County by county news for Friday

The proposed charge would be from $2 to $3 for adults and from $1 to $1.50 for children ages 6-11. There is no charge for children under 6.

To reply to Superintendent Nancy Walther: kemo_superintendent@nps.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Business associations host free event

The South Cobb and West Cobb Business Associations will host a free business networking event 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Historic Magnolia House, 4371 Marietta St., Powder Springs. Mayor Patricia Vaughn and other elected officials will be honored.

Reservations: firsttuesdayrsvp@westcobbbusiness.com.

Information: sc-ba.org or westcobbbusiness.com.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Acworth to hold town hall meeting

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood will give an short version of his state of the city address 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 4415 Senator Russell Ave. A Cobb Tax Commissioner’s Office representative will talk about changes to the Ad Valorem Tax. Information: www.acworth.org or 770-974-3112.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

New firefighters join Cobb County

Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services swore in 31 new firefighters from Class No. 42 Thursday evening at the Senior Wellness Center in Marietta.

The ceremony concludes 30 weeks of rigorous training at the Cobb County Department of Public Safety Training Center. The training consists of classroom courses in firefighting, emergency medical services, policy and procedures, hands-on training, and daily physical fitness.

Andria Simmons

Marietta looking to fill firefighter/EMT slots

The Marietta Fire Department, 112 Haynes St., is taking applications through Monday to fill six firefighter/EMT positions. The department has six stations and 132 uniformed firefighters. Applicants have to be at least 18, a high school or GED graduate with a good driving record. Information: www.joinmariettafire.com.

Tucker McQueen

Registration open for chamber expo

Registration is open for the 2013 Cobb Chamber Business to Business Expo, which takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. May 16 at the Cobb Galleria Exhibition Hall D. The event is expected to draw 1,600 attendees and will feature more than 150 companies showcasing products and services. Information: jdudley@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2359 or visit www.cobbchamber.org/businessexpo.

Jaime Sarrio

Cities announce Good Friday closings

Austell administrative offices will close early at 3 p.m. on Good Friday. Powder Springs city offices will be closed all day to observe Good Friday. Information: austellga.gov or cityofpowdersprings.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Chattahoochee access will soon be easier

Duluth officially recently broke ground for the construction of a canoe launch at Rogers Bridge Park. The concrete launch, to be completed by May, includes a walk-down canoe ramp, a step-down boardwalk, a viewing area, and natural plantings. The canoe launch project is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Interior, State Department of the National Park Service, and the City of Duluth. Construction will be paid for using Park SPLOST funds. Information: Kathy Marelle at kmarelle@duluthga.net or 678-417-9269.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Suwanee Day accepting applications

Exhibitor and entertainment applications are now being accepted for Suwanee Day on Sept. 21. Exhibitor applications due June 1. Entertainment applications due May 15. Exhibitors and entertainers are selected through a jury process. Applications are available at www.suwaneeday.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Simonton Road to have improved visibility

Gwinnett will improve visibility for vehicles entering Simonton Road from McCart Road and Simonton Glen Drive by lowering the hill between these two intersections in unincorporated Gwinnett. Plans also include new sidewalks between Simonton Elementary School and nearby neighborhoods rersulting in a continuous ribbon of sidewalk on both sides of Simonton Road from New Hope Road to Madison Chase Way.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn offering rabies clinic

SafetySmart Lilburn is hosting a Rabies Clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 6 in the Lilburn City Hall overflow parking lot, 76 Main Street. Dr. Star Gregory, DVM of Zutilla Veterinary Housecalls will be administering the shots. Cost is $10 per shot, cash only. Supplies are limited. Info: www.cityoflilburn.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Town hall meeting set for Tuesday

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will conduct the first in a series of Town Hall Meetings at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 Crogan Street in Lawrenceville. Open house begins at 6:15 p.m. with questions and comments to be heard at 7 p.m. Representatives from Gwinnett departments will be at the open house to answer your questions and talk about the different services they provide. www.gwinnettcounty.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Super Incredible Race returns to Suwanee

Suwanee is bringing back its Super Incredible Race 3 p.m. April 20. The scavenger-hunt like race, similar to Amazing Race, invites teams of two or more family members to compete with a series of clues that require a variety of high-energy mental and physical challenges. Suwanee’s free spring concert will immediately follow the race at 7 p.m.

Pre-registration is required to race by April 5: www.suwanee.com. Registration fee is $25 per two-person team plus $10 per additional participant for family teams.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Robbers target gas station’s cigarettes

Three men robbed the Racetrac gas station at 4125 Marietta Highway in Canton on Wednesday and fled with about 45 cartons of cigarettes.

The males entered the store around 11 p.m. Wednesday and ordered the store clerk to not move. The trio proceeded to fill a large trash bag with cartons of cigarettes.

The suspects did not brandish a weapon and no one was injured, according to Lt. Jay Baker, spokesman for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

Andria Simmons

Three suspects arrested in shooting

Investigators with the Milton police department say Matthew Goins, 20, of Alpharetta, Michael Grant, 23, of Roswell, and Richard Davidson, 20, of Roswell, targeting 19-year-old Christopher Walker because of a gold chain he wore.

The Alpharetta High School graduate was shot once in the head in front of his residence on Silhouette Court in the Avensong subdivision after returning from a nearby Taco Bell. The three suspects had followed him home, police said.

They are charged with murder, aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery. Davidson also faces a charge of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

All three are being held without bond in the Fulton County Jail.

Christian Boone

Child advocates receive funds

Cherokee Parks and Recreation raised $2,680 for Court Appointed Special Advocates through their annual Guns and Hoses 5K in February.

Cherokee Sheriff Roger Garrison and Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services Chief Tim Prather presented CASA Executive Director Deidre Hollands with a check on Thursday.

CASA is a nationwide movement of community volunteers who speak up for the best interests of children in foster care who have been abused or neglected.

Andria Simmons

Forsyth may change alcohol ordinance

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners holds a public hearing 5 p.m. Thursday at the county’s admin building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming on a proposed ordinance amendment allowing “growler” tastings at retail package stores selling the beer/malt beverage containers (but not distilled spirits).

The change would allow prospective growler buyers to sample up to 8 ounces daily.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Educator of the Year nominations sought

Keep Roswell Beautiful is accepting nominations for its annual Educator of the Year Award.

Nominations are due April 12. Information: vculbreth@roswellgov.com.

Patrick Fox

Vendors for farmers market sought

Applications to vend at Johns Creek’s summer farmers market at Newtown Park are due Monday. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 1 to Sept. 7. Fee: $25.

Information: Kirk Franz, 678-512-3200, Kirk.Franz@JohnsCreekGA.gov.

Michael Alpert

ATLANTA

Buckhead coalition contributes park benches

The Buckhead Coalition has offered a gift of a park bench to each of the forty-one Buckhead Neighborhood Associations to commemorate its 25th anniversary. The Buckhead Coalition is a nonprofit civic association in the northern quadrant of the city of Atlanta. its mission to “nurture the quality of life and help coördinate an orderly growth” within its 28 square miles with a population of 78,000.

Youth orchestra seeks donations online

The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra was recently selected to participate in Atlanta’s “Power2Give” campaign, a fundraising effort supported by the Arts & Science Council and the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs that connects donors to creative projects that inspire them.

The online campaign, which runs through June 3, has a goal of $2,500 to support scholarships. The scholarships will enable ASYO student musicians to participate in summer music training programs, and will help graduating ASYO high school seniors during the first year of their college-level music studies.

Information: www.power2give.org/go/o/395.

Mea Watkins

Program to help smokers quit offered

The American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking clinic, a free program that focuses on specific skills and techniques needed to help smokers quit, will be offered at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, 1968 Peachtree Rd. N.W. Registration is required.

For dates, times and registration, call 404-605-2913.

To find other local programs, call 770-434-5864, or go to www.lungga.org.

Mea Watkins

Museum announces Fulton family days

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta hosts Fulton County Family Days for Fulton County residents only. Residents can buy an admission ticket and receive one for free on the opening day of each feature exhibit. Proof of residency is required.

Information: tinyurl.com/ab7onwg.

Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Decatur City Manager: annexation will return

Though never gaining sponsorship in the current legislature, Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss said it’s inevitable that another attempt at annexing the two mostly commercial areas north of the city “will come back.” She points out plans for annexing those two sectors date to the 1950s and that this was the third attempt in her 20 years at the city’s helm.

Merriss cites three reasons favoring annexation, particularly city control over redevelopment of those properties when it occurs. Also, they’d give diversity to the city’s real estate digest (currently 86 percent residential) and they establish “natural gateways” into Decatur.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Easter egg hunts this weekend

Avondale Estates will host its annual hunt and dog parade 10 a.m. Saturday at Lake Avondale. Events include music and food. Wade Walker Park on Rockbridge Road near Stone Mountain hosts an Easter egg hunt 2 p.m. Sunday. Events include music and other activities.

April Hunt

Expert on new cities to discuss Lakeside

Oliver Porter, a consultant who helped shape Sandy Springs and most of the new Georgia cities that followed its creation, will address the question of Lakeside 7 - 8:30 p.m. Monday in Milligan Hall at Clairmont Presbyterian Church, 1994 Clairmont Road, north of Decatur.

The Lakeside City Alliance is hosting the event, which will include a Q & A session on the proposed city for north-central DeKalb.

Information: www.lakesidealliance.org.

April Hunt

Learning for Life Family Series continues

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s Learning for Life Family Series will continue through June with monthly events aimed toward healthy living, safety and more at the DeKalb Cooperative Extension, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur.

The series is free and open to DeKalb County residents.

Upcoming workshops include: Survival in the City, 10 a.m. to noon, April 20; and An Ounce of Prevention, 10 a.m. to noon, May 18.

Information: 404-298-4080 or www.ugaextension.com/dekalb.

Mea Watkins

Do you look like Sid the Science Kid?

The Fernbank Science Center will host a "Sid the Science Kid" look-a-like contest at 10 a.m. April 6. The winning "Sid" will receive a Sid the Science Kid stand up cut-out, free family pass to the Discovery Dome Theater Planetarium show, Earth's Wild Ride, and a copy of Sid the Science Kid: The Movie. Tickets $5 students; $7 adults. Information: fsc.fernbank.edu.

Mea Watkins

DeKalb hosting first Arts 5K

DeKalb County will host its first 5K, Race for the Arts 5K run/walk, for arts and culture programming 8 a.m. March 30 at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Dr. Registration is $25 per person or $20 per person in groups of five or more. Registration can be done online until March 28 at www.active.com. Race-day registration also will be accepted.

Information: 404-687-2737.

April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Hildreth honored by Henry County NAACP

Henry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ethan Hildreth has been honored by the Henry County Branch of the NAACP with the 2013 Education Award, given during the branch’s March 15 Freedom Fund Banquet in Stockbridge.

A 22-year veteran of the district, Hildreth has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent during his tenure. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Last day to apply for Fayette transfers

Today is the last day for Fayette County parents to apply for special permission for their children to attend a different school in 2013-14.

Reassignment requests must meet certain criteria related to hardships, curriculum or special needs. Instructions and forms are available at www.fcboe.org.

Jill Howard Church for AJC

Jewelry store robbed by two gunmen

Henry County police are looking for two men for Wednesday’s violent armed robbery of Castle Jewelry in the 4800 block of North Henry Boulevard near Stockbridge.

Police said the suspects came in and cased the area shortly after 2 p.m., then returned and robbed the store at gunpoint just after 3:30., taking a large amount of expensive jewelry.

One suspect kept his gun trained on employees while the second man pulled out a hammer and smashed a display case. That suspect removed jewelry and placed it in a small bag before the two fled the store on foot.

Anyone with information should call 770-288-8494.

Mike Morris

Bowman to host town hall meeting April 9

Henry County Commissioner Reid Bowman will host a town hall meeting 7-9 p.m. April 9 at Kelleytown Presbyterian Church, 3637 Airline Road in McDonough.

The meeting will focus on planned improvements for Kelleytown Park, which will include paved walking trails, bike trails, and other passive recreation amenities.

SPLOST capital projects director Ron Burckhalter and Todd Ernst, volunteer coordinator for the bike trails, will also be on hand to answer questions about the various planned amenities.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Riverdale Community Yard Sale on Saturday

The 2013 Riverdale Community Yard Sale is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Riverdale Town Center, 7210 Church St. Information: 770 909-5300 or www.riverdaleculture.com.

Tammy Joyner

Commissioner touts youth program

The Fayette County Commission is encouraging rising high school sophomores and juniors to apply to the Model Atlanta Regional Commission. Steve Brown, commission chair, is offering to write recommendations. The program includes six months of study, debate and activities related to area issues. Information: Floyd Jones at fjones@fayettecountyga.gov by today.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC