County by county news for Friday

The completed east-west connector, funded by federal,Cobb County and Town Center Area Community Improvement District money, runs two miles from Chastain Road to Chastain Meadows Parkway. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs gets clean-up help

A church youth group and a bank are helping to clean up vacant properties in Powder Springs.

Community Development Director Pam Conner said Bank of America has agreed to demolish a house on Ponderosa Lane that burned in 2011.

Also every day this week, teens from Powder Springs First United Methodist Church are cleaning up "a few of the more serious vacant properties" on Anderson Street, Ponderosa Lane, Valley Drive, Paddocks Court, Evelyn Drive and New Towne Drive, Conner added. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Kennesaw votes to keep millage rate

The Kennesaw City Council voted to keep its current millage rate at a meeting Wednesday night.

The council set the rate at 8.0 mills for maintenance and operation plus an additional 1.5 mills to pay for the $15 million Recreation and Traffic Safety Bond voters approved in September 2004.

The city has maintained the same rate since 2007, said Pam Davis, communications manager for the city. Christopher Hong

Dooley to speak at Georgian Club Aug. 9

The Cobb Library Foundation will host speaker Vince Dooley at 6 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Georgian Club, 100 Galleria Parkway S.E., Atlanta. The event is part of the foundation's "Booked at Six" series. Tickets are $50, and include heavy hors d'oeuvres. The foundation will also host speaker Susan Gregg Gilmore at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 22 at the Marietta Country Club, 1400 Marietta Country Club Drive, Kennesaw. She is the author of "Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen". Tickets to that event are $25, and include lunch. The speech is part of the "Booked for Lunch" series. For information: www.cobblibraryfoundation.org. Laurie Hoffman

Smyrna Council tables daycare ruling

The Smyrna City Council on Monday indefinitely tabled any action relating to ordinances involving daycare centers in residential areas until further study is done on the issue.

The council was considering changing its zoning rules when Oxford Academy daycare, owned by former councilman Jimmy Smith and his wife, applied to expand their business into another renovated home in a Cheney Woods neighborhood in Smyrna. Some residents wanted the council to prohibit the centers in neighborhoods altogether.

To satisfy residents, the Smiths agreed not to further expand the business into the home on an adjacent street, and instead expand the business in their home next to one of the existing daycare buildings. Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Man found dead after SWAT standoff

A suspect was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound after a SWAT standoff in Dacula on Wednesday night, Gwinnett County police said.

An armed man was refusing to come out of a Swans Landing Drive home and turn himself in to police after allegedly threatening his estranged wife, Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Edwin Ritter said. Police were trying to get the man to surrender peacefully, he said. The suspect later was found dead inside a bedroom closet, Ritter said.

The man's name was not released. Angel K. Brooks

Lawrenceville man held on sex charges

A Lawrenceville salesman was being held Thursday on $200,000 bond in a Chicago suburb after allegedly posing as a lifeguard and offering swimming lessons to two girls, ages 10 and 11, and a 27-year-old woman, whom he sexually assaulted at a hotel pool, according to local prosecutors. Charles Smith, 55, was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, the Chicago Tribune reported. Christopher Seward

Norcross Mayor named new MAMA chair

Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson has been named the new chair for the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association, a cooperative alliance of mayors representing 68 cities from 10 metro Atlanta counties. MAMA's purpose is to foster communications among cities in the metro Atlanta region, support public policy decisions, coordinate activities among the cities, and communicate identified needs to federal, state and regional agencies and organizations and to area citizens. http://www.metroatlantamayors.org/News.aspx Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn Idol finale tonight at park

The finale of Lilburn Idol, the city's annual version of American Idol, is 7 p.m. today at Lilburn's City Park pavilion behind the downtown municipal complex at 76 main street. Judges — voice coaches, choir directors and others knowledgeable about singing — will account for 60 percent of the vote, with the audience expressing its 40-percent vote by dropping quarters in the basket of the singer they like best. Information: Leslie Edwin, 770-279-3708. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Tables added to Lawrenceville concert

Lawrenceville's popular concert series Moonlight & Music continues at 8 p.m. Friday on the lawn of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse with Grammy nominated songwriter, Shawn Mullins. Lawn seating is free. Tables are available for reservation and ten additional tables have been added for this event. Reservations: 678-226-2639. www.visitlawrenceville.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Winning altered books exhibit continues

Gwinnett County Public Libraries' Altered Books competition winners remain on display this month at the Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth. An altered book is a book that has been repurposed by creative means into a work of art. The results will amaze you. For exhibit hours visit www.thehudgens.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Water back on at Cherokee Health Dept.

The Cherokee County Health Department's Woodstock office will be back

in full operation this morning following a Tuesday water service interruption.

Crews finished repairing the problem Thursday morning. During the break, such operations as women's health services and testing had been shifted to the Canton office. The Woodstock office is at 7545 N. Main St., suite 100. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Watermelon Day at Roswell market

To celebrate Watermelon Day, the Riverside Farmer's Market in Roswell will hold watermelon eating and seed spitting contests Saturday with Georgia's 2012 Watermelon Queen officiating. The Fulton County Cooperative Extension operates the farmer's market every Saturday morning in the parking lot of Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St. Johnny Edwards

Forsyth candidate at meet and greet today

Several candidates running in Forsyth County for the 2012 Election Primaries are scheduled to attend a Meet and Greet from 4 to 9 p.m. today at Blue Havana II Cigars, Suite 8, 6320 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta. Constituents will have an opportunity to talk with the candidates before voting. Kenneth Musisi

Consultant to discuss Roswell Gateway study

Roswell's consultant team for the Roswell Historic Gateway Study will present its final plans during an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. July 25 in room 220 at City Hall. Scott Ball, senior project manager for Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, will discuss plans for neighborhood centers, bike and pedestrian circulation and redevelopment proposals. The study is part an ongoing effort by the city, business owners and residents to improve the design, character and livability of the corridor. Information: www.roswellgov.com/index.aspx?nid=1441. Patrick Fox

Rotary to hold Mayor's Challenge Race

The Rotary Club of Alpharetta and the city of Alpharetta are sponsoring the annual Mayor's Challenge Race today. This year's event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Historic Downtown District across from City Hall on Main Street. It also includes a block party and family friendly PG-13 movie. Registration is $25. Proceeds from the run benefit North Fulton non-profits. Registration: www.mayorsrunandfun.com. Patrick Fox

ARC honors Alpharetta for water project

The Atlanta Regional Commission has honored Alpharetta for its North Park retrofit water quality and flood control project. This project consists of a variety of Best Management Practices to reduce the need for future dredging, reduce upstream erosion and increase the water quality of runoff before it enters the streams. The benefits for of this project are mostly achieved outside of the City, highlighting the importance of being a good neighbor and looking at a watershed-wide impact rather than stopping at city boundaries. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

APS selects regional directors

Atlanta Public Schools named four educators to serve as regional K-12 executive directors: Greg Benton, Danielle Battle, Clay Hunter and David White. The executive directors will supervise regional offices that oversee groups of schools around the district. The former executive directors were placed on administrative leave following a state cheating investigation last year. Two of the new executive directors, Battle and White, served in an interim role during the last year. Info: www.atlanta.k12.ga.us

Jaime Sarrio

APS rachets back bus transportation

In 2012-13, Atlanta Public Schools who live out of zone and are not enrolled in a magnet program will no longer qualify for bus transportation. This includes students who received out-of-zone transfers under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Parents will be responsible for providing transportation for these students, according to the district. Info: www.atlanta.k12.ga.us Jaime Sarrio

Coalition helps install phone charging station

The Buckhead Coalition is teaming up with the owner of Lenox Square mall to install a kiosk for free cell-phone charging at Simon Properties' Guest Services counter. The Buckhead Coalition, a civic group, said the kiosk will handle eight mobile devices at one time, with various outlet configurations.

Jeremiah McWilliams

Barry Manilow holds instrument drive

Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow donated a Yamaha piano to launch a local instrument drive for Atlanta Public Schools. Anyone who donates a new or gently used musical instrument to the Chastain Park Amphitheatre box office from now until July 29 will receive two free tickets for Manilow's July 29 concert in Atlanta. Drop-offs will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or two hours prior to an event. Info: www.manilowmusicproject.org.

Jaime Sarrio

DEKALB

Man convicted in sex-trafficking ring

A Stone Mountain man has been convicted of operating a sex-trafficking ring in which he brutally assaulted young women and forced them into prostitution.

"While all of the victims managed to escape from the defendant, many were beaten, raped, handcuffed and forced to snort cocaine," U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said after Wednesday's verdict. Soloman Manasseh Mustafa, 38, of Stone Mountain, is to be sentenced Sept. 19. He and a co-defendant, who pleaded guilty, enticed their victims through ads placed on the Internet. Bill Rankin

Hoodstarzz Films to premier first movie

Commissioner Stan Watson will join Hoodstarzz Films from Atlanta as they premier their first urban-based film "Recognize" at 8 p.m. Sunday at The Porter Standford III Performing Arts and Community Center in Decatur. Tickets are $25. Admission is free for DeKalb County employees. For tickets and information: 888-755-0787 Ext. 332. Kenneth Musisi

Annual Faith Leaders Day Aug. 2

DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James and DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown will host the 4th Annual Faith Leaders Day at 8 a.m., Aug. 2, at the DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough St., Decatur. The event is free and open to all clergy members. Participants will be provided a light breakfast and lunch. For information or to RSVP, call 404-687-7179 or contact Dana Lawrence at delawrence@dekalbcountyga.gov or Ebony Phillips at eaphillips@dekalbcountyga.gov. Sandra Marshall Murray

Meetings to focus on crime prevention

South DeKalb County residents are invited to a meeting next month that focuses on safety concerns in the area.

The DeKalb Solicitor-General, County Commission's presiding officer and members of the county police department will be on hand to talk to business owners and residents about keeping crime away,

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 15 at the South DeKalb Family YMCA, at 2565 Snapfinger Road, near Decatur. Breakfast will be provided.

Information/reservations: 404-371-2234 or snbrown@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

Effort focuses on helping neighborhoods

DeKalb County is holding a "Sustainable Communities" summit next designed to help residents get information about efforts to battle back against the foreclosure crisis.

Information will be available that helps residents stay in their homes as well as ways to get new families into vacant and foreclosed properties. The summit runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at St. Philip AME Church, 240 Candler Road, near Decatur. Information: 404-371-3689. April Hunt

Work closing road near Stone Mountain

Crews have begun digging to replace the sewer main that runs under South Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road in DeKalb County, prompting a segment to be closed for about a month. The road will be shut down between Marbut and Chapman roads until Aug. 5 to allow for the work. Signs will direct traffic to detours. Information: 770-780-2013. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Fulton serves up Saturday voting

Fulton County will offer Saturday voting this weekend for the July 31 primary election, which includes the transportation sales tax referendum as well as the races for Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Solicitor General, Superior Court Clerk, two Fulton school board seats and several Southside Legislative seats.

Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fulton Public Safety Building in downtown Atlanta, the North Fulton Service Center in Sandy Springs and the South Fulton Service Center on Stonewall Tell Road. Information: 404-612-7020. Johnny Edwards

New center helps unemployed in Fulton

Fulton County residents looking for work can get help at the Adamsville Workforce Development Resource Center, which recently opened inside the Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Workforce Development offices help job seekers sharpen interview skills, fill out online applications, update resumes and upgrade job skills. Information: 404-613-6381. Other workforce development locations: www.fultoncountyga.gov/divisions-and-programs/workforce-development.

Johnny Edwards

Peachtree City resurfaces courts

Work has begun on resurfacing public tennis courts in Peachtree City. In June, the city council approved $230,000 to replace the cracking courts with a synthetic material touted as being more durable. Work has begun on the Glenloch courts and will continue with those at Braelinn, Smokerise and Bluesmoke. The entire project is due to be completed by late September.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

College Park seeks quiet zones

College Park has applied for funding to create quiet zones and traffic safety measures at all railroad crossings along Main Street. The estimated cost to establish a new quiet zone in College Park is $670,000. If awarded, the city would be required to provide 50 percent in matching funds. College Park City Engineer Jackson Myers explained that creating quiet zones would reduce all of the noise from trains traveling the rails parallel to Main Street. John Thompson for the AJC

"Friday Night Flicks" features "Grease"

The latest show in East Point's "Friday Night Flicks" is set for tonight. The classic movie musical "Grease" will be shown free at dusk in the Commons at 2757 East Point Street, across from the MARTA station. Moviegoers are asked to bring blankets and chairs.

John Thompson for the AJC

Leadership Academy taking applications

The 2012 East Point Citizens Leadership Academy will be accepting applications through Aug. 15. The academy is an 11-week class designed to educate residents about the government operations of East Point. Applications are located on the city's website at www.eastpointcity.org and at the Customer Care and Jefferson Station lobbies and the Jefferson Park Recreation Center. Classes begin Aug.30. John Thompson for the AJC