Author: On Common Ground News

The Georgia Emergency Management(GEMA) and Homeland Security Agency will no longer publish the daily COVID-19 Situation Report (SITREP). The daily updates are being replaced by a new web-based COVID-19 Data Hub by the Georgia Geospatial Information, state officials announced. “In the beginning days of the pandemic, we developed our daily SITREP to supplement the Department of Public Health’s reporting, and provide the public with relevant data regarding hospitalizations, and resources,” said GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings. “GIO has created a one-stop shop for all of the data in a format that is more easily accessible, so it makes sense…

The Conyers Mayor and City Council unanimously approved a resolution at the Sept. 2 City Council meeting encouraging citizens to wear masks or face coverings over the nose and mouth in public effective immediately. The resolution cites language from Governor Brian Kemp’s previous Executive Order that indicates wearing masks and face coverings helps mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “It is encouraging that Rockdale County’s reported COVID-19 cases seem to be on a positive, downward trend, but now is not the time for our citizens to become complacent,” said Mayor Vince Evans. “We hope everyone realizes that it takes a collective…

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a virtual Parks Citizen Advisory Board Committee meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. The meeting to discuss current park improvements and recreation projects will be conducted via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/94798588338. To join the meeting by phone, dial 888-270-9936, and use conference code 720766 For more information, contact Carol Underwood: cjunderw@dekalbcountyga.gov.

The DeKalb County Board of Health will open the following location for COVID-19 testing on Monday, Sept. 7, with reduced hours: Former K-Mart Store Parking Lot (at I-285 and Buford Hwy.) 5597 Buford Hwy. NE, Doraville, Ga. 30340 The Doraville location’s hours of operation will be 9 a.m. until noon. Testing locations in Atlanta at Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church and in Stonecrest at the former Sam’s Club, will be closed for Labor Day. The Board of Health’s COVID-19 Call Center will also be closed. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 5, the Board of Health’s COVID-19 Call Center hours will change.…

A coalition of DeKalb County pastors is urging voters to cast their ballots by mail or place them in dropboxes by Oct. 21—ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The DeKalb Pastors Christian Alliance announced at a press conference today (Sept. 2) that the campaign, “DeKalb Votes Together,” would officially begin this Sunday, Sept. 6, and continue for six consecutive weeks, ending on Oct. 21. Lee May, lead pastor of Transforming Faith Church and former DeKalb Interim CEO, said the Alliance is organizing as one body and inviting other pastors to come aboard. “Here’s the reality: People trust their pastors.…

George Levett, III, 24, was arrested and charged with armed robbery after beating a 52-year-old man with a baseball bat last week. Levett is the son of Rockdale Coroner George Levett, Jr. and the cousin of Sheriff Eric Levett. According to a Conyers Police report, obtained today(Sept. 1) by On Common Ground News,  Levett attacked Michael Martin outside of an extended stay hotel in Conyers around 8:43 p.m. on Aug. 24. Officers said Levett stole the victim’s Glock 19 handgun after beating him and then fled. He was captured by a police shortly after the incident.  When police arrived at…

County to begin serving Lawrenceville customers Dec. 1, slight increase expected  The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 1 approved an intergovernmental agreement to purchase the Lawrenceville Water Distribution System. Under the agreement, Gwinnett County will take ownership of the city of Lawrenceville’s water distribution system on Dec. 1, 2020. Gwinnett has agreed to make a one-time payment of $400,000 with a guarantee of a minimum of $13.3 million in repairs, replacements, rehabilitation and upgrades to the system over the next 10 years. “Every day, we produce more than 70 million gallons of water to be used…

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has joined the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in offering COVID-19 Guidance specifically for Georgia child care facilities. The guidance covers everything from drop off/arrival and food preparation and meal service to how and where to report confirmed cases of COVID-19 in child care programs. “The guidance we are releasing today is designed for families, child care facilities, and healthcare providers,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “The health and safety of Georgia’s youngest learners is always our top priority and we want to create an environment in child care that will…

Today(Sept. 2), the U.S. Department of Labor announced that $100 million in funding will be provided to support states’ efforts to combat fraud and recover improper payments in the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, including those programs created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. At the same time, the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued a letter (UIPL) 28-20, which highlights tools and strategies to assist states in strengthening their anti-fraud operations, including the availability of a new identity verification solution to confirm the identity of individuals filing for unemployment benefits. The coronavirus has led to…

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs and Park Pride will hold a series of virtual public meetings to discuss the masterplan of Cedar Park, located at 3165 Cedar St., Scottdale, GA 30079. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. The community is invited to learn and provide input regarding future improvements of Cedar Park. Participants can watch the live streams and register in advance to participate via Zoom, by visiting www.friendsofcedarpark.wixsite.com/welcome/participate. Meeting topics include: Big Ideas—Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. Draft Plans—Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m. Final Plan—Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. Visioning…