Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the passing away of one of its investigators. Investigator John Cole Haynie passed away on Saturday (Jan. 25) after a courageous month-long medical battle. Investigator Haynie was an 8-year veteran with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 3, 2012 as a Detention Deputy within the Jail Division. He was promoted to a Certified Sheriff’s Deputy on March 21, 2014 after successful completion of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) mandate academy. Investigator Haynie served in the Uniform Patrol Division for five years,…

The 50+ Ministry will be hosting their annual Black History Program on Feb. 22, 2 to 5 p.m. The celebration will pay homage to all of the wonderful accomplishments of African Americans. Click here to purchase tickets.

On Jan. 12, at approximately 4:30 p.m., two male suspects shoplifted two televisions and a home projector from Walmart, 1436 Dogwood Drive, Conyers.  The subject in all black threatened a Walmart employee with pepper spray once confronted at the exit.  The two fled in what appears to be a silver 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer.   Any information leading to the arrest of these persons of interest may result in a cash reward of up to $2,000.00.   Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information: Call:404.577.TIPS (8477) Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org

Stonecrest City Council meeting will take place on Monday, Jan. 27 at Stonecrest City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Blvd., Stonecrest, Work session begins at 6 p.m. and will be followed by the city council meeting at 7 p.m. No agenda available at time of posting.

State Sen. Tonya Anderson, District 43, discussing the hair bill at the DeKalb Cultural Exchange community breakfast meeting on Jan. 11. Left to right: State Sen. Nikema Williams posted the “Professional Hair” graphic g on her Facebook page to demonstrate the versatility of black hair styles deemed suitable for the workplace.  James “Jamie” Lary(center) said men are not exempt from hair discrimination. Rockdale County hair stylist Brittany Bryant said the majority of her clients come to her in search of hair solutions that consider style, function and professional appeal. By Mackenzie N. Morgan Staff Writer State Sen. Tonya…

Fred McBride to keynote forum at St. Philip AME on Jan. 30 DeKalb County is kicking off a whirlwind of activities and events, now that the 2020 U.S. Census enumerators have begun the push to count every person living in the U.S. for this decade. The U.S. Census kicked off the nation’s count inthe remote Alaskan fishing village of Toksook Bay with enumerators traveling on frozen terrain on Jan. 21. Locally, the count will begin in March. DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, who is heading DeKalb’s “Complete Count Committee, says organizers are gearing…

Front row(left to right): DeKalb Superior Court Judges Mark Anthony Scott, Clarence Seeliger, Asha Jackson, Linda Hunter and Gregory Adams. Standing(left to right): Stacey Hydrick, Courtney Johnson, Tangela Barrie, LaTisha Dear Jackson and Shondeana Morris. Judge Mark Anthony Scott, presiding judge over the Stone Mountain Circuit’s four accountability courts, announced that the circuit has achieved a participation milestone by having all 10 of its judges voluntarily preside or serve in one or more of the Accountability programs. The Stone Mountain Circuit has created and continues to successfully administer Drug, Parent Accountability, Mental Health and Veterans Treatment court programs for…

Cyclomedia vehicles have started collecting data, including photos of all properties in unincorporated DeKalb. The DeKalb County Community Development Department is surveying unincorporated areas of the county in an effort to eradicate blight and revitalize properties. Last week, the county began collecting data for the Comprehensive Property Conditions Survey, which will provide a detailed inventory of property conditions within unincorporated DeKalb. “The survey is an additional tool to revitalize DeKalb,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “The data collected from the survey will help to create an interactive database that will track and record blighted properties in the county.”…

By Candice Guthrie For On Common Ground News Browns Mill Recreation Center is set to open new pickleball courts to the public on Jan. 28. There will be four courts ready for use with a fifth one set to be available by the first week of February, said Sean DePalma, City of Stonecrest’s director of Parks and Recreation. Pickleball combines components of tennis, badminton and ping pong. It is played with a paddle and plastic ball with holes, much like a wiffle ball. It can be played inside or outside and with doubles or singles. “It’s a really…