County by county news for Friday

Also, the Lucille Creek Bridge in Powder Springs, mile markers 10.5 to 11.2, now will be a single phase with its construction delayed until April 7 with a new completion date of April 30.

The trail will be open during the Cobb school spring break from Friday afternoon, March 28 to Monday morning, April 7.

Information: cobbdot.org for newest trail updates. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Community garden event on Saturday

The Mableton Improvement Coalition’s Historic Mableton Community Garden hosts a meet and greet 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at 5178 Floyd Road for people to buy garden plots.

Annual costs: $35 to $45.

Information: mableton.org/community-projects/community-gardens or Farmer Terri, HMCG@mableton.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Connect Silver Comet Trail meeting Sunday

A meeting to generate interest in connecting the Silver Comet Trail to Atlanta’s Beltline is 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Vinings Bank Community Room, 4135 Atlanta Road, Smyrna. The Connect the Comet group supports extending the trail from Mavel Road in Smyrna six miles south along an out-of-service CSX rail line to the Atlanta Beltline. Information: wwwcconnectthecomet.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Race to benefit Special Olympics, schools

Participants in a 5k race and one-mile fun run 7 a.m. Sunday at 1620 Cobb International Blvd., Kennesaware asked to dress as super heroes to raise funds for Big Shanty and Kennesaw Elementary Schools and Special Olympics. Information: www.superhero5kKennesaw.com.Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Austell purchases flood houses

Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins said Tuesday, during his 25th annual “State of the City” address, the city has 17 more houses to acquire that were destroyed during the 2009 flood.

So far, 41 houses have been purchased by the city, leading to their demolition and conversion to green space.

Still, there are around 50 to 60 more houses the city would like to tear down but cannot obtain their titles from the banks or owners. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Atlanta Science Festival events at KSU

Kennesaw State University’s College of Science and Mathematics launches the weeklong Atlanta Science Festival with a robotics-themed concert at 8 p.m. SaturdayMarch22 at the Bailey Performance Center, Campus Loop Road, Kennesaw.

Jason Barnes, an amputee drummer, will perform at the concert. Barnes will be accompanied by Shimi, a robotic companion developed at Georgia Tech.

Other scheduled events include an appearance by NASA astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, who will address an audience of 200 middle school girls MondayMarch 24 at the KSU Center; and a screening of the science fiction film “Europa Report” on March 28 at Prillaman Hall.

Information: atlantasciencefestival.orgKent A. Miles for the AJC

GWINNETT

Snellville attorney keeping his job for now

The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled Snellville Mayor Kelly Kautz does not have the power to fire the city’s attorney. The decision reversed Kautz’s termination of city attorney Tony Powell during a March 19 hearing. Kautz, who is suing the city council, city manager Butch Sanders and city clerk Melissa Arnold has argued the city’s charter grants her the authority to appoint a city attorney, and in turn the ability to fire one. The court disagreed, saying Snellville’s charter gives the city council any governmental powers not expressly granted. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lawrenceville police endow scholarship

The Lawrenceville Police Benevolent Fund has established an endowed scholarship for Georgia Gwinnett students pursuing bachelor degrees in criminal justice. Yearly interest from the $50,000 fund will be paid out as scholarships with the first to be awarded in fall 2014 ahead of its original schedule. Information: www.ggc.edu/give. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Suwanee seeking artists for May festival

Arts in the Park will return to Suwanee Town Center Park on May 17, with a retro theme of Peace, Love & Arts in the Parkand it is accepting applications for artists interested in exhibiting, and perhaps demonstrating, their work at the juried festival. Deadline: April 30. Information: suwaneeartsinthepark.com.Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners adds after school classes

The Peachtree Corners Planning Commission has approved a request from Seigakuin School, 5505 Winters Chapel Road, to lease the facility during off hours to a church or for community use. The private school teaches Japanese and English to an enrollment of approximately 100 students ranging in age from 3 to 12. The City Council will vote on the special request permit at the April 15 meeting. www.cityofpeachtreecornersga.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Berkeley Lake appoints commissioner

Neil Schaap, a Professional Engineer currently working for the environmental engineering firm Brown and Caldwell as a water resource engineer, has been appointed to Berkeley Lake’s five-member Planning and Zoning Commission. His current duties with Brown and Caldwell include stream restorations, floodplain management, watershed management, storm water improvements and some limited dam work. Schaap worked previously with the site design firm Planners and Engineers Collaborative in Norcross for nine years where he helped developers with site plans, permitting, rezoning and variance plans. www.berkeley-lake.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Soccer field to honor deceased coaches

Lilburn’s Providence Christian Academy renamed its soccer field in memory of two soccer coaches.

Spracklin Williamson Memorial Field honors the legacies of John Spracklin, who won a state championship in 1999, and Jonny Williamson, who won a state championship in 2007. Mark Niesse

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee woman sentenced in father’s death

A Ball Ground woman has been sentenced to 20 years, with nearly 11 to serve in prison, after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter. Andrea Blanton had originally been charged with malice and felony murder in the death of her elderly father, for whom she was caretaker. James Reece,77, was strangled to death in the spring of 2013 in the home he shared with his daughter. Blanton also was sentenced to perform400 hours of community service while on probation and pay a $2,000 fine. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Church intern charged with child molestation

A youth ministry intern at a Forsyth County church has been arrested on child molestation charges.

Sean Paul, 28, turned himself in Friday and was charged with felony child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Paul, who was an intern at First Christian Church in Cumming, has resigned from the church.

Investigators said there could be several victims. Mike Morris

Sandy Springs begins sidewalk project

The city of Sandy Springs begins sidewalk construction on a major street Monday. A .15 mile stretch of sidewalk will be added on Hammond Drive between Barfield Road and Glenridge Drive, completing a three-quarter mile stretch of pedestrian pavement between Hammond Park and the Dunwoody city limits. City officials expect the project to finish within 2 months, weather permitting, and say motorists should watch for road closures during construction. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta approves veterans memorial

The Alpharetta City Council voted Monday night in favor of adding a Veterans Memorial to the City Center downtown redevelopment project. The memorial will be part of a 5-acre park. Two council members dissented, feeling the memorial should be at a more visible location. A local civic organization is raising money through private donations to fund the memorial. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth concert to benefit meal program

Forsyth County Senior Services is hosting a concert to benefit the Meals on Wheels program. Classical pianist Daniela Tsi Gerber. Flutist Cathy Morris and violinist Evey Farley will perform from 2:30-5 p.m. March 30 at the Sexton Hall Enrichment Center, 2115 Chloe Road. T

ickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door. Meals on Wheels provides daily nutritious meals to homebound seniors.

Information: 770-781-2178.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Woodstock to test fire hydrants

Woodstock Fire Department plans fire hydrant maintenance through April 30.

Residents may notice some water discoloration from sediment stirred up.

The city says the cloudy water isn’t a health hazard, but may stain light-colored clothing.

Eliminate the problem by running water until it clears.

Information: 770-926-2896. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Burglars hit another cell phone store

For the second time in three days, thieves used a sledgehammer around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to smash into the Wireless Wizards store in the 1300 block of Marietta Boulevard.

According to Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones, surveillance video showed a gold, newer model Mercedes with chrome rims and three men inside enter the parking lot.

One of the suspects got out, looked through the window into the Wireless Wizards store, then got back into the car.

The Mercedes then moved to a different parking space. A suspect got out of the car, smashed out the front window with a sledgehammer and all three suspects entered the building.

The store owner told investigators the thieves took a box of broke iPhone screens and a computer monitor.

Early Tuesday, thieves used a sledgehammer to smash the glass door of the AT&T store in the 2500 block of Piedmont Road. Staff

APS pays $50K to state for oversight

The Georgia Department of Education required Atlanta Public Schools to pay $50,739 following an investigation of how the city school system managed federal money for disadvantaged students.

A Jan. 13 letter from DOE Title Programs Director Margo DeLaune said the city school system showed a lack of oversight of federal Title I expenditures when it didn’t comply with a requirement to ensure student services were comparable to those provided in schools that didn’t receive Title I funds.

The fine represents the salary of one teacher at Coretta Scott King Academy whose funding source shouldn’t have been changed. Atlanta Public Schools has made the payment to the state, said DOE spokesman Matt Cardoza. Mark Niesse

Buckhead library hosts poetry contest

The Buckhead Library, 269 Buckhead Avenue NE is hosting the Ida Williams Memorial poetry contest for children and teens where winner receive gift cards. Entries due April 19.

Information: 404-814-3500

Arlinda Smith Broady

DEKALB

Gala to benefit ovarian cancer group

The Shaken, Not Stirred Gala benefit for the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance is 7 p.m. March 29 at the Atlantic Aviation hangar DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, 2040 Airport Road.

Christine Pullara, host of WXIA’s “Atlanta and Company,” is the emcee for the event.

Tickets are $150 per person; sponsorships and tables are available.

All proceeds will support education and awareness efforts and community outreach programs of the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

Information: www.gaovariancancer.org/events/gala/

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Decatur schools won’t reopen tuition

City Schools Decatur’s 2014-15 tuition, Pre-K through 12, will be $5,258, (down $668 from last year) a projected $520,542 in revenue based on an estimated 99 tuition-paying students. But Superintendent Phyllis Edwards reiterated she has no plans to accept any new tuition students. New tuition was suspended last year after a five-year period where CSD grew by nearly 40 percent. Decatur currently has 122 tuition-paying students (down from last year’s 160) who were grandfathered in. Bill Banks for the AJC

DeKalb officials to help deliver senior meals

Three DeKalb County commissioners will help prepare and deliver meals through Senior Connections during the March for Meals event.

Other officials are encouraged to join the effort, designed to draw attention to the 560,000 meals the group delivers every year to needy seniors in DeKalb and Fulton counties.

Information: www.marchformeals.com.

April Hunt

Bluegrass festival at Stone Mountain Village

Stone Mountain Village hosts its fifth annual Blue Grassroots Music and Arts festival 10 a.m. March 29, and 11 a.m. March 30, in the historic downtown area.

The festival is the first event celebrating the 175th anniversary of the founding of the city of Stone Mountain. Free.

Information: www.stonemountainvillage.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

South River focus of upcoming tour

The South River Watershed Alliance is organizing a tour and visit focusing on the river and its tributaries in DeKalb County.

The tour runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at the Watershed Mural on DeKalb Avenue in Decatur. The tour runs along the campus of Agnes Scott College to Albert Shoals, the series of short falls spanning the river near Snapfinger Creek.

Information: www.southriverga.org or 404-862-0118. April Hunt

ART Station opens new exhibit

ART Station will host a new exhibit of paintings by local artist Pat Fiorello called “Take Me Away through March 30.

Information: 770-469-1105 or www.artstation.org

Arlinda Smith Broady

SOUTHSIDE

Henry Fire gets year’s supply of toilet tissue

The Henry County Fire Department has received a year’s supply of toilet tissue from Charmin. The donation of 960 rolls is part of the company’s national Charmin Relief Project, which donates to one fire house in every state. Charmin recently asked consumers to share stories via Facebook and Twitter of firehouses in their communities that were experiencing sub-par bathroom conditions and in need of relief. The brand then picked one in each state that could use the extra support. Tammy Joyner

100-mile run to benefit A Friend’s House

Two Henry County runners will trek 100 miles through Locust Grove in a single day to raise money for A Friend’s House, a local shelter for children in domestic violence situations. They will make 17 roundtrips on Jackson Street beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at the northern end of the street near Ga. 42. Runners are invited to come out and join them for a leg or two, and sponsors are encouraged to donate to support their cause. Information: www.revolutionrunning.net. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Registration open for Eye Run 5K

The sixth annual Eye Run 5K to benefit the vision care nonprofit OneSight will take place at 8:45 a.m. April 12 at the Luxottica Service Center, 100 Greenwood Industrial Parkway, McDonough.

A 1-mile fun run-walk is also scheduled at the event. Registration is $15 by Monday; afterward, registration is $20 for the 5K, $18 for the fun run-walk. Proceeds will support the OneSight vision clinic, which will offer comprehensive eye exams to hundreds of students in October. Information: onesight.donordrive.com/event/eyerun2014

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Jonesboro High Mock Trial State champs

Jonesboro High School earned its sixth Mock Trial state title recently at the Gwinnett Justice Center. The team defeated the Paideia School and Eagle’s Landing High School to clinch the state title. Jonesboro now advances to Madison, Wisc. to compete for the national title in May. Team members and coaches will be recognized by the Clayton school board during its April 1 meeting. Tammy Joyner

Clayton technology workshop Saturday

Clayton County Commissioner Shana Rooks is hosting her monthly “Saturday Talk” this Saturday at the South Clayton Recreation Center, 1837 McDonough Rd. in Hampton. Topic: “How to Navigate the Innovations in County Technology.” County information technology Director Brett Lavender and Rosalind Lett, director of the county’s library science, are the guest speakers for the 10 a.m. program. Tammy Joyner

Fayette student wins automotive scholarship

Fayette County High School senior Jeffrey Sherry has been awarded a $12,000 scholarship after placing third in the Georgia SkillsUSA state competition for automotive service technology. Christian Douglas and Jonathon Wambles, also FCHS seniors, placed fourth in two other areas of competition.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC