Author: On Common Ground News

Pictured: Church leaders wearing protective masks and gloves  pass out communion at Voices of Faith’s campus at 1290 Sigman Road in Conyers.  Photos by Glenn L. Morgan Voices of Faith Ministries passed out communion during drive-throughs that were held today (May 2) at its campuses in Conyers and Stone Mountain. The drive-throughs were set up in preparation for Sunday’s communion worship services, which will stream live from Voices of Faith Church Facebook page at 8 a.m, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Voices of Faith’s Bishop Gary Hawkins, Sr. is among the many pastors in the metro-Atlanta area who have asked…

STONECREST—Arizona’s restaurant is closing. It will not be part of Gov. Brian Kemp’s reopening Georgia’s economy. Restaurant officials announced the closing today, May 2, saying that business dried up after restaurants across Georgia were restricted to drive-through or pick-up customers due to COVID-19. The in-dining Arizona’s, located among other businesses that form a ring around The Mall at Stonecrest, had served the city for 15 years. Officials say that its model did not fit with drive-through service but the restaurant tried to adapt anyway. Arizona’s closed toward the end of March after trying unsuccessfully to do carry-outs. Officials said there…

https://youtu.be/4HOzVLpNHTs STONE MOUNTAIN—When students at Stone Mountain Elementary School received their lunches and snacks on Friday, May 1, they got a special gift.  Project Transformation, a partner of the DeKalb County, gave each child a book. The nonprofit joined the DeKalb County School District’s Nutrition and Transportation Teams along their bus routes to deliver the meals to children in their communities. The school system has provided meals to children who have been learning online since state officials ordered schools to shut down to stop the spread of  COVID-19. The organization partnered with Stone Mountain Elementary to ensure students’…

By Angela Venable My name is Angela Venable and I live in the Conyers area. I am one of many people who are fortunate enough to have access to a sewing machine. Thank you to my friend, Akosua Tait, for allowing me to borrow one of her Singers to make my masks. While sheltering in place with everyone else, I found some remnants from Joanne Fabrics in my garage storage. I got the sewing machine and started making six masks. I wanted to make up a batch because I had gotten sick several weeks ago and I didn’t want…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian P. Kemp, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) urge all Georgians to continue to follow safe daily habits to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and keep the virus from spreading. Wear a face covering in public settings, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently. The caution from state officials follows the governor’s decision to lift the helter in place order and reopen even more businesses adding malls and retail stores to the list on Friday, May 1. Salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, fitness centers and bowling alleys were among the businesses…

ATLANTA—State Rep. David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs), along with other members of the Georgia General Assembly, recently hosted a virtual town hall meeting to hear from college students on the impact that COVID-19 is having on their transition to learning strictly online. Dozens of students are urging the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents’ to institute a pass/fail grading system, instead of the traditional letter grade, in the wake of the COVID-`9 pandemic. Some of the students say they lack high-speed internet at home and must go to other places—sometimes late at night—and sit in businesses’ parking lots to connect…

The next meeting of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 10 a.m. via teleconference. The schedule for other Rockdale BOC meetings in May follows: CANCELLED: Work Session:Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. – Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers, Georgia 30012 Work Session and Voting Session:Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. – Via Teleconference (Details to be posted closer to the date) CANCELLED: Evening Work Session:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. – Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers, Georgia 30012 CANCELLED: Zoning Public Hearing:Tuesday, May…

    The Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force Community Outreach Committee, co-chaired by Bernice King and Leonardo Smith, has partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health and DeKalb County Board of Public Health to establish free testing at a pop-up site at the House of Hope in Decatur this Monday, May 4, 3 to 7 p.m. The church is located at 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. If you or a loved one has COVID-19 symptoms or you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, this community-based site is your chance to find out if you have COVID-19. Pastors, local…

Rockdale County Parks and Recreation will open trails at select locations starting Saturday, May 2, from dawn to dusk. As the County continues to practice caution during these times, the trails will be the only recreation areas open – restrooms, pavilions, exercise equipment, tennis and basketball courts will all remain closed. The following trails will be open starting May 2 from dawn to dusk: South Rockdale Trail Lorraine Park & Trailhead South Rockdale Park & Trailhead Wheeler Park Trail – parking only available behind playground off Bennett Road SE Johnson Park Trail Pine Log Park Trail All other parks remain…

Beginning Saturday, May 1, eighty DeKalb County Police and Fire Rescue cadets and trainees will pass out 10,000 masks along with hand sanitizer to residents over the next six weeks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “DeKalb County has been overwhelmed with phone calls and emails from anxious residents asking how they can get a COVID-19 Care Packet,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “I want to reassure residents that for the next six weeks, we will be passing out these packets as part of our ongoing efforts to inform, educate and protect our residents.” The police and fire rescue…