Author: On Common Ground News

Navy Blue Angels , U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds to pay tribute to first responders     ATLANTA – Residents in metro Atlanta can look toward the sky on Saturday, May 2, for a spectacular performance by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds. The military salute will honor frontline COVID-19 responders and essential workers. In addition to Atlanta, the flyovers also will be held in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. on Saturday, and in New York City and other cities in the Northeast on Tuesday, April 28. “America Strong is a way for both teams to show appreciation to…

STONECREST, GA—Local medical professionals serving on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis now have a place to retreat and rest, thanks to a newly-forged partnership between New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute. The Rest & Retreat Center, a repurposed facility designated for local healthcare workers, is a housing dormitory and hotel on the Allen Institute property with 20 executive double-bed rooms and complimentary onsite food and beverage. “This pandemic has stretched our healthcare system and taxed our frontline professionals in ways we can’t even imagine,” said New Birth Senior Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant. “The Rest &…

The DeKalb County Government, Crime Stoppers and the FBI are offering a combined $25,000 reward for details leading to the arrest, indictment and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting of the home of DeKalb County’s solicitor-general.  On Saturday, April 11, 2020, at approximately 10 p.m., the DeKalb County Police Department was dispatched to the home of Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling to investigate an incident during which shots were fired into her family’s home.  While Coleman-Stribling and her family were in the home when the shooting occurred, no one was injured.  Since the incident, the DeKalb County Police…

https://youtu.be/3mvVOR9Qcp8 A processional led by hearses circled the Georgia Capitol today in protest of Gov. Brian Kemp’s order to reopen Georgia’s businesses and his order to rescind his sheltering in place mandate. Kemp is lifting the sheltering in place for all Georgians except the fragile and elderly on Friday. Protestors fear that reopening too soon is going to result in more covid-19 deaths.

Scammers are surfing the web pretending to be someone they’re not and their using stolen identities to send out messages for things like a great new cure for COVID-19, a fundraising request or perhaps a discount on toilet paper, face masks and sanitizers. The Better Business Bureau(BBB) is warning the public to be on the lookout for scams on social media. How the Scam Works While scrolling through Facebook, a message pops up in Facebook Messenger. It’s your friend, family member, or neighbor. At least it “looks” like them because the profile picture matches. From here, the conversation goes one…

Georgia Governor’s Honors Program 2020 canceled due to COVID-19 Plans underway to publicly honor the 659 finalists  It’s been a tough year for high school seniors. They’ve missed out on their proms, graduations and other end-of-the-school-year activities due the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, some may miss out on summer events as well. The 2020 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is one of the milestone events that won’t take place this year. The program, which was scheduled June 14-to July 11 at Berry College in Rome, GA,  will be cancelled for the first time since its inception in 1964 due to the virus.…

The Division of School and District Effectiveness at the Georgia Department of Education provided an opportunity for districts to compete for a one time grant to support state- identified Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), digital learning resources. The DeKalb County School District has been awarded $3,836, 800 from the Georgia Department of Education’s Digital Learning Grant to assist 25 schools in the county. Based on the technology needs survey and evidence-based research, the identified schools will receive grant funds to purchase devices for students in grades Pre-K- 5, Wi-Fi hotspots, and instructional software programs along with professional development. The…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit, working with the Cobb County Police Department, arrested a second suspect on April 29 in the murder armed robbery of an Atlanta man. Eliyahu Benyamin, 19, and a 15-year-old, whose identity is being withheld because he is a juvenile, have been charged in connection with the shooting death of Reeves Vadorian McSwain, 21. Investigators said Benyamin and the juvenile  took money intended for the purchase of a weapon from the victim and shot him. Benyamin facilitated the shooting death of the victim, which took place on Longdale Drive in Decatur on April 22. According…

Video and photos by Glenn L. Morgan/On Common Ground News Pictured are firefighters at Station 24, 4154 Redan Road, Stone Mountain. https://youtu.be/QdqVWqB3bXo Transforming Faith Church delivers free lunches to DeKalb firefighters during COVID-19 pandemic    STONE MOUNTAIN—DeKalb County’s former CEO Lee May, pastor of Transforming Faith Church, was on the frontlines today—delivering lunches to firefighters at four stations May made stops at Stations 4, 16, 20 and 24, setting up a table where he and volunteers passed out chef-prepared lunches. Firefighters were able to choose from fish, chicken and steak meals. May said he wanted to serve those who…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 24, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) joined the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce on its monthly series “On Topic” to address the COVID-19 crisis and outline what the latest coronavirus legislation passed by the House on April 23 means for small businesses, community banks, healthcare facilities and COVID-19 testing.   To watch, click HERE.   Rep. Johnson joined Nick Masino, President & CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber & Partnership Gwinnett and Matt Hyatt, Founder & CEO, Rocket IT.   “Unfortunately, some of the funds allocated to the Paycheck Protection Program in the first CARES Act were made accessible…