Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is honoring the 66 students recently named 2021 Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars – including two AP Capstone Diploma recipients – for their outstanding performance on the 2020-2021 exams. RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts praised the students and teachers for their academic excellence. “I heartily commend the scholars recognized by the College Board and their teachers for their excellent performance in Advanced Placement exams and in the advanced academics that are the precursor to such exams. Not only did they excel in rigorous college-preparatory coursework, but they remained focused despite the challenges of a global…

 ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Power presented the Latin American Association (LAA) with a $100,000 donation during its ACCIONA Business Center ribbon-cutting ceremony. The donation will help support ACCIONA, a key component of the LAAs Latina Entrepreneurship Program. The sole purpose of ACCIONA is to help Latina entrepreneurs upscale their businesses and stimulate job growth. In August, Georgia Power and the Georgia Power Foundation provided a $65,000 donation to the LAA to support its  civic engagement and advocacy services programs. Georgia Power Area Manager for North Fulton and North DeKalb Misty Fernandez was named chair of the Latin American Association. She began her two-year…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) is holding an event on Monday, Oct. 4, to ensure all voters are ready for the upcoming Municipal General/Special Election. The event will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the VRE’s main office 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. The “Registered and Ready” event offers DeKalb residents with onsite resources to ensure they have information pertaining to voter registration, polling locations and more. “Our ‘Registered and Ready’ event is a great way to get prepared for the upcoming election,” said Twyla Hart, interim director of DeKalb County VRE. “We…

Rental assistance program to continue until funds exhausted   DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County’s eviction moratorium is set to end tomorrow, Sept. 29, but the county will continue to distribute rental assistance funding until monies are exhausted.  DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Asha Jackson signed an emergency judicial order on July 30, 2021, creating a 30-day eviction moratorium for the county following the expiration of the CDC moratorium. That emergency order was later renewed for an additional 30 days. “This moratorium has given thousands of residents facing eviction the opportunity to apply for and receive assistance to alleviate their housing insecurity…

The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections unanimously approved at a Sept. 27 special called meeting the city of Stonecrest’s challenge to disqualify Kelvin Kight from running for the District 1 City Council seat because his address actually is in District 5. Kite’s name will not appear on the ballot for the Nov. 2 general election. Kight said during the virtual meeting that he wanted to withdraw from the race after learning that he had applied for the wrong district seat. Kight said he gave the city clerk his driver’s license to make sure he could run in…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson announces extended hours at the property tax office located on Memorial Drive in Decatur, Sept. 27 – 30 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Customers paying their property tax bills at the central office location will temporarily use the Extension Services entrance located at the front of the building now through Thursday, Sept. 30. “Our central office staff is now temporarily re-routing taxpayer traffic to the front of the building at the Extension Service entrance,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson. “This temporary change will allow taxpayers to enter safely, remain…

ATLANTA — District 11 Council member Marci Collier Overstreet recently conducted an exclusive interview with Southwest Atlanta resident and world-renowned artist Radcliffe Bailey to discuss plans for his special installation at the Cascade Nature Preserve as part of a Public Art Program through Renew Atlanta. Radcliffe’s work can be found at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Woodruff Arts Center, High Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. “This piece was commissioned as part of Renew Atlanta’s Public Art Program. That’s significant because Radcliffe Bailey’s heart and soul is in…

ATLANTA– Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced a $1,000 pay supplement for all eligible sworn law enforcement officials and first responders in Georgia. Local governments and employers of public safety officials and first responders are encouraged to visit the Office of Planning and Budget’s grant funding opportunities website for more information on how to apply, receive, and distribute these funds. Applications will be accepted from October 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. “Our law enforcement officials and first responders answered the call of duty and bravely served on the front line of our fight against COVID-19, despite the unprecedented challenges thrown their…

ATLANTA — Everyone loves a deal – including scammers. Con artists often offer too good to be true discounts in the hope that price-conscious consumers will jump on these “deals” without doing their research. Recently, BBB Scam Tracker has seen numerous reports of scammers impersonating well-known companies and offering discounts, some of which are COVID-19 themed.   How the Scam Works You receive a text message from a large, reputable company. The message claims that, due to the pandemic, the company would like to help people out by offering them an amazing deal. These range from free or discounted services to gift cards and…