County by county news for Thursday

The breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in Atlanta. Chamber members: $25 online, $40 at the door; non-members: $60. Register online at www.cobbchamber.org. Janel Davis

Court upholds man’s carjacking conviction

The federal appeals court in Atlanta on Wednesday upheld carjacking and firearms convictions against a Marietta man who stole a family’s SUV after holding a gun to the head of a 2-year-old.

Eduardo Vega was sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison for the June 1, 2007, carjacking and terrorizing a family of six that had pulled into a restaurant parking lot on Fulton Industrial Boulevard. Federal prosecutors said Vega, after stealing the SUV, fled the scene and later fired shots at pursuing Fulton County police before being arrested later that day. Bill Rankin

Powder Springs OKs stormwater fee

Powder Springs City Council members voted 4-1 Tuesday to charge $3 per month to residents for a new stormwater fee, beginning in October.

Councilwoman Nancy Hudson opposed the amount, saying the monthly figure should be lower. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Judge swears in new Smyrna officials

Cobb Superior Court Judge Adele Grubbs swore in Smyrna mayor Max Bacon and seven city council members at Tuesday’s meeting: Melleny Pritchett , Andrea Blustein , Teri Anulewicz , Charles Welch , Susan Wilkinson , Wade Lnenicka , and Ron Fennel .

Grubbs also swore in appointed officials: City Attorney Scott Cochran; City Administrator Eric Taylor, and City Clerk, Susan Hiott. Jeffry Scott

Legislators to hold town hall meeting

State Sen. Doug Stoner and Rep. Stacey Evans, who both represent the Smyrna area of Cobb County, will hold a town hall meeting on Thursday.

Area residents are invited to come hear about key issues of the upcoming legislative session that begins Jan. 9.

The meeting runs from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle in Smyrna.

Information: Cobb County Democrats, 770-420-7133; www.cobbdemocrats.org Janel Davis

Auditions today for MLK program

Residents interested in being a part of Cobb County’s 26th anniversary celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can audition this week.

Auditions will be at 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. Saturday at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre inside the Cobb Civic Center at 548 South Marietta Parkway in Marietta. Audition slots are limited, RSVP to 770-528-8490.

The celebration will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 16, at the Cobb Civic Center. Andria Simmons

GWINNETT

Ground broken for new senior center

Construction started this week in Duluth on a new, 2,400-square-foot center for senior citizens.

City officials, board members and members of Fabulous After Fifty attended a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the activity building at W.P. Jones Park in Duluth.

Officials expect the building to be finished in June.

Information: Kathy Marelle at kmarelle@duluthga.net or 678-417-9269. Joel Anderson

Beard reelected Buford commission chairman

The Buford City Commission reelected Phillip Beard as commission chairman and Chris Burge as vice-chairman at its first meeting of the year Tuesday.

Beard, a 36-year incumbent, and new school board members Daren Perkins and Beth Lancaster also took an oath of office at the meeting following their victories in the November elections. Additionally, the commission reappointed Don Shomake and Winston Burel to the city’s zoning board of appeals and reappointed the city’s department heads for 2012. Joel Anderson

Beaudreau elected vice chairman

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners elected Mike Beaudreau as vice chairman on Tuesday. Beaudreau represents commission District 3, which covers the eastern part of Gwinnett and includes the cities of Snellville, Loganville, Grayson, Dacula and Auburn. David Wickert

Duluth police get $16,600 for project

The Duluth Police Department has received a $16,600 public safety partnership “Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic” (H.E.A.T.) grant from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The department’s H.E.A.T. Unit will develop and implement strategies to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities from drugs and alcohol, speed, aggressive driving and lack of safety belt usage. The grant became effective in October and will continue through September 2012. To learn about other lifesaving highway safety campaigns, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org. Kenneth Musisi

Redevelopment forum to be Jan. 27

The Gwinnett Redevelopment Forum will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place, 1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth.

The forum, sponsored by Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and the Council for Quality Growth, will focus on local and regional redevelopment activity. The event costs $55 per person. To register and for more information visit www.gwinnettchamber.com. David Wickert

Suwanee recycles Christmas trees

Suwanee will be collecting live Christmas trees as part of its “Bring One for the Chipper” recycling program from through Jan. 31. Residents should bring the trees to Sims Lake Park, 4600 Suwanee Dam Road. Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

GBI finishes Oakes investigation

The GBI has finished its investigation into an alleged attack on a 4-year-old girl at Alpharetta’s Wills Park in October, which spurred a controversy that some have speculated cost former Alpharetta Councilwoman Cheryl Oakes her seat. The case has been handed to the Fulton Solicitor General’s office, which will decide if criminal charges are warranted, Channel 2 Action News reported. In the weeks leading up to elections, a mother accused Oakes’ husband, Paul, of slamming her daughter out of a swing. Oakes denied touching the child. Johnny Edwards

Sandy Springs forms advisory committee

Sandy Springs has named nine residents to form an Economic Development Advisory Committee. Members will use their expertise in the business world to advise the city’s new economic development manager, Jahnee Prince who was hired last month.

Mayor Eva Galambos said the committee is being formed to provide a shot in the arm to the local economy and help fill vacant commercial space.

Committee members are: Frank M. Bishop, Chris Burnett, Pat Chesser, James D. Comerford, Eric deGroot, Alan Herrick, Graham McDonald, Kevin A. Moyer and Charles Roberts. Patrick Fox

DOT awards contract for Ga. 20 work

The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded a $7.7 million construction contract for work on Ga. 20 in Bartow County before the major corridor roads leads southeast into Cherokee County and Canton. A

1.7-mile stretch between Timberlake Cove Road and Bells Ferry Road will be widened for truck passing lanes, according to the DOT, which said construction will start soon and should be completed by Sept. 2014. Jeffry Scott

Families can shop camps at expo

Atlanta Parent Magazine is offering a free exhibition for families to preview the best camp offerings in metro Atlanta, the Southeast and beyond in a trade show-style setting.

The first of several Camp Expos will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 21 at North Point Mall in Alpharetta.

Families will be able to meet with camp directors and former camp attendees, see informational videos and pick up brochures.

For a complete listing of camps at each expo and directions, visit www.atlantaparent.com. Patrick Fox

Work to shift Haynes Bridge Road begins

Alpharetta has begun work to relocate Haynes Bridge Road, the first step in its Downtown City Center revitalization project.

The city awarded a $2.29 million contract to C.W. Mathews Contracting earlier this month to shift the roadway to the east beginning just north of Old Milton Parkway.

The project includes a traffic circle near Thompson Street and parallel parking along the north side. Shifting the roadway will unify the 24-acre site the city plans to use for a new city hall, a parking deck, a park, greenspace and the new Fulton County Library that will begin construction next year. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Four elected partners at Troutman Sanders

Troutman Sanders on Wednesday said it had promoted 11 attorneys – including four from its Atlanta offices – to elected partners of the law firm.

The Atlanta lawyers who are now partners are: Tina DeNapoli, Alison Grounds, Carroll McGuffey III and Trenton Ward, the firm said. The other promotions involved lawyers located in Troutman Sanders offices in New York and Virginia. Bill Rankin

Woman shot dead during argument

An argument early Wednesday between a man and woman ended with the woman shot dead in the middle of a northeast Atlanta street.

The shooting happened shortly after midnight in the 400 block of Angier Avenue near Boulevard.

The woman, identified by the Fulton medical examiner’s office as Tanieshia Evans, 37, died at Atlanta Medical Center after being shot once in the chest.

Police are looking for the suspect. Mike Morris

Interfaith summit at Morehouse Jan. 12

The public is invited to the Interfaith Campus and Community Summit on Jan. 12 at the MLK International Chapel on the Morehouse College campus, 830 Westview Dr. SW. Dr. Ebrahim “Eboo” Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core, will discuss his vocational journey toward interfaith cooperation and share ideas for advancing interfaith dialogue among youth through community service. The event is free. Information: 404-215-2608 or www.morehouse.edu. Veronica Fields Johnson

APS launches Saturday tutoring

Atlanta Public Schools will launch a Saturday school program in January for students needing help in Language Arts and math. The Saturday program comes in addition to other tutoring services the district launched this school year to assist students who may have been academically affected by cheating. Parents must register at their child’s school no later than today. Jaime Sarrio

DEKALB

Bill Floyd reappointed Decatur mayor

Bill Floyd was unanimously reappointed as Decatur mayor by the city commission Tuesday night. First elected as commissioner in 1991 (commission terms are four years and the mayor’s appointed annually) Floyd, 65, was awarded his 13th consecutive term, the longest known streak in city history. “The way I see it,” Floyd said, “this is the best mayor’s job in the whole state.” Since 1922 when records are consistently available, Floyd ranks second to Scott Candler who served 16 terms from 1923-1940, though he wasn’t mayor in 1934 and served only 12 consecutive terms. Bill Banks for the AJC

Emory campus to be tobacco-free

Emory University’s campus and hospitals are going tobacco-free. The new policy at the private university in Atlanta began Sunday and applies to all university and Emory Healthcare properties. The campus has created 14 areas where tobacco will be permitted temporarily until students, faculty, staff and visitors can adjust to the new rule. The university is offering free classes and medications to help smokers on campus shake the habit.

More than 580 U.S. colleges and 2,800 hospitals have similar policies. Associated Press

Poet to give reading at Emory on Jan. 29

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins will give a free reading Jan. 29 at Emory University. College officials compared Collins’ work to Robert Frost and described his poetry as mixing “humor with insightful observations into everyday life.” The event begins at 4 p.m. at the Glenn Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are required and can be ordered for free: http://bit.ly/billycollins-tickets. Laura Diamond

Foreign policy lectures through March 8

Come from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 19 to hear the first in a series of Great Decisions Foreign Policy Lectures, hosted by the Georgia Council for International Visitors. The first lecture is about Middle East Realignment. The lectures will be held every Thursday through March 8 at Dunwoody United Methodist Church at 1548 Mount Vernon Road in Dunwoody. Info: www.gciv.org/programs/gd/dunwoody. Andria Simmons

Chamber to hold annual reception

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting and legislative reception in January. Outgoing board members will be recognized, and six new elected members will be introduced at the event.

The reception will be held Jan. 26 at the Retreat at Perimeter Summit in north DeKalb County. Tickets are $85.

More information: 404-378-8000 or www.dekalbchamber.org. April Hunt

CEO to deliver state of county speech

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis will deliver his “State of the County” address Jan. 10.

The free event is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Maloof Auditorium at 1300 Commerce Dr., Decatur.

A $25 breakfast is also scheduled for businesses at 8 a.m. Jan. 5 at the Thalia N. Carlos Hellenic Community Center on Clairmont Road in Atlanta. To register: http://dekalbchamberof commerce.org. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Police: Woman tried to take baby from hospital

A woman is accused of walking into a Riverdale hospital and trying to take a baby, Clayton County police said Wednesday.

The woman, whose name was not released, allegedly walked into Southern Regional Medical Center Women’s Life Center shortly after 9 a.m. and tried to leave with the baby, Officer Phong Nguyen told the AJC. Hospital employees confronted the woman, who walked out of the hospital without the infant, and called police, Nguyen said. Police stopped the woman in car about five miles away and took her into custody. Alexis Stevens

Peachtree City exempted from golf cart law

A new Georgia law regulating golf carts and other “personal transportation vehicles” does not apply to golf carts in Peachtree City.

S.B. 240, passed last year, sets minimum requirements for brakes, headlights, mirrors and other features on vehicles with at least four wheels, a maximum weight of 1,375 pounds and a maximum speed of 20 mph.

However, the law exempts municipalities like Peachtree City that have pre-existing ordinances related to such vehicles. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Scholarship entry deadline Jan. 31

Jan. 31 is the deadline for high school seniors to submit entries to the Better Business Bureau’s 2012 Student of Integrity Scholarship program. The BBB will award $1,000 scholarships to six high school seniors. Graduating seniors in school in metro Atlanta, Athens and Northeast Georgia are eligible. The scholarships are awarded based on leadership skills(extracurricular activities), community service, academic achievement and an essay. Details: http://atlanta.bbb.org/2012-requirements-for-student-of-integrity-scholarship/ Tammy Joyner

Peachtree City holdsits tree recycling Jan. 7

Peachtree City’s “Bring One for the Chipper” free Christmas tree recycling will be Saturday,.

Trees with all decorations removed can be brought to either the Peachtree City Recycling Center on Rockaway Road at Ga. 74 South, the Home Depot store on Ga. 54 West, or the Kedron Kroger between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.Jill Howard Church for the AJC

HMC offers smoking cessation program

Henry Medical Center’s Fresh Start course helps people stop smoking. The four- week program consists of a one-hour session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday Jan. 10-31 in the Henry Medical Center Foundation Education Center.

The Fresh Start course is an American Cancer Society program.

Details: Call Henry Medical Center’s Community Education Department at 678-604-1040 or visit the hospital’s website at www.henrymedical.com. Tammy Joyner

County encourages radon testing

Testing is the only way to know the amount of radon in your home . To obtain a radon test kit , contact Clayton Cooperative Extension at 770-473-3945 or visit http:// UGAradon.com Tammy Joyner