Author: On Common Ground News

Deon Chaney, 17, of Ellenwood, TaDon Ward-Pimpleton,18, of Austell, and a juvenile have been arrested and charged with breaking into several vehicles parked at homes in the Olde Town area of Conyers. The break-ins took place during the morning hours of June 24, 2019. In addition to the break-ins, one vehicle was stolen, Conyers Police Sgt. Buck Vaughn said. The suspects were identified after officers with the DeKalb County Police Department located the stolen vehicle and gave chase when it fled after a traffic stop. Conyers Police detectives interviewed the group and learned that they were in Conyers visiting a…

The City of Stonecrest Housing Authority will meet on Wednesday, July 24, 5:30 p.m., at the Council Chambers at City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Blvd, Stonecrest. This will be the first meeting for the authority. The members include Bill Bruckner, Marty Garrison, Diane Robinson, Dennis Dae, and Nathan Alexander. The meeting is open to the public.

Antonio Manuel Wilson, 19, was found guilty for his role in the armed robbery shooting death of 20-year-old Tre Griffin of Stone Mountain. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on July 19 on felony murder and drug charges against Wilson. Griffin was gunned down on Nov. 19, 2017 in front of his mother’s home in the 5000 block of Fieldgreen Crossing in Stone Mountain. According to DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston’s office, Wilson and two other men, charged in connection with the case, conspired to rob Griffin outside of the home. Officers responding to a ‘person shot’ call found the victim…

State Representatives Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia), Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) Debra Bazemore (D-Riverdale), and Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville), along with Senators Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia) and Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) recently attended the 2019 Public Leadership Institute’s (PLI) State Strategy Forum National Conference. This conference invites about 120 state legislators from over 40 different states to participate in policy and leadership sessions, which are designed as practical and real-world as possible. During the three-day conference, which was held in Washington, D.C., July 12-14, local  legislators led some of the policy and leadership sessions. Kendrick spoke on “All In for Women’s Health: Protecting and Expanding Abortion…

A bystander was shot in the head after trying to diffuse a road-rage dispute at the intersection of Rockbridge Road and South Indian Creek Drive in DeKalb County on Monday, July 22 around 8 a.m. Police said an 18-year-old was arrested in connection with the incident and the victim, who was not identified, was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. A witness said the situation seemed to have calmed down when the vehicle returned, and a passenger opened fire. The vehicle sped off and has not been located. Police did not release descriptions of the vehicles involved as the…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary became one of the first area mayors to broadcast a public service announcement for the American Red Cross this week.  The mayor joined American Red Cross Communications Manager Ronnika McFall at the Midtown Blood Center to encourage area residents to donate blood either at the city’s upcoming blood drive or by visiting a donation center.  The Stonecrest Blood Drive will be held at City Hall on July 30 from 1 to 6 p.m. “We really want people to come out and support the Red Cross blood drive. It is critical that we all pitch in and…

By Sarita Mason For On Common Ground News The city of Conyers held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 18 for its new City Hall, which will be built at 901 O’Kelly Street. Conyers Mayor Vince Evans, former Mayor Randy Mills, and council members attended the historic event. Mayor Evans said the new City Hall represents a new beginning for the city of Conyers. “It was past time for this to happen… Things are about to get better. I believe the new City Hall is the beginning of the transformation of this area. What we hope to see over a period…

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson has been elected 2nd Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo). “I am honored to be elected as NACo’s next 2nd Vice President,” said Johnson, who has more than 17 years of government experience. “I will bring my public health knowledge, depth of experience, solid leadership, dedication and commitment to help continue to move NACo forward.” Johnson’s platform included world-class infrastructure, entrepreneurship, innovation and prevention. He has worked with former President Jimmy Carter on a local project in Atlanta that focused on building communities. Additionally, he has been appointed by nine NACo presidents, serving as…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seeking to make highways around the nation safer for drivers, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), along with his colleague, Rep. Jesús G. “Chuy” García of Illinois, introduced the “Safe Roads Act of 2019” (H.R. 3773), which would direct the Department of Transportation to require all new commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with an automatic emergency braking system. Johnson and Garcia announced the bill at a Capitol Hill news conference flanked by safety advocates and commercial trucking stakeholders. Johnson first introduced the bill in 2011 and again in 2015 after five Georgia nursing students were killed and three…

Join DeKalb County, the City of Lithonia and the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance on Friday, July 26, 9:30 a.m., for the grand opening of the Lithonia Woman’s Club Pocket Park. The event will be held at 2564 Wiggins St., Lithonia. The new park celebrates Lithonia’s history – from the Woman’s Club to civic leaders such as Luscious Sanders to the growth of the quarry industry – and serves as a historic gateway to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area (AMNHA). Located next to the historic Lithonia Woman’s Club and in the heart of the historic downtown, the new…