Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County will commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a weekend marked with a food distribution, COVID-19 test distribution, prayer and a parade. “The Board of Commissioners and I have proclaimed this King Holiday weekend as a time for Prayer, Healing and Restoration,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. On Saturday, Jan. 15, beginning at 9 a.m., 3,500 boxes containing produce, chicken hindquarters and a dozen eggs will be distributed at the following locations: Rehoboth Baptist Church, 2997 Lawrenceville Hwy., Tucker Shy Temple CME Church, 2030 Wesley Chapel Rd., Decatur Big Miller Grove…

DECATUR, GA– In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 17, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on a revised collection schedule as follows: Monday, Jan. 17 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed. No sanitation service. Tuesday, Jan. 18 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, Jan. 17, will be serviced on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Wednesday, Jan. 19 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Jan. 18, will be serviced on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Thursday, Jan. 20 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Jan. 19, will…

LITHONIA, GA – New Bethel AME Church in partnership with MAJL Labs will be sponsoring a COVID-19 testing site, on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 8350 Rockbridge Road, Lithonia.   Testing is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

DECATUR, GA—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch will host the 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., (MLK Jr.) Parade on Monday, Jan. 17, 2 at 12 noon. The parade line up starts at 10 a.m. at Green Pastures Christian Ministries, 5455 Flat Shoals Pkwy., Decatur, and ends at MLK High School, 3991 Snapfinger Road, Decatur. The theme is “Marching to the Sound of Justice.” All are welcome to participate in this historical event. To participate in the parade, you must register http://www.naacpdekalb.org. To volunteer, please send email to info@naacpdekalb.org  Subject: Volunteer To donate, remit payment at Donations…

ATLANTA– Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced four judicial appointments and his intentions to appoint a district attorney for the Houston Judicial Circuit. Judge Charles E. Bailey will fill the seat on the DeKalb County State Court formerly held by the Honorable Kimberly Alexander who was appointed to the DeKalb County State Court Jury Division, effective August 31, 2021. Ana Maria Martinez will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Dax Lopez. Judge Ronnie Thompson will fill the seat on the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit created by the passage of HB 786 during the 2020 session of the Georgia…

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta announced the opening of two emergency warming centers in anticipation of frigid temperatures. The centers will open tonight, Monday, Jan. 10, at 8 p.m. and will remain open through Tuesday morning at 8 a.m., Jan. 11. The warming centers are located at the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Ln N.W., Atlanta, and the Central Park Recreation Center at 400 Merritts Ave. N.E., Atlanta. Transportation will be provided at 8:00 p.m. from the Gateway Center, located at 275 Pryor St. SW, Atlanta.

ATLANTA –Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) has appointed former State Rep. Edward Lindsey, Jr. to the State Election Board. Lindsey succeeds Rebecca Sullivan who was named Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services earlier today(Jan. 10). Edward Lindsey is a partner in the Dentons’ Public Policy practice and serves as the head of the firm’s Georgia state government affairs team. He previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 10 years, including three terms as House Majority Whip. Lindsey is a graduate of Davidson College and earned his law degree from the University of Georgia.

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson signed a Local Emergency Order requiring face masks or coverings to be worn in all facilities that are owned or leased by the County.   The Local Emergency Order is effective from Jan. 10 until Jan. 26. At that time, Chairwoman Hendrickson may reevaluate this order based on recommendations by the CDC and the state DPH.  More than 18,566 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the Georgia Department of Health from Wednesday to Thursday of this week. In Gwinnett County, the surge of positive cases has not only affected…

CONYERS, GA—The East Metro Business Networking Mixer Jan. 11 event is cancelled, organizers announced. “It is with much regret that we have decided to cancel tomorrow’s January 11 Business Networking Mixer, due to uprise in Covid-19 cases. Our number one priority is always the health and safety of our guest. This is not a decision that we have taken lightly and there are several overriding concerns that has caused us to make this decision,” the organization stated in a news release. The East Metro Business Networking Mixer is expected to resume next month on Feb. 8th.…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb History Center will present as its “Lunch & Learn” guest speaker, retired Judge Clarence Seeliger, on Feb. 1. The free event will be held noon to 1 p.m., at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square (second floor), Decatur.  The program is free to attend and will be held in person and virtually. Judge Seeliger, who retired in 2020, will be discussing his career as a judge in DeKalb County and his collection, newly acquired by the DHC, containing archival material spanning 50 years of service. During his long career as a judge,…