Author: On Common Ground News

Conyers, GA– All Rockdale County Public School employees will get a $2,000 bonus in April, officials announced. Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed an amended budget for Fiscal Year 2022 that provides a one-time, $2,000 bonus payment to every K-12 public school teacher and other educational support personnel. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts is extending that bonus to all to all RCPS employees, including those not covered under the state requirements. The superintendent said he is extending the bonus to cover all RCPS employees as a gesture of gratitude for their work and sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic,…

CONYERS, GA—Detectives with the Conyers Police Department have charged a Conyers woman with exploiting an 81-year-old woman for months and using the victim’s credit cards to finance a hair salon. Nicole Macon, 45, was arrested in connection with the case after Adult Protective Services were contacted and police launched an investigation. According to authorities, the investigation found that the victim had been transported from her home in Illinois to Conyers by a friend of her family said to be the victim’s granddaughter.  The victim was deprived of any means to communicate with friends or family.  Her financial accounts and…

DECATUR, GA– Due to staffing challenges within its residential collection team, the DeKalb County Sanitation Division is currently experiencing recycling and yard trimmings collection delays in the north service area. The Sanitation Division’s north service area includes the section of Atlanta in DeKalb County, Tucker, Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Doraville. Sanitation crews will work through this weekend to ensure all recycling and yard trimmings are collected from affected households, official said. Residents are encouraged to keep their recycling and yard trimmings at the curb until servicing occurs. The Sanitation Division apologizes for any inconvenience and appreciates residents’ patience as collection…

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is seeking people to serve on its Riders’ Advisory Council (RAC), an all-volunteer group that provides feedback on improving the overall transit experience for customers. The inaugural council members are stepping down in May following a two-year term. The council is comprised of 25 members representing MARTA’s diverse customer base and hailing from its four service jurisdictions, City of Atlanta, and Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties. All are eligible to sit on the council except for MARTA employees, owners or employees of businesses with active MARTA contracts, elected officials, and those younger than…

ATLANTA – Atlanta Public Schools will host a virtual job fair on Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m. – Noon. Current teachers, veterans and other professionals considering a career change are encouraged to register for the online event. The job fair will feature representatives from all pf the district’s traditional schools, who will be recruiting for all grade levels and all subject areas, including special education, fine arts, math and science, world languages, as well as career and technical education fields. Other job openings include bus drivers, mechanics, as well as IT, HR and Finance professionals. The district is offering $3,000 hiring incentives for special education, math, dual language immersion, and CTAE(Career…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Commissioner Robert Patrick has partnered with St. Vincent de Paul Georgia to help DeKalb families living in extended stay motels to move to permanent housing through the organization’s Motel-to-Home Program. To disrupt the extended stay motel trap, the Motel-to-Home Program helps families pay the necessary upfront costs of moving, and pairs families with a dedicated caseworker who provides information and resources to promote economic mobility and a path to self-sufficiency. Many working-class families who find themselves on the brink of homelessness relocate to extended stays as temporary housing solutions. Unfortunately, many often become entrapped in…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb Human Services Department will host a “Leap into Spring: Stay Healthy & Active Health Expo” on Wednesday, March 30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Stonecrest. Organizers say the event will promote healthy living and celebrate spring. The health expo will be held in partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Health and will include flu and COVID vaccinations, music, educational resources and food. There is no cost to participate.  The public is encouraged to attend. To register, go to https://conta.cc/3DaTbUt. For more information, contact Chiquita Thomas,…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian P. Kemp today signed House Bill 1302 providing a tax refund to all eligible Georgia taxpayers. “When government takes in more than it needs, I believe those dollars should be returned to the taxpayer, because that is your money – not the government’s,” said Governor Kemp. “In Georgia, we are taking swift action to lessen the impact of the federal administration’s disastrous policies that have driven record-high inflation over the last year by putting taxpayer dollars back in the pockets of hardworking Georgians. I appreciate our Office of Planning and Budget and the members of the Georgia General Assembly who…