DeKalb
Avondale mayor’s resignation ‘huge loss’
Avondale Estates Mayor pro tem Terry Giager, commissioner for nearly five years, will temporarily assume the office of mayor after Mayor Ed Rieker abruptly resigned Thursday afternoon. Rieker had been in office for nearly seven years.
The city charter calls for a special election to fill the vacancy, though city officials have yet to confirm any election details. Giager said the mayor resigned to pursue a teaching position at Emory University. Rieker specializes in mentoring young entrepreneurs, particularly in the technology field, and in marketing and growing “incubator businesses.”
Giager called the mayor’s resignation “a huge loss” for the city.
State representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) added she was “shocked,” especially since several downtown developmental projects long pursued by Rieker were close to realization. Bill Banks
Atlanta
Bomb threat causes school evacuation
Atlanta police gave the all clear Friday afternoon after checking out Washington High School after a bomb threat was sent to the school via text late Friday morning. The school in southwest Atlanta had been evacuated. Mike Morris
Cherokee
Canton accident victim identified
The victim in a one-vehicle rollover wreck in Cherokee County this week has been identified. Authorities say Alexander Robert Carson, 17, of Canton, was killed Wednesday when his Ford Explorer overturned on Bluffs Parkway just south of the Cherokee County Administration Building in Canton and he was ejected. Carson was pronounced dead at the scene.Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Gwinnett
Former Tech star pleads in child abuse case
A former Georgia Tech football star pleaded has pleaded not guilty to felony child-abuse charges that stem from his punishing his son by imprisoning him in the basement.
Recardo and Therian Wimbush have maintained they were properly disciplining their then 13-year-old and also protecting their other nine children from him..Steve Visser
Voting ended, new dog mayor announced
Duluth Parks & Recreation will sponsor the Chattapoochee Pet Fest 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Chattahoochee Park, 4291 Rogers Bridge Road. This year’s theme “Pick Us At The Pooch” will focus on adoption and responsible pet ownership. The new Chattapoochee Dog Mayor will be announced.
Details: www.duluthhistorical.org/Chattapoochee. Karen Huppertz
COBB
Shelter to hold adoption fest
The Cobb County Animal Control shelter will hold a FURever Fest adoption event 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today at 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta. The free event will include special adoption rates for the shelter’s dogs and cats. Police K-9 demonstrations, raffles, scavenger hunts and vendors are also planned.
Information: cobbanimalcontrol.org or call 770-499-4136. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
