County by county news for Wednesday

The district approved an understanding, which will allow rising seventh graders and older to seek admission to the conversion charters.

State money would follow the student to the chosen school. The agreement would be in effect until the rising seventh graders graduated from high school. Jaime Sarrio

McCleskey school to get $8.5 million upgrade

The Cobb school board approved an $8.5 million contract for modifications to McCleskey Middle in Marietta. Hensler and Beavers General Contractors, Inc. of Doraville was selected for the work, which will include the addition of new science and music classrooms. Renovations include an expanded cafeteria and a new heating and air system. Jaime Sarrio

Powder Spring revamps municipal court by fall

Powder Springs should have a renovated municipal court by fall. Around $600,000 will be spent for the conversion of the present police station near City Hall, said the city’s Community Development Director Pam Conner. Croy Engineering has been hired by the city for an initial fee of $77,000 to design the court facility.

Croy also is renovating the former Ace Hardware on Richard Sailors Parkway for the city’s new police station that should be opened by summer. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

WellStar plans for East Cobb to be discussed

The potential impact of WellStar Health System’s plans for an $80 million project on Providence Road will be discussed at a 7 p.m. today at the East Cobb Government Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta. The meeting is hosted by the East Cobb Civic Association. Rich McKay

Austell to get occupant for closed plant

The closed National Envelope Corp. (NEC) South plant in Austell may have a new occupant soon.

The 2989 Humphries Road LLC may be opening a recycling facility for aluminum and electronics at the 2989 Humphries Hill Road site, said an Austell Community Development Department official.

That decision is contingent upon this Monday night’s decision by the Austell City Council on rezoning the nearly 9 acres from Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial.

Just before Christmas, NEC closed its Austell plant, ending jobs for nearly 200 when moving to its Smyrna location. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Bathtub races return to Southern Polytech

Nine teams of students will compete in bathtub races on Saturday at Southern Polytechnic State University.

The tradition was revived last year after a 20-year absence due to liability concerns and campus expansion. This year the races will feature non-motorized bathtubs, and will be organized by students.

Time trials begin at 10 a.m. and races begin at noon. The starting line will be on North Hornet Drive, and the course ends at the intersection with Polytechnic Lane. Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Reading skills assignment evokes school probe

Gwinnett County Public Schools is investigating a Chesney Elementary School teacher who assigned a reading comprehension skills pack to students that allegedly contained inflammatory about immigration.

Sloan Roach, spokeswoman for Gwinnett Schools, said the teacher downloaded the skills pack from the Internet without reading it thoroughly. The passages were not on the approved content list of support materials. Roach said the new teacher made a mistake and did not intend to offend students or families. D. Aileen Dodd

M.A.D.D. honors county’s DUI task force

The Gwinnett County police DUI Task Force has been named the 2010 Statewide DUI Agency of the Year by Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers (M.A.D.D.).

Receiving red pins for 150 or more DUI arrests in 2010 were: Cpls. M.J. Blute and C.A. Deming with 289 and 173 arrests respectively; and officers A.M. Kingsley and W.M. Rundles with 169 and 167 arrests respectively.Officer J.T. Tait got a gold pin for making 109 DUI arrests. Officers M.K. Wyman, S.C. Mycols and J.N. Cyphers received silver pins for making 88, 69 and 61 DUI arrests respectively. Andria Simmons

Monkey Joe’s locations work to help Japan

Monkey Joe’s in Lawrenceville, Tucker and Fayetteville are hosting a “Jump for Japan” event from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to benefit victims affected by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.Monkey Joe’s Tucker is at 4023 Lavista Road, Suite 230; its Lawrenceville location is at 665 Duluth Highway; its Fayetteville location is at 182 Banks Crossing. Andria Simmons

Hip hop with the Easter Bunny at Bogan Park

Gwinnett County will host a “hip hop with the Easter Bunny” event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 13 at the Bogan Park Community Recreation Center, 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford. Kids can learn hip hop moves, make crafts, have a snack and play games with the Easter Bunny. The event is open to kids age 3 to 5. The cost is $12 per person. Pre-registration is required. To register call 770-614-2060. David Wickert

Auburn readies for Armed Forces Day

The City of Auburn is accepting applications to participate in its 2011 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration May 21.

The registration deadline is May 6, and the entry fee is $20. Information: www.cityofauburn-ga.org. David Wickert

Sugar Hill officials look for office ideas

Sugar Hill officials recently completed a tour of neighboring cities, looking for ideas for their future office.

The city is beginning to turn dirt on a half-mile-long district that will include restaurants, retailers and a new 30,000-square-foot City Hall.

Officials visited Riverside Academy, Buford City Hall, Brand Bank of Buford and Duluth City Hall, and Suwanee City Hall to examine materials, from floors to mortar. Patrick Fox

NORTHSIDE

Roswell doctor charged with fraud, tax evasion

A Roswell doctor has been formally charged with health care fraud and tax evasion. Lawrence Eppelbaum, 52, who owns and operates the Atlanta Institute of Medicine and Rehabilitation and a pain clinic, had his initial court appearance Monday. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said, “This defendant allegedly used a purported charitable organization he controlled to manipulate the system, paying kickbacks to Medicare patients to induce them to use his medical practice for care.” The indictment alleges he evaded about $1 million in federal income taxes. Bill Rankin

Forsyth scrutinizes transportation wish list

Forsyth County is refining the final draft of its wish list of transportation projects -- from widening Ga. 400 to the construction of sidewalks and multi-use trails -- it will submit to the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission by the end of this week with the idea that these projects could be funded by a 1 percent transportation sales tax if its approved by Georgia voters in 2012. After the commission reviews the list it will forward qualifying projects to the Georgia Department of Transportation for consideration. Jeffry Scott

Forsyth looks at options in golf course suit

Forsyth County commissioners at their next meet on April 7 will discuss what to do after losing the latest round in a four-year-long legal battle over zoning between the county and the owner of a 172-acre Lanier Golf Course off Buford Dam Road. The county’s request for a new judge in the case was denied, said County Attorney Ken Jarrard. The dispute began in 2007 when the county commission rejected the course owners’ request to rezone the land so they could sell it to a developer to build a 772-unit residential and retirement community. Jeffry Scott

North Fulton chamber expands networking

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is kicking off a quarterly event called The Bonus Round designed to bring an extra opportunity for networking to North Fulton professionals. The event will be at 5:30 p.m. April 19 at the Gallery Events in the Johns Creek Center for the Arts & Design, 10700 State Bridge Road. Pre-registration is recommended.

Information: www.gnfcc.com or 678-397-0567. Patrick Fox

Cycling event to raise money for cancer

Organizers for this year’s 24 Hours of Booty cycling event for cancer research will hold a kickoff party at 6:30 p.m. April 7 at 5 Seasons Brewing, 3655 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta. The party will provide information for the fundraiser scheduled for Oct. 1 at Stone Mountain Park. The event raises funds for programs with LIVESTRONG and Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Patrick Fox

Alpharetta students exceed fundraising goal

Alpharetta Elementary School exceeded its goal of raising $2,011 in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Pennies” for Patients” program this month. Students, parents, teachers and community supporters brought in what added up to $3,525.49 to help people fighting blood cancers. Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Panel delays talk on court downsizing

The Atlanta City Council public safety committee on Tuesday delayed discussing a city audit that found the city could nearly halve the number of municipal court judges and get just as much work done to save the city $2 million. The committee called a special meeting for 10 a.m. on April 22 to allow the nine judges to attend. It’s a Friday, an off-day for court.

Judges have called the audit unfair and improper court analysis. Steve Visser

Group offers help to unemployed

More than 30 labor, religious and advocacy organizations are inviting the unemployed and under-employed talk about their experiences since losing their jobs. Put together by Atlanta Jobs with Justice, radio talk show host Derrick Boazman will lead the discussion. After lunch, workers can get a free haircut and help with resume writing, foreclosures, expunging certain old convictions from public records. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 265 Washington St. SW, Atlanta. Steve Visser

Council to discuss transportation projects

The Atlanta City Council will hold a special called meeting at noon today to discuss the city’s proposed projects for the Transportation Investment Act.

Councilmembers will review the list given to them by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and offer up projects of their own to be included. Reed has to submit a shortened version of the list to the state late today.

The meeting will be in the Council Chamber at Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue S.W. Ernie Suggs

Latin film series features ‘Madeinusua’

The Latin American Association (LAA) will present the film “Madeinusa” at 6 p.m. Thursday as part of its Cine Latinoamericano Film Series.

The program will be at the LAA headquarters at 2750 Buford Highway in Atlanta. Register and purchase tickets ($10 for general admission, $7 for students and seniors) online at www.thelaa.org. Andria Simmons

DEKALB

Lithonia man indicted for bank robbery

A Lithonia man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for robbing Georgia’s Own Credit Union in Conyers of more than $140,000 in cash.

Cepeda Broughton, 40, allegedly entered the bank brandishing a handgun on March 9 and forced three bank employees and a customer into a back room, binding them with duct tape, U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said in a statement. Broughton then took cash from the bank vault and from two teller stations and fled in a stolen vehicle, but he was captured after a high-speed chase that caused a number of traffic accidents, she said. Bill Rankin

Avondale Estates focuses on storm water system

Avondale Estates Mayor Ed Rieker said that although “a total overhaul of the storm water system is way beyond our budget,” he hopes to begin implementing “spot maintenance” on the city’s system beginning this year. Rieker said the first phase of storm water improvements will include enlarging the Kensington Road area’s pipes, a project the mayor estimates will cost $600,000 to $1 million. Last year a city-funded drainage study of the Kensington area showed that residential “growth was too fast” to get support from Avondale’s original system that’s nearly 80 years old. Bill Banks for the AJC

Police switch Crown Victorias for Impalas

DeKalb County Police brass have ditched their Ford Crown Victorias for a more economical car.The command staff is now driving Chevy Impalas.

“We moved our Crown Vics to patrol,” Major James Conroy said. “The Impalas are better on gas mileage and cheaper.”

In addition to Impalas, police are adding more Ford Taurus cars to the fleet. Megan Matteucci

Principal: ICS needs to consolidate campuses

According to principal Laurent Ditmann, The International Community School needs to consolidate its two campuses, one in Avondale Estates and the other seven miles away in Stone Mountain, by the end of the 2011-12 school year. One possible site, Ditmann said, is the old Hooper Alexander school on Memorial Drive, with its 40 classrooms and total 68,000 square feet. The ICS currently has 400 K-6 students, of 40 nationalities, who come mostly from Clarkston, Avondale Estates, unincorporated Decatur, Scottdale and Stone Mountain. Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur looks at uptick in sanitation fees

Decatur Assistant City Manager David Junger reports there will be a small increase in the city’s sanitation fee for single family homes, going from $228 to this year’s $233. The increase will be reflected in the first installment of Decatur’s property tax payments, to be mailed out this week. Bill Banks for the AJC

Volunteers needed to clean river bank

DeKalb County is looking for volunteers to help clean up the banks of the South River on Earth Day. The county’s Adopt-A-Stream program will host a cleanup April 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at Everett Park, 5096 Klondike Road in Lithonia.

Volunteers will be encouraged to wade in water and must wear closed-toe shoes, county officials said. Information: msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov. Megan Matteucci

SOUTHSIDE

Commissioners hold strategy session today

Fulton County commissioners will spend most of today hashing out policies, procedural rules and budgetary controls in a strategic planning retreat at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the third-floor Authors & Writers’ Lounge. Among the topics on the agenda: meeting rules and conduct, budget restrictions for commissioners, increasing residents’ engagement in government and taking another look at a blue ribbon committee’s cost-cutting recommendations from 2006. Johnny Edwards

East Point to enforce vacant property rules

East Point officials are expected to start enforcing the city’s vacant property ordinance this week. The ordinance provides the opportunity for the city to hold absentee property owners accountable for maintaining their vacant property. Officials hope the ordinance will help clean up the vacant homes in the city. John Thompson for the AJC

Peachtree City residents not sure about recycling

Results from Peachtree City’s 2011 Resident Survey indicate that many residents aren’t taking advantage of free recycling programs.

The city reported that only 62 percent of residents participate in curbside recycling, even though all garbage collection companies must include it in their basic service. Some residents mistakenly believe recycling costs extra, and others thought materials had to be sorted, neither of which is true.

The city is encouraging more residents to take advantage of free recycling to reduce waste. Containers are available from individual providers. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette students raise money for youth homes

More than 9,000 students will help raise funds for the nonprofit Fayette Youth Protection Homes this week.

All 17 elementary schools in Fayette County will take part in the 20th annual Youth Power Parade through April 1. Students will solicit pledges and fulfill them in a daily walk-a-thon during physical education classes. Executive Director Becky Davenport said the group hopes to raise about $40,000, which represents about 10 percent of the program’s annual budget. Online donations can be made at www.fyph.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

McDonough Arts to host two events in April

McDonough Arts will host two outdoor events in April. Art in the Park will be noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Square in McDonough. Details: Jeff Hunter, 770 633-6738. Arti Gras, a New Orleans-style festival featuring live music, food, arts and crafts, will be April 17 from noon to 5 p.m. Details: Faye Meyer at 678 763-3710 by April 1. Tammy Joyner

HMC auxiliary to hold ‘Passion for Fashion’

Henry Medical Center’s Auxiliary will host its “Passion for Fashion” Luncheon and fashion Show fundraiser on Saturdayat 11:30 a.m. at McDonough Christian Church on Jonesboro Road. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the hospital gift gallery in the South Tower of the hospital. The auxiliary is a volunteer group with more than 150 active members. Monroe Roark for the AJC