County by county news for Thursday
COBB
Marietta council focuses on legal challenge
The Marietta City Council approved a new committee Tuesday to handle a legal challenge from long time council member Philip Goldstein. Committee members are Mayor Steve Tumlin and council men Van Pearlberg and Jim King. Goldstein, a major property owner in downtown Marietta, has threatened to sue the city if he is not allowed to build a five-story building on the square’s north side. The council voted to lower its height limit from 85 feet to 54 feet for downtown buildings. Goldstein served legal papers to the council at a March 9 meeting arguing a 2008 building certificate he holds should be honored. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
$8.6 million to upgrade Sampson middle school
The Cobb County school board approved an $8.6 million contract for additions and modifications to Simpson Middle in Marietta. Nix-Fowler Constructors, Inc. was selected to perform the work, which is schedule to be completed by July 23, 2012. Additions include a new science and music classrooms. Renovations include an expanded cafeteria to serve all grades. Currently, meals are prepared at a central kitchen and then served at three separate cafeterias located in each grade-level wing. The heating and air system will also be replaced. Jaime Sarrio
Hunstein to address conference at KSU
Carol Hunstein, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, will give the opening address at the “Phenomenal Women’s Conference” on April 8 at Kennesaw State University. The day-long event starts at 8:30 a.m. and is sponsored by the Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character. It will be held at the KSU Center at 3333 Busbee Drive, N.W., Kennesaw. Information: www.kennesaw.edu Rich McKay
Acworth baseball registration due Friday
The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday to register for Acworth’s Horizon League, a baseball program for special needs adults 22 years old and up. The program runs from April 14 through May 14. Cost is $15. Information: 770-917-1234 or lham@acworth.org. Rich McKay
Kids offered spring break at the movies
Cobb students out for spring break can enjoy a week of movies April 4-7 at the West Cobb Regional Library.
Films to be shown are “The Karate Kid,” “The Country Bears,” “Zathura” and “Snow Buddies.” The movies run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day at the library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane in Kennesaw. Information: call 770-528-4699. Janel Davis
Powder Springs gets ready for improvements
Around five acres of right-of-way purchases should begin soon by Powder Springs officials for their Town Center Redevelopment Project.
“Current street layouts, parking and roadway conditions in the area are inadequate and require repairs, changes and improvements,” said the city’s Community Development Director Pam Conner.
An estimated $1.5 million in city 2005 SPLOST funds will be used to improve Pineview, Oakview, Lynn and Cemetery Streets and Jackson Way, she said, all located adjacent and north of Town Square between Marietta Street and the Silver Comet Trail. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
GWINNETT
Red Oak Sanitation agrees to refunds
Red Oak Sanitation’s former Gwinnett County customers may be due a refund under an agreement with the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection. When Gwinnett revoked Red Oak’s authority to provide residential waste collection last July, customers were entitled to have their trash bins collected and receive a refund of their $25 or $50 deposit. An OCP investigation found the company failed to refund those deposits in a timely manner. Under a settlement agreement, Red Oak is setting up a trust account for customers who have not received refunds. Customers who believe they are due a refund should call Red Oak at 678-455-7819. David Wickert
Crash kills Lanier High freshman
A 9th-grade boy who attended Lanier High School was killed Wednesday morning in a car crash in Sugar Hill, Gwinnett County police said.
About 7 a.m., a Chrysler 300 was southbound on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard when it turned left onto 1st Avenue. A northbound Jeep Grand Cherokee struck the passenger side of the Chrysler as it turned, police said. The student, a passenger in the Chrysler, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both drivers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Larry Hartstein
Village CID gets funds for landscaping
The Georgia Department of Transportation has given $35,000 to the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District for landscaping at the intersection of Brook Hollow Parkway and Mitchell Road along I-85. David Wickert
Group offers spring break college tour
The ALPHA Leadership Program is sponsoring a Spring Break College Tour for students seeking higher education.
Only a few seats remain on the Alpha Leadership Program for Higher Achievement’s chartered tour bus. Students will visit Duke University, North Carolina A&T University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University and more. Information: Call Michael Woodward at 678-525-3498 or visit www.theleadfoundation.org.D. Aileen Dodd
Library needs Facebook friends to get free books
The Gwinnett County Public Library is seeking Facebook fans to help it win more than 1,600 free “Dummies” books.
Publisher John Wiley & Sons has launched a national contest to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the “For Dummies” series.
The public library with the most Facebook fans at midnight April 30 will win the free books.
To help, visit the “Gwinnett Library For Dummies Fan Page” on Facebook and click “like.” The link can be found at www.gwinnettpl.org.
David Wickert
School sells chopsticks to aid Japan
Chattahoochee Elementary School students are selling chopsticks to raise money to help the Red Cross support victims of the tsunami in Japan.
The chopsticks are being purchased by students, faculty and others for $1. Proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross to help provide families in Japan displaced by the disaster with fresh water, food, clothing and shelter. D. Aileen Dodd
NORTHSIDE
Forsyth responds to open meetings complaint
Forsyth County attorney Ken Jarrard told the Georgia Attorney General that a complaint by Roswell activist Nydia Tisdale that the county violated state open meetings law was accurate, there were “certain technical deficiencies” in the county’s posting of public notice for a January Civil Service Board meeting. The county posted the notice in the county administration building instead of where the Civil Service Board meets, in the Public Safety Complex, as law requires. Jarrard said notices will be on posted in the Safety Complex from now on. Jeffry Scott
Johns Creek delays on second-hand sales law
The Johns Creek City Council has delayed action on a new ordinance requiring greater documentation on second-hand sales. The ordinance is intended to cover one of the avenues used by criminals to unload stolen goods.
But the council decided to narrow the focus of the new law after learning that people selling items to thrift stores would have to be fingerprinted. The city is expected to take the matter up again in late April. Patrick Fox
Sandy Springs school to hold open house
Sandy Springs Charter Middle School plans to hold an open house at 6:30 p.m. on April 26 to show off its broad assortment of academic programs and extra-curricular activities. Sandy Springs parents are invited. The school is at 8750 Colonel Drive. Nancy Badertscher
Unwanted prescription collection April 30
The Roswell Police Department will partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to collect expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs on April 30.
The event, part of the Prescription Drug Take Back Program, will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Roswell Police Department at 39 Hill Street.
The service is free. Information: 770-640-4100. Joel Anderson
Sweet potato fries added to school menus
Fulton County public school students have learned just how sweet the sweet potato can be -- both from a taste and nutritional standpoint. The Vitamin A and C rich sweet potato fries were added to the lunch menu at 15 schools this month through the Farm to School and Georgia Grown programs. Other offerings will be added to the menu later this year. “The goal is to offer locally grown fruits and vegetables and to help farmers sell produce closer to home,” said Alyssia Waters, school system nutrition regulatory coordinator. Nancy Badertscher
Avita opens facility in Flowery Branch
Avita Community Partners will open a 16-bed crisis stabilization unit in Flowery Branch Friday that will serve all of Georgia. The center will provide short-term residential psychiatric care and substance abuse detoxification for adults. Located at 4331 Thurmond Tanner Parkway, the facility will employ approximately 25 staff members. Avita was formed by the 1993 Georgia Legislature to serve persons with mental illness and addictive diseases. Patrick Fox
ATLANTA
Grady, county struggle to iron out dispute
A committee still hasn’t ironed out the contract dispute between Grady Memorial Hospital and Fulton County. The dispute threatens to hold up millions of dollars to a charity hospital already making controversial cuts. The panel has met twice and made some progress, committee member and Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority board member Lem Hewes reported Monday. But the most vexing issue -- defining Fulton indigent and uninsured patients, on whom all Fulton tax dollars must be spent -- isn’t resolved. Johnny Edwards
10 indicted in residential mortgage fraud
A Fulton County grand jury has indicted 10 people for committing residential mortgage fraud in south Atlanta in 2006 and 2007. Those indicted include: Victor Shackleford, Wayne Pettway, Cherri Dallas, Ohmar Braden, Christopher Starnes, Wendy Mitchell, Yoshunda Jones, Leroy Harris and Kai Fluker. Bill Rankin
Man gets five years in prison for identity theft
A man who ran up more than $142,000 in purchases using stolen identities was sentenced Tuesday to five years in federal prison.
In 2009, while living in Atlanta, Brandon Richard Delancy, 24, purchased the identity information of victims from across the U.S. and then opened credit card accounts in their names, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Delancy, who now lives in Miami, used those cards at restaurants, hotels, high-end boutiques and car dealerships. Bill Rankin
Retired Coke exec to speak at CAU today
Clark Atlanta University trustee and retired Coca-Cola executive Carl Ware, will speak from first hand experience today about “Doing Business in Africa: Social Responsibility, Political and Ethical Issues of Global Business Operations.”
Ware, the former president of Coca-Cola’s Africa Group, retired from the company in 2003. Ware will speak at 11 a.m. in the Davage Auditorium in Haven-Warren Hall on campus. Ernie Suggs
DEKALB
Officers to bike 300 miles to honor fallen
Three Decatur Police officers will bike 300 miles from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. to honor officers who have died in the line of duty.
The officers will join hundreds of fellow law enforcement from across the nation on the 2011 Police Unity Tour in May to raise money for the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial and Museum.
Each rider is trying to raise a minimum of $1,700, according to event organizers. Megan Matteucci
Parks to hold spring break camps
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold Spring Break Day Camps 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 4-8 at all 12 recreation centers. The camp provides activities for children ages 5 -12 at a charge of $5 per day. Participants must bring their own lunch and snack.
Payments are payable by cashiers check or money order to the recreation center of your choice. Information: LaShanda Trice, Public Education Specialist, at 404-371-3643. Staff reports
M.A.D.D. honors Dunwoody police
Several Dunwoody Police Officers received awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) at the organization’s annual banquet on Friday.
The awards were based on the DUI arrests the officers made in 2010. Officer Tim Waldron received the Bronze Award for 39 DUI arrests and Officer Alvin Rodriguez received the Silver Award for 68 DUI arrests. Andria Simmons
Fiction, poetry slam at Decatur High
The Atlanta Young Writer’s Institute is hosting a fiction and poetry slam at Decatur High School on April 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will create a short story and slam poem and can sign up for the open microphone. Admission is free. Participants should bring a notebook and writing utensil. Parents welcome. Register: send email titled “seminar registration” to info@aywi.org . Nancy Badertscher
Hairston Crossing Library set to reopen
DeKalb County will celebrate National Library Week next month with the re-opening of the Hairston Crossing Library.
The library, located on Redan Road in Stone Mountain, has been closed since 2009 for renovations.
The library will host a dedication ceremony April 16 at 11 a.m. The library will open to regular business on April 18.
To celebrate Library Week, the county will also host a series of events, including a family day on April 9 at the Decatur library. Megan Matteucci
Rapper’s winnings go to children’s home
Rapper Lil Jon, who grew up near Decatur, donated his latest winnings from television’s “Celebrity Apprentice” to the city’s United Methodist Children’s Home. A check for $40,000, and signed by “Apprentice” creator Donald Trump, arrived at the UMCH Wednesday. Terence Johnson, Director of Programs for the UMCH, said most of the money is earmarked for the facility’s family-housing program. With the current season lasting through April, more money may be in sight since Lil Jon’s pledged all his “Apprentice” earnings toward the Children’s Home.
Bill Banks for the AJC
SOUTHSIDE
Commission chairman addresses chamber today
Clayton County Commission chairman Eldrin Bell will give his “State of the County” address this morning at the Clayton Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
The breakfast will be at the Clayton State University Continuing Education Building, 2000 Clayton State Blvd., Morrow. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m.
Cost is $15 for chamber members and member guests and $25 for non-members. Tammy Joyner
Riverdale’s Ruffin to hold seminar Saturday
Riverdale councilman Kenny Ruffin is sponsoring a seminar on Saturday at the Riverdale Community Centre, 7210 Church Street in Riverdale. The 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. seminar will cover ways communities can stop commercial sexual exploitation of children. Saturday’s seminar is expected to draw various organization and experts on the subject. To attend, pre-register at www.endcsecnow.com Tammy Joyner
Rotary Club donates $1,000 to schools
The Rotary Club of Peachtree City has donated $1,000 to the Fayette County Public School System. The organization gave the Friends Mentoring and After School programs $500 each to support their activities. The donation will fund development of a math guidebook for mentors and purchase a training curriculum to help ASP sites receive or retain national accreditation.Jill Howard Church for the AJC
‘Sweet Tea Challenge’ Saturday in Jonesboro
The 18th annual Taste of Clayton & Sweet Tea Challenge will be Saturday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Jonesboro.
Cost is $15 for adults and includes 10 taste tickets, $12 for seniors 55 and older (7 tickets) and $5 for children ages 5 to 10. Children under the age of 4 are free.
Details: 770 478-4800. Proceeds benefit Historical Jonesboro. Tammy Joyner
Luella High student wins state literary title
Dominique McDuffie of Luella High School won a state title in Saturday’s AAAAA State Literary Meet in Warner Robins. She was named champion in the dramatic interpretation category for her monologue from the August Wilson play “Fences.”
Two other Luella students took third place in girls vocal solo and girls essay, while two students came in fourth in girls extemporaneous speaking and boys essay. Monroe Roark for the AJC
East Point to dedicate fountain of honor
The city of East Point is holding a dedication service April 6 for a water fountain to honor public servants who have lost their lives serving the city. The city’s 17 employees who participated in the Management Development Program at the University of Georgia selected a water fountain project in front of the city’s law enforcement building at 2777 East Point Street for a public service project. The fountain dedication service starts at 11 a.m. John Thompson for the AJC
