Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for assistance in locating a suspect in connection with the Nov. 5 shooting death of Eric Fisher in the parking lot of the Motel 6 on Chamblee Tucker Road in Lawrenceville. According to a warrant issued on Nov. 6, 20-year-old Kaylon Janard “Hooty” Jiles of Tucker is charged with Felony Murder for shooting Eric Fisher multiple times, causing his death.  Police investigating the incident said Jiles fled the scene in a black sedan. Jiles may be armed, in possession of drugs and he may be affiliated with a gang, authorities…

The Conyers Police Department along, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Safety are partnering with the Conyers Wal-Mart for the 10th Annual Shop with a Cop. Through the initiative, law enforcement personnel accompany children from families experiencing financial hardships to the Conyers Wal-Mart to shop for Christmas gifts. “The Conyers Wal-Mart has been an excellent community partner to assist the Conyers Police in spearheading this effort. Officers interact with children who may not have had a positive encounter with law enforcement until now. The partnership between the CPD and Wal-Mart makes sure that the children…

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office will host the agency’s 10th Annual “Adopt-A-Family for Christmas” holiday event on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m., at the DeKalb County Jail on Memorial Drive in Decatur. The DeKalb County Jail’s Chaplaincy program coordinates the event with local social service agencies and faith-based organizations.  Participants will include the DeKalb County Family & Children’s Services Kinship Program and Bethany House Foster Care, along with employee volunteers. Since the event began in 2007, sworn officers and civilian employees have collected and personally donated an estimated 100 bicycles and 150 dolls,…

Antioch East AME Church, 1790 Ebenezer Road, Conyers, invites the community to its inaugural Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m. The church’s mass choir will perform. Admission to the concert celebration is free.

MARTA will feature unique performances for the holidays at Five Points Station on Dec. 12 and 19. MARTA’s arts program, Artbound, is partnering with the Serenbe Institute to present performances by the Terminus Modern Ballet Theater and Serenbe Playhouse. The Serenbe Playhouse Apprentice Company will perform Playhouse Cabaret, a traveling variety show featuring holiday song and dance numbers, on Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 4:30 p.m. The performance is high energy and family friendly. Terminus Modern Ballet Theater, which includes five former Atlanta Ballet principal dancers, will perform excerpts of LORE, a folk-inspired story of family lineage…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is pleased to announce that Lithonia resident Jonathan Daniel, 16, is the winner of the 2017 Fourth District Congressional App Challenge. “Science and technology are transforming our world and I’m very proud of the students who participated in this year’s challenge,” said Johnson. “The app challenge allows us to showcase some of the Fourth Congressional District’s brightest young minds as they take on cutting-edge technology that is becoming an increasing part of all our lives.” Seventy-five students entered this year’s app challenge as individuals or in teams of up to four students per team. The judging…

Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc. held its grand opening on Dec. 8 for its sixth location. The new facility is located in the Northlake Office Park professional building at 2295 Northlake Parkway, Suite 500, Atlanta. The nonprofit primary health care centers have provided affordable, culturally sensitive and accessible healthcare to the indigent and underinsured residents of DeKalb, Fulton and Rockdale counties since 1980. Oakhurst’s CEO Jeff Taylor was joined for the new center’s ribbon cutting ceremony by Board of Directors Vice Chair Daphne Byrd, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce President Katerina Taylor, Oakhurst founder Elizabeth Wilson and other officials. The 7,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art…

Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance’s Executive Director Mera Cardenas was recently honored during the Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau’s 25th annual holiday gala. Cardenas was the recipient of the Bill Hardman, Jr. Award, a recognition presented to an individual who exemplifies outstanding service and dedication to Discover DeKalb’s mission of promoting DeKalb as a destination for tourism. Cardenas said she was deeply honored. “I was incredibly surprised, touched and honored to be recognized by Discover DeKalb,” Cardenas said. “I had no idea I was being considered. The Arabia Alliance and our…

Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. Over the past 11 months, we have made several changes to the Probate Court to enhance our efficiency and level of service to the citizens and legal community. Prior to the beginning of my first term as Probate Judge in January 2017, and subsequent thereto, I visited the probate courts of several surrounding jurisdictions, including Henry, Fulton, DeKalb, Walton, Athens-Clarke and Gwinnett counties to observe their operations. My primary purpose for these visits was to determine if their practices were more efficient than those used by our probate court. I appreciate those…

With temperatures falling in metro Atlanta and a mix of rain and snow expected on the way, DeKalb County officials are preparing an emergency plan. Weather forecasts call for a 70 percent chance of rain on Friday with the wintry mix of snow through Friday afternoon. “To prepare for possible inclement weather, DeKalb County has partnered with the DeKalb County School District and various cities within the county to ensure we are ready for a worst-case scenario. The county is also participating in a Web Emergency Operation Center event by the state to monitor the situation. We are coordinating with…