) at Emory University to announce a renewed, more ambitious “Cancer Moonshot” program, an initiative aimed at reducing the rate of cancer in the U.S. by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years. First Lady Biden’s visit highlighted the program as the first project funded under the Biden Administration’s Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The agency aims to accelerate better outcomes for society’s most challenging health problems. The $1.8 billion Cancer Moonshot program, initially approved by Congress in 2013, is being  reignited to mobilize efforts toward…

ATLANTA –The city’s Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is offering assistance to Atlanta residents in need of cleanup and/or remediation following   heavy rain that flooded several areas across Atlanta on Thursday, Sept. 14. City officials said the heavy “rain event” originated in the city’s northwest region but progressed across Atlanta, causing flooding in many areas. Parts of downtown Atlanta, including the Atlanta University Center and Peoplestown community, experienced as much rainfall in 15 minutes as typically would be seen in a three-hour spa, city officials said. DWM has made and is continuing to make investments in its collection and stormwater…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Health received notification on Sept. 13, confirming its first human case of West Nile virus infection in the county for the year. The patient, a male in his twenties, resides in the southwest area of Atlanta, within DeKalb County. Additionally, the Board of Health officials are also investigating two additional, yet unrelated West Nile cases in the Lake Claire and the North Druid Hills areas of the county. Currently, no additional information is available, as the investigations are still ongoing. No human case of West Nile virus in DeKalb County has been confirmed…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA— Detectives have arrested five adults and one juvenile in connection with the death of a female they believe was subjected to beatings and malnourishment for weeks. Detectives charged the following suspects with Felony Murder, False Imprisonment, Tampering with Evidence, and Concealing the Death of Another: Eric Hyun (age 26, Suwanee) Gawom Lee (age 26, Lawrenceville) Joonho Lee (age 26, Lawrenceville) Juoonhyum Lee (age 22, Lawrenceville) Hyunji Lee (age 25, Lawrenceville) Junyeoug Lee (age 15, Lawrenceville) Detectives believe Eric Hyun was the driver of the silver passenger car that contained the body of the victim in the trunk.…

STONECREST, GA – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced an additional $81,000 grant for Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC). The grant will be used to recruit and enroll qualified students from underserved communities in the college’s Commercial Driver’s License program. The funding comes on the heels of the Congressman securing $1 million for the school’s Regional Transportation Training Center in South DeKalb that broke ground last month. “I have long been a champion of leveling the playing field for underserved and underprivileged communities,” said Rep. Johnson, whose office provided GPTC with a letter of support for the grant. “This grant is a testament to…

DEKALB COUNTY—-An Atlanta man has been sentenced to life plus 15 years for his role in the fatal shooting of a driver who then crashed into an elderly woman’s apartment, injuring her. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on June 29 against Gary Davis, 24, on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, and three counts of Aggravated Assault. On Tuesday, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie, who presided over the trial, sentenced Davis to life in prison plus 15…