County by county news for Saturday

The new trails start at First Baptist Church on North Main Street and link to Whispering Lake and Matlock trails off of Moon Station Road.

The city has received $301,000 from Georgia Department of Natural Resources grants to help build five trails since 2006.

The community trail system will end at Jiles Road. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kennesaw and Smyrna host mobile food trucks

Kennesaw’s Dinner at the Depot is 5 to 8 p.m., 2828 Cherokee St. on Mondays during summer with food trucks. Information:www.kennesaw-ga.gov.

Food Truck Tuesdays in Smyrna is 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 24 in the parking lot adjacent to Taylor-Brawner Park. Information: www.smyrnacity.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Community projects focus of lunch

The reservation deadline is noon Monday for the South Cobb Area Council luncheon meeting of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Coach George E. Ford Center, 4181 Atlanta St., Powder Springs.

Cobb Commissioner Lisa Cupid and Joel Cope, president of the Mableton Improvement Coalition, will be discussing updates on South Cobb community projects. Memberst: $10 online, $20 at the door. Guests: $30. Information: cobbchamber.org or 770-980-2000.Carolyn Cunningham

Lee’s town hall meeting moved

The town hall meeting for Cobb Chairman Tim Lee has been moved to Pebblebrook High School Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts, 991 Old Alabama Road, Mableton. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 13. Information: 770-528-3305. Jaime Sarrio

Summer J.A.M. to be July 17 in Civic Center

The Coalition of Cobb County Business Associations and Cobb Chamber of Commerce will hold Summer J.A.M. 5 to 8 p.m. July 17 at the Cobb Civic Center. The event celebrates Cobb’s small business community and promotes local business associations. Members of participating associations can attend for free with online registration or pay $20 at the door. General admission: $20 online, $30 at the door. Deadline for online registration: noon July 3. Information: cobbchamber.org/summerjam. Jaime Sarrio

Austell employees may receive pay raises

Austell’s proposed 2013-14 budget has benefited from the longer, colder winter with an extra $633,000 from its natural gas system for a total of $3.55 million in franchise fees.

The city’s proposed $6.35 million budget includes a 5 percent pay raise for its 100 employees, lower health insurance for them and no employee layoffs or service cutbacks, Mayor Joe Jerkins said. The budget is available for public review 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays, Finance Department, Austell City Hall, 2716 Broad St. SW. A final hearing and vote is 6 p.m. Monday. Information: Finance Department, 770-944-4315. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Suwanee Police warn about phone scam

The Suwanee Police Department is warning residents of a recent phone scam where a man identifies himself as a police officer and tells them of an outstanding warrant or ticket for which they will be arrested if they don’t immediately pay a fine. He tells residents the situation can be resolved if the fine is paid by credit card over the phone.

Suwanee officers don’t contact residents about paying fines directly to the police department, police said. Residents who have received similar phone calls should contact the Suwanee Police Department at 770-945-8995. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett lawmaker announces resignation

State Rep. Brian Thomas, D-Lilburn, announced Thursday that he will resign July 1 to accept a new job in Maine.

Thomas was elected to represent House District 100 in Gwinnett County in 2005. He has accepted a job as national director of Cultural Resources Services for the Natural Resources Group and will be moving to Lamoine, Maine

Thomas is an Army veteran who holds a Ph.D in anthropology and a law degree from Georgia State University.

Aaron Gould Sheinin

Duluth man wins $1M in Georgia lottery

Eric Millen, of Duluth, won $1 million playing the Monopoly Millionaire instant game. He bought his ticket at the QuickTrip on South Marietta Parkway in Marietta on June 12. Millen, 44, said he’s planning to buy a new car and save for his daughter’s college fund with his winnings. Bryan Cronan

New chief, promotions in fire department

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency services recognized its newly appointed Fire Chief, Casey Snyder, at a promotions ceremony this week.Snyder has been with the department since 1989. The department also promoted 38 other employees: 16 driver/engineers, 16 lieutenants, four captains, two battalion chiefs, one district commander. All were issued the ranks and badges before proud spouses, children and special guests at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center.

Andria Simmons

Students with perfect attendance honored

The school board recognized students Thursday who graduated high school with perfect attendance records: Janae Thompson, Brookwood; Clara Kim and Royce Kim, Gwinnett School of Mathematics Science and Technology; Izzy Sam, Lanier; Jordyn Shafer Mountain View; Casey Brace, North Gwinnett; Anish Mayur Amin, Parkview; Heon Ju Lee, Peachtree Ridge; and Oluwaseun Ogunmoyero, South Gwinnett. Nancy Badertscher

Leadership institute accepting applications

The Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute trains and empowers local citizens and community leaders to promote change in their neighborhoods and communities. Organization leaders address growth and development issues, helping youth succeed, preventing violence and crime, environmental concerns and much more.

To apply: www.gnli.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Canton votes to raise mayor, council pay

Canton City Council members have voted themselves a raise. The Council voted 4-1 Thursday night to increase council pay from $2,100 to $8,000 annually and the mayor’s salary from $3,000 to $10,000 effective January of 2014.

The council turned aside an alternate proposal which would have delayed raises until 2016, which meant that none of the council members serving a current term would have gotten the increase. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Baby, 2 adults injured in Cherokee wreck

Investigators believe a black Ford pickup rolled several times before landing on the wall underneath the Ridgewalk Parkway overpass on Interstate 575 northbound in Woodstock, authorities said.

The man driving, whose name was not released, was e extricated from the wreckage and was in critical condition at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

The woman sustained cuts, but was in stable condition. The baby, conscious and alert, was flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite for evaluation. Alexis Stevens

Forsyth school board approves 2014 budget

The Forsyth County Board of Education gave final approval to its fiscal year 2014 budget Thursday night. The $281.9 million document is up more than $11 million from last year’s $270.5 million document, with most of the increase stemming from salary and benefit changes. The budget adds 80 new teaching positions and provides for a 2 percent pay increase for employees. Mark Woolsey

Centennial High seeks softball players

All rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls zoned for Centennial High School, 9310 Scott Road, Roswell, who want to play softball must register by July 15. Softball season begins August. Information: Marty at alymart@att.net or 678-230-5155. Veronica Fields Johnson

Adventure Runs get shoes to those in need

Soles4Souls Inc., a non-profit anti-poverty organization, will team up with Road Runner Sports to collect footwear for those in need. The first of seven scheduled Adventure Runs takes place at Road Runner Sports, 3756 Roswell Road, N.E. Participants are invited to donate gently worn shoes at the event, which will feature free 60-minute scavenger hunts, score giveaways, raffles and live music. Dates: June 29, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and Nov. 21.

Information: www.youradventurerun.com or www.giveshoes.org. Mea Watkins

Autrey Mill offers cellphone tours

The Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center in Johns Creek has launched cell phone tours of the 43-acre site. Visitors can dial a phone number and enter a site code to hear information about the preserve and its historic buildings. Recordings provide information on the history of the buildings, including their previous residents and interesting features that distinguish each building.

Information: www.autreymill.org. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Burglars hit restaurant third time in a year

Bobbie Robinson and her business partner opened Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar on Edgewood Avenue one year ago this month.

Since then, the Sweet Auburn Historic District restaurant and sports bar, which fronts the under construction Atlanta Streetcar line, has been broken into three times.

The most recent burglary happened before daybreak Friday.

After those incidents, Robinson installed burglar bars over a side door that the thieves used to gain entry, but she said she was trying to avoid covering the front windows of her restaurant with the bars. Mike Morris and John Spink

Local homicide suspect arrested in Alabama

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials arrested Antonio Sullivan, 23, in Montgomery on Wednesday for allegedly killing Wava Lee Benton, 30, in the 2000 block of Sylvan Road on May 7, according to Atlanta police.

Witnesses told police they saw Benton and a group of men, including the suspect, hanging around the back of the Caribu apartment complex before the suspect began chasing Benton through the apartment’s parking lot and shooting toward him.

Benton fell to the ground after he appeared to be hit by a bullet.

Witnesses told police the suspect then walked up to Benton and shot him several times before running away, according to the incident report.

Benton was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and died the following day.

Sullivan was taken to the Fulton County Jail. Bryan Cronan

Illustrator featured in library exhibit

In collaboration with Gregarious Art Statements, the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Ave. N.E., will exhibit works by illustrator R. Gregory Christie, the 2013 Ashley Bryan Illustrated Africana Children’s Literature Award winner, through Aug. 25.

Information: 404-730-4001, ext. 100. Mea Watkins

DEKALB

Decatur annexes four properties

Decatur’s commission approved annexing four properties, two on McKinnon Drive and one on Kirk Road in southeast Decatur, and another on Derrydown Way in the city’s northeast corridor, into city limits. The annexation should become official around September 1. This is Decatur’s second small-parcel annexation this year, with five Midway Road properties getting approved last April. Bill Banks for the AJC

Outdoor movie event tonight

Stone Mountain Main Street and Downtown Development Authority host Movies on Main 6:30 p.m. today in downtown Stone Mountain Village. The show, “Hotel for Dogs,” starts at sundown. The event features face painting, concessions, Tooth Fairy and ConunDrums. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Information: stonemountainvillage.com

Arlinda Smith Broady

Brookhaven to lease via own nonprofit

Brookhaven City Council recently agreed to form itself into a nonprofit corporation that will handle leases and purchases for the new city.

State law allows governments to sign only one-year contracts, with the option for renewal, to allow for changing elected officials’ votes. By creating the nonprofit, Brookhaven can enter multi-year leases for buildings or patrol cars. Brookhaven must register its finance corporation with the Georgia Secretary of State. April Hunt

Olympian to address DeKalb youth

Gold Medalist Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas will serve as featured speaker at a breakfast honoring the county’s youth 9 a.m. Aug. 10 at at the Marriott Evergreen in Stone Mountain.

Douglas, who won the gold in gymnastics in the 2012 Olympics, is the keynote at the 2013 Youth Empowerment Breakfast. The program focuses on children and families and development programs in the county. Tickets: $25. Information: www.youthempowermentbreakfast.eventbrite.com. April Hunt

DeKalb hosting water quality workshop

DeKalb County’s Adopt-A-Stream program will host a training workshop 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. today at Stone Mountain’s Confederate Hall Historical and Environmental Education Center, 2003 Robert E. Lee Boulevard.at Stone Mountain. There is no charge but registration is required for the session, which will train volunteers how to collect water samples from county streams and how to interpret the data.

Registration/information: Michael O’Shield at 770-724-1456 or msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

Piedmont celebrates Cancer Survivor’s Day

Piedmont Cancer Center patients are invited to come out for a day celebrating their survivorship noon to 10:30 p.m. June 22 at Stone Mountain Park. Patients plus one guest receive complimentary admission to the event. Additional guests are $40. Event includes a laser show, picnic and entertainment at the Sports Pavilion. Registration is required.

Information: 404-605-2430, piedmont.org or stonemountainpark.com. Arlinda Smith Broady

SOUTHSIDE

Henry employees get first raise in six years

Henry County employees will receive a 1.8-percent pay raise in the new fiscal year, the first increase in six years. The raise does not apply to elected officials, constitutional officers, temporary and per diem employees, or those who receive supplements of whose salaries are funded by grants or DATE funds. County employees have not received cost-of-living adjustments the past five years, and some budgets have included furlough days. The raise takes effect in July. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Body found along south Fulton road

Police were on the scene Friday where a body was found along a south Fulton County roadway.

The body was discovered about 11:20 a.m. on Butner Road near Aldredge Road, just south of Camp Creek Parkway, according to Fulton police Det. Melissa Parker.

Parker said shortly after noon that she didn’t yet know the gender of the body, or how the person died. Mike Morris

Police: suspected rapist at large

Police are looking for Joseph Joyce, 32, of Henry County, who they say participated in the gang rape of two women early Wednesday morning at a Conyers extended-stay motel.

Twenty-one-year-olds Defazio Sierra Taylor, Jadarrius Tamonquez Miller and Terry Bernard Watson were arrested outside America’s Best Value Inn on Dogwood Drive by Conyers police responding to a 911 call from one of their alleged victims.

The suspects are being held at the Rockdale County Jail without bond, charged with two counts of rape, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of kidnapping each.

According to investigators, the four armed suspects went to the motel to meet two women they had been chatting with on backpage.com. They entered the women’s room and promptly took their cell phones, keys to their vehicle and cash, then raped them, police said.

Anyone with information about Joyce’s whereabouts should call Conyers police at 770-483-6600. Christian Boone

1 killed in Fulton County wreck

One person was killed when two vehicles collided in south Fulton County on Thursday afternoon, police said.

The wreck happened on Ga. 92 at Butner Road around 4:20 p.m.

After the collision, one of the vehicles burst into flames, Detective Melissa Parker with Fulton County police told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

There is one confirmed fatality, and one person was flown to a hospital for treatment, she said. Angel K. Brooks

Position open on Fayette board

The Fayette County Development Authority is accepting applications for one open position. The volunteer board meets monthly and serves as a liaison between the business community and local government to promote economic growth. For information and applications, contact Floyd Jones at fjones@fayettecountyga.gov or 770-305-5102 by July 5. Jill Howard Church for the AJC