County by county news for Friday

The spree started Oct. 11 and ended Oct. 15, when police were called to the Walmart at 1785 Cobb Pkwy. in response to a shoplifting incident involving two men in a green Volkswagen Jetta.

Stiltz was arrested that day and Higgins was arrested Oct. 21 while inside a Target store on Cobb Parkway, both on multiple shoplifting and theft by deception charges. Staff

City schools attorney get raise

Marietta City Schools attorney Clem Doyle will receive a $3,000 increase in his $9,500 monthly retainer to represent the system. The district’s board of education this week approved the increase, the first in eight years. Doyle’s hourly rate will increase from $160 to $180 per hour. Doyle also represents Cobb County and Clayton County Schools.

Cobb County’s system, which is more than 10 times larger than Marietta’s, pays $77,000 monthly. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Domestic violence vigil today

A vigil to remember victims of domestic violence will be noon Friday in Glover Park on the Marietta Square. The vigil is sponsored by the YWCA of Northwest Georgia, the Cobb County Circuit District Attorney’s office and the Cobb Solicitor General’s office. The Cobb YWCA runs the only domestic violence shelter in the county.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Acworth plans community meetings

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood and members of the Board of Aldermen will update residents about city projects and plans at a community meeting. The annual fall meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the new Acworth Police Department, 4440 Acworth Industrical Ave.

Information: www.cityofacworth.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Marietta church hosts college fair

More than 60 colleges and universities will be at a college fair noon to 3 p.m. Saturday Turner Chapel AME Church is located at 492 North Marietta Parkway, Marietta.

Organizers will also have information about the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, Kaplan Test Prep and the Georgia Student Finance Commission. There will also be workshops about how to finance college.

The fair is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. . Eric Stirgus

Deadline today for Cobb Connections

Friday noon is the deadline to register for the free Cobb Connections business networking event from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Mansour Center, 995 Roswell St. NE, Suite 100, Marietta.

Those attending may give 30-second elevator speeches and then participate in roundtable discussions to give referrals and discuss business challenges.

This networking event meets on the second and fourth Mondays at the same time and place.

Reservations: cobbchamber.org/events/Cobb-Connections-4879/details.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Methodists review offers for Simpsonwood property

The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church has called a special session 10 a.m, Saturday at the Classic Center, Athens to review a offers for the Simpsonwood property. Gwinnett County is reported to have made a “fair-market” offer for the entire 226-acres to keep the property in its natural state as a passive park. Supporters believe the county’s offer is consistent with the wishes of the community, offers the church the opportunity to retire its debt and is consistent with the intent of Miss Ludie Simpson and The North Georgia Conference. Information: www.ngumc.org/AC2014 or www.upcca.org. Karen Huppertz

Crematory vote brings out hundreds

About 200 Peachtree Corners residents turned out Tuesday to voice concerns about a Crowell Brothers Funeral Home request to build and operate a crematory on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Community representatives expressed concern that there was only a 120-foot buffer between it and the closest residence. The council voted unanimously to deny the request. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Ports leader to address business leaders

The Gwinnett Chamber will host Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4 at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. As head of the GPA, Foltz oversees all port activity involving the deepwater ports of Brunswick and Savannah, as well as inland terminal operations in Bainbridge and Columbus. Information: www.gwinnettchamber.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lawrenceville sponsors recycling day

Lawrenceville will hold a citywide recycling event 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 20 S. Clayton Street in downtown, also known as the old Police Station parking lot. Limit of five boxes for paper shredding. Electronic devices: cell phones, computers, keyboards, etc., are free. $10 for TVs. Projection TVs and Console TVs not accepted. $5.00 per tire. The city will accept metal, and old appliances. Volunteers will help unload if necessary. Donations will be accepted for food pantries. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett schools host college fair

Gwinnett County school officials are hosting a college fair 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the school system’s headquarters, 437 Old Peachtree Road NW, Suwanee for students with disabilities.

College admissions and disability representatives from area colleges and universities will provide students and their families with information about their institutions and how the school can meet students’ special needs. Eric Stirgus

Braselton holiday parade seeks entries

The traditional holiday parade in downtown Braselton seeks entries for its Nov.15 event. This year’s theme, “A Victorian Christmas” will feature grand marshals Scrooge and Tiny Tim. Entries sought from churches, businesses, schools, clubs or organizations.

Entry forms and Information: www.downtownbraselton.com or 706-684-0369. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Forsyth County expands early voting hours

Forsyth County’s elections board voted to extend early voting hours on Saturday and from Monday through Oct. 31 to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. .

The new hours will apply as voting expands to five locations effective Saturday. They are: the Forsyth County Administration Building, The Hampton Park library branch, the Midway and Sharon Springs park community buildings, and Cumming City Hall.

Information: forsythco.com Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Northside lawmakers to discuss session

State Sen. John Albers and State Rep. Harry Geisinger, both Roswell Republicans, will hold a town hall meeting this weekend to talk about the upcoming 2015 state legislative session. It’s set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the scout hut building at Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Corn maze unaffected by land purchase

Cherokee County’s Cagle family says the popular Cagle’s Dairy Farm corn maze will continue, despite a land purchase announced this week. The Holly Springs City Council signed off on a deal to buy almost 60 acres east of Stringer Road from Ben and Vicki Cagle for $3.5 million for a future park. The Cagles say their land on the west side of Stringer containing the maze and the family farm’s other agri-tourism attractions is not part of the deal.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Family violence group plans vigil

The Cherokee Family Violence Center will stage its annual candlelight vigil to remember/honor victims of domestic violence at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Park at City Center in downtown Woodstock. Abuse survivors and State Rep. Mandi Ballinger will speak. The group says that, in the past year, authorities have responded to more than 4,000 911 domestic violance calls in Cherokee County, with two of them proving fatal.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Johns Creek hosts vets memorial dedication

The Johns Creek Veterans Association will dedicate the Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk at 1 p.m. Nov. 7 at Newtown Park.

The memorial will feature black marble monuments for each conflict dating to World War I, Purple Heart recipients, MIA-POWs and Women in Service. The association is still accepting donations for the memorial. For more information, visit johnscreekga.gov/community/parkplace/veterans.aspx David Wickert

Roswell plans recycling events

The city of Roswell will celebrate America Recycles Day, Nov. 15, with several events and initiatives throughout the month. The recycling center will be collecting tools for the Atlanta Community Tool Bank Nov. 1 through Nov. 23. The bank supplies other charities with tools for community improvement projects. The recycling center also begins collecting two new materials effective Nov. 1 — Brita and oral care products and packaging. Information: roswellgov.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

City launches 311 phone service

The City of Atlanta has launched a new phone line to assist customers with services and requests.

Resident and business work orders can be tracked in real time through ATL311. Customer service representatives are available for non-emergency issues by calling 311 from a home phone or 404-546-0311. Services can also be submitted through atl311.com.

Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded the city a $3.3 million grant to fund the service. Its cloud-based system can be shared with other cities. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Volunteer cleanup, planting needed

The Nature Conservancy of Georgia teams up with Trees Atlanta and Davidson-Arabian Mountain Nature Preserve for volunteer cleanup and planting events in DeKalb and Fulton 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Volunteers will mulch trails and clean up a section of the South River shoreline at Arabian Mountain in Lithonia; plant trees and shrubs near a creek at Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur; and plant a community forest with fruit and nut trees on English Avenue in Atlanta.

The event is sponsored by CSX Transportation.

Information: www.nature.org/connectGA.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Sunday genealogy events at Breman

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia will host an “Ask the Experts” panel 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring St. NW.

Reservations are required with admission included in the museum’s fee.

Also, from noon to 1 p.m., Dave Slater and Robert Weinberg will be available to assist members and guests who want to use the Breman’s genealogy library materials, get help with genealogy research or ask genealogical questions.

To take part send email to slaterd@bellsouth.net or gadfly1969@bellsouth.net.

Information: jgsg.org, thebreman.org/Visit/Admission-Hours, 678-222-3700. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

DEKALB

Avondale’s Carl’s Corner to get makeover

Work began this week to clean, re-fortify and, in parts, rebuild Avondale Estates’ Carl’s Corner, the brick-and-stucco arch that was an early-day entry monument to the city’s west side.

Among other upgrades, probably its first renovation since getting built in 1926, the arch will receive new mortar to seal bricks that are separating, four new light fixtures and flashing on top to keep rain from permeating the structure.

The total cost is $15,000 and it should be finished next month. Bill Banks for the AJC

Forum looks at Clarkston politics

The PBS documentary spotlighting Clarkston’s diversity and changing political landscape, “America by the Numbers: Politics of the New South,” will be screened during an event 5-8 p.m. Sunday at Clarkston First Baptist Church Life Center, 4007 Church St.

Journalist Maria Hinojosa, who hosts the “America by the Numbers” series, will moderate a panel discussion afterwards.

Panelists include Steve Bradshaw, public policy adjunct professor at Georgia State University; Omar Shekey, president of the Somali American Community Center; Helen Ho, founder of the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center; and Ted Terry, Clarkston mayor.

Information: 404-292-5686, ext. 248. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Volunteers to cleanup South DeKalb roads

Volunteers for South DeKalb Improvement Association’s monthly community cleanup will meet 9 a.m. Saturday, 2460 Wesley Chapel Road, in Decatur.

Trash pick-ups will take place along Covington Highway, Flat Shoals Parkway, Glenwood Road, Snapfinger Woods Drive, South Deshon Road, South Hairston Road and Wesley Chapel Road.

Volunteer cleanups are usually held on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Information: SDIAinc@gmail.com. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Dads, kids come together for challenges

Matt Boettcher was looking for a way to tighten the bond with his two sons and give mom a break.

So the small business owner and “chief experience officer” founded Dads’ Bucket List as a way for him and other fathers to spend more time with their kids as well connect with other dads.

Since it was founded in 2012, the group has held activities such as skiing, spelunking and doing a polar plunge.

But the group wanted to get more families involved. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dads’ Bucket List will sponsor the Checklist Challenge, a day of reality show-inspired challenges for fathers and their children.

The event will be held at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody. The course is designed for dads and their kids, ages 4 to 14.

Family teams will make their way through 15 challenge stations that are similar to the ones shown on “Survivor” and the “Amazing Race.”

The cost is $15 in advance and $20 on site.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to charity.

Information and registration: www.dadsbucketlist.com. Shelia M. Poole

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette County High updating stadium

Fayette County High School’s stadium will soon be getting a new stadium press box, kitchen and restrooms. The Board of Education voted 4-1 Monday to approve $871,460 to replace current structures that were built in the 1970s. Board member Barry Marchman objected to the cost, but Facilities Director Mike Satterfield explained that plumbing and cooking facilities cost more per square foot than basic classrooms. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

McDonough church hosts job fair today

McDonough’s job fair is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, at McDonough Presbyterian Church, 427 McGarity Road. Nearly 40 businesses are expected to attend.

The Atlanta Regional Commission’s Mobile Career Resource Center will be on hand to assist with such activities as online job searches, resume and cover letter development, online tutorials, and individual assessments and exploration of training eligibility and options.

Information: 770-957-3915 or bcopeland@mcdonough-ga.gov. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Planning meeting for Christmas charity

Connecting Henry is having an organizational meeting 9:30-11 a.m. Oct. 29 at McDonough’s Heritage Park for those interested in participating in the Community Cares Christmas Shop.

The shop will be open Dec. 11-12. Selected families are given the opportunity to come in on designated days to shop for their children. Information: www.connectinghenry.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Bus safety poster winners announced

As part of School Bus Safety Week, the Henry County School System announced its annual poster contest winners, who now have the chance to move on to the state competition. From more than 100 entrants in three divisions, the following winners were selected: Morgan Minson, second-grader at Fairview Elementary; Eliza Erickson, fourth-grader at Oakland Elementary; and Sabha Guyton, seventh-grader at Austin Road Middle. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Library opening late Friday for training

The Peachtree City Library will be closed Friday morning due to staff training. It will reopen at noon for regular business until 6 p.m.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fulton seeking input on school boundaries

Fulton County Schools will hold a meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Banneker High School, 6015 Feldwood Road, College Park to review attendance boundaries in south Fulton.

They are: Conley Hills, Hapeville, Hamilton E. Holmes, Harriet Tubman, Mount Olive, Oak Knoll and Parklane elementary schools; Bear Creek, Camp Creek, McNair, Renaissance, Sandtown, Paul D. West and Woodland middle schools; and Banneker, Creekside, Langston Hughes and Westlake high schools. Jaime Sarrio