Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in the murder of two men in unincorporated DeKalb County last December. Arrest warrants for Russell Rijon McNeal, 26, of Atlanta, received on Feb. 7, allege that McNeal shot Michael Varnell Wigfall, Jr., and Robert Sean Collier, causing their deaths. According to the warrants charging Mr. McNeal with felony murder, the incidents took place at a residence on Old Lake Drive in DeKalb between Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.  No motive was given for the shootings. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, working with the U.S. Marshal’s Office, located McNeal…

Rhondell Metoyer, 23, of New Orleans and Trailveontay Pickens, 23, of Riverdale, Georgia, were taken into custody by the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office on charges of dumping biomedical or hazardous waste. The two suspects were arrested after the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office, Conyers Police Department and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office worked together to locate the two men. According to Rockdale Sheriff’s Office Corporal Clifford Garrett a black male was standing on the side of the roadway on Feb. 10 around 4:48 a.m. as Garrett was traveling on GA 20 North near the Walton County Line.  Garrett turned his vehicle around…

The city of Stonecrest has received a $536,511 check from the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin repairing some of the city’s worst roads. The funds are part of a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG). The LMIG is given to cities and counties based on population. Stonecrest, which has about 54,000 residents, must contribute matching funds of at least 30 percent. The LMIG funds are awarded annually through the DOT. Mayor Jason Lary said he plans to continue to make repairing the city’s streets a top priority. “As I promised in my last Straight Talk meeting, we are…

Rockdale Water Resources (RWR) plans to make repairs to the wastewater treatment facility in north Rockdale County to address the odors that are plaguing Keswick Village, Queenie Woods, Mountain Valley, Windridge and surrounding neighborhoods. The unit has weathered years of aging, causing cracks in the facility. Officials say the cracks are releasing smelly gases from the pretreatment facility. RWR has identified where the cracks are and will begin repairing them, as well as immediately moving into plans to construct a new pretreatment facility to replace the current facility. Weather permitting, the short-term solution repairs will begin in two to four…

Construction has started on a 6-mile extension of a multi-use trail at South Rockdale Park. The new trail will connect to the Rockdale River Trail system. South Rockdale Park offers horseback riding trails and walking trails including one mile of paved multi-use trail, which is used for mountain biking. “This multi-use mountain bike trail has been 5 years in the making and we are extremely pleased to begin construction and soon to be able to offer this additional amenity to the public,” said Sue Sanders, director of Rockdale County Recreation and Maintenance. “Cyclists will be able to enjoy a new…

  The DeKalb History Center will host a reception for the opening exhibit, “Deep Roots in DeKalb: The Flat Rock Story of Resilience,” on Thursday, Feb. 28, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur.  Believed to be one of the oldest African American communities in Georgia, Flat Rock, located in the city of Stonecrest, was founded by African Americans following the aftermath of the Civil War. Historians say the Flat Rock community thrived for more than 100 years in part because of the immense communal bond of its citizens as well as the…

DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson announces “Martin and Music” on Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. The program features Shakespearian-trained actor Gerald C. Rivers and Broadway performer Charles Holt. The performance sets ablaze the words, the authentic tone, and the life of one of the world’s greatest civil rights leaders and orators, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program will feature a riveting blend of powerful spoken words and speeches with delicate and reflective and inspiring thread of music and narrative. “This event is free and open to the…

 The DeKalb County Magistrate Court will host its annual Magistrate Court 101: Community Education Day on Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough St. Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl A. Anderson created the program in 2013 to provide an opportunity for school-aged children to learn about the court system. The current program is designed for middle/high school-aged students and adults. Activities include interactive sessions on the Georgia court system with a focus on the DeKalb County Magistrate Court, a court tour, and a mock-trial exercise, and is held in the courtroom to provide a…

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) will hold the first evening meeting in its “On the Road Meetings” series in 2019 Feb. 19, 7 p.m., at J.H. House Elementary, 2930 Highway 20, Conyers. The guest of honor at the meeting will be Georgia Tech head football Coach and Conyers native Geoff Collins. Collins is a 1988 graduate of Rockdale County High School and graduate of Wester Carolina University. On Dec. 7, 2018, he was announced as the head football coach at Georgia Tech. He was previously the head coach at Temple University and served in the past as defensive coordinator…

Super District DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is launching a series of events designed to foster economic development within the county. The series will begin with a panel discussion, “The Conversation: Wealth & Empowerment,” on Saturday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. to noon, at the AEI Startup Factory, 7310 Stonecrest Concourse, Stonecrest. “I’m excited to begin the implementation of my platform. I’d like to encourage DeKalb residents to become business owners as a way to change the landscape of our communities,” said Cochran-Johnson. “It is my intent to bridge people with resources, education, and information that empowers them to change their…