County by county news for Friday

Hinojosa said the grant would fund new staff and programs. But board members tabled the action, expressing concern about federal officials dictating local policy.

As a condition of the grant, the district would have to make changes to its staff evaluations. Daarel Burnett II

Transfer station appeals zoning denial

Attorneys for the Bankhead C&D Transfer Station in Mableton appealed a zoning and permit denial issued by the county that keeps the company from expanding and taking in household garbage. The commission denied the expansion last month after the Federal Aviation Administration said the garbage collection could hurt operations at nearby Fulton County airport. The county has 30 days to respond to the appeal. Janel Davis

Marietta council approves new budget

The Marietta City Council on Wednesday adopted a $278.5 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 The amount includes a $48.1 million city operating budget. There are no staff lay-offs, service reduction or tax increases planned, and the budget includes a 1 percent pay raise for employees starting July 1 and another 1 percent raise on Jan. 1. The millage rate stays the same at 2.788 mills. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Love of the Lake concert tonight

Caribbean rock band Steel Dreamin’ will perform today in Acworth as part of the city’s Love the Lake Concert Series.

The concert series is presented by the city of Acworth and the Acworth Business Association and begins at 8 p.m. at Cauble Park, 2293 Beach St.

Admission is free; tables: $50 for Acworth residents, $60 for nonresidents. Parking from downtown Acworth is available with a shuttle to the park.

Information: Jeff Chase, jchase@acworth.org; 770-917 – 1234 Janel Davis

Juneteenth fest in Marietta this weekend

The city of Marietta and the Cobb branch of the NAACP will recognize Juneteenth with a jazz and R&B concert, 7-11 p.m. today, and family activities, food and music from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday in Glover Park on the Marietta Square. Juneteenth is an event that remembers the end of slavery in the United States.

Information: cobbnaacp.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs to vote on budget Monday

The Powder Springs City Council is set to vote on the city’s proposed 2013 budget at 7 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers, Community Development building, 4488 Pineview Drive.

The $6.8 million general fund budget is $50,287 higher than this year’s adopted budget of around $6.75 million but $1.5 million higher than this year’s actual budget of nearly $5.3 million.

No property tax increase is included in the proposed budget. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

DOE investigates complaint against schools

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights is continuing its investigation into the Gwinnett County School’s Investing in Educational Excellence or IE2 contract, a spokesman said Thursday. Last fall, a U.S. DOE official said the agency would investigate a complaint filed last July by a Gwinnett parents’ group. The complaint alleges that the IE2 contract -- designed to give the system flexibility from some state regulations -- is discriminatory and sets lower goals for most minorities. School officials have said the complaint is without merit. Nancy Badertscher

Voter registration deadline July 2

The voter registration deadline for the July 31 primary election is July 2. Registered voters can request an absentee ballot by mail or vote in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday July 9-27 and Saturday July 21 at the Gwinnett County Elections Office, 455 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville. Satellite offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 23-27 at the Centerville Community Center, Snellville; George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center, Suwanee; Dacula Park Activity Building, Dacula; and Lucky Shoals Community Recreation Center, Norcross. David Wickert

Counselor group honors two schools

Two Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) counseling programs have earned national distinction for delivering comprehensive, data-driven services to students. Trip Elementary and Hull Middle School have been honored by the American School Counselor Association as Recognized ASCA Model Programs.

The American School Counselor Association is a worldwide nonprofit organization that supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social, and career development. Nancy Badertscher

Lilburn to begin fining for false alarms

Beginning today, Lilburn residents and commercial alarm users must obtain a permit and reimburse the city for excessive false alarms.

Permits for alarms cost $15 and can be registered online at www.lilburn.city.support.org. After today, false alarms could cost up to $500. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Home repair assistance available

Through a federally-funded assistance program, Gwinnett residents may receive help with home repairs through the Housing Rehabilitation Program.

Homeowners must own and live in their home at least a year, and qualify based on income level. Information: www.gwinnettcounty.com under the housing tab. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners freezes licenses

Businesses applying for permits to open new establishments in Peachtree Corners are finding it hard to move forward due to a two-month freeze on new licenses that began May 1. The freeze is scheduled to lift July 2 as soon as the newly formed city officially opens for business. www.cityofpeachtreecornersga.com

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Hausmann balks at workforce study contract

Fulton County will spend $536,730 on a workforce study, which one commissioner says is $144,000 too high. Atlanta-based Buck Consultants submitted the winning proposal but not the lowest price quote. The lowest was $392,000. Commissioner Liz Hausmann balked, pointing out that Buck didn’t score highest in several categories, but pulled ahead for being local. The firm was hired to do Fulton’s first job classification and compensation study since 1997. It will look at salaries, job descriptions and performance evaluations, and recommend changes. Johnny Edwards

Chamber initiates human resource group

Responding to rapid job growth in Forsyth County, The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Georgia United Credit Union to establish the Human Resource Council. Chamber officials say the council is designed to give human resource pros a collective forum to discuss HR challenges and workforce development practices. The group’s first meeting will be June 19. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Puppet shows continue in Roswell

“Sleeping Beauty” is the third of seven puppet and marionette shows in the Roswell Summer Puppet Series at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center at 950 Forrest St. Presented by Tanglewood Marionettes, shows are June 18-23 at 10 a.m., with additional performances June 20 and 22 at 1 p.m. Cost: $5 for kids ages 2-12, $6 for adults. Puppet-making kits cost $4. For information, call 770-594-6232, roswellpuppets.com. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Forsyth offers camp to youngsters

Calling young nature lovers: The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring Young Mountaineers Camp this summer at Sawnee Mountain Preserve. It’s designed for kids ages 4-6 and includes hiking, nature-themed games and crafts. Each camp lasts five days with the first round beginning June 18. More info: www.forsythco.com Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Rent school facility at online site

Looking to use a school facility for an event this summer? Doing so just became a little easier. Fulton County recently announced the creation of a Facilities Rental webpage, which will allow organizations and individuals to go online and rent their desired school facility. Visit www.fultonschools.org, click Quick Links, and then click Facilities Rental. Edward Mitchell

Active military get free park passes

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar introduced a new annual pass for active duty service members and their families granting free access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, and national forests, including Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Passes are at Island Ford Visitor Center at 1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs. Military members must show a current, valid military identification card and dependents must show a Dependent ID Card. Information: 678-538-1200 or www.nps.gov/chat. Kenneth Musisi

ATLANTA

Vietnam ambassador makes rounds

Vietnam’s ambassador to the United States will be in Atlanta this week to meet with major businesses including Georgia Power, UPS and GE Energy. Nguyen Quoc Cuong plans to discuss nuclear power, supply chain and logistics development and alternative energy. On Friday morning, he is scheduled to lead a roundtable discussion with the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Organizers hope to connect the ambassador with local companies seeking economic opportunities in Vietnam, as the nation is significantly boosting its spending on infrastructure, engineering and other sectors. Jeremiah McWilliams

Man shot dead near King Plow

An argument that escalated into a shooting Wednesday afternoon left an Atlanta man dead outside an apartment complex near the King Plow Arts Center. The victim was identified as Whitney Wesley, 27. Atlanta police responded to a report of shots fired around 2:30 p.m. at the Gables 820 West Apartments. They arrived to find Wesley dead on the sidewalk outside the West Marietta Street complex, police said. Christian Boone

Cancer Society initiates training

The American Cancer Society DetermiNation team has scheduled training sessions in metro Atlanta, beginning in June, to help prepare runners and walkers for the 2nd Annual Rock N Roll in Savannah set for Nov. 3. The next training session will be at 6:30 p.m. June 21 at Gordon Biersch, 848 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta. Information: go.acsdetermination.org or 1-866-227-7915. Kenneth Musisi

Quality Care for Children offers meals

Quality Care for Children in Atlanta is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge. To be eligible to receive free meals at a residential camp, children must meet the income guidelines for reduced price meals in the National School Lunch Program. Information: www.qualitycareforchildren.org or 404-479-4200. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Police raid suspected ‘pill mill’

DeKalb County police and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided a suspected “pill mill” operating out of an office building on Northlake Parkway Thursday morning.

The raid took place at Southern Health Management, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The station reported that a half-dozen people had been detained, but it was not immediately known how many would face charges.

A spokesman for the DEA said that agents were “conducting an investigation at a health management facility.” Mike Morris

Decatur to work on downtown lawn

Decatur recently approved $275,000 worth of improvements to the downtown lawn directly behind the historic courthouse. The city will remove the damaged soil from a lawn unable to retain grass in recent years, replacing it with a structural soil mix that includes dirt and synthetic materials that resist compaction, a waterproof liner, a new drainage and irrigation system and a Bermuda turf lawn. Total thickness of the soil, from the top of the Marta roof to the surface is 18 to 24 inches. Work will begin soon after July 4 and take eight weeks. Bill Banks for the AJC

Environmental group opposes biomass plant

The local environmental advocacy group GreenLaw is supporting a group of DeKalb County residents in their opposition to a proposed biomass plant near Lithonia. Green Energy Partners has filed an air permit application with the state for the facility, which calls for burning wood chips to create energy that it will sell to Georgia Power. Nearby residents and community leaders have opposed the $60 million plant, to be built on Rogers Lake Road, since its proposal two years ago. A lawsuit seeking to overturn the county’s zoning change for the plant is pending. GreenLaw recently submitted comments supporting the residents’ allegation that the company has underestimated how much pollution the plant will create. April Hunt

Civic groups awarded $250 checks

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson recently awarded eight community and civic groups in the county with funds to continue their programs. The $250 checks are part of the Neighborhood Initiative to recognize organizations that support quality of life work. Winners are the Belvedere Civic Club, Camelot Community Action, Concerned Neighbors Association, Glen Haven Community Association, the Greater Towers Community Association, Gresham Hills Neighbors Association, Spring Valley Civic Association and Rainbow Creek Homeowners Association. April Hunt

Golf tourney to benefit arts center

An upcoming golf tournament in DeKalb County will help benefit the county’s Sanford Performing Arts Center.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. today at the Sugar Creek Golf Course on Bouldercrest Road in south DeKalb, with a shot-gun start at 9 a.m. Fees are $100 for individual players and $400 for four-member teams. Money raised from the event will be split between the county’s arts center and the South DeKalb Rotary Club. Information or to register: 770-925-3201 April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Man, 21, shot in bad drug deal, police say

Police say a drug deal gone awry led to the shooting of a man Wednesday in a Henry County subdivision.

Kristin D. Jones, 21, of Jonesboro was charged with aggravated assault after a 21-year-old man was shot once while sitting in his car in the parking lot of the Clark Meadows neighborhood swimming pool around 4:21 p.m., said Major Jason Bolton, Henry County police spokesman.

The victim, whose name was not released, was transported to Atlanta Medical Center, where he remained Thursday. Joel Provano

Fulton gets grant to help teen dads
Fulton County is getting $25,000 in federal funds for its Teen DADS program, which provides career counseling, parenting classes and other services to help fathers bond with their babies and co-parent. Teen DADS, which stands for Determined Active Dedicated Supportive, was started by Commissioner Bill Edwards in 2009. It has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and by next week, 115 fathers will have graduated.
The federal grant will come via the state's Personal Responsibility Education Program, which is to teach youth about  abstinence and contraception. Johnny Edwards

Henry schools on a four-day week
The Henry County School System is currently under a summer schedule for office hours. All schools and the Central Office are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. All Henry County Schools offices are closed on Fridays. This schedule is in effect through Friday, July 20. A normal five-day schedule will return  July 23.Monroe Roark for the AJC

Movie under the stars is today
Hapeville residents are invited to a free screening of "Zoo Keeper" today. The movie event is at the Hapeville football stadium at 3444 North Fulton Ave. and starts at dusk. John Thompson for the AJC

McDonough concert series to begin
McDonough's Summer Concert Series on the Square begins Saturday with a performance by Jason Lee and the Cyclones. The event begins at 7 p.m.  Monroe Roark for the AJC
Market Day returns to Fayetteville Saturday
Market Day returns to downtown Fayetteville on Saturday with dozens of booths offering homemade and homegrown products. Main Street Coordinator Joyce Waits said more than 80 vendors have signed up to sell items ranging from produce and jewelry to flowers and crafts.
The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the administrative complex. Future Market Days will be held on the third Saturday of each month through November. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Author to discuss new book at library
Newnan native Scott Thompson will discuss his new book "Young Men Shall See" at the Peachtree City Library Saturday  at 1 p.m.
The novel describes growing up in Georgia in the 1980s. Jill Howard Church for the AJC