Author: On Common Ground News

Campaign includes free food boxes, masks, sanitizer distribution, COVID-19 testing sites This weekend, DeKalb County is continuing its efforts to “Stop the Spread” of COVID-19 with several community-based initiatives designed to mitigate the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. “Stopping the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus is our top priority,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. Initiatives in the county’s “Stop the Spread” campaign include: The distribution of 1,350 boxes of food, in partnership with Atlanta Community Food Bank. The schedule is as follows: Friday, July 17: 10 a.m. at Antioch AME Church, 4730 Elam Road, Stone…

 A look at things being done for the upcoming school year to keep kids and staff safe ATLANTA, Ga.,(July 15, 2020) –The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is featuring “Guidance of the 2020-2021 Georgia Pre-K Program” in its weekly podcast Decal Download. Commissioner Amy Jacobs hosts the show and is joined by Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Pre-K program and Instructional Supports; Dr. Caitlin Dooley, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning at the Georgia Department of Education; and Sharon Foster, the Owner of Bells Ferry Learning Center. It is available at https://decaldownload.buzzsprout.com.…

Construction to replace sewer pipe  On Monday, July 20, Malone Drive will be closed for construction from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (SR 141)and a detour will be in place. Local traffic will have access to Malone Drive from Peachtree Road from July 20 until Sept. 18. The work zone will be barricaded and closed as shown on the attached detour map. All homes and businesses will remain accessible during the closure. The detour will remain in effect from July 20 to Sept. 18.Residents are urged to plan ahead for possible traffic congestion and delays. The DeKalb County Department of Watershed…

An employee in the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the immediate closure of the Brookhaven satellite office on July 15. Although the employee who tested positive did not report to work after feeling ill, DeKalb Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson is delaying the opening of the Brookhave satellite office until 11 a.m. on Thursday (July 15). Following established COVID-19 protocols, the office is undergoing a thorough deep cleaning and sterilization of hard surfaces. Employees, who are required to immediately take a rapid COVID-19 test, will self-quarantine until they receive their test results. “The…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary has appointed Iris Settle as the city’s first Chief of Staff/Chief Liaison Officer in the Mayor’s Office. Lary announced the appointment at the July 13 City Council meeting. In her new role, Settle will serve as the mayor’s spokesperson in helping to clearly deliver his vision, in addition to assisting with making sure the needs of the deputy city manager, staff and city council are met. “She will deal directly with the council on my behalf,” Mayor Lary said.  “I recognize that I need some assistance in communicating with the council and she brings a…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that an inmate died of an apparent suicide just hours after being booked into the DeKalb County Jail.                                                                                                               Authorities said in a news release today that 42-year-old Atlanta resident Marcos Torres-Diaz was arrested on July 13, 2020 and placed in custody in the jail’s COVID-19 quarantine housing unit. Hours later, he was found non-responsive in his cell.  Emergency medical services were rendered immediately by the jail’s medical staff and DeKalb Fire Rescue. Torres-Diaz was transported to DeKalb Medical Center where he died on July15.  The incident is being investigated. The DeKalb Medical…

Photo cutline: A secure residential and commercial customer payment and service request drop box is located at the front entrance of the Sanitation Division’s administration building.  In support of the county’s virtual service delivery strategy and as an additional service request and payment option to DeKalb residents and businesses, the DeKalb County Sanitation Division now offers a secure drop box service. Through this service, Sanitation Division customers can securely and conveniently submit payments and a variety of residential and commercial service requests, including special collection fees, new service applications and recycling program subscriptions. For a full listing of what…

DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) will begin accepting returns of library materials in outside book drops on Monday, July 20. Out of an abundance of caution and in line with current best practices, all returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before being checked in and removed from patron accounts. No overdue fines will be charged on any library materials, even if they were overdue before the library system closed due to the pandemic. DCPL will be suspending overdue fines on all materials through the end of the year. Contact-free pickup service will be available beginning Monday, July…

ATLANTA—Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) is leveraging an existing state contract with Georgia-based UPS to deliver personal protective equipment to medical facilities across Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp announced today (July 15). “This is another example of partnership between the State and a Georgia-based company that will have a direct impact on the battle against COVID-19,” said Kemp. “The team at UPS has the capability to deliver the PPE that our hospital workers need to fight COVID-19 efficiently, and we could not be more grateful for their partnership.” “UPS is proud to support the State of Georgia, applying…

Congressman Hank Johnson ATLANTA—Georgia workers will hold a tele-town hall with Congressman Hank Johnson on Thursday(July 16), 6 p.m., to discuss the expiration of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. This additional $600 a week benefit is set to expire for American workers on July 31, which could impact millions who remain out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Georgia Project, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, and unemployed Georgia workers will join Johnson for the tele-meeting, which will be moderated by Deana Holiday Ingraham, Mayor of East Point. The…