Author: On Common Ground News

By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Petty Officer 2nd Class Amberia Simpson, a Snellville, Georgia native, is serving at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility as part of the largest mobilization of reservists in Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) history. The mobilization is tied directly to the COVID-19 pandemic. Simpson is a 2005 Shiloh High School graduate, 2009 Columbus State University graduate and 2017 Purdue University graduate with master degrees in public health education. She is one of the reserve sailors deployed to the Navy’s four public shipyards as part of the Surge…

The Rockdale County and Newton County Democratic Parties will host the “Race to the Senate 2021” campaign rally on Saturday, Dec. 5, 1 to 3 p.m., at 1400 Parker Road in Conyers. The rally aims to energize and encourage voters living along the I-20 corridor and throughout Georgia to cast ballots for U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, and Public Service Commission District 4 candidate Daniel Blackman in the general runoff election set for Jan. 5. “The long road of Georgia being red for over 30 years is now broken. It is time we take our…

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday (Dec. 1) authorized negotiations with Fuqua Acquisitions II, LLC to develop a signature project on the site of the former Olympic Tennis Center in the County’s southern corridor off U.S. 78 along the border with DeKalb County. After serving as the site of tennis competition in the 1996 Olympics, the center fell into disuse. Gwinnett County, seeing an opportunity to revitalize an area at one of the major gateways into Gwinnett, acquired the 26-acre site in 2016. To acquire the property, the County did a land swap with the tennis venue’s owners,…

ATLANTA – Former Atlanta City Councilmember Kwanza Hall was elected in a  Dec. 1 special election runoff to finish the unexpired term of longtime friend and mentor Congressman John Lewis who passed away of pancreatic cancer in July. With the unofficial vote count tabulated, Hall received 52% of the vote and earned the right to fight for the 5th Congressional District in the Winter term.  Hall, a former member of the Atlanta Public School board and former Atlanta City Councilman, will be sworn in shortly after the vote is certified and will be eligible to vote on key issues.…

LITHONIA—The Cigar Bar, Old Skool Car Club and Israelite Ent are partnering to host a toy drive and car show on Dec. 13, 1 to 6 p.m. The holiday event, which will assist families in need, will be held at 2617 Panola Road. The community is asked to donate an unwrapped toy, a non-perishable food item, and or clothing such as coats, hats and shoes.  The toys and goods will be distributed through partnerships with the Division of Family and Children Services, Lanier Levett and the Boyce L. Ansley School. In addition to assistance provided through the holiday event, various…

ATLANTA–On Wednesday, Dec. 2, Gov. Brian P.Kemp and his will join Clark Howard and special guests to host a virtual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Georgia State Capitol. Georgians are encouraged to view the livestream of the event on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s website at GPB.org. The event will be held at 1 p.m.

Dr. Lynette Wilson-Phillips is on the left Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is partnering with the nonprofit, Kids’-Doc-On-Wheels (KDOW), to provide school-based telehealth and mobile medical services for RCPS students. These comprehensive pediatric services, which are available to all RCPS families on a voluntary basis, supplement existing school-based clinic services and can help reduce missed instructional time for students and missed work time for parents. At its November 2020 work session, the Rockdale County Board of Education approved an action item advanced by Superintendent Terry Oatts to acquire school-based telehealth services for the 2020-2021 school year. The Board’s approval…

ATLANTA–Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced his intention to appoint Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia. “I am honored to appoint Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua to the Supreme Court of Georgia,” said Kemp. “Judge LaGrua has spent a 30 year career serving her fellow Georgians, and I am confident that she will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the bench. Congratulations, Justice!” Before serving as a Superior Court Judge in Fulton County, LaGrua was the Inspector General for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. She also served…

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the expansion of City of Atlanta COVID-19 Housing Emergency Assistance Program housing assistance available to Atlanta residents who have been impacted by COVID-19. In addition to rent, utility and security deposit assistance, the City will now offer mortgage relief.  Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is approved by the federally mandated deadline of Dec. 30, 2020. Eligibility requirements have been amended and eligible households may now receive up to $5,000 of assistance. Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify: provide proof of COVID-19 impact on finances…

Atlanta is currently in the bidding process to have the honor of serving as an Official Host City of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.™ The world’s largest and most prestigious sporting event is coming to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Twenty-three cities across North America were submitted as a part of the successful 2026 United Bid, but likely only 16 cities – 10 in the United States, three in Canada, and three in Mexico – will be selected by FIFA as Official Host Cities. “Atlanta offers the best that any city can offer—rich culture and diversity, support of human rights…