Author: On Common Ground News

The special election to fill the U.S. House of Rep. District 5 seat, which became vacant with the death of Rep. John Lewis, will be held Sept. 29, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced today (July 27).  Qualifying for the special election will be in the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,; Thursday, July 30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday, July 31, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  State officials have had to move swiftly in order to meet election deadlines and prepare ballots in the…

Story Update: Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt released this statement today (July 27): As Chairman, manager of day-to-day county operations, it is my chief and primary responsibility to be as fiscally responsible of the taxpayers’ dollars. In doing so, that includes talent acquisition through recruitment, talent retention as well as talent assessment. Eighty percent of the “people business” is centered around customers and the delivery of services. Sometimes county bureaucrats become complacent and forget the vision, “Rockdale is a perfectly-positioned community with a rock-solid approach dedicated to excellence in customer service, quality of life and global…

The DeKalb County Police Department is seeing the public’s health in identifying an elderly man who was found and is now in a local hospital. The man was transported to the hospital after he was found on Flat Shoals Road on July 15. The victim does not have any identification and is non-verbal, authorities said. Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call the Special Victims Unit at 770-724-7710.

Congressman Hank Johnson A Michigan man has been arrested and indicted on federal charges of threatening Georgia’s Congressman Hank Johnson through a voice mail. Johnson represents the Fourth District, which includes portions of DeKalb,  Gwinnett, Newton and all of Rockdale county. Authorities say the voicemail threat was made because of gun control legislation Johnson introduced. Johnson told On Common Ground News that the threat was left on his office’s voicemail, which was retrieved the next day by a staffer and reported to House security.  Federal prosecutors say Martin Dale Osborn…

Teachers and other support staff for the DeKalb County School District will be spared from drastic work reduction cuts as students return to classes virtually in August in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to avoiding staffing cuts, all DeKalb school district employees will receive a mid-year raise as planned, officials announced today, July 24. The DeKalb County Board of Education approved the district’s 2020-21 budget today in a 6-1 vote, with School Board member Joyce Morley voting against the measure. Morely called the budget “punitive,” saying that district employees, especially teachers, should not have to…

DeKalb County Police are investigating the shooting of an 8-year-old boy that happened today, July 24, around 4 p.m. at the Eastwyck Village apartment complex, located off of Candler Road near Interstate 20. Authorities said the child was shot in the shoulder. He was with a 17-year-old male when the shooting occurred. The 17-year-old was grazed in the leg during the shooting. The boy was transported to a local hospital where his injury is listed as moderate, police said. No suspects have been arrested, as investigators are still trying to determine the motive of the shooting, said…

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) has hired Deanna Hamilton as its new executive director. Hamilton will oversee the GLBC’s administrative, fundraising and programmatic responsibilities for the largest Black caucus in the United States. State Rep. Karen Bennett(D-Stone Mountain), chair of the GLBC,  welcomed Hamilton, saying that her experience will be beneficial to the organization. “We are very pleased to have someone like Deanna leading our organization, and I believe she is the right person at the right time,” said Rep. Bennett. “With all that is happening in our state, it is important for the caucus to have experienced,…

Due to facility issues, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Clifton Springs Health Center, located at 3110 Clifton Springs Rd. in Decatur, will be closed for the remainder of the week. The health center is scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 27. For WIC Program services, clients may call the DeKalb County WIC Call Center at 404-508-7777. For all other services, please call 404-294-3700 for additional assistance.