County by county news for Tuesday

Austell lists SPLOST projects through 2022

Austell city officials project collecting around $6.5 million from the continuation of the one-cent sales tax, or SPLOST, for 2016-22.

Category projects include an estimated $3.9 million for transportation, $1.6 million for parks, including roof replacement of the Threadmill Complex, and nearly $1 million for public safety, including a new fire truck and police vehicles.

Information: austellga.gov/SPLOST2016. Carolyn Cunningham

Hearing to cover air base study

A public workshop on a Dobbins Air Reserve Base joint land use study is planned 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday July 9 at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle. The meeting, sponsored by the Cobb Community Development Agency, will include issues concerning air quality, light, glare, noise, vibration and traffic. Information: www.dobbinsjlus.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Holiday fire damages Cherokee home

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services officials say a July 4 blaze heavily-damaged a home at 128 Bear Cave Trail in the Towne Lake area. Fire crews arrived shortly before 3 a.m. to find the home’s deck on fire. Despite knocking it down quickly, firefighters say the blaze caused heavy damage to the back of the home. Nobody was hurt.Mark Woolsey

Smyrna to hold meeting on tax renewal

Smyrna will hold a public hearing 7-9 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 2800 King St. on proposed SPLOST projects. The city hopes to get $51 million if the Cobb County Commission renews the local sales option tax July 22 and voters approve it in November. The list includes replacing a fire station and road improvements on Spring Road at Cumberland Boulevard, Concord Road at South Cobb Drive and Windy Hill Road.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Cooperative Extension Centennial Celebration

The Cooperative Extension Centennial will be celebrated 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Green Meadows Preserve Park, 3780 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs at Old Hamilton Road.

This free event is being hosted by the University of Georgia Extension Cobb County staff with picnics welcome.

Activities will include a bluebird trail guided walk and tours of the Cherokee Garden, the historic Period Garden, the new organic orchard, bee hives and the community garden.

Information: 100years.extension.uga.edu/content/extension100.html or UGA Cobb Extension, 770-528-4070.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Lilburn to present development plans

The Lilburn City Council will hold a public information meeting regarding a proposed mixed-use plan for the north corner of Killian Hill and Arcado Road at 6 p.m. today at City Hall, 76 Main Street. The Lilburn Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposal on June 26. The Lilburn City Council will consider the application at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Lilburn City Hall. Information: www.cityoflilburn.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth property taxes to increase

Duluth property owners will not incur an increased millage rate, but increased property taxes by 8.15 percent over the rollback millage rate due to an increase in revenue from reassessments of property value. The current and proposed millage rate is 5.991 mills. Public hearings are 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Monday at Duluth City Hall Council Chambers, 3167 Main Street. Information: www.duluthga.net, 770-476-3434 or tlynn@duluthga.net.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Sugar Hill offering fitness boot camp

Sugar Hill is offering Fitness Boot Camps at 5:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays on the lawn behind City Hall for all fitness levels in a collaborative, positive environment at $5 per session. Information: Scott Andrews at 770-945-6716 or sandrews@cityofsugarhill.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Children invited to read with therapy dogs

Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement Center is offering a chance to read with therapy dogs at Paws and Pages 1 to 2 p.m. July 19 at 684 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville. Special guests include Crash Dog who came from the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. Children of all reading levels and abilities invited. No advance registration needed. Information: 770-339-3200. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth extends Eddie Owen contract

Duluth has extended their agreement with Eddie Owen Presents at the Red Clay Theatre for five more years. Owen, the founder of Eddie’s Attic in Decaturwill continue to host Eddie Owen Presents as it brings national, regional and local musical talent. Information: www.eddieowenpresents.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners named ‘City of Ethics’

The Georgia Municipal Association has recognized Peachtree Corners as one of the state’s ‘Cities of Ethics,’ a program developed to encourage cities to adopt and adhere to key ethical principles and a local ethics ordinance. The ordinance must contain definitions, prohibited conduct and due process for officials accused of violations in areas such as financial disclosures, conflicts of interests and outside employment as well as penalties for city officials who violate the ordinance. Each city is required to apply for recertification every four years. Information: www. peachtreecornersga.gov.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

School budget hearings set in Cherokee

The Cherokee County Board of Education will hold hearings on the district’s proposed 2014-2015 budget at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Canton High School auditorium, 111 Academy St., Canton. The $347.7 million general fund budget, up from $321.1 million last year, includes hiring teachers to reduce class sizes from kindergarten through fifth grade and also eliminates remaining furlough days for district employees. The budget calls for keeping the district’s current millage rate, as well.

Marsk Woolsey for the AJC

Canton finalizes city manager choice

Canton City Council approved Ward III Councilman Glen Cummins as city manager last week. Cummins had been serving as interim city manager since January, and was named the sole finalist for the position in June. He will be paid $120,000 annually. The Council will call a special election for Nov. 4 to fill Cummins’ unexpired term. Mark Woolsey

Cherokee students in ARC program

Eight Cherokee County School District high school students have been picked for the 2014-15 Model Atlanta Regional Commission program where students learn about how the agency brings local governments together to address transportation, water supply, land use and other issues. The students will attend ARC meetings, do hands-on exercises and will provide input on regional issues.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Northside group seeks accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies wants to hear from Johns Creek residents as it weigh accreditation for ChatComm, which serves Johns Creek and other north Fulton communities with public safety radio communication. Offer comments by phone 1-3 p.m. July 21 at 404-843-6615. E-mailed comments can be sent to: calea@calea.org. CALEA is looking to rate ChatComm on administration, operations and policies and procedures.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Roswell sets Civil War reenactment

The Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau and Barrington Hall Museum plan a reenactment of the 1864 Union occupation of Roswell and the arrest of local textile mill workers on federal treason charges all day July 12 and 13 at Barrington Hall, 535 Barrington Drive and on the nearby Town Square, with the arrest reenactment at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. both days. Free. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

School district to hold millage hearings

Forsyth County Schools officials have set hearings on the proposed 2014 millage rate for 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. July 17 at the Forsyth County Board of Education and Professional Development Center, 1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming.

Officials propose maintaining the current millage rate of 16.30, raising property taxes to 0.172 percent above the rollback rate. Estimated tax hike for a home with a $250,000 fair market value, about $15.82 a year.

For non-homestead property with the same valuation, $17.26 annually. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Bus service to serve apartment residents

Residents of the Rolling Bends Apartments in northwest Atlanta, will have access to affordable public transportation starting Wednesday .

Apartment residents can sign up for rides on two bus routes that will travel 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of each month to a local Walmart Supercenter and laundromat in northwest Atlanta. The fares are $2 round trip for adults and $1 for children.

Northwest Youth Power, a nonprofit organization that holds an after school program at Rolling Bends, will provide the two 15-passenger vehicles, and assist with other costs until December. Afterward, committed partners and donors will be needed to expand the initiative to more neighborhoods by funding fuel expenses and drivers, and providing more vehicles.Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Math tutoring program awarded grant

Math is My Friend Inc., a nonprofit agency that provides math training to students was awarded a $10,000 grant from the TechFoundation.

The program will purchase netbook computers to enable program students to do required online sessions.

Information: www.mathismyfriend.org or 770-383-1093. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Choral Guild holding auditions

The Choral Guild of Atlanta is holding auditions for its upcoming 75th anniversary season.

Auditions will take place at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church, 1978 Mount Vernon Road in Dunwoody. Auditions will be ongoing on an individual basis as arranged between the singer and director.

Proficiency will be determined by the director but an average skill level or better is desired. Performers of all voice parts are encouraged to audition.

Rehearsals begin on Aug. 18.

The guild will perform concerts throughout its 2014-15 season to commemorate its anniversary.

Information: auditions@cgatl.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

DEKALB

Briarcliff and Lakeside join forces for cityhood

Leaders of movements to create cities of Briarcliff and Lakeside announced an alliance Wednesday night that could result in a proposal for a combined city.

The unnamed Briarcliff-Lakeside city would border Tucker, another area that’s seeking to become a city in DeKalb County.

The courtship between Lakeside and Briarcliff is in the early stages, but the two communities will try to draw borders they can then present to the state Legislature for approval next year.

After Briarcliff and Lakeside decide on a map of their city, they could begin negotiations with Tucker over borders.

Proposals for the cities fell apart in the Legislature earlier this year following negotiations over overlapping maps, but Auman said he hopes lawmakers will approve the cities if they agree on boundaries. Mark Niesse

DeKalb police academy class graduates

Twenty-three new DeKalb County police officers received their badges and were sworn in at graduation ceremonies Thursday at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur.

The new officers underwent 26 weeks of training at the academy. They will complete an additional eight to 12 weeks of field training following graduation.

Thursday’s ceremony was the 99th academy graduating class. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Ministry to present stage play ‘Jaded’

Gospel of Faith Worship Center will host the summer stage production “Jaded” at 7 p.m. July 26 at 3897 Covington Highway, Decatur. Doors open at 6 p.m.

“Jaded” is a coming-of-age play about faith, family values and facing one’s fears.

Tickets: $20. Information: www.nkeyproductions.com or 404-484-5419. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Input sessions set for renovating schools

City Schools Decatur has set two dates for residential input sessions on the renovation and new construction of Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High.

Architects and design personnel, selected by CSD, will field questions and suggestions Aug. 14 at the high school and Aug. 19 at Renfroe.

Design plans for both schools should finish by late fall/early winter, with Phase I construction on the high school — most likely new classrooms — beginning in January. Bill Banks for the AJC

School TV station goes mobile

The DeKalb County School District is making its in-house cable TV news station available on the mobile platforms Android and iOS.

The educational access channel, PDS-TV24, is now available for airing on tablets and cell phones. It will carry live programming such as school board meetings.

The content was previously available on computers via web streaming.

Information: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us,

, Instagram.com/dekalbschools or on Twitter @dekalbschools.

Ty Tagami

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton County official to lead state education group

Sid Chapman, president of the Clayton County Education Association, has been sworn in as the 29th president of the Georgia Association of Educators. Chapman has been a member of the GAE since 1997 and held several roles with the association, including a dozen years as leader of the Clayton County Education Association. He said he will continue the GAE’s focus on the state’s new teacher evaluation system and push for restoration of the 180-day school calendar and better funding for local school districts.

Wayne Washington

Summer health focus of center workshop

A workshop for older persons to learn how they can protect their health during the summer, particularly if they have diabetes, will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at the H.J.C. Bowden Senior center, 2885 Church St., East Point.

The workshop will offer 10 safety tips for older persons to take care of their diabetes at home and on the job during the hot summer months. Seniors will also receive information on proper diet, hydration and personal care. Information: 404-762-4821. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Session on coping with mental illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness will host a peer-to-peer education class 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Jodeco Road United Methodist Church, 1500 Jodeco Road, Stockbridge.

Those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness may learn how to live with it, how to talk with others about it and how to cope with family members. Free

Information: asstprofbrown@comcast.net or 770-686-4197.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Historic commission to meet

The Stone Mountain Historic Preservation Commission will hold its next scheduled meeting Wednesdayat City Hall, 922 Main St.

The commission meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Its purpose is to protect the historical, cultural and aesthetic heritage of the city. Property owners seeking to make changes to their properties located in the historic district must get on the commission agenda at least two weeks prior to a meeting.

Information: www.stonemountaincity.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Fayette seeks recreation advisers

Fayette County’s Recreation Commission has two volunteer openings. The five-member board meets monthly to review and evaluate programs, facilities and policies in order to make recommendations about ongoing needs. One term expires in March 2016 and another in May 2018; contact fjones@fayettecountyga.gov or call 770-305-5102 to apply by July 18.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Lake Peachtree talks continue

Members of the City Council of Peachtree City and the Fayette County Board of Commissioners met on July 2 to discuss plans and timetables for restoring Lake Peachtree. The county has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permission to proceed with dry-dredging the lake, which is expected to be completed by January 2015. Jill Howard Church for the AJC