Author: On Common Ground News

A look at some early results for key local races DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox appears headed for a runoff with either Ruth “The Truth” Stinger or Antonio “Block”  Johnson, who are battling for second place, according to unofficial early results.Run-offs are scheduled on Aug. 11. DeKalb County’s early results were finally posted June 10 with a few of the 100 precincts still out. A  myriad of  problems were reported  statewide on June 9, Election Day, slowing down the process. Absentee and provisional ballots still had to be counted, officials said on Wednesday. Maddox and her challenger are vying to fill…

Atlanta Gas Light is inviting the public to join its efforts to help curb the escalation of food insecurity in communities due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is partnering with local agencies to collect food donations in 14 communities across the state. This is a drive-thru event and those taking part are asked to wear a face covering for their safety and the safety of the employee and foodbank volunteers. Atlanta Gas Light is also asking that donations be placed in the trunks of vehicles, where one of the volunteers will retrieve the food items. Local food…

Rockdale County elections officials still have about 1,000 ballots remaining to be counted, said Elections Supervisor Cynthia Willingham. Eligible military and overseas ballots, which must have been postmarked by June 9 and received by June 2, must be counted as well as provisional ballots, which are used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter’s eligibility that must be resolved before the vote can count. The ballots will be counted and all election results will be certified on June 12, Willingham said. Here is a breakdown of the ballots that will be counted:

The DeKalb County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in   identifying a suspect wanted for questioning in a shooting that happened on May 16 at a gas station on the corner of Rockbridge and Hambrick Roads in Tucker. A dispute led to shots being fired into a moving vehicle and into two nearby apartments where children were inside, but unharmed. The man seen in the video, may be known as “Philly” and frequently visits the area. He is also wanted in reference to a robbery that happened in the same general area approximately two hours before. Anyone who…

Who: Parents, teachers/staff, and students (Grades 6-12) What: DCSD is seeking stakeholder input on their preferences and perspectives for learning models and hybrid options that the school district is considering for the reopening of schools. This feedback includes stakeholders’ level of comfort with social distancing and hygiene efforts, school bus transportation, serving meals, taking temperature, access to technology and internet at home, and the use of masks at school. When:              Survey is open from Tuesday, June 9, until Sunday, June 21, 2020 Where:            Link to the survey: https://dekalb.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6RkKXCJKRzNDwfb

On Thursday, June 11, lane closures are set to begin for sections of the eastbound and westbound lanes along South Avondale Road near Dartmouth Avenue from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., while crews work to rehabilitate approximately 460 linear feet of aging, ductile-iron sewer pipe. These sections of South Avondale Road will reopen on Friday, June 12. The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management has initiated this construction project as a part of ongoing maintenance to repair approximately 100,000 linear feet of sewer pipe to improve sewer service county-wide. Motorists should expect traffic delays stemming from the…

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie has signed an order approving a petition by the Board of Registration and Elections to extend voting hours for several polling places. For the following polling places, voting has been extended to the indicated times: Narvie J. Harris Elementary, 3981 McGill Drive, Decatur—7:45 p.m. Clarkston Community Center, 3701 College Ave., Clarkston—7:29 p.m. Medlock Elementary School, 2418 Wood Trail Lane, Decatur—7:15 p.m. Stephenson High School, 701 Stephenson Road, Stone Mountain—7:45 p.m. Stephenson Middle School, 922 Stephenson Road, Stone Mountain—7:30 p.m. Kittredge Magnet School, 1663 East Nancy Creek Drive NE, Atlanta—9:26 p.m. Ray of Hope Christian…

Sean DePalma has departed his position as the City of Stonecrest’s Director of Parks and Recreation to serve as Quality of Life manager in Panama City, Florida, overseeing parks and recreation. DePalma e-mailed the following letter to On Common Ground News in a farewell to the Stonecrest vommunity: Currently, our nation is navigating a new pandemic with COVID-19 while fighting with the time-worn plague of racial discrimination. As a public servant for over twenty years, I know that a successful parks and recreation department directly improves the quality of life for the entire community. Deciding to serve within…

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie has signed an order approving a petition by the Board of Registration and Elections to extend voting hours to 9:30 p.m. for all DeKalb County polling places that were still open at 7 p.m. If a voter arrived after 7 p.m. at any of those locations, they will be able to vote as long as they are in line by 9:30 p.m. For the following polling place, voting has been extended to the indicated time: Ray of Hope Christian Church, 2778 Snapfinger Road, Decatur—10:10 p.m. The petition to extend the hours for all…

ATLANTA– Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms today announced the creation of the CoA Recovery Fund, a program to support businesses and facilities adversely impacted following the peaceful demonstrations in the City of Atlanta that began on May 29, 2020. The fund offers grants to eligible small businesses to help them address physical damages and other debilitating losses, and to ensure they can continue to offer employment opportunities and support Atlanta’s communities, trade and commerce. “The peaceful protests taking place here in Atlanta and around the world have sent a clear message on the need to address systemic racism in our nation at a deeper…