Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw has appropriated $760,000 to assist several nonprofit community agencies in helping DeKalb residents with housing and food insecurities, and other essential needs due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. The aid comes from District 4 American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. “Community-based agencies continue to play a critical role partnering with me to address societal issues,” Commissioner Bradshaw said. “I am thankful to have funding to allocate to assist these organizations do good in serving individuals in the community and providing resources to help with their immediate needs.” The COVID-19 pandemic shined…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) made history in 2020 by becoming the first Georgia county to translate voter materials in Spanish and Korean voluntarily. Expanding access to information for Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities has allowed county officials to share important information about voting options while also providing a composite ballot in the two additional languages. In partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta and GALEO, DeKalb VRE is continuing to offer translated materials with important information on the upcoming May 24 primary election and plans to continue translations through the runoff cycle and…

MEDITERRANEAN SEA –Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Anil Persaud, from Loganville, Georgia is assigned to the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34. Persaud attaches a fuel tank to an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) on May 8. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S., allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa. Photo provided by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Board of Elections is working to make sure citizens are still able to vote as conveniently as possible in the upcoming General Primary and Nonpartisan Election on May 24. Runoffs, if necessary, will be held on June 21. For this election, voters have the option of voting by mail absentee voting, in-person early voting, including Saturday and Sunday voting, and in-person on Election Day. Voters are reminded that early in-person voting has moved to 1115 West Ave., S.W., There is no voting at Parker Road. Any voter wishing to vote by mail absentee ballot,…

Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. was recently appointed to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Board of Managers. Nesbitt will serve as one of four National Association of Counties (NACo) Board Representatives. The 2022-2023 Board of Managers was sworn in during a special luncheon at the ACCG Annual Conference in Chatham County. “Elected by their peers each spring, the ACCG Board of Managers is a group of dynamic leaders that serve as decisionmakers on behalf of our organization,” said Executive Director Dave Wills. “I would like to congratulate our newly installed Board and look forward to working…

WASHINGTON, D.C.—DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, in his role as the District 3 Commissioner and President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), attended an event at the White House for an announcement on Affordable High-Speed Internet. Johnson has been selected as part of an esteemed group of influential civic leaders convening in person, to join President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the announcement on Affordable High-Speed Internet. The plan is part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which was created under the bipartisan infrastructure bill , which was signed into law in November. “The ACP will…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Police Department announced today that Ofieo Ojego, 25, is in custody, charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault, in the deadly shootings on Mother’s Day at the Brannon Hill Condominium. An additional suspect, who has been identified but is not in custody, has been charged with three counts of murder. On May 8, at 7:39 p.m., DeKalb County Police Department received calls of a person shot in the 6500 block of Old Hampton Drive. Police officers arrived at the location and found five persons shot. EMS transported two…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– The family has announced the funeral arrangements for Gwinnett Tax Commissioner Tiffany P. Porter, Esq., and all tax commissioner offices will close on Thursday, May 12, in order for associates to pay their respects. Events will be held Wednesday and Thursday, May 11 and May 12.  The public is invited. A public wake will be held on Wednesday, 4 to 8 p.m., at Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, 914 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville. The private Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.’s “Ivy Beyond the Wall” ceremony is set for Wednesday, 6 p.m., at New Mercies Christian Church,…

ATLANTA –MARTA, in partnership with Georgia Tech, announced an expansion of MARTA Reach, a six-month pilot rideshare service designed to connect riders to-and-from MARTA bus and rail. The pilot, meant to test how on-demand shuttles can be used to make it easier and faster for customers to get to their destinations using MARTA, will be expanded to include the neighborhoods of Dixie Hills, Avondale Estates, and the cities of Alpharetta, Roswell, Forest Park, and Morrow. “We have seen significant interest and loyalty from the early riders of MARTA Reach,” said MARTA Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen. “Most of our riders…

GWINNETT COUNTY–The community is invited to celebrate the vibrant cultures and customs that thrive in Gwinnett at the Multicultural Festival. The free, family-friendly event will take place Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Gwinnett Place Mall, located at 2100 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. Guests can look forward to musical performances, folkloric and traditional dances and community displays. Kids’ activities include face paintings, bounce houses and obstacle courses. The festival will also serve as a county government open house for residents to explore the many services and programs available to them. Police officers, firefighters and…