COBB
Smyrna’s covered bridge reopens
Smyrna’s historic covered bridge reopened this week after being closed three weeks for repairs. The 131-foot long bridge, between the East West Connector and Hicks Road, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cobb Department of Transportation replaced beams, decking and runners, laid asphalt on bridge approaches and installed new guardrail ends on the Smyrna side. Rip rap was also added for erosion control and vegetation on the right of way was trimmed.
Tucker McQueen
Synagogue to honor Civil War service
Congregation Ner Tamid, a reform synagogue in Marietta will hold a memorial service for the 10,000 to 15,000 Jews who served on both sides during the Civil War, including the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens will speak at the service 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Visitor Center. After the service, members will carry the congregation’s Torahs to the synagogue’s new location at 1349 Old Highway 41, Marietta.
Tucker McQueen
Marietta meeting to look at Wright Street plans
Marietta will hold a town hall meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday at Wright Street Baptist Church, 395 Wright St. about proposed changes on the street. Minerva Real Estate Investments plans to build 18 single-family homes and 58 townhomes on a former eight-acre public housing site off Powder Springs and Wright Streets. The city is also considering a zoning change for an educational training and alternative housing facility at the former Wright Street and Marietta Charter Schools building. Information: www.mariettaga.gov.
Tucker McQueen
Food trucks return to Mableton on Thursday
Another Food Truck Event will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Mable House Complex, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton - also with live music and arts and crafts.
Sponsors are the South Cobb Arts Alliance and Cobb County P.A.R.K.S.
Information:
Carolyn Cunningham
Smyrna to honor police, fire heroes
Smyrna will honor members of its police and fire departments 7-11:30 p.m. Saturday at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle. The fifth Smyrna Heroes Gala will benefit the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation. Funds raised help the city’s public safety employees and community outreach programs. Information: www.smyrnaheroesgala.com.
Tucker McQueen
Riverview Concert Series on Saturdays through Nov. 1
Area bands will perform at 7 p.m. every Saturday through Nov. 1 at Riverview Landing, 6269 Riverview Road, Smyrna along the Chattahoochee River.
Parking is free and admission is $10 with proceeds benefiting Chattahoochee NOW.
Gates will open at 6 p.m.
Information: RiverviewConcerts.com,
Carolyn Cunningham
GWINNETT
Lawrenceville approves school rezoning
The Lawrenceville City Council has approved a rezoning request that will allow a private, special needs school to leave its small and outdated classrooms and into a bigger space.
The Special Needs School of Gwinnett currently operates out of two trailers and two residential homes. It has 60 students and will be able to serve 200 when it builds a new school, a school official said.
Lawrenceville council members voted Wednesday evening in favor of its request to rezone property the school owns at 660 Davis Road.
The Special Needs School of Gwinnett wants to raise $4.2 million for the new school. The fundraising drive begins at noon on Sept. 13 on the property.
Eric Stirgus
Norcross traffic delays Saturday
The following streets will be closed from 5:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. today, Sept. 6 in Norcross: Holcomb Bridge Road at Thrasher Street, South Peachtree Street, Skin Alley and College Street as well as Britt Avenue at College Street, Mitchell Road at Lawrenceville Street, Wingo Street approx. 300 yards from Jones Street, N Peachtree St at Park Drive and N Peachtree Street at Buchanan Street. Information: www.norcrossgat.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Discount rabies shots today in Lilburn
SafetySmart Lilburn will hold its Fall Rabies Clinic 9 a.m. to noon today, Sept. 6 at the Greenway Trail parking lot across from Lilburn City Hall, 76 Main Street. Administered by veterinarian Dr. Star Gregory, the vaccinations are $10, cash-only. Pets must be under control at all times, either on a leash or in a crate. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Commissioners approve fire hydrant repairs
On Tuesday, Gwinnett Commissioners approved two contracts to provide inspection and repairs to a third of the county’s 43,000 fire hydrants. Gwinnett’s fire hydrants are inspected every three years on a rotating basis. Inspectors evaluate overall condition and verify proper functioning as well as conduct static pressure tests to measure water pressure. Additional inspections are made to ensure hydrants are visible and unobstructed. Homeowners in violation are notified if they need to trim shrubs or trees to provide a 5-foot minimum clearance around hydrants. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Dacula sidewalk project approved
Gwinnett County and Dacula will jointly fund sidewalk projects using 2014 SPLOST funds. Sidewalks will be added to Harbins Road from Sanjo Road to McMillan Road, Harbins Road from the day care center to Harbins Oak Drive, Dacula Road from past Fence Road to Old Peachtree and Dacula Road across from Liam Avenue to AutoZone. The project will cost $876,915, with Dacula responsible for 19 percent or $142,854. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Cherokee recycling winners announced
The Cherokee county Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the third Mayor’s Recycling Challenge, under which Cherokee communities encouraged residents to recycle in June and July. The city of Woodstock collected the most recycled material- 374,322 pounds while the city of Waleska collected the most per capita-138.4 pounds. That was Waleska’s third straight win.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Athletic upgrades complete in Cherokee
The Cherokee County School Board Thursday took official note of significant upgrades to the athletic facilities at Cherokee High School. The completed work included construction of a new softball complex, football stadium improvements and construction of new home and visitor field houses. The upgrades were funded under a 2011 voter-approved SPLOST.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Canton warns of parking enforcement
Canton Police Chief Robert Merchant is warning that, following a grace period, timed downtown parking restrictions will be enforced/ticketed again Oct. 1. They had been suspended for roughly the past year. Downtown businesses had pressed for the re-emphasis, upset about long-term parkers in front of their establishments. The restrictions along Main and North streets mostly limit parking to two hours. Merchant says during August, 300 warning tickets were issued. After Oct. 1, fines will start at $10.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Johns Creek seeks festival volunteers
The city of Johns Creek and the Convention and Visitors Bureau are seeking volunteers for the Johns Creek Arts Festival, set for Oct. 25 and 26 at the Atlanta Athletic Club Fields, across the street from the club on Medlock Bridge Road. Volunteer duties include artist and sponsor check-in, first aid, lost and found, festival information distribution and hospitality. More information/signup: johnscreekga.gov or 770-500-8784
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Widening project set in Woodstock
The city of Woodstock says the contractor responsible for Phase IV of the Ridgewalk Parkway widening project will begin work on Monday. The road is being upgraded from Ridge Trail to Main Street, near the busy Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta. The city says delays are expected, but that travel lanes will be kept open at all times. Updates will be posted at woodstockga.gov
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
Some Atlanta schools will offer free dinner to students
Fifty Atlanta schools will start offering free dinner to students participating in school-sponsored afterschool programs, thanks to federal funding. That includes students on athletic teams, in school clubs and enrolled in aftercare.
Long Middle School and Mays and Douglass high schools have already begun offering the meals. The program will begin at all participating schools on Sept. 15.
Molly Bloom
Arrest made in August Atlanta homicide
Atlanta police have charged a man with murder in the Aug. 12 death of a city man.
Frederick Brewton, 41, was taken into custody Wednesday, police spokesman John Chafee said late Thursday in an emailed statement.
He is accused of killing Willie Heard, who was found dead of severe trauma to the head at an apartment in the 300 block of Martin Street.
Brewton is being held in the Fulton County Jail, Chafee said.
He has a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 18, Fulton County sheriff’s spokeswoman Tracy Flanagan said.
Staff
Southwest Atlanta homeowners hold health and wellness fair
Sandtown Community Association and Sandtown Center Homeowners Association will host a “Health +Wellness Fair” and one-mile “Walk 4 Health” 9 a.m. Sept. 13, at the Sandtown Center Pavillion, 1510 Sandbay Drive.
The goal of the first annual event is to promote diet and exercise, and educate the community on screenings and preventative exams. The day includes nutritionists, fitness trainers, health vendors, games and prizes.
Organizers plan to partner with Sandtown Park for future wellness events.
Information: www.healthysandtown.com.
Adrianne Murchison for the AJC
DEKALB
City postpones ‘diversity conversations’
Decatur’s commission tabled approval of a $25,000 contract with The Art of Community, a consultant firm that would create community-wide conversations centered on diversity. These proposed dialogues stem from ideas delivered last April by the Decatur Community Coalition for dealing with racial profiling, though city manager Peggy Merriss emphasized the dialogues would encompass a broad definition of diversity, including economic and lifestyle diversity. With two commissioners expressing concern over precisely what the city was paying for and why only one company was considered, the motion was tabled until Oct. 6.
Bill Banks
Organization for active and retire federal employees meet Tuesday
The National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees DeKalb Chapter 380 will meet 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Piccadilly Restaurant, at South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur.
The association advocates for better health care and retirement benefits of federal employees and retirees.
The meeting is open to NAFRE members and non-members including spouses and surviving spouses of retired federal employees.
Information: www.ganarfe.com.
Adrianne Murchison
Tucker, Smoke Rise candidate forum
DeKalb Superior Court Judge C. J. Becker will moderate a forum for Tucker and Smoke Rise community candidates in local, state and federal races 6:30 p.m., Sept. 18 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 4882 Lavista Road.
Tucker Civic Association, Main Street Tucker Alliance and Smoke Rise Community Association will host the forum. A list of participating candidates has not been announced.
In addition to the question/answer period, the program includes a “meet and greet” with the public, and brief candidate statements.
Information: www.tuckercivic.org.
Adrianne Murchison for the AJC
Brookhaven Police Department receives federal grant
The Brookhaven Police Department received a federal grant that will be used as reimbursement for bulletproof vests.
The award of $11,117.63 was provided through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership, and covers nearly half of the Brookhaven Police Department’s cost on vests.
The department became eligible for the award by requiring all officers to wear vests. Chief Gary Yandura describes the vests as essential to police operations.
Nationally, at least 33 police officers were saved by bulletproof vests in 2012, an increase of nearly 14 percent compared to 2011, according to the Department of Justice.
Adrianne Murchison
Creativity pays off for Stone Mountain arts partnership
Stone Mountain Development Authority and ART Station Contemporary Arts Center received a Silver Award in Economic Development during the 2014 Georgia Downtown Conference.
The Georgia Downtown Association presented the honor during an Awards of Excellence ceremony on Aug. 21.
The non-profit recognized Stone Mountain for its innovation in creating an artists program that resulted in five successful art businesses at five renovated buildings in the historic downtown area.
Adrianne Murchison
SOUTHSIDE
Peachtree City approves new budget
Following a slew of recent amendments, the City Council of Peachtree City voted 5-0 Thursday to adopt a $30.7 million FY2015 budget. The council chose to cut or reduce programs and projects rather than raise the millage rate by 1 mill. Members Terry Ernst and Kim Learnard noted that adjustments to the budget, including pay raises for police, fire and other staff, can still be made later in the year. Jill Howard Church
Huddleston student creates app
Huddleston Elementary School in Peachtree City now has its own app, thanks to a fifth-grade student who developed it with support from his father. Dominic Tigue began working on the app last spring, and met with principal Heidi Pfannenstiel when it was finished. The app was unveiled at the school’s recent Parent Information Night, and is available for Apple and Android devices. Jill Howard Church
Peachtree City approves new budget
Following a slew of recent amendments, the City Council of Peachtree City voted 5-0 Thursday to adopt a $30.7 million FY2015 budget. The council chose to cut or reduce programs and projects rather than raise the millage rate by 1 mill. Members Terry Ernst and Kim Learnard noted that adjustments to the budget, including pay raises for police, fire and other staff, can still be made later in the year. Jill Howard Church
Huddleston student creates app
Huddleston Elementary School in Peachtree City now has its own app, thanks to a fifth-grade student who developed it with support from his father. Dominic Tigue began working on the app last spring, and met with principal Heidi Pfannenstiel when it was finished. The app was unveiled at the school’s recent Parent Information Night, and is available for Apple and Android devices. Jill Howard Church
