Author: On Common Ground News

Absentee by mail applications for the combined ballot including the Presidential Preference Primary/Special Election and the May General Primary/General Nonpartisan/Special Election will be accepted until Friday, May 15, 2020.

On March 19, a Decatur City Hall employee notified management that they had tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is in an administrative position and typically has limited interactions with the public. Wednesday, March 11 was the last day that the employee was at work, and the employee did not begin experiencing symptoms until after that time. As outlined in the City’s Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan, the City has notified individuals with direct contact with the employee and directed them to self-quarantine and/or self-monitor. In addition, the affected workspaces and common areas have been disinfected and sanitized, and the…

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management is reminding citizens to keep items like paper towels, sanitizing wipes or “flushable” wipes out of the sewer system. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, stores have been emptied of toilet paper, leading citizens to use paper towels or wipes as alternatives. Many have also increased sanitizing of surface areas with disinfectant wipes. “We want to eliminate any other potential public health threats, especially during this COVID-19 crisis,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “Along with keeping fats, oils and grease out of the drains, keeping paper towels and wipes out of our sewer…

ATLANTA– Attorney General Chris Carr is encouraging Georgians to remain vigilant and only rely on trusted sources when it comes to information concerning COVID-19.  Various scams already have been discovered that are designed solely to deceive and disrupt local, state and federal responses to the pandemic. Scammers continue to monitor the headlines looking for ways to steal money and/or personally identifiable information from Americans. “Criminals continue to exploit the COVID-19 outbreak – trying to  steal, deceive and disrupt,”said Attorney General Chris Carr.“We often see fraudsters use texts, and unfortunately, they are at it once again. If you or anyone you…

Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Rockdale County Chairman, Oz Nesbitt, Sr. is strongly encouraging Rockdale residents to stay at home. Residents are encouraged to stay at home ,unless it is an essential need including picking up groceries, going to the pharmacy or it is an essential medical need. The CDC’s social distancing guidelines are strongly encouraged as well as the following prevention measures: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid…

Order outlines front line workers’ initiatives, job loss, voluntary business curfews, funeral gatherings, more Today, March 23, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in DeKalb County in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The order is effective today until otherwise amended or revoked. The order reaffirms the county’s commitment to deliver seamless essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensures the county workforce will remain in a heightened state of readiness, and launches a two-pronged strategy to address the deepening health and economic crisis. “DeKalb’s continuity of operations protocols have been activated…

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s Dr. Jamal Bryant and an army of volunteers gloved up this morning(March 21) to pass out bags of groceries to those in need. The Stonecrest mega-church’s “Father’s Table” food pantry provided nonperishables and other items to hundreds of families. The food was distributed in a drive-through format to adhere to CDC recommendations concerning social distancing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. “As our nation and world responds to this pandemic, it is important to remember those families and individuals who may have limited access to healthcare, are reliant on school meals for nourishment and…

Effective Monday, March 23, the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court’s office will initiate socially distant service delivery until April 13. The office will fulfill its constitutional mandates in a primarily virtual environment in line with the Supreme Courts Emergency Order. Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry made the decision to offer socially distant services to protect her staff and to be responsible to the greater DeKalb community. “We want to be part of flattening the curve of COVID-19,” DeBerry said. Customers can electronically file criminal, civil, and real estate documents at www.dksuperiorclerk.com. If you are a victim of domestic…

Today(March 21), the U.S. Census Bureau released the initial response rates for every state, county and city across the nation – 16.7% of households have responded to the 2020 Census since invitations began arriving in mailboxes on March 12. The2020 Census response rate mapshows how cities and towns across the country are now responding. The map will be updated daily for everyone to see the response rate in their area and compare it to other areas across the nation. The map also shows the comparable response rate from the 2010 Census for each geography. Earlier this year, the Census Bureau…

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.…