County by county news for Saturday

Newcomb previously served as provost and executive vice president of the Marietta-based college.

He replaces Sanford Chandler, who left the college to run the system’s new International Center for Technical Education.Laura Diamond

Powder Springs mayor delays annual address

Powder Springs Mayor Patricia Vaughn will postpone her annual “State of the City” address until March 20.

Originally, she had announced that she would deliver her speech on Tuesday evening at the city’s Ford Center.

The reason is to present the mid-March results of a new University of Georgia and Georgia Power study on economic development for the city, according to the city’s website on Friday.

Information: City Hall, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham

KSU seeks help for fire victim

Kennesaw State University is seeking donations to help a communications professor whose Chattanooga home was destroyed in a fire last week.

The fire began in the basement of the home owned by Charles Mayo, director of KSU’s graduate program in Integrated Global Communication. While working at KSU, Mayo commuted from Tennessee each day.

His dog was also killed in the fire, according to KSU officials and news reports.

A donation booth will be set up today for Mayo at KSU’s men’s 3 p.m. basketball game against East Tennessee State. Janel Davis

Marietta opens sports complex

A $650,000 baseball/softball complex will open for tours at 4 p.m. Thursday. Upgrades at the 7-acre complex on Aviation Road include two lighted softball fields, one lighted baseball field, concession stand, restrooms and a recently completed batting cage building. The renovated complex, funded by a $25 million parks bond approved by Marietta voters in 2009, will be run by a private baseball group. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Valentine’s Day dance set

The second annual Valentine’s father-daughter dance will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Ron Anderson Recreation Center, 3820 Macedonia Road, Powder Springs.

Tickets are $15.

Information: 770-439-3611 or 404-610-4541.Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Free health screening today

Kennesaw will offer free health screenings including cholesterol and blood pressure checks and health and nutrition counseling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Ben Roberson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive.

The city has started an initiative to promote fitness and healthy living that includes a new website, FitCityKennesaw.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Suit involving county, cities could be resolved

A settlement may be near in a long-running lawsuit between Gwinnett County and its 15 cities.

The Loganville City Council will meet Tuesday night to approve a final agreement with Gwinnett County in a lawsuit over government services, according to a public notice distributed by the city.

Last September, a judge ruled city residents in Gwinnett don’t have to pay for services that primarily benefit residents of unincorporated areas. Despite that ruling, settlement negotiations have continued. David Wickert

Latino American tales featured at library

Storyteller Tersi Bendiberg will present Latino American folk tales and stories at 1 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Lilburn branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library, 788 Hillcrest Road N.W.

Bendiberg, a native of Cuba, immigrated to the United States at age 10. She gathers stories from Cuba, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. The event is free and open to the public. Information: 770-978-5154, www.gwinnettpl.org. David Wickert

Braves players stop by Hopkins Elementary

Hopkins Elementary was visited by team members of the Braves on Friday.

School administrators led a parade of Braves players, mascot Homer and the Tomahawk girls through hallways so they could say hello to students. The parade at the Lilburn school of more than 1,800 kids was followed by a question-and-answer session about the seven habits of successful people.D. Aileen Dodd

Candidates invited to business meeting

Members of the new Peachtree Corners Business Association have invited City Council candidates, candidate forum hosts and others to their inaugural meeting from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Feb. 21 at the Peachtree Corners Marriott. Organizers said the meeting will not be political.

Information: peachtreecornersba.com. Joel Anderson

Animal control task force to meet

A task force examining animal control issues in Gwinnett County will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Animal Welfare and Enforcement Center, 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville.

The 17-member task force began meeting last month. It is reviewing Gwinnett’s animal ordinances and services and developing best practices. The group will report to the Board of Commissioners this spring.

Information: www.gwinnettcounty.com. David Wickert

Group to present black history exhibit

The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County will sponsor a black history exhibit through Feb. 29 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

The free exhibit will focus on African-American women of valor in Gwinnett.

The justice center is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Water plant demolition starts Monday in Roswell

Demolition of the old Johns Creek Waste Water Treatment Facility, off Riverbirch Drive in Roswell, starts Monday. Nearby residents can expect equipment noise and truck traffic. Working hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, though the contractor may occasionally work Saturdays.

Fulton County has a $977,000 contract with Tristar of America, Inc. for the job. The project includes removal of buildings, equipment, debris and asbestos, and about 23 acres will be turned into green space. Completion is expected by December. Johnny Edwards

Shelter to provide pet vaccines today

The Cherokee County Animal Shelter will be administering free dog and cat vaccines for Cherokee County residents 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at 1082 Univeter Road, Canton. The event will have an autograph session and provide photo opportunities with former Braves manager Bobby Cox. Information: www.cherokeega.com. Kenneth Musisi

Roswell company donates to global effort

Boutique executive search firm Meridian Group Partners in Roswell has pledged to commit 10 percent of its net profit to a nonprofit organization in Honduras.

The company selects a different global project every year. The 2012 service project, Lunches for Learning, provides impoverished middle school students in Honduras with food during the school day.

Meridian Group will provide students in rural Santa Lucia, Honduras with scholarships for the entire school year. The company also will visit the school this November during its annual graduation ceremonies. Andria Simmons

Canton plan may attrack new business

Canton city officials are working on a new incentive plan aimed at recruiting more business to the downtown area. Canton Main Street program director Ginger Garrard says her proposal would have the city paying a portion of the rent for enterprises seeking to locate downtown for their first year. Garrard says those seeking the break would be required to submit a detailed business plan, among other documents, and that a rental car excise tax would foot the bill. The City Council is set to consider the plan Feb. 16. Mark Woosley for the AJC

Forsyth youth starts nonprofit

Remington Youngblood, 10, of Cumming, a Johns Creek Elementary student, has met with Gov. Nathan Deal, spoken before the local civic groups and the Forsyth County School Board and County Commission to promote his non-profit organization, “Change 4 Georgia.”

The non-profit, which has been adopted locally by five high schools and five middle schools, collects items for care packages to be sent to Georgia service members. Patrick Fox

Cherokee historical society unveils exhibit

The Cherokee County Historical Society has unveiled an exhibit focusing on the county’s African-American past at the Cherokee County Museum and Visitors Center, 100 North St., Canton, through May 15.

Information: www.rockbarn.org. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Man falsely claimed he was a Katrina victim

A New Orleans man who moved to Atlanta before Hurricane Katrina has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $24,000 in federal disaster relief, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Dean G. Summers, 40, filed false claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2005, saying he had been displaced by the hurricane. He said he needed rental insurance and submitted a fake lease for a College Park apartment and forged receipts, prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty in November. Bill Rankin

Crohn’s and colitis foundation raises $400k

The Georgia Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation recently raised more than $400,000 during the 21st Annual Torch Gala.

The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the chapter. Funds go towards towards education, research and prevention of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Atlanta residents Ann and Jay Davis and their son, Richard, were chosen as 2012 Torch Gala Citizens of the Year. Shelia Poole

Nonprofit seeks to save taxpayers $40k

By improving energy efficiency in aging buildings, a non-profit dedicated to Chastain Park expects to save Atlanta taxpayers $40,000 a year, reducing energy costs by 20 to 25 percent. The Chastain Park Conservancy ‘s sustainability project was done with a $450,000 grant from the Kendeda Fund and pledge of $41,736 in services from Southern Home Performance.

Improvements were made to the Chastain Amphitheatre, the Chastain Arts Center, the horse park, the conservancy office, the golf clubhouse and the basketball courts, among other facilities. Johnny Edwards

Seminar offered on parenting infants

Wieuca Road Baptist Church, 3626 Peachtree Road N.E., will host a seminar series on parenting infants 9:15 a.m. Feb. 5, 12 and 19. Information: 404-814-4460. Laurie Hoffman

DEKALB

Driver in van crash senteced

A Loganville man was sentenced to three years in prison and then another two on work release for causing a 15-passenger commuter van to overturn and crash, killing three Southern Co. employees and injuring six others.

DeKalb County State Court Judge Johnny Panos also ordered James Miles to perform 240 hours of community service and to attend victim impact and defensive driving courses and he also suspended Miles’ license for five years.

Witnesses told police Miles was driving his Dodge Stratus erratically before he clipped the rear of van, causing it to overturn on the Stone Mountain Freeway on Oct. 13, 2009

The van’s driver, 60-year-old Robert Harold Clinton Jr., and passengers Ollie Benny Stephens Jr., 49, and Cindy Fitzgerald, 54, were killed. All three lived in Lilburn. Rhonda Cook

Music showcase set

World Music Showcase hosted by Gladius will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Mark Squared, 3550 Clarkston Industrial Blvd. Ste H, Clarkston. The showcase is a platform for performers of all nationalities to showcase musical styles. The event open to the public and will include light refreshments. Information and booking: www.gladiusmusic.com send e-mail to worldmusicshowcase@gmail.com. Sandra Murray

Clarkston hires new police chief

Clarkston has promoted a captain in its police department to serve as its new chief.

Christine Hudson was appointed to the new role Thursday, after serving as interim chief during a search to replace Tony Scipio, who retired in early January.

Hudson has worked in law enforcement for nearly 30 years, including time with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and Decatur Police Department, where she named 1991 Officer of the Year in DeKalb by the Georgia Bar Association.

In 2005, Hudson left Georgia for Iraq, where she worked to help train the Iraqi Police. Clarkston hired her in 2009. April Hunt

Commissioner to hold budget meetings

DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader will hold a community meeting Monday on the proposed 2012 budget.

The meeting will include presentations about the county’s spending and also allow citizens to comment on their priorities.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Monday at the Greek Orthodox Church, 2500 Clairmont Road.

Rader has posted the budget on his website, for review before the meeting, at www.commissionerrader.com.

Information: 404-371-2863. April Hunt

Black history celebration set

The DeKalb History Center hosts its fifth annual Black History Month Celebration at 11: 30 a.m. Thursday. Awards will be presented to five DeKalb leaders: Sheriff-Elect Derwin Brown, Dr. William C. Brown, John Evans, William “Buck” Godfrey and Gregory B. Levett, Sr. The event includes a seated luncheon and entertainment, with tickets at $30 for members and $35 for non-members. The History Center’s located inside the Old Courthouse in Decatur. Information, call 404-373-1088 or visit www.dekalbhistory.org. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Henry arts educator elected to office

Beth Scarboro, English/language arts coordinator for the Henry County School System, has been named president of the Georgia Language Arts Supervisors (GLAS) for the next two years, after having served two years as vice president for the group. She has been an educator for 17 years in four school systems in Georgia, and has been on the English/Language Arts Advisory Committee for the State of Georgia for the past five years.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Leadership academy seeks young men

The Fulton County Youth Leadership Academy is looking for young men between 8 and 11 years old living in the county to participate in its annual One Humanity Conference 8 a.m. -- 4 p.m. Feb. 25 At the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center, 3025 Merk Road. College Park. Deadline to register for is Feb. 13. Chaperones must accompany youth to the conference. Information: Youth Leadership Academy Coordinator Spencer Burton-Webb at (404) 612-2200 or email Spencer.Webb@fultoncountyga.gov.Sandra Murray

Peachtree City pool repairs near completion

Replacement of the all-weather “bubble” over the Kedron Aquatic Center pool in Peachtree City is almost done.

The cover is installed, but the pool cannot re-open until an electrical inspection, fire inspection and other final procedures are finished.

City Engineer David Borkowski told the City Council on Thursday that he expects the remaining work to be finished within about 10 days. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

AARP tax help location changes

The AARP Tax-Aide location previously at Morrow First United Methodist Church, Jonesboro Road has changed to the Morrow Branch Library, 6225 Maddox Road. Tax preparations will be walk-in only on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 4 through April 14.

AARP Tax-Aide helps low-and moderate-income taxpayers, with special attention to those 60 and older, to file their personal income tax returns.

Information or alternate locations: call 1-888-227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/taxaide. Kenneth Musisi

Peachtree City to have pruning overhaul

Following approval by the Peachtree City mayor and City Council, ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance has a contract to prune shrubs and other plantings at city-owned landscape beds and the entrances to subdivisions, under the guidance of an arborist.

City officials noted that while some cutting may appear “extreme,” the plants will re-establish their proper size come spring. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

East Point police target Jefferson Park

Residents in the Jefferson Park area of East Point may have noticed a bigger police presence in the area during the last few weeks. The city is now conducting more safety patrols in the area and is working on a long-term plan to combat crime in the city’s neighborhoods. John Thompson for the AJC