County by county news for Wednesday

Taxpayers group chief runs for Austell council

Lance Lamberton, president of the Cobb Taxpayers Association, is running for a seat on the Austell City Council in November. Lamberton is running for the Ward 4 seat currently held by Virginia Reagan. Lamberton, a 10-year Austell resident, has been endorsed by former Congressman Bob Barr, former Cobb Commission Chairman Bill Byrne and current Austell councilman Martin Standard, according to his campaign.

City Council elections will be Nov. 8. Janel Davis

Brown Bag concert series starts Thursday

Marietta’s Brown Bag concert series will be noon Thursdays through Sept. 29. The free, weekly concerts at Glover Park on the Marietta Square starts Thursday with the Christian country group Beulah Land. The schedule includes Bob Geresti on piano, Sept. 8; Christian singer Jay Parkman, Sept. 15; and country musician Sonya Shell, Sept. 22. The Sept. 29 performer will be announced later. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Hunter education classes in September

Only 13 seats remain for two free hunter education classes in September in Powder Springs.

Classes are required before hunting licenses may be purchased. Class participants must attend both Sept. 13 and 15 from 6-10 p.m. at the Ward Recreation Center, 4845 Dallas Hwy.

Registration and information: georgiawildlife.com/hunting/education. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Pebblebrook wins sportsmanship award

A Cobb County high school got high marks for sportsmanship last year.

Pebblebrook High School won the 2011 Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award for region 4-AAAAA.

The award was given by the Georgia High School Association and the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. The awards are presented annually to member high schools in the 40 regions from the five classifications. Ty Tagami

Kennesaw recreation department recognized

The Kennesaw Parks & Recreation Department has been named 2011 Agency of the Year for cities with a population of 20,000 to 30,000.

The Georgia Recreation and Parks Association picked Kennesaw to receive the award because of the city’s efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles and weight loss and its success in obtaining private funding. Three quarters of the agency’s special events budget was paid with business sponsorships.

City officials accepted the award at a banquet at the Macon Centreplex on Aug. 18. Ty Tagami

GWINNETT

Firm promises local jobs if it gets Briscoe Field

A New York firm that wants to bring commercial flights to Briscoe Field says it is committed to hiring Gwinnett residents if it wins a contract to run the airport.

Propeller Investments said Monday it would “hire as many local employees as possible” if it’s allowed to operate the airport. The company has said it wants to build a 10-gate terminal and launch commercial passenger service with jets that can seat up to 140 people. Gwinnett is considering selling or leasing the airport. Two other firms also have expressed interest. David Wickert

School enrollment approaches projections

The latest Gwinnett County Schools head count taken this week found enrollment only 275 students under projections.

Gwinnett Schools planners had predicted that the district would grow to 162,459 students this school year. The final back-to-school enrollment count will be taken on Sept. 6. D. Aileen Dodd

Suwanee to unveil piece to World Trade Center

Suwanee will unveil a 1,638-pound steel piece of the former World Trade Center during a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at Town Center Park. The event is free. In addition to the unveiling, the ceremony will include a candlelight vigil to honor public safety officials and others.

Following the ceremony, Town Center Cinema will show “World Trade Center,” a 2006 movies starring Nicholas Cage. Joel Anderson

Cabbie helps police catch alleged thief

A cab driver on Sunday helped Gwinnett police arrest a Norcross man who allegedly stiffed him on the fare.

The cab driver told police Oscar Magallanes, 31, asked to be taken home after the cabbie refused to drive him to buy drugs. Magallanes allegedly refused to pay $15 for the ride, so the driver pulled over.

Magallanes then scuffled with the driver, grabbed a portable DVD player from the car and ran. The cab driver chased Magallanes until police caught up with them.

Magallanes was charged with simple battery, robbery, theft, criminal trespass and battery. Andria Simmons

County offices closed for the holiday

Gwinnett County government offices will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday. Garbage and recycling collection will continue on a normal schedule. The county’s solid waste and recycling call center will be closed Monday, but private garbage hauler call centers will be open. To find hauler contact information, visit www.sustainablegwinnett.com. David Wickert

Berkmar High parent meeting today

A Berkmar High School parent information session will be held today on free tutoring available for students.

The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the school at 405 Pleasant Hill Road in Lilburn. Supplemental education services will be available to students in poverty who qualify for free or reduced price meals. D. Aileen Dodd

NORTHSIDE

RacTrac to discuss plans for new market

RaceTrac will host a community information meeting Thursday to provide Johns Creek residents with information about a proposed Racetrac Neighborhood Market with fueling stations on the southwest corner of Parsons Road and Ga. 141. The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at Corporate Office Centers, Johns Creek Center, 11330 Lakefield Drive, Building Two. The company’s latest plan incorporates an approximately 4-acre pocket park with a walking trail, gazebo and hardscape architecture as well as almost a mile of sidewalk connecting the site on Parsons Road. Patrick Fox

End of Summer fest in Roswell Sunday

The Roswell parks department will hold the 10th annual End of Summer Celebration at 6 p.m. Sunday at Centennial High School, 9310 Scott Road.

Carnival games and activities begin at 6 p.m., with performances by bands 3-Way Street and BackTracks beginning at 6:30. Fireworks begin at dark. Information: 770-594-6406. Patrick Fox

Alpharetta, Milton to hold Sept. 11 service

The cities of Alpharetta and Milton will host a 9/11 Memorial Service at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11.

The service will honor today’s first responders and remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. The event will be in Alpharetta Memorial Park at 2565 Old Milton Parkway, on the front lawn of the public safety headquarters. Andria Simmons

North Fulton chamber honors IT business

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce has named Julie and Michael Haley of Edge Solutions the 2011 Small Business Persons of the Year. The Alpharetta-based firm is a majority woman-owned IT solutions provider to companies throughout the Southeast.

Small business finalists were selected from the Chamber’s membership of more than 1,300 businesses. As part of the selection process, the company must exhibit sustained business growth, Chamber participation and community involvement. Patrick Fox

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. Students are exposed to local government leaders, financial responsibility and college admissions advice. 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

Contest could mean $50,000 to a school

The Clorox Company is running a contest that could bring a local school as much as $50,000. Anyone 18 or older can nominate their school to spend the money in one of three categories -- play, create or explore.

Nominations are due no later than Oct. 17, and the winner will be chosen by an on-line vote on Oct. 24 at www.PowerABrightFuture.com. The grand prize winner receives $50,000. Others can claim $25,000 prizes.

NANCY BADERTSCHER

ATLANTA

Grand jury grants extension to APS

The Fulton County grand jury has granted the Atlanta Public Schools system its request for a three-week extension to comply with an Aug. 12 subpoena, District Attorney Paul Howard said Tuesday.

APS officials on Friday handed over to the grand jury 95 volumes of DVDs, CDs and cassettes but asked for more time to fully comply with the subpoena. Howard said he is still gathering information on the test-tampering scandal.Bill Rankin

Event celebrates black gay community

In recognition of 2011 Black Gay Pride Weekend, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will hold “Speaking Out: The Black LGBT Experience, a Community Listening Event” on Thursday, celebrating Atlanta’s black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community through shared stories.

The event starts at 7 p.m. at 101 Auburn Avenue, N.E., in downtown Atlanta. Information: 404-730-4001, Ext. 100. Johnny Edwards

Delegation from Bermuda in Buckhead

A delegation from Bermuda is visiting Buckhead this week to explore common interests in business and civic programs.

The trip is part of a Sister Community arrangement established in late May, between governmental and commercial representatives. Three months ago, six leaders from the Buckhead Coalition traveled to Bermuda to initiate the partnership. Ernie Suggs

New York man convicted on weapons charges

A New York man has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for conspiring to make false statements to a firearms dealer in Jonesboro, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Because he was a convicted felon, Gerry Page, 29, paid a co-conspirator in 2009 to buy 16 firearms from the dealer, federal prosecutors said. After each purchase, Page traveled to Georgia to retrieve the firearms.

In June, Page was convicted at trial in federal court in Atlanta. Bill Rankin

DEKALB

Ivy Preparatory opens for first K-6 students

Ivy Preparatory Academy at Kirkwood will open its doors to its first K-6 students today.

The school for boys and school for girls has an enrollment projection of 265 students in each program. Many of the new students and some of the teachers were part of the former Peachtree Hope Charter School, which closed in July and was housed on the same site in Atlanta.

The charter school in DeKalb county is an expansion of the program at the first Ivy Prep in Norcross. The Gwinnett campus serves girls in grades 6-12.

For enrollment information:www.ivyprepacademy.org D. Aileen Dodd

UGA’s Adams speaks to Rotary Club today

University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams will address the Rotary Club of Brookhaven at noon today.

The group will meet at Capital City Country Club, 53 W. Brookhaven Drive N.E., Atlanta. For information: www.brookhavenrotary.org/home. Laurie Hoffman

Rhame to run for school board again

Julie Rhame, a Decatur school board member since 2004, announced late Monday she would run for reelection. Rhame, who’s debated for weeks whether or not to run again, said, “Over the last eight years we’ve gone through redistricting and reorganizing our entire system. We’ve closed schools, we’ve opened schools and we’ve renovated schools. In looking ahead, I think we can finally get down to the real work of a school board, which is preparing kids for those new skills that will be needed in the 21st century.” With qualifying ending Friday, Rhame currently has no opposition. Bill Banks for the AJC

Qualifying in Clarkston through Friday

The qualifying period has begun for candidates who want to run for office this year in Clarkston.

The city will elect three council members to four-year terms this November. Those wanting to qualify for the election should file a notice with the election superintendent at Clarkston City Hall, 3921 Church St. Qualifying runs through Friday, Sept. 2 and costs $105. April Hunt

County directors, managers attend retreat

DeKalb County department directors and other senior managers recently participated in a daylong retreat to focus on critical areas of government.

Leaders focused on goals in public safety, economic development, neighborhood empowerment, government efficiency and fiscal issues. Strategies and goals were suggested by a stakeholder group of DeKalb residents.

No report has been compiled from the retreat. April Hunt

Flight school to hold open house Sept. 10

American Flyers Flight School at the DeKalb Peachtree Airport will be hosting an open house designed to bring those with a curiosity about flying small airplanes to the airport for a fun-filled and informative afternoon. The free event kicks off at noon with a complimentary lunch on Sept. 10. at 1950 Airport Road, Atlanta. No reservation is required. Information: 678-281-0631 or http://tinyurl.com/3f9t8kf. Kenneth Musisi

SOUTHSIDE

2 life sentences for killing father, child

Floyd Wayne Williams has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for murdering a 48-year-old father and his baby to keep the child’s parents from testifying against his brother.

To avoid the death penalty in Clayton County, Williams pleaded guilty Friday to murdering Alejandro Javier Guiterrez-Martinez and 16-month-old Jose Simon Arias in October 2001. Concepcion Guiterrez-Martin was wounded. A bullet passed through her body and killed her son. Williams’ brother was charged with invading the Guiterrez-Martinez house six months earlier. Rhonda Cook

Firefighters ask you to ‘Fill the Boot’

Firefighters will be back at several south Fulton intersections on Friday asking motorists to drop donations and spare change into boots, part of the Fulton County Fire Rescue Department’s annual “Fill the Boot” campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The department has raised more than $316,000 since 1997. Johnny Edwards

Falcons Palmer invites team to dinner

Atlanta Falcons tight end Michael Palmer will host the Locust Grove High School football team Thursday at the team’s upcoming preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Palmer extended the invitation to dinner and the game in a video message after learning about the death of Locust Groves football player Forest Jones. Gracie Bonds Staples

Jeff DeTar to run for mayor of Morrow

A longtime Morrow resident is running for mayor of the city of about 6,500. Jeff DeTar filed to run for the position on Monday. DeTar, an avionics technician, and his wife, Paula, have lived in Morrow more than 25 years.

In addition to the mayor’s seat, two council seats will be open in the November 8 election.

Some two dozen mayoral and city council seats are up for election this year in College Park, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lake City, Lovejoy, Morrow and Riverdale. Candidate-qualifying ends Friday. Tammy Joyner

Peachtree City warns of email problem

Peachtree City’s administrative email system experienced problems last week that resulted in some messages not being delivered. Service has since been restored.

Anyone who sent email to addresses ending in @peachtree-city.org, @ptcgovernment.org, @amphitheater.org or @visitpeachtreecity.com and has not received a reply should resend the message.

The email server will be replaced over the Labor Day weekend, which may result in website and email delays during the holiday. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

College Park welcomes new police recruits

The College Park Police Department welcomed eight new graduates from the Police Academy, the third group to complete training since April.

The recruits completed their assignment at the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center earlier this month.

“We have a fine group of new recruits,” said College Park Police Chief Ron Fears. John Thompson for the AJC