County by county news for Thursday

RP Paving Solutions of Villa Rica will be paid $33,625 from the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Austell approves storm drainage replacement

The Austell City Council approved Monday the storm drainage replacement for Brown Street.

Wade Coots Company of Hiram will receive $92,781 from the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant, the special purpose local option sales tax and city funds.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Free workshops for job seekers

Calvary Baptist Church of Austell volunteers will continue holding free job networking workshops at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, 4780 Flint Hill Road, Austell, with a free seminar on salary negotiation.

Other free workshops will be Time Management/Self-Organization, Aug. 21; Networking/Building Self-Confidence, Sept. 4; Internet/Social Media/Marketing Yourself, Sept. 18; Dress for Success, Oct. 2; Workplace Practices/Keeping Your Job, Oct. 16.

Information: kgrosskurth@gmail.com or 770-941-8445. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Trail club needs volunteers Saturday

The Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club is looking for volunteers 8:30 a.m. -1 p.m. Saturday to help park staff maintain trails at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Volunteers will meet in a park overflow parking lot on Old Highway 41. A National Park Services volunteer services agreement is required. Information: www.kennesawmountaintrailclub.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kennesaw to discount fall park programs

Kennesaw’s Parks and Recreation Department will offer a 10 percent discount for fall programs at a Program Palooza, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. The free event will offer facility tours, activity information station, a game room and other kid-friendly activities. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Fall swim registration this weekend

Swim lesson registration will take place at Cobb County’s four aquatic centers this weekend.

Hours and days are 6 p.m. Friday at the South Cobb Aquatic Center, 875 Six Flags Drive, Austell; 6 p.m. Friday at the Mountain View Aquatic Center, 2650 Gordy Parkway, Marietta; 2 p.m. Saturday at the Central Aquatic Center, 520 Fairground St., Marietta and 2 p.m. Saturday at the West Cobb Aquatic Center, 3675 Macland Road, Powder Springs.

Information: prca.cobbcountyga.gov/aquatic.htm. Carolyn Cunningham

GWINNETT

SPLOST funds to renovate Bethesda Park pools

The indoor instructional pool and outdoor leisure pool at Bethesda Park Aquatic Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road near Lawrenceville will both get new tile along with new mechanical skimmers, grates, float assemblies and equalizers.

Drains and HVAC ducts will be cleaned and a new system installed to remove chloramines from the air at pool level to improve air quality. The contract also includes replacing the outdoor play structure. Funds from the 2009 SPLOST program will pay for the $408,107 contract. Information: www.gwinnettparks.com 678-277-0880. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Filming in Norcross to cause traffic delays

Several homes in Norcross’s historic residential district have been selected for scenes in ABC’s ‘Resurrection.’ As a result citizens may expect intermittent traffic delays this week. Expect filiming 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. today on Wingo Street near Paisanos, with intermittent traffic delays on Wingo and Jones Street. Production vehicles will be in the parking lot behind Paisanos and in the Iron Horse Tavern’s private parking lot.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Golden Hammer awards Thursday

The Lawrenceville Tourism & Trade Association will announce the 2014 Golden Hammer Awards 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.Aug. 14 at 550 Trackside, 550 N. Clayton Street. The awards recognize individuals and businesses engaged in renovations, remodels and build projects within Lawrenceville, with special attention to those revitalizing Downtown Lawrenceville. Evening includes dinner, drinks and entertainment. Information: Jenny.Savoy@LawrencevilleGa.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Summer stage concert rocks Duluth

Duluth will host a free concert with 80’s tribute band “Members Only” 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 17 at Duluth Town Green & Amphitheater Stage. This is an Open Zone event: drinks may be purchased from local businesses or you may bring your own. Information: www.duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Free fingerprint and photo for child safety

Operation KidSafe will be take children’s photos and fingerprints using digital video and digital ink-less fingerprinting 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday or noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Stone Mountain Volkswagen, 3500 Stone Mountain Highway in Snellville. No database or records of children are maintained. The only record of the visit goes home with the parent for safekeeping. Information: 770-979-2000 or www.kidsafeprints.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Community Council to host networking fair

The Community Council of Gwinnett County will host its eleventh annual networking fair ‘Community Connections’ to address the multi-cultural needs of citizens 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at Gwinnett Technical College, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Exhibit tables free with CCGC membership. Deadline: Aug. 22. Information: www.networkforgwinnett.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Pedestrian killed on Woodstock freeway

A Snellville man was killed early Tuesday while walking on I-575 in Woodstock. The Georgia State Patrol says Rommel Beckles, 26, was walking southbound in the middle lane about 12: 55 a.m. when he was struck twice. Beckles, who was wearing dark clothing, was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers stopped and no charges have been filed. The Patrol says they don’t know why he was walking on the freeway. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fire damages old marble plant

Cherokee County firefighters fought a blaze 5:30 a.m. Wednesday at the old Georgia Marble plant in Nelson. Firefighters found smoke and flames inside the no-longer-used building on Blue Ridge Avenue, and say they were able to get it under control in about 40 minutes. There’s no word on the cause, or if anyone got hurt.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Woodstock trail partnership announced

Woodstock’s Greenprints Alliance says it’s established a 10-year partnership with Woodstock-based Premier Energy. The group says the partnership will allow it to hire an executive director and fundraise to help complete The Greenprints Master Plan, which outlines a network of 60-plus multi-use, mountain bike and park connector trails in and around the city. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Canton officials will head to retreat

The Canton City Council will hold a one-day retreat from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Woodbridge Inn in Jasper. The retreat will be led by Liz Sanford, a facilitator with the Atlanta Regional Commission, and city hall officials say they’ll focus on establishing a list of city priorities for the next several years. Mayor Gene Hobgood says topics may include continued debt reduction and creating a more viable downtown. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Milton sets park groundbreaking

Milton city officials will break ground on a significant expansion of Bell Memorial Park 11 a.m. Friday at 15245 Bell Park Road. The $9.4 million project will take the park from a 12-acre facility with four baseball diamonds to a 30-acre multi-use layout with four diamond fields, two multi-sport rectangular fields, and passive recreation options. The City Council awarded a contract for the project to the Astra Group, Inc., in July. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth may schedule transportation vote

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is moving toward a possible November bond referendum to fund transportation projects. Commissioners voted Thursday to authorize sending a letter to the Georgia Department of Transportation on one component — a proposed partnership agreement with GDOT on a package of improvements to the county’s state roads.

Commissioners also discussed several other potential projects, such as a McGinnis Ferry Road-Ga. 400 interchange. Further commission consideration is set for Tuesday.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Police: Man shot eight times, survived

Michael Roberson, 23, is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for an incident that happened 11:30 p.m. Tuesdayn the 200 block of Inspiration Way.

Officers found Steven Cutno suffering from eight shots to the chest, him, arms and hands and rushed him to Grady Memorial Hospital. Roberson claimed that he believed Cutno was trying to rob him, police said.

Roberson said he saw Cutno reach in his front waistband and pull out a black handgun and point it at him. Roberson then pulled his Glock Model 19 from his car and emptied his gun towards Cutno, police said. When the gun was empty, Roberson fled on foot.

Police did not find a weapon on Cutno. Roberson returned to the area voluntarily and gave his statement to police. Daniel Wilco

Fire damages vacant townhome

No injuries were reported Wednesday in a predawn fire that heavily damaged a vacant townhome just south of downtown Atlanta.

The fire was reported about 4:35 a.m. at the townhome at Fulton and Windsor streets in southwest Atlanta.

“We arrived and found fire coming out of the second floor windows,” Atlanta fire Capt. Ken Fisher said.

“When we entered the structure on the first floor, we found that the stairway was burned out,” Fisher told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We used a ladder from the exterior and went in the second floor window and put the fire out.”

The cause of the fire, which was confined to one of the three townhouses in the building, has not been determined.

Mike Morris and John Spink

High’s ‘Summer in the City’ on Sunday

The High Museum of Art will host “Summer in the City” 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday indoors and outdoors at the museum, 1280 Peachtree St. NE. with an array of activities for this end-of-summer celebration.

Costs: free, members; $5, nonmembers.

Tickets: High.org or 404-733-5000. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

DEKALB

Grant to pay for new breathalyzers

Decatur’s police department is using an $8,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to purchase updated breathalyzers, a CMI Intoxilyzer 9000, replacing the current Intoxilyzer 5000.

According a press release the state’s “mandated all law enforcement agencies [replace] older testing units by 2015.”

Decatur police have average 104.4 DUI arrests the last five years, including 117 last year and 88 so far this year. Bill Banks for the AJC

Abandoned homes ordinance in Pine Lake

Pine Lake city council is considering an ordinance for abandoned and unmaintained homes.

The ordinance would allow a building inspector to determine the home is unsafe and uninhabitable. Five complaints from different households would trigger the inspection.

The owner of the unfit home would have five days to bring it up to code.

Penalties would range from $150-$1000 per violation. Ultimately the city could demolish the structure and attach a lien to the property if the situation is not remedied. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Child sex trafficking prevention event

Sgt. Torrey Kennedy, of the DeKalb County Police Special Victims Unit, will speak on child sex trafficking from 9 a.m.-noon, Aug. 23 at Great Travelers Rest Baptist Church House of Hope, in the H.F. Shepherd Multiplex building, 4650 Flat Shoals Pkwy, Decatur.

“In Our Own Backyard: Child Sex Trafficking” is presented by the social justice ministry of the church.

Tickets are $12. The deadline to purchase is Aug. 17.

Information: 404-243-9336, Ext. 2231. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Schools enrollment nearing all-time high

City Schools Decatur opened the year with 4242 K-12 students, an almost 10 percent growth over last year and nearing the all-time high of roughly 4500 in the early 1970s.

CSD also escalated to the 4300 mark in the late 1950s. The system’s close to doubling its enrollment of 2300 in 2000, three years before current superintendent Phyllis Edwards took office.

Oakhurst is by far the largest of the five elementary schools at 462, while Decatur High has 1060, or about 200 students shy of top capacity. Bill Banks for the AJC

Emory screens domestic violence film

A screening and panel discussion on the award-winning HBO documentary “Private Violence” will be held 7-10 p.m., Thursday in Goodrich C. White Hall at Emory University, 301 Dowman Drive.

The film on domestic violence has been screened at several international film festivals.

Thursday’s event is co-hosted by the Harvard Club of Georgia and the Center for Women at Emory University.

Free admission.

$10 donation encouraged.

Reservations: “Atlanta Premier Private Violence HBO Documentary” Facebook page.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

College Park denies grant to credit union

College Park city council denied a $55,000 grant funding request from Energy One Federal Credit Union to establish a facility in town.

During Monday’s meeting members approved a requirement in the city’s pool rental policy stating that renters will make arrangements to pay off-duty police during events.

In addition, council approved a contract with A3 Communications for maintenance of the city’s surveillance cameras and network. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Fayette schools resume today

Fayette County’s first day back to school will be on a Thursday this year. Students return today with middle school running 8:10 a.m.-3:10 p.m. and high schools starting at 8:35 a.m. and ending at 3:45 p.m. Elementary schedules remain unchanged. Check individual school websites for “meet the teacher” schedules.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Peachtree City adjusts highway traffic signals

The Georgia Department of Transportation has installed new software to adjust the traffic signals on Ga. Highway 54 West in Peachtree City, heading toward Coweta County.

Tweaks and testing will coincide with the start of the school year on Aug. 7, with the aim of improving westbound traffic flow. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Girl Scouts schedule registration sessions

The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta will be holding several registration sessions in Peachtree City for their 2014-15 Scout year.

Interested girls and their parents can sign up at 3 p.m. Aug. 17 at The Bridge Community Center; 4:30-8 p.m. Aug. 26 at Bruster’s Ice Cream; and at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6 at the Peachtree City Library.

Details: www.gsgatl.org.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry to lower insurance premium

Henry County has received a dividend in the amount of $103,021 from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia—Interlocal Risk Management Association.

The dividend will be used as a credit toward Henry County’s property and liability insurance premium.

Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Henry water quality report released

The Henry County Water Authority has released its 2014 Henry County Water Quality Report, which shows that the organization meets or exceeds state and federal water standards.

The report includes lab data collected during the 2013 calendar year, providing consumers with information about the water system and source water, the substances and contaminants for which the HCWA monitors and tests, the water production processes that are overseen and other public information.

Information: www.waterqualityreport.hcwsa.com.

Monroe Roark for the AJC