COBB
Cobb to start Windy Hill Road construction
Cobb County will start a $48.2 million project to ease congestion and accidents on Windy Hill Road with a groundbreaking 10 a.m. Monday. Sen. Johnny Isakson will speak at the ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Suites parking deck, 2999 Windy Hill Road, Marietta. The five-phase project from Cobb Parkway to Powers Ferry Road will start at the Cobb Parkway intersection where turn lanes and a median will be added. The work is expected to be completed by Spring 2017. Information: www.cobbcounty.org.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Smyrna school to become dual campus
Starting next year, King Springs Elementary School on Reed Road, Smyrna will have a second campus. Special needs preschool, kindergarten and first grade students will move to the former Brown Elementary School two miles away. The new name wiill be King Springs Primary School. About 550 second through fifth grade students will remain at the King Springs school on Reed Road which will be the King Springs Intermediate School. The school currently has 868 students with a capacity of 558.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Online registration open for Oct. 25 race
Registration is continuing for the Silver Comet Half Marathon and Marathon 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 25, starting from the Mable House Complex, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, using the Silver Comet Trail and ending at the Silver Comet Cycles Bike Depot.
Both of these USATF certified courses are qualifiers for the AJC Peachtree Road Race and the Boston Marathon.
Information: SilverCometRaces.com, SilverCometRace@gmail.com, 404-422-2195.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Creation documentary debuts Friday
Creation Ministries International will present its world premiere documentary, “Evolution’s Achilles’ Heels,” at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Eastside Baptist Church, 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta.
CMI is a nondenominational, nonprofit ministry with its U.S. office based in Powder Springs.
Cost: $5 with concessions of pizza, popcorn and drinks available for purchase.
Reservations: creation.com/eah-premiere.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Holocaust exhibit runs through October
“Parallel Journeys: World War II and the Holocaust through the Eyes of Teens” is on display 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays through October at the Sweetwater Valley Library, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Austell.
This panel exhibit from the Kennesaw State Museum of History and Holocaust Education tells the story of six teenagers who were witnesses, participants and often victims of World War II and the Holocaust.
They survived the concentration camps, hid from the Nazis, led rescue efforts, served as soldiers, remained on the home front or aided individuals who were targets of Nazi oppression.
Information: Rhonda Lane, sweetwab@cobbcat.org or 770-819-3290. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
GWINNETT
Peachtree Corners library to close for repairs
The Gwinnett County Public Library’s Peachtree Corners branch at 5570 Spalding Drive will be closed from Monday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 26 for a re-roofing project. The branch will remain closed for the duration of the week until all structural and special inspections are passed. Fines for books or other checked out material will be waived and holds may have pick-up locations reassigned to another library branch. Contact the Library Help Line for more at 770-978-5154, or text at 770-450-5305.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Candidate forum tonight
The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett and the Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will host a candidate forum 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. Candidates: Thomas Wright, Jay Trevari, P.K. Martin, Timothy Swiney, Gregory McKeithen, Rosanna Szabo, Amreeta Regmi, Tom Rice, Renita Hamilton, Joyce Chandler, Jim Duffie, Tamara Johnson and Brad Young. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Sugar Hill names youth council members
The Sugar Hill City Council named its first Youth Council consisting of eight students from area high schools. Members: Olivia Hunsacker, Alex Browning and Roshni Patel of North Gwinnett High, Serlin Singh from Buford High, Jada Hyland, Michael Shafack, Alejandra Jiminez and Deyson Johnson from Lanier High. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Lilburn logo to work a little harder
The Lilburn City Council has updated the city’s logo policy to allow for contracts with independent vendors to market City of Lilburn merchandise. Revisions to the policy protect the city’s logo and tagline as property of the city and prevent the logo from reproduction without direct permission.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Charity event to aid schools
The North Gwinnett Schools Foundation hosts its Big T’Do Social & Auction 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Lake Lanier Islands Resort, Peachtree Pointe Pavilion. The event includes food, drinks, live and silent auctions, entertainment, and a “cork pull” event. Information: www.NorthGwinnetSchoolsFoundation.org, info@northgwinnettschoolsfoundation.org or 404-984-0832. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Duluth collecting letters for soldiers
For the second year in a row, the Duluth Municipal Court is participating in the Bert Show Big Thank You by collecting handwritten letters thanking soldiers deployed outside the U.S. All letters can be dropped off in the lobby of the Duluth Public Safety Building, 3276 Buford Highway.
Letters must be submitted by Oct. 30 to ensure soldiers receive them on Thanksgiving.
Information: www.thebertshow.com. Questions: Lori Edelkind at ledelkind@duluthga.net or 678-512-3805. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Man charged with stealing dog from animal shelter
Cherokee County authorities have arrested a suspect in an four-legged burglary case. Sheriff’s officials say Jason Lacy, 38, of Woodstock, admitted to breaking into the Cherokee County Animal Shelter through a back door on Sunday and taking a black lab mix. A neighbor had surrendered the dog to the shelter the day before. Detectives recovered the dog at Lacy’s home. He’s been charged with one count of burglary and released on $11,200 bond.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Tree permit relaxed due to recent storms
The city of Alpharetta has temporarily suspended its tree removal permit requirement for trees that were felled or heavily damaged in Tuesday’s storms. The waiver lasting through Friday covers trees that have toppled, could fall on a home or were catastrophically damaged. Take pictures of trees before removal and send them with name and contact information to treepermits@alpharetta.ga.us so that city officials can be updated. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee schools near top on AP exams
The Cherokee County School District says its students earned the state’s second highest passage rate on Advanced Placement exams. The district administered 3,424 tests in the spring of 2014 and saw a passage rate of 76 percent, above national and state averages of 59 and 56 percent respectively. Officials say tests given this year rose by 11 percent. The AP program allows high school students to earn advance college credit. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Music honor society chapter in Cherokee
River Ridge High School’s fine arts department has established the first chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society in the Cherokee County School District. To qualify, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA overall and a 4.0 GPA in music courses and show dedication to extracurricular musical achievement. The initial group of River Ridge band, orchestra and chorus members was inducted Sept. 30. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Roswell bike event set this weekend
An international amateur recreational bike ride set in Roswell Sunday could cause traffic delays. City officials say rolling road closures are anticipated with the Gran Fondo Italia starting at 7 a.m. with Alpharetta Highway, Mayfield Road and Roswell Street impacted. Information: thegranfondoitalia.com.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Woodstock emergency phones in park
The city of Woodstock will install emergency telephones soon at Dupree Park and at Woofstock, the city dog park, with more to come at other city park and trail locations in the future. The Woodstock City Council approved the plan Monday night. Parks head Preston Pooser says the call boxes will be hung on the outside of park restroom buildings, and will connect directly to the city’s 9-1-1 center. He says the move is not a reaction to any safety or crime issue, but is instead designed to be proactive.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
Moody’s: Atlanta bond outlook improved
Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded Atlanta’s bond outlook from stable to positive, maintaining the city’s Aa2 rating on $60 million in general obligation bonds.
Moody’s revised the outlook because of improved cash reserve levels and decreasing debt burden, as well as anticipated tax base growth.
Moody’s also cited Reed’s pension reform — which faces a legal challenge in Fulton County Superior Court — as among the city’s financial improvements. The revision comes months after Standard & Poor’s Rating Services upgraded the city’s general obligation bond ratings from A to AA. Katie Leslie
Work started on new library
Crews have started work on the new Metropolitan Library at 1332 Metropolitan Parkway. Groundbreaking was held Wednesday morning.
The 25,000 square foot library is expected to open by October 2015 and will replace the Stewart-Lakewood Branch.
Information: 404-730-1972.
Adrianne Murchison for the AJC
Officials to speak about learning English
U.S. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon and Marianna Vinson, deputy director of the Office of English Language Acquisition, will speak Wednesday at the 11th Annual Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Education Summit.
Both will address issues involving English language learners, starting at 4:30 p.m. at Atlanta Marriott Marquis (Imperial Ballroom B), 265 Peachtree Center Ave., NE Ty Tagami
Mercer admittedto research alliance
Mercer University is the newest member of the the Georgia Research Alliance, a nonprofit organization that receives public and private funding to boost university-based development.
Other members of the GRA include the University of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Emory University, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia State University.
Janel Davis
DEKALB
Renfroe renovation plans unveiled
The first draft of Renfroe Middle School’s proposed master plan and phase one concepts gets unveiled at 5 to 6 p.m. (for the adjacent MAK district) and 6:30 to 8 p.m. (for the overall community forum) today in in the school’s cafeteria, 220 West College Avenue, Decatur.
It’s anticipated that enrollment at Renfroe, currently with about 940 students, will jump to 2225 in five years, meaning the school will need another 60 to 70 classrooms. Regarding construction program manager Jeff Prine has said, “We’ll definitely have to go vertical. Otherwise there’s no way we can increase [the school’s] size and keep the greenspace.” Bill Banks for the AJC
Mayor’s resignation vote not unusual
Amy Henderson, director of communication and marketing for the Georgia Municipal Association said it’s “not unheard of” for a commission to vote on accepting a resignation before setting a date for a special election, or to treat the procedure as two separate motions. Avondale Estates mayor Ed Rieker resigned Oct. 2 and the city’s board of mayor and commissioners will vote Monday on whether to “receive” that resignation. If received, the special election for Rieker’s replacement is March 17.
Rieker said this week he didn’t know, until several days after, that his resignation wasn’t official until the board vote. Henderson added she didn’t know of an instance where a council voted against a resignation, “but I feel pretty certain that in [over] 100 years of local government it must have … been an issue somewhere, sometime.”
Bill Banks for the AJC
Rape crisis center dedicates building
A building dedication ceremony honoring Virginia Vaughn, first executive director of the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center, is 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at 204 Church Street, Decatur.
The public event marks a renaming of the center’s facilities to The Vaughn Center. Last year, the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center changed its name to Day League.
Information: 404-377-1429.
Adrianne Murchison for the AJC
County to hold neighborhood summit
Get Connected, a neighborhood summit, is 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Tucker High School, 5036 LaVista Road.
Community leaders will discuss how government can help improve neighborhoods, and Curbside Consulting will hold 25-minute group sessions on community organizing.
Information: 404-371-2881.
Adrianne Murchison for the AJC
Dunwoody Library plans ‘sleuthing’ event
Several informational activities are planned for the sixth annual We Love our Library Day 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 18 at Dunwoody Library, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.
Friends of Dunwoody Library host the free event titled Searching and Sleuthing. Experts will provide book appraisals and a talk on book collecting. Big Thinkers, a Clarkston program that makes science fun for children, will hold a CSI Program with insight on DNA and dusting for fingerprints. And Dunwoody law enforcement will discuss how detectives approach investigations.
Information: 770-512-4640.
Adrianne Murchison for the AJCn
SOUTHSIDE
Gibbs retiring from Fayette Chamber
Fayette Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Virginia Gibbs has announced plans to retire from the organization as of Dec. 31. She began her tenure there in March 2004. Chamber Board Chairman J. Michael Burnett called Gibbs “an extraordinary leader” who has been “invaluable to our organization.” The search for a new president and CEO will begin in the next two weeks. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Spirit Walk follows Fayette history
Guided tours of downtown Fayetteville’s Historic Cemetery will be offered Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., featuring personal histories of famous residents. Ghost hunters from the Casework: Paranormal Group will share photographs from the nearby Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum. Music and refreshments will be featured. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children age 5-12; timed ticket sales begin at 6 p.m. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Union City continues road resurfacing
Resurfacing of Dodson Road in Union City will continue through Oct. 27. Motorists will be allowed on the road during the project; however, traffic will be controlled.
Buffington Road is closed to through traffic. Bridge construction is scheduled to be complete by July 2015.
A detour map is available at www.unioncityga.org.
Adrianne Murchison for the AJC
Fulton seeking input on school zones
Fulton County Schools will hold a meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Banneker High School, 6015 Feldwood Road, College Park to review attendance boundaries in south Fulton.
Schools included in the review were part of a 2013 redistricting.
They are: Conley Hills, Hapeville, Hamilton E. Holmes, Harriet Tubman, Mount Olive, Oak Knoll and Parklane elementary schools; Bear Creek, Camp Creek, McNair, Renaissance, Sandtown, Paul D. West and Woodland middle schools; and Banneker, Creekside, Langston Hughes and Westlake high schools. Jaime Sarrio
Hearings planned
on school closing
The Henry County Board of Education will host hearings Oct. 21 and Nov. 3 on a proposal to close McDonough Elementary for the relocation of Patrick Henry Academy.
Students would be dispersed to three other area elementary schools. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us. Monroe Roark for the AJC
Retired educators’ group to meet
The Henry County Retired Educators Association will meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the community room of the county annex on Zack Hinton Pkwy. in McDonough.
The program will include a genealogy presentation by Sara Jane Overstreet.
Information: Kathy Hill, 404-310-7112 or kathyshill1@gmail.com.
Monroe Roark for the AJC
