County by county news for Friday

Bruton also serves as executive manager of the city’s Board of Lights and Water. He has been Marietta’s city manager for 11 years. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

School budget picture a little brighter

Budget officials for Cobb Schools expect to present a balanced 2012 budget to the school board in June, despite previous estimates showing the district was facing a $40-50 million shortfall. The budget will still likely include furlough days and delayed salary increases, but additional cuts are not expected. State and local revenues are slightly higher than expected, which has brought more money into the district, said Mike Addison, chief financial officer. Jaime Sarrio

School board to discuss search for new chief

The Cobb school board will hold a closed meeting at 9 a.m. today to discuss the hiring of a new superintendent. The district, which is Georgia’s second largest, is looking for a replacement for Fred Sanderson, who retires at the end of this school year. An attorney for the school board would not say whether the board was close to making a final decision. Jaime Sarrio

YMCA to hold 5K on Saturday

The annual Y Not Run! 5K Road Race is scheduled for Saturday at Polk Street Park in Marietta. Proceeds from the day benefit the YWCA of Northwest Georgia and the Charities of the Rotary Club of Marietta.

Entry fee is $25-$30 per person. The race begins at 8 a.m. at the park adjacent to Marietta First United Methodist Church, 56 Whitlock Avenue in Marietta. Information: call, 770-423-3583; visit http://www.ywca.org Janel Davis

Marietta to designate electric car space

Marietta plans to designate one parking space on the east side of the city square for electric vehicles only. The council agreed this week to mark a spot for electric cars and will consider adding an electric vehicle charging station later this year. Costs estimates are $500 for the sign and $15,000 for the charging station. Economic Development Director Beth Sessoms said more people are driving hybrid/electric or all electric cars and it makes sense for the city to promote renewable energy technology. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Harrison students give a day of service

More than 1,000 students from Harrison High School in Kennesaw will spend the day on Saturday volunteering at nonprofit organizations throughout Cobb County. Last year 825 students participated in the annual Community Service Day by writing thank you letters to soldiers and decorating lunch bags for the homeless children at MUST Ministries. This year, students will begin their day at Harrison High School then board buses to go to the various volunteer locations. Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Snellville officials solicit bids for road work

Snellville officials are now soliciting competitive bids from vendors for the resurfacing and paving of roads this year.

Bids will be accepted until 2 p.m. May 10 at the City Hall reception desk.

Specifications may be obtained from the City Clerk’s office. Questions about the specifications should be directed in writing to City Clerk Melisa Arnold at marnold@snellville.org. Joel Anderson

Library offers system to recycle books

The Gwinnett County Public Library has made it easier to recycle books by placing collection bins at each of its 15 branches. Books collected at the bins, installed by online retailer Better World Books, will be sold, donated or recycled. Information: www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154. David Wickert

Braves, Cancer Society host fun run

The Gwinnett Braves and the American Cancer Society will host a Family Fun Run 5K on May 14 at Coolray Field.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. for the 8 a.m. 5K race. A 1-mile run will start at 8:10 a.m. The cost is $30 per runner or $20 per runner for running clubs. Entire families can register for $30. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Information: www.georgiarunner.com or contact Kevin McQuilken at the American Cancer Society at Kevin.McQuilken@cancer.org or 770-814-0123. David Wickert

Demolition to impact Dacula traffic

Dacula will start demolishing a condemned building near the corner of Wilson Street and Second Avenue on Monday.

City officials warn passing motorists and pedestrians to please observe flagmen, traffic cones and other traffic control devices. Joel Anderson

Reeves elected to Gwinnett Village board

The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District elected Lisa Reeves, chief operating officer for NDI Development, to its board of directors Thursday.

Reeves will replace longtime member Tina Dang on the board. The Norcross-area district represents 550 commercial properties.

Property owners have agreed to tax themselves to pay for infrastructure, public safety and aesthetic improvements. Information:www.gwinnettvillage.com. DAVID WICKERT

Auburn hosts SpringFest and egg hunt

Auburn will host the fourth annual SpringFest and Egg Hunt at James Shackelford Memorial Park on Saturday.

The event is schedule to run from noon to 4 p.m. Parking will be available at the Old Ingles in Auburn.

The egg hunt is open to children up to the age of 10. Children interested in entering a coloring contest can pick up a form at Dakota’s Family Restaurant, City Hall or http://www.cityofauburn-ga.org/.

Information: Charlotte Ewing at 770-963-4002 x 223. Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

Court upholds ex-sgt’s child porn conviction

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta has upheld the 2009 conviction of former Forsyth County sheriff’s Sgt. Milton Scott Pruitt’s on two counts of receiving child pornography on his home and office computers.

Pruitt, who ran for Forsyth sheriff after his 2007 arrest and lost in the 2008 primary to incumbent Sheriff Ted Paxton, has long maintained his innocence. He was sentenced in February 2010 to eight years, which he is serving in Federal Prison in Arizona. Jeffry Scott

Police look for woman in bank robbery

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a woman -- possibly a medical worker -- suspected of robbing a SunTrust Bank in Roswell on Wednesday. Officer Lisa Holland said the woman entered the bank in the 8300 block of Holcomb Bridge Road and presented a note demanding money. A witness told investigators that the woman got out of a tan or gold compact vehicle, Holland said. Anyone with information on the suspect call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. Mike Morris

Kayker who drowned in Chattahoochee I.D.’d

The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday that a man who fell out of a kayak and drowned on the Chattahoochee River was from Oregon.The ME’s office identified the man as Phillip Stonebrook, 67. After several hours of searching, rescuers found the body Wednesday evening .

The Forsyth County dive team found Stonebrook’s body about 50 yards from where he went under in Roswell, authorities said. Alexis Stevens

Holy Innocents shows Haiti documentary

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School of Atlanta will host a documentary screening today on life in Haiti after the earthquake. The directors of “Lift Up,” Philip Knowlton and Huguens Jean, will share their film with students at 1:30 p.m. and lead a talk with students.

HIES, which is celebrating Haiti Week, has been raising money to rebuild classrooms in the country. D. Aileen Dodd

Day of Hope health fair Saturday in Roswell

Roswell Day of Hope, a coalition of churches, nonprofits, health organizations and businesses dedicated to helping families below the poverty line, will hold a Community Health Fair on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Roswell City Hall, 38 Hall St. The Fulton County Health and Wellness Department’s Communicable Disease and Prevention Branch will be doing syphilis screenings. Information: 404-730-1468 or 404-765-4230. Johnny Edwards

Forsyth County chief

to get $28,000 raise

Forsyth County Commissioners voted unanimously at Tuesday’s work session to give County Manager Doug Derrer a roughly $28,000 raise, from about $130,000 a year to $158,727. The county also boosted Derrer’s car allowance from $500 to $692 a month. Commissioner chairman Brian Tam praised Derrer for bringing the “most stability” to county manager job “since before any of us were on the board.” Jeffry Scott

ATLANTA

Money crunch stalls Shake at the Lake

Shake at the Lake, the free outdoor stagings in Piedmont Park, will not be presented in May due to lack of funding. But organizers are hopeful that the shows will go on later this year.

“It has become clear over the last month that we will not be able to secure the full funding needed” for a spring presentation, Georgia Shakespeare producing artistic director Richard Garner said in a statement. “While we are saddened that the event will not happen in this time slot, we are working with Piedmont Park Conservatory to find an alternative date for the fall.” HOWARD POUSNER

Man struck and killed on Downtown Connector

A motorist whose truck broke down on the Downtown Connector early Thursday was struck and killed after he got out of his vehicle. The incident happened shortly after midnight in the southbound lanes near Ga. 166, Langford Parkway. The man, 60, whose name was being withheld until relatives could be notified, got out of his truck, and “several cars swerved to avoid him, but one vehicle did strike and kill the victim,” Atlanta police spokesman Kimberly Maggart said. Mike Morris

Latino Community Leaders honored

The Latin American Association (LAA) will recognize leaders who promote change though giving and serving next week at its 22nd annual Compañeros Awards Luncheon.

The luncheon is at 11 a.m. April 21 at the Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom in Atlanta. Among award recipients are Rocio Woody, who provides behavioral health and substance abuse services for Latino women (for community leadership) and State Rep. Pedro Marin (for public service). ANDRIA SIMMONS

Library offers lessons to use eBay

Bargain hunters and aspiring Internet auctioneers can learn to shop and sell goods on eBay in a class at the Mechanicsville Branch library, 400 Formwalt St., SW, Atlanta, on Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Information: 404-730-4779. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Dunwoody police announce promotions

The Dunwoody Police Department has named the first two officers slated to receive promotions.

Officer’s William “Rusty” Furman and Fidel Espinoza will become sergeants after completing an an extensive field training program. Then, they will be assigned to supervise uniform patrol.

Furman, a 13-year veteran from the Cobb County Police Department, has been assigned to the Community Outreach Unit since the police department began. Espinoza came from the DeKalb County Police Department and has been assigned to uniform patrol since the department began. Andria Simmons

Achieving students to get free makeovers

DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson, DeKalb County Schools, the Cosmetology Outreach Mentoring Bridge and Studio 20 Day Spa will sponsor makeovers for 50 pre-selected gifted middle and high school students who live in the county.

Participating students, who have overcome obstacles and maintained a high grade point average, will receive grooming and hygiene tips, and a shampoo and style or barbering services. Michelle Shaw

County reports sewage spills this week

Nearly 19,000 gallons of raw sewage has spilled into DeKalb County waterways this week.

County water reports show 18,020 gallons spilled into the North Fork of Peachtree Creek from the 4000 block of Brownlee Drive in Tucker. A 920-gallon spill was also reported in Ball Mill Creek from the 1600 block of Mt. Vernon Road in Atlanta. Michelle Shaw

Get an app for everything Decatur

DECATURdash, a mobile app for Decatur-related information, became available this week for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android-based mobile devices. Among other things, the app features dining, entertainment and shopping directories, along with meeting calendars for City Schools of Decatur, city government and civic associations. Also, news on city events and activities are included. DECATURdash was created by Terry Michel who collaborated with SeedLabs, LLC of Austin, Texas Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur neighborhoods to hold yard sale

Decatur neighborhoods Midway Woods and Winnona Park will hold a collective yard sale Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Kevin Polite of Solid Source Realty reports the central location is 2537 Midway Rd. where maps are available and baked goods will be for sale. About 20 homes are participating, featuring items that range from children and adult clothes, electronics and furniture. For more information go to www.midwaywoodsneighborhood.com. Bill Banks for the AJC

Fiction, poetry slam at Decatur High

The Atlanta Young Writer’s Institute is hosting a fiction and poetry slam at Decatur High School on April 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will create a short story and slam poem and can sign up for the open microphone. Admission is free. Participants should bring a notebook and writing utensil. Parents welcome. Register: send email titled “seminar registration” to info@aywi.org . Nancy Badertscher

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette schools weigh lenght of pre-k year

Will pre-kindergarten classes be in session for 160 or 180 days in Fayette County next year? That’s the question to be decided Tuesday by the Board of Education, which discussed the issue at a called meeting on April 11.

It would cost the county $104,281 to pay the staffing difference between the state’s reduced pre-k schedule of 160 days and the 180 days of the regular school year. The Board is weighing whether the additional instructional time is worth the money, given other budget constraints. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

DOT to hold hearings on express toll lanes

The Georgia Department of Transportation has scheduled two public information open houses for the express toll lanes planned for I-75 in Henry County. The first session is April 26, from 5-8 p.m. at Eagle’s Landing High School, 301 Tunis Road in McDonough. The second session is Thursday, April 28, from 4-7 p.m. at Quality Inn & Suites Conference Center, 930 Hwy. 155 South in McDonough.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

South Atlanta Tea Party event today

The South Atlanta Tea Party is holding a “Tax Day-American Liberty Summit” this evening at 6:30 at Fayette Family Church, 1729 Hwy. 54 West in Fayetteville. Topics: civic activism and fiscal responsibility. Speakers: Radio talk show host and former congressional candidate Jody Hice; Tea Party organizer T.C. Meuninck, school board member Ryan Christopher and local businessman and Tea Party organizer Marty Harbin. Admission is free. RSVP: events@SouthAtlantaTEAParty.org Tammy Joyner

Animal vaccination clinic on Saturday

The Henry County Animal Care & Control department is sponsoring a rabies vaccination clinic Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Henry County Animal Shelter. The vaccine will be offered on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis for $10 each. Microchips cost $25. The shelter is at 527 Hampton Street in McDonough. Details: 770 288-7387. Tammy Joyner

Wrestling coach makes national hall of fame

Fayette County High School wrestling coach Jim Bailey is being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, school officials announced Thursday. Bailey, a language arts teacher and coach since 1985, is one of five Georgia inductees chosen to be featured in the national museum in Oklahoma. The award is based on development of leadership and citizenship in young people through wrestling, officials said. Megan Matteucci

Fayette charity dog walk Saturday

The 3rd Annual Paws for a Purpose Charity Dog Walk and Festival sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fayette Daybreak will be Saturday at Shamrock Park on Senoia Road in Tyrone. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The event runs until 1 p.m. A portion of the funds will go to the Fayette County Humane Society, The Good Shepherd Pet Rescue, READing Paws and Canines for Combat Veterans. Details: Carol Stallings, director of the charity walk, 770 487-9399 . Tammy Joyner