COMMUNITY BRIEFS

DEKALB COUNTY

Gun in diaper bag leads to charges

A Stone Mountain man faces criminal charges after authorities found a gun in a diaper bag at the security checkpoint of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

Steven Richardson, 29, was with a woman and a baby when he came to the courthouse about 8:45 a.m. Friday, according to the Sheriff’s Office, which provides courthouse security. Richardson had a court date on earlier charges of assault and theft by taking.

When an X-ray machine showed an image of the gun in the bag, Richardson identified himself as the owner of the bag, the report said. He and his companion said they did not know the gun was in the bag.

The gun turned out to be stolen. He was jailed on misdemeanor charges of possession of a weapon at a public gathering, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a weapon without a permit and receiving stolen property. He was released on $2,000 bond.

—- David Simpson

GWINNETT COUNTY

$100,000 donation aids military effort

A Duluth-based nonprofit agency received a $100,000 donation this week to help families of fallen and wounded Special Operations Forces soldiers.

The money for Operation One Voice was donated by North American Rescue Inc. out of Greer, S.C., which provides equipment and training to police and fire departments across the country.

Operation One Voice founder Bill Stevens, who is a lieutenant in the Duluth Police Department, said the money will go directly to the families of deceased and wounded Special Operations Forces soldiers.

Operation One Voice learns of families in need through the military and issues checks to help them cover expenses such as rental cars, recreational equipment that is specially designed for persons with disabilities and burial arrangements.

—- Andria Simmons

COBB COUNTY

Kennesaw leaders listen to teenagers

Young people in Kennesaw will have a voice in local government.

The City of Kennesaw Youth Council, composed of students from Kennesaw Mountain and North Cobb high schools, has a forum at 6 tonight at Ben Robertson Community Center.

The role of the youth council is to provide the mayor, City Council and staff with teenagers’ perspectives on city services.

—- Kay Powell

VENT OF THE DAY

This economy is so bad I don’t have the money to do anything but complain.