Author: On Common Ground News

CEO Thurmond: ‘Only 44 percent of residents are fully vaccinated’ DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Government is giving away $50 prepaid debit cards as incentives for the first 300 people receiving COVID-19 vaccinations July 24 during the county’s monthly food distribution. Beginning at 8 a.m., DeKalb County Board of Health medical professionals and DeKalb Fire Rescue paramedics and EMTs will administer voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations to residents 12 years of age and older at three locations: James R. Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial College Ave., Clarkston, GA 30021 Buck Godfrey Stadium,2817 Clifton Springs Rd., Decatur, GA 30034 Rehoboth Baptist…

ATLANTA– Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is warning consumers about a new take on the classic pyramid scheme: Instagram users. Recently, fraudsters have been promoting pyramid schemes to young adults via Instagram. In some cases, the scammers purport to be representatives of a company that is transferring money to college students to establish creditworthiness and claiming you can make $350 for every person you enroll. There are different versions of these pyramid schemes, but they usually ask you to pay a fee of $100 or more to take part and promise you can easily make big…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. and Post I Commissioner Sherri Washington have been  appointed as committee leaders in the National Association of Counties (NACo). The appointments were made during the recent NACo Conference, which was held July 9-12 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Nesbitt was appointed Vice Chair to the Programs and Services Standing Committee. Washington was appointed Vice Chair to the International Economic Development Task Force and vice chair to the Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. “I was honored to represent Rockdale County at the NACo conference at the…

The annual Visions Of The Minds 2021 Backpack Giveaway will be held on Friday, July 23. Register here https://bit.ly/3rpSz7s

CONYERS, GA—Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) held a ribbon cutting ceremony today (July 20) for its new, 82,044-square-foot administration building at 960 Pine Street in Olde Town Conyers. The campus is now home to all RCPS Central Office departments, which previously were spread across several locations in leased office space. “I am excited to share that our former Main Street campus will become the home of a new Georgia Military College campus, giving our students and citizens of Rockdale County another option for higher education close to home,” said RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts. RCSP’s new…

 “If you drive over the speed limit, look for blue lights…”  —Lt Maurice Raines, Georgia State Patrol ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County is among Georgia law enforcement agencies that are participating this week in an initiative dubbed “Operation Southern Shield,” targeting speeding, distracted driving, drunk-driving and other traffic violations. State and local law enforcement agencies in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina are participating in the initiative, which began on July 19, and ends on July 25. Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett hosted a press conference today, July 20, announcing the operation with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety(GOHS),…

Decatur, Clarkston, Tucker Covington, Oxford projects on the list for funding WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced that he has secured $4,929,000 for eight community-funded projects in the 2022 Department of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (LHHS) and the Department of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bills. The inclusion of the funding in the Appropriations Committee draft bill is the first step in the funding process. Johnson said he will continue to fight for this funding as the bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee, consideration on the House Floor, and negotiations with the Senate.…

TUCKER, GA—After a postponement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Tucker is ready to host the 2021 Manufacturing Day on Aug. 25 at Stone Ridge Event Center, 1750 Stoneridge Drive, Tucker. The event, which takes participants behind the scenes of Tucker’s busy industrial corridors, will feature insights from leaders in local and state business as well as commercial real estate, the Tucker Summit Community Development(CID) announced in its July newsletter. Breakfast will be available during the two panels moderated by Tucker’s mayor, Frank Auman. The first panel will feature local manufacturers sharing their…

Donations boxes placed in City buildings, Conyers Walmart CONYERS, GA—Conyers Police Department, in partnership with Wal- Mart, 1436 Dogwood Drive, is hosting a Back to School Supply Drive starting immediately. “We are grateful for our partnership with Walmart to help Rockdale County students this year,” Police Chief Gene Wilson said. “Walmart has supported us for many years during the holiday season, so co-hosting this new event is a great idea and initiative by Detective Chris Burns during the summertime as well.” Residents will find donation boxes at Conyers Police Department, 1194 Scott Street SE…

Photo caption: Unidentified man with horse, circa 1920s. Photo provided Forkner Collection, DeKalb History Center Archives.   DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb History Center will present a new exhibit, “Avondale Estates: The Haven of Health and Happiness.” The opening reception for DeKalb History Center members only will be held on Aug. 5. The exhibit opens to the public on Friday, Aug. 6. This exhibit dives into the history of Avondale Estates and brings to light details that were forgotten or simply left out of the city’s narrative, according to the news release. Avondale Estates, Georgia, was established in…