COBB
Man missing since Sunday found safe
A Marietta man who has been missing since Sunday morning has been found safe, Marietta police say.
Jordan Gunning disappeared on Sunday at 10 a.m. His family told police they were worried about his well-being.
He was found Wednesday, though police did not immediately make public how he was found or his condition.
Cailin O’Brien
Battlefield preservation meeting
There will be a public meeting to discuss preserving the Chattahoochee River Line Battlefield at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16. The meeting will discuss reasons for preserving the historic battlefield, potential tax advantages and tourism and recreation possibilities.
The meeting will be held in the Barnett Gathering Room, Middle School Building, Whitefield Academy, 1 Whitefield Drive, Mableton.
More information, contact Robin Meyer: 770-948-5394 or infor@mableton.org.
Hannah Morgan
East Cobb Park birthday celebration
East Cobb Park will celebrate its 10th anniversary 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 13. Food, games, guest speakers and music will fill the park, at 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta.
For more information, visit eastcobbpark.org.
Hannah Morgan
Kennesaw approves funds for museum
Kennesaw’s City Council has approved an agreement that will allow the city’s Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History to receive $500,000 in federal funds for a 15,000-square-foot expansion. Construction on the $1.1 million project is expected to start before the end of the year.
The city will give $125,000 toward the project and the museum has raised the rest. The expansion will provide more room for collections and railroad researchers and historians to study. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Cobb electricity bills to be slightly lower
The Cobb Electric Membership Corp., which serves 489 residential homes and 14 commercial accounts, announced a $1 million reduction in its wholesale power adjustment Monday. The adjustment will help to lower monthly power bills for EMC customers, said Board Chairman Ed Crowell. On average, the Cobb EMC residential member will save $1.14 each month on electric service, or $13.68 each year. For more information, visit www.cobbemc.com. Hannah Morgan
Kids can sign up for musical theater camp
Curtain Call Youth Players will hold a musical theater summer camp at The Art Place – Mountain View, 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.
The weeklong camp for rising third- through fifth-graders will be -July 15-19. The camp for rising sixth- through eighth-graders will be July 22-26.
Both camps end with a performance for family and friends. Tuition is $215. Information: 404-692-CCYP or ccyp.org. Jaime Sarrio
GWINNETT
Court upholds Suwanee man’s murder conviction
The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday upheld the murder conviction of David Robert Norton, of Suwanee man who shot and killed his live-in girlfriend, 43-year-old Amy Lee Ayers on Oct. 30, 2007. Prosecutors said he tried to cover up his crime by setting her Lawrenceville home on fire. Norton they couple argued and she pouinted a sawed-off shotgun at him and after they wrestled the gun fell to the floor and discharged, with the blast striking her in the back of the head. The opinion noted that duct tape was found on the floor near Ayers and smoke detectors had been removed from the walls. Bill Rankin
County wins HUD Neighborhood grant
Gwinnett County Commissioners on Tuesday renewed its federally-funded Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which provides money to buy, rehabilitate and sell foreclosed single-family homes in distressed neighborhoods. The program, now in its fifth year, has spent $23.8 million in rehabilitating of more than 100 homes and 92 townhomes — or about $124,000 per residence. This year’s renewal is $500,000, which is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program is expected to be closed out next year. Dan Klepal
Grayson to review millage rate in city
The Grayson City Council will conduct public hearings to review the city’s millage rate 6 p.m. Monday at Grayson City Hall, 475 Grayson Parkway.
Information: 770-963-8017 or www.cityofgrayson.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gwinnett accepts smoke detectors
Gwinnett County Commissioners accepted a $62,520 grant Tuesday to buy 4,000 smoke detectors for elderly and needy. The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Georgia Department of Homeland Security. The grant requires a $15,630 matching grant from county funds.
The smoke detectors will be distributed to residents in 10 communities in high call-volume areas, based on incident reports and a needs assessment.Gwinnett firefighters respond to an average of 640 residential fires annually and had 12 related deaths in the last two years. Dan Klepal
Musical brown bag concert set
Pack a picnic lunch and listen to live music at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Groove to the music of Havana Son and enjoy face painting, music and crafts. Park your blanket at 185 West Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. Questions: 770-822-5450.
Hannah Morgan
Suwanee earns strong bond rating
Citing the city’s solid history of conservative budgeting, consistently strong reserve levels and prudent financial management, Fitch Ratings recently affirmed Suwanee’s AA-plus general obligation bond rating and gave the city a stable rating outlook. Suwanee has $19.6 million in general obligation and revenue bonds used to acquire green space, to develop parks and to open City Hall at Town Center in 2009. Information: 770-945-8996. Michael Alpert for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Cherokee official to head state psychology group
Cherokee County School District Lead Psychologist Cathy McKenzie has been elected President-elect of the Georgia Association of School Psychologists.
That comes after her serving on the board in various capacities. McKenzie has been with the CCSD since 2007. She holds a psychology and an education specialist degree from UGA.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Advocacy group to host adults with disabilities
All About Developmental Disabilities will host a kickoff party for a new Bocce Ball league for young adults in Milton and Woodstock 6 to 8 p.m. July 11 at the Bethwell Community Center, 2695 Hopewell Road, Milton. The free program connects people with developmental disabilities to those without, in the 20 to 30 age range. To register: Elayne Powell at elayne@aadd.org or 404-881-0920.Veronica Fields Johnson
Cherokee Charter names principal
Dr. Scott O’Prey has been named principal of Cherokee Charter Academy, replacing founding principal Vanessa Suarez. O’Prey, who has 28 years of experience at schools in Texas and Georgia, will head the Canton school that began with 825 students in kindergarten through seventh grade in 2011, then added eighth grade in 2012 and will expand to ninth grade this coming school year. Information: 678-385-7323.
Michael Alpert for the AJC
Schools announce open house schedule
The Cherokee County School District has determined its open house and walk-through schedule for district schools for the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.
The schedule is posted on the district's home page at www.Cherokee.k12.ga.us. Class schedules and teacher assignments will be available at each school's event. School begins Aug. 5, and individual schools' front offices will be open daily starting July 23. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Northside hospitals make honor roll
Northside Hospital’s campuses in Forsyth, Cherokee and Atlanta have been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s Partnership for Health and Accountability Core Measures Honor Roll. The facilities are among the state’s 17 in the Chairman’s category, the honor roll’s highest. The honor roll is created from clinical data from the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services. Michael Alpert for the AJC
GDOT wants input on Ga. 20 project via Web
The Georgia Department of Transportation is taking to the Web to get input on proposed improvements to Ga. 20 from I-575 in Canton to Ga. 400 in Cumming.
A survey's been posted to http://sr20.metroquest.com asking about the need to upgrade the over-capacity road and alternatives for improvements and their impact. The survey will be active until July 15. A series of public meetings was held on the project in May.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
School system hires recruitment director
Atlanta Public Schools has hired away a Cobb County assistant superintendent to work in a newly created human resources position focused on recruiting and retaining talent.
Rick Beaulieu will be APS’ executive director of the centers of expertise. Beaulieu will help the school system appeal to prospective employees as it recovers from recent controversies, Alford said, including a cheating scandal that resulted in criminal charges against 35 former educators. Mark Niesse
Atlanta recognized as ‘playful’ by nonprofit
Atlanta, for the seventh year, has been recognized for its dedication to creating playgrounds by a national non-profit. The city is among 217 communities in the U.S. to be designated as a “Playful City” by KaBOOM!, an organization geared toward building new play spaces for children. Katie Leslie
Student chosen for international program
Justin Cucchi, a rising sophomore at Grady High School is one of 15 U.S. students picked to study marine science at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary this summer.
The 30-student program brings together scholars from Middle Eastern and North American high schools to learn about the ocean and stewardship of the planet. Mark Niesse
Georgia’s Jewish beginnings celebrated
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. July 10 at the Breman Museum, The Selig Center, 1440 Spring St. NW. “Georgia’s Jewish Beginnings 280 Years Ago” will celebrate the unexpected arrival of the William and Sarah ship from London on July 11, 1733, carrying Georgia’s first 41 Jewish colonists. Following this presentation, a “Beginning Genealogy” class will take place during this event that is co-sponsored by the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia.
Admission is $15 or free to Breman Museum members. Information: thebreman.org or 678-222-3700. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
DEKALB
Three new names on ethics board
The DeKalb County Commission recently appointed three additional county residents to the county ethics board.
Named were Bryan Flint, a broker and vice president of Arrowhead Real Estate Partners; attorney John A. Ernst Jr.; and retired corrections office Edwinett Fay Perkins Murphy.
The three will serve four-year terms in interpreting the county’s code of ethics and applying sanctions and issuing opinions if necessary.
April Hunt
New police precinct honors fallen sheriff
DeKalb County has opened a new precinct office, named the Derwin Brown Memorial South Precinct in honor of the county’s fallen sheriff.
The county spent two years and $3.5 million to renovate a former Toys R Us store into the facility, 2842 Shepherd Drive, near Decatur.
The county got the property in a land swap with a developer who is taking over the former precinct on Candler Road, which is expected to become part of a mixed-use project.
April Hunt
Property appraisals focus of meeting
DeKalb County commissioners Kathie Gannon and Stan Watson – who together represent all of the county – will host a meeting Monday to discuss property tax appraisals.
The session is designed to help homeowners understand how the county assessed their values and how those values will appear on their tax bills.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Covington library, 3500 Covington Highway, near Avondale Estates.
April Hunt
DeKalb jail graduates 53 inmates
DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown recently awarded 53 county inmates their General Education Development diplomas.
Federal grants covered all but the GED testing, which Brown’s office funded. Inmates enrolled both voluntarily and as part of a court order.
In the past, inmates have gone to enroll at Georgia Piedmont Technical College with their certificate.
April Hunt
County to vote on budget, tax rate
The DeKalb County Commission will vote on the midyear budget in later this month. The board also said it will hold the 2013 millage rate steady at 21.21 mills for the unincorporated area.
A public hearing on the budget and millage rate will be 10 a.m. July 16 with a vote expected later that evening.
Tax bills would then go out in August.
April Hunt
South River focus of upcoming canoe outing
The South River Watershed Alliance is again organizing a canoe/kayak outing of to encourage more awareness and conservation of the river.
The next outing begins at 9 a.m. on July 13 and will cover about 5.5 miles of the river. Cost is $30 and includes canoe rental, lunch and insurance.
Information/registration: southriverga.org. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Conviction upheld in card game dispute killing
The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction against Jehrod Romer of College Park, who shot and killed 16-year-old Quantavia Hill after a dispute erupted during a card game.The ruling said that on Feb. 13, 2006, Romer attended a funeral and at a later gathering began playing cards with other men. At one point, Romer accused another player of cheating and pulled out a gun. The other players fled as did the girl who had been watching the game. Romer chased Hill down the street and fatally shot her in the back, the ruling said. Bill Rankin
Fayette cited for water quality violation
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division recently issued a Notice of Violation to the Fayette County Water System regarding recent water quality problems. The EPD found high levels of trihalomethanes, byproducts formed when chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water. The county said the violation “does not pose a risk to the quality of water supplied to the citizens of Fayette County” and that new treatment options are being studied.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Fayette adds code enforcement officers
As part of a reorganization of its Marshal's Department, Fayette County has assigned two full-time officers to code enforcement, which previously had only part-time resources. Officers Kathy Hobbs and Hank Derbyshire will proactively and reactively monitor county ordinances related to health, safety and general welfare. Code violations should be reported to 770-305-5417 or codeviolations@fayettecountyga.gov.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Board of Health seeking partners for youth program
The Clayton County Board of Health is seeking partners to serve as implementation sites for the Teen Outreach Program, which promotes positive youth development and healthy life choices. Interested organizations will be evaluated through an application process and selected partners will begin implementation of the program in September. Applications deadline is Wednesday, July 17. Information: Teriwanda Hayes at 678-479-2220 or teriwandahayes@dhr.state.ga.us or claytoncountypublichealth.org/ccst.
Veronica Fields Johnson
Dance company to host entertainment series
Ballethnic Dance Company will host a Cultural Cul de Sac 6 to 8 p.m. today at the studio, 2587 Cheney St., East Point. The free event is part of its entertainment series and will feature performances as well as arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities and food.
Information: 404-762-1416 or www.Ballethnic.org. Veronica Fields Johnson
Henry meeting July 11 to discuss SPLOST list
The Henry County Board of Commissioners has set a meeting 6:30 p.m. July 11 to discuss the project list recently submitted by the SPLOST committee.
A referendum to extend the current SPLOST, which expired next year, may be on the November ballot. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org
Monroe Roark for the AJC
