Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS, GA – Due to the current spike in COVID-19, Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts announced that all students will return to a virtual/remote learning environment on Tuesday, Jan. 4 following the Winter Break. In-person learning is scheduled to resume on Monday, Jan. 10, he said. Teachers and staff will work  virtually beginning Monday, Jan. 3. Staff, students, and families are urged to get tested for COVID-19 before the return to in-person learning. RCPS continues to offer free COVID-19 testing for students, staff and their families at 954 N. Main Street, Monday-Thursday, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.…

In observance of New Year’s Day on Friday, Dec. 31, sanitation service for residential customers will be based on a normal collection schedule. There will be no change to the sanitation service schedule. The Central Transfer Station, North Transfer Station, Seminole Road Landfill and Customer Care call center will be closed on Friday, Dec. 31, and Saturday, Jan. 1, reopening on Monday, Dec. 27, and Monday, Jan. 3, respectively, during normal operating hours. For more information, contact the Sanitation Division’s Customer Care team at 404-294-2900 or sanitation@dekalbcountyga.gov, visit www.dekalbsanitation.com, or follow the Sanitation Division on Twitter @DKalbSanitation.

The Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Corrine R. Joyner, wife of former City of Stonecrest Deputy City Manager Plez Joyner, will be held on Thursday, Dec. 30. Mrs. Joyner passed away at home on Dec. 22, three days before Christmas, after battling uterine cancer. She was 58. Mr. Joyner and their daughter, Corrina, 20, were at home with her when she made her transition. “My daughter has been amazing during this journey. She came home early from college to be with us. She has helped tremendously in planning her mother’s memorial and has been a great support to both…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond announced today(Dec. 29) that the county will begin distributing 5,000 at-home COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents starting on Thursday, Dec. 30, at 9 a.m. at three locations as follows: South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Rd., Decatur 30034 North DeKalb Mall, 2050 Lawrenceville Hwy., Decatur 30033 Plaza Fiesta, 4166 Buford Hwy., Atlanta 30345. “DeKalb County residents are waiting for hours in long lines to be tested for the COVID-19 virus,” said Thurmond. “This is unacceptable. Our goal is to reduce the frustration and anxiety growing out of the shortage of COVID-19 testing resources…

Photos by Glenn L. Morgan

Photos by Kelly Jordan

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– For the third year in a row, the Gwinnett County Solicitor-General’s Office is responding to concerns for public safety by announcing that recommendations for sentencing for any person convicted of reckless celebratory discharging of firearms in Gwinnett County will be: 12 months confinement and/or a $1000 fine Confiscation of the offender’s firearm Firearms safety class Psychological evaluation Celebratory discharge of a firearm is reckless conduct. In previous years, such actions have caused deaths in metro Atlanta. The Solicitor-General’s Office will continue its efforts to ensure Gwinnett citizens feel safe and secure through aggressive and innovative…

Brookwood High School junior Niheer Patel, a junior at Brookwood High School in Gwinnett County, has been named the winner of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced. The Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition showcasing the value of computer science and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education by encouraging students to learn how to code through the creation of their own apps. “Science and technology are transforming our world and I’m proud of the students who go above and beyond their school’s curriculum and other every-day tasks to compete in…

ATLANTA—As the positive cases of COVID-19 continue to surge, the City of Atlanta today announced the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve Peach Drop. “In consultation with public health officials, we have made the very difficult decision to cancel the Peach Drop,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “As positive COVID-19 cases rise, I encourage everyone to be safe, get vaccinated and follow CDC guidelines.” According to the CDC, Fulton and DeKalb counties remain areas of high transmission for the COVID-19 virus. In Fulton Countyalone, the seven-day average of COVID-19 cases has surged to 1,430 from the previous seven-day average…