County by county news for Thursday

The project will include replacing a playground, a new gymnasium floor, interior and exterior painting and window and roof repairs.

The pool behind the center will be filled in. Plans for a skate park or water feature were nixed because of liability issues.

Information: www.mariettaga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Duluth sponsors outdoor Zumba

The City of Duluth with host a Glo in the Dark outdoor Zumbathon Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Duluth Amphitheater, 3142 Hill Street, Duluth. The event is free and open to the public. There will be food, t-shirts and glow in the dark items for sale. Gwinnett Infiniti will be auctioning off a weekend with a brand new 2013 Infiniti, including a night on the town package with dinner and entertainment fit for two. All proceeds will benefits the participants in the City of Dultuth Parks and Recreation department. Sandra Marshall Murray

Matthews to talk at town hall meeting

Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews will give a city update at a town hall meeting 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. City Council members and department heads will be available to answer residents’ questions. Information:. www.kennesaw-ga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Firearm education class scheduled

The Foundation of Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna will hold a Glock training class 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Glock Professional Inc., 5300 Highlands Parkway., Smyrna. Class includes responsible gun ownership and live fire range. Reservations: www.smyrnacares.org. Mea Watkins

Marietta seeks job fair recruiters

Marietta is looking for employers to sign up to recruit at an annual job fair scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta. The Marietta/Cobb Career Expo is sponsored by Marietta, Cobb County, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Department of Labor. Information: www.mariettaga.gov.

GWINNETT

Couple indicted for Medicaid fraud, tax evasion

Derrell Jackson and Shayla Darrington-Jackson were indicted last week in Gwinnett County for Medicaid fraud and in Fulton County for tax evasion. They owns an in-home mental health counseling service for youth diagnosed with severe behavioral disorders. State prosecutors said they received more than $600,000 in Medicaid funds in 2008 and 2009 by submitting false billing. The Fulton indictment states that they failed to file state tax returns or pay taxes on the income from Georgia Medicaid.

They each face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Marcus K. Garner

Mall to sponsor Red Cross blood drive

The Mall of Georgia will host a Red Cross blood drive to celebrate the Labor Day holiday weekend from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 at the mall, 3333 Buford Dr., Buford. Information: redcrossblood.org and entering sponsor code “moga” for Mall of Georgia Veronica Fields Johnson

Duluth chili cook-off to benefit needy families

The Duluth city leaders want your vote for the best tasting chili at the third annual City Council Cook-Off 6 p.m. today at the Duluth Amphitheater, 3142 Hill St. Music by country artist Alex Hill. Tasting is free. Purchased chili proceeds will benefit Hands of Christ, a Duluth cooperative ministry providing food, personal care items and other assistance to local families in need. Information: wwwduluthga.net Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Snellville qualifying end of the month

Snellville citizens will elect three new members to the City Council on Tuesday, November 5. Candidates interested in qualifying may file their notice of candiday beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, August 26 until 4:30 p.m. Friday, August 30 at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Rd. Qualifying fee for a council seat is $120. Info: contact Snellville City Clerk Melisa Arnold at 770-985-3500 or email marnold@snellville.org. www.snellville.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Adopt-A-Road seeks volunteer help

Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful and the Gwinnett Department of Transportation is urging more residents to join the Adopt-A-Road program to help reduce trash and illegal signage alongside county roads. Groups must agree to maintain the location for at least 12 months with a minimum of four cleanups.

Information: www.gwinnettcb.org/volunteer or contact Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful at 770-822-5187 or gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Chattapoochee seeks contestants, sponsors

Duluth Parks and Rec and Duluth Historical Society are extending their search for the next Chattapoochee Dog Park mayor and looking for business partners by Aug. 23 to serve as “blue ribbon sponsors” to help elect the new dog mayor.

The new dog mayor will be announced at Chattapoochee PetFest on Oct. 6.

Information: www. duluthtopdog@gmail.com or www.duluthhistorical.org/chattapoochee. Karen Huppertz

NORTHSIDE

Fulton looking for special education teachers

The Fulton County School system is looking to fill 53 teacher vacancies, Scott Muri, the district’s deputy superintendent for academics told board members Tuesday evening.

Most of those vacancies are for special education teachers.

During a work session Tuesday evening, Muri told Fulton County School Board members he wanted to make public appeal to qualified, committed special education teachers. Information: portal.fultonschools.org and click on ‘Careers.’

Wayne Washington

Learn how to guard against scams

The Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department, Office of Housing and Community Development will host an information session about guarding against scams 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at North Fulton Charities 11270 Elkins Road, Roswell.

Telemarketing, reverse mortgages, healthcare/health insurance, home and auto repair scams as well as helping citizens identify, prevent and report fraudulent and deceptive schemes are part of the program.

Information: Nell Kapple at 404-633-7944. For Georgia relay access, dail 711. Sandra Marshall Murray

Forsyth elementary makes excellence list

Forsyth County’s Big Creek Elementary School has been named one of 28 2012 Georgia Schools of Excellence by State School Superintendent John Barge. Big Creek was lauded for making the most academic progress of any school in its congressional district, as judged by the College and Career-Ready Performance Index. Each school on the list will get a $1,000 check from Georgia Natural Gas. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Woodall plans town hall meetings

U.S. Rep Rob Woodall, R-Ga., will hold a town hall meeting with Forsyth County constituents 7- 8 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming. Woodall has also set a telephone town hall for Aug. 19. Information: woodall.house.gov

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fulton hosts family, teacher resource fair

Fulton County will host a family and teacher resource fair from 10 am. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Metro Lanes and Games, 1959 Metropolitan Parkway, Atlanta.

The event will feature school supplies and information about after-school care and extracurricular activities.

It also will feature activities like skating, bowling, basketball tournaments and games.

Information: Reginald Crossley at 404-612-7386 or 404-409-7761. David Wickert

Alpharetta run, block party Saturday

The Alpharetta Rotary Mayor’s Challenge is 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the heart of Historic Downtown Alpharetta.

Bring lawn chairs for the block party that runs until 11 p.m. The event includes food trucks, concert, expo, etc.

Registration: $25 until Aug. 3; $30 after at Big Peach Running Co. or www.mayorschallenge.com. Arlinda Smith Broady

ATLANTA

Suspect arrested in fatal shooting

Tavish LaShan Liggons, 26, of Decatur is charged Tuesday with murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault, police said. Liggons is accused of killing 20-year-old Lorenzo Hawthorne on July 22 in the 300 block of Greencove Lane. Police found him lying in the road when they responded to a person down call just before 9 p.m., according to the incident report..Angel K. Brooks

Councilmember to sponsor workshop

City Councilmember Cleta Winslow and Empire Board of Realists will host a free homebuyer’s workshop 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 686 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. Information on credit readiness, budgeting, out-of-pocket expenses, contract process, home inspections, mortgage applications and closing will be shared. Information: 404-330-6047. Veronica Fields Johnson

Plea hearing set for Patel in APS case

Mahendra Patel is scheduled to enter a guilty plea Friday in a case federal prosecutors allege involved a kickback scheme from a company awarded a $700,000 Atlanta Public Schools contract, court records show.

Patel, an information technology consultant, was indicted in June with Jerome Oberlton, who served as APS information officer from 2004 to 2007 and who has pleaded not guilty. The indictment alleged that, beginning in April 2006, the two men met with co-conspirators in Detroit and told them they needed to pay kickbacks if the company wanted to win a contract for a data warehousing project. Bill Rankin

Students got summer college experience

Nearly 300 Atlanta students were exposed to the rigors and realities of college life by participating in the city school district’s Project GRAD Summer Institute. They attended classes at Metropolitan State College, Emory, Georgia State and Morehouse as they worked to complete requirements for earning a Brumley-GRAD scholarship upon high school graduation.Mark Niesse

DEKALB

Police ID man shot and killed at DeKalb home

The man fatally shot outside a DeKalb County home early Tuesday has been identified.

Cheick Coulibaly, 36, of Maryland was killed at a home on Whispering Hills Drive, police said.

Channel 2 Action News reported that the victim’s wife heard gunfire, then found her husband dead.

Coulibaly and his wife were visiting Atlanta, authorities told Channel 2.

Police do not know the motive of the shooting. Mike Morris

Georgia first lady to speak at high school

Georgia first lady Sandra Deal will speak at DeKalb County’s Cross Keys High School today.

She’ll be discussing the dangers of underage drinking, according to the school district. She’ll also present a proclamation designating August as Georgia Alcohol Awareness Month.

The event starts at 10 a.m. The school is at 1626 N. Druid Hills Rd. NE, Atlanta. Ty Tagami

Edwards revamps department

Decatur schools superintendent Phyllis Edwards began reorganizing the city schools office by hiring longtime (22 years) Oakhurst Elementary principal Mary Mack as Director of Elementary Education. Edwards previously said she wouldn’t replace associate superintendent Thomas Van Soelen, who resigned in June, but would create two new full-time positions. Mack is the first hire, with a Director of Secondary Education to follow, probably no later than January. Mack will remain at Oakhurst until her replacement’s named, a process that’ll take several months.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Lawsuit delays mixed-use development

A lawsuit has delayed construction on the mixed-use development at 315 West Ponce De Leon Avenue. A neighborhood coalition claims that developer Carter, the city and its zoning board of appeals abused their powers, and wants to halt construction of the 235 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space and a seven-story parking garage, which was supposed to start in July. Planning Director Amanda Thompson said that now construction won’t start until the lawsuit’s resolved, and a judicial hearing for the plaintiff and the city isn’t scheduled until October.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Interim finance director named in DeKalb

Gwen Brown-Patterson, a 29-year veteran of DeKalb County’s finance department, has been named interim director of the department.

Brown-Patterson will oversee 10 analysts and work with county leaders in preparing the 2014 budget, due in December.

She will earn $162,000 in the role as the county plans for a national search for a permanent replacement to recently retired director Joel Gottlieb.

April Hunt

Youth soccer league registration underway

Registration is underway for youth soccer leagues that begin in September.

Registration is open until Monday at all county recreation centers for the league, which is open to children between 4 and 13. Fees range from $45 to $85 per child and include uniforms.

Information: 770-414-2113. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

One dead in predawn wreck on I-285

A fatal wreck happened about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday on I-285 southbound between Camp Creek Parkway and Washington Road.

According to the State Patrol, the driver of a passenger vehicle lost control and struck the back of a tractor-trailer. The driver of the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital. The identity of the deceased motorist was being withheld until relatives could be notified. Several southbound lanes of I-285 were blocked for about two hours while authorities investigated the wreck. Mike Morris

TV series filming, rents space in Henry

The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to the County Code to allow for short-term leases for renting property when it’s deemed beneficial to the county. The action came after a request by the production currently filming the ABC-TV series “Resurrection” to rent a county-owned building. The show has been filming in McDonough during the past several weeks. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Grant funds available in Stockbridge

The Stockbridge City Council is taking applications from local nonprofits competing for a portion of $100,000 available in the city’s Community Partnership Grant Program. The goal of the program is to foster and fund activities, projects, special events, and programs that promote eligible tourism and cultural activities in Stockbridge. Application deadline is Aug. 28. Information: www.cityofstockbridge.com.Monroe Roark

Frozen yogurt fundraiser next weekend

The Southern Crescent Walk to End Alzheimer’s will host a fundraiser 2 to 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at TCBY, 532 Crosstown Dr., Peachtree City. TCBY will donate $1 for every 16 oz. of yogurt sold. Information: Sue Shaffer at alzwalkshaffer@aol.com.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Jonesboro summer concert set for Aug. 24

Jonesboro will host a free concert 7 p.m.Aug. 24 at Lee Street Park. The concert will highlight progressive art rock and cover music. The public is invited. Bring chairs and coolers. Tammy Joyner

Center to offer business plan classes

The Clayton State University Small Business Development Center will offer a class on “Writing a Living Business Plan,” 5 to 8 p.m. today in room G127 on the first floor of the school’s Arts & Sciences Building. Among the topics: goal-setting, calculating profit and loss, finding sources and determining capital costs.

Cost: $69. Information: www.georgiasbdc.org or 678-466-5100. Tammy Joyner

Henry using drug disposal receptacles

Henry County officials are utilizing donated receptacles in a drug disposal program. Residents may drop off unwanted prescription medication from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, at 108 S. Zack Hinton Parkway in McDonough) or its north precinct (4545 North Henry Blvd. in Stockbridge). Monroe Roark