Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County officials have issued road closure notice for several roads due to downed trees and power lines. Crews are working to clear the roads and motorists are advised to stay off of the roads while work is underway. Motorists may check Rockdale County’s FB page for updates.  The following notice was posted on the government’s web site:

DECATUR, GA–Efforts to improve the watershed system throughout DeKalb County continues with the design of Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer. The county will host a public information open house event about this project on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 5 to 7 p.m., at Cherry Ridge Clubhouse, 3571 Cherry Ridge Blvd., Decatur.                                                                                                                                            The Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Replacement Project will address repeat sanitary sewer overflow areas and help meet future sewer demands for the next 50 years. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and last approximately three years (2026 to 2029), barring any unforeseen circumstances and weather delays. Atkins, working on behalf of DeKalb County,…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–Gwinnett County officials are advising residents to be alert for animals displaying odd behavior in the Lilburn area, after a raccoon bit a resident on Sept. 23. The raccoon that bit the resident near Catamount Way tested positive for rabies.  The victim received immediate medical attention, authorities said. Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and GNR Public Health are warning residents to be aware of not only wildlife but pets that may be acting oddly or aggressively. Diseases such as rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through bites or scratches from wild animals such as foxes…

ATLANTA – Millions of travelers passing through the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, now have the chance to experience a new mosaic painting created by local artist Michael Jones. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) unveiled art installation by at Airport Station on Tuesday, Sept. 24, highlighting the ongoing rehabilitation efforts to modernize this vital transit hub. The captivating large-scale mosaic, inspired by the Atlanta skyline, features vivid colors and intricate patterns that reflect the city’s energy, cultural growth, and architectural beauty.  “MARTA is committed to revitalizing our transit stations, and public art is a key component of that effort,” said MARTA General Manager…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Due to severe weather conditions, the DeKalb County Sanitation Division operations are impacted as follows: Residential Collections Thursday residential customers will be serviced on Saturday. Residents should ensure that all garbage, recycling and yard trimmings containers are curbside by 7 a.m. on Saturday. Commercial Collections (front-load service) Friday and Saturday customers will be serviced on Saturday. Administration Building and Customer Care Call Center In-person and call center services are closed on Thursday and Friday. Storm Debris Impact Due to storm debris impact, road conditions may affect residential and commercial collection services on Saturday. Normal operations for all service areas should…

Today, On Common Ground News publishers spoke with their nephew, Glen Gordon, who lives in Arcadia, Florida about the impact Hurricane Helene is having on their community.  Publisher Glenn Morgan is a native of Arcadia, which is located about 50 miles west of Sarasota, FL. The town is known for three rodeos that are held there.

DECATUR, GA– With Hurricane Helene predicted to result in widespread downed trees, power outages, blocked roadways and localized flooding, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond urges residents to be aware of how to report emergencies for an expedited response. “We urge residents to stay off the roads, and if necessary, properly reporting emergencies can expedite a coordinated response by the appropriate department or agency tasked with handling the issue,” CEO Thurmond said. In case of emergency, residents should call: 911 for: Life-threatening emergencies Ø  All downed trees and power lines Ø  Localized flooding 404-294-2911 for: Ø  Other non-life-threatening emergencies 770-270-6243 for: Ø  Water outages and sewer spills…

ATLANTA — The Internal Revenue Service will host a direct hiring event for customer support and administrative positions to fill more than 100 vacancies available at the Chamblee Service Center next Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 2-3. The jobs fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Atlanta Marriott Northeast/Emory Area, 2000 Century Blvd, NE, Atlanta. The two-day event will be open to the public with registration. Apply for pre-qualification through registration on Eventbrite’s exclusive announcement. Walk-ins will be accepted after 12 p.m. What is a direct hire event? During the event, IRS hiring officials will make job offers…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Class of 2024 graduates, unlike the state and nation, saw an increase in composite SAT scores over the previous year. The 2024 mean composite score for RCPS is 980, up from 969. The mean composite score for Georgia public schools is 1030, and the mean composite score for U.S. public schools is 995, both decreasing from 2023. “We are pleased to see an increase in our scores even as the state and nation experienced decreases,” said RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts. “Of particular note, I commend our students for exceeding the nation’s score on…

ATLANTA – In a pivotal decision made Wednesday evening (Sept. 25), Congress extended Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) replacement benefits until Dec. 20, 2024, as part of the latest federal stopgap legislation. The original provision for SNAP replacement benefits was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which aimed to assist thousands of families affected by stolen benefits due to scamming activities. Initially set to expire on Sept. 30, 2024, the Act’s extension ensures continued support for those impacted by fraud. Across the U.S., scammers have been targeting SNAP recipients, using skimming devices and other fraudulent methods to steal…