Author: On Common Ground News

Guests Include local health directors, national Urban League and Georgia budget expert DECATUR—On Saturday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m., Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) will host a Zoom town hall on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Included on the call will be Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, District Health Director of the DeKalb County Board of Health; Clint Odom, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, Executive Director, Washington Bureau of National Urban League and Amanda Hollowell, Director of Strategic Campaigns for Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The group will discuss: Phase I of the COVID vaccine distribution efforts; President Joe Biden’s 100-day COVID…

Get a behind-the-scenes look at their County government Applications are now open for Gwinnett Community Outreach’s signature programs, and those interested in a behind-the-scenes look at their local government are invited to apply. Last fall, 25 participants graduated from the Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy’s 11th cohort, the only cohort in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic. Participants learned about the history of their County government, took virtual and in-person tours of County facilities and had conversations with County leadership. In addition, 20 high school students participated in the 2020 – 2021 Gwinnett Youth Commission and were sworn in…

Rockdale County Clerk and Legislative Director Jennifer Rutledge lost her husband, Jack Kenneth “Kenny” Rutledge on Sunday, Jan. 17. Mr. Rutledge was tragically killed in an accident, 12 days after his birthday. He was 52. The family will receive friends from noon until 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28,  at Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 670 Tom Brewer Road, Loganville.  A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Melwood Cemetery, 5170 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Stone Mountain. Lindsey Tate will officiate. Jack Kenneth “Kenny” Rutledge was born on Jan. 5, 1969 in Conyers to the late Jack Thomas Rutledge…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is offering free, district-wide COVID-19 testing this week for employees – the first district in the state to do so – as part of its acquisition of comprehensive telehealth services secured last November in partnership with Kids’-Doc-On-Wheels, Inc. (KDOW), a nonprofit dedicated to affording school districts comprehensive telehealth and mobile medical unit services. Free COVID-19 testing is just one step in the comprehensive COVID-19 risk mitigation measures RCPS is taking to keep staff and students safe. RCPS will also begin offering free, district-wide COVID-19 testing for students starting Feb. 8. RCPS is on a…

Funding, assistance for homeowners, renters and small business owners to be discussed DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will host a special town hall to inform residents about the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill passed by the U. S. Congress in December 2020. The DeKalb County Coronavirus Economic Relief Bill Town Hall will be held Thursday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m., and will feature legal, real estate and small business experts who will discuss the bill and explain how it will aid residents suffering economically due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill, known as the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act,…

STONECREST—Mayor Jason Lary announced at the  Jan. 25 City Council meeting that he was making an early return to the city’s helm, after being on medical leave since November to seek treatment for cancer. When Councilmember Tammy Grimes asked if the matter needed to be discussed in executive session, the mayor stated it was not necessary. “I’m back,” Lary said. After seeking advice from City Attorney Winston Denmark on how to procedurally handle the mayor’s early return, the city council agreed in a 5-0 vote at last night’s meeting to rescind Lary’s excused medical leave of absence until further…

ATLANTA – Atlanta Public Schools (APS) announced plans today (Jan. 25) to provide COVID-19 surveillance testing in schools as some students in pre-K-2 students returned to school under the district’s Return+Learn initiative. The news conference was held at M.A. Jones Elementary School in southwest Atlanta and included APS Superintendent Lisa Herring; Atlanta Board of Education Chair Jason Esteves; Viral Solutions, LLC President/Cofounder Ron Sanders; and CEO/Cofounder Dr. Benjamin Lefkove. Students in grades PreK-2 whose parents or caregivers opted for in-person instruction returned to the classroom today. Students in grades 3-5 will return on Monday, Feb. 8, while students in grades…

Veteran health official takes helm ATLANTA–Jevon Gibson has been named the new CEO of The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (The FDHA), owner of Grady Health System . The FDHA is  the healthcare safety net for both Fulton and DeKalb County, providing critical components to the care of indigent citizens in metro Atlanta. The FDHA Board of Trustees unanimously selected  Gibson as its new CEO and head of the operations  on Dec. 17, 2020.  Gibson assumed the new role on Jan. 4, 2021 and has taken the helm as the organization expands the virtual delivery of education and empowerment events launched last year due…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will partner with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (FDHA) to moderate a discussion aimed at providing background, understanding and information on human trafficking. The virtual “FDHA Community Conversation on Violence: Human Trafficking” event will take place Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will be a continuation of the FDHA’s 2021 Health Summit “Stop The Violence” initiative. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, human trafficking can be defined as a modern form of slavery, including an extreme form of labor exploitation in which one is recruited or obtained and forced to labor…

CONYERS, GA—Andy Bowman, former head golf professional at city-owned Cherokee Run Golf Club, was promoted to director of golf effective Jan. 7, City Manager Tony Lucas announced in a news release on today. Bowman joined the city of Conyers in 2013 and was promoted to head golf professional at Cherokee Run in 2017. He holds a degree from Georgia Southern University, is a Class A member of the Professional Golf Association and certified in player development. Bowman brings 26 years of experience in the golf industry to his new role as director of golf and is responsible for the daily…