County by county news for Friday

In August, Moody’s placed Cobb and 161 other Aaa-rated state and local governments and agencies on review for a possible downgrade because of the federal government’s debt issues.

Cobb’s Aaa bond rating, which was not downgraded, allows the county to borrow money at a lower interest rate. In April, Cobb issued short-term debts at an interest rate of 0.27 percent. The tax notes provide temporary cash flow and are paid off with future tax collections. Janel Davis

Smyrna picks new council members

Smyrna voters chose three new council members in Tuesday’s runoff election. Ward 4 incumbent Mike McNabb lost to Charles “Corkey” Welch who had 56.44 percent of the vote. Susan D. Wilkinson won the Ward 5 post against Jason Saliba with 56.52 percent. And Ron Fennel won the Ward 7 seat with 54.64 percent of the vote in a runoff with Garry Osborne. Ward 5 incumbent Jimmy Smith and Ward 7 incumbent Pete Wood did not run for re-election. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kennesaw cited for green efforts

The city of Kennesaw was recognized Wednesday by the Atlanta Regional Commission for its efforts to implement greener and more sustainable policies.

This is Kennesaw’s first certification. Sixteen communities have earned the Green Communities certification in the program’s three-year existence.

The program is a voluntary certification program for local governments, and is the first regional program of its kind in the country.

Janel Davis

Austell council approve $48,500 for needy

Many Austell families in need should have a merrier Christmas with Monday’s City Council approval of $48,500.

Mayor Joe Jerkins said 19 churches will receive $1,500 each and five schools will receive $3,000 to spend $300 on each of 10 families chosen by school officials.

Then $5,000 will go to families chosen by City Council members and board members of the Austell Area Community Improvement Commission, or AACIC, which oversees the interest fund. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Volunteers needed for Kennesaw park cleanup

Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club will have a trail work day in an effort to spruce up the trails at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The event is from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers should plan to meet at the maintenance buildings up the hill from the visitor center. Information: Visit www.kennesaw mountaintrailclub.org or call 770-427-4686.

Kenneth Musisi

Powder Springs to display flood maps

Powder Springs will hold an open house concerning new floodplain maps on Monday.

The community meeting will be 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ford Center, 4181 Atlanta St. behind the Powder Springs Library.

Information: Powder Springs Public Works Director Greg Ramsey at 770-943-8010 or map.GeorgiaDFIRM.com. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

County solicits proposals to lease Briscoe Field

Gwinnett County Thursday sought proposals from companies interested in leasing Briscoe Field.

The county has discussed privatizing the airport near Lawrenceville for two years. On Thursday Gwinnett for the first time sought specific proposals from private firms. Proposals are due Feb. 8. The county Board of Commissioners recently set aside for now talk of bringing commercial passenger service to the airport. But the request for proposals allows companies to submit “short-term and long-term” plans for the airport, including possible commercial service. David Wickert

Gov. Deal heralds Hyundai opening

Gov. Nathan Deal and local and state business leaders celebrated the grand opening Wednesday of Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas’ headquarters in Norcross.

At the ceremony, Hyundai officials revealed plans to build a major manufacturing facility in Georgia. Construction is expected to begin sometime in the next 3-4 years. The state has estimated that about 100 jobs will be created over the next five years. Joel Anderson

Cops: Man sold drugs a bridal shop

A Gwinnett man faces drug charges for distributing crack cocaine from a bridal shop in Athens, police say.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports Dimitri Darnell Whitehead had an office at Formally Yours, and “was distributing to dealers in the Northeast Georgia area,” said police.

Gwinnett police found evidence of drug trafficking at Whitehead’s Dacula home Nov. 17 and a search warrant was executed at the Athens bridal shop the same day. Whitehead faces charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, according to jail records. George Mathis

Foundation raises $37,000 for schools

The North Gwinnett Schools Foundation has raised more than $37,000 for local schools through its annual Big T’Do Gala in October. The money will be used to support educational efforts at the six schools: Level Creek, Suwanee, Riverside and Roberts Elementary schools, North Gwinnett Middle School and North Gwinnett High School. Information: 404-422-7844, info@northgwinnettschoolsfoundations.org, or www.northgwinnettschoolsfoundation.org Joel Anderson

Beaudreau to meet with constituents

Gwinnett County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau will meet with constituents from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Fire Station 30, 1052 Ozora Road, Loganville. David Wickert

Seniors hold wrap party for donated gifts

Sunrise at Five Forks, a senior living community in Lilburn, will host a ‘Wrap Party’ for gifts that have been donated to “Be a Santa for a Senior” charity, sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care of Snellville. Sunrise has collected socks, gloves, shampoo and paper goods, as members of the assisted living community have been knitting and crocheting scarves for the seniors. The event is today at 1:30 p.m. Kenneth Musisi

NORTHSIDE

County opens shelter for homeless mothers, kids

Fulton County will open a 150-bed facility to help homeless mothers and children get off the streets and become self sufficient. Springdale Place, on Springdale Road in Atlanta, will be run by Housing and Human Services and community partners. The money will come from $1.3 million in re-programmed funds -- 67 percent from grants and 37 percent from county funds. It will include a childcare facility and workforce development programs, a center where women and children can stay up to 120 days and an area where they can stay up to 7 months. Johnny Edwards

Alpharetta police hold ‘Shop with a Cop’

The Alpharetta Police Athletic League (PAL) will sponsor the 13th Annual “Shop with a Cop” event at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Wal-Mart at 5200 Windward Parkway is hosting. This year, PAL plans to help at least 100 children.

Each child will be accompanied by a police officer, firefighter, or community volunteer as he or she shops for Christmas gifts. Each child can spend up to $100.

PAL will also be delivering holiday meals to needy families Dec. 17. For info on volunteering: email PAL executive director Veronica Carew at alphapalmc@gmail.com or call 678-297-6212. Andria Simmons

Milton changes personnel policy system

Milton has switched how it enacts measures relating to personnel policies.

Officials passed a measure this week moving personnel policies from the city code, where any changes require two votes of the City Council. Under the new system, personnel policies are in the form of a resolution, and changes can be implemented by the city manager with a single vote of the City Council.

The Council also passed a measure doing the exact opposite with the 75-cent fee it charges for each prepaid wireless phone sale.

That fee is now part of the city code. Patrick Fox

Alpharetta Youth Baseball helps Ringgold

The Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association delivered its annual donation to the Ringgold community on Nov.12. Ringgold was chosen due to Coach Allen Willoughby’s research on areas hit by natural disasters over the past year.

Research also prompted the association with expanding the annual baseball equipment donation to include clothing, household goods and other items.

Jason Willoughby, Patrick Wolfe, Kevin Saxon, Brice Royes, Kristin Green and Andrew Flett were among the group of players that coordinated and staffed the entire donation process. Kenneth Musisi

Police look for man who stole ID information

Police are looking for a Marietta man accused of buying a $3,000 plane ticket with a stolen identity.

Robert Butler Wagner, 46, is accused of using the Woodstock victim’s personal information to get a credit card in both his name and the victim’s name, police said.

Investigators ask that anyone with information about Wagner’s whereabouts is asked to call the Woodstock police at 770-592-6030. Marcus K. Garner

ATLANTA

Council boosts funding to People TV

Atlanta’s City Council voted on Monday to request that the city increase the funding allocation for People TV to provide public access television on Channel 24, and to ask that People TV present a strategic plan to the council. The ordinance would authorize the city’s chief financial officer to allocate $180,000 for “public access operations and support. The ordinance also authorizes Mayor Kasim Reed to enter into a new agreement with a public access provider when the current agreement with People TV Inc. ends. Jeremiah McWilliams

Owners required to register vacant property

Atlanta’s City Council passed an ordinance this week requiring owners of vacant properties to register them with the city’s Office of Code Enforcement by April 1, 2012. The changes to Atlanta’s housing code were spearheaded by Councilwoman Joyce M. Sheperd, who said vacant properties can be unsafe and cause neighborhoods to deteriorate and become unstable.

Jeremiah McWilliams

Girls Scouts to hold car safety workshop

The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta will participate Saturday in a free car maintenance and safety workshop.

Gwinnett Place Ford mechanics will teach the scouts basic car maintenance, including how to change a tire and check fluids. For information, visit www.s2w.org. Gracie Bonds Staples

Salute to High School Football on Saturday

The fourth annual Salute to High School Football Luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Georgia Ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center. Former Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler will deliver the keynote address.

The Falcons will present the 2011 Divisional Coach of the Year Awards, the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award and the Warrick Dunn Captain in the Community of the Year Award. Coach of the Year awards will be presented to the top high school football coaches in Class 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. Gracie Bonds Staples

DEKALB

Husband pleads guilty to killing wife

A 37-year-old DeKalb County man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his estranged wife in a College Park mall parking lot, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office said.

James Barrow shot and killed Asa Stean-Barrow, 32, on Nov. 28, 2010, while she was shopping with her 14-year-old daughter and the teenager’s father, Willie Lyles, with whom Stean-Barrow had recently reunited.

After Barrow fired shots at Lyles, missing him, a security guard approached Barrow at gunpoint and ordered him to drop his weapon.

But Barrow instead shot his wife in the chest and then stood over her and fired three more times, prosecutors said.

Bill Rankin

Decatur to spend $18,200 on tree care

Decatur will spend $18,200 maintaining its downtown trees over the next year. According to Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon this includes pruning, pest control and fertilizing. There are about 260 trees in the approximately 100 acres comprising downtown. A few were planted in the early 1980s, but most arrived in 1995, in celebration of the Olympics, with a second round of planting in 2002.

“These trees are an important amenity,” Saxon said. They provide shade and clean air, and they also decrease noise and provide a habitat for birds.” Bill Banks for the AJC

Police appreciation luncheon Dec. 14

The public is invited to express their appreciation for local officers by attending Tucker Civic Association’s Police Appreciation Luncheon on Dec. 14 from 1- 4 p.m. at the Tucker police precinct.

Donations of food are welcomed. Information: Johnston at publicsafety@tuckercivic.org. Kenneth Musisi

Stone Mountain CID spruces up roadway

DeKalb County’s newest Community Improvement District recently began cleaning up more than 15 miles of roadway to improve the look of its area.

The Stone Mountain CID crews edged curbs, removed trash and illegally-posted signs and did other landscaping along side roads and main drags such as Mountain Industrial Boulevard.

Crews also cleaned the boulevard’s bridge over Highway 78 and repainted guardrails at that intersection.

More information about the CID and its work: www.stonemountaincid.com.

April Hunt

Chamblee hires development director

Chamblee has hired a new development director to help the city retain existing businesses and lure new ones.

Vicki Coleman, most recently the business relations manager for Fulton County’s Economic Development and Business Services, began the job in late October.

She will earn $75,000 a year in the new role, which also calls for her to oversee planning, zoning and development review for Chamblee.

Coleman has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Virginia and a master of public administration degree from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies from Georgia State University. She also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Fulton creates agency for economic development

Fulton County will create a Division of Economic Development, a coordinating agency to work with chambers of commerce and city economic development departments throughout the county to recruit businesses. It will cost $750,000 in 2012’s budget, but Chairman John Eaves said its efforts will generate revenue and jobs. South Fulton Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards, who dissented, questioned whether the division’s efforts would be equitable to all areas of Fulton. Commissioner Robb Pitts criticized hiring bureaucrats during a time of budget cutting. Johnny Edwards

Lovejoy holds meetings on gas station plan

Two town hall meetings will be held this month in Lovejoy regarding the development of vacant property at the intersection of Panhandle and McDonough Roads. A gas station is slated to be built on the site which has drawn the ire of residents in the surrounding neighborhood. The meetings are slated for today and Monday, Dec. 19. Both meetings are at 6:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex, 2296 Talmadge Road in Lovejoy. Tammy Joyner

Peachtree City seeking board applications

Peachtree City residents wishing to fill vacancies on several local boards have until Dec. 9 to submit applications.

Volunteer positions are open on the Peachtree City Airport Authority, Water & Sewerage Authority, Recreation & Special Events Advisory Board and the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Terms vary, and the CVB specifically seeks local business owners or managers.

Details and forms are at www.peachtree-city.org/jobs under Volunteers.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

New Hope church to hold Christmas show

New Hope Baptist Church invites the community to its musical drama production entitled ‘A City Park Christmas’. The production has over 400 adults, youth and children taking part in the choirs, orchestra and cast, including a “singing” Christmas Tree with thousands of computerized lights and effects. Presentations are on today at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Free tickets are available online at www.newhopebc.org, by calling 770-460-4838 or from the church office at 551 New Hope Road, Fayetteville. Kenneth Musisi

Alternative school collects food for charity

Despite its small size, the Fayette County Alternative School made big strides in its goal to collect food for charity.

About 50 students and 20 staff members collected nearly 500 cans of food in only two days, far exceeding the original goal of 200 cans in a week.

Donations will go to the Children at Risk in Education program and to a local shelter for homeless women and children.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry commissioners to meet Dec. 16

The Henry County Board of Commissioners have announced a special called meeting for Dec. 16, at 8:30 a.m. at the County Administration Building.

This meeting will not be televised online or via the county’s cable access channel. Monroe Roark for the AJC