County by county news for Thursday

Oversight committee resumes work

Five of the 10 members of a citizens oversight committee in Cobb County met Wednesday to continue their work of reviewing the county’s policies and spending. Last week the panel presented a preliminary report that included consolidating departments, closing the county’s golf course and changing employee benefits. Some members were dismayed that Commission Chairman Tim Lee told community groups that the committee provided no appreciable savings for the county. Next week the panel meets to outline a plan for providing commissioners with a detailed list of savings estimates and implementation dates for the recommendations.

A final list should be complete by next month. Read the report: http://www.cobbcounty.org/ Janel Davis

New courthouse certified green

Cobb’s new Superior Courthouse has been LEED gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and sets the criteria to define “green” buildings. The courthouse is the largest LEED gold court building in the Southeast. More than 20 percent of the project’s materials contained recycled content and 90 percent of construction debris was diverted from Cobb landfills. There is an almost 27 percent energy cost savings, and water use reduction methods yielded water savings of more than 47 percent. Andria Simmons

North Cobb Christian offers SAT pre camp

North Cobb Christian School is offering an SAT prep camp July 18-22 for rising ninth through 12th graders. The cost is $235, and the course is designed to teach students non-traditional testing techniques. Information:www.ncchristiancamps.org Jaime Sarrio

Free concert in Smyrna on Saturday

The city of Smyrna continues a series of free summer concerts 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday on the downtown Village Green, 200 Village Green Circle. The featured band is Sol Junky. Information: www.smyrnacity.com or 770-434-6600. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Sheriff to hold fundraiser on Monday

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Annual Corn Boilin’, hosted by Sheriff Neil Warren, will be held Monday.

The event will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Jim Miller Park at 2245 Callaway Road SW in Marietta. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cobb County Youth Museum. Tickets are $15. Info: 770-499-4611. Andria Simmons

GWINNETT

Sugar Hill resident to vote on Sunday alcohol sales

The Sugar Hill City Council approved a resolution Tuesday that will let its residents decide if they want the retail sale of alcohol on Sundays. The vote means Sugar Hill joins a growing list of cities in the metro region to agree to a November referendum that will determine whether stores can sell alcohol on Sundays. Auburn, Dacula and Suwanee, among others, also have approved similar measures.

The state Legislature approved such referendums on the local level after a five-year fight on Sunday sales. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill in late April. Joel Anderson

Possible lightning strike at police department

Gwinnett firefighters responded to possible damage from a lightning strike at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday at the Gwinnett County Police Department’s North Precinct at 2735 Mall of Georgia Boulevard in Buford.

Firefighters called to a business fire found smoke inside and a sprinkler head activated, but only minor damage. The incident was among a host of calls the firefighters received for wires and trees down, vehicle accidents and lightning strikes as a line of powerful thunderstorms moved through between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Only one minor injury was reported. Andria Simmons

Seniors services needs transportation

Gwinnett Senior Services is looking for taxi services, bus companies, van pools and other transportation providers to participate in its new “Get In Gear” voucher program.

The program will help seniors and disabled residents get to medical appointments and other “essential destinations” at a reduced cost.

There will be an informational session on July 14 at the Gwinnett Senior Services Center at 567 Swanson Drive in Lawrenceville. The session will last from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Information: 678-377-3019, getingear@gwinnettcounty.com or www.gwinnettseniorservices.com. Joel Anderson

‘Flicks on the Bricks’ in Duluth Saturday

Duluth will kick off its annual “Flicks on the Bricks” outdoor movie series Saturday evening.

The animated superhero comedy “Megamind” will be shown on a 45-foot outdoor screen on the Town Green at 3142 Hill Street. The film features the voices of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, David Cross and Jonah Hill.

Pre-event activities will start at 7 p.m. and the movie will be shown at dusk. Admission is free. People are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and/or blanket.

Coolers with food and drinks are welcome but no alcoholic beverages are allowed. Joel Anderson

Thieves take off with hot air balloon

Gwinnett police are looking for a hot air balloon and trailer that were stolen overnight Monday in Lawrenceville.

Owner Rick Ferrall told Channel 2 Action News that the custom-designed balloon can’t be replaced. Wife Debi Ferrall put the loss at about $75,000, according to the Associated Press.

The blue and yellow hot air balloon has a federal aviation registration number, the police report states. Angel K. Brooks

NORTHSIDE

Trial delayed again

for quadruple murder

The murder and mayhem was more than five years ago, when four people were killed and three others were shot or stabbed on a March night in 2006 in a dilapidated Forsyth County farmhouse. Three suspects were caught the next morning: Marcin Sosniak, Jason McGhee and Frank Ortegon Jr. They face murder charges and possible death sentences. None has come to trial. On Wednesday, another delay: The trial of Marcin Sosniak, scheduled to start Monday, was moved to Oct. 10 by Forsyth County Superior Court Judge David L. Dickinson. Jeffry Scott

Johns Creek farmers market opens Saturday

Johns Creek joins other Georgia communities in a summer staple Saturday as it opens its farmers’ market near the community garden in Newtown Park. The market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays until Sept. 10.

There will be space for 32 vendors, each selling locally grown produce that is certified organic, certified naturally grown or sustainably grown. The market will be managed by Green Team Farmer’s Markets, which coordinates farmers’ markets at Home Depot, Kimberly Clark, and LexisNexis corporate offices. Patrick Fox

Roswell teacher heads for Scotland

Jennifer Hannah, 28, just received the Fulbright Classroom Teacher scholarship and will travel to Scotland to teach Primary 4- the equivalent of third grade- for part of the 2011-12 school year.

As a third grade teacher at High Meadows School, a private school in Roswell, Hannah was chosen for her academic and professional achievements.

Hannah will leave for Scotland on Aug. 9. Elise Hitchcock

Forsyth wants to restrict smoking in parks

The freedom of the great outdoors, if you’re inclined to smoke, will no longer extend to Forsyth County parks, except in designated areas, according to proposed modifications to the Forsyth County Parks & Recreation Ordinance that will be read at Thursday night commission meeting.

The ordinance will ban dipping snuff and chewing tobacco inside park buildings.

But commissioners weighed, then decided against, an outright smoking ban outdoors. Jeffry Scott

Concert by the Springs to be on Sunday

The July installation of Concerts by the Springs, hosted by Heritage Sandy Springs, will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Green, 6110 Bluestone Road, Sandy Springs. The concerts will be held one Sunday evening each month through September. This month’s featured group is Haywire. Gates open at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Michelle E. Shaw

Dunwoody officers to be cuffed for a cause

Officers from the Dunwoody Police Department will participate in “Cuffed for a Cause,” at Wal-Mart, 4725 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., in support of the Special Olympics of Georgia. Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., officers will walk or run while handcuffed to a treadmill. The public is invited to meet and take pictures with the officers. Michelle E. Shaw

ATLANTA

Back to school jamboree at Turner Field

Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Homeless will hosts its sixth annual back to school jamboree at 10 a.m. Saturday in the orange parking lot at Turner Field. The event, free to the public, will feature anti-bullying and self-empowerment workshops; dental, vision and health screenings and an array of family entertainment. Volunteers and donations of school supplies are still needed.

To make a donation, log onto www.hoseafeedthehungry.com and click on the jamboree donation icon. Donations may also be dropped off at 1035 Donnelly Ave., SW. Atlanta.

Information, call 404-755-3353, extension 319.

Gracie Bonds Staples

Peace Corps volunteer in featured program

A Georgia man is representing the Peace Corps Thursday through Saturday in a featured program at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The festival highlights the contributions and accomplishments achieved by Peace Corps volunteers, staff members, and host countries in 139 countries over the last 50 years.

Johnny McRae of Atlanta is currently serving as Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Georgia. At the Folklife Festival, he and Georgian community members are demonstrating the traditions of Georgian wine-making.

McRae is one of 203 Georgia residents currently serving in the Peace Corps.

GRACIE BONDS STAPLES

Funeral home founder to be honored

Willie A. Watkins was recently named the 2011 Robert H. Miller Professional of the Year by the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. He will be honored by the association during its annual dinner on Aug. 2 in Atlanta.

The program will include performances by singers Jennifer Holliday and Dorothy Norwood.

Watkins is the founder of the Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home, which opened in 1982. The company has four locations throughout metro Atlanta, with a fifth planned. Shelia Poole

DEKALB

Decatur puts off redistricting this year

Although the 2010 census reveals that Decatur’s north district has 1,541 more residents than its south, for a 5.75 percent deviation, the city will continue using its current district configuration through this year’s elections.

“Given the small window that we had [to get paperwork filed], we can’t get them redrawn for this year,” said City Manager Peggy Merriss. “Our current plan is to take that deviation down to 2.72 percent, and this should be in place by Jan. 1.”

The reconfiguration is necessary for compliance with the standard requiring that all election districts have roughly the same number of residents. Bill Banks for the AJC

Author to speak at entrepreneur program

Author Dennis Kimbro will share his thoughts on entrepreneurship during the Third Annual Entrepreneur Boot Camp at Emory University.

Kimbro is the co-author of “Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice”. The program will be held from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 16 at the Emory’s Goizueta Business School.

The Atlanta Urban League Young Professionals’ boot camp is sponsored by State Farm and Emory’s Goizueta Business School. It will provide information on how to build a brand, develop a business plan and finance a business.

To register go to www.ebc11.eventbrite.com. Registration is $45, excluding the fee. Shelia Poole

DSO elects four directors, officers

The DeKalb Symphony Orchestra has elected four new directors and a new slate of officers for the coming year.

The new directors are Robert Cooper, Nancy Jacobson, Kathryn Laity and Roy Wilson.

Stanton J. Shapiro will be the group’s new president. Ann Alperin will be vice president, Allyson Gevertz will be secretary, Nancy Jacobson will serve as treasurer and Anne J. Fears will be parliamentarian.

The orchestra, housed at Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkston, plays up to 15 concerts a year, including a children’s concert series, summer pops and free community concerts.

Information: www.DeKalbSymphony.com. April Hunt

Caution urged around road construction

Work continues on the construction of a continuous 4-lane roadway on Dunwoody Place between Northridge and Roberts Drive.

The project involves temporary lane re-assignments, which will be in place for the majority of the construction period. Motorists are urged to use caution and heed lane shift signage in the area. Michelle E. Shaw

County boosts homeowners groups

DeKalb County will continue its focus on neighborhoods with a session this weekend on building up homeowners associations.

The class includes topics such as tasks and activities to having a sustainable association and how to get neighbors involved.

OneDeKalb will lead the session, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Clark Harrison building on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur.

More information/to register: 404-371-3689 or onedekalb@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Man, 31, convicted of East Point killing

A 31-year-old man has been convicted of murdering Stephen Davis as the 20-year-old was trying to break up a fight outside an East Point apartment. According to testimony, Jaferell Grant went to Scott Circle in East Point on Sept. 27, 2008, to help his stepbrother settle a score with a neighbor. Grant brought friends and they were all armed. Grant exchanged words with another resident, who was not part of the initial dispute, and Davis was shot as he tried to separate them. Grant will be sentenced in Fulton County Superior Court on July 14. Rhonda Cook

Forest Park puts alcohol sales on ballot

Forest Park voters will decide this fall if alcohol should be sold by grocery stores, convenience stores and liquor stores on Sundays. The city council voted unanimously Tuesday to hold a Sunday sales referendum, making Forest Park the fourth Clayton city to put the issue on the November ballot. The others are Jonesboro, Lovejoy and Riverdale.

Senate Bill 10, which went into effect this month, legalized Sunday store sales of beer, wine and liquor if local voters approved. Johnny Edwards

Magazine: Peachtree City tops for families

In its August issue, Family Circle magazine ranks Peachtree City second in the country among its “10 Best Towns for Families.”

The magazine describes the city as “a haven of sorts where folks ride bicycles and drive golf carts along winding town pathways, and where teens don’t think it’s uncool to hang with their parents.” Rankings were based on evaluations of affordable housing, school quality, green space and volunteerism. Jill Howard Church

Clayton water authority meets today

The Clayton County Water Authority Board meets today to discuss financial and statistical reports as well as new business that includes cell tower site for Clayton’s Public Safety communication network. The 1:30 p.m. meeting will be at the water authority’s headquarters, 1600 Battlecreek Road in Morrow. Tammy Joyner

East Point applies for help for police vests

The city of East Point is seeking assistance from the Department of Justice to buy bulletproof vests for its police officers. City officials are hoping to receive a grant to provide 40 vests for its officer. The grant is offered through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership and requires the city to fund half of the $23,800 needed. John Thompson for the AJC

East Point discusses block grant funds

East Point’s leaders will decide Monday if the city wants to remain under Fulton County’s wing for community development block grant funding. During the past three years, the city has received approximately $50,000 in grant funds from Fulton County. City Manager Crandall Jones said the city could fare better if it participated in the state’s program through the Department of Community Affairs. The city could get up to $500,000 a year in grant funds, but the grants would be awarded on a competitive bid process. John Thompson for the AJC