Author: On Common Ground News

Free COVID-19 testing will be available DeKalb County will give a $100 prepaid debit card to everyone who receives a COVID-19 vaccination on Saturday, Aug. 28. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., DeKalb County Board of Health and DeKalb County Fire Rescue will administer voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone 12 years of age and older at The Mall at Stonecrest, 2929 Turner Hill Rd., Stonecrest, GA. All persons receiving a vaccination also will receive a $100 prepaid debit card. MedCura Health also will offer free COVID-19 tests. Persons will be able to remain in their vehicles when receiving vaccinations,…

CONYERS, GA—Six candidates qualified last week for three seats on the Conyers City Council. Incumbent Mayor Vince Evans will run unopposed as he was the sole candidate qualifying for the office of mayor. District 1 Council Member Cleveland Stroud previously announced that he would not seek another term and two contenders, Eric Fears and Leslie Lambert, qualified for his seat. The District 2, Post 1 seat has been vacant since former council member Blair Barksdale’s resignation in July 2020. Three contenders qualified for that seat: Charles Bryant, Jason Cosby and Josie Giles. The seats are four-year terms.…

CONYERS–A long line of people formed at Voices of Faith Church’s Rockdale County campus, 1290 Sigman Road, early on Sunday (Aug. 22) morning, ready to roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccinations. Teams from the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Health Departments were on hand to dispense the Pfizer shots. Today marked the health departments’ second visit to Voices of Faith, which is under the leadership of Gary Hawkins, Sr. The first vaccination event, hosted by State Rep. Karen Bennett, was held on Aug. 15 at the church’s main campus at 2500 Rockbridge Road…

ATLANTA – As Hurricane Henri threatens the Northeast Coast, Georgia Power is responding to support affected utilities as part of the mutual assistance network. More than 100 Georgia Power personnel are traveling North toward Hartford, Connecticut. A convoy of trucks and personnel including linemen and engineers, as well as safety, fleet and logistics support from around the state left Georgia Power’s Lawrenceville headquarters in metro Atlanta at 6 a.m. Sunday(Aug. 22). Georgia Power has also released a number of contract crews to respond as well. Mutual Assistance Network Georgia Power monitors changing weather around the clock and coordinates with…

DECATUR, GA– The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) announced that the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators (CJJA) has named Commissioner Tyrone Oliver the 2021 President’s Award recipient. Oliver received the award at the CJJA Summer Meeting on Aug. 14 in Nashville, Tenn. “Commissioner Oliver has proven himself to be a strong leader in our state’s service to youth in the criminal justice system,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “He has rightfully earned the CJJA President’s Award because of his genuine commitment to bettering the lives of countless youth and fostering safe communities across our state. The Kemp family and…

DECATUR, GA- The Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights is hosting the first-ever Pan African Festival at Decatur’s Historic City Square, 101 E. Court Square, on Saturday, Aug. 28, 3 to 8 p.m.  Admission is free. Attorney Mawulli Davis, Beacon Hill’s co-chair, said the historic celebration is a cultural experience that should be shared by all. “A Town Square where a Confederate monument once stood and the Klan would gather will be the site of our first-ever Pan African Festival,” said Davis. “This will be a space of culture, love, and healing,”  said Davis. Organizers say the family-friendly festival is…

DECATUR, GA –The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Shakeem T. Donald, 25, of Stockbridge, GA. Donald is wanted on a charge of Aggravated Assault in connection with the Feb. 10, 2021 shooting of Deondre Earl on Boulder Run Trail in Ellenwood, Georgia. According to the warrant, Donald should be approached with caution, as he is considered dangerous, and he may be armed. Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 404-577-TIPS (404-577-8477). A reward may be available if the information…

DECATUR, GA—Registration is underway for the DeKalb County NAACP’s inaugural Virtual 5K Run/Walk, which will be held Sept. 24 through Oct. 3. The deadline to register is Sept. 1. Teresa Hardy, president of the branch, says the 10-day event is a way to promote healthy living, while supporting the DeKalb NAACP. She is encouraging local residents and those who live outside of DeKalb to sign up and get their cell phone cameras ready.  “COVID-19 has transformed the way we communicate and support each other. We will use this event to run with a purpose, support our community…

$1 billion Consent Decree will fix decades-old problems Tropical Storm Fred dumped three to four inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period throughout much of DeKalb, causing flooding and severe stormwater runoff. The spills, including a 2.5-million-gallon spill from a manhole located near Meadow Creek Path, was caused by stormwater intrusion into the wastewater system. This spill, which flowed into the South River, accounted for 90 percent of the total spill volume on Aug. 17. Federal and state agencies have approved a seven-year $1 billion countywide Consent Decree to fix the county’s aging sewer system. A federal district judge…