Author: On Common Ground News

The judges and winners of the Hat Parade show off their beautiful crowns. Saint Paul AME Church in Lithonia hosted its 7thAnnual Parade of Hats fashion show and luncheon on Saturday, March 6, in Lithonia. The fashion show, which brings together hat lovers, businesses and the public, serves as a scholarship fundraiser for high school graduates in the community. This year, the event honored two DeKalb County students who will receive scholarships and care packages for school: Matthew Crawford, a senior at Arabia Mountain High School, and Samir Wadi, a senior at Miller Grove High School. Joyce Reid, who…

Rockdale’s native daughter and Pulitzer Prize recipient E.R. ShippandKatrina McCollum Young, president of the Rockdale County School Board and Georgia School Boards Association, presented the Lifetime Achievement award to Cleveland Stroud, who was the first African American elected official in Rockdale County.       By Mackenzie N. Morgan The Black Heritage of Rockdale County organization hosted its  symposium and inaugural induction into the Black Heritage of Rockdale Hall of Fame on March 16. More than 100 people turned out for the free community event, which was held at the J.P. Carr Community Center in Conyers. Ten living trailblazers were inducted…

Serial rapist Dominic Lawton will serve three life sentences for sexual assaults on three women, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston has announced. Jurors returned guilty verdict against the 33-year-old Ocilla man on charges of rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, and weapons offenses in connection with sexual assaults against three women in DeKalb County dating back to 2016. On Sept. 14, 2016, DeKalb County Police responded to DeKalb Medical Center in reference to a report of a kidnapping and rape. The 18-year-old female victim told authorities she had scheduled a date with the defendant at a Snapfinger…

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new initiative this year to suppress, deter, and thwart street level crime in affected areas. The Deployment of the MCV (Mobile Command Vehicle) has been planned for different locations throughout Rockdale during the year. The MCV is currently located at Salem Road in the Ingles Plaza.
 Officials say the objective of the initiative is community outreach, educating the public with local crime trends and preventative practices, and building a solid infrastructure between residents of Rockdale County and local Law Enforcement. Every Division at the Sheriff’s Office will assist in this Street Level…

In celebration of National Procurement Month, DeKalb County is set to host its third annual Business Opportunity Reverse Trade Show and Procurement Summit on Thursday, March 28, 9 a.m. to noon at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. The DeKalb County Purchasing and Contracting Department encourages current and prospective vendors and the general public to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to do business with the county. Participants will have the chance to market their services directly to department representatives and talk with procurement staff. Mini-workshops will detail how to prepare…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested 19 year-old Dequan Mosley of Decatur, Georgia on Tuesday, March 19. An arrest warrant was issued on February 20 charging Mr. Mosely with Felony Murder in connection with the death of Brandon Watts on May 29, 2018 at 901 Wesley Club Drive in Decatur.  According to the warrant, Mr. Watts had been stabbed several times with a knife. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit located Mr. Mosley at a residence in Lithonia where he was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail without incident.  

  Rockdale Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will present to citizens, business owners and other community stakeholders a review of 2018 and his vision for 2019 at the Rockdale State of the County Address. The event will be held on Thursday, March 21, 7 p.m., at the J.P. Carr Community Room, 981 Taylor Street, Conyers. The event is free, non-ticketed and open to the public. No RSVP is required. The winner of the 2018 Charles P. Cole-Lewis Belcher, Jr. Citizen Involvement Award and the Unsung Hero award will be presented at this time.

Due to growing demand, Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl A. Anderson announces the relocation and expansion of marriage services in the Magistrate Court of DeKalb County. Beginning April 2, magistrates will be available to conduct wedding ceremonies at a new location, the DeKalb County Magistrate Court Criminal Division Building, 3630 Camp Circle, Decatur, GA 30032, on the following schedule: Mondays No weddings performed Tuesdays-Fridays 4 – 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays 1 – 4 p.m. “In addition to having a larger space for couples, their family and friends, relocating wedding services will allow judges to perform ceremonies on Saturdays and…

The first 10 miles of the worst roads in DeKalb have been resurfaced through the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) program. An additional 22 miles of resurfacing is currently under construction throughout the county, and 100 miles will be completed by the end of September. “Potholes don’t discriminate, and we have roads that need to be addressed throughout the county,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “We are proud to put our citizens’ pennies to work to improve the quality of life throughout the county.” Harold Hardee stands next to a SPLOST sign posted at Golfbrook and Fieldgreen…

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Dr. Lonnie C. King Jr. who died Tuesday, March 5. The Civil Rights leader’s graveside service and internment will be held at noon Monday, March 18 at Georgia National Cemetery (1088 Scott Hudgens Dr., Canton), and a memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 19 at Ebenezer Baptist Church (450 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta). Atlanta City Council President Felicia A. Moore called King “a visionary who embodied bravery and tactfulness in the face of danger.” “Like many of our great civil rights leaders, Dr. Lonnie King captivated the hearts and…