County by county news for Thursday

Schools set to release transfer information

Georgia schools and districts are expected to find out next week whether they made Adequate Yearly Progress, as required by federal law. Schools and districts are required to meet certain annual goals or face penalties. Schools failing to meet goals for two years must offer students the option to transfer to another school in good standing. Cobb Schools will announce information about choice options on their website around July 26. Ninety-one percent of Cobb schools made AYP in 2010. Information: www.cobbk12.org, www.doe.k12.ga.us Jaime Sarrio

Smyrna to rebid asbestos project

The City of Smyrna has put the asbestos abatement contract for the razing of Hickory Lake apartments back up for bid, with a time line of beginning destruction of the 92-building apartment complex, on 48 acres, on Windy Hill Road, in September. The city bought the apartment last year and is planning to redevelop the land. The demolition cannot begin until asbestos is removed. Jeffry Scott

Sprayberry High to offer new classes in fall

Cobb’s Sprayberry High will offer new courses this fall. Students can sign up for level one or level two classes in Latin, Chinese or Portuguese. Interested students should contact jeanne.walker@cobbk12.org with the course request. More information: www.cobbk12.org/Sprayberry Jaime Sarrio

Powder Springs Senior Center holds yard sale

An indoor yard sale will be held Friday and Saturday by the Powder Springs Senior Center.

Arts, crafts, baked goods and grilled beef and turkey hot dogs also will be sold from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bill “Papa” Morris building, 4181 Atlanta St., next to the Powder Springs Library.

Information: Center Coordinator Dee Chappel, 770-943-1555. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Austell workers will contribute to health care

For the first time, Austell employees will have to pay for a portion of their health care.

The City Council voted unanimously Monday to require around 100 city employees to pay $5 a week. City Council members also decided to switch health care providers from Blue Cross to Coventry.

Mayor Joe Jerkins said Blue Cross wanted to charge 22 percent more compared to Coventry’s 3.7 percent increase over the city’s costs last year.

The city still will pay employee deductibles of $1,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a family. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Court affirms dismissal in Gwinnett accident suit

The federal appeals court in Atlanta has upheld a judge’s ruling dismissing a suit filed by a woman who was thrown from a 1996 Ford Explorer during a 2006 accident on Holcomb Bridge Road in Gwinnett County.

Melanie Ivy, 24 at the time, abruptly turned left to avoid a collision with a truck that cut in front of her, causing the Explorer to roll over. Ivy, now a paraplegic, sued Ford Motor Co. in 2008, saying the company negligently designed the SUV. But the court noted the Explorer had passed safety tests conducted by reputable mainstream sources. Bill Rankin

Norcross puts Sunday alcohol sales on ballot

The Norcross City Council has narrowly approved a resolution that will let its residents decide if they want the retail sale of liquor on Sundays.

The 3-2 vote means Norcross was one of three Gwinnett cities Monday to agree to a November referendum that will determine whether stores can sell alcohol on Sundays. Duluth and Sugar Hill also passed similar measures on the same day.

The state Legislature approved such referendums on the local level after a five-year fight on Sunday sales. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill in late April. Joel Anderson

Lawrenceville man drowns in Lake Lanier

A 49-year-old Lawrenceville man drowned Tuesday at Lake Lanier. Gideon Massey Burt swam to retrieve a beach ball, called for help and was not seen again, Hall County fire Chief David Kimbrell said. Burt was in the water near the campground at Lake Lanier Islands when he was reported missing around 6:15 p.m., Kimbrell said. Divers found the man’s body around 7:20 p.m. Alexis Stevens

Lawrenceville delays vote on millage rate

The Lawrenceville City Council has delayed a vote on its property tax millage rate until next week. Council members agreed to revisit talks about the city’s millage rate of 2.16 during a regular council meeting Monday night. They will reconsider the rate at a special-called meeting and work session Wednesday. As a result, the Gwinnett County tax commissioner agreed to extend Lawrenceville’s deadline for submitting a millage rate to that night. Joel Anderson

Teenager serious after being hit by car

A teenage boy was in serious condition after being hit by a car as he tried to cross the street Tuesday evening, Gwinnett County police said.

The boy, whose name was not released, was attempting to walk across Sugarloaf Parkway in front of the Publix supermarket at Five Forks Trickum Road just before 7 p.m. when he was struck, Cpl. Edwin Ritter told the AJC. Alexis Stevens

Norcross sticks with no pets in parks

After much debate at Monday’s city council meeting, the city of Norcross decided to stick to the policy: No pets allowed in city parks.

The issue was first brought up by Public Works, Utilities, and Parks and Recreation who wanted to amend the ordinance. The city issue is that some residents do not pick up after their pets. Alaya Boykin

NORTHSIDE

Sandy Springs woos unnamed company

Sandy Springs is putting together an economic development policy to help attract businesses to the area. The city is courting an unnamed company that has promised to bring nearly 300 jobs to the city. The city council approved the waiving of certain fees, including permitting fees, Tuesday, as part of the incentive package for the unnamed company. The council rejected the draft policy it saw at the meeting, saying it was too broad. A more specific draft will be put together and presented to council soon, said City Manager John McDonough. Michelle E. Shaw

Fulton school board to meet today

The Fulton County School Board meets today via conference call. The agenda was not available. Anyone interested in attending the meeting should be at the superintendent’s office at the school system’s administrative center, 786 Cleveland Ave., at 10 a.m. The teleconference will take place in the superintendent’s conference room. Nancy Badertscher

Restrictions placed on school’s expansion

Fellowship Christian School won approval Monday for plans to modify its campus off Woodstock Road in Roswell. But the City Council placed more than a dozen restrictions on plans to add light, sound system, press box and seating to its athletic fields.

Restrictions include: landscaping; no lighting on the baseball or softball field, basketball and tennis courts located near Barrington Manor Subdivision; no public address system used at the baseball, softball fields and tennis courts; no marching bands during outdoor athletic events; and no outdoor concerts. Patrick Fox

Harry Potter tea at Johns Creek library

In honor of the final Harry Potter movie hitting theaters this week, Johns Creek’s Ocee branch library will have a “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows English Tea” on today at 1 p.m., offering traditional English tea for children and teens ages 12-18. The library is at 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road. Reservations: 770-360-8897. Johnny Edwards

Sandy Springs wants to keep penny tax pact

Sandy Springs wants to continue to receive its Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) based on its population. The city council passed a resolution that supports the current distribution of the penny tax, an agreement between Fulton County and its cities which expires December 2012. The current agreement states each city will receive LOST revenue proportionate to the population of cities within the county, in relation to the population of the county. The county will receive a portion of the revenue that is proportionate to the population of the unincorporated areas of the county. Michelle E. Shaw

Milton looks a pawn shop restrictions

Milton is considering adding restrictions on pawn shops as a measure against marketing stolen goods. At a work session Monday, the City Council discussed some proposals, including requiring operators to photograph the customer and not accept unopened items without a purchase receipt. The measure could come up for a vote later this month. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Loudermilk surprised by statue on birthday

A statue of Charlie Loudermilk was unveiled at the former Buckhead Triangle Park Tuesday, in honor of Loudermilk’s 84th birthday.

Loudermilk, chairman of Atlanta rent-to-own company Aaron’s, has donated more than $17 million to local charities and owns the Buckhead Theatre.

The statue was a surprise. Members of Aaron’s management team as well as Mayor Kasim Reed and Ambassador Andrew Young attended the unveiling. Arielle Kass

AKA Sorority kicks off big seminar

More than 4,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the country’s oldest black sorority meet this weekend for their annual Leadership Seminar.

Public events will include speeches and appearances by former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Hawks great Dominique Wilkins, author and Celebrity Fit Club host Ian Smith, Keisha Brown of the WNBA, and former Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker. Ernie Suggs

Ne-Yo reaches out to kids in foster care

Grammy-award winning singer and producer Ne-Yo will be at Clark Atlanta University this week hosting his foundation’s “Future CEO Academy,” aimed at kids in the state’s foster care and group home systems.

Starting today, 50 teenagers selected by the Georgia Department of Human services will participate in a three-day entrepreneurship boot camp. Ernie Suggs

Income tax fraud sends man to prison

An Atlanta man is headed to federal prison for leading a conspiracy that reaped windfalls in fraudulent tax returns by stealing the identities of people in homeless shelters and in jails.

Last week, Kelcey Pierre Miller, 36, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution.

Miller and his co-defendants used the stolen information to file 123 returns from December 2005 to March 2007. Bill Rankin

DEKALB

Firefighters build 9/11 memorial

DeKalb County firefighters are erecting a memorial to honor the first responders and civilians who died in the Sept. 11, 2011, attacks on the World Trade Center.

The memorial, which will include a sculpture by artist Curtis James Miller of a Phoenix wing rising from the ground, will be unveiled during the 10-year commemoration of the attacks. It will be located in front of the Dekalb County Police and Fire Headquarters. Aaron Edwards

Summit on teen relationships today

Teen leaders with Start Strong Atlanta, a public health initiative, will gather at Emory University’s Jane Fonda Center today for a one-day web-based summit focused on building healthy teen relationships and preventing teen dating violence. Teens from across the country will showcase skills for ending relationships in safe, healthy ways at the first-ever Healthy Break-Up Summit from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Misty Williams

Fire/rescue office awarded $4,000 grant

The Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation has awarded DeKalb County’s fire/rescue office a grant to help with public outreach and education.

The $4,000 grant will help the county provide fire safety education in the coming year

A group of DeKalb area firefighters started the foundation in 1982 to help burn survivors and help prevent others from such injuries. April Hunt

Airport signs deal with rental car companies

DeKalb County has inked deals with two rental car companies that operate out of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

Both Hertz and Enterprise already operate at the air field, paying 10 percent of their revenues to the county to be there. The two paid about $64,000 in commissions in 2010.

Under the new deal, both companies will pay 10 percent of revenues in 2011 but under an optional four-year renewal, will pay more each year until giving 12 percent to the county in 2015. April Hunt

Back to School Bash for deaf students

Georgia Hands and Voices and the Georgia PEACH Cochlear Implant Association will host the fourth Back to School Bash from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 23 at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston. The event will feature educational sessions for adults and activities for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Admission is free for members of the host groups, and $5 for non-member individuals, $10 for families. RSVP to info@gahandsandvoices.org. Information: www.gahandsandvoices.org. Jaime Sarrio

Group works on Decatur’s Strategic Plan

Decatur recently established a task force to help implement the city’s 2020 Strategic Plan, adopted earlier this year. Planning Director Amanda Thompson said the task force will focus on encouraging alternative transportation, redeveloping underused properties, and providing a variety of housing types that encourage aging residents to remain in their homes. The 11-person task force, chaired by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Baskett, will prepare recommendations for the City Commission by December. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

HMC names director of nursing resources

A 26-year nursing veteran has been named director of nursing resources at Henry Medical Center. Jackie Fogle has experience in telemetry, medical, surgical and outpatient surgery. She has served in management for the past three years at Henry Medical and was instrumental in opening the hospital’s direct admit unit last December. Fogle has a Bachelor of Science in biology from Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., and a master of science in nursing as well as a masters in health administration from the University of Phoenix. Tammy Joyner

$2.4 million road project begins in Henry

Ground was broken Tuesday on a new road improvement project on Oakland Road in western Henry County. The 1.31-mile single-lane dirt road connects Ga. 20 and 81 between McDonough and Hampton. When finished, it will be paved with two lanes, straightened curves, flatter hills and better site distance, according to a county official. The $2.46 million project is being paid for by the county’s SPLOST. Expected completion date is May 2012. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Hampton to get vote on Sunday alcohol sales

The Hampton City Council passed a resolution July 12 authorizing a referendum on the November ballot on whether to permit Sunday sales of malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits in the city. Hampton is the third city in Henry County to make such a move, following previous resolutions in Stockbridge and McDonough. Monroe Roark for the AJC

East Point gears up for farmers market

East Point is hoping this year’s farmers market days will lead to a weekly program next year. The city’s first market this year is Aug. 13 from 9 a.m.-noon at The Commons area in downtown East Point. The East Point Farmer’s Market is an initiative of the East Point Main Street Association in partnership with the Department of Economic Development. John Thompson for the AJC

Peachtree City: No rope swings on the lake

Peachtree City authorities are reminding residents that rope swings are not allowed on the eastern bank of Lake Peachtree. Public Works crews have already removed several swings. They are not permitted because the area is a city-owned greenbelt.

People are asked to report them to the Public Works Department at 770-487-5183. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Outdoor movie in Fayetteville Friday

Fayetteville Main Street and Xfinity will present a free “Movie Under the Stars” Friday night at the Villages Amphitheater, 301 LaFayette Ave.

Music, a family game zone and a bubble area will begin at 7 p.m., with the animated movie “Rango” starting at 9:15 p.m. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fairburn library book sale on Saturday

The Friends of the Fairburn Library will have a used book sale Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Fairburn branch, 60 Valley View Drive. Proceeds go to the library. Information: 770-306-3138. Johnny Edwards