Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with county leaders and partners to commemorate the opening of the new tax office located in Chamblee.  Expanding to nearly 5,400 square feet, the newly constructed office is a substantial upgrade from the previous space of 1,200 square feet. Parking capacity has doubled to 60 spaces for customers and employees, and service windows now include 10 stations to better serve property tax and motor vehicle customers. “I am honored to recognize the dedication, support and hard work of everyone involved in the project,” said…

Be sure to sign up for CodeRED, DeKalb’s emergency notification system DECATUR, GA– With temperatures forecast below freezing through the weekend, county officials have shared the following tips for winter weather: Exercise safety and use proper ventilation when operating alternative heat sources, such as fireplaces and electric heaters. Do not use an oven as a heat source. Do not bring grills, generators, kerosene heaters, and other outside heating devices inside to heat a home, as they emit poisonous carbon monoxide. Keep pets inside. If animals must remain outside, ensure their food and water is not frozen. Disconnect and drain…

ATLANTA—Mayor Andre Dickens joined Wells Fargo leadership in announcing a $20 million donation to help Atlanta small business owners own more of their businesses’ assets—including property and equipment—to enable physical upgrades to their facilities. The United Way of Greater Atlanta—in collaboration with Invest Atlanta—will distribute the funding as a mix of grants and loans in the city, with a focus on Black-owned and other diverse-owned businesses. “This Wells Fargo grant program gives small business owners the opportunity to grow and expand by owning more of their own assets—which can be a game changer for the financial health of any…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Freezing temperatures are on the way and Rockdale County is opening a warming center for those who need overnight shelter. The center will  open nightly Friday, Jan. 28,  through Sunday, Jan. 30.  Due to COVID restrictions, the maximum capacity for  the warming center is 16 guests.  Please call ahead at 404-229-6405 to check availability. If guests do not comply with center rules, they will be asked to leave for the night. Rockdale County Fire Rescue will provide a small lunch for guests, as well as pastries and coffee for all police officers and deputies on duty those…

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent Mrs. Cheryl Watson-Harris has her sights on the 2022-2023 school year as she continues to lead the district onward and upward to achieve the vision of a DCSD graduate. Mrs. Watson-Harris delivered her second State of the District address on Jan. 26 and highlighted the vision of the future, as well as the successes the district has achieved over the last year. The district celebrated several accomplishments last year, including its acceptance into the League of Innovative Schools by Digital Promise, winning the Student Support Team Association for Georgia Educators…

STONECREST, GA—State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) will host her sixth annual “Go Red for Women” event on Friday, Feb. 4, 12 – 2 p.m., at SeaQuest at the Mall at Stonecrest, 8020 Mall Pkwy. Participants may attend in person or virtually via Zoom by registering in advance here. “I have hosted this event every year as a way to show my appreciation to God for allowing me to live after my heart attack,” said Rep. Carter. “Since I have been fortunate enough to live, aside from hosting advocacy events, I also participate in various heart-related studies. I want to…

New shuttle service launches in Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton on March 1   ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is hosting a virtual workshop for “MARTA Reach,” a six-month pilot rideshare shuttle service designed to connect riders to-and-from MARTA bus and rail. The virtual workshop will be held Feb. 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m. In partnership with Georgia Tech, MARTA Reach will test how on-demand shuttles can be used to make it easier and faster for customers to get to their destinations using MARTA and help minimize waiting and walking. “Exploring first- and last-mile connectivity options is important in…

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police Department (MPD) is implementing higher starting salaries for Police Officers and Protective Specialists, in addition to a three percent raise for all employees beginning in March 2022. Protective Specialist starting pay has been increased to $20 per hour from $15, and Reserve Officer pay has been increased to $30 per hour. In addition to annual salary increases, Police Officers will receive a two percent pay increase in July 2022 and a five percent increase in July 2023. “MARTA has an outstanding police force and it’s important we make salary and…

Georgia families looking for a Mother’s Day gift on the wild side can treat mom to two days of camping and paddling May 6-8 as Georgia River Network hosts a special adventure on the Yellow and Alcovy Rivers The statewide river advocacy organization has pegged this Mother’s Day weekend of camping and paddling as an adventure geared to families with special programs for youth throughout the event. “Georgia River Network loves getting families on rivers,” said Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia Coordinator. “Electronic devices don’t mix well with water, so parents and children alike are assured of each others’ undivided…

ATLANTA—Sen. Elena Parent (D – Atlanta) will host a collaborative virtual town hall on Monday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m., alongside Rep. Bee Nguyen (D – Atlanta), DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, and Atlanta Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari. As legislators share initiatives and updates on this year’s Legislative Session, participants are invited to ask questions and connect with neighbors via Zoom video conference. The video conference is open to the public online and questions may be submitted in advance at: https://bit.ly/Jan31-Questions. WHO: Sen. Elena Parent Rep. Bee Nguyen Commissioner Larry Johnson Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari WHAT: Collaborative Town Hall WHEN: Monday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m. WHERE: Registration for…