Author: On Common Ground News

Stonecrest City Councilman Jimmy Clanton will host his CommUNITY Awareness meeting on Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the AEI StartUp Factory, 7310 Stonecrest Concourse. Breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m. This month’s topics include new information on the city’s purchases of the Sears and Sam’s Club buildings, assault on the city’s charter,  the city’s finances, possible mileage rate cap increases and more. The event is free and open to the public and held on the first Saturday of every month.

ATLANTA—The executives of a hospice known as STG Healthcare of Atlanta have agreed to pay $1.75 million in a Medicaid/Medicare fraud settlement, Georgia Attorney General Chris Car announced today. CEO Paschal “Pat” Gilley and CFO Matthew Gilley are accused of submitting false claims to Medicare and the Georgia Medicaid program, for patients who were not terminally ill and therefore ineligible for hospice care. Two whistler blowers alerted officials about the false billings, spanning from 2013 to 2017. The Medicaid portion of the settlement is approximately $607,682 of the $1.75 million, officials said.…

An alleged serial rapist linked to eight sexual assaults cold cases, including five in DeKalb County, has been arrested, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced on March 4 with officials from several law enforcement agencies. Further investigation revealed that the DNA evidence also links Cooley to seven other unsolved sexual assault cases, including four others in DeKalb, two in Atlanta, and one in Conyers. The crimes span a period of more than 20 years, dating back to 1999. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 38 at the…

The wife of Tesfaye Birru held a press conference March 3 to ask for help in tracking down the three suspects who fatally shot her husband as he closed their convenience store on Feb. 19. Police believe a burgundy/maroon 4-door Honda Accord pulled up to the Citgo gas pump. Two of the three suspects are visible on surveillance video. Anyone who has any information about the case  is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, text 274637 or visit the Crime Stoppers website. Tipsters will remain anonymous and are eligible for rewards up to $2,000.…

DeKalb County reported that 1,272 00 ballots had been cast in person and 628 by mail  for a total of 1,900 votes on March 2.  DeKalb Sheriff’s Office to hold news conference on coronavirus  The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office plans to hold a news conference on Wednesday, March 4, to announce its preparedness plan for the coronavirus. The DeKalb County Jail currently has some 1,800 inmates awaiting trial or serving sentences up to 24 months. The jail infirmary can accommodate patients with infectious diseases. The facility has a 3,800 bed capacity. . Inmate…

 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS: MAIN – 1400 Parker Road, Conyers   SOUTH – Conyers Church of Christ, 1410 Flat Shoals Road, Conyers NORTH – St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, 1522 Highway 138, NE, Conyers EARLY VOTING PERIOD 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, MARCH 2 -13, MON – FRI 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, MARCH 14, (SATURDAY) PARKER ROAD ONLY 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, MARCH 16 – MARCH 17, MON & TUES 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, MARCH 18 – MARCH 20, WED – FRI (extended hours) To confirm your voter registration and where to vote visit: • Secretary of State…

Dr. Terry O. Oatts, Ed.D. Superintendent To our Parents, Personnel, and Community Stakeholders: I know there are many questions and concerns regarding novel coronavirus (COVID-19). I want to let you know what we are doing to prepare our schools and to protect our students and staff. We are committed to providing our staff and students with a safe and healthy work and learning environment throughout the school year. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is working closely with state and local health officials to monitor and prepare for the potential of a…

As Georgia’s first cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) have been confirmed, DeKalb County’s  top doctor wants to make it clear that public health officials are ready to respond, if and when the virus surfaces in DeKalb County. “The two cases identified in Fulton County are travel-related exposures, not community spread,” said DeKalb County District Health Director S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D. “While I realize that everyone is greatly concerned about the rapid spread of the virus in several parts of the world, the actions that you would take to prevent the spread of…