County by county news for Saturday

As participants gather this year to register teams and launch fundraising efforts, they’ll be helping the American Cancer Society redouble its efforts to make this cancer’s last century – not just for members of Cobb County, but around the world.

Information: 770-429-1624, ort RelayForLife.org. Arlinda Smith Broady

Acworth to offer inside look at police work

Acworth residents can sign up for a citizens’ police academy, a 12-week program that is a modified version of the course required to be a police officer.

The free class will meet 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays starting March 4 at the Acworth Police Department, 4400 Acworth Industrial Drive.

Applicants must be 21 or older.

Information: www:acworth.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

County to hold senior services expo

Cobb Senior Services will hold a services care expo for seniors and caregivers 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday at the Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs St., Marietta.

Topics will include Veterans Affairs benefits, advance directives, levels of retirement community care, in-home care and estate planning.

Information: www.cobbcounty.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

KSU hosts career training expo

Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing and Professional Education will has a free career training expo 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Drive.

The event will feature more than 50 professional certificate programs.

A life coach will also lead a session on interviewing and personal branding.

Information: ksuexpo.com or 770-423-6765. Arlinda Smith Broady

East Cobb Christian hosts open house

East Cobb Christian School, 4616 Roswell Road, Marietta, hosts their annual Open House 7 p.m. Jan. 30.

ECCS is a Covenant Christian School that serves K-8th grades since 1987.

Information: www.eccs.org. Arlinda Smith Broady

Hospital offers estate planning class

The Foundation of Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna, 3949 South Cobb Dr SE, will offer a free class on “Estate Planning 101” 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in the hospital cafeteria.

Attorney Amy Yarkoni, who specializes in estate planning, probate and estate administration, will explain terminology and share tips to determine which type of planning may be right for you.

Registration required.

Information: 770-436-3162 ext. 3109 or www.emoryadventist.org in the classes and events section. Arlinda Smith Broady

GWINNETT

Winder man, 60, dies after bicycle accident

The 60-year-old man killed in a bicycle accident at a Gwinnett County park Wednesday has been identified as Larry Steward of Winder.

Steward was riding on a trail at Dacula’s Harbins Park when he fell off of the bike, Gwinnett County police said in an emailed statement.

“At this time,” Gwinnett police Sgt. R.D. Work said, “this appears to be accidental.” Rodney Thrash

Emergency volunteer course available

The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management is offering Community Emergency Response Team training 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 28. Participants will learn basic disaster response skills. The training consists of eight sessions concluding with a course review and disaster simulation from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 15. Information: ema@gwinnettcounty.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Coalition seeking volunteers for MLK Day

The Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services in partnership with Volunteer Gwinnett is seeking volunteers for its MLK Day of Service in support of local veteran military families 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 20 at StreetWise Georgia, 1750 Cedars Road, Lawrenceville.

Information: intern4@gwinnettcoalition.org or 770-995-3339. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Tree work in Norcross may affect traffic

Norcross will remove two trees in the downtown area and another near the entrance to Thrasher Park Monday through Friday. The work will entail some street and sidewalk closures while the trees are being removed and the stumps ground out. Details: www.norcrossga.net. Concerns or questions: Norcross Public Works Department at 678-421-2069. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Bridge classes offered next week

Residents can learn to play bridge from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays at George Pierce Park, 55 Buford Hwy N.E., Suwanee.

Classes begin Jan. 11 and run for six weeks.

Information: 678-277-0910. Arlinda Smith Broady

Duluth police academy spots filling up

The Duluth Police Department has only a few spots left for applicants to join the Citizen Police Academy beginning Jan. 23 and ending May 24.

The 30-hour course will meet 7 to 10 p.m. every other Thursday at 3276 Buford Highway, Duluth.

Class size is limited.

Duluth residents given first priority and must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license.

Participants must submit to a check of their criminal background.

Interested persons should contact Major Woodruff at dwoodruff@duluthpd.com.

Information: 678-512-3705 or www.duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

No charges for owner of mule that kicked girl

The owner of the mule that kicked a 9-year-old girl in the head will not face criminal charges, the Cherokee County Marshal’s Office said Thursday. Emma Johnson was critically injured Tuesday while she and her mother tried to corral two wayward mules into a neighbor’s pasture on Green Drive, north of Canton. Emma was carrying a bucket of feed to help lure the animals when she was kicked in the head and knocked unconscious, investigators said.

Emma was flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, where she remained Thursday. Alexis Stevens

Court hours in Woodstock changing

Effective Monday, operating hours for Woodstock Municipal Court will change, to 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, from a prior 9 a.m.-6 p.m. schedule.

City officials say they determined the change would better accommodate the public’s needs.

The court is located at Woodstock City Hall, 12453 Ga.92. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Canton city manager calls it quits

Canton City Manager Scott Wood has resigned after four years in the job.

Wood did not offer a specific reason in his letter to the City Council, except to say that new perspectives are needed from time to time.

The Council voted 5-1 to accept Wood’s departure, effective immediately.

Mayor Gene Hobgood appointed new council members Sandra McGrew, John Rust and Bill Grant to a committee that’ll consider who fills the job on an interim basis. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta: City isn’t connected to insurance

The city of Alpharetta says it’s not affiliated with American Water Resources’ recent mail solicitation to local homeowners. The company is offering a water line insurance protection program that would cover breaks between a water meter and a home, and refers to part of the Alpharetta city code, but city officials say they have nothing to do with the program. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

New officers join Canton police

The city of Canton Police Department is welcoming two new officers.

Patrick Duncan and Jason Patton were sworn in at Canton City Hall on Thursday.

The new officers, hired in October, will spend the next several months in the department’s Field Training Officer program, and replace two former officers who departed. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth senior services holds winter concert

Forsyth County Senior Serives is hosting a ‘Winter Wonderland’ concert for all ages 2:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday at Sexton Hall Enrichment Center, 2115 Chloe Road as part of its quarterly concerts.

The Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band will perform.

Admission: $5 in advance; $8 at the door.

Information: 770-781-2178. Arlinda Smith Broady

ATLANTA

Man found injured in southwest Atlanta park

An man found unresponsive with a head injury in a southwest Atlanta park Friday morning remained hospitalized in critical condition early Friday afternoon.

Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said the man, whose name has not been released, had “trauma to the back of the head” when he was found around 8:30 a.m. in Emma Millican Park on Deckner Avenue.

The man was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Jones said just after noon that his condition was upgraded to critical but stable after he underwent surgery.

Police have not said how the man was injured. Mike Morris

Report shows financial gains for APS

Atlanta Public Schools’ revenue declined last year, but not as much as the school system cut spending, according to its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2013.

The result is an increase of about $31 million in the school system’s net position, an indicator of financial improvement based on the difference between assets and liabilities.

The report said APS’ total revenue in the 2013 fiscal year amounted to $768.5 million, and its total expenses were $737.5 million. Mark Niesse

Men sought to mentor inner-city youth

Priority Male Initiative, a free life-skills and job readiness program sponsored by the Community Council of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. is seeking males to mentor at-risk young males, 18-28 years of age.

Information: 404-221-1222, 404-935-5859, info@communitycouncilma.org or www.communitycouncilma.org. Arlinda Smith Broady

Fiction writers award party next week

Creative Loafing hosts its annual Fiction Contest Party 7 p.m. Thursday at the Highland Inn, 644 N. Highland Ave.

The free party will showcase the three winning writers in the 2014 Fiction Contest. Winners will read excerpts of their stories. Arlinda Smith Broady

DEKALB

Decatur begins storm drain improvements

Decatur began the next phase of its downtown storm drainage improvements on Thursday that’ll likely take until March.

The city’s been replacing its original storm drains (circa early 20th century) off and on for the last 10 years. This phase starts at Maple Street and Church Street, running south on Church to Howard Avenue then east on Howard for about 200 feet, and also runs north on Church to Decatur Presbyterian.

The city has one remaining phase, from Fire Station No. 1 to Barry Street, which should take from spring to the end of the year. Bill Banks for the AJC

Rep. Drenner to host ACA event

State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) and DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon will host an Affordable Care Act Enrollment Event 6 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Robert Shaw Elementary School, 385 Glendale Road, Scottdale

Licensed navigators will be available to assist with enrollment.

Information: healthcare.gov  Arlinda Smith Broady

Friends of Dunwoody Library host book sale

The Friends of the Dunwoody Library Book Sale will be held Jan. 23-27 at the library, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.

A special preview for members is 1 p.m. Jan. 23. The sale will open to the public 4 – 8 p.m. Jan. 23 Most books are priced 25 cents to $2.

Information: 770-512-4640. Arlinda Smith Broady

ART Station opens new exhibit

ART Station will be hosting a new exhibit of paintings by local artist Pat Fiorello entitled “Take Me Away Jan. 18 through March 30. There will be a meet-the-artist opening reception 7 – 9:30 p.m. Jan. 25 featuring Fiorello’s newly released book, “Bella Italia, Italy Through the Eyes of an Artist.”

Information:l 770-469-1105 or www.artstation.org  Arlinda Smith Broady

Chamber names new board members

Six new board members recently began serving three-year terms on the board of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

New members are Ted Cummings of Onyx Media Group, Angela Graham of Graham and Associates, Michael Reeves of Reeves and Associates Consulting, Brenda Reid of Publix, Kelsi Robinson of EGM Services and JaKathryn Ross of Georgia Pacific.

The board sets policy and direction for the chamber, which turns 75 this year.

Information: www.dekalb chamber.org. April Hunt

Non-profit group earns accreditation

The non-profit group that supports behavioral health and developmental disability services in DeKalb County recently received a three-year accreditation for services.

The decision by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International gave the DeKalb Community Service Board its highest level of accreditation for meeting standards.

Information: www.dekcsb.org. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton seeks input on 2015 SPLOST

Three meetings will be held for Clayton County residents to give input on a list of road and building projects to be financed with special purpose local option sales tax in 2015. The first meeting will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, before the Board of Commissioners’ meeting in the county administration building, 112 Smith St., Jonesboro. Other meetings: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Frank Bailey Senior Center, 6213 Riverdale Road, Riverdale and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the administration building. Information: 770 477-3208 or www.ClaytonSplost.com. Tammy Joyner

New Peachtree City mayor sworn in

Vanessa Fleisch was sworn into office Thursday as Peachtree City’s new mayor, the first woman elected to that post.

Re-elected Post 3 City Council member Kim Learnard was sworn in and unanimously voted mayor pro-tem, and new Post 4 council member Terry Ernst also took the oath of office. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Union City offers student driving class

Georgia Teens Ride with PRIDE (Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error) is a free, national award-winning, course designed to help parents and their new (or soon to be) teen drivers, ages 14-16, learn what they need to do during the 40 hours of supervised practice driving time required by Georgia law.

The next class is 6 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Police Headquarters, 5060 Union St., Union City.

Registration is required for the free class.

Information: Officer McDowell at 770-515-7990 or jmcdowell@unioncityga.org. Arlinda Smith Broady

Retired teachers meet Thursday

Joseph Barrow, Fayette County Superintendent of Schools will discuss present and future issues facing schools at the Fayette County Retired Educators Association meeting 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, 175 E. Lanier Ave.

Information 770-487-7731  Arlinda Smith Broady

Stockbridge chosen for Main Street Start-up

Stockbridge is one of 19 cities in Georgia selected recently by the Department of Community Affairs to join the Main Street Start-up Program, which provides technical assistance to cities looking to improve their downtowns.

These cities will vie for $1.8 million in available local downtown program funding, according to city officials. Information: www.cityofstockbridge.com. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Registration open for babysitting course

Piedmont Fayette Hospital will offer a babysitting training course 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at its Medical Building at 1279 Hwy. 54 West in Fayetteville.

The registered program is for teens age 11 and up, offering instruction in CPR, first aid, child safety and more. The $45 fee includes materials.

Information: 770-719-5815 or maria.lepage@piedmont.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC