COBB
Kennesaw to vote on Sunday alcohol Dec. 20
The Kennesaw City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a voter referendum on whether or not to allow alcohol sales on Sundays. The 5-0 vote means that Kennesaw becomes the latest in a string of metro Atlanta communities to put the question on the ballot as to whether or not to allow stores to sell alcohol on Sundays. The referendum is slated to go to Kennesaw voters on Dec. 20. The state Legislature approved such referendums on the local level after a five-year fight over the issue. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill into law in April. Rich McKay
Charters, calendar on schools’ agenda
The school calendar, new charters schools and information about the penny sales tax program will be discussed Thursday at the Cobb school board meeting. The meeting will be held at the Cobb central office, 514 Glover St. in Marietta and begin at 7 p.m. View an agenda, or watch the meeting live at www.cobbk12.org Jaime Sarrio
MUST Ministries donations down
MUST Ministries, the nonprofit organization serving residents in Cobb and Cherokee counties, needs food donations to meet growing needs. MUST gives out 2,000 pounds of food or 2,500 canned items each day, and has seen a 35 percent increase in over this time last year in the number of people needing assistance. The most needed items include canned meats, fruit, dry milk and cereal. Grocery gift cards are also accepted at the donation center: 1210B Kennestone Circle in Marietta. Information: 678-581-8090, or http://www.mustministries.org Janel Davis
Sewer project begins in Powder Springs
A new nearly $6.4 million sewer extension project is under construction in the Powder Springs area by the Cobb County Water System. Phase 2 of this Sweetwater Creek project should be ready by April, said project engineer Richard Wittman. Funded by water system revenues, the extension also crosses Brown and Brownsville Roads. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Marietta resident pushes neighbors to vote
Marietta resident Joe O’Connor is taking on voter apathy one person at a time with his newly launched “Vote America” campaign.
The campaign asks each person to contact another person — family member, neighbor, church member, co-worker — and urge them to pledge to vote in the 2012 presidential elections. O’Connor, who is pushing his campaign through email and social media, says his only goal is to help America. Information: oconnorone@mindspring.com Janel Davis
Miss Cobb County deadline Saturday
The deadline to enter the Miss Cobb County Scholarship Pageant is Sunday.
The annual event, which started in 1958, is sponsored by the Miss Cobb County Scholarship Pageant, Inc., a non-profit organization. It offers over $20,000 in cash scholarships and prizes. The pageant is Aug. 6 at the Cobb County Civic Center. The winner will go on to contend for the Miss Georgia title in June 2012. Information: www.misscobb.com, 770-435-6378 or 770-973-3214. Ty Tagami
GWINNETT
Grayson City Council welcomes new member
The Grayson City Council has appointed local realtor and broker Katie Mitchell to fill the unexpired term of councilman Marcus Hinton.
Mitchell was unanimously approved for the appointment at the council’s meeting Monday night. She was sworn in at the start of the meeting and then took her place on the council.
Hinton resigned his seat because of a job change.
Mitchell’s appointment will last through the end of the year. To hold on to the seat, Mitchell will have to qualify in August for the November election. Mitchell said she plans to enter the race. Joel Anderson
Teleconference shows support for tax
Fifty-nine percent of 20,927 Gwinnett residents surveyed Monday night said it was very important for metro Atlanta to increase its investment in transportation. Another 25 percent said it was somewhat important to increase the region’s transportation investment. Sixteen percent said it was not important. More than 147,000 residents surveyed participated in a teleconference in which local officials answered questions about a proposed transportation sales tax that voters will consider next year. David Wickert
Duluth mayor says she’ll run again
Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris will run for reelection in November, hoping to earn a second term in office. She announced her plans to run for office again at a fundraiser event on Thursday. Harris won her first mayoral election in 2007, beating retired businessman Jim Johnson. Joel Anderson
Amnesty program for some warrants to end
A one-time amnesty program in Gwinnett County State Court for some offenders who have outstanding misdemeanor probation warrants will end June 30. Certain people who have bench warrants for failing to pay fees or court costs, or failing to comply with other probation conditions, can pay fines and fees in full to avoid possible arrest. Contact Southeast Corrections, program manager Nicki Long at 404-410-2555, Ext. 1003. Andria Simmons
ArtWorks! Gwinnett names new director
ArtWorks! Gwinnett, a group founded in 2008 to cultivate arts opportunities in Gwinnett County, has named Sally A. Corbett as its first executive director. Caryn McGarity, the group’s executive committee co-chair, said Corbett will lead ArtWorks in a series of new projects “that will serve the arts organizations and artists of Gwinnett County, and in turn make the community even more vibrant for area residents and our visitors.” Information: www.artworksgwinnett.org. Howard Pousner
Police start civilian volunteer program
Gwinnett County police have initiated a new civilian volunteer program. Volunteer areas include: Citizen’s Police Academy, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), office assistance, animal shelter, special events (police and animal shelter), role players for training exercise and landscaping.
Info: Sgt. Christina Schiralli at 770-513-5506 or policevolunteers@gwinnettcounty.com. Andria Simmons
NORTHSIDE
Forsyth schools look at millage increase
The Forsyth County Board of Education has called a special meeting, 6 p.m., Thursday to discuss a millage rate increase and approve new personnel. The School Board has approved a 2011-12 balanced budget, but school officials said they may have to increase the millage rate, or take from fund balance, to compensate for decreased real estate values in the county and generate enough revenue to make payments on five outstanding bonds issued by the School Board. The meeting is at 1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming. Jeffry Scott
Board to vote on Cherokee academy
The Cherokee County school board will hold a special meeting Friday to vote on the petition of Cherokee Charter Academy. The school is one of 16 charter campuses approved by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission whose operating agreements were voided by a Georgia Supreme Court decision overturning the commission. The Cherokee school board will meet at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Cherokee High School at 930 Marietta Highway in Canton. D. AILEEN DODD
Habitat helps out Roswell family
North Central Georgia Habitat held a First Nail Ceremony Saturday for the Diallo family at 1520 Oakfield Lane in Roswell.
The construction is being made possible through a $100,000 UPS Foundation grant and is due to be completed in October. Joining them to build the home will be Mohamad and Madina Diallo, who will purchase the home. Originally from the Republic of Guineas, the Diallos became U.S. citizens in 2007. They have three children. Patrick Fox
GSU offers new degree on Alpharetta campus
Georgia State University is now offering a bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education at the school’s Alpharetta campus. The program is the same as the one offered at the university’s main campus, said school officials. Information, contact Donna Bennett, program coordinator at 404-413-2200 or dnbennett@gsu.edu. Jaime Sarrio
Forsyth chamber, AT&T host luncheon
The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce and AT&T are co-hosting an economic development luncheon, from noon to 1 p.m., today, at the Forsyth Conference Center, 7745 Majors Road, Cumming. The guest speaker is Gretchen Corbin, the Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Jeffry Scott
Class for teen drivers, parents today
The Sandy Springs Police Department will host a Georgia Teens Ride With P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error) class today, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at ChatComm, 859 Mt. Vernon Hwy., Sandy Springs. The two-hour course is designed to help parents and their teen drivers, ages 14-16, learn what they need to do during the 40 hours of supervised practice driving time required by Georgia law. Register by emailing Bunny Mitchell at sandyspringsteens@yahoo.com or Officer Weed at shelly.weed@sandyspringsga.org. Michelle Shaw
ATLANTA
Battle over judge positions not over yet
Atlanta City Council member Felicia Moore has reintroduced legislation to eliminate two vacant judge positions after the council failed on Monday to override Mayor Kasim Reed’s veto of her plan to reduce the number of positions to eight.
A City Auditor’s report found the court workload justifies five judges. Council estimates each judgeship costs $830,000. Steve Visser
Councilman pushes for extended bar hours
In an effort to boost Atlanta’s nightlife and increase tax revenues, Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall has introduced legislation that would keep bars open until 4 a.m. According to Hall, his bill would be city-wide and would allow licensed establishments to sell alcohol between 9 a.m. and 4 a.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday, bartenders can pour between 9 a.m. and 2:55 a.m. Sunday hours would remain the same. Ernie Suggs
Conference honors ex-president Clinton
Former president Bill Clinton accepted a lifetime achievement award at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference Tuesday in Atlanta.
Clinton was honored for his support of charters schools, which grew from one campus to more than 2,000 under his administration. In his remarks, Clinton asked charter school leaders to get involved with the fight against childhood obesity and consider making campuses more energy efficient. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is scheduled to speak via satellite Wednesday. D. Aileen Dodd
Glenn foundation to help children’s shelter
The Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation will give the Atlanta Children’s Shelter a dollar for every dollar the organization has raised in the past 12 months -- up to $100,000 -- for its program for homeless children. The shelter provides children with free daycare as well as emotional and educational programs while parents focus on the issues like job loss or domestic violence and other problems that led them to be homeless. Rhonda Cook
DEKALB
Forum looks at cityhood for Brookhaven
State Rep. Elena Parent, D-81, will host a community forum on the proposed City of Brookhaven in north DeKalb County.
The event is from 7 to 9 p.m. June 29 at the Lupton Auditorium at Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road Northeast in Atlanta.
Info: Fal Hindash, foh1989@gmail.com Andria Simmons
Breast cancer forum at Emory on Thursday
A hard to treat type of breast cancer will be the subject of a town-hall meeting Thursday at Emory University Hospital Midtown on Peachtree Street. The educational forum, “Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know,” will focus on a type of cancer that disproportionately affects young, African-American women.
The event, which will begin with refreshments at 6 p.m. at the hospital’s Glenn Auditorium, will include a discussion by a panel that includes physicians, breast cancer surgeons, survivors and nurses.
The discussion will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Carrie Teegardin
Football camp part of Marquel’s Pledge drive
A free football camp will be held later this month in Clarkston as part of a signature drive for Marquel’s Pledge in DeKalb County.
The Playbooks and Pledges event has room for 150 children between 6 and 14.
It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday June 25 at Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial Ave., Clarkston.
DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, DeKalb PAL Plus and the Jerry Clark Foundation are sponsoring to draw attention to Marquel’s Pledge, an initiative to raise awareness of the dangers of celebratory gunfire.
More information/registration: www.jerryclarkfoundation.org. April Hunt
Firehouse Subs donates camera to fire rescue
A foundation of the Firehouse Subs chain is donating a thermal imaging camera to DeKalb County Fire Rescue this month.
The $10,000 camera allows for victim location in fires, both protecting firefighters and helping those trapped in a burning building.
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation will make the donation on June 28 at its Lawrenceville Highway eatery in Tucker. April Hunt
Grease blockage causes sewage spill
DeKalb County officials say a blockage of grease and debris is to blame for 2,460 gallons of raw sewage spilling into the Peachtree Branch Creek.
The spill was reported Saturday in the 2900 block of Thornridge Drive, according to county water reports.
DeKalb plans a $1.35 billion upgrade to its water and sewer system in the next year to meet a federal Environmental Protection Agency consent decree. April Hunt
Park advisory board to meet June 28
A citizen advisory board focused on improving DeKalb parks will hold a quarterly community meeting next week.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. June 28 at the Exchange Park Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Dr., Decatur. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Fayette investigators cited bulldozer bust
Two Fayette County investigators are being honored for breaking up a Caterpillar bulldozer theft ring that led to seven arrests and involved 19 stolen trucks and heavy equipment valued at almost $2.2 million. Sheriff’s Office investigators David Gunter and Aaron Fenimore received the 2011 LoJack Award at a meeting recently of the Southeast Chapter of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators.
They will get a similar award at August meeting of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators. Rhonda Cook
Start your engines, pastors! Race for dollars
Your pastor may deliver the best sermon, but how is he on wheels?
The “Faster Pastor” race, which raises funds for churches to use on future mission trips, will be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton. Gates open at 6 p.m. Each church congregation will have a concourse area for members to donate money toward their mission trips. Collections will be taken from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., then counted to determine the starting order. In the end, all of the money raised goes back to the respective churches . Six churches are participating in the fundraiser. Shelia Poole
Fayette County is ready for its close-up
Now that Fayette County has been designated an official Georgia Camera-Ready Community, residents are invited to submit photos for a catalog of possible filming locations.
Nancy Price of the Peachtree City Convention & Visitors Bureau is the county liaison with the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, which bestowed the designation.
Submissions of photos should include location/address and owner permission, and be sent to nprice@visitpeachtreecity.com. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Storm costs add up in Peachtree City
Falling trees have led to rising cleanup costs in Peachtree City.
The City Council authorized up to $28,000 more in removal and repair funds after hearing at its June 16 meeting that storm-related expenses have already exceeded what was budgeted for 2011.
City workers are in charge of smaller jobs but larger tree removal must be contracted out. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
HMC gets new chief financial officer
Gary W. Chawk was recently named vice president and chief financial officer at Henry Medical Center. He has experience as a CFO in a variety of hospitals including St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Fla.; Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, La.; and Saint Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw, Mich. Monroe Roark for the AJC
Carriage House renovation completed
Hapeville city workers have completed the renovation work on the Carriage House, behind the Historic Christ Church in the city’s downtown. Both buildings are available to rent for special occasions, and the city is planning on hiring a marketing professional to facilitate the scheduling of events at the venues. John Thompson for the AJC
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