County by county news for Tuesday

Growth and annexation in the west side district since 2000 has led to an increase in population from 5,760 to 12, 209.

Smyrna’s population in 2010 was 51, 602.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Marietta to consider gas station rezoning

The Marietta City Council on Wednesday will consider a rezoning and 10 variances for a gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Burnt Hickory Road and Whitlock Avenue. Quick Trip is proposing to build a 5,720 square-foot convenience store and eight-bay gas station with pumps on each side. Plans also include a 315-foot long retaining wall behind the property.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Pharmacy robbed by gunman

Cobb County police are asking the public’s help in identifying a man who robbed a CVS pharmacy at 2014 Powers Ferry Road in Marietta Wednesday.

The robber entered the store at 4:23 p.m., approached the pharmacy counter and demanded specific prescription drugs as well as cash from the register. The man displayed a handgun that was tucked into his waistband.

The suspect is described as a heavyset black male about 6 feet tall, between 40 and 50 years of age wearing black plastic-rimmed eyeglasses, a black jacket and a skull cap. He wore a surgical mask to conceal his face and latex gloves over his hands, and walked with a black cane and a noticeable limp. He fled in a gold or tan sport utility vehicle. Andria Simmons

First Baptist hosts weekend events

The church choir and orchestra of the First Baptist Church of Powder Springs will present “The Wonderful Story of Christmas” at 6:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the church, 4330 North Ave., Powder Springs.

Also, the church’s Contemporary Arts Ministry will present “Candlelight Christmas in the Springs” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Information: fbcps.org or 770-943-9333.Carolyn Cunningham

Church benefit for food, clothing pantry

Powder Springs First United Methodist Church hosts Cafe Noel with all profits going to Christian Aid Mission Partnership, a food and clothing pantry in Austell.

The Christmas music shows will begin and desserts will be served at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ford Center, 4181 Atlanta St.

Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Information: powderspringsfumc.org/cafe-noel-2012-paypal or 770-943-5130. Carolyn Cunningham

Farmers market to operate year round

The Marietta Square Farmers Market operates year round 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays on Mill Street off the Square through Dec. 22, and reopen will Jan. 5. The winter market will include 38 vendors selling Georgia grown vegetables, milk, eggs, meat, shea butter, jelly and honey. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Suwanee making I-85 interchange attractive

Work continues on a streetscaping project along Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road from the new Suwanee police substation to Sawmill Road.

The project includes eleven small plazas containing benches, trashcans and abundant landscaping.

The project will include 161 elm, maple, crepe myrtle, and magnolia trees, 6,146 holly, juniper, and rose bushes, 4,255 plugs of liriope; and more than an acre of sod and should be completed by the first of the year.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners Christmas Run

The Peachtree Corners Christmas Run will begin at 7:45 a.m. Saturday at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church & Retreat Center, 4500 Jones Bridge Circle.

The event features 5K and 10K runs, a fun run/walk and a costume contest.

The event benefits the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign. Participants are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for the campaign.

To register and for more information, visit www.spincyclesports.com.

David Wickert

Work on Ga. 20 this week

Guardrail repairs will mean shoulder or median lane closures on Ga. 20 in Gwinnett County this week.

Work crews will repair damaged guardrails from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Friday, weather permitting.

The Georgia Department of Transportation urges motorists to slow down in these and other work zones.

David Wickert

Town Hall meetings to discuss Lanier safety

Buford Sen. Renee Utterman will host two town hall meetings Saturday to garner public input on a possible state amendment to make boating under the influence carry the same penalties as driving under the influence, as well as other regulations related to lake safety.

The first meeting will be from 10:30 to noon at the Gainesville Civic Center and the second will be at 1 p.m. at Buford City Hall.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Norcross remembers Rich’s store

Norcross Welcome Center and Museum will host author Jeff Clemmons 5 to 7 p.m. today to discuss stories from his newly-released book, Remembering Rich’s, about Rich’s department store.

The event includes caroling, refreshments and Rich’s famous coconut cake. Details: 678 421 2048.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Buford city employees to get raises

The Buford City Commission voted to add $88,000 to its budget to provide city employees a 2 percent pay increase.

The city had felt finances didn’t allow for raises when the budget was formulated last summer.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Body found in woods behind Target in Canton

Canton police are investigating a suspicious death after hunters found a body in a wooded area behind a Super Target at the Canton Marketplace shopping center on Cumming Highway around 9:30 on Sunday morning. There was no identification on the body, described as that of a Hispanic male between the ages of 20 and 30, according to Canton police. The body is being sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Anyone with information on the man’s identity to call 9-1-1.

Kelly Yamanouchi

Suspect arrested in Forsyth burglaries

A 21-year-old Forsyth County man was arrested Sunday night and charged with a series of home burglaries in the Bethelview Road area. Sheriffs office officials say iPads, jewelry and wallets were taken during the break-ins between Nov. 26 and Dec. 5. Authorities said Austin Thomas Schwartzenberger could be tied to two more burglaries. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Swearng-in set for commissioners

Three members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will be sworn in at 4 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming. Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Brian R. Tam will be starting his third term; District 5 Commissioner Jim Boff his second. They’ll be joined by Cindy Jones Mills, who will start her first term representing District 4. All three take office Jan. 1. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Roswell to study housing needs

Roswell, along with four other cities, has been chosen to create Georgia Initiative for Community Housing teams to analyze housing needs over three years. Roswell’s 15-member GICH team of representatives from local government, banks, real estate builders and developers, non-profit and faith-based organizations and the public housing authority will evaluate demographic changes and develop a housing strategy for presentation to the City Council at the program’s end.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Cherokee students test well

Eleventh-graders in Cherokee County Schools performed well on this year’s third Georgia High School Writing Test required for graduation. All students at Creekview High passed the two-hour test that includes 100 minutes of writing, as did 99 percent from Cherokee, Woodstock and River Ridge and 98 from Sequoyah and Etowah.

Overall, 99 percent of the district’s 2,145 juniors passed, compared to 97 percent state-wide. Eighty-eight percent of the district’s disabled students passed, compared to the state’s 72 percent. Seventy-nine percent of the district’s non-native English speakers passed, compared Georgia’s 70.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Congressman to hold telephone meetings

U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga., will hold telephone town hall meetings to gather constituent feedback.

The sessions are from 7 to 7:30 p.m. today and 9:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday. To participate: 877-229-8493. Passcode: 17849. Mark Woolsey

ATLANTA

City Council supports same-sex marriage

Atlanta City Council voted 11-2 in favor of a resolution supporting marriage for same-sex couples on Dec. 3. District 6 Councilman Alex Wan introduced the resolution during the regularly scheduled meeting.

Marriage law is determined by the state of Georgia and same-sex marriage remains illegal under the state’s constitution. Jeremiah McWilliams

Puppet company puts on Christmas show

The Piccadilly Puppets Company will put on a holiday-themed show 10:30 a.m today at the Peachtree Library, 1315 Peachtree St., N.E. “The Foxy Christmas,” about a fox and a rabbit finding the true meaning of Christmas, is for children ages 3-8.

Information: 404-885-7830.

Johnny Edwards

Cinderella gets crunk at Life Theater

Life Theatre, 1705 Commerce Dr. NW, Atlanta, will present Cinderella’s Crunk Christmas Friday - Sunday and Dec. 21-23.

A hip hop twist on the classic tale has music, dance, and drama.

Tickets: $15-25 (group rates are available). Life Theatre is a nonprofit organization serving the people of Atlanta and surrounding areas through the arts.

Information: 678-637-8338 or www.ccc1.eventbrite.com.

Kenneth Musisi

APD welcomes 29 new police officers

The Atlanta Police Department confirmed 26 men and 3 women as as new police officers on Nov. 27 at City Hall.

The graduation ceremony concluded 22 weeks of rigorous training at the Atlanta Police Academy, along with field training with veteran officers. The city set a goal of having a sworn force of 2,000 and so far 1,930 of those positions have been filled.

Also, 14 new members of the Citizens Police Academy graduated on Nov. 28. The Citizens Police Academy educates citizens on the operations of APD while obtaining valuable feedback to enhance police and community relations. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Pedestrian killed near Covington Highway

A man, who police have not yet identified, was walking along Covington Highway at about 1:30 a.m. when at least one car hit him in front of Saint Stephen Lutheran Church at Covington Highway and Wellborn Drive. Channel 2 Action News was on the scene as police interviewed drivers who stopped after the incident. Investigators told Channel 2 they were not sure how many times the man was struck or why he was walking in the area.

Police said the incident does not appear to be a hit and run.

Fran Jeffries

Groundbreaking for Public Works building

Decatur held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the $6.4 million Public Works facility renovation. New construction will wrap around the north and west side of the current 40-year-old building on Talley and Sams Streets, more than doubling the total space from its present 15,000 square feet to 36,000. When completed in September, 2013, the building will house the planning and zoning department, fleet maintenance, sanitation, engineering and school maintenance. Public Works is temporarily located at 2716 East Ponce de Leon Avenue and 811 Church Street. Bill Banks for the AJC

School board to delay first redistricting vote

The DeKalb County school board was prepared for a preliminary vote Monday on redistricting and a new five-year school construction plan, but officials announced before the meeting that the vote would likely be delayed until Jan. 7 until changes can be made.

The plan is the basis of a “Local Five-Year Facility Plan,” a document that justifies up to $40 million in state capital money. A second vote on the final draft is scheduled for Jan. 23, leaving parents just over two weeks to review it, with public information sessions expected Jan. 8-17.

The proposal is on the school system website, but will be amended in response to criticism, district spokesman Jeff Dickerson said.

View the plan at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/splost-iv, and e-mail comments to proposed-org@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us.

Ty Tagami

Rec department hosts day camps

DeKalb County’s parks department will host a winter break day camp for two weeks in the next month.

The sessions run from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from Dec. 24 to 31 and Jan. 2 to 7 at county recreation centers. Each center must have five children registered for camp to be held.

Cost for the program is $6 per day and covers children between 5 and 12. Participants must provide their own lunch and snack.

Information: 404-371-3643 or 404-371-6270. April Hunt

Parks, green committees meet

The DeKalb Parks Bond Advisory Committee and Initiative for a Green DeKalb Advisory Council will hold a joint meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the One DeKalb Resource Center, inside the lower level of Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Road, near Tucker.

The session will include an update on green space acquisitions and current parks projects.

Information: 404-371-2082.

April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Woman killed, husband hurt in home invasion

Stacy West, 42, was shot and taken to Henry Medical Center, where she died from a home invastion in the 600 block of Sowell Street in McDonough just before 2:30 a.m Saturday. Police said a man and woman entered the residence with guns and struggled with the couple. Her husband, whom police did not immediately identify but relatives identified as Chris West, was not shot but was injured in the struggle.

A 19-year-old was also in the home at the time but police said he was not injured. The case is under investigation. Christopher Seward

Breakfast features legislative issues

Georgia’s legislative priorities for 2013 is the featured topic of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce’s Early Bird Breakfast 7:45 a.m. Thursday at the Clayton State University Continue Education Building, 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow. Clayton County’s legislative delegation has been invited to speak. Cost: $15 for member and member guests; $25 for non-members. Information: 678-610-4021. Tammy Joyner

Teske to appear before senate subcommittee

Clayton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Steven C. Teske is set to testify Wednesday before the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights hearing on ending the school-to-prison pipeline. Teske is nationally recognized for his work in reducing the residivism rate of youths and was part of a juvenile justice center that works to prevent kids and their families from ending up in the court system. Tammy Joyner

Position open on mental health board

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications to fill a position on the Region Six Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases Regional Planning Board. The group consults with families, providers, customers and advocacy groups to identify needs and services. Contact fjones@fayettecountyga.gov by Dec. 21. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

‘Lights On’ for safety underway in Hapeville

Citizens on Patrol has a new program for Hapeville neighborhoods. “Lights On” encourages residents to keep their porch light on December through January to help with neighborhood safety. This idea was developed by the members of the Citizens on Patrol to help keep homes more visible at night.

Information: Hapeville Police Department, 404-768-7171. John Thompson for the AJC

Youth group launches food drive

The Fulton County Youth Commission, a group of students selected to address community issues, has begun its “Can-Paign to Fight Hunger,” a canned foods collection competition. This year’s goal is to deliver 46 barrels of cans to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Forty organizations are participating, including six schools, five businesses and the county’s police, fire, Sheriff’s, Solicitor General’s and Marshall’s departments. The deadline to fill barrels is Sunday. Information: 404-612-7386 or reginald.crossley@fultoncountyga.gov. Johnny Edwards