Author: On Common Ground News

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…

DeKalb County Public Library has partnered with We Love BuHi Inc. to present the Human Library Project. The event will take place virtually on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 6:30-8:00 p.m. via Zoom. This year’s theme is “Voices of a Highway: At the Heart of Atlanta’s Immigrant Stories.” Lily Pabian, executive director of We Love Buhi Inc., will serve as the keynote speaker. “Voices of a Highway” seeks to tell the story of the diversity and culture of the Buford Highway corridor. Founded in 2015, We Love BuHi is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that seeks to preserve the multicultural identity of Atlanta’s…

STONE MOUNTAIN–DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has allocated $50,000 in District 7 Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to ART Station Contemporary Arts Center and Theatre Company to provide assistance to individuals and families in the DeKalb County art community who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The appropriation was approved by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 10, 2020, and will be used to provide emergency grants, rent, mortgage, utility assistance and food to artists who have lost employment and wages. “Often times, the most creative among us are overlooked when it…