Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson recently partnered with the Pan Hellenic Council of DeKalb to donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gowns to Oakhurst Medical Center. Since June 1, Oakhurst Medical Center has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams of staff members have been administering free coronavirus tests to the public at a drive-thru set up in the parking lot at the Gallery at South DeKalb mall in Decatur. To date, Oakhurst has conducted more than 7,000 tests. Oakhurst CEO Jeff Taylor applauded the partnership with Johnson and the Pan Hellenic Council of DeKalb. The council, chartered April…

Superintendent Terry Oatts Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts announced RCPS will postpone fall 2020 high school athletics until second semester. Oatts issued the following statement on Aug. 7: “As we contend with the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 public health crisis, we have continued to grapple with many aspects of ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Notwithstanding these challenges, we have continued to vigorously prioritize our student and staff safety and well-being by carefully tracking our local, regional and statewide…

The DeKalb County Human Services Department will host a virtual celebration of its End-of-Summer Virtual Village program on Monday, Aug. 10, 2 p.m. The event will include a summer highlights video and a presentation featuring youth participants. Registration (https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IxTvFoZmTr68_f6jg8VuYg) is free and open to the public. The Virtual Village is an online platform that was launched in June by DeKalb as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The summer session of the Virtual Village included more than 30 classes and programs, which connected instructors on a weekly basis with more than 500 youth participants virtually. The platform includes information, classes…

Gov. Brian Kemp, GEMA/HS Director Homer Bryason ATLANTA—Today, Aug. 7, Gov. Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) reported the following numbers on the delivery of PPE and critical supplies to Georgia schools as students head back to school. “As Georgia’s students return to the classroom, we are focused on equipping our teachers, administrators, and school staff with the resources that they need to have a healthy start to the year,” said Gov. Kemp. “With more than 3.2 million critical supplies delivered to our schools, these…

Suspect Marquizs Harvey and K9 Deputy Bloo The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested the rape suspect whose pursuit earlier this week resulted in the accidental death of K9 Deputy Bloo. Marquizs Harvey, 35, of Atlanta, was taken into custody without incident today (Aug. 6) after authorities located him at an East Point, Georgia residence. According to a DeKalb County warrant, Harvey is accused of raping a woman on July 20. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive and Uniform Units made the arrest with the assistance of the Fulton County Sheriff’s…

The Rockdale County Planning and Development Department is seeking feedback from county residents on its Milstead Village Revitalization Plan, which will be presented at two meetings. Public hearings will be held on Aug. 13, 7 p.m., and Aug. 25, 9 a.m. Both meetings will be held in the Rockdale County Auditorium, 903 Main Street, Conyers. Residents also will be able to view the meetings virtually and make comments online if time permits at facebook.com/rockdalegov. The study for the Milstead Revitalization Plan was funded with a grant in partnership with the Georgia Conservancy. The Atlanta Regional Commission(ARC)  provided the grant…

The Better Business Bureau of Metro Atlanta is issuing a consumer advisory for BLK Label Co., located in Atlanta. BLK Label Co. is an online retailer of apparel and COVID-19 care products, specifically respirator valve masks. Consumers allege purchased, ordered items, used for COVID-19, are of poor quality and requested refunds are not given, the BBB said. BLK Label Co. has an F rating, the lowest of BBB’s scale, due to unanswered complaints. After a review of complaints on file, BBB confirmed that BLK Label Co. is selling face masks geared toward the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency said consumer complaints indicate that…

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) – Lithonia native Janorris Willis is serving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which is continuing to conduct security and defense operations with allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Willis, a Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer, maintains and operates the air conditioning and refrigeration plants aboard the ship. “I am here to support the mission by any means I can provide and proud to be part of the Reagan team,” said Willis. Willis is among several U.S. Navy men and women whose stories are shared and distributed by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Community Outreach with…

This Saturday, Aug. 8, DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will host a special event to ensure that DeKalb County students in need will have the necessary tools to succeed for the upcoming school year. The Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in two drop-off zones: The Gallery at South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Rd, Decatur, and Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta. “Many residents have seen a decrease in income due to the spread of COVID-19, yet their economic demands have not changed,” said Cochran-Johnson. “By donating essential school items,…