County by county news for Thursday

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

County signs imigration work agreement

Cobb Commissioners became the first local government in the state to participate in federal immigration employment program on Tuesday by signing an agreement with ICE.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers program allows employers and local governments to use government tools to perform employment audits to hire legal workers.

Immigration advocates have criticized the partnership for being a program with no substance that could potentially hurt the county’s economy.

Janel Davis

Town Center hosts groundbreaking today

The Town Center Area Community Improvement District will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. today for Noonday Creek Trail.

The event will begin at the final leg of the trail, and once completed, the trail will be a connection to the Mountain-to-River Trail and west Cobb Trail. Georgia DOT Deputy Commissioner Todd Long will speak.

The groundbreaking begins at 10 a.m. at 2801 George Busbee Parkway NW in Kennesaw.

Information: www.tcacid.com. Janel Davis

Smyrna plans veterans’ service

Smyrna will hold a Memorial Day service at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the city’s 20th Century Veterans Memorial, 2800 King St. The event is sponsored by the Smyrna Veterans Committee, city of Smyrna and the Veterans Memorial Association of Smyrna. If the weather is bad, the service will be at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Austell work session reschulded for June 4

The work session for the Austell City Council will be June 4 instead of Monday in honor of Memorial Day.

This session will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the voting meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 2716 Broad St. SW.

Information: clerk@austell.org or 770-944-4326. Carolyn Cunningham

Cobb public pools open Tuesday

Cobb’s two outdoor pools will open Tuesday at Powder Springs Park, 3899 Brownsville Road and Sewell Park, 2055 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta.

Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

From July 8, the pools will be open 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Information: prca.cobbcountyga.gov/Aquatics-OutdoorPools.htm.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Suwanee chief trained in missing child cases

Milton Police Chief Deborah Harrell recently returned from the prestigious Chief Executive Officer Training Seminar at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Va.

The seminar provides a better understanding of how to deal with missing children cases.

Harrell joined 49 other chiefs, sheriffs and emergency managers. The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency training discussed best practices for call takers, officers, investigators and command staff.

All travel and lodging expenses were paid for by the NCMEC through a grant.

Andria Simmons

Serial armed robbery suspect captured

A man wanted in connection with at least 10 armed robberies was caught by authorities Monday, Gwinnett County police said.

Rufus Jerome Smith, 25, attempted to run from police and a Taser was used to subdue him, police said Tuesday. He was arrested without further incident.

Smith is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.

He is accused of primarily targeting gas stations and convenience stories in the northern part of Gwinnett County. Shots were fired during two of the robberies, but there were no injuries. Smith is in custody at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond. Angel K. Brooks

Students win National Merit scholarships

Two students from Henry County’s Union Grove High School have been chosen as 2012 National Merit Scholarship recipients. Jonathan James and Joshua Long, the school’s respective valedictorian and salutatorian, were recently notified they will be receiving scholarships funded by the colleges of their choice. James will be attending the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the fall and major in engineering. Long plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Nancy Badertscher

Man charged with tattooing girls

A Lawrenceville man, Aaron Joshua Woody, 23, was arrested and charged with four counts of tattooing an underage person.

Lawrenceville police said a Buford woman came to them May 5 with her 15-year-old daughter, who had the word “Faith” tattooed on her right shoulder blade.

The girl told police she heard of Woody through a friend at school and sought him out to get the tattoo, according to the police incident report. She and her mother then led police to Woody’s home on St. Charles Court, police said.

Woody was booked into the Gwinnett County jail Tuesday and released later the same day, jail records show. He was also charged with tattooing another underage girl. Woody did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Under Georgia law, it’s a misdemeanor to give a tattoo to anyone under the age of 18 -- even when a parent gives permission. Joel Provano

NORTHSIDE

Two charged in cemetery thefts

Two Cherokee County men were arrested this week in connection with thefts from a cemetery and a youth baseball concession stand.

Arnold Fricks, 23, was arrested Monday on charges of burglary and felony theft. He is accused of stealing brass vases from the Macedonia Memorial Park Cemetery in May. Fricks also allegedly stole equipment from the Macedonia Baseball Concession stand.

Some property was recovered at the home of Dustin Chastain, 17, of Canton, who was arrested on two counts of felony theft by receiving.

Fricks is being held at the Cherokee County jail with a $23,900 bond. Chastain was released on $11,400 bond.

Andria Simmons

Man who crashed through house charged

Cherokee County authorities have filed charges against an Acworth man who drove through a house on May 7. Shane Rainwater,36, faces several charges including reckless driving and speeding. Authorities say Rainwater was traveling more than 70 mph in a 25-mile zone when the crash happened on Cedar Mill Crossing.

Mark Woosley for the AJC

Fulton students win national awards

Several Fulton County area students have been selected to receive national awards from the 2012 Bright Futures college scholarship program.

The scholarship, presented by the Kimberly-Clark Foundation, will help fund the college education of the following students: Alexandra Krasny of Milton High School; Jordan Morell of Roswell of Centennial High School; Jared Moro of Chattahoochee High School; Virginia Steindorf of Roswell High School; and Hugh van Heesewijk of The Lovett School. Each scholarship is up to $20,000. D. Aileen Dodd

Cherokee commissioner seeks Tea Party probe

Cherokee County Post 3 Commissioner Karen Bosch, who has decided not to run for re-election, on Wednesday sent a registered letter to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission asking it to investigate whether the Cherokee Tea Party Patriots should be registered with the state because the group, she said, “collects dues and influences votes for and against candidates.” On Tuesday, the Tea Party held a press conference and asked the county grand jury to investigate campaign contributions to commissioners including Bosch. Jeffry Scott

Fulton school gets new principal

Fulton County Schools has appointed a new principal who will begin this summer.

Maisha Otway, an assistant principal at Heards Ferry Elementary School, will lead Hillside Elementary School in Roswell.

She has a doctorate in education from Walden University.

D, Aileen Dodd

Cunningham unveils city website

The city of Cumming recently unveiled a new and expanded website. The site is designed to be more modern while maintaining a homey look, and also to allow for easier navigation, says webmaster Marc Satterfield. He says among new features are a section devoted to attractions and a listing of featured local businesses. More info: www.cityofcumming.net

Mark Woosley for the AJC

ATLANTA

Brazilian governor signs local pact

Fulton County will officially enter into a mutual-cooperation, sister-government pact with Bahia, Brazil at a signing ceremony Thursday. Bahia Governor Jaques Wagner will take part, along with Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves.

The signing will take place at 11 a.m. in the Fulton County Government Center’s Assembly Hall in downtown Atlanta. Fulton will work with the Brazilian state in finding ways to attract global businesses, support local artists, curb AIDS, fight childhood obesity and keep teens out of gangs, among other initiatives. Johnny Edwards

APD investigating haz-mat dumping

Emergency workers have finished clearing hazardous materials that were dumped on vacant property owned by Fulton County on Johnson Road in Atlanta. Someone left six 55-gallon drums of an unidentified chemical, and one drum was leaking fluid which created a vapor cloud in one corner of the parking lot.

Atlanta Fire Rescue called the Atlanta-Fulton Emergency Management Agency about the drums on Sunday, and the agency had a contractor contain and remove them, according to a county news release. The agency is working with the Atlanta Police Department in investigating the dumping. Johnny Edwards

City named ‘best to work for’

The National Association for Business Resources ranked the city of Atlanta among “Atlanta’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.” The association said city offered innovative benefits and desirable amenities.

The annual ranking focuses on organizations that practice innovative strategies in industries including automotive, insurance, hospitality, communications and non-profits. Key measures include compensation, benefits, engagement and retention, employee education and development, communication, diversity and inclusion and work-life balance. Jeremiah McWilliams

DEKALB

Property appeals resume today

DeKalb County installed a temporary chiller in a key county building, which means property assessments will resume today.

The county’s board of equalization hearings, which hear property owners’ appeals, were canceled for Wednesday after the air conditioning in the Callaway Building went out earlier in the week.

The cancellation affected 250 property owners, whose cases will be rescheduled. The county is about 97 percent through its 19,000-plus appeals from 2011.

The 2012 property assessments are to be mailed to homeowners on May 29. April Hunt

Decatur holds public meetings on millage rate

During its regular meeting this week the Decatur City Commission adopted a tentative 2012 millage rate of 13 mills for general operations, capital improvements, bonded indebtedness and downtown development authority operations. This is the same as the 2011 millage rate. The commission will hold public hearings regarding this issue on June 4, 7:30 p.m., and June 18, 7:30 p.m. The final millage will be voted on during the June 18 City Commission meeting. All meetings are held at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur. Bill Banks for the AJC

Firm files for permit for biomass plant

Green Energy Partners has filed its state application for an air permit for its proposed biomass facility near Lithonia.

Residents can file comments with the state Environmental Protection Division until June 1 on the proposal, which calls for burning wood chips to create energy to sell to Georgia Power.

Nearby residents and community leaders have opposed the $60 million plant, to be built on Rogers Lake Road, since its proposal two years ago. A lawsuit seeking to overturn the zoning change for the plant is pending. April Hunt

Public asked to weigh in on the arts

A community survey assessing the state of the arts in DeKalb County is now online until July 1 at www.dekalbcountyga.gov or at all county library branches.

The survey is designed for residents as well as artists and cultural organization to help determine economic development opportunities in cultural and artistic events and facilities. April Hunt

Dunwoody court offers amnesty through July 31

Dunwoody Municipal Court is holding an amnesty program for individuals with past due traffic citations or active bench warrants for failing to appear in court. The amnesty runs through July 31 at the Dunwoody Municipal Court, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103. Individuals can walk in without appointments from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays except Tuesdays.

Fines must be paid in full with either cash, money order, cashier check or Visa and MasterCard. No personal checks will be accepted.

Information: 678-382-6973. Patrick Fox

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette adopts new school schedule

To keep the school bus schedule running more efficiently, Fayette County is revising the start and end times for middle and high schools beginning in August.

For 2012-13, middle schools will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m. High schools will start at 8:15 a.m. and go until 3:15 p.m. Elementary schools will keep their current 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. schedule.

The county uses the same buses for middle and high school routes; the time change will reduce wait times for students during the changeover.

Jill Howard Church

Kedron students win science olympiad

Peachtree City’s Kedron Elementary School won first place in the 2012 Georgia Elementary Science Olympiad competition, following a daylong series of applied science events.

Four other Fayette schools placed in the top 20, out of more than 60 teams. Crabapple Lane’s team finished a close second, and students from Braelinn and Peachtree City Elementary placed ninth and tenth, respectively. Tyrone Elementary’s team finished 18th. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

East Point calls special meeting

The East Point City Council will hold a called meeting tonight at 6:30pm at Jefferson Station, Suite 400 at 1526 East Forrest Ave. The meeting will focus on appointing an interim city manager. John Thompson AJC

Hapeville hosts Memorial Day event

Hapeville will celebrate Memorial Day with a special service Monday. The guest speaker for the service is Major Wanda Spraggins. Refreshments will be served by Hapeville volunteer organizations immediately following the service. The service starts at 10 a.m. at the Hoyt Smith Center at 3444 North Fulton Ave. For more information, call 404-669-8269.

John Thompson for the AJC

Edwards to hold listening session

South Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards will hold his second quarterly community listening session of the year Thursday. It will be at 7 p.m. in the South Fulton Government Service Center’s auditorium, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road.

Residents, including youth, can sound off on Southside county services, and county staff will be there to answer questions. Edwards’ office can be reached at 404-612-8230 or 404-612-3079. District 7 information: www.southfultongoodthings.com. Johnny Edwards

Booth wins national competition

J. C. Booth Middle School’s Science Olympiad team won third place in national competition for the second year in a row.

Booth students went up against 60 other teams May 18-19 in Florida. They completed 25 events, winning medals in nine of them. The school has won the Georgia state championship every year since 1999.

This year’s team was honored at Monday’s (May 21) Board of Education meeting along with their coach, Tammy Pakulski. Jill Howard Church