Author: On Common Ground News

Conyers, Ga. – Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is offering a full-time virtual learning option for the 2020-21 school year.  Parents of children in grades K-5 will be able to apply for the virtual option July 10 – July 24, 2020.  Parents of middle and high school students are asked to indicate their desire to participate in full-time virtual learning through an interest survey during the same two weeks, July 10 – July 24, 2020.  Details and links to both the application and the survey are on our website www.rockdaleschools.org.    Elementary parents who desire the full-time virtual learning option will apply…

Kingdom Stand Up has announced that it is cancelling its gospel concert, which was scheduled to take place in Conyers in August. “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to postpone our event this year due to the coronavirus,” organizers said in a statement. “Our focus is to make sure we all remain safe during this unprecedented time.”

LITHONIA—The 8th annual Parade of Hats, which was rescheduled for August at St. Paul AME Worship Center in Lithonia, will not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic. Joyce Reid, who has served as event planner for the event since its inception, said the luncheon was first cancelled this spring after state-mandated shutdowns across Georgia. With a new wave of virus cases on the rise in Georgia, Reid said she was forced to cancel the event again. The annual event celebrates spring with a fashion show of hats and provides scholarships for graduating students in the…

The city of Stonecrest is launching an investigation into the permitting of a Metro Green recycling plant in an effort to stop the construction of the project. The project has raised strong opposition from angry residents who say it would pose a health hazard, have a negative environmental impact and lower property values. The Stonecrest City Council approved a motion to launch  the probe in a 6-0 vote at a special called meeting last night (July 9). The council agreed to have Councilmembers Rob Turner and Jimmy Clanton, along with City Planning Director Chris Wheeler and the law firm of…

ATLANTA—Georgia Power is offering a special payment plan to help customers with past-due account balances accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers who enroll by July 15 will be able to pay past-due balances over a six-month timeframe between October 2020 and March 2021, with no late fees. The suspension of disconnections also remains in place until July 15, and customers with an outstanding balance are encouraged to establish a payment plan, or consider the additional options Georgia Power is offering customers: For customers enrolled in PrePay: Georgia Power customers who are currently enrolled in this plan and have past-due…

DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, July 13, at 4:30 p.m. A Finance Committee meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. These meetings will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). To listen in on the meeting, please request the call-in number and PIN from weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than noon on the date of the meeting. For more details on the agenda and about listening in, go to www.dekalblibrary.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), along with other Congressional leaders, today re-introduced the Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act, which would ensure that death row inmates have the opportunity to present newly discovered evidence of innocence. Under current law, an inmate on death row can be stranded with no procedural options to stop their execution, even when there is compelling new evidence that he or she is innocent. The Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act would: (1) empower the federal courts to grant habeas corpus relief for a prisoner on death row who presents newly discovered evidence that demonstrates probable…

Decatur outdoor pools will open for daily swim Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Oakhurst indoor pool will remain closed at this time. McKoy and Ebster will close for weekday swimming on Aug. 1 and will remain open on weekends through Labor Day. Glenlake Pool will remain open daily through Labor Day as well as the weekend following Labor Day. Admission is $5 for each person older than 2. Resident Season Pool Passes are available for purchase at Webtrac.decaturga.com for $125. Individual passes are $45. Total occupancy at each pool has been reduced to the following bather loads: 53…