Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Government is adding a fourth food distribution site in December in Doraville because the Latino community is one of the population groups hardest hit by food insecurity exacerbated the pandemic nationally. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 infections and deaths are proportionately higher among the Latino population. “We recognize that many families are struggling to keep food on their tables,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “The Buford Highway distribution site grew out of a partnership with community leaders and will help us reach more families in need.” On Saturday, Dec. 19,…

Elected officials to be sworn in during private ceremonies   Rockdale County has canceled the 2020 swearing-in ceremony for candidates who won this year. The ceremonies were scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Dec. 29, in the Rockdale County Auditorium. Officials had planned to live stream the event, but due to Rockdale’s increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the decision was made to postpone the collective ceremonies. County officials said Rockdale has been categorized as having a “high” transmission rate, according to the Rockdale Emergency Management Agency. Those elected to office now will be sworn in during private ceremonies, some…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts announced RCPS will postpone the return of in-person learning on the hybrid schedule until after the February break. The superintendent released the following statement: “As I’ve previously communicated, our ultimate decisions regarding the resumption of in-person learning would be based on our local public health data. With the current levels of COVID-19 infection rates so prevalent within our county and with the anticipated escalation after the upcoming holiday season, the risk of prematurely returning students to our schools at this time for in-person learning is simply too great for both staff and…

CONYERS–Georgia Power recently secured a contract with the International Horse Park in Conyers to update 486 outdoor lights to energy efficient LED fixtures at the center. In addition to the lights that are expected to be upgraded in 2021, Georgia Power also worked with the horse park staff to present recommendations from an energy audit report and secure more than $30,000 in commercial rebates through the company’s energy efficiency rebate program. Georgia Power has also worked with several other sports complexes across the state to install LED fixtures. In 2020, the company’s lighting team installed fixtures at more than 20…

Free toys to be distributed to 1,000 pre-registered needy kids  STONECREST–The King’s Table, in partnership with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, will host its final food distribution on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m., just ahead of the Christmas holiday. The weekly food distribution, which has served 545,000 people and provided more than 20 million pounds of food, will mark the conclusion of a nearly year-long effort to curb food insecurities caused by the global pandemic.  The King’s Table is housed on the New Birth campus located at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Stonecrest. To date, The King’s Table drive-thru distribution…

The DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability is holding a virtual public input on the county’s Five-Year Comprehensive Plan Update. The meeting will be held Thursday, Dec. 17, 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/85496356746. The planning department will share updates to demographic data, land use amendments, community work programs, and a report of the county’s accomplishments. This is a mandatory five-year update required by the Department of Community Affair that every county must comply with in order to maintain its Qualified Local Government status. For more information, go to www.dekalbcountyga.gov/comprehensiveplan.

This Saturday, Dec. 19, DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will host a special event to help bring the joy of Christmas to underserved children during the holidays. The Stuff the Bus Holiday Toy Drive will take place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta. “Many residents have seen a decrease in income due to the spread of COVID-19, yet their economic demands have not changed,” Cochran-Johnson said. “By donating new toys, local children can experience the joy of the holiday season and DeKalb residents can assist in providing a sign of hope…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson recently allocated $10,000 in District 7 Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to the Atlanta Food Bank to assist Soldiers’ Angels with mobile food distributions for veterans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first distribution took place on Nov. 20 and was a huge success, feeding more than 400 veterans and their families. The second and final distribution that was planned for this Friday has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Atlanta VA Arcadia Clinic, 250 North Arcadia Avenue,…

The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections (BRE) is planning a single polling place change for the Jan 5, 2021 runoff election. Under the proposed change, voters who recently cast their ballots during November’s general election at the Briarwood Recreation Center in Brookhaven will now move to the Lynwood Recreation Center, located at 3360 Osborn Rd. NE in Brookhaven for the runoff election. The proposed shift in location, which is approximately 3 miles away from the previous location, is necessary due to major renovations at the Briarwood Recreation Center. This change will become effective after Dec. 24 unless the…