County by county news for Tuesday

Autopsy: Student died of allergic reaction

An autopsy determined that a Kennesaw State University student died from an allergic reaction, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday.

Tyler Cody Davis, 20, of Marietta, died Aug. 18 after eating at the campus dining hall. Davis appeared to be suffering a reaction and Cobb County emergency responders arrived on campus to treat the third-year student, who was pronounced dead after being transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Alexis Stevens

Marietta power company sees profit

Marietta’s Board of Lights and Water has transferred $5.2 million into reserves after a financial review showed profits from increased electrical use. Bob Lewis, general manager of the city-owned utility company, reported to the City Council Monday that the company is $1 million ahead of last year because the last two summers have been hotter than normal. Lewis said residents can still expect a rate increase next year because of rate increases from utility providers for sewer and water and infrastructure costs. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Meeting Sept. 21 on State Route 6 widening

Cobb Department of Transportation staff will host a meeting on the widening of State Route 6 (C. H. James Parkway).

Affected property owners may attend any time between 3 and 5 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Threadmill Complex, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Austell. SR 6 would be widened between Interstate 20 and Luke Glenn Garrett Jr. Memorial Highway to better accommodate truck traffic. Information: 770-528-3693, 770-528-1600 or email cobbdot@cobbcounty.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Book drive to benefit jail inmates

New Order, Noah’s Ark Atlanta and the Cobb County chapter of the SCLC will host a book drive 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday . The event will be at the Fulton County jail, 901 Rice St., Atlanta.

Organizers are seeking educational, motivational and inspirational works, which will be donated to the jail’s inmates.

For information: 404-901-7385 or www.noahsarkatl.com. Laurie Hoffman

Free prostate screening on Sept. 20

Free prostate screenings will be offered for men age 40 and over who have not had a previous prostate exam Sept. 20. Screening will be held at WellStar Kennestone Hospital Cancer Center, 320 Kennestone Hospital Blvd in Marietta. Appointments are required. Information: 770-956-7827. Sandra Marshall Murray

GWINNETT

Teacher faces insurance charges of fraud

A Gwinnett County school teacher faces an insurance fraud charge after she allegedly received more than $12,000 in disability pay she wasn’t entitled to, Channel 2 Action News reports. Doshia Dianetta Mears, a teacher at Anderson Livsey Elementary School in Snellville, was charged with receiving $12,739.87 in disability while she was actually working. The warrant taken out by the Georgia Department of Insurance says the offense occurred in August 2010, the month the school district said it hired Mears. Gwinnett school officials said Mears went on medical leave last month. She is free on bond while awaiting trial. David Ibata

Gwinnett welcomes 24 new firefighters

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services welcomed twenty-four new firefighters to its ranks during a special badge pinning ceremony Monday at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center.

The new firefighters, 23 men and one woman, were assigned to work in fire stations across the county. The group is the first class of Gwinnett fire recruits ever to pass state-level certification testing for both firefighter and emergency medical technician on the first attempt. Andria Simmons

Norcross approves new green initiatives

The Norcross City Council unanimously approved initiatives Monday that will strengthen funding for the city’s ongoing “green” sustainability efforts.

The five-member council voted for two stand-alone solar powered speed advisory signs and the adoption of a WaterSense Homes Incentive Policy.

The new water policy will promote use of water-efficient products and practices, including plans for the city to expedite site plan reviews and next-day site and building inspections for home builders who avail themselves of WaterSense-certified technology. Joel Anderson

EMS worker to honer Unterman

State Sen. Rene Unterman, R-Buford, will be honored this week by the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services (GAEMS) for her work on behalf of emergency medical services in the 2011 legislative session.

Unterman will receive the 2011 Star of Life Legislative Award at 10:30 a.m. today at Gwinnett County Fire Station No. 24 at 2735 Mall of Georgia Blvd. in Buford. GAEMS is a statewide organization consisting of emergency medical technicians, paramedics and EMS administrators, educators and medical directors. Andria Simmons

Gwinnett Place CID to hold workshop

The Gwinnett Place CID will host a two-day workshop on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 to provide a 10-year update on the Gwinnett Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study.

The workshops are scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ferguson Elementary at 1755 Centerview Drive in Duluth.

Professional planners, designer and market analysts will work with workshop attendees to refine the needs of the LCI study area through various interactive activities and educational sessions. Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

Fire damages one of Milton’s oldest homes

One of Milton’s oldest homes sustained heavy damage from fire early Tuesday.

Members of the Milton Fire Department were dispatched to the Seven Gables Farm on Hopewell Road at 3 a.m. The house is estimated to be 150 years old and sits near the corner of Hopewell and Cogburn roads.

Owners of the house, John and Gail Bogino, escaped the blaze, which officials believe started in the garage. The couple lost four pets in the blaze. Patrick Fox

Texas company brings hospice to Woodstock

A Texas-based health care company is expanding into Georgia with a new hospice facility in Woodstock.

Georgia Hospice, which is located at 2001 Professional Way, Suite 240, in Woodstock, will serve 12 counties, including DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett. Based in Austin, Texas, Harden Healthcare provides hospice care in six states, including Georgia, and provides other health care services in 14 states -- serving 40,000 patients a day. Misty Williams

Roads reopen after gas-leak shutdown

Two roads closed due to gas leaks were open to traffic in Alpharetta Tuesday morning.

Atlanta Gas Light crews repaired a broken pipe nicked by road construction on a portion of Shirley Bridge Road Tuesday morning between Webb Bridge Road and Clipper Bay Drive.

Late Monday, crews repaired a line that had been damaged when Fulton County crews working on a water main struck and ruptured a gas line on Kimball Bridge Road from Westside Parkway to Northwinds Parkway. Patrick Fox

Student arrested with replica of gun

A student at a Sandy Springs high school is facing charges for allegedly having a replica of a gun on campus Tuesday morning. Sandy Springs police said they received a call at about 10 a.m. about an armed person at North Springs High. School resource officers told police a student contacted his teacher and said he had seen another student at the bus stop, at the school, and then leaving the campus with what appeared to be a gun. The school was on temporary lockdown until about 10:45 a.m., police said. Fran Jeffries

Fall vegetable garden class on Thursday

Grantly Ricketts of the Fulton County Cooperative Extension will offer “Fall Vegetable Garden 101” on Thursday at the Ocee branch library in Johns Creek. The class starts at 1 p.m. at 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road. Information: 770-360-8897. Johnny Edwards

Man get prison for assault on airline flight

A Sandy Springs man who sexually assaulted a fellow passenger after she fell asleep on a flight to Atlanta was sentenced Tuesday to six months in federal prison. Ranchhodbhai Lakha, 62, also was fined $5,000. On a Sept. 28 flight from Dallas, a 20-year-old woman seated on the same row as Lakha, awoke to discover he was touching her below the waist. She told him to stop, but he reached down and touched her again, prosecutors said. Bill Rankin

ATLANTA

Meeting today on city’s new voting districts

Atlanta residents are invited to a public information session today about upcoming required changes to Atlanta’s City Council boundaries. The session will be held in City Council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 55 Trinity Street SW, starting at 6 p.m. Jeremiah McWilliams

Post 9/11 panel discussion at King Center

As part of the nationwide observances of the 9/11 attacks, the King Center will host a panel discussion on social justice and religious pluralism at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at 449 Auburn Ave. N.E.

Panelists include Imam Yahya Hendi, founder and president of Clergy Beyond Borders and Islamic chaplain at Georgetown University; and the Rev. Adam Bunnell, special assistant to the president for International and Interfaith Relations at Bellarmine University.

Shelia Poole

Artist to talk about Joe Louis kids’ book

Artist Kadir Nelson, whose works have been shown in international publications, institutions and art galleries, will talk about his illustrated children’s books including his latest, “A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis,” on Thursday at the Auburn Avenue Research Library in downtown Atlanta.

“The Art of Illustrated Children’s Literature” is a collaboration with the Little Shop of Stories and the National Black Arts Festival.

The event starts at 7 p.m. at 101 Auburn Avenue, N.E. Information: 404-730-4001 Ext. 100. Johnny Edwards

Registration Thursday for cycling event

Sweetwater Brewing Company will host a happy hour and registration rally Thursday for 24 Hours of Booty of Atlanta.

The rally kicks off at 5:30 p.m.

24 Hours of Booty of Atlanta is the 24-hour cycling event of LiveStrong, and Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Sweetwater Brewing Company is at 195 Ottley Drive, Atlanta. For information: 678-362-6228. Laurie Hoffman

DEKALB

Rapper Gucci Mane to serve jail sentence

Rapper Gucci Mane will serve six months in jail after pleading guilty to battery and other charges.

DeKalb County Solicitor-General Sherry Boston said Tuesday that Mane, whose real name is Radric Delantic Davis, pleaded guilty to two counts of battery, two counts of reckless conduct and one count of disorderly conduct.

A police report said Davis pushed 36-year-old Diana Graham out of his Hummer as it rolled down a street on Jan. 28.

He was also ordered to complete anger management classes; pay $5,091 in restitution to the woman for her medical bills; and pay a $3,000 fine. Associated Press

County schools initiate cashless payments

Starting in January, DeKalb County Schools will begin testing a new system that will allow parents to pay for children’s supplies, uniforms, field trips and other items without sending checks or cash to the school. The system will be an expanded version the program that allows parents to pay for their students meals online. Marcus Turk, the school’s chief financial officer, told the board Monday night, that parents can make such payments on the Internet. Parents who still want to pay the old fashioned way will still be allowed to do so. Rich McKay

Deadline on property taxes is Sept. 30

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Claudia G. Lawson has mailed the county’s 2011 property tax bills, with the first installment due on Sept. 30.

The final installment of taxes is due Nov. 15. Taxes not received or postmarked by those dates incur a 5 percent penalty.

Property owners also can pay at the tax commissioner’s office or after-hours at a drop box at the front and side of office, 4380 Memorial Dr. Taxes also can be paid online at www.yourdekalb.com/taxcommissioner or by phone at 404-298-4000. Information: 404-298-4000 or proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

Retired educators to meet in September

The Georgia Retired Educators Association in Decatur and DeKalb will focus its September meeting on an upcoming silent auction benefiting its scholarship program. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Decatur First Christian Church fellowship hall, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur.

More information: 770-498-9493. April Hunt

Decatur school chief to outline plans

Decatur Schools Superintendent Phyllis Edwards announced the public presentation of the 2011-16 Strategic Plan, entitled “Engagement, Equity, Excellence.” The event, also featuring Edwards’ State of the School System Address, is Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m., at Decatur High School’s Performing Arts Center. Bill Banks for the AJC

Lee May to release book on Saturday

DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May is releasing a book on the impact of faith in his life and politics. The self-published book, “My God, My Politics,” will be launched at a special discussion with the Rev. Joseph Lowery at noon Saturday at the Mall of Stonecrest near Lithonia. More information: www.mygodmypolitics.com. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

PROBE College Fair in Fayette today

Fayette County high school students are invited to learn more about college opportunities today.

The PROBE College Fair will be at Sandy Creek High School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., featuring representatives from local, state and regional colleges, universities and military institutions. Students and parents can also learn about financial aid.

Admission is free and open to the public. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Schools offer free tutoring services

Some Fulton County schools are hosting special fairs in September to promote free tutoring services made through the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The law requires certain schools to offer extra help in reading, language arts and math. The latest fairs are set for: Heritage Elementary from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; Paul D. West Middle from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 20; McClarin High from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sept. 20; Ridgeview Charter School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 26; and Banneker High School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Nancy Badertscher

Fairburn principal leaves for Abu Dhabi

Kevin Robinson, principal at Fairburn’s Creekside High School, has left the job for a new position as a “cluster manager” for Abu Dhabi Public Schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this role, Robinson said he will supervise, mentor and evaluate principals for a cluster of schools, as well as monitor school improvement. He had been principal at Creekside in south Fulton County since 2008. Nancy Badertscher

Henry holds Special Olympics tourney

Henry County Parks & Recreation will host a Special Olympics softball tournament Saturday. The Shane’s Softball Invitational, sponsored by Shane’s Rib Shack, will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Heritage Park Softball Complex, 101 Lake Dow Road in McDonough. Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. More than 20 teams from metro Atlanta are set to compete in this tournament, which is a preliminary to the state games in October. Volunteers are needed. Details: Terry Nash at 770 288-7300. Tammy Joyner

Five on ballot for Hampton City Council

Incumbents Henry Byrd, Steve Hutchinson and Arley Lowe have qualified to run to for re-election to the Hampton City Council in November. Also on the ballot will be Bud Smith and Willie Walls. The top three vote-getters will win the at-large seats. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Thrift store clearance to benefit charity

Thrift store fans can bargain-hunt and help local charities at the Clothes Less Traveled Thrift Shop Friday and Saturday.

The shop’s twice-yearly store clearance sale runs this year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A portion of sale proceeds are marked for local charities in Fayette, Coweta and other south metro Atlanta counties. The shop is at 459 Highway 74, Peachtree City. For information: www.clotheslesstraveled.org, or 770-486-8517. Laurie Hoffman