County by county news for Tuesday

Norraze Hambrick, 20, is being held without bond at the Cobb County jail on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of first-degree cruelty to children. Andria Simmons

Entrepreneur workshop Wednesday in Smyrna

The Black Cobb Pages will host a workshop on entrepreneurship and black businesses on Wednesday with CNN financial expert Clyde Anderson.

The workshop is free for Black Cobb Pages members, and $20 for nonmembers.

The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Smyrna Community Center, 2800 King Street in Smyrna. Information: www.blackcobbpages.com Janel Davis

TV, film writer to speak Wednesday

The Cobb Library Foundation will host veteran television and film writer Jeffrey Stepakoff on Wednesday at the “Booked for Lunch” author series at the Marietta Country Club. Tickets are $25, and proceeds help fund the Gail Rogers Honorary Scholarship. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the club, 1400 Marietta Country Club Drive in Kennesaw.

Purchase tickets at: www.cobblibraryfoundation.org Janel Davis

Three Cobb teachers win honors

Three teachers in Cobb County have been named teachers of the year within the district: Music teacher Richard McKee of Acworth Intermediate School, family and consumer science teacher Dawn Castleberry of Lovinggood Middle School and drama teacher Coy Dunn of Kennesaw Mountain High School. In coming weeks, the three will be interviewed and one will be named district teacher of the year. Ty Tagami

Register for free aortic aneurysm screening

Free screenings for abdominal aortic aneurysms will be in Mableton on Sept. 10. More than a million Americans have the condition, but have not been diagnosed. If that aneurysm bursts, few survive. Those at risk include people who are 60 or older, have a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a family history of the disease. Advance registration is required. Call 866-371-3592 by Aug. 29. The event will be held at the Kmart Pharmacy on Mableton Pkwy. Carrie Teegardin

Children’s consignment sale this week

A children’s consignment sale will be held in Powder Springs on Thursday through Saturday. Twice Blessed sales are sponsored by McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church, 4075 Macland Road at Lost Mountain Road near Kroger. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds are used to support the children’s ministries of the church.

Information: 770-943-3008 or www.twice-blessed.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Buford man critically injured in house fire

A man was treated for burns and smoke inhalation after a fire broke out Sunday night at his home in the 5600 block of Sycamore Road in Buford.

A neighbor reported a fire at 7:33 p.m. Firefighters heard someone yelling for help inside upon arrival at 7:39 p.m. They were initially unable to enter to heat and smoke, but after battling the blaze they were able to locate the man inside 10 minutes later.

The man was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center in critical condition. Fire investigators believe the blaze was caused by food left unattended on the stove. Andria Simmons

Peachtree Corners to discuss cityhood

The Peachtree Corners Yes committee will sponsor a town hall meeting on the issue of cityhood from 7:30-9 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church in Norcross. Speakers will include State Rep. Tom Rice. The meeting is free and open to the public and time will be allotted for questions. Information: www.peachtreecornersyes.com. Veronica Fields Johnson

Commission approves park projects

Gwinnett commissioners have approved expansion plans for two county parks.

Last week commissioners approved a $5.9 million expansion of Harbins Park near Grayson. The project includes a multi-purpose field with bleachers, a concession/restroom building, a lighted walking track, a playground and a 3-acre lake. Also approved was $9.6 million of work at Rabbit Hill Park near Dacula. Among other things, the park will get two soccer fields and seven new baseball/softball fields. David Wickert

Lynette Howard to meet with constituents

Gwinnett County Commissioner Lynette Howard will meet with constituents at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lucky Shoals Park Community Center, 4651 Britt Road, Norcross. Howard represents commission District 2, which covers the southwestern part of Gwinnett and includes the cities of Berkeley Lake, Norcross and Lilburn and the Peachtree Corners area. David Wickert

Volunteer Night at Coolray Field Aug. 25

The 12th Annual Gwinnett Great Days of Service will kick-off with Volunteer Night at Gwinnett Braves Coolray Field on Thursday. 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

GED hosts economic summit Friday

Gwinnett Economic Development will host the annual Partnership Gwinnett Summit on Friday. Participating will be leaders in the public and private sectors who are guiding the future of local economic and community development. The program runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gwinnett Technical College Busbee Center, Lawrenceville. Nancy Badertscher

NORTHSIDE

School board to meet in Alpharetta today

The Fulton County Board of Education will meet today for a business retreat at the district’s North Transportation Center in Alpharetta. The retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be open to the public. Executive sessions, in which land, legal or personnel items are discussed will be held privately. Any vote resulting from a closed executive session discussion, however, will occur in an open public setting.

The transportation facility is located at 410 South Main Street.

D. Aileen Dodd

Sandy Springs offers teen driving course

The Sandy Springs Police Department will host a Georgia Teens Ride With PRIDE (Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error) class Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at ChatComm, 859 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs. Register: email Bunny Mitchell at sandyspringsteens@yahoo.comor Officer Shelly Weed at shelly.weed@sandyspringsga.org. Michelle Shaw

Hip-Hop-Alooza at Woodstock church

Christian hip hop artists Tedashii, Sho Baraka, PRo, KB and an unnamed “special guest” will perform on today during the Hip-Hop-Alooza at First Baptist Church Woodstock.

The concert will be held in the chapel in building A and begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are free to college students and $10 for general admission. Students must show student identification or a driver’s license proving they are between the ages of 18 and 22. To purchase tickets: www.fbcw.org/HipHopAlooza. Shelia Poole

Sen. Isakson to speak at chamber breakfast

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., is slated to give the keynote address for the Eggs & Enterprise breakfast sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. The breakfast meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. today at the Country Club of the South in Johns Creek. The meeting is open to members and non-members. Reservations: www.gnfcc.com or 770-993-8806, ext. 306. Nancy Badertscher

Chamber reaches out to future leaders

Emerging Leaders Program is seeking qualified high school juniors in North Fulton. The program is part of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce- Leadership North Fulton Program. Applications are due Sept. 6. The classes take place during the years on teacher work days and students are required to commit to 15 hours of community service. Information: wwww.leadershipnorthfulton.com. Sandra Marshall Murray

Forsyth beautification group to hold banquet

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful will hold its annual Recognition Banquet Aug. 30 at Cumming Elementary School, 540 Dahlonega Street, Cumming. Reservations are required by Aug. 26. Information: kfcb@forsythco.com or 770-205-4573

KFCB sponsors America Recycles Day, Christmas tree and phone book recycling, the Great American Cleanup, Earth Day and compiles the litter index. It also heads Adopt-A-Road, Adopt-A-Stream and beautification efforts. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Scout targets animal shelter for Eagle project

Life Scout Jason Benator and his family and friends will be working this coming weekend at PAWS-Atlanta’s no-kill animal shelter, making repairs and improvements that will help him earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Benator has raised more than $1,250 and secured six tons of recycled rubber mulch for outside areas that are part of his project to make the shelter cleaner and safer for humans as well as dogs and cats.

He is clearing the walking trail and play area of old rock and thorny underbrush and he is cleaning and painting the cat house. Rhonda Cook

Think PINK Georgia party targets cancer

Team PINK Georgia invites all attendees of Fire Rescue International, friends of emergency services and supporters of cancer awareness to join them for the kickoff party for the PINK Heals National Tour.

The event starts at 6:30 to 9 p.m. at RiRa Irish Pub at 1080 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 1 in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Information: teampinkga@gmail and firefightershifflett@yahoo.com Kenneth Musisi

‘Dress for Success’ networking event today

Charles Schwab in conjunction with Dress for Success Atlanta, KPMG, Siemens, GE and Homrich Berg are sponsoring the “Dress for Success” networking and leadership event. The event is from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. today at Designer Jewelry, Level One, Neiman Marcus, Atlanta. Please RSVP by contacting 404-724-2466 or Joanne.bryant@schwab.com. Sandra Marshall Murray

Group holds shoe drive for needy

Soles4Souls is inviting Atlanta residents to recycle their ‘gently worn’ shoes or make donations in an effort to assist people living in extreme poverty and recovering from natural disasters. The shoe drive is being conducted in partnership with Hilton Garden in Wildwood until Aug. 31 at 3045 Windy Hill Road in Atlanta.

Donations can be made at www.giveshoes.org. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Decatur superintendent addresses overcrowding

Decatur Schools Superintendent Phyllis Edwards recently addressed the overcrowding at Oakhurst Elementary in a letter posted on the City Schools website. Though most of Oakhurst’s in-district students were accommodated, several were sent to schools outside their zone. Edwards wrote, “We completely understand parents’ concerns about not being able to go to the school in which they are zoned . . . We [will] try very hard to get the re-zoned students into their home school whenever openings occur.” Oakhurst has 357 students, a nearly 20 percent jump from this time two years ago. Bill Banks for the AJC

Clarkston readies for International Festival

Clarkston is accepting vendors, sponsors and volunteers for its upcoming International Festival in October. The event features food, music and entertainment from the city’s Asian, Pacific Islander, Latino and African-American cultures. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 1 in Clarkston Plaza at Montreal Road. Information: at 404-343-1452 or visit our website at www.StepupinGeorgia.org. April Hunt

Volunteers needed for Memorial Drive cleanup

Elected leaders from DeKalb County and local businesses are teaming up to encourage people to help clean-up Memorial Drive.

The corridor has been plagued by litter and illegal signs, and volunteers are needed to help spiff up the road. A clean-up day will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, starting at Georgia Perimeter College at Memorial and North Indian Creek drives. To register: http://www.cfarestaurant.com/memorialdrive/events/20110827. April Hunt

Fundraiser Thursday for 9/11 memorial

DeKalb County firefighters and other volunteers creating a Sept. 11 monument will hold a fundraiser this week to help cover the $20,000 cost.

The monument features a sculpted eagle wing coming out of the ground with a beam from the World Trade Center set in front of it. It will be unveiled on Sept. 11 in front of DeKalb police and fire headquarters.

Arizona’s at Stonecrest, a steakhouse near Stonecrest Mall, will hold a fundraiser from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Information: dekalb911memorial@gmail.com or www.dekalb911memorial.wordpress.com. April Hunt

Schools team up for 5K run

Stone Mountain is teaming up with three local schools to host its first joint 5K. The Granite Grasshopper 5K and Fun Run will be Oct. 8 in historic Stone Mountain Village and into Stone Mountain Park. Proceeds benefit Stone Mountain Elementary, Champion Theme Middle and Stone Mountain High schools. Registration, is $20 before Sept. 15 and $25 after, is available online at www.active.com. Information: www.stonemountainvillage.com. April Hunt

Chamber offices to move to Decatur Sept. 1

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce from Tucker to a spot in downtown Decatur on Sept. 1. The new address is 125 Clairemont Ave., Decatur.

Information: www.dekalbchamber.org. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Chairman Bell named to transportation panel

Clayton County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell has been named to a national transportation board where he will help shape federal transportation policies affecting local governments. National Association of Counties (NACo) President Lenny Eliason appointed Bell to one of five vice-chairperson positions on the group’s Transportation Steering Committee. The committee deals with transportation planning, highway finance and safety, public transit development and finance, airport development, railroads, waterways, and new modes of transportation. Tammy Joyner

Clayton State sets enrollment record

Clayton State University set an enrollment record, with 6,889 students taking classes this fall, officials announced Monday. That’s a 4.3 percent increase from last fall. The previous enrollment record was set during spring semester when 6,785 students were enrolled. The student body includes 495 freshmen, with 388 of them attending full-time. Laura Diamond

Fayette schools want input on calendar

The Fayette County Public School System has posted a survey online to determine how the community feels about possible changes to the calendar. The survey is open to students, parents, staff and residents. It will be posted until Sept. 15 at www.fcboe.org. Hard copies are at the LaFayette Educational Center in Fayetteville. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Here’s your chance to be principal for a day

Want to be a school principal for a day? Here’s your chance. The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce and Clayton County Public Schools invite community and business leaders to visit a school and spend time running that school. To participate in the free Sept. 29 program, log onto claytonchamber.org or email dcarter@claytonchamber.org. The chamber’s education committee makes the selection. Tammy Joyner

Starr’s Mill bleachers to be repaired

Two, four, six, eight, Starr’s Mill High School’s bleachers aren’t that great. So the Fayette County Board of Education voted on Aug. 15 to spend $64,232 to fix them. Facilities Director Mike Satterfield explained that the aging gym seats have stopped functioning as a single unit and are requiring repeated repairs for burned-out motors. Repairs to the seats, railings and frame will be paid for by ESPLOST funds and completed before basketball season. The renovation is expected to help the bleachers last another six or seven years. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

HMC blood donors can win iPod touch

Blood donors who participate in Henry Medical Center’s in Wednesday’s blood drive will have a chance to win an iPod touch.

The Stockbridge hospital is partnering with LifeSouth for the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All donors will be placed in a raffle for the iPod touch with the winner announced at the end of the day. The drive will take place at LifeSouth’s bloodmobile in front of Henry Medical’s South Tower, as well as inside the hospital’s executive dining room on the tower’s ground floor. Misty Williams