County by county news for Saturday

The first of three rounds of Cobb EMC board member elections is scheduled for Nov. 12 and will include four of the 10 seats, in areas 1, 6, 7 and 10. The candidate forum will be held during the group’s monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Rib Ranch Restaurant, 2063 Canton Road in Marietta.

Information: http://www.cobbemcwatch.org Janel Davis

Acworth exec pleads guilty to wire fraud

A 54-year-old Acworth man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal district court to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. John Costa, president of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Interface -- one of the nation’s largest modular carpet manufacturers -- is accused of taking payoffs to steer business to a vendor of his former employer, according to U.S. attorney Sally Quillian Yates. Costa also directed his co-conspirator -- the owner of a carpet installation company -- to pay a salary and other things to Costa’s spouse As part of the plea, Costa agreed to pay Interface $298,160 in restitution. Leon Stafford

Legislator honored for work in education

State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan received the Impact Award from the Georgia Charter Schools Association on Thursday for her work on education reform.Since her time in the legislature, Morgan has been an advocate for education issues, including support of charter schools. More than 400 charter school advocates are expected to attend the three-day seminar which ends Friday. Janel Davis

Schools to spend $4.3 million for cameras

Cobb County Schools will spend $4.3 million to install web-based security cameras.

The low bid by contractor LMI Systems, Inc. was accepted by the school board last week. The contract calls for installing new dome cameras in elementary and high schools, and replacing older analog cameras in high schools. Ty Tagami

Troubled charter school outlines strategy

Officials at the Cobb County school that lost its charter last week have a four-pronged strategy to get it back. Last week, the Cobb school board voted 4-3 to deny Imagine International Academy of Mableton’s 5-year charter renewal, and Henry Stephens, a regional director with Imagine Schools, said the school is asking for a re-vote. If that doesn’t happen, he said the school will address criticisms and resubmit the application, or ask for a 1-year renewal to buy time. The fourth option, he said: applying for a special charter with the state. Ty Tagami

Animal shelter hold adopt-a-thon today

Cobb County Animal Control will hold an adopt-a-thon from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today as part of the ASPCA Save More Lives Challenge. Adopt a pet at special rates and enter a raffle in a festival-like atmosphere with vendors, food, animal rescue groups and demonstrations by police dogs and trainers. Location: 1060 Al Bishop Dr., Marietta. Information: animalcontrol.cobbcountyga.gov. Ty Tagami

GWINNETT

Chamber of commerce hires new CFO

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce recently named Craig Brown as its new chief financial officer.

Brown has more than 20 years of financial management experience, most recently as vice president and corporate controller at Outcomes Health Information Solutions in Alpharetta. He has a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Clemson University and is a certified public accountant. He lives in Duluth with his wife and two children.

Brown replaces Larry Johnson, who is retiring from the chamber at the end of the year. David Wickert

GTC uses grant for health program

Gwinnett Technical College will use part of a $1.65 million grant to establish a program in health information technology that will help veterans, the unemployed and underemployed.

The federal grant also will help students pay for tuition for the one-year program, expected to begin next summer. The program will prepare graduates to become coders for medical offices or healthcare vendors. It also will prepare them for healthcare sales and other jobs.

For information on Gwinnett Tech programs visit www.gwinnetttech.edu or call 770-962-7580. David Wickert

Gwinnett Habitat to hold talent show

Supporters of Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity are invited to the eighth-annual St. Matthew’s Talent Show and Ice Cream Social on Oct. 30.

The show is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church at 1520 Oak Road in Snellville.

Suggested donations of $10 for an individual and $25 for a family will be collected at the door. Information: www.habitatgwinnett.org. Joel Anderson

State school chief Barge to speak Oct. 14

State School Superintendent John Barge will speak about the business of education at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 14 at the 1818 Club, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. Barge will speak about making education work for all Georgians, the kind of workers Georgia needs and how best to prepare students to fill jobs. The cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members. To register visit www.gwinnettchamber.org. David Wickert

Want to be a Gwinnett columnist?

You can join eight other AJC community columnists from around metro Atlanta. Send us:

-- A short essay (400 words or less) pegged to a topic in Gwinnett County.

-- Additional paragraph (100 words or less) on yourself and why you should win.

-- A brief list of five topics that you might write about.

You must be a resident of Gwinnett.

Entries will be judged on the basis of writing style, intelligence and freshness of topic, but not on whether AJC editors agree or disagree with your point of view. The first column will appear in November. Send entries to newstips@ajc.com. Please put “Gwinnett Columnist” in the subject line and include your daytime contact information.

Only finalists will be contacted by the AJC. Deadline to submit your entry is Friday, Oct. 14.

NORTHSIDE

Forsyth to break ground on four parks

Forsyth County will break ground this month on four passive parks totaling close to 300 acres of green space. Ceremonies are scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday at the 63-acre Harrison Property Park, 2755 Caney Road; at noon and 2 p.m. Wednesday at the 85-acre Echols Road Property Park, 2205 Echols Road; at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at the 39-acre Old Atlanta Park, 810 Nichols Road; and at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 at the 100-acre McClure Property Park off Old Atlanta Road. Land acquisition was funded through the $100 million bond approved by voters in 2008. Patrick Fox

Sandy Springs residents get update on road work

Sandy Springs Councilman Chip Collins will host an informational meeting on the Johnson Ferry/Abernathy Road widening project and the Abernathy Greenway Linear Park from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the City Hall Council Chambers, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 500. Representatives from the Georgia DOT and the city’s Public Works Department will update residents on the status and schedule for the road project. Parks staff and citizen advisory committee members will update the Abernathy Greenway project. Information: www.sandyspringsga.gov; 770-730-5600. Patrick Fox

Up all night to save animals in shelter

Cherokee County Animal Shelter at 1015 Univeter Drive, Canton is racing to save more lives and they will be staying up all night long from 12:01 a.m. to – 6 a.m. on Sunday. Most animals will be available for a $25 adoption fee. Information: www.cherokeega.com under “departments” and “animal shelter”. Sandra Marshall Murray

Canton pumpkin festival to Oct. 29

Canton Historic Downtown will host The Great Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 29. from 1-4 p.m. at Cannon Park, Main Street. . Information: Ginger Garrard at ginger.garrard@canton-georgia.com or visit www.cantonhdl.com. Kenneth Musisi

Fall gardening class Wednesday in Roswell

Learn why Fall is prime time for gardening in Georgia at a free gardening class, offered from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Bill Johnson Community Activity Building, 10495 Woodstock Road in Roswell. The class will provide instruction on planting and moving shrubs and trees, major plant categories and more. Pre-registration is required, and can be completed in person at the Bill Johnson Community Activity Building, or online at www.roswellgov.com. Mea Watkins

AARP Tax-Aide looks for volunteers

AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service, seeks volunteers to assist in 2012 tax preparation. Volunteers do not need to be AARP members or retirees, but must be available to work during the day on weekdays from Feb. 1 through April 15. Tax counselors receive free tax training and become IRS certified by passing the IRS exam. For information, call 888-687-2277, or use the online registration form at www.aarp.org/tavolunteer8. Mea Watkins

ATLANTA

Deane elected president of association

Richard Deane, the former U.S. Attorney in Atlanta, has been elected president of the National Association of Former United States Attorneys.

The association was founded in 1979 and is dedicated to upholding the integrity and independence of the office of U.S. Attorney. Deane served as the top federal prosecutor in Atlanta from 1998 to 2001 and now co-chairs the corporate litigation practice for the law firm Jones Day. Bill Rankin

Reed wants tax credit for commercials

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed would like to see Georgia’s tax credit for motion picture production extended to television commercials. Film production is “an industry in which we excel,” Reed said at a news conference this week. “We have the resources and the infrastructure in place.” Reed said he envisioned a model in which preliminary work on commercials is done in New York, and then production is done in Atlanta. Jeremiah McWilliams

Watson to lead bike ride to Alabama

Atlanta City Council member Aaron Watson, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club will lead a fall bike ride for Atlantans on the Silver Comet Trail on Oct. 22 at 8 a.m. The ride will start at 8:15 a.m. at the Silver Comet’s Floyd Road Trailhead (4342 Floyd Road, SW, Mableton 30126) and end at the Georgia-Alabama state line. In preparation, Watson will lead training rides every Saturday until Oct. 22. Jeremiah McWilliams

WNBA clinic helps fight diabetes

The Women’s National Basketball Association will host 75 local girls at its WNBA FIT Dribble to Stop Diabetes clinic today at Philips Arena.

Atlanta Dream stars will work with members of Cool Girls Inc. on basketball fundamentals.

Dribble to Stop Diabetes is a national campaign that encourages fans to live an active, healthy lifestyle and raises awareness about diabetes .

For information: www.dribbletostopdiabetes.com. Gracie Bonds Staples

DEKALB

PTA council to hold fall meeting

The DeKalb Council of Parent-Teacher Associations will hold its fall meeting Thursday.

The gathering is scheduled for 6:00pm in the auditorium of the DeKalb County Schols Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, according to school system officials. Ty Tagami

Dunwoody candidates hold forum Oct. 25

Candidates for Dunwoody City Council and the mayor’s office will lay out their positions on the environment and development at public forum.

The Oct. 25 event, sponsored by the Dunwoody Student Volunteer Organization and League of Women Voters, is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Peachtree Charter Middle School, 4664 N. Peachtree Road, said organizer Joe Seconder.

Topics include: “green” technology, business practices, park and trail planning, transportation, energy, trash, local food production, air and water quality and a “sustainability plan” for the city. Ty Tagami

Decatur candidates hold meet-and-greet Sunday

Decatur school board candidates Peg Bumgardner and Garrett Goebel will hold a forum and meet-and-greet Sunday, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at The Church of Decatur Heights, 735 Sycamore Drive. Moderator Geoff Koski anticipates the current SPLOST, also on the Nov. 8 ballot, will be the most discussed item, though he added the event is less debate and more an opportunity to introduce the two candidates. Bumgardner and Goebel are running for the District 1 seat being vacated by John Ahmann. Bill Banks for the AJC

Golf tourney to benefit Lutheran Services

Lutheran Services of Georgia and its supporters will host the 17th Annual Atlanta Golf Classic Oct. 17 at the Heritage Golf Links in Tucker. The outing will benefit LSG’s social service programs. This year, the event will feature a silent auction, a 19th hole party and “Rice for Refugees” feature. Participants can donate a bag of rice to refugees the agency helps resettle. The donation help bridge the gap between a family’s arrival and when they qualify for food stamps.

Information: Alyson Coffman, 678-686-9602. Gracie Bonds Staples

County to host workshop on zoning

DeKalb County will host a workshop today to explain how planning and zoning issues are used in the county. The free session runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Clark Harrison Building, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. Information/to register: 404-371-2881. April Hunt

Rain barrel workshop Oct. 27 in Tucker

A workshop to encourage DeKalb County residents to use rain barrels will be held in the evening hours of Oct. 27 at the Tucker Recreation Center.

The county Watershed Management department will host the event, which will help residents make their own barrels.

Cost is $30.

The workshop is limited to 20 people, with registration ending Oct. 21. Register at www.dekalbwatershed.com under the public education section or by email at atpennie@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Henry Fire Department names new chief

A 25-year veteran of the Henry County Fire Department will now head the department. Deputy Chief Bill Lacy is the county’s new Fire Chief. He had been serving as interim chief since December 2009 when his predecessor Barry Jenkins resigned. “Chief Lacy is a proven leader with a heart for service, who has worked his way up through the ranks, earning the respect of all those who work with him, from his fellow firefighters to the Commissioners, as well as citizens throughout the community,” Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth ‘B.J.’ Mathis. Tammy Joyner

Henry to get software to track stolen property

Henry County Police will soon have a new weapon against property thefts, thanks to a nearly $31,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant grant. Henry will use the money for a new software that tracks stolen goods people try to sell or pawn. The software is tied to a nationwide database of stolen property that tracks the goods by serial number, description, photos and other clues. It links reporting process between law enforcement and the resale agent or business. Tammy Joyner

Red Ribbon Celebration in East Point today

The East Point Police Department is staging its Red Ribbon Celebration today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jefferson Park Recreation Center. The event stresses the importance of educating the community about drug prevention and the negative effects of drug use. Representatives from the FBI, the Fulton County Police Department, Immigration Customs Enforcement, the Georgia Poison Center, the National Guard, and the East Point Fire Department will be on hand to educate the community on the adverse affects of drugs and the consequences of drug usage. John Thompson for the AJC

Residents can sign up for emergency info

Fulton County residents who want fast information in the event of disasters or emergencies can register for CodeRed, a high-speed notification system that allows emergency responders to send out time-sensitive messages via voice mails, e-mails and text messages.

To register, log onto www.fultoncountyga.gov and click the CodeRed link on the right side of the page. Johnny Edwards

Finalists chosen for teacher of year

The Henry County School System has chosen three finalists for this year’s Teacher of the Year: Jennifer PaskVan, sixth-grade math teacher at Dutchtown Middle School; Suzanne Scudder, honors and AP biology teacher at Woodland High School; and Charlotte Tyson, third-grade teacher at Stockbridge Elementary School. The countywide winner will be announced Oct. 20. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Henry juvenile court get $7,500 grant

Henry County Juvenile Court has accepted a $7,500 grant from the Council of Juvenile Court Judges. The money will be used to provide psychological evaluations to juvenile offenders, assisting judges and probation staff in identifying their needs, according to Judge William Bartles. Monroe Roark for the AJC