Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County will open two additional precincts for in-person early voting beginning this Saturday, May 23. The additions will bring the total to five precincts available to DeKalb voters for the early voting period, which May 18-June 5. The Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, and the Tucker-Reid Library will both offer Saturday voting on  May 23 and May 30, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will follow a Monday-Friday schedule after that, with the exception of Memorial Day, May 25, when precincts will be closed. There will be no Sunday early voting at Stonecrest or Tucker. The Voter Registration…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian  Kemp will be joined by several state officials at the Georgia Capitol to give a briefing on COVID-19 on Thursday, May 21, at 4:30 p.m. The press conference, which will be held at the North Wing, will be live streamed via facebook.com/GovKemp or gpb.org/coronavirus. In addition to Kemp, the following will be on hand for the news conference Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Public Health; Homer Bryson, Director, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; Adjutant General Tom Carden, Georgia National Guard; Colonel Gary Vowell, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Public Safety; Mark Williams, Commissioner, Georgia Department…

https://youtu.be/dFFb09ozFWg The COVID19 pandemic may have shutdown their graduation ceremonies, but the virus couldn’t steal their joy. The Parks of Stonecrest and The Terraces– two communities in Stonecrest, GA– held a parade to honor their graduates on Saturday, May 16, 2020. Stonecrest City Councilman Jimmy Clanton provided protective masks for the event as cheering neighbors, relatives and friends, following the state’s mandated social distancing due to the coronavirus, came together to salute the students. A caravan of decorated vehicles rolled through the communities honking their horns in celebration. The communities congratulated the following graduates: Matoaka Wilson-Tuskegee University Nadiyah Swann-Miller Grove…

For the past four years, Pastor Byeong Han, senior pastor of the Korean Central Presbyterian Church, and the Korean community, have hosted “East Meets West,” a dinner and concert to celebrate DeKalb County’s First
Responders. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 celebration was cancelled. The cancellation did not stop Pastor Han’s passion for making sure that the heroes of the DeKalb County were celebrated. “We have decided not to step back, but to step forward to express our appreciation for your hard work,” said Pastor Han. Pastor Han and the Korean community donated $1,000 each to the Sheriff, Police, Fire…

https://youtu.be/dFFb09ozFWg The COVID19 pandemic may have shutdown their graduation ceremonies, but the virus couldn’t steal their joy. “The Parks of Stonecrest and “The Terraces” held a community parade to honor their 2020 graduates on Saturday, May 15. City Councilman Jimmy Clanton provided protective masks for the event as cheering neighbors, relatives and friends, practicing social distancing, came together with balloons and signs as a caravan of decorated vehicles rolled through the communities honking their horns. Congratulations to: Matoaka Wilson-Tuskegee University Nadiyah Swann-Miller Grove HS Sydney Wilson-Georgia State University Torey Taylor-Arabia Mountain HS DeAndre Carter -Lithonia HS Clayton Hyderkhan-Lithonia HS…

On Common Ground News is sending up prayers for Bishop William “Papa” Sheals, senior pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in Norcross. Bishop Sheals is scheduled for heart surgery on Wednesday, May 20, at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta. Bishop Sheals was in good spirits when On Common Ground News spoke with him around 11:25 a.m. today. Bishop Sheals’ longtime friend, gospel powerhouse Dottie Peoples, had called to check on him as he was being admitted to the hospital. Peoples sang her hit, “On Time God, while she was on the phone with him,” said “Big John,” Sheals’ personal…

DeKalb Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, District 4, shared his perspective in newsletter I think that most of us were shocked and saddened when we learned about the tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County. The video is heartbreaking. On February 23, 2020, Mr. Arbery was essentially ambushed and killed while he was out running. On that date he was 25 years old. This incident has affected me deeply. And I have been thinking back to when I was 25 years old. When I was 25 years old, I was an officer in the United States Army, and running was a…

Pictured: Rockdale County Superintndent Dr. Terry Oatts Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) has been chosen as one of 36 school systems to receive donated mobile hotspots. This donation will help fill the internet connectivity gap for thousands of students across the state, said Schools Superintndent Dr. Terry Oatts, “As a district, we are honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the WiFiRanger Teton C-19 hotspots, which will enable us to creatively and strategically deploy internet access to select communities utilizing some of our school buses,” said Oatts. “These hotspots will allow us to achieve equitable access…

Drive-thru giveaway set May 22     DeKalb County Government is lending a helping hand to residents who have limited access to healthy food through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia farmers. On Friday,May 22, the county is hosting two drive-thru food distribution events where officials will give away 1,200 boxes of fresh produce and 1,200 bags of chicken. Residents will receive one 20-pound box of “Georgia Grown” fruit and vegetables and one 10-pound bag of frozen chicken hind quarters. Each of the 1,200 COVID-19 Care Baskets will include 20 pounds of fresh Georgia-grown fruit and vegetables…

Citizens and deputies rushed to help seven people, six of them children under 11 years old, who were injured as their vehicle overturned on I-20 in Rockdale County today. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office said the accident happened around noon. The vehicle was eastbound on I-20 just beyond Exit 78 Sigman Road when it overturned, ejecting four of the children. Sheriff’s spokesman Lee Thomas said the initial investigation revealed multiple injuries were sustained.  Thomas said first aid was rendered by responding deputies and citizens on the scene before all of the passengers were transported to a local hospital for further…