Press Releases

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has announced the appointment of Christopher Bass as Director of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs, effective immediately. Mr. Bass brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in parks and recreation management, strategic planning, and community-focused programming to this role. He most recently served as Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Douglasville, where he managed department-wide operations, established goals and policies, and aligned services and staffing to meet the needs of a growing community.

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management crews have completed repairs to an 8” broken water main at 1734 Dresden Drive. Water pressure has been fully restored and there are currently no reported water outages. Customers in the affected area may experience brown water and are encouraged to run the faucets inside and outside their homes/businesses to clear the internal plumbing. Traffic controls and a detour are still in place on Dresden Drive between Winding Lane NE and S. Bamby Lane/Brookline Circle NE and will remain until the restoration work is completed.

The suspect connected to a shooting that occurred inside the Decatur Library on Monday afternoon has been taken into custody, according to the Decatur Police Department. The incident occurred at approximately 5:10 p.m. on Monday, when officers responded to the Decatur Library at 215 Sycamore Street and found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The individual was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital and remains under medical care.

The DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its new Teen Tech Center on Thursday, February 19, at 10:00 a.m. at the Hamilton Recreation Center, 3262 Chapel Street, Scottdale, GA. The Teen Tech Center is designed to provide teens with hands-on access to technology creative tools that support academic success, career exploration, and digital literacy. Programming at the center will include coding, 3D printing, music production, and podcasting, along with opportunities for digital media creation.

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, alongside the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, will host a Drive-Thru Food Distribution starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026, reinforcing the County’s ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity and supporting families in need. “Food insecurity remains a nationwide challenge,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “This work is only possible through collaboration. With the support of our Board of Commissioners, faith leaders, volunteers, and community partners, we are meeting families where they are and delivering help when it matters most.”