County by county news for Friday

The project will start with Smyrna’s Cooper Lake Road Bridge and continue west 11 miles one bridge at a time to the Powder Springs Creek bridge.

Tentative completion is late April. There will be no access across bridges under construction.

The trail will be open during Cobb County Schools spring break. Information: www.cobbcounty.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Schools head to hold public meeting

Marietta City Schools Superintendent Emily Lembeck will speak 9:30 a.m. Saturday at A.L. Burruss Elementary School, 325 Manning Road. The meeting is open to parents and residents in the community. Lembeck plans to discuss the school system’s progress and plans. Information: www.marietta-city.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Young to speak at King observance at KSU

Civil rights activist, former Atlanta mayor and onetime diplomat Andrew Young will give the keynote address at Kennesaw State University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration, 6 p.m. Sunday at the Bailey Performance Center, Campus Loop Road on the KSU campus.

The event is free but tickets are required to attend.

Information: ticketing.kennesaw.edu  Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Acworth to offer inside look at police work

Acworth residents can sign up for a citizens’ police academy, a 12-week program that is a modified version of the course required to be a police officer.

The free class will meet 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays starting March 4 at the Acworth Police Department, 4400 Acworth Industrial Drive.

Applicants must be 21 or older.

Information: www:acworth.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Councilman named to national post

Marietta councilman Philip Goldstein has been named vice chair of a National League of Cities steering committee on telecommunications and information systems. Goldstein will work developing federal policy positions with the resource and advocacy group that represents more than 19,000 cities. The councilman was reelected in November to his tenth term on council. Information: www.mariettaga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

South Cobb authority meets today

The South Cobb Redevelopment Authority will hold its monthly meeting at 9 a.m. today at the South Cobb Government Center, 4700 Austell Road, Austell.

The authority has the power to issue low-interest bonds to assist private land development in South Cobb, lowering the cost of redevelopment projects, and the ability to buy, sell, consolidate or leverage land resources to spur redevelopment activity.

Information: Cobb Economic Development Coordinator Sabrina Young, 770-528-1009. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

1 dead, 1 injured in multi-automobile wreck

One person was killed and another was injured in a multi-car wreck near the intersection of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Singleton Road Thursday morning.

The wreck happened on Singleton Road about 7:45 a.m. and involved six cars, according to Gwinnett County police and the AM 750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB Traffic Center. Michelle E. Shaw

Suwanee looking for Art on a Limb artists

Suwanee is aseeking artists for the 2014 Art on a Limb program to commemorate the 10th year of the city’s finders-keepers, art-in-nature program.

Since 2005 Suwanee has hidden two pieces of original artwork daily throughout the month of May along the Suwanee Creek Greenway and at other parks to celebrate the arts and natural beauty of the area.

Information: www.suwanee.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn breaks ground on street realignment

Citizens are invited to a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate Lilburn’s Main Street Realignment at Lawrenceville Highway at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 at the grassy lot just south of S.M.I.L.E., 336 Main St.

Paved parking is available in the adjacent lot. RSVP to nperry@cityoflilburn.com, 770-638-2333. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Arts Alliance to host business owner’s talk

The Lilburn Arts Alliance will host a discussion by local furniture maker Alan Harp at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Lilburn City Hall, 76 Main St.

The talk is free and open to the public.

Harp is the owner of Alan Harp Design. He will speak on how to use Facebook to attract new business clients.

The Lilburn Arts Alliance is comprised of members interested in enhancing the quality of life through its art objectives.

Information: www.lilburnartsalliance.org Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Heritage Center hosts Build It Green event

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will host a Build It Green event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at 2020 Clean Water Dr., Buford. Guests will build a model building with recycled materials and learn about the relationship between architecture and ecosystems.

Admission: $5, 13 and up; $3, to 12 and free for children 2 and under and GEHC members.

Information: gwinnettehc.org or 770-904-3500. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners changes garbage day

For the month of January, garbage pick-up in Peachtree Corners will continue to be on Thursday and Friday.

Beginning Feb. 3, garbage pick-up will be on Monday only.

Information: cityofpeachtreecornersga.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Recount shows no change in election results

The Georgia Secretary of State says a recount in the Ga. House District 22 race shows unchanged results.

Jeff Duncan had requested the recount after finishing just two votes behind second place finisher Meagan Biello in the Jan.7 special election.

Moore and Biello will now square off in a Feb. 4 runoff. The district covers parts of Cherokee, Forsyth and Fulton counties. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth sheriff honors employees

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office held its first awards banquet last week at Lanier Technical College.

Several officers received deputy of the year awards.

Frank Karic won in the criminal investigations division, Brandon Wiley won in the uniform patrol division, and Matthew Kirk won in the school resource and operations divisions.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Hire Heroes USA awarded grant

Alpharetta-based nonprofit Hire Heroes USA is the recipient of a three-year, $550,000 grant from the Altria Group to fund its veteran career transition programs and services.

The grant will help Hire Heroes USA assist over 2,700 unemployed veterans in finding jobs.

Information: www.hireheroesusa.org  Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Forsyth spelling winners set to advance

The top three finishers at the Forsyth County Spelling Bee Saturday at South Forsyth High School will now advance to the District Two Spelling Bee March 1 at Mabry Middle School in Marietta.

Saturday’s winner was Anish Bikmal, a seventh grader at Piney Grove Middle School.

Caya Bennett of Otwell Middle was first runner-up, and Haley Bobersky of Chestatee Elementary was second. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Former UGA star to speak to men’s group

Former University of Georgia football star Tim Worley will speak at a meeting of At the Core, 6:30 a.m. today at Wild Wing Cafe, 5530 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta.

At the Core is a group that meets weekly to allow men to connect with each other and focus on topics that are relevant to men in their daily lives. The event is free but registration is required.

Information: www.atthecore.org  Kent A. Miles for the AJC

MLK breakfast event set in Cherokee

Cherokee County’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast is 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the Northside Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton.

The UNITY Award will be given to a Cherokee resident who’s fostered racial/cultural betterment.

Information: www.allentempleame.org. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Court upholds federal death sentence

The federal appeals court in Atlanta on Wednesday upheld the death sentence imposed against a man who raped and killed a nurse practitioner after she returned to her North Georgia home from a shopping trip with her fiance.

The court rejected claims raised by William Emmett LeCroy Jr., who sits on death row for the 2001 fatal carjacking of 30-year-old Joann Tiesler. LeCroy’s death sentence was the second capital sentence obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta since Congress reinstated the death penalty for federal crimes in 1988. Bill Rankin

Atlanta selected for stewardship network

The National Park Service has selected Atlanta for Groundwork USA, a national network of nonprofit environmental businesses that work to turn blighted urban areas into community recreation assets.

The newly designated Groundwork Trust is eligible for up to $180,000 over four years as well as technical assistance to clean up natural areas, improve Chattahoochee River access, restore blighted properties and engage residents in volunteer and service activities.

Information: www.groundworkusa.org  Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Humane Society selects new leader

Cal Morgan is the new president of the Atlanta Humane Society, effective Feb. 3.

Meet him at an open house 2 p.m. Feb. 5 at 981 Howell Mill Road. Information: atlantahumane.org  Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Aero Club anniversary luncheon Thursday

The Atanta Aero Club celebrates 30 years with a luncheon 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Capitol City Club, 7 Portman Blvd. Gen. Jim Butterworth, the adjutant general of Georgia will speak.

The AAC was founded by Lockheed executives and local businesses to serve the aviation community and to provide a forum local aviation matters.

Admission: $40, $50. Registration: atlantaaeroclub.org   Arlinda Smith Broady

DEKALB

King remembered with Mass, other activities

The Archdiocesan Office for Black Catholic Ministry hosts a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will celebrate Mass 1 p.m. Saturday at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 48 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Atlanta.

A Youth Celebration will be 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School, 2560 Tilson Road, Decatur. Nancy Badertscher

Decatur High principal promoted

Decatur High principal Lauri McKain has been promoted to City Schools Decatur’s Director of Secondary Education, part of Superintendent Phyllis Edwards’ reorganizing of the central office. In August Edwards hired longtime Oakhurst Elementary principal Mary Mack as Director of Elementary Education.

McKain started at Decatur High as a media specialist in 1999 and became principal in 2006. The school had run through four principals in five years. She’ll remain at Decatur High until the end of this year or until a replacement’s hired. Bill Banks for the AJC

Gym getting converted to classrooms

Work has commenced on the old Renfroe Middle School gym, which is getting repurposed into seven classrooms to be completed by late March, although the classrooms probably won’t be put into use until August. Total cost is $685,000 paid for by SPLOST.

The next major construction project is renovating Westchester Elementary beginning in May, including major upgrades to the kitchen and media center. Bill Banks for the AJC

County to host annual MLK celebration

DeKalb County will present its annual MLK Celebration program, “Celebrating Life, Freedom and Diversity,” 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur.

Isaac Newton Farris Jr., King Center Senior Fellow to deliver keynote address. The 2014 tribute marks the 30th consecutive year DeKalb will host the employee-planned event honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King.

The event is free and open to the public. Arlinda Smith Broady

Animal shelter posts monthly gain

DeKalb County reduced the euthanasia rate at its county shelter to 13 percent in December, the lowest point ever for the facility.

The gains are part of an overhaul of the county’s animal services department, which includes hiring a private welfare group to run the shelter where more than 60 percent of animals taken annually fail to make it out alive.

LifeLine Animal Project has steadily reduced that high kill rate since taking over in July.

The shelter last reported a euthanasia rate of 23 percent in September. April Hunt

Get tickets for State of County address

Tickets are on sale for the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce’s annual state of county business event on Thursday.

The lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Emory Conference Center on Clifton Road. Tickets are $40.

The Fulton County Office of Workforce Development is hosting recruiting sessions 10 a.m. today at the Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta and 10 a.m. Tuesday at the South Fulton Career Center, 5710 Stonewall Tell Road, Suite 160, College Park for tax preparer openings with Taxamize Accounting.

Applicants must pre-register by 9:45 a.m. for the information sessions. Information: www.fultoncountyga.gov, or 404-613-6381. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Information/tickets: 404-378-8000 or www.dekalbchamber.org. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Leadership change at Henry clinic

Hands of Hope Clinic executive director Ruth Rucker is retiring this month.

Mollie Cole has been named as her successor to lead the clinic, which serves uninsured and underinsured Henry County residents.

Rucker helped establish the clinic in 2004, and during her tenure helped Hands of Hope evolve from a small space at McDonough Presbyterian Church serving a few hundred patients to a location on the campus of Piedmont Henry Hospital, 1010 Hospital Drive, Building B, Stockbridge.

Information: www.handsofhopeclinic.org or 770.507.1344. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Renovations planned for McIntosh High

The Fayette County Board of Education has approved plans for a renovation project at McIntosh High School. Bids will be solicited for building an enclosed exterior walkway that will connect the second-floor wings and alleviate congestion during class changes.

Funding will come from ESPLOST revenue. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette board approves traffic study

Fayette County is moving ahead with a feasibility study for putting a roundabout at the intersection of Ga. Hwy. 92 and Antioch Road.

The Board of Commissioners is supporting the Georgia Department of Transportation study provided that public comment and stakeholder input would precede construction plans. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Proposed school calendar up for review

The Henry County Board of Education has released its proposed 2014-15 student calendar for a 30-day public review and comment period.

The calendar, in its current form or with changes, is expected to be approved at next month’s regular board meeting. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Henry offers damage assessment class

Henry County Emergency Management Agency, along with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, will be hosting a free Damage Assessment Training session at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Henry County Emergency Operations Center, 526 Industrial Blvd. in McDonough.

Contact EMA Officer Shelita Broomfield at sbroomfield@co.henry.ga.us if interested in attending the free training. Monroe Roark for the AJC