County by county news for Friday

The equipment has since been returned to its owner, but police are still trying to identify who stole the items earlier this week. The stock pile of musical instruments — 13 guitars, two amplifiers and related equipment — were discarded about 100 yards off of the main road in a wooded area. The equipment had no identifying marks or labels, but detectives tracked down the owner through a company that made some of the guitars. Andria Simmons

Fugitive arrested in Marietta

Aaron Jarell Rodman, 26, of North Carolina, fugitive wanted for allegedly raping a juvenile in North Carolina is in jail awaiting extradition after being arrested in Marietta this week.

A neighbor reported a suspicious manlurking around a Wisteria Drive house and peeking in the windows Tuesday morning. The man left in a white Nissan Maxima before officers arrived, according to Marietta Police. He was spotted a short time later. After giving chase, he was arrested near Bellemeade Way.

Rodman is being held without bond in the Cobb County jail awaiting extradition to North Carolina. Andria Simmons

Salute to America tribute opens today

The Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square will open a Salute to America musical revue at 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Tuesday and 3 p.m. Sunday. The tribute to the events of Sept. 11 will include more than 30 patriotic songs in 90 minutes. Information: www.EarlSmithStrand.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Smyrna hosts gala for police and firefighters

Firefighters, police officers and safety heroes will be honored at the third annual Smyrna Heroes Gala, formerly the Smyrna Auction for Heroes Gala, at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Brawner Hall in Taylor-Brawner Park, 3180 Atlanta Road in Smyrna. Tickets are $50. Visit www.SmyrnaHeroesGala.com.

Guests will dine on a variety of gourmet foods and participate in a silent auction. This event offers a unique opportunity to mingle with Smyrna’s fire and police heroes, local businesses, residents, and city officials. Proceeds will benefit the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation. Kenneth Musisi

Anime Club begins meeting Saturday

An Anime and Asian Culture Club will begin monthly meetings 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton.

Ages 13 to 18 will watch Japanese anime cartoons that have not been released in the U.S.

Membership forms are required at www.cobbcat.org/teens/anime-letter-and-forms.pdf.

Information: Shannon Tyner, 678-398-5834.Carolyn Cunningham

Taste of Kennesaw set for Saturday

More than 40 restaurants will sell samples for $1 to $4 at the Taste of Kennesaw 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday on Main Street and Depot Park, Kennesaw. The festival will include live entertainment on two stages and children’s activities. Kennesaw will also celebrate its 125th anniversary at the event.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Duluth announces major road closures

Duluth will contue construction on large stormwater pipes crossing Bridlewood Dr.

The work began this week.

Bridlewood Drive will be closed to all through traffic for approximately five weeks through the middle of October.

Access to the community recreation area will only be available from Albion Farm Road.

Information: Planning and Development 770-476-1790.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett hosts Cyber Safety Summit

The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office will host a free Cyber Safety Summit 6 p.m. Oct. 4 to educate the community on how to protect youths in today’s technological world.

The seminar will be in the auditorium of the Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center at 75 Langley Dr., Lawrenceville.

To reserve a space, contact victimwitnessevents@gwinnettcounty.com or call 770-822-8396 by Oct. 1. Andria Simmons

Cooking class geared to healthy eating

Gwinnett Cooperative Extension Service will demonstrate making meals and snacks that could help lower your risk of developing cancer 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gwinnett Village, 5855 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Suite 122, Norcross. Class will include how to prepare food with less fat, sodium, and sugar, but add more fiber. Participants will learn how to make healthier food choices at the grocery store. No charge, but registration is required. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners seeking volunteers

Peachtree Corners residents are invited to apply for volunteer positions on the new city’s planning commission and zoning board of appeals. Interested residents may apply at www.cityofpeachtreecornersga.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Water department offering kits

Gwinnett’s Department of Water Resources is offering free leak detection and retro-fit kits to residents as part of its water conservation initiative. Leak kits contain dye tablets and a drip guide to gage water loss. Retro-fit kits, for homes built before 1993 low-flow plumbing standards, include two one gallon-per-minute bathroom faucet aerators, a 1.5 gallon-per-minute kitchen faucet aerator, a low-flow shower head, dye tablets, and a toilet tank bank. Kits are available weekdays at the department, 684 Winder Highway. Information: Heather Moody, 678-376-6722, dwrconserve@gwinnettcounty.com.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Annandale Village to host resource fair

Annandale Village, 3500 Annandale Lane, Suwanee is hosting Get Ready Gwinnett, a day-long disaster preparedness educational symposium and resource fair 8 a.m. Tuesday. The free event is designed to help people who have physical, visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities prepare for natural disasters and their consequences. Information: www.getreadygwinnett.org

Nancy Badertscher

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee school wins sportsmanship award

Cherokee High School has been named the 5AAAAA Georgia High School Association Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award winner for 2012.

The award presented by the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation recognizes schools statewide which demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship during competitive events in the 2011-2012 school year.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Price receives award for protecting seniors

U.S. Rep. Tom Price was honored Wednesday by RetireSafe, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for his efforts to protect the health benefits and security of Georgia seniors.

Thair Phillips, president of RetireSafe presented the “Standing Up For America’s Seniors” Award at Rice’s in-district office.

Price, a Republican from Roswell, is among a bipartisan group of members of Congress being recognized by RetireSafe in their home districts throughout the August recess.

Andria Simmons

Cherokee schools host boundary meetings

The Cherokee County School District begins its boundary redrawing process for the 2013-14 school year with a series of public meetings starting Sept. 24. They’ll be held at schools where the feeder and grade setups will be affected by the opening of new/replacement E.T. Booth Middle School next fall and at Ball Ground Elementary School on its future grade configuration. Info: www.cherokee.k12.ga.us

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

IHF hosts benefit for disabled children

Tickets are $50 per person, $5 for children under 12 and $50 per family with child with disability. Visit www.innovativehealthfoundation.org.

IHF is a nonprofit provider of clinical scholarships for families living with developmental disabilities.

Kenneth Musisi

New citizens will take oath at air show

The American Heroes Air Show will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Park Sports Complex, 326 Riverstone Parkway, Canton. Members of the U.S. military and others will take the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. Citizens during a Naturalization Ceremony at 11 a.m.

The Cost of Freedom Tribute with its centerpiece replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall will be available for viewing. Admission and parking is free. Information: www.Heroes-airshow.com. Kenneth Musisi

Brain tumor foundation hosts fundraiser

The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children will host its first annual Tumor Trooper Run/Walk Saturday at Mansell Crossing Shopping Center, Alpharetta.

Registration begins at 6:15 a.m. The 1-mile walk starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K run at 8 a.m. Registration is $30 per person. Proceeds will help children with brain and spinal cord tumors. Information: www.braintumorkids.org.

Kenneth Musisi

ATLANTA

EPA hosts student competition

College students can enter a design competition, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, dealing with stormwater management, a major cause of water pollution in urban areas.

Student teams, working with a faculty advisor, will submit design plans for a green infrastructure project for their campus. Registration Oct. 5, and entries are due by Dec. 14. Winners will be announced in April. Winning teams will earn $1,500 to $2,500, as well as $8,000 - $11,000 in funds for research. Nancy Badertscher

Miami Heat star signs book copies

Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade will sign copies of his new book, “A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball” 6:30 p.m. Monday at Atlanta-Fulton’s main library, One Margaret Mitchell Square. Wade, a single parent to two sons, describes fatherhood and experiences that shaped his life as the child of divorced parents himself. Books will be on sale.

Information: 404-730-1941.

Johnny Edwards

Heroes Run set for Saturday

The Travis Manion Foundation will host a 9 /11 Heroes Run 9 a.m. Saturday at Candler Park. The 5K race and 1 mile fun-run will honor the fallen and support veterans.

Proceeds will go to the foundation and local charities. Cost is $30. Registration: www.911heroesrun.com. Information: Atlanta@911HeroesRun.com. Kenneth Musisi

Clark Atlanta receives health grant

Clark Atlanta University received a $5.8 million federal grant for the school’s Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development.

The five-year grant is to continue the research, training and outreach activities conducted in the black community by the Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer Research, Education and Community Services.

The award is from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.Laura Diamond

DEKALB

Doraville hosting free family-friendly film

Doraville’s recreation department is partnering with the Buford Highway Farmer’s Market and Drama Kids to show “The Lorax” on Saturday at Honeysuckle Park on Pleasant Valley Drive. The movie begins at 8 p.m., after a 6:30 p.m. concert by the classic rock band The Woody’s. Both events are free. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and their own food. April Hunt

Guns & Hoses charity softball event set

The Dunwoody Guns & Hoses Charity Softball Challenge is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Dunwoody High School. The game is between Dunwoody Police Department (Guns) and DeKalb County Fire & Rescue Department (Hoses).

Admission is free; donations are welcome. Beneficiaries are Special Olympics Georgia and the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. Information: www.dunwoodygunsandhoses.com. Kenneth Musisi

Applications accepted for nursing scholarship

The DeKalb Medical Foundation is accepting applications for the Dr. Mark Coppage Nursing Scholarship.

Founded in memory of a local physician, the scholarship provides financial support for those who embody the characteristics of a community advocate; who are dedicated to serving others, and who are pursuing a nursing career.

Deadline is Sept. 15. Information: www.dekalbmedical.org/Foundation. Laurie Hoffman

Garden of Eatin’ returns to Decatur

The Decatur Cooperative Ministry will host the Garden of Eatin’ event 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Decatur YMCA, 1100 Clairemont Ave. with proceeds going to its programs to alleviate and prevent homelessness. The event features more than 20 Decatur-area restaurants, entertainers and businesses.Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

Information: 404-377-5365 or www.decaturcooperativeministry.org. April Hunt

Rivers focus of canoe outings

The South River Watershed Alliance is offering canoe outings of the South and Yellow rivers.

The events also include training on how to organize river clean-ups and talks with state Department of Natural Resources naturalists.

The outing on the South River will be held Saturday and on the Yellow River on Sept. 15. Costs: $5 - $35. Information: www.garivers.org/news/377-eventregistration.html April Hunt

Clarkston featured in documentary

The central DeKalb County city of Clarkston is the focus of an upcoming PBS documentary about immigration and diversity in America.

The town, billed as one of the most diverse in the country, features in the Sept. 21 episode “America By The Numbers: Clarkston Georgia.”

The program by the Futuro Media Group traces the history of Clarkston from a time of Ku Klux Klan marches to white minority status in 1990. It explores the potential effect of demographic changes on culture and the upcoming elections. Information: www.futuromediagroup.org and video clip:

Ty Tagami

SOUTHSIDE

Public hearing to consider city developments

The Peachtree City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall to consider two development proposals.

Southern Pines Plantation wants to annex and rezone 77 acres on Ga. Hwy. 74 South to build 90 homes and two office buildings; Phoenix Development is asking to rezone 37 acres next to the Planterra Ridge Golf Club for 80 homes, 12 villas and an events center. Details are at www.peachtree-city.org/index.aspx?NID=544. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Hampton’s scarecrow contest returns

Hampton’s scarecrow contest has returned. The free registration online and at City Hall is ongoing through Oct. 8 at www.mainstreethamptonga.com.

Winners in several categories will be determined by popular choice voting until Oct. 31.

Announcements will be made in November’s newsletter and on city websites. Information: Candy Franklin at cfranklin@cityofhampton-ga.gov. Kenneth Musisi

Race to Restore set in Peachtree City

Wellspring Living will host its 7th annual Race to Restore 5K Run for Her Future 8 a.m. Sept. 15 at The Bridge, 225 Willowbend Rd., Peachtree City. Proceeds go to programs to restore women and girls who have been sexually abused or trafficked.

Wellspring Living has set a goal to have 500 runners. Participants can have teams of 12 or more. The team with the most members receives a prize. Wellspring Living also wants 150 participants to raise an extra $1,000 to $5,000 by creating their own fundraising page through active.com. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Information: www.wellspringliving.org. Tammy Joyner

Remembering 911 and heroes

Eagle’s Landing Middle School in Henry County will commemorate the heroes or victims of Sept. 11, 2011 with a Heroes Luncheon at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Principal Earlene Crump will personally thank Henry County’s first responders for their daily selfless efforts on behalf of local residents. The school is located at 295 Tunis Road in McDonough.

Nancy Badertscher

Hearing will consider developments

The Peachtree City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall to consider two development proposals. Southern Pines Plantation wants to annex and rezone 77 acres on Ga. Hwy. 74 South to build 90 homes and two office buildings; Phoenix Development is asking to rezone 37 acres next to the Planterra Ridge Golf Club for 80 homes, 12 villas and an events center. Details are at www.peachtree-city.org/index.aspx?NID=544. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Hapeville seeks veterans

Hapeville officials are inviting all veterans to participate in the annual Happy Days Festival parade 10 a.m. Sept.15.

Information: Norma Shaw at 770-994-0802.

John Thompson for the AJC