Author: On Common Ground News

City officials, others team up to provide assistance   STONECREST—Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and City Councilman Jimmy Clanton were on the scene this morning (April 8) at the Retreat At Stonecrest apartment complex, where a fire displaced 26 families. The apartment complex on Amanda Drive sits in Councilman Clanton’s District 1. Stunned residents, some of them standing outside of their vehicles, described a chaotic scene to the mayor and Clanton. They said that people were scrambling to get out of their apartments as neighbors knocked on doors to wake those who were sleeping when the fire broke out around 1:30 a.m.…

Today, April 8, Gov. Brian P. Kemp and Amy M. Jacobs, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, issued the following joint statement regarding measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring that our state’s essential workforce has access to licensed childcare. “On Thursday, April 2, 2020, the Executive Order to Ensure a Safe & Healthy Georgia – commonly called the shelter-in-place order – was issued. The order became effective beginning Friday, April 3 at 6:00 PM and is set to expire Monday, April 13 at 11:59 PM. This order allows all licensed childcare facilities…

The Rockdale Democratic Party(RCDP) will host a virtual Voters Update General meeting today, April 8, 7 p.m. The virtual “Get Out the Vote 2020” meeting is open to the public. Please share this notice with as many voters and residents of Rockdale County as possible. Click Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting now to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Cheryl Miles Board, RCDP Chair, at (678)463-7725

ATLANTA – Attorney General Chris Carr is warning Georgians that scammers are using fraudulent websites, texts and emails to steal consumers’ personal or financial information and/or to install malware on their devices. “Scammers are pursuing different angles related to the Coronavirus pandemic to commit identity theft, create chaos and steal people’s money,” cautions Carr.  “People should be very wary of messages containing links or requests for their personal or financial information.” The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has received complaints about text messages that state “Someone who came in contact with you tested positive or has shown symptoms for COVID-19…

A group of DeKalb County elected officials have joined forces with community activist Omar Howard to help 23 families who were displaced after a fire broke out at the Belle Vista Apartment complex in the city of Stonecrest on Saturday, April 4. The apartments complex are located on Camellia Ln. Howard, who grew up in Lithonia and is founder of the Freedom Is A Choice nonprofit, said he wanted to help as soon as he learned about the fire. The four elected officials— Lithonia Mayor Shameka Reynolds, Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, Stonecrest City Councilman Rob Turner, and DeKalb County’s Super District 7…

STONE MOUNTAIN –DeKalb County Police are investigating a dispute that turned deadly on Needle Rock Drive in Stone Mountain. Arnold Leslie, III, 20, died at Grady Hospital this morning (April 7) after he was shot during the incident. The other victim, Nasir Kareem, 20, who was shot twice on the left side of his abdomen, survived, police said. Leslie and Kareem were men were sitting outside in the carport at Kareem’s home when two men pulled up, got out of the car they were in and opened fire. Police said the shooting took place around midnight this morning (April…

The State of Georgia’s net tax collections for March totaled $1.83 billion for an increase of $163.5 million, or 9.8 percent, compared to March 2019 when net tax collections totaled roughly $1.67 billion. Year-to-date net tax collections totaled $17.39 billion, for an increase of $350.8 million, or 2.1 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year when net tax revenues totaled $17.04 billion.  Individual Income Tax:Individual Income Tax collections totaled $971.4 million, which was an increase of roughly $197.5 million, or 25.5 percent, compared to last year when Income Tax collections totaled nearly $774 million. Individual Income Tax refunds issued…

Experience the 39th Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival from the comfort of your own home and invite your family and friends to go online, too. Since the 2020 festival originally scheduled March 21-22 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, event organizers wanted to provide a way for festival enthusiasts to take part in the event while practicing social distancing. From the festival’s website, conyerscherryblossomfest.com, guests can shop among the handmade arts and crafts and support local non-profit organizations by exploring the Online Marketplace. The marketplace provides website links to vendors’ websites or social media pages where purchases can be…

Are certain racial or demographic groups less susceptible to contracting the COVID-19virus? Radio and television personality Frank Ski will moderate DeKalb County’s third COVID-19 virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, April 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Frank Ski  Ski, host of a morning show on V103, has worked in radio, music and acting for more than three decades. Medical and psychiatric professionals will answer questions from the public during the virtual town hall, which will be hosted by DeKalb’s COVID-19 Strategic Task Force. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond formed the task force to provide professional, technical and strategic counsel…

Compiled by Mackenzie N. Morgan For many metro Atlantans, today marks the beginning of Spring Break. Despite travel not being an option, your family doesn’t have to forgo Spring Break altogether. With just a little imagination and creativity, you can be on your way to your next dream Spring Break staycation in just a matter of a few clicks. Check out OCG’s Spring Break guide to find your next free, fun quarantined adventure. Create your own oasis: Camp in your backyard Brothers Bruno and Diego of Decatur, Georgia along with their parents, Fher and Kristen Rivera, got creative…