County by county news for Tuesday

The county school system celebrated the grand opening of North Cobb High School’s new Ninth Grade Academy on Thursday.

The freshman academy is intended to relieve crowding at the high school, which opened in 1958. It’s also supposed to ease ninth graders from middle school into high school. They’ll eat lunch at the academy and take the majority of core classes there, joining older students for elective courses and activities. Ty Tagami

Kennesaw mayor town hall meeting tonight

Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews will give a city update and talk about the budget at a town hall meeting, 6:30 p.m., tonight at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Dr. Kennesaw residents will have a chance to ask questions and also learn about city programs, policies, safety and services. Information: 770-424-8274 or www.kennesaw-ga-gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Animal control to host an adopt-a-thon

Cobb Animal Control will host an adopt-a-thon from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 10 at the shelter at 1060 Al Bishop Drive in Marietta.

Participants will enjoy vendors, food, animal rescue groups, police K-9 demonstrations, raffles, special adoption rates and meet the new staff veterinarian. Another adopt-a-thon will be Oct. 8. Info: cobbcounty.org/animalcontrol. Andria Simmons

KSU working with firm on banking app

Kennesaw State University is working with TreasureCom, a high-tech start-up company, to develop an app to allow people to conduct their banking through mobile phones. College officials also announced Monday that Microsoft will give Kennesaw State $25,000 to establish the Mobile Application Development Lab where professors and students can create the new tools. These ventures were conducted through the university’s new incubator, the International Center for Innovation in Technologies.Laura Diamond

County holds workshop for potential contractors

Companies and individuals interested in doing business with Cobb County are invited to a workshop Wednesday hosted by the Cobb County Purchasing Department. The meeting will include discussion of the county’s bid processes, available contracts and eligibility. The meeting runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cobb Safety Village, 1220 Al Bishop Drive in Marietta.

RSVP at: 770-528-3317; inger.eberhart@cobbcounty.org Janel Davis

New Powder Spring police state to hold open house

An open house and ribbon cutting for Powder Springs’ new police station has been set for Aug. 22.

The event will be held from 5-7 p.m. at 1114 Richard D. Sailors Parkway in the former Ace Hardware next to Publix.

The new $1.4 million station was relocated from the downtown district on land that was purchased for $1.2 million.

Information and RSVP: reception@cityofpowdersprings.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Chamber business expo, job fair on Thursday

The Gwinnett Chamber Business Expo and Job Fair will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Convention Center at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth.

The event will allow business people to cultivate new customers and give job seekers a chance to meet corporate recruiters. It also features free educational seminars and a silent auction.

Attendance is free but registration is required for the job fair. To register or for more information, visit www.gwinnettbusinessexpo.com. David Wickert

Rep. Woodall meets with constituents this week

U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Lawrenceville, will meet with Gwinnett County constituents at three town hall meetings this month:

-- 7 p.m. today at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Auditorium, 75 Langley Dr., Lawrenceville.

--11:30 a.m. Aug. 20 at Duluth High School, 3737 Brock Road, Duluth.

--7 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Snellville City Hall Community Room, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville. David Wickert

GMC to hold community health fair

Gwinnett Medical Center will sponsor a community health fair Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Gwinnett Technical College, Busbee Center, 700 Building, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville.

The event will feature free health screenings, educational booths and seminars on nutrition, fitness and stress management. A continental breakfast will be provided.

The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit www.gmc-rsvp.org. David Wickert

Septic tank workshop on Thursday

Learn how to maintain your septic tank Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. The class is put on by the Gwinnett County Extension Service and taught by Robert Brannen. Nancy Badertscher

County offers composting workshop

The Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources will offer a gardening/composting workshop from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Auditorium, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

Those who attend and who live in unincorporated Gwinnett or the City of Lilburn will qualify for a 5 percent stormwater utility fee credit. To pre-register, send an e-mail with your name, address and phone number to dwrswreg@gwinnettcounty.com or call 678-376-7126. David Wickert

Volunteer Night a Coolray Field Aug. 25

The 12th Annual Gwinnett Great Days of Service will kick-off with Volunteer Night at Gwinnett Braves Coolray Field on Aug 25 . Participants will receive a special ticket price of only $5 to the Gwinnett Braves game against the Norfolk Tides.

Info: www.gwinnettgreatdaysofservice.org,

or nicolelove@gwinnettcoalition.org Kimmie Morgan

NORTHSIDE

Ball Mill Creek Bridge on Spalding closed for work

The Ball Mill Creek Bridge, on Spalding Drive, is closed for repairs. Weather permitting, the bridge will reopen in approximately six weeks.

An underwater inspection of the bridge, built in 1929, revealed the structure needed immediate maintenance, according to a news release from Sandy Springs. The suggested detour route is Ball Mill Road to Dunwoody Club Drive from the east and Roberts Drive to Dunwoody Club Drive from the west.

Michelle E. Shaw

Milton launches next round of road repairs

Milton’s second round of road patching and repair projects will kick off today and run through the next 45 days.

Crews from Blount Construction will be working on Webb, New Bullpen, Thompson and Freemanville roads. Nix Road and a portion of Brittle Road will also receive repair work as needed. There will be message boards on the affected roads prior to work beginning, said Carter Lucas, public works director. Patrick Fox

Cherokee animal shelter adoption drive

Cherokee County Animal Shelter is offering adoption discounts. From today through Saturday , the shelter will be encouraging people to “talk” to the animals and channel their inner “Dr. Doolittle.” The shelter will reduce all adoption fees by $10 during the event. Adoption fees are normally $75. Information: 678-493-4393. Elise Hitchcock

Milton seek volunteers for improvements

Milton will launch a mini-grant program Thursday seeking volunteers to help with projects that support neighborhood improvements, promote neighborhood associations and fund projects that bring community members closer. The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at Bethwell Community Center, 2695 Hopewell Road. Information: amanda.quintana@cityofmiltonga.u s or call 678-242-2500.

Patrick Fox

Sandy Springs installs solar-powered signs

Solar-powered speed radar signs are being installed in Sandy Springs this month. Nearly two dozen signs will be placed in “school zones and other locations identified as critical to the safety of residents and students,” according to a news release from the city. The Sandy Springs Police Department will aggressively monitor traffic in and around school zones, Chief Terry Sult said in the release. Michelle Shaw

Youth basketball registration begins

Resident registration begins today for the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department’s youth basketball program. Open registration begins Aug. 29. The cost is $100 for residents and $175 for non-residents. The program is for boys and girls age 6 to 15.

Player evaluations will be Oct. 1-2, and practices begin the week of Oct. 31. Games will be played at the Alpharetta Community Center, Wills Park Recreation Center and Crabapple Government Center.

Information: 678-297-6160 or www.arpdathletics.org or athleticprograms@alpharetta.ga.us. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Judge tosses suit against Stephen King

An Atlanta judge has thrown out a lawsuit that claimed author Stephen King stole another writer’s ideas for the best-selling 2008 novel “Duma Key.”

Rod Marquardt filed a copyright infringement suit last year against King and his publisher, Simon & Schuster. Marquardt contended King took key passages and copied the plot of Marquardt’s first and only novel, “Keller’s Den,” published in 2002. But U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes said she failed to find substantial similarity between the two works and dismissed the suit. Bill Rankin

Violence prevention program unveiled today

Violence prevention advocates and elected officials will present a progressive Peace Plan today aimed at combating violence in six metro Atlanta counties. The plan is sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and the Metropolitan Atlanta Violence Prevention Partnership. The plan will be unveiled at 2 p.m. at the King Center, 440 Auburn Ave. NE. Janel Davis

Zion Hill church observes 139th year

Zion Hill Baptist Church will observe it’s 139th anniversary this weekend.

For music lovers there will be a “Jazz on the Rock” program at 8 p.m. Friday and a “Feast on the Rock” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, guest minister the Rev. Dante Quick of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo, Calif., will deliver the address. All events will be held at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at the church, 6175 Campbellton Road.Shelia Poole

Landscape architects hold workshop

Area landscape architects will gather to educate the public about their role in the environment around them from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdayat Centennial Olympic Park. This event is a part of a larger campaign to help bring awareness about the work of landscape architecture and the designers who create them. Information: www.asla.org/design. Sandra Marshall Murray

DEKALB

Doraville court offers amnesty period

Doraville’s Municipal Court has scheduled an amnesty period for people who have past-due, unpaid traffic tickets, local ordinance citations and active Failure to Appear Bench Warrants.

Ticket and citation holders can visit Municipal Court, 3765 Park Ave., Doraville, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. during September and October.

Those with active warrants can only report on Tuesdays at noon.

If you have an active warrant and report at any other time, you will be taken to jail. Information: 770-455-1001. Michelle E. Shaw

DA to host event for senior citizens

DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James will host a black tie event for senior citizens who want to learn how they can avoid becoming victims of crime, abuse and exploitation.

The 2011 Senior Ball is planned for Aug. 27. at the DeKalb Tech Conference Center on North Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston, starting at 5 p.m.

A resource and information fair will be held during the first hour of the event and music will follow.

The ball is free but space is limited. Reservations can be made by calling 404-371-4961 or emailing cjbrown@dekalbcountyga.gov. Rhonda Cook

County to host small business summit

DeKalb County will host small business owners in a summit on Thursday as part of its efforts to promote business growth and economic development in the county.

Small business owners will be given courses in accessing capital, building businesses in DeKalb and how to train and stabilize their workforce.

The summit runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at DeKalb Tech’s conference center, 495 North Indian Creek Road, Clarkston.

Register online at http://dekalbsummit2011.eventbrite.com. More information: 404-687-2730. April Hunt

Taste of Chamblee looks for vendors, volunteers

Food vendors and volunteers can still sign up to participate in the Taste of Chamblee, the annual street festival being held in September.

Organizers have 20 restaurants already offering food for the festival, which also includes kid’s play area, live entertainment and a beer garden. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 17 in downtown Chamblee.

Volunteers and vendor information: thogan@chambleega.com. Festival information: www.tasteofchamblee.com. April Hunt

AJC Decatur Book Festival takes applications

Volunteer applications are being accepted for the AJC Decatur Book Festival, which comes to the city Sept. 2 to 4.

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to help with set up, book signings, sales and other activities. Stage captains, who will work with authors, are encouraged to also sign up to volunteer at a Georgia Center for the Book event at the Decatur library before the festival.

Volunteer forms are available at http://decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=418.

More information: 678-553-6548 or leeann.harvey@decaturga.com. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Nash Farm battle memorial to be Saturday

The Nash Farm Battlefield will host a 10 a.m. memorial service on Saturday to observe the Aug. 20, 1864, Civil War skirmish that occurred on the Henry County site where 412 Union and Confederate soldiers died or were injured. Keynote speaker David Evans, author of “Sherman’s Horsemen” will read the names of soldiers killed or injured that day; 286 Union and 136 Confederate flags will be on the field. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, a volunteer group. Nash Farm is at 4361 Jonesboro Road in Hampton and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tammy Joyner

Free child safety seat inspections Saturday

Safe Kids Clayton County will conduct free child safety seat inspections and demonstrations on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Don Jackson Mitsubishi in Union City. Certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect the selection and installation of child safety and booster seats. Demonstrations of proper seat use will also be available. Information: Contact Ashley at 770-969-8003 for appointments. Veronica Fields Johnson

O’Donnell to speak to Republican women

Christine O’Donnell, author and former U.S. Senate candidate in Delaware, will be the featured speaker at a meeting of the Conservative Republican Women group in Henry County. The meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22, from 7-9 p.m. at the Merle Manders Conference Center in Stockbridge. Monroe Roark for the AJC

HMC employee Social Worker of the Year

Shy Sharif, an employee of Henry Medical Center, has been named the 2011 Social Worker of the Year by the Georgia Health Care Association’s Georgia Society of Nursing Home Workers. She has served at the Laural Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation facility since 2006. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Busy intersection approved for signal

The intersection of Highway 42 and King Mill Road between McDonough and Locust Grove will have a traffic signal, thanks to recent approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation. The overall intersection improvement project, currently under construction, is being funded by the county’s special-purpose local-option sales tax. When the project was initially bid out, the traffic signal was not approved, but the county resubmitted a signalization request due to high traffic volume at that location. At its regular Aug. 2 meeting, the Henry County Board of Commissioners approved a $118,226 supplemental agreement. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Volunteers needed for equine event

People of all ages and levels of equine knowledge are needed to volunteer from Sept. 8-11 at the 2011 American Eventing Championships. The event will take place at Chattahoochee Hills Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Fairburn, and volunteers will earn Chattahoochee Hills logo-wear, as well as coupons to school the cross-country or trail ride across the farm’s stunning 8,000 acres. To sign up, visit www.chatthillseventing.com/volunteer.html or call 770-892-2117. Jemea Watkins