County by county news for Tuesday

Allan Levene, Barry Loudermilk and Larry Mrozinski will each have 20 minutes to discuss their campaigns with the audience. Admission is $10 per person.

Information: cobbgop.org or 770-820-6545.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Council to talk about historic district

Marietta’s city council will talk about a request for a second historic district on Polk Street and Maple Avenue at a committee meeting starting 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 205 Lawrence St. The council approved the city’s first residential historic district on Kennesaw Avenue in August.

The city’s six committees will meet to prepare for the council meeting Feb. 12. Information: www.mariettaga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs auctions vehicle

Powder Springs officials are selling a 1998 Honda Passport LX through Feb. 7 when the highest bidder will be awarded.

Bidders may register at govdeals.com, search Powder Springs.Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Development Authority meets Thursday

The newly reorganized Development Authority of Powder Springs will convene at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the second floor conference room, City Hall, 4484 Marietta St., Powder Springs.

Authority members will meet with the city’s first economic development director, Stephanie Aylworth.Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

West Cobb Business Association plans expo

Wednesday is the early registration deadline to reserve an exhibit table for the annual West Cobb Business Association Community Expo from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Hillgrove High School, 4165 Luther Ward Road, Powder Springs.

Costs: $75, members; $125 that includes a one-year WCBA membership, nonmembers.

Prices go up by $10 after Jan. 15.

Information: email WestCobbCommunityExpo@gmail.com

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Cobb students can apply for school choice

Cobb County schools students can apply to transfer to a school of their choice Feb. 10- Feb. 28 for the 2014-2015 school year. A list of school/class space will be posted on the district website on Feb. 3. Charter schools and new schools are exempt from the choice program. Information: www.cobb12k.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Commissioner to hold town hall meeting

Cobb District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell will hold her first town hall meeting of the year at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Cobb Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.

The first-term commissioner plans to give updates on the county and her district. Information: www.cobbcounty.org/.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Suwanee recertified as green community

The Atlanta Regional Commission has recertified Suwanee as a green community at the bronze level. Since its first certification in 2009, Suwanee earned green points through several large initiatives, including obtaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for city hall, reducing paper usage annually and saving nearly 50,000 miles over two years by fueling city vehicles at a local retailer rather than at a county facility in Buford. Additional points were scored for sidewalks and bike paths, recycling at city hall, and installing bike racks at all city facilities. www.suwanee.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Selection committee meeting rescheduled

The Citizens Project Selection Committee meeting covering the major roads project category will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, Conference Room C, 75 Langley Dr., Lawrenceville. The committee will also vote on the previously presented road safety and alignment category. This meeting has been rescheduled from Monday. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Norcross State of the City to be presented

Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson will present the State of the City at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Carlyle House, 173 S. Peachtree St. in Norcross. Johnson will review municipal updates from 2013 and discuss the city’s ongoing vision for 2014. Attendees are invited to stay after the presentation for dessert and coffee. No reservations required. www.norcrossga.net.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Time to renew Lilburn business licenses

The deadline to renew business licenses in Lilburn is Friday, Jan. 31. All businesses, regardless of size, residential or commercial location, are required to obtain an occupational tax certificate. Renewal applications, available online at www.cityoflilburn.com, may be presented at city hall or mailed to City of Lilburn, 76 Main St., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Business kickball league opens

Duluth Parks and Recreation is accepting registration for a business kickball program for adults 21 and up that wil play Sundays March 2 through May 4 at Bunten Road Park, 3180 Bunten Road. Fee: $200 with 70 percent comprised of Duluth residents/$250 non residents. Register: www.duluthga.net/registration or Bunten Road Park. Information: 770-814-6981 or parksaandrecreation@duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Harlem Legends to play north Gwinnett squad

An exhibition game between the Harlem Legends and local public safety officers, politicians, community leaders, coaches and teachers is 3 to 8 p.m. March 22 at North Gwinnett High, 20 Level Creek Road, Suwanee. There will also be a basketball clinic and health fair. Admission to the game is $10, $13 at the door and $25 for VIP tickets. Tickets to the basketball clinic are $25.

Information: www.harlemlegends.com or 678-630-8843.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Canton Council to weigh manager search

The search for a new city manager will come before the Canton City Council-again- during a special called meeting this week.

City officials say the three-member committee searching for a permanent replacement for the departed Scott Wood decided to ask for unspecified advice and direction from the council during its first meeting last week.

The item’s expected to come up in executive session during the 6 p.m. Thursday session at City Hall, 151 Elizabeth St. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Rechsteiner seeks another term on board

Robert Rechsteiner is throwing his hat into the ring for another term on the Cherokee County Board of Education.

The 25-year-plus Woodstock-area resident was first appointed to the board in November of 2005 to fill a vacancy, and was elected and re-elected in 2006 and 2010. Rechsteiner, a former pro wrestler under the name “Rick Steiner,” says his goals include improving the graduation rate and restoring teacher morale.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee principal wins scholarship

The principal of Etowah High School in Cherokee County is one of only 40 educators nationwide to win the EF Educational Tours Professional Development Scholarship. Keith Ball and the others will head to Peru for 10 days this summer for service and learning projects in Lima and several other cities.

The group will also visit local schools and explore cultural and historic sites.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

UNG planners to hold hearings in Cumming

The University of North Georgia Strategic Planning Steering Committee will host town hall meetings to produce a plan for the school’s future by the end of the spring semester. Three meetings, set on the Cumming campus: noon Feb. 5 in room 103, 300 Aquatic Circle; March 5 and April 9. The 60-member faculty, staff and student committee seeks input on academic programs, campus planning and community partnerships. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth chamber sets economic forecast

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Economic Outlook Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming.

Real estate expert Frank Norton Jr., will deliver his 2014 forecast. Registration is $20 for members, $30 for non-members.

Information and to register: cummingforsythchamhber.org Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Reception set for retiring library head

A public reception has been set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the RT Jones Memorial Library in Canton for retiring Sequoyah Regional Library System Director Susan White.

White is stepping down that day after more than 42 years with the system, and will be replaced by current Assistant Director Anita Summers.

The system serves Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer Counties. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Buckhead’s Heiskell School will close

The Heiskell School, a Christian school in Buckhead, plans to close following this school year after operating for 65 years.

A statement from the school said there was no precipitating factor that caused the closure, but the school’s board decided it was time to complete the school’s mission as a family owned and managed institution. Mark Niesse

Washington High unification discussed

Two community meetings 6:30 p.m. today and Feb. 6 at Booker T. Washington High School will discuss transitioning from three independent theme-based schools on the same campus to one unified school.

The Atlanta Board of Education voted unanimously in September for the change, which will consolidate the Early College with its schools of Health, Science and Nutrition and Banking, Finance and Investment. Mark Niesse

Atlanta promotes box tops for school needs

“Box Tops for Education Day” will be celebrated Thursdayin an effort to raise money for public schools.

Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall plans to issue a proclamation marking the occasion, which will feature a town hall gathering at the Georgia Aquarium including Grammy Award-winning artist Monica, 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year Jemelleh Coes and others.

Box Tops for Education, sponsored by General Mills, contributes 10 cents per pink coupon collected from a variety of products, with proceeds going to schools. Mark Niesse

Torah Day School celebrates choice

Students and teachers at Torah Day School of Atlanta, 1985 Lavista Road, will celebrate National School Choice Week by wearing the NSCW signature yellow scarves to show support for school choice during class, field trips and a rally. Students also will participate in an art and essay contest.

The events will be held through Friday. Nancy Badertscher

DEKALB

Court upholds murder conviction

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday upheld the murder conviction against a man who shot and killed an innocent bystander who was sitting in his car at a traffic light.

The court unanimously rejected the appeal filed by Stanquise Ramon Bell for killing Anthony Carter on May 21, 2010, after Carter had attended an Avondale High School reunion. Witnesses said Bell, who had been drinking and acting erratically, pulled out a gun and opened fire as the car he was in drove up next to Carter’s car at an intersection. The bullet struck Carter in the left armpit and traveled through his aorta, the ruling said.

Bill Rankin

Gateway Manor to receive ‘revitalization’

Decatur’s five-acre Gateway Manor housing, originally built in 1969, was approved by the city commission for a major “revitalization,” similar to nearby Allen Wilson Terrace, now in its third phase.

The new Gateway will include 55 percent, or 139, 972 square feet of green space – trails, gardens, play equipment – and 130 units combining the current 88 families of Gateway with the 24 families now living in Oakhurst’s Oakview Apartments.

Construction, however, won’t begin until May, 2015, at the earliest, and will take at least one year. Bill Banks for the AJC

County testing once weekly trash pickup

DeKalb County has launched a pilot program to test cutting its curbside trash pickup from four days to one.

About 28,000 homes will have garbage, yard waste and recycling collected once weekly in the program, which includes issuing residents a 65-gallon cart for the trash.

The county will review the change later in the year to see if it saves money as projected and has community support. April Hunt

Commissioner hosts monthly meeting

Stan Watson, the commissioner representing the eastern half of DeKalb County, will host his monthly community breakfast Saturday.

Representatives from the county’s sanitation program offices will attend the session.

The breakfast runs from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Chapel Hill Middle School, 3535 Dogwood Farms Road, near Decatur.

Registration is not required.

April Hunt

Clarkston Festival receives grant

The Clarkston Festival Committee received a $9,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s Neighborhood Fund.

The committee was formed in 2012 in response to an expressed interest throughout the Clarkston community for a common festival. This year’s event will take place April 26 at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. Information: www.cfgreateratlanta.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Youth sports offered this month

The Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, offers youth sports this month: swimming, dance, gymnastics and tennis. Baseball, soccer, basketball and triathalon training begins in February. Information: 678-812-3798. Arlinda Smith Broady

SOUTHSIDE

Henry honors top fire department personnel

The Henry County Fire Department honored some of its own Jan. 17 at its sixth annual awards banquet. Honorees included Kyle Prince, Firefighter of the Year; Malcom White, EMT of the Year; Carlos Bentley, Rookie of the Year; Lt. Lucas Harmsen, Officer of the Year; Drew Hand, Paramedic of the Year; Lt. Rodney Wiggins, Training Officers Award; Lt. Glenn Brooks, Inspections/Prevention Officer Award; and Torrie Mitchell, Administrator Assistant of the Year.

Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Registration open for homestead exemptions

Senior citizens in Peachtree City can begin applying for their annual homestead exemption.

Qualifying homeowners must be age 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2014 and have a household income under $30,000. Forms are at City Hall and must be filed with documentation by Feb. 28.

Information: 770-487-7657 or info@peachtree-city.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Stroke awareness at Piedmont Henry

Piedmont Henry Hospital will host Home Run for Health, a stroke awareness event with the Atlanta Braves caravan, from 10 a.m. until noon Friday in the hospital’s South Tower lobby.

Participants will receive free blood pressure screening, assistance in determining body mass index, fitness information, stroke education, giveaways and have the opportunity to be photographed with and receive autographs from members of the Atlanta Braves.

Information: piedmonthenry.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Fayette forming new art and park boards

Fayette County wants volunteers for two new citizen committees.

The Public Art Committee will promote public artwork throughout the county and needs members related to architecture, art education or design.

The Justice Center Park Committee will help create a self-funded park on land near the justice and senior centers in Fayetteville. Contact Tameca White, twhite@fayettecountyga.gov.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette lowers lake level for maintenance

Fayette County has begun lowering the water level in Lake Peachtree in Peachtree City.

The city and county do so every few years at the request of waterfront property owners, to facilitate maintenance on docks and shorelines.

The water will be raised to normal levels in late March. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette seeks input on academic needs

The Fayette County Public School System has set up an online survey to get public input on future academic needs.

The questions relate to potential course offerings and career pathways for high school students.

Replies due by Jan. 31.

Information:www.surveymonkey.com/s/FayetteParents-CareerInterests.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC