County by county news for Thursday

Cobb purchased the 26.5-acre park property in 2008 using money from the 2006 parks bond, but can’t afford to develop it.

A nonprofit group of private residents, Friends of Mabry Park, raised money to pay for the $7,500 master plan, and will raise money to develop the park. Costs could include about $400,000 for an access road. Janel Davis

Streetlight adjustment to cost $400,000

About $400,000 will be needed next year to pay for streetlights at intersections and along roads that are not in neighborhoods, Cobb’s transportation director told commissioners Tuesday.

A separate streetlight fund was created after an audit found that surplus streetlight fees paid by residents had been diverted to the general fund for other uses.

About 10 percent of the county’s streetlights are in not in streetlight districts where residents pay for the lights.

An accounting specialist will also need to be hired to assist with other audit recommendations. Janel Davis

School board to hold salary hearing

The Cobb County Board of Education will hold an employee salary hearing at 6 p.m. May 31 followed by a budget hearing at 6:30 p.m. The salary hearing is because under the proposed budget, employees will to take two furlough days and some will not receive a scheduled salary step increase until mid-year. The meetings will be at 514 Glover Street, in Marietta. Jaime Sarrio

Acworth Memorial Day Ceremony Saturday

The city of Acworth’s annual Memorial Day celebration will be Saturday at Patriots Point at Cauble Park. Retired Army Brigadier General Jerry J. Bradford will be the keynote speaker discussing his two Vietnam tours, along with tours in Central America and Europe. Information: http://www.acworth.org/aprd Janel Davis

Contract OK’d for Austell senior center

Cobb Commissioners approved a $281,000 contract Tuesday for Choate Construction Company to design and build a new senior center in Austell. The center in Clarkdale Park will replace the former center in Legion Park which flooded in 2009’s historic floods.

The center will be funded with $1.6 million in federal grant money. A final project design and cost is expected June 28. Janel Davis

City asks to dismiss councilman’s suit

A decision whether to allow Marietta City Councilman Philip Goldstein build a five-story building on Marietta Square is on hold while his attorneys respond to the city’s motion to dismiss the case.

Goldstein has not yet applied for a building permit, the city’s attorney argued Tuesday in Cobb Superior Court, but he would ultimately be turned down because his building would exceed the new height limit and prior approval for the building should be considered, his attorney said. Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Debt refinancing may save up to $9 million

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Tuesday agreed to refinance up to $192 million in debt, a move that could save the county $7 million to $9 million.

The bonds originally were issued in 2003 to pay for a variety of water and sewer improvements.

Refinancing the bonds will allow Gwinnett to take advantage of lower interest rates.

The water and sewer department would realize any savings between now and 2025, when the bonds are scheduled to be paid off. David Wickert

Memorial Day ceremony to honor soldier

Gwinnett County will honor a local soldier who died in Afghanistan at a Memorial Day ceremony at 1 p.m. Monday at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

Lance Cpl. Joseph “Ryan” Giese, 24, of Winder, was killed Jan. 7.Giese’s name will be added to the Gwinnett memorial. The ceremony will be televised at 7:30 p.m. Monday on TVgwinnett, the county’s cable channel. David Wickert

Two middle schools score high in writing test

Two Gwinnett County middle schools boasted the highest scores on the state’s Grade 8 Writing Assessment.

Students at Osborne Middle in Hoschton and North Gwinnett Middle in Sugar Hill outperformed their peers statewide. Osborne Middle’s average score of 242.07 was the highest of any school statewide followed by North Gwinnett Middle students who earned an average score of 242.03. D. Aileen Dodd

Students head for scholastic tournament

Students representing Trickum Middle, Central Gwinnett High, Parkview High and Peachtree Ridge High schools will compete in an international scholastic tournament this week. The students have qualified at the state level to compete at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at the University of Maryland. The is Friday through Monday. D. Aileen Dodd

Kids try out culinary skills at event

The annual “Simon Kidgits Club Super Duper Mini Chefs” event is returning to two malls.

The event allows local kids to start building their culinary skills with hands-on food preparation activities, and it also includes prizes and giveaways. The first event is from 2 to 4 p.m. June 4 at Gwinnett Place Mall at 2100 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. The second event is from 2 to 4 p.m. June 12 Mall of Georgia at 3333 Buford Drive in Buford, in the Nordstrom Court. Info: www.simonkidgitsclub.com Andria Simmons

Providence Christian graduation on Saturday

Providence Christian Academy of Lilburn will hold its graduation at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mt. Carmel Christian Church.

Alison Mikle has been named as valedictorian of the Class of 2011. Sarah Rasumussen is the salutatorian. The graduating class has been awarded $2.6 million in scholarships, not including HOPE, said school officials. D. Aileen Dodd

NORTHSIDE

Fulton schools names four new principals

Four new Fulton County principals were announced Wednesday. They are: Amy Gamble, assistant principal at DeKalb County’s Vanderlyn Elementary, who is moving to Woodland Elementary Charter School; Lenora Patterson, assistant principal at Riverwood International Charter School, who is going to Hopewell Middle; Jimmy Zoll, principal of Wilson Creek Elementary School, who takes over at Autrey Mill Middle; and Susan Opferman, a 2011 Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year, who goes to Webb Bridge Middle. Nancy Badertscher

Top Cherokee grads to be honored at dinner

Cherokee County high school top graduates will be honored at a dinner today at 7 p.m. at Woodmont Golf and Country Club. Cherokee High valedictorian is Abbas Raza, co-salutatorians are Joshua Rodriguez and Inessa Radchuk. Creekview High valedictorian is Benjamin Stephens and salutatorian is Alex Ryan. Etowah High co-valedictorians are Kelly McCahill and Sydney Perlotto and salutatorian is Kimberly Cramer.

Sequoyah High valedictorian Rebecca Cottrill and salutatorian is Faith Sutherlin Woodstock High valedictorian is Emily Ward and co-salutatorians are Aimee Croft and Emma Graf. Christopher Quinn

Forsyth offers safety camps for kids

The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting Safety Town camps this summer to instruct children on fire, playground, poison, and bus safety, and a session on stranger danger. The session camps are in June and July. Each session costs $85. Information: 770-781-2215. Jeffry Scott

Roswell puppet series begins June 6

The Roswell Summer Puppet Series begins its 14th season June 6 at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forest Street. Shows are at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday, with additional shows at 1 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. Tickets, $4 for ages 2-12, $5 for adults, can be purchased online or at the door. Information: 770-594-6232; www.roswellpuppets.com.

Patrick Fox

Wings and rock music in Woodstock June 4

Chicken wing restaurants and classic rock cover and tribute bands are on the menu in Woodstock June 4, from 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. The all-day free outdoor music and food festival features wings from metro Atlanta restaurants as well as adult beverages and a wing-eating contest at 5:30 p.m.

Information: http://www.wingandrockfest.com/woodstock-ga-wingfest Christopher Quinn

Sixes Road maintenance not resolved

The future maintenance of Sixes Road, which a consortium of homeowners associations maintained together by paying for mowing and trash pickup, is still up in the air. The consortium has fallen at odds over who to hire and how much to pay for the job, even getting their county commissioner Karen Bosch involved in negotiations.

Negotiations over which landscaper to use in the future are continuing. Christopher Quinn

ATLANTA

Free mercury hair testing today

The Sierra Club will be sponsoring a free mercury hair testing event today (Thursday) at the Vintage Barber Shop in the Healey Building (57 Forsyth St., Atlanta). That will be from noon to 1 p.m. and is being held in conjunction with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency public hearing on air pollution and power plants. That hearing will be at 61 Forsyth St. from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bill Torpy

HUD to hold homebuyer workshop

A U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department-approved housing counseling agency will hold a homebuyer workshop Saturday at the Lang Carson Community Center, 100 Flat Shoals Ave., S.E., Atlanta, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The class covers the loan process, home inspections and appraisals, credit reports, realtors, down payment assistance and buyers’ legal rights. Completion earns a voucher for a Homebuyer Education Certificate, which can be forwarded to lenders and used with grant programs. The cost is $30. Information: 404-525-4130 Ext. 17. Johnny Edwards

Teens can dance their way to good health

A dance instructor will teach teens hip hop moves to an upbeat tempo, which can burn calories, improve coordination and bolster health, today at the Adamsville/Collier Heights branch library. The class, for ages 12-17, starts at 4 p.m. at 3424 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Atlanta. Reservations: 404-699-4206. Johnny Edwards

Ex-Falcon to help with run for homeless

Retired Falcons wide receiver Mike Haynes will be the guest of honor at the 2011 Atlanta Children’s Shelter 5K Run / Walk in Piedmont Park on June 11. He spent seven years with the Falcons and three years with the New Orleans Saints. “We are thrilled that he has chosen to support the Atlanta’s Children’s Shelter and the homeless families we serve by being the guest of honor at our 5K event,” said Sandra Keating, the shelter’s executive director. Registration details: www.acsatl.org or www.active.com. Nancy Badertscher

DEKALB

Grady opens health center in Kirkwood

Grady Health System opened its newest neighborhood health center, Kirkwood Family Medicine, on Wednesday.

The 14,000-square-foot center, located at 1863 Memorial Drive in Atlanta’s Kirkwood neighborhood, will offer adult and pediatric care, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics and eye care services. It will also have a full service lab, pharmacy and X-ray department.

The new facility is replacing DeKalb Grady Neighborhood Health Center about a mile away. The health system includes the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital and six neighborhood clinics among other facilities. Misty Williams

Druid Hills teacher wins exchange grant

Druid Hills High School teacher Erica Nicole Staton has been awarded a Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange grant to instruct in England for the 2011-12 school year. Recipients are selected because of academic or professional achievement, as well as leadership potential. DeKalb’s Staton is one of about 60 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad through the teacher exchange program next school year. Jaime Sarrio

Dunwoody HOA schedules June 5 meet

The Dunwoody Homeowners Association will meet at 7:30 p.m., June 5 at the North DeKalb Arts Center, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Room 4. Michelle E. Shaw

Dunwoody Elementary teacher honored

Amanda McGehee, the Dunwoody Elementary teacher who received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, was recognized this week by the City of Dunwoody, U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga, and Gov. Nathan Deal. McGehee received proclamations from all four during the city council meeting Monday night. She was one of 85 teachers across the country to receive the presidential award. Michelle E. Shaw

Decatur recreation staff prepares for renovation

Decatur’s Active Living Department began this week moving out of the Decatur Recreation Center, which officially closes Friday. The 53-year-old city icon will undergo extensive renovations which include a new basketball court, walking track, kitchen, multi-purpose room, media center and offices. Active Living Director Greg White said he hopes the facility will reopen in January, 2013. Meantime Active Living will be located at 430 West Trinity Place. Bill Banks for the AJC

County to buy land for intersection upgrade

DeKalb County has agreed to put $520,000 of state money into buying necessary right-of-way for an intersection improvement on a key county road.

The county will spend $700,000 of local sales tax money beyond the state transportation dollars on the Lavista Road intersections with Oak Grove Road and Oak Grove Drive.

Buying the land is the first step in a project that calls for a new alignment to make one intersection out of the two side streets, adding bike lanes and sidewalks and other work.

Once the land is bought, the county expects to bid the construction work in 2012, with completion in 2013. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Henry to hold ribbon-cutting for shelter

Henry County has announced plans for a ribbon-cutting June 1 at 2 p.m. to mark the opening of Haven House, a domestic violence shelter.

The 14,472-square-foot facility on Henry Parkway in McDonough contains 16 bedrooms, kitchen, laundry, living area, staff offices and a playground for the children.

The $1.7 million project was funded by the county’s special-purpose local-option sales tax. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Students place third in science contest

J.C. Booth Middle School’s Science Olympiad team won third place in the national tournament held May 20-21 at the University of Wisconsin.

The team was one of 60 competing in 46 categories with such topics as chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, robotics and astronomy.

This was the 18th year the Booth team competed in the national event.

Coach Tammy Pakulski led the team to the Georgia state championship earlier this year. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Students win praise from Georgia Power

Georgia Power gave high marks to marketing students at Whitewater High School during the 2011 Campus Energy Challenge.

Five teams from Krystin Glover’s marketing classes developed plans to encourage students to conserve energy both at school and at home. Teams were judged on creativity, strategic approach and measurable results.

Whitewater will be recognized on the Campus Energy Facebook page, and also received a Spotlight School Award for outstanding participation.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

East Point talks about downtown upgrade

A standing room only crowd attended a meeting in East Point that focused on redeveloping the city’s downtown. City Councilman Lance Rhodes said Developers will be given the opportunity to provide two plans to the council.

One plan includes the attempt to renovate the present City Hall and or auditorium, and the second plan involves a complete new construction.

John Thompson for the AJC

Movie night in McDonough is Saturday

Saturday night is movie night on the McDonough square. “Cinema on the Green” is sponsored by Main Street McDonough, the first of three such events scheduled for 2011. This week’s movie is “Despicable Me” and show time is at 8:30.

Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, food, drinks, family and friends. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Peach Stand Road Race is Saturday

The 5th Annual 5K Peach Stand Road Race in Locust Grove is Saturday, May 28, 8 a.m.

It will begin and end at the Gardner Farms Peach Stand on Hwy. 42.

For more information, or to receive an application, call 770-692-2320 or visit www.peachstandroadrace.webs.com. Monroe Roark for the AJC