County by county news for Tuesday

The school system will cut the price for qualifying students to 30 cents, down from $1.85 for high school students, $1.75 for middle school children and $1.60 for younger kids.

Cobb, which is mailing application forms to parents, also raised the income threshold for qualifying. For instance, a child in a family of four earning $41,348 or less now qualifies for reduced-price meals while last year the maximum income allowed was $40,793. Ty Tagami

Marietta schools to have preregistration

School starts in Marietta Thursday, and the school system is planning pre-registration in the preceding days.

Preregistration at all elementary schools is from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today and Wednesday. For the Sixth Grade Academy, it’s 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday. Middle school preregistration is from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Wednesday. For high school, call 770-428-2631 ext. 2231 to arrange an appointment Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. or Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Information: www.marietta-city.org. Ty Tagami

‘Pigskin Preview’ a Cobb chamber Wednesday

High school head coaches in East Cobb County will speak at a Wednesday morning event sponsored by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

The “Pigskin Preview” is from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. The event is for the East Cobb Area Council, and members get a $20 discount if they register online by noon Tuesday. (General admission is $35, $25 for members at the door.) Location: Indian Hills Country Club, 4001 Clubland Dr., Marietta, 770-980-2000. Register online at www.cobbchamber.org. Ty Tagami

Kennesaw Legion post to hold 5k run

An American Legion post in Kennesaw will host a five kilometer run on Aug. 20.

The race starts at 7:30 a.m. at Legion Post 304, 1940 Lodge Rd., off Barrett Parkway. Register for $25 on race day or save $5 by registering online by Aug. 19 at www.active.com, any Big Peach Running Co. store or by mail by downloading a form on www.post304.org.

It’s a fundraiser for a search for a permanent post home. Ty Tagami

Marietta High ROTC cadet earns honors

Marietta High School Air Force Junior ROTC Unit GA-20021 Cadet Courtney Hill was selected the Advance Cadet Distinguished Graduate and earned the top performer award for Academics.

It’s the second year in a row that Hill has earned one of the top awards at the Cadet Summer Leadership School at Converse College. Ty Tagami

Free health screenings offered Wednesday

The Health Mart Healthy Living Tour is offering free mobile screening services for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C tests.

The unit will be available from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at East Marietta Drugs Health Mart Pharmacy 1480 Roswell Road, Marietta. Information:

http://www.healthmarthealthyliving .com. Sandra Marshall Murray

GWINNETT

Lilburn to reconsider mosque zoning request

The Lilburn City Council will soon reconsider the zoning application that would allow the construction of a larger neighborhood mosque.

The four-member council was deadlocked on a December vote of the zoning request, prolonging a year-long dispute between the city and local Muslim congregation Dar-E-Abbas.

The council will revisit the issue at its meeting Aug. 16. The meeting is scheduled to start with a work session at 6:30 p.m. and will include a public hearing.

Joel Anderson

Snellville planning director resigns

Snellville has announced the resignation of Planning Director Harmit Bedi, who served in that role for nearly three years.

City Manager Russell Treadway said Bedi will be replaced on an interim basis by local consultant John Davis. Bedi’s resignation was effective Friday. Joel Anderson

Panel to discuss county demographic changes

The Gwinnett County Human Relations Commission will host an update on Gwinnett’s 2010 U.S. Census data from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. Representatives of the U.S. Census Bureau will speak about demographic changes in Gwinnett. State Sen. Curt Thompson and representatives of Pan Asian Community Services and the American Civil Liberties Union will discuss how census data affects redistricting. The event is free. RSVP to gwinnetthrc@gmail.com. David Wickert

Police focus on school bus enforcement

The Gwinnett County Police Department’s Motor Unit (motorcycle mounted officers) will be conducting a special detail throughout the county during the first few weeks of school.

Officers will be following school buses on their normal routes in an effort to enforce laws pertaining to traffic around school buses. Andria Simmons

Chamber to launch membership campaign

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will launch a new membership and sponsorship campaign Wednesday with a goal of raising $800,000 and finding 100 new members.

Raymer Sale of E2E Resources and Herman Pennamon Jr. of Georgia Power will chair the campaign, which will continue through January. Information: www.gwinnettchamber.org. 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 . This public service event is sponsored by the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services. 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

Charter school brings wrath of Cherokee GOP

The Republican Party of Cherokee County officially denounced four Cherokee County school board -- and Republican Party-- members who in June voted against the establishment of Cherokee Charter Academy: Mike Chapman, Janet Read, Robert Wofford, and Rick Steiner. The school will open Aug. 15, but only after the intervention of Gov. Nathan Deal with state funding the county denied with the 4-3 vote opposing the Academy. The Cherokee GOP demanded the four members reconsider their vote or “renounce” their affiliation with the Republican Party. Jeffry Scott

Cherokee airport has a longer runway

The Cherokee County regional airport’s runway construction is now complete.

The Cherokee Tribune reported that the former 3,414 feet runway is now 5,002 feet, and can accommodate corporate jets and other similar sized planes.

The runway will be officially opened at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. Elise Hitchcock

New exhibit opens at Sandy Springs museum

A new exhibit in the Heritage Sandy Springs Museum, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, opened Sunday. “Heroes of Sandy Springs,” will use historical photographs, archives, artifacts, and film clips to tell the story of policing and fire fighting in Sandy Springs. Information: www.heritagesandysprings.org. Michelle E. Shaw

Alpharetta Historical Society hosts discussion

The Alpharetta Historical Society will host a discussion on surnames on Aug. 18 at the Mansell House and Gardens, located at 1835 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. Historical Society board member Connie Mashburn will lead the discussion and topics will include: How people received surnames, how long have they been in existence, what they mean and do they ever change. Information: www.alpharettahistoricalsociety.org. Veronica Fields Johnson

Free dental clinic offered this week

The Georgia Dental Association will have a dental clinic to provide treatment at no cost for low and no income Georgians. The event runs from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church Woodstock, 11905 Ga. 92, Woodstock.

Patients are seen on a first come, first served basis, and early arrival is advised. Cleanings, fillings, extractions, some lab work and limited root canal therapy is provided by licensed Georgia dentists. Information: 404-636-7553 or www.GeorgiaMissionofMercy.org Jemea Watkins

Sandy Springs sues Sherwin-Williams store

Sandy Springs has filed suit against The Sherwin-Williams Company, accusing the paint store near Johnson Ferry and Roswell roads of refusing to allow city engineers inside for environmental inspections. The city wants to acquire the property as part of its new government complex at the site of the former Target shopping center.

As a condemning authority, the city has a right to enter properties for surveys and inspections, the suit says. The city wants a Superior Court judge to force the company to cooperate. Johnny Edwards

ATLANTA

Board votes to appoint new Grady CEO

Grady Memorial Hospital’s corporate board voted Monday to appoint John Haupert as the health system’s new president and CEO. As chief operating officer of Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Haupert is overseeing the design and construction of an $1.3 billion, 862-bed replacement hospital. Haupert started his career in health care management at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in 1992. He will begin work at Grady on Oct. 1. Misty Williams

‘Cornbread Millionaire’ to lecture at library

Beverly Davis will give a talk at Atlanta-Fulton’s Central Library on Wednesday about how she recovered from the recession to become the “Cornbread Millionaire.” After losing her government job and seeing her home go into foreclosure, Davis, of Fairburn, launched a website selling homemade cornbread mixes in an effort to regain her house. “Cornbread Millionaire Revisited” runs from 2 to 4 p.m. at One Margaret Mitchell Square in downtown Atlanta. Information: 404-730-1906. Johnny Edwards

Man gets 20 years for sex trafficking

A 30-year-old Atlanta man known as “Cateye” is headed to federal prison for 20 years for sexually enslaving a 14-year-old girl. Demetrius Darnell Homer enticed the teen to become his girlfriend and then used a cycle of romance and violence -- including threatening her with a knife and shocking her with a taser -- to force her into prostitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Homer had the teenager engage in prostitution even when he knew she was pregnant with his child, prosecutors said. Bill Rankin

Ford donates to Children’s Museum

Ford Motor Company Fund has donated $25,000 to fund the “Discover Math and Science” program at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. The program’s exhibits engage kids in math and science with hands-on programming that is expected to reach 57,400 children and caregivers during the next year. Melissa Ruggieri

DEKALB

Emory law school makes two appointments

Robert B. Ahdieh has been appointed vice dean of Emory University’s law school and Michael S. Kang has been named associate dean of the school’s faculty for the 2011-12 academic year, the school said Monday.

The appointments were announced by Robert Schapiro, the school’s interim dean. Ahdieh previously served as associate dean and is co-director of the Center on Federalism and Intersystemic Governance. Kang is an expert in election law, business associations, politics and democratic governance. Bill Rankin

Decatur mayor to run for re-election

Decatur mayor Bill Floyd announced that he’ll run for reelection to the Decatur City Commission this November for the last time. (Commission terms are four years and the mayor’s appointed annually). “I’m 65 and I’ve been [on the Commission] 20 years,” Floyd said Friday. “I think one more term is enough.” Since 1922, when records are more consistently available, Floyd ranks second among Decatur mayors with 12 terms. Scott Candler served 16 terms from 1923-1940, though he wasn’t mayor in 1934. Floyd and Candler are tied for most consecutive terms at 12. Bill Banks for the AJC

County to hold code enforcement session

DeKalb County’s community development office is hosting a how covenant and non-convenant communities can address code enforcement issues in their neighborhoods.

The session runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Clark Harrison Building, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur.

Information: 404-371-3689 or onedekalb@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

Job fair to be in Decatur today

A job fair featuring local hiring employers will be held today in Decatur.

Coast-to-Coast Career Fairs is sponsoring the event, which is free for job seekers. The fair runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 130 Clairemont Ave., Decatur. April Hunt

Events to raise money for memorial

DeKalb County police officers and fire fighters are raising money for a memorial to go outside their headquarters in honor those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks. The Glenwood Restaurant in southeast Atlanta is the location for an event on Thursday. On Aug. 24 a fundraiser will be at Avellino’s Pizza in Decatur and two days later another will be a tournament at Sugar Creek Golf Course.

The sculpture will feature a Phoenix wing rising from the ground as a backdrop for a piece of World Trade Center steel. Rhonda Cook

Hearing today for accused teacher

A probable cause hearing is planned for this morning for a former DeKalb County teacher accused of molesting three male students.

Casey Thomas, also accused of giving the boys alcohol, is facing seven charges, including aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, cruelty to children and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The hearing is to establish whether there were sufficient reasons for bringing the charges. Thomas taught at Miller Preparatory Academy. Rhonda Cook

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette hearing on millage rate Thursday

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday at 7 p.m. to discuss the millage rate for 2011. The meeting is at the Administrative Complex at 140 W. Stonewall Ave. in Fayetteville.

Rates will be set for the general fund as well as special funds for fire, EMS and E-911 services. An outline of the proposed rates and property tax impact is available at www.fayettecountyga.gov.

The final discussion and vote will be held at the Aug. 25 meeting. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

CSU students move into dorms this week

Clayton State University will be particularly busy later this week as students move into Laker Hall Thursday and Clayton Station Apartments Friday. Freshmen are required to live on-campus in Laker Hall for their first year. The university bought Clayton Station in June. Fall semester weekend classes begin Saturday. Weekday classes begin Aug. 15. Laura Diamond

Locust Grove to vote on Sunday alcohol sales

The Locust Grove City Council voted Aug. 1 to allow voters to decide in November whether Sunday alcohol sales will be allowed in the city.

All four of Henry County’s cities will have the issue decided at the ballot box, as similar measures were passed previously in Hampton, McDonough and Stockbridge. Monroe Roark for the AJC

McDonough to discuss intersection

A public meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18, from 6:30-8 p.m. to discuss the proposed improvements at the intersection of Highway 20/81, McDonough Parkway and Phillips Drive. Meeting location is the county annex at 116 S. Zack Hinton Parkway in McDonough. Monroe Roark for the AJC

HMC to offer free prostate screenings

Henry Medical Center will offer free prostate screenings for men age 40 or older who haven’t had a screening within the past year on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, according to Henry Medical, a 215-bed nonprofit hospital in Stockbridge just south of Atlanta.

To register for a screening, visit www.henrymedical.com or call the hospital’s Community Education Department at 678-604-1040.

Learn more about prostate screenings at www.urologyhealth.org. Misty Williams

Realtor donates 200 backpacks, supplies

A Fayetteville realtor has donated 200 backpacks filled with school supplies to local students.

Keller Williams Realty Atlanta-Fayetteville delivered the backpacks to the Fayette County Public School System’s Children at Risk in Education (CARE) program. Staff from both the company and the county worked with school counselors to sort and organize the supplies.

CARE Coordinator Karen Spangler said the donations fill “a great need,” especially for high school students whose families are unable to provide all necessary items because of economic hardship. Jill Howard Church for the AJC