County by county news for Saturday

It is the first in a series of regional events that are part of a health and wellness initiative led by Al Bartell, founder of the Independent Public Policy Network. It will be held in meeting room 113 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Misty Williams

Treasure hunt helps clean up Marietta

Keep Marietta Beautiful has a new plan to help keep city parks clean. Marietta started a scavenger hunt by hiding 10 containers called geocaches in city parks and historic sites. The city hopes participants using a GPS device to find the containers will also pick up trash they see on the treasure hunt. After finding the containers, participants can pick up a prize at City Hall. Information: www.mariettaga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Austell council work session Monday

Austell City Council members will hold their work session at 6 p.m. Monday.

They will meet at City Hall, 2716 Broad St. SW. -- the same site as their voting meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6.

Information: clerk@austell.org or 770-944-4326. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marietta Mardi Gras Run Feb. 11

Strap on those running shoes for the Marietta Mardi Gras Run, taking off at 8 a.m., rain or shine, Feb. 11 on the city square. The 5K, 1K and Tot trot events support community projects sponsored by the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta. Representatives from Shoes for the Cure will be on hand to take donations of used shoes. Registration is $25 before Feb. 6; $30 after. Forms are online at www.marietta5k.com. H.M. Cauley for the AJC

Six Flags to hold show auditions

Six Flags Over Georgia is holding a casting call for iLuminate: an all-new show experience featuring state-of-the-art light-up costumes.

Performers interested in auditioning need to be able to perform difficult choreography, tricks in the dark and cannot be easily affected by lighting effects on their body.

iLuminate will debut at the theme park in May. Auditions are Feb. 4 at Gotta Dance Atlanta, 1778 Ellsworth Industrial Dr. N.W., Atlanta.

Audition details are at www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia. Kenneth Musisi

MDE School to host open house

The MDE School will host an open house on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the school, at 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A100 in Marietta.

The school, which shares a facility with the Greater Atlanta Speech and Language Clinics, educates special needs children in grades K-8 who are diagnosed with developmental disabilities and special needs. For questions, or to RSVP by Feb. 1, call 770-977-9457 or 770-971-4633. Information: www.mdeschool.com. Veronica Fields Johnson

GWINNETT

GMC celebrates opening of new heart center

Gwinnett Medical Center will host a community celebration to recognize the opening of the new Strickland Heart Center on Feb.18, from 8-11 a.m. Take the Pledge for a Healthy Heart is a free event open to the public, where attendees will be encouraged to live a “heart healthy” lifestyle. The event will include screenings and educational booths, health risk counseling, cooking demonstrations and fitness classes. To register, call 678-312-5000 or visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/classes and choose Take the Pledge Event.

Carrie Teegardin

Commerce club to award scholarship

The Snellville Commerce Club is now accepting applications from seniors at South Gwinnett and Brookwood high schools for a $1,000 college scholarship. To qualify, students must be active participants in their school’s Future Business Leaders of America or DECA programs, have good grades and have been engaged in some form of community service. Applications must be submitted by April 2.

Information: http://www.snellvillecommerceclub.org/FBLADECA.html or 770-978-0225. Joel Anderson

Author Lisa Gardner to speak at library

Author Lisa Gardner will speak from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Garden Plaza at Lawrenceville, 230 Collins Industrial Way, Lawrenceville.

Gardner is the author of “The Neighbor,” “Hide” and other crime novels. She will appear as part of the Gwinnett County Public Library’s “Lunch and Listen” series. Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $15 at the door. For tickets and more information visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154. David Wickert

County to host basketball tournament

Gwinnett County will host a three-on-three basketball tournament at 9 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Best Friend Park Gym, 6224 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross.

Four-member middle school, high school and adult teams will compete for prizes. The cost is $35 per team for Gwinnett residents and $50 per team for non-residents. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 770-417-2212. David Wickert

Braves to hold autograph session

Academy Sports + Outdoors located at 1585 Scenic Hwy., Snellville will host the Atlanta Braves Country Caravan featuring a free autograph session with Jair Jurrjens, Eric Hinske, Eric O’Flaherty, Terry Pendleton and Brian Snitker on today from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The number of autographs may be limited. Information: Visit http://www.academy.com or call 770-736-4009. Sandra Marshall Murray

St. John Neumann to hold open house

St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School at 791 Tom Smith Road, Lilburn will hold an open house on Tuesdayfrom 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Applications are available online and at the school. Information: Susan Paccasassi at 770-381-0557 or visit www.sjnrcs.org. Sandra Marshall Murray

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee chamber ushers in new chairman

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce has a new chairman of its board of directors. Tom Heard, General Manager of the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, took the gavel at the chamber’s annual meeting Thursday, and will serve until January of 2013. Heard replaces Ben Looper, President and CEO of Southeast Restoration Group. The chamber also presented awards for entrepreneur, citizen and volunteer of the year at Thursday’s meeting. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

‘Modern Family’ actor to speak at benefit

Jesse Tyler Ferguson of the TV sitcom “Modern Family” will speak at a benefit at Pace Academy tonight.

Ferguson will headline the school’s annual Diversity at the Table event, which will begin at 8 p.m. at Pace’s Fine Arts Center.

The program will include clips from “Modern Family” and a talk with Ferguson, who will answer audience questions.

Proceeds will benefit the school’s diversity outreach and scholarship fund.

Admission is $35. D. Aileen Dodd

Library to hold citizenship classes

Johns Creek’s Northeast/Spruill Oaks branch library will offer U.S. citizenship test prep classes starting Sunday.

The classes will be held every Sunday through March 18, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Participants must have a permanent resident card and speak at least an intermediate level of English.

The library is at 9560 Spruill Road. Registration: 770-360-8820 or karen.swenson@fultoncountyga.gov. Johnny Edwards

Woodward Academy open house Sunday

Woodward Academy North located at 6565 Boles Rd., Johns Creek will hold its annual family Open House on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Call 404-765-4001 to RSVP. Information: www.woodward.edu. Sandra Marshall Murray

Schools’ technology competition today

Nearly 700 Fulton County Schools students will participate in the district’s Technology Competition today Saturday.

The 11th annual event will begin at 8 a.m. at Riverwood International Charter School, Sandy Springs. Students in grades 3-12 will show projects and compete for prizes in 13 categories.

Some include multimedia applications, robotics, animated graphic design and digital photography.

First place winners will qualify to attend the state-level competition on March 10 at Macon State College. D. Aileen Dodd

Albers, Rogers host town hall meeting

State Senators John Albers, R-Roswell, and Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R- Woodstock, will host a Town Hall meeting in Alpharetta at 10:30 a.m. today to discuss legislative updates and priorities.

Attendees will then have the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session. All residents are invited to attend.

The meeting will be held at Alpharetta City Hall at 2 S. Main Street. Andria Simmons

ATLANTA

Former judge joins mediation company

J.D. Smith, who recently retired from the Georgia Court of Appeals, has agreed to join JAMS, the mediation and arbitration services provider, the company said. Smith retired from the appeals court at the end of last year and served as its chief judge from 2003 through 2004. He previously sat in Gainesville as a Superior Court judge for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. Bill Rankin

Bioscience Leadership Council honored

The Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Bioscience Leadership Council was honored Thursday for strengthening the bioscience and health IT industries, and increasing jobs in these areas in metro Atlanta. The Georgia Bio Community Awards each year recognizes individuals, companies and organizations for significant contributions to Georgia’s life sciences industry. The Bioscience Leadership Council brought together two of its members, Georgia Institute of Technology and Gwinnett Technical College, to apply for and receive a $1.6 million workforce development grant.Andria Simmons

Ebenezer to host death penalty summit

Ebenezer Baptist Church will host a Death Penalty Abolition Summit today that will focus on a number of issues, such as last year’s execution of Troy Anthony Davis for the killing of an off-duty Savannah police officer.

The summit, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the historic church on Auburn Avenue.

Among the speakers will be the Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Everette Thompson of Amnesty International USA and Scott Bass of Murder Victim Family Members for Reconciliation. Bill Rankin

Diabetes Coalition to hold health fair today

The Georgia Diabetes Coalition and Diabetes Association of Atlanta will host a health fair today at Bethel United Methodist Church in Atlanta from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The church is located at 1215 New Hope Road, S.W. Misty Williams

DEKALB

Man charged after leaving dog to starve

A DeKalb County man is accused of moving out of his foreclosed home and leaving his dog behind to die.

Without access to water or food in the home, the dog was forced to eat styrofoam before eventually dying of malnutrition and dehydration, Wes Talon, Douglas County spokesman, said Friday. Corey Batey, 35, was arrested this week after the dog’s skeletal remains were found inside the Villa Rica area home, Talon said. Batey, who now lives in Lithonia, was charged Thursday with felony animal cruelty and abandonment of a domesticated animal, a misdemeanor. Alexis Stevens

County schools hire new COO

The DeKalb County School Board on Thursday approved Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson’s selection of Stephen Wilkins as the next chief operating officer. The position was open after former COO Pat Pope (also known as Pat Reid) was indicted on racketeering and theft charges. Wilkins, a retired U.S. Army colonel, was Chief of Human Capital Initiatives for the Alexandria City Public Schools in Alexandria, Va., and facilities director for the Chicago Public Schools. He will oversee areas including facilities and maintenance, transportation, school nutrition and construction. Ty Tagami

Man sentence for pimping girls

A 33-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 60 years in prison after a DeKalb County jury convicted him of pimping two underage girls.

“I was not there when the crime happened,” Erik Djon Ferguson said after he was convicted on 16 felonies.

Ferguson forced the girls to hand out business cards advertising “addicted pleasure models” and to solicit men to pay them for sex. Allante Sieria Green, arrested with Ferguson and charged wit 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, was sentenced to 12 months probation after pleading guilty in September to less serious crimes. Rhonda Cook

Dunwoody police honor employees

Dunwoody Police recently honored employees with 2011 achievement awards.

Officer of the Year, Detective Blake Yeargin, made numerous arrests in his zone. Employee of the Year Eileen Sears assisted in the implementation of new projects to improve efficiency.

Marksman of the Year was Detective Ronny Gomez DeLima. The Meritorious Service Medal recipient was Officer Dale Laskowski, who resuscitated an individual who was not breathing. The Rising Star Award went to Officer Timothy Fecht, for his positive attitude and assistance with community outreach. Andria Simmons

Decatur schools offer budget draft

The first draft of the 2012-13 Decatur schools budget anticipates a $3.8 million deficit, with $43,193,648 in spending while expecting $39,296,741 in revenue. In a proposal before the school board, the administration reported the biggest spending increase is in employee benefits which will rise more than $1 million. The administration, however, is not suggesting a tax increase and is proposing the millage rate remain at 20.90 if this budget’s accepted. This was the first of three public budget readings, the final one scheduled for May. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton deputy gets 3 years’ probation

A Clayton County Sheriff’s deputy Thursday was sentenced to three years’ probation for unlawfully recording a co-worker in a bathroom. Alicia Parkes, former public information officer for the sheriff’s department, pleaded guilty to the July 2010 incident. Parkes was arrested earlier this week for failing to appear in court to deal with the case. She sat in jail for two days before Chief Judge Deborah Benefield would hear the case. Parkes apologized to the co-worker. The first offense lets Parkes keep her sheriff’s office job. Tammy Joyner

Police I.D. body found in Jonesboro

Police identified a body found Wednesday night behind a Jonesboro apartment complex as that of a Riverdale mother of two.

Rochelle Alicia Thomas, 30, dropped off her two elementary school-age children at school Wednesday morning, but did not return to pick them up again that afternoon, Jonesboro Police Chief Franklin Allen said.

Police have considered Thomas’ death a homicide.

Her body was partially clothed when she was located behind the Harmony Crossroads Apartments in the 800 block of Tara Boulevard, police said. Marcus K. Garner

Fulton School Board meets Monday

The Fulton County Board of Education will meet Monday for a work session to discuss pending business. The session will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fulton’s Administrative Center, 786 Cleveland Avenue S.W. in Atlanta. Information: www.fultonschools.org. D. Aileen Dodd

New plant in East Point to hire 300

Martin-Brower, the largest distributor for McDonald’s restaurants, will invest $30 million to set up operations in a 220,000 square-foot refrigerated distribution center in East Point this fall and will employ nearly 300 workers. The plant will be located in the Southmeadow Business Park, near Camp Creek Parkway and Welcome All Road. City officials see the recruitment of the company as major coup for the south Fulton County city. Steve Visser

Fayette parks want public input

The Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department is circulating an online survey to determine what programs, services and activities residents want offered in the future. The survey is at www.surveymonkey.com/s/79S7SFH through Feb. 15, and is limited to one reply per household. Individual replies will be kept anonymous. Results and findings will be made public . Jill Howard Church

Spelman glee club to perform

Spelman College’s highly acclaimed glee club will perform classical and spiritual music at Eagle’s Landing Country Club at 5 p.m. today. The public is invited. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. A cash bar will be available. A limited number of tables for 10 will be available. Non-members can purchase tickets at Grace Management Offices, 325 Country Club Drive, Suite A, Stockbridge 30281 or call 770-389-2000. Nancy Badertscher