County by county news for Tuesday

At least 40,000 people are expected to view seven back-to-back football games, two Friday night and five on Saturday, at the 13,000-seat stadium. Costs at the gate, for ages 5 and above, are $12 for both games, Friday; $15 for five games, Saturday.

Information: corkykell.com, mceachernhigh.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

County to hold budget hearings

The Cobb Board of Commissioners will hold public hearings on a proposed $339.8 million budget at 8 p.m. today and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at 100 Cherokee St., Marietta. The board will adopt the operating fund budget 7 p.m. Aug. 26 for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. The budget, up 4.43 percent from last year, includes 3 percent, performance based raises, hiring 38 employees and reducing fund transfers from the county’s water system. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs auctions car, laptops

Powder Springs is selling a 1998 Honda Passport LX through around noon Aug. 29 when the highest bidder will be awarded. Other items are also for auction.

Bidders may register for free at the GovDeals website.

Information: govdeals.com, search Powder Springs.

Carolyn Cunningham 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 be official in the 2015 fiscal year starting July 1. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Fundraiser for Aimee Copeland on today

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

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

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

Cop Cab makes run to office of highway safety

Harris Blackwood, director of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety had a first-hand look at Snellville’s anti-drunk driving Cop Cab and applauded the police vehicle, painted as a taxi one end. Snellville Councilman Bobby Howard transformed it into a drunk driving deterrent with stickers and anti-drunk driving messages and reminders of the $10,000+ cost of a DUI. The car doesn’t give people rides, but it can be found outside places serving alcohol.

Information www.snellvillecopcab.com or info@snellvillecopcab.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn debuts international festival

Lilburn will host ‘Small Town, Big World: Lilburn International Festival,’ celebrating the cultural diversity 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13 in Lilburn City Park. Free entertainment, music, exhibits, and demonstrations representative of cultural heritage from around the world. Samples of world cuisine will be available for purchase. Information: www.lilburnevents.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Fair targets Asian American students

The Atlanta Asian American College Fair will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Sept. 13 at the Korean Church of Atlanta, 3205 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. Participants will learn how to choose, finance, and succeed in college. In addition to over 25 colleges, it features seminars on scholarships, financial aid, choosing the right type of college, SAT prep, essay writing and more. Information: www.collegefair.koreadaily.com. Karen Huppertz

Support group to help caregivers

Duluth First United Methodist Church offers two Caregivers Support Group meetings each month to provide a place for caregivers to discuss how Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia can affect a family.

Sponsored by the Health and Wellness Ministry, Caregiver Support is available the first Saturday or third Tuesday of each month. Next meeting: 7 to 8:30 p.m. today. Information: rwilliams@duluthumc.org, or 770-476-3776, ext. 115. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Mobile career lab coming to area

The Atlanta Regional Workforce Board’s Mobile Career Resource Center will visit 9:30 until noon Thursdayat the Grayson library, 700 Grayson Parkway and 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Lawrenceville branch, 1001 Lawrenceville Highway.

The Mobile Career Lab provides job seekers a computer lab, interview area, printer, scanner, and copy services, assistance with on-line job searches, resume and cover letter development, on-line tutorials, etc. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Sugar Hill Business Alliance wants you

The Sugar Hill Business Alliance meets 6:30 p.m. Thursdayat Sugar Hill City Hall to promote social interactions between member businesses, involvement in city events, and participation in Downtown Development Authority projects and initiatives.

Information: 770-945-6716, or sandrews@cityofsugarhill.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Roswell intersecton work set for next month

The Roswell department of Transportation has set a September start for a significant intersection improvement project. Crews from Summit Construction will add a westbound right-turn lane along Old Alabama Road at Old Alabama Road Connector, and will add more than 400 feet of sidewalk along Old Alabama Road between Old Alabama Connector and Roxburgh Drive under a $120,000 contract. The work should be done in October, weather permitting. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Canton sets city goals at retreat

The Canton City Council established four general citywide goals during a daylong retreat held Friday in Jasper. City officials plan to work on: debt reduction; establishing a parks and recreation management plan; economic development and a citywide master plan for development, including the downtown area. Officials appointed committees consisting of council members, city staffers and residents to begin work on all four topics, with periodic updates expected on upcoming City Council work agendas.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Sandy Springs discusses city center

The Sandy Springs City Council has set a 6 p.m. Aug. 27 meeting at City Hall, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 500, to talk about planning for the City Center project. Briefings will be held on several different topic segments, including site planning, parks and open space, the proposed performing arts center and the retail mix. The public can comment on each topic segment, but will be required to submit speaker cards before the start of the meeting.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta offering text emergency service

Alpharetta residents with Verizon or T-Mobile wireless service can now text 911 in an emergency. The city says it’s also working to extend the “Text to 911” service to AT&T and Sprint customers. Alpharetta is the first metro Atlanta municipality to offer the service. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Civic group donates to Forsyth educators

The Forsyth County Schools Special Education Department recently got a pair of donations from the Cumming Civitan Club. The first, for $1,500, was used to purchase items including a swing and chairs for autism classes at the Almon C. Hill Center. The second, for $2,500, was given to the Extended Summer School program for students with disabilities and was utilized to buy instructional materials and snacks for the students. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Assisted living project underway in Forsyth

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce says construction is underway on an assisted living and memory care facility in south Forsyth that’s expected to add nearly 300 construction and operational jobs.

Two Atlanta companies are developing The Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek, set to open in late summer, 2015.

It’ll be on Peachtree Parkway near the Laurel Springs Golf and Country Club. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Memorial for Harding Friday

A memorial celebration for Vincent Harding, an activist and confidant of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held 3 p.m. Friday in the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, 830 Westview Drive S.W.

Harding died in May at age 82. He drafted “Beyond Vietnam,” the anti-war speech King delivered at Riverside Church in New York.

The program includes tributes by Pearl Cleage and C.T. Vivian, and music performances. Admission is free.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Black male expo next month at Morehouse

The Community Council of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Morehouse Research Institute will present the 2014 Black Male Empowerment Expo at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 20 at the Morehouse Executive Center, 830 Westview Drive, Atlanta.

The free expo, which will run until 3:30 p.m., is open to males ages 18 - 38, who want to improve academically, vocationally, economically, and personally.

Participants will have access to interactive workshops, a powerful film, open forum, resource panel, keynote message, training/education service providers, health screenings, lunch, and exhibits.

Information: www.communitycouncilma.org, or call 404- 221-1222 or 404- 935-5859. GRACIE BONDS STAPLES

Grant to help introduce nutrition to children

The deadline for metro Atlanta child care learning centers to apply to the Farm to Georgia Preschool grant program is Aug. 29.

The program introduces nutrition, fresh vegetables and fruits to children through cooking demonstrations, field trips and other activities. Grants include up to $2,000 for activity support and training.

Information: 404-463-4093, decal.ga.gov/Nutrition/NutritionServicesMain.aspx.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

DEKALB

Graffiti spray-painted on schools, buses

Authorities are reviewing surveillance camera footage to find out who spray-painted graffiti and gang signs on school buses and at Stephenson Middle School, nearby Stephenson High School and at least five school buses.

Police believe the vandals spray-painted the schools and buses Saturday night in front of security cameras. Staff

Brookhaven inspects deck collapse

An old and weak ledger beam and anchor bolts attached to a deck at Northeast Plaza apartments, led to its collapse over the weekend, injuring two children and three adults.

Brookhaven chief building inspector Vince Hines and fire marshal Frank Albivu inspected the buildings on Monday.

The beam and bolts had rusted on the structure, which was built in 1966.

Brookhaven officials ordered apartment management to provide an engineering inspection of all the decks within 10 days.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Renfroe construction may begin in spring

A community input session regarding master planning and construction at Renfroe Middle School is 6:30 p.m. today in the school’s library, 220 West College Avenue, Decatur. Program Manager Jeff Prine says he hopes Phase One construction on the school can start by next spring.

Renfroe currently has 920 students and according to City Schools Decatur data is only 230 below “optimal capacity,” which it will likely surpass next year. It’s projected Renfroe will more than double to 2,225 students by 2018. Bill Banks for the AJC

Brookhaven introduces social network site

The Brookhaven Police Department has partnered with Nextdoor.com, a private social network for neighborhoods.

Residents can join private websites specific to their neighborhoods to post community information and events. The police department will also be able to post public safety and crime alerts.

Information: www.nextdoor.com.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

DeKalb Medical offers nursing scholarship

The Dr. W. Mark Coppage Nursing Scholarship Fund application period at DeKalb Medical is open through Sept. 15.

Coppage died in a car accident in 1989. Since an anonymous donor established the fund in 1993, more than $334,000 has been given in scholarships.

Applicants will be required to write an essay expressing their commitment to making a difference as a leader in the community.

Information: www.dekalbmedical.org/foundation/scholarships

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Dunwoody family 3k Saturday

A Brook Run Trail family 3K run/walk will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road.

The free event celebrates the opening of Brook Run Trail. All ages and abilities are welcome. Registration is not required. Participants should meet in the parking lot between the playground and skate park.

Information: www.dunwoodyga.gov/home

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Special zoning meeting today in Fayette County

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners will hold a special called meeting at 3 p.m. today to discuss the role of the board, the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals in rezoning discussions and decisions. The meeting will be held at the Administrative Complex at 140 Stonewall Ave. West in Fayetteville, and the public is invited to attend.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette hears fluoride debate

Two Fayette County summer interns gave a report about fluoridated water at the Aug. 14 Board of Commissioners meeting. John Hlas of Sandy Creek High School and Haider Khan of Fayette County High School researched the history of fluoride supplements and studies related to both benefits and possible harm. Fayette County spends $23,000 a year to add fluoride to the municipal water system, which is required by state law.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry hosts intersection meeting

The Henry County SPLOST Department will hold a public information meeting regarding the East Lake Road and Hwy. 20 intersection improvement project 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 28, at Timber Ridge Elementary School, 2825 Hwy. 20 in McDonough. The meeting will be “open house” format where people can come to view the plans and ask questions. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Peachtree City invites tax input from public

The City Council of Peachtree City will hold two public hearings regarding a proposed millage rate increase for 2014.

The city wants to raise property taxes by 1 mill but keep the bond rate the same. Hearings will be held 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Free CERT training classes begin in Sept.

Henry County’s Emergency Management Agency along with the Henry County Fire Department will be hosting two Community Emergency Response Team training classes starting in September at the Henry County Emergency Operations Center in McDonough.

The free 20-hour course is open to participants age 18 and over who live or work in Henry County and can pass a criminal history background check.

Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Holmes hosts town hall meeting

Henry County Commissioner Bruce Holmes’ next town hall meeting is at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Fairview Recreation Center, 35 Austin Road in Stockbridge.

The meeting will focus on opportunities within the Commissioner Bruce Holmes Youth Foundation’s mentoring programs, Project Exposure and Project Blossom.

It is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.

Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC