County by county news for Saturday

The cemetery is being cleaned in preparation for the unveiling on May 10 of an interpretative sign, containing information about the pioneer Turner family and the ferry they operated across the Chattahoochee River during the nineteenth century.

Reservations: riverlinega@gmail.com.

Information:

, riverline.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Lokey is finalist for state award

Rhonda Lokey, a sixth grade humanities teacher at Campbell Middle school in Smyrna, is one of 10 finalists for Georgia teacher of the year.

She was selected from a field of 150 teachers. The Cobb County School district recognized Lokey as teacher of the year for 2013-2014.

The state award will be announced May 16.

Information: www.cobbcounty.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Foot care class at Emory-Adventist

Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna is hosting a free community class, “Give Foot Pain the Boot,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the cafeteria of the hospital, 3949 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna.

Dr. Andrea Cass will offer visitors advice on how to take care of their feet, the most common foot ailments and when to see a podiatrist.

The class is free and registration is requested.

Information: emoryadventist.org or 770-319-2025. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Austell to close Grace Street today

Austell will close Grace Street from Sherwood Drive to Love Street 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today for Spring Fling of the First Baptist Church of Austell, 5991 Love St.

Information: fbcaustell.com.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Free play today at Connection Church

The Connection International Arts Ministry will present “Precious Memories” at 7 p.m. today at Connection International Ministries, 4331 Brownsville Road, Powder Springs at U.S. 278.

This free play has been written by Tinker Foster, and Tim Solomon will be the soloist.

Information: goconnectnow.com/2014/04/precious-memories-2 or 678-384-0200.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Warsaw ghetto photos on exhibit

“In the Ghetto of Warsaw: Heinrich Jost’s Photographs” are on display 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through April 30 at the Lovett School Galleria, 4075 Paces Ferry Road, NW.

Jöst’s 40 pictures are among the few of Warsaw ghetto corpses during World War II - some with graphic, disturbing content so that parental and teacher guidance and supervision are advised for young children.

Information: Karey Walter, karey.walter@lovett.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Gwinnett Tech names interim president

The Technical College System of Georgia has appointed David H. Welden to serve as interim president of Gwinnett Tech, following the May 1 retirement of Sharon Bartels. Welden is currently executive vice president for finance and administration. For the past decade Welden, as a member of the college’s senior leadership team, has managed the operational areas of the college, including accounting and budgeting, facilities, human resources, information technology, and the college’s D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center. Information: www.GwinnettTech.edu or 770-962-7580. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

District extends state education partnership

Gwinnett County school board members approved Thursday a one-year extension on the Investing in Educational Excellence Partnership.

The county first reached an agreement with the state in 2009, but the contract is about to expire.

The partnerships allows school systems to have flexibility in 13 areas, including class size and core curriculum.

Eric Stirgus

Wellness fair at Pinckneyville Park

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, View Point Health and the Department of Developmental Disabilities host the Spring into Wellness Fair 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Pinckneyville Park’s Medlock Pavilion, 4758 South Old Peachtree Road, Norcross. The fair includes free interactive demonstrations, health screenings, live demonstrations, bouncy house, fun run, and raffle prizes. Information: 678-209-2758. Karen Huppertz

Mobile food bank helping hungry

The Overcomers House and The Atlanta Community Food Bank are hosting the Truckload Food Giveaway Mobile Pantry for families in need at 9 a.m. today at Healing Place Church, 781 U.S. Highway 78 in Loganville. The Overcomers House is a Snellville-based nonprofit that works to fight hunger in Gwinnett and surrounding areas. Information: 678-575-6608. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Roadway resurfacing to begin in Duluth

Duluth roadways will benefit from the 2014 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant for milling, patching, and resurfacing funded by the motor fuel tax with a 30 percent match from SPLOST dollars. Roadways were chosen based on results from the Pavement Evaluation Report. Roadways to receive repair: www.duluthga.net/departments/public_works.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners to make business district

Peachtree Corners is launching a comprehensive study to develop a walkable, connected central business district and town center. Through a Livable Centers Initiative grant, the city has awarded Lord Aeck Sargent the contract to focus on the area of Peachtree Parkway between Medlock Bridge and Holcomb Bridge roads. Residents, business owners and operators will have the chance to provide input in developing the concept plan through a series of community meetings, online surveys, mail and social media.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Johns Creek getting first traffic circle

Work is set to begin within two weeks on the city of Johns Creek’s first roundabout, or traffic circle. It’ll be built at Lexington Woods Drive and Sargent Road, and is intended to slow traffic to give residents coming out of nearby subdivisions safer access onto Sargent Road. City officials are also hopeful the project will reduce collisions. City officials say contractor Curb-Tech aims to finish the project by early summer at a cost of $75,000.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Teen GOP gathering rescheduled

The Cherokee County Teen Republican convention that had been scheduled for today has been postponed to noon April 26 at the Holly Sprigs Train Depot Community Center, 164 Hickory Road due to the Easter holiday. The annual convention’s being held to elect new officers and delegates to the state convention set for June 7 in Atlanta. Mark Woolsey

Cherokee expanding high school offerings

The Cherokee County School district is expanding the number of high school credit courses offered in middle schools allowing more rising eighth-graders to get a jump on graduation requirements. Offerings will include Coordinate Algebra, French, Beginning Orchestra and Chorus, Intro to Drafting and Design and Intro to Digital Technology. Contact schools for more information. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Racing exhibit opens in Canton

Cherokee County History Museum, 100 North St., Canton has a new exhibit, “At the Races: Dixie Speedway,” a pictorial history of the 45-year-old Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, at which drivers like Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty once raced. Free. Wednesday through Saturday thruogh July 26. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Workshops to focus on cyber safety

The Milton Community Alliance for Mental Wellness is sponsoring GBI cyber safety workshops at 2 p.m. April 27 at Northwestern Middle School, 12805 Birmingham Highway; and 7 p.m. April 29 at Cambridge High School, 2845 Bethany Bend.

The GBI’s Georgia CyberSafety Initiative is a multi-agency collaboration that seeks to educate parents on current trends among children and their use of technology and to ensure children’s safety from online threats. The workshops are open to the public.

Information: www.cityofmiltonga.us

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Optimists Club hosts golf tournament

The third annual Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club charity golf tournament will take place April 28 at Windermere Golf Club, 5000 Davis Love Drive, Cumming.

The tournament will be a four-person scramble with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Individual entry fee is $100, and teams may sign up for $400. Proceeds benefit children’s programs and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Forsyth.

Information: jodi.smith@vzw.com or 770-313-3804. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

ATLANTA

APS budget to get closer scrutiny

Atlanta school board members concerned about historically high levels of spending, administration costs and reliance on savings approved a plan Thursday to revisit next year’s budget once incoming Superintendent Meria Carstarphen arrives this summer.

The board’s Budget Commission passed the $658 million budget, which depends on spending $25 million from reserve funds, with the provision that board members may adjust the spending plan later. The budget is scheduled for final approval Tuesday.Mark Niesse

APS teacher finalist for state award

An Atlanta teacher of gifted students, Rita Simmons, is a finalist to become the 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year.

Simmons, who teaches at Cleveland Avenue Elementary School is already Atlanta Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

The Georgia Teacher of the Year will be announced during a banquet May 16 and will then serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession across the state and nation. Mark Niesse

Author to deliver Holy Innocents’ lecture

Author Conor Grennan will deliver the Program for Global Citizenship lecture 7 p.m. Tuesday at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, 805 Mount Vernon Highway NW.

Grennan is the author of “Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal,” which is based on his experiences in war-torn Nepal over a three-month period in 2004. Information: www.hies.org Kent A. Miles

AARP workshop for older entrepreneurs

AARP Georgia and the U.S. Small Business Administration hosts the workshop “Exploring Entrepreneurship,” 8 a.m. Monday at 999 Peachtree St.

The event will offer counseling and training for people 50 and older who would like to start or grow a business. It is free and open to AARP members and non-members.

Information: aarp.cvent.com/AARP-SBAWorkshop or 404-870-3785.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

DEKALB

Water leak once again closes DeKalb Avenue

A popular northeast Atlanta thoroughfare was shut down for the second morning commute Friday when water began leaking again from a main that burst early Thursday.

As much as 3 feet of water inundated DeKalb Avenue at Elmira Place early Thursday before city crews located a valve and shut off the flow of water into the pipe.

Emergency repairs were completed around 8 p.m. Thursday and the road reopened.

Scheree Rawles, spokeswoman for Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management, had warned that repairs to the roadway would make single lane closures necessary beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, but all lanes were shut down before daybreak Friday when water began leaking again. Mike Morris

Open house on East Metro DeKalb CID

Commercial and industrial property owners in south DeKalb County will host an open house on the new East Metro DeKalb Community Improvement District at 8 a.m. ThursdayApril 24 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur.

The proposed CID boundary is along the I-20 corridor. Property owners attending the open house will receive information about the new CID, and have an opportunity to ask questions as well as sign up to participate.

Information: www.eastmetrocid.com or 404-684-7031. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Adult basketball league wins championship

The 35 and Over Adult Basketball League run by DeKalb County’s parks department recently beat out six other teams to win the state championship.

The adult winter league had to win three games in the playoffs to emerge as the state winners in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association championship.

Information about that league and others: 404-371-2711.

April Hunt

Earth Day recycling to be offered Saturday

The Saint Philip Community Development Corp. will host its Community Green & Clean/Earth Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at St. Philip AME Church, 240 Candler Road SE.

Safe on-site disposal of sensitive documents, electronics recycling, household hazardous waste disposal, and a flea market will be offered.

Information: 404-371-0749. Arlinda Smith Broady

Neighborhood watch workshop for residents

A neighborhood watch workshop will take place at 6 p.m. April 22 at the DeKalb County police and fire headquarters, 1960 West Exchange Place, Tucker.

This workshop is designed to educate participants on the most effective ways of identifying and reporting suspicious activity and mobilizing a neighborhood watch program. A tour of the DeKalb 911 Center will also take place during the event.

Information: dekalbcountyga.gov

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Man rewarded for helping solve officer’s death

The Henry County Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police gave a $6,000 reward to William Baldwin for his role in helping identify the motorist who was responsible for the hit-and-run death of Henry County Police Officer Elgin Daniel in 2012. Ruben Marin was convicted of the crime after he visited a dealership in Calhoun where Baldwin was working. Baldwin saw Marin’s damaged truck, remembered media reports about the incident and wrote down the license plate number which he gave to police. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Peachtree City maintains housing limit

The City Council of Peachtree City on Thursday (April 17) upheld a moratorium on multifamily housing projects, denying a developer’s request to build an assisted-living home. Representatives from the Texas-based LaSalle Group wanted to build a 54-bed memory-care facility at Lexington Circle, but council members said existing facilities already meet the demand for such services. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Hampton Elem. gets charter grant

Hampton Elementary School will receive a $275,000 charter planning and implementation grant to become a charter school in the fall.Funds will be used to purchase supplies and materials for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics stations. Hampton Elementary is the second school to make the charter transition in the Henry County School System. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Schreiber named top gifted teacher for 2014

The Georgia Association for Gifted Children recently named Luella Elementary teacher Cathy Schreiber Georgia’s Gifted Teacher of the Year. She received a recognition letter, a plaque and an all-expenses-paid trip to a summer conference in Connecticut. Schreiber has spent 17 of her 21 years in the Henry County School System as a teacher of gifted children. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Henry students tapped for GHP

Twenty-two students from eight Henry County high schools have been selected as finalists for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program. This marks the third straight year that the district has had more than 20 students selected. Nearly 700 students from across the state will participate in the program this summer at Valdosta State University. Since the program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, there is no charge for students to attend. Information: www.gosa.georgia.gov or www.henry.k12.ga.us.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Southern Conservation Trust seeks comments

As part of its effort to gain national accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance, the Southern Conservation Trust is seeking public comments about its performance. Information pertaining to the SCT’s standards and operations can be submitted at www.landtrustaccreditation.org or info@landtrustaccreditation.org by June 1.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC