Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA — DeKalb County residents, commuters and visitors are urged to sign up for the county’s CodeRed emergency notification system to stay informed about COVID-19 alerts and messages as New Year’s Day approaches. DeKalb County activated the CodeRed Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) warning system on Dec. 23 to alert residents and visitors of the spiking Omicron variant of COVID-19 in metro Atlanta. “We want everyone to have a safe and healthy holiday, but we must be vigilant because of the surge in cases fueled by the COVID-19 Omicron variant,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. DeKalb…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr announced that Nourolzaman Tucker has pleaded guilty in DeKalb County Superior Court to one felony count of Medicaid Fraud. Superior Court Judge Shondeana C. Morris accepted the plea on Dec. 17, 2021, and sentenced the defendant to five years to be served on probation. The Court also ordered restitution in the amount of $5,681.86 and imposed a fine of $5,000. Tucker is now excluded from practicing as a provider of healthcare services under Medicaid and Medicare. “We will not tolerate the abuse of Georgia’s Medicaid program as a means to steal from our citizens in…

DECATUR, GA —The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will hold a special called meeting on Friday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m. The 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 by telephone, be aware that your phone number may…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Health will hold a special board meeting via teleconference on Dec. 27, beginning at noon. Public access to the video conference can be established through the following methods: Zoom Video: https://zoom.us/join | Meeting ID: 895 1145 4388 / Passcode: Ryq76G Zoom Audio: 301-715-8592, Meeting ID 895 1145 4388, Passcode: 999970 Agenda items for the meeting include: Contracts for Consideration o Netsmart MyInsight License and Service Agreement Amendment #4 – Contract #09-197-Co051-04 o Jacob’s Eye, LLC – Contract #22-2509-Co054-00 – American Rescue Planning Plan (ARP) Grant Funds o Sensis, Inc. – Contract #22-2509-Co049-00 — American Rescue Planning (ARP) Grant Funds Public Comments III. Board…

By Mackenzie Morgan This month, the Rockdale County Think Tank and Visions of the Minds and  have been on a mission to spread holiday joy in their local community of  Conyers. The mother-daughter organizations, created by Josie Dean and CiCi Ross, said they hope their efforts will inspire others to help those less fortunate during and beyond the holiday season. “Giving is a year-round job. There’s always someone in need and it’s our job as a community to ensure these needs get met,” said Rockdale County Think Tank Founder Josie Dean. CiCi Ross, who runs Visions of the Minds,…

Atlanta, GA – Gov. Brian P. Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr have announced the State of Georgia has filed a lawsuitchallenging the Biden Administration’s Head Start vaccine and masking mandate.   As enacted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Nov. 30, 2021, the mandate applies to all programs funded by Head Start, including some programs administered by Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). Specifically, it requires all Head Start staff and certain contractors and volunteers be fully vaccinated by Jan. 31, 2022, and that masks be worn by all Head Start children 2…

STONECREST, GA—Kwabena “Cubby” Nkromo, who heads North America Food & Farm PBC Inc (NAF2), is appealing to the community to help launch the Stonecrest Fresh Farmers Market, which will be held on the plaza at The Mall at Stonecrest.  I am raising funds to cover the start-up costs of the market to ensure its success from the very beginning,” said Nkromo. “Even a small donation could help us reach our fundraising goal.” Nkromo said the community’s support of the crowdfunding campaign will not only making farm fresh food available to Stonecrest residents and the community at largest also help participating local farmers thrive. …

Employee incentive provides $300 for COVID-19 vaccinations $200 for flu vaccinations, DECATUR, GA—As of Dec. 1, approximately 58 percent of DeKalb County Government employees have submitted documentation proving that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond told commissioners today Dec. 21.  In November, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Thurmond’s proposal to give DeKalb County Government employees $500 in incentives for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. “These incentives are encouraging our employees to protect themselves, their families, friends and community against this deadly virus,” Thurmond said. “When our employees get vaxxed, this increases the…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County will open three warming centers for residents to use overnight. Temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s beginning tonight through Thursday, Dec. 23.  Warming centers will be open in the following DeKalb County Fire Stations tonight, Dec. 20, beginning at 8 p.m.: ·      Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 ·      Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294 ·      Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, GA 30316 Anyone staying in the warming centers must follow the county’s COVID-19 protocols which include wearing a mask, social…