Author: On Common Ground News

Gwinnett County is seeking election workers to help at the polls. The positions pay up to a $390 stipend. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. The poll official hiring events will be held on Nov. 5, 6, 7, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., at the Mountain Park Activity Building, 5050 Five Forks-Trickum Road in Lilburn. Training will be from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for those who have been assigned to a polling location as a poll manager, assistant manager, or issuing clerk. Non-issuing clerks must take online training only. Applicants are required to be…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Rockdale Career Academy and its FCCLA Club offered students and their familiesa  fun-filled event, Oct. 26, while collecting food for Rockdale families in need. Activities included trunk-or-treating, games, bounce house, obstacle course, costume contest, blanket ride by Public Safety Pathway students, craft vendors from Interior Design Pathway students and the community, and a “Ghoul Bus.” The event was organized by the RCA FCCLA club, led by RCA instructors and FCCLA advisors Shannon Houk and Lydia Churillo, with more than 65 FCCLA student volunteers. Culinary Pathway students, led by instructors and FCCLA advisors Melody Homer and Reanna Bray, cooked up…

ATLANTA –Georgia Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) announced today that he will not seek nomination for Speaker of the House for the 2023-2024 legislative session, citing a “health challenge.” He will, however, serve the remainder of his current term as Speaker,   which ends in January, and his term as state representative for the 2023-2024 legislative term. He is  unopposed for the seat. “I appreciate the continued support of my friends and neighbors in Fannin, Gilmer, and Dawson counties,” said Ralston. “I intend to serve out the next term as their state representative and fulfill the duties they have entrusted…

DECATUR, GA— The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will host a special called meeting on Monday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss voter registration challenges.  This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). Simultaneous public access to the meeting will be available via livestream on DCTV’s UStream channel at https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23.  To make a public comment, join via Zoom: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/97184078303 or dial in via phone toll free at 888-270-9936 and use conference code: 171493.  Public comments of two minutes or less may be made live via the teleconference. For those joining the meeting…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest approved new rules that will allow wine-grape growers to produce and sell wine at their properties located in the Arabia Mountain Overlay District. The City Council unanimously passed the ordinance during its Oct. 24 meeting. The new law states that producers must obtain a special land use permit before beginning operations. In addition, wineries and vineyards are only permitted within Stonecrest’s Arabia Mountain Overlay District on parcels zoned R-100 and on at least 15 acres of land. “The City of Stonecrest continues to support local initiatives important to our residents, especially those that…

STONECREST, GA–– Chairwoman Jazzmin Cobble, of the Urban Redevelopment Agency of the City of Stonecrest, Georgia (URA), announced that the URA successfully acquired the REAL property located at 3120 Stonecrest Boulevard, Stonecrest Georgia from Stonecrest Center LLC. The property is home to Stonecrest’s City Hall and several existing tenants, including Strayer University. The transaction was financed by the URA’s issuance of $6,050,000 in original aggregate principal amount of its Revenue Bond (City of Stonecrest Project), Series 2022A and its Revenue Bond (City of Stonecrest Project), Federally Taxable Series 2022B (collectively the “Bonds”). The bond issuance and real estate transaction both…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County’s Hamilton Recreation Center, 3262 Chapel Street, Scottdale, will host a Parents Night Out and Kids’ Snack and Paint Party on Friday, Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The Parents Night Out program offers a safe, fun environment for children to spend an evening while parents enjoy a little time to themselves. Youths ages 5-13 are welcome to participate. Registration is $10 per child and will include dinner, painting, games, music and more. Pre-registration is required and is on a first come, first served basis. To access online registration, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the “Register Online” button on the…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson announces extended hours at the property tax office located on Memorial Dr. from Nov. 7 – 15, Monday – Friday, until 6 p.m. Customers paying their property tax bills will temporarily use the UGA Extension office entrance at the front of the building through Tuesday, Nov. 15. Seniors and customers with a disability parking placard may still check-in at the Property Tax side entrance from Northern Avenue. Offices are closed Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. “We urge taxpayers to plan ahead and make payments before the November 15 deadline. Each year…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has proclaimed Friday, Nov. 4, as “Early Voting Day” in DeKalb County. “Voting is a privilege and a right that is afforded to all eligible residents,” Thurmond said. “Exercising that right ensures that our voices are heard by our local, state and national leaders.” Friday, Nov. 4, is the last day to vote early in-person in this year’s midterm election. As of Nov. 1 in DeKalb County, approximately 164,000 eligible registered voters, or 28.5 percent, have cast their ballots during early voting, which began on Oct. 17. Eligible voters are urged to vote early…