Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA — Signs reflecting a lowered speed limit along Hosea L. Williams Drive NE were posted Friday, Oct. 2, following the unanimous adoption of legislation earlier this year by the Atlanta City Council approving the change (Legislative Reference No. 20-O-1325). The legislation, introduced by District 5 Council member Natalyn Archibong, reduced the traffic speed to 25 miles per hour with the goal of greatly increasing safety to motorists and pedestrians. “This street is named after a civil rights icon Hosea L. Williams and is an important corridor in our city. For this reason, I am pleased to have this…

Soil+Water Conservation District Chairman Kenny A. Johnson says program will target underrepresented students     Rockdale County students interested in pursuing career paths in environmental science will get a boost, thanks to Rockdale Soil and Water Conservation District State Board Chairman Kenny A. Johnson. Johnson has secured a grant in the amount of $156,671 to establish a Soil Water and Environmental Science Program in partnership with Rockdale County Public Schools. Johnson said the grant is the largest ever awarded to Rockdale County by the United States Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Services.  He said the grant was  signed…

Photo: Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant and Dr. Damon Kimes Food Pantry, voter registration drive set STONECREST–Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant and Georgia Know Your Status (GKYS) are teaming up for a free COVID-19 testing opportunity on Saturday, Oct. 3, at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Road in Stonecrest.  The community is encouraged to participate in the free, drive-through COVID-19 testing opportunity beginning at 10 a.m. Dr. Damon Kimes, who is a recurring cast member on Bravo’s Married to Medicine series, recently launched the GKYS mobile COVID-19 testing site with the intent to bring safe, effective testing to…

The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections is holding an event on Monday, Oct. 5, to ensure all voters are ready for the upcoming general election. The “Registered and Ready” annual event offers DeKalb residents with onsite resources to ensure they have information pertaining to voter registration, polling locations and more. “DeKalb County is ready and prepared for what is slated to be one of the most historic elections of our lifetime and we want to make sure that every possible voter is armed with information pertaining to the general election,” said Erica Hamilton, DeKalb County elections director. “We…

The DeKalb County Board of Health reached a milestone yesterday(Oct. 1) for COVID-19 testing. The 100,000th COVID-19 specimen was collected on Thursday morning at the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church testing site in East Atlanta. “We certainly couldn’t have reached this milestone without tireless efforts of the Board of Health’s staff and our DeKalb County business and faith community partners, as well as local government,” said DeKalb County District Health Director S. Elizabeth Ford. “The business and faith communities have really stepped up to make their facilities and properties available. The residents of DeKalb County and surrounding communities will…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), in conjunction with the Rockdale County Democratic Party, is hosting a statewide Voter Registration Rally on Sunday, Oct. 4 – a day before the last day for Georgians who are not registered to receive information on how to register to vote for the 2020 election. The virtual Voter Registration Rally will be held via Zoom: https.///bit.ly/36okNat and facebook.com/rockdaledems Rep. Johnson will be joined by U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock, U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Jon Ossoff, actor Keith Robinson, music producer Colli Park and others.

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary is launching his own talk show, “Mayor Mondays,” on WCRN C-Room Radio Network/C-Room TV on Oct. 5, 6 p.m. The one-hour show will be broadcast live from WCRN C-Room Radio Network/C-Room TV every first and third Monday.  Lary said that he plans to discuss issues not only concerning the City of Stonecrest but dive into national and world issues as well. He said he is operating independently and is not using taxpayer dollars for the show. “I want to completely cover what is happening in the City of Stonecrest,” said Lary. “Folks don’t get a…

ATLANTA—Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that the state has joined a total $39.5 million 43-state settlement with Anthem Medicare Health Insurance plans stemming from the 2014 data breach that involved the personal information of 78.8 million Americans. Through the settlement, Anthem has reached a resolution with the multi-state coalition. Georgia will receive $1,387,257.61 from the settlement. In addition to the payment, Anthem has also agreed to a series of data security and good governance provisions designed to strengthen its practices going forward. “We considered many factors before joining this multistate investigation,” said Carr. “It is important to remember…

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) crews have flushed lines in the Oakhurst area as a part of addressing brown water concerns. On Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 29, DWM began receiving calls from the Oakhurst area concerning brown water. Crews were performing routine maintenance on water main valves, which caused the water discoloration. County officials said the discoloration is a result of iron in the pipes being stirred up when water flow is disrupted.  Iron is not a health hazard, which is why there is no boil water advisory in effect. While crews have completed the flushing of the…