County by county news for Tuesday

Information: Cupid, 770-528-3311 or cobbdot.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

County to get new driver license centers

Gov. Nathan Deal announced in Cobb Monday that the county’s two, over-burdened driver license service centers will be replaced. A new center on Old Highway 41, Kennesaw will replace the Canton Road, Marietta center that serves 12,000 customers a month.

A second center will be built adjacent to the County Services Parkway facility that sees 13,000 customers a month. Both will have 20 service counters, 10 computerized testing stations and a lobby management system. Cobb County will build the centers and the Georgia Department of Driver Services will provide equipment and staffing. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs has part-time job opening

A part-time accounts receivable/collections specialist is needed for the Powder Springs Water Department.

The salary range is $13.04 to $14 an hour for 20 hours a week.

This employee will process final notices and disconnects of delinquent accounts and follow up on sanitation cart pickups and final bills for uncollected accounts.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/index.aspx?NID=119.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Smyrna to celebrate birthday

Smyrna will celebrate its founding with a free concert, children’s activities and fireworks show 6-10 p.m. Saturday on the Village Green, 200 Village Green Circle downtown. Banks & Shane will perform at 8 p.m. and McEntyre’s Bakery will provide a giant birthday cake.

Information: www.smyrnacity.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Food truck Tuesdays through fall in Smyrna

Food trucks have returned to Smyrna 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 30 at Taylor-Brawer Park, 3180 Atlanta Road.

More than a dozen food trucks will set up each Tuesday in the park’s lower parking lot adjacent to the playground. The event will include live music.

Information: www.smyrnacity.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kennesaw farmers market open

The Kennesaw Farmers Market will open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Adams Park soccer field parking lot, 2753 Watts Drive. The market will sell local vegetables, fruit, herbs, plants, flowers and baked goods on Tuesdays, rain or shine, through Oct. 28.

Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Flooding causes fountains, splash pads to run dry

Due to mechanical problems the cascading fountains and splash pad at Lillian Webb Park in Norcross have been shut down since July 11. The ruptured underground water line resulted in major damage to the system’s underground vault. Additional heavy rains have further damaged the fountain systems and increased the scope and complexity of the restoration process. For continuing updates on the repair process: www.norcrossga.net, under City News. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Citizens police academy seeks applicants

The Snellville police department is accepting applications for the Citizens Police Academy. The 12-week program, which takes place twice a year, starts at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 and runs until Nov. 20 at 2315 Wisteria Drive. Classes meet each 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. Topics include domestic violence, drug awareness, traffic stops, firearms training and crime scene processing. Participants will receive a tour of the Gwinnett County Jail and have a graduation dinner at the last session. Information: 770-985-3555 or rpendleton@snellville.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Garden plots available for late summer/fall

The Sugar Hill Community Gardens located at Gary Pirkle Park, 6195 Austin Garner Road still have plots available for late summer and early fall planting. Plot sizes vary and start as low as $25. Improvements underway include deer fencing for the surrounding perimeter of gardens and new, raised beds. Information: 770-831-7413.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Stuff the bus and your belly

The Norcross Cluster Schools Partnership will benefit from hungry residents at the ‘Partnering for Success B-B-Q’ noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Farmhouse 17, 138 Holcombe Bridge Road in Norcross. School supplies donatons accepted along with $10 for dinner. Information: www.norcrosscsp.org or 770-849-0078. Karen Huppertz

Lake Lanier Islands hosting clothing drive

Lake Lanier Islands Resorts will continue their ‘Give Back Thursday’ program by accepting gently used clothing Thursday, July 31 through Thursday, Aug. 7. Those bringing a box of clothing to benefit Goodwill of North Georgia will receive half-priced admission to Lanier World.

Information: www.lakelanierislands.com, search GiveBackThursday. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Free tutorial on how to download ebooks

The Gwinnett County Public Library will host a free ebook download tutorial 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 6 at the Hamilton Mill Branch, 3690 Braselton Highway in Dacula. Participants may bring their eReaders or tablets or may use a test device. Nook users should bring their Nook, laptop, power cables, Adobe ID and password. Kindle users should bring their device, Amazon account number and password. Bring library card and PIN. Information: www.gwinnettpl.org or 770-978-5154. Karen Huppertz

NORTHSIDE

Johns Creek sets meeting on road project

Johns Creek officials will hold an open house on proposed Kimball Bridge Road improvements 4:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Bridgeway Christian Academy, 4755 Kimball Bridge Road. Public Works Department staff will explain plans to widen the road to a consistent four lanes between State Bridge and Jones Bridge roads, plus add bikeable shoulders and improved sidewalks. Construction’s set to start in 2018. Information: 678-512-3200. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Winning lottery ticket sold in Cumming

Deborah Ertzberger of Cumming won $450,000 with an instant Big Money ticket purchased at a Cumming CITGO Food Mart on Pilgrim Road. She claimed the prize at the lottery district office in Duluth.

Joseph Brick of Lawrenceville matched all five numbers in the July 12 Fantasy 5 drawing and won a $366,065 prize. The ticket was sold at a Lawrenceville Exxon Food Mart on Duluth Highway. The winning numbers were: 11-14-23-27-33. Steve Visser

Cherokee school board gains new member

Kyla Cromer of Bridgemill was sworn in as an interim member of the Cherokee County Board of Education at its most recent meeting. Kromer will serve until the successful candidate in a Nov. 4 special election has been sworn in, who will fill the remainder of the term expiring Dec. 31, 2016. Cromer has announced plans to run . She replaces Kelly Marlow, who resigned following her conviction on charges of making false statements.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Milton group collects school supplies

Milton’s Better Together volunteer group is helping North Fulton Community Charities collect school supplies for its annual Back to School Health and Wellness Fair Aug. 9. Residents can drop donations off 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway. Deadline is Aug. 4. More information: wayne.boston@cityofmiltonga.us Mark Woolsey

Groups schedule river fundraiser

The Coosa River Basin Initiative, Upper Etowah River Alliance and Cherokee County Historical Society are teaming up for a fundraising “Paddling through Cherokee County History” event Sunday (Aug.3). It includes a 7-mile river paddle, historical program on a local gold mine, barbecue dinner, kayak raffle and live auction. More information and tickets: 706-232-2724 Mark Woolsey

Milton to hold green space meeting

Milton city officials will hold an open house from 7:30 -9 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite D, to discuss the city’s forthcoming “green print”, or green space preservation plan. University of Pennsylvania professor and conservation planer Tom Daniels, who will develop the document, wants public input on identifying needed public and private green space and strategies for preserving it. It’s one of several smart growth/conservation strategies the city’s undertaking. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Authorities ID man killed in southeast

The man fatally shot early Sunday inside a southeast Atlanta residence has been identified as 24-year-old Cortez Dowell.

Police said they responded to a person shot call just before 4 a.m. and found the victim in the area of Jonesboro Road and Hutchens Road. Dowell was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died.

After the initial investigation, authorities said the shooting appears to have taken place inside a residence on the 2900 block of Orchard Lane.

No other information was immediately available and the incident remains under investigation. Taylor West

Georgia Pre-K to serve 84,000 children

Georgia’s Pre-K program is entering its 22nd year, and this fall up to 84,000 children will attend the program.

Any eligible child, regardless of income, can enroll in the program, which is funded by the Georgia lottery.

Information: decal.ga.gov/Prek/PreKHome.aspx Emily Farlow

Code enforcement summit next month

The city of Atlanta is hosting a code enforcement summit for residents, 9 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave.

The goal of the summit is to communicate and explain procedures involved in restoring distressed properties to an acceptable municipal code standard. Residents will also be informed on the importance of community involvement in reporting code concerns.

Information: 404-330-6044.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Barbers on hand for back-to-school event

Free school supplies and barber services will be available to students during Fulton County’s “Back-To-School Kickoff” 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today in the Academic Complex, Barbering Department at Atlanta Technical College, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

DEKALB

Association moving forward in community

Next month, the South DeKalb Improvement Association hosts a community meeting to discuss a vision for drawing businesses to the area.

The SDIA hosts a public safety forum 6:30 p.m., today at the DeKalb County South Precinct 2842 H.F. Shepherd Drive, Decatur.

Information: kr@buildingqualitycommunities.com.

Adrianne Murchison

Avondale creates ‘permitting concierge’

With an anticipated increase in development Avondale Estates is creating a “permitting concierge,” whom city manager Clai Brown hopes to hire later this year. The job description includes processing commercial/residential building permit applications, assisting those applying for permits and scheduling inspection requests. Salary will be $32,000 to $52,000. The city’s currently averaging 25 permits per month, which Brown said is an increase over this time last year. Bill Banks for the AJC

Avondale to add city hall security

Avondale Estates city manager Clai Brown said the city will add several security measures for city hall in reaction to House Bill 60, which went into effect July 1. Primarily the city will install a camera system costing roughly $6,000. A new glass window between lobby and city offices will be constructed, and the main door separating hallway from offices will be closed, with residents entering only after being buzzed through. Total cost is less than $10,000.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Input sessions set for renovating schools

City Schools Decatur has set two dates for residential input sessions on the renovation and new construction of Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High.

Architects and design personnel, selected by CSD, will field questions and suggestions on Aug. 14 at the high school and Aug. 19 at Renfroe.

Design plans for both schools should finish by late fall/early winter, with Phase I construction on the high school — most likely new classrooms – beginning in January.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Shelter lowers adoption fees

DeKalb County Animal Services and LifeLine Animal Project are offering special adoption rates for dogs and cats during July.

All dogs may be adopted for $30 and cats for $17.76. Adopters will take home a pet that has been spayed or neutered, has had all vaccinations and is microchipped, a $200 value.

The shelter is located at 845 Camp Road in Decatur.

Information: www.dekalbanimalservices.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

School TV station goes mobile

The DeKalb County School District is making its in-house cable TV news station available on the mobile platforms Android and iOS.

The educational access channel, PDS-TV24, is now available for airing on tablets and cell phones. It will carry live programming such as school board meetings. The content was previously available on computers via web streaming.

Information: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us Ty Tagami

SOUTHSIDE

Restaurant owners robbed at home

Peachtree City police are looking for a gunman who pistol-whipped two restaurant owners Sunday in the driveway of their home on Abrell Woods Court. The victims had just left their business, the China Garden restaurant in Union City, and one was carrying a bag similar to a bank deposit bag. Someone wearing all black struck them in the head with a handgun and demanded their bag and money. The victims turned over the cash to the assailant, who fled in a large dark sedan. Anyone with information should call 770-487-8866. Mike Morris

HCPD hosts Operation Rolling Thunder

An increased police presence is expected this weekend as the Henry County Police Department hosts the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Thunder Taskforce mission dubbed Operation Rolling Thunder. It is to detect Georgia’s high-crash corridors and reduce highway deaths and injuries with a high visibility law enforcement presence.Monroe Roark for the AJC

Clayton hosts business and community expo

The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce will host a business and community expo from 3-7 p.m., Aug. 14 at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro Recreation Outreach Center, 128 Church Street.

Fifty exhibitors, Clayton County Commission Chairman Jeff Turner and other elected officials plan to attend.

The family friendly event includes childrens activities, health screenings, food tastings and a cash raffle.

Information: www.claytoncountyga.gov.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Title I parent meetings for Focus Schools

Fulton County Schools will hold a parent meeting 1 p.m. today at the Professional Learning Center-South, 3121 Norman Berry Drive, East Point on the district-wide parent involvement statement, Comprehensive LEA Implementation Plan and the Flexible Learning Program offered at Focus Schools.

Parents of students at the following schools are encouraged to attend: High Point, Esther Jackson, S.L. Lewis and Randolph elementary schools; Bear Creek, Renaissance, Ridgeview Charter and Sandy Springs Charter middle schools; and Creekside and Tri-Cities high schools.

Information: Tawana D. Miller, 404-669-8217 Ernie Suggs

Fayette renames school center

Fayette County has renamed its public school registration facility to be the Enrollment/Records Center, to avoid confusion with the city of Fayetteville’s Welcome Center. The school center is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays; and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Fridays. The facility registers new students and contains withdrawal and graduation records of former students.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Public art committee meets Aug. 4

The Fayette County Public Art Committee will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the county meeting room at 140 Stonewall Ave. West in Fayetteville. The volunteer group is developing projects to add more art to outdoor county spaces. All are welcome.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC