County by county news for Thursday

Funeral services for Pastor Dwight Graves, president of the Cobb chapter of the SCLC, are set for Friday in Marietta.

Graves, 64, died Jan. 10. In addition to his work with the SCLC, Graves was the senior pastor at Emmanuel Tabernacle Christian Church in Marietta. Graves’ funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Zion Baptist Church, 165 Lemon Street in Marietta. A wake at the church begins Thursday at 6 p.m.

Information: 770-427-8749 Janel Davis

Stoner to hold town hall meeting today

State Sen. Doug Stoner, D-Smyrna, will hold a town hall meeting today for residents in his district.

Stoner will discuss issues being addressed by the state legislature and the impact on the local community. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Vinings Bank, 4135 Atlanta Road in Smyrna. Information: 404-463-2518 Janel Davis

Health district worker to be honored

Darlene Foote, communications director for the Cobb and Douglas Public Health district, will be honored today at the White House as a “Champion for Change” for her work on community preparedness.

Foote, a retired Air Force master sergeant, will be one of 17 people recognized for work they are doing to improve their communities. Janel Davis

‘Hairspray’ opens 2012 Encore Series

The 2012 Encore Series at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta begins Jan. 26 with a performance of “Hairspray” by Pebblebrook High School.

The show runs Jan. 26-29 and Feb. 2-5.

The rest of the season features performers Peter Noone, Chubby Checker, Jay and the Americans, the Coasters, the Platters, the Marvelettes and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. Info: 770-528-8490 orTicketmaster.com. Andria Simmons

Austell gets $400,000 grant for streets

A portion of Austell’s downtown district should be upgraded by summer or fall -- mainly with state money.

Around $400,000 has been awarded to the city from a state Livable Centers Initiative Transportation Grant, said Jim Graham, the city’s director of the Community Affairs Department.

An additional $109,000 will be paid by the city’s special purpose local option sales tax or SPLOST.

Graham said Broad and Mulberry Streets around City Hall and the police station will get new sidewalks, street lights and landscaping. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Car, tractor-trailer crash kills one on I-85

On person was killed in a crash on I-85 near Boggs Road during the evening rush hour Tuesday, Gwinnett County police said.

A small passenger car hit the back of a tractor-trailer, police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith told the AJC.

There was one fatality in the car, he said. The person’s name has not been released.

Since the accident was blocking several general-purpose lanes, the State Road and Tollway Authority opened the Express Lane to all traffic free of charge. Angel K. Brooks

Baby burned, in critical condition

An 11-month-old girl was hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after she pulled a pot of hot liquid onto herself while at home.

The girl’s family was en route to the hospital when they spotted a fire engine stopped at a red light near Dacula and Fence roads at 5:02 p.m. The father brought the baby to the firefighters. She had extensive burns to her whole body. The firefighters recognized the child’s condition was critical and transported her to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

Firefighters are investigating, said Gwinnett Fire Lt. Eric Eberly. Andria Simmons

Judgeship candidate to hold fundraiser

The Committee to Elect Norman Cuadra for State Court Judge will be hosting a Campaign Fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Old Historic Courthouse at 185 Crogan Street in Lawrenceville.

The Campaign Fundraiser kicks off Cuadra’s campaign to be elected for the next Gwinnett County State Court judgeship. Cuadra is a municipal court judge, former prosecutor, former law enforcement officer and he has been a litigator for 17 years.

Info: normancuadraforjudge@gmail.com or normanforjudge.com. Andria Simmons

Group to present black history exhibit

The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County will sponsor a black history exhibit Feb. 1 through Feb. 29 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. The free exhibit will focus on African American women of valor in Gwinnett. The justice center is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. David Wickert

Circus clowns to perform at library

The Ambassadors of Laughter clowns from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus will perform at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 27 at the Hamilton Mill Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library, 3690 Braselton Highway, Dacula.

The free program will feature interactive storytelling. For information visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154. David Wickert

Gwinnett Place CID to hold open house

The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District will host an open house on its Gwinnett Livable Centers Initiative study from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Gwinnett Place mall in Duluth. For information, visit www.gwinnettplace cid.com. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Sandy Springs deputy fire-rescue chief resigns

Sandy Springs Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Dennis Ham has resigned his position from the department citing health and personal reasons. Ham joined the Sandy Springs Fire Rescue Department in 2006.

Senior Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Jeff Scarbrough and Assistant Chief Mark Duke will assume additional responsibilities to fill the role, said Fire Chief Jack McElfish. Patrick Fox

Group frustrated with Cherokee spending

The head of the Citizen’s Committee that has advised the county on ways to cut its budget this year, Carolyn Cosby, expressed frustration at Tuesday’s public hearing before the Cherokee County Commission on the county’s proposed 2012 budget .

Cosby’s group has urged the county not to spend money in a bond approved by voters in 2008 to build such projects as an aquatic center. Cosby told commissioners Tuesday she disagreed with the budget and again urged the commission to follow the committee’s advise and use unspent bond money to pay down county debt. Jeffry Scott

Illinois man arrested on child sex charge

A 66-year-old Illinois man was arrested Wednesday morning in north Fulton County after he allegedly drove 700 miles to have sex with a minor, the FBI said.

Undercover investigators tracked down Michael A. Isacson, of Manteno, Ill., through Internet conversations, FBI Special Agent Stephen Emmett said. Alpharetta police assisted the FBI with the investigation.

Isacson was arrested in Alpharetta and charged with attempted sexual exploitation of a minor child, Emmett said. Alexis Stevens

Restaurants offered ‘green’ webinar

Fulton County restaurant owners interested in being designated a “green” operation -- by reducing waste, saving energy, using safer chemicals, banning smoking and using environmentally-friendly materials -- can take part in a webinar offered by Fulton Health Services on Thursday from 3 to 3:40 p.m. The webinar will go over the benefits of Green Restaurant Association certification.

To register, log-on to https://apps.banckle.com/meeting/meeting?id=138752806, or call the conference dial-in number at 712-775-7400, participant code 796561#.

Johnny Edwards

Sandy Springs accepts ‘playable art’

The Sandy Springs City Council has accepted as a gift six pieces of “playable art” for the Abernathy Greenway. The gift comes through a $300,000 grant from Northside Hospital.

The six sculptures will serve as visual elements in the city’s landscape and are designed as hands-on entertainment for children.

The project is a joint effort by the Sandy Springs Conservancy, the Sandy Springs Arts Council and Northside Hospital.

The works are scheduled to be placed this fall to coincide with the opening of the greenway. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Toyota exec, alumnus to speak at CAU

Jerome Miller, vice president of diversity and social responsibility at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., will speak at the Clark Atlanta University School of Business Administration at 11 a.m. today in the Thomas W. Cole Research Center for Science and Technology, 223 James P. Brawley Dr. As a part of the 2012 Dean’s Executive Lecture Series, Miller, an alumnus of Atlanta University, will share his experiences as Toyota’s most senior advisor on diversity issues. Ernie Suggs

Groups to hold networking event Jan. 26

Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District invite people who live, work or study in downtown Atlanta to a coffee and networking event on Thursday, Jan. 26. The event is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Georgia-Pacific Center Auditorium, 133 Peachtree St. Jeremiah McWilliams

Hawks launch poetry slam contest

The Atlanta Hawks have launched the 2012 Poetry Slam Contest for high school students who attend school within 75 miles of Philips Arena.

Students can submit either a written poem of 200 words or less, or DVD recordings of their poem, which cannot exceed 90 seconds, that captures the theme, “I Was Born This Way,” and conveys what makes them unique.

Enter by Feb. 24 at www.hawks.com/community/education_main.html, or mail to the Atlanta Hawks, Attn: Andrea K. Carter, 101 Marietta Street, Suite 1900, Atlanta, GA, 30303 or fax to 404-878-3480. Veronica Fields Johnson

Church school to hold consignment sale

Winters Chapel United Methodist Church School in Atlanta will have its annual consignment sale of “gently used” kids clothes Feb. 2-4.

On the first day of the sale 5105 Winters Chapel Road children will not be allowed inside until noon except for infants in baby slings and kids over 10 years old. The hours are 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 and 9 a.m. -- 3 p.m. Feb. 3. Rhonda Cook

DEKALB

Officer responds to wrong house, kills dog

A DeKalb County family’s dog was shot and killed Tuesday night by a police officer who went to the wrong house when responding to a domestic incident, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The officer went to Bobbie Currie’s home on Silva Court around 9 p.m. in response to a domestic dispute call with a possibly armed person.

The family’s German shepherd, which was chained in the garage, lunged at the officer, and was shot and killed, according to Channel 2.

A DeKalb police supervisor sent to the scene said an error was made by the officer made an error. The officer is not facing disciplinary action pending an internal investigation, Channel 2 said. Mike Morris

County budget panel to hold town meetings

Lee May, the DeKalb County commissioner who heads the board’s budget committee, will host town meetings this winter on the spending plan.

The first meeting will be held 7 p.m. today at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Lithonia.

The second meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, near Lithonia.

The final session begins at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Bold Beginnings International Church, 3220 Bouldercrest Road, Ellenwood.

All county residents are welcome at the meetings to offer input on the 2012 budget. The county commission must adopt a spending plan by the end of February.

More information: 404-371-4745 or email lmay@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

Sheriff returns unspent money to county

Dekalb Sheriff Tom Brown has again returned unspent funds to the county commission.

Brown will return $377,000 of his department’s $75 million budget for 2011. The money will be placed into the county general fund and may be used for the department again in 2012.

Brown has made an effort to spend less than his budget each year. Last year, he returned more than $700,000 to the county. April Hunt

Chamblee approves budget for 2012

Chamblee recently approved a 2012 budget that calls for small raises for employees and adds a senior planner to city staff.

The $14.76 million budget includes a surplus of about $600,000 and keeps the millage rate at the 7.4 rate adopted in July. The city will review the property digest in May before setting its tax rate for 2012.

To see the full budget: www.chambleega.com. April Hunt

Pipe replacement to close road at times

Decatur is replacing 36 feet of storm sewer pipe this week at South McDonough Street and Oakhurst Commons Drive, just south of the College Heights – Early Childhood Learning Center. The work’s necessary, Assistant City Manager David Junger said, because the existing pipe has rusted out and is causing a failure, or sinking, of the road surface. The road will be closed during the day, but opened at night with a steel-plate surface. Weather permitting, Junger anticipates the work’s completion sometime Saturday. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Ex-Clayton officer goes to prison for corruption

Former Clayton County policeman Jonathan Callahan is headed to prison for five years and two months on corruption charges.

In 2010, Callahan agreed to take a $1,000 bribe to protect a drug deal involving at least a kilogram of cocaine and also stole two firearms from a driver during a traffic stop. Said U.S. Attorney Sally Yates, “It is unthinkable that a citizen stopped by a police officer on our roads would become the victim of highway robbery at the hands of that officer. But this corrupt police officer’s criminal conduct was not limited to that.” Bill Rankin

Commissioner advises on State of Union

Clayton County commission vice chairman Wole Ralph is among a select group of young leaders known as the Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network who advised President Barack Obama on his upcoming State of the Union address. Ralph provided stories from real Clayton County residents for the Jan. 24 address. He also mentioned the Georgia Work Ready program and other county efforts. Tammy Joyner

Fayette program wins Pacesetter Award

The Georgia Department of Education has given Fayette County’s Exceptional Children’s Program a Pacesetter Award for the ninth consecutive year. Fayette is the only county in the state that has earned the award this many times. The Pacesetter recognizes school systems that have demonstrated outstanding efforts to improve the performance of students with disabilities. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Peachtree City offers CERT course

Applications are being accepted for the next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes in Peachtree City. The 10-week course will be held Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9 p.m. from Feb. 23 to April 26. Participants must be at least 18, sign a liability waiver and complete a background check.

The program is free but class size is limited. Apply at www.peachtree-city.org/police by Feb. 15. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

School celebrates Chinese New Year

Henry County’s Dutchtown Elementary School is set to host a Chinese New Year Festival and parade on Friday. Principal Winnie Johnson began a China initiative in which students learn and experience the culture of one of America’s global partners. The festival will celebrate that student learning experience. A parade is set for 1 p.m. The festival runs from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the school, 159 Mitchell Road, Hampton. Nancy Badertscher

Henry to hold storm spotter class

The Henry County Emergency Management Agency is offering two Storm Spotter classes on Feb. 22. The 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. classes will be will be taught by Barry Goodman of the National Weather Service in the auditorium at the Sheriff’s office, 120 Henry Parkway in McDonough. The free classes focus on spotting dangerous weather such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Registration required. Details: Shelita Broomfield, 770-288-7865 or sbroomfield@co.henry.ga.us. Tammy Joyner