County by county news for Tuesday

According to investigators, Yates was last seen by her daughter at 4:30 p.m. Saturday leaving their home at 5725 Brookstone Walk for church. She should be driving a white 1994 Toyota Corolla bearing a Georgia tag of 407 TMG.

Anyone with information regarding Yates is asked to call 911.

Andria Simmons

Schools want input on redistricting

Cobb County is planning to open three new elementary schools in the Smyrna and south Cobb area. An initial meeting to discuss potential redistricting is will be 6:30 p.m. May 17 at Campbell High. No specific redistricting changes have been proposed yet, but the district is seeking input on the process. Information: www.cobbk12.org. Jaime Sarrio

MUST Ministries to celebrate 40 years

MUST Ministries will celebrate its 40th anniversary at a spring gala, 6 p.m., Saturday at the Georgia Aquarium Ballroom. Last year’s gala raised more than $130,000 for the program that helps families with food, shelter, employment help and a health clinic. Tickets are $150. Information. www.mustministries.org. Tucker McQueen for the ajc

Tourism promoted today on Silver Comet

Tourism in Powder Springs will be promoted today.

This free two-hour event of National Tourism Week will begin at 4 p.m. at the Florence Road Trailhead of the Silver Comet Trail off U.S. 278.

City officials and representatives from the Cobb County Convention and Visitors Bureau will be giving away bottled water and promotional items.

Information: Powder Springs Community Development Director Pam Conner, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

School board to meet on Wednesday

The Cobb school board will meet at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday for the regularly scheduled work session. The meetings are held at the district’s central office, 514 Glover St. in Marietta. An agenda will be posted before the meeting at www.cobbk12.org. Janel Davis

Schools to get award for counseling programs

Cobb County’s Campbell High, Hillgrove High, Nickajack Elementary and Sope Creek Elementary will receive an award for outstanding school counseling programs this summer during the American School Counselor Association’s annual conference in Seattle. The Recognized ASCA Model Program designation honors schools that have a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program. Jaime Sarrio

Cobb Symphony changes its name

The Cobb Symphony Orchestra is now the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. Michael Alexander, the orchestra’s music director, said the change will allow the orchestra to expand to underserved areas and also have a common name with its other programs, the Georgia Youth Symphony and the Georgia Center for the Arts. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

County gets more money for flood damage

Gwinnett County will receive another $1.5 million from state and federal agencies to help pay for damage caused by a September 2009 flood. County officials Friday said the Gwinnett water resources department will receive $773,989 from the Federal Highway Administration to repair drainage culverts damaged during the flood.

The transportation department will get $740,469 from the Georgia Department of Transportation to repair the Lawrenceville Suwanee Road bridge over the Yellow River and the Club Drive bridge over Sweetwater Creek. David Wickert

Pinckneyville center ready for camps, classes

Gwinnett County will provide information on dance, pottery, martial arts and other classes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Pinckneyville Park Community Center, 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross. Participants can find out about various classes and camps and meet instructors. Information: 770-417-2200. David Wickert

Pioneer Day at McDaniel park on Saturday

Gwinnett County will celebrate Pioneer Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at McDaniel Farm Park, 3251 McDaniel Road, Duluth.

The event will feature live animals, farm exhibits and historical demonstrations. The cost is $5 per person at the gate. For more information, call 770-814-4920. David Wickert

Tween and teen expo for girls in Norcross

Tween and teen girls can participate in a day of workshops on leadership, health beauty and fashion. Atlanta Girl, an online magazine publisher and sponsor of youth talent shows, will host an expo on May 21 to empower girls ages 9 to 17.

The Atlanta Girl Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the campus Ivy Preparatory Academy in Norcross. Information: www.atlantagirlexpo.com D. Aileen Dodd

Auburn community yard sale May 14

Auburn residents and visitors looking for clothes, antiques, toys and other household items should swing by the city’s community yard sale on May 14.

The sale is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1369 Fourth Avenue in downtown Auburn.

The event is free for the public. Vendors will be charged $10 to set up at the yard sale.

Information: 770-963-4002 ext. 223 or cewing@cityofauburn-ga.org.

Joel Anderson

Rep. Woodall to hold town meeting May 21

U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall of Lawrenceville will host a town hall meeting in Dacula on May 21. The meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Dacula High School. RSVP: woodall@mail.house.gov or 202-225-4272. Joel Anderson

Magician Atsma at Aurora Theatre May 20

Renowned magician Arthur Atsma will perform at the Aurora Theatre on May 20.

Atsma’s Crazy Amazing Comedy Magic Mentalism Show will start at 7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. as part of the theater’s Funny Fridays series.

Tickets cost $15.

Information: www.auroratheatre.com or 678-226-6222. Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

Chase bank gives $25,000 to Cumming charity

New York-based Chase bank is giving a $25,000 grant to No Longer Bound Inc., of Cumming, as part of the Chase Community Giving Program. No Longer Bound provides inpatient recovery from addiction, support programs, distributes food and clothing, and provides automobiles to people in need.

No Longer Bound is now among 100 charities in 27 states and Washington, D.C. that now have a chance to receive a $500,000 grant from the bank.

Jeffry Scott

Attorney: No open meeting violation

Forsyth County attorney Ken Jarrard said three county commissioners who met in the lobby of Cumming City Hall Feb. 3 did not violate the state Open Meetings Act, as former commission candidate Terry Sweeney claimed in a complaint last month to the Attorney General of Georgia. In an April 29 letter to the Attorney General, Jarrard said the meeting of commissioners Brian Tam, Patrick Bell, and Pete Amos didn’t violate state law because a meeting “requires more than assembling,” and all they did that day was briefly encounter each other in the lobby. Jeffry Scott

Creekview kids compete in rocket contest

The Creekview High School Aeronautics Team will compete in the finals of the world’s largest rocket contest to be held Friday in Plains, Va., near Washington D.C. Creekview is among the 100 best teams across the nation, earning a spot in the Team America Rocketry Challenge finals. The challenge is to build a rocket that will climb 750 feet, stay aloft 40 seconds and carry an egg without breaking it. Rich McKay

District redrawing meetings next week

A series of meetings to receive public input regarding redrawing district maps for school board members are scheduled. The meetings will take place at 7 p.m. in the school auditoriums: Monday, May 16, at River Ridge High School, 400 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock; Tuesday, May 17, at Cherokee High School, 930 Marietta Highway; Monday, May 23, at Etowah High School, 6565 Putnam Ford Road.

Information: Carrie Budd, Coordinator at carrie.budd@cherokee.k12.ga.us or 770-704-4390. Christopher Quinn

Sandy Springs buys flood-damaged homes

Sandy Springs has closed on the first of six houses damaged in the 2009 floods that it is buying with state and federal money. The city received $2.7 million to buy the six homes, demolish them and level their lots. The city bought the first property on Pine Forest Road for $400,000, two weeks ago. It expects to soon close on the second property, on Hitching Post Trail, for $385,000. April Hunt

Holly Springs offers citizen’s police academy

The Holly Springs Police Department is starting a Citizen’s Police Academy. The free class will meet Tuesdays beginning June 7 to July 26 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Applications are on the City of Holly Springs website at www.hollyspringsga.us. Applicants must be at least 19 and will be subject to a background investigation. Christopher Quinn

ATLANTA

State, city officials to hold town hall meeting

Local state and city officials will hold a town hall meeting from 6 -- 7:30 p.m. today at Morningside Elementary School in Atlanta to provide a wrap-up of the legislative session and answer questions about city services and Atlanta Public Schools.

Scheduled to attend are state Rep. Pat Gardner, D-Atlanta; state Rep. Kathy Ashe, D-Atlanta; state Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta; state Sen. Jason Carter, D-Decatur; city Councilman Alex Wan; and city school board member Cecily Harsch-Kinnane. Morningside Elementary is located at 1053 East Rock Springs Road NE. Kristina Torres

City to hold hearing on proposed budget

The Atlanta City Council will hold a public hearing Thursday to give residents a chance to comment and ask questions about the city’s proposed $545 million budget.

The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta. The budget must be approved by June 30. Ernie Suggs

Essence editor to deliver address at CAU

Susan L. Taylor, editor-­-in-­-chief emeritus of Essence magazine, will deliver Clark Atlanta University’s 2011 commencement address next Monday. Taylor is also founder of National CARES Mentoring Movement that seeks to recruit 1 million adult mentors for at-risk youth. She will deliver the address at 8 a.m. in the University’s Panther Stadium,735 Beckwith St., in Atlanta. Steve Visser

Atlantic Station buys security camera system

Atlantic Station has become the latest community to buy a public safety surveillance system. The 138-acre complex in Atlanta includes 15 million square feet of commercial space and 5,000 residential properties.

With a surveillance system from Iron Sky, police can monitor shoppers and residents with map-based software and HD video images.

Officers can access footage from 50 cameras around Midtown Atlanta.

Andria Simmons

DEKALB

Two new judges appointed in Dunwoody

Two new judges have been appointed by Mayor Ken Wright to the municipal bench in Dunwoody. Michael Hawkins and Kenneth Wickham will serve as part-time judges for court hearings in the city.

Hawkins, who earned his law degree from Emory University, is the principal attorney for the Hawkins Law Firm. Wickham, a graduate of Marshall Law School, is the chief judge for Norcross Municipal Court and a visiting judge in Gwinnett Recorders Court. April Hunt

Man killed in crash on I-85 ramp

A man was killed Monday morning when he drove his Honda Fit into the rear of a tractor-trailer truck parked on the shoulder of a southbound ramp on to Interstate 85 in DeKalb County, police said.

Spokeswoman Mekka Parish said investigators do know why the man left the road that feeds cars from Pleasantdale Road in DeKalb County onto the interstate. His name was not released because relatives have not been contacted.

There was no one in the truck. No one else was hurt in the 8:30 a.m. crash.

Rhonda Cook

Schools to hold meeting on cell phone towers

DeKalb County Schools will hold community meetings this week to discuss a proposal to install cell phone towers at various school in the county. The presentation will be made by representatives of T-Mobile. The district is considering the towers, which are located at school sites in other counties, as a way to bring in additional revenue. Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday at Margaret Harris Center, Princeton Elementary, Smoke Rise Elementary and Wednesday at Narvie J. Harris Elementary, Meadowview Elementary and Medlock Elementary. All meetings begin at 6 p.m. Jaime Sarrio

Decatur cited for being pedestrian friendly

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has named Decatur as a Silver Walk Friendly Community for its walkability initiatives and programs.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Safety and FedEx, the program is designed to recognize communities for their commitment to pedestrian safety. Decatur was honored for work such as creating Team Decatur to participate in a corporate 5K and active walking programs for seniors. April Hunt

Bike Rodeo in Dunwoody on Saturday

Dunwoody will host a Bike Rodeo to emphasize bicycle safety at an event Saturday morning in Brook Run Park.

The rodeo features hands-on activities to encourage skills and show precautions for cyclists, especially children.

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to noon May 14 at the park, 4770 N. Peachtree Road. April Hunt

Energy efficiency can pay off in Decatur

Decatur homeowners can earn up to $1,000 in rebates for home improvements under a new energy efficiency program. Decatur Worthwhile Investments Save Energy, or WISE, is in addition to a similar program from Georgia Power which offers up to $2,200 in rebates. A grant from the U.S. Department of Energy is funding the program. Information: www.decaturga.com. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Peachtree City to decide on alcohol sales Nov. 8

Peachtree City voters will decide on Nov. 8 whether to allow Sunday package sales of alcoholic beverages.

On May 5, the City Council of Peachtree City unanimously approved adding a licensing referendum to the existing elections ballot for City Council Posts 1 and 2. If approved by a simple majority, the measure would allow the city to begin issuing licenses for package sales that would include Sundays between 12:30 and 11:30 p.m. Licensing details and implementation timetables have not yet been specified. Jill Howard Church for the ajc

East Point council to hold budget workshop

The East Point City Council will hold a budget workshop on the city’s $118 million budget May 23 at 6:30p.m. The first reading of the budget is June 6, with approval June 20. Copies are at the city clerk’s office at 1526 Jefferson Station, City Hall at 2777 East Point Street and on the city’s website at www.eastpointcity.org.

John Thompson for the AJC

After School Program registration next week

Parents who register their students early for Fayette County’s 2011-12 After School Program will get a 10 percent discount off the $50 registration fee and the first week’s tuition.

Early registration runs May 13-27 and is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at each elementary school. Parents must complete the three-page application on site.

ASP offers supervised activities, computer classes and homework assistance from the end of the school day until 6:30 p.m. Information: www.fcboe.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry schools look good for re-accreditation

The Henry County School System has been recommended for continued district accreditation for another five years, after a four-day visit by an AdvancED Quality Assurance Review Team. AdvancED is the national commission that confers the accreditation seal of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI). Monroe Roark for the AJC

Taste of Fayette festival on Sunday

Fayetteville’s 10th annual Taste of Fayette festival will satisfy many appetites on Sunday from noon until 5 p.m.

More than 15 area restaurants will set up sample tables at the Gazebo at Stonewall Village on the main square. Tokens for tastings will be sold on site. The event also includes children’s activities, live entertainment and information booths. Information: www.fayetteville-ga.gov or call (770) 719-4173. Jill Howard Church

Due date extended for stormwater bills

Due to a problem with a billing company, Peachtree City residents have until May 16 to pay their annual residential Stormwater Utility invoices.

The bills were mailed late and have a May 1 due date printed on them. Payments can be made without penalty either by mail or in the drop box outside City Hall. Renters are asked to forward the bills to their property owner for payment. Monthly billing was not affected. Information: 770-631-6385.

JILL HOWARD CHURCH FOR THE AJC