County by county news for Thursday

The $100 registration fee is nonrefundable, and a failure to register foreclosed real property and vacant real property could result in a fine up to $1,000 each. Information: 770-944-4325 or austellga.gov/registry. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Powder Springs needs bridge contractor

Powder Springs is seeking a contractor to fix the Dallas-Powder Springs Road bridge.

A pre-proposal meeting will be 10 a.m. Feb. 12 at City Hall, 4484 Marietta St., where bids must be submitted by 10 a.m. Feb. 26.

All communications about this proposal, either before or after the opening, must be sent to Jim Croy, Jr., Croy Engineering LLC, 770-971-5407 or jimcroyjr@croyengineering.com.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/Bids.aspx?bidID=70.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Walk Cobb registration continues

Free online registration for Walk Cobb continues through March 10 with the initiative running until April 26.

Hosted by Cobb2020, Walk Cobb is a part of Walk Georgia, a program through the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service.

Last fall, Walk Cobb involved over 400 walkers on more than 100 teams, logging greater than 29,000 miles.

Registration: walkgeorgia.org, sign up using the group name Cobb2020.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Austell seeks clerk for community affairs

Austell seeks to hire an entry level clerk for the Community Affairs department.

Minimum requirements include a high school diploma or GED, knowledge of Microsoft Office and a valid Georgia driver’s license.

Applicants may apply 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Community Affairs office, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Suite 101, Austell or download an application from the city’s website for mailing.

Information: austellga.gov, click “Employment,” then “Job Vacancies.”

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

KSU fraternity to host Founder’s Day run

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity’s Mu Beta chapter at Kennesaw State University is hosting the first Founder’s Day 5K run, 8 a.m. March 1 at The Perch, 390 Big Shanty Road, Kennesaw.

Registration is $25. Proceeds from the run will be donated to the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children Inc.

Information: www.active.com/kennesaw-ga/running/distance-running-races/founder-s-day-5k-2014

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Powder Springs auctions vehicle

Powder Springs officials are selling a 1998 Honda Passport LX through Friday when the highest bidder will be awarded.

Bidders may register at govdeals.com, search Powder Springs.Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Last chance for input on Norcross plan

Norcross hosts an open house for the final draft of its comprehensive plan 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at Norcross Community Center, 10 College St. Changes: a development map, city goals and new community work program. This is the last chance for updates. Citizen input will be considered in the final revision submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Draft available for review at www.norcrossga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth Middle hosts pancake breakfast

Duluth Middle School and the Kiwanis Club of Duluth will host an all you can eat breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and drinks 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3200 Pleasant Hill Rd. in Duluth. Half the proceeds will go to the school’s Care Team and half to Kiwanis for service projects to eliminate neonatal tetanus in third world countries, scholarships to Duluth High School KEY Club members, Gwinnett Veterans, and other organizations. $5.00 per person. Children under age three are free and families of 4 or more pay no more than $20. 770-476-3372. Karen Huppertz

Heritage Center honors Black History Month

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will celebrate Black History Month and the art of storytelling 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 2020 Clean Water Dr., Buford. In partnership with the United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County, GEHC will present an array of tales and folklore embedded in the African traditions. Information:gwinnettehc.org. Karen Huppertz

The Hudgens free to families Saturday

The Hudgens Center for the Arts will host a free Family Day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. Hands-on art activities available for kids 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All new exhibits and access to entire facilities included free. Information: www.thehudgens.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Arts Alliance to host business owner’s talk

The Lilburn Arts Alliance will host a discussion by local furniture maker Alan Harp 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Lilburn City Hall, 76 Main St. Free.

Information: www.lilburnartsalliance.org Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Suwanee run for love or chocolate Feb. 8

There’s a little extra incentive for runners in the Suwanee Sweetheart Sprint, the Rotary Club of Buford/North Gwinnett’s annual fundraiser.

There will be chocolate at the finish line and in the race bags. If that’s not enough incentive to run the 3.1-mile course, the event has been certified as a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Race begins at 9 a.m. Feb. 8 at Suwanee City Hall, 330 Town Center Ave.

Register at SuwaneeSweetheartSprint.com.

Registration: $25/single, $40 couple through Feb. 3; Race-day, $30/single, $50/couple.

Information: www.northgwinnettrotary.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Ga. House District 22 winner determined

Ball Ground businessman Sam Moore captured nearly 58 percent of the vote to win Tuesday’s runoff electron for the Ga. House District 22 seat, beating teacher Meagan Biello of Canton. Both ran as Republicans.

Turnout was light; only about 2,600 votes were cast in the district, which covers portions of Cherokee, Forsyth and Fulton Counties.

Moore will now assume the seat of the late Calvin Hill, who died in October after a battle with Leukemia. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fulton’s Lowe won’t seek re-election

Tom Lowe, who has spent 40 years as a Fulton County commissioner, announced Wednesday he will not seek re-election.

Lowe, 85, said he wanted to spend more time with his family. He will continue to serve on the commission through the end of this year. Lowe represents District 4, which includes Buckhead, Sandy Springs and parts of Roswell.David Wickert

Chamber, schools honor businesses

Forsyth County Schools and the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Celebration of Success luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 14 at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Boulevard, Cumming. The event will recognize community businesses which aid county schools and students, and will also present the Forsyth County Teacher of the Year. To reserve tickets: 770-887-6461. More information: cummingforsythchamber.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Artifacts expert to attend society meeting

The Cherokee County Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Highway, Canton. Local artifact expert Carl Etheridge, retired chief ranger at the Allatoona Reservoir, will be at the meeting. Guests who own Native American artifacts may bring them for Etheridge to identify. Free. Information: www.rockbarn.org Kent A. Miles

Preschoolers create art to support charity

The 2nd annual nationwide BeCause Our Hearts Beat Art Auction is 4-6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at 3338 Trickum Road, Woodstock. The event will raise support for Make-A-Wish. Preschoolers at The Learning Experience an early learning academy for children 6 weeks to 6 years old will make and sell art.

Information: www.thelearningexperience.com.

Nancy Badertscher

CASA Superhero 5K set for Feb. 22

Registration is underway for the sixth annual CASA of Forsyth County Superhero 5K Run/Walk, 8 a.m. Feb. 22 at Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way in Cumming.

The race is an AJC-Peachtree Road Race qualifier. All proceeds benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates of Forsyth County, which provides volunteer advocates for children who are in the foster care system due to abuse or neglect.

Information: www.forsythcountycasa.org Kent A. Miles for the AJC

ATLANTA

Judge extends deadline for APS pleas

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter has once again extended his deadline for defendants in the Atlanta Public Schools test-cheating case to enter into negotiated pleas.

The new deadline is Feb. 17. So far, 18 defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to probation and ordered to perform community service.

Sixteen defendants, including former Superintendent Beverly Hall, remain charged in a racketeering conspiracy, and four or five of them have been engaged in plea negotiations, prosecutors have said. Bill Rankin

Beltline wins national EPA award

The Atlanta Beltline has won a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency award for Smart Growth Achievement. Seven projects across the nation were given the distinction for sustainable initiatives that protect health, the environmental and promote economic development.

The Beltline’s Eastside Trail, which begins near Piedmont Park toward Inman Park, and its Historic Fourth Ward Park, won the EPA’s “overall excellence” category.

The overall Beltline project, which aims to convert dilapidated land into a 22-mile loop of parks, trails and transit, is scheduled to be completed by 2030.Katie Leslie

CAU names new vice president

James Perkins, Ph.D., has been named vice president for research and sponsored programs and tenured professor of chemistry at Clark Atlanta University. Perkins comes to CAU with more than four decades of experience in higher education and research. Nancy Badertscher

Author McDanielsto discuss work

The Auburn Avenue Research Library is hosting a discussion and book signing with author Pellom McDaniels at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples St. SW. The event is open to the public.

Information: 404-612-0500.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

DEKALB

‘Pink Goes Red’ event at Mall at Stonecrest

The Chi Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. hosts its “Pink Goes Red on the Runway” event at 2 p.m. Saturday at Macy’s at The Mall at Stonecrest, 8030 Mall Parkway, Lithonia.

There will be a fashion event in which models will wear red in support of the fight against heart disease in women. Free blood pressure screenings will also be available.

The program is free and open to the public.

Information: www.chitauomega.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

School district goes mobile with info

The DeKalb County School District has new smartphone apps that offer calendars, phone numbers, addresses and other basic information.

The app, available free for phones running the Apple and Android operating systems, includes news, a tip line and a district directory.

Get it online at the iTunes and Google Play stores. Ty Tagami

ART Station opens new exhibit

ART Station will host a new exhibit of paintings by local artist Pat Fiorello called “Take Me Away through March 30.

Information: 770-469-1105 or www.artstation.org

Arlinda Smith Broady

Skating for dating violence awareness

“Skate in the Name of Love,” a teen dating violence awareness event is 7:30 p.m. Saturdayat Golden Glide, 2750 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur.

The Still Standing Foundation is sponsoring the event. A nonprofit organization that provides a positive outlet for survivors of domestic violence, the foundation offers workshops across metro Atlanta to educate teens on the dangers of dating violence.

Tickets: $10, includes skate rental.

Information: www.eventbrite.com/e/skate-in-the-name-of-love-tickets-9977690541 or call 754-777-8263. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Demolition set for ‘historic’ building

With the City Schools’ Maintenance Department moving into the new Public Works Building next month, the old maintenance building on the Decatur High campus is scheduled for demolition within two years.

The three-level building, likely erected in the late 1930s, is the oldest-remaining structure on the campus where Decatur High settled in 1921.

Following demolition the property will become part of a mixed-use development between the city and Cousins Properties, scheduled to begin in 2016 or 2017. Bill Banks for the AJC

County testing once weekly trash pickup

DeKalb County has launched a pilot program to test cutting its curbside trash pickup from four days to one.

About 28,000 homes will have garbage, yard waste and recycling collected once weekly in the program, which includes issuing residents a 65-gallon cart for the trash.

The county will review the change later in the year to see if it saves money as projected and has community support. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Housing and Human Services offers grants

The Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department’s Office of Grants and Community Partnerships is accepting applications for the 2014-15 Human Services Grants and FRESH Grants.

Nonprofit organizations that provide services in the county are eligible to apply online. The application deadline is 3 p.m. Feb. 21.

Information: fultoncountyga.gov/WebGrants

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Writers workshop coming to library

Local author Dr. Kim Osborn Sullivan will conduct a book-writing and publishing workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Peachtree City Library. The free program is open to students in grades 11 and 12 and to adults; pre-registration is required at ptc.library.friends@gmail.com.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Marthone named VP at Piedmont Henry

Frances Marthone has been named vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

She has 28 years of experience in the healthcare industry, most recently in Albany, and will complete a doctorate from Georgia State University in June.

Information: www.piedmonthenry.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

AAU tryouts coming Feb. 22-23

The Commissioner Bruce Holmes Youth Foundation Chargers AAU basketball tryouts for middle through high school boys is 9 am to 2 p.m. Feb. 22-23 at the Fairview Recreation Center, 35 Austin Road, Stockbridge.

Volunteer coaches are also needed; no experience necessary, just a willingness to empower young men through athletics.

Those interested in coaching should contact Coach Robinson at 678-480-9362 or Coach McMullen at 678-462-3921 by Feb. 14. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Fayette lowers lake level for maintenance

Fayette County has begun lowering the water level in Lake Peachtree in Peachtree City.

The city and county do so every few years at the request of waterfront property owners, to facilitate maintenance on docks and shorelines.

The water will be raised to normal levels in late March. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Dam projects prompt road and path closings

Repair work on two Peachtree City dams will cause road and cart path closures for several months.

Portions of Kedron Drive will be shut down through October, and the path near Rockspray Pond will be detoured until mid-September.

Signs will be posted in both areas, and golf carts may not use Peachtree Parkway.Jill Howard Church for the AJC