County by county news for Thursday

The 4-2 vote set the millage rate at 18.9 again. The rate will determine how much each property owner must pay the school system.

The 2012 fiscal year budget was built on a tax increase that was not required for several reasons, according to school member David Banks: an anticipated state funding reduction did not occur, the state gave rebates for new school construction and proceeds from a sales tax earned interest. Ty Tagami

Austell to name contractor for flood-related demolition

Austell City Council members will choose a contractor Monday night to demolish 19 city-purchased houses damaged during the September 2009 flood.

Sixteen bids were submitted, according to the city’s Public Works Director Randy Bowens

Altogether, 25 percent of the houses in the city were damaged in the flood, amounting to 702 houses, said Mayor Joe Jerkins.

Of the 500 homeowner applications submitted, only 23 qualified for assistance since the houses were both in a floodplain and substantially damaged, Bowens said. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Acworth chief lands statewide post

Acworth police Chief Michael Wilkie has moved into the position of fourth vice president of Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Wilkie, chief of the Cobb County department for almost nine years, took his oath on Tuesday at the group’s meeting in Savannah.

Wilkie advocates community policing that encourages partnerships with schools, churches, community and business groups and neighborhoods. Rhonda Cook

Cobb announces school transfer choices

Cobb students who attend schools that have not made Adequate Yearly Progress on state exams for three consecutive years may be eligible to transfer to another school in good standing. Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, districts must offer transfers to other schools selected by the district. To find out which schools are eligible and how to apply, visit www.cobbk12.org. Jaime Sarrio

School board discuss SPLOST spending

The Cobb school board today will discuss whether to use excess penny sales tax dollars to replace computers and buy new textbooks. Due to low construction costs, the district has been able to complete projects for less than the budgeted amount. Officials want to spend part of the $15.4 million in savings on new computers and books. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at 514 Glover St., Marietta. Information: www.cobbk12.org Jaime Sarrio

Campbell Road to close for bridge work

Campbell Road in Smyrna will close Aug. 1 for work on a bridge, according to city officials.

Workers have been awaiting the completion of utility work there so they can get started on the project.

The road is expected to remain closed until early next year. Ty Tagami

GWINNETT

Hyundai to open Norcross headquarters in third quarter

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Inc. expects that its new headquarters and warehouse facility in Norcross will be fully operational by the third quarter of the year.

Norcross officials has touted the move of as “a decision that reflects the city’s progressive economic appeal.” The move is expected to create about 100 jobs over five years.

“The package included more than just ideal real estate,” said Rusty Warner, Norcross’ economic development manager. “… I got the impression that they liked the charm, and the sense of community that we offer.”

The facility will be located at 6100 Atlantic Boulevard. Joel Anderson

Gwinnett schools receive $50,000 grant

The Cisco Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to Gwinnett County Schools.

The grant, presented through Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund, Inc. will be used to support efforts to increase the percentage of students achieving in the exceeds category on state exams in reading and math. It also will aid programs to boost performance of students with disabilities and those still learning English as well as fund science, technology, engineering, and math initiatives. D. Aileen Dodd

Four Gwinnett students win scholarships

Four Gwinnett County Schools graduates will start college with National Merit College-sponsored scholarships.

They join a dozen other district recipients of the college-sponsored scholarships.

The students are: Laura E. Hooper of Norcross High, National Merit Baylor University Scholarship; Melinda K. Johnson of Dacula High, National Merit University of Georgia Scholarship; Calvin Q. Li of Duluth High, National Merit Emory University Scholarship; and Nikhil Ramesh of Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, National Merit Georgia Institute of Technology Scholarship. D. Aileen Dodd

Suwanee renews ‘Partnership’

Suwanee City Council voted Tuesday to renew a $20,000 contract with Partnership Gwinnett for the fifth year in a row. The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce agency joins health care, government, business and education to implement Gwinnett’s Economic and Development Plan. The plan will create over 65,000 jobs and $5.8 billion over five years. Alaya Boykin

Muslim comedy tour plays Aurora

The Aurora Theatre will host “The Muslims are Coming!” comedy tour at 8 p.m. Aug. 9. The a stand-up comedy show is aimed at dispelling myths about Islam and Muslims, the comedians say.

The show is free, but reservations are recommended.

Excerpts the shows will be featured in an upcoming documentary of the same name.

Information: 678-226-6222 or www.auroratheater.com Joel Anderson

Block party Saturday

The Lanier Athletic Association will hold a block party at 3 p.m. Saturday at the E.E. Robinson Park amphitheater, 850 Level Creek Road, Sugar Hill.

The event will feature games, vendors and music by John Berry. The cost is $5 per person. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Qualifying set for Powder Springs elections

Qualifying has been set for Aug. 30-31 and Sept. 1 for Powder Springs mayor and two at-large City Council seats up for election on Nov. 8.

Hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, 4484 Marietta St., in the second floor conference room.

The posts are held now by Mayor Patricia Vaughn, Councilwoman Rosalyn Neal and Councilman Tom Bevirt.

Qualifying fees are $540 for mayor and $360 for each City Council seat.

Candidates must have lived in Powder Springs for 12 months before their qualifying date. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marrietta Police win gun safety award

The Marietta Police Department has been selected by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police as the recipient of the 2011 Dr. Curtis McClung Award of Excellence for its Gun Safety Seminar Program.

The award was presented Tuesday at the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police annual banquet in Savannah. The seminar provides gun safety training by police firearms instructors to the public with a focus on gun safety. The program also encourages personal dialogue with police that often evolves into discussions about community concerns. Andria Simmons

Alpharetta adds to November ballot

The Alpharetta City Council approved actions Monday that will give residents a chance to vote on two quality of life issues in November. One ballot measure calls for issuance of $29 million in bonds for a new downtown development. The second issue gives residents the opportunity to vote on Sunday package liquor sales.

If approved by voters, the city plans to use the bond money to build a new City Hall, parking deck and park on 22 acres on the east side of Main Street.

Voters will also select a new mayor and four City Council seats. Patrick Fox

Students win science awards

Two Fulton County high school students won silver medals in the International Environmental Project Olympiad in Istanbul.

Julia Abelsky, of North Springs Charter High School, won for her “Sollution to Run-Off Pollution” while Raja Salvakumar, of Milton High School, won for “Implementation of a GMFC in Capsular Nanorobotics.”

Another metro Atlanta student, Vander Harris, of the Magnet School for Science and Technology in Rockdale County, won silver for “The Effects of Biological Control Agents on the Growth of Phytopathogens.” Ty Tagami

Sutdents offered business skills training

High school students who want to learn business skills can apply for a free after-school program run by Junior Achievement of Georgia. Teams of JA Fellows will start and manage their own companies under the guidance of business community mentors. Students will learn how to conduct market research, how to make a sales pitch and other management skills. Sessions will be held in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Norcross and Sandy Springs. For more information: jafellows.com. Laura Diamond

ATLANTA

Restaurants donate profits to injured cop

Four Atlanta restaurants -- The Nook, Smith’s Olde Bar, Fox Brothers BBQ and Avellino’s Pizza -- donated 20 percent of their sales and all tips Wednesday to help Atlanta Police Detective Pat Apoian, who was run over last week during a traffic stop.

Ironically, last summer Apoian started an organization called Humble Heroes, whose aim is to collect donations for ailing and seriously injured police officers and firefighters throughout metro Atlanta.

Now it’s Apoian’s turn, said Rich “Sully” Sullivan of DAVE FM, who helped organize the fundraiser.

Police are still searching for Khalif Edwards, the man accused of running over Apoian. The incident happened Thursday in northeast Atlanta. Fran Jeffries

APS ethics board appoints commissioner

Environmental consultant Daniel Blackman was appointed Monday to the Atlanta Public Schools ethics commission. Blackman was selected by District 6 school board representative Yolanda Johnson and approved by a unanimous vote for a five-year term, or until 2016. Information: www.atlantapublicschools.us Jaime Sarrio

Coca-Cola gives $1.25 million to nonprofits

Six local nonprofits received $1.25 million in grants from The Coca-Cola Foundation to help in their work. The organizations were 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Agnes Scott College, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Piedmont Park Conservancy and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. The grants were made to help groups involved in healthy living, the environment, youth development and community recyling.

The foundation has also awarded a grant to the National Academy Foundation in New York City, which will establish a pilot project to support NAF academies in Atlanta to engage the local business community and increase work-based learning experiences for students. Sheila M. Poole

DEKALB

County to host small business summit

DeKalb County will host small business owners in a summit on Aug. 18 as part of its efforts to promote business growth and economic development in the county.

Small business owners will be given courses in accessing capital, building businesses in DeKalb and how to train and stabilize their workforce.

The summit runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at DeKalb Tech’s conference center, 495 North Indian Creek Road, Clarkston.

Register online at http://dekalbsummit2011.eventbrite.com. More information: 404-687-2730. April Hunt

Volunteers needed at Stonecrest Library

Stonecrest Library, the first new library built in DeKalb County in two decades, is looking for volunteers to organize and help the new facility.

Friends of Stonecrest Library, which opened last month on Klondike Road near Lithonia, will help raise funds for special programs or purchases and also help sponsor cultural and literacy events at the library.

Membership in the group is $10 for individuals annually and $20 for families.

More information: 770-482-3828. April Hunt

Avondale Estates theater offers magic

Atlanta magician Evan Reynolds will perform at 11 a.m. on Saturdays through Sept. 23 at the Academy Theater, 119 Center St., Avondale Estates. Performances include two shows themed to the movie Star Wars, on Saturday and Aug. 27. Reynolds also will host a special magic show for children with special needs on Aug. 13.

Tickets are $5. Information: www.evan.org/magic. April Hunt

Volunteers need to clean up forest

A volunteer group that works to preserve a nature sanctuary in Clarkston will host a work day at the forest later this month.

The Friends of Friendship Forest will work killing privet and picking up trash from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 30 at the forest. Volunteers are asked to bring pruning shears, gloves, insect spray and water.

The 17-acre park is at 4380 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Clarkston. April Hunt

Meeting to discuss future of Dearborn Park

The DeKalb County parks department will host a public meeting next month to discuss plans for the future development of Dearborn Park.

The7-acre park, at 1301 Deerwood Dr. near Decatur, now houses a basketball court, a multi-use court, a playground and a picnic area.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at Columbia Presbyterian Church, 711 S. Columbia Dr. Everyone is welcome. April Hunt

School holds open house for aspiring pilots

Aspiring pilots can test their wings at an open house at a DeKalb- Peachtree Airport flight school at noon Aug. 6.

The American Flyers school will host tours of the flight line, aircraft and classrooms. Residents also can test the flight simulators.

The event is free and designed for residents looking to become pilots.

More information: 678-281-0631 or www.americanflyers.net. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

College Park explores tourism development

The College Park City Council has signed a six month memorandum of understanding to continue talks with an unnamed developer. The developer is looking bring a tourist attraction and retail component to the city. Further talks are expected in August. The city’s economic development director. Barbra Coffee, said the development would be a key step in the continued efforts to make the city a destination. John Thompson for the AJC

Youth program offers combat training

Girls can learn the art of etiquette and combat at a new youth program debuting Saturday. Clayton Rocks, a non-profit group created by Georgia Rep. Yasmin Neal, promotes healthy activities. Saturday’s “Clayton Girls Rock” is free and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mt. Zion High School, 2535 Mount Zion Parkway, Jonesboro. Activities include discussions on abstinence, etiquette and self-defense for girls between the ages of 13 and 18. Lunch is with adult female leaders and mentors, including Rep. Neal. Details: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1897145413/auto. Tammy Joyner

East Point shredding event successful

East Point officials announced this week the paper shredding event held earlier this month at one of the city’s fire stations was a huge success. This is the third year the event has occurred, said Councilman Lance Rhodes. In its first year, the event shredded more than four tons of documents. The event allows residents to safely dispose of documents for free, and the city took in six tons of recyclable paper at the event. John Thompson for the AJC

UGA artists highlighted in McDonough

The UGA Alumni Art Showcase kicks off with a public reception 6 -- 8 p.m. Aug. 5 at Winsor Gallery, 34 Macon Street in McDonough. Participating artists will be there to meet with the public and talk about their work over light refreshments. The show runs to Aug. 26. The show is sponsored by the UGA Alumni Association’s Henry County Chapter, the UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art and McDonough Arts. Information: www.mcdonougharts.net Steve Visser

Henry commissioner to hold town hall meeting

Henry County District 2 Commissioner Fred Auletta will host a town hall meeting 7 p.m. tonight at the Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority’s Community Room, 1695 Highway 20 West, McDonough. Auletta will give an update on the state of the county with a focus on SPLOST. He also will talk about what the county is doing to encourage economic development. Use the rear entrance of the building. Tammy Joyner

Police vs. fire in Clayton charity football match

Clayton County Police will take on Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services in flag football 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Tara Stadium, 1055 Battle Creek Rd., Jonesboro. Tickets are $5 and available at all Clayton police precincts. Children 12 and under are free. Proceeds will go to help support Securus House. Tammy Joyner