County by county news for Thursday

The 2011 results show 83 percent of Cobb students met or exceeded expectations, compared to 78 percent in 2010. The district’s average score was 218, four points higher than the state average.

The state-mandated exam was given in March and requires students to write a composition on an assigned topic. Jaime Sarrio

Input wanted on transportation priorities

Metro Atlanta residents are urged to complete a survey this month involving the upcoming regional transportation priorities that would be funded through a penny sales tax.

A referendum on the transportation tax is scheduled for summer 2012. Survey input will help the Atlanta Regional Roundtable develop a list of regional projects. The Roundtable is scheduled to approve the final project list in October. The deadline to take the survey is May 20, and is found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6BH86N5. Information: http://www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com Janel Davis

Make reservations for Smyrna concerts

Table reservations for 2011 Smyrna Summer Concert Series are being accepted now. City residents can get first dibs on tables from now through May 12. Non-city residents can reserve tables starting May 16. Reservations are accepted at the Wolfe Adult Recreation Center, 884 Church Street, Smyrna, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Information: 770-431-2842 or www.ci.smyrna.ga.us. Rich McKay

Entries accepted for ‘Pigs & Peaches’ contest

The City of Kennesaw is now accepting team entries for its 2011 barbecue and peach dessert contests called “Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival” Aug. 26-27 at the Adams Park and the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive in Kennesaw. More than $14,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. The contest is also recognized as a 2011 Georgia BBQ Championship event. For rules and entry forms, visit www.pigsandpeaches.com. The deadline to submit entry forms is August 1. Information: 770- 422-9714. Rich McKay

School to present ‘High School Musical’

Cobb County’s Mabry Middle School Drama Club presents “High School Musical” at 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 at the door. The club is intended to develop students’ artistic abilities and help them gain a working knowledge of the theater. The school is at 2700 Jims Road Northeast in Marietta. Jaime Sarrio

USTA tennis open this weekend

Cobb County will host the USTA National Open tennis tournament May 14-16.

The tournament, for boys and girls ages 16 and younger, attracts top players, including some currently playing on the professional tour. The draw will include 64 boys and 64 girls who are nationally ranked.

The tournament takes place at the Harrison Tennis Center, 2653 Shallowford Road NE in Marietta. Information: 770-591-3151 Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Lilburn puts sunday alcohol sales on ballot

The Lilburn City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday that will let its residents decide if they want the retail sale of liquor on Sundays.

The 4-0 vote means Lilburn becomes the latest city in the metro region to agree to a November referendum that will determine whether restaurants can sell alcohol on Sundays. Loganville was the first to approve a similar measure.

The state Legislature approved such referendums on the local level after a five-year fight on Sunday sales. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill in late April. Joel Anderson

Nash to give state of county address

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Charlotte Nash will present the annual state of the county address at 11:30 a.m. May 18 at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. The cost is $75 for chamber members and $100 for non-members. Register: www.gwinnettstateofthecounty.com. David Wickert

Make-A-Wish throws girl ‘puppy parade’

A six-year-old Dacula girl will be granted the 5,000th wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama on Sunday. Make-A-Wish officials will give liver transplant survivor Caroline, whose last name wasn’t released, a “puppy parade” in her honor from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Duluth Town Green. The public is invited to join in a celebration that will include a band, a bounce house, an obstacle course, face painting and snow cones, among other things. Joel Anderson

Foreclosure prevention counseling Monday

Homeowners who are delinquent or having trouble making their mortgage payments can meet with foreclosure prevention counselors from noon to 7 p.m. Monday at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast Hotel, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross. Homeowners who have mortgages with CitiMortgage can meet with company representatives. Those who have mortgages with another company can speak with counselors from CredAbility, a nonprofit credit counseling organization. David Wickert

Sculp Tour coming to Suwanee

Suwanee will soon launch its inaugural Suwanee Sculp Tour, which will feature 15 sculptures created by a dozen artists from an array of materials.

The sculptures will be installed by the end of May in and near the city’s Town Center. The exhibit will feature the sculptures through March 2012.

Information: www.suwanee.com. Joel Anderson

Snellville hosts entrepreneurial expo

Snellville has partnered with Entrepreneur Advisors to host an entrepreneurial education symposium on May 20.

The event will be from 8 a.m. to noon at the South Gwinnett High School Auditorium.

Speakers at the symposium will include former Kentucky Governor John Brown, who turned Kentucky Fried Chicken into a multimillion dollar business.

Information: Eric Van Otteren at 770-985-3502 or evanotteren@snellville.org.

Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

SPLOST vote on Nov. ballot in Cherokee

Cherokee County voters will have a chance in November to vote on continuing the one-cent local sales tax to fund new school construction.

The Cherokee County School Board voted 7-0 earlier this month to proceed with a 2011 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax renewal. Superintendent Frank Petruzielo directed staff to begin compiling a list of possible projects to bring before the board over the next several work sessions for possible funding with the penny tax. A final project list and subsequent dollar amount will be approved, likely at the July 27 school board meeting. Christopher Quinn

Lottery for Cherokee’s charter school Saturday

The lottery to select students for Cherokee County’s first charter school will be held Saturday at the former American Heritage Academy on Sixes Road.

Sandy Castro, a spokeswoman for Charter Schools USA, which will help run Cherokee Charter Academy, said the lottery will begin at 9 a.m. and that parents of the 2,400 students who have applied for the 710 available slots in the kindergarten to 7th grade school have been notified.

The lottery will proceed by grade level, with K and 1st grade set for 9 a.m., 2nd and 3rd grades at 10 a.m., 4th and 5th grades at 11 a.m., and 6th and 7th grades beginning at noon. Christopher Quinn

OSHA cites firm for safety violations

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Canam Signs and Imaging in Alpharetta with 15 safety and health violations following a January inspection. The company was cited with one willful violation for exposing workers to fire hazards by permitting spray painting to be performed near welding operations. Another 13 serious violations were listed.

The attorney representing the company, Mark Washak, denied the accusations, calling the citations “ridiculous” and OSHA’s performance “forever overreaching.” Patrick Fox

Health and wellness expo to be May 25

The Roswell parks department is teaming with the City of Milton and North Fulton Regional Hospital to host the 10th annual Health and Wellness Expo from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 25.

Hospital staff will offer free bone density, glucose and blood pressure screenings. Total cholesterol screenings are available for $10. Attendants can tour numerous booths offering health care demonstrations and information. The Adult Recreation Center is at 830 Grimes Bridge Road.

Information: 770-641-3950. Patrick Fox

Civil Service Board takes up 3 matters

The Forsyth County Civil Service Board will take up the matters of three former employees: John Gooch, who worked for the Forsyth County Fire Department; Jeff Chance, the former Forsyth County Planning Director, dismissed in August 2010; and Charles Adams, who was dismissed in 2009 from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and is putting the finishing touches on his settlement agreement with the county. The meeting is 10 a.m., today in the conference room of the Public Safety Complex, 3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming. Jeffry Scott

ATLANTA

Educators award scholarships to 3

The Atlanta Association of Educators has awarded $1,000 scholarships to each of three graduating high school seniors from Atlanta Public Schools to help with their college expenses. All three plan on choosing education as their major.

The winners are Raven Tukes of South Atlanta High, who will be attending the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.; Darius Floyd of Benjamin E. Mays High, who will be attending Benedict College in Columbia; and Kenyatta Moon of Washington High, who will be attending Dalton State College. Kristina Torres

Grady team places 4th in mock trial

Grady High School’s mock trial team placed fourth out of 48 teams last weekend at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Phoenix.

The team, which was honored Monday night by Atlanta school board members, earned its berth at the national competition by claiming its third consecutive state mock trial championship earlier this year. Kristina Torres

Health Division to hold free screenings

Fulton County’s Women’s Health Division will offer free screenings for diabetes and HIV, along with clinical breast exams and spinal exams, today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City of Refuge/Eden Village, 1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd., Atlanta. As part of National Women’s Health Week, the division wants to promote regular check-ups.

Information: 404-730-1682 or http://fultoncountygahealth.org. Johnny Edwards

Seniors to walk for their health Saturday

A “3-Mile Walk and Health Fair” for seniors will be Saturday, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Helene S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility, 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave., N.E., Atlanta.

The walk begins a day on the Freedom Park Trail, with a health fair and entertainment afterward. The event is part of the Fulton County Office of Aging’s recognition of Older Americans Month. Information: 404-613-6000. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Decatur board OKs new school start times

After four proposals over the past two months, Decatur’s School Board approved the new start/end times for next year by a vote of 3 to 1. The four elementary schools, Clairemont, Glennwood, Oakhurst and Winnona Park go from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Renfroe Middle and the new Fifth Avenue 4/5 Academy go from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., while Decatur High starts a half hour earlier, going 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. John Ahmann, the one dissenting board member, vigorously opposed the high school’s earlier start time, but Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Edwards added, “This is a relief to get this done. Now we can move onto other things.” Bill Banks for the AJC

Race to close roads in Dunwoody Saturday

There will be road closures Saturday in conjunction with the Northside Hospital Stroke 5K road race between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The following streets will be affected, Lake Hearn Drive, Perimeter Summit Parkway, and Perimeter Center Parkway NE. Michelle Shaw

Kids invited to bike rodeo in Dunwoody

Children of all ages are invited to a bike rodeo from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday at Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. Children will be able learn bicycle safety and practice the skills they learn. Bikes, trikes and unicycles are welcome. The event is free and open to the public. Michelle Shaw

Monarchs and Margaritas returns

Monarchs and Margaritas, the biggest yearly fund-raiser for the Dunwoody Nature Center, returns this weekend.

The event will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 13 at Glenridge Hall, the 1929 Tudor mansion overlooking the Chattahoochee Valley.

Tickets are $100 and include two drink tickets, heavy appetizers and access to the hall’s gardens.

Information/tickets: www.dunwoodynature.org or 770-394-3322. April Hunt

Medlock group to hold business expo

The Medlock Area Neighborhood Association will hold a community meeting and business expo for residents next month.

The meeting will discuss community activities and showcase local businesses. It will be at 7 p.m. June 27 at North Decatur Presbyterian Church at Scott Boulevard and Medlock Road.

Information: http://clairmontheights.org. April Hunt

Air show, open house coming to airport

The Good Neighbor Day Air Show and Open House will be from noon until 5 p.m. June 4 at DeKalb Peachtree Airport, 2000 Airport Road in Atlanta. Participants will include the U. S. Army Special Forces “Black Daggers” parachute team and Neal Darnell in the Flash Fire Jet Truck.

The event will include restored antique planes, World War II warriors and commemorative air force airplanes, including the P-51, P-47, TMB Avenger and the British Sea Fury. DeKalb’s own fire trucks, police vehicles, ambulances and helicopters will also be on display. Admission is free, but on-site parking is $5. For more information, visit www.pdkairport.org. Michelle Shaw

SOUTHSIDE

County manager looks for feedback on Twitter

Fulton County Manager Zachary Williams will talk to residents in a live Twitter chat Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Williams seeks feedback and suggestions for improving services.

To participate, send tweets to @FultonInfo and use hashtag “#Talk2Fulton” when submitting comments.

The TweetCast is part of a new monthly series that puts county officials and department heads online to hear from the public. Johnny Edwards

Kaiser opens Fayette medical office today

Kaiser Permanente of Georgia celebrated the grand opening of its 6,400-square-foot Fayette Medical Office today, as part of an ongoing expansion in metro Atlanta that has added 11 new offices in the past year and a half. The $2.3 million, Fayetteville facility is the insurer’s first office in Fayette County. Kaiser has more than 240,000 members and operates 28 medical facilities in metro Atlanta. Georgia’s largest nonprofit health plan, Kaiser is also donating $10,000 to the Fayette Care Clinic, which provides free medical, dental and vision services to the county’s poor and uninsured residents. Misty Williams

School board asks input on new budget

The Clayton County Board of Education is holding a called meeting today at 5:30 to get public comment on its proposed fiscal year 2012 budget. The meeting will be in the Administration Complex, 1058 Fifth Avenue in Jonesboro. Tammy Joyner

Redistricting may alter voting in East Point

East Point Residents could be voting a different ward this fall after the city completes its redistricting process in June. City officials have to redistrict using the 2010 Census results, which could shift voters to different wards. The first meeting on the issue is May 31. John Thompson for the AJC

Fulton hails new sidewalk, bridge project

A $1.4 million project that put 1.9 miles of sidewalk, a pedestrian bridge and landscaping along south Fulton’s Will Lee and Ben Hill roads is finished, and Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards and community members will celebrate today at 11 a.m. at the corner of Will Lee Road and Valley Brook Drive. The improvements stretch from Roosevelt Highway to Welcome All Road, connecting to Welcome All Park. Johnny Edwards

Community forum on gangs and the Internet

Peachtree City’s J.C. Booth Middle School will host a community forum on May 17 at 7 p.m. to educate parents about dangers related to gangs and the Internet.

The program, in conjunction with the Peachtree City Police Department, will discuss how to identify gang activity and report related problems. The Internet portion will teach parents to recognize inappropriate conduct, contact and content related to their children’s Internet use.

The forum is free and open to the public. For information, contact rdove@peachtree-city.org. Jill Howard Church