County by county news for Thursday

Fleming was arrested Friday afternoon at the Barnes & Noble near Cumberland Mall and charged with misdemeanor shoplifting, Cobb County jail records show.

Fleming was arrested by sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail around 3:30 p.m. Friday.

She was released early Saturday after posting $1,000 bond. Alexis Stevens

Publix employee wins $550,000 on break

Angelia Salas, 50, of Smyrna won the top prize playing the instant game $550,000 Grand Money, the Georgia Lottery announced Tuesday.

The Publix worker purchased her lucky ticket while on her break at the store in the 5600 block of Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.

She handed the ticket to her supervisor to confirm her winnings. Angel K. Brooks

Half-naked man accused of assault

Two women walking in Kennesaw National Park told police they saw a half-naked man touching himself. Then, the man charged at the two women, knocking one to the ground, police said.

The man is described as being between 6-feet-2 and 6-feet-3 inches tall and weighing approximately 230 pounds. He is believed to be in his late 20s to early 30s, police said. The man had a goatee and dark brown or black shaggy, curly hair. He possibly has hazel eyes and was last seen wearing a light blue short sleeve T-shirt with unknown writing on it and gray cargo-style shorts.

Anyone with information should call 770-499-3945.

Alexis Stevens

Three National Day of Prayer sites

A prayer service will begin at noon today outside Powder Springs City Hall, 4484 Marietta St. All are welcome 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today in the Worship Center, Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, 5145 Due West Road, Powder Springs. Another site will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today at The Cross Ministry, 3469 Gus Robinson Road, Powder Springs. Information: cityofpowdersprings.org, burnthickory.com, thecrossworshipministry.com.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Acworth to consider annexing islands

Acworth’s Board of Aldermen will consider annexing property off New McEver and Hickory Grove Roads starting 7 p.m. Thursday May 2 at City Hall, 4415 Senator Russell Ave. The public will have a chance to comment.

Acworth is expected to annex islands or unincorporated Cobb County property surrounded by the city to improve emergency services.

Information: www.acworth.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Smyrna farmers market opens Saturday

The Smyrna Farmers Market will open for the season from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Smyrna First Baptist Church parking lot, 1275 Church St. The downtown market, open Saturdays through September.

Infromation: www.smyrnacity.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Suwanee bringing food trucks to Town Center

Suwanee will introduce Food Truck Fridays the first Friday of May, June, August, and September with some of metro Atlanta’s favorite food truck vendors at Town Center Park. Suwanee’s first Food Truck Friday will begin at 6:30 p.m. this Friday with Atlanta Burger Truck, Chay J’s New Orleans Candies, King of Pops, Mighty Meatball Mobile, Nana G’s Chicken and Waffles, One Love Jerk Grill, and Pressed for Time.

Free entertainment will include music by Peachtree Ridge, North Gwinnett, Collins Hill, and Flowery Branch high school jazz bands. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Mental math game set for Saturday

Mathematics enthusiasts from Gwinnett County Public Schools will compete for the title of Witzzle Pro Champion 9 a.m. Saturday at Stripling Elementary, 6155 Atlantic Blvd., Norcross. The GCPS annual “Witzzle Pro Tournament” is a mental math game that tests students’ knowledge of numbers and operations. The winning school will have the honor of holding the GCPS Witzzle Pro trophy until next year’s tournament. Nancy Badertscher

Duluth joins National Day of Prayer

Duluth invites the public to a National Day of Prayer Service at 11:40 a.m. today in the Duluth Town Green and Amphitheater.

The Golden Notes Choir from Duluth First Baptist Church will open the service with song at 11:40 a.m. Prayer time will begin at noon. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Suwanee Farmers Market opens

The Suwanee Farmers Market opens from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 5 and from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 6 beginning Saturday at the Town Center, 330 Town Center Ave.

Featured products include produce, jams, breads, honey, meat, eggs and flowers.

Information: 770-945-8996.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Gwinnett Relay For Life looking for volunteers

Gwinnett Relay For Life seeks volunteers for May 10-11, including help with a special survivors’ reception during the event kick-off on May 10 at the Gwinnett Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville.

Information: www.gwinnettrelayforlife.org by clicking the volunteer button.

Cancer survivors also are asked to sign up to participate in the reception.

This 20th anniversary is a prime opportunity to become involved in the renowned event, which honors cancer survivors and pays tribute to those who have lost the fight against cancer. Nancy Badertscher

Suwanee Day accepting applications

Exhibitor and entertainment applications are now being accepted for the 30th celebration of Suwanee Day on Sept. 21.

The deadline for exhibitor applications is June 1. The deadline for entertainment applications is May 15.

Exhibitors and entertainers are selected through a jury process.

Applications are available at www.suwaneeday.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Arrest made in Woodstock bank robbery

Woodstock Police have arrested a 20-year-old Acworth man in Tuesday’s robbery of a Regions Bank branch in Woodstock. Nathan Alexander Doston was arrested Tuesday evening at the Atlanta Greyhound bus station.

Police say a suspect presented a note to a teller shortly after the bank opened and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. Dotson faces one robbery count and is jailed in Cherokee County.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee sets National Day of Prayer events

Two Cherokee County events will be held today (Thursday) as part of theNational Day of Prayer. Prayers will be offered at noon at both the gazebo at The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock; and at the gazebo at Cannon Park, 130 Main St. in downtown Canton.

Both hour-long events are sponsored by the Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association. Information: CCMASecretary@gmail.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Taste of Alpharetta planned

The Taste of Alpharetta takes place from 5-10 p.m. May 9 in downtown Alpharetta, 2 South Main St. The event will feature gourmet food options, live music, food competitions, culinary demonstrations and shopping with local merchants. Admission is free and food tickets are 50 cents each. Participating restaurants will charge $1 to $3 per food sample.

Information: www.awesomealpharetta.com. Mea Watkins

Forsyth to hear state of the community

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce State of the Community Address is set for 11:30 a.m. today (Thursday) at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. School board chair Darla Light, county commission chair R.J. “Pete” Amos, and Cumming’s mayor H. Ford Gravitt will speak. Cost: $45 members, $65 non-members, More info: cummingforsythchamber.org Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Tennis event to benefit preschool charity

Soleil Laurel Canyon, an active adult master-planned community in Canton, will host its third annual Soleil Tennis Charity Event, benefiting the Ralph Bunche Center, a nonprofit that provides resources and services to Head Start pre-k students and preschool intervention.

The event is from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Information: www.charity.soleiltennis.com. Mea Watkins

County seeks youth commissioners

Fulton County is seeking youth commissioners to help develop policies and legislation to address the concerns of young people.

A student must be a Fulton resident, attend a school within the county, be in ninth through 11th grade during the 2013-14 school year and submit a completed application and two-page essay.

Deadline is 5 p.m. May 17.

Information: 404-612-7386 or Reginald.crossley@fultoncountyga.gov. David Wickert

ATLANTA

Intersection reopens after package found

A busy westside intersection has reopened after being shut down during the Wednesday morning commute while authorities investigated a suspicious package.

A red duffel bag was found before 7:30 a.m. near the intersection of Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard and West Marietta Street.

Both West Marietta Street and Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard remained closed until the all-clear was sounded just aftern 8:30 a.m.

The bag was empty, according to Atlanta police. Mike Morris

Ford donates $25,000 to local shelter

Ford Motor Co. announced it will donate $25,000 to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children, part of a continuing relationship with the nonprofit.

The donation will be used to support the shelter’s Job Readiness Program. With this donation, Ford’s contributions to the shelter totals $100,000 over the last three years.

Additionally, Ford volunteers will help at the shelter on Friday preparing and serving lunch, working with guests on projects and organizing the food pantry. Shelia M. Poole

Homeowners workshop at Rhodes Hall

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation will hold a homeowners workshop designed to help potential and currents homeowners improve their property 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Rhodes Hall, 1516 Peachtree Street, N.W.

A kickoff reception will be held at Rhodes Hall at 6 p.m. Friday.

There will be vendor displays and seminars and demonstrations on researching your home’s history, tax incentives for historic homes and caring for historic floors.

Immediately after the workshop, guests can take part in a bicycle tour of historic Atlanta neighborhoods to see recently restored houses as well as homes currently on the market.

Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

Information: www.georgiatrust.org or call 404-885-7812. Shelia M. Poole

DEKALB

Seussical musical performances Sunday

Company J at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta will present its final performances of Seussical on Sunday in the Morris and Rae Frank Theatre, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. TA sensory-friendly performance, designed for families with children or adults on the autism spectrum or other sensitivity issues, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Additional performances will be 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $15, with discounts for students, seniors, groups, and MJCCA members.

Information: www.atlantajcc.org/companyj. Tickets: 678-812-4002 or www.atlantajcc.org/boxoffice.

Mea Watkins

Edgewise to feature Broadway songs

The Marcus JCC at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, continues its Edgewise weekly speaker series from 10:30 a.m. to noon today.

MJCCA’s Broadway chorus will perform Broadway melodies and old favorites. It’s free.

Information: Lilly Mahana at lilly.mahana@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4064. Sandra Marshall Murray

Donations requested for college students

Donations for college-bound students are being sought. They can include gift cards, household items and toiletries and will be distributed to 100 needy students who begin college this fall.

Government drop-off spots are the Maloof building, 1300 Commerce Drive; the DeKalb Superior Court Clerk’s office in the county courthouse on McDonough Street ; and the Porter Sanford performing arts center, 3181 Rainbow Drive.

Donations also will be accepted at the 1st Class Barber Shop inside Stonecrest Mall and Nick’s Barber Shop, 4830 Redan Road. Information: 404-964-4936. April Hunt

Hikes slated for DeKalb preserve

Hikes will be held on two upcoming Friday mornings at the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve in south DeKalb County.

The tree hikes explore natural and historical resources at the preserve. Hikes begin at 8 a.m. Friday and May 10 at the preserve’s nature center, 3787 Klondike Road, near Lithonia.

Information: 770-492-5220.

April Hunt

Northside sponsors free screenings

Northside Hospital will offer free health screenings including cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, medical weight, body composition analysis, osteoporosis, cancer risk, etc. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 at MJCCA at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody

To reserve a time slot, call 678-812-4000. Walk-Ins are also welcome.

Information: Sandra Bass, sandra.bass@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-3798. Mea Watkins

Summer program offered at Art Institute

The Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur will offer a four-day summer program aimed to help high school juniors build new skills in the fields of design, culinary, media arts or fashion June 10-14.

The deadline for registration is May 31.

Information: www.summerstudio.com/decatur, or contact Mavia Fleury, 404.942.1807, mfleury@aii.edu. Mea Watkins

SOUTHSIDE

Peachtree City sets rules for graduation banners

Peachtree City is waiving the usual signage rules to accommodate graduation announcement displays.

Banners may be placed at subdivision entrances through June 12 without permits or fees, provided they do not exceed 35 square feet.

Individual signs on residential lots cannot be larger than 16 square feet.

Information: www.peachtree-city.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1821. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Chief Justice to speak at Clayton Law Day

Carol Hunstein, the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, will speak at the Law Day celebration hosted by the Clayton County Bar Association noon Friday at the Clayton County Youth Development & Justice Center.

Law day is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law.

Hunstein was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1992 and served as the chair of the state Commission on Access and Fairness. The Law Day event is open to the public .

Information: Judge Steve Teske, 404-754-9071 or steve.teske@co.clayton.ga.us Tammy Joyner

Seniors can learn to spot scams

Fulton County will host a session on how seniors can protect themselves against scams at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Camp Truitt Senior Center, 4320 Hershel Road, College Park.

The county will provide information on how seniors can identify, prevent and report fraudulent and deceptive schemes. For more information call 404-613-7944. David Wickert

McIntosh musician accepted to Julliard

A member of the McIntosh High School band in Peachtree City has been accepted to the prestigious Julliard School in New York City.

Colin Benton received a full merit scholarship as a tuba performance major, following a live audition for faculty.

He will begin studies in the fall. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Applications open for Taste of Fayette

Vendor applications are now being accepted for the 12th annual Taste of Fayette taking place May 19 in downtown Fayetteville.

The event showcases food from local restaurants as well as information about other area businesses and charitable organizations.

Booths range from $50 to $100; deadline is May 15.

Information: www.fayetteville-ga.gov or 770-719-4173. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Family Services board position open

Fayette County has a volunteer vacancy on its Board of Family and Children’s Services.

Members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners to five-year terms, and help disadvantaged individuals and families progress toward independence.

Applications, available from Floyd Jones at fjones@fayettecountyga.gov or 770-305-5102, are due May 17. Jill Howard Church for the AJC