Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold the following meeting on Wednesday, September 21, 2022: 9:00am CALLED MEETING and EXECUTIVE SESSION BOARD RETREAT The called meeting agenda is attached and can be accessed online by going to: www.dekalbschoolsga.org, click on Leadership, go to Simbli (formally known as eBoard) Home Page and click on the date for the meeting agenda/information. The meeting can be viewed at the following link on DeKalb Schools TV (DSTV) by going to: www.dekalbschoolsga.org/communications/dstv.

ROCKDALE COUNTY– Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) is hosting the second Electronics Recycling & Paper Shredding events in 2022 for Rockdale residents and business owners on Saturday,  Oct. 8, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., in the parking lot of 1400 Parker Road, Conyers The free, half-day event will provide the public a place to safely discard and recycle old documents and electronics, regardless of working condition. Due to other events in the area, participants can access Parker Road from Flat Shoals Road or from Iris Drive to Royal Drive and Commercial Drive. There is a maximum of 4 banker boxes per vehicle allowed for paper shredding, and participants must…

DEKALB COUNTY—To accommodate walk-in customers paying property tax bills at the Tax Commissioner’s Office at the Memorial Drive office location, taxpayers will temporarily use the UGA Extension office entrance at the front of the building Sept. 19-30, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Extended hours will begin Sept. 26,  8 a.m. until 6 p.m. “Our central office staff is now temporarily re-directing taxpayer traffic to the front of the building at the UGA Extension Office entrance,” said DeKalb Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson. “This temporary change will allow taxpayers to enter safely, avoid weather and speed up the payment process. Customers with…

DEKALB COUNTY– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson is reminding property owners of the upcoming Sept. 30 property tax deadline. Taxpayers paying the first installment, or the full annual amount in one payment, must be paid by the deadline. Payments can be made online at DeKalbTax.org. Additional payment methods include secure drop box, mail or by phone. The second installment deadline is Nov. 15. DeKalb County tax bills were sent mid-August by mail and by email to owners who signed up for paperless billing. Owners who did not receive their bill should check their spam folder or access their property record to download…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will host his Annual Veterans Expo and Fellowship Luncheon Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,  at Central DeKalb Senior Center, Mason Mill Park, 1346 McConnell Drive, Decatur. Commissioner Bradshaw will provide onsite resources and information about housing, VA benefits, caregiver, trauma recovery, employment and training, mental health, telehealth and women’s wellness programs. Bradshaw is hosting the event in collaboration with Atlanta VA HealthCare System, AMVETS Post 44, Georgia Grace, NAACP DeKalb County Branch, DeKalb Human Services and DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Departments. AMVET Post 44 will serve hot dogs and…

CONYERS, GA—Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office investigators have charged Zaire Watson, Jr., 22, with the murder of Fernando Soloman, 20, in a mix-up over a Door Dash food delivery. The fatal shooting occurred on Sept. 8 at 1:12 a.m. after a Door Dash driver delivered food to the wrong duplex unit, where the men lived, according to the Sheriff’s Office incident report obtained by On Common Ground News today. Door Dash delivered the food to the unit where the suspect and his father, Zaire Watson, Sr. lived. That address is listed on the Sheriff’s Office incident report as 347 Tall Oaks…

The annual arrival of pumpkin-spice flavors and cooler temperatures have many people eager for fall getaways. To help leaf peepers plan their autumn escapes, Georgia State Parks has launched “Leaf Watch 2022” to track fall color as it moves across the Peach State. Found at GaStateParks.org/LeafWatch, the travel planner is filled with top trails and overlooks, mountain cabins and campsites, fall events and safe hiking tips. Park rangers are often asked when leaf color will peak. Only Mother Nature knows for sure, but Georgia’s most vibrant hues usually come toward the end of October or early November. Shutterbugs are encouraged to share…

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022, including six schools in Georgia. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Secretary Cardona made the announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour. The Georgia schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools were: Appling – North Columbia Elementary School, Columbia County School District. Bremen – Jones Elementary School, Bremen City School District. Jefferson – Jefferson Elementary School, Jefferson City School District. Perry – Kings Chapel Elementary School, Houston County School District. Rome – Armuchee Primary…