County by county news for Tuesday

Foundation to sell Civil War house

A Civil War-era house, built in 1856, owned by by the Cobb Preservation Foundation is for sale. The Cheney-Newcomer House served as the headquarters of Union Major General John M. Schofield, who commanded Ohio forces during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain June 22-30, 1864. Information: cobblandmarks.com/cheney-newcomer.php, trulia.com/property/1056779580, johnny.sinclair@harrynorman.com or 770-605-4755. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Cobb man indicted in wife’s murder

A Cobb County grand jury has indicted John Steven Kristofak on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated stalking and two firearms-possession charges in connection with the killing of his former wife.

Kristofak, 58, of Acworth, allegedly attacked and killed Donna Kristofak, at her east Cobb home Dec. 22.

He was arrested five days later at a motel in Union City. He is being held without bond in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. Andria Simmons

Kennesaw sets qualifying dates

Kennesaw has set Aug. 26 to Aug. 28 as dates to qualify for three at-large council seats. Post 3-5 seats up for election Nov. 5 are held by Bruce Jenkins, Bill Thrash and Jeff Duckett. Candidates can file at the City Hall training room, 2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fees are $360. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Consignment sale this weekend

A children’s consignment sale will take place in Powder Springs next week.

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 (when many items will be half off) at McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church, 4075 Macland Road at Lost Mountain Road, Powder Springs.

Information: 770-943-3008 ext. 1212, email info@twice-blessed.org or visit twice-blessed.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Libraries offer free puppet museum passes

Cobb residents with valid library cards can get a pass worth four free admissions to the Center for Puppetry Arts museum in Atlanta. Passes are available at Cobb library branches.

The museum, which features more than 350 puppets from around the world, is open Tuesdays through Sundays. Valid dates, show times, hours of operation, and reservation information available at www.puppet.org. Jaime Sarrio

GWINNETT

Mother-in-law’s murder conviction upheld

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday upheld the murder conviction against Joanna Hayes, who killed her daughter-in-law in a Target parking lot in Snellville in April 2009.

Hayes, wearing a wig and fake mustache, fatally shot 26-year-old Heather Strube in the head at Snellville parking lot just after Strube uttered “help” to a passing motorist. Hayes’ son and Strube were separated and getting a divorce at the time of the killing. The state Supreme Court found sufficient evidence to support Hayes’ conviction. Bill Rankin

State court disbars Duluth lawyer

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday disbarred Duluth lawyer Scott Patrick Archer from the practice of law.

In a unanimous opinion, the court cited two cases in 2011 in which Archer abandoned clients after collecting legal fees from them. These include one case where Archer failed to take any action to collect a $10,500 judgment entered in favor of one of his clients, the court said, noting Archer did not file responses to the ethics charges against him. Bill Rankin

Conviction upheld in stabbing death

The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction against Marcus Dewayne Huff, who stabbed his victim 34 times with a kitchen knife.

The court rejected Huff’s claim he should have been convicted of manslaughter, not murder. Huff, who had a prior brain injury, said he killed Daniel Aftowski of Duluth after Aftowski told him he had videotaped the two of them having sex, published the video on the Internet and sent it to Huff’s girlfriend. After the killing, the court noted, Huff stole Aftowski’s car, wallet and hard drive. Bill Rankin

Discipline report shows mixed results

Gwinnett County Public Schools saw a decrease in out-of-school suspensions in the second quarter of the school year and an increase in in-school suspensions, school board members were told Thursday. Between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31 and the same period the previous year, out-of-school suspensions fell from 4,583 to 4,398, said Mames A. Taylor, executive director of academic support. In the same period, in-school suspensions rose to 9,127, compared to 8,730 in the second quarter of the 2011-2012 school year. Nancy Badertscher

Sugar Hill weighs developer’s request

The Sugar Hill City Council is considering a residential developer’s request to change the siding requirements on single-family homes in the planned Lake Forest Estates community on Suwanee Dam Road at Whitehead Road. Suwanee Dam Development Partners is seeking reprieve from the city’s 2007 annexation requirement that the development’s 39 homes, expected to be marketed from $320,000 to $450,000, be made of three sides brick or stone.

The developer is requesting instead that only one side be, but Sugar Hill’s Planning Commission has recommended not compromising the original requirement. Michael Alpert for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Fulton gets high bond rating in debt refinancing

Moody’s Investors Service has given Fulton County a Aa3 bond rating for its $219.8 million water and sewerage revenue refunding bonds. Fulton is refinancing debt from water and sewer projects, and Aa3 is Moody’s fourth-best credit rating.

Moody’s also affirmed its Aa3 rating on $492.8 million of outstanding debt related to the water and sewer enterprise system. Bond proceeds will refinance debt from 2004 with an expected savings of 17.3 percent, with no extension of the maturity date. Johnny Edwards

Johns Creek formulating grant plan

Johns Creek is holding a public workshop to craft an action plan for this year’s Community Development Block Grant at 6 p.m. today at City Hall, 12000 Findley Road. A draft of the grant that benefits low income households and combats homelessness will be on the city’s web site March 12 and available in the city clerk’s office. It also will also be available at Spruill Oaks Regional Library, 9560 Spruill Road, and Robert E. Fulton at Ocee Regional Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Woodstock dog park to open by early summer

Fido will soon have an official place to play in Woodstock. Parks director Preston Pooser says the city’s first dog park will be open in late spring or early summer, after rainy weather scuttled the original April 1 target. The 5-acre park at 150 Dupree Road will include both large and small dog play areas, a community garden and a connection to the planned Noonday Trail. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fundraiser to benefit breast cancer

TurningPoint, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for women with breast cancer, will host a dinner and benefit auction at 7 p.m. Saturday at Country Club of the South, 4100 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. Tickets for “The Pink Affair” are $100.

Information: www.thepinkaffair.org or https://myturningpoint.org Patrick Fox

Canton hosts meeting on trail project

Canton City Council member John Beresford holds an informal meeting next week to jumpstart development of a long-proposed 2-mile hiking trail between Boling and Heritage Parks. Beresford says council members, city officials and park and environmental activists have been invited. The public’s welcome as well.

The meeting is set for 3 p.m. March 12 at the Canton City Hall library, 151 Elizabeth St., Canton. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Environmental projects planned

The Upper Etowah River Alliance environmental group says it’s teaming up with the Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority to do several stormwater infiltration projects, designed to lower the amount of sediment coming into the lake.

The first will involve Boling Park in Canton.

The projects, supported by a $10,000 grant from Home Depot, are expected to finish this spring. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Mayor, Hyundai provide coats for kids

Motor America and Atlanta Public Schools team up to donate coats to local students 11 a.m. today at Bethune Elementary School, 220 Northside Dr.

Hyundai’s Coats for Kids donation program is expected to provide 1,000 Coats to help service Atlanta’s families and children in need. Ernie Suggs

Author to speak at Auburn Avenue Library

The Rev. Norman Rates, author and Sisters Chapel Dean Emeritus, will discuss his book, “May Thy Dear Walls Remain, Memoirs of a College Minister at the Sisters Chapel Spelman College,” at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Avenue, N.E. Information: 404-730-4001 ext. 100. Veronica Fields Johnson

Help for moderate-, low-income taxpayers

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and AARP Tax-Aide are offering free help with 2012 tax returns. Trained volunteers will be at the Buckhead, Kirkwood, and Mechanicsville branches during the tax season. Information: www.afpls.org. Johnny Edwards

Museum announces Fulton family days

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta hosts Fulton County Family Days for Fulton residents only. You can buy one admission ticket and receive one additional general admission ticket for free on the opening day of each feature exhibit. Information: tinyurl.com/ab7onwg. Kenneth Musisi

Forum to focus on sleep safety at daycares

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning will hold a community forum 6 to 7:30 p.m. today, at Atlanta Technical College, Building C, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, and webinars Thurday and March 14 to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome by following guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics on safe sleep environments in child care programs. Information: www.decal.ga.gov. Nancy Badertscher

DEKALB

School chief to hold employee meetings

Interim Superintendent Michael Thurmond will host a series of meet and greet sessions for employees to hear district updates, take part in the budget process and ask questions.

Meeting dates:

March 12 - 4:15 to 5:45 p.m., Arabia Mountain High School, 6610 Browns Mill Rd., Lithonia;

March 13 - 5:30 to 7 p.m., Dr. Ronald E. McNair High School, 1804 Bouldercrest Rd., S.E., Atlanta;

March 18 - 5:15 to 6:45 p.m., Cross Keys High School, 1626 N. Druid Hills Rd., Atlanta;

March 19 - 4:15 to 5:45 p.m., Tucker High School, 5036 Lavista Rd., Tucker and

March 20 - 3:30 to 5 p.m., Stone Mountain High School, 455 Central Dr., Stone Mountain. Veronica Fields Johnson

CEO “priorities” chats held Tuesday, Thursday

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis is hosting an in-home conversation to talk about government priorities 7 p.m. today at the home of Tim and Susan Ryles on Churchwell Court, Tucker.

A second conversation will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the home of Tom and Beverly Coleman on Rock Springs Road, Lithonia.

Three more sessions will be held later in the month.

Information: 404-371-2881. April Hunt

Brookhave solicitor named

Former Atlanta Municipal Court Chief Judge Bill Riley has been named the first solicitor for the new city of Brookhaven.

Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis said he chose Riley because of his experience creating municipal courts in other new cities — Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Dunwoody and Chattahoochee Hills.

As solicitor, Riley will prosecute city ordinance, code and property maintenance violations, He also will be the prosecutor in environmental court. Rhonda Cook

DeKalb Police conducting online survey

The DeKalb Police Department has put a public survey online in a bid to see what residents and business owners think of the agency and safety in the county.

The survey is required as part of the department’s process with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. It also will help the county identify ways to improve service.

To take the survey: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e74pm9aihdrgv6ms/a016vhdvy371g/questions. April Hunt

Oakhurst Church changes name

Pastor Timothy Lloyd announced Oakhurst Church has changed its name to Eastside Church.

It remains located at 630 East Lake Drive in the circa 1950s shopping center that includes Family Dollar.

It also remains grounded, Lloyd said, “on a solid United Methodist tradition [though] geared toward the young and the forward-thinking.”

Since opening in August, 2011, church attendance has nearly doubled to 150, with an increasing number of members coming from beyond South Decatur and from metro Atlanta’s eastside. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Commissioner holds town hall on GOP plans

Commissioner Bill Edwards is part of a Southside forum 7 p.m. today at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, 534 Fairburn Road, N.W., Atlanta.

The group opposes GOP plans to draw Edwards, a Democrat, into the same district as his closest commission ally in redistricting plan approved by the state House on Friday.

Other issues include House bills 170, 171 and 172. Johnny Edwards

Father’s murder conviction upheld

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday upheld the murder conviction against Rodney Reaves of Stockbridge for the 2003 beating death of his 11-year-old daughter Joella.

Before Joella’s death, Reaves and his wife, Charlott, who also was convicted of murder, left the girl in their garage for hours at a time. Joella died of kidney failure caused by severe trauma to her body, and police found a baseball bat and broken umbrella in the Reaves’ home matching the patterns of the girl’s injuries, the ruling said. Bill Rankin

Nursing home to hold tornado drill

Christian City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 7345 Red Oak Road, Union City will participate in a disaster training drill with Union City agencies at 9:06 a.m. today. The exercise is part of disaster preparedness drills happening in hospitals and nursing facilities across the state. Veronica Fields Johnson

Fayette Chamber may assist schools

Fayette County Public Schools officials met with area business leaders last Thursday as part of an effort by the Fayette Chamber of Commerce to help solve the school budget crisis.

Chamber President and CEO Virginia Gibbs said her organization has established a subcommittee “to explore additional ways we can support our school system” that would add new sources of revenue and other resources. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette Democrat meeting on Saturday

The Fayette County Democratic Committee is hosting two distinguished politicians at its 9 a.m. meeting Saturday at the International House of Pancakes in Fayetteville.

Sen. Jason carter and councilman Edward Johnson will share their experiences and discuss state and local issues of concern to Fayette residents. Tammy Joyner

East Point sponsors logo contest

In preparation for the opening of a food truck court in downtown East Point, the city is hosting a logo competition. And East Points says it wants to engage the local talent in the community to come up with the logo design.

Contestants must design an attractive color logo for the East Point Food Truck Court to be used for advertising. The logo must be clearly legible and reproducible, even at a small size. Deadline is March 15.

Information: tinyurl.com/cwotosz or call 404-270-7059. Lisa Gibson for the AJC