COBB
Ex-Cobb deputy guilty
of raping woman
A former Cobb County sheriff’s deputy was convicted Friday of raping a 23-year-old woman who his attorneys had claimed was a prostitute. Channel 2 Action News reported that Jason Bill was found guilty on seven counts, including rape, kidnapping and assault. Channel 2 reported that the victim, an illegal immigrant, was working at a Marietta restaurant when she said Bill threatened to have her deported, then took her to his nearby apartment where she said he handcuffed her and forced her to commit sexual acts at gunpoint. Bill faces a sentence of a minimum of 25 years in prison. Mike Morris
Marietta to make park improvements
Marietta’s City Council this week approved replacing two tennis courts with two lighted courts at Wallace Road’s Merritt Park. The tennis courts are the only city courts on Marietta’s east side. The council also agreed to adding shade structures at a dog park at Lewis Park and a playground at Whitaker Park for $32,000 to $35,000. The improvements are funded by a $25 million parks bond voters passed in 2009. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Man shot dead in car identified
The man found shot to death in a car Thursday afternoon has been identified as 31-year-old Jonathan David Pearcy of Mableton, Cobb County police said Friday. Neighbors told police that two cars were parked in the driveway of a home in the 6100 block of at Blackhawk Trail. Neighbors said they heard arguing followed by gunshots, said Officer Joseph Hernandez, a police spokesman.
Police found Pearcy dead inside the car. Kristi E. Swartz
Austell council splits over sign issue
Austell City Council members expressed differing opinions this week on code enforcement for city business signage.
They decided to check with other governmental entities.
Councilman Randy Green, a small business owner in the city, expressed his concerns about efforts to restrict signage outside of the city’s businesses.
“You’re going after the little guy” instead of Home Depot or Lowe’s, Green said.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Grants, loans available for home repairs
Low and moderate-income Marietta residents can get help repairing their homes through a federal grant and loan program. Repairs include plumbing, heating, electrical and roof work. Homeowners must have enough equity to secure the cost of repairs, and meet federal guidelines based on median income or less than $40,250 for one person. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Trial begins for man charged in 1995 murder
A pretrial motions hearing is scheduled for Monday for a man accused in the 1995 slaying of a Cobb County flight attendant. Waseem Daker, of Lawrenceville, had been a prime suspect for 14 years in the death of Karmen Smith. Smith was strangled while living in a house owned by a woman that Daker stalked for more than a year.
Smith’s son Nicholas, 5 at the time, was stabbed, but survived. Daker faces a charge of murder and two counts each of aggravated assault, aggravated stalking and burglary. Andria Simmons
GWINNETT
Police arrest four in shooting at party
Gwinnett County police have made four arrests stemming from a Feb. 19 shooting at a “Sweet 16” party that left five teens wounded. Police said Kempton Greaves, 17, of Stone Mountain got involved in a dispute at the party on Lock Ness Lane near Snellville. Greaves retrieved a firearm and shot it twice into the air, police said. Then Luis Roberto Borrero, 21, of Snellville took the gun and “fired several rounds into the house, striking and injuring five juveniles,” police. Police also arrested two residents of the house hosting the party: Xenia Christopher, 35, and Kenny Madlock, 28, were charged with maintaining a disorderly house. Larry Hartstein
Salvation Army to hold festival today
Gwinnett County has become one of the state’s most diverse melting pots. That diversity is not going unnoticed. The Salvation Army Lawrenceville Corps Community Center will hold its 5th Annual Festival of Cultures from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at 3455 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Shelia Poole
Judge defers ruling in Strude murder case
Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Warren Davis deferred ruling on several pretrial motions during a Friday hearing for Joanna Hayes, the woman accused of gunning down her daughter-in-law in a busy parking lot in Snellville.
Attorneys for Hayes are challenging the legality of the search warrant obtained by Snellville Police. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 25, and a trial is set for May 2. Hayes is being held without bond at the Gwinnett jail on murder charges in the April 26, 2009, shooting death of Heather Strube, 25. Andria Simmons
Beaudreau meets with constituents today
Gwinnett County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau will meet with constituents from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Collins Hill High School, 50 Taylor Road, Suwanee.
Beaudreau represents Commission District 3, which covers the eastern part of the county from the Highway 78 corridor to Interstate 85. David Wickert
Free vision screenings for children at library
Prevent Blindness Georgia will provide free vision screenings for children age 5 to 16 at two Gwinnett County library branches next week.
The first screening will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Lawrenceville branch, 1001 Lawrenceville Highway. The second will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Norcross branch, 6025 Buford Highway. Information: 404-266-2020. David Wickert
Girl Scout dance party to be March 19
Gwinnett County will sponsor a Girl Scout Dance Party March 19 at Bogan Park Community Recreation Center, 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford.
Participants can watch a dance performance, learn dance moves and have a snack. The event meets the requirements for the Brownie Dancercize Try-It and the Junior Dance Badge. Brownies can participate from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Juniors can participate from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The cost is $9 per person. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 770-614-2060. David Wickert
NORTHSIDE
Forsyth asked to respond to records complaint
The office of the Attorney General of Georgia requested Forsyth County respond within ten days to complaints filed by activist Nydia Tisdale citing violations of state open meetings laws by the Forsyth Civil Service Board. In a March 9, 2011, letter to county attorney Ken Jarrard, Senior Assistant Attorney General Stefan Ritter asked the county to address Tisdale’s complaints that the Civil Service Board did not provide enough notice of meetings or agendas for those meetings beforehand, as required by Georgia.
Jeffry Scott
Canton to open first dog park
Canton’s first official off-leash dog park will open to the public April 16, after being dedicated with a ribbon-cutting on Thursday. The 1.5-acre site is at 135 Juniper St. and has two fenced areas, one for smaller dogs, and the other for larger breeds. The park will not open until April because volunteers need to finish installing fencing and making other improvements, said Roy Munn, Treasurer of the Canton Paw Park Association, which will maintain and operate the facility. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
School board visits communities
Members of the Fulton County Board of Education hold meetings in their communities next week. Here’s the schedule: District 1 Linda Schultz at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Mountain Park Elementary; District 2 Katie Reeves at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at New Prospect Elementary; District 3 Gail Dean at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Riverwood International Charter; District 4 Linda Bryant at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Stonewall Tell Elementary; District 5 Linda McCain at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Dolvin Elementary; District 6 Catherine Maddox at 6:30 p.m.
Monday at Seaborn Lee Elementary; and District 7 Julie Bernath at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Northwood Elementary. Nancy Badertscher
Chorus to perform ‘Sound of Music’
The Roswell High School Chorus will take audiences back to the hills with three performances of “The Sound of Music.” Tickets are on sale now and are $10 for regular seating or $15 for premium seating.
The performances are March 24 at 7 p.m., March 25 at 7 p.m. and March 27 at 3 p.m. Nancy Badertscher
Workshop helps with college planning
The National Center for College Planning is hosting a free college planning workshop Tuesday night at the Sandy Springs Library.
The event will be 6:30 p.m. at 395 Mount Vernon Highway.
Titled “How to Pay for College Without Going Broke,” the workshop will teach parents and children to increase their eligibility for grant money, among other things.
To register: 888-868-3538 or yourcollegeplanners.com. Joel Anderson
Nature center quarterly field trip today
The Chattahoochee Nature Center will host its quarterly field trip -- the Dine & Discover potluck today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Information: http://www.chattnaturecenter.org/All-About-Nature-Social-Club Joel Anderson
ATLANTA
Marshals, police arrest 37 in gang sweep
The U.S. Marshal Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Atlanta Police Department announced Friday they had removed 37 gang members off the streets after a four-day operation began Monday to target those with outstanding warrants for everything from probation violations to major felonies. Nine other people were also arrested. The operation was named Zero Deep and it specifically aimed at members of the 30 Deep gang. Steve Visser
Property tax appeal workshop today
The Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation, a Buckhead-based nonprofit advocating for lower taxes, will hold two workshops this month on navigating the property appeals process. The first “How To Appeal Your Property Taxes” class will be today from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Atlanta REALTORS Center, 5784 Lake Forrest Drive, NE, Sandy Springs.
The second will be on March 19 at the same time at the South Fulton Service Center, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park. Information: 404-869-6066. Johnny Edwards
Operation HOPE founder to speak at CAU
John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, will deliver Clark Atlanta University’s 2011 Founders Week Convocation address on March 18, at 1 p.m. in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.
In 1992, Bryant founded Operation HOPE, one of America’s first non-profit social investment banking organization’s, following the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. Ernie Suggs
Diabetes seminar at health center March 22
Fulton County is holding a diabetes seminar to attack the leading cause of kidney failure and a top cause of leg amputations and blindness. The session is from 10 a.m.to noon on March 22 at the Center for Health and Rehabilitation, 265 Boulevard NE, Atlanta 30312. Email Patricia1. Jackson@fultoncountyga.gov or call 404-224-3590 to reserve space. Steve Visser
DEKALB
Keep DeKalb Beautiful calls for volunteers
Keep DeKalb Beautiful is inviting volunteers to come out April 30 for a cleanup effort in celebration of Earth Day.
Keep DeKalb Beautiful (KDB) will ask residents to clean up streets, waterways and illegal dumpsites, as well as help beautify parks, schoolyards, bus stops and other public areas. The event will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: www.keepdekalbbeautiful.com or 404-371-2654. Joel Anderson
Water project presents business opportunities
Stan Watson, Super District 7 Commissioner, will host a small business forum 6-9 p.m. March 17 at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia. The forum is designed to inform and prepare small businesses and community members of the upcoming opportunities and jobs that will be created as a result of the $1.9 Billion DeKalb County Watershed Management Capital Improvements Projects that will take place over the next five years. Staff reports
History Center presents dairy farm exhibit
The DeKalb History Center, 101 East Court Square, Decatur, hosts a dairy exhibit through April 15 that focuses on the history of dairy farming in DeKalb County in the 20th century. The boll weevil’s attack on cotton farming led to the beginning of many dairy farms when cotton farmers were forced to change to produce dairy products. The one-room exhibit contains colorful signs, artifacts such as a route book and milk bottles, and even a life-sized replica of Rosebud, the famous cow mascot for Mathis Dairies.
The event if free. For information, call 404-373-1088. Staff reports
Decatur adds to sidewalk project
The Decatur City Commission approved two additions to its Sidewalks Improvement Project. One sidewalk will be added on the western edge of Sams Street, and another 450 feet of sidewalks on South McDonough Street will be repaired. These two additions mark the end of Phase II of the Project, which started in 2006. Assistant City Manager David Junger said that so far, counting these two current additions, Decatur’s spent $1.1 million on sidewalk improvements. Bill Banks for the AJC
County recognized for water conservation
The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management has been recognized for its water conservation efforts by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR).
DeKalb was one of four utilities presented with the “Best in Class” award for its inefficient plumbing fixtures replacement plan. Joel Anderson
Decatur community garden near planting
Members of the Tanyard Community Garden, Decatur’s first under the city’s new community garden guidelines, hope to begin planting later this month. One of the group’s final steps remains getting a zoning variance at Monday’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Lena Stevens, the city’s Resources Conservation Director, said that Tanyard, located a block west of downtown, has 2500 square feet and will start with 23 plots, with the potential for expanding to 34 plots. Bill Banks for the AJC
SOUTHSIDE
Fayette wants to keep public defender fees
Fayette County could raise $40,000 annually by keeping the application fees paid by people seeking a public defender.
The County Commission voted Thursday night to seek the permission of the Georgia Public Defenders Standards Council to keep the $50 application fee, as allowed by law.
The money would be used to offset the approximate $71,8000 costs of the client’s indigency verification process. Kathy Jefcoats for the AJC
Water rates go up in McDonough
McDonough City Council approved an increase in water and sewer rates this week for all customers.
City Administrator Billy Beckett said the increase is needed in part to recoup revenue losses and make repairs to a 96-year-old infrastructure.
Council voted unanimously to raise the rates. Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Vincent said if the rates were aligned with the level of service needed, they would “far exceed what is presented here.” Kathy Jefcoats for the AJC
Fayetteville’s Dell goes bald for a cause
If $1,000 is raised for the Piedmont-Fayette Hospital’s Cancer Wellness Center, Fayetteville City Councilman Larry Dell will shave his head after the April meeting. For an extra $500, the mustache also goes.
“My sister is facing breast cancer for the second time in 20 years. She is getting treatment and will be losing her hair so I am going bald too.”
Donations marked “Larry’s Hair” can be sent to Piedmont-Fayette Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, Attention: Ms. Landrum, 1255 Ga. 54 West, Fayetteville, Ga. 30214. Websites accepting donations are www.fayettechamber.org/wellness-walk and www.fayettehospital.org. Kathy Jefcoats for the AJC
East Point gets grant for recreational trail
The city of East Point has received a $80,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources.
The grant requires a 20 percent match by the city and will be used for the construction of a recreational trail at Sykes Park.
John Thompson for the AJC
Street closing in Stockbridge March 19
City officials in Stockbridge will be closing East Atlanta Road from Love Street to Hwy. 138 an entire day for a streetscaping project, according to an announcement from City Hall. The closing is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monroe Roark for the AJC
East Point’s Rhodes asks community gardens
East Point City Councilman Lance Rhodes wants to see his city a little greener. Next week, Rhodes plans to discuss a plan to place community gardens in the city’s parks. The gardens would feature organic products and different groups would operate and maintain the gardens. The gardens would be designated for the purpose of food growing purposes, sharing harvest and vegetables and educating the city’s youth. John Thompson for the AJC
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