Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Health will hold its regularly scheduled meeting via teleconference on Nov. 18, beginning at 3 p.m. Public access to the video conference can be established through the following methods: Zoom Video: https://zoom.us/join | Meeting ID: 853 5814 5064 / Passcode: 286796 Zoom Audio: 301-715-8592, Meeting ID 853 5814 5064, Passcode: 286796 Agenda items for the meeting include: Approval of Minutes Regular Board Meeting Minutes of Sept. 23, 2021 Contracts for Consideration National AIDS Education and Services for Men, Inc. (NAESM) – Contract #22-0508-Co013-00 Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc (CPACS) – Contract #22-0508-Co011-00 Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services, Inc. – Contract #22-0508-Co012-00…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is hosting the 2nd Vaccine Gift Card Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Rockdale County Health Department, 985 Taylor St. SW, Conyers. This event is to encourage Rockdale County residents to be vaccinated and protected against the COVID-19 virus. The event is open to anyone who is age 12 and over, but only residents 18 years old and above who are receiving their second dose or booster COVID-19 shot will receive a $50 gift card. Gift cards are for Rockdale County residents only. Proof of I.D. must be…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has announced that the DeKalb County Police Department has received a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant for the 2022 grant season. Referred to as the H.E.A.T. grant, the DeKalb County Police Department’s award totals $ $43,012. The DeKalb County Police Department’s H.E.A.T. Unit will use the grant to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors. “With the increase in the number of persons killed in traffic crashes in Georgia and across the nation over the last year, the Governor’s…

ATLANTA– Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has written the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of its efforts to reduce illegal robocallers’ access to legitimate phone numbers. Often, bad actors will use verified phone numbers to make unending robocalls in scam attempts. “The heightened prevalence of illegal robocalls is a major concern for Georgia consumers due to the increased risk for financial scams,” said Carr. “Though progress has been made, fraudsters continue to take advantage of our state’s citizens by circumventing the law and manipulating technology to fit their intended crime. We recognize additional steps must be taken to put…

The Salem Middle School Lions are celebrating their victory as DeKalb County’s 2021 Middle School Football Champions. The Lions went down to the last play to hold off the Stephenson Jaguars 6-0 and win the  championship on Nov. 6 at Avondale Stadium. The school congratulated the team for its victory and Charles “CJ” Harrisfor winning the Most Valuable Player award and Jaleel Baugh for winning the Offensive Most Valuable Player award in a post on Salem’s web site. Salem’s CJ Harris stripped a Stephenson ball carrier of the football at the Salem 17 and returned it 22 yards to the Salem…

Employees to receive $300 for COVID-19 vaccinations and $200 for flu vaccinations DECATUR, GA—Today, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved CEO Michael Thurmond’s proposal to give DeKalb County Government employees $500 in incentives for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. “These incentives are important tools as we continue to chip away at the number of unvaccinated people living and working in DeKalb County,” CEO Thurmond said. “I am grateful to the Board of Commissioners’ unanimous vote as we work together to protect our employees and the county.” DeKalb County employees will receive a $300 incentive after they…

Pictured: Revonda Cosby, executive director of Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, speaks with stakeholders during the Nov. 14 community engagement session in Lithonia. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ocgnews.com LITHONIA—Dozens of people attended the Nov. 14 community engagement session, which was held at the site of the historic Bruce Street School ruins, DeKalb County’s first Black public school. During the three-hour drop-in, stakeholders had a chance to tour the site and participate in activities designed to stimulate ideas on how the site may be preserved for future generations as a historic destination. Mother Nature provided a perfect fall day for…

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) Talent Development Program (TDP) will present its annual concert featuring young African American and Latinx musicians on Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. The TDP fellows will take the stage of Symphony Hall for an evening of music featuring solo and chamber music performances. The ASO’s model program provides rigorous musical training for African American and Latinx musicians preparing for careers in classical music.  This year’s program made possible by Delta Air Lines, the Coca-Cola Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, Georgia Pacific, and Warner Media, features music by Felix Mendelssohn, Julius Klengel and more.…

President Biden calls for equity in apprenticeships, department launches Ambassadors’ initiative WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the kickoff of the seventh annual National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 15-21, a Presidential proclamation on apprenticeship and the launch of a new collaborative effort to expand, diversify and modernize Registered Apprenticeships in the U.S. National Apprenticeship Week 2021 will include career and trade fairs, open houses, conferences, roundtables and panel discussions with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in apprenticeship opportunities. Plans include more than 832 events and the issuance of 172 proclamations in 50 states, territories and the District…

Pictured L-R: DeKalb County, Georgia Commissioner Larry Johnson, Congressman Hank Johnson and Sen. Jon Ossoff NACo President Larry Johnson: Counties ready to move forward on overdue projects   WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, leaders of the National Association of Counties (NACo) applauded the enactment of the landmark bipartisan infrastructure package signed into law by President Biden. NACo President Larry Johnson, who serves on the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, joined county leaders from across the country at the White House for the signing ceremony for the bill.  Johnson said the bill will  greatly transform DeKalb and other counties across the nation as major…