Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Waste Management will temporarily suspend bulky item and yard waste pickup in unincorporated Gwinnett County effective Friday, Jan. 7, due to a surge in COVID-19 infections among its workforce. Waste Management will prioritize trash and recycling services. Waste Management provided the following message to its Gwinnett customers: “Although Waste Management is committed to providing Gwinnett County customers with the world-class service we always have, the COVID-19 epidemic and the latest surge of the Omicron variant has temporarily impacted our workforce. A high percentage of employees are currently quarantined with the virus. These absences, while temporary, are…

DEKALB COUNTY GA – Due to significant COVID-19-related staffing challenges within iits residential collection team, the DeKalb County Sanitation Division is currently experiencing service delays for recycling and yard trimmings. Sanitation crews will work through the weekend to ensure all recycling and yard trimmings are collected. Residents are encouraged to keep their recycling and yard trimmings at the curb until servicing occurs. The Sanitation Division is experiencing staffing issues due to COVID-19. Because sanitation crews must work in cold and inclement weather, they are more susceptible to respiratory illnesses due to decreased resistance. The Sanitation Division apologizes for any inconvenience…

  DeKalb County House Chair Karla Drenner and DeKalb Senate Chair Emanuel Jones announce two upcoming DeKalb Delegation Joint Pre-Session Virtual Town Hall, to listen to constituents’ questions and legislative priorities for the Legislative Session, which begins Monday, Jan.10. Registration is required.  To accommodate different schedules, two town halls will be held for people to attend and ask questions and provide feedback about priorities for the upcoming Legislative Session.    Register HERE for Saturday, Jan. 8, 9:30 a.m. Register HERE for Tuesday, Jan.11, 7 p.m. Submit questions and feedback: To help prepare, please submit questions and feedback about legislative priorities HERE.…

ATLANTA—Some customers are without service due to a water main break at Twin Keys Apartment Homes on Briarwood Road in Atlanta. DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management crews are at the complex at 1457 Briarwood Road Northeast assessing the break to make repairs.Traffic into the complex is blocked because the only street in and out has collapsed. Earlier today, part of the road collapsed under weight of a DeKalb County dump truck. The truck has been removed with the aid of a crane. Bottled water is being provided to the residents and DeKalb County Fire Rescue is on the scene.…

STONECREST, GA—The city’s founder, Jason Lary, made his final address today, announcing his resignation as mayor effective Wednesday, Jan. 5, 10 a.m. Lary thanked supporters during the virtual address, which was live streamed from his Facebook page today (Jan. 4) at 11 a.m. Lary, who was re-elected to a second term in November 2019, was supposed to serve through 2023. City officials likely will begin making plans to hold an election to fill the seat upon Lary’s official departure. Lary, who heads to federal court on Wednesday morning to plead guilty to charges related to the misuse of $6.2…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, Jan. 6, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) will hold a virtual roundtable discussion titled: “Root Causes of the Insurrection: Securing Democracy For All.” As part of a national day of observances and events, the Congressman’s event will feature Ray of Hope Pastor Rev. Cynthia Hale as moderator with a panel of special guests from the faith and public policy disciplines. Ray of Hope is located in DeKalb County, GA. WHO: Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), who was trapped in the chamber with some of his colleagues when the attack occurred; Moderator: Rev. Cynthia L. Hale,…

CONYERS, GA—After careful consideration and deliberation, Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) announced today that it has extended its remote learning schedule through Friday, Jan. 14, 20with in-person teaching and learning set to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 18, following the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. “In reviewing the new CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantining as well as our local, regional, and statewide public health data, and most importantly in reviewing our internal layered mitigation strategies, I determined that an additional week of remote learning would be prudent as we continue facilitating testing and vaccinations for as many of…

STONE MOUNTAIN—Beverly Jones, a former Stone Mountain City Council member, will make history when she is sworn in today (Jan. 4) as the first black female mayor in the 182-year history of the city, the birthplace of the 20th Century Ku Klux Klan. The private ceremonies for Jones, 62, and three City Council members will be held at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, ahead of the first City Council meeting for 2022. The public will be able to view the ceremonies virtually on the city’s web site: http://www.stonemountaincity.org/     Jones and the others who were elected in November will…