County by county news for Thursday

COBB

3 suspects arrested in fatal bar shooting

Dennis Hampton, Joseph Chatman (also known as "Ricky Hampton") and Trina Chatman are charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, Marietta police said. Dennis Hampton also is charged with malice murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Marietta police responded to a person shot call and found 34-year-old Takilam Terrell lying in the parking lot of Milo's Bar in the 100 block of Garrison Road around 3 a.m. Sunday. The Sandy Springs man was transported to Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that morning following emergency surgery. Angel K. Brooks

Man indicted in wife’s death

A Cobb County man accused of strangling his wife was indicted by a grand jury Thursday.

Derrick McLaurence Williams is charged with malice murder, felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault, according to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

Williams is accused of strangling his wife, Finesse Dawson, on Dec. 5 at a home on Old Spring Road in Smyrna. He strangled her with his hands and wrapped her body in a bed sheet, according to police.

Investigators believe Williams waited to tell anyone his wife was dead, and then claimed that she had died of a drug overdose.

He was arrested in Washoe County, Nevada, on Dec. 11.

Williams spent seven months of 2011 in prison on weapons and drug charges, officials said.

He is currently being held in the Cobb County Jail without bond.

No arraignment date has been set. If convicted, Williams could face life in prison. Bryan Cronan

Streets to close for arts fest

Streets in downtown Acworth will close starting 4 a.m. Saturday through 9 p.m. Sunday for the Acworth Art Fest on Main Street. The event, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, will feature the work of 120 artists including paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, glass and folk art. There will also be activities for children. Information: acworthartfest.splashfestivals.com. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Smyrna looking for opinions on parks

Smyrna will hold a public forum concerning the city’s 26 parks and recreation spaces 10 a.m. Saturday at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle off Atlanta Road.

The city is looking for residents’ opinions before approving a 10-year master plan for parks and public spaces before the end of June. After the meeting, the city will post a questionnaire about city parks on the city Web site.

Information: www.smyrnacity.com. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Smyrna to host citizens police academy

The Smyrna Police Department will host its first Citizens Police Academy starting May 20. The program will run for eleven consecutive weeks, meeting one night per week for three hours.

Participants must be at least 18 years old and undergo a background check. Priority will be given to Smyrna residents, but all are welcome to apply. Class size is limited.

Information: www.smyrnacitypolice.com or 770-434-9481. Mea Watkins

GWINNETT

Planning and zoning board members sought

Norcross is accepting applications for the Planning and Zoning Board which makes non-binding recommendations to the City Council on rezoning applications, special use permits, and changes to the Zoning Ordinance.

The City provides any necessary training to its Board members. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at an evening meeting. The appointments are for a 4-year term made by the Mayor and Council. This is a five-member board. The application may be found on this website under Boards and Authorities. Staff

Celebrate Earth Day at Coolray

The Gwinnett County Solid Waste and Recovered Materials Division will host an Earth Day event 9 to 11a.m. Saturday at Coolray Field, home of the Gwinnett Braves.

This free event will feature paper shredding, and electronics, tires, and paint collection (a limit of five, one-gallon cans per vehicle; dried-up paint is acceptable).

The event will also include kids' activities and the opportunity for residents to meet their haulers and learn about Gwinnett County's solid waste and recycling program. Staff

Deadline to participate in parade extended

Snellville has extended the deadline for organizations to participate in the 2013 Snellville Days Parade to Tuesday.

Parade planners are encouraging schools, churches, civic organizations and businesses to participate.

Applications and route information: www.SnellvilleDays.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Speaker will discuss female seminary

The Snellville Historical society welcomes Catherine Long, History and Culture Program Coordinator for the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, to discuss the Lawrenceville Female Seminary. The event takes place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Snellville City Hall.

Information: 770-985-3512. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Camp set for Gwinnett middle school students

Middle schoolers can learn new skills and explore career opportunities at a camp offered June 10-13 through the Grayson High Technical Education Program.

Registration ends May 15. Students can explore careers in culinary arts, digital medial design/animation, robotics, music technology, photography and video broadcast journalism.

Morning and afternoon sessions are availble.

Students also can register for a full-day robotics class.

Information: 770-554-7083 or www.graysontech.org Nancy Badertscher

Child car seat safety checks available

The Lilburn Police offer free child car seat safety checks 1 to 4 p.m. every Thursday at 76 Main St. in Lilburn.

Appointments can be made for other dates and times with Lt. Chris Dusik, 770-638-2185. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Johns Creek police seeks residents’ input

As part of Johns Creek Police Department’s seeking re-accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, residents can provide opinions of the police department at a forum 6 p.m. April 22 at the Municipal Court complex, 11445 Johns Creek Parkway.

Those unable to attend the forum can may comment 3 to 5 p.m. April 21 at 678-474-1545 or in writing at 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Va. 20155, or by e-mail to calea@calea.org. Information: 678-512-3200. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Alpharetta kicks off food truck event

Alpharetta's "Feast on the Street" event begins at 5 p.m. Thursday through June 27, when six to eight food trucks will gather weekly near 37 Old Roswell St., where pedestrians can eat with live music. The city seeks to attract the several thousand patrons a similar Smyrna event reportedly has. Parking is available in the lots at 37 Old Roswell, on Old Milton Avenue and on Haynes Bridge Road. Information: 678-297-6000. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Electronics recycling event scheduled

Alpharetta will sponsor an electronics recycling day for residents and businesses from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 20 at the public safety building, 2565 Old Milton Parkway. Items that will be accepted include: DVD and VCR players, portable electronics, mobile phones, computer parts, toner cartridges, monitors, printers, laptops, microwave ovens and UPS batteries. There will be a $10 charge for acceptable televisions.

Items that will not be accepted: projection or console TVs, small or large appliances, power equipment, vacuum cleaners and tires. Patrick Fox

Schools set budget timeline for 2014

The Forsyth County Board of Education has adopted a timeline for consideration of the 2014 budget. Chief Financial Officer Dan Jones says initial budget recommendations will be presented May 9, with tentative approval May 16. Final approval is set for June 20. The fiscal year begins July 1. Last year's budget was $270,523,482. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Roswell summer camp registration open

Registration is open for summer camps through the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department.

Residents can sign up now, and registration for non-residents begins Monday. Available summer camps include sports, crafts, visual arts performing arts and special interests, such as magic, fort building, cooking and modeling.

Information: 770-641-3760 or 770-641-3705. Patrick Fox

Forsyth fire plans camps for youngsters

Got a youngster interested in knowing what it takes to be a firefighter? The Forsyth County Fire Department is offering two programs. One is a weeklong fire camp for rising sixth-graders June 10-14. The other is a junior fire academy for incoming seventh and eighth-graders June 24-28. Both free camps will be held at their headquarters, 3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming. Information: www.forsythco.com Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Gucci Mane indicted on assault charge

Gucci Mane was indicted on one count of aggravated assault Tuesday, according to Channel 2 Action News. The rapper whose real name is Radric Davis, is accused of hitting a soldier in the head with a champagne bottle at Harlem Nights club on Courtland Street. The alleged victim told Channel 2 that Davis hit him in the head while he was trying to talk to a security guard. The soldier was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and said he received 10 stitches. Davis was arrested in late March. Bryan Cronan

Authorities identify man shot dead

Police responded to an apartment building in the 2900 block of Delmar Lane around 8:30 p.m. to find a man in his mid-20s was dead in the driveway. He appeared to have been shot multiple times, police said.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office identified the dead man as Garrett Dunlap, 25, of Atlanta. Police do not yet have a motive or suspects. Angel K. Brooks and Ben Gray

Memorial wall honors fallen police officers

The Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall Tour may be viewed 11 a.m. today at City of Atlanta Public Safety Headquarters, 231 Pryor St. The 28-foot-long wall features names of Georgia law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The event raises awareness for the Georgia Police Memorial Ride on April 26 and 27. Information: Ed Christian, 404-556-1911 or eddie2909@aol.com. Mea Watkins

Weaver appointed to judicial watchdog

Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit is the newest member of the state Judicial Qualifications Commission.

Weaver was appointed Tuesday by the Georgia Supreme Court to succeed Fulton County Judge Constance Russell. Weaver will serve a four-year term. In recent years, the seven-member JQC has overseen a number of high-profile ethics investigations that led to the resignations of several judges. Bill Rankin

DEKALB

DeKalb Community Hero winners named

The Community Hero Awards ceremony 4 p.m. Sundayr at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.

CEO Burrell Ellis honors five winners, who receive charitable contributions to help further their work.

This year's winners are: India Pullin; Kim Gokce and the Cross Keys Foundation; Robby Astrove; Cynthia Houston and Adopt-a-Road; Ashley Wrushen; the Beulah Boys All Male Soul Line Dancers; Samuel Belet and the Ethiopian Community Association; Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl Anderson; and Doug Harms of DeKalb's fire department. April Hunt

Community Councils meet next week

The resident-advisory boards that review zoning and land use applications will hold April meetings next week.

The Community Council for District 5 in meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Redan library on Wellborn Road.

The District 1, District 2 and District 4 councils all meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Chamblee library on Clairmont Road, the Mason Mill Centerat on McConnell Drive and the Stone Mountain library on Leon Street, respectively.

The District 3 council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Wesley Chapel library on Wesley Chapel Road. April Hunt

Green Expo coming to DeKalb

DeKalb County will host its annual Green Expo for residents and businesses 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 20 at Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s conference center, 495 North Indian Creek Road, near Clarkson.

The expo will feature workshops on topics such as conservation and rain barrels and also include local green businesses demonstrating eco-friendly products and services.

Information: 404-371-7045 or sustainabledekalb@gmail.com. April Hunt

Crosswalk safety demonstration planned

A crosswalk safety demonstration, lead by several DeKalb County leaders, DeKalb County Public Works — Transportation, Planning and Engineering Division, and the DeKalb County Police Department, will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The demonstration, which will include details about the state mandated rules requiring vehicles to stop at high-intensity activated cross walks pedestrian signals, will take place at Candler Road and South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Road. Mea Watkins

Registration underway for Chamblee 101 class

Chamblee offers an eight-week course Wednesday evenings starting April 24 to learn more about the city.