County by county news for Thursday

Goldstein filed a petition with the Georgia Supreme Court on Dec. 21 to allow him to build a five-story building on the Marietta Square.

The councilman sued the city in April 2011 after the council lowered maximum building heights to 42 feet on the Square. He has been denied in Cobb Superior Court and the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Tree keepers looking for volunteers

Marietta Tree Keepers needs volunteers to plant trees 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Jan. 12 at Whitaker Park, 1540 Holcomb Lake Road, Marietta. Sign in with hot chocolate and donuts starts at 8:30 a.m.Tools and refreshments will be provided and all ages are welcome. Information: www.mariettaga.gov/committees/treekeepers.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Commissioner to be sworn in

Lisa Cupid, Cobb County’s newly elected District 4 commissioner, will be sworn into office 2 p.m. Friday at the county’s headquarters, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.

Cupid, who will represent south Cobb, beat incumbent Woody Thompson in an August runoff election, earning almost 76 percent of the vote. Jaime Sarrio

Get gardening tips at free workshop

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County will host a free program on “Propagating Perennials,” from noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 11. Participants will learn how to grow from seed and about soft wood and hard wood cuttings. Location: Cobb Water Lab, 660 S. Cobb Drive, Marietta. Other workshops will be held Feb. 8, March 8 and April 12. Jaime Sarrio

Sweetwater tennis pro wins state award

Eddie Gomez, head pro at Cobb’s Sweetwater Tennis Center, was named Tennis Professional of the year by the Georgia Professional Tennis Association.

Gomez was recognized for his efforts to promote and grow tennis in the community, and for his humanitarian efforts in Masaya, Nicaragua for 14 years. Info: prca.cobbcountyga.gov/SweetwaterTennisCenter.htm

Jaime Sarrio

Learn about pruning at free workshop

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County will host a free program, “The Art of Pruning,” from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Jan. 14, at East Cobb Regional Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta. The program is part of a monthly evening series, which will also take place Feb. 12, March 13 and April 9 at various local libraries. Information: cobbmastergardeners.org.

Jaime Sarrio

Foundation to host special ball Feb. 9

The Cobb Schools Foundation will recognize alumni and community leaders at Leaders & Legends Ball Feb. 9 at Hilton Marietta Conference Center.

The black-tie celebration will include special guests, dinner, dancing and a silent auction.

Information: Sheri Brante, the foundation’s executive director, at 770-426-3390 or sheri.brante@cobbk12.org. Daarel Burnette II

GWINNETT

Gun store targeted by smash-and-grab thieves

Gwinnett County police are trying to determine who stole dozens of weapons during a weekend smash-and-grab burglary at a gun store near Dacula. The break-in happened about 2 a.m. Saturday at Big Gun Armory on Braselton Highway.

Gwinnett police Cpl. Troy Tobler told the AJC in an e-mail Tuesday that officers arriving within 5 minutes of the alarm found the front doors smashed and tens of thousands of dollars worth of handguns and rifles missing. Tobler said that the preliminary estimate was that around 50 guns worth between $50,000 and $75,000 were taken in the burglary. Mike Morris

Berkeley Lake looking for discarded trees

Berkeley Lake is anticipating thousands of fish, all less than two inches in size, to be delivered to their recovering lake in February.

Residents are encouraged to drop of discarded Christmas tress, with all decorations removed, to the lower corner of Lake Berkeley Chapel.

The trees will be used to create a safe habitat for the new fish.

Information: Berkeley Lake Restoration Committee, at 770-757-6888 or GroundsMaint@BerkeleyLake.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners opening new city hall

Peachtree Corners invites the public to an Open House, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday to tour the city’s new 8,000 square foot city hall at 147 Technology Parkway, Suite 200. The event will also recognize community leaders instrumental in founding the new city and will unveil the city’s new logo.

Information: www.cityofpeachtreecornersga.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

State representatives to meet with residents

Gwinnett residents are invited to meet with state representatives to share their concerns and issues at 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at Grayson Senior Center, 475 Grayson Parkway.

Rep. Brett Harrell (District 106) and Representative-Elect Joyce Chandler (District 105) will be there. Kenneth Musisi

Water and sewer rate increase

The county has implemented a water and sewer rate increase through December.

Single-family residences will pay between $4.69 and $9.38 per 1,000 gallons for water depending on volume and $7.11 per 1,000 gallons for sewer.

Irrigation and builder accounts will be billed at two times the tier-one volumetric rate.

Information:www.gwinnetth2o.com, or 678-376-6700. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Septic tank workshop in Spanish

Residents with septic tanks can learn how to avoid and recognize maintenance problems, what to do when problems occur, and when to and how to contact a good contractor. The workshop, translated in Spanish, will be at 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Norcross Human Services Center, 5330 Georgia Bell Court, Norcross.

By attending this workshop residents may qualify for a 5 percent credit towards the following year’s Stormwater Utility fee. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee, Cobb handle bomb threat

Someone called the Cobb County 911 center Wednesday morning to falsely report that bombs had been buried outside the Cobb and Cherokee County courthouses.

A foreclosure sale on the steps of the Cherokee County Justice Center was briefly disrupted as deputies set up a perimeter around the building. Bomb-sniffing dogs were called in to search outside both buildings, but nothing suspicious was found. Normal operations resumed by midday. The Cherokee and Cobb County Sheriff’s offices are investigating the call. Andria Simmons

Deadline Friday for absentee ballots

Friday is the last day to request absentee ballots in the special election to replace Chip Rogers, whose former state senate district includes Milton and part of Alpharetta. Republican Brandon Beach, president and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, faces former state Rep. Sean Jerguson, R-Canton, for Senate District 21.

Information: www.FultonElections.com.

Johnny Edwards

Canton Council to consider new hire

The Canton City Council will consider a proposal to hire an economic development director at its meeting this evening. Councilman Bill Bryan says no-one has served in that position for some years, and that it is needed to make the city attractive to potential business. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 151 Elizabeth St. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee chamber annual meeting set

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce will name the winner of the First Citizen of Cherokee County award for 2013 at its 42nd annual meeting, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Cherokee County Administration Building, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton.

The group’s incoming board members and board chair will also be recognized. Information: 770-345-0400. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Roswell Christmas tree recycling Saturday

Keep Roswell Beautiful has organized the annual “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling event for 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday. at the Home Depot stores on Holcomb Bridge Road in the Holcomb Woods Shopping Center and on Woodstock Road.

“Bring one for the Chipper” is a statewide initiative which reuses trees by chipping them into mulch that is used for playgrounds, local government beautification projects and individual yards.

Information: 770-442-8822 or www.keeproswellbeautiful.org.

Kenneth Musisi

Canton recycling program starts

Canton has begun a household grease recycling program to hopefully reduce sewer clogs. Residents are encouraged to collect cooking fats, oils and greece and pour them into collection tanks at City Hall, 151 Elizabeth St., or the city’s Public Works Department, 2525 Ridge Road.

The waste will be recycled to make cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel to power city vehicles. MICHAEL ALPERT FOR THE AJC

ATLANTA

6 stabbed in Tuesday morning fight

Luke Odonodan, 19, is charged with five counts of aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing 6 people in a fight Tuesday, Atlanta police said.

At 3 a.m. a driver on North Avenue at Freedom Parkway called 911 to report she was driving several stabbing victims to a hospital. Police learned the fight occurred in the 200 block of Gibson Street in the Reynoldstown area.

Witnesses there told police Odonodan was arguing with another man prior to stabbing him with a knife. Four other people were injured trying to subdue Odonodan, who was cut on the back during the scuffle, police said.

All victims were reported in stable condition, police said.

George Mathis

Anti-bullying rally at King Center

The Fulton County Youth Commissioners will team up with the Metro Atlanta Violence Prevention Project, HOT 107.9 FM and the Music Education Group to hold an anti-bullying and violence prevention rally 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at The King Center, 449 Auburn Ave. N.E.

Refreshments will be provided and entry is free with registration at www.BullyingIsNotHot.eventbrite.com. Information: 404-612-7386 or reginald.crossley@fultoncountyga.gov. Mea Watkins

Author to hold book signing event

Atlanta resident and author Maria Zuckerman will sign copies of her book, “Painting a Purpose,” 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Georgia Hill Branch Library, 250 Georgia Ave. S.E. Information: 404-730-5427. Mea Watkins

Dave Barry to speak at Atlanta Press Club

Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author of “Insane City,” will speak at the Atlanta Press Club on Feb. 14 at The Commerce Club, 191 Peachtree Street N.E., Suite 4900. Registration, breakfast buffet and book signing take place at 7:30 a.m., with remarks at 8:15 a.m. Cost is $25 for members; $35 for non-members. Register: 404-577-7377.

Mea Watkins

DEKALB

Doctor indicted on Medicaid fraud charge

Andre Damian Williams was indicted on Dec. 20 on one count of Medicaid fraud for allegedly accepting $205,003 in Medicaid funds for services not rendered and for services associated with the performance of elective abortions, according to Lauren Kane, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Attorney General’s office.

From January 2009 to September 2011, Williams owned two businesses, Legacy Obstetrics and DeKalb Gynecology Associates.

The primary business at DeKalb Gynecology Associates was the performance of elective abortions, Kane said. Fran Jeffries

DeKalb seeking local sales tax

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis said he will ask state lawmakers to allow the county to levy a local sales tax for paving and other transportation work.

The tax, laid out in Ellis’ 2013 budget memo, would be used to come up with matching money for state and federal grants for transportation projects such as intersection improvements, sidewalks and paving.

The state legislature would need to approve the request for a public vote, which would put the tax before voters in a future referendum.

The legislature convenes Jan. 14. April Hunt

Proclamation anniversary celebrated

Stone Mountain Village will host the 150th Anniversary Celebration and Recognition of the Signing of the Emancipation Proclamation at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday in Stone Mountain Village at the Sherman’s Neck Ties Public Art Sculpture.

The event will include intermittent cannon fire salutes throughout the presentation, music, and several speakers.

A reception featuring Mayor Pat Wheeler’s proclamation from the City of Stone Mountain will immediately follow under the outdoor pavilion at the First Baptist Church. Kenneth Musisi

House delegation town hall on Thursday

State representatives from DeKalb County will host two town hall meetings in January to get citizen input on issues.

The sessions will also be a chance for House members to get information out regarding any upcoming events or issues.

The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday Jan. 3 in Maloof Auditorium in Decatur. The second session will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Porter Sanford performing arts center on Rainbow Drive.

During session, the delegation will meet at noon every Monday in the Coverdell Legislative Office building in Atlanta.

Information: Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick at 678-323-7887 or dkendrick@kendrickforgeorgia.com. April Hunt

Chamblee names first assistant police chief

Chamblee City Council recently agreed to create the new position of assistant police chief, promoting a captain with the force who will now be its second in command.

Donny Williams will mostly continue with his current duties of overseeing the department’s patrol units, K-9 unit and others. He also will share personnel responsibility with Chief Marc Johnson.

Williams has been with Chamblee for 21 years. Prior to that, he worked for two years with the Atlanta Police Department. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Program provides free parking to cancer patients

Park’N Ticket in College Park, an offsite airport parking and shuttle service, has partnered with the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the Angel Parking program which provides free parking and shuttle service to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for M.D. Anderson cancer patients and their caregivers traveling to Houston.

Information: www.parknticket.com/angel-parking.shtml

Kenneth Musisi

Clayton to fight teen driver fatalities

Clayton County Public Schools has received a $30,000 grant from the Governors Office of Highway Safety. The money will be used to maintain the school system’s Students Against Drunk Driving chapters which were started in 2011 to fight teen driver fatalities. Clayton’s SADD chapters will do seatbelt checks twice a year at the schools. Tammy Joyner

Friends of library hold poetry contest

The Friends of the Peachtree City Library are seeking entries for their third annual poetry contest:. This year’s theme is “Our World, Our Community.” Cash prizes of $100 will be awarded in three categories: public, private, parochial, or home-school students. Winning poems will be published.

Entries will be accepted through 5 p.m. March 1.

Information: ptc.library.friends@gmail.com. Tammy Joyner

Parent, youth revival Friday

Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 6712 W. Fayetteville Road, Riverdale will host a Parent and Youth Revival called “Call to Duty” 7 p.m. Friday.

The revival kicks off a sprograms to be held 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. the second Saturday of each month.

The first program “How to Start Your Own Business” is Jan. 12.

Information: Rev. Daniel Perry, 404 933-6254 or 770 997-0079 or fofmbc@bellsouth.net.

Tammy Joyner

Clayton to offer HUD workshop

Clayton County Community Development Department HUD Program Division will offer the HUD Funds Application Workshop 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 9 at the National Archives of Atlanta, 5780 Jonesboro Road, Morrow. Registration is required by Monday. Details: 678 561-0863.

Tammy Joyner

East Point seeks deputy fire marshals

The East Point Fire Department seeks participants for the community deputy fire marshal program. Volunteers will receive training in CPR, first aid, family emergency preparedness, blood pressure screening, smoke alarm installation, and community policing and will be provided with uniforms and badges. They will also be provided with blood pressure monitoring kits and emergency planning kits.

Volunteer fire marshals will inspect homes and train residents in emergency planning and communicate fire/crime prevention information.

Information: Firefighter Montecia Paige at 404-559-6414 or mpaige@eastpointcity.org.

John Thompson for the AJC