Cobb
School board to take up calendar issue again
The Cobb school board will consider a new school calendar at the June 23 meeting, following a vote at Wednesday’s work session to add it to the agenda. Earlier this year, a divided 4-3 school board voted to ditch the balanced calendar and its earlier school start date for a traditional format. After several attempts to revisit the vote, board member David Banks succeeded Wednesday by proposing a third calendar, which would combine elements of the two. The measure passed 3-3, with traditional calendar advocate Kathleen Angelucci absent. Jaime Sarrio
Southern Poly adds teacher prep programs
Southern Polytechnic State University will start a new program to graduate math and science teachers, under action the State Board of Regents took Tuesday. The college’s School of Arts and Sciences will offer teacher preparation classes this fall for those who want to teach high school. The program will require students to major in the subject they plan to teach, such as biology, chemistry, physics or math. There is a shortage of math and science teachers and Georgia’s public schools struggle to find qualified hires. Laura Diamond
Marietta set rules for booting vehicles
Marietta’s City Council in a 4 to 3 vote Wednesday set rules for booting vehicles including a maximum $125 fee a property owner can charge to remove a device. Booting became an issue a few months ago after the city received complaints about high fees to have boots removed from cars at a parking lot on Atlanta Street.
The council’s maximum fee to remove a boot is the same the Georgia Public Service Commission determined for towing vehicles that are 10,000 pounds or less. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Marietta man accused in enticing child
Barrow County Sheriff’s deputies and Statham police arrested a Marietta man Wednesday accused of an Internet crime against a child.
James Christopher Redman, 50, allegedly had inappropriate conversations with an undercover investigator posing as an underage female.
He arranged to meet the investigator in Barrow County and was arrested upon arrival.
Redman is being held at the Barrow County Detention Center. Andria Simmons
Powder Springs monthly breakfast moves
Powder Springs city officials are moving their monthly breakfast to a new location on Saturday.
Mayor Patricia Vaughn and City Council members will meet with residents at 9 a.m. Saturday at Off the Bone BBQ next to Kroger, 4400 Brownsville Road.
The former location on Marietta Street at Bailey’s Diner, also owned by Off the Bone, has closed.
Meals are Dutch treat.
Information: 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
‘Teen Fun’ at Powder Springs library
“Teen Fun” starts today at the Powder Springs Library.
Wii games begin at 4 p.m. at the library, 4181 Atlanta St.
Other afternoon events include European Jeopardy with prizes on June 24 and more Wii games on July 8.
Information: 770-439-3600. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
GWINNETT
Tax commissioner appoints new deputy
Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Richard Steele recently appointed J. Michael Sweigart to serve as his chief deputy.
Sweigart is a commercial real estate broker with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Notre Dame. He has previously worked as director of facilities at Knowledgeware, manager of strategic planning for the Industrial Development Research Council and in several positions at Unisys Corp. and Ex-Cell-O Corp.
Sweigart is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Gwinnett and a member of the Rotary Club of Peachtree Corners. David Wickert
ACLU wants schools’ response by Monday
The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday gave the Gwinnett County Schools until Monday to respond to a complaint about internet blocking.
The schools system uses a filter that prevents students from accessing pornography and other inappropriate content while using school computers.
The ACLU complained in a May 23 letter that the filter casts too wide a net, violating students’ legal rights by prohibiting access to websites about sexual orientation and gender identity. The letter sent Thursday raises the threat of litigation. Ty Tagami
Spay Neuter Coalition to hold fundraiser
The Spay Neuter Action Coalition of Georgia will host a wine tasting and silent auction fundraiser in Lawrenceville on Sunday. The fundraiser is scheduled from 2- 6 p.m. at Italia Café at 139 South Clayton Street. Information: Virginia Keller at 770-355-8286. Joel Anderson
Big Haynes Creek dam work finished
Gwinnett County recently finished a $1.7 million rehabilitation of Big Haynes Creek dam between Snellville and Grayson. The project brought the dam into compliance with modern safety standards. The county abandoned the earthen spillway on the dam abutments and built a new concrete spillway. David Wickert
Police look for thieves using credit card
Gwinnett County police need the public’s help identifying suspects who used a credit card they stole after breaking into a woman’s vehicle.
The victim’s vehicle was broken into on May 9 at her home near Stone Mountain. Within 24 hours, her debit card was used at the Walmart at 1400 Lawrenceville Highway in Lawrenceville. The suspects arrived in a black Ford Taurus. They were seen exiting the vehicle, entering the store, making a purchase, and leaving in that car. Anyone with information should call 770-513-5300. Andria Simmons
Snellville updating HOA contacts
Snellville’s Department of Planning and Development is in the process of updating contact information for homeowners associations. If your association is within city limits, please provided the city with names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for the board or committee officials. The information should be directed to Denise Rutherford at drutherford@snellville.org or 770-985-3514. Joel Anderson
NORTHSIDE
Appeal deadline July 26 for most property owners
For 70 percent of Fulton County property owners, the new deadline to appeal tax assessments will be July 26. Corrected tax notices will go out this weekend dated June 11, so the deadline will be 45 days later, Chief Appraiser Burt Manning said.
The county is sending new notices to Atlanta and nine other cities to correct erroneous and omitted information on tax bill estimates. Only Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Chattahoochee Hills, Mountain Park and unincorporated south Fulton will not receive new notices, keeping the old deadline of June 21. Johnny Edwards
Alpharetta Public Safety wants public input
The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety wants public feedback about services it provides as part of the process to renew its national accreditation. The comment session will be at 6 p.m. July 25 at the Roswell-Alpharetta Public Safety Training Center at 11565 Maxwell Road in Alpharetta. Those who cannot attend may comment via telephone between 1 and 3 p.m. July 24 by calling 678-297-6334. Written comments can be sent to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard Suite 320, Gainesville, Va. 20155. Andria Simmons
Milton revises recreation agreement
Milton has revised its license agreement with i9 Sports, the company operating its recreational youth sports programs.
The City Council expanded the city’s agreement with the firm Monday to include a coed youth soccer program and a fall youth flag football program for ages 4-12.
The city receives 25 percent of all registration fees, and Milton residents qualify for reduced rates. Patrick Fox
Firm sues Sandy Springs over bid process
CGA/JAT Joint Venture, LLC., is suing Sandy Springs, alleging the competitive bid process used to pick a new vendor to handle the city’s financial services, was flawed.
CJA/JAT alleges Sandy Springs did not follow its own rules and guidelines when picking a new contractor for financial service.
The city awarded the contract to Severn Trent last month, and the company is making preparations to begin its contract July 1.
Michelle E. Shaw
Aging Council to hold fundraiser for seniors
Cherokee County’s Volunteer Aging Council will host a fundraiser Saturday to benefit local seniors in need. The group will be accepting new or gently used purses at the Lodge at Bridgeill or the William G. Long Woodstock Senior Center, said Betty Rice, coordinator for the William G. Long Woodstock Senior Center. The purses will be sold at Woodstock’s Freedomfest on July 4. Elise Hitchcock
Forsyth proposes change in ethics law
Forsyth County Commission chairman Brian Tam introduced a measure at Tuesday’s work session to change the Ethics Ordinance so that the county would pay the legal fees of any county official or employee defending an ethics complaint determined to be frivolous or is dismissed. The commission moved 5-0 to hold two public hearings. Jeffry Scott
ATLANTA
New president for teen prevention group
Vikki Millender-Morrow has been named the new president and CEO of the nonprofit Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.
Millender-Morrow assumes her new job on July 7.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year awarded the organization $7.5 million over five years for programs aimed at reducing teen pregnancy in Augusta-Richmond County. G-CAPP was founded by Jane Fonda in 1995. Shelia Poole
Meals On Wheels group wins Highlander
The votes have been tallied, and the winner of a new Toyota Highlander is Senior Citizens Services of Metropolitan Atlanta. The non-profit, which delivers meals on wheels each day to nearly 300 of Atlanta’s homebound seniors, beat out four other non-profits in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program. The winner was determined by how many votes the non-profits received Monday on Facebook, and Atlantans delivered. Nancy Badertscher
Councilman, coalition schedule bike ride
Atlanta city Councilman Aaron Watson and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition are inviting Atlantans to join them on a 10-mile bike ride June 18. It is the fourth and final ride in the “Living Smarter through Cycling Series.” The ride departs from the Piedmont Park Conservancy Community Center at 1071 Piedmont Avenue and ends at the Brown Middle School Community Garden in West End at 765 Peeples St. Begins at 8 a.m. and ends at noon. Steve Visser
Atlanta Streets Alive returns Saturday
Atlanta Streets Alive is returning to downtown Atlanta and the Old Fourth Ward this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and June 25 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The route this year is a car-free loop along the future Atlanta Streetcar on Auburn and Edgewood avenues. Nearby sections of Auburn Avenue, Park Place, and Equitable Place will also be closed to automobile traffic. Kickoff is at Woodruff Park both dates. Ernie Suggs
DEKALB
Half of GPC enrollment take class online
Almost half the record number of students enrolled in summer school at Georgia Perimeter College are taking classes online, according to data released Thursday.
Summer enrollment is 16,948 students, including 8,435 students online. Georgia Perimeter runs the state’s largest online program. Enrollment increased by more than 11 percent this summer. Some students couldn’t find jobs or internships because of the economy. Others loaded up on classes while the HOPE scholarship still covers all tuition. Scholarship changes go into effect this fall. Laura Diamond
New library to be dedicated Saturday
DeKalb County officials will dedicate a new library near Stonecrest Mall on Saturday.
The ceremony at the Stonecrest Library, at Klondike and Hayden Quarry roads in south DeKalb, begins at 11 a.m. and includes a tour of the library and refreshments. The library opens Monday on a reduced-hour schedule.
It will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Information: www.dekalblibrary.org. April Hunt
School board sets out-of-district tuition
DeKalb school officials are proposing an annual tuition fee of $3,546.67 for students who live outside the district but want to attend during the 2011 -- 2012 school year.
The fee was calculated using a state-provided formula, according to district officials.
The fee is $550.42 less than the $4,097.09 charged for the 2010 -- 2011 school year. A vote is expected at the board’s Monday meeting. Jaime Sarrio
Decatur council to vote on new budget
The proposed Decatur city budget for 2011-12, scheduled for a June 20 City Commission vote, is $18.81 million, a less than 2 percent increase over 2010-11. The proposed overall millage rate has been reduced from 13.035 mills to 13 mills. Bill Banks for the AJC
‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ at Decatur gallery
The Decatur Gallery will present the exhibit “Rock, Paper, Scissors” beginning Saturday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. The exhibit, which will remain on display until June 30, includes works in painting, sculpture, ceramic, 2D and 3D mixed media, and jewelry with each artist interpreting the theme of “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” The gallery is located at 153 Ponce de Leon Place, Decatur. The event is free and open to the public. Information: 404-377-0755 or www.decaturgallery.com. Michelle E. Shaw
$102,000 to help with transportation vouchers
The Marcus Jewish Community Center has been awarded more than $102,000 to expand its transportation and voucher program for people with disabilities, older adults and adult daycare participants.
The money is part of $2.3 million in federal funds funneled through the Atlanta Regional Commission for agencies and counties that operate programs or transit routes for those who cannot drive. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Clayton County attorney leaves post abruptly
The attorney for Clayton County resigned suddenly this week. County commissioners accepted Michael Smith’s resignation in a 3-2 vote at their Tuesday meeting. His departure is effective immediately. Smith, who served as the county’s lead legal counsel for six years, declined to talk about his departure, which comes as a grand jury probes charges that county finance director Angela Jackson shredded cellphone records and other documents after two Rex citizens asked for them in an open records request. Smith could likely be called to testify in that case. Tammy Joyner
Two men plead guilty to racketeering
Two former business partners pleaded guilty this week to racketeering charges for their roles in fraudulently profiting from the sale of a Clayton County home, the state Attorney General’s Office said.
A DeKalb County judge sentenced Melvin Hullett to six months in custody followed by four and a half years on probation and Antonio Lewis to five years’ probation. Prosecutors said Hullett agreed to buy a home belonging to a real estate appraiser for an inflated amount, secured a loan to pay for it and split the remaining money with Lewis and the appraiser. Bill Rankin
Henry accepts bid for new E-911 center
The Henry County Board of Commissioners at its June 7 meeting accepted a bid for $1.9 million in construction costs on the county’s new E-911 center. The facility will be located in an existing building on Industrial Blvd. in McDonough. Monroe Roark for the AJC
Eagle’s Landing Parkway 65 percent finished
The widening of Eagle’s Landing Parkway in Henry County, one of the largest single projects in the state funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is 65 percent complete and on target for completion in April of 2012, a county staff member stated at the June 7 Board of Commissioners meeting. Monroe Roark for the AJC
East Point to vote on Sunday alcohol sales
East Point residents will vote on Sunday sales of alcohol in November. The referendum would allow package sales by retailers of malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits on Sundays between the hours of 12:30-11:30 p.m. John Thompson for the AJC
East Point mayor assigned new court date
East Point Mayor Earnestine Pittman gets her day in court June 24 at 2 p.m. at East Point Municipal Court. The mayor is charged with violating the city’s handbill ordinance when she distributed her newsletters to the city’s residents.
John Thompson for the AJC
Henry gets grants for trails, walking paths
Henry County has received two grants from the Georgia Department of Transportation to connect bike trails and make walking paths. The first grant is $700,000 for a trail to connect the northern end of Henry County to the Panola Mountain State Park. The second grant is $435,000 for paved multi-purpose walking trails at Nash Farm. Monroe Roark for the AJC
About the Author
