Author: On Common Ground News

“For many days now, I have been at a loss for words— unable to adequately articulate the pain, hurt, outrage, and frustration so many of us are feeling in the wake of the physical and emotional unrest in our country right now.  But even as I tried to suppress and compartmentalize my emotions so that I might accomplish the many professional and personal tasks in front of me, I was confronted with this reality: now is not the time for silence, but for bold and vocal opposition to the racial atrocities and criminal justice inequities plaguing our nation. This week,…

By Tamara Christion-Marable DeKalb County resident One answer to this question is South DeKalb. With so much overdue focus on police brutality, injustice against black people, and the inequities in our communities, it’s easy for Monica Kaufman and others to suggest that voting is the solution to all these problems. If voting could solve all of these woes, then they would not exist in 2020. Let’s examine just the last point: inequities in our communities. DeKalb County is divided racially with a predominance of whites living in North Dekalb and blacks living in South Dekalb.…

Four precincts have been relocated: Flat Shoals, Hightower, Milstead and Stanton all have been assigned to the Rockdale County Government Annex, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. Please know your correct precinct before heading to the polls. For more information, call the Rockdale County Board of Elections at 770-278-7333. You may also confirm your voter registration and where to vote at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.

On Monday, June 8, a single-lane closure is set to begin along Candler Road, between Toney Drive and Ellen Way, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. while crews work to rehabilitate approximately 350 linear feet of aging, ductile-iron sewer pipe. This section of Candler Road will reopen on Tuesday, June 9.

Road to reopen July 31  On Monday, June 8, a road closure is set to begin along The By Way Northeast, between Oakdale Road Northeast and Lullwater Road Northeast, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. while crews work to install approximately 1,500 linear feet of water main. Property owners who live in this impacted area will have access to The By Way Northeast during this temporary road closure. This section of The by Way Northeast will reopen on Friday, July 31.

DeKalb County officials are reminding voters that several precincts have been relocated for the June 9 election. Please know before you go to the polls. You must vote at your assigned precinct on Election Day. Due to COVID-19 and as an emergency measure, pursuant to OCGA §21-2-265(a), the polling precincts below are being relocated. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 404-298-4020.

A coalition of community partners are working to assist families living at extended stay hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition of partners, led by City of Hope Safe Haven and its Executive Director Alecia Washington, have created a one-stop for assistance for the families. The coalition is providing a week’s worth of food, toiletries, counseling, job search support and housing assistance, free COVID-19 testing and education on site to families this weekend. The “Feed Your Neighborhood During COVID-19” event will be held on Saturday, June 6, noon to 4 p.m. at the Candler Event Center, 2942 Ember Drive Decatur.…

Drive-through food pantry opens at 10 a.m., Coronavirus testing begins at 11 a.m New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is hosting free COVID-19 testing and continuing its weekly food pantry on Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. New Birth’s food pantry, known as The King’s Table, is receiving additional resources, thanks to support from DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and other partners. On the same day, New Birth is hosting free drive-thru COVID-19 testing in partnership with MAJL Diagnostic Laboratories. Testing begins at 11 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. Individuals who do not have insurance or receive Medicaid or Medicare coverage…

DeKalb Chief Magistrate Berryl A. Anderson announced today, June 5, that in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she has taken additional steps toward protecting the health and safety of employees and law enforcement who work with the court’s criminal division. Since the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the chief judge of DeKalb Superior Court declared the judicial emergency on March 14, 2020, Judge Anderson has worked toward making sure the Magistrate Court operates both safely and efficiently. “Our Criminal Division was already operating at the level of 90 percent virtual, but now we have become 100 percent…