Author: On Common Ground News

SNELLVILLE, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department needs the public’s help locating a missing Snellville man. Ronald Dix, 30, was last seen at his personal care home on Winterberry Lane in unincorporated Snellville. He told his caretaker he was going to the nearby convenience store on Stone Mountain Highway, but he has not been seen since. Dix is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, orange jacket vest, dark jeans, and a black skull cap. Anyone who has information about this case is…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA –More than 100 people lined up to race to support breast cancer awareness at the Annual Kimberley Chance Atkins Turkey Breast Trot 5K on Nov. 4. The Kimberley Chance Atkins Foundation was started in 2009 in memory of teacher, wife, and mother Kim Atkins, who passed away at 32 years old after two battles with breast cancer. The KCAF was formed with the mission to promote breast health in Rockdale and Newton counties. Last year, the Kimberly Atkins Foundation gifted Piedmont Rockdale and Newton Hospitals a philanthropic gift of $75,000 each, to start funds at their respective…

ATLANTA—MARTA is encouraging travelers to avoid the holiday traffic and take MARTA’s direct rail trains to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As the airport works to renovate its south economy parking lot, MARTA also is reminding travelers that long-term parking at six rail stations is available: Dunwoody & Sandy Springs Stations – $5 per 24 hours; And North Springs, Doraville, Lindbergh Center & College Park Stations – $8 per 24 hours.  Take either the Red or Gold Line southbound for direct access into the airport. Click the link for information on how to take the train to the plane. “We are…

 Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry allocates $100K for the initiative    DECATUR, GA–The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners (BOC) has announced the establishment of the DeKalb County Eviction Legal Defense Fund to provide legal assistance to county residents facing eviction. The initiative will significantly bolster housing stability and promoting legal equity, officials stated in a news release today. The creation of the Eviction Legal Defense Fund in DeKalb County is inspired by similar successful programs across the nation, including the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP), launched by HUD in 2021. The EPGP, a pioneering federal program, has played a…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—On Nov. 14, 2023, Georgia Sen. Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia), State Rep. Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers) and Attorney Stewart Morelli from the General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Counsel held a  town hall meeting at the Rockdale Career Academy to discuss House Bill 741. House Bill 741 proposes significant changes to the governance structure of Rockdale County. The bill seeks to increase the number of county commissioners from three to five, reshape the responsibilities of the chairperson, establish residency-based commissioner districts, and introduce the position of a county manager. By a show of hands raised, the majority attending the meeting said they favored…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s team will host a “Constituent Services in Your Community” event on Thursday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the JP Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers.  Sen. Ossoff announced the statewide initiative last month as a new way that his office is working to assist constituents needing help navigating the often confusing and complex Federal system. Sen. Ossoff’s constituent services team will be available to help families cut through red tape to access benefits, from resolving issues with Social Security and Medicare, to helping families obtain passports, to ensuring service members,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Today, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced the official launch of its IGNITE DeKalb Teacher Residency Program, a signature initiative of Superintendent Devon Q. Horton to address the critical need for qualified educators in the district. District officials stated in ia news release: “The IGNITE (Inspiring Greatness and Normalizing Innovation in Teacher Education) DeKalb Teacher Residency Program is a transformational approach, providing an alternate and effective route to teacher certification. Aimed at preparing a new wave of high-quality, dedicated educators, IGNITE creates an achievable path to the classroom for passionate individuals seeking to shape the future of…

ATLANTA — District 1 Council member Jason Winston will be hosting a diaper distribution event on Saturday, November 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at The Villages at Carver Family YMCA, 1600 Pryor Road SW. More than 5,000 diapers and baby supplies will be given to the public while supplies last. For media inquiries or interviews to raise awareness prior to the event or for live coverage, please contact District1Communications@atlantaga.gov. No RSVP is required for members of the public attending the distribution. “As a parent, I know firsthand the financial strain that comes with buying household necessities like diapers. This is an issue facing…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office  is announcing its operating schedule for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays. Customers are reminded that online service and kiosk options are available daily, including holidays and weekends. Holiday schedule: Nov. 22, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., closed Nov. 23-24 Dec. 22, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., closed Dec. 25 Dec. 29, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., closed Jan. 1 “With the holiday season upon us, we are reminding customers that most property tax and motor vehicle services can be handled online or at a kiosk daily,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin…