Atlanta
Humane Society seeks support for challenge
The Atlanta Humane Society has been nominated for Purina ONE's Shine a Light on a Shelter challenge.
The shelter with the most votes gets a $10,000 grant for working to change the perception of shelter pets. Voting ends at noon Aug. 20.
Cast votes at http://purina.maker.good.is/projects/atlantahumane. Kenneth Musisi
Fulton
Official blasts county's handling of elections
Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts has issued a statement blasting the county's Registration and Elections Department for its handling of the July 31 primary. The county put some voters in the wrong races, certified its results more than an hour late and showed several precincts with voter turnout of more than 100 percent. Pitts said the problems need straightening before the presidential election. Johnny Edwards
Fulton wrangles with $74.1 million deficit
Fulton County commissioners will meet Monday to start figuring out how to close a projected $74.1 million deficit without raising taxes or slashing popular services.
Since the board rejected finance managers' advice to raise the property tax rate, County Manager Zachary Williams has suggested cutting out Sunday hours at 11 libraries, postponing work on a south Fulton health clinic, furloughing employees for five days and reducing funding for arts groups, nonprofits and nature centers.
Commissioners told him there may be other ways to save.
Monday's meeting starts at 2 p.m. in the 4th-floor conference room of the Fulton County Government Center in downtown Atlanta. Johnny Edwards
GWINNETT
Tech gets video conferencing funds
The Sun Trust Bank Trusteed Foundation has given $30,000 to Gwinnett Technical College to buy a video conferencing system.
The college will use the system as a teaching aid for its new one-year health information technology program and for additional life sciences courses. The health information technology program provides training to help veterans and others seeking employment as skilled coders in healthcare fields.
Information: www.gwinnetttech.edu or 770-962-7580.
David Wickert
Norcross parks leader named
Mary Beth Bender is the new recreation, parks and cultural arts division superintendent for the City of Norcross. Bender will be responsible for managing daily operations of the city's 11 parks, and for the cultural arts facilities. Bender has also been assigned to administer a diverse recreation program and municipal system.
Kenneth Musisi
Cherokee
Reinhardt offering new online health degree
Reinhardt University in Waleska has launched a 51-credit online degree program in health care administration, with classes set to begin in January of 2013.
School officials say the program is designed for non-traditional students working in health care, those with an associate degree and technical school students. Technical students can transfer up to 72 credit hours into the program. Information: www.reinhardt.edu
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
