County by county news for Saturday

The council also reappointed Steven F. McNeal and Ed Hammock to two-year terms and John Elliott, four-years, to the Marietta Development Authority. Judy Renfroe and Mike Henderson will serve six-year terms.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Saturday 5K to honor Georgia’s fallen officers

This annual Fallen Officer 5K to remember officers who died in the line of duty in Georgia begins as 7 a.m. and the race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at Lost Mountain Baptist Church, 5400 Old Dallas Road in Powder Springs. Proceeds assist the families of fallen officers. Information: www.fallenofficer5k.com.

Shelia M. Poole

Austell awards Outstanding Citizen

Joel La Rocque, 63, of Austell, a one-man creek-cleaner has received an Outstanding Citizen award from Austell.

A herpetologist for 44 years, he regularly cleans debris out of Sweetwater Creek and the Perkerson Mill wetland, totaling hundreds of bags, loads of furniture and 200 tires.

La Rocque will teach students at the city’s new outdoor classroom and community garden. Information: ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joel_La_Rocque. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Men of Tapp honored by city

A dozen students from Tapp Middle School in Powder Springs were recognized recently by the city’s Mayor Patricia Vaughn and City Council members.

The Men of Tapp serve as hosts and ushers for numerous school events, held a canned food drive for Calvary Children’s Home in the city and participate in community cleanup.

Honorees include three-year members Rashad Clark, Jalen Jackson and Micah Thompson; two-year members Keyshawn Askew, Jassieem Josse, Justin Roberson and Robert Snead III; and new members Demetrius Davis, Raymond Dickey, Paige Foster, Kevin Geoffrey Hamilton and Adam Johnson.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Gun safety seminar in Powder Springs

Powder Springs Police Department will host a free gun safety seminar 7 p.m. May 21 in the auditorium of Tapp Middle School at 3900 Macedonia Road in Powder Springs.

This program is intended for civilians and will be focused on safety, Georgia laws, and the use of alternative weapons. The seminar will be at 7 p.m. .

To register, email SSlay@cityofpowdersprings.org or call 770-943-1616. Andria Simmons

Farmers market open Sundays

More than 60 vendors will sell produce, baked and organic goods at the Marietta Square Farmers Market noon to 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 24 on Mill Street. The downtown market is an addition to the year-round Saturday market on North Park Square. Information: Johnny Fulmer at 770-499-9393 or Marietta squarefarmersmarket.net.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Teacher charged with sexual assault of student

Thomas Frederick Grimshaw, a former math teacher at Mountain View High School was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexually assaulting a student, according to school and jail records.

Grimshaw, 33, of Dacula, resigned from his teaching job Monday during the school system’s investigation into his alleged inappropriate relationship with a student. Grimshaw had been employed with the district since August 2006, a school system spokesman said. Details regarding the alleged assault were not released. The incident reports states that video clips and text messages were being examined as evidence. Alexis Stevens

Suwanee invites dog owners to Woofstock

Suwanee and Star 94 will host its annual Woofstock event noon to 7 p.m. today in Suwanee’s Town Center Park. The event will include dog exhibitions, pet contests, live music, inflatables for children, food and beverage vendors, as well as pet adoption and rescue groups.

Dogs, cats, birds, and ferrets are welcome. All animals must be on a leash. www.suwanee.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Suwanee will train park ambassadors

Suwanee is offering a one-hour training program at 6:30 p.m. May 22 at the Suwanee Police Department training facility, 2966 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road for residents interested in volunteering as park ambassadors. Suwanee park ambassadors help provide information and assistance to park and Suwanee Creek Greenway visitors as well as feedback on any security or maintenance issues. Notarized applications are due by Monday . Information: Officer Elias Casanas at elias@suwanee.com or 770-904-7612. Karen Huppertz

Camp set for Gwinnett middle school students

Middle schoolers can learn new skills and explore career opportunities at a camp offered June 10-13 through the Grayson High Technical Education Program. Registration ends May 15. Students can explore careers in culinary arts, digital medial design/animation, robotics, music technology, photography and video broadcast journalism. .

Information: 770-554-7083 or www.graysontech.org

Nancy Badertscher

Suwanee Day accepting applications

Exhibitor and entertainment applications are now being accepted for the 30th celebration of Suwanee Day on Sept. 21. The deadline for exhibitor applications is June 1. The deadline for entertainment applications is May 15.

Exhibitors and entertainers are selected through a jury process. Applications are available at www.suwaneeday.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Suwanee looking for hands-on artists

Suwanee’s Arts in the Park is looking for artists to create, sell and demonstrate during the festival 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 18. Exhibitors will be selected through a jury process and are eligible for prize money. The deadline for applications is April 30. Information: suwaneeartsinthepark.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee puts proposed branch library on hold

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners this week voted 4-1 to indefinitely postpone building a new branch library in east Cherokee.

The $5.6 million branch on Ga. 20 would have been paid for in part with a $2 million state construction grant, which will be forfeited. Commissioners expressed concern about the estimated $300,000 annual cost of operating the new branch, given a multi-million-dollar budget gap. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Transition program for kindergartners

Fulton County schools are signing up incoming kindergartners for a six-week transition program.

Registration is available to children who didn’t attend a pre-K or Head Start program, or who need additional support. Registration is available Monday through Thursday.

The Summer Transition Program begins June 3. Mark Niesse

Regal to open luxury theater in Alpharetta

Regal Entertainment plans to build a luxury theater complex in Alpharetta’s Avalon development, the company announced Thursday. Regal Avalon Stadium 12 & RPX is scheduled to open in 2014. The theater will include a lounge, luxury theater seating, a table area for dining, restaurant food and drinks and traditional snacks.

Regal operates 14 theaters with 214 screens in the Atlanta market. Patrick Fox

Forsyth described as ‘vibrant’ in speech

Forsyth County Commission chairman R.J. “Pete” Amos says the county is poised to become a leader in the global marketplace. During a state of the county address last week, Amos pointed to the county’s triple-A bond rating, low taxes and dramatic growth in residential dwelling units permitted last year as evidence.

Amos says the county hosts more than 8,000 businesses, including dozens of international firms. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Engraved pavers available for memorial

Engraved brick pavers are being sold for the Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta. The bricks are part of the $300,000 walking path accentuated by granite memorials commemorating military conflicts, beyond an entrance plaza with a sitting wall and flags for each branch of service. Pavers 4 inches by 8 inches cost $50, and 8-inch square ones, which can accommodate a military branch logo, cost $100. Groundbreaking for the park is scheduled for July 4, with opening set for Veterans Day 2014. Information: johnscreekga.gov/JCVA. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Holly Springs seeks park name suggestions

The city of Holly Springs is asking for citizen input on the naming of a planned 33-acre park. The City Council decided Monday night to accept citizen input until July 31. The so-called passive park on Hickory Road is tentatively set for an early summer, 2014 completion. To make suggestions: jstanley@hollyspringsga.us or 770-345-5536. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Firm, UPS team up with high school students

Lawyers from the Atlanta firm King & Spalding and UPS on Monday will team up with 60 students and seven teachers from Maynard Jackson High School to increase interest in the law and legal careers.

The joint effort is part of a Law Street Inc. program aimed at increasing diversity in the legal profession by providing students with role models, connections and the chance to see what type of work lawyers do.

About 30 King & Spalding and UPS lawyers will take part in the four-hour-long teaching session and career fair at King & Spalding’s midtown offices, the firm said. Bill Rankin

Obama staffer to speak at CAU graduation

Valerie Jarrett, a Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, will serve as the commencement speaker at Clark Atlanta University.

Graduation will be held at 8 a.m. May 20 in Panther Stadium on campus.

The day before Jarrett speaks her boss will give the commencement address at neighboring Morehouse College.

Both schools are historically black colleges and belong to the Atlanta University Center.

Laura Diamond

Play performance benefits libraries

“The Book Play,” a comical tale of a book club in pandemonium, 8 p.m. May 15 at Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave. will benefit local libraries, including 34 operated by the Atlanta-Fulton system. Tickets are $30 and available at www.afpls.org They can also be bought at the Horizon box office.

Information: 404-584-7450. Johnny Edwards

Health tests offered this weekend

The Way to Well Health Tour, will be at the Sweet Auburn Music Fest 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Sweet Auburn Historic District. Free health tests, assessments, education and consulting services will be provided for adults 18 and up by certified wellness staff.

Information: walgreens.com/waytowell. Mea Watkins

DEKALB

Ex-NBA star helps Innocence Project

Former NBA All-Star Joe Barry Carroll has agreed to fund a new full-time position at the Decatur-based Georgia Innocence Project.

Carroll said his donation is an extension of his prior work for the organization, which is now investigating more than 200 cases.

“It breaks my heart that innocent men and women continue to be incarcerated for crimes that they did not commit,” he said. “Much of this tragedy is preventable.” Bill Rankin

Police look for clues in fatal DeKalb drive-by

Officers responded to reports of shots fired on Larkspur Terrace around 1 a.m. Friday just west of I-285, Channel 2 Action News reports.

The victim was in his 20s and lived a few blocks from the scene of the shooting, Channel 2 reports.

He has not been identified.

A witness told Channel 2 that a white SUV drove past he and the victim, and the SUV stopped.

The vehicle backed up and someone in the back seat fired three shots, hitting the victim in the chest, the witness said.

The SUV was a Chevy, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call DeKalb County Police.

Marcus K. Garner

Jewish genetic disease screening offered

Genetic counseling and screenings for Jewish genetic diseases offered 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. June 2 at MJCCA at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.

Information: Sandra Bass, sandra.bass@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-3798.

Sandra Marshall Murray

Horizon productionwill benefit libraries

The Horizon Theatre production of “The Book Play,” a comic look at friends in a book club, will benefit DeKalb County’s 22 libraries for one night’s showing May 15. Proceeds will go to the DeKalb Library Foundation, which helps buy books and materials for county libraries.

Tickets are $30 online at www.dekalblibrary.org and www.afpls.org. They also are available at the Horizon box office, 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta.

Information: 404-584-7450.

April Hunt

Northside sponsors free screenings

Northside Hospital will offer free health screenings including cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, medical weight, body composition analysis, osteoporosis, cancer risk, etc. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 at MJCCA at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody

To reserve a time slot, call 678-812-4000. Walk-Ins are also welcome.

Information: Sandra Bass, sandra.bass@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-3798. Mea Watkins

Summer program offered at Art Institute

The Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur will offer a four-day summer program aimed to help high school juniors build new skills in the fields of design, culinary, media arts or fashion June 10-14.

The deadline for registration is May 31.

Information: www. summerstudio.com/decatur, or contact Mavia Fleury, 404.942.1807, mfleury@aii.edu.

Mea Watkins

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton schools may offer employee bonuses

Clayton County Public Schools employees could see a one-time, one-percent bonus next year if the school board approves a recommendation from the district’s interim superintendent.

The recommendation comes as the school board prepares next year’s budget which could weigh in at about $352 million.

The bonuses could materialize since the board recently learned the district has more revenue - about $11.37 million - than originally anticipated. Tammy Joyner

Filming to close highway in Hampton

Officials in Hampton have announced that Hwy. 20 from E. Main Street to Lower Woolsey Road will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has granted a permit to close the highway for the filming of a movie, according to a statement released by the city.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Free health tests to be offered

Free health tests, assessments, education and consulting services will be available to adults 18 and up from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Walgreens, 7935 Tara Blvd. in Jonesboro.

Information: walgreens.com/waytowell.

Mea Watkins

Smoking cessation at Piedmont Henry

Piedmont Henry Hospital is offering a four-week Fresh Start program for those looking to quit smoking. The course, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, is held 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday in May.

A Fresh Start instructor teaches techniques to overcome the physical and psychological need to smoke.

Information: piedmonthenry.org/classes to register or call 678-604-1040

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Fayette Chamber hosts healthcare seminar

The Fayette Chamber of Commerce will present a free seminar 10 a.m.-noon Thursday to help employers understand and implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Topics will include compliance, exchanges, tax credits and essential health benefits.

The event will be at the FCC office at 600 W. Lanier Ave., Suite 205.

Pre-registration is required; call 770-461-9983 or visit www.FayetteChamber.org.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Applications open for Taste of Fayette

Vendor applications are now being accepted for the 12th annual Taste of Fayette taking place May 19 in downtown Fayetteville.

The event showcases food from local restaurants as well as information about other area businesses and charitable organizations.

Booths range from $50 to $100; deadline is Wednesday. Information: www.fayetteville-ga.gov or 770-719-4173.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC