Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale County government is extending the shelter-in-place order through the weekend as contract experts continue the cleanup at the BioLab chemical fire site. Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), based on information received from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), advises all Rockdale County residents to continue to shelter in place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through the weekend. The order will end at 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. Beginning on Monday, Rockdale County Court, court annexes, and government facilities will be open during normal hours. Rockdale County parks will close…

DECATUR, GA- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case against a Decatur man for the murder of his ex-girlfriend.  On Thursday, jurors found Deeron Hicks, 25, guilty on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, in connection with the murder of Ja’Nautica Whitehead, 19, on Nov. 25, 2022. According to the investigation, on Nov. 26, 2022, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) responded to a call of a vehicle parked in a wooded area off Snapfinger Parkway with a woman’s body inside.…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett County jury on Friday convicted a Lawrenceville man for shooting three people to steal a stash of drugs that included methamphetamine and marijuana.  Justice Lusk, 25, was found guilty of three counts of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the Nov. 21, 2020, shooting deaths of Bob Caverly, 64; Steven Andrew Finch, 33; and Eugene McClam, 45.  “This was an outrageous act of violence,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “The families of these men deserve the justice…

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp has announced four additional Georgia counties affected by Hurricane Helene that are now eligible to apply for disaster assistance. The disaster declaration now covers Elbert and Rabun for Individual Assistance, and Effingham and Tift for Individual and Public Assistance (Categories A and B). Individual Assistance can fund individual and family recovery efforts, which may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene. Public Assistance is available to state and local government entities…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) today issued the following statement in response to the recent BioLab chemical fire in Rockdale County: “Today, I stand with the residents of Rockdale County and the east metro Atlanta area as we assess the impacts of the chemical fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers. This incident poses significant health risks due to smoke and chemical fallout, which have affected the well-being of our community. At present, there is only one shelter available in Rockdale County to assist those displaced by the fire. Additionally, it is vital that we quickly identify the…

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp has announced residents in 41 Georgia counties affected by Hurricane Helene are now eligible to apply for disaster assistance. The Major Disaster Declaration provides individual assistance and public assistance (Categories A and B) to: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington, and Wheeler counties. “The Major Disaster Declaration will begin to provide critical resources to the limited counties designated for Hurricane…

 By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Thomas Winston IV threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Miller Grove Wolverines to a 41-6 Region 6-2A over the Redan Raiders for homecoming at Godfrey Stadium on Thursday night (Oct. 3). Both teams were playing in their region opener and battled to a 0-0 after one-quarter of play with the Wolverines driving at the Redan 13 and facing a third down and six as the second quarter opened. Winston threw over the middle to Candler Adams for the 13-yard scoring pass with 11:54 left in the period.…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Public Schools will remain closed through Oct. 9, in the wake of the BioLab fire, Superintendent Terry Oatts announced Thursday, Oct. 3. Oatts said students will use three days as Independent Learning Days, Oct. 7-9, rather than return to classrooms as scheduled. Rockdale students have been on Fall break this week. Students did not go to school last Thursday, Sept. 26, or Friday, Sept. 27, due to Hurricane Helene. Oatts stated the following in communication to parents: “We hope that you and your extended families are well after the hurricane and the Bio Lab fire. As you…

Georgians can now add driver’s license renewal and other licensing transactions to their grocery List. The Department of Driver Services (DDS) has joined the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) vehicle registration self-service kiosks located at select Kroger and Publix stores, allowing customers to take care of their driver services transactions while shopping. “DDS encourages customers to take advantage of this service making the process of renewing driver’s licenses and identification cards more convenient, secure and efficient than ever before,” DDS Commissioner Spencer R. Moore said. DDS has now joined 53 existing DOR self-service kiosks at Kroger locations and five at Publix…

Bus shuttles provided from Brookhaven to Lenox and Chamblee Stations  ATLANTA –MARTA trains will temporarily skip stop Brookhaven Station from Oct. 7 to Nov. 15 so construction crews can replace the 40-year-old pavers on the rail station platform. Rail service on the Gold Line will operate as scheduled, but trains will not stop at Brookhaven Station.  Because there is no track work associated with this project, just platform work, trains can travel through the station but will not stop. MARTA will provide bus shuttle service between Brookhaven and Lenox Station to the south and Brookhaven and Chamblee Station to the north. Local bus service (Routes 8,…