Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council will consider legislation during Monday’s meeting on May 16 outlining increased oversight, accountability, resident participation, and a commitment to improved project delivery for the “Moving Atlanta Forward” infrastructure initiative (Legislative Reference No. 22-O-1369). The full Council meeting will be held in person at 1 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. All meetings will be conducted in accordance with the City of Atlanta’s Charter, City Code of Ordinances, and the rules of Council as adopted for in-person meetings. In-person public comment procedures will be held as previously conducted and adopted by the Council…

CONYERS, GA—A  candlelight vigil will be held in memory of Rockdale County Sheriff’s (RCSO) Deputy Walter D. Jenkins, Jr. on Monday, May 16, 7:30 p.m., in the parking lot of the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, 911 Chambers Drive, Conyers. Deputy Jenkins was killed after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic in a construction zone on May 11. The Sheriff’s Office asks that all family and friends park their vehicles in the Park-N-Ride  lot adjacent to the Sheriff’s Office.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– On May 16, a portion of Lullwater Road Northeast, between The By Way Northeast and North Decatur Road, will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while crews work to replace 24-inch-diameter stormwater pipe. Traffic will be detoured to Oakdale Road. This section of Lullwater Road NE will reopen on Friday, May 20, at 4:30 p.m. The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management has initiated this construction project to address the repair needs of approximately 100,000 linear feet of water pipe as a part of ongoing maintenance to improve water service countywide. Motorists should expect…

CONYERS, GA—Installation services will be held on Sunday, May 15, for the Rev. Dr. Constance L. Abbott, who has been appointed the new pastor of the historic Macedonia Baptist Church Conyers. Macedonia, located at 2052 Barton St. in Conyers, was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest African-American churches in Rockdale County. Pastor Abbott succeeds the Rev. Billie Cox, who was appointed in 2012 as the first woman to lead Macedonia Baptist Church in Conyers. Rockdale Baptist Church, located at 1295 Smyrna Road S.W., will host the installation at its campus at 3 p.m. and invites the…

ATLANTA—Georgia recently added four new listings to the National Register of Historic Places. As the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the Historic Preservation Division (HPD), housed in the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, administers the National Register of Historic Places program in Georgia. Nominations for listings are in line with HPD’s mission of promoting the preservation and use of historic places for a better Georgia. By sharing the importance of this listing, HPD hopes to encourage the preservation of historic properties through public awareness and an appreciation of the impactful roles they play in our social and economic lives.…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office(RCSO) is flying the U.S. flag at half-staff today to remember Deputy Walter Jenkins, who died last night after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic in a construction zone. Deputy Jenkins was 54. The Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Jenkins was directing traffic on Highway 138 at the intersection of Georgia Highway 212 when the driver of a silver sedan struck him. The accident happened on May 11, around 9:30 p.m. The 16-year-old female driver who struck the deputy remained on the scene, said Jedidia Canty, Public Information Officer for…

ATLANTA—The Rev. Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, president and founder of the Organization of World Leaders and candidate for Georgia Secretary of State, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Hailed as a champion for social justice and human rights that promote peace and economic stability, Dawkins-Haigler has worked with world leaders and political regimes throughout Africa and the Caribbean. She has helped them achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined and approved by the United Nations. Her work has focused on the eradication of poverty, gender equality, affordable and clean energy and quality education, just to name a few, according…

ATLANTA – Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp and the Department of Revenue (DOR) announced today that DOR will begin issuing special, one-time tax refunds this week. This initiative is a result of House Bill 1302, which the Georgia General Assembly recently passed, and Gov. Kemp signed into law. This legislation allows for an additional refund of income taxes from 2020, due to the state experiencing a revenue surplus. “Due to years of responsible, conservative budgeting and our measured reopening that prioritized protecting both lives and livelihoods, Georgia is in a position to issue these one-time refunds,” said Governor Kemp. “As hardworking Georgians…

MACON, GA–Explore downtown Macon on Saturday, May 14, at the Great Art Hunt fundraiser to support The 567 Center and its mission of bringing creative life to downtown Macon. The event kicks off at The 567 Center, 456 First Street, where participants can stop by between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. to pick up their T-shirt, tote bag, map, and clues to help you find all the stops in this scavenger hunt of sculptures and murals If you take a photo at every location, you might even win a week on St. George Island. You will have until 7 p.m. to complete…