County by county news for Thursday, March 3

General Manager/CEO Rob Register of the Austell Gas System said Tuesday the tanks have not been used “in four or five years” and then were “severely damaged” during the September 2009 flood. New technology eliminates the need for the propane tanks, he explained.

Register said propane vapors, not the tanks, will be burned after the propane gas is pumped into tanker trucks. Then the tanks will be removed. -Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Season opens for First Friday Art Walk

The First Friday Art Walk opens for the season 5 to 9 p.m. Friday on the Marietta Square. The event, promoting the arts in Marietta, features work of local artists at more than 30 stores and galleries the first Fridays of the month through Oct. 7. The Marietta/ Cobb Museum of Art opens without charge during the At Walks, and the Artists Alley at DuPre’s Antiques, 17 Whitlock Ave, will also open this year. -Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Smith-Gilbert Gardens open on Sunday

Starting Sunday the Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw, will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., just in time for the early spring buds. This is in addition to the gardens usual hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The garden, which has a collection of more than 3,000 plant species, is located at 2382 Pine Mountain Rd., Kennesaw. Information: 770-919-0248. Admission is $7 and $6 for seniors. -Rich McKay

County offers public safety academy

The Cobb County Department of Public Safety staff is hosting a spring session of the Citizens Public Safety Academy.

The program provides residents an inside look at the various units of public safety. Participants experience the Emergency Communications Center, fire and police organizations and the role each plays. Classes are held at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Information: 770-590-5650 or email Renee Cameron at renee.cameron@cobbcounty.org. -Andria Simmons

Kennesaw OKs permit for recycling center

Kennesaw’s City Council on Monday approved a special land use permit for a electronics recycling center at 7000 Cobb International Blvd., Cobb International Business Park. Recycletronics recycles televisions, computers, cell phones, printers and other electronics. The company is operated by the Tommy Nobis Center, a Marietta-based job training and employment program for people with disabilities. The new recycling center will have an open house , 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thursday with Laura Turner Seyel speaking at 10 a.m. -Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Marietta opens up Senior Games

Marietta residents ages 50 and older can play in the Senior Games April 14 through May 13. The Marietta events, part of the Cobb County Senior Games, includes track and field events, tennis, swimming, bowling, fishing, corn shucking and hog calling. Entry forms are available at Marietta Parks and Recreation, 205 Lawrence St. Early registration ends March 25. -Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Evacuation interrupts student testing at school

A gas like odor interrupted classes at Magill Elementary School in Loganville Wednesday causing an evacuation and a break from a state standardized test. A school administrator notified fire officials about the smell around 9:30 a.m. before the distribution of the Georgia Grade 5 Writing Assessment.

No gas leak was found, said Sloan Roach, spokeswoman for Gwinnett Schools. The search determined that the odor was being circulated by an air handling unit on top of the building, she added. Magill students received state permission to take their writing exam on today. -D. Aileen Dodd

Commissioners to hold citizens forum

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will sponsor a citizen forum at 7 p.m. Monday at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 Crogan St., Lawrenceville.

The forum is the last of four events commissioners have sponsored in recent weeks to seek public input on a variety of issues. After a brief presentation on the county’s financial outlook, the forum will be open to questions and comments from the public. -David Wickert

Citizens Fire Academy alumni honored

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services honored alumni from the Citizen Fire Academy in January for contributing 2,965 volunteer hours, saving the county approximately $100,000 last year. About 50 alumni rolled up their sleeves to renovate the Youth Fire Safety Training Facility, assist with distributing 190 bike helmets for the Safe Kids program, and lend a hand with 125 other programs.

The academy is an 11-week program that gives citizens a chance to learn how the fire department operates. -Andria Simmons

Girl Scout birthday tea on March 12

Gwinnett County will sponsor a Girl Scout birthday tea from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 12 at Lawrenceville Female Seminary, 455 S. Perry St., Lawrenceville.

The Victorian-themed tea will celebrate the founding of the Girl Scouts 99 years ago with refreshments, crafts and entertainment. The event is open to those age 5 and up. The cost is $15 per person. Pre-registration is advised. To register: 770-822-5178. -David Wickert

Ambulance soon to send info to doctors’ phones

A technology system soon to be installed in all Gwinnett County ambulances will allow detailed cardiovascular information about a patient to be forwarded directly to a waiting physician’s mobile phone.

The LifeNet system will enable EMS crews to transmit heart monitoring information to Gwinnett Medical Center’s Emergency Department. It can then be forwarded to the mobile device of the treating physician. -Andria Simmons

NORTHSIDE

Activist files complaint over appointment

Nydia Tisdale, an activist often critical of Forsyth County government, filed complaints with the Attorney General of Georgia regarding the actions of the Forsyth County Civil Service Board. In emails sent to the AG this week, Tisdale, who lives in Roswell, said the Civil Service Board did not follow proper procedure in its January meeting when it recommended the county commission appoint Cumming attorney Dana Miles board hearing officer for a year. She wrote his appointment also is an apparent conflict of interest because Miles is an attorney for Cumming. -Jeffry Scott

Sequoyah school snags $1,000 grant

The Science Department at Sequoyah High School has snagged a $1,000 grant to explore the final frontier. The department will buy five specially-equipped telescopes for AP physics students, who will use the gear to develop their knowledge of Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion by taking measurements of the moon through a special eyepiece. The group will then calculate the lunar orbit and compare their results to Kepler’s original findings. -Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Woodstock council christens City Center

The Woodstock City Council voted this week on an official name for the former church campus which will host city council meetings starting in July. The former Woodstock Community Church complex at Main Street and Arnold Mill Road will be called “City Center” and the council chambers will be dubbed“ The Chambers at City Center”. The city purchased the church in June of 2009. -Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cities gear up for bulky trash collection

The Public Works Departments of Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton and Keep Roswell Beautiful plan to offer residents in those areas a chance to dispose of items as part of a Bulky Trash Amnesty Day on March 19. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can bring their unwanted items to the Roswell Public Works Division at 1810 Hembree Road.

Information: Roswell residents should contact Janet Liberman at 770-641-3715 or jliberman@roswellgov.com. Alpharetta and Milton residents should contact Terry Porter at 678-297-6200 or tporter@alpharetta.ga.us. -Joel Anderson

Johns Creek orchestra concert Saturday

The Johns Creek Symphony Strings Orchestra will perform “Virtuoso Strings!” at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Theater at Johns Creek High School.

Tickets are $28 for adults, $22 for those 55 and up, and $15 for students. Purchase online at johnscreeksymphony.org. Information: info@johnscreeksymphony.org or call 678-748-5802. -Patrick Fox

Amphibian habitat workshop March 17

Three organizations are sponsoring a workshop in Johns Creek on creating habitats for amphibians. The workshop will be 7 p.m. March 17 at the Chattahoochee River Environmental Education Center.

To register: Tara Muenz, State Coordinator of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream at tara.muenz@gaepd.org or at 404-675-1635 -Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Man dies in northwest house fire

Atlanta fire investigators Wednesday were trying to determine what sparked a house fire on Towers Drive in northwest Atlanta that left a man dead. Atlanta fire Assistant Chief Ken Byers told Channel 2 Action News that burglar bars on the windows and doors of the house “impeded our progress getting inside the structure.” The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Francis Bassey, 54. -Mike Morris

Cell phone tour offered at Oakland Cemetery

Atlanta and the Historic Oakland Foundation have launched “African-American Voices,” a user-friendly cell phone tour of Oakland Cemetery, which features 12 narrative presentations of African-American families interred in the cemetery’s historic African-American section.

When you arrive at the site, call 678-365-0232 to access the tour. -Ernie Suggs

Alveda King to speak at program on Friday

The Rev. Alveda King, pastoral associate and director of African-American Outreach for Priests for Life, will be the speaker during a program at 7 p.m. Friday at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Rd. NE. King, the niece of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has been a prominent figure in the pro-life movement. She is also the founder of King for America, a faith-based organization formed to help people spiritually, economically, intellectually and socially. Her speech will be followed by a question and answer session. -Shelia Poole

Charity to give away socks, shoes Saturday

Caring for Others, an Atlanta-based charity, will give away 3,000 pairs of free socks and name brand sneakers to needy children this week. The outreach, the “ No Bare Soles Shoe Distribution,” will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The charity will distribute $135,000 in merchandise to families who have pre-registered received vouchers . Caring for Others is a nonprofit organization working to help struggling families from becoming homeless. Information: 404-761-0133. -D. Aileen Dodd

DEKALB

Chamblee names finalist for city manager

The Chamblee City Council selected Niles Ford and Gary Adams as the finalists for the city manager position, interim city manager Marc Johnson said. Adams serves as village administrator in Oswego, Ill. He previously served as county administrator in Hernando County and Putnam County in Florida. Ford has served as fire chief in Lincoln, Neb., since 2007 when he left Fulton. Ford worked four years as a deputy chief with Fulton Fire.

The Council is expected to vote on a selection March 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chamblee Civic Center on Broad Street. -Megan Matteucci

School board holds hearings on redistricting

The DeKalb County school board will hold the last of two public hearings on a proposed school redistricting plan, which will move about 9,000 students and close eight schools. The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the district’s headquarters, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. Speakers can sign up from 5:30 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. the night of the meeting. -Jaime Sarrio

Resident input asked on road projects

DeKalb County residents can have some input on where their sales tax money will go to help with road improvements and other transportation initiatives.

Residents are invited to give input on the proposed project list for the Transportation Investment Act. In 2012, voters will be asked to increase the penny sales tax to pay for transportation upgrades. Public information sessions are scheduled for March 1 at Miller Grove High School, March 2 at Columbia High, March 7 at Tucker High and March 9 at Chamblee High. All of the meetings start at 6:30 p.m. -Megan Matteucci

GCC president to serve on national panel

Anthony Tricoli, president of Georgia Perimeter College, will serve on the Presidents’ Trust, a national group that promotes liberal education which is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge of science, culture, society and other world issues as well as in-depth lessons in a specific area of study. The group’s members include representatives from Gainesville State and Spelman colleges. -Laura Diamond

City, development authority OK agreement

Decatur’s City Commission approved a lease agreement, between the city and the Decatur Downtown Development Authority, to manage the city’s Conference Center. Significantly, City Manager Peggy Merriss said, this gives the Authority flexibility, and a potential longer-term lease, in securing a private contractor to perform much-need upgrades on both the downtown Holiday Inn and the adjoining Conference Center. -Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur teachers to assist in UV study

Four teachers from City Schools of Decatur’s College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center have been selected to assist the University of Virginia in a training study on effective teaching.

The university will use classroom footage from the teachers for a web-based course to help improve work with children. The select teachers are Angela Gabriel, Martina Baerman, Maleea Carnes, and Engevar Fant. -Jaime Sarrio

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette seniors lobby against budget cuts

Advocates for senior citizens in Fayette County were among those lobbying at the Georgia Capitol last week against proposed state budget cuts. Debbie Britt, president of Fayette Senior Services, and Linda Pirog of the Fayette Senior Advocacy Council were among those at meetings Feb. 22-24 urging legislators to restore more than $1 million of program funds to the 2012 budget.

“State budget cuts to senior nutrition programs like our Meals On Wheels program could lead to a higher rate of food insecurity among our seniors,” Britt said. -Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Forest Park to help seniors with yard debris

Forest Park has set up a new program for senior and disabled citizens for collecting yard debris. Public Works crew will, when time permits, bag the leaves people have raked to the edge of the street and put them in to brown paper recycle bags provided by the citizen. The crew will also help bundle limbs and tie with twine. This will allow for Wednesday pickup by Waste Management. Information: 404 608-2310. -Tammy Joyner

Henry County to open new soccer fields

Henry County officials are expected to cut the ribbon March 12 for North Mount Carmel Park’s expansion from four soccer fields to 14 just in time for the start of the Henry County Soccer Association’s spring season. The ten new fields are lighted and fenced, and a new concession stand has also been constructed. -Monroe Roark for the AJC

HMC performs coronary angioplasty

Henry Medical Center broke new ground in its available services in late February by performing its first coronary angioplasty. Cardiologist Muthusamy Sekar, M.D. performed the procedure on 59-year-old Army reservist Philip Stonecipher, and it was a success. HMC has spent the past six months developing its coronary angioplasty program in collaboration with Piedmont Heart Institute. -Monroe Roark for the AJC

McDonough search for leprechauns March 14

The annual search for leprechauns begins in McDonough March 14.

Main Street McDonough officials will hide 20 leprechauns in businesses around the square and downtown area, said city spokeswoman Casey Case.

Shoppers who find a leprechaun can exchange it at the Welcome Center for a $25 gift certificate to use at a downtown business.

The contest ends March 19. More details and rules for participation can be found at www.mainstreetmcdonough.com or by calling 770-898-9868. -Kathy Jefcoats for the AJC

Hapeville gets boost with stimulus money

Hapeville officials learned this week that an additional $12,640 is headed their way to continue work on the Master Park renovation project.

Community Service Interim Director Lee Sudduth said the funds will be used to repair existing rock walls, and build a retaining wall.

The funds are coming from reprogrammed stimulus money from Fulton County. -John Thompson for the AJC