Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly shooting that occurred this morning after a homeowner opened fire on three masked males. The home invasion took place at a residence on White Oak Court around 4 a.m. When authorities arrived on the scene, RCSO deputies found three males with gunshot wounds and began administering first aid, said RCSO spokesman Deputy Lee Thomas. One of the men was pronounced dead upon arrival. The other two other men were taken to the hospital where they later died of their injuries, Thomas said. The investigation is still in the preliminary stages and the…

Rockdale County plans to conduct its own business census to determine the type of businesses that serve Rockdale and the number of vacancies and empty storefronts present. The county’s Department of Planning and Development will kick off the doo-to-door Business Audit Campaign on Oct. 1,visiting all businesses operating in unincorporated Rockdale. Officials say they plan to conduct the physical inventory through the end of October. Businesses must be compliant by Nov. 1. Business owners can expect a personal visit by staff from the Code Enforcement Division Team as they conduct field inspections. The team will be leaving notices and literature…

Community leaders rallied in the sweltering heat outside the DeKalb County School District Headquarters on Monday, Sept. 9, ahead of a public hearing where residents weighed in on the district’s proposed General Obligation (GO) bond referendum, estimated at $265 million. District officials are considering imposing a new tax to cover  construction and other projects planned for DeKalb County Schools exceeding the E-SPLOST budget. Restore DeKalb, Operation LEAD, and The Covenant Church have formed a coalition to oppose the GO Bond and say they plan to request a forensic audit and demand the immediate removal of Superintendent R. Stephen Green.  The…

Pictured left to right: Lecester “Bill” Allen, Board Chairman Antonio Render, and Mayor Jason Lary Lecester “Bill” Allen poised to become single-largest commercial landowner in the city of Stonecrest By Valerie J. Morgan The City of Stonecrest has taken a quantum leap toward economic development, led by Mayor Jason Lary. The six-member Stonecrest Development Authority unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Sept. 12 for a proposed $700 million revenue bond, paving the way to jumpstart development in the city. The Development Authority inked the MOU with Allen Family Investments, LLC to bring development to a 300-acre tract…

Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced that Georgia has been named the “Top State for Business” by Area Development, a leading publication covering corporate site selection and relocation, for the sixth year in a row. The results are determined by the publication’s poll of site consultants. “I am exceptionally proud that Georgia has once again been named the Top State for Business by Area Development,” said Kemp. “This announcement serves as a powerful testament to what we all know to be true: Georgia is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Our efforts to cut red tape and…

Justice For Veterans will hold a rally to bring awareness to veterans who have been killed by the police or have committed suicide because of mental illness. The rally will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, at noon, outside of the DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 McDonough St., Decatur. “Veterans are still suffering from mental illness and the lack of support from our community and the Veterans Administration.  We cannot forget  Sgt. Anthony Hill, who was murdered in 2015 by former DeKalb Police Office Robert Olsen. Anthony Hill was suffering from PTSD  and bipolar disorder when he was killed. He was…

UPS announced that it expects to hire about 100,000 seasonal employees to support the anticipated annual increase in package volume that will begin in November and continue through January 2020. That’s enough people to populate a city the size of Albany, N.Y. “We expect another record peak season this year, with daily package deliveries nearly doubling compared to our average of 20 million per day,” said Jim Barber, chief operating officer. “In order to make that happen, once again we’re recruiting about 100,000 people for some of the country’s best seasonal jobs.” The full- and part-time seasonal positions – primarily…

On Sept. 10, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric J. Levett signed a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Army’s Partnership for Youth Success, or PaYS. The PaYS program is a strategic partnership between the Army and a cross-section of private industry, academia and state and local public institutes. The U.S. Army PaYS program guarantees soldiers at least two job interview and possible employment after completing reserve training or their first term of service.  The PaYS program provides America’s youths with the unique opportunity to simultaneously serve their country and prepare for their future. The PaYS program helps soldiers prepare for a career…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Staff Writer   Johnson Park is getting a facelift. Rockdale County officials and community leaders recently held a groundbreaking ceremony fon Sept. 9.  The county is upgrading the facility’s gymnasium and natatorium areas. The expansion will cost approximately $2.8 million and will be funded with special purpose local option sales tax dollars (SPLOST). The renovations, handled by Lichty Commercial Construction, Inc., will include a new gymnasium with an indoor walking track, offices, a weight room, a pool deck expansion with team meeting rooms as well as renovations to convert existing storage space into a family changing…

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is scheduled on Sept. 20, 9 a.m., to reopen the driving range at Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis Center, 2706 Bouldercrest Road, Atlanta. Officials say the driving range is ready to go with new equipment. The storage barn has been completed and the bridge repairs are expected to be completed by the end of this month. The driving range will be in full operation Sunday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Renovations are still underway at the golf course. Golf cart repairs and tree removal are expected to…