County by county news for Saturday

Board members have been arguing over the calendar since earlier this year when a 4-3 majority voted to ditch the so-called “balanced” format in favor of a more traditional schedule. See the proposed calendar at www.cobbk12.org Jaime Sarrio

Chairman Lee to hold re-election fundraiser

Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee launches his 2012 campaign for re-election with a fundraiser at the home of Mary Lou and Dan Stephens in Marietta on June 27. The fundraiser will be hosted by Cobb County prominent business and community leaders. Information: hmcconaghy@comm-360.com Alaya Boykin

Proposed Austell wards available for review

A map to redraw Austell’s four election wards may be viewed by residents.

The proposal is available for review and copying in the City Clerk’s office at 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Suite 137 in the Austell Threadmill Complex and may be viewed online at www.austellga.gov.

City Clerk Carolyn Duncan also is accepting written comments from residents.

A second reading is scheduled by the City Council for 6 p.m. June 27 at City Hall, 2716 Broad St. The next voting meeting will be at 7 p.m. July 11.

Information: City Clerk, 770-944-4326. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Teacher picked for science study in Hawaii

Michael Eby, an advanced-content science teacher at Barber Middle in Cobb County, was selected as a 2011 University of Georgia Project Integrated Science Learning Experiences grant recipient.

The program is a two-week science study in Hawaii from June 7-21 that promotes a deeper understanding of science through hands-on activities. Eby has been teaching for nine years. Jaime Sarrio

Chamber asks public to fill out survey

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce is seeking public input to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing the county. A survey is available at http://surveymonkey.com/CobbEdge which asks for ratings on the business climate, education system, infrastructure, quality of life and economy of Cobb. Deadline for completing the survey is July 11.Jaime Sarrio

Give a cat a home this weekend

Get a free cat in East Cobb County this weekend when a no-kill animal shelter will waive its usual $125 adoption fee.

Good Mews is celebrating Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month by giving away neutered male cats over 9 months old from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on what it’s calling “Let’s Hear it for the Boys!” weekend.

The cats have the necessary vaccinations and are micro-chipped.

Location: 736 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A-3, Marietta; www.goodmews.org. Ty Tagami

GWINNETT

Gwinnett man dies in Forsyth wreck

A Gwinnett County man died early Friday morning in a two-car crash in Forsyth County.

The man, whose identity was withheld until relatives could be notified, was driving northbound on Highway 9. He ran through a red traffic light at the intersection at Pendley Road, and collided with another vehicle making a left turn at the light, said Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Karleen Chalker.

The woman was taken to North Fulton Hospital with injuries that were not life threatening, Chalker said. Fran Jeffries

Duluth’s Primerica donates $50,000

Duluth-based Primerica is donating $50,000 to Atlanta’s youth-oriented Centers of Hope program. The financial services company closes its annual convention at the Georgia World Congress Center today, its first meeting in Atlanta since the company separated from Citigroup during the recent financial crisis. Leon Stafford

Braves to host watch party June 25

The Atlanta Braves will host a watch party June 25 at Suwanee’s Town Center Park for their game against San Diego.

Festivities will start at 6:30 p.m. and first pitch is set for 8:30 p.m. Parking is available at Town Center and along Main Street, which is accessible to the park via a pedestrian tunnel.

Pre-game activities will include a free concert and appearances by the Atlanta Braves Tomahawk Team and the team mascots. There will also be a free play area for children with T-ball and fast pitch inflatable games, an obstacle course, giant slide and jump house. Joel Anderson

Toast@Town Center in Suwanee Thursday

Suwanee’s Toast @ Town Center on Thursday will feature a musical performance, an art walk, test drives of the 2012 Ford Focus and the launch of its citizen engagement initiative.

The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the city’s Town Center. Artists from the North Gwinnett Arts Association will host an Art Walk. Joel Anderson

Lilburn pharmacist receives honor

Lilburn pharmacist Michael Neville, a clinical associate professor at the University of Georgia, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Neville was presented with the award on Tuesday during the society’s summer meeting and exhibition in Denver. He was honored for distinguished service to pharmacy practice in hospital and health systems.

Joel Anderson

Anti-child sex training June 23

A Future. Not A Past. – the Juvenile Justice Fund’s campaign to stop child prostitution in Georgia – will provide free training June 23 to professionals in law enforcement, prosecution and forensic interviewing to combat the sexual exploitation of children. The event is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gwinnett County Police Training Center at 854 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville. Info: Grace Schouten at grace@juvenilejusticefund.org or 404-613-4820. Andria Simmons

NORTHSIDE

Roswell seeks people for downtown board

The City of Roswell is seeking residents to serve on its newly revived Downtown Development Authority board of directors.

The DDA was formed to promote the redevelopment and growth of the central business district. Seven positions, appointed by the mayor and City Council, are available on the DDA board. Members must be a taxpaying resident or the owner or operator of a business within the downtown development area and who lives in Fulton County. Deadline for applications is July 1.

Information: www.roswellgov.com/DDA. Patrick Fox

Summer Solstice Celebration today

Roswell’s Chattahoochee Nature Center will have an all-day Summer Solstice Celebration today, celebrating the longest day and shortest night of the year. A fun run starts at 7 a.m., a 10K race at 7:30 a.m., a tour and storytelling at 10:30 a.m., musical instrument-making workshops at noon, live world music by Sapien at 3 p.m., and an interactive drum circle at 6 p.m. Information: www.chattnaturecenter.org. Johnny Edwards

Cherokee compiles list for disaster help

Members of the Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services are compiling a list of vendors to assist local natural disasters victims. The list will include vendors that fix roofs, secure belongings and place victims in temporary housing, said Raymond Gunnin, chief of the Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services. Information: 678-493-4020 Elise Hitchcock

DOT approves Forsyth wish list

The Georgia Department of Transportation has cleared 49 transportation projects in Forsyth County to move toward a one percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax transportation referendum expected to be on the ballot next fall. Forsyth is part of the 13-county Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, separate from the Atlanta region, where similar T-SPLOST projects are in the pipeline. . The next whittle-down-the list deadline is Aug. 15. Jeffry Scott

Cherokee emergency services honored

The Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services was honored with the ‘Above and Beyond’ award. The award was presented to the department by the Georgia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

“Their dedication to these employees shows their willingness to help those who are fighting for the freedoms that we enjoy in this great country,” said Eddie Robinson, training chief, in a press release. Elise Hitchcock

Milton community house ready to rent

Milton has opened its newly renovated Bethwell Community House for rental. The house, located at 2695 Hopewell Road, was built in the early 1950s and includes a 500-square-foot porch, playground, seating for up to 55 and new kitchen.

Rentals begin at $120 for a three-hour block. Prices vary based on residential and non-profit status. Rental applications are available at www.cityofmiltonga.us/. Forms can either be dropped off at City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, or faxed to 678-242-2499 Attn: Tom Gilliam. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Mayor to dedicate Fourth Ward Park

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is to dedicate the Historic Fourth Ward Park along the Atlanta BeltLine today at 10 a.m. at 680 Dallas Street. There will be food, music and children’s activities until noon in the new 17-acre park in the heart of a city criticized for lacking parks.

The park runs from the old City Hall East to Freedom Parkway in two parcels. The north one has lawns, a playground, an outdoor theater and a 2-acre pond. The south one has a field, a playground and a “skatepark.” Steve Visser

Council to honor Jonathan Babineaux

City Councilman Michael Julian Bond will declare Monday “Jonathan Babineaux Day,” for his personal contributions to 51 Atlanta charities and non-profit organizations, hands-on volunteer community service among other contributions.

The Falcon will be honored at 1 p.m. Monday before the city council meeting. Ernie Suggs

Fire Station No. 9 to get a facelift today

Fire Station No. 9, will get a good cleaning today.

The Fuller Center for Housing’s Greater Atlanta, along with Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran and Kimberly Lacy, of HGTV’s “Curb Appeal: The Block,” will be on hand to install of cabinets and steel counter tops in the kitchen area and gear lockers. The station located at 3501 NW Martin Luther King Drive. Ernie Suggs

Man gets 2 years for counterfeit music

A 27-year-old Atlanta man was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for selling counterfeit music CDs and movie DVDs.

Ibrahim Diallo had pleaded guilty on Sept. 1, 2009, to conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, to traffic in counterfeit goods and to traffic in counterfeit labels. He was sentenced Friday. Diallo and 13 others were indicted in May 2009 on several charges of violating copyrights and trademarks and for selling counterfeit goods.

Four others pleaded guilty in February to their role in the piracy ring. Rhonda Cook

DEKALB

HIV Town Hall meeting June 25

The DeKalb-Stone Mountain Chapter of the National Action Network will host an HIV Town Hall Meeting at 10 a.m. June 25 at the DeKalb County Department of Family and Children Services in Decatur.

Medical professionals and counselors will be on hand to confidentially administer rapid HIV testing and counseling during the meeting. National HIV Testing Day, created in 1995 by the National Association of People With AIDS, is June 27. Gracie Bonds Staples

Teen summit Monday in Decatur

Three of Atlanta’s leading youth development organizations will host a one-day Teen Summit 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Porter Sanford Performance Arts Center in Decatur.

Teens attending the summit, sponsored by Show Me the Way Foundation, Project Karma Inc., and C.H.O.I.C.E.S Foundation, will get to weigh in on topics ranging from peer pressure, to bullying to healthy relationships, financial planning and setting goals.Participants will also have a formal group discussion with a diverse group of special guests who’ve made major accomplishments in various industries including entertainment, politics, and entrepreneurship. They will include motivational speaker Michael McFadden, Tamera Gregory, BET’s director of new programming, and Dennis Bryon, editor-in-chief of HipHopEnquirer.com. Gracie Bonds Staples

Decatur schools OK budget, raises

In approving its 2011-12 general fund budget of $41,782,453, the Decatur School Board also allowed a 1.25 percent salary increase for the school system’s 528 employees, including 388 k through 12 teachers. John Ahmann cast the only dissenting vote among five board members, saying “We have good health care compensation and good retirement benefits, so given the uncertainty of the economy I don’t think there’s a compelling need to give a wage increase.” But Chairman Marc Wisniewski added, “This is a competitive game in attracting and retaining talent, and this increase, small as it is, is a way to widen that gap.” Bill Banks for the AJC

Kids football camp to be June 25

Playbooks and Pledges, a free football camp and signature drive for Marquel’s Pledge, takes place 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. June 25 at Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial College Ave., Clarkston. The football camp is open to children ages 6-14. Only 150 slots are available and registration is availble online at www.jerryclarkfoundation.org. Staff reports

Brookhaven cityhood forum June 29

A forum to discuss a proposal to incorporate a city of Brookhaven is set for 7 – 9 p.m. June 29 at Lupton Auditorium at Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. The event is sponsored by Representative Elena Parent who represents Brookhaven, Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Municipal Association,Representatives from the Georgia General Assembly, City of Chamblee and Dekalb County in conjunction with Ashford Park Civic Association and the Drew Valley Civic Association.

Information: Send email to elena@elenaparent.com. Staff reports

SOUTHSIDE

Ambulance service expands in rural Fulton

Rural/Metro Ambulance runs nine ambulances in south Fulton and six south Fulton cities, and through a $300,000-per-year contract approved by the county commission, the unincorporated area will have first rights to three of them, having them stationed in county fire stations and dispatched by Fulton 911, according to Deputy Fire Chief Jack Butler. During peak call hours, the unincorporated area gets an extra two ambulances, bringing the total in all of south Fulton to 11. The funds will come from the South Fulton Special Services District, Butler said. Johnny Edwards

Fayette scouts honored for cookie sales

Twelve Fayette County girls were among 241 Girl Scouts recently honored as members of the Dough Getters Club. They each sold more than 1,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies during this year’s program. They are: Jazmyn Boiteux, Maya Bryant, Christina Cortes, Jana Hust, Sarah Hutchinson, Meagan Lennon, Maddie Plant, Aniyah Ragland, Brittany Rice, Nicole Schwensen, Jordyn Terell and Carrington Terrell. Tammy Joyner

Man pleads guilty to tax fraud

The former operations manager of a collection agency has pleaded guilty to tax fraud for preparing and filing false tax returns for co-workers and associates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Michael Thornton, 41, of Union City, charged $150 to $650 for each return and inflated incomes and fabricated deductions so his clients got refunds they didn’t deserve. Thornton filed more than 340 returns for 2005 and 2006, and IRS agents found more than $1.8 million in false claims. Bill Rankin

Peachtree City restructures staff

The City Council of Peachtree City approved restructuring that caused major staff changes. At the recommendation of City Manager Jim Pennington, departments related to recreation, engineering and community development were restructured “to streamline desired municipal services…most cost-effectively.” Elimination of the Leisure Services Department meant firing longtime director Randy Gaddo. City Planner David Rast was demoted to Planning and Zoning administrator, but will serve as the Community Services director temporarily.Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Housing authority approves new budget

The Atlanta Housing Authority’s board of commissioners approved a $257 million annual budget Wednesday with a projected $1.1 million surplus. The surplus will be transferred to its financial reserves.

The authority said it also expects to participate in about $100 million of development of mixed-use and mixed-income communities with partners in the private sector in fiscal 2012. Currently it serves about 20,000 households. Steve Visser

Henry hails opening of new domestic shelter

Henry County has a new, larger shelter for victims of domestic violence. The Haven House opened with a June 1 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The 14,472- square- foot facility has 16 bedrooms, kitchen, laundry, living area, teen and kids areas, and space for 48 women and children. Tammy Joyner