Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson in partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Health and the DeKalb County Department of Community Development will host two free flu vaccinations this fall for DeKalb’s homeless population. The first vaccination will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at one of DeKalb County’s COVID-19 homeless hotels, the Quality Inn & Suites, 5300 Snapfinger Park Drive, Decatur. The second vaccination will occur on Dec. 5, 9 to 11 a.m., at Decatur Cooperative Ministry, 115 Church St., Decatur, and from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Threshold Ministry, 218 Sycamore St.,…

Sam Tillman, chairman of the DeKalb County Board of Voter Registrations A DeKalb County elections employee has been fired after an internal review found that the manager’s failure to follow protocols in the state mandated ballot recount verification, which resulted in an inaccurate tally. Sam Tillman, chairman of the DeKalb County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, read the following statement today (Nov. 20) at a special called board meeting, which was held virtually: “It has come to our attention that a DeKalb VRE manager, who is now a former employee, failed to follow our established protocols and blatantly disregarded the…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Labor today announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate in October dropped 1.8%, bringing the current unemployment rate to 4.5%, down more than 8% since the state’s all-time high in April 2020 and below the national average. “Thanks to our measured approach to the pandemic, fighting for people and their paychecks, Georgia continues to lead the nation in economic recovery as the fight with COVID-19 continues,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “As the No. 1 State for Business eight years in a row, we’ve been able to avoid draconian budget cuts, secure our AAA…

In observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 26, sanitation collection service for residential customers will be based on the following revised collection schedule: Monday, Nov. 23 – Normal collection day. Tuesday, Nov. 24 – Normal collection day.  Wednesday, Nov. 25 – Normal collection day. Thursday, Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving Day observed; no collection service. Friday, Nov. 27 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Thursday, Nov. 26, will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 27. The Seminole Road Landfill, and Central and North Transfer Stations will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26, reopening on Friday, Nov. 27, during…

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s COVID-19 testing sites will operate on a modified schedule beginning Wednesday, Nov. 25. Wednesday, Nov. 25: All sites will close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, November 27: All sites will be closed. Saturday, Nov. 28:  The Stonecrest testing site, located at 2994 Turner Hill Road., will be open from 9 a.m. until noon. The COVID-19 Call Center will also close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and will be closed Thursday, through the weekend.  Individuals will receive their test results via the email address they provide…

Renee Cail The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has filed a motion to intervene in the City of Stonecrest’s ongoing case against Metro Green Recycling, LLC. SELC filed its motion on behalf of Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment (CHASE) in DeKalb County Superior Court on Nov. 18.   SELC is challenging the facility’s solid waste handling permit and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (EPD) role in granting the permit. The SELC and CHASE contend that the plant, which is under construction at 5152 Snapfinger Woods Drive, would pose significant environmental and health risks to residents in the area. They…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), chair of the DeKalb County House Delegation, along with DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson and DeKalb County Clerk of the Superior Court Debra DeBerry, today announced the application process for the DeKalb County Board of Ethics. “The DeKalb Ethics Appointing Committee is in support of a transparent, uniform and coordinated process,” said Rep. Drenner. “This application process will allow us to identify DeKalb residents who represent and serve their community in a unique way. I look forward to working with our robust appointing committee as we put together a dynamic group…

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will host his annual day of service event, Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.    The Annual Day of Service will offer several opportunities for volunteers to give back to their community.  Each year, Commissioner Johnson has partnered with different organizations to address the needs of the community. “Even during these challenging times, we must continue to do our part and help those in need,” Commissioner Larry Johnson said. This year’s day of service will start with a mobile turkey give-a-way, in partnership with Women In NAACP of DeKalb Branch, 100 Black Men…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has 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 will take place Friday, Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ,at Atlanta VA Arcadia Clinic, 250 North Arcadia Avenue, Decatur. Each recipient will receive a turkey and a box containing 75 to 100 pounds of food. Candy and select sweet treats also will be provided courtesy of the Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops Program. “It is…

DeKalb County Government is partnering with Walmart to provide $20 gift cards to needy families for turkeys or hams during its monthly food distribution event on Saturday, Nov. 21. “Even during a pandemic, we have much to be grateful in DeKalb County because, together, we are rising to this challenge and we will emerge a healthier and stronger county,” DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said. “We are thankful that Walmart is joining us in our fight against food insecurity during this Thanksgiving season.” On Saturday, Nov. 21, the county will host three drive-through food distribution events during which 2,500 DeKalb…