Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale County Board of Elections will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 9:30 a.m., for the purpose of certifying the results of the Democratic Primary and Nonpartisan Runoff Election held on Aug. 11. Rockdale County voters elected Janice Morris as its new Clerk of Courts and Akita Parmer as the new Post 5 Rockdale County School Board member, according to unofficial early results. The special meeting to certify the votes, which is open to the public, will be held at the Board of Elections Office, 1261 Commercial Drive, S.W., Suite B, Conyers. The meeting also will be…

“The color of one’s skin or ZIP code should not determine the state of your health or the length of your life.” –Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms  ATLANTA—Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has issued an Administrative Order to address the racial and ethnic disparities underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bottoms’ order includes the development of a detailed report examining racial and ethnic disparities in the City of Atlanta and a series of virtual town halls. The first town hall is set for Saturday, Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day. The discussion will center around COVID-19 and emotional wellness among women. Based…

Photos by Kelly Jordan STONE MOUNTAIN—Hundreds of white supremacists, heavily armed militia, the NAACP and Black Lives Matter operatives clashed on Aug. 15 as arguments over the removal of Confederate monuments and politics became tense. Some small fights broke out as groups shouted at one another, spraying insect repellant or pepper gas, but a heavy police presence in the city’s downtown curtailed serious violence. Law enforcement officials reported no arrests. DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos issued the following statement: “Thanks to a coordinated effort led by the DeKalb County Police Department in close collaboration with the City…

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will host a virtual Homeowner Association (HOA) Boot camp on Aug. 29, 10 a.m. The Virtual Homeowner Association (HOA) Boot Camp will be presented by the DeKalb County HOA Alliance via Zoom. Johnson said that constituents, local HOAs and organizations will have a chance to ask questions and gain the knowledge needed to be successful. The topics range from understanding county policies and procedures to homeowner’s rights and board management. Presentations will be made by code enforcement, public safety, DeKalb County HOA Alliance and 2020 Census representatives. “We have hosted this event for the past…

The Conyers City Council will have a public hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., for a special use permit to allow a liquor store at the site of the former Po Folks restaurant, 1081 Iris Drive, Conyers. The council also will have a public hearing on the same night for a special use permit to establish a transitional housing facility at 1555 Milstead Road, Conyers. According to the meeting agenda, the council plans to waive second readings on both, the liquor store request and transitional housing facility. City officials also are expected to discuss the coronavirus grant relief funding…

Photo cutline: Deputy K-9 Officer Bloo with Deputy M. McRae    The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office will host a memorial service for K9 Officer Bloo, who died while in the line of duty on Tuesday, Aug. 4.  The memorial service will be held on Monday, Aug. 17, 11 a.m., Caldwell Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, Covington, GA.

The DeKalb County Board of Health will conclude COVID-19 testing operations on Tuesday on the campus of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, located at 2340 Clifton Springs Rd., Atlanta. Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Board of Health will operate the following testing locations, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.: Former K-Mart Store Parking Lot (at I-285 and Buford Hwy.)
5597 Buford Hwy. NE, Doraville Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church
1879 Glenwood Ave. SE, Atlanta Greenforest Community Baptist Church
3250 Rainbow Drive, Decatur Salem Bible Church
5460 Hillandale Drive, Stonecrest The testing location at Greenforest Community Baptist Church is also open on Saturday, 9…

DeKalb County residential property owners will receive $119 million in property tax relief for 2020. “DeKalb is committed to delivering high-quality services during this pandemic while providing substantial property tax reductions for the third consecutive year,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. The $119 million in property tax relief for DeKalb homeowners will be generated by the Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax Credit (EHOST). The tax reduction is the result of the passage of two measures in November 2017: Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) and the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). DeKalb is the only county…

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced today (Aug. 14) that all athletic activity for the 2020 fall season will be delayed until the end of September, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes marching bands and auxiliary groups. The district will continue conditioning through September while monitoring data provided by health partners and will revisit to make a determination regarding fall sports at the end of September. The decision comes after reviewing the latest data from the DeKalb County Board of Health and feedback from parents, coaches and other stakeholders regarding the increase of COVID-19 cases in DeKalb County. The district has solicited and…

Rockdale County Judge Maureen E. Wood has been appointed to a second term as Juvenile Court Judge. Chief Judge David B. Irwin announced the appointment today (Aug. 14). Wood’s second term will become effective on Oct.1. During her first term, Wood continued the expansion of Rehabilitative Court Services and added two accountability courts:  Family Treatment Court and Resource Court (Juvenile Mental Health Court). Under Wood’s direction, the court’s Children in Need of Services (CHINS) protocol was modified to comply with 2014 code changes. The changes allow CHINS youths to be placed under informal agreements that connect youths and their…