Author: On Common Ground News

DELAY IN EARLY VOTING – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 IMPORTANT NOTICE:  DUE TO EXPECTED INCLEMENT WEATHER ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020, EARLY VOTING WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL 10:30AM.  WE ARE PRAYING FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY, AS THIS STORM PASSES THROUGH GEORGIA.

Based on the forecast of inclement weather, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will close all offices ‪on Thursday, October 29, 2020, and only 12-month essential employees including maintenance and custodial staff should report by ‪11 a.m. All students and staff are to report for a normal remote learning school day. DCSD acknowledges that staff, students, and families may be impacted by power outages resulting from remnants of Hurricane Zeta. Students will not be negatively impacted if they are not able to participate in synchronous learning. Extracurricular and athletic activities have been postponed, and the PSAT scheduled for tomorrow ‪October 29,…

Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Richard Steele announces new services available at all kiosks, and two additional motor vehicle self-service kiosks, which brings the total number of kiosks in the county to eight. “Drivers can now pay insurance fines at kiosks and two new Kroger kiosk locations make it easier than ever to renew tags without a special trip,” Steele said. Gwinnett residents can use any Department of Motor Vehicle kiosk across the metro area, and conduct their business in English or Spanish. The new locales are: Kroger Singleton Square, 6050 Singleton Rd., Norcross GA  30093 Kroger Midway Plaza, 910…

Due to the threat of inclement weather conditions from the remnants of Hurricane Zeta, the DeKalb County Board of Health will not open its COVID-19 testing and drive-thru flu shot locations on Thursday, Oct. 29. COVID-19 testing appointments scheduled for Thursday will be moved to Friday and Saturday. Drive-thru flu shot appointments scheduled for Thursday will be rescheduled to Friday and next week. For more resources and information about COVID-19, visit the DeKalb County Board of Health’s COVID-19 website at dekalbhealth.net/covid-19. Information about the flu and immunization programs, including on-site worksite or community flu clinics, visit dekalbhealth.net/flu or call 404-294-3700,…

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond DeKalb County prepares for sewer overflows      DeKalb County officials are preparing for sewer overflows and spills expected due to Hurricane Zeta. The National Weather Service is predicting significant rainfall through Thursday (Oct. 29). DeKalb residents are asked to report any indication of overflows and spills by calling 770-270-6243, which operates 24 hours a day. DeKalb County has a monitoring and reporting system, which allows the county to identify spills that are not reported by the public. In 2018, the county deployed electronic flow monitors…

STONECREST—The city of Stonecrest will name its small business COVID-19 relief program in memory of the late Aaron Matthew Allen. Allen, the son of Mattie and businessman Lecester “Bill” Allen, passed away after illness on Oct. 18. He was 43 years old. The City Council approved Mayor Jason Lary’s request at its meeting on Oct. 26 to name the  assistance program the “Aaron Matthew Allen COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program.” Lary said he wanted to remember Allen for his work in Stonecrest, where he lived. “He managed his father’s real estate portfolio throughout the nation. He was a hard worker.…

WASHINGTON — Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on the Senate’s vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court: “Judge Amy Coney Barrett will now be Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. That is another Promise Made and Promise Kept under President Trump. All Americans will be well served by Justice Barrett’s fidelity to the rule of law and her commitment to interpreting the Constitution as written in the decisions that will come before her as a member of the high court. “Four years ago voters elected Donald Trump as their president in large part because of his…

The exterior of public restrooms on Commercial Street in the Olde Town Conyers business and entertainment district have been transformed into a 24-Hour Visitor Information Center, courtesy of a matching grant awarded to the Conyers Welcome Center and the city of Conyers. The Georgia Department of Economic Development and Explore Georgia offers grants biannually to local welcome centers that are members of the state’s Regional Visitor Information Center (RVIC) network and those that meet specified criteria. Conyers Welcome Center is a member of the network and received one of the grants. The $2,000 grant assisted in funding the painting…

DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw has appropriated $1.4 million to assist 23 nonprofit, community-based agencies in helping DeKalb residents with food insecurities, rental assistance and other essential needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid came from District 4 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. “Nonprofit agencies play a vital role in society in partnering with government to improve the common good of society,” Commissioner Bradshaw said. “I am confident that the 23 agencies receiving District 4 CARES Act funds will continue the very important work they already doing day in and day out assisting the…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) has opened a survey required for parents and guardians to choose either a Hybrid or Virtual Learning Option for the second semester of 2020-2021. RCPS is tentatively planning to resume in-person instruction on a hybrid schedule for second semester beginning Jan. 19, 2021, and will continue to offer a virtual-only option. That survey is available in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal Oct. 26 through Nov. 13, 5 p.m. For information about the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, parents should visit www.rockdaleschools.org/infinitecampus or contact their school’s Digital Learning Specialist. A hybrid schedule means that not all…