County by county news for Thursday

The city’s proposed $6.35 million budget includes a 5 percent pay raise for its 100 employees, lower health insurance for them and no employee layoffs or service cutbacks, Mayor Joe Jerkins said. The budget is available for public review 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays, Finance Department, Austell City Hall, 2716 Broad St. SW. A final hearing and vote is 6 p.m. June 24. Information: Finance Department, 770-944-4315. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Volunteer for city committee

The Marietta city council is accepting applications for a non-resident member for the Board of Lights and Water. Applications are located in Marietta’s City Clerk’s Office, on the fourth floor of City Hall, 205 Lawrence St., Marietta, Ga. 30060, and online at mariettaga.gov. Completed applications can be mailed to the above address or faxed to 770-794-5523 and will be accepted until noon June 21.

Information: City Clerk Stephanie Guy at 770-794-5526.

Hannah Morgan

HOPE offers free education for women

Applications are being accepted for the next HOPE program, offering free education for women by Christian Aid Mission Partnership (CAMP), 6289 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Building 12A, Austell.

Based on Biblical principles, this free 12-week course offers computer skills, job readiness, effective communication, financial literacy, workplace dynamics, conflict resolution, forgiveness and time, stress and anger management.

Information: svcamp.org/hope_program.htm, HOPE instructor Kay Wimpey, 770-819-0662, ext. 25 or kay@campaustell.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Volunteers needed to spruce up park trails

The trail club at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is looking for volunteers to help with maintenance on some of the park's 20 miles of trails from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Volunteeers should gather at the new parking lot on Old Highway 41 near the Visitor Center. Tools, water and trail bars will be provided. Information: www.kennesawmountaintrailclub.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Mable House hosts ‘rhythm and romance’

Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre will host a "rhythm and romance" show 6 p.m. Saturday at 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. The concert will feature live performances by Phil Perry, Jeff Lorber, Marion Meadows and Joey Sommerville. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the Mable House Amphitheatre box office. Information, visit mablehouse.org.

Jaime Sarrio

Lacrosse camp set at Centennial High

The 2013 Centennial Girls Lacrosse Junior Knights Summer Camp will be from 9 a.m. to noon June 17-20 at Centennial High School for rising fourth- through ninth-graders. Cost: $125.

Information: amacouch@gmail.com.

Forms: www.centennialknightsathletics.com/index.cfm?action=main.teamcamps&id=24704 Nancy Badertscher

GWINNETT

Pleasant Hill Road at I-85 to close for upgrades

The Pleasant Hill overpass at Interstate 85 will close 9 p.m. June 7 to 5 a.m. June 10 for conversion to a diverging diamond interchange, a modern interchange that switches traffic to the left, allowing smooth left turns onto the interstate. Right-hand-turn access to and from I-85 won't be impacted, but motorists should take the planned detour of Pleasant Hill Road to Satellite Boulevard to Steve Reynolds Boulevard to Shackleford Road to Pleasant Hill Road, and the reverse. The project is expected to be substantially complete by September, with landscaping in the fall. Information: www.gwinnettDDI.com. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Citizen’s Police Academy offered

Applications are now being accepted for the next Gwinnett County Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy, Aug. 27 through Oct. 24.

The academy develops responsible, well-informed citizens who can influence public opinion about police practices and services.

Applications due by June 25, are available at www.gwinnettcpa.com. Andria Simmons

Leadership institute accepting applications

The Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute trains and empowers local citizens and community leaders to promote change in their neighborhoods and communities.

Organization leaders address growth and development issues, helping youth succeed, preventing violence and crime, environmental concerns and much more.

To apply: www.gnli.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Mobile career at Lawrenceville

The Atlanta Regional Workforce Mobile Career Lab returns 1:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday to the Lawrenceville branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library.

Services include access to computers, photocopying and printing, resume and interview skills assistance, job search and career guidance and training opportunities. www.gwinnettpl.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth hosting photo contest

Submit your best photos to Duluth’s new Capture the Spirit of Good Living Photo Contest by 5 p.m. June 7.

Photos can include anything in Duluth from shops, events, parks, people, or historical sites. T

he winner’s photo will be featured on the cover of Duluth Life. Top photos will be hung in City Hall and potentially used in other promotional items.

Submission details: www.duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn Farmers Market to open Friday

The Lilburn Farmers Market will open for the 2013 season from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. The market is located in the Green-way Trail parking lot across from City Hall.

Applications are currently being accepted for vendors and not-for-profit organizations interested in participating in the market.

Information: www.lilburnfarmersmarket.org or 678-667-2592. Sandra Marshall Murray

NORTHSIDE

Milton hosts park community meetings

There will be public input meetings today and June 27 to discuss proposals for Milton's Bell Memorial Park expansion project. Both will be at 7 p.m. in Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107. The city of Milton paid $1.287 million for 14 acres of land last September that more than doubled the size of Bell Memorial Park after a unanimous City Council vote. The council approved Foresite Group's bid for the park's master plan design and construction services in March. Information: Jim Cregge at 678-242-2489 or jim.cregge@cityofmiltonga.us. Hannah Morgan

Canton parking analysis begins soon

Analysis of downtown Canton's parking needs begin June 17. Rich and Associates will study whether a parking shortage exists, as some merchants contend, and will make recommendations about future needs through on-site visits and interviews, plus a planned online survey. Information: www.canton-georgia.com. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Woodstock warning of traffic delays

Woodstock officials are warning of substantial traffic delays along Ridgewalk Parkway between June 10-21(weather permitting) as crews do final paving, milling and temporary striping for the widening project between I-575 and Ridge Trail. The city urges seeking alternate routes. Officials say the entire project is set for a mid-July completion, just before the scheduled opening of a nearby outlet mall. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fundraiser to benefit kids’ baseball team trip

Mambo Jambo Café, 5310 Windward Parkway, Milton hosts a fundraiser 5 to 8:30 p.m. June 19 to help the Hopewell 12U All-Stars baseball team raise money for a trip to Cooperstown, N.Y. Auction items include tickets to Chipper Jones’ jersey retirement party, a Panama City Beach vacation condo, golf and tennis packages, restaurant certificates, baseball lessons and more. Information: Zaida or George Quesada at 770-667-0097. Andria Simmons

Willard given legislative award

The Georgia Commission on Family Violence has named state Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs) chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, as a recipient of the Legislative Champion Award.

GCFV Executive Director Greg Loughlin presented Willard with the award at the Sandy Springs City Council Meeting on Monday.

Willard was chosen for the award because of his efforts to pass protections for at-risk adults and juvenile justice reform. Andria Simmons

Cherokee deputies honored for service

Seven deputies were recognized at Tuesday’s Cherokee County Commission meeting at the Bluffs for going above and beyond their everyday service to the community. Deputy Bruce Holcombe received a Life Saving Award. Sergeants Todd Shinall and Casey McLeod, Corporal Lee Stewart and Deputies Justin Carder, Sean Obrien, and Mark Patterson all received Commendation Awards. Sheriff Roger Garrison presented the deputies the awards in front the Cherokee County Commissioners and the public attending the meeting. Staff

ATLANTA

Man allegedly shoots girlfriend, arrested

The boyfriend of a woman shot in the head in southeast Atlanta was arrested Tuesday night, police said.

Jason Thompson, 34, is charged with shooting his girlfriend in a home in the 400 block of Bryan Street earlier in the day, Atlanta police spokesman John Chafee said.

The woman was semi-alert, conscious and breathing when she was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, Chafee said.

Thompson is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. Bryan Cronan

Survey finds Atlanta parks improving

In a national survey of public parks, Atlanta lags behind other major cities, but was one of four to improve its ranking in the past year.

The Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit land conservation group, announced Wednesday the city's park system ranked 31st among the 50 largest cities across the nation. Last year, Atlanta ranked 26th, with 40 cities surveyed. Information: parkscore.tpl.org. Katie Leslie

Father/son roundup event Saturday

The Community Council of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. will host a Father-2-Son Round-Up 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Morris Brown College - Cunningham Auditorium, 715 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.W. This free event will provide male bonding, open dialogue, complimentary lunch and door prizes. Information: www.communitycouncilma.org or 404-935-5859. Sandra Marshall Murray

Summer enrichment program underway

The S.E.E.D Academy and the West Hunter Street Baptist will host a summer camp 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. thru July 19 for ages 5-14 at the church, 1040 Ralph David Abernathy. Cost: $25/week. Additional cost for before/after care. The camp includes roller-skating, swimming, track, aerobics, science, technology, engineering, art, math and more. Information: www.theseedacademy.org, 678-824-5441 or theseedacademy@gmail.com. Sandra Marshall Murray

DEKALB

2 shot at apartment complex

Two people were shot aroung 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex, the Oaks at Stonecrest, located on Evans Mill Road, DeKalb County police said.

The victims, two men whose names were not released, were found near a car in the parking lot.

Both were transported to the hospital. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and saw a red sedan leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Alexis Stevens

Dermatologist offers free screenings

Atlanta Dermatology and Laser Surgery will host a free skin cancer screening event 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 14 at their office, 2171 Northlake Parkway, Bldg. 3, Suite 1000, Tucker.

Metro-area residents will receive a complimentary skin scan and learn about skin cancer prevention.

Reservations: www.atlantadermatologyexperts.com or 404-296-8000. Sandra Marshall Murray

Craft Beer seeks Avondale space

Wild Heaven Craft Beers, currently brewed in South Carolina, has applied to open a small batch craft beer brewery in an 8,000-square-foot warehouse at 135 Maple Street in Avondale Estates.

At their next meeting, June 24, Avondale’s Board of Mayor and Commissioners will discuss the application, filed by Nick Purdy, who also publishes Paste magazine.

Two other breweries, Three Taverns and Blue Tarp, along with Independent Distilling Company, LLC, also plan on opening in nearby East Decatur Station later this year. Bill Banks for the AJC

Private group taking over animal control

LifeLine Animal Project is looking to hire workers to help when it takes over operations at DeKalb County’s animal shelter on July 1.

The county will pay the no-kill shelter about $2 million a year to handle all animal services except pickup and cruelty investigations.

The group will need workers for shelter and office jobs.

For a list of positions or to apply: www.lifelineanimal.org/dcas. April Hunt

Solicitor wins award for charity work

DeKalb County Solicitor Sherry Boston recently was honored for her work to collect food for the hungry.

Boston helped collect the equivalent of 55,824 pounds of food during a recent food drive, the most out of any legal organization in Georgia.

The total is just shy of the 58,000 pounds of food that the Atlanta Community Food Bank distributes in the region every week. April Hunt

Service board seeks volunteers

A non-profit group that supports behavioral health and developmental disability services in DeKalb County is seeking new board members.

The DeKalb Community Service Board requires only that would-be members be a county resident, not employed by a provider and have an interest in the services.

Information: 404-508-7875 or www.btfdekalb.org.

April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Fulton School Board appoints pension board

The Fulton County School Board on Tuesday appointed eight members to its newly formed pension board: Superintendent Robert Avossa; Chief Financial Officer Robert Morales; Executive Director of Fiscal Services, David Helton; retired Fulton administrator Steve Curry; former Fulton teacher Ferman Estrada; Fulton teacher Gregory Haitz; Fulton teacher Robert Ham, and former Fulton teacher Natalie Lambright. Jeffry Scott

Clayton slated to approve budget

Clayton County Board of Commissioners is set to vote on the 2014 budget on June 11. The proposed budget is $172.8 million, a decrease of $19.6 million, 10 percent, from the 2013 amended budget. The decrease is due to bond refunding and a 7.5 percent drop in residential home values.

The tax digest is down 3 percent. The county held a public hearing on the budget Tuesday.Tammy Joyner

Meeting on South Fulton Library plans

Friends of the South Fulton Library will host a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at the library, 4055 Flat Shoals Road, Union City.

Learn about plans to renovate and expand the library. Information: 404-585-1523. David Wickert

University scholar to discuss biblical history

Dr. James Tabor of the University of North Carolina in Charlotte will give two lectures Saturday at the Peachtree City Library. At 2 p.m. he will present "The Texts and the Stones" about archeological discoveries about Jesus' life, and at 7 p.m. he will discuss his new book about the relationship between the Apostle Paul and Jesus. Free. Registration required: ptcfol.eventbrite.com. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Stockbridge moving forward with trail

The Stockbridge City Council approved the purchase of 2.87 acres of property at its Monday night meeting to move forward with Phase II of The Reeves Creek Trail project. Mayor Mark Alarcon said that a trail connection and trailhead adjacent to Flippen Road will be constructed with a 20-space parking lot. A nine-foot wide concrete trail would begin there and continue approximately 700 feet east, where it will connect to the existing Reeves Creek Trail. The completed trail will be 1.5 miles in length. A federal funding award of $416,000 has been provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which will be matched by $104,000 from the City. Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2013 and be complete in early 2014.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Fayette County finalizing 2014 budget

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners is finalizing a fiscal 2014 balanced budget that reflects job cuts and no tax increases. The measure will eliminate the equivalent of 32 full-time positions, reduce retirement benefits and include smaller operations budgets. It will also provide an $830,000 reserve fund. A final vote is scheduled for June 27. Jill Howard Church for the AJC