Author: On Common Ground News

Sankofa Community Food Pantry will host its drive-through food pantry on Saturday, April 18, 12 to 3 p.m. at 1240 Sigman Road N.W., next to Voices of Faith Ministries. Drive your vehicle behind the plaza and open your trunk. Volunteers will bring the food out to you. A variety of fresh produce and dry food items will be available to the public at no cost, while supplies last. ID is not required to obtain food and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 678-517-2538.

In an effort to spread education and awareness of COVID-19, Rockdale County Chairman, Oz Nesbitt, Sr., will host a conference call with local clergy and local funeral directors on Thursday, April 23, 3:30 p.m. The conference call number is (701) 802-5410. Participants should enter the Access Code: 4042664. After announcing their first and last name, participants should mute their phone to prevent feedback and background noise. For more information, contact Jorge Diez at jorge.diez@rockdalecountyga.gov.

The DeKalb County School District announces its plan to close the 2019-2020 school year. The district’s school year will end four days early on May 15 for grades PreK-11 instead of May 21. The school year for seniors will end on May 8. The End of Year Guide for Students and Families for 2019-2020 provides detailed information regarding final grade calculations, promotion/retention, summer extended learning opportunities, school year learning recovery opportunities, end of year activities, and a FAQ. A copy of the guide is attached. The district will end the year as follows: Last day for seniors is Friday, May 8, 2020. Last day for…

Ramona Tyson, who has been serving as interim superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD), got a new title and a boost in pay for the work she has done in ushering the district through the COVID-19 global pandemic. Tyson was named superintendent on Wednesday, April 15, following a unanimous vote by the DeKalb County Board of Education. Tyson will serve for 75 days in the position as the board continues the process of naming a permanent superintendent. As superintendent, Tyson’s base salary increases from $250,000 to $350,000 annually for the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30.…

The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc. (FHCGA), a federally qualified health center, opened its COVID-19 drive-thru testing site on April 15. “It’s been a struggle to gain access to COVID-19 tests, but we will not give up the fight,” said Dr. Michael W. Brooks, FHCGA President and CEO. FHCGA’s COVID-19 testing is free and offered to anyone who lives in the metropolitan Atlanta area and meets nationally-recognized testing criteria. FHCGA said it is following CDC recommendations for protecting patients, visitors and staff. Brooks said that FHCGA serves 26,000 patients annually; 87% of whom are African American and 32% are…

Rainbow Drive, Columbia Drive, River Road on the list   DeKalb County-based H.E.H. Paving will begin resurfacing 25 miles of the worst roads and streets including Rainbow Drive, Columbia Drive and River Road. The paving company was awarded a $1.5 million contract in August 2019 under the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax(SPLOST) program to resurface the roads. With warm weather under way, road work can begin. “DeKalb County has a robust local small business enterprise ordinance that works to engage the county’s small businesses through the competitive bid process,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “DeKalb’s SPLOST program is…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in locating an escaped kidnapping suspect. The inmate, 35 year-old Decatur resident Torinto Antoine Christian, was arrested on Monday, April 13, and booked into the DeKalb County Jail on warrants charging him with kidnapping and aggravated assault. Investigators say that Christian asked for medical assistance while in his cell and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he slipped out of his handcuffs and fled from custody. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Torinto Antoine Christian is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 404-577-TIPS or the DeKalb…

The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office and the DeKalb County Police Department are investigating the death of an unidentified black female whose body was discovered last month in city of Stonecrest. On March 22, 2020, a DeKalb citizen discovered the body near the intersection of Rockland Road and Plunkett Road. Investigators have not been able to identify her through conventional means.  Currently, there is no person reported missing that fits her description. The female was about 5’2, 80 pounds and had short black hair. She was wearing blue jeans, a khaki-colored shirt, a black jacket and black and blue spider…

On Saturday, April 11, at approximately 10 p.m., the DeKalb County Police Department was dispatched to the home of DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling to investigate an incident where shots were fired into the residence.     While Coleman-Stribling and her family were in the residence when the shooting occurred, no one was injured.   The DeKalb County Police Department is diligently working with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and arrest the person or persons responsible for the shooting and is urging anyone with any information to call its Homicide Unit at 770-724-7850.

Rockdale County is one of 12 municipalities set to receive a $200,000 grant for the South River Water Trail Launch and Takeout Project. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced the selection of the Georgia Recreational Trails Program grants recipients for construction and rehabilitation of trails. “I’m excited to share the news about the project that will bring additional recreational activities to Rockdale County in the near future,” says Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr.  “After COVID-19, this project will become a light at the end of the tunnel as we continue to expand the county’s public spaces.” The South River…