Dunwoody's bid for cityhood appears to be drawing early voter interest.

As of Friday afternoon, 202 voters in the proposed city had requested absentee ballots from the DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office for the July 15 elections. Monday was the first day voters could ask for absentee ballots to be mailed to them, as well as the first day they could go to the elections office and vote in person on electronic machines.

According to elections officials, as of Friday afternoon, 122 voters had requested a Republican ballot across Dunwoody's 13 precincts, 76 had requested a Democratic ballot, and four had asked for a nonpartisan ballot.

To vote absentee, citizens must provide reasons they can't vote in person July 15.

CLAYTON COUNTY

DA expands probe of school board

The Clayton County district attorney is investigating a second complaint this week of criminal wrongdoing by the school board. The new allegations, which accuse the board of not acting on ethics complaints, will likely be folded into an investigation that will be presented to the grand jury Wednesday. "It will be left up to the grand jury just how far they want to inquire with the board," Clayton District Attorney Jewel Scott said Friday. On Friday, Scott received a letter from former school board Chairman Eddie White alleging malfeasance of office by the board for ignoring two ethics complaints against board member Sandra Scott. White also requested an investigation by the state Ethics Commission.

Watering rules relaxed for residents

Clayton County residents can begin filling their pools and watering their lawns. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division granted Clayton and 12 other communities across the state a reprieve from drought restrictions this week, said Jim Ussery, the division's assistant director. The new watering rules will be in effect until Dec. 31. The EPD's decision came after reviewing petitions that showed how communities were conserving. As of Friday, Clayton's reservoirs were 99 percent full, a water authority official said.

Straw poll wording is questioned

County commissioners are questioning the legality of the wording of a straw poll on the July 15 ballot about consolidating the Sheriff's Office and Police Department. The question of changing the "county charter" to allow for consolidation is factually incorrect, Chairman Eldrin Bell said. "County governments do not operate under charters," Bell said. "Therefore, they cannot be amended."

Schools to serve free meals in June

Seventeen Clayton County schools will serve free breakfast and lunch Monday through June 26 to children ages 4 to 18. The meals will be paid for through the USDA Seamless Summer program, which is available to communities where at least 50 percent of the children receive free or reduced meals. Breakfast will be served from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. at elementary schools and from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. at middle and high schools. Lunch will be served from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. at elementary schools and from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at middle and high schools. Parents should contact their neighborhood school to find out when meals are served. Meals will be served at Jonesboro High School; Morrow, Mundy's Mill, North Clayton, Pointe South, Rex Mill and Riverdale middle schools; Church Street, Hawthorne, Huie, Lake City, Lake Ridge, McGarrah, Mount Zion, Northcutt, Swint and Tara elementary schools.

DEKALB COUNTY

Medical center trial to go ahead

A trial can proceed in a lawsuit filed against DeKalb Medical Center over the removal of an 18-year-old patient from life support against her mother's wishes. The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the lawsuit, meaning a ruling issued last year by the Georgia Court of Appeals stands. That ruling said the decision to end the life of a patient with no living will and no chance of regaining brain function belongs to families, not hospitals. The state Court of Appeals also held that Georgia's two-year deadline for filing wrongful death claims doesn't apply to children. The lawsuit involving the death of Tara Bottoms-Hawkins will proceed to trial in DeKalb County.

GEORGIA

Florida takes Hilton for its own trial

Gary Michael Hilton, who admitted killing and decapitating a Buford woman in North Georgia in January, left the state Friday. Florida authorities picked him up at a state prison near Jackson, where he was serving a life sentence, and took him to Tallahassee, where he could face the death penalty if convicted of killing and beheading a woman there in December. Hilton pleaded guilty to murder in January in the killing of Meredith Emerson, 24. He then was indicted in February in the Florida killing. Also, North Carolina police suspect Hilton killed an elderly couple there in October, but no charges have been filed in that case.

—- Rhonda Cook, Paul Donsky, Tim Eberly, Kathy Jefcoats, Megan Matteucci, Andria Simmons