Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the attempted murder-for-hire case against a Stone Mountain woman. Jurors returned a guilty verdict Nov. 13 against Kecia Leann Wright, 50, on charges of Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder and Aggravated Assault for orchestrating the attempted murder of her late husband, Kentrick Lindo, 46. The charges against Wright stem from a May 25, 2011 shooting incident involving Lindo. While turning at the intersection of Rock Meadow Drive and Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain, bullets pierced the victim’s convertible, striking him in the left shoulder, and lodging into his…

Rockdale County’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony will kick off the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 22, on the front lawn of the Historic Rockdale County Courthouse on Main Street. Attendees may enjoy S’mores at 6 p.m. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Main Street will be closed between Milstead Road and Court Street from 4 – 9 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to park in the designated public parking at Courthouse, Board of Commissioners, and City of Conyers lots throughout Olde Town Conyers. Please do not park in marked reserved parking spaces. Seating will be first come, first served. Visitors…

DeKalb County will host “A Taste of Memorial Drive” on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s conference center, 495 N. Indian Creek Dr., Clarkston. The event will celebrate the Memorial Drive Revitalization Plan, while highlighting Memorial Drive’s assets and resources. The Memorial Drive Revitalization Plan project team will set up displays highlighting the process, ideas and recommendations for Memorial Drive. Departments from DeKalb County, which will play a key role in the plan’s implementation, will have information tables at the event. Food and arts and culture vendors will offer food samples, handmade…

The Rockdale Sheriff’s Office has developed new leads and identified two “persons of interest” in the armed home invasion of a 72-year-old North Rockdale man. The  victim was attacked and tied up at gunpoint by two white males who burglarized his residence and stole his vehicle. The incident happened on Saturday, Nov. 9, in north Rockdale. Authorities said the men were wearing masks and were described as about average in size. The suspects loaded up the stolen items into the victim’s vehicle. The vehicle was later involved in a hit-and-run at GA HWY 20 and Hi Roc Road, where the…

The DeKalb History Center’s December Lunch & Learn, “Refuge or Refusal: A Conversation,” will be presented by representatives from Kennesaw State University and Civic Georgia on Dec. 4, noon to 1 p.m., at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 2nd floor, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. A panel discussion will explore the turning points concerning U.S. immigration policies and their impact on the country and around the globe in 1790, 1882, 1924, 1948, and 1965. Developed by KSU, a temporary exhibit will be placed in the lobby prior to the panel discussion. Bring your lunch. Admission is free.

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) will host its annual holiday drop-in for the community on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. The community is invited to celebrate the holiday season with refreshments, music and a photo booth. Meet  and greet elected officials, county leaders and staff at the free event.

The official kick-off to Conyers’ holiday season takes place the weekend of Dec. 6-7 in Olde Town. Sponsored by the city of Conyers, the Olde Town Christmas Party will be held on Dec. 6, 5 to 8 p.m. Families are encouraged to enjoy visits with Santa in the Conyers Depot/Welcome Center at 901 Railroad Street. The evening also includes hayrides, train rides, marshmallow roasting and a wide variety of complimentary holiday craft stations and activities sponsored by downtown merchants and local businesses. The Fantastic Falcons of C.J. Hicks Elementary School, under the direction of Thomas Russell, will perform at…

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) has named Kimberly Heard, a member of the A.R. “Gus” Barksdale Boys & Girls Club, as the 2019-2020 “Youth of the Year. The prestigious award is BGCMA’s highest honor recognizing teens from Clubs in the metro Atlanta area who are working hard, investing in themselves, and demonstrating leadership in their schools, Clubs, and communities. On Nov. 8, BGCMA welcomed 21 Youth of the Year nominees and nearly 600 attendees including local politicians, business leaders, and advocates, to the annual Youth of the Year Fundraising Gala presented by Bank of America.…

Funeral arrangements for 21-year-old Alexis Crawford have been finalized for this weekend. The Clark Atlanta University student’s body was found on Nov. 8 in a DeKalb County park. Authorities said Crawford was strangled to death. Jordyn Jones, Crawford’s roommate, and Jones’ boyfriend, Barron Brantley, have both been charged with her murder and booked into the DeKalb County Jail. Five days before her body was found, Crawford had filed a police report accusing her roommate’s boyfriend of “unwanted kissing and touching. ” The two women shared an apartment together off campus. Family spokesman, the Rev. Markel Hutchinson, said the funeral has…

    The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested Stone Mountain resident William Ralph Callaway, 22, on felony murder and first-degree forgery charges. Warrants were issued on Nov. 6 charging Callaway in connection with an incident that occurred on Oct. 6 on Kensington  Road in Decatur.  The warrants allege that on that date Callaway and  Jaymericko Scott, Jr. were attempting to purchase automatic weapons using counterfeit money.  According to the warrants, both men were shot by the seller during the transaction.  Scott died as a result of his injuries.  Callaway was treated and subsequently released from the…