Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—The East Lake Family YMCA  is seeking parade participants and vendors for its 2023 Annual Black History Parade, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25,  2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Line up will begin at 1:45 p.m. at the Y, 275 E. Lake Blvd. SE, Atlanta. The parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. and it will march to the Lakeside Drive turnaround to East Lake YMCA. For more information on how to participate, contact Vivian Moore: 404-370-5648 or e-mail vivianm@YMCAAtlanta.org.

ATLANTA—Attorney Dwight L. Thomas is one of seven attorneys featured in SuperLawyers magazine’s 20th anniversary issue. Thomas, one of two African-Americans who met the Super Lawyers stringent selection criteria, is a criminal defense attorney who has represented many high profile cases in metro Atlanta. Among his clients: rapper T.I. in a weapons case; Alfred Megbuluba on murder charges for allegedly pushing a woman from a moving Lamborghini; former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary on fraud charges concerning $900,000in COID-19 relief funding; and former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, who ran for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District with Donald Trump’s endorsement. Before entering…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in a shooting death outside a Clarkston, GA strip club. Covington, GA resident Javeon Whitney, 29, was apprehended today, Feb. 10, at a motel off LaVista Road. The DeKalb Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with the U.S. Marshals, took the suspect into custody after he unsuccessfully attempted to flee from arrest by kicking out a hotel window. Whitney was wanted on warrants accusing him of the shooting death of 37-year-old Alpharetta, GA resident Jimmy Esgaldo Leon on Dec. 14, 2022.  Another man was shot in the leg during the…

ATLANTA – Members of the DeKalb House Legislative Delegation, chaired by State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), will hold two public meetings with local officials this month. The meeting schedule is as follows: Monday, Feb.13, 12 p.m., or upon adjournment, if later) in room 510 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta; Monday, Feb. 27, 12 p.m. (or upon adjournment, if later) in room 510 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has been invited to serve as a guest speaker for the first meeting. Members of the DeKalb County Board of Education…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County will open warming centers for residents to use in the following locations for two nights, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12, beginning at 8 p.m.: Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates, GA Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood, GA Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, GA North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee, GA

CHAMBLEE, GA—During the month of March, Chamblee Municipal Court is implementing an amnesty program for individuals with outstanding traffic citations and/or active bench warrants for failing to appear in court.  The goal is to settle outstanding violations with the court, reduce arrests, and decrease the city’s overall caseload. “This program not only offers those with outstanding citations or those who have been concerned about failure to appear warrants to settle their violation, but it also helps staff reduce the backlog in cases due to continued effects of the pandemic,” said Barry Anderson, Chamblee’s court administrator. Those who would like to…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– Police Permits located at One Justice Square will be closed until further notice due to building renovation.  Police Permits will relocate to 770 Hi Hope Rd., Lawrenceville during this time to provide continued customer service. Starting Feb. 13, fingerprint requests will be by appointment only.  To make an appointment, call 770-513-5110 or 770-513-5111.  The current office will remain open until Feb. 17. The 770 Hi Hope Rd. location will begin operations on Feb. 15, 2023.  The relocation contact person is Jasmine Morgan, and she can be reached at 770-513-5112.  

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Sheriff Eric J. Levett will host a town hall for the citizens of Rockdale County entitled “Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office: Community Chit Chat.” The town hall will provide a community Q and A format and will be held on Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Rockdale County Auditorium, 903 Main St. N.W., Conyers.   Sheriff Levett and the RCSO commanders are hosting the town hall to give citizens the opportunity to meet with them face to face and discuss relevant issues and concerns.    The RCSO stated in a news release: “The mission of the…

ATLANTA—Georgia Sen. Emanuel Jones (D – Decatur) has been appointed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to serve as a member on the Joint High School Athletics Overview Committee and the Georgia Lottery Corporation Legislative Oversight Committee. The Joint High School Athletics Overview Committee was established under Senate Bill 288, which was passed during the 2014 Legislative Session. The committee is comprised of members of the Georgia House and Senate and is charged with reviewing the operations of Georgia’s high school athletic associations in addition to evaluating the fairness and equity in establishing its standards. The Georgia Lottery Corporation Legislative Oversight…

CONYERS, GA—Military veterans in the Rockdale County area are encouraged to attend a Veterans Town Hall meeting on Friday, March 3, 6 p.m., at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor Street, Conyers. Rockdale County has about 6,500 veterans, according to officials, and agencies that can provide veterans help are hosting the town hall as a community outreach effort.  Representatives from various agencies will be on hand including: the Georgia Department of Veteran Services, Georgia Department of Driver Services, a liaison to Social Security and Medicare services, and several other agencies. Each agency will make a presentation and be available…