Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. Unit today apprehended and arrested Lenell Ledarius Ross, 26, of Tucker on a charge of felony murder. According to a warrant issued on Sept. 8, Ross fatally shot Carlos Williams on Clarke Drive in Tucker on Sept. 7, 2019. DeKalb sheriff’s investigators located Ross in the vicinity of Hambrick Road and Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, where he was taken into custody by the sheriff’s office S.W.A.T. Unit without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is holding its final public hearing this evening  to seek input on proposed options to address E-SPLOST budget and a proposed general obligation (GO) bond estimated at $222 to $265 million. The meeting, which will be held Sept. 10, 7 p.m., at Lakeside High School, will mark the fifth that the district has held to gain comment from the public. Stakeholders are being asked to consider approving a general obligation (“GO”) bond referendum to complete the school improvement and construction projects to make up for the increase in construction costs exceeding the E-SPLOST budget. A…

The Rockdale County Board of Elections regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12, is rescheduled to Sept. 19, 4 p.m., at the Rockdale County Board of Elections Office, 1261 Commercial Drive, S.W., Suite B, Conyers (drive around to the back of the building).  SPECIAL MEETING – The Board of Elections will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m., for the purpose of hearing Public Comments regarding the relocation of the Fieldstone Precinct to Chief Cornerstone Community Church, 2900 Salem Road. “If you cannot attend the meeting and would like to provide comments regarding this polling…

DYREESE HICKMAN                                ISAIAH Z ALLEN The photo for Sherek Alton Lake, who was arrested in South Carolina, was unavailable. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals have arrested three suspects in the shooting death of an Atlanta man. Warrants issued on Aug. 6 charged the individuals with collaborating to shoot 28-year-old Jamarcus Holloway on Aug. 3.  The incident allegedly occurred at 2175 Flat Shoals Road in Atlanta in DeKalb County. According to the warrant for one of the…

MARTA   will hold a public hearing on proposed bus service modifications on Monday, Sept. 16, at the DeKalb County Public Library, 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur. MARTA representatives will be on hand for the community exchange session beginning at 6 p.m., followed by the public hearing at 7 p.m. The following routes will be discussed: Route 19: Clairmont Road Route 123: Church Street/North DeKalb Mall Route 823: Belvedere MARTA regularly evaluates bus route performance including scheduling, on-time performance, ridership, and safety. Modifications were recommended based on feedback received from customers and the Authority’s service analysis. All changes accepted by the…

A Rockdale County Sheriff’s deputy, Aaron Frank, has been arrested on improper sexual contact with a female inmate at the Rockdale County Jail. Frank was arrested and charged after confessing to have sexual contact with the inmate inside the women’s annex laundry facility, Sheriff’s spokesman Lee A. Thomas said in a news release. The Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division was notified of the assault on Sept. 6. The incident was alleged to have occurred on Aug. 28 or Aug. 29. CID Investigators spoke with Frank, a detention deputy and several inmates, including the victim and several witnesses. During interviews, Frank confessed…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan DeKalb County School District officially welcomed the community to the unveiling of its newest edifice – the new Ronald E. McNair Middle School. Located at 2190 Wallingford Drive in Decatur, the school is the first of its kind in DeKalb and features a modern architectural design and cool, sleek interiors. School officials and community supporters flanked the Sept. 4 ribbon cutting ceremony, which included inspirational remarks, performances by the McNair Middle School Chorus and a catered reception. During the program, attendees heard from several school officials including  Superintendent R. Stephen Green, DeKalb Board of…

Photo credit: Kelley Jordan Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary hosted one of several upcoming brunches at Arizona’s Steakhouse on Sept. 1 to celebrate the restaurant’s re-opening.  Arizona’s temporarily closed but reopened recently with a new manager and a new direction. The Mayor’s Sunday Brunch brought out Stonecrest residents, elected officials such as City Councilman Jimmy Clanton and State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, community leaders, and city staff to the ribbon cutting. “We are not going to let our best restaurant suffer and go out of business.  All of us have eaten here…

Adoma now focused on running   DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Clarence F. Seeliger has granted the City of Stonecrest a temporary restraining order against former City Councilwoman Diane Adoma, who had refused to vacate her seat as she runs for the office of mayor. Seeliger approved the order on Aug. 30, barring Adoma from City Hall offices and other areas and entrances that are not open to the general public. He also ordered Adoma to return all city property in her possession to the city of Stonecrest. Asked if she plans to vacate the seat now, Adoma…

Literary Festival to honor Coretta Scott King Book Awards, young adult authors The Friends of Auburn Avenue Research Library and Sisters of Today and Tomorrow will present “Celebrating Art, Music and Literary Works” on Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture & History, 101 Auburn Ave., Atlanta. Community Partners for the event include Big Bethel AME Church, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture & History, Sisters of Today and Tomorrow, Notes for Notes and Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. The Literary Festival, in its second year, will…