County by county news for Saturday

Tuesday’s commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. Janel Davis

Bridge work detours Kennesaw hikers

Walkers in Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park are using an alternative trail between Dallas Highway and Burnt Hickory Road while a pedestrian bridge is replaced on the popular trail. Construction started this week and should be finished by the end of May. A parallel hiking trail will stay open, and hikers will have to ford a stream near the bridge during construction. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

School board has busy meeting week ahead

The Cobb County school board has several meetings planned for the week of March 7-11. Board members will hold a budget session from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the district’s headquarters 514 Glover St. in Marietta. Board member Kathleen Angelucci will hold a town hall meeting at North Cobb High School in the media center at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday. The board will hold its scheduled meeting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Jaime Sarrio

PADV holds fundraiser at Cobb Energy Centre

The Partnership Against Domestic Violence will hold its signature fundraiser today at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. PADV is one of the largest and oldest domestic violence organizations in Georgia.

Astou Dieng, an abuse survivor, will receive the seventh annual Purple Heart with Hope award for her courage and perseverance. The 2011 Hope Award winners are Cammie and John G. Rice. The award recognizes individuals and companies in metro Atlanta who have made significant contributions toward helping abuse survivors. The event, which will be held from 6:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. Information: www.padv.org or (404) 870-9603.Shelia Poole

Check out a Zoo family pass at the library

Families throughout Georgia have an opportunity for free trips to Zoo Atlanta by owning a library card and checking out the zoo family pass at any participating public library branch.

Cobb County’s library system has one zoo pass available for checkout at each of its 17 branches. Information: www.zooatlanta.org. Janel Davis

Powder Springs council workshop Monday

Powder Springs City Council members will meet Monday afternoon for their work session, preceding their evening voting meeting. The 4 p.m. meeting will be held in the Second Floor Conference Room, Powder Springs City Hall, 4484 Marietta St. Then at 7 p.m., the City Council members will meet next door in the City Council Chambers, 4488 Pineview Drive.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

DOT cancels HOV roadwork for weekend

The Department of Transportation has canceled weekend roadwork in the HOV lanes on I-85 from Northcrest Drive in DeKalb to Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Gwinnett. Work is scheduled to resume Monday. Daytime work along the median wall will close the HOV lane in one or two locations in both directions. Work hours northbound are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Southbound work hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work plan also requires lane closures in both directions each weeknight. Northbound HOV lane closures will begin at 10 p.m. through 5 a.m. the next day. Southbound lane closures will run from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Patrick Fox

County shows ‘Leaping Leprechauns’ for kids

Gwinnett County will sponsor a “Leaping Leprechauns” celebration for children from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 17 at the Mountain Park Activity Building, 1063 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain. The event will feature games, treats and crafts. It is open to children age 4 to 10. The cost is $5 per person. Registration is required by March 11. To register or for more information, call 770-564-4680. David Wickert

Suwanee festival honored at conference

A Suwanee festival was honored during the Southeast Festivals and Events Association conference held last month at Stone Mountain. The annual Suwanee Day festival won silver awards for “best festival” with a budget under $75,000 and “best volunteer.” It also won a bronze award for “best green component.” The volunteer award recognized Doug Schwendy, who has served as transportation chair of the Suwanee Day planning committee for three years. Suwanee also won an award for “best event within an event” for the Chalk Walk Art competition that is part of the city’s springtime Arts in the Park festival. David Wickert

Sweetwater players in Thespian Festival

The Sweetwater Middle School Players will travel to Columbus State University todayto participate in the Georgia Junior Thespian Festival.

Sweetwater Middle is one of only two schools in the state invited to perform at the festival, which celebrates the creative talents of budding actors.

The school’s theatre arts students recently received the top award during the Elaine Kottler Memorial North Georgia Middle School One-Act Play Festival. D. Aileen Dodd

City Hall open house for Duluth residents

Residents of Duluth have a chance to glimpse into the future. The city is opening the doors to city hall for the second of two open houses on March 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This will offer residents the opportunity to see what’s proposed for the next decade in downtown Duluth through the Envision Duluth LCI Study 10-year update. Nancy Badertscher

Publix donates $2,000 to Burnette school

Burnette Elementary received a donation of $2,000 in gym equipment from its community partner, Publix. The physical education equipment was obtained through Publix neighborhood outreach and the Campbell’s labels awards program. D. Aileen Dodd

NORTHSIDE

Forsyth appoints Civil Service hearing officer

With District 5 commissioner Jim Boff and District 1 Commissioner Pete Amos absent, three members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on Thursday night approved, by a vote of 2-1, the appointment of Cumming attorney Dana Miles as hearing officer of the Civil Service Board for a year, at a rate of $260 an hour. Commission chairman Brian Tam and District 4 Commissioner Patrick Bell voted in favor. District 3 commissioner Todd Levent -- who favored putting the job up for bid -- voted against Miles’ appointment. Jeffry Scott

Forsyth has hearing on ethics ordinance

The Forsyth County commission held the first of two public hearings on proposed changes to the county’s ethics ordinance Thursday night. The proposed amendments include penalties for those who file what is determined to be a “frivolous” complaint. The penalties range from assessing the complainant for costs to criminal prosecution for perjury. Another amendment would prohibit the county from accepting complaints against county candidates during an election. Nobody spoke in favor of the proposed amendments. Seven spoke against. Jeffry Scott

Alpharetta: Change smoke alarm batteries

As the time change approaches this spring, the City of Alpharetta Fire and Emergency Services wants to remind residents to change batteries in smoke alarms. This is the 23rd year of the Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery campaign. The program urges Americans change their smoke alarm batteries when changing clocks to daylight saving time on March 13. Andria Simmons

Youth Fishing Derby on March 12

Registration is under way for Alpharetta’s annual Youth Fishing Derby, March 12. Children, ages 4 to 12 and accompanied by an adult, are eligible to participate in the free event at Brookside Office Park Lake on Old Milton Parkway a mile east of Ga. 400. Registration ends Thursday or when the program fills. Participants must bring their own fishing gear, bait, chairs and drink. Prizes will be awarded for the most fish caught and the longest fish.

To sign up, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us/recreation or call 678-297-6133 Patrick Fox

Forum for Roswell Riverwalk March 10

Roswell and the National Park Service will hold a public information open house on March 10 to present options for the Roswell Riverwalk Trail Connection Project. The meeting will be 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Roswell River Landing at 245 Azalea Drive. Comments can be e-mailed to rrpd@roswellgov.com. Joel Anderson

Sandy Springs church to package meals

Sandy Springs United Methodist Church will host a Stop Hunger Now food packaging event May 1 at its Hitson Memorial Activities Center.

The goal is to package more than 100,000 meals for children in Uganda. Contact Jenny Byrd, byrdjenny1957@gmail.com. Donations: Sandy Springs United Methodist Church/Stop Hunger Now project. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

MARTA officer wins discrimination suit

A federal jury has awarded $700,000 to a police lieutenant on charges MARTA retaliated against him after he filed a race discrimination complaint against the agency. On Wednesday, the jury awarded Lt. George Hernandez $100,000 in lost wages and benefits, $450,000 for emotional pain and anguish and $150,000 in punitive damages, his lawyer, Debra Schwartz, said. Schwartz said that after Hernandez filed a discrimination complaint in March 2007, MARTA withdrew an acting precinct commander position it had offered him, declined to interview him for future promotions and wrote him up for poor performance. Bill Rankin

The bagpipes are calling tonight

The Atlanta Pipe Band celebrates 40 years of Scottish bagpipe music with a concert today at 7 p.m. The concert will be in the Conant Theater on the Ogelthorpe University Campus in Atlanta. The 50-member band of pipers, drummers and Highland dancers is considered the premier performance Scottish band in the Southeast. Tickets are available online at atlantapipeband.com or at the door for $15. Nancy Badertscher

CAU presents Robert Reid exhibition

Clark Atlanta University is presenting the works of prolific New York artist and Atlanta native Robert Reid through April 29. Admission is free, although the Galleries, located in Trevor Arnett Hall, welcomes $5 donations. Exhibition hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reid attended Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) for two years in the 1940s. Nancy Badertscher

Man survives shooting near night club

Atlanta police Friday were looking for the gunman who shot a man several times as he was leaving a nightclub.

The victim told police he was approached by two men who robbed him of $3,000 and shot him, Atlanta police Capt. Van Hobbs said. The victim was able to make it to his car and drive to Grady Memorial Hospital, Hobbs said. Mike Morris

DEKALB

History Center to hold silent auction

The DeKalb County History Center will hold a silent auction to raise funds and celebrate the center’s 64th anniversary.

The History Center is asking local businesses to donate goods and gift certificates for the auction.

The auction is scheduled for March 25 at 6 p.m. at the old Decatur courthouse. The fundraiser is free and open to the public.

Information: 404-373-1088, ext. 26. Megan Matteucci

Commissioner to hold free breakfast

DeKalb County residents can learn about how to modify home loans and how to keep the county clean at a free breakfast. Commissioner Stan Watson will host a legislative breakfast Saturday from 9-11 a.m. at Chapel Hill Middle School on Dogwood Farms Road in Decatur. The breakfast is free. Watson will provide tips on home loan modification, the importance of having a will and how to “keep DeKalb beautiful.”

“Providing an opportunity for citizens to either talk to or hear from those who they elected, about issues that affect them is important to me and my constituents,” Watson said in a statement. Megan Matteucci

Dunwoody chamber ask for nominations

The Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the first Dunwoody Business Expo in late April.

Award nominations must be submitted by March 15. The event is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. April 21 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. Winners will be announced during the luncheon.

Nomination ballots, Dunwoody Business Expo information and luncheon reservation information can all be found at www.dunwoodycommerce.org. For additional information, please contact the Dunwoody Chamber at 678-244-9700. Joel Anderson

Chief to talk with residents about rape

DeKalb County Police Chief William O’Brien will meet with residents Thursday to talk about the recent rape of a woman at a Stone Mountain church.

The attack occurred Feb. 26 at St. Timothy United Methodist Church on Memorial Drive. No arrests have been made.

The town hall meeting will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. Timothy. The meeting, which is organized by state Rep. Michele Henson (D-Stone Mountain) and the Pride Rings In Stone Mountain group, is open to the public. O’Brien and Tucker Precinct Commander Major Steve Fore will talk about crime prevention and recent incidents in the Memorial Drive corridor, Henson said. Megan Matteucci

ARC award $33,550 to help MARTA access

The Atlanta Regional Commission has awarded DeKalb County $33,500 to study strategies that will help reduce traffic, enhance streetscapes and pedestrian amenities and improve access to the Kensington MARTA station. The goal of the Kensington project is to create a sustainable, walkable, mixed-use Town Center adjacent to the Kensington MARTA station on underused land already owned and controlled by DeKalb County, according to the ARC. The grant is part of ARC’s Livable Communities Initiative; they awarded 14 local governments a total of $678,000 in grants last week. Staff reports

SOUTHSIDE

McDonough council endorses high speed rail

McDonough City Council agreed Thursday to endorse a proposed high speed rail project. “There is very positive momentum in other communities,” said Councilman Wayne Smith. Fellow board member Sandra Vincent agreed, “An endorsement goes without question.” Vincent suggested contacting “every facet of the community” for additional endorsements. City Administrator Billy Beckett recommended council members use a letter drafted by Macon Mayor Robert Reichert as their endorsement model. Kathy Jefcoats for the AJC

Board of education meets before SACS visit

The Clayton County Board of Education will participate in a retreat today at the S. Truett Cathy Professional Learning Center, 1087 Battle Creek Rd. in Jonesboro. The retreat comes a month before the final visit from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) which has been monitoring the school board. SACS revoked the school district’s accreditation in August 2008. The school district regained its accreditation on May 1, 2009, and has received numerous visits from the accrediting agency. Tammy Joyner

Fulton fugitive arrested in Wisconsin

A Fulton County fugitive accused in the beating of his 3-year-old daughter has been arrested in Milwaukee.

Donald Franklin Jr., 19, was arrested last October after paramedics responded to a 911 call on Highgreen Trail in south Fulton County. They found the girl with a swollen forehead and numerous scratch marks on her body, Det. Melissa Parker said. He was charged with first-degree cruelty to children and aggravated battery. The charges later included criminal attempt to murder, according to Tracy Flanagan, spokeswoman for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Larry Hartstein

McDonough may change pawn shop rules

McDonough City Council members agreed Thursday to draft policy allowing shops to buy and sell precious metals without having to meet pawnshop regulations.

Councilman Wayne Smith said that those transactions are not subject to future redemption by the owner as when items are pawned. Officials agreed that a new policy allows for law enforcement regulations to monitor possible stolen items. Kathy Jefcoats for the AJC

Hapeville presents film and filmmaker today

The screening of “Awake My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp” is today at 6 p.m. at the Hapeville United Methodist Church. Prior to the screening , a “meet the filmmaker” reception takes place at the Hapeville Depot Museum from 4-6 p.m.

John Thompson for the AJC

Morrow gets into swing of St. Patrick’s Day

Morrow will host the Southern Leprechaun Jubilee on March 17 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Olde Towne Morrow. Olde Towne Morrow is next to Southlake Mall at 1415 Southlake Circle.

All Olde Town Morrow restaurants and shops will be open. Information: 678 794-9122 or email jkilby@cityofmorrow.com Tammy Joyner