County by county news for Thursday

The retreat will include presentations from commissioners regarding their goals for the year, an economic update on the county’s finances and an update on the county’s tax digest.

During last year’s retreat, Cobb officials were informed that the county was facing a $20 million shortfall. They eventually closed the mid-year deficit with five employee furlough days and across the board departmental cuts. Janel Davis

Attorney in Glock case asks for dismissal

A defense attorney for Glock Inc.’s former CEO and general counsel, Paul Jannuzzo, on Wednesday asked Cobb County Superior Court Judge LaTain Kell to dismiss an indictment that accuses Jannuzzo of conspiring to skim money from the company. Bob Citronberger, who represents Jannuzzo, said the alleged offenses occurred before the four-year statute of limitations for prosecution. Prosecutors said the indictment is on sound legal ground. A trial for Jannuzzo is set to begin Feb. 21. Andria Simmons

Cobb Galleria host stamp expo

The Cobb Galleria Centre will host a three-day stamp expo Friday through Sunday featuring rare stamps and historic mail. Information: www.stamps.org

The Global Sport Solutions and the Southeast Soccer Expo also runs at the Cobb Galleria Friday and Saturday featuring coaching demonstrations, a skills competition and visits from professional soccer players. Admission: $10/person; $20/family pass, free to Georgia Soccer members. Janel Davis

Junior League treats foster children

The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta hosted a party last week for 54 foster children and their families in celebration of the new year. The League event featured a magic show, food from Cobb restaurants and donations from the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Cobb EMC. The chapter supports nine community partners through financial and volunteer resources this year. Janel Davis

Teen tennis tourney in Austell this weekend

Admission is free to a teen and children’s tennis tournament this weekend in Austell.

The Sweetwater Frostbite Junior Tournament will be 8:30 to 6 Saturday and 9 to 5 Sunday at the Sweetwater Tennis Center, 2447 Clay Road. This United States Tennis Association event will feature those who are 18 and under who are USTA members. Information: facility manager Charles McCoy at charles.mccoy@cobbcounty.org or 770-819-3221. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

St. Andrew church to hold silent auction

St. Andrew United Methodist Church will host a bake sale and silent auction after the 10:45 a.m. worship service Feb. 26.

Past auctions featured items such as weekend cabin trips; artwork and an array of services, from painting, to yard work. The event will be in the church’s Keheley Center. Proceeds will help support the congregation’s activities for youth. The church is at 3455 Canton Road, Marietta. Information: 770-926-3488. Laurie Hoffman

GWINNETT

Duluth credits new unit for drop in crime

Crediting a newly created crime suppression unit, Duluth police announced Wednesday that burglaries, vehicle thefts and larcenies had decreased in the past year. Vehicle thefts had the biggest drop at 43 percent. Residential and commercial burglaries were down 37 percent, entering automobiles were down 24 percent and larcenies were down 16 percent. Duluth police’s Crime Suppression Unit was formed in Oct. 2010 to combat a rise in local crimes. The unit started with six officers but police Chief Randy Belcher recently added two more to the team. Information: 678-512-3701 or mhunter@duluthpd.com. Joel Anderson

Magazine names schools among area’s best

Fourteen Gwinnett County public high schools were named among the metro area’s best in the Atlanta Magazine’s School Guide. The feature lists high school rankings that consider SAT scores, courses offered, graduation rates, academic environment, climate and other areas. In the overall best high school ranking, Gwinnett campuses in the top 20 included Brookwood at No. 11; Parkview at No. 15; and Peachtree Ridge at No. 17 .D. Aileen Dodd

Three veteran art teachers honored

Three veteran art teachers honored by the state’s professional organization were recognized for their achievements by the Gwinnett school board.

Earlier this school year, Duncan Creek Elementary art teacher Jackie Ellett was named the 2012 Georgia Art Education Association Art Educator of the year. North Gwinnett High School’s Bruce Bowman and Debi West were selected as the National Art Honor Society Outstanding Sponsors of the Year. D. Aileen Dodd

Author to speak on Duluth history

Writer and historic preservationist S. Lorraine Norwood will speak on Duluth history at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Duluth branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library, 3480 Duluth Park Lane. Norwood will share a collection of images from Duluth residents, Georgia archives and the Gwinnett Historical Society. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154. David Wickert

Suwanee looks for SculpTour artists

Suwanee is looking for artists interested in having their work exhibited in the 2012 Suwanee SculpTour. Artists selected for the tour will receive a stipend and the sculpture voted “People’s Choice” at the end of the exhibit will be added to the city’s public art collection. The deadline is Feb. 17. Information: www.suwanee.com. Joel Anderson

County looks for lifeguards, instructors

Gwinnett County will host a job fair for people interested in lifeguarding and instructor opportunities in the county’s parks and recreation department from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Bethesda Park Aquatic Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. The job fair is for certified and uncertified lifeguards and swim instructors. Participants should bring their swim suits. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Woodstock interviews police chief candidates

Woodstock City Council members will interview two finalist candidates for the post of police chief during a closed session Feb. 1 at The Chambers at City Center.

The candidates are: Marietta Deputy Police Chief David Lee, and Atlanta Deputy Chief Calvin Moss. The city is seeking a replacement for former Police Chief David Bores, who retired Dec. 31. City Manager Jeff Moon says he’ll make a final decision on the post in early February. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Input sought on Highway 9 study

Milton will host the second of four public meetings at 6 p.m. today to discuss development of the Highway 9 District, the city’s most populated area. The meetings are being conducted as part of the Ga. 9 Livable Centers Initiative study funded with a $100,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission.

The LCI grant program funds small area studies to determine strategies that link transportation improvements with land-use development.

The meeting is at City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway.

Information: 678-242-2538 or michele.mcintosh-ross@cityofmiltonga.us. Patrick Fox

Historic Preservation Awards nominees asked

The Cherokee County Historical Society is seeking nominations for its 2012 Historic Preservation Awards. Nominated sites or structures must be more than 50 years old, and exhibit outstanding success in historic preservation. The deadline is March 2, and honorees will be announced at the group’s annual banquet March 23 at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center at the Bluffs. Information: 770-345-3288 or www.rockbarn.org Mark Woosley for the AJC

Holy Innocents hosts foreign dignitary

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta hosted an international dignitary Wednesday. The Argentinian Consul General, the Honorable Marcelo Gerschenfeld, visited the school to speak to students and meet Argentinians on campus. HIES has 12 exchange students and two visiting teachers from Argentina.The group is visiting from Colegio Carmen Arriola de Marín, HIES’ sister school in Buenos Aires. D. Aileen Dodd

Kids can get a lesson trees at library

Staffers from Fulton County Public Works will put on an arbor education program today at Johns Creek’s Ocee Library, teaching preschoolers ages 3-5 the importance of trees to the ecosystem.

The program, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., is limited to the first 25 children. The library is at 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road. Information: 770-360-8897 or kay.clark@fultoncountyga.gov. Johnny Edwards

Reinhardt breaks ground for field house

Officials at Reinhardt University in Waleska broke ground Jan. 24 on a new Athletic Field House. The 22,000-square-foot facility will include locker rooms and offices for baseball, football, softball and soccer, plus a weight room and training and meeting rooms. Completion is slated for early fall 2012. Mark woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Man pleads guilty to killing woman

An Atlanta man pleaded guilty to killing a woman in a November 2010 northwest Atlanta shootout.

Gene Hendrix, 37, shot and killed Tammy Smith, on Nov. 10, 2010, fatally hitting the 47-year-old woman in the chest as he fired shots at her husband, court authorities said.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shawn LaGrua sentenced Hendrix to life plus five years.Marcus K. Garner

Supreme Court disbars Atlanta lawyer

The Georgia Supreme Court has disbarred Atlanta lawyer Lagrant Anthony from practicing law in Georgia.

The court noted that Anthony had been suspended from practicing law on two prior occasions. In the most recent complaint filed against him by the State Bar of Georgia, Anthony was found to have solicited a client to represent her in a criminal case, taking $500 from the client’s mother for his services.

But he arrived two hours late at the woman’s bond hearing and never responded to calls from his client the case, the court said. Bill Rankin

Councilman welcomes new business

Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall congratulated the owners of the newest small and locally owned business in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood: Boxcar Grocer, an independent, family owned grocery store at 249 Peters Street. The store offers organic produce, fresh baked goods, and a dairy selection from local farmers and producers, as well as a café with free Wi-Fi. Jeremiah McWilliams

Women’s networking luncheon Friday

Femfessionals, a national women’s networking group, is hosting a Connection Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 27. The luncheon is at 11:30 a.m. -- 1 p.m. at Portofino, 3199 Paces Ferry Place, Atlanta. To register and for more information, please visit http://www.femfessionals.com/FemCities/Atlanta/Calendar.htm. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Decatur council discusses coyotes

Decatur’s city commission held a long discussion on coyotes last month, when city manager Peggy Merriss reiterated, “We have established a plan of co-habitation. We know for a fact that trapping and eradication just aren’t effective.” This hasn’t satisfied many residents who’ve called for a community meeting on Jan. 31, 7 p.m., at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany at 2089 Ponce de Leon Ave. The subject is “The Pros and Cons of Trapping Coyotes.” Chip Elliot, with 23 years as a wildlife specialist and professional trapper, will speak. The public is invited. Bill Banks for the AJC

Input invited on schools’ budget

Members of the public can put their opinions and concerns on the record concerning next year’s DeKalb County Schools budget.

The county school board will hold a hearing on the topic at 6 p.m. today . It’s still early in the budgeting process, and this is the public’s chance to get priorities on the record.

The hearing is at school system headquarters, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. Ty Tagami

MedShare joins fight against malaria

Decatur-based MedShare is working with Faiths Act Fellows, a program of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, to mobilize multi-faith communities to fight malaria. MedShare hopes to raise money to ship a container to Moyamba Hospital in Sierra Leone. The hospital is in the southeastern region of the African nation and is in need of very basic medical supplies. The 40-square-foot container will include supplies and insecticide-treated bed nets and will cost about $25,000 to prepare and ship. Shelia Poole

County offers healthy eating tour

Decatur’s Active Living Department is teaming up with Kroger and Georgia State University to offer supermarket tours on healthy eating.

Graduate students in nutrition will lead the tours, which are held the second Saturday of each month at the Decatur Kroger. The next event will be held at 10a.m. on Feb. 11.

Tours are free but require registration. Registration: Cheryl.Burnette@decaturga.com or 678-553-6541. April Hunt

Braves help host winter baseball camp

The Jerry Clark Foundation and The Atlanta Braves have partnered to host the 4th Annual Winter Baseball Camp, a free baseball clinic for youth ages 7-14. The event will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Inspiring Kids Academy, 5051 Snapfinger Woods Drive, Decatur. Players and coaches from the Braves will be in attendance. For registration information: www.jerryclarkfoundation.org or 404-918-2588. Veronica Fields Johnson

Poet to give reading at Emory on Jan. 29

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins will give a free reading on Sunday 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

SOUTHSIDE

Raw sewage issue forces Fairburn hotel’s closure

The Stargo Hotel on Roosevelt Highway in unincorporated South Fulton was ordered closed because raw sewage had made it inhabitable, Fulton County health officials said. A code enforcement inspection revealed 18 of the 20 units at the hotel had evidence of raw sewage, according to Tony Phillips of county’s Department of Planning and Community Services. Efforts to reach owners of the hotel were not successful Tuesday. The county expects the owner to house residents at other properties. The county’s Department of Human Services also may assist displaced residents. Chris Seward

Peachtree City serves up new website

Peachtree City has redesigned its municipal website to help residents find information more easily. The new site contains the same information about government offices, services and amenities, but now has more graphics and prominent links to city ordinances, maps, golf cart regulations and problem assistance.

The site has the same address, www.peachtree-city.org. Jill Howard Church

Synagogue to hold special concert

Congregation B’nai Israel of Fayetteville will host a special concert by award-winning singer and guitarist Beth Shafer on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Shafer is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Music whose styles range from classical and folk to blues and jazz Tickets are $18 and can be reserved by phoning the synagogue at 678-817-7162, after which buyers can mail in a check for payment.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Locust Grove school presents Mulan Jr.

The public is invited to attend Locust Grove Middle School’s production of Disney’s Mulan Jr. on Feb. 7, 8 or 9 at 7 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium, located at 3315 S. Ola Road, Locust Grove. Tickets are $5 for ages 5 and up and will be sold at the door. Information: Tamie Mason at tamie.mason@henry.k12.ga.us. Veronica Fields Johnson

Fayette schools to replace software

The Fayette County Board of Education heard preliminary information on Mondayregarding replacement of administrative software for payroll, purchasing and warehousing.

Superintendent Jeff Bearden, Comptroller Laura Brock and Technology Services Director Curt Cearley summarized the bids, which will lead to a recommendation at the Feb. 13 meeting. The replacement system will cost approximately $441,000 in the first year. The current software has not been upgraded in five years and is in danger of failing. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Piedmont Henry to offer CPR class

Piedmont Henry Hospital will conduct a HeartSaver CPR First Aid course Friday, Feb. 24, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Course length may vary depending upon the skill level of participants.

The course is taught by a certified American Heart Association instructor and includes CPR and first aid for adult and pediatric victims. Registration is required. To register: www.piedmonthenry.org/classes/prevention or 678-604-1040. Monroe Roark for the AJC