County by county news for Thursday
COBB
County to hire workers to keep up with mowing
Cobb County Commissioners authorized 14 new part-time seasonal maintenance worker positions on Tuesday for shoulder and median maintenance and mowing and street sweeping services.
To cut costs, the county brought the work in house last year, but county crews had been unable to keep up with all of the work. The part-time workers will be organized into four maintenance crews, one per commission district, along with the permanent county employees. Cost for the 26-week part-time hires is $155,000, along with equipment, the full cost of the program is not to exceed $176,000. Janel Davis
Residents get update on improvements
Cobb County will host an open house today to update area residents, property and business owners on the Six Flags Livable Centers Initiative Draft Study. The plan recommendations address future development, infrastructure improvements, employment and economic development opportunities. Public comment on the draft study will be accepted during the open house. A public display will be up through April 30 at the library. The open house begins at 6 p.m. at the South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Six Flags Drive in Austell. View the draft study: www.cobbcounty.org/dot Janel Davis
Smyrna’s Welch to meet with constituents
Smyrna Ward 4 councilman Corkey Welch is holding a meeting for Ward 4 residents from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at City Hall, 2800 King Street, Smyrna. The meeting is a chance for residents to meet Welch and talk about issues in an more informal setting. Jeffry Scott
Bogus check charge snare bank employee
A Cobb County bank employee has been arrested and charged with using customers’ account information to cash thousands of dollars in fraudulent government checks, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Tasha Lynette Goodson, 29, of Marietta, is being held on $150,000 bond in Cobb County Jail after her arrest Monday, according to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. Goodson is a former assistant branch manager of the Chase Bank on Barrett Parkway in Marietta. David Ibata
Family donates soldier’s medal to museum
An Ohio family has donated an ancestor’s Medal of Honor to Kennesaw’s Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History.
The medal was given to Sgt. John M. Scott, one of Andrews’ Raiders, posthumously for his part in the great locomotive chase that started in Kennesaw 150 years ago. The museum in downtown Kennesaw will mark the anniversary with a living history weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Acworth to hold first arts festival
Downtown Acworth will have its first arts festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday on Main Street.
The Acworth Art Fest will feature the work of 120 artisans from around the country and will include painting, pottery, metal work, folk art, yard art and jewelry.
There will also be a kid’s zone with children’s activities. There is no charge for the event. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
GWINNETT
Road work to close lanes on I-85 at Ga. 324
Road work will mean lane closures on I-85 at Ga. 324/Gravel Springs Road overnight for the next two weeks.
Beginning at 8 p.m. today through April 24, one lane and the shoulder of I-85 northbound and southbound will close overnight.
The lane closures are needed because the Georgia Department of Transportation is widening Ga. 324 and is working on the bridge over the interstate. The $11.2 million project is expected to be done by May 31.
David Wickert
School board to discuss budget Saturday
The Gwinnett County Board of Education meets in a called session at 8:30 Saturday on the 2013 budget. The meeting takes place in the executive board room at the Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee. The budget is slated for tentative adoption Tuesday and final adoption on May 17. The state’s largest school district is looking at a 2013 budget of $1.73 billion, including $1.205 billion for general operations. Cost-saving measures being proposed include two furlough days for most employees and a district-level hiring freeze. Nancy Badertscher
Peachtree Corners to swear in council
Peachtree Corners will host a swearing-in ceremony Sunday afternoon for its new mayor and city council members.
Mike Mason, Phil Sadd, Jay Lowe, Alex Wright, Jeanne Aulbach, Lorri Christopher and Weare Gratwick will be sworn into office at 2 p.m. at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.
The ceremony will take place in the hotel’s Hunnicutt Ballroom. Joel Anderson
Volunteers to build playground at school
Gwinnett County’s Nesbit Elementary School is in line to have a new playground built Monday. A huge volunteer effort -- involving 675 DIRECTTV employees, dealers and partners and more than 100 PTA members, will be joining forces to help construct a playground. They’ll be working with KaBOOM, a national non-profit dedicated to preserving children’s play. The project kicks off about 9 a.m. at the school at 6575 Cherokee Drive in Tucker. Nancy Badertscher
Aurora to host big band concert
Aurora Theatre will host a big band concert and dance event at 550 Trackside on the evening of April 27.
The “Swing into Spring” concert and dance, which will include a live performance by the Metro Jazz Club, will start at 8 p.m. The event will be held at 550
Tickets are $18. Parking is free. Information: 678-226-6222 or www.auroratheatre.com. Joel Anderson
Shredding event at Coolray on Saturday
A Norcross-based company has announced a free shredding event at Coolray Field to celebrate Earth Day.
Recall, which has partnered with Gwinnett County and the Atlanta Braves, will host the event from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Information: www.recall.com. Joel Anderson
NORTHSIDE
Forsyth to discuss Cumming water contract
Forsyth County commissioners delayed discussions on a new water contract with the Cumming Tuesday and voted to have talks today. Commissioner Pete Amos, who operates A&A Water Company in Cumming, recused himself after declaring last week he would participate. The county’s contract to purchase water from the city expires in late May, and Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt has said he intends to raise rates to the 47,000 county customers if a new agreement is not reached. Today’s meeting is at 2 p.m. at the Forsyth County Administration Building. Patrick Fox
Fulton schools to start budget process
Fulton County Schools is beginning its budgeting process for fiscal year 2013.
Proposals will be discussed on considerations for the debt service, school nutrition and special revenue funds on April 17 at the monthly board meeting.
Public hearings on the budget will be held on May 8 and 17.
The 2013 fiscal year budget is scheduled to be adopted in June. D. Aileen Dodd
Canton to take up car rental tax May 3
The Canton City Council plans to reconsider at its May 3 work session a proposal to charge a 3 percent excise tax on rental car companies. The council tabled the proposal for the second time at last week’s meeting. The plan could force rental car companies to move outside the city, said opponents. The city’s original plan was to use funds from the tax to subsidize rent for a year for start up companies downtown. Mayor Gene Hobgood said Wednesday the city is refining that plan before the council takes it up again next month. Jeffry Scott
River Eves orientation to be May 7
Rising kindergarten students, as well as new students, are invited to orientation at Fulton County’s River Eves Elementary from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 7. Students and parents will have an opportunity to meet key administration and teaching staff, tour the school, see a “real” kindergarten classroom, meet other elementary school students and, perhaps, at the top of the wish list, sit on a real school bus. River Eves Elementary is located at 9000 Eves Road in Roswell, Georgia. Nancy Badertscher
Spinal injury recovery facility to open
Project Walk Atlanta will host a grand opening ceremony for its new Spinal Injury Recovery Facility at 1755 Grassland Parkway, Alpharetta from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday. The ceremony includes an open house and facility tour. RSVP by Friday to jpickard@projectwalkatlanta.org or 678-200-9559. Information: www.projectwalkatlanta.org or 770-722-4239. Kenneth Musisi
Roswell Garden Club to hold plant sale
The Roswell Garden Club will hold its second annual Plant Sale on the grounds of Historic Smith Plantation on May 5, from 8 a.m. to noon. Pass Along Plants, heirlooms, natives, and drought-tolerant species will be available along with many more. Parking is available at Roswell’s City Hall, 38 Hill Street in Roswell. Information: www.roswellgardenclub.com Bob Howard
ATLANTA
Residents can get help with energy bills
Fulton County residents having trouble paying energy bills can get help through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Appointments can be made with the Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority by calling 404-320-6715 or 404-320-0166. All LIHEAP funds must be spent.
Offices are in south Fulton, north Fulton, intown Atlanta and the DeKalb County portion of Atlanta. Applications require a driver’s license or state identification card, a social security card, proof of income for each family member and a current energy bill. Information: www.facaa.org. Johnny Edwards
District 5 to hold tire roundup
Residents of communities in Atlanta’s City Council District 5, including East Lake and Cabbagetown, are invited to take part in the district’s eleventh annual tire round-up on April 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents of District 5 can drop off all discarded automotive tires for free at 815 Old Flat Shoals Road. Due to capacity limitations, the event is reserved for District 5 neighborhoods only.Information: office of City Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong at 404-330-6048. Jeremiah McWilliams
$125,000 raised to fight ovarian cancer
More than $125,000 was raised to fight ovarian cancer at the “Second Shaken, Not Stirred Gala”, presented by Northside Hospital.
The money was raised to support the efforts of the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance to fight the disease. Shelia M. Poole
NAACP branch to hold networking mixer
The Atlanta Branch of the NAACP will host a wine tasting and networking mixer themed, “Connecting Generations,” from 7 p.m. – midnight Friday at the Art on 5 Art Gallery (fifth floor) at 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the venue.
Information: Mary Ross at mary@naacpatlanta.org or 404-756-5447 and www.naacpatlanta.org. Kenneth Musisi
DEKALB
Man denied bond in wife’s killing
A DeKalb County man accused of fatally shooting his wife and injuring her cousin last month was denied bond Wednesday. Jason Bryant was arrested March 7 and charged with murder and several counts of aggravated assault a day after his estranged wife, Angelina Bryant, served him with divorce papers, authorities said.
Police say Bryant, 26, shot Angelina Bryant at the Windchase apartment complex in the Pine Lake area, then shot Trina Nwoke, seriously injuring her. He was arrested later in the day picking up his son from a Gwinnett County school. Nwoke remains hospitalized . Marcus K. Garner
School district wants input on calendar
The DeKalb County School District is surveying public opinion on three attendance calendar proposals for the next school year.
All three include Wednesdays that are an hour shorter to give time for teacher training, with students released early. The proposals shift the number of days in each semester, but maintain the same total of 180 days.
The proposals were generated by a committee including parents, teachers, principals and district office staff. See the proposals for the 2012-13 calendar and vote online: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/calendar/proposed.html. The deadline to respond 5 p.m. today.Ty Tagami
Family therapist to talk at Decatur school
Terrie Moore, a Decatur-area family therapist with over 35 years’ experience, speaks tonight on “Parenting in the Middle School Years – Peer Pressure, Drugs and Alcohol.” The talk is 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Renfroe Middle School’s media center, 220 W. College Ave. in Decatur Among other topics she’ll discuss how risky behaviors are initiated, along with what tempts students and how parents can help teens make good choices. A short PTA-sponsored reception follows the talk. Bill Banks for the AJC
Electronics recycling event on Saturday
The Stone Mountain Rotary and Stone Mountain Park are teaming up this Saturday to offer electronics recycling at the park. Gear will be accepted inside the East Gate entrance between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the park, which is allowing free parking Saturday for those who bring at least one item to recycle. Accepted items for free recycling include cell phones, microwaves, computers, stereos and MP3 players. There is a $5 fee for television sets and computer monitors.
Large household appliances such as refrigerators or dryers are not accepted.
Information: 404-433-6509 or 404-433-0498. April Hunt
County to hold job fair on Saturday
DeKalb County Workforce Development, is hosting a job fair Saturday featuring several local firms that are hiring.
The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Road in Decatur.
Firms present will include Comcast, Fed Ex, Manpower Staffing, Fidelity Bank, Hormel Foods, Randstad Staffing and others. Attendees should pre-register at the Workforce Development website at www.dekalbworkforce.org. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Fulton County jailer explains hiring freeze
A federal judge has demanded Fulton County explain its jail hiring freeze, a violation of a consent decree. But Chief Jailer Mark Adger said that while the freeze creates red tape, it’s not the main reason why cellblocks aren’t fully staffed. Stress and low pay lead to high turnover, and replacing jailers takes months, he said. For every vacancy, the jail must submit a freeze-lift form, and if funding gets cut for a salary, the sheriff must seek permission to make a hire. But Adger said finding replacements usually takes longer than getting around the hiring freeze. Johnny Edwards
Henry school lunch prices increase
The Henry County Board of Education voted April 9 to increase school lunch prices ten cents across the board for the 2012-13 school year. Under the new plan, breakfast for students will cost $1.25, while lunches are $2 for kindergarten through fifth grade and $2.10 for grades 6-12. This year’s lunch pricing, including costs for those who qualify for reduced breakfast and lunch, can be viewed on the school system’s web site at www.henry.k12.ga.us. Monroe Roark for the AJC
Peachtree City set to open up future plans
As part of a revision of its Comprehensive Plan, Peachtree City will host a Kick-off Celebration Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at City Hall. The ONE Peachtree City plan involves updating and improving city amenities and services for future generations. Plans and exhibits will be set up in the Community Room, and a series of open houses and roundtable discussions will help identify specific needs. A website and brochure explaining the program are at www.ONEPTC.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
College Park councilman recognized
College Park Councilman Ambrose Clay has been awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Organization to Insure a Sound Environment during its semi-annual meeting held in Washington, DC.
Clay delivered a report entitled “NextGen -- The Community Perspective”, which describes a new aircraft navigation system being introduced across the U.S. and around the world.Clay routinely works with the FAA to adjust flight departures and their impact on communities surrounding the airport. John Thompson for the AJC
Ladies Night Out in McDonough tonight
Main Street McDonough is hosting a Ladies Night Out today from 6 -9 p.m. on the historic square. Shopping, dining and a raffle for a free gift basket give-a-way are featured. Tammy Joyner
Clayton State Theatre to open play
Clayton State University will host opening night of the play “I Love you, You’re Perfect, Now Change” on at 7:30 p.m. at Clayton State Theatre, room 132, University Arts & Science Building. The audience will be able to talk with cast members following the show. Show dates: April 13-14, April 19-20. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Audience talkback will also be held after the April 19 show. Admission is free to Clayton State students and $5 for others. Tammy Joyner
