Author: On Common Ground News

    Consumers encouraged to sanitize touchscreens, payment cards ATLANTA—Gov. Brian P. Kemp joined the American Transaction Processors Coalition, Georgia Retail Association, and Georgia Food Industry Association in issuing guidance regarding the use of PIN numbers and other best practices at checkouts as Georgia continues to fight the spread of COVID-19.  Consumer Tips: If a contactless payment option is available (e.g., Apple Pay, or tap and pay), use it. Clean your payment cards using soap, hand sanitizer, or alcohol after each use. Maintain control of your card, whenever possible, rather than handing it to the merchant. If asked for a…

Human rights activist  Joseph Echols Lowery, Oct. 6, 1921-March 27, 2020 Metro Atlanta leaders shares thoughts, prayers ATLANTA—A small, private service will be held for the late civil rights icon, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, due to social distancing mandates and the coronavirus pandemic. Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In a statement, family members said a larger, public memorial would be held in late summer or early fall. Rev. Lowery died of natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus on Friday (March 27) at home in Atlanta, surrounded by family members. He was 98. “Our…

“We have never given up in chasing hundreds of leads in this case.” —Sgt. L. Shuler, lead investigator Today, (April 4), DeKalb County police announced at a press conference the arrest of one suspect in the 8-year-old murder case of Vanessa “Honey” Malone. Donald Ash, 34, was charged with the murder Malone, who was 18 years old when she was killed. Police are still looking for other suspects involved with the murder and are asking the public’s help. “We do believe that multiple people are responsible for this crime, and the investigation is ongoing. We hope more arrests will…

Gwinnett offers a variety of online services to help residents and businesses accomplish tasks while practicing social distancing. You can renew motor vehicle tags, pay property taxes, request a service order, pay your water bill, pay a false alarm fee, and more when you visit the Online Servicespage at GwinnettCounty.com. Planning and Development allows people to search for existing building, development, fire, or planning permits; request an inspection; renew a building permit; or report a code violation. Water Resources also offers customers the opportunity to

Most residential and commercial annual notices of assessment typically sent in early April now will be sent May 1. An Annual Notice of Assessment is not a tax bill. The notice informs you of the value assessed on your residential or commercial real estate as of January 1, 2020. Personal Property Annual Notices of Assessment for tangible business inventory, watercraft, and aircraft will be mailed May 18. You may appeal your 2020 value within 45 days of the date on your notice at Gwinnett-Assessor.com.

In response to the pandemic, seniors receiving meals through senior congregate programming have been added to GwinnettCounty’s home-delivered meals program. In-home services continue as well for clients receiving homemaking and respite services. For information or to request assistance, call 678.377.4150.

The City of Brookhaven has established a website listing Brookhaven closings, cancellations and resources relating to the COVID-19 pandemic at www.BrookhavenGA.gov/covid19

Families Should Text findfood to 888-976-2232/For Spanish text “comida” to the Same Number  Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta Community Food Bank are partnering to provide food to families when APS is closed for Spring Break, April 6-10. Any families not served today, April 4, at the APS food distribution sites should contact the Atlanta Community Food Bank at www.acfb.orgor, for English, text (the phrase only) “findfood” to 888-976-2232 and, for Spanish, text (the word only) “comida” to the same number, 888-976-2232. Families will need to enter their ZIP code when prompted on the website or when they text, and…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested 53-year-old Decatur resident Tonia Johnson on Friday, April 3. According to warrants, Johnson made numerous phone calls to the sheriff’s office beginning on March 18, 2020, during which she threatened bodily harm to Sheriff Melody Maddox and agency staff members ,and  threatened to “blow up the jail,” where her son is in custody. Johnson was charged with two counts of harassing phone calls, both misdemeanors. Sheriff’s investigators located and arrested Johnson without incident at a business on Dogwood Drive S.W. in Conyers. She was transported to the DeKalb County Jail.