Author: On Common Ground News

The Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual, award-winning tradition in Conyers for 38 years, is canceling its 39th festival scheduled for March 21-22 at the Georgia International Horse Park, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Rockdale County’s Emergency Management Agency Director Dan Morgan and the Gwinnett Newton Rockdale Health Departments say they want to protect the public from being exposed to the virus. “Out of an abundance of caution for those participating in and attending the festival, we made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event,” said City Manager Tony Lucas. “Our utmost priority remains the health and wellbeing…

Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) are confirming the first death from COVID-19 in Georgia. The 67-year-old male was hospitalized at WellStar Kennestone since testing positive for COVID-19 on March 7. In addition to being infected with coronavirus disease, this individual also had underlying medical conditions. “Marty, the girls, and I are praying for the family and loved ones of this individual during this incredibly difficult time,” said Gov. Kemp. “I know the medical professionals on site did everything that they could, and I greatly appreciate their efforts. As our state continues to address this…

DCE cancels March 14 community meeting  The DeKalb Cultural Exchange community breakfast meeting, scheduled Saturday, March 14, has been cancelled. Councilman Rob Turner, who hosts the event with his wife, DeKalb School Board member Vickie B. Turner, said the breakfast is being cancelled after speaking with health officials concerning the coronavirus. DeKalb Youth and Young Adult Summit cancelled The DeKalb County Juvenile Court and the DeKalb Juvenile Justice Council has canceled the Children, Youth & Young Adult Summit scheduled for Saturday, March 21, St. Phillip AME Church in Atlanta. DeKalb History Center cancels annual meeting on March…

Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, is scheduled to visit Ray of Hope Christian Church, 2778 Snapfinger Road, Decatur for 10 a.m. service on Sunday March 15. The Rev. Cynthia Hale is pastor of Ray of Hope.

Ronnie Juval Miller, one of three suspects wanted for the Feb. 19 murder of the owner of the Tic Toc food mart on Evans Mill Road, has been arrested. Miller, 42, of Conyers, was arrested today(March 12) in connection with the death  of 57-year-old Tesfaye Birru, who was found fatally shot outside his store shortly before 10:30 p.m. as he closed for the night on Feb. 19. Police have said they believe robbery was the motive. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with the assistance of the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Miller without incident in a parking lot on Old…

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is awaiting confirmatory testing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on five additional presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Georgia. The additional cases are in Cobb, Fayette, Gwinnett, and two in DeKalb. The individuals are hospitalized, and the sources of their infections are unknown. Confirmed cases and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 are broken down as follows: Confirmed COVID-19 Cases (Total: 6) Fulton County: 3 Floyd County: 1 Polk County: 1 Cobb County: 1 Presumptive Positive COVID-19 Cases (Total: 11) Fulton County: 2 Cobb County: 3 Fayette County: 1 DeKalb…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, the Board of Commissioners, District Health Director Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford and DeKalb County School District Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson will host a virtual town hall meeting about the coronavirus and the county’s preparedness measures. Out of an abundance of caution, the public town hall meeting will no longer be held at Rehoboth Baptist Church. The virtual town hall meeting will be Wednesday, March 11, 7 to 9 p.m., and can be accessed via: dekalbcountyga.gov Comcast Cable Channel 23 in DeKalb County Facebook live: facebook.com/ItsInDeKalbGa Questions are being accepted now and during the town hall…

Sanitizer pumps are going up everywhere as health and emergency management officials warn the public to wash their hands and avoid skin-to-skin contact as COVID-19 spreads in Georgia.  Currently, there are six confirmed, including three in Fulton County, and one each in Cobb, Floyd and Polk counties, according to the office of Gov. Brian Kemp. There are 11 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Georgia that are awaiting confirmation from the CDC, state officials said on Monday. Meanwhile, an employee at a Waffle House, located at 1849 Marietta Highway in Canton, has tested positive for coronavirus, according to the restaurant. The location is temporarily closed.…

Due to the coronavirus, DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry and Sheriff Melody Maddox have decided to cancel the 2020 Annual VOICES Women’s History Month Event scheduled for Saturday, March 14. “After careful deliberation, we agreed it is most important to protect our community and to do our part to minimize this emerging public health concern,” DeBerry and Maddox said in a statement released today (March 10). This year’s “touch free” experience will feature a video tribute to women and a brief message from DeBerry and Maddox. The video link will be uploaded on Saturday, March 14, 11:00 a.m.…

Congressman Hank Johnson, Fourth District, has cancelled his Census Town Hall meeting that was scheduled on Saturday, March 21, in Clarkston. Johnson’s  office said in a release that the event will not be held due to recommendations to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Johnson said in a tweet the meeting will be rescheduled at another time. “It’s all about two critical parts that can impact our government and society as a whole: funding and representation,” said Congressman Johnson, who represents several hard-to-count communities in Georgia’s Fourth District. “The 2020 Census is quickly approaching. America’s founders understood this data was…