County by county news for Thursday

The police officer position will be open until Dec. 28 with a starting salary of $36,346.

The salary range for the maintenance worker is between $24,600 and $38,130.

Information: 770-943-1666 or cityofpowdersprings.org/index.aspx?NID=119. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Program to give out 4,500 gifts

MUST Ministries expects to give out 4,500 Christmas gifts at Toy Shop locations in Canton and Marietta through Friday. Low-income families registered for the annual program where parents shop for gifts for their children infant through 18. Items needed include new blankets, hats, scarves, socks and underwear.

Information: santa@mustministries.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Austell closes for Christmas noon Friday

All Austell administrative offices will close at noon Friday and remain closed through Tuesday.

However, the city’s public safety operations (police, E-911 and fire and emergency services) will be open.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Cell phones for Soldiers collection underway

Powder Springs American Legion Post 294 is joining with the nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers to collect gently-used cell phones at 3282 Florence Road, Powder Springs.

Donations will be used for prepaid international calling cards for overseas troops.

Information: 770-439-0956, cellphonesforsoldiers.com or

Carolyn Cunningham

Marietta choice deadline Jan. 18

Marietta parents will have until Jan. 18 to apply to Marietta City Schools’ choice academies.

Each of the district’s elementary schools offer different magnet programs that cater to a child’s talents and needs, administrators said.

Parents are also encouraged to tours the schools with their children.

Information: www.marietta-city.org/curriculum/programs/choice.php. Daarel Burnette II

Farmers market to operate year round

The Marietta Square Farmers Market plans to operate year round Saturdays except for a break Christmas week. A holiday market is open 9 a.m. to noon on Mill Street off the Square through Dec. 22, and reopen Jan. 5. The winter market will include 38 vendors selling Georgia grown vegetables, milk, eggs, meat, shea butter, jelly and honey. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Political Insider speaks to business group

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Political Insider Jim Galloway will speak to the South Cobb Business Association at noon Jan. 2 at Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell.

Cost is $10 for members or $20 for guests.

Information: sc-ba.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Service to honor Sandy Hook shooting victims

Peachtree Corners will host a nondenominational children’s peace service to honor those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut at 5 p.m. today at Jones Bridge Park, 4901 East Jones Bridge Road. Attendees are encouraged to wear white and bring candles for adults and bubbles for children. The event will feature prayer, singing and the reading of letters.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Simpsonwood United Methodist Church gym, 4500 Jones Bridge Circle, Peachtree Corners.

Information: jen@januzelli.net or 770-235-4641. David Wickert

Teen found shot to death in Grayson home

A teenage boy, whose name was not released, was found shot to death around 2:40 p.m. at a home in the 2700 Haynescrest Drive in Grayson, Cpl. Jake Smith with Gwinnett police said.

The death is being treated as a homicide, Smith said. No further details were immediately available. Alexis Stevens

Christmas carnival Saturday in Norcross

Lift Up Atlanta will host a Christmas carnival 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Pinckneyville Community Center, 4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross.

The event will feature a silent auction, food, a raffle, a Christmas play and other festivities. Admission is $6 and benefits Lift Up Atlanta, which provides housing, food, etc. for homeless women and children. Information: www.liftupatlanta.org. David Wickert

Fundraising for police K-9s has ended

Project Paws Alive, a local nonprofit organization, has concluded a fundraising effort to provide ballistic vests for Police K-9s with the city of Snellville Police Department. The drive ended in December 2012.

The vests help protect the dogs while on duty. Each vest is custom manufactured to fit the shape and size of each K-9.

The fundraising goal was $5,000. Kenneth Musisi

Contest supports new business ventures

The third annual Amazing Entrepreneur Business Plan Competition is accepting applications.

The initiative by Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center fosters new business development in Gwinnett.

Winners and finalists receive prizes that can be used during the critical early phases of their new ventures. Deadline is March 31. Visit www.amazingentrepreneurcontest.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Report illegal dumping with a phone call

Citizens should report illegal trash dumping on the side of the road to Gwinnett Solid Waste and Recovered Materials Division at 770-822-7141. To report illegal dumping into storm drains call the Stormwater Management Division at 678-376-7193.

Have on hand the date and time of the dumping and description of the person and vehicle involved.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Extension service plant sale taking orders

The Gwinnett Cooperative Extension Service plant sale is March 21. It will feature locally grown plants. Pre-paid orders are being accepted through March 12 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.

Information: www.gwinnettcounty.com and look for the Extension Service under Community Services.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Former PTO treasurer pleads guilty to theft

Jamie Garfield, former PTO treasurer at Cumming Elementary School pleaded guilty to stealing more than $32,000 from the organization and was sentenced to 15 years’ probation Wednesday. Garfield, who stole the money during the 2009 and 2010 school years, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft by taking and immediately paid $10,000 in restitution and must pay the remaining stolen money over the term of her probation, officials said.

Garfield also must do community service and she is prohibited from handling money for groups in the future. Christopher Seward

Canton crossing guard struck at school

Crossing guard Michelle Hale, 42, of Canton, was struck by a minivan early Wednesday morning in front of Hickory Flat Elementary School, 2755 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton, according to police. She was taken to North Fulton Hospital with leg injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.

The minivan driver, Alexander Hopkins, 18, of Canton, was cited for driving with an obstructed windshield and obedience to a traffic controller, police said. Fran Jeffries

City launches permit update site

Sandy Springs has launched an online tool called Permit Go! that allows users to access a spreadsheet that provides updates on a project’s status through the permitting process, including information on deadlines and a list of departments involved.

The link can be found at www.sandyspringsga.gov, in the Community Development department area.

The city also has quicker turnaround times for permit reviews for minor residential additions and remodeling, major renovations and commercial construction. Patrick Fox

Trail system expansion in the works

Woodstock’s multi-use trail system looks to be on the road to expansion.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Tuesday awarded a contract to Georgia Development Partners, LLC of Atlanta to construct the Downtown Spur and Noonday Creek trails, with money coming from the county’s 2008 park bond issue.

Work is expected to start early in 2013. Cost of the project is just under $1 million.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Canton recycling program underway

Canton offers a household grease recycling program to help reduce sewer clogs. Residents are encouraged to collect cooking fats, oils and greece and pour them into collection tanks at City Hall, 151 Elizabeth St., or the city’s Public Works Department, 2525 Ridge Road. The waste will be recycled to make cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel to power city vehicles.

MICHAEL ALPERT FOR THE AJC

Students look back on Depression era

Fifth grade students at Fulton County’s Eves Elementary built a replica of “Hooverville” on Monday to learn about the Great Depression. Students built shanties from cardboard boxes and duct tape, to recreate settlements named for President Herbert Hoover. They made vegetable soup for soup kitchens and stood in bread lines. Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Body found behind Midtown church

An off-duty Atlanta police officer walking his dog found a man’s body behind a Midtown church Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

The body was located shortly before 6 p.m. behind Morningside Baptist Church at 1700 Piedmont Road, according to Carlos Campos, spokesman for Atlanta police.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene, but found no immediate signs of foul play, Campos said.

The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, he said. Alexis Stevens

GSU band to march in Obama’s parade

The Georgia State University Marching Band was invited to march in President Barack Obama’s second Inaugural Parade in January.

The 140 member band, which is under the direction of Chester Phillips, is the only Georgia group on the initial list of parade participants released Tuesday by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Mike Morris

Real estate group

honors former mayor

At its annual business meeting on Dec. 14, Atlanta’s Commercial Board of Realtors made former Realtor Sam Massell the recipient of its Henry Hill Robinson Award.

Massell, a former Atlanta mayor who now serves as president of the Buckhead Coalition.

The Robinson Award is for Massell’s “outstanding leadership and tremendous contributions to the improvement of the City in general, as well as to the real estate industry in Atlanta.”

Jeremiah McWilliams

City Council donates toys to Sheltering Arms

Members and staff of the Atlanta City Council this week donated dozens of toys for children at Sheltering Arms, the Atlanta-based early childhood education program. Sheltering Arms is one of the

oldest nonprofits serving children in the state of Georgia, and supports more than 3,600 children in sixteen centers across the Atlanta area. Jeremiah McWilliams

DEKALB

Home invasion suspect killed in gunfight

A home invasion robbery suspect died overnight when he jumped out a second-floor apartment window, apparently after his intended victims opened fire on the alleged intruders.

The incident happened at an apartment complex on Lancashire Circle near Stone Mountain.

Channel 2 Action News reported that a couple with two small children live in the apartment, and exchanged gunfire with the suspects.

One of the suspects jumped out a second-story window to escape the gunfire, and hit a tree before falling to the ground and dying, according to Channel 2.

A second suspect was found several miles away in the parking lot of a shopping center on East Park Place in Gwinnett County, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. Mike Morris

Retired educators to host holiday luncheon

The Decatur-DeKalb Retired Educators Association will host their holiday luncheon at noon today in the fellowship hall at First Christian Church of Decatur, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.

Retirees from Decatur and DeKalb County schools, private and public, as well as other retired educators in the area, are welcome.

Information: 770-498-9493. Veronica Fields Johnson

DeKalb delegation to hold town halls

State representatives from DeKalb County will host two town hall meetings early next month, to get citizen input on issues.

The sessions will also be a chance for House members to get information out regarding any upcoming events or issues.

The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 3 in Maloof Auditorium in Decatur. The second session will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Porter Sanford performing arts center on Rainbow Drive, south of Decatur.

During session, the delegation will meet at noon every Monday in the Coverdell Legislative Office building in Atlanta.

Information: Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick at 678-323-7887 or dkendrick@kendrickforgeorgia.com. April Hunt

Tucker firm donations gear to DeKalb Fire

Dixie Industrial Finishing of Tucker has donated a new piece of camera gear to the DeKalb County fire department.

The ISG thermal imaging camera will replacing an outdated camera and allow firefighters to continue using the gear during blazes. The value of the camera and attachments is about $12,400. April Hunt

Decatur police moveto temp headquarters

Decatur’s police department will move into temporary headquarters at the “Wells Fargo Building,” 7500 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., in mid-January.

The move is necessitated by renovation of the old Beacon Hill site, which will begin in January and should be finished by April, 2014.

Also, Municipal Court will move into the Callaway Building at 120 W. Trinity in January, and the E-911 department will move to 314 Church Street in early February.

The city will spend $520,000 for updating equipment, relocating to and construction on the temporary sites. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Commissioners tighten game room ordinance

The Henry County Board of Commissioners made changes in the ordinance regarding amusement game rooms to more closely mirror state law and give officials more control. According to Police Chief Keith Nichols, Henry County has seen a growing number of complaints in recent years regarding illegal gambling and other unlawful activities, and his department has been challenged in its ability to monitor and regulate these establishments under the current code of ordinances.

Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Students hope for bikes with academics

Some students from Henry County’s Hickory Flat Elementary will learn today whether they’ll be riding into the semester break with a new set of wheels. Academy Sports and Outdoors is giving the school 30 bicycles to present to some students in third through fifth grades for academic success.

In all, 10 bicycles will be given away in each of the three grade levels. The school is on Brannan Road in McDonough.

Nancy Badertscher

Inauguration for commissioner Friday

An inauguration ceremony and reception will be held for Clayton County commissioner-elect Shana Rooks at 7 p.m. Friday at New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 7725 Highway 85, Riverdale. The event is open to the public. Tammy Joyner

‘Lights On’ for safety starts in Hapeville

Citizens on Patrol announced a new program for Hapeville neighborhoods. “Lights On” encourages residents to keep their porch light on December through January to help with neighborhood safety.

This idea was developed by the members of the Citizens on Patrol to help keep homes more visible at night. Information: Hapeville Police Department, 404-768-7171. John Thompson for the AJC

East Point seeks deputy fire marshals

The East Point Fire Department is actively seeking participants for the community deputy fire marshal program. Program volunteers will receive training in areas such as CPR, first aid, family emergency preparedness, blood pressure screening, smoke alarm installation, and community policing.

Volunteers will be provided with special uniforms and badges. They will also be provided with items such as blood pressure monitoring kits and emergency planning kits.

Volunteer fire marshals will inspect homes in the neighborhoods and train residents in emergency planning and communicate fire/crime prevention information.

Information: Firefighter Montecia Paige at 404-559-6414 or mpaige@eastpointcity.org.

John Thompson for the AJC

Position open on mental health board

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners is looking to fill a position on the Region Six Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases Regional Planning Board. The group consults with families, providers, customers and advocacy groups to identify needs and services.

Information: fjones@fayettecountyga.gov by Friday. Jill Howard Church for the AJC