COBB
Ball Ground man charged with sexually assaulting 2
children
A Ball Ground man was arrested Wednesday on charges he sexually assaulted two children, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said. Daniel Baxter, 27, is charged with one count of rape, two counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of aggravated sodomy, and two counts of sexual battery, authorities said. Although not related, the children, both under the age of 5, were acquainted with Baxter, official said. Baxter remains in the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center without bond. Anyone concerned about Baxter's possible conduct with their children should call investigators at 770-928-0239. Angel K. Brooks
Frayed flags replaced in Powder Springs
The 35 torn and tattered American flags on display along Marietta Street in Powder Springs have been replaced, according to interim City Manager Brad Hulsey. The former mayor said the flags cost $700 and were paid from the city's general fund. City Hall received calls, expressing concerns about the flags'condition.
CAROLYN CUNNINGHAM FOR THE AJC
Powder Springs readies for development
A whole lot of bulldozing activity has been going on at the corner of Brownsville and Hiram-Lithia Springs Roads in Powder Springs.
However, only water and sewer connections are being installed there, the city's Community Development Director Pam Conner told the AJC.
Conner said there are no plans for a business there yet.
A sign on the site lists Omega Development Corp., but a call from the AJC was not returned this week.
Amid rumors of a Walgreens, no response from Walgreens was forthcoming either this week.
Information: Omega Development Corp., 404-218-7151.
CAROLYN CUNNINGHAM FOR THE AJC
McEachern High coach charged with sexual assault
A McEachern High School coach and teacher was arrested Thursday and charged with felony sexual assault, Cobb County police said. Terence Termayne Tarpley, 33, of Marietta, was allegedly engaged in an off-campus sexual relationship with an adult female student earlier this year, investigators said. Tarpley, a special education teacher, turned himself in to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on Thursday afternoon. He was released just after midnight Friday on $5,000 bond, according to jail records. According to Georgia law, sex between a teacher and a student who attends the same school constitutes sexual assault, no matter the student's age or if the
act is consensual. Angel K. Brooks
Fireworks and food in Powder Springs
Fireworks and food will be among the attractions at Powder Springs' 17th Annual Independence Day Celebration. The event will be 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday on the city's Town Square, 4488 Pineview Drive. Among the free attractions will be entertainment by Scott Thompson and The GLOW Band and interactive inflatables for the children. Information: Kim Peterson, 770-943-8001 ext. 307 or JRM Management Services, Inc., Bill Watson, 770-423-1330. CAROLYN CUNNINGHAM FOR THE AJC
GWINNETT
Foundation helps Gwinnett adapted sports program
Gwinnett County Public Schools announced Friday that it has received a $5,600 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of 69 grants totaling almost $425,000 given bythe Reeve Foundation to non-profit groups, providing more opportunities, access, and daily quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Created by the late Dana Reeve, the program has awarded 2,055 grants totaling over $15.6 million since 1999. GCPS' adapted sports program will use the grant to purchase equipment needed to provide students with physical disabilities the opportunity to participate in competitive athletics. Specifically, the funding will help with the purchase of sport wheelchairs for the athletes. Nancy Badertscher
Company expands Duluth operations
Manufacturer OLI has expanded its facility in Duluth, adding a new assembly operation. The company makes industrial motors and flow acids. On Thursday OLI celebrated its expansion on Buford Highway, which is expected to create 14 jobs and involve an investment of $1.2 million over the next three years. David Wickert
Last week to register for primary
The 2012 General Primary election will take place on July 31. The deadline to register to vote is Monday. Registered voters may request an absentee ballot by mail or cast their ballots in person 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays July 9 - 27 at the Elections Office, 455 Grayson Hwy, Lawrenceville. Information: www.gwinnettelections.com. Karen Huppertz
Warrant sweep nets 43 suspects
Gwinnett County sheriff's deputies said that a recent warrant sweep trying to clear up a backlog of hundreds of misdemeanor warrants netted 43 suspects and also uncovered some things they weren't even looking for — a small marijuana growing operation. John Nicholas and Michale Nicholas were charged with manufacturing marijuana. Deputies said they seized grow lights, a .22-caliber handgun and more than 2 pounds of marijuana. Deputies told Channel 2 that after smelling marijuana, they searched inside. They arrested Lewis Gray and Kenyanna Gray after seizing marijuana, plastic baggies, digital scales and a handgun. Staff reports
Solid Waste earns international award
The Solid Waste Association of North America awarded Gwinnett County's Solid Waste and Recovered Materials Division the Silver Excellence Award in Communication for excellence in the creation and implementation of individual communication tools that inform target audiences about solid waste management programs, projects or organizations. Staff reports
Suwanee invites campers
Suwanee's Great American Campout at Sims Lake Park, offers campers 10 x 20-foot sites from 6 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday for $25. Activities at the 62-acre park at Suwanee Dam and Tench Roads begin at 7 p.m. Participants may bring tents, sleeping bags, food, non-alcoholic drinks, etc. The city will provide portable bathrooms and lighting until 10:30 p.m. For information, call 770-945-8996 or visit suwanee.com. Michael Alpert for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
North Fulton seniors can cool down at county facilities
With temperatures sweltering, Fulton County's Aging Office wants seniors without air conditioning to use county facilities as daytime cooling centers. Fulton's four senior multipurpose centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and neighborhood senior centers are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Benson multipurpose center is at 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Sandy Springs. The Roswell neighborhood center is at 1250 Warsaw Road and Alpharetta's Crabapple neighborhood center is at 12624 Broadwell Road. Information: 404-613-6000. Johnny Edwards
Woodstock Farmers Market open Saturday
The Main Street Woodstock Farmers Market presented by Cherokee Bank is open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Saturday through October 27 at the Woodstock City Center Park Lot, corner of Main Street and Towne Lake Parkway. This Saturday, June 30, the market will feature a variety of vegetables, baked goods and much more. Information: kbennett@woodstockga.gov or call 770-924-0406. Kenneth Musisi
Woodstock hosts Independence Day run
The annual Woodstock Freedom Run is 7:30 a.m. July 4 at Olde Town in Woodstock. The day will conclude with fireworks at dusk behind the Target Shopping Center at Highway 92 and Highway 575. Information: www.woodstockfreedomrun.com. Kenneth Musisi
Golf tourneyto benefit Tech foundation
The fifth annual Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by Bobby Cox is 10 a.m. October 16 at St. Ives Country Club, 1 Saint Ives Country Club Drive, Johns Creek. The tournament will include hole-in-one, long drive, closest to the pin, putting and more. Proceeds benefit the Daniel Hager Endowment Fund of the Georgia Tech Foundation. Information: Klitz@bellsouth.net or Cheshiresdm@aol.com. Kenneth Musisi
Cherokee deputies compete and win
Two Cherokee County Sheriff's Office deputies recently competed in the Georgia Police and Fire Games in Dalton.
Deputies Jeremy Driskell and Justin Messenger competed in the motorcycle rodeo. An intricate obstacle course was designed to test the driving abilities of motorcycle officers. The event was open to all law enforcement motorcycle officers in Georgia and was divided into novice, intermediate and expert divisions.
Driskell won the gold medal in the expert division and Messenger won gold in the novice division. Andria Simmons
Teens can learn art of comic drawing
North Fulton teens can learn about the art of comic book and graphic novel drawing at a workshop MondayJuly 2 at the Roswell Library. It starts at 1 p.m. at 115 Norcross St. and will cover drawing basics, staying motivated, steps to becoming a skilled artist and ways to use talents.
The workshop is for ages 11-18. Reservations: 770-640-3075. Johnny Edwards
ATLANTA
SCLC to appoint new CEO
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is expected to announce Monday that Charles Steele Jr. will return to the Atlanta-based civil rights organization as CEO.
Steele, 65, a longtime civil rights leader and former Alabama state senator, is the owner of Charles Steele & Associates, a consulting firm. Details of his appointment will be made during a press conference at SCLC headquarters on Auburn Avenue.
Steele served as SCLC president from 2004 through 2008 and was later named president emeritus. The CEO position has been vacant. The organization recently ousted Isaac Newton Farris Jr., the nephew of co-founder the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., as president. Shelia M. Poole
Home buyers workshop on Saturday
Atlanta City Councilman H. Lamar Willis will host a home buyers education workshop 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday at Jean Childs Young Middle School, 3116 Benjamin E Mays Dr. S.W. Participants will have the opportunity to earn the 6-8 hours qualifying certificate to participate in any of the down payment assistance programs throughout the state of Georgia. Participants must complete the entire workshop to receive a certificate. Onsite registration will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. Residents will need to be present by 8:30 a.m. to sign in. Residents can also register on-line at www.ulgatl.org or contacting Johnette Brown at jbrown@ulgatl.org or housing@ulgatl.org.Jeremiah McWilliams
Two APS high schools earn design awards
Two renovated Atlanta high schools earned the "Award of Excellence" from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission. Benjamin E. Mays and North Atlanta high schools were recognized at the commission's 35th annual ceremony, which highlights innovative design and quality construction in Atlanta. Both schools recently received extensive multimillion dollar updates. Atlanta Public Schools projects have received six awards since 2004.
Jaime Sarrio
DEKALB
DeKalb CEO to Attend Transportation Forum
DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis will join other Metropolitan Atlanta regional leaders from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 30, to discuss workforce opportunities in the region if the transportation referendum is approved on July 31. The "What If" Summit: A Transportation Workforce Opportunity Forum is at the Courtyard Marriott, 130 Clairemont Ave., Decatur. Event is free and lunch will be provided. To register, visit www.workforceatlanta.eventbrite.com or call 404-586-8524.
Kenneth Musisi
July schedule for Mobile Career Center set
DeKalb County's Mobile Career Center, also known as the county's "jobs bus," will be stationed at various locations throughout July. Some of the locations scheduled are: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 2 at Redan-Trotti Library, July 3 at Stonecrest Library, and July 9 at Clarkston Library; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 5 at Scott Candler Library. The mobile unit supports the ONE DeKalb Works initiative by providing work readiness services. Information: www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
Kenneth Musisi
Tree planting ceremony Saturday
DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, the DeKalb County Office of Public Safety and members of Church of God of Prophecy will hold a tree planting ceremony in memory of Marquel Peters from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Church of God of Prophecy, 333 Covington Drive, Decatur. The ceremony marks the second anniversary of Marquel's Pledge, a community initiative to raise awareness of the dangers of celebratory gunfire in DeKalb County and throughout Georgia. To take Marquel's Pledge, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
Kenneth Musisi
Human Services grant applications available
The DeKalb County Human and Community Development Department is accepting 2013 Human Services Grant applications for General Fund and Victim Assistance Fund. An information briefing will be from 10 a.m. to noon July 12 at the Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur.
Starting July 12, applications will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the William T. White Building, 39 Rogers Street N.E., Atlanta. Applications are also available at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/humanserv. Information: Lisa Thomas at 404-270-1180.
Kenneth Musisi
Publishing Company to Conduct Writer's Workshop
Destiny Productions & Publishing LLC of Stone Mountain will sponsor a Publisher's Writer's Workshop on July 28 at St. Paul Baptist Church, 1396 Nelms Drive, Decatur. The two sessions are at noon and 2 p.m. The workshop will educate writers on how to write and publish their stories, editing, typesetting, copyrights, available grants and ISBN. Tickets are $35. Registration begins July 2 at www.destinypropubllc.com. Information: 770-823-0503 or 678-308-8268.
Kenneth Musisi
SOUTHSIDE
Video voyeur arrested in Fayetteville
Police in Fayetteville are warning female shoppers about a Peeping Tom taking cellphone pictures in dressing rooms. Maurice Smith, 32, was arrested Wednesday after a woman at the Goodwill store claimed he took photos of her, which was confirmed by surveillance video. Police found similar photos in Smith's possession and are asking anyone who might have had or witnessed a similar experience to contact them at 770-461-4441.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Fulton leaders dispute charter school's claims
Fulton County Schools administrators rejected claims made by Fulton Science Academy charter school officials Thursday.
"There is nothing in the school's audit response that causes Fulton County Schools to believe the IAG audit is innaccurate or flawed," said Fulton County spokeswoman Samantha Evans. "In fact, the audit was prepared from information provided by the school."
Fulton Science Academy Middle School released this week a rebuttal to a school system audit that questioned the school's finances and ties with the Gulen movement.Darrel Burnette II
Southside senior centers offer daytime cooling
Fulton seniors can use county facilities as daytime cooling centers during the ongoing heat wave. The county's four senior multipurpose centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and neighborhood senior centers are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Bowden multipurpose center is at 2885 Church St. in East Point. Neighborhood centers are located in College Park, Fairburn, Hapeville and Palmetto, among other places. For information and a listing of centers, call 404-613-6000.
Johnny Edwards
Peachtree City partially closes Drake Field
To prepare for the July 4 fireworks display, Peachtree City has temporarily closed a portion of Drake Field, adjacent to City Hall.
The southeastern point has been cordoned off so Liberty Fireworks can set up. Security will be on site through July 5.
The Lake Peachtree entrance at the eastern edge remains open to swimmers needing handrail access. The area will be open for the Public Safety Expo on July 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., but will be closed afterwards for the fireworks display.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
New procedures for home school students
The Henry County School System is reminding parents of home school students that families must go through the Georgia Department of Education to register students for the coming school year and for all other home school matters. The state DOE will announce new home school procedures, including a new web site where students, parents and local home school associations can obtain and submit documents electronically. Beginning July 2, local school systems will be required to ship all 2012-2013 school year home school documents to the Georgia Department of Education.
Monroe Roark for the AJC
