Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Government is partnering with local faith leaders to distribute 5,000 boxes of 100 percent Georgia-grown fruits and vegetables, eggs, and chicken hindquarters on Saturday, June 18. Additionally, there will be juice boxes and single-serve cereal for children. Residents will receive about $45 worth of food on a first-come, first-served basis. “Metro Atlanta is experiencing the second highest inflation rates in the nation, and groceries are costing more and more every day,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. Overall, inflation increased 8.6 percent in the past year, the largest increase in 40 years, according to the Consumer Price…

CHAMBLEE, GA– A Chamblee Police officer was injured after his patrol vehicle was  rear-ended by a drunk driver. The incident occurred on June 14, at 3:59 a.m. Lieutenant Roy Collar, of the Chamblee Police Department, was assisting the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) with traffic control near the GA 400 and Interstate 285 construction zone. Lt. Collar’s police vehicle was parked on Lenox Road northbound ramp to GA 400 with emergency lights activated, when another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed rear-ended his vehicle. After impact, the suspect’s vehicle became engulfed in flames.  The driver of the engulfed…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — Expanding on its commitment to strengthen health care resources in the Gwinnett region, Northside Hospital held a ceremonial crane christening and groundbreaking event on June 7 to mark construction of a new patient tower on its Northside Gwinnett campus in Lawrenceville. Hospital leadership joined representatives from the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation, Hospital Authority of Gwinnett County, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the local community to celebrate the continuing, rapid growth of the region’s health care resources. “This is another great milestone for Gwinnett County,” said Northside Hospital Gwinnett/Duluth CEO and President Debbie Mitcham. “Northside’s mission in Gwinnett County…

NEWTON COUNTY, GA—80 Acres Farms, an industry-leading vertical farming company, will create 150 new jobs in Newton County. The $120 million investment in Covington, Georgia, will help the company meet growing consumer demand for local, fresh produce. “We are excited to welcome 80 Acres Farms to Georgia as we continue finding new, exciting ways to support and grow our state’s No. 1 agriculture industry,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “I look forward to seeing the difference that 80 Acres Farms will make in Covington as they employ hardworking Georgians and pour into in the local community and surrounding region.” The 80 Acres Farms…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying two persons of interest wanted in connection with a fatal shooting on June 12. Police said the incident occurred on June 12 at 7:35 p.m. at the Kroger shopping plaza at 4919 Flakes Mill Road. The two individuals were in a dispute with another vehicle that ended up with one victim dead and another shot, in critical condition. The individuals then fled the scene in a white sedan, southbound on Flakes Mill Road. Anyone with information is urged to call the DeKalb Police Homicide Assault Unit at 770-724-7850 or…

ATLANTA– Georgia Medicaid recipients will soon receive one or more text messages from the Georgia Department of Human Services asking them to update their account information and communication preferences. This outreach is crucial to ensuring recipients do not miss letters or notifications once the Biden Administration ends the federal public health emergency (PHE). The timeline for expiration remains uncertain, but Medicaid recipients are strongly encouraged to review and update their information now.Due to changes in federal law to address the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people in the U.S. – including hundreds of thousands in Georgia – have had continuous Medicaid coverage…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Juneteenth on Monday, June 20, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will run one day late as follows: Monday, June 20 – Juneteenth observed. No sanitation service. Tuesday, June 21 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, June 20, will be serviced on Tuesday, June 21.  Wednesday, June 22 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, June 21, will be serviced on Wednesday, June 22. Thursday, June 23 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, June 22, will be serviced on…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Early voting for the runoff elections has begun and Rockdale County elections officials reported the county’s turnout so far for the June 21 Democratic Primary and non-partisan runoffs is 841. Rockdale Elections Supervisor Cynthia Willingham stated in her report that the county currently has 60,582 active voters on its rolls as of April 25, 2022. More statistics on the turnout is provided in the gray box below and the Sample Ballot information follows the voter turnout. What you need to know about Early/Advance Voting in Rockdale:  The early voting period runs Monday through Thursday, June 13-16, 8 a.m.…

PENSACOLA, FL– Hospitalman Raquel Shanks, a native of Grayson, Georgia, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Pensacola operating out of Naval Air Station Pensacola. Shanks joined the Navy four years ago. “I grew up with everyone in my family being a Marine and I knew the Navy would be my branch,” said Shanks. Growing up in Grayson, Shanks attended Beaufort High School and graduated in 2018. Today, Shanks relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Grayson to succeed in the military. “Family is what you make of it,” said Shanks. “While…