Community News

ATLANTA

State municipal group examines economy

The Georgia Municipal Association on Monday wrapped up its 2009 convention in Atlanta with the economy, revenues, spending and taxes the topics of much concern for city officials.

House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle promised to help city officials keep the state homestead tax credit. Gov. Sonny Perdue has proposed killing off the break as the state grapples with a $2 billion shortfall.

Officials representing hundreds of cities across the state debate the state of the economy and how it will impact collections and spending in the coming years. Several officials complained that a proposal to cap property assessments at the General Assembly will only further complicate already challenging budgets. They noted the idea has had dramatic, unintended consequences in other states and created a subculture of folks who work to avoid higher taxes by making sure there’s no official property transfer so assessments stay low.

City leaders also discussed the housing and foreclosure crisis and its impacts on city services like code enforcement and police. Mayors and council members wrapped up Monday by heading to the Capitol to lobby lawmakers.

—- D.L. Bennett

School showcase to aid parents, students

Atlanta eighth-graders and their parents can learn about the different programs high schools offer during the school district’s annual showcase taking place today and Wednesday at the South Atlanta High School Educational Complex, 800 Hutchens Road.

Today’s sessions run 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday’s hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

—- Laura Diamond

CLAYTON COUNTY

Residents can learn how Riverdale works

Riverdale is recruiting residents for its Neighborhood University, a free course on the city’s government.

The five-week program will teach residents about the different facets of Riverdale’s government, including economic development, tourism and public safety. The courses will be held Wednesday nights in March and April. Applications are available at www.riverdalega.gov and are due Feb. 20.

—- Megan Matteucci

COBB COUNTY

Clarke schools pick Cobb leader as finalist

An area assistant superintendent for Cobb County Schools has been named one of two finalists for the superintendent job for the Clarke County school district in Athens.

Smyrna resident Philip Lanoue, 52, has served as the area superintendent for the South Cobb and Pebblebrook high school clusters since joining the system in 2005.

Following additional interviews Monday and today, the Clarke school board will meet in a closed session Wednesday to select a new superintendent.

Mulugheta Teferi of St. Louis is the other candidate for the job.

—- Alexis Stevens

State event honors schools for excellence

Six county schools were recognized at the state Board of Education’s awards banquet Friday night, and Superintendent Fred Sanderson was on hand as the district was recognized.

Five of the 25 schools recognized as state schools of excellence are in Cobb County: Lassiter and Harrison high schools, Dickerson Middle School, and Kemp and Timber Ridge elementary schools. Mabry Middle has been named a National Blue Ribbon school.

—- Alexis Stevens

Also …

> Acworth office: Acworth now has its own vehicle tag office —- in the Cobb County fire station at 3858 Kemp Ridge Road. The tag office, a satellite of the main office at 700 S. Cobb Drive, is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other county tag offices are at East Cobb Government Service Center at 4400 Lower Roswell Road, Market Square Shopping Center at 2930 Canton Road and South Cobb Government Service Center at 4700 Austell Road.

—- Kay Powell

DEKALB COUNTY

Public can share input on budget for schools

DeKalb County residents will have a chance Thursday to get in their two cents’ worth as school officials hold the first public input meeting on next year’s budget.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the system’s central offices, 3770 North Decatur Road in unincorporated Decatur.

DeKalb schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis has said he wants to speed up planning for next school year because of continued funding cuts expected by the state.

Any additional cuts would come on top of already approved cuts of more than $20 million, including the layoffs of 127 employees by the end of June.

DeKalb —- which started the year with a general fund budget of $894.1 million —- has since 2002 lost about $100 million in state funds because of “austerity reductions” by the state.

—- Kristina Torres

Dunwoody appoints sustainability director

Dunwoody has appointed a director of sustainability in an effort to earn Green City certification. Special Projects Manager Jeff Timler will serve in the role, developing policies and initiatives designed to qualify for the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Green Community designation by reducing its environmental impact.

The city also has created a citizen advisory board to help in the process.

—- April Hunt

Online applications start for theme schools

DeKalb County Schools for the first time Monday morning began accepting online applications for students who next year want to attend any of its theme schools.

The system operates seven “theme” programs across the county —- six for elementary students and one for middle schoolers. These schools each offer a specific academic focus such as science or technology. Students from anywhere in the system can apply.

The enrollment period continues through Feb. 12. Parents can access and complete applications online through the system’s homepage at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us.

—- Kristina Torres

Also …

> Staff accountant sought: JAT Consulting Services, one of the vendors running daily operations in Dunwoody, is looking for a staff accountant to serve the new city. A bachelor’s degree in accounting and at least five years’ experience is required for the post. To apply, send your resume to JAT via e-mail to christywillard@jatconsulting .net or fax it to 770-975-1195.

—- April Hunt

FULTON COUNTY

Robbery suspects take $13,080 from home

Police were searching late Monday for three men who entered an upscale home in Johns Creek, tied up the two residents and fled with two watches and $13,080 in cash.

The victims —- described as a father and his son —- were not injured in the robbery of their Buice Road home about 1 a.m. Monday, said Rosemary Taylor, public information officer for the Johns Creek Police Department. The suspects, who were wearing ski masks and brandishing guns, entered the house through an unlocked back door, she said. One of the victims owns a store on Buford Highway and had planned to deposit the money in the bank, probably sometime Monday, she said.

—- Nancy Badertscher

Ex-principal’s shooting conviction overturned

Prosecutors have little doubt Rodney Denson, an ex-assistant principal at a Fulton County middle school, shot his estranged wife six times. But a procedural error has forced Georgia’s top court to reverse his conviction.

Denson was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2005 to shooting and wounding his wife, Elletta Bailey, repeatedly as her three children were getting ready for school at their home in Fairburn.

The Georgia Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling Monday, though, concluded there was a flaw in Denson’s court transcript: He never was advised that by pleading guilty he was waiving his right against self-incrimination.

Prosecutors now may decide to take the case to trial, or pursue another plea deal. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard’s office did not immediately return phone calls.

Denson, who worked at Kennedy Middle School, went to Bailey’s house about 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 22, 2004, saying he wanted to talk to her. He soon began firing two handguns, striking Bailey six times, according to county prosecutors.

He then threatened to shoot his 16-year-old stepdaughter, relenting only when she cowered on the floor begging for her life, according to court documents.

Bailey survived, but was severely injured in the attack and racked up tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. “It is doubtful she will ever recover,” read the court’s ruling.

—- Associated Press

Sandy Springs to honor volunteers with spirit

The Sandy Springs Society is accepting nominations for its 2009 Spirit of Sandy Springs Award. The society annually recognizes volunteers who exemplify community spirit. To be eligible, nominees must have a minimum of two years of volunteer service in the Sandy Springs area. Residency is not required.

Nomination forms are available at www.sandyspringssociety.org under the VIP tab.

—- Mary MacDonald

Also …

> Bridge closes: Hembree Bridge in Roswell will be closed for almost a year as part of a $1.3 million bridge replacement project expected to begin Feb. 2. The bridge will be removed and reconstructed between Elkins Road and Ga. 9/Alpharetta Highway. The completed bridge will include better drainage and new sidewalks. For a detour map, visit the city Web site at www.roswellgov.com.

—- Mary MacDonald

GWINNETT COUNTY

Third man charged in 2006 fatal shooting

A third man has been charged with murder in the 2006 shooting of a 20-year-old Lawrenceville man.

Police found Lal Ko lying dead of multiple gunshot wounds on the side of Bethesda Park Trail near Lawrenceville on Oct. 27, 2006. At the time, there were no suspects. The Gwinnett County Police Department’s newly formed cold case unit renewed the investigation in recent months. Detectives have since learned that Ko was killed by acquaintances during a dispute, said Cpl. Illana Spellman.

Miguel Antonio Gonzalez-Linarez, 20, of Norcross is wanted on a murder charge, according to an arrest warrant filed Saturday. Also charged with murder are Joseph Diaz, 20, of Oakwood and Victor Pastor-Flores, 24, of Norcross.

—- Andria Simmons

Tax commissioner gets new last name

Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Katherine Sherrington has changed her surname to her legal married name of Meyer. Married eight years ago, Meyer did not change her name until now to avoid confusion during elections, according to a statement released through her office. Her new e-mail address is katherine.meyer@gwinnettcounty.com.

Meyer was elected tax commissioner in 1984.

—- Patrick Fox

Also …

> Standoff ends: A 13-hour police standoff at a home on Burns Road near Lilburn ended early Monday when a Gwinnett police SWAT team entered the house and found a male suspect, 21-year-old Cody Lee Wilson, dead of an apparent suicide. Police went to the home responding to a domestic violence call.

—- Andria Simmons

GREATER ATLANTA

Father faces trial in daughter’s slaying

A Henry County jury is being selected this week to hear the death penalty case against a Stockbridge father accused in the 2003 beating death of his 11-year-old daughter.

Rodney Reaves, 42, and his wife, Charlott Reaves, 41, are both charged in the Dec. 1, 2003, beating death of Joella Reaves. The couple are being prosecuted separately, with her trial set for April. Both have been jailed since their arrests.

Defense attorneys for Rodney Reaves, a 20-year Navy veteran, will argue that he had an alibi related to Navy duty for the time the girl suffered her fatal injuries. Police say the girl —- the product of an extramarital affair by Rodney Reaves —- was beaten and at one point bound and confined to the garage, where there was evidence she was struck with a plastic-wrapped chain and wooden paddle.

Henry police say Rodney Reaves found his daughter dead in her bed the morning of Dec. 1 after Charlott Reaves had left for work.

—- Kathy Jefcoats

Cumming may get driver’s license office

Cumming officials are planning to build a new state driver’s license center next to the city aquatic center on Pilgrim Mill Road, off Ga. 400.

City Manager Gerald Blackburn said Thursday the city attorney is working on all the legal papers.

The Forsyth County Commission had been asked in recent years to build a new driver’s license center and then lease it back to the state.

But last fall, some county commissioners balked at committing to the project, saying they were uncertain about the state’s finances and its ability to make the rent payments.

—- Nancy Badertscher

Reserve Corps is seeking volunteers

Medical and nonmedical volunteers are being recruited to help out if Cherokee County faces a health crisis, major storm or other disaster.

The North Georgia Medical Reserve Corps, a volunteer organization dedicated to local public health emergencies, will discuss volunteer opportunities at 6 p.m. Monday at the Public Safety Building, Classroom 1, 498 Chattin Drive, Canton.

—- Nancy Badertscher