Author: On Common Ground News

Officials concerned about large holiday crowds expected at Stone Mountain Park DeKalb County will activate the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) warning system to alert residents and visitors to the “imminent threat” posed by the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in the county and state. “We are tracking an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 infections in DeKalb and across the state of Georgia,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “Extraordinary measures must be taken to ensure that our residents and visitors are aware of the imminent threat and, more importantly, how to mitigate the spread of this deadly…

By Gary W. Washington, Esq. In Olde Towne Conyers, just off Maine Street, and between Court and Milstead Avenue, rests the Rockdale County Courthouse—the building to which people must come, in hopes of receiving equal justice for all under the law. In front of and high above the Courthouse, hangs the American flag with its colors; red, white, and blue, symbolizing valor, innocence, and justice. Hidden in plain view of the many people passing by on Main Street, hidden in plain view of the  merchants and businesses, hidden in plain view of the thousands of people summoned to…

Story Updated: Two additional churches joined the decree Due to the recent events in our country, members of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Excel Church, First Shady Grove Baptist Church, Life Church Christian Center, Macedonia Baptist Church, New Covenant Fellowship Church, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conyers, Georgia area join together in proclaiming the importance stated in the Declaration of Independence that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of…

ATLANTA—Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is extending three Administrative Orders to assist Atlanta residents and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The orders provide for an additional sixty days through Aug. 30 for the following: The first order directs the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) to refrain from taking any action that would result in the termination of water services to any DWM customer due to non-payment through Aug. 30, 2020. The second order directs all parking enforcement officers to refrain from taking any action to enforce parking regulations, which would result in the towing or immobilization of vehicles in restricted areas of the…

ATLANTA— Today, Gov. Brian P. Kemp signed House Bill (HB) 987, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R – Marietta) and Sen. Brian Strickland (R – McDonough) into law. HB 987 provides greater protections for assisted living facility and personal care home residents, strengthens staffing requirements, and increases maximum fines for violations. “I applaud Rep. Sharon Cooper, Sen. Brian Strickland, and everyone who worked with them to craft this legislation. Their tireless leadership in getting this bill across the finish line will improve the lives of countless people in our great state and bring tremendous comfort to their loved ones,” said Kemp. “One…

Pictured: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger  Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office announced that it is continuing its poll-worker recruitment campaign ahead of the Aug. 11 runoff and Nov. 3 general election. Before the June 9 primary, the project sent to county election officials across Georgia the names of more than 1,000 people who came forward to get trained by them as poll workers. For instance, 222 were sent to Fulton County, 139 to DeKalb, 70 to Cobb and 67 to Henry. “Counties have had to replace poll workers who backed out because of the global pandemic and then train…

Early voting begins July 20 Fulton County is partnering with the Atlanta Hawks to create Georgia’s largest voting precinct at State Farm Arena, starting with early voting on July 20 for the Georgia General Primary Runoff Election on Aug. 11. Officials say the partnership will allow tens of thousands of voters to cast their ballots for upcoming elections while maintaining CDC-recommended social distancing requirements at the state-of-the-art facility. In addition, Fulton County Registration & Elections will conduct other elections support operations at the site, including absentee ballot processing and more. “Fulton County is grateful to the entire Atlanta Hawks…

Watson-Harris’s swearing-in ceremony to be live-streamed beginning at 9:30 a.m.   Superintendent-elect Cheryl Watson-Harris will officially assume the role of superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) when she is sworn in tomorrow, July 1, by Judge Gregory A. Adams of the DeKalb Superior Court at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex. Watson-Harris will be joined by Board Chair Marshall Orson. Both  will deliver brief remarks in the company of additional board members and Watson-Harris’s family. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at the ceremony will be limited, and those present will observe current social distancing guidelines. A…

Pictured: BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt Bowing to pressure from the public, Rockdale County is removing the Confederate monument that stands outside of the Rockdale County Courthouse on Main Street,  On Common Ground News has learned. Rockdale Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Oz Nesbitt reportedly made an “executive decision” to have the statue removed at 10 tonight (June 30). Nesbitt’s decision comes ahead of a protest Rockdale County youths were set to hold on July 2 and follows public outcry from a number of citizens demanding the removal after Nesbitt said during a Board of Commissioners that the monument should be included…