Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners will hold a called meeting on Friday, Aug. 28, 2 p.m., for the purpose of discussing The Cares Act funding. This meeting will be held via teleconference on Zoom. The public may access the meeting through this link: https://zoom.us/j/97668511680 or by dialing in at 877-853-5257 or at the backup number 888-475-4499. The Meeting ID is 976 6851 1680. For more information about the meeting, contact Jennifer Rutledge at jennifer.rutledge@rockdalecountyga.gov.

The Rockdale Board of Elections will meet on Thursday, Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend in person at 1261 Commercial Drive S.W., Suite B, Conyers (masks are required). The public may also attend the meeting via Zoom: Meeting:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82306469620 Meeting ID: 823 0646 9620  For more information, call: 770-278-7333. Some of the Board of Elections members will be in attendance virtually. The meeting agenda is attached:

DeKalb County School District’s partner, Atlanta Community Food Bank, will distribute food once a week on Thursdays beginning Aug. 27. The food bank will distribute food from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clarkston High School, Chapel Hill Middle School, McNair Middle School and Sequoyah Middle School. The meal distribution will coincide with the district’s grab-and-go meal service. In addition, DeKalb County School District’s School Nutrition services provides a two-day meal package during virtual learning on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at all DeKalb County schools. For more information, visit https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/student-meal-service/.

The DeKalb County Board of Health has partnered with Reaching our Sisters Everywhere, Inc. (ROSE) to improve coordinated breastfeeding support services by opening a Baby Café. The Baby Café is a national network of community-based, drop-in breastfeeding support sites offering ongoing, high-quality lactation care at no cost. It’s a free resource for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to get support and to share experiences with other moms. In response to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, the ROSE baby café will be held online until further notice. The café offers: Free education and support, such as advice on baby latching, positioning, and returning…

Georgia State Rep. Vernon Jones just delivered his remarks at the Republican National Convention, making a plea for the country to vote for Donald J. Trump.He was one of 23 speakers for the first night of the four-day convention, which was televised nationally by CNN and other networks.  Democratic Party of Georgia Chairwoman Nikema Williams issued a statement saying that Jones neither represents Black Georgians nor the Democratic Party. Jones said the following in a prepared statement: “My name is Vernon Jones. I am a state representative from the great state of Georgia. As you can see, I’m a man…

By Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04)   Donald Trump is a corrupt, misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, race-baiting narcissist whose incompetence has led to the deaths of almost 180,000 Americans, and whose corruption is almost unfathomable.   This is why he must be voted out of office on November 3rd, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are poised to lead us from the darkness of the Trump presidency.   Every public servant has haters, and Joe Biden certainly has his share. Some accuse Joe of being a racist because of statements that he has made over his 46 years of public service. Joe should…

As part of DeKalb County’s 2020 Census efforts, the DeKalb County Public Library, U.S. Census Bureau and the DeKalb County 2020 Census Team are hosting “Library Census Days” across the county. Attendees will have the opportunity to complete their 2020 Census survey onsite and will then receive a children’s book and popcorn. The event will take place at the following libraries:  Tuesday, Aug. 25, noon to 2 p.m. Clarkston Library 951 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021 * First 100 patrons Wednesday, Aug. 26, noon to 2 p.m. Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, GA…

The DeKalb County Board of Health has confirmed its first human case of West Nile virus infection in the county for the year. The patient, a female in her sixties, resides in the East Lake Terrace area of unincorporated Decatur. Currently, no additional information is available, as the investigation is still ongoing. Last year, one human case of West Nile virus in DeKalb County was confirmed on Sept. 13. Due to COVID-19, the Board of Health will not perform its usual door-to-door canvas of the affected area. Larvicide application in low-lying areas and storm drains have already taken place…

Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson   and Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson and Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett signed a joint declaration on Aug. 21 forming the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force. The task force will have six months to make a recommendation as to the best way to commemorate the life of the late Congressman Lewis in DeKalb County. The task force will hold its first meeting on Aug. 26. “John was a giant of a man, with a humble heart. He met no…