Community News

ATLANTA

Convenience store clerk killed in robbery

A robber jumped through a window into the cashier’s cage of a southwest Atlanta convenience store Sunday night and shot and killed the clerk, authorities said Monday.

Harish Roy, 24, of Atlanta died at the scene of the 8 p.m. shooting at the West End Stop N Shop in the 700 block of Lee Street, according to the Fulton County medical examiner’s office. The bullet that killed Roy went through one of his arms and hit him in the head, Atlanta police Lt. Keith Meadows said.

Police believe at least three people were involved in the fatal robbery. Two men came into the store and a third drove the getaway car, a red Pontiac Grand Am, Meadows said.

Inside the shop, the gunman asked Roy for an item off a shelf behind him, Meadows said. While Roy went to get the item, the gunman quickly jumped through the narrow window opening of cashier’s cage, as shown by video recorded by surveillance cameras.

Roy rushed over to the gunman, who fired. He crumpled to the floor and lay motionless while the gunman gathered cigar boxes that were filled with cash. The gunman went for the boxes without hesitation, leading police to believe the men knew where the money was kept.

—- Mike Morris and Tim Eberly

City Council approves high-speed rail limits

The Atlanta City Council gave the green light Monday to a deal that prevents high-speed passenger rail lines from traveling along several residential neighborhoods near Piedmont Park.

Mayor Shirley Franklin and others feared trains rumbling through those areas would threaten the future of the Beltline, a long-term project to build parks, trails, affordable housing and mixed-use developments along a 22-mile loop that circles the city.

Georgia Department of Transportation officials and Amtrak had pushed for a high-speed rail along four miles of railroad tracks near the park as part of a plan for commuter rail between Charlotte and Macon. GDOT officials recently changed course and said railroad tracks west of the Downtown Connector are now a viable option.

Monday’s council vote gives the mayor its approval to sign a contract specifying the new option will be pursued. The council also added two amendments that protect properties along portions of Marietta Street from eminent domain.

—- Eric Stirgus

Sewer, street work could hinder traffic

City officials are warning it will be difficult driving around a key stretch of Midtown today and Wednesday because of sewer work being done in the area.

Contractors are resurfacing lanes on 10th Street, which may require occasional lane closures between Juniper Street and Piedmont Avenue. The work is scheduled between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

—- Eric Stirgus

COBB COUNTY

Marietta sets 2-for-1 billboard ordinance

Marietta has adopted a two-for-one billboard ordinance. Companies must tear down two billboards to place one light-emitting diode billboard on I-75.

Along the seven-mile stretch of I-75 through Marietta, there could be 11 LED billboards. The signs can be no more than 70 feet high, cannot be within 500 feet of a residence nor within a 1,000-foot radius of another sign.

The advertising panel cannot be larger that what already is on I-75, and the brightness is comparable to other lighted billboards, said Brian Binzer, head of Marietta’s development services department.

Each LED panel costs about $800,000, Binzer said.

Billboard applications will be accepted, beginning April 13.

Cobb County does not allow LED billboards along I-75, Binzer said. Marietta has one in compliance with a lawsuit. Acworth has one on Cobb Parkway at the Home Depot, he said.

—- Kay Powell

Marietta school board work session tonight

The Marietta school board will conduct the first of many work sessions at 6 tonight to tackle next year’s budget.

The district already has made several cost-cutting moves, including personnel cuts and an increase in class sizes.

The final budget will be presented to the board in May. The board will vote on the budget at its June 16 meeting.

—- Alexis Stevens

Also …

> Assistance: The South Cobb Council of PTAs will host a health and wellness forum from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m. today at Lovingood Middle School, 3825 Luther Ward Road, Powder Springs. Medical and financial experts will conduct sessions on such topics as adolescent health and exercise for busy parents. Admission is free for PTA members. Dinner and child care will be provided.

—- Alexis Stevens

DEKALB COUNTY

Druid Hills, Clairmont proposal on agenda

A developer’s call for a dense cluster of residences, retail and other uses north of Decatur is unlikely to get approved today by the DeKalb County Commission.

Julian LeCraw & Co. has asked that land it controls near the intersection of North Druid Hills and Clairmont roads be designated as a “town center” under DeKalb’s long-term comprehensive plan.

The property in unincorporated DeKalb contains the aging Williamsburg Apartment complex and currently is designated for “suburban” use.

Residents in the area have voiced concern about increasing the density there.

The LeCraw proposal appears on the County Commission’s evening agenda. But both commissioners who represent the area —- Kathie Gannon and Jeff Rader —- said in interviews that the application is premature. They said they want to see more planning in and around the project site.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Manuel Maloof auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, in Decatur.

—- Ty Tagami

Lecture explores Decatur neighborhood

A former newspaper reporter and Decatur resident will discuss one neighborhood’s evolution during a noon lecture today at the DeKalb History Center.

The hourlong presentation by Scott Leith will focus on the M.A.K. neighborhood, a grid of tree-lined streets that hugs Agnes Scott College.

Leith, a former business reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, has long been fascinated by the history of the neighborhood, which is bounded roughly by McDonough and Adams streets and Kings Highway.

The event is at the Old Courthouse on the Decatur Square. Call 404-373-1088 for more information.

—- Ty Tagami

Also …

> Fire chief honored: For the second year in a row, DeKalb County fire Chief David Foster has been named as the EMS Director of the Year in Region 3, which includes the most populous counties in Georgia, according to a news release from the DeKalb County Fire Department.

—- Ty Tagami

FULTON COUNTY

Alpharetta invited to plant collective garden

Alpharetta is encouraging people to put on grubby clothes and work gloves and help plant the city’s first community garden.

The 35 available 4-feet-by-10-feet plots, which will be at Wills Park, can be used for flowers and vegetables, said assistant City Administrator James Drinkard. A few will be elevated for gardeners in wheelchairs. Starting day is tentatively set for April 4.

“It’s a place where all people can come together,” said organizer Julie Hogg. “Growing things is therapeutic, especially in recession. We hope to teach people to grow their own vegetables.”

The plots may be leased for $50 a season. Soil will be provided as well as three starter plants per plot. The gardeners may add their own purchased plants, seeds or plants that were started from seed at home. A Master Gardener will be available for advice.

She said she plans to avoid chemicals in the garden.

Participants can pre-register by e-mailing their name, e-mail address, home address and phone number to Hogg, president of the Alpharetta Arboretum Inc. at alpharettagarden@bellsouth.net.

The Alpharetta Arboretum is sponsoring the gardens in cooperation with the city.

—- Doug Nurse

Roswell Relay for Life sets $175,000 goal

Organizers of the Relay for Life of Roswell hope to raise $175,000 this year for cancer research and prevention, and are seeking business and community sponsorships.

The event will be May 8-9 at Centennial High School. Proceeds from the benefit are directed to American Cancer Society.

Ads for the program range from $20 to $200. Overall sponsorships are $500. Deadline for ad sales is April 1.

For information, contact www.roswellrelayforlife.org.

—- Mary MacDonald

Also …

> Town Hall meeting: Sandy Springs City Councilman Doug MacGinnitie will conduct a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 30 to discuss the city budget and intersection improvements planned for Dunwoody Club and Spalding drives. The session is in the cafeteria of Dunwoody Charter Elementary School, 8100 Roberts Drive.

—- Mary MacDonald

GWINNETT COUNTY

Medical center earns national recognition

Gwinnett Medical Center recently was ranked for the third time among the recipients of the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.

The hospital system is one of only six recipients in Georgia and of 270 in the nation to be recognized with the distinction of excelling across 26 rated procedures and diagnoses.

Each year, HealthGrades, considered a leader in the field of health care quality measurement, independently analyzes the clinical quality performance of all non-federal hospitals across the country in 27 procedures and diagnoses, ranging from bypass surgery to the treatment of heart attacks. Hospitals that receive the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence are those hospitals that rank in the top 5 percent of all 28 individual scores.

This year’s announcement by HealthGrades marked the third time that Gwinnett Medical has been recognized in this category. The hospital system, with hospitals in Lawrenceville and Duluth, also was recognized in 2006 and 2008.

—- Shane Blatt

GREATER ATLANTA

Police: Truck in wreck stolen from school

Clayton County police said a teenager stole a lawn care truck from Jackson Elementary School on Monday morning and led police on a chase into Henry County, where he crashed into a guardrail on I-75.

An undercover Clayton County officer spotted the truck in traffic and trailed it south on I-75 while waiting for Henry County police to respond. The suspect crashed the truck into a guardrail near the median at Jodeco Road, Henry police spokesman Jason Bolton said. The teen was alone in the truck, and no one else was injured, police said. Bolton said the suspect complained of minor injuries and was taken to Southern Regional Medical Center.

The crash tied up traffic on the interstate for hours.

—- Kathy Jefcoats

Clayton school leader to outline district plan

Clayton County’s interim superintendent will unveil her vision for the school district today.

Valya Lee, who was named interim superintendent March 14, will outline the district’s progress on regaining accreditation and plans to improve student achievement.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked Clayton County’s accreditation last year.

SACS will return April 13-15 to evaluate the school system’s progress on nine improvement mandates.

The first of four public meetings is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at North Clayton High School. Lee also will give the presentation Thursday at Mount Zion High School; March 30 at Mundy’s Mill High School; and April 2 at Forest Park High School.

Lee and board chairwoman Alieka Anderson will take questions from parents and students.

—- Megan Matteucci