Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA– Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced four judicial appointments and his intentions to appoint a district attorney for the Houston Judicial Circuit. Judge Charles E. Bailey will fill the seat on the DeKalb County State Court formerly held by the Honorable Kimberly Alexander who was appointed to the DeKalb County State Court Jury Division, effective August 31, 2021. Ana Maria Martinez will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Dax Lopez. Judge Ronnie Thompson will fill the seat on the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit created by the passage of HB 786 during the 2020 session of the Georgia…

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta announced the opening of two emergency warming centers in anticipation of frigid temperatures. The centers will open tonight, Monday, Jan. 10, at 8 p.m. and will remain open through Tuesday morning at 8 a.m., Jan. 11. The warming centers are located at the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Ln N.W., Atlanta, and the Central Park Recreation Center at 400 Merritts Ave. N.E., Atlanta. Transportation will be provided at 8:00 p.m. from the Gateway Center, located at 275 Pryor St. SW, Atlanta.

ATLANTA –Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) has appointed former State Rep. Edward Lindsey, Jr. to the State Election Board. Lindsey succeeds Rebecca Sullivan who was named Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services earlier today(Jan. 10). Edward Lindsey is a partner in the Dentons’ Public Policy practice and serves as the head of the firm’s Georgia state government affairs team. He previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 10 years, including three terms as House Majority Whip. Lindsey is a graduate of Davidson College and earned his law degree from the University of Georgia.

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson signed a Local Emergency Order requiring face masks or coverings to be worn in all facilities that are owned or leased by the County.   The Local Emergency Order is effective from Jan. 10 until Jan. 26. At that time, Chairwoman Hendrickson may reevaluate this order based on recommendations by the CDC and the state DPH.  More than 18,566 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the Georgia Department of Health from Wednesday to Thursday of this week. In Gwinnett County, the surge of positive cases has not only affected…

CONYERS, GA—The East Metro Business Networking Mixer Jan. 11 event is cancelled, organizers announced. “It is with much regret that we have decided to cancel tomorrow’s January 11 Business Networking Mixer, due to uprise in Covid-19 cases. Our number one priority is always the health and safety of our guest. This is not a decision that we have taken lightly and there are several overriding concerns that has caused us to make this decision,” the organization stated in a news release. The East Metro Business Networking Mixer is expected to resume next month on Feb. 8th.…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb History Center will present as its “Lunch & Learn” guest speaker, retired Judge Clarence Seeliger, on Feb. 1. The free event will be held noon to 1 p.m., at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square (second floor), Decatur.  The program is free to attend and will be held in person and virtually. Judge Seeliger, who retired in 2020, will be discussing his career as a judge in DeKalb County and his collection, newly acquired by the DHC, containing archival material spanning 50 years of service. During his long career as a judge,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – To meet continued demand for COVID-19 testing, testing partners, LTS and Mako Medical, have extended testing site hours effective Jan. 10, DeKalb County Board of Health officials announced. The new hours, by location, are as follows: Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church COVID-19 Testing (provided by LTS) 1879 Glenwood Ave., SE, Atlanta (Effective Jan. 10, 2022) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday CLOSED 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSED North DeKalb Health Center Parking Lot COVID-19 Testing…

CONYERS, GA– The graduation rate for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) students involved in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs increased to an all-time high of 98.23% for 2021, rising above the state-wide rate which held steady at 97%. The rate applies to students who complete a Career Pathway. RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts applauded staff members and students.. “I congratulate our CTAE Department under the leadership of RCPS CTAE Director Dionne Johnigan as well as all our amazing CTAE instructors for the passion and zeal with which they engage students on a daily basis in a variety of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County will open three warming centers for residents to use overnight. Warming centers will be open in the following DeKalb County Fire Stations tonight and tomorrow night, Jan. 10 and 11, beginning at 8 p.m. each night: ·      Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 ·      Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294 ·      Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, GA 30316 Anyone staying in the warming centers must follow the county’s COVID-19 protocols that include wearing a mask, social distancing and undergoing a temperature…