County by county news for Thursday

The system’s Board of Education Tuesday unanimously voted to increase her pay and extend her contract to June 30, 2017. Lembeck, district head since 2006, will receive a total annual package of $252,137 which includes a $7,500 performance bonus, health insurance, administrative supplement and state teacher retirement benefits. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs okays $135K for updates

The Powder Springs City Council voted Monday to spend $135,000 for updates of two city documents.

Jerry Weitz and Associates will be paid $80,000 to revise the Unified Development Code.

W.K. Dickson and Company will receive $55,000 to update the Stormwater Management Plan that will result in ordinance suggestions.

This plan will expire in December, and the new one will be in effect for five years.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Powder Springs saves on road, bridges

The Powder Springs City Council approved two change orders Monday that will save the city $140,448 in special purpose local option sales tax funding on transportation projects.Baldwin Paving is charging $94,473 less to the city for the resurfacing of Brownsville Road from Marietta Street to U.S. 278 than the initial cost of $296,805 that was approved by the council in March.

Massana Construction is charging $45,975 less than the initial cost of $384,532 that was approved by the council last August for bridge rehabilitation on Brownsville, Macedonia and Powder Springs Dallas Roads.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marietta schools oppose new snack law

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education plans to ask the state Department of Education for a waiver from the Smart Snacks in Schools regulation.

The board passed a resolution opposing the new standards they believe overreaches federal authority. The board said the district already makes healthy nutritional choices for students and not every child needs to be on a low-fat diet.

The group also said the regulation will have a negative impact on school fundraisers. Information: www.marietta-city.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Pigs & Peaches fest starts Friday

Kennesaw hosts Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival 6-10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday at Adams Park, 2753 Watts Drive. Activities include a mobile zip line, Kid Zone, live music, and vendors will sell barbeque and beer. Admission is free. Information: www.pigsandpeaches.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Bids for resurfacing project due Friday

Contractors are needed to resurface nearly 7 miles of State Route 280 from the Fulton County line to Austell Road for completion by next July.

Bids are due by 11 a.m. Friday at the Department of Transportation, One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree St., NW, Atlanta 30308. Information: 404-631-1215. Carolyn Cunningham

GWINNETT

Commissioners approve stream restoration

Commissioners approved a restoration project along Bromolow Creek to reduce erosion and improve water quality Tuesday. About 800 feet of the creek plus 600 feet of a tributary and 150 feet of a storm water channel off Old Norcross Road near Chaffin Ridge/Trevino Circle in Duluth will be stabilized using natural channel-design techniques. The project will reduce suspended solids in the Beaver Ruin watershed, improve aquatic habitat and remove invasive, exotic vegetation. The project is expected to be complete in six months. Funding for the $875,277 project comes from the water and sewer renewal fund. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Snellville mayor asks city for attorney fees

Judge Warren Davis must determine whether Snellville taxpayers will pay Mayor Kelly Kautz’s attorney fees of $200,000. At issue is the law provides only for the successful side in such a case to have attorney fees covered. The case ended in a settlement last month. Snellville residents may have to pay the mayor’s fees along with $115,000 already charged by the city’s attorneys to represent the city council and city manager Butch Sanders. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Commission OKs transportation update

As part of the Atlanta Regional Commission transportation planning process, Gwinnett Commissioners agreed Tuesday to a $1.25 million project to update the county’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Majority of the funding will be provided by the ARC, with approximately $250,000 covered by 2009 SPLOST funds. The updated plan should be complete by September 2016.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Snellville looking for ghost actors

The Snellville Arts Commission will hold auditions for the Snellville Ghost Tours 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 in the Community Room, City Hall, 2342 Oak Road. Auditions open to everyone, however a parent or guardian must accompany children.

Ghosts, guides, ghost wranglers, costumers, make-up artists and others needed. Ghost Tours will take place Oct 24, 31 and Nov. 1 outside City Hall.

The non-profit is also seeking sponsors for tours.

Information: Kathleen Mardis, kathi@mardis.com or visit www.SnellvilleArts.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Civil War event at post office

Gwinnett Environmental Heritage Center will host a chance to learn about the local Civil War skirmish that occurred at the Yellow River Bridge 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 30 at 3519 Five Forks Trickum Road in Lilburn.

Visit the post office and general store and see how women and children received news of loved ones during the Civil War.

Participate in drills and rifle practice and learn how Hudson’s Guards protected the community during Sherman’s March to the Sea. $5 per person and $3 for children ages 3 to 12. Children ages 2 and under and GEHC members admitted free.

Pre-register: www.gwinnettehc.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Another cemetery vandalism case in Forsyth

For the second time in less than a month, The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating graveyard vandalism. Seven or eight gravestones were discovered pulled out of the ground or knocked over at north Forsyth’s Coal Mountain Historical Graveyard, 3369 Matt Highway, with some broken in two. Deputies seeking suspects say they’re working several leads. Vandals also attacked a historic family cemetery on Union Hill Road at Ronald Reagan Boulevard in south Forsyth in late July. If you have information in either case, call 770-781-2200. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta offers new business info tool

The Alpharetta Technology Commission has launched a new website as it tries to lure new business. Growalpharetta.com is loaded with information on the city’s business climate, workforce, infrastructure and quality of life, and is designed for location specialists and others seeking greener pastures.

The site also spells out local and state incentives available to businesses. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Sandy Springs seeks retail input with survey

The city of Sandy Springs has opened a web survey seeking resident input on the mix of retail that residents would favor as part of the City Center project.

The survey invites ideas on restaurants, specialty retail, food , health and beauty, boutiques and fashion and clothing.

The overall project seeks to transform the Roswell Road corridor with walkable streets, retail and dining, green space and a civic facility. You can take the survey at www.sandyspringscitycenter.com/retail.

It’ll stay open throughout the project planning phase.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Holy Innocents’ raises $22.5 million

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School has raised $22.5 million to fund projects including a new 59,000-square foot building with math and science classrooms, a dining hall, a robotics lab and administrative space.

The donations represent the largest capital campaign in the school’s history, according to a school statement.

Construction on the building, which is scheduled to open for the 2015-16 school year, began this summer. Molly Bloom

Senior scam workshop today

A workshop on identifying and avoiding scams targeted to seniors is set for 10 a.m.-noon today at the Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex, 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Sandy Springs.

Attorneys from the Brannon Law Firm, LLC will conduct the workshop, covering such topics as mail, telephone, e-mail and computer fraud.

Information: fultoncountyga.gov

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Northside farmers market underway

A The East Roswell Farmers Market will run from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. each Thursday into October at 8560 Holcomb Bridge Road.

Information: 678-427-8251 or email mmoller123@aol.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Clerk gets year in prison for $80K theft

Former Atlanta clerk Airiel Vrejean Wright, 26, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of theft by taking in Magistrate Court. She was also sentenced to 10 years on probation once she is released from prison.

She was ordered to pay back the $81,292.35 she stole from the city’s court system.

The investigation into Wright began in July 2012 after a customer of the court complained about getting incorrect change for a payment.

As a clerk, Wright was responsible for taking payments for citations, and investigators found that Wright pocketed the tens of thousands in cash payments over a two-year period.

A review of Wright’s transactions revealed the computer system she used had been manipulated to show payments made for less than what was actually paid. Michelle E. Shaw

Registration open for citizen police course

The Atlanta Police Department seeks participants for the upcoming Citizens Police Academy class.

The course runs Wednesday evenings Oct. 1-Nov. 12 and covers crime scenes, procedures, 911, identity theft and more. Participants must be 21 or older and metro Atlanta residents.

The Citizens Police Academy program is intended to enhance community relations. The application deadline is Sept. 19. Email: atlantacops@atlantaga.gov. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Anniversary for local organists guild

The Atlanta Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present concerts through spring 2015 for its centennial celebration.

Atlanta native Alan Morrison, head of the Organ Department at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pa. will perform on Sept. 9 at the Cathedral of St. Philip. Fall performances include distinguished artists at First Presbyterian Church, Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church; and Saint Mark United Methodist Church.

Information: www.agoatlanta.org.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

DEKALB

Annexation re-vote for Clarkston areas

A re-vote on annexation of areas around Clarkston is set for Nov. 4. Annexation was on the ballot in a special election last May when nine of 14 voters opposed it in precinct A, and 70 voters were evenly split in precinct B.

Annexation would build Clarkston’s economic viability and broaden its tax base, explained city manager, Keith Barker. The population could increase from 7,500 to 20,000.

Clarkston took DeKalb County to state court to win a re-vote opportunity.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Community clean-up Saturday

Volunteers will meet for “Community Clean-up Day,” 9 a.m. Saturday, at the Everest Institute, 2460 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur.

The event is a yearlong campaign of the South DeKalb Improvement Association, which has partnered with Keep DeKalb Beautiful and Wesley Chapel Curb Appeal Task Force.

The clean-up covers seven major thoroughfares: Covington Highway, Flat Shoals Parkway, Glenwood Road, Snapfinger Woods Drive, South Deshon, South Hairston and Wesley Chapel Road.

Information: 404-353-6519.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

CEO extends community meetings

Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee may is continuing his community meetings about the county’s past and future, and he has also added an extra session.

Three meetings are remaining, and they will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Welcome Friend Baptist Church and Tuesday at the Maloof Auditorium, and at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Dunwoody Library.

May has led the county for more than a year after taking over for Burrell Ellis, who was suspended pending the outcome of his trial next month on charges that he improperly pressured government contractors for campaign contributions.

Mark Niesse

Toy drop-off location changing

Brookhaven Parks and Recreation staff have started inspecting toys donated to local parks, said city spokesman Michael Lee.

Parents have regularly dropped-off toys at Ashford Park playground for community use at that location, but officials now prefer citizens bring them to the Lynnwood Recreation Center at 3360 Osborne Road, for a safety check.

Accepted toys will be placed in city parks. Toys deemed unsafe or broken will not be distributed.

Information: www.brookhavenga.gov.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Renfroe addition will be vertical

Jeff Prine, program manager for design and new construction of Decatur’s Renfroe Middle School, said Tuesday during a community input session, “We’ll definitely have to go vertical.

Otherwise there’s no way we can increase [the school’s] size and keep the greenspace.” Renfroe is already two stories in front, but Prine said the school may go completely two or even three stories in its re-design. Renfroe, currently near capacity with 939 students, will likely need trailers by the 2015-16 year. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Peachtree City issues crosswalk reminder

Peachtree City is reminding residents about its right-of-way rules. Pedestrians always have the right of way in crosswalks, and motorists must stop for them. However, golf carts do not have right of way, and drivers must watch for and yield to automobile traffic. Golf carts may not use highway crosswalks or sidewalks adjacent to highways, and should use tunnels and bridges instead.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette County rejects church preservation

A proposal to help restore the historic Hopeful Primitive Church fell through last week when four of the five Fayette County commissioners balked at donating a water meter to the site. An agreement drawn up by county staff and members of the nonprofit Hopeful Community Club included measures that would preserve the church and its cemetery, which date from 1825. All but Chairman Steve Brown objected to using county funds to provide the $1,500 meter. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

McIntosh principal earns state award

The Georgia Association of Educational Leaders has awarded McIntosh High School principal Lisa Fine its Jim Puckett Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for High School Principals.

GAEL selects honorees from among its members based on leadership and management skills and professional growth. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

McDonough to host scarecrow contest

The city of McDonough is inviting creative local residents to participate in its Scarecrow Showcase and Contest to be held Oct. 1 through Halloween.

The event is hosted by McDonough Main Street and the Greater McDonough Business Association.

Information: www.mainstreetmcdonough.com. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Art reception set

for Piedmont Henry

The Henry Arts Alliance and the Visual Arts Collective are hosting an art reception, Art in Unusual Places, from 6-8 p.m. Friday on the first floor of the North Tower lobby at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

The event features local artists and refreshments will be served.

Information: www.henryartsalliance.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Applications taken for housing rehab funds

Fulton County is accepting pre-applications from homeowners seeking housing rehabilitation assistance.

Apply for deferred payment loans to bring substandard, single-family, owner-occupied properties into compliance with federal regulations and county codes.

The Housing Rehabilitation Program funds are made available annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Deadline: July 31. Information. www.fultoncountyga.gov or 404-613-7944. Kent A. Miles for the AJC