County by county news for Thursday

Once those tracks are widened in a few years, the present museum will be demolished.

Until his passing in 2012, former Powder Springs Councilman Robert G. (Bob) Bodiford had resided in that house for 57 years.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Lecture on Confederate general today

Civil War Round Table of Cobb County hosts Cheryl White, author of “Confederate General Leonidas Polk: Louisiana’s Fighting Bishop” 7 p.m. today at the KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw. Free admission for first time visitors. Information: www.cobbcwrt.org

Arlinda Smith Broady

Sale to benefit history museum

The Marietta Musem of History will have a yard sale of furniture, books, framed prints and more 10 a.m.-9-.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 1 Depot St., Marietta.

The museum holds the sale annually to coincide with the 90-mile Dixie Highway Yard sale, off Old Highway 41 from Ringgold to Marietta, also June 6-8.

Information: www.mariettahistory.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs renews contract

The Powder Springs City Council renewed Monday a $58,000 annual contract with TruGreen Landscape until June 30, 2015 - in spite of concerns expressed by Mayor Patricia Vaughn and Councilmen Al Thurman and Chris Wizner during the agenda meeting about the city’s deteriorating appearance.

Public Works Director Greg Ramsey agreed that TruGreen Landscape - not the same company as TruGreen Lawn Care - is not doing as good a job as last year but said the next lowest bidder charged 16 to 17 percent higher. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Gallery to hold signing during art walk

Avery Gallery will host a book signing with 15 authors of books relating to the Civil War and the South 5-9 p.m. Friday at 390 Roswell St., Marietta.

The event is part of the First Friday Art Walk that features local artists at about 30 shops and galleries around the Marietta Square.

Information: www.artwalkmarietta.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Parents can check out proposed textbooks

Parents of students in the County School District can check out math, Spanish and French textbooks the system is considering at school headquarters, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through June 12 at 514 Glover St., Marietta.

The bbok list includes k-5 through 9-12 mathematics, algebra, geometry and statistics, Advanced Placement Spanish and French.

Information: www.cobbk12.ga.us.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Parks foundation gives $25,000 for playground

The non-profit, all volunteer Gwinnett Parks Foundation is providing a $25,000 donation to build a new playground at Little Mulberry Park near Auburn to commemorate Karina Miller whose family wants the funds to ensure the public can enjoy the natural beauty of the property. In addition to the Miller family, Fidelity Bank is supporting fundraising efforts. The 890-acre Little Mulberry Park already features the Karina Miller Nature Preserve and five miles of paved and soft-surface trails for hiking, biking and equestrian activities. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Manufacturing series to help find savings

Gwinnett Tech and Georgia Tech are partnering to present ‘Energy Management Systems: Finding Cost Savings in New Ways,’ a luncheon event in the Manufacturing Growth Education Series 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 26 at The Gwinnett Tech Busbee Center. Cost: $15. Registration: http://tinyurl.com/mzogsvn Information: bill.ritsch@innovate.gatech.edu or 678-294-1579. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett buys land along Yellow River

Gwinnett has agreed to buy 140.4 acres adjacent to the existing 566-acre Yellow River Park on Juhan Road from The Conservation Fund. Located in southern Gwinnett between the Yellow River and a future park site on Centerville Highway. Master planning for the park site and trails will begin within a year. The 2009 SPLOST program will fund the $100,000 purchase.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Commission declares Small Business Week

Gwinnett is declaring June 16-20 as Gwinnett Small Business Week. The Gwinnett Chamber has developed a week-long calendar of events focusing specifically on helping small business owners succeed including workshops and networking opportunities. Information: www.GwinnettChamber.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Food vendor safety training available

Gwinnett County Extension is sponsoring a farmers market vendor food safety training program 8 a.m.-noon June 16, at 750 S. Perry St. in Lawrenceville.

The program will cover the safe handling, storing and selling of produce at farmers markets.

Participants will learn how and when to harvest vegetables, canning and some basics on cottage foods. The training is for vendors at local farmers markets as well as homeowners. $10. Registration deadline is June 12.

Information: Timothy Daly at tdaly@uga.edu or 678-377-4010. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Farmers market to open in Duluth

Duluth will kick off Parsons Alley Farmers Market 4 to 8 p.m. every Thursday June to September on Main Street, next to New Dawn Theater.

The market hopes to establish a relationship between consumers and local farmers and provide fresh, local produce.

Information: www.duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

New judges join Sandy Springs municipal court

Joseph Buford, Sharon Dickson, Marcie Ernst and Candiss Howard were sworn in the Sandy Springs City Council meeting on Tuesday. They were recommended from a panel of attorneys in January to review the city’s court system. They will join Judge Donald Schaefer. Each will serve a four-year term. The municipal court handles traffic offenses, local ordinance violations, issue warrants, conduct preliminary hearings and, in some instances, hear misdemeanor larceny and drug possession cases. Information: www.sandyspringsga.gov Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Construction backups in Johns Creek

The Georgia Department of Transportation kicked off a project Wednesday at Medlock Bridge and McGinnis Ferry roads in Johns Creek to extend the left-hand turn lane on northbound Medlock Bridge by 300 feet. Construction is set for 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. weekdays through June and possibly into July. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Sandy Springs OKs park smoking ban

The Sandy Springs City Council Tuesdy approved a ban on smoking and tobacco use in the city’s parks. It replaces a current policy which banned only underage smoking and goes into effect immediately. The Council acted after getting a staff report showing that all neighboring cities had park no-smoking rules. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Ventulett exhibition at Holy Innocents

The Ventulett Gallery at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church is hosting an opening reception for an exhibition of works by artists A.C. Brown and Jan Eubanks, 6 p.m. Thursday in the gallery, 805 Mount Vernon Highway NW.

“Scenes of Past and Present” displays the works of Brown and Eubanks. The reception is open to the public.

Information: www.holyinnocents.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Johns Creek hires interim legal help

The Johns Creek City Council Monday night appointed Richard Carothers as interim city attorney, and E. Ronald Bennett Jr, as his assistant. Both are with the law firm Carothers and Mitchell, based in Buford.

The pair will replace, for now, former city attorney William F. Riley, who resigned effective Monday.

Riley had been the city’s top lawyer since its 2006 incorporation. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Reinhardt holds scholarship fundraiser

Reinhardt University will present its first-ever “Runway for Reinhardt” benefit fashion show.

It’s set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta, 915 Ridge Walk Parkway, Woodstock. The $25 a ticket brunch and fashion show will benefit A DAY for Reinhardt, a scholarship program for Cherokee County students attending the school.

A variety of students and community members will model gear from the mall’s stores.

Information: 770-720-5506 or BLM@reinhardt.edu

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

New state test gets different name

Georgia’s new standardized test will be called the Georgia Milestones Assessment System and will be most frequently referred to Georgia Milestones, the state Department of Education announced on Wednesday.

The test had been referred to as GMAP — the Georgia Measures of Achievement and Progress. But that name brought confusion with testing systems in other states that had ‘map’ in their names. Wayne Washington

APS begins four-day workweek

Atlanta Public Schools will begin four-day summer workweeks starting this Friday and continuing through July 18. Most APS facilities, including the APS central office, will be closed on June 6, 13, 20 and 27 and July 4, 11 and 18.

The district will also be closed Thursday, July 3 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

All APS summer programs will continue as scheduled. APS offices will resume normal operation hours the week of Monday, July 21. Molly Bloom

Homeless students get new bikes

The Atlanta chapter of StandUp for Kids announced Tuesday it will give more than 100 new mountain bikes to homeless students from select Fulton County high schools.

The donor has asked to remain anonymous. Two Men and a Truck from Tucker volunteered to deliver the bikes to the students.

Information: 404-444-1500, jenniferg@standupforkids.org.

Nancy Badertscher

Northside library to hold book sale

The Friends of the Northside Branch Library is holding a book sale June 11 to June 14 at the Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library’s Northside branch, 3295 Northside Parkway.

About 8,000 books and publications, many of them donated by the community, will be for sale. Proceeds will go to library programs and materials.

Information: folnorthside@gmail.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

DEKALB

Decatur seeks ‘interim plan’ for gun law

Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss said the city still isn’t sure how it’ll address the so-called “guns-everywhere” law, which goes into effect July 1, adding that “We need some interim plan.” The law allows licensed weapons owners to bring among others, guns, knives, nanchucks and ninja stars into some government buildings that don’t have security measures. The city’s estimated it’ll cost taxpayers $500,000 to provide staff and screening equipment at City Hall, Decatur Recreation, Ebster Recreation and Public Works. Bill Banks for the AJC

Two men rob pregnant woman

A pregnant woman was robbed by two unidentified men this morning, according to DeKalb County police.

The men reportedly knocked on the door of a residence in the 4600 block of Tree Mountain Parkway in the Hampton Village Apartments and forced their way inside, pushing the woman to the ground when she answered the door.

An iPad and a TV were stolen and the woman was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure because of her pregnancy. Taylor West

Applicants sought to represent southeast

About 145,000 DeKalb County residents may soon get more representation in county government.

The county announced Tuesday it is advertising for candidates to temporarily represent southeast DeKalb.

Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May will appoint a three-member panel to review applicants, one of whom will be submitted to the county commission for consideration.

Southeast DeKalb’s seat on the commission has been vacant since May became the county’s CEO last summer, when Gov. Nathan Deal suspended CEO Burrell Ellis after his 14-count indictment on political corruption charges. May hasn’t voted or otherwise acted as a commissioner since he took the CEO job.

If Ellis is found not guilty in his September trial, he would immediately return as CEO and May would return to the commission. May would also return to the commission if a jury finds Ellis guilty, though that also would likely trigger a special election.

Potential candidates should email a cover letter and resume to district5@dekalbcountyga.gov by July 3. Mark Niesse

Stone Mountain opens farmers market

The Stone Mountain Farmers Market opens 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Stone Mountain Village municipal parking lot.

The market will carry locally grown produce, dairy products and meats Thursdays through Sept. 9. Information: mmckinley@stonemountaincity.org or 770-498-8984, Ext. 137. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Urban League to host home buyer workshop

The Urban League of Greater Atlanta hosts a home buyer education workshop and resource fair, 8:30 a.m. Saturday at New Life Church and Community Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Road.

Representatives from industry groups will be at the event to advise buyers on getting a mortgage and other steps leading to the purchase of their home. Registration in advance is requested.

Information. www.ulgatl.org.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton State students seek young patients

Clayton State University’s Dental Hygiene Clinic is looking for children patients. “To meet their graduation requirements, senior dental hygiene students are required to provide oral care for a certain number of children,” said Dr. Gail Barnes, chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene which runs the clinic. Clinic appointments are available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For a fee, students provide dental cleanings, sealants, fluoride treatments and x-rays under the direction of dental health clinical faculty. Information: 678-466-4920. Tammy Joyner

Information session on pedestrian bridge

An open house on the Global Gateway Connector Project in College Park is 5 p.m. June 16 at city hall, 3667 Main St.

The Global Gateway Connector Project is a proposal to build a pedestrian bridge across Camp Creek Parkway to connect the Georgia International Convention Center with downtown College Park. The project also calls for construction of a multi-use trail to connect the proposed bridge to the convention center and downtown. The public may view the proposal, ask questions and comment. Information: www.collegeparkga.com. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Wheelchair tennis tourney June 13-15

The Geranium Festival Wheelchair Tennis Tournament is June 13-15 at Richard Craig Park, McDonough. The event was named the Wheelchair Tournament of the Year in 2011 by the United States Tennis Association Georgia and in 2010 by the USTA Southern Section. It is sponsored by the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Quilt sale to benefit animal shelter

A quilt sale to benefit the Clayton County Humane Society will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Quilts and Fixins store, 7986 N. Main St., Jonesboro. Proceeds go to the humane society.

Information: claytoncountyhumane.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Three positions open on hospital board

The Fayette County Hospital Authority has three openings for volunteer members. Individuals on the five-person board serve four-year terms and facilitate funding for hospital projects. Prior experience in healthcare or business is preferred. Applicants must file by Friday; contact Floyd Jones at 770-305-5102 or fjones@fayettecountyga.gov.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Piedmont Henry sets ‘Walk with a Doc’

Piedmont Henry Hospital is coordinating “Walk with a Doc” events at 8:30 a.m. the fourth Saturday of each month through July at Heritage Park in McDonough.

A different physician will be participating each month and available to answer general health questions.

Each participant will receive a free pedometer and T-shirt.

Register at piedmont.org under the “Search Classes & Events” tab or by phone at 1-877-527-3712.

Monroe Roark for the AJC