Author: On Common Ground News

Members and volunteers with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will distribute food and other non-perishable items to the community as part of the ministry’s Father’s Table food pantry on Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Last Tuesday, New Birth served more than 300 families as lines of cars wrapped around the church’s parking lot hours before the food pantry’s official opening. Ministry leaders and volunteers will distribute food and other items in a “drive-through” format to adhere to CDC recommendations and exercise social distancing while serving members of the community. The food will be distributed at New Birth’s…

Conyers Mayor and City Council met in an emergency meeting on Friday, March 20, and unanimously passed an ordinance restricting restaurants to take out or delivery of food only, closing certain entertainment businesses in which public health could be compromised, and allowing restaurants licensed to sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption to sell beer or wine for take-out consumption off-premises. The Conyers City Council approved a resolution declaring a state of emergency at its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, March 18. Based on information provided from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and local authorities, the…

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on March 19, 2020, DKPD responded to a person shot call on the 4200 block of River Road in Ellenwood. Upon arrival, 94-year-old Frank Collins, was found suffering from a gunshot wound. Collins was transported to a local area hospital where he later died. Several other victims were found inside the home, who sustained non-life threatening injuries. Their injuries were not the result of a gunshot. Several suspects are believed to be responsible for the robbery. They have not been identified. This incident does not appear to be a random act and is believed to have been robbery related. The investigation…

Thank you for your patience as we navigate these first-time experiences and this period of uncertainty for all Georgia school districts. Know that we do not take the opportunity and the responsibility to serve our families lightly. As we continue to collaborate with our neighboring school districts, local, state and national health partners, the Governor’s Office, and the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE), we want to provide updates for you. Detailed below is the most recent information we are able to provide on the re-opening of school, graduation ceremonies, graduation requirements, testing, digital learning, facilities, and meal service plans. Re-opening…

Communities all across the nation are on lockdown since President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency on March 13, urging the public to stay at home in an effort to halt the global pandemic, which began in China three months ago and has killed a growing number of people worldwide. “Our immediate goal is to stop the spread of the virus and to help all Americans who have been impacted by this,” Trump said during a televised news conference at the White House. Locally, some shopping plazas have become deserted, while government buildings and city halls have closed, moving…

Gov. Brian Kemp said state officials are working with the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) to assist workers impacted by job loss or a reduction in work hours due to COVID-19. Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler issued an emergency ruling on March 17 mandating that businesses file partial claims on behalf of employees who are temporality laid off. “We are laser-focused on assisting the hardworking Georgians who have been impacted by the spread of the virus,” said Gov. Kemp. “Working with GDOL and our partners across the public and private sectors, we can ensure affected employees land on their feet…

In order protect county workers from the spread of COVID-19, DeKalb County is restricting access to all government buildings and facilities to the public until further notice. “We are implementing a ‘socially distant service delivery’ strategy to protect our employees from the spread of the virus so that DeKalb County can continue to provide essential services to our customers,” DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said. While physical access to county facilities will be restricted to the general public, county services will still be available. The county has made it possible for its customers to engage with any department they would normally…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary announced that City Hall would be closed to the public until further notice. The mayor also cancelled all upcoming meetings to include: March 23 City Council meeting and Work Session Municipal Court on March 26 and April 14 Planning Commission meeting on April 7 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on March 17 City staff, equipped with laptops and cell phones, are working from their homes or remote locations. Building and code enforcement inspections will still be conducted.  The city’s main phone number, 770- 224-0200, will be answered by the city’s call center.  Some staff members’ office…

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson is reminding customers that while his office building is closed to the public due to the coronavirus threat, it is still open for business. DeKalb residents in need of processing property taxes or motor vehicle documents can continue to submit those documents via fax, mail, email or place the necessary forms in drop boxes located at the Memorial Drive and Dresden Drive locations. The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office also provides a host of online resources and five kiosks located at local Kroger stores for annual motor vehicle renewals. “These are truly…

DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Asha Jackson has issued an order suspending all non-essential court functions due to mandates announced by Gov. Kemp and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Harold Melton due to COVID-19. All Magistrate Court Civil Calendars are postponed until further notice. As a result, Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl A. Anderson announced the following changes to Magistrate Court proceedings: All proceedings relating to evictions, garnishment, small claims, abandoned motor vehicles, bad checks and all other civil matters are continued during the duration of the Chief Justices Emergency Order. Specifically, effective March 13, all writs of…