County by county news for Friday

e chickens on his property, which is smaller than the two acres county ordinance requires to have chickens.

Pond, who launched a website to promote his cause (www.backyardchix.org), said the Cobb ordinance is a violation of state law. Jeffry Scott

Group holds forum for Cobb EMC candidates

Cobb EMC Watch will host a forum Nov. 8 for candidates running for election to the EMC board.

Four of the 10 board seats are up for election on Nov. 12. Two other reform groups have endorsed a slate of four candidates. The EMC Watch forum is open to all candidates, including those already endorsed, running as independents and the two incumbents.

The forum begins at 7 p.m. at Mountain View Community Center, 3400 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta.

Information: www.cobbemcwatch.org Janel Davis

VFW post needs help to win $25,000

VFW “Rainbow” Post 2681 in Marietta needs help to win $25,000 from The Home Depot to help the veterans they serve.

To help, visit The Home Depot Foundation’s Facebook page and vote for the Marietta VFW. Post 2681 plans to use the money for renovations and to upgrade the post’s kitchen facilities to better serve veterans during support group meetings, and to operate a thrift store for members to access affordable items.

Voting runs through Nov. 30 at

Janel Davis

Cobb educator honored for teaching history

A Cobb County teacher was named 2011 Georgia History Teacher of the Year by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Betsey Kennedy, who teaches fourth grade at Big Shanty Elementary in Kennesaw, gets a $1,000 honorarium and an invitation to a summer seminar at institute. She’s also in the running for the national award. Kennedy used a mix of films and historical fiction while teaching her students. Ty Tagami

Riverview Landing festival is Saturday

The Riverview Landing fall festival will be held on Saturday at 6271 Riverview Road in Mableton. Georgia Cup Health and Wellness kicks off the day with a Gran Fondo Cycling Ride at 7 a.m. and a 5K and 10K foot race, at 8 a.m. The festival from noon to 4 p.m. For information, call 404-835-8213 or visit www.riverview-landing.com. Mea Watkins

‘Pawcasso’ Art Show to benefit animals

Animals Deserve Better Inc. will host its third annual ‘Pawcasso’ Art Show, Auction and Pets FURever Poster Contest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdayat Mountain View Community Center, 3400 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta. Donations are welcome. For information, visit www.animalsdeservebetter.com. Mea Watkins

GWINNETT

Primerica to break ground for new facility

Primerica will break ground today on a new global headquarters in Duluth that will give the company space to add 200 employees.

Primerica, which sells insurance and investment products, already has about 1,800 employees at 10 office buildings in Gwinnett. The company expects to move into the 344,476-square-foot headquarters in April 2013. Gov. Nathan Deal and other public and business officials will attend the ceremony at 3 p.m. at the new facility near the intersection of Ga. 120 and Meadow Church Road. David Wickert

Lanier High video advances in contest

A video by Lanier High’s music department has made it beyond the first round in a national competition.

The video is a contender in the “Glee Give A Note” contest. The Sugar Hill school video can be viewed and voted on at www.gleegiveanote.com/vote_details.php?id=179 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

If the entry becomes one of the top 100 most popular videos in the Southeast region, it moves to the final round of the competition and is eligible to receive a grant of $10,000, $20,000 or $50,000. D. Aileen Dodd

Annandale Village gets go-ahead to expand

Annandale Village nursing home in Suwanee announced that the Georgia Department of Community Health has approved its application to expand programs and services for aging adults with developmental disabilities.

Annandale can now move forward with renovating and expanding the existing Laura Grier Center for Special Care and the D. Scott Hudgens Center for Skilled Nursing to accommodate an additional 16 skilled nursing beds. Andria Simmons

White Oak school wins $10,000 grant

White Oak Elementary of Sugar Hill had a special visitor Tuesday who presented the school with a $10,000 grant award. Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes visited the school to talk to students about nutrition and fitness, the focus of the National Football League’s PLAY 60 campaign. The campaign encourages students to get at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. D. Aileen Dodd

Blood drive in Norcross on Tuesday

The Norcross Human Services Center will sponsor a blood drive from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at 5030 Georgia Belle Court. To register visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter ZIP code 30093 and sponsor code NHSC. For information call Norcross Human Services at 770-638-5661.

David Wickert

Gwinnett Tech holds holiday portraits event

Gwinnett Technical College will host its holiday portraits event Nov. 7-19.

Show proceeds will aid the college’s commercial photography students’ 2012 portfolio show.

Portrait package prices range from $25, to $55. The event will run 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Information: www.gtchholidayportraits.blogspot.com. Laurie Hoffman

NORTHSIDE

Fulton may redraw commission district maps

Fulton County may redraw its commission district maps based on updated Census data. The county has five districts and seven commissioners, two of whom serve at large. New maps would take effect with 2014 elections. The process begins Wednesday with a commission meeting and public hearing in the Government Center’s Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor Street, S.W., Atlanta. Maps and data can be viewed starting at 5 p.m., and the meeting starts at 6 p.m. Free parking will be available at Turner Field’s Orange Lot, with shuttles leaving at 5:20 and 5:40 p.m. Johnny Edwards

Five more Fulton schools make AYP

Five more Fulton County schools -- S.L. Lewis Elementary, Mimosa Elementary, Taylor Road Middle, Langston Hughes High and Westlake High -- made Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP) after spring and summer re-tests on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests and graduation test, boosting the district total to 75.

“Each year, the testing targets for Adequate Yearly Progress increase and become more challenging for all schools to meet,” Superintendent Robert Avossa said. “It’s exceptional that so many of our schools continue to meet these goals.” Nancy Badertscher

FBI awards Cherokee sheriff, investigators

Sheriff Roger Garrison and investigators with the Cherokee Safe Streets Task Force were honored at Tuesday’s Cherokee County Commission meeting at the Bluffs in Canton.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Roger Stanton presented awards for the agency’s participation in the Safe Streets Task Force, and for recent assistance with a public corruption investigation that took place in another jurisdiction. Andria Simmons

Avossa to speak to Riverwood Foundation

Fulton Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa is scheduled to speak today at the Riverwood Foundation Leadership luncheon.

The luncheon, which begins at 11:30 a.m. in Sandy Springs, is an annual event supported by civic, business, educational and international partners.

It will be at Riverwood International Charter School, 5900 Raider Drive. D. Aileen Dodd

Board likely to rule on director’s firing Nov. 10

The Forsyth County Civil Service Board has scheduled a meeting at 10 a.m. Nov. 10, where it is expected to render its decision in the case of fired Planning Director Jeff Chance, according to county risk manager Charity Clark. The Civil Service Board last December upheld Chance’s firing in 2010 after sexually and racially charged emails were found on his office computer. Jeffry Scott

Spring baseball registration kicks off

Online registration for Hopewell Youth Association’s spring 2012 baseball season is now open for Milton residents at the group’s Web site, www.hopewellbaseball.org. Registration for non-resident, veteran players begins Nov. 14, and open registration kicks off Dec. 12. The final day to register without late fees is Dec. 29. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Davis, Muhammad discuss cheating scandal

Atlanta school Superintendent Erroll Davis and school board chairwoman Brenda Muhammad discussed the district’s school cheating scandal with a national audience last week at the Council of the Great City Schools annual fall conference in Boston. The two leaders led a panel called “The Atlanta Cheating Scandal: What’s next — How APS dealt with its ‘perfect storm,’” Davis said on the district’s website. The leaders also discussed the accreditation issues, the new leadership and budget cuts. Information: www.atlanta.k12.ga.us. Jaime Sarrio

Basketball exhibition at CAU Saturday

Damien Wilkins will join other professional players for the Monster Slam Exhibition game Saturday at Clark Atlanta University. The game starts at 3 p.m., and will be preceded by a fan fest at 1 p.m. Proceeds will support Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta. Players will be on hand from teams including the Pistons; the Jazz; the Celtics and the Hawks. Information: www.damienwilkinsmonsterslam.eventbrite.com. Laurie Hoffman

Inman school to hold 5K run Saturday

Samuel M. Inman Middle School is hosting a 5K run on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at 774 Virginia Ave NE. This event is to help raise money for student participation in field trips and teacher grants. Race day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Registration information: www.inmanmiddleschool.org or www.running4fitness.com Sandra Marshall Murray

Ministry holds benefit for homeless shelter

Healing of a Broken Heart Ministry is hosting the Healing Hearts Extravaganza event, a blend of musical artistry and fashion on Sunday, from 3-5 p.m. at the Apex Museum, 135 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta. Proceeds will benefit the homeless shelter. Women from the shelter will have makeovers. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hbheart.org. Information: Jamila Harris at 678-571-9335 or e-mail hbheart@gmail.com. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

School bookkeeper pleads guilty to theft

Shirlene Benton, a former bookkeeper at Stephenson High School, pled guilty Thursday to theft by taking.

An internal audit showed she used taxpayer dollars to buy, among other things, a 50-inch plasma television and an iPod. She agreed to a 10-year sentence. She will serve six months in jail, spend the rest on probation and pay $12,000 in restitution. Benton is the second bookkeeper from a DeKalb school to get busted on theft charges in less than a month. In October, Chyrokessia Rucks was got 15 years probation for stealing $23,000 from Stone Mountain High School. Ernie Suggs

School board work session to be on Monday

The DeKalb Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday in its regular work session at the district’s administrative office at 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. Its agenda includes presentations on a cooperative agreement with Sheltering Arms and its early childhood education program, as well as a land agreement with the city of Chamblee. The meeting is open to the public. Rich McKay

Grant shaves costs of some incarcerations

DeKalb County has received a federal grant to reimburse some costs for incarcerating criminals who may not be U.S. citizens. The $246,800 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will help cover the 300 to 400 such inmates housed at the county jail yearly. About $37,000 of the money will go to Justice Benefits, Inc., a private firm that researches and analyzes the data needed to qualify for the grant. April Hunt

Grant to help with victim assistance

DeKalb County recently accepted a state grant to help with its victim and witness assistance programs in the Solicitor-General’s office.

The $82,475 from the Criminal Justice Coordination Council must be matched with $74,500 from the county. The money will cover services from advocates, such as notifying victims of court dates and accompanying them to court, for one year. April Hunt

Volunteers wanted for park cleanup Nov. 5

The public is invited to participate in the fall clean up community service project on Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at Kelley Cofer Park, located at 4259 N. Park Dr. in Tucker, sponsored by the DeKalb County Parks Department, Park Pride and the Friends of Kelley Cofer Park. Registration is required and all volunteers must sign a liability waiver. Information: Carol at 404-374-4642 or friendsofkelleycoferpark@gmail.com. Veronica Fields Johnson

Fundraiser for Burial Assistance

Brookhaven Chamblee Homeowners and Neighborhood Business Alliance’s seventh annual holiday charity fundraiser, benefiting Children’s Burial Assistance, will be Monday at the Microsoft Store in Lenox Mall from 6-8 p.m. Contributions can be mailed no later than Nov. 30 to BCHNBA, P.O. Box 190383, Atlanta 31119. Children’s Burial Assistance helps families pay burial expenses for their children. Information: E-mail genebhna09@gmail.com or call 404-424-5141 and visit www.childrensburial.org. Kenneth Musisi

SOUTHSIDE

Deputy County Manager leaves for Florida job

Rob Hernandez, Deputy County Manager over unincorporated south Fulton’s special services district, has resigned. He has taken a job as Deputy City Manager for Coral Springs, Fla., and his last day in Fulton will be today. Hernandez worked in Fulton for three years, having previously worked with County Manager Zachary Williams in Broward County, Fla., where Coral Springs is located. He was instrumental in the opening of the Wolf Creek Amphitheater, upgrading courthouse security and the reorganization of emergency services, among other things. Johnny Edwards

Commission holds off on jail contract

Still looking to cut jail costs, the Fulton commission held off on a $14.6 million contract renewal with Corizon, Inc., to provide physical and mental health services for inmates. Commissioners had concerns about the high price, as well as inconsistent information on the level of minority and female contractor participation.

Several board members said some of the services could be turned over to Grady Memorial Hospital, improving its bottom line during difficult financial times. The panel voted unanimously to look for an alternative plan. Johnny Edwards

2,000 golf carts overdue for decal renewal

Approximately 2,000 golf carts in Peachtree City still need their registration decals renewed.

The deadline for buying white stickers to replace the yellow ones was Nov. 1. Police officers are issuing warnings to procrastinators, but City Hall is urging everyone to get their carts in compliance promptly.

The fine for improperly registered carts is $90 plus the $12 decal fee. Residents can still renew online at www.peachtree-city.org/decal, but those who live outside the city limits must register in person at City Hall and pay an additional annual fee. Jill Howard Church

Clayton has new community development chief

A former DeKalb County planning officer is the new community development director for Clayton County. Patrick Ejike, who has 20 years of management and planning experience, got the job this week after a 3-2 vote by county commissioners. Ejike is chief operating officer for Aku-Bata Group LLC in Lithonia. He worked in DeKalb government from 1988 to 1990. Chairman Eldrin Bell and commissioner Michael Edmondson voted against hiring Ejike who is replacing Eric Lacefield. Lacefield recently told county officials he was leaving after 16 months in the job. Tammy Joyner

EMC donates unclaimed cash to schools

Fourteen Fulton County schools will benefit from a $42,000 donation presented to the school system Thursday by Sawnee EMC. The donation comes from Sawnee customers who have elected not to receive reimbursement checks for some of their services. The abandoned funds are then donated to nonprofit causes and other community-focused programs, such as schools. Each of the 14 schools selected in Fulton County will receive $3,000. Nancy Badertscher

Porsche Festival pays tribute to milestones

The Mille 2011 Porsche Festival, the world’s largest Porsche event will be Saturday 5 at 9 a.m. at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton. The event pays tribute to with several Porsche milestones, including the 60th anniversary of Porsche car sales in North America. The predominant activity of the event is an attempt at a Guinness world record for Porsche: the largest single marque parade ever on a public road. Information: E-mail porschemille@gmail.com and mitch@themille.com or call 770-846-0440 and visit www.themille.com. Kenneth Musisi

College Park holds community tailgate party

College Park is staging a community tailgate party Saturday in the College Park Municipal Parking Lot at the intersection of Main Street and College Street. The lot opens at 1 p.m. and. activities and music begin at 3 p.m. Dress up your vehicle or tent to support your favorite high school, college or pro team. Bring your food, decorate your vehicle or tent and let the game begin. No alcoholic beverages are allowed. Enjoy the ESPN game of the week on the “big screen”. Information contact: 404-305-2052. John Thompson for the AJC