County by county news for Tuesday

Rep. Wilkerson will lead a panel discussion on the Common Core education standards and what it will mean to students, families and educators.

Panelists will include Cobb Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa and others.

Information: info@wilkersonforcobb.com or 770-436-7241. Sandra Marshall Murray

Walk Cobb initiative kicks off today

Cobb2020 in partnership with the Cobb County Extension Service is launching the Walk Cobb Initiative today through Oct. 9 in coordination with the statewide Walk Georgia campaign. The kickoff is a collaborative walking initiative among schools, businesses, organizations, universities and municipalities that focuses on helping youth and adults embrace healthier lifestyles.Information: Cobb2020.com. Sandra Marshall Murray

Marietta art walk season to close Friday

The First Friday Art Walk will close for the season 5 -9 p.m. Friday at museums, art galleries and shops around the Marietta Square. The free, self-guided tour features the work of local artists. The Marietta Museum of History will feature folk art painter Hubert Brown and chainsaw artist Glen Amos. Information:www.artwalk.marietta.com. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Tree keepers to tour neighborhood

The Marietta Tree Keepers’ will have a sip ‘n stroll tour 5:30 p.m. Friday at Ivy Grove, 473 Cherokee St. Certified aborists, foresters and landscape architects will talk about preserving trees in older neighborhoods. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is along Freyer Drive.Information: www.mariettaga.gov/committees/treekeepers.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

UGA Band in Powder Springs today

The University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band will perform during a 7 p.m. program today at McEachern High School’s Walter Cantrell Stadium, 2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs as a part of the annual Cobb-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition.

Also performing will be high school marching bands from Harrison, Hillgrove, Kell, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Pebblebrook, Pope and Sprayberry with more Cobb-Marietta bands scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Oct. 14, also at McEachern.

Costs: $5, adults; $3, students; free, 4 and under.

Information: Natalie Feller or Chris Feller at 770-426-3404 or cobbcast.cobbk12.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Retired colonel speaks to business group

Lt. Col. Robert Certain, U.S. Air Force Retired, will speak during the South Cobb Business Association luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell.

Costs: $12, members prepaid online; $15, members at the door; $20, guests. Information: southcobbba.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Woman may have been shot during road rage

Police in two counties are trying to determine if a woman was shot during a road rage incident. The wounded woman was shot outside a DeKalb County shopping center around 1 a.m., then driven in a minivan a couple of miles to a gas station on Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Gwinnett County. The woman’s boyfriend, who was driving the minivan, told DeKalb police that the shooting was the result of a road rage incident. Police are investigating the boyfriend’s claim, but have found no reports of gunshots in the area where he told them the shooting happened. Police also found no bullet holes in the minivan. Mike Morris

Child, 5, found wandering alone

A 5-year-old girl found wandering alone in Norcross was returned to her family hours later, according to police.

The Hispanic child said the door at the home where she was staying was open and she walked out, but provided limited additional information in English or Spanish. Around 7:30 a.m., a family member called police and said the child had been spending the night with a relative when she wandered off.

No charges are pending, policesaid. Christopher Seward

Senior services to hold SPLOST meetings

Gwinnett is seeking public input on projects for senior services that could be funded by the SPLOST renewal referendum going before voters in November. Feedback from the meetings will help identify potential capital projects for senior services funded by SPLOST.

Gwinnett residents may attend any of these public input meetings: 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at Buford Senior Center, 2755 Sawnee Ave., 10 a.m. Thursday at Norcross Senior Center, 5030 Georgia Belle Court, 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at Centerville Senior Center, 3025 Bethany Church Road in Snellville and 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at Lawrenceville Senior Center, 225 Benson St. in Lawrenceville. Info: 770-822-8833. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn Daze celebrates 40th anniversary

The Lilburn Daze Arts & Crafts Festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 in Lilburn City Park. The opening ceremony at 9 a.m. will include a dedication of “Adventure Mountain,” the first sculpture and water feature in the park. Event includes arts, children’s activities, music and food. Proceeds are returned to the community as scholarships, youth art competitions, school and library equipment, public safety and health support. Info: www.lilburndaze.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

College waiving application fee

Georgia Gwinnett College will waive its $20 application fee during the week of Oct. 14-20 to encourage students to submit early applications because the requirement to provide high school transcripts and Compass/ACT/SAT scores, etc. add a lot of steps to the process. Complete applications online at www.GAcollege411.org. Deadline for the fall 2014 semester is May 1. GGC will hold an Open House Oct. 19; registration is required.

Information: visit www.ggc.edu.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Armed robbery, fire at Woodstock store

Police believe several suspects robbed Play N Trade at 2990 Eagle Drive in Cherokee around 11:45 a.m Sunday and then set the building on fire.

One person, whose name was not released, was in stable condition after being injured in the fire, according to police.

Investigators are searching for three to four suspects.

Woodstock police and firefighters were investigating the incident. Alexis Stevens

Blaze destroys Cherokee home

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services officials say fire destroyed a one-story wooden home at 4365 Ball Ground Road early Monday. Fire units from Cherokee, Ball Ground, Free Home and Macedonia responded to the blaze. No injuries were reported. The cause is under investiagtion. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth United Way holds open house

The United Way of Forsyth County is holding an open house and ribbon-cutting for its new permanent home from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 240 Elm St., Cumming.

Executive Director Ruth Goode says they purchased the nearly 8,000-square-foot space earlier this year after renting at various spots since incorporating in 1989.

She says the move has resulted in more public space for the local non-profit community. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Elementary celebrates 40 years

Mountain Park Elementary celebrated 40 years Friday. “From 1973 to 2013, Mountain Park Elementary has remained a special place for alumni and current students,” principal Stacy Perlman said during the school’s birthday celebration.

Doris Robertson, principal at MPE from 1981-1983, cut the first piece of the birthday cake.

The Roswell school opened with 250 students in grades 1-7 and now has more than 800 students in pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. Nancy Badertscher

Canton gets new crime fighting tool

Canton Police are adding a new tool to the department’s crime fighting arsenal. The El Sag North American License Plate Reader, used in conjunction with a patrol cars’ onboard computer, can read up to 5,400 license plates a minute.

The department’s traffic unit will use it search for stolen vehicles, wanted persons, and suspended, revoked, expired and stolen license plates.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Drive-by flu clinic to be offered in Cherokee

The North Georgia Health District and its member health departments will begin a series of drive-by flu shot clinics.

The Cherokee County clinic is set for 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Woodstock Health Center, 7545 N. Main St., Woodstock.

Cost for a regular flu shot is $22; the over-65 Fluzone high-dose shot is $50.

Information: www.nghd.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Third arrest in beating of 80-year-old

Ricky Wilcoxson, 20, was taken into custody Monday in the beating earlier this month of an 80-year-old Creston Portis of East Point.

Portis was returning home on Sept. 14 when a female driver blocked in his car near Stone and Washington roads. A pair of men armed with a gun jumped from an SUV and smashed Portis’ windshield with a brick and pistol-whipped him, police say.

Dexter Ware, 21, and Iesha Washington, 22, were arrested last week in connection with the attack.

The three face charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, armed robbery, financial transaction card fraud, second-degree criminal property damage, theft by taking and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Marcus K. Garner

Olympians urge kids to stay in school

Olympians and Paralympians met with about 500 students at Jackson High School on Friday to encourage them to overcome adversity and complete their education.

Speakers included former basketball star Christian Laettner, 2012 Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones, Olympic fencer Tim Morehouse and Rick Rieder, an Emory University alumnus who has given more than $1.5 million since 2010 to establish the Graduation Gerneraion initiative, designed to improve student academic performance. Mark Niesse

Atlanta school board election forums set

Voters can hear from Atlanta school board candidates at three upcoming forums sponsored by 100 Black Men of Atlanta.

Each of the three forums will cover three of the nine Atlanta Board of Education races that will be decided on Election Day on Nov. 5.

The events will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Oct. 22, The Temple in Midtown Atlanta on Oct. 23 and Cascade United Methodist Church on Oct. 24.

Mark Niesse

DEKALB

Interim superintendent may stay longer

Members of the county school board have been discussing an extension of Michael Thurmond’s contract that would amend his title to just “superintendent.”

School board Chairman Melvin Johnson said he and the vice chairman have been negotiating with Thurmond for at least the past month. Johnson said he thinks Thurmond has done a good job, but it will be up to the nine-member board (and Thurmond) to decide whether he will stay. Thurmond’s year-long contract expires in February. Ty Tagami

Decatur development on the horizon

Though “Paces Clairemont,” has been approved by the Decatur city commission, developer Paces Properties still needs a perpetual access agreement across Decatur Conference Center property, which should happen next week. Current plans call for a 176-unit apartment building wrapping around a seven-story parking deck fronting the Fidelity Bank Building at 160 Clairemont Avenue. Construction should start next year and take 12 to 16 months. Bill Banks for the AJC

Chamblee to host community workshop

The City of Chamblee will host a downtown planning workshop for the Chamblee Town Center Livable Centers Initiative 10-Year Update from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad St., Chamblee. The goal is to gather public input from local residents, property owners and businesses regarding the vision and action plan for the Chamblee Town Center. Information: 770-986-5010 ext. 223.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Public safety forum today

DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton will host a public safety forum at 7 p.m. today10/1 at Wade Walker YMCA, 5605 Rockbridge Rd., Stone Mountain. Participants will receive crisis and disaster preparation information. Representatives from Animal Control, Code Compliance, the District Attorney’s office, DeKalb Police, DeKalb Fire and Rescue, DeKalb County School System, Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Economic Development will be in attendance. Information: 404-371-4907.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Group forms to benefit Brookhaven park

Several residents have formed the Murphey CQCandler Park Conservancy to raise money for improvements in Brookhaven’s largest park.

The group has already raised about $20,000 and plans to partner with the new city on plans and projects at the 135-acre park.

Information: murpheycandlerpark.org.

April Hunt

DeKalb safety forum today

DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton will hold a safety forum for residents of her south DeKalb district 7 p.m. today at the Wade Walker YMCA, 5605 Rockbridge Road.

The event will feature representatives from the offices of the District Attorney and county solicitor as well as those from the police and fire departments and animal control.

April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

College Park to set up night court

College Park city officials are working on setting up a night court program. It’s planned for the first and fourth Tuesdays of each month beginning Jan 7. City Manager Terrence Moore says discussions have been taking place on staffing and funding. He says increasing police department and municipal court caseloads are driving the program. Plans are for the court to hear such cases as minor criminal offenses and code-enforcement issues.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fayette SAT scores improve

Fayette County’s high schools showed a 12 percent increase in SAT composite scores in 2013.

The public school system placed in the top 3 percent in the state and is ranked fourth in metro Atlanta. McIntosh and Starr’s Mill remain in the top 5 percent statewide, with Whitewater in the top 15 percent.

Fayette County High posted the greatest gains since 2012.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Peachtree City hosts night against crime

The Peachtree City Police Department is hosting a “National Night Out” crime prevention and safety event from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Drake Field, next to City Hall.

Police and rescue vehicles will be on display, and an educational scavenger hunt for children will award prizes. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Stockbridge candidate forum Oct. 10

Candidates in Stockbridge’s mayoral and City Council races will be featured at a candidate forum at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Merle Manders Conference Center, 111 Davis Road in Stockbridge.

The event will be broadcast live online on the city’s web site. There are four candidates for the mayor’s seat and seven vying for two spots on the City Council.

Information: www.cityofstockbridge.com. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Health fair Saturday in Stockbridge

The City of Stockbridge is hosting a free Community Health Fair from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturday in the ballroom of the Merle Manders Conference Center, 111 Davis Road in Stockbridge.

The public is invited to attend and receive free health screenings and health information. More than two dozen businesses and individuals have signed on as sponsors for the event.

Information: www.cityofstockbridge.com or contact Bishop Irvine Bryer at 678-583-9894. Monroe Roark for the AJC

College Park library to offer GED classes

The College Park Library Branch will offer GED Testing at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday as well as Oct. 25 and Oct. 26 at the library, 3647 Main St., College Park. The GED consists of five tests.

Each test is $32 and the entire battery is $160. Each participant must bring a valid state ID and money order when registering.

Information: 404-762-4060. Veronica Fields Johnson