Author: On Common Ground News

Congressman creates Fourth Congressional District one-stop webpage for pandemic information  On Monday, March 16, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) held an informational telephone town hall on COVID-19. The Congressman called more than 75,000 people in Georgia’s Fourth District to answer their questions and listen to their concerns about the coronavirus. Experts from Emory University, the DeKalb County Board of Health, Oakhurst Medical Center, DeKalb County Jail and DeKalb Schools were on the call with the Congressman to address participants questions and discuss the best way for callers to help prevent the spread of the disease and protect themselves and their families.…

Today, (March 21), Gov. Brian P. Kemp and Department of Driver Services (DDS) Commissioner Spencer R. Moore announced an emergency operation plan for the Agency, which includes a 60-day extension for many Georgians with a driver’s license and/or ID Card nearing expiration.  Along with the extended expiration dates, the DDS customer service centers will cease customer-facing services until further notice for the well-being of customers and DDS team members alike. Gov. Kemp said: “To maintain a safe and healthy environment for our citizens and the DDS Team who assist them at the Centers, this is an important step. Having…

Morehouse College has moved its 136th annual Commencement to Dec. 13, a date that was chosen by students and administrators to reduce the community’s exposure to the novel coronavirus disease. The decision was made in partnership with leaders from the Class of 2020 and the Student Government Association after careful consideration of federal guidance on strategies to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the global pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends canceling events that attract 50 people or more for the next eight weeks to keep the virus from reaching new communities. Morehouse’s original graduation date was May 17.…

KEEPING YOU UPDATED  Dear Neighbors,  The Senate has suspended all actives as its members enter quarantine. One member of the senate has confirmered he had Coronavirus so out a abundance of caution the senate has suspended activities. Do you have these symptoms? The Georgia Department of Public Health published a COVID-19 hotline:
(844)442-2681
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you call your doctor if you show signs of the virus. These signs can be very similar to the common flu or allergies.
**Take a deep breath and hold your breath for 10 seconds. If you complete this test succesfully without coughing, without…

March 21, 2020 Dear DeKalb County Family: It is with extreme care and caution that we want to provide timely information so that you can remain vigilant about protecting the health and safety of you and your family. The Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry was notified on March 20, 2020, of a potential exposure to COVID-19 by a member of her staff. On March 12, 2020, all County employees received a memo from DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond requiring staff to remain at home if they were experiencing common cold or flu like symptoms. This staff member did…

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…