County by county news for Tuesday

Cobb joins 24 other states who have implemented similar ordinances. Janel Davis

Crossing work brings detours in Marietta

Drivers in downtown Marietta will have to detour around three CSX Railroad crossings that will close for routine maintenance starting Aug. 1. The Mill Street crossing is scheduled to close Aug 1-4; Kennesaw Avenue, Aug. 6-10 and Whitlock Avenue, Aug. 13-17. The crossing at Waverly Way will not close during restriping of the adjacent road. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Alarms available for hard of hearing

The Marietta Fire Department has free fire alarms for the hard of hearing. The alarms, that connect to a regular fire alarm, emit a low-tone sound, flash the word fire on a bedside display and shake the mattress. The department bought 270 alarms with a $47,000 FEMA grant. Information: wwww.mariettaga.gov/fire. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Senior housing opens in Acworth

A $13 million senior housing complex opened at 11 a.m. Thursday at Legacy at Walton Overlook,4645 Spring St., Acworth. Fifty-five of the 108-apartments are for low-income seniors 62 and older.

The project, a joint venture between the Marietta Housing Authority and Walton Communities, received low-income housing tax credits from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Marietta Housing opens senior complex

A grand opening ceremony is set for Thursday for The Legacy at Walton Overlook senior facility in Acworth.

The 108-unit, $13 million apartment community is reserved for seniors age 55 and over. Fifty-five of the units are set aside for residents age 62 and over whose rents will be capped at 30 percent of their incomes.

Walton Communities beat out 72 applicants to build the project, and received about $9 million in tax credits toward construction. The facility replaces obsolete public housing sites owned by the Acworth Housing Authority.

The ceremony begins at 11 a.m., at 4645 Spring Street in Acworth

Information: www.mariettahousingauthority.org

Janel Davis

Fall garden class set for Cobb residents

The Cobb UGA Extension Services staff will host a vegetable garden seminar 6:30 p.m. at Tuesday, at the office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta.

Participants will learn what can be planted for the fall garden, when to plan and how to find space for the new vegetables among the summer crops.

Reservations: 770-528-4070; uge1067@uga.edu

Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Road maintenance may affect local traffic

Road maintenance will require shoulder or median lane closures along some highways in Gwinnett County this week.

The Georgia Department of Transportation will perform vegetation maintenance along I-85, Ga. 316, Ga. 20 and Ga. 124. It also will sweep Ga. 124.

The work will be done from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through Friday, weather permitting. GDOT advises motorists to slow down in these and other work zones.

David Wickert

Peachtree Corners to host second town hall

Peachtree Corners City Council members Phil Sadd and Lorri Christopher will host a town hall meeting 7:30 Thursday at Winters Chapel United Methodist Church, 5105 Winters Chapel Road.

The meeting is the second to let residents speak with city leaders and share feedback on the city's first few months of operation. Mayor Mike Mason and a spokesperson from Walmart, which is building a new store in the area, will also be there. Joel Anderson

Pajama party, puppets and pizza

Gwinnett Parks & Rec is holding a Pajama Party with puppets and pizza for ages 5 and up 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville. Prizes and puppet-making featured. $9 per person. Registration: 770-822-5450 or www.gwinnettcounty.com by Wednesday. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Locals make donation for Minnesota floods

Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris and a group from the First Baptist Church of Duluth visited Duluth, Minn., last week to help the city recover from mid-June floods. They brought 675 pairs of work gloves collected by First Baptist Church, Howard Brothers - Duluth and other residents. Teenage volunteers with World Changers transported the gloves. Information: 770-497-5321 or nharris@duluthga.net. Joel Anderson

Gwinnett Arena ranked prominently

Gwinnett Arena, site of last spring's nationally televised NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, has been named among top venues by entertainment industry publications Venues Today and Pollstar Magazine.

Citing $7.3 million of ticket sales in seven months through mid-May, Venues Today ranked the facility fourth nationally and ninth worldwide among arenas seating up to 15,000. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Aurora theatre kicks off new season

The 2012-2013 Aurora Theatre season kicks off at 8 p.m. Thursday, with a fresh take on the classic Neil Simon musical, Sweet Charity.

Set in the 1960s, and following the misadventures of a dance hall girl with a heart of gold, this show includes the songs Big Spender and If My Friends Could See Me Now. Through September 2. www.auroratheatre.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Suspected explosives found in Canton home

Suspected explosive devices were found in a Cherokee County home Monday morning, prompting police to block off the area around the home, located in the 100 block of Woodbury Lane in the River Green subdivision in Canton, off Knox Bridge Highway.

ATF investigators were called to the home, according to a spokesman for Canton police, along with the GBI bomb squad. GBI investigators entered the home around 12:30 p.m. after obtaining a search warrant, John Bankhead, GBI spokesman, told the AJC. Alexis Stevens

Boy drowns in Forsyth apartment pool

A 7-year-old Forsyth County boy drowned in an apartment complex pool after his father pulled him out of the water, investigators said Monday.

Stephon Alston, of Cumming, was in the Centennial Apartments pool in the Windermere neighborhood Sunday afternoon when his father stepped away and went to a restroom, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said.

Stephon was pulled from water between 3 and 5 feet deep shortly after 3 p.m., police said. The drowning remains under investigation.

Others at the pool began performing CPR on the child until deputies arrived, followed by firefighters. Paramedics took over life-saving efforts and transported the boy to Northside Hospital-Forsyth, where he died.

Mike Morris and Alexis Stevens

Illegal drugs burned in Forsyth County

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office last week destroyed some 330 pounds of outdated prescription and confiscated illegal drugs. The department's first official "drug burn" was performed with a new smoke-free incinerator. The $4,250 Drug Terminator was purchased with drug seizure funds. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Teens learn about fiscal responsibility

Northside teens can learn about banking and managing their money at a free class 2 p.m. Thursday presented by Wells Fargo. "Hands On Banking: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees" is at the Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek.

Topics include where money comes from, how banking works and planning for the future. Information: 770-360-8820. Johnny Edwards

Forsyth alcohol ordinance at issue

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing about proposed changes to its alcohol licensing ordinance at 5 p.m. Thursday at the county's administration building, 110 East Main St., Suite 220, Cumming.

At issue is a $350 criminal investigation fee for licensees. Michael Alpert

Enrollment grows in Cherokee County

The Cherokee County School District opens the 2012-13 school year with 164 more students than last year and expanded services Wednesday. Enrollment is projected at 38,925.

New this year: Clark Elementary, replacement Ball Ground Elementary, and the first Fine Arts and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academies at six campuses. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Silver Wings meets on Wednesdays

The Georgia Chapter of the Silver Wings Fraternity meets 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Petite Auberge Restaurant, 2935 N. Druid Hills Rd. The organization is comprised of pilots who soloed an airplane more than 25 years ago and newer pilots and those with an interest in aviation. Guests are welcome. Information: Chapter President Bill Bell at 770-449-1364 or www.silverwings.org.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Georgia State receives adult literacy grant

Georgia State University will open a research center focused on improving adult literacy, officials announced Monday.

The Center for the Study of Adult Literacy is possible because of a five-year $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

It will focus on adults who read between a third- to eighth-grade levels and examine impediments to strengthening and growing their skills. The center will develop and evaluate methods to improve literacy. Laura Diamond

Youth orchestra accepting applications

Applications are now available for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — an elite youth ensemble which provides students an outlet to perform orchestral masterworks. Applicants must be between 13-18 and in good standing with their school's music program. All applications and fees must be submitted online or postmarked by Aug. 10. To apply: www.aso.org/asyoapplication. Kenneth Musisi

City considers pan- handling crackdown

Atlanta City Council will consider a crackdown on aggressive panhandling. Legislation introduced by Councilman Michael Julian Bond would provide for six months of jail time after a third arrest for panhandling. The legislation is geared towards Atlanta's tourism industry, which bring an estimated 37 million people and $11.4 billion to the region every year. Atlanta police told Channel 2 Action News they arrested 542 people for panhandling in the past year. Jeremiah McWilliams

DEKALB

Leadership DeKalb director stepping down

The head of a DeKalb community group that looks to educate and connect people from various parts of the county is retiring.

Sara Fountain has served as director of Leadership DeKalb for 11 years and is a 1992 graduate of its eponymous 10-month training program.

Fountain oversaw the graduation of 800 of the more than 1,050 alumni from that program in her tenure.

Caroline Moise, a former board member for the group and 2001 graduate of the program, will serve as interim director until a new leader can be found. April Hunt

DeKalb buys land for park in Oak Grove

The DeKalb County Commission recently agreed to buy about 4 acres of land for a park in the Oak Grove area of central DeKalb.

The county will spend up to $880,000 for the property on Chrysler Drive, near Briarcliff Road. The funding will come from the 2001 parks bond.

The county's initial plans call for a park and passive green space. April Hunt

DeKalb inks deal for street lights on I-20

DeKalb County recently signed a deal with Georgia Department of Transportation to handle annual street lighting and maintenance costs at the Flat Shoals Road interchange at I-20.

The state department is installing high-master lighting at the interchange and other lights nearby, but the county will be responsible for the annual cost of the service, projected to be $20,000 per year.

April Hunt

County funds south DeKalb park upgrade

The DeKalb County Commission recently agreed to transfer $16,000 from a parks bond fund to add features to a facility in south-central DeKalb.

The money will pay for buying and installing shade sails for the amphitheater at Rainbow Drive Park. The funding comes from parks bond money for that area but exceeds money originally set aside for the park development. April Hunt

Refugee nonprofit hosts speaker forum

Refugee Women's Network Inc. is sponsoring a speaker forum featuring Thanh Xuan Nguyen, co-founder of RWN, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Agnes Scott College, Letitia Pate Evans Hall, 141 East College Ave., Decatur.

RWN is a non-profit dedicated to empowering refugee and immigrant women through leadership training, education and advocacy. Registration fee for the event is $25, and will include a reception.

Information: 404 437-7767, director@riwn.org, or www.riwn.org. Sandra Marshall Murray

DeKalb police to work with FBI task force

DeKalb County recently agreed to a deal that allows county police officers to work with the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force.

The group works to identify and prosecute criminals and organized gangs responsible for murder, drug trafficking, money laundering and other violent crimes. The task force also works to apprehend fugitives.

The deal does not require any funding from the county.

April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Commissioner drops Cam Newton Drive idea

A proposal to change the name of south Fulton's Scarborough Road to honor Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton remains on Wednesday's County Commission meeting agenda, but Commissioner Bill Edwards said he has scrapped the idea. Residents were overwhelmingly opposed in two public hearings this month, saying it would cost them money to change their personal records and that Newton, 23, is too young to have a thoroughfare named for him. Newton, who has family living on the road, is a Westlake High alumnus. Johnny Edwards

Man accused of forcing boy to smoke pot

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. — A McDonough man is accused of hitting his wife and forcing a 7-year-old boy to smoke pot at gunpoint. Justin Blake Mitchell, 26, is being held at the Walton County Jail without bond since the July 12 incident.

According to arrest reports, Mitchell pointed a gun at the child and threatened to shoot him if he didn't smoke marijuana. Police say he pointed a gun at his wife's head threatening to kill her. He's also accused of robbing his wife of cash and personal property.

He faces multiple charges, icluding stealing a man's debit card and robbing another woman of personal property. The Associated Press

Fulton may slash library service hours

To chip away at an expected budget shortfall of $70 million next year, Fulton County Manager Zachary Williams will ask commissioners Wednesday to scale back library hours starting Sept. 1 to save $200,000, according to county documents.

Finance managers warned of service cuts if commissioners didn't raise the property tax rate, but facing a taxpayer backlash, the board unanimously declined earlier this month.

Williams also suggests putting off renovations to the South Annex to create a new health clinic until 2014, saving $2.4 million.

That project was added to the budget this year at the request of south Fulton Commissioner Bill Edwards.

Johnny Edwards

Henry schools set open house for Thursday

The Henry County School System will host open house 1-3 p.m., for middle schools, 3-5 p.m. for elementary schools and 5-7 p.m. for high schools Thursday at the respective schools. The first day of classes is Monday. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Homeowners may see insurance discount

Henry County officials say homeowners can now save 10 percent off their flood insurance premiums because Henry County Stormwater Department submitted an application to the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System outlining its strategies and diligence in exceeding the standards set by the NFIP.

Both the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have verified that these voluntary actions meet the criteria for a Class 8 rating, down two points from the default rating of 10, thus earning the discount.

The best rating is one.

Monroe Roark for the AJC