Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie did not issue a ruling on Aug. 26 in the City of Stonecrest’s motion for a temporary restraining order against Metro Green Recycling, Inc. After hearing from City of Stonecrest Attorney Winston Denmark, Metro Green Attorney Matt Benson and DeKalb County Attorney Noah Priest-Goodsett, Judge Barrie said she needed more time to consider the information presented to determine how she would proceed. Barrie said during the hearing that she wanted to be clear on what rights are being violated and specifically how the public’s health would be at risk as a result of…

The DeKalb County School District issued an apology today (Aug. 26) over the quality of its meal service, after a parent expressed concern.   Officials said the DeKalb County School Nutrition Services strives to deliver high quality wholesome meals to its students on a consistent basis. Unfortunately, School Nutrition Services failed to deliver the quality expected.   “We would like to thank the parent that reached out to express concerns regarding our meals. Please accept our sincerest apology. Your feedback is highly appreciated and contributes to the success of our program,” said Dr. Connie R. Walker, Executive Director, School Nutrition Services.…

Georgians who are receiving at least $100 a week in state unemployment benefits are expected to get an additional $300 boost from the federal government—at some point. Officials have announced that while the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) has approved Georgia’s application to provide supplementary payments from its disaster relief fund, it could still be weeks before unemployed workers receive the money. Georgia is working to reconfigure its system to process the FEMA supplements, said Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner(GDOL) Mark Butler.  The state also is still working on addressing unemployment claims that have never been processed. “GDOL will deliver…

DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw has allocated a second round of funding in the amount of $30,000 to R.I.S.E. UP, a young men’s leadership development program, managed by the county’s Department of Human Services. Commissioner Bradshaw’s allocation will target District 4 middle school boys of color. Commissioner Bradshaw’s first allocation of $25,000 in October 2019 allowed 31 Freedom “Fantastic” Middle School students to participate in the first program facilitated in District 4. Although the program was curtailed early in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the participants were able to attend several afterschool sessions and field trips led…

Ret. Lt. Col. Amos King DECATUR—Justice for Veterans will host a rally on Saturday, Aug. 29, 1 p.m., outside of the DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 McDonough St., Decatur. Military veterans and their family members, along with community leaders will hold an assembly in remembrance of veterans in metro Atlanta who have been killed by police brutality and a rally calling for the community’s support of veterans. DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is co-sponsoring the event. Ret. Lt. Col. Amos King, who heads Justice for Veterans, said many veterans…

DeKalb County Government continues to fight food insecurity with its fourth monthly food distribution event scheduled for this weekend. On Saturday, Aug. 29, the county will host three drive-through food distribution events during which 2,500 DeKalb residents will receive one 20-pound box of fruit and vegetables and a 10-pound bag of frozen chicken hindquarters. Beginning at 10 a.m., COVID-19 Care Baskets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, at three locations: Buck Godfrey Stadium,2817 Clifton Springs Rd., Decatur, GA 30034 James R. Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial College Ave., Clarkston, GA 30021 New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow…

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…