County by county news for Thursday

The meeting is part of Chairman Tim Lee’s goals for the county. The meeting will include discussion of a vision statement, a strengths and weaknesses analysis and development of goals in the process.

Lee has long pushed for a strategic plan to help outline the county’s priorities. The goal is to have the plan completed by the end of the month. Janel Davis

Officer hurt in student fight at school

A Marietta police officer sustained minor injuries Wednesday afternoon when he was attacked by two students while breaking up a lunchroom fight at Marietta High School, a police spokesman said.

Marietta police spokesman David Baldwin said six students were involved in the fight at the school on Whitlock Avenue. Two brothers attacked a school resource officer who intervened in the fight, which was stopped quickly with help from other administrators.

The two brothers were taken into custody. Mike Morris

West Cobb business group to meet

The West Cobb Business Association will hold its first nighttime networking event on Tuesday. This free event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Aspens Signature Steaks, 3625 Dallas Highway SW, Marietta in The Avenue West Cobb. Information: Mark Zangari, vice president and membership director, at mark@dollarwisecartridge.com. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marietta schools hold bond hearing today

Marietta City Schools continues a series of public meetings about an upcoming referendum at 7 p.m. today at Sawyer Road Elementary School, 840 Sawyer Road. Superintendent Emily Lembeck will talk about a $7 million general obligation bond that voters will decide March 6 for an auditorium and new band room at Marietta High School. Information: www.marietta-city.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs planners OK requests

Powder Springs Planning and Zoning Commission members voted Monday to recommend approval of two requests.

Kasey Taylor and Sandra Taylor would like to open a baby boutique at 3886 A Broad St., Suite 300 in the downtown district. The commission recommended a two-year special use permit. Chijioke Urum’s request concerns a sign variance for his Star Car Wash, 3915 Austell-Powder Springs Road.

The City Council is expected to vote on the matters on Monday. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Six Flags to hold show auditions

Six Flags Over Georgia is holding a casting call for iLuminate: an all-new show experience featuring state-of-the-art light-up costumes. Performers interested in auditioning need to be able to perform difficult choreography, tricks in the dark . Auditions are Feb. 4 at Gotta Dance Atlanta, 1778 Ellsworth Industrial Dr. N.W., Atlanta. Audition details are at www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia. Kenneth Musisi

GWINNETT

35 county schools get state recognition

Thirty-five Gwinnett County public schools have won state recognitions for student achievement on standardized tests.

The schools are being recognized by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and the Georgia Department of Education for high achievement and significant gains.

Of the campuses to earn awards, 25 are elementary schools, five are middle schools, three are high schools and two are charter schools. Thirty were among 259 statewide recognized for highest achievement on exams. Five were among 111 in the state recognized for greatest gains. D. Aileen Dodd

Police charge Lilburn man in fatal shooting

Gwinnett County police Wednesday morning arrested a man for Tuesday’s shooting near Lilburn that left a man dead and a woman wounded.

The shooting happened Tuesday at a home in the 2000 block of Pucketts Drive, in a neighborhood off U.S. 78. Officers found Demarcus Collins, 29 and Monica Tamez, 32 with gunshot wounds, Gwinnett police Cpl. Edwin Ritter said. Collins died later.

Police arrested Jamell Richmond, 40, of Lilburn and charged him with one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Mike Morris

Hudnall to present Georgia aviation outlook

Amy Hudnall, associate director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Aerospace, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the EAA Sport Aviation Center, 690 Airport Road, Lawrenceville.

Hudnall will offer an overview of Georgia’s aerospace industry. A pancake breakfast will precede her speech at 8 a.m.

The cost of the breakfast is $6. Information: Joel Levine at 404-314-7573 or jlevine@bellsouth.net. David Wickert

Registration begins for GSMST

Rising freshmen at Gwinnett County Schools looking for an academic challenge can register for enrollment at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology.

The school offers an accelerated curriculum that exposes students to double doses of math and science that allows them to finish graduation requirements early.

Students participate in internships in their later years that expose them to math and science careers. GSMST has the highest SAT average in metro Atlanta.

For information, visit www.gsmst.org. The deadline is today. 2012. D. Aileen Dodd

Gay-Straight Alliance Summit to be Feb. 25

The Georgia Safe Schools Coalition and Georgia Equality will hold the 2012 Georgia Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Summit for Georgia youth on Feb. 25 at the University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus, 2530 Sever Rd. in Lawrenceville.

The GSA Summit was created to unify and empower youth with relevant workshops and activities and offer a chance to create community.

The day-long event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and consists of three breakout sessions, breakfast, lunch, a keynote presentation and vendor tables. Information: Corey Johnson, csjohns@uga.edu. Mea Watkins

NORTHSIDE

County renews $3 million

contract to bus seniors

The Fulton commission voted 5-1 to renew a $3.3 million contract to bus seniors and disabled residents, despite Chairman John Eaves’ request to hold off during an ethics probe. MV Transportation Inc. hired a former county employee, and Eaves said he wants an ethics board investigation to find out if that helped the company win the contract. Human Services Director Troy White told the panel that the company contacted the county several times before the hiring and wasn’t dissuaded. Commissioners said the contract could be pulled if a violation is found. Johnny Edwards

Police shoot at, capture robbery suspect

A busy Sandy Springs thoroughfare was shut down during most of Wednesday’s morning commute when a police officer shot at a robbery suspect who had allegedly pulled a gun on the officer.

Sandy Springs police Lt. Steve Rose said the incident began around 6 a.m. when LeRon Omar Boone, 34, of Stone Mountain attempted to rob a man at the Citgo Food Mart on Roswell Road at Lake Placid Drive.

The victim fled and found two officers nearby. Officers found the suspect still parked at the Citgo station.

Police fired when the suspect brandished a gun and fled on foot.

The shot missed but the officers tackled him for the arrest. Mike Morris

Construction to impact Pine Grove Road

Roswell will begin a culvert replacement project at 745 Pine Grove Road on Monday. The road will be reduced to a single lane at times between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and delays should be expected. Crews will replace an 18-inch drainage pipe and add curb and gutter on the north side of the road. The project is expected to be completed by Feb. 10, weather permitting. Information: Nick Pezzello at 770-641-3707. Patrick Fox

River Eves Elementary teacher honored

River Eves Elementary in Roswell announced Thursday that second grade teacher Jessica Veen has been named the school’s 2012-13 Teacher of the Year and that Cheryl Phillips has been named Professional Employee of the Year. Both individuals, as well as runners-up Phyllis Stockton (first grade) and Michelle Aga (fourth grade), were honored at a celebration in the River Eves Elementary Media Center. Veen has been at the school since January 2011. Phillips arrived in February 1997. They now go on to compete for Fulton County Teacher of the Year. Nancy Badertscher

Manning Oaks first in Reading Bowl

Fulton County’s Manning Oaks Elementary won first place in the county last weekend in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, beating out 10 other schools. Second place went to Creekview Elementary. Manning Oaks’ team, comprised of fourth and fifth graders, competes for the regional title Saturday at Clayton State University. Manning Oaks team members are: Matthew Avella, Jordan Pennington, Amber Brown, Miller Connell, Anushka Dheer, Sasha Hanrahan, Maliha Hasan, Hitesh Kamisetty, Janhavi Khank-hoje, and Ella Terrell. Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Mayor talks about upcoming China trip

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on Tuesday discussed a scheduled March trade mission to China with a group of woman business owners, saying that international trips to discuss business expansions and trade links sometimes take a year or more to bear fruit. “This is a gardening process,” Reed said. He said his administration has started a “very intentional, focused strengthening of ties” with China, adding that the trade mission could be useful for small and women-owned businesses. Jeremiah McWilliams

Panel OKs $20,000 in liability claims

The public safety and legal administration committee of Atlanta’s City Council voted Tuesday to approve nearly $20,000 in claims against the city for automobile accidents and injuries from broken sidewalks and uncovered water meter boxes. The payouts will have to be approved by the full City Council next week in order to become final. The administration of Mayor Kasim Reed has said the city is trying to manage its liability in such cases, for example by dedicating several trucks to pothole repairs. Jeremiah McWilliams

Registration opens for Beltline tours

The Atlanta Beltline Partnership plans to open registrations on Feb. 15 for guided tours of the Beltline in March. In the sixth year of the tours, they still draw crowds. More than 12,000 people have participated so far. Most recently, all of the Saturday tours for the months of January and February were booked within 45 minutes of a Jan. 19 email to remind people to register. Jeremiah McWilliams

ATC to name instructor of the year

Tamoura Jones, chair of the Atlanta Technical College’s Culinary Arts and Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Management department, will get the school’s 2012 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Education as the instructor of the year. Jones will now move on to regional preliminary judging for the state Rick Perkins Award. Ernie Suggs

DEKALB

Bonus to help at-risk children

DeKalb County recently received a bonus to its state grant that will pay for experts to visit the homes of at-risk children.

The $75,000 grant from the Governor’s Office for Children and Families is in addition to an earlier award of $300,000. The money adds at least 75 families to the state’s Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program.

The program calls for specialists to intervene to help prevent child abuse and promote child development and school readiness.

DeKalb will use its funds in the Clarkston and Scottdale areas. April Hunt

Grant helps to buy HAZMAT gear

DeKalb County Fire Rescue recently won a federal grant that will help it buy gear for firefighters.

The $194,365 award for the Urban Areas Security Initiative project is designed to buy standardized equipment and help set up an environment that could provide decontamination help during a disaster.

The money will be used to buy HAZMAT equipment and decontamination supplies in DeKalb. April Hunt

Leadership DeKalb takes applications

DeKalb County is taking applications from community advocates who are interested in being a part of Leadership DeKalb’s class of 2013, a 10-month program that focuses on developing leadership skills and community awareness.

Two open houses are planned for those with questions.

The first one is March 1 at DeKalb Medical Women’s Center at 2701 North Decatur Road and the second one is March 6 at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale at 5900 Hillandale Drive in Lithonia.

Both begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. with the program starting at 6 p.m. Rhonda Cook

Children’s home finalist for $25,000 award

Decatur’s United Methodist Children’s Home of the North Georgia Conference has been selected as a finalist for The Home Depot Foundation’s Aprons In Action program.

The UMCH is competing against three other nonprofit organizations from across the country for a $25,000 gift card that’ll be determined by popular vote. Voting runs Feb. 1 through Feb. 23 at

UMCH administrator Bev Cochran said the potential winnings would be used to “to build a safe, fun and age-appropriate playground for our youngest children.” Bill Banks for the AJC

School plans Black History programs

St. Thomas More Catholic School in Decatur has several events planned for Black History Month geared to the theme”embracing diversity.” The events, closed to the public, include a DeKalb School of Arts dance presentation; parent Herman “Skip” Mason’s personal account from the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial; and a visit from Pearle Cleage, author, playwright and professor at Spelman College.

Cleage’s first book, “What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day,” was an Oprah Book Club pick and spent nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Nancy Badertscher

SOUTHSIDE

Woman gets life in motel fire that killed five in ‘07

A Clayton County woman has been sentenced to five life sentences for setting a motel fire that killed five members of a family, including two children, Channel 2 Action News reported.

A jury in December found Sheree Murphy, 45, guilty of felony murder, arson and aggravated battery in the June 2007 fire at the Budget Inn Motel in Riverdale. Ten other people were injured, including seven firefighters. The woman, a crack user, set the fire because she was angry with a drug dealer who lived at the motel, prosecutors said. David Ibata

Deadline Friday to ask for absentee ballots

The deadline is Friday for Fulton voters to request absentee ballots for the Feb. 7 special election to fill the state House District 60 seat, which Gloria Tinubu quit to run for Congress in South Carolina. The district covers parts of Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties, and Democrats Theresa Middlebrooks, LaTrenka Riley and Keisha Waites are in the running.

Absentee ballot applications can be downloaded at www.fultoncountyga.gov. Completed ballots must be returned to Fulton Registration and Elections by 7 p.m. on election day. Information: 404-730-7020. Johnny Edwards

Henry offers winter break camp

The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department Winter Break Camp will be during Henry County schools’ Feb. 20-24 break. Cost: $100 a child ($10 discount for each additional child in the same family). Camp hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. for kids ages 5 to 12. Camps: Heritage Park, McDonough; Locust Grove Recreation Center; J. P. Moseley Recreation Center, Stockbridge; Fairview Recreation Center, Stockbridge and Nash Farm Park, Hampton. Register weekdays until Feb. 17 at any of the centers. Register online: www.hcprd.org. Details: 770-288-7311. Tammy Joyner

Fulton schools spelling bee tonight

The Fulton County Schools Spelling Bee will be held at 5 p.m. tonight in East Point.

The event, held at Mount Olive Elementary, is open to students in grades 4-8 who won their school championships.

The top three spellers will progress to the district spelling bee on Feb. 25. Two students will go to the state competition on March 16. D. Aileen Dodd

Montessori school features documentary

Fayette Montessori School is sponsoring a screening of the documentary “Race to Nowhere” today, from 6:30 -- 8:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 257 Highway 314, Fayetteville. To register for free tickets visit http://www.racetonowhere.com/screenings/prince-peace-lutheran-church-sponsored-fayette-montessori. Information -- 770-460-6790 Veronica Fields Johnson

East Point cleans up worst properties

East Point officials announced that nearly all of the city’s 50 worst properties have been cleaned up, or await condemnation. The city unveiled the list more than a year ago to focus attention on some of the blighted properties in the city. The city has dealt with 44 of the locations and plans to update the list. John Thompson for the AJC