County by county news for Thursday

Stevens was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, and was listed in serious but stable condition.

The driver of the Infiniti, 54-year-old Patrice Jeter of Woodstock, was taken to the hospital for observation, and was in stable condition Both southbound lanes of Cobb Parkway were closed after the incident, but have since reopened. Mike Morris

County OKs custom inspections facility

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract with YLH Construction Co. to build a $799,000 customs inspection facility at Cobb County Airport-McCollum Field in Kennesaw. An expected 40 to 50 flights a month from out of country will land at the airport after the 2,900 square-foot facility opens next year. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Council annexes property islands

The Marietta City Council has voted to annex 19 parcels of property on Lower Roswell Road and Kipling Drive. The property, between Roswell and Powers Ferry Roads, is in the northwest section of a larger island or unincorporated Cobb County land that is surrounded by the city. The property will retain its commercial zoning. The annexation will tbe official in the 2015 fiscal year starting July 1. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Museum reschedules helicopter rides

The Marietta Museum of History has rescheduled helicopter rides at the museum’s Aviation Wing for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at South Cobb Drive and Atlanta Road, Marietta. Last month’s event to raise money for the museum was canceled. Blue Ridge Helicopters will give an aerial tour of local sites for $40, cash only. The helicopter can seat up to three passengers. Information: www.mariettahistory.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Fundraiser for Aimee Copeland on Tuesday

Cobb Executive Women host an evening with Aimee Copeland 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Mansour Center, 995 Roswell St. NE, Suite 100, Marietta.

Copeland will share her story of faith and survival from flesh-eating bacteria that led to amputation of her hands, feet and entire right leg.

Proceeds benefit the Aimee Copeland Fund to support her medical needs, rehabilitation and school tuition. Cost: $25.

Information: aimeecopeland.com, cobbchamber.org/events.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Businesses needed for internship job fair

McEachern High School and Chick-fil-A Leader Academy host an Internship Job Fair 3:45 p.m. Wednesday , 2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs for students who are enrolled in the work-based learning program.

Businesses are invited to conduct real-world student interviews that may result in an internship or job with their businesses for McEachern students or simply give advice to students. Reservations are due by Monday. Information: Joshua Ford, 770-222-3732, ext. 280. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Ad agency doubles space, plans for future growth

Luckie & Company, an advertising and marketing solutions agency, will move to 3100 Breckinridge Boulevard in Duluth. The site positions Luckie & Company within the Greater Gwinnett Place Opportunity Zone. Luckie & Company will more than double its 3,600-square footage facility to 10,000-square-feet, to accommodate their expansion from seven to 50 employees. Luckie & Company is the second technology company in months to announce its location and expansion in the Greater Gwinnett Place Opportunity Zone. Information: www.luckie.com or www.gwinnetteconomicdevelopment.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Norcross zone can mean tax credit

Norcross businesses within the Norcross Opportunity Zone may qualify for a job tax credit of $3,500 for each full-time job to be applied toward corporate income tax liability, prior to claiming withholding. Businesses must create at least two new jobs within a tax year. . Information: www.norcrossga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Hearings on residential developments moved

Snellville city officials approved a plan to move the Planning Commission’s public hearing of two applications from Lynwood Development Group and Brand Properties for residential developments near Eastside Medical Center from Aug. 26 to Sept. 23. The move was made in order to give the recently hired independent reviewer more time to analyze the applications, allow officials to make comment on the proposals and allow the applicants to provide more information. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Unified Development Code ready for review

Duluth citizens may view the rough draft of the new Unified Development Code at www.duluthga.net. Choose Departments, Planning and Development, then Zoning and Development code update. Emails comments, concerns or questions to ratkinson@duluthga.net.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Compost and fall gardening class

The Norcross Community Garden will host Master Gardener Beth Powell to discuss how to plant a fall garden and techniques to turn fall leaves and food scraps into compost 10 a.m. Saturday next door to the Norcross Community Center, 10 College Street. Register for this free class: nonijoharris@att.net.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Therapy dogs ready to snuggle with readers

The Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement Center will host Paws and Pages 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the center, 684 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville. Children of all reading levels and abilities are invited to sit and spend time sharing a book with a therapy dog. Special guests include Crash Dog from the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. No advance registration needed. Children should not be allergic or fearful of dogs and must be able to sit quietly for a 10- to 15-minute reading session. Handlers are all volunteers and their dogs are registered, certified and insured through Therapy Dogs International. Information: 770-339-3200. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Utility co. scams targeting Roswell residents

Roswell Police are warning of a recent rash of phone scamming. Commonly, someone claiming to represent a utility company will call, threatening to shut off service without immediate payment, or a purported police officer will call, using words like “ticket,” “arrest” and “jail.”

Police say legitimate government agencies and utilities don’t do business that way. They’re asking callers to hang up, then call the utility at a verifiable number, and Roswell Police at 770-640-4100. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Woodall sets town hall meetngs

U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga., plans a pair of town hall meetings later this month. Gwinnett residents can meet with him from 7-8 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. A Forsyth County session is set for 7-8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the University of North Georgia-Cumming Campus, 300 Aquatic Circle, Cumming. Mark Woolsey

Teen driving course offered in Forsyth

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office offering teen driving courses Sept. 18 and Nov. 20 at 3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming. Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E (Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Errors) is a free two-hour course to help parents and teen drivers on their learners permits learn what to do during supervised practice driving time. Information: forsythsheriff.org/programs-2/p-r-i-d-e

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Express lanes to be constructed in fall

The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to build optional toll lanes along I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties this fall. Express lanes on 29.7 miles will include two reversible lanes on I-75 from Akers Mill Road to Hickory Grove and on I-575 from I-75 to Sixes Road. Two new lanes will be west of the existing lanes from I-285 to I-575. The $834 million project is expected to be completed in March 2018. Information: www.cobbcounty.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Library book sale planned in Cherokee

Friends of the Cherokee County Public Libraries will host the Hickory Flat Public Library book sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the library, 2740 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton.

Fiction and nonfiction paperback, hardback and children’s books will be on sale, along with DVDs, CDs, books on tape and VHS tapes. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Little River cleanup planned in Cherokee

The cities of Woodstock and Holly Springs, the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, Rivers Alive and the Upper Etowah River Alliance will team up to clean up stretches of the Little River Oct. 11.

Volunteers should wear old shoes, clothes that can get dirty or wet, and heavy work gloves. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, water and coffee will be provided. More information: lori.forrester@ccwsa.com. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Man gets 6 life sentences for rape

A man convicted of sexual assaulting two women in 2011 has been sentenced to six consecutive life terms plus 50 years in prison.

Kendell Lawrence, 25, was found guilty Monday of kidnapping, rape, aggravated sodomy, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the sexual assaults. He was sentenced shortly after the verdict was rendered.

According to authorities, both women were abducted and assaulted a few hours apart on Dec. 8, 2011, in the area of Old National Highway in south Fulton County.

Both women were assaulted by two men at the same abandoned home. The second suspect, Deantwan Allen, is still awaiting trial. Michelle E. Shaw

Libray hosts book sale fundraiser

Friends of the Northside Branch Library are holding a book sale 2-6 p.m. Thursday at the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, 3295 Northside Parkway.

Most books were donated by the local community. They’re priced from 50 cents to $2. Sale proceeds are used from library programs and materials.

Information: www.afplweb.com.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Housing agency to hold HARP town hall

Mel Watt, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and other housing experts will hold a forum with community leaders on eligible homeowners for the Home Affordable Refinance Program at 11 a.m. today at Ebenezer Baptist Church, in the Martin Luther King Sr. Community Resource Complex, 101 Jackson St., N.W.

More than 34,000 metro Atlanta homeowners are eligible for HARP. Info: www.fhfa.gov. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

DEKALB

Master Planning session tonight

A master planning session discussing needed capital improvements for accommodating growth at Decatur High and Renfroe Middle Schools is 6:30 p.m. today in the Decatur High School Performing Arts Center, 310 North McDonough Street.

Much of the session will include architects and a design personnel listening to community input.

A second input session is 6;30 p.m. at Renfroe ADDRESS, with presentations of proposed master plans and Phase 1 concepts scheduled for Sept. 24 (Renfroe) and Sept. 25 (DHS).

Bill Banks for the AJC

Comment sought on charter proposal

The DeKalb County School District will hold five public meetings to solicit comment about a proposal to convert the district into a charter system.

Georgia is encouraging school districts to consider a change to charter oversight or another system the state calls “IE2” by next summer.

The meetings will be at 6 p.m. at the following high schools and dates: Lithonia High on Aug. 26, Lakeside High on Aug. 27, Dunwoody High on Aug. 28, Towers High on Sept. 2 and Stephenson High on Sept. 3.

Information: www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Charter-Schools. Ty Tagami

Trail closes after wall collapses

A trail section along North Fork Nancy Creek will be closed until at least Aug. 23, Brookhaven officials said. Several days ago, a retaining wall collapsed causing 10 large barriers to fall into the creek.

The trail will remain closed to the public as the concrete barriers are removed.

Information: www.brookhavenga.gov.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Blog ranks Brookhaven ‘most exciting’

Movoto Real Estate blog has ranked Brookhaven as the most exciting place in Georgia. The California-based real estate company used U.S. Census data and determined the city has a higher percentage of young adults than Atlanta, more nightlife and arts per capita.

Other cities in Movoto’s top 10 included Atlanta at no. 2, followed by Marietta and Duluth. Savannah and Decatur ranked nos. 6 and 7, respectively. Roswell rounded out the top 10.

Information: www.movoto.com.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Nature Center hosts butterfly festival

The annual Butterfly Festival will be held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Dunwoody Nature Center. Along with butterflies, birds and reptiles, there will be games, crafts, live music, magic and food concessions.

The Nature Center parking lot will be closed. Park at North Atlanta Church of Christ, 5676 Roberts Drive where shuttles will run continuously.

Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children; free for children ages 3 and under.

Information: www.dunwoodynature.org.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Lovejoy High, Clayton’s first ‘No Place for Hate’ school

Lovejoy High School students and faculty will celebrate on Monday the school’s designation as a “No Place for Hate” school. It is the first Clayton County school to receive the honor. The school completed a year of anti-bias and anti-bullying programs. Representatives from the Anti-Defamation League will present the school with its official designation banner. The event will be held at the school, 1587 Mcdonough Road in Hampton. Over 200 schools in the southeast participate in the No Place for Hate campaign. Tammy Joyner