County by county news for Tuesday

Instead City Clerk Dawn Davis said the agenda meeting may take place before the 7 p.m. Jan. 20 meeting in the Community Development building, 4488 Pineview Drive, Powder Springs, but the time has not been determined yet.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org or City Hall, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

South Cobb authority meets Friday

The South Cobb Redevelopment Authority will hold its monthly meeting at 9 a.m. Friday at the South Cobb Government Center, 4700 Austell Road, Austell.

The authority has the power to issue low-interest bonds to assist private land development in South Cobb, lowering the cost of redevelopment projects, and the ability to buy, sell, consolidate or leverage land resources to spur redevelopment activity.

Information: Cobb Economic Development Coordinator Sabrina Young, 770-528-1009.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Powder Springs seeks banking consultant

Powder Springs officials are looking for a banking services consultant.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be 2 p.m. Thursday in the second floor conference room, City Hall, 4484 Marietta St.Proposals must be in by noon Feb. 3.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/index.aspx?NID=507.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

MUST store to help low-income families

MUST Ministries will open a 4,600 square-foot thrift store 10 a.m. Thursday at its Program Services Center location, 1407 Cobb Parkway North, Marietta. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Donations can be dropped at the MUST donation center, 55 Chastain Road, Suite 110 Kennesaw. Information: ww.mustministries.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Cobb libraries are open more hours

Cobb County’s larger libraries including Mountain View, South Cobb, East Cobb,West Cobb and the central Switzer Library will open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m.-6 pm. Thursdays through Saturday. Medium and smaller library hours have also changed. All branches will be closed on Sunday. Information: www.cobbcat.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kennesaw rejects bids for museum expansion

Kennesaw’s City Council last week unanimously rejected eight bids received to expand the research and education center at the city’s Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History. Bids for a 15,000 square-foot addition to the downtown museum came in above the $1.1 million budget. The city will reopen bids after reducing and redesigning the project to meet the existing budget. The expansion would allow more room for collections and railroad researchers and historians to study. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Man, woman plead guilty to Hurricane Ike fraud

John A. Wheeler and Melody Lockett Carter, who were living in Norcross in 2008 when Hurricane Ike made landfall along the Gulf Coast, have pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining federal aid as victims of the disaster. Wheeler, 57, and Carter, 49, stole more than $50,000 in disaster relief funds that were intended for real victims, U.S. Attorney Sally Yates in Atlanta said. They were allegedly assisted by Angela Pratt Avery, 44, of Lawrenceville, who is also charged and has pleaded not guilty. Wheeler and Carter pleaded guilty to one count each of theft of government money; they will be sentenced at a later date. Bill Rankin

Grayson authority elects officers

The Grayson Downtown Development Authority elected Chip Mitchell as its new chairman to replace Jimmy Norton, the inaugural leader.

The authority on Jan. 6 also elected David Sitz as vice chairman, Tommy Carraway as treasurer, and Josh Chastain as secretary.

The authority focuses on improving the downtown area, attracting new investment and fostering economic, cultural and social growth. Information: www.graysondda.org Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Heritage Center hosts Build It Green event

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will host a Build It Green event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at 2020 Clean Water Dr., Buford. Guests will build a model building with recycled materials and learn about the relationship between architecture and ecosystems.

Admission: $5, 13 and up; $3, to 12 and free for children 2 and under and GEHC members.

Information: gwinnettehc.org or 770-904-3500. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Auburn police chief resigns

Auburn Police Chief Paul Nadeau submitted his resignation to the City Council Friday. Lt. Carl Moulder has been named interim chief during the search for a permanent replacement.

No reason was given for Nadeau’s resignation.

Information:www.cityofauburn-ga.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners changes garbage day

For the month of January, garbage pick-up in Peachtree Corners will continue to be on Thursday and Friday.

Beginning February 3, garbage pick-up will be on Monday only.

Information: cityofpeachtreecornersga.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Improvements coming to Northbrook Parkway

Students, teachers and parents at a new middle school in the Peachtree Ridge cluster will benefit from a $1.7 million school safety project funded by the 2009 SPLOST program.

The project will widen 0.6 miles of roadway at the school entrance, build a retaining wall and sidewalk and install curb, gutter and flashers at the new school located on Northbrook Parkway.

The expected completion date for the roadwork is the end of July. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Alpharetta man dares police to catch him

Authorities have arrested an Alpharetta man who allegedly cut off his ankle monitor, fled to California and dared officials to catch him.

Daniel Joseph Gifford, who was under house arrest after allegedly terrorizing his sister in Athens last summer, was captured in California, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

Gifford, 28, was returned late last week to Clarke County, where he faces multiple charges in connection with the July 9, 2013,

Rodney Thrash

Pregnant woman, baby die after car wreck

Tiffany Robbins, 26, of Acworth, was making a turn from Victory Drive Saturday when she pulled into the path of a truck traveling north on Woodstock Road. Robbins, who was seven months pregnant and her 3-year-old daughter, who was in a car seat in the back of their Honda Accord, were transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.Robbins’ newborn did not survive an emergency Cesarean section, and Robbins died from internal injuries after the procedure.

The 3-year-old survived the crash. The driver of the truck was not seriously injured. Angel K. Brooks

Man dies in Cherokee wreck

A Smyrna man died in a north Cherokee County motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon. The Georgia State Patrol says Richard Seaborn Jenkins, 64, left Conns Creek Road and hit an embankment. Jenkins was dead at the scene. The Patrol says alcohol, speed and weather were not factors in the accident.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

MLK breakfast event set in Cherokee

Cherokee County’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast is 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the Northside Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. The UNITY Award will be given to a Cherokee resident who’s fostered racial/cultural betterment. Information: www.allentempleame.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Bike Alpharetta meeting on Wednesday

Bike Alpharetta is sponsoring a public forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Salud! Cooking School at Harry’s Farmers Market, 1180 Upper Hembree Road in Roswell.

The meeting is open to the public. Topics will cover activities for the current year, including the Georgia Rides to the Capitol in March, National Bike Month in May, the marking of city bike routes, and safety events scheduled throughout the summer.

Information: www.bikealpharetta.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Cherokee school wins music competition

Cherokee County’s Teasley Middle School has won $20,000 in musical instruments in a national competition. The school’s band program tallied the most online votes in the Yamaha Quest for Music Education Contest. School officials say the win will provide for the purchase of several instruments, replacing some that have been in use since the school opened in 1986. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Man shot in the back in northwest Atlanta

A man, whose name has not been released, told officers he had been looking for scrap cans around 1:30 a.m. Monday when he got into an argument with someone in the 800 block of Spencer Street.

As he walked away, he was shot, police said. The man was taken to Grady in stable condition. Investigators found shell casings at the house where the man said he was shot. Norwenzo Farrie, 29, was charged with aggravated assault.

Farrie, 38-year-old Andre Batiste and 29-year-old Amber Crawford, were also charged with possession of a controlled substance after police found marijuana inside the home.

Mike Morris

Compassionate cities campaign launches

Atlanta’s participation in the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities kicks off 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Carter Center, 441 Freedom Parkway NE. The event is free and open to the public.

Groups will engage in dialogue focusing on how to become more compassionate through local initiatives, policy and projects.

Information: www.CompassionateATL.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Regents denounce boycott of Israel

Georgia’s board of regents has joined other national higher education leaders in opposing a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

Last month members of the American Studies Association endorsed the boycott to protest Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Janel Davis

Leadership program reaches local kids

A program designed to teach at-risk high school students leadership and mentoring skills is relaunching with 120 Atlanta-area students expected to be enrolled by the end of the year.

Essential2Life works with students from Jackson, South Atlanta, Washington and Osborn high schools in their sophomore through senior years. 100 percent of participants graduate. Mark Niesse

DEKALB

Woman filed false tax returns for homeless

A Stone Mountain woman has been sentenced to three months in prison for filing false federal tax returns using stolen identities, including those for the homeless and disabled.

Cora Cadia Ford, 55, intentionally prepared each tax return from 2007 to 2011 so it would generate a tax refund, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Ford got the identities various ways, including by running a small church with her now-deceased husband, telling victims the returns would be a “gift from God,” federal prosecutors said.

Ford also was sentenced to three years on supervised release and ordered to pay $101,015 in restitution. Bill Rankin

Demolition set for ‘historic’ building

With the City Schools’ Maintenance Department moving into the new Public Works Building next month, the old maintenance building on the Decatur High campus is scheduled for demolition within two years.

The three-level building, likely erected in the late 1930s, is the oldest-remaining structure on the campus where Decatur High settled in 1921.

Following demolition the property will become part of a mixed-use development between the city and Cousins Properties, scheduled to begin in 2016 or 2017. Bill Banks for the AJC

Youth sports offered this month

The Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, offers youth sports this month: swimming, dance, gymnastics and tennis. Baseball, soccer, basketball and triathalon training begins in February.

Information: 678-812-3798.

Arlinda Smith Broady

Decatur unveils tree ordinance

Decatur unveiled a proposed new tree ordinance which, if approved, would be its first since 1989. Most dramatically the ordinance sets a community-wide tree canopy cover goal of 55 percent to be achieved by 2039. This regulation would apply to developers, including builders of infill homes, who must allow for 55 percent tree canopy coverage on all properties. The city’s current canopy is estimated at 45 percent, down from 51 percent in 1990. City Commissioners will probably vote on the ordinance during their Jan. 21 meeting.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Friends of Dunwoody Library host book sale

The Friends of the Dunwoody Library Book Sale will be held Jan. 23-27 at the library, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.

A special preview for members is 1 p.m. Jan. 23. The sale will open to the public 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 23. Most books are priced 25 cents to $2.

Information: 770-512-4640.

Arlinda Smith Broady

County to demolish public housing

The DeKalb Housing Authority is ready to move residents so it can raze the 50-year-old Tobie Grant Manor housing project and so it can be developed into a mixed-use development.

About 600 residents are being relocated this month so demolition can begin by spring. The new $34 million development will be a mix of public housing and market apartments and single-family homes on the Scottdale site. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Suspect sought in Jonesboro sexual assault

About 2:40 a.m. Sunday a man broke into a house on Sycamore Drive, sexually assaulted a female resident and stole a 42-inch television and a cell phone.

The suspect, who is described as a black male in his early- to mid-20s, between 5-foot-8 and 5-10 with a thin build and a mustache, told the woman he had a gun, but she never saw it.

Anyone with information should call the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department at 678-878-5642. Michelle E. Shaw

Power restored to Clayton schools

More than 4,300 electricity customers, including several Clayton County schools, were temporarily without power in the Jonesboro area Monday morning, officials said.

Power was restored to all customers affected in that area within an hour of the outage, Georgia Power officials said.

Three schools and the district’s central offices were affected when power went out around 10:30 a.m. During the outage, the facilities used backup generators to continue operations. Marcus K. Garner

Fayetteville hosts MLK parade and program

Fayette County Public Schools and the Fayette County branch of the NAACP will host the 14th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration parade and celebration from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday in Fayetteville.

The free events will begin at Fayette County High School and conclude at Sams Auditorium.

Information:www.fcnaacp.org/.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Mentors needed for Fayette students

Fayette County is looking for more volunteers to be part of its public school mentoring program. A roundtable presentation regarding National Mentoring Month will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 in Building A of the LaFayette Education Center, 205 LaFayette Ave., Fayetteville.

Mentors meet weekly at schools to help individual children. Details at www.fcboe.org.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry town hall meeting set for Jan. 25

Henry County Commissioner Bruce Holmes’ first town hall meeting of 2014 is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 25, at the Fairview Recreation Center, 35 Austin Road, Stockbridge.

It will feature a State of the County address by commission chairman Tommy Smith and a separate discussion of the housing market by a real estate expert.

Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Host families needed for exchange students

Fayette County families interested in hosting foreign high school exchange students this fall are being sought by the group Student American International.

The state-approved program places students in local schools and ensures that they have their own medical insurance and spending money.

Information: Jinx Ratcliffe at 770-477-1376. Jill Howard Church for the AJC