Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR—DeKalb County elections officials are processing and counting all outstanding ballots including absentee, military/overseas, and provisional ballots. Officials said in a statement released around 4 p.m. today, Jan. 6, that there remains an estimated 20,000 ballots to be counted. Outstanding ballots include provisional ballots and absentee ballots received on Election Day by the 7 p.m. deadline. Overseas and military ballots must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8. Additionally, there are 440 ballots that need to be cured and voters are being contacted to resolve their ballot issue before Friday’s deadline. DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections officials plan…

ATLANTA – Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock has claimed victory in defeating Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff election, The Associated Press and other media outlets reported. Making history, Warnock became the first Black Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from the South. Warnock announced his win in Georgia’s U.S. Senate special election runoff race in a virtual address shortly after midnight. Loeffler, however, has not conceded. Warnock was leading by more than 40,00 votes with 99% of precincts reporting that he had 2,220,300 (51 percent). Loeffler had 2,173,749 (49%). “I promise this to you tonight, I am going…

Volunteers are needed to sign up over the next three days—Jan. 6-8—to conduct ballot curing (helping people whose ballots were rejected). A 45-minute virtual training session is required along with a 2.5-hour canvassing shift. As a ballot rescuer canvasser, you will knock on doors to help Georgia voters fix their rejected ballots and ensure every voter has a voice in the Jan. 5 election runoffs. For more information, click the link:     https://www.mobilize.us/georgiademocrats/event/364558/

DeKalb County and officers from around the state are mourning the loss of DeKalb Police Sgt. Daniel Mobley, 44, who was fatally struck while assisting with a wreck involving another DeKalb Police officer on Saturday, Jan. 2.  The accident occurred around 9 a.m. at I-75-85 southbound near Williams Street in downtown Atlanta.  Sgt. Mobley was transported to  Grady Memorial Hospital where he succumbed of his injuries. Authorities said the driver of a Ford Focus lost control of the vehicle while making a left-hand turn. The vehicle went onto the right shoulder of the downtown connector, crashing into a barrier wall and striking St.…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, working with the Atlanta Police Department, has arrested a suspect in the murder of a man in Decatur last year. Sheriff’s investigators today(Jan. 5)  arrested Denard Juantez Conyers, 29,  of Atlanta, at an Atlanta residence on charges of Aggravated Assault and Murder in the shooting death of Russell Filmore. According to the arrest warrant, both men had been arguing at a funeral on Dec. 20, 2020 in Decatur when the shooting occurred. Conyers was arrested without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without bond.  

Due to increased demand to quickly provide vaccines to healthcare workers during the current COVID-19 vaccination phase, the DeKalb County Board of Health is cancelling all scheduled 
COVID-19 testing appointments through Saturday, as it shifts its immediate focus to vaccination of healthcare workers, first responders and long-term care facility residents. First responders and essential workers will begin receiving vaccinations on Wednesday (Jan. 6) at the former Sam’s Club site in the city of Stonecrest, city officials said. Those who will be vaccinated on tomorrow already have appointments, city officials said. Individuals who had COVID-19 testing appointments scheduled have been notified and…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that the Georgia Attorney General’s office has entered into a Consent Judgment with Voyageurs International Ltd. (“Voyageurs”) and its owner, Gilford Mahaffy, to resolve allegations that the company unlawfully retained a $1,900 cancelation fee from numerous high school music students and their families who had prepaid for a trip to Europe that was subsequently unilaterally canceled by the company due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Consent Judgment, which was filed with the Court on December 29, 2020, requires Voyageurs to pay $231,560.00 in restitution to the Attorney General’s Office to be…

Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) and the Conyers Home Depot will join together to host the “Bring One for the Chipper” program on Saturday Jan. 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Home Depot, located at 1330 Dogwood Drive, Conyers. The Chipper program offers citizens the opportunity to dispose of their cut Christmas trees at a central location in the community, while recycling the trees for reuse for a good cause. Across the state, thousands of volunteers in hundreds of Georgia communities come together for the Chipper event. Since its inception 30 years ago, in 1991, the program…

DECATUR—A 9-year-old DeKalb County resident has become the  first participant to complete the Junior Ranger Program, created by the DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs. The program encourages youths ages 5 to 12 to explore and protect natural resources. Joshiro Lee became the first to earn a badge for the completion of the DeKalb’s Junior Ranger Program. He is a huge fan of nature and has enrolled in several virtual Junior Rangers programs throughout the country. “I spent a great deal of time during this past spring and summer walking the trails of Mason Mill looking for snapping turtles and owls,” said Joshiro Lee,…

In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-412, DeKalb County Clerk Debra DeBerry and eFile staff will be available until 10 p.m. or until polls close on Jan. 5, Election Day. Pleadings should be filed at www.efilega.com. Division 10 Judge Tangela Barrie will be presiding. “Even in the midst of a pandemic, it is important to ensure a free, fair and secure compliance with election laws,” DeBerrry said. Please contact Debra DeBerry, Clerk at 404.557.1243 or via email at ddeberry@dekalbcountyga.gov for questions or concerns regarding filing petition challenges.