Author: On Common Ground News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) chaired his Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet’s hearing on the Federal Courts During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices, Opportunities for Innovation, and Lessons for the Future. The hearing examined how the federal courts have responded to the historic disruption caused by the coronavirus and the steps they are taking to make sure that access to justice continues to operate as safely and smoothly as possible under these circumstances. The Subcommittee also considered the novel ways that courts have used technology to allow some court proceedings to continue in…

The NAACP DeKalb and members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will host a “March for Justice” to Stone Mountain Park on Saturday, June 27. The march will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Wade Walker Park, 5585 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain. NAACP DeKalb President Teresa Hardy is urging community activists, faith leaders, elected officials, social organizations and youths to participate. The NAACP’s Youth & College Division will participate in the march. The march comes in the wake of weeks of widespread protests against police brutality, racial injustices, and the removal of Confederate monuments across the country. Stone Mountain Park was purchased…

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is in mourning today (June 25) following the passing away of Deputy Steven A. Minor. Deputy Minor died on Wednesday (June 24) evening at Rockdale Piedmont Hospital. Deputy Minor was an 18-year veteran with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. He started at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 18, 2001 as a Detention Deputy within the Jail Division. Deputy Minor was promoted to a Certified Sheriff’s Deputy on Sept. 21, 2004 after successfully completion of
the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) mandate academy. Deputy Minor served in the Uniform Patrol Division…

The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will hold a special called meeting tomorrow, Thursday, June 25, at 9:30 a.m., to consider the certification of the results of the Presidential Preference Primary/General Primary/Nonpartisan General Election/Special Election held on June 9, 2020. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). Simultaneous public access to the meeting will be available via livestream on DCTV’s UStream channel https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23. Public comment may be submitted by sending an email of one page or less to electionspubliccmnt@dekalbcountyga.gov which must be received between 9:30-10 a.m. on the day of the meeting. The body of the email must…

On Saturday, June 27, DeKalb County will host its third food distribution event at three drive-thru locations at which 2,400 DeKalb residents will receive one 20-pound box of “Georgia Grown” fruit and vegetables and a 10-pound bag of frozen chicken hind quarters. Beginning at 10 a.m., COVID-19 Care Baskets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at three locations: Buck Godfrey Stadium,2817 Clifton Springs Rd., Decatur, GA 30034 James R. Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial College Ave., Clarkston, GA 30021 New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Rd., Stonecrest, GA 30038 “DeKalb County is continuing its initiative to turn the…

CONYERS–Rockdale County residents are calling for the removal of a Confederate monument that has stood for more than 100 years in front of the Rockdale Courthouse on Main Street. They are speaking out at a time when the nation is witnessing the widespread removal of Confederate iconography and protests are mounting against bigotry, white supremacy and racial injustice. For Rockdale, the sweeping movement hit close to home last week. In neighboring DeKalb County, a Confederate monument erected in 1908, was removed on June 18 after years of pressure and a recent court order by Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger. On…

As the global coronavirus pandemic continues to disproportionately impact minority communities nationally, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, The 100 Black Men of DeKalb County and The Family Health Centers of Georgia are partnering to host a free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on June 30. The testing, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., will take place on New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s campus, 6400 Woodrow Road in Stonecrest. “There is an undeniable need for testing in our community and I am thankful for the partnerships that enable us to provide this valuable resource at absolutely no cost,” said New Birth’s…

ATLANTA- Recruiters in the Atlanta area are participating in the U.S. Army’s first nationwide, virtual hiring campaign June 30-July 2 to hire 10,000 new soldiers. Army National Hiring Days is a new effort to test the Army’s digital footprint. During Army National Hiring Days, the U.S. Army will seek full-time and part-time soldiers in 150 different career fields, ranging from traditional combat roles to support positions in logistics, engineering and technology. The Army is offering special cash bonuses for those who enlist during the three-day event. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the Army to seek innovative ways to continue to connect…

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has released the 2020 Drinking Water Quality Report, also referred to as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). DWM continues to surpass all federal and state drinking water quality standards, providing DeKalb County customers with high-quality drinking water.    The CCR provides detailed information on monitoring data gathered from water quality testing during 2019. DWM serves more than 700,000 customers and is responsible for treating and distributing drinking water and collecting and treating wastewater throughout DeKalb County.    By law, tap water is tested for various water quality parameters to ensure that the…

The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center is hosting a virtual art contest for DeKalb County residents to highlight the diversity of the community through multimedia art forms. The contest is open to amateur and professional artists. Submissions will be accepted now until July 18. The age groups for the contest will include 5-9 years; 10-13 years; 14-18 years;19-29 years; 30-49 years; and 50 years and older. The winner from each age group will be presented with a gift card sponsored by the Emory Community Building and Social Change Program. Winners will be announced on July 20 and…