Author: On Common Ground News

Congressman Hank Johnson and Speaker Nancy Pelosi Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) hosted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for an Instagram Live event on April 17 to discuss President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, The American Jobs Plan, vaccines and the Jan. 6 riotat the White House and its aftermath. While the American Rescue Plan is changing the course of the pandemic and delivering relief for working families, Johnson and Pelosi said this is no time to become lax in social-distancing protocols that keep us all same as possible. Johnson said that millions of American workers are still out of work, while…

Growing up in Jackson, Georgia, just south of Atlanta, Ortez Battle didn’t plan to become a lineman when he grew up. At Henry County High School, he excelled in track and cross country and had a passion for computer science and technology. Battle turned down sports scholarships to pursue a career in the military after graduating, packed his bags and headed to California to work in the legal field for the U.S. Marine Corps. Battle’s four years spent in the military were tough, but those skills have translated well into a position at Georgia Power as a lineman working out…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has lifted the five-year-old water service disconnection moratorium for residential water accounts, effective July 1, 2021. The moratorium was established in October 2016 by Interim CEO Lee May and continued in January 2019 by CEO Thurmond upon taking office. DeKalb County has 102,000 residential water customers. “Restoring trust by understanding the root cause of the billing problems, taking corrective actions and being responsive to customer concerns has been our goal,” said CEO Thurmond. “We have learned from past mistakes but we did not dwell on it. I was hired by the citizens…

Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced the Georgia Lottery Corp.’s most successful quarter in its 27-year history. The Georgia Lottery raised more than $415.8 million in profits for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception to more than $23.4 billion. “The Georgia Lottery’s extraordinary results have a wide-reaching impact on Georgia’s students, families and communities,” Kemp said. “Lottery-funded Pre-K prepares our youngest students with a foundation for learning while HOPE keeps our best and brightest students in state, building a strong workforce and driving economic development in…

Gwinnett County is accepting applications for federal Housing and Urban Development Block grants from nonprofits and local governments through Thursday, May 27. The county received approximately $4.4 million in Community Development Block Grants, about $1.7 million in HOME Investment Partnership Grants, and $376,000 in Emergency Solutions Grants. Grant funds are available for local nonprofits and governments that support affordable housing and the needs of Gwinnett’s homeless and low-income communities. CDBG grants can cover the purchase of buildings by nonprofits and a wide range of construction uses including sidewalks, streets, parks and homeless shelters. Grant funds must benefit lower-income areas. CDBG…

DECATUR– Starting Monday, April 25, the DeKalb County Board of Health will shift operations at its Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church testing site in East Atlanta to three days a week. New site hours are as follows: Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church COVID-19 Testing Hours (effective April 26, 2021) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday CLOSED 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSED 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSED 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSED Appointments and registration for COVID-19 testing are required and available online. To ensure testing resources are available for individuals who have pre-registered for testing on their scheduled…

Need to get rid of some clutter in your home? This Saturday, April 24, is the Gwinnett Solid Waste Management and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s annual Earth Day recycling event where residents can bring electronics, paint, tires, and paper. Paper shredding is limited to five copier paper boxes; paint is limited to 10 gallons; and tires are limited to eight. Most recycling is free except for projection or console TVs ($35), monitors ($15), and printers ($5). Cash only. COVID-19 guidelines will be in place. This free event runs from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, 2405 Sugarloaf…

DECATUR—DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) encourages voters to plan ahead and obtain a voter identification card from the DeKalb County VRE office.  There is no cost for obtaining the ID card, and it is specifically intended for voters who do not have a valid (unexpired) state-issued driver’s license or ID card. “We are committed to the voters of DeKalb County, and will be actively communicating how the voting experience may be different for some voters with the passage of SB202,” said DeKalb VRE Director Erica Hamilton. “For voters who do not have the appropriate identification, the time…

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist Sitting in ninth place with just 12 points coming out of the field events, the Stephenson Jaguars roared to 76 points on the track winning six events to pass Decatur for an 88-79 lead to take the 2021 DCSD Boys’ Track and Field Championships title over the weekend. The Jaguars were sitting in ninth overall heading to the track on Friday with Dunwoody leading the pack with 48 points. Dunwoody had powered to the lead with a one-two-three finish in the pole vault led by the record setting vault of Alon Rogow of…