County by county news for Friday

A state law passed last year allowed buses to capture video recordings of violators, and Cobb outfitted about 100 of its buses with the cameras, but the law did not give solicitors the authority to go after the violators and issue tickets.

In 2009, a 5-year-old Cobb girl was killed by a driver who ran past a stopped bus. Janel Davis

Marietta man killed in 3-car wreck

A Marietta man was killed Wednesday when his car crossed a median and was struck by two oncoming vehicles. Wade Wallace, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene after the wreck on North Marietta Parkway around 7:30 p.m., Marietta Police Officer Michael Gardner said. The drivers of the other two vehicles also were injured. Joel Provano

Teacher selected to help write test

Educator Jeffrey Horner of Austell has been selected to write test questions for a national standardized exam for kids enrolling in independent schools. Horner will help compile test questions for the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), which measures the skills of students in grades 6-12 applying to private schools.

Horner is the history department chair at Whitefield Academy in Mableton. He will be traveling to Sarasota, Fla., to work on the project. D. Aileen Dodd

Tritt students to host community cleanup

Tritt Elementary School will host a community clean up day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 24 at the school. Volunteers are sought for the event, which will include various school beautification projects. Donations of goods including trash bags, plants, flowers, outdoor paint, and pine straw or mulch are also sought. Tritt Elementary School is at 4435 Post Oak Tritt Road, Marietta. For information: www.cobbk12.org/tritt. Laurie Hoffman

Students get help filing for financial aid

College representatives will be available Tuesday in Powder Springs to help applicants fill out the federal application for college aid.Financial aid assistants from Georgia Perimeter College will be at the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta St., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Those attending should bring their laptop computers and 2011 tax information to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Information: 770-439-3600. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Emory-Adventist hold diabetes classes

Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna announces that the Managing Diabetes With Insulin class is at 6:30 p.m. on the last Monday of every month in the hospital cafeteria. In addition to the monthly Diabetes Education Classes, the hospital has added an adjunct class for people who take insulin. The review class is recommended for people who are knowledgeable about diabetes, but want more information about insulin. Registration and information: Education Department at 770-437-6913. Kenneth Musisi

GWINNETT

CVB report: Tourism brought $905 million

Tourism generated more than $905 million in direct spending in Gwinnett County in 2010, according to a new report.

The report, released by the Convention and Visitors Bureau Thursday, also found tourism represented about 4.2 percent of Gwinnett’s economy, generated 10,620 jobs and created $26.5 million in local tax revenues.

The report is based on economic impact figures prepared by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, with additional analysis by University of Tennessee economist Steve Morse. David Wickert

Snellville’s Davis begins work

Jon Davis has begun as director of Snellville’s four-member department of planning and development, bringing a wealth of experience to one of Gwinnett’s largest cities. He’s using his 35 years of planning and design experience to enhance the city’s new Towne Centre at Snellville, upgrade its development ordinances and work with a citizen’s committee to develop the master plan for Briscoe Park’s Community Garden at Snellville.

A Duluth resident, Davis resume includes project management for Duluth’s Town Green and the U.S. 78 corridor master plan for the Evermore Community Improvement District. He also helped develop some 8,000 acres in Columbia, S.C. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Duluth advisory panel looks for members

Duluth is looking for residents to participate in planning development in downtown Duluth.

Members are appointed for a four-year term. The Downtown Development Authority meets the third Tuesday of every month at Duluth City Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Information: Teresa Lynn at tlynn@duluthga.net or 770-497-5301. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

GMC to hold seminar on sports medicine

Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville will host a symposium on high school sports medicine on March 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for students interested in sports medicine careers.

Physical trainers, physical therapists, and physicians will discuss taping, heat illness, first aid, personal protective equipment and splinting.

Advanced topics will include rehabilitation skills, injury recognition, injury prevention and anatomy.

The event will be held at the GMC Resource Center, 665 Duluth Highway.

It costs $10 to attend. Call 678-312-5000 to register. Misty Williams

Lilburn Farmers’ Market seeks vendors

The Lilburn Farmers’ Market is seeking growers or producers of locally grown products.

Registration is open and the policy handbook and application can be found at www.lilburnfarmersmarket.org. Regular spaces are $10 and those with electricity are $15.

This is the third year for this market that is located in downtown Lilburn each Friday night in June, July and August from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Information: call 678-667-2592 or e-mail lilburnfarmersmarket@hotmail.com. Kenneth Musisi

NORTHSIDE

Hausmann elected chairperson of panel

North Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann has been elected chairperson of the Atlanta-Fulton County Water Resources Commission. Her term will be for one year.

Hausmann served as vice chair last year. The seven-member commission oversees management of the Atlanta-Fulton County Water Treatment Facility, owned by the city and the county. The facility, on Spruill Road in Johns Creek, provides drinking water to Atlanta and north Fulton through two connected sets of pumps and piping. Johnny Edwards

Alpharetta youth baseball starts Saturday

Alpharetta’s Youth Baseball Association celebrates its inaugural season Saturday as a merged partnership of Wills Park and Webb Bridge programs. Ceremonies will take place at 9:45 a.m. at Wills Park on 1755 Old Milton Parkway as Mayor David Belle Isle throws the first pitch on Field 4.

Games begin at 11 a.m. at both parks. The league offers recreational programs for ages 4-18 and travel teams for those 9-14. Patrick Fox

Muslim women’s health fair Saturday

The Georgia Chapter of Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association will hold a health fair at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the meeting room at Dr. Robert E. Fulton Regional Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Alpharetta. The health fair provides health care and wellness related exhibitions to educate the women on various topics pertaining to their health and well being. Kenneth Musisi

Students to show off talents at expo

Fulton County Schools will sponsor a free expo showcasing the talents of students who participate in the performing arts.

The Fulton Arts & Music Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 24 at Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs.

The event will feature workshops, student performances, exhibitions and more. Information: www.fultonschools.org D. Aileen Dodd

Mayor Bodker to read to students

In recognition of the National Educators Association Read Across America celebration, Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker will read at all eight public elementary schools in the city Friday.

“Reading with children is not only one of the most important things we can do to support education, but also one of my favorite activities as mayor,” Bodker said.

Read Across America was started in 1998 by the National Education Association. It falls every year on the same day, recognizing the birthdate of America’s celebrated children’s author, Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.ka., Dr. Seuss. Patrick Fox

Kids buddy up with special needs students

Students at Fulton County’s Alpharetta Elementary School are going to extraordinary lengths to be “buddies” with special needs students. They buddy up at lunch, in the classroom, at recess and in physical education. In the gym, students volunteer to work with their special friends and earn a “PE Buddy of the Month” T-shirt. Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Christian ministry starts endowment

The Buckhead Christian Ministry will mark its 25th Anniversary by establishing an endowment fund. The Stuart and Eulene Murray Foundation lead gift of $1 million over four years is the largest single donation in BCM’s history.

In appreciation, BCM will name the Piedmont Road location The Stuart and Eulene Murray Building. The ceremony will be 4:30 to 6 p.m. March 20 at 2847 Piedmont Road, N.E., Atlanta. Distributions from the endowment will support BCM’s mission to help poor and low-income people of all faiths. Kenneth Musisi

Zoo Atlanta sets attendance record

Zoo Atlanta’s recent Walmart Sunday Funday $5 admission promotion resulted in a record-breaking turnout. On Feb. 26, 20,288 guests visited the zoo, the highest number since it opened in 1889. The figure also broke the previous one-day record of 12,814 set during spring break in 2009. Melissa Ruggieri

Panel approves $22,000 in claims

The public safety and legal administration committee of Atlanta’s City Council voted Tuesday to approve nearly $22,000 in claims against the city for automobile accidents and injuries from a recessed manhole cover and an uncovered water meter cover. Eight of the 11 settlements involved automobile accidents. The payouts will have to be approved by the full City Council in order to become final. Jeremiah McWilliams

Teachers invited to apply for fellowship

American history and civics teachers across the country are invited to apply for a summer fellowship focused on the U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights Institute is partnering with the Foundation for Economic Education to host the Founders Fellowship: Civil Liberty, Commerce and the Constitution. Participating teachers will convene in Washington D.C. from July 16 to 20. The application deadline is March 26. More info and application: www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/Founders-Fellowship-2012. Nancy Badertscher

DEKALB

CEO, commission spar over broadcasts

What will broadcast on DeKalb County Television, the government access programs played on cable, is the latest source of friction between the county’s chief executive and commission.

Commissioner Lee May has introduced a resolution calling for “uniformity” on the use of DCTV. May had earlier complained that the CEO did not approve taping commission budget hearings while the CEO’s “state of the county” address airs 60 times a week.

The administration countered that the daylong meetings would have required 13 hours of recording time and another 56 hours to ready the footage for airing, overwhelming the DCTV staff of four.

The resolution is expected to be discussed in commission committee in March. April Hunt

Police say man’s death is suspicious

Police are investigating the death of a man found dead Wednesday night in a home in south DeKalb County.

Officers performing a “welfare check” at the home on Shell Bark Road, in a neighborhood off Miller Road, found the 50-year-old man dead inside the house just after 8 p.m., according to DeKalb police Lt. Jerry A. Lewis.

Police have not released the man’s name or disclosed how he died, but Lewis said the death is “suspicious in nature.”

He said investigators have no suspects in the case. Mike Morris

Decatur’s annual Touch-a-Truck is Saturday

Decatur’s annual Touch-a-Truck is Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Callaway Building parking lot, 120 West Trinity Place. Children of all ages have an opportunity to touch, explore and see their favorite dump trucks, fire trucks, tractors, police cars, motorcycles and many other types of vehicles. New for this year, kids can ride their bicycle to the event and have it registered by Decatur police. Registration is crucial in recovering lost or stolen bikes. For more information contact Cheryl Burnette at 678-553-6541 or cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com Bill Banks for the AJC

Clarkston checks on stormwater runoff

Clarkston is continuing its effort to eliminate stormwater runoff from city businesses and homes by checking pipes that discharge flow during the dry weather. Crews are testing to determine if the flows contain pollution and will work to identify the source. The city will then work with property owners in correcting the problem.

Information: City Manager Keith Barker at 404-296-6489 or kbarker@cityofclarkston. com. April Hunt

Decatur approves subdivision

Decatur’s Commission approved a subdivision of two single-family homes at 120 West Hill Street in Oakhurst, formerly a four-unit apartment vacant since Feb. 1. Thrive Homes, LLC will subdivide the property into two lots, each 67 feet wide and 420 feet deep.

Planning Director Amanda Thompson said Decatur currently has three other subdivisions under development, the largest being Midway Road’s Clarke Hill Subdivision with 26 homes.

The other two are Park Overlook Subdivision (10 homes) and Lenore Street Subdivision (nine homes). Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

College Park court offers amnesty period

An estimated 1,200 delinquent citation in the College Park court system may be eligible for fee waivers during a 60-day amnesty period. The program will be April 1 through May 31. Individuals who received citations and have failed to appear in court qualify for the program. The program applies to any and all outstanding tickets regardless of date. Offenders will be required to pay the ticket in full to have the $134 arrest warrant fees waived and the failure to appear charges dismissed. Felony infractions do not qualify for the amnesty program. John Thompson for the AJC

Fulton courts ask for public input

The Fulton County Court Improvement Task Force on Thursday launched a month-long survey about the county’s court system, asking for opinions as to what is working and what improvements can be made.

Answers to the survey will help the task force -- comprised of judges, lawyers, politicians and community leaders -- have a better understanding of the public’s attitudes about the court system, task force chair Bill Barwick said. The survey can be found online (www.surveymonkey.com/s/fultoncourts) and on the Fulton Superior Court and State Court web sites. Bill Rankin

College Park mayor: More cuts likely

Mayor Jack Longino told residents late last month the city may not be through cutting the budget to weather the current economic climate.

“We’ve made some cuts, and we might have to make some more. It’s like pruning a tree…sometimes you have to cut away branches to see a clearer vision,” Longino said.

Longino also cited examples of the economy turning the corner.

He revealed that 105 new businesses were established along the Old National Highway-Godby Road corridor, as well as 9 new businesses along the Virginia Avenue corridor. John Thompson for the AJC

Peachtree City releases catalog of classes

Peachtree City’s Recreation and Special Events Department has released its spring catalog of camps and classes.

The offerings include sports and fitness, arts and instructional courses for children and adults.

Classes run March-May and are held at the Kedron and Glenloch recreation centers.

Registration is available at the Kedron Fieldhouse and Aquatic Center or online at www.peachtree-city.org/recreation; call 770-631-2541 for information. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry initiates virtual school programs

The Henry County School System has created a new virtual school program called Impact Academy that will serve grades 9-10 in the 2012-13 school year and grades 11-12 beyond that.

Impact Academy is a non-traditional schooling option, offering the four core subject classes through online coursework. There will be a community information meeting March 29 for anyone who is interested.

Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us/ia. Monroe Roark for the AJC