County by county news for Thursday

Smith was planning to move and asked a neighbor to temporarily care for the dogs. The friend, Steven Shackleford, said Smith “couldn’t see anyone else raising his dogs.”

Shackleford said he called police in fear for his life. Minutes later, Smith shot both dogs, killing them both.

Alexis Stevens

Two meetings for four Six Flags roadways

To improve public safety response times and reduce confusion, Cobb Community Development staff propose changing the names of Six Flags Drive, Six Flags Parkway, Six Flags Road and Six Flags Way.

Public meetings will be 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at the South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Six Flags Drive, Austell and 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Board of Commissioners room, second floor, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.

Information: 770-528-2514 or 770-528-3311. Carolyn Cunningham

East Cobb Christian hosts open house

East Cobb Christian School, 4616 Roswell Road, Marietta, hosts their annual Open House 7 p.m. Jan. 30.

ECCS is a Covenant Christian School that serves K-8th grades since 1987.

Information: www.eccs.org.

Arlinda Smith Broady

King remembered today in Mableton

“MLK Leads the Way” is a free school-age program planned for 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton.

Ages 5 and up will learn of the life and achievements of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of his birthday on Jan. 15, 1929.

Information: nobelprize.org or Deborah Feanny, feannyd@cobbcat.org or 678-398-5834. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Hospital to offer estate planning class

The Foundation of Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna, 3949 South Cobb Dr. SE, will offer a free class on “Estate Planning 101” 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in the hospital cafeteria.

Attorney Amy Yarkoni, who specializes in estate planning, probate and estate administration, will explain terminology and share tips to determine which type of planning may be right for you.

Registration required.

Information: 770-436-3162 ext. 3109 or www.emoryadventist.org in the classes and events section.

Arlinda Smith Broady

Cobb to hold MLK Day events

Cobb County and the Cobb branch of the NAACP will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a program 9 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 S. Marietta Parkway. The Cobb SCLC annual parade will be 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday on Fairground Street, starting at the Lockheed Credit Union. The parade will travel north to Roswell Street and west to the Marietta Square for a ceremony.

Contact Cobb NAACP: 770-425-5757 or Cobb SCLC: 770-876-2070.Tucker McQueen

GWINNETT

Diverging diamond construction continues

One right lane of Jimmy Carter Boulevard between Oakbrook Parkway and Goshen Springs will be closed through Friday as construction continues on the diverging diamond intersection at I-85.

All construction and subsequent lane closures are dependent on weather conditions. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Tourism and Trade Association to meet

After 5, Lawrenceville Tourism & Trade Association’s quarterly membership meeting is 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, 1800 MacLeod Dr., Lawrenceville. Event includes hor d’ oeuvres and networking with business owners, followed by guest speaker, Michael McPherson, Government Relations Associate for the Georgia Municipal Association. Free to members. $5 for non-members. Registration recommended, but not required.

Information: april.radford@lawrencevillega.org or 678-226-2639, ext. 104.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

MLK Day Parade includes health fair

The 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade presented by the Gwinnett United Ebony Society will begin at 10 a.m. Monday near the gazebo at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 Crogan St., Lawrenceville and concludes at Moore Middle School, 1221 Lawrenceville Highway. A free health fair will be at the school following the parade. Info: www.gwinnettmlkparade.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Emergency volunteer course available

The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management is offering Community Emergency Response Team training 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 28.

Participants will learn basic disaster response skills. The training consists of eight sessions concluding with a course review and disaster simulation 8 a.m. to noon March 15.

Information: ema@gwinnettcounty.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Tree recycling event still needs help

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful reminds residents to take Christmas trees to fire stations through Friday. Decorations, lights and tree stands should be removed. Volunteers are needed 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 25 at Bethesda Park, Lawrenceville. Information: www.gwinnettcb.org. KarenHuppertz for the AJC

Nominations accepted for Movers & Makers

Partnership Gwinnett and Gwinnett Tech present the Movers & Makers Awards.

Nominations are due by Friday: www.partnershipgwinnett.com/movers-makers-awards/

Recipients will be announced during the annual awards ceremony March 6.

Information: Troels@gwinnettchamber.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Alpharetta police warn of new phone scam

Alpharetta police issued an alert warning of scammers trying to bilk money from residents under the guise of the police department.

The call recipient is advised to send monies to pay for a red light camera citation or they would be charged with contempt of court. The caller often uses the name of a valid Alpharetta police officer.

Public safety employees don’t contact people by phone requesting money, officials said. Mike Morris

Woodstock police arrest burglary suspect

Woodstock Police say they caught a burglar in the act early Wednesday. Officers responding to an alarm at Goodwill Industries, 9425 Ga. 92 found an open door, searched and found Karim Tawfik,24, of Woodstock hiding in a clothing bin covered with purses.

He’s in the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center charged with burglary and criminal trespass. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Holly Springs offers citizen police academy

The city of Holly Springs is accepting applications for its upcoming Citizens Police Academy.

The six-session coursey beginning Feb. 3 will focus on a number of aspects of law enforcement, including criminal investigations and law enforcement history.

Deadline: Jan. 28. Applicants must pass a background check.

Iinformation: www.hollyspringsga.us

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth library will expand hours this year

The Forsyth County Public Library has expanded its operating hours after the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners provided an additional $67,000 in funding.

The changes mean the Cumming, Post Road, Hampton Park and Sharon Forks branches will be open until 8:30 p.m. one additional night weekly.

Hampton Park will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Information: forsyth.public.lib.ga.us

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Reception set for retiring library head

A public reception has been set for 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the RT Jones Memorial Library in Canton for retiring Sequoyah Regional Library System Director Susan White.

White is stepping down that day after more than 42 years with the system, and will be replaced by current Assistant Director Anita Summers.

The system serves Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer Counties. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Registration set for charity run

Registration is underway for the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency’s eighth annual Guns and Hoses 5K and Fun Run, 8 a.m. Feb. 15 at Hobgood Park, 6688 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock.

A portion of entry fees will go to charities designated by the sheriff’s and fire and emergency services departments.

Registration/more information.gunshoses5kandfunrun.blogspot.com Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Chief judge to step down

Fulton County Chief Superior Court Judge Cynthia Wright has decided to retire before her current term expires at the end of the year.

Wright, 59, was Gov. Zell Miller’s legal counsel in 1995 when she was named a Fulton State Court judge. In November 1996, she was elevated to the Superior Court.

Wright said she had previously decided she would not seek reelection, is looking forward to the break and plans to remain involved in the legal community here.

Wright said she has yet to decide exactly when she will step down from the bench this year. Bill Rankin

Officer arrested for marijuana possession

An Atlanta police officer is on paid leave after his arrest for having marijuana during a traffic stop. Officer Vincent Marcano, a member of the department since 2001, was arrested by Fayetteville police around 4 p.m.Saturday and charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and having a cracked windshield, according to Atlanta police.

An attorney for Marcano told Channel 2 Action News that the officer’s wife is ill and he had the drugs to help ease her pain.

Alexis Stevens

Community benefits funds availble

Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm overseeing the Westside Tax Allocation District Community Improvement Fund, announced that $15 million is avaible for communities impacted by the future Atlanta Falcons stadium.

Developers and community groups can apply to receive money for projects intended to revitalize Castleberry Hill, English Avenue and Vine City.

Applications will be partially evaluated based on the “community benefits plan.” Applications can be submitted through April 14, with selections announced by May 2, according to Invest Atlanta.

Information: demo.investatlanta.com/BusinessDevelopmentIA/workforce-rfp. Katie Leslie

DEKALB

School system explores ‘flexibility’

The DeKalb County School District is holding meetings to explain its “flexibility” options and gather public opinion.

It must decide whether to adopt a new organizational structure that pushes more authority to schools, or face loss of waivers from state mandates.

All meetings start at 6:30 p.m. Dates and locations: today, Towers High, 3919 Brookcrest Circle; Jan. 22, Lithonia High, 2440 Phillips Road; Jan. 23, Lakeside High, 3801 Briarcliff Road NE; Jan. 28, Stephenson High, 701 Stephenson Road; and Jan. 29, Dunwoody High, 5035 Vermack Road. Ty Tagami

Brookhaven inks deal on fire marshal services

Brookhaven recently signed a deal with Decatur to handle fire marshal inspections and permitting.

Brookhaven will pay $40 an hour for the service. DeKalb County had handled the work previously, processing about 600 building permits every year.

The county will continue to provide fire and rescue services to Brookhaven. April Hunt

Lithonia hosts service day to honor King

Lithonia will host a community cleanup of its Main Street and downtown Monday 1/20 as a way to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Supplies will be provided at the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon starting at Lithonia Plaza downtown.

Information: 770-482-8136.

April Hunt

New ordinance calls for full-time arborist

Next week Decatur’s city commission votes on a proposed new tree ordinance, the city’s first since 1989.

Among several critical changes, the ordinance calls for a first-ever full-time staff arborist, who’d maintain city-owned green space and trees, review all tree disturbances, and make sure developers plant the right trees at the right place.

If approved, the new ordinance takes effect May 5, although the new arborist – who’ll replace Ed Macie, the city’s current part-time arborist – should be on staff by April. Bill Banks for the AJC

ART Station opens new exhibit

ART Station will host a new exhibit of paintings by local artist Pat Fiorello entitled “Take Me Away Saturday through March 30. There will be a meet-the-artist opening reception 7 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 25 featuring Fiorello’s newly released book, “Bella Italia, Italy Through the Eyes of an Artist.”

Information: 770-469-1105 or www.artstation.org Arlinda Smith Broady

Public Works building nearly finished

New furniture and technology equipment gets moved in this week to Decatur’s revamped Public Works facility, a roughly $6.8 million renovation and new construction more than doubling the old space from 15,000 square feet to 36,000.

The division of Design, Environment & Construction is scheduled to move in Jan. 21, while the remaining departments – Schools Facility Maintenance, Public Works, Streets and Drains, Solid Wastes and Motor Maintenance – should be in by Feb. 1. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Armed robbery suspect stabbed in back

An armed man stole approximately $300 from a sandwich shop in College Park on Jan. 7 and was stabbed in the back during the robbery. Authorities are looking for the suspect, who had a black handgun when he entered the American Sandwich at 5471 Riverdale Road. An employee stabbed him in the upper right portion of his back, and the suspect fled on foot, the sheriff’s office said. The knife was still in his back. A 9mm cartridge was recovered from the scene. Anyone with information should call 678-610-4785. Angel K. Brooks

Dam projects prompt road and path closings

Repair work on two Peachtree City dams will cause road and cart path closures for several months.

Portions of Kedron Drive will be shut down through October, and the path near Rockspray Pond will be detoured until mid-September.

Signs will be posted in both areas, and golf carts may not use Peachtree Parkway. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette schools study seven-period day

Plans to add a seventh period to all Fayette County high school schedules moved a step closer at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Members voted to let Superintendent Jody Barrow develop a proposed system-wide schedule that would allow students more flexibility and options for classes, particularly fine arts and other electives. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

School board to vote on consolidation

The Henry County Board of Education will decide next month whether to close Smith-Barnes Elementary School, disperse its students between Stockbridge Elementary and Cotton Indian Elementary, and move Patrick Henry Academy - the alternative school - to the Smith-Barnes campus.

A large crowd came out to Monday night’s public hearing at Smith-Barnes to lobby against the plan.

Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

MLK parade set for Monday

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade and program, sponsored by the Henry County chapter of the NAACP, is scheduled to take place Monday in McDonough.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Henry County Performing Arts Center, proceed around the square and back to the PAC, where the program will commence immediately following the parade.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Housing and Human Services offers grants

The Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department’s Office of Grants and Community Partnerships is accepting applications for the 2014-15 Human Services Grants and FRESH Grants.

Nonprofit organizations that provide services in the county are eligible to apply online. The application deadline is 3 p.m. Feb. 21. In 2013, a total of $5.4 million in grants were awarded to 129 programs.

Information: fultoncountyga.gov/WebGrants

Kent A. Miles for the AJC