County by county news for Saturday
COBB
Powder Springs changes meeting time
Powder Springs Mayor Patricia Vaughn and the City Council will begin their work session at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. on Halloween Wednesday.
They will meet in the second floor conference room, City Hall, 4484 Marietta St.
Information: City Hall, 770-943-1666.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Anonymous tip leads to drug arrests in Acworth
After receiving an anonymous tip about suspected drug activity at a pair of duplexes on Pinehurst Circle, investigators arrest the three residents, Thomas Blake Kilby, 30, Tiffany Anne Dupree, 31, and Courtney Lynn Holmes, 23, for oustanding warrants.
The Cobb police SWAT team assisted Acworth police in executing search warrants Monday. Police said weapons and drugs were discovered inside Kilby’s and Dupree’s home, and that illegal narcotics were discovered inside Holmes’ adjacent home.
Kilby and Dupree were charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana and four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Holmes was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
Mike Morris
Powder Springs church hosts celebration
Powder Springs First United Methodist Church will host its annual Trunk-or-Treat celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at 4329 Marietta St.
The family event will have decorated car “trunks” full of fun treats, games for kids, hay rides, and inflatables to play in. Proceeds will help support mission and youth projects. Information: www.powderspringsfumc.org. Kenneth Musisi
Cancer Society sets 5K walk/run
The American Cancer Society will host its inaugural Cobb County Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk/Run 8 a.m. today in Marietta Square.
The Making Strides event is the Cancer Society’s premier breast cancer event, and participants have raised more than $400 million nationwide to fight the cancer. The Cancer Society expects almost 227,000 new breast cancer cases to be diagnosed in women this year, with 39,510 deaths from the disease.
Registration: $25; www.stridesatlanta.org/marietta; CJ Jimerson 404-949-6474 Janel Davis
Cobb NAACP Freedom Fund Gala set
The Cobb County NAACP 31st annual Freedom Fund Gala is 6:30 p.m. today at the Marietta Hilton Conference Center and Resort.
The gala will be hosted by co-chairs, Nelson Geter, executive director of the Cobb Development Authority and Mitzi Smith Moore, president of Sundial Plumbing Services. Ron Newcomb, president of Chattahoochee Technical College, will be the honorary chairman.
This year’s gala “Your Power, Your Decision, Vote,” gala will honor people positively impacting the Cobb community.
Information: 770-425-5757; www.cobbnaacp.org
Janel Davis
GWINNETT
Berkeley Lake dam repair progress on schedule
Excavation has been completed at Lake Berkeley and the drain installed.
Weather permitting, fill should be completed by Dec. 18.
Paving of North Berkeley Lake Road and the River District entrance is scheduled for completion by Nov.16, and the road should be reopened to traffic by the end of the year.
Information: www.berkeley-lake.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Norcross officer injured in wreck
A Norcross police officer was injured in a motor vehicle accident around 8:30 a.m. Friday on Beaver Ruin Road near the intersection of Norcross Parkway.
According to preliminary information provided by Norcross Police Department, the officer was on routine patrol driving a patrol car east on Beaver Ruin Road when a vehicle traveling west turned left into the officer’s path. The 43-year-old officer was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center with minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle reported minor injuries but was not hospitalized. The accident is still under investigation. Andria Simmons
Norcross seeks help with senior charity
The Norcross-based Socks for Seniors program begins today and will run through Christmas.
Socks for Seniors is an annual community service project through which new socks are collected and distributed to elderly in local nursing homes around the holidays.
The program is seeking volunteers to host sock drives in various locations.
Information: www.socksforseniors.com
Andria Simmons
Veterans’ markers relocated in Duluth
Veterans’ Markers will begin going up on Monday in Duluth.
Some markers, normally placed on Pleasant Hill Road, will be relocated to Buford Highway due to construction.
Markers will be located south of Pittard Road and in front of the Southeastern Railway Museum.
Information: Public Works, 770-476-2454. Karen Huppertz
Learn to control bugs in the home
The Gwinnett County Extension Service will discuss how to control indoor pests such as roaches, ants and more, plus keep them out of your home.
The discussion will be noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Gwinnett County Extension Conference Room.
The class is free but registration required by Tuesday.
Information: Timothy Daly, 678-377-4010 or timothy.daly@gwinnettcounty.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Food and music festival set for Nov. 3
Norcross will celebrate the Gateway International Food and Music Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Lillian Web Park, 5 College St.
The event will feature live music, food, arts and crafts and children’s activities.
Information: call 770-449-6515. David Wickert
NORTHSIDE
Forsyth wants waterway cleanup volunteers
Keep Forsyth County Beautiful is seeking volunteers for its 2012 Rivers Alive Cleanup set for Nov. 3.
Families, scout troops, and local clubs and organizations are encouraged to volunteer.
Volunteers can sign up by calling the beautification group at 770-205-4573, or by e-mailing kcfb@forsythco.com.
The registration deadline is Tuesday.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Bethany Place hosts grand reopening
Bethany Place will have a grand reopening of their Thrift Store 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at 8024 E. Cherokee Dr., Canton. There will be entertainment, door prizes and great deals – to raise funds and awareness of Bethany Place, a non-profit transitional home for single women and unwed mothers who desire to break the cycle of their past and are given the environment to heal those wounds. Information: www.bethanyplacehome.org. Kenneth Musisi
Worker killed in industrial mishap identified
The worker killed in this week’s industrial accident at the Pilgrim’s Pride chicken plant in Canton has been identified. The sheriff’s office says Christopher Chin, 37, was a Canton resident. Authorities believe he died when he was caught between two pieces of machinery while trying to retrieve an item. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Free mulch offered in Cherokee County
The city of Canton is offering free mulch 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Southview Cemetery off of Scott Mill Road.
Information: 770-720-7674.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
City Center meeting to focus on transportation
Transportation will be the focus at Sandy Springs’ next public meeting 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the City Hall Council Chambers, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 500.
Consultants will present findings from their transportation assessment and outline recommendations to balance traffic in the City Center. One strategy is to improve the road network to ease congestion, improve walk-ability and enhance transit.
A final plan is expected to be adopted by the City Council by the end of 2012. Patrick Fox
Senior Health expo set in Cherokee
Cherokee County Senior Services will present a Senior Sense Health Expo 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov 2 at the Cherokee County Administration Building, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. Speakers, live demonstrations and vendors will be on hand. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee Sheriff seeks citizen feedback
To maintain its national accreditation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office must survey citizens every three years. The survey will be available until Nov. 18 at www.cherokeega-sheriff.org, or at the heriff’s Office Headquarters, 498 Chattin Drive, Canton or at the South Annex at 7545 Main St., Suite 300, in Woodstock. Andria Simmons
ATLANTA
Fulton offers flu shots to early voters
Fulton County’s “Vote and Vax” program is geared to adults age 50 and older and will be offered at several Atlanta voting locations during early voting and on Election Day.
Atlanta dates: Saturday and Nov. 6 at the Adamsville Recreation Center; Nov 2 at the downtown Fulton County Government Center; and Nov. 6 at the Juniper & 10th High Rise. Times are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information: 404-613-6000.
Johnny Edwards
Domestic violence discussion set for Sunday
Shalom Bayit of Jewish Family & Career Services and Congregation B’nai Torah will host “The Power of Collective Voices,” a domestic violence discussion 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 700 Mount Vernon Highway. The event will feature the life story of Susan Murphy Milano, abuse survivor and author. Register: Wendy Lipshutz,t 770-677-9322 or wlpshutz@jfcs-atlanta.org.
Kenneth Musisi
Atlanta Beltline hosts special performances
The Atlanta Beltline will present performances at 5:20 p.m. today on the historic railroad corridor in the Adair Park neighborhood at the intersection of Allene Avenue and Catherine Street.
Among the performances is “Priscilla Smith: Beyond My Wildest Dreams,” a multi-pronged performance and multimedia interface for the public to learn about the Atlanta BeltLine and its possibilities.
Subsequent performances will be Saturday, Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. Information: art.beltline.org. Kenneth Musisi
Bully March kicks off at Piedmont Park
Stubby’s Heroes, a Pit Bull advocacy group will host its first Bully March at 10 a.m. today at 10th Street and Monroe Street, Piedmont Park. Check-in is at 9 a.m.
Families and friends will march with their Bully breed dogs at the park showing that they are responsible, caring dog owners, and that dogs are part of their family.
Information: www.stubbysheroes.com.
Kenneth Musisi
DEKALB
DeKalb hosts Halloween event for kids
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs will host Field of Screams 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Wonderland Gardens, 3171 Rainbow Dr.
Children accompanied by a parent will receive treat bags, listen to ghost stories, watch a scripted play, and much more.
The free family event is a Halloween alternative for children going door-to-door or receiving suspicious tainted Halloween treats. Kenneth Musisi
Zoning task force prepares recommendations
Decatur’s zoning task force, finished with its research and public hearings centered around zoning ordinance changes, is ready to make recommendations before the city’s planning commission on Nov. 13. Notably, it wants to make it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwellings for rental income.
It’s also suggesting clearer definitions of transitions between single-family homes built next to commercial property. It is also defining minimum downtown commercial parking as one space per 500 square feet and a maximum of one space per 200 square feet. Bill Banks for the AJC
Immaculate Heart of Mary School to hold open house
Immaculate Heart of Mary School is holding an open house for prospective students and parents from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 2.
The event includes an introduction to teachers and administrators at the kindergarten through 8th grade school, and a tour of the campus. The school serving 500 students was established in 1958 and in 2009 won the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Location: 2855 Briarcliff Road, NE., Atlanta. Ty Tagami
DeKalb Prep Academy hosts trunk or treat
As a safe Halloween alternative, DeKalb Prep Academy is hosting a trunk-or-treat event 4 - 7 p.m. Wednesday at the school, 1402 Austin Dr. Admission is $5 for children to go car-to-car instead of door-to-door in the school’s lower parking lot.
Information: Andrea Hendricks-Knight at aknight1402@gmail.com.
Staff reports
Workforce Development offers classes
Interviewing techniques, resume writing and other skills to help people land work will be the focus of DeKalb Workforce Development sessions this month. More than 1,900 residents have attended the sessions so far this year.
The free courses will be held weekdays at the workforce offices, 320 Church St., Decatur.
Information: 404-687-3400 or www.dekalbworkforce.org. April Hunt
Neighborhood Summit, green expo coming
DeKalb County will host a neighborhood summit and green expo for residents and businesses 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3 at Courtyard Marriott Decatur, 130 Clairemont Ave.
The summit features workshops and resources available from the county for everyone. The expo will have local green businesses demonstrating eco-friendly products and services. Both events are free.
Information: 404-371-3689 or onedekalb@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
East Point demolition program continues
East Point’s 50 Worst Properties Program is continuing to make progress in clearing neighborhoods of unsafe vacant properties.
The city will demolish a duplex located at 1263 and 1265 Lyle Ave. today.
The property was taken through a detailed process before reaching this last and final stage of a Municipal Court ordered demolition.
John Thompson for the AJC
Ballots can be cast Saturday at government center
Fulton residents who are too busy to cast ballots during the work week can vote on Saturday at six early voting centers throughout the county.
“Family Voting Day” lasts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and children who tag along can vote in a mock election for their favorite cartoon character.
In south Fulton, Saturday voting is offered at the South Fulton Service Center, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, Room 108, College Park.
Information: 404-730-7020.
Johnny Edwards
Man, 72, shot trying to thwart home burglars
A 72-year-old Henry County man, whose name was not released, awoke around 2 a.m. Wednesday to the sound of burglars in his garage.
He fired a warking shot in the air, prompting one of the two suspects to fire back, striking the man in the abdomen, according to police.
The victim was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was in stable condition Wednesday.
A witness reported a newer model gray or silver Dodge pickup truck leaving the area at a high rate of speed and other witnesses reported seeing a white box truck in the area.
Anyone with information is asked to contact 911 or Detective J. Thacker at 770-288-8304.
Alexis Stevens
Peachtree City Dog Park receives grant
The Nutro pet food company has awarded a $2,000 grant to upgrade the Peachtree City Dog Park.
The funds will support a project by Eagle Scout candidates Matthew Harmon and Matthew LePage, who have already completed the first phase of building a path that improve access for disabled and elderly dog owners. Jill Howard Church
Union City hosts Annual Fall Festival
Union City is hosting its Annual Fall Festival from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at Ronald Bridges Park, 5285 Lakeside Drive, Union City.
The free event will have games, candy, hay rides, a moonwalk, Halloween costume contest, complimentary food and more. Kenneth Musisi
Stockbridge church to host family celebration
Community Bible Church will host Trunk-N-Treat at three locations: 5 p.m. Sunday at 2001 Jodeco Road, Stockbridge; 6 p.m. Suinday at 7348 Davidson Parkway South, Stockbridge; and 6 p.m. Wednesday at 1550 Southlake Parkway, Morrow.
The family celebration has decorations, candy and fun. Information: 770-914-0808. Kenneth Musisi
