County by county news for Wednesday

A passenger, Hysie Allen, 36, of Douglasville, was taken by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, police said. David Ibata

Sen. Stoner town hall meeting on Thursday

Sen. Doug Stoner, D-Smyrna, will hold a town hall meeting on Thursday for residents in his district. The meeting will include a discussion of current legislative issues. Stoner has been involved in HOPE reform efforts and has introduced a payroll tax credit for companies that hire unemployed veterans. The town hall meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the media center of Morris Brandon Elementary, 2741 Howell Mill Road in Atlanta.

Information: 404-463-2518 Janel Davis

Austell council to discuss redistricting

A plan to better balance Austell’s black residents among the four City Council wards will be discussed Friday. The council’s work session will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Municipal Courtroom, first floor, Austell Threadmill Complex, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road. The initial and only plan from private consultant Linda Meggers was voted down unanimously on July 11 by the council when they also voted to keep the current ward lines if they did not approve a redistricting plan in time for the Nov. 8 city elections. They did not. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Stephenson backs Skelton for court clerk

Cobb County Superior Court Clerk Jay Stephenson has endorsed Marietta attorney John Skelton in the race for the clerk position. Stephenson, who has held the position for 28 years, plans to retire at the end of the year. Skelton is challenged in the Republican primary by attorney Rebecca Keaton, who also practices law in Marietta.

Stephenson has pledged $2,500 toward Skelton’s campaign. Janel Davis

Marietta hearing on road work Feb. 7

Marietta will hold a public hearing from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 7 about improvements planned for Franklin Road from Twin Brooks Drive to Los Colinas Apartments. The hearing will be at the complex at 861 Franklin Road, building 2800. The $4.8 million project will focus on pedestrian safety by adding sidewalks,a multi-use trail, street lighting and a new pedestrian signal at Brandon Circle. The plans are on display through Feb. 14 at Marietta City Hall, 205 Lawrence St. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Author to autograph books on Thursday

Shelia P. Moses, co-author of comedian and social activist Dick Gregory’s memoir, will visit the Vinings Library on Thursday. The event begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Vinings Library, 4290 Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta. Information: 770-801-5308 Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Shooting leaves man dead, woman critical

Gwinnett County police are investigating a shooting near Lilburn Tuesday morning that left a man dead and a woman in critical condition.

The shooting happened shortly before 7 a.m. at a home in the 2000 block of Pucketts Drive, in a neighborhood off U.S. 78.

Officers responding to a “shots fired” call found the man and woman with gunshot wounds, who had both been shot, Gwinnett police Cpl. Edwin Ritter said. Ritter said both were taken to Gwinnett Medical Center, where the man later died. The woman was in critical condition, he said. Mike Morris

Stolen church bell recovered

A church bell stolen from a Gwinnett County congregation last week was recovered after a citizen tipped authorities, Channel 2 Action News reported. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said a man had called to say he had purchased the bell, thinking it was an antique, but realized it was stolen when he saw TV reports.

Sheriff’s officials said the 100-pound cast-iron bell, belonging to the Duncan Creek Congregational Church at 3868 Braselton Highway NE, had exchanged hands at least three times. Authorities continued to investigate. David Ibata

Cyber campus info session to be Thursday

Students interested in Gwinnett County School’s online cyber campus can learn more about offerings for the upcoming academic year on Thursday. The cyber charter school will host two information sessions at the Duluth High School Theater. School officials will discuss the curriculum and registration. Gwinnett’s online campus will serve both middle and high school students in 2012-13. The meeting for middle school families will be held from 6:30 -- 7:15 p.m. The high school meeting is from 7:30 – 8:15 p.m. Information: gwinnettonline campus.com. D. Aileen Dodd

Norcross man caught in child sex sting

A 22-year-old Norcross man was arrested after authorities said he attempted to meet with a minor child to have sex, the FBI announced Monday.

Anuer Landaverde was arrested in Ringgold on Friday and charged with attempted aggravated child molestation and violation of the Computer Pornography Act. Landaverde caught the attention of undercover officers on the Internet, the FBI said. When he went to meet with someone he believed to be a minor child, he was arrested by FBI agents and Northwest Georgia Safe Child Task Force officers. Angel K. Brooks

DOT asks input on I-85 alternatives

The Gwinnett County Department of Transportation will seek public input on its study of I-85 transit alternatives at two public hearings next week.

The county is studying light rail, bus rapid transit and other means of getting drivers off I-85. Public information meetings will be held from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the Gwinnett Village CID office, 5855 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite 122, Norcross, and from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Gwinnett Place Marriott, 1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. Information: www.gwinnettcounty.com. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Johns Creek denies Ractrac request to build

Amid a standing-room-only crowd Monday night, the Johns Creek City Council voted to deny a request by Racetrac Petroleum to build a convenience store with pumps near the corner of Parsons and Medlock Bridge roads. The vote was 5-1. One council member abstained. The company had sought to install 20 pumps and a 5,900 square-foot store on the six-acre site. Mayor Mike Bodker said the decision follows the city’s development plan, which allows gas stations on Medlock Bridge but prefers they be located at major intersections. Patrick Fox

Johns Creek mayor speech on Friday

Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker will deliver his 2012 state of the city address at a 7:30 breakfast Friday at the Atlanta Athletic Club. The annual address will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Advance tickets are $5 and may be purchased through the Johns Creek Business Association website or by contacting Diane LaSorda at admin@johnscreekba.com. Tickets will also be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrick Fox

Students safety videos compete today

Twenty-two students from seven Fulton County high schools will be competing today in the second annual Road to Safety competition at Alpharetta High School. The event, organized by volunteers, will award prizes to those students who have created the best short videos educating young people about road safety.

“Our goal within 10 years is to make this a state-wide competition,” said Tim Enloe, one of the organizers for the non-profit group sponsoring the competition. The event begins at 6 p.m. Patrick Fox

McIntosh County Shouters to perform

The widely acclaimed McIntosh County Shouters will be performing at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, in Roswell on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. in honor of Black History Month.

The Shouters will perform the ring shout, sing slave songs, and tell slave stories. The event is open to the public.

For tickets, call 770-594-6232. Information: www.mcintoshcountyshouters.com. Kenneth Musisi

Reinhardt alumni to hold homecoming event

The Alumni Association at Reinhardt University in Waleska invites alumni to join in the Homecoming Day festivities on Feb. 11.

The Homecoming Dance will be from 9 p.m. to midnight. Information: Bruce Bynum at 770-720-5505 or BRB@reinhardt.edu and www.reinhardt.edu/homecoming. Kenneth Musisi

Students place in technology fair

Two Summit Hill Elementary students placed second in the Fulton County Schools Technology Fair. The students, Erin Huddle won for 3-D modeling, and Christopher Manna won for animation.This is the first year that the Milton school’s technology club participated. Students competed in several other categories including digitalvideo editing and multi-media. D. Aileen Dodd

ATLANTA

5 teachers to learn fate next week

Five Atlanta Public Schools teachers implicated in a cheating scandal will find out next week whether each will lose the license to teach. The Professional Standards Commission, which licenses Georgia educators, can choose a variety of sanctions from warning to revocation. The commission will discuss the fate of the educators at a monthly meeting Thursday.

Four out of five are no longer employed by the school district, according to APS officials. In October, 11 educators accused of cheating lost their teaching certification. Jaime Sarrio

Nobel Prize winner to lecture at CAU

Sir Harold W. Kroto, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in chemistry, will lecture on “Carbon in Nano and Outer Space” at Clark Atlanta University on Feb. 21.

Kroto won the Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of “buckminsterfullerines” or “buckyballs,” a new form carbon.

The molecule consists of 60 carbon atoms arranged as a spheroid, in a pattern matching the stitching on soccer balls.

The look reminded Kroto of the geodesic domes designed by architect Buckminster Fuller.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 11 a.m. in the Thomas W. Cole Jr. Center, 223 James P. Brawley Drive, S.W. Ernie Suggs

County offers small business seminar

Fulton County’s Purchasing and Contract Compliance Department is offering a series of free “Constant Contact” seminars to help small businesses boost sales through social media and e-mail marketing campaigns. Attendees will learn to promote products, services and events.

The first seminar, “The Power of E-mail Marketing,” will be Thursday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the purchasing department, 130 Peachtree Street, S.W., Suite 1168, downtown Atlanta.

Registration: www.fultoncountyga.gov/vendor-training/socialmediaemail.

Information: 404-612-5800. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Man arrested in theft of $1,800 dog

Dunwoody Police have arrested Timothy Cadarral Cannon of Sandy Springs for the Jan. 22 theft of a Maltese puppy from Petland on Ashford Dunwoody Road.

Police said a man told the clerk he was going to buy the puppy, which is valued at $1,800. When the clerk turned away, the man fled to an awaiting car, police said. In his haste, police added, the man dropped his cell phone. Last Friday, an unidentified man returned the puppy to the store. Cannon was picked up by the Atlanta Police Department through Crime Stoppers and was charged with larceny/shoplifting. He is being held at the DeKalb County Jail. Patrick Fox

School chief releases 5-year plan

The new superintendent in DeKalb County has unveiled her five-year plan for improving the school system.

Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson, hired last summer, is asking the public to comment on her “Excellence in Education Plan.”

It calls for 95 percent of 2017 graduates to be ready for college or careers as judged by test scores and progress on “career pathways.” She also wants to ensure that 90 percent of schools implement and master Georgia’s “common core” curriculum standards. To read the rest of her proposals and to submit comments, visit: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us. Ty Tagami

Bond interest to help repair parks

The interest on the 2001 parks bond will help DeKalb County make key fixes to several parks this year.

The $1.885 million will go toward renovating tennis courts at Wade Walker and DeKalb Memorial parks as well as upgrades to bathrooms in 13 parks countywide. The bulk of the money, about $960,000, will pay for pool renovations so they meet federal disability requirements, including turning eight tot wading pools into splash areas. April Hunt

County signs deal for airport car rentals

DeKalb County recently signed a new lease with an auto firm that offers rentals at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

The deal with Pope Retail Properties consolidates two current leases the county has with the Neil Pope Automotive Group that don’t expire until November 2012 and 2013, respectively. The new deal sets a 10-year lease for both earlier agreements, with the company paying $186,300 for the first year of the new deal. The new deal includes two five-year-options, with at least a 10 percent increase in rent. Pope wanted the new deal to help attract a long-term tenant at the site. April Hunt

Flash mob to honor Kyle Maynard

The newly re-opened Courtyard Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory (formerly the Holiday Inn) will host a Feb. 8 flash mob dance honoring Kyle Maynard, guest speaker for the Fiberlight LLC’s annual sales conference. Best known for his memoir, “No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life,” Maynard recently finished a hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Flash mob participants include hotel staff and team members of FiberLight. Information: FiberLight marketing manager Pat Mahony 678-347-9256 Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Remains identified as missing teen’s

Remains found in a wooded area in Henry County have been identified as belonging to a teenager reported missing nearly two years ago, police said Tuesday. Anastasia Tarik Hill was reported missing March 6, 2010, the day before she turned 15 years old, Detective Thomas Stott with Henry County Police told the AJC. On Nov. 19, 2010, remains were found in a wooded area along Ga. 138 in Stockbridge, about 10 miles from Hill’s home. An autopsy, performed at the GBI Crime Lab, identified the remains as Hill’s and ruled her death a homicide. Alexis Stevens

2 men sentenced in murder, burglary

A 26-year-old man and his co-defendant were sentenced to prison Tuesday for the home burglary and death of a Riverdale man after Judge Deborah Benefield gave them a passionate lecture about the lives they had destroyed.

Nahshon Lamar Lamont Rashad Minor pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Anthony Wroten, 30, on July 23, 2008. Alan Michael Hudson, 21, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison; the murder charge against him was dropped. Rhonda Cook

Ex-water authority manager sentenced

A former Clayton County Water Authority manager was fined $1,000 and sentenced to five months probation Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to perjury and to hiding the fact that his son worked for the landscaping company he recommended for a government contract.

Linton Herbert Etheridge Jr. was responsible for evaluating the companies bidding for lawn repair work with the water authority. Prosecutors said he gave Georgia Landscape Management the highest score of three bidders for a one-year contract and did not disclose that his son, Cody Etheridge, worked for GLM. Rhonda Cook

Input asked on proposed connector

Henry County is hosting a Public Information Open House regarding the I-75 Western Parallel Connector, which is part of the Livable Centers Initiative Study now underway. The Open House will be Feb. 7, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the cafeteria of Pates Creek Elementary School. The Western Parallel Connector is the primary artery proposed to connect Hudson Bridge Road and Jonesboro Road. No formal presentation will be made but staff will be available to answer questions. Information: www.hcpz.org/lci. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Baby dies of injuries; father faces charges

A 13-month-old Clayton County boy died Monday after suffering severe injuries, allegedly at the hands of his father, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Ryan Edwards, 34, is in the Clayton County Jail charged with child cruelty and aggravated battery, and more charges are pending, the report said.

Mikkah Brown was found unresponsive by his mother, Toni Brown, when he returned home from work Friday. The toddler had been left in his father’s care, Channel 2 said.

Toni Brown said she took Mikkah to an urgent care facility near their Morrow home, and he was transferred to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Angel K. Brooks