County by county news for Tuesday

In 1994, Falling Water Inc. built a deck on Richard Rosenberg’s Cobb County home. In 2005, when Rosenberg walked onto the deck to inspect work being done, it collapsed. He sued, but in a 4-3 ruling Friday the court said the suit had to have been filed within eight years after the deck was built for Rosenberg to be able to pursue damages from Rolling Water. Bill Rankin

School board members to hold town meetings

Two Cobb County school board members will hold town hall meetings this month. David Morgan, who represents Post 3, will host a meeting for his area at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mableton Elementary School. Alison Bartlett, who represents Post 7 and is currently the board chair, will host a meeting at 6 p.m. March 31 at Norton Park Elementary School. Information: www.cobbk12.org

Jaime Sarrio

Kindergarten registration opens April

Cobb County will open registration for future kindergarten students on March 30. According to state law, kindergartners must be 5 years old and first graders must be 6 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be registered. Find out where your students will attend and what documents you need to enroll at www.cobbk12.org. Jaime Sarrio

Deputy sentence to life for rape at gunpoint

A former Cobb County deputy must spend at least 25 years in prison after a judge sentenced him Monday for raping a woman at gunpoint.

Jason Bill was convicted in March 11 of raping a 23-year-old woman. He was sentenced to life in prison Monday but will be eligible for parole, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Bill was convicted of rape, kidnapping and assault after a restaurant worker in Marietta accused him of attacking her. Bill denied the allegations, and defense attorneys said the woman was a prostitute. The defense claimed she fabricated the story to get a visa. Ty Tagami

Cobb bus riders face fare increase

Cobb Community Transit bus riders could see fare increases on local and express routes in a few months. Officials are proposing an increase of 50 cents for local fares to $2.50, and increase express fares $1 to $5.

Cobb last raised CCT rates in November. The county is facing a $28 million budget gap, and the fare increases would generate about $1 million a year.

The county must complete a fare review and hold public meetings before the fares are changed. Target date for the fare increases is June 1. Janel Davis

Powder Springs puts rules on signs

Powder Springs residents are facing stricter regulations regarding their yard sale signs.

Requiring city permits, these signs must be approved by the city’s Community Development Department.

However, permits are not required for weekend directional signs if they are placed on private property, posted after 3 p.m. Fridays and removed by 11:59 p.m. Sundays. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Two elementary schools get new principals

Veteran principals have been appointed to lead two elementary schools next school year.

The Gwinnett school board has appointed Patrick Elementary Principal Margaret Ackerman to move to Chesney Elementary in Duluth. In addition, Corley Elementary Principal Paula Cobb will lead Taylor Elementary in Lawrenceville.

The moves are the result of retirements. Both principals will start at their new positions on June 1.

Cobb has been a Gwinnett Schools employee since 1999. Ackerman has been working in the district since 1986. D. Aileen Dodd

Reception today for student artists

A reception will be held todayto celebrate the talent of student artists with work on display at Gwinnett Schools’ Suwanee headquarters.

The “Tapestry” exhibit, in its third week, features the creations of students in Archer, Berkmar, Brookwood, Central Gwinnett, Duluth and Grayson neighborhood school clusters as well as those attending the Grayson High Technical Education program. An artist’s reception will be held at 6 p.m. at 437 Old Peachtree Road NW. D. Aileen Dodd

Duluth’s citizens budget panel gets to work

Duluth’s third annual Citizens Budget Committee series begins this week. The sessions are designed to give citizens a detailed look at city finances so they can recommend what officials should do when revenues are down. The meetings will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Thursday through April 28. To register, email Susan Weber at sweber@duluthga.net. Patrick Fox

Open House on changes for Ga. 120

The Georgia Department of Transportation will hold an open house on construction along Ga. 120 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Duluth Festival Center, 3142 Hill St., Duluth. The session will provide information on the proposed realignment of the highway from the railroad crossing turning north onto Main Street, then west to the intersection at Hill Street. David Wickert

$500 challenge to for Gwinnett cleanup

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful will sponsor a Great American Cleanup Gwinnett Challenge now through May 15.

The program awards prizes for tree planting, litter cleanup, graffiti eradication and other beautification projects. Seven $500 cash prizes will be awarded. Neighborhood and tenant associations, school groups, churches and other civic groups are eligible.

Information: www.gwinnettcb.org. David Wickert

Gwinnett Place CID annual report online

The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District’s annual report is available for viewing on the district’s website. A community improvement district allows property owners to tax themselves to pay for road construction and other improvements. The Gwinnett Place CID was formed in 2005 in the Pleasant Hill Road area near Interstate 85. To view its annual report, visit www.gwinnettplacecid.org. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Roswell, Decatur mayors lead bike ride to capitol

The Metro Atlanta Mayors Association and event sponsors will host more than 1,000 cyclists from metro Atlanta for the sixth annual “Georgia Rides to the Capitol” event today. Police-escorted rides will depart from Decatur and Roswell in the morning, led by Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd and Roswell Mayor Jere Wood.

The event is held to raise support for improved conditions for cycling. Participants should preregister at www.GeorgiaRidesToTheCapitol.org. Estimated departure times from originating cities are: Decatur at 10:45 a.m. and Roswell at 9:45 a.m. Patrick Fox

Auburn student from Roswell found dead

Foul play is not suspected in the death of a 20-year-old Auburn student from Roswell found dead Saturday night in an off-campus townhouse, the Lee County (Ala.) coroner said.

Jessica Lynn Foshee’s boyfriend last saw her alive Saturday around 5 p.m. when he left their DeKalb Street residence. He told Auburn police he returned around 10 p.m. to find Foshee unresponsive, coroner Bill Harris said. Foshee “is known to have some medical issues and there were no signs of trauma or foul play,” Harris said. Christian Boone

Crabapple school to get honor Thursday

Fulton County’s Crabapple Crossing Elementary will receive the platinum level award Thursday from State School Superintendent John Barge. The award is given to a school that makes adequate yearly progress (AYP) three consecutive years, has at least three percent of its students exceeding standards and at least 98 percent meeting or exceeding standards on the CRCT. Nancy Badertscher

‘Race to Nowhere’ screened at Riverwood

Sandy Springs Education Force (SSEF) will be screening “Race To Nowhere” at Riverwood International Charter High School on Thursday and Friday.Teachers and administrators can attend at no cost on Thursday. Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit Sandy Springs public schools. The film, among other things, looks at cheating and the rise of stress-related illnesses and burnout. Link to attend Thursday: http://rtnriverwoodhigh324.eventbrite.com. Link to attend Friday: http://rtnriverwoodshigh325.eventbrite.com Nancy Badertscher

Rec center hours change to save money

To save money, the Forsyth County Parks & Recreation Department is closing Central Park Recreation Center on Sundays and changing the hours Fridays and Saturdays, effective April 1. Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.;Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Sunday. Jeffry Scott

International Day at Johns Creek library

African drums and storytelling, Latin cuisine cooking, a Chinese brush stroke demonstration, photography of Icelandic volcanoes and Indian dancing will be among the offerings at the first Johns Creek International Day on Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road.

Information: 770-360-8820 or www.afpls.org. Johnny Edwards

ATLANTA

Grady High’s mock trial team wins title

The mock trial team at Atlanta’s Henry W. Grady High School has for a third consecutive year claimed the Georgia State Mock Trial Championship. Grady’s team defeated the Jonesboro High School team on Saturday and went on to defeat Clarke Central High School on Sunday to become state champions. The team will represent Georgia at the National Mock Trial Competition May 4 -8 in Phoenix. Nancy Badertscher

Bond pays tribute to

civil rights workers

Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond paid tribute to former civil rights workers who have contributed to the newly-published civil rights history book “Hands on the Freedom Plow.” The 11 Georgia honorees, all members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the civil rights era, along with 41 other women, wrote about their experiences in the book during that turbulent moment in American history. Ernie Suggs

Man, 81, gets life for molesting girl

An 81-year-old Atlanta man has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually molesting a 6-year-old girl, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office said. Over a three-year span, ending in 2005, Clarence Williams forced the girl to engage in sex acts with him in exchange for candy, chips and cookies, prosecutors said. He was found guilty Friday of aggravated child molestation, child molestation and cruelty to children. An investigation revealed Williams had previously molested two other girls in the mid-1970s and early 1980s, the DA’s office said. Bill Rankin

Muslim scholar kicks off tour this week

Muslim scholar Habib Umar bin Hafiz of Yemen kick off his North American tour in Atlanta this week. He will conduct lessons on topics that include exploring Islamic identity and giving dawah. The “Tranquility Amidst Turbulence Tour” will include several stops. For a list of his other appearances go to www.habibumar.org/. He will be in Atlanta through March 23. Shelia Poole

DEKALB

DeKalb set for County Government Month

DeKalb County residents can learn about their government and how to get more involved over the new month.

In honor of National County Government Month, DeKalb will host a kick-off celebration Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the County Commission meeting.

Events are scheduled for throughout April, including a recognition day and a ribbon-cutting for the OneDeKalb Neighborhood Resource Center which is scheduled to open April 9 at Northlake Mall.

CEO Burrell Ellis will also lead a hike and a bike tour through the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve on April 16. Megan Matteucci

Residents strive to stop library closing

DeKalb County residents will gather Tuesday to strategize how to save the Scott Candler Library, which is slated to close April 1. The library board of trustees voted to close the South DeKalb branch and reduce hours at other libraries to meet a $3 million cut to the library system’s budget this year.

A community meeting is scheduled for today at 6 p.m. at the library at 2644 McAfee Road. Megan Matteucci

School board budget committee to meet

The DeKalb school board’s budget and finance committee will meet at 9 a.m. today to review policies and operations related to the budget. The meeting will be at the district’s headquarters 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain. Information: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us Jaime Sarrio

Schools to meet on math recommendations

DeKalb County Schools will hold a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 24 to discuss the new state recommendations for high school math. The meeting will be in the auditorium at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain. Jaime Sarrio

Donations asked for kidney transplant

Doraville officials hope to raise at least $60,000 in donations for Beatriz Flores, a 20-year-old woman who is suffering from renal failure and needs a kidney transplant.

Most of the $350,000 cost for the surgery is being covered by The Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Flores, however, needs help with the uncovered costs.

The National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF) is assisting Flores with her fundraising efforts. Joel Anderson

Jessica Hill president of nutrition council

Jessica Hill, director of the DeKalb Cooperative Extension, has been named president of the Georgia Nutrition Council.

Hill was installed as president at the council’s annual meeting “Bridging Research & Practice” on Feb. 24-25 in Athens. Joel Anderson

DeKalb on the way to being smoke-free?

Smokers may soon have trouble lighting in DeKalb County.

The DeKalb County Board of Health will discuss a proposed ordinance to make the county a smoke-free environment.

The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Richardson Health Center on Winn Way.

The final ordinance will have to be approved by the County Commission.

Megan Matteucci

SOUTHSIDE

Rail work to impact Peachtree City traffic

Several railroad crossings and road segments in Peachtree City will be closed to traffic over several days this week.

CSX maintenance will affect crossings at Kelly Drive and Paschall Road, possibly through Wednesday.

The Wilkes Grove Church entrance on Senoia Road will be closed either Thursday ) or Monday. Updates are available at www.peachtree-city.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Debris to be burned at Lake McIntosh site

Fayette County announced that a contractor will be burning debris at the new Lake McIntosh site starting this week. The burning is expected to continue intermittently through April 30. Residents who have complaints about smoke should call the Fayette County Water System at 770-461-1146 or water@fayettecountyga.gov. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette asked to keep math curriculum

Fayette County’s mathematics coordinator is encouraging the Board of Education to keep its integrated math curriculum.

Lynn Ridgeway and two high school math teachers led a presentation at the March 15 Board meeting, providing data showing that Fayette students are doing well with courses that incorporate algebra, geometry and statistics rather than teach each concept separately.

Greg Mason, chair of McIntosh High School’s math department, said “the world has changed,” and that integrated courses teach concepts that prepare students to solve problems on a more complex level. Jill Howard Church

Henry Senior Services get ARC grant

Henry County Senior Services received a $10,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission for a new re-hospitalization prevention initiative. Funds will help provide personal care from certified nursing assistants as well as home-delivered meals. Acceptance of the grant was approved March 14 by the Board of Commissioners. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Peachtree City pursues new road project

The City Council of Peachtree City voted recently to pursue one new road project but reject another. The Council will ask Fayette County for $1.68 million in SPLOST funds to build a “gateway bridge” on Ga. Highway 54 between Wynnmeade Parkway and MacDuff Parkway. The Council nixed a proposal to add turn lanes, roundabouts and/or traffic signals to the intersection of Crosstown Road and Peachtree Parkway. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Lung Disease Seminar at HMC April 12

Henry Medical Center will offer a Lung Disease Seminar April 12, from 7-9 p.m. in the Foundation Education Center. Topics of discussion will include lung conditions and treatment, self-management techniques and prevention information. Free smoking cessation counseling and oxygen level checks will be available following the seminar. To register, visit www.henrymedical.com or call 678-604-1040. Monroe Roark for the AJC