COBB
Powder Springs delays work session
The Powder Springs City Council work session on May 15 will be delayed until May 20 due to the absence of Mayor Patricia Vaughn and two City Council members.
Vaughn said they will meet either at 4 or 5 p.m. May 20 in the City Hall conference room before the 7 p.m. voting meeting in the Council Chambers, Community Development building, 4488 Pineview Drive.
Information: City Hall, 770-943-1666.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
State court denies councilman’s petition
The Supreme Court of Georgia on Monday decded not to hear Marietta Councilman Philip Goldstein’s petition to build a five-story building on the Marietta Square. The long-time council member’s law suit against the city was turned down in 2011 in Cobb County Superior Court and twice that year in the Georgia Court of Appeals. Marietta changed its height ordinance in 2011 from 85 feet to 54 feet.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Free online marketing seminar on May 15
A free online marketing seminar by the South Cobb Business Association will be held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. May 15 at Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell.
Registration deadline is May 13 by sending an email with your name and the number of those attending to info@georgialocalsearch.com.
Information: sc-ba.org/events/5-business-meetings/58-seminar-youre-onlinenow-what.html or 678-653-6163.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Barbecue festival this weekend
The 4th Annual North Cobb Rotary Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival is 8 p.m. today at Cauble Park, 4425 Beach St. in downtown Acworth. The free event features a concert with Sons of Sailors, a Jimmy Buffett cover band. The festival is 6 to 10 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Information: 770-423-1330 or www.smokeonthelake.org.
Mea Watkins
Beautification event coming Saturday
The Keep Powder Springs Beautiful Committee will host a cleanup day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, starting at Powder Springs City Hall, 4484 Marietta St., to pick up garbage along Brownsville Road and U.S. 278.
Safety vests, water and snacks will be provided by the city. Rain date will be May 18.
Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/?nid=152 or City Hall, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Kennesaw opens biking and walking trails
Kennesaw has opened three biking and walking trails to continue a series of pathways connecting city neighborhoods to downtown. The new trails start at First Baptist Church on North Main Street and link to Whispering Lake and Matlock Trails off Moon Station Road.
The city has received $301,000 from Georgia Department of Natural Resource grants to help build five trails since 2006. The community trail system will end at Jiles Road.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
GWINNETT
Improvements coming to Suwanee Dam Road
Gwinnett will install a new section of multi-use path and an automated traffic management system along Suwanee Dam Road between Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.
Funds from the 2009 SPLOST will cover 90 percent, or $660,412 of the cost, with the city providing an additional $30,500 to upgrade the path from asphalt to concrete.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gwinnett will install a new section of multi-use path and an automated traffic management system along Suwanee Dam Road between Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.
Funds from the 2009 SPLOST will cover 90 percent, or $660,412 of the cost, with the city providing an additional $30,500 to upgrade the path from asphalt to concrete.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Motorcycle safely, state officials urge
State officials urged motorcycle helmet usage Thursday at Lake Lanier to remind motorcyclists to ride safely.
The advent of warmer weather means more motorcycles on state roadways, said Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Each motorcycle rider, he said, should have a good helmet, proper shoes and gloves.
They also should take a safety course, said Jim Kelly, head of the state Motorcycle Safety Program. Information: https://online.dds.ga.gov/motorcycle/index.aspx Mark Davis
Canton seeks farmers/vendors for market
The city of Canton Farmers’ Market is seeking vendors and farmers for 2013. There will be a $5 weekly charge, to help offset the cost of advertising, music and porta-johns.
The market opens downtown May 23 and will run on Saturdays through October, featuring locally grown produce, eggs, baked goods, locally grown plants and Georgia arts and crafts.
Information: 770-704-1529 or www.canton-georgia.com
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee chamber to offer resume help
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce holds what it’s calling ResumeMay Day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 10 at the chamber offices, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton. Resume writing/critiquing and interviewing experts will be on hand to help jobseekers. The event is free and open to the public.
Information: cherokeechamber.com or 770-345-0400.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Centennial High seeks softball players
All rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls zoned for Centennial High School, 9310 Scott Road, Roswell, who want to play softball must register by July 15.
Softball season begins in August.
Information: Marty at alymart@att.net or 678-230-5155.
Veronica Fields Johnson
Canton offers recycling Saturday
The city of Canton has scheduled an electronics recycling and document shredding event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Canton City Hall, 151 Elizabeth St. Computers, printers, CD-ROMs, fax machines and other items will be accepted for no charge. There will be a charge for televisions and CRT monitors.
Information: www.canton-georgia.com. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee aquatic center sets events
The new Cherokee County Aquatic Center will have an open house 10 a.m. Saturday. The new center will feature two indoor pools and one outdoor pool with a water playground, water slides, beach entry, pavillions and concessions.
It is located at Interstate 575 and Sixes Road.
Information: Kim Baker, Aquatics Manager at kbaker@cherokeega.com or www.crpa.net/page/aquatic-center.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
Construction closes downtown street
As construction progresses on the College Football Hall of Fame, Foundry Street, intersecting the construction site, will close permanently on Monday As build-out of the Hall continues. Baker Street, which lines the north end of the property, has been widened and extended around to the west of the site (adjacent to the railroad tracks).
It now extends into the Georgia World Congress Center gulch and will provide access to the Omni Hotel’s and GWCC loading docks, as well as parking for the GWCC and Phillips Arena.
The College Football Hall of Fame is scheduled to open in the fall of 2014. Staff
Suspect arrested in December shooting
A man was discovered shot to death in a wooded area in northwest Atlanta the day after Christmas.
Wednesday, police made an arrest in the case.
Dominique Benton, 27, was charged with felony murder and armed robbery and transported to the Fulton County Jail, Atlanta police spokesman Officer John Chafee said.
Benton is accused of killing 22-year-old Jonathan Jerel Kemp, whose body was found in the area of James Jackson Parkway and Northwest Drive just before 2 p.m. on Dec. 26, 2012. Kemp was shot in the upper left side of his shoulder, and a pistol was near his body, according to the police report.
Angel K. Brooks
Georgia Southern coaches come to metro
The Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation’s Eagle Funds Coaches Tour will stop in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. today at STATS-The Adidas Room, 300 Marietta St. N.W. Eagles fans will receive updates on all the happenings in the university’s athletics programs and a chance to meet and hear from athletic coaches.
Tickets are $25 and include parking, two drink tickets and food.
Information: Sally Scott, 912-478-5520 or swscott@georgiasouthern.edu.
Veronica Fields Johnson
DEKALB
North part of county on rabies alert
DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement captured two raccoons in the Harts Mill Court area on April 26, and in the Ragley Hall Road area on April 30.
Both raccoons tested positive for rabies.
Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal should seek medical attention immediately.
If household pets begin to exhibit unusual nervousness or aggressiveness, or if they have excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth, contact DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement at 404-294-2996 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday or 404-294-2519 after hours. Staff
Decatur Library to hold book sale
The Friends of the Decatur Library will host a book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 25 on the front lawn of the library, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur. Thousands of gently used fiction, nonfiction and children’s books, DVDs and CDs will be available for purchase. Prices start at $.50 and only cash and checks will be accepted. All proceeds benefit the programs and collections of the library. Admission is free.
Information: 404-370-3070. Veronica Fields Johnson
Church to sponsor job and health fair
Kingdom Investment Ministry Outreach will sponsor a job and health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 at the church, 2219 Idlewood Road, Tucker.
Free health screenings, including blood pressure checks, vision screenings and mammogram scheduling will be available.
Job fair attendees will be able to apply directly to participating corporations, temporary agencies and the U.S. Military.
Information: 770-934-9994. Veronica Fields Johnson
CBS newsman to speak at MJCCA
Former reporter, producer and news executive for CBS News Bob Bahr will present his lecture, “The Chosen: Hollywood’s Look Back at American Jews” 10:30 a.m. to noon May 23 at MJCCA at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.
Free.
Information: Lilly Mahana, lilly.mahana@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4064.
Sandra Marshall Murray
School board to hold budget hearing
Superintendent Michael Thurmond’s proposed budget contains $18.5 million in cuts to legal fees and the central office. The savings would go toward eliminating a furlough day at a cost of $3 million so teachers and others will have another day for training.
Thurmond is also recommending $4 million for textbook purchases, $1.1 million for a new student assessment system and $1 million to plan for a new “career pathways” academy.
He is proposing other new expenditures in his $759 million budget that also sets aside nearly $13 million in savings.
The board will hold a hearingsat 6 p.m. Wednesday at 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain.
A final vote on the budget will come in June.
Read Thurmond’s budget at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us.
Ty Tagami
SOUTHSIDE
Clayton superintendent’s contract extended
Luvenia Jackson will serve as interim superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools until the end of 2014.
The school board extended Jackson’s contract which was set to end in September. The district is looking for a permanent replacement. Jackson has said she does not want the job permanently.
Jackson assumed the helm of the 51,000-student school district after Edmond Heatley resigned last fall to pursue a similar job in California. He later withdrew his bid for that job. Tammy Joyner
Fayetteville police arrest robbery suspect
Fayetteville police arrested 20-year-old Zaquaus Stubbs Wednesday in connection with the assault and robbery of a woman at the Fayette Pavilion shopping center on April 27. Video from the Kohl’s department store and nearby gas stations, along with citizen tips, led to Stubbs’ apprehension at his Fayetteville home. Lt. Mike Whitlow thanked the Clayton County Police and State Department of Corrections for their assistance with the case.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Senior center to host Voting Rights talk
The Harriett G. Darnell Senior Multipurpose Facility, 677 Fairburn Rd., N.W., will host Senior University Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday. The discussion topic will be the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with a focus on celebrating hard-fought past victories, examining present-day challenges and evaluating their impact on the future. Related research materials will be on display.
Information: 404-699-8580. Veronica Fields Johnson
Fayette names Teacher of the Year
Fayette County’s 2013 Teacher of the Year is Chasity Manning, who teaches world history at Fayette County High School. Manning and other nominees from throughout the school system were honored on April 25. They received cash awards other prizes from the Fayette County Education Foundation and from local merchants. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
‘Operation Cool Down’ back in Henry
Henry County Animal Care & Control is bringing back its “Operation Cool Down” program to assist pets left in hot cars. Officers will be patrolling parking lots for animals that are left in vehicles. Any animal that is found unattended in a vehicle, that is in distress, will be removed from that vehicle by Animal Care and Control officers by whatever means necessary, as permitted under county ordinance.
Information: www.hcacc.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC
Fayette County Library offers free e-books
Members of the Fayette County Public Library can download free e-books and audiobooks from the library’s website. The books are compatible with Apple, Android, Blackberry, Kindle, Nook and other devices.
Titles are available any time and have no late fees because they expire automatically. See gadd.lib.overdrive.com or contact Jessica Kuhr at 770-461-8841 for details. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
