County by county news for Thursday

Learning center to help struggling students

Marietta High School has started a program for repeating freshman to help them get back on track academically and increase the school’s graduation rate.

The city high school partnered with the Communities in Schools program to open the QUEST Performance Learning Center that combines an online curriculum and service projects to help 30 ninth-graders currently enrolled to prepare for college and careers.

Marietta High has a graduation rate of 59.1 percent.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Roswell poetry slam tonight

The Roswell Poetry Slam, “Slammin’ in the Suburbs,” will be 7 p.m. Thursday at the Roswell Historic Cottage, 972 Alpharetta St., Roswell. Poets will be judged by members of the audience on content and presentation.

Hosted by award winning spoken word artist Ayodele Heath, the event will include an invitational round of competition featuring some of the region’s best spoken word artists.

Participant sign up at 6 p.m.

Information: www.roswellroots.com/poetryslam or 770-641-3705.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Racial symposium planned in Marietta

A free symposium on strengthening racial understanding will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Zion Baptist Church, 165 Lemon St., Marietta.

Columbia Theolgical Seminary professor emeritus Erskine Clarke and dean of faculty Deborah Flemister Mullen will speak at the event sponsored by Zion Baptist and St. James’ Episcopal Church.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Cornbread cooking competition Saturday

The Roswell Roots Festival Cornbread Cook-Off will be 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Community Center, 725 Pleasant Hill St., Roswell.

Chef Sonya Jones, owner of the Sweet Auburn Bread Company, will judge for Best Cornbread.

There will also be a People’s Choice Award chosen by attendees. The event is free.

Information: www.roswellroots.com/cornbread or 770-641-3705.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Kennesaw Mountain HS to host job fair

Kennesaw Mountain High School’s PTSA will host a job fair 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday.

The organization is asking local businesses to reserve a presentation spot by visiting www.tinyurl.com/kmhsjobfair.

Daarel Burnette II

GWINNETT

Gwinnett police seek bank robber

Police are looking for the man who robbed the Chase Bank branch in the 3700 block of Old Norcross Road around 1:15 p.m. Monday. A man gave a teller a note that said he had a bomb and wanted money, police said Tuesday. The teller handed over a small amount of cash to the man, who then fled on foot.

The suspect is described as a white male in his late 40s to early 50s. He is average height and build. He was wearing blue jeans, a tan jacket, a black knit cap and sunglasses. Anyone with information on the case should call Gwinnett detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 404-557-8477. Angel K. Brooks

Gifted education focus of half-day conference

The Gwinnett Association for Gifted Education hosts the 4th Annual Gifted Consortium on Saturday at Mason Elementary School in Duluth. The topic for the keynote Carolyn Coil will be the passionate gifted learner. This half-day conference for parents, teachers, administrators and advocates starts with registration at 8 a.m. Admission is free to all GAGE members. Non-members pay $20 and receive one-year GAGE membership. Door prizes will be given at the end of the conference. The school is at 3030 Bunten Road. Nancy Badertscher

Students show their flair for science

Gwinnett County Regional Science and Engineering Fair takes place 4 p.m. Friday at the Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. The awards ceremony is at 7:30 p.m. Nancy Badertscher

Gun safety rally to be held in Lawrenceville

A gun safety rally will be held from noon to 1 p.m. today at the Gwinnett Justice & Administrative Center, 75 Langley Dr., Lawrenceville. Concerned citizens and members of MoveOn.org will urge U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall to support reasonable gun safety laws.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Low-cost vaccine clinic to be held Saturday

Protect the health of your pet with low-cost tests and shots on Saturday at the Georgia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Suwanee.

Canine & feline rabies shots, distemper shots and canine Bordetella shots are $10 each, a canine heartworm test is $25. A combo test is $25 and a microchip is $25.

The clinic will be held at the SPCA at 1175 Buford Highway, Suite 109. All proceeds go to help homeless animals.

Mea Watkins

20 schools named AP Honor Schools

All 18 of Gwinnett County’s traditional high schools and two of its charter schools — Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology and Gwinnett Online Campus — have been named AP Honor Schools by The College Board, the school district announced Wednesday. Statewide, 424 schools are receiving the honor for their Advanced Placement programs.

Last year, 12,205 Gwinnett high school students took 23,468 AP exams. Fifty-nine percent of those students scored a three or higher on the tests.AP tests are scored 1-5. If a student gets a 3 and above, the grade counts for college credit.

Nancy Badertscher

NORTHSIDE

Alpharetta raises parks program fees

The Alpharetta City Council approved an increase in fees Monday for gymnastics an additional $1 to $9 per hour for residents and $1.50 to $13.50 per hour for non-residents. Instructional sports program for youth age 4 to 14 will increase to $9 per hour for residents and to $13.50 per hour for non-residents.

Council members also set fees for use of two fields at the Milton Center at $75 per hour for the stadium field and $50 an hour for the practice field. Non-residents will pay 25 percent additional. Patrick Fox

Big Creek Parkway workshops set

Roswell has scheduled workshops for 7 p.m. March 5 and 11 at Doubletree Hotel Grand Ballroom, 1075 Holcomb Bridge Road on the Big Creek Parkway project where conceptual designs, garnered from early public input, will be discussed.

The project will connect eastern and western parts of the city to relieve congestion along Holcomb Bridge Road near Ga. 400. The proposal also calls for a multi-purpose path for pedestrians and bicyclists. Patrick Fox

Forsyth businesses to be honored at luncheon

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Luncheon is 11:30 a.m. today at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Small businesses will be honored, along with the best new business and best international business. U.S. Reps. Rob Woodall and Doug Collins, R- Ga. will speak. Info: 770-887-6461. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Land-use initiative facts sheet available

Residents with questions about Milton’s new transfer of development rights initiative can access a fact sheet compiled by the Community Development Department.

The program is a market-based initiative allowing limited additional density in designated places when developers pay landowners for voluntarily preserving their properties. A TDR ordinance is already in place in Crabapple. Another is proposed for the city’s main commercial corridor on Ga. 9 and Deerfield Parkway.

Information: www.cityofmiltonga.us/; or contact planner Michele Mcintosh-Ross,t 678-242-2538 or michele.mcintosh@cityofmiltonga.us Patrick Fox

Woodstock to hold self-defense course

The Woodstock Police Department will host a free self-defense course 10 a.m.-noon March 2 at the Woodstock City Hall Annex, 12453 Ga. 92. The course will provide one-on-one instruction. Registration is first-come, first-served and all participants must sign a waiver. Information: 770-592-6000 ext. 1134 Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee may tighten sign ordinance

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will consider revisions to the county’s sign ordinance dealing with electronic signs. Following a presentation by planning and zoning officials Tuesday, commissioners asked for proposed changes including a revised provision governing signs with changeable messages. The proposal could be back before commissioners next month.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Charity event helps prevent blindness

Prevent Blindness Georgia’s “Tea to See” will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Piedmont Driving Club, 1215 Piedmont Ave. N.E. The event will feature teas, sandwiches and desserts. Cost:$50. Proceeds will benefit Prevent Blindness Georgia, a statewide nonprofit that works to prevent blindness through vision screenings, eye exams and reduced cost glasses for adults in need, public education about eye health and safety and vision screening training.

Information: www.pbga.org.

Shelia M. Poole

Film screening at SCAD Atlanta

The Savannah College of Art and Design will offer a free screening and discussion of the fashion documentary, “Versailles ‘73: American Runway Revolution,” at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 at SCAD Atlanta, 1600 Peachtree St. N.W. The film follows the events that lead up to the 1973 fashion show battle at the Chateau de Versailles between American and French designers. Information: scad.edu. Mea Watkins

Educator Appreciate Day at the zoo

Educator Appreciation Day takes place March 9 at Zoo Atlanta. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, in partnership with the Zoo, is inviting early care and education professionals to bring guests for a day of fun-filled activities, running from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Educators, with proper I.D., will receive free admission and $2 off general admission for each of their guests. Information: zooatlanta.org/educators_lounge. Nancy Badertscher

AARP Tax-Aide volunteers needed

AARP Tax-Aide is seeking Atlanta volunteers to provide free tax preparation and filing assistance to area taxpayers.

AARP Tax-Aide volunteers receive free IRS-certified tax training and learn new skills while giving back to their local communities.

Volunteers should have some computer experience, such as e-mail and internet browsing. Information: www.aarp.org/tavolunteer8. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

DeKalb to host rain barrel workshop

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management will host a workshop to teach residents about rain barrel maintenance and water conservation 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wylde Garden Center, 435 Oakview Road, Decatur. Attendees will make their own rain barrels with assistance. Cost of $40 includes materials. Space is limited. Information: msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov, 770-724-1456. Mea Watkins

Last trash pickup meeting Monday

DeKalb County, which is considering cutbacks to its near-daily curbside trash pick-up, will hold its final meeting about the service at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive. DeKalb is considering raising its $265-a-year fee by $40, which in addition to trash pickup pays for yard waste hauling and recycling; or cutting back to once-weekly trash service. Information: 404-371-3689. April Hunt

Doraville hires first city manager

Doraville has hired a city administrator from Minnesota to serve as its first city manager.

City voters agreed to switch back to having a professional manager handle day-to-day operations last year.

Shawn Gillen, who has served as city manager in Grand Rapids, Mich. since 2007, will begin his new duties April 17, earning $113,000 annually. Gillen holds a master’s degree in public administration and doctorate in public finance from the University of Kansas. He served as an assistant finance professor at the university before his job in Grand Rapids, which with 10,000 residents is about the same size as Doraville. Mayor Donna Pittman, who had been working full-time, will assume a part-time role when Gillen begins work. April Hunt

DA to hold training seminar

DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James will host a training seminar on court proceedings this weekend in Decatur.

The Court Watch program is designed for residents and homeowner association representatives to learn how to track code compliance and other cases that affect their communities. The session runs 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday on the fourth floor of the DeKalb Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough St., Decatur. Complimentary breakfast will be served.

The program is free but reservations are required. Information: 404-687-7179. April Hunt

Grant awarded to study commercial area

The Atlanta Regional Commission has awarded DeKalb County a $120,000 grant to study and plan redevelopment a commercial area just north of Decatur.

The Medline area includes portions of Scott Boulevard, North Decatur Road and DeKalb Industrial Way, stretching from DeKalb Medical Center to Patel Plaza. The area also includes Suburban Plaza, the target of an annexation effort by Decatur, and more than 30 acres of former car dealerships.

The study will focus on redeveloping the area into commercial, office and retail, as well as some housing, and also plan transportation improvements such as sidewalks and bike lanes.

The study is expected to take up to a year to complete. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Arrest made in killing of East Point man, 92

Julius Dewberr, 92, was found dead on Feb. 12 inside his home in the 800 block of Jefferson Avenue in East Point. Tuesday, police charged Christopher Roberts, 35, with murder.

Authorities said Dewberry was strangled to death. Roberts also was charged with burglary, robbery and theft by taking and is currently being held at East Point’s municipal jail.

Police said Roberts did odd jobs for Dewberry.

No bond has been announced for Roberts. Marcus K. Garner

Suspects charged in cab driver’s killing

Julius Ryan Thomas, 20, was charged Tuesday with felony murder, false statements and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the killing of Rosendo Casarrubias, who was found dead in his cab near Riverdale, said police.

Another suspect, Desmond Brandon Nixon, 22, was arrested Feb. 2 and charged with murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, false statements, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He is being held without bond in the Clayton County jail. Joel Provano

Fayette Commission session today

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners will hold a Department Outreach meeting 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today to discuss current issues directly with county department heads. The sessions will be in the public meeting room at the Administrative Complex at 140 Stonewall Ave., Fayetteville. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Tax help available for Peachtree City seniors

AARP is offering free tax preparation assistance for senior citizens in Peachtree City. Help is available on a first-come, first-served basis 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays through April 15 at the Peachtree City United Methodist Church, 225 Robinson Road.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fishing begins March 1 at Henry reservoirs

Regular fishing season begins March 1 and extends through the end of November, the Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority has announced. This year public fishing will be allowed in both the Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga reservoirs, the two largest in the system. Both facilities will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays March 10 through Nov. 3. The reservoirs will be closed Easter and Mother’s Day.

Information: www.hcwsa.com. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Piedmont Henry to host town hall

Piedmont Henry Hospital will host a town hall meeting at 6 p.m.today at the Jason T. Harper Event Center, McDonough. This is one of a series of meetings scheduled by Piedmont Healthcare in the areas surrounding each of its affiliated hospitals throughout Georgia.

Results from recent community health needs assessments specific to each hospital’s community will be discussed.

Information: piedmont.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC