Author: On Common Ground News

STONE MOUNTAIN –DeKalb County Police are investigating a dispute that turned deadly on Needle Rock Drive in Stone Mountain. Arnold Leslie, III, 20, died at Grady Hospital this morning (April 7) after he was shot during the incident. The other victim, Nasir Kareem, 20, who was shot twice on the left side of his abdomen, survived, police said. Leslie and Kareem were men were sitting outside in the carport at Kareem’s home when two men pulled up, got out of the car they were in and opened fire. Police said the shooting took place around midnight this morning (April…

The State of Georgia’s net tax collections for March totaled $1.83 billion for an increase of $163.5 million, or 9.8 percent, compared to March 2019 when net tax collections totaled roughly $1.67 billion. Year-to-date net tax collections totaled $17.39 billion, for an increase of $350.8 million, or 2.1 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year when net tax revenues totaled $17.04 billion.  Individual Income Tax:Individual Income Tax collections totaled $971.4 million, which was an increase of roughly $197.5 million, or 25.5 percent, compared to last year when Income Tax collections totaled nearly $774 million. Individual Income Tax refunds issued…

Experience the 39th Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival from the comfort of your own home and invite your family and friends to go online, too. Since the 2020 festival originally scheduled March 21-22 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, event organizers wanted to provide a way for festival enthusiasts to take part in the event while practicing social distancing. From the festival’s website, conyerscherryblossomfest.com, guests can shop among the handmade arts and crafts and support local non-profit organizations by exploring the Online Marketplace. The marketplace provides website links to vendors’ websites or social media pages where purchases can be…

Are certain racial or demographic groups less susceptible to contracting the COVID-19virus? Radio and television personality Frank Ski will moderate DeKalb County’s third COVID-19 virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, April 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Frank Ski  Ski, host of a morning show on V103, has worked in radio, music and acting for more than three decades. Medical and psychiatric professionals will answer questions from the public during the virtual town hall, which will be hosted by DeKalb’s COVID-19 Strategic Task Force. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond formed the task force to provide professional, technical and strategic counsel…

Compiled by Mackenzie N. Morgan For many metro Atlantans, today marks the beginning of Spring Break. Despite travel not being an option, your family doesn’t have to forgo Spring Break altogether. With just a little imagination and creativity, you can be on your way to your next dream Spring Break staycation in just a matter of a few clicks. Check out OCG’s Spring Break guide to find your next free, fun quarantined adventure. Create your own oasis: Camp in your backyard Brothers Bruno and Diego of Decatur, Georgia along with their parents, Fher and Kristen Rivera, got creative…

OPINION  By Pat Culp  Cedar Grove Neighborhood Association (CGNA), a regional alliance comprised of 10 surrounding neighborhood associations, supports the land exchange between Blackhall Studios and DeKalb County. The neighborhoods that our association represents are well established, with some residents having lived in the area for over 40 years. They realize the value of both green space and economic development. The problem is that there has been little to no economic development in the South DeKalb area for years. Macy’s Department store, for instance, was a prominent store that had been serving this community for years before it…

Every Domino’s store will give away 200 pizzas within their local communities ATLANTA—Domino’s and its nationwide system of franchisees are banding together during this unprecedented crisis to do something they already do well every day: Feed people pizza. Domino’s locally-owned stores throughout Atlanta will donate 28,800 pizzas within their local communities, starting this week. “We realize that there is a great deal of hardship and uncertainty at this time,” said Mike Orcutt, an Atlanta-area Domino’s franchisee. “Domino’s wants to do whatever it can to help, and that means spreading a little bit of joy through pizza.” More than 145…

Medical and psychiatric professionals will answer questions from the public during DeKalb County’s third COVID-19 virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, April 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. “Doctors and healthcare professionals should lead America’s response to this deadly pandemic,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “They know what needs to be done to fight this insidious enemy. When lives are literally hanging in the balance, we must reject mindless partisan bickering and political one-upmanship.” The virtual town hall will be hosted by DeKalb’s COVID-19 Strategic Task Force, formed by CEO Thurmond to provide professional, technical and strategic counsel related…

New case announced today(April 6) An inmate at the Rockdale County Jail has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, bringing the number to five involving the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office including Sheriff Eric Levett and three employees who have tested positive. Sheriff Levett released a statement on April 4 that the Georgia Department of Health had notified him that his COVID-19 test was positive. Levett said he was on a 14-day quarantine because he was not feeling well when he received the results. Caption Jason Welch, Jail Commander, confirmed the latest case involving the inmate at the…

 Local nonprofits offering pick-up meals and food during Spring Break: Sankofa Community Food Pantry, drive-through lunch for children – April 1-May 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday-Friday, 1240 Sigman Road, Conyers.  Rockdale Emergency Relief Food Pantry – Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and Thursdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and 4-6 p.m., 350 Tall Oaks Drive, Conyers.   New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, drive-through food pantry – Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 6400 Woodrow Road, Stonecrest. DCSD expand free lunch program to 21 meal sites DeKalb County students will receive a two-day meal package weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. DCSD meal service will…