COBB
Life sentence for Cobb ‘sextortionist’
A Cobb County man has been sentenced to life in federal prison in what prosecutors called one of the worst “sextortion” cases in metro history.
Treman Hutchinson, 28, had pleaded guilty to using an alias on social media sites to befriend teenage girls and then getting them to send him nude photos and videos of themselves.
Hutchinson also admitted to raping one victim and committing statutory rape and child molestation against another. Bill Rankin
KSU names new police chief
Kennesaw State University has named Roger Lee Stearns the school’s chief of police. He will oversee 73 sworn officers, security officers and administrative personnel. Stearns has 20 years experience in law enforcement in higher education, most recently at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edingburg. He replaces Ted Cochran who retired as cheif after 30 years at KSU. Stearns will start at KSU on Feb. 1.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Use Census to grow your business
“Get Smart About Your Business” will be 2 to 3 p.m. Monday at the South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton.
Participants will learn how to understand and use U.S. Census Bureau data to help their small businesses succeed.
Information: Jo Lahmon or Roxanne Magaw, lahmonj@cobbcat.org or 678-398-5839.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Farmers market to open winter season
The Marietta Square Farmers market will open its winter season 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 11 through March 29 on Mill Street off the Marietta Square. The market, which will open every Saturday rain or shine, will have 43 vendors selling locally grown vegetables and artisan food products. Information: mariettasquarefarmersmarket. net or Johnny Fulmer at 770-499-9393.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
South Cobb Business Association meets
The South Cobb Business Association will meet 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell.
Stephen K. Thomas, portfolio manager of Invesco Global Equities, will discuss “The Revival of Markets Outside of the U.S. - Europe and Japan - and Why You Should Be Looking at Global Investing Right Now.”
Cost is $12 for members prepaid online, $15 for members at the door or $20 for guests.
Information: sc-ba.org.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Christmas tree recycling sites open
Christmas tree recycling locations are open at five Cobb parks 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Saturday and Cobb Home Depot stores on Saturday only.
Trees can be dropped at Lost Mountain, Noonday Creek, Fullers, Harrison and Sewell parks.
Smyrna’s Bring One for the Chipper program will be at Home Depot 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 4, 2450 Cumberland Pkwy.
Information: www.cobbcounty.org or www.smyrnacity.com.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
GWINNETT
Commission chair to discuss state of county
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash will review 2013 achievements and unveil the vision for 2014 at a State of the County address 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. This annual event is co-hosted by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Quality Growth.
Register at gwinnettchamber.org or 678-957-4958. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Lake Berkeley water level nearing full pool
The water level at Lake Berkeley, recovering from dam repairs, has reached 971.6 feet, an increase of 1.8 feet since December 17.
The lake is now only 2.8 feet below full pool. City officials are encouraged by recent rains and anticipate full pool by March.
Information: www.berkeley-lake.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Senior center will help with medical needs
Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services has received a $4,800 grant from Griswold Cares Foundation and a $3,000 donation from Lawrenceville Woman’s Club.
The grant from Griswold Cares Foundation will assist seniors with transportation to and from medical appointments for dialysis treatment.
The Lawrenceville Woman’s Club contribution will also be used to improve the quality of seniors’ lives in the community.
Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services, a nonprofit partner of Gwinnett County Senior Services, raises funds and seeks grants to support select programs and services for seniors.
Information: www.fogcss.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Fire, EMS collecting heaters for seniors
Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services is accepting new portable electric heaters for seniors to be distributed through Project AWARE.
Drop off donations at fire stations until Feb. 28.
Monetary donations should be sent to: Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services, P.O. Box 1680, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
Information: 678-377-4150. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Bridge classes offered starting in January
Residents can learn to play bridge from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays at George Pierce Park, 55 Buford Hwy N.E., Suwanee.
Classes begin Jan. 11 and run for six weeks.
Information: 678-277-0910.
Arlinda Smith Broady
Peachtree Corners offers business guide
Peachtree Corners offers a guide to licensing, permitting and other information for businesses interested in locating in the city.
Go to www.cityofpeachtreecornersga.com to print the guide. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Funeral set for bride killed just after her wedding
Funeral services are set Friday for a Jasper woman who died in a Dec. 29 auto accident just after leaving her wedding reception. Kali Shay Quinton, 25, was killed when a car driven by her husband overturned on Ga. 5 in Cherokee County.
Services are set for 2 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Jasper, with burial to follow in Long Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Georgia accident victim identified
Illinois authorities have identified a Woodstock resident who died in a truck accident Dec. 27. The Sangamon County Coroner says Keqin Su, 52, was entering Interstate 55 after stopping at a rest area near Springfield when his box truck overturned. The coroner’s office ruled the death due to natural causes. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee hosts tree recycling Saturday
Both Woodstock and Canton will hold “bring one for the chipper” Christmas tree recycling from 9.a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. In Canton, residents can bring trees to Boling Park, 1200 Marietta Highway. Woodstock’s event will be held at Olde Rope Mill Park, 690 Rope Mill Road. Woodstock residents will get a free seedling to plant.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth giving local businesses preference
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted to extend the county’s Local Business Initiative through 2014. The program offers a five percent local preference credit to qualified businesses responding to county bids or solicitations on projects of less than $500,000. County officials say the goal is to return as much taxpayer money to the local economy as possible. More information: forsythco.com
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Dyslexia film screening for parents, teachers
The International Dyslexia Association Georgia Branch and Dyslexia Network of Forsyth County will screen director James Redford’s The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Forsyth County Board of Education, 1129 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming. The film provides personal and uplifting accounts of the dyslexic experience from children, experts and famous dyslexics including Sir Richard Branson. To reserve a free seat: http://idaga.org/events.htm. Event listed under Community Outreach.
Info about film: www.thebigpicturemovie.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gardening program seeks volunteers
The UGA Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Service is seeking applicants for the 2014 Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program.
Applicants must have an interest in gardening, take part in an intensive training program and be willing to share their knowledge with the community.
Application deadline is March 31.
Applicant selection is set for May 1, with training in June.
Information: 770-721-7803.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
East Atlanta schools may move to K-8 model
nA group of East Atlanta parents and community members will begin meeting this month to consider whether three elementary schools should be expanded to include middle school grades.
Atlanta Superintendent Erroll Davis presented three options this week in a letter to the community: Toomer, Whitefoord and Burgess Peterson elementary schools could be combined into one K-8 campus to replace Coan Middle School, or Toomer and Whitefoord could combine as a K-8 school and Burgess Peterson could decide whether to join them, or all three schools could be converted to the K-8 model in their current buildings.
Davis wrote he would make a recommendation to the Atlanta Board of Education in February. Mark Niesse
Operation PEACE receives grant
Atlanta City Council member Kwanza Hall joined Hyatt Regency Atlanta in recently announcing a grant to Operation PEACE (Positive Education Always Creates Elevation), a nonprofit that provides after-school and summer programs to youth in District 2’s Old 4th Ward community. The $12,000 grant is one of 26 awarded to nonprofits nominated by Hyatt hotels in communities around the world as part of Hyatt Community Grants. Information: www.hyatthrive/philanthropy.com Arlinda Smith Broady
Morehouse receives $5M research award
The Morehouse School of Medicine has received a five-year, $5 million award to conduct research into treating neurological disorders.
The award, from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, will help increase diversity in the neuroscience research industry by establishing a collaborative bachelor’s and master’s degree program in neuroscience among the Atlanta University Center institutions of Morehouse and Spelman college and Clark-Atlanta University. Janel Davis
DEKALB
Local judge nominated for federal post
President Barack Obama has nominated DeKalb State Court Judge Eleanor Ross for a seat on the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of Georgia.
Ross, a former U.S. assistant attorney in the district, is among four judges named to fill vacancies on the federal bench. Ross is also a former prosecutor in DeKalb and Fulton counties, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be seated. April Hunt
County to demolish public housing
The DeKalb Housing Authority is ready to move residents so it can raze the 50-year-old Tobie Grant Manor housing project and so it can be developed into a mixed-use development.
About 600 residents are being relocated in January so demolition can begin by spring. The new $34 million development will be a mix of public housing and market apartments and single-family homes on the Scottdale site. April Hunt
Emory offers new mother resource
Emory University School of Medicine has launched MotherToBaby Georgia, a free statewide counseling service that connects experts in the field of birth defects research with expectant moms, health care providers, and the general public.
For counseling, call 866-626-6847.
MotherToBaby GA is funded by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Information: www.MotherToBaby.org or www.emory.edu/msacd.
Arlinda Smith Broady
Clarkston seeks zoning board candidates
Clarkston is looking for residents to help fill three vacancies on its planning and zoning board.
There are no requirements beyond being a resident of the city interested in serving. The mayor will nominate appointees, for approval by the City Council.
Letters of interest and resumes should be sent to Jason Gaines at jgaines@cityofclarkston.com. April Hunt
Festival benefits law enforcement
DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson recently donated $10,000 to the DeKalb Police Alliance, the proceeds of an international food and music festival held in the county earlier this year.
The funds will go toward the alliance’s efforts to supply bulletproof vests to county sheriff’s deputies, police officers and marshals. April Hunt
Money set aside for DeKalb park
DeKalb County commissioners recently agreed to set aside $65,000 to plan a new park in Ellenwood.
The county bought the 44-acre parcel on River Road in 2003 but has yet to conduct a site analysis and recreational study for the area.
The funding for the study comes from the park bond fund from Commission District 3, which stretches from Decatur to Ellenwood. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Fayette zoning appeals board has opening
The Fayette County Zoning Board of Appeals has an opening for a volunteer member.
Members of the board serve three-year terms and meet monthly to hear and decide challenges to decisions made by the county zoning administrator.
Applications, available from Floyd Jones at fjones@fayettecountyga.gov or by calling 770-305-5102, are due Jan. 10.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Library features Fayette author
Local author David A. Sterling will sign copies of his new novel “The Dream Maker” from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Peachtree City Library.
The book is a sequel to “Do As I Say,” the first in his Bennett Bills Murder Mystery series.
Information: (770) 631-2520
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Three locations take Christmas trees
Peachtree City will offer three locations for recycling Christmas trees starting Saturday.
Trees free of lights and decorations can be brought to the Peachtree City Recycling Center, the Kedron Kroger store and the Home Depot between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The McIntosh Boys’ Lacrosse Team will pick up trees from homes or businesses in exchange for a donation through Feb. 16.
Information: 770-487-8877.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Clayton Water Authority to raise rates
Residential and commercial users of Clayton County Water Authority will now see a 5 percent hike in water and sewer base rates and a 5 percent increase in usage charges.
The new rates will be reflected in February’s bill.
The increase means a $2.21 increase to the water and sewer bill of the average customer who uses about 4,000 gallons a month. Tammy Joyner
Fayette partially restores teacher pay
Fayette County teachers and staff who were furloughed for two days this school year will have part of their pay reinstated as of February.
The Board of Education voted unanimously recently to amend this year’s budget and allocate $1.2 million of its projected $21 million fund balance to restoring the furlough pay for the second half of the year.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Piedmont Hospital offering scholarship
The Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary is accepting applications for the Elizabeth Wilmot Bull Memorial Scholarship until Jan. 20.
The merit-based award is open to students enrolled in a medical- or health-related field of study (except pre-med or pre-nursing) at an accredited Georgia college or university.
Information: 770-719-7098.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
