County by county news for Tuesday

The $24,800 cost will be paid by the special purpose local option sales tax.

Information:

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Cobb schools name new principals

Cobb County Schools District will have nine new principals when school starts Aug. 4.

Elementary school principals are Keeli Bowen at Cheatham Hill, Marietta; Liss Maynard at Clarkdale, Austell; Jason Cathey at Frey, Acworth; Jennifer “Shea” Thomas at Kemp, Powder Springs and Tricia Patterson at Tritt, Marietta.

Middle School principals are Patricia Alford at Durham, Acworth; Kimberly Jackson at Garrett, Austell; Jonathan Tanner at Campbell , Smyrna and Lisa Williams at Lindley, Mableton. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs seeks part-time police officer

Aug. 1 is the deadline for those interested in applying to be a part-time police officer for Powder Springs.

The starting salary is $17.48 per hour.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/index.aspx?NID=11, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marietta police wins national gun safety award

The Marietta Police Department has received a national award for promoting gun safety. The National Glock Safety Pledge Drive with National Shooting Sports Foundation Project Childsafe recognized the department for city gun safety seminars.

Marietta has given out more than 2,500 gun safety locks at the seminars.

Information: www.mariettaga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Austell back-to-school expo Saturday

Austell Community Taskforce will host its annual back-to-school expo 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Six Flags Drive, Austell.

Parents and children may visit resource booths, attend workshops, listen to live entertainment and have a chance to receive book bags with school supplies, which are limited.

Information: austelltaskforce.org, DeBorah Johnson, 404-396-8032.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Police plan July 29 community meeting

Cobb Police invite the West Cobbcommunity to attend their quarterly meeting at 7 p.m. July 29 at Precinct 5, 4640 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs.

Sgt. Kelvin Ramirez of the Cobb County Police Ranger Unit and Benjie Brumbeloe of Cobb County Parks and Recreation will discuss safety tips for use of the county’s park facilities.

Information: 770-499-4185.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Video logistics company relocating, hiring

Clearleap Inc., a provider of multiscreen video logistics is relocating and expanding their headquarters from Sugar Loaf Parkway to 3100 Breckinridge Boulevard, Duluth. The new facility will provide 50,000 square-feet and positions the company within the Greater Gwinnett Place Opportunity Zone, one of three such designations in Gwinnett. Opportunity Zones are intended to assist areas with a strong economic base, yet in need of redevelopment, by providing tax incentives to generate the creation of new jobs. Information: clearleap.com or gwinnetteconomicdevelopment.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners passes ordinance

The Peachtree Corners City Council has approved a solid waste ordinance making residential garbage pickup mandatory within city limits. It will clarify what refuse can and cannot be collected and sets the time trash bins are to be set out and removed. Residents will be asked to place trashcans on the street after 3 p.m. the day before pickup and must remove them no later than 9 a.m. the day after collection. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Chamber will help write business plan

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will host an Eat & Educate workshop to learn the components of a business plan 8:30 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. Bob Lamp’l, president, CEO of Business Plans and More will discuss specificsn. Information: www.gwinnettchamber.org or 770-232-3000. Karen Huppertz

2014 Snap Suwanee exhibit on display

Suwanee’s new 9 /11 memorial, other public art, parks, and events are featured in the 2014 Snap Suwanee photo exhibition display 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Suwanee City Hall, 330 Town Center Ave. through December. List of winners: www.suwanee.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Sugar Hill hosts 75th anniversary

Sugar Hill will feature musical talent at the city’s 75th Anniversary Celebration 8 a.m. Aug. 2 in downtown. Haley & Alexis Band, and Andy Velo will open for Kevin Bacon and the Bacon Brothers. The free daytime events will feature food, amusement rides, carnival, music, classic cars and motorcycles, a parade and a 5K race. Information: www.sugarhill75th.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Social to benefit veterinary grant

The Water Lily Foundation will host a Dog Days of August Hot Dog Social to fund the foundation’s Veterinary Medical Assistance Grant 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 24, at Rhodes Jordan Park Pavilion, 100 E Crogan St., Lawrenceville.

Cost: $9 in advance, $10 at the door. Event will include hot dogs, live entertainment and a dog-themed silent auction.

Donations: 770-827-3219. The Veterinary Medical Assistance Grant provides up to $500 for veterinary care for dogs and cats whose owners cannot afford the entire bill.

Information: www.waterlily-foundation.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Fire destroys Cherokee mobile homes

Cherokee County fire officials say two unoccupied mobile homes were destroyed by a blaze Monday morning. They were among five homes parked on property owned by First Baptist Church of Marietta, in the 800 block of Bridgemill Avenue near Lake Allatoona. The cause is under investigation. It’s unclear whether the fire is linked to storms moving through at the time. Lighting did strike a half-dozen homes, but none received any significant damage, according to county officials.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Pregnant woman killed along highway ID’d

A pregnant woman and her unborn child died Sunday night when the woman was hit while trying to cross a northeast Georgia highway.

Kimberly M. Coates, 29, of Alto, was attempting to cross Ga. 365 at Mud Creek Road about 9:15 p.m. Sunday when she was hit by a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze that was heading southbound in the right lane.

The driver of the Chevrolet, 38-year-old Joshua Ian Buehler of Atlanta, attempted to avoid hitting Coates. Mike Morris

Motorist crashes into Forsyth building

A man crashed his car into a Forsyth County veterinary office aroung 4 p.m. Sunday at Just Pets Veterinary Hospital, 1675 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming, but no injuries of two nor four-legged individuals were reported. The driver told sheriff’s deputies his foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal as he was trying to park. No citations were issued. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Special council election set in Canton

The Canton City Council has set a Nov. 4 special election to fill the seat of Ward III Councilmember Glen Cummins who resigned in early July following his appointment at city manager. The special vote will fill the seat for the rest of the term that runs through January 2015. Qualifying is set Aug. 25-27 at the Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration office, 400 E. Main St., Canton.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fitness trail groundbreaking set

Woodstock Parks and Recreation Department will host a groundbreaking for the Dupree Park fitness trail 6 p.m. Monday at the north end of the park, 513 Neese Road. The project includes a walking/running asphalt trail with outdoor fitness equipment, benches and a water fountain. The $65,000 project is expected to finish this fall. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth arts group hands out grants

The Forsyth County Arts Alliance has announced $47,000 in grants to 13 local arts groups and projects. Among the grant awards: $5,000 to Northside Hospital-Forsyth‘s music therapy program, under which artists play for patients and their families several times a week.

Also getting a $5,000 grant: The Forsyth County Library’s “Forsyth Reads Together” program, to bring best-selling author Lisa See to the Forsyth Conference Center for a free Sept. 16 lecture.

The money comes from the volunteer group’s endowment fund. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Electrical problem closes fed building

A federal building in downtown Atlanta was shut down Monday because of an electrical problem.

Workers planned to repair an internal electrical problem at the Sam Nunn Federal Center on Forsyth Street later in the day.

Employees should contact their supervisors for alternate work schedules. Mike Morris

Board helping job seekers meets

The Fulton County Workforce Investment Act board will meet at 10 a.m. today in Room 242 of the Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW.

The board is a component of the Fulton County Preparation and Employment System and oversees programs that serve the changing needs of employers and job seekers through career training and leadership workshops to upgrade skills.

Information: 404-730-1931.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Fulton postpones tax increase vote

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners has postponed a vote on a property tax hike until Aug. 6 because questions arose about whether the county had properly advertised the proposed 17 percent tax increase on its web site.

The commission has also set more public hearings on the proposal: 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. July 30; 10 a.m. Aug. 6 at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor St. SW.

The public can also participate in the hearings by video conference at the South Fulton Service Center, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park, and the North Fulton Service Center, 7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. David Wickert

Barbers on hand for back-to-school event

Free school supplies and barber services will be available to students during Fulton County’s “Back-To-School Kickoff” 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 29 in the Academic Complex, Barbering Department at Atlanta Technical College, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

DEKALB

Hot air forces voters to relocate

A lack of air conditioning at Redan-Trotti Library and Wesley Chapel Road Library prompted county election officials to move those polling places to Redan Elementary School and Rainbow Elementary School. Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Information: www.sos.state.ga.us or www.dekalbvotes.com. Mark Niesse

Kickoff meeting for proposed city

Building Quality Communities held al kickoff meeting July 16 at New Life Baptist Church for a proposed city of South DeKalb that could stretch from Memorial Drive and possibly include unincorporated Clarkston. It would not include already incorporated areas.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Dunwoody amnesty program ends July 31

Individuals with past due traffic violations or bench warrants for failing to appear at Dunwoody Municipal Court may still settle the matter through the amnesty program which ends July 31, and has been in effect since June to reduce arrests and settle outstanding traffic violations.

Fines are paid at Municipal Court. If a mandatory court appearance is required, a future court date will be assigned, and warrants and fees will be waived.

Information: 678-382-6973.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Olympic Place walk/bike trail approved

Two years after Decatur residents submitted a petition, a new biking/walking trail on Olympic Place was approved by the city commission. The slate chip path connecting Olympic to Mead Road will be two blocks long and allows children traveling to school to avoid busy College Avenue.

Originally three Olympic trials were planned but area residents ultimately vetoed the other two. Cost is $70,000 and planning director Amanda Thompson hopes the path’s finished by September.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Clean-up event to be held Saturday

Due to summer heat, the South DeKalb Improvement Association’s clean-up event will start at 9 a.m., Saturday.

Coordinated clean-ups are held every fourth Saturday at major thoroughfares in South DeKalb.

Volunteers meet at Everest Institute, 2460 Wesley Chapel Road, in Decatur, before leaving to assigned locations. The SDIA has partnered with Wesley Chapel Curb Appeal Task Force and Keep DeKalb Beautiful for the clean-ups.

Information: SDIAinc@gmail.com.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Family event reset for Saturday

A DeKalb County community event with food, music, games and government information has been rescheduled for Saturday after it was postponed because of rainy whether last weekend.

The DeKalb County Community Education Family Fun Day is free and open to the public, and it includes educational information about several county initiatives such as the fats, oils and grease recycling.

The event will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at Mason Mill Park, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur. Mark Niesse

SOUTHSIDE

Fayetteville Market Day rescheduled

Due to rain last weekend, Downtown Fayetteville has rescheduled its Market Day for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Vendors selling homemade or home-grown products will set up around the gazebo in the Administrative Complex at 140 Stonewall Ave. West. Potential vendors for future markets should call 770-719-4173.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry Parent Expo set at Heritage Park

The third annual Henry County Communities in Schools Parent Expo is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 26 at Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Road in McDonough.

The Henry County School System will be represented along with other local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

There will be information for parents as well as a school supply giveaway, free food, face painting, inflatables and other activities for kids.

Information: www.cis-henry.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Hapeville seeks input on arts district plan

Hapeville is seeking community input on an arts district overlay that would create new standards aimed at encouraging art studios and housing downtown. Comments accepted through July at Hapeville.org or spi_llc@bellsouth.net. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Special meeting to set Clayton millage rate

A special called meeting of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners will be held at 6:30 p.m., today to set and adopt the 2015 fiscal year end millage tax rate.

Public comments are welcome at the open meeting.

When the new rate is approved, the tax commisioner is responsible for billing and collection of the tax.

The meeting will be held at the administration building in the Commissoners’ Boardroom, 112 Smith St., Jonesboro.

Information: www.claytoncountyga.gov.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Volunteers needed for half-marathon

The Divas Half Marathon and 5K race taking place Sept. 6 in Peachtree City is looking for volunteers to assist runners. The pink-themed, women-oriented event needs help setting up water stations, handing out tiaras and feather boas, and cheering on participants.

Contact Ana Aguilera at 305-254-8606.

Jill Howard Church For the AJC

Golf cart users get safety reminder

The Peachtree City Police Department is reminding golf cart drivers to obey traffic rules related to other vehicle use.

Following the extrication of a cart that ended up in Lake Kedron after a collision, the city notes that accidents involving property damage over $500 or any type of injury must be promptly reported to authorities. Jill Howard Church for the AJC