Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—In a joint hearing on Aug. 14, the Georgia House and Senate Judiciary Committees unanimously confirmed Walter “Walt” Davis to serve as Georgia’s first Statewide Business Court Judge. Gov. Brian P. Kemp nominated Davis to lead the new court, created through passage of a 2018 constitutional amendmentand codified through legislationearlier this year. Davis serves as the administrative partner in the Atlanta law firm of Jones Davis,overseeing a wide range of operational and financial matters including securities litigation, shareholder disputes, and corporate governance matters. “I commend the leadership of House Judiciary Chairman Barry Fleming, Senate Judiciary Chairman Jesse Stone, and committee…

DeKalb County law enforcement officials and the U.S. Marshals Service have captured 27-year-old murder suspect Otis Walker. Walker had been on the run since Aug. 1. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Police and the U.S. Marshals Service worked together to arrest Walker on Thursday night (Aug. 8) at a location on Panola Road, according to authorities. Walker is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, Aleka Simmons, and then opening fire on DeKalb County police officers responding to the domestic disturbance. The incident happed at a home on Hodgon Corners Cove in the Stonecrest area.  Walker ambushed…

Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst presents transit feasibility updates to ATL Board ATLANTA – The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors adopted the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Formula Fund policies for the Atlanta Urbanized Area (UZA). The policies will now proceed to the Atlanta Regional Commission for their approval. The FTA Regional Formula Fund policies provide details for how FTA formula funding is distributed throughout the 23-county Atlanta UZA and largely mirrors the national formula used by FTA. By adopting these policies, the ATL and ARC together are establishing an equitable and transparent process for how FTA…

The Rockdale Democrats will host Rockdale Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart Washington as its special guest on Aug. 12, 7 to 9 p.m., at Los Charros North restaurant, 1965 Highway 138 N.E., Conyers. Washington said she will be discussing new initiatives coming out of the tax commissioner’s office and providing updates on the upcoming tax season and motor vehicle registration. Attendees will have a chance to ask her questions as well.

Scores from the 2018-19 administration of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System, which includes the End-of-Grade (EOG) Milestones for grades 3-8 and End-of-Course (EOC) Milestones for select courses in grades 9-12, were recently released by the Georgia Department of Education. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) increased or maintained in two-thirds of the assessment areas. It is important to note that these test scores represent only one aspect of the State of Georgia’s “multiple measures” approach to school accountability known as the College and Career Ready Performance Index or CCRPI. “I commend our teachers, principals, administrators, curricular and instructional support…

The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce is ready to help you get your business off the ground at this year’s Fall 2019 Entrepreneurial Academy. The seven-week program, held on Mondays, Sept. 23-Nov. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m., offers a deep dive into the essentials on starting and running a successful business. “If you have dreams of starting your own business or are already an established business owner seeking to expand, the academy has something for you,” said Fred Boscarino, President/CEO of the Chamber. “Experienced business people who have been there, tried that, share their voices of experience…

As families grieve for their loved ones who were killed in two recent mass shootings—one in El Paso, Texas, the other in Dayton Ohio—state lawmakers, community leaders and others are calling for tougher gun safety legislation. “Enough is enough. The horrific mass shootings that took place in our communities this past week are unacceptable and unfortunately becoming too commonplace,” said State Rep. Darshun Kendrick, who held a news conference with members of the Millennial Civil Rights group at Georgia’s Capitol on Aug. 8. “…Although we are hundreds of thousands of miles away…, either one of those tragedies could have taken…

The new City of Stonecrest’s hosted its first National Night Out on Aug. 6. The family-friendly event featured music, food trucks, and of course public safety officials and city officials who greeted residents. Mayor Jason Lary attended the event at City Hall in addition to another event at the Lions Head subdivision(p. 3) For more photos of the 2019 National Night Out, visit www.ocgnews.com. Rockdale celebrated National Night Out at Johnson Park in Conyers

Seven people, including three members of several family-owned businesses, have been indicted on charges of a coordinated abuse scheme involving disabled adults in DeKalb County. Attorney General Chris Carr in conjunction with the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, announced that the case would be jointly prosecuted. Valerie West, Eric West, Erica West, Akeem Dancy, Jadon Dancy, Cynthia Riley and Ceretha Stephens are facing felony charges in the case. “These individuals demonstrated a complete disregard for human life, developing a cruel scheme that deprived disabled Georgians of basic necessities to survive and stripped them of their rightful financial benefits,”…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and city staffers held their sixth “Meet the Mayor” meeting in the Lion’s Head subdivision on Aug. 6.  The meetings have been attended by residents with questions ranging from economic development to public safety.  The mayor and staff have been providing answers and encouraging more involvement from citizens.   The mayor promised to bring the city to the citizens in his 2019 State of the City Address. “We are encouraging neighborhoods and homeowner’s associations to invite us out so that we can provide direct answers to questions and hear and address our citizens’ concerns.  Our citizens will…