Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA Gwinnett County officials, in collaboration with View Point Health and GNR Public Health, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the expansion of the OneStop Centerville facility. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m., at OneStop Centerville, 3025 Bethany Church Road, Snellville. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the $25 million project includes a 33,000-square-foot, two-story building, where services such as public health, behavioral health, childcare and dental care will be provided, along with an 11,000-square-foot playground. Tina Fleming, Gwinnett County Community Services director, will serve as emcee. Speakers include Gwinnett Board of…

ATLANTA – Georgia residents who live in the Valdosta area and are unable to visit one of FEMA’s eight Disaster Recovery Centers throughoutthe state can apply for assistance in person at a temporary location. This center is only open Tuesday, Oct. 22 to Saturday, Oct. 26,  8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following address:  Temporary FEMA Center 2108 E. Hill Ave. Building D Valdosta, GA Valdosta homeowners and renters who had home or property damage due to Tropical Storm Debby damage Aug. 4-22, and/or Hurricane Helene can visit this center to apply for FEMA assistance, update their cases and ask questions.  Those who require additional services are encouraged to visit the Disaster…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Post 1 Commissioner Sherri Washington and Post 2 Commissioner Doreen Williams announced today the county’s plans to file a federal lawsuit this week against BioLab and its parent company, KIK.   “BioLab has had at least four instances of negligence in the 20 years that it has operated in this community,” said Washington.  “At his point, their risk to our community far outweighs any benefit that we could possibly glean from their operation in this county. “…Today, we stand for the people. We stand for environmental justice. We stand for the future. By filing this lawsuit, we will prove that…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Citizens and groups from Rockdale, DeKalb, Newton, Gwinnett, and Fulton counties gathered on Saturday, Oct. 19, calling for the shutdown of the BioLab plant in Conyers.  The 3 p.m. protest was held outside of the Rockdale Auditorium at 901 Main St. Just two days earlier, Rockdale government officials announced the county was lifting the shelter-in-place order for the entire county and transitioning the remainder of the cleanup to BioLab and the company’s contractors.  Students are scheduled to return to classes on Monday, Oct. 21.  At the rally, protestors shared how the Sept. 29 BioLab chemical explosion has impacted their health and…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) is urging voters to double-check Advance Voting locations before heading to cast their ballots.  “While we are seeing tremendous voter excitement and engagement during the Advance Voting period, it’s important for voters to double check our current Advance Voting locations being used this election cycle,” said DeKalb VRE Executive Director Keisha Smith. “There may be changes to some familiar Advance Voting locations that are no longer available, so be sure to check before heading out to vote.”  Advance Voting is currently underway and continues through Friday, Nov. 1, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday voting is available Oct. 19 and Oct.…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA— Post 1 Commissioner Sherri Washington will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21st, to announce a federal lawsuit against BioLab and its parent company, KIK. The lawsuit, led by Commissioner Washington on behalf of the Rockdale Board of Commissioners, is being filed in federal court on Monday, Oct. 21st, in the Northern District of Georgia declaring BioLab as a public nuisance and seeking damages for citizens and businesses impacted by the BioLab explosion on Sept. 29, 2024. BioLab has had four major incidents in Conyers since 2004. Rockdale County Attorney M. Quader A. Baig and…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency has lifted the shelter-in-place order throughout Rockdale County after continuous cleanup for two and a half weeks at the BioLab chemical fire site. During a press conference today(Oct. 17), Chairman Oz Nesbitt said Rockdale County government was ending its involvement in the BioLab event after 19 days of utilizing public safety crews and other resources around the clock since the Sept. 29 broke out around 5 a.m. at the BioLab plant.  Nesbitt said the county had not quantified a dollar amount concerning resources devoted to the BioLab event. “…We’re closing out our involvement in…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale County Clerk of Superior and State Courts along with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority will offer free online notary training on Oct. 24, via ZOOM, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. There are a limited number of spaces available. If you are a notary or thinking of becoming a notary, this training is highly recommended. There are new laws relating to notaries that become effective in January 2025. This training will teach notaries how to stay in compliance with government laws. Being a notary comes with great responsibility. It is important that notaries follow all laws and…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–The Rockdale County Tax Office announced its relocation to a new, more accessible office space. The move aims to enhance the convenience and efficiency of services provided to the residents of Rockdale County, said Rockdale Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart Washington. To commemorate the milestone, the Tax Commissioner’s Office will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 8:30 a.m. The event will take place at the new Rockdale County Tax Office, 1088 West Avenue, Conyers. The new office is designed to better serve the community with improved facilities and ample parking. The ceremony will feature remarks from the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–After reviewing evidence in the case, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the police officer who shot John Robert Smith, Jr., 58, at the Atlanta VA Medical Center will not be charged in the Jan. 29, 2024 incident. Earlier this week, DA Boston and members of her staff met with Smith’s family and walked them through the case, which included showing them video of the shooting from the officer’s body-worn camera. “Although Mr. Smith’s death was a tragedy, the evidence shows that under the law, the officer who shot Mr. Smith was justified in his use of…