County by county news for Thursday

A map, currently being considered at the capitol, splits the area into two districts. The amended map, supported by Commissioner Woody Thompson, who currently represents the entire area, and Commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Helen Goreham will be presented to Cobb’s delegation. But the effort may be too late. The initial map has already been approved by the state House and has moved over to the Senate for consideration. Janel Davis

WellStar’s Charles Wood honored

The founding member of WellStar Health System’s board of trustees, Charles “Pete” Wood, received the Georgia Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award last week for his role in achieving several healthcare milestones over the past five decades.

Wood began his healthcare service in 1962, and was a founding member of the Cobb Hospital Authority. He also helped establish Cobb General Hospital in 1968, and helped with the merger of several facilities that became WellStar Health System. Janel Davis

Kennesaw’s Thrash to serve on youth council

The National League of Cities’ Council on Youth , Education and Families has appointed Kennesaw councilman Bill Thrash to serve a second term. The council noted Thrash for his contributions to the group in 2011 including work with families and youth issues. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Volunteers needed for tree-planting at park

Volunteers are needed to help Keep Cobb Beautiful, Rotary Club of Marietta and Marietta Tree Keepers plant about 500 seedlings at Kennesaw National Battlefield. The tree planting event will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and volunteers should park at the Cheatham Hill Road lot, near John Ward Road. They will then take a shuttle to the planting site.

Information: 770-528-1135. Shelia M. Poole

Library group holds author expo

The Friends of Cobb County Public Library System will hold its annual Local Author Expo on Saturday in Marietta.

Residents are invited to come meet the authors and talk with them about their writing experience and purchase their books. Authors are asked to donate 10 percent of their sales to benefit the library system.

To participate, and for information, call Patty Latch, 770-528-2342, or visit: www.cobbcat.org/friends.html Janel Davis

Yard sale to benefit homeless animals

Climatized Self Storage is sponsoring the annual indoor yard sale and flea market over the next three weekends to benefit homeless animals in Cobb County.

Visitors are also asked to bring dry and canned dog and cat food to contribute to a food drive for Pet Buddies Food Pantry.The sales runs Friday-Sunday, March 9-11 and 16-18 at Climatized Self Storage, 1125 Roberts Blvd. in Kennesaw

Information: www.mostlymutts.org Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Norcross tries out 9/80 work week

Norcross city employees this week begin a pilot 9/80 work schedule, where employees work eight nine-hour days, an eight-hour day, then have a 10th-day off. The compressed work schedule, piloted from March through May, will allow Norcross to keep city hall open longer (8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily) without adding staff, as well as reduce traffic.

“This approach also allows us to stagger shifts in some departments,” said City Clerk and Human Resources Manager Susan Wuerzner. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Gingrich to speak to chamber Tuesday

Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will speak to the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday at the 1818 Club, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. Gingrich will discuss his plans for leading the country if elected president. To register, gwinnettchamber.org/events. David Wickert

Fire destroys Loganville home

Gwinnett County firefighters are still trying to determine the cause of a house fire Wednesday in the 40 block of Lake Valley Drive in Loganville.

A blaze which appeared to have originated in the garage of a two-story home around 3:30 a.m. destroyed the structure.

A sleeping woman made it outside safely after being alerted by neighbors. Andria Simmons

Visitors bureau looks for tourism ambassadors

The Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau is seeking local residents to serve in its Tourism Ambassador Program.

Ambassadors are trained volunteers who interact with visitors.

They must complete a six-part course on Gwinnett tourism. Applications will be accepted until March 6 for the spring, with the first class beginning on March 8. To apply, visit http://www.gcvb.org/partners/gtap/ambassadors/. Information: Linda Murphy at 770-814-6056 or lmurphy@gcvb.org. David Wickert

Northside opens imaging center

Northside Hospital recently opened a new outpatient medical imaging center in Buford at 4700 Nelson Brogdon Blvd., Suite 100. Services at Northside/Sugar Hill Imaging include digital x-ray, digital screening mammography with computer-aided detection, bone densitometry and computed tomography. Walk-ins are welcome with a referral. Call 404-851-6577 to make an appointment. Misty Williams

Man to be sentenced today in death of boy, 13

A Lilburn man is set to be sentenced today for firing a gunshot into an apartment that accidentally killed a 13-year-old boy.Joshua Banks, 26, who was initially charged with murder, was convicted Feb. 17 of the lesser crime of involuntary manslaughter following a jury trial in Gwinnett County.

A stray bullet fired into the air by Banks in Jan. 2010 pierced the window of Tre Shambry’s bedroom and killed Shambry as he climbed the ladder to his bunk bed in Holland Park Apartments in Lawrenceville. Andria Simmons

NORTHSIDE

5 educators earn coveted credentials

Five Fulton Schools teachers have earned a nationally recognized professional credential for top educators. They earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. They completed a rigorous assessment requiring them to document their knowledge and effectiveness in the classroom. The teachers are: Danielle Arnold Calhoun and Sigrunn L. Underwood, Stonewall Tell Elementary; Christine L. Harper, Oak Knoll Elementary; Maria Consuelo Hood, Ridgeview Charter Middle; and Marquila Nicole Mack, Cliftondale Elementary. D. Aileen Dood

Commission reschedules meeting

Fulton County commissioners will not be holding a special-called meeting Friday. Some board members planned to talk strategy on the 2013 budget, but not enough would commit to the date to form a quorum. Commissioners will next meet on Wednesday for their March regular meeting, which starts at 10 a.m. in the Fulton County Government Center’s Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor St., S.W., downtown Atlanta. Johnny Edwards

Firms vie for Woodstock venue naming rights

Four proposals are on the table for naming rights for the 6,500-seat city amphitheater planned for downtown Woodstock. Parks director Preston Pooser told the City Council Monday night that Northside Hospital-Cherokee, LGE Community Credit Union, Acru(a financial services firm) and Colby Family Chiropractic have submitted bids. The four are willing to pay $200,000 to $300,000, for varying lengths of time, to have their monikers attached to the project, said Pooser. Construction is set to begin in early 2013. Pooser said the council could make a decision as soon as its next meeting, March 12. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Roswell delays vote on mobile vendors

The Roswell City Council has deferred a final vote on an ordinance regulating mobile food vendors. Council members remain divided on several elements of the ordinance, including whether to allow operators to dispense food in public rights-of-way, defining limits on “sounds” vendor vehicles can make and how close they can be stationed near restaurants.

Suggested changes will be presented to the Community Development and Transportation Committee for review before the item is brought before the council again. Patrick Fox

Canton lifts boil water advisory

Canton city officials have lifted a boil water advisory that had been in effect since a Feb. 26 water main break. Water service had been restored earlier this week to areas west of I-575 and along Ga. 140, but water officials had held off on cancelling the advisory for additional testing. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Students to show off talents at expo

Fulton County Schools will sponsor a expo showcasing the talents of students in the performing arts. The Fulton Arts & Music Expo will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 24 at Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs. Information: www.fultonschools.org D. Aileen Dodd

ATLANTA

Cox Foundation donates $50,000

To mark National Black History Month, the James M. Cox, Jr. Foundation announced a $50,000 gift to the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to support the group’s Family Empowerment Program.

The Cox Foundation previously contributed $1 million to help secure the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection (King Papers) and pledged $500,000 to the National Center for Civil & Human Rights.

“Atlanta is a city rich in history, and we believe the Urban League of Greater Atlanta contributes to the city’s ongoing legacy of embracing diversity,” said Jim Kennedy, chairman of Cox Enterprises, which owns The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jeremiah McWilliams

Robert McBurney appoint judge

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed federal prosecutor Robert McBurney to replace Fulton County Superior Court Judge Marvin Arrington, who retired in February.

McBurney, 43, began his career as a prosecutor in Fulton County where he was a lead prosecutor in the case against Jamil Abdullah-Al-Amin, who was convicted in 2002 of murdering Sheriff Deputy Ricky Kinchen.

The California native, a graduate from both Harvard University and Harvard law school, then moved to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Atlanta after that case. He has handled cases ranging from a corrupt defense contractor to would-be terrorists. Steve Visser

MTV’s ‘Jungle Boogie’ at arts day event

Looking to get your kids off the couch and exercising this weekend?

The Dance 411 Foundation is hosting a Community Arts Day Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. in Atlanta that will feature free entertainment and workshops for kids. The event will be held at 475 Moreland Avenue N.E.

The dance team “Jungle Boogie” of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew is among those scheduled to perform. Kids can participate in music and dance workshops.

For Information: www.Dance411Foundation.org. D. Aileen Dodd

DEKALB

CEO, 2 commissioners face opposition

DeKalb County’s chief executive and two county commissioners already face opposition in the summer primary and fall election, according to documents filed with the state election office.

Among those filed through Feb. 17:

Jerome Edmondson, president of Entrepreneur Development Network Global and Edmondson Associates Business Advisors, and Gregory Adams, a former DeKalb police officer and an ordained minister, have filed declarations to challenge CEO Burrell Ellis.

Thomas Bowen, the former chairman of the DeKalb Board of Education, and Steve Bradshaw, a regional sales manager for Barlo World, have filed paperwork to run against County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton.

Edmond Richardson, chief of staff for County Commissioner Lee May, has filed a declaration to run against Commissioner Kathie Gannon. April Hunt

Schools honor Miller Grove media specialist

A teacher-librarian at Miller Grove Middle School will represent DeKalb County in a state competition for best media specialist. Lummie Harris was named 2012 DeKalb Library Media Specialist of the Year by the DeKalb School District because she made her library an “extension of the classroom.”

Harris will compete for the metro Atlanta title in the spring. The winner then will compete for state honors in the fall. The competition is sponsored by the Georgia Association for Instructional Technology and the Georgia Library Media Association. Ty Tagami

Authority to issue bonds for biomass plant

The DeKalb Development Authority has agreed to issue $53 million in bonds for a proposed biomass plant near Lithonia that has drawn fierce opposition from residents. Green Energy Partners wants to burn wood on a 21-acre site on Rogers Lake Road near Lithonia, converting the wood into energy it will sell to Georgia Power.

A group of residents has sued the county for approving the $60 million plant in July, claiming the OK was invalid because DeKalb had contracted the year before to sell 40,000 tons of its wood chips yearly to the firm, for $200,000 a year. The lawsuit remains in DeKalb Superior Court. April Hunt

Watson to hold legislative breakfast

Stan Watson, an at-large county commissioner in DeKalb, will host his monthly legislative breakfast this weekend with a focus on the county’s judicial system. The free event will feature judges from the county’s Juvenile, Magistrate, Probate, State and Superior courts. The breakfast is from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Chapel Hill Middle School on Dogwood Farms Road in South DeKalb. Registration is not required. April Hunt

Avondale Estates featured in magazine

Avondale Estates has been chosen one of the “Best Old House Neighborhoods 2012” in “This Old House” magazine’s online site. The article profiles 61 neighborhoods coast-to-coast featuring one-of-a-kind period houses. Besides its Tudor-style homes, the magazine cited Avondale Estates for being family friendly, its short commute to Atlanta, its lake, parks and walkability. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Droopy drawers will cost you in Forest Park

Wearing baggy pants in Forest Park will cost you -- a lot. Forest Park City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance recently making it illegal to appear in public wearing pants or skirts more than three inches below the top of your hips, thus exposing your skin or underwear. The first offense is $25 and not more than $200 for each subsequent fine. Forest Park is the lastest metro Atlanta community to clamp down on droopy britches. Jonesboro recently passed a similar ordinance. Tammy Joyner

Friday last day to get absentee ballots

Friday is the last day Fulton County voters can request absentee ballots for Super Tuesday. Ballot applications can be obtained by calling 404-612-7060 or downloaded at www.fultoncountyga.gov. Completed ballots must be returned to Registration and Elections by 7 p.m. on primary day, which is Tuesday.

Other than Atlanta’s referendum on a sales tax extension to fund water and sewer projects, all Fulton ballots will be solely for choosing a Republican presidential contender or voting for President Barack Obama. Johnny Edwards

Water authority chooses 2012 leadership

The Peachtree City Water & Sewerage Authority will have the same leadership for 2012 as last year, plus a new alternate member.

Mike Harman accepted the nomination for another term as chairman, with Tim Meredith returning as vice chairman, Vanessa Birrell as treasurer and Kathleen Bosell as recording secretary.

Phil Mahler and Luis Valencia are back as voting members; Amy Anderson was named an alternate board member in case of a vacancy. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Young artists can display their work

Young Fayette County artists in elementary through high school are encouraged to register for the 27th Annual Art and Music Showcase in Peachtree City. More than $4,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.

The application deadline is March 7. Art judging will be held March 8 and music auditions on March 10. Finalists will compete on March 19 at The Bridge Community Center.

Applications are available at the Peachtree City Library and each public school office. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Haulin’ from Pollen 5K to be on March 17

The second annual Haulin’ from Pollen 5K race begins at 8 a.m. in McBrayer Park at 10 Central Ave., in Hampton on March 17. Tickets are $20. Register online at www.active.com. Information: 770-946-4306. Kenneth Musisi

Poetry workshop at Peachtree City library

Friends of the Peachtree City Library will sponsor a poetry workshop at 10 a.m. April 28.

Speakers will include authors Chris Jansen and Norman Minnick. Attendance is limited to adults, and to home school and high school students in grades 11 and 12. Advance registration is required. A $10 fee will include a box lunch. Information: ptc.library.friends@gmail.com. Laurie Hoffman