Author: On Common Ground News

City of Conyers officials met late Thursday to create an action plan for its departments related to the COVID-19 virus. The city will utilize all resources at its disposal to ensure normal operations and services continue for citizens without interruption as long as possible. If the spread of COVID-19 makes its way to Rockdale County and Conyers, essential employees for the city of Conyers will continue to report to work in an effort to minimize any disruption in services. As the situation develops, the city will determine the best course of action to continue providing services while protecting the public…

Due to the closing of Brookhaven Briarwood Recreation Center until at least April 3, the recreation center will not serve as an advance voting polling location for the March 24 presidential preference primary and special election. Advance locations and time can be found by visiting www.dekalbvotes.com. Absentee ballot applications can be obtained by visiting www.DeKalbvotes.com, emailing Absenteeballot@dekalbcountyga.gov, or calling the DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 404-298-4020. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 404-298-4020.

Applications to vote absentee by mail in the March 24 presidential preference primary and special election must be submitted no later than Friday, March 20. All absentee ballots must be received by the DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2020, with the exception of Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voters.  UOCAVA voters’ ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, March 24, 2020, and received by the elections office no later than Friday, March 27, 2020. Absentee ballot applications can be obtained by visiting www.DeKalbvotes.com, emailing Absenteeballot@dekalbcountyga.gov, or calling the…

The Conyers–Rockdale (Nancy Guinn Memorial) Library will be canceling all programs and events scheduled at the library March 14 – April 1, 2020, due to COVID-19 concerns. The library will be waiving fines for late materials during this time. The safety and health of the library visitors and staff is our highest priority. We will continue to pay attention to the community updates and keep you informed of any other changes in the library operation. At this time, the  Conyers-Rockdale (Nancy Guinn Memorial) Library will remain open during regular business hours. We want to remind you that you can access…

DeKalb County Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl A. Anderson has decided to postpone the annual Magistrate Court 101 program scheduled for Saturday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The program will be rescheduled to a date later this year.   Anyone who has already registered will automatically be included in the list of program participants and be notified well in advance with the new date.       Judge Anderson noted, “Magistrate Court 101 is a program that our judges happily volunteer for because it gives us an opportunity to interact with children and adults from our DeKalb community in a format…

In an effort to assist one of Georgia’s high-risk groups during the health situation involving coronavirus, the Department of Driver Services (DDS) will be providing a 120-day extension for driver’s license and identification card holders age 60 and older. DDS estimates that more than 36,000 Georgians are eligible for this service. “Commissioner Moore and his team are actively searching for ways to provide more services away from the centers to mitigate public health concerns, and I applaud them for identifying this solution for these citizens,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. Customers aged 60 years of age and older whose license or ID card is valid with an expiration from March through…

Following President Trump’s national emergency declaration today, Governor Kemp issued the following statement: “Based on President Trump’s emergency declaration, I will declare a public health emergency for the State of Georgia tomorrow morning. This declaration will greatly assist health and emergency management officials across Georgia by deploying all available resources for the mitigation and treatment of COVID-19. In accordance with state law, I will call for a special session of the General Assembly to convene at the State Capitol at 8 AM on Monday, March 16, 2020 to ratify this action through a joint resolution. “At this time, it is…

DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Asha F. Jackson has issued an order to declare, “the existence of a Judicial Emergency in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. The nature of this emergency is the continued transmission of Coronavirus/COVID-19 throughout DeKalb County and the potential infection of those who are required to appear in our courts and interact with large groups due to jury service, including grand jury service, or other large, non-essential calendars.” The order shall be held for thirty (30) days from the date of the order and is included in this press release. At this time, DeKalb County…

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial of Kaylon Jiles, a member of the HATE Committee, the enforcement arm of the Gangster Disciples gang.  On Thursday, jurors found Jiles guilty of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony for the 2017 shooting death of 30-year-old Eris Fisher. Jiles, 26, shot Fisher multiple times in front of his wife and friend over a drug dispute.  This incident happened on November 5, 2017 at the Motel 6, 2820 Chamblee Tucker Road. Fisher was living at the Motel 6,  and according…