A $900,000 foot bridge, across a Lake Acworth cove, opened Saturday. The bridge and multiuse trail will give residents on the city's south side easier access to the beach.

The Winn Street Trail is the latest in a series of trails that will connect neighborhoods and parks around the 324-acre lake. Funding came from a state transportation enhancement grant. Acworth had to match 20 percent of the cost.

The 25-acre Cauble Park on Lake Acworth has a sandy beach, picnic pavilion, bathhouse, grills, playgrounds, gazebo and fishing dock. Free concerts are held there during the summer.

Dr. George C. Cauble Jr. cut the ribbon to open the new trail. The city named the park after the well-known physician, who retired in 1992. He had a medical practice on Main Street for 44 years.

—- Tucker McQueen

17-mile treadmill trip raises $2,500

With her ankle shackled to a treadmill, Marietta police Officer Angie Reedy walked 17 miles, burned about 3,600 calories and —- most importantly —- raised $2,500 for Special Olympics Georgia.

Reedy spent nearly eight hours on a treadmill Saturday outside a Wal-Mart on Cobb Parkway for the first "Cuffed for a Cause" fund-raiser.

Thirteen law enforcement agencies raised about $30,000 statewide, said Allison Kaczenski of Special Olympics Georgia.

"It wasn't that bad," Reedy said. "Everybody was in a great mood, and we had a good time."

She said she kept the treadmill at a slow pace, about 2.4 mph.

—- Karen Rosen

Clowns, jonquils highlight weekend

You'll find cotton candy, corn dogs and snow cones this weekend at the annual Spring Jonquil Festival in Smyrna and the 66th Yaarab Shrine Circus and Carnival in Marietta.

The carnival midway and circus opens Friday and runs through May 4 at Jim R. Miller Park, 2345 Callaway Road.

The Tarzan Zerbini returns with clowns, trapeze artists and animal acts including a boxing kangaroo. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Information: www.circus 2008.org.

More than 175 artists and crafters will sell their wares Saturday and Sunday on the Village Green in downtown Smyrna.

Peter Hart's puppet show, children's activities and family entertainment are also on the Jonquil Festival schedule, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

—- Tucker McQueen

New commander for helicopter unit

Lt. Col. Paul R. Ozmer became commander of the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 at Naval Air Station Atlanta in Marietta.

Ozmer relieved Lt. Col. Raymond Mederos, who is retiring.

During the ceremony, Mederos handed Ozmer the flag, or squadron colors.

"There is no greater honor than working with the Marines of HMLA-73," said Ozmer, 47, who moves up from executive officer. He has been with the squadron off and on since 1992.

He expects his tour as commander to last about two years.

Ozmer will remain a pilot with the squadron, which has 18 AH1-W Super Cobra Helicopters and nine UH-1N Huey helicopters.

"You can't make other people do things you're not willing to do," he said.

The squadron, known as the Red Dogs, returned from a seven-month tour in Iraq about three weeks ago. It provides close air support and assault helicopter support and has about 300 Marines, active and reserve.

The unit will relocate to Robins Air Force Base during summer 2010 because of base realignment and closure plans.

—- Karen Rosen