Author: On Common Ground News

Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) and the Conyers Home Depot will join together to host the “Bring One for the Chipper” program on Saturday Jan. 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Home Depot, located at 1330 Dogwood Drive, Conyers. The Chipper program offers citizens the opportunity to dispose of their cut Christmas trees at a central location in the community, while recycling the trees for reuse for a good cause. Across the state, thousands of volunteers in hundreds of Georgia communities come together for the Chipper event. Since its inception 30 years ago, in 1991, the program…

DECATUR—A 9-year-old DeKalb County resident has become the  first participant to complete the Junior Ranger Program, created by the DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs. The program encourages youths ages 5 to 12 to explore and protect natural resources. Joshiro Lee became the first to earn a badge for the completion of the DeKalb’s Junior Ranger Program. He is a huge fan of nature and has enrolled in several virtual Junior Rangers programs throughout the country. “I spent a great deal of time during this past spring and summer walking the trails of Mason Mill looking for snapping turtles and owls,” said Joshiro Lee,…

In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-412, DeKalb County Clerk Debra DeBerry and eFile staff will be available until 10 p.m. or until polls close on Jan. 5, Election Day. Pleadings should be filed at www.efilega.com. Division 10 Judge Tangela Barrie will be presiding. “Even in the midst of a pandemic, it is important to ensure a free, fair and secure compliance with election laws,” DeBerrry said. Please contact Debra DeBerry, Clerk at 404.557.1243 or via email at ddeberry@dekalbcountyga.gov for questions or concerns regarding filing petition challenges.

DECATUR.—DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) is ready for what is slated to be a historic runoff on Jan. 5, when voters will decide two U.S. Senate seats from Georgia and the Georgia Public Service commissioner. “It’s been a successful few months of elections for DeKalb County and we are prepared for the Jan. 5 runoff,” said DeKalb VRE Director Erica Hamilton. “Our team continues to work tirelessly to ensure every voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot and we will apply that same dedication as we safely and accurately count each and every vote.” The…

DECATUR—The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reports that today (Jan. 4) it  terminated an employee who violated the agency’s Use of Force policy. Sheriff Melody Maddox said the detention officer was placed on immediate administrative leave on Dec. 30, 2020, following an incident on Dec. 28, 2020 involving excessive uses of force with an inmate. An investigation by the agency’s Office of Professional Standards (OPS) upheld charges that the officer’s actions were “unjustified, inappropriate and not consistent with the agency’s training to achieve the objectives of compliance and restraint.” “We will not tolerate any violation of policy regarding the use of excessive force with…

Everyone invited to show community spirit ahead of historic Election Day LITHONIA– Kazemde Ajamu, owner of The Black Dot Cultural Center, is welcoming the Get Out the Vote Float today, Jan. 2, noon to 2 p.m., 6984 Main Street, Lithonia. Music and festivities are planned as community partners make a final push to get voters to the polls on Election Day, Jan. 5. “We need to not only vote, but to advocate so we can have actual change. We want to invite everyone to stop through and show their support,” said Ajamu. Community partners along with elected officials including…

The Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and several community organizations are partnering to make Jan. 5, Election Day, a celebration at three locations in DeKalb County. The outdoor Get Out the Vote events will include food trucks, music and caravanning and will be hosted by the Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, DeKalb County School District, When We All Vote, R.O.S.E. PAC, Black Voters Matter, Delta Life Development Center, Inc., Workforce Strong Inc., Transformative Justice Coalition, and DeKalb NAACP. “The purpose of these events are to provide support for people who may…

CONYERS–Voices of Faith Ministries has opened a food pantry to assist  families. The food pantry will open on Saturdays to serve those who contact the church ahead of their visit. Those who need assistance must provide their name, family size and a contact number. Please call the church and leave a message with the pertinent information for the food pantry at 770-498-5850.

DECATUR—Due to the New Year’s holiday, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s COVID-19 testing sites will operate on a modified scheduled beginning Thursday. Thursday, Dec, 31: All sites will close at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1 and Saturday, Jan. 2: All sites will be closed. The COVID-19 Call Center will also close at 2 p.m. on Thursday and will be closed Friday, through the weekend. Individuals will receive their results to the email they provide during registration. Appointments and registration for COVID-19 testing is required and available online. To ensure testing resources are available for individuals who have pre-registered…

Seven Rockdale County poll workers have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing elections officials to seek a court order consolidating the number of precincts from 16 to 4 to ensure that enough workers are available for the Jan. 5 runoffs. During an emergency virtual meeting today (Dec. 29), Rockdale Elections Director Cynthia Willingham reported the grim news that seven of the 30 poll workers overseeing advance voting at the 1400 Parker Road precinct have contracted the virus. She said one of the workers is asymptomatic, presenting no symptoms of the virus. The positive test results were reported on Monday, Willingham…