County by county news for Wednesday

Citizens review panel work begins April 1

A long-awaited citizens review panel intended to evaluate the county’s spending and priorities should be in place by March 22 and begin work April 1, according to Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee.

The panel will help shape the 2012 and 2013 budget. Cobb is facing a $28 million budget gap and cost-cutting options should be presented at the March 22 commission meeting. A full county review, strategic plan and report from the citizens panel is due June 28. Janel Davis

County passes on hiring purchasing director

Cobb County Commissioners decided Tuesday to not to hire a new purchasing director.

Former Atlanta watershed management officials Sheila Cook Pierce had been nominated for the position, but county leaders decided against hiring a new person while the county faced a $28 million budget deficit, Chairman Tim Lee said.

Pierce was fired from her position in Atlanta last year, along with three other deputy commissioners, after the director resigned. Janel Davis

Aviation museum plane gets its first wing

A wing weighing more than five tons was lifted 15 feet and attached Monday to the fuselage of a C-141 at the Marietta Museum of History’s Aviation Wing at South Cobb Drive and Atlanta Road. A second wing will be attached in a few weeks. Former Lockheed Martin workers are restoring the C-141, and Cobb Erectors, Inc. is donating crews and equipment for the wing work.

The public can see the museum’s eight aircraft at the 15-acre park, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays. Donations are accepted.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Freethought Society holds meeting Sunday

The Smyrna-based Atlanta Freethought Society on Sunday will have as guest speakers Dr. Richard Jakiel and Pixie Bruner of the Atlanta Astronomy Club. They will speak on ancient astronomical knowledge. The program is free and open to the public. The program starts at 1 p.m. at AFS Hall, 4775 N. Church Lane in Smyrna. Nancy Badertscher

Three win Betty Gray scholarships

Three Cobb high school students Monday were named winners of the 2011 Betty Gray Teacher Education Scholarship for students who aspire to become educators. The students will receive a $1,500 scholarship, named for former teacher and board chair Betty Gray. The students are Megan Zhang from Pebblebrook, Justine Nurse McLeoud from McEachern and Jiby Yohannan from South Cobb. Jaime Sarrio

GWINNETT

County set to replace bridges over two roads

Gwinnett County will replace bridges on Killian Hill Road and Lee Road under contracts approved by the Board of Commissioners last week. Commissioners awarded a $4.2 million contract to Sunbelt Structures of Inc. of Tucker to replace the Killian Hill Road bridge over the Yellow River south of Five Forks. The work is expected to be completed by late 2012.

Commissioners also awarded a $1.5 million contract to E.R. Snell Contractor Inc. of Snellville to replace the Lee Road bridge over No Business Creek in southern Gwinnett. The work is expected to be done by mid 2012. David Wickert

Gwinnett Village CID meets Thursday

The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District will hold its monthly business meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the district office, 5855 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite 122, Norcross. The district board will discuss sidewalk improvements, review its 2010 annual report and get an update on the Jimmy Carter Boulevard diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 85. David Wickert

Georgia Alliance CEO receives honor

The Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness has honored the chief executive of a Duluth-based transitional housing community for homeless families and children.

Nancy Yancey, CEO of Rainbow Village Inc., received the alliance’s 2011 Essential Piece Award. The award recognizes someone who models service, collaboration and leadership in the mission to end homelessness. David Wickert

Seniors to have St. Patrick’s Day party

Gwinnett County will sponsor a seniors’ St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 17 at Bethesda Park Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville.

The event will feature special entertainment, plus a meal of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. The cost is $15 per person. Pre-registration is required by Thursday. To register or for more information, call 770-564-4680. David Wickert

Author Lisa Gardner to be at Norcross library

Norcross continues its Meet the Author series with Lisa Gardner, “The New York Times” best-selling author on March 12 from 7 p.m. to 9 .mn. at the city’s cultural arts & community center, 10 College Street. She was recently awarded The International Thriller Writers award for Best Hardcover of the Year for her novel “The Neighbor.” Gardner is promoting her new book “Love You More.” Nancy Badertscher

Students hear from Holocaust survivor

Seventh graders at Notre Dame Academy recently received a visit from a Holocaust survivor who shared insight about her life as child.

The students are reading “Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl” for a class assignment.

The guest speaker, Rose Cunningham, told students how she survived as a Jewish Romanian girl during World War II. Cunningham told students that her family was in Paris when the Nazis invaded France and that her family remained hidden for two years. D. Aileen Dodd

NORTHSIDE

Fired planning director mounts another appeal

The case of Jeff Chance, the Forsyth County planning director fired last summer for sexually-charged emails and other violations of county policy, continues to reverberate through the appeals process. Chance in December lost his appeal to the Civil Service Board to get his $92,000-a-year job back. A pre-trial conference is set for March 14 with Forsyth County Superior Court Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley to appeal the board’s decision. Chance’s attorney Eric Chofnas said Tuesday he expects Bagley to set a briefing schedule and hearing date for the case. Jeffry Scott

Forsyth to consider new member of ethics board

The Forsyth County Civil Service Board will nominate a new member to the Forsyth County Board of Ethics during its Thursday meeting to replace George Pirkle, the ethics board chairman who resigned in February saying he was stepping down because of “public ridicule” of the board’s work. Pirkle said what finally prompted him to quit after 11 years as a founding member of the board was public criticism of the ethics board by civil service board member Terry Smith. The appointment will have to be confirmed by Forsyth county commission. Jeffry Scott

Pinecrest Academy begins expansion

Pinecrest Academy of Cumming recently broke ground on a construction project. The academy is expanding to include its first lower school building. The school received a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor to help cover the costs, officials said. Pinecrest, a school of about 900, is ranked among the nation’s top 50 Catholic High Schools. D. Aileen Dodd

Student from Alpharetta wins fellowship

The University of Georgia Foundation has announced that JoyEllen Freeman of Alpharetta is to receive its prestigious mid-term Foundation Fellowship. A graduate of Milton High School, Freeman is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in English and English education. She is preparing for a teaching career as a participant in UGA’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities Apprentice program. Nancy Badertscher

Special needs drivers in national competition

A pair of Cherokee County School District employees who captured first place in the sixth annual Georgia Special Needs Bus Road-e –o will represent the state in the National Road-e-o March 11-13 in Kansas City. Mo. Dale Roberts and Rhonda Fiddler won the state trophy Feb. 5 for their prowess in such areas as wheelchair loading and securing, special needs evaluation and maneuvering and driving. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

River Eves students draws for book

Rivers Eves Elementary in Roswell has a personal stake in the 2011 Drippy Dropperson coloring book. Dylan Fawley, a third grader at the school, was one of the top 12 artists who designed it and were honored recently at Roswell City Hall. The city’s 4th annual contest received over 250 entries this year, all illustrating aspects of water conservation. The 12-page coloring book will be distributed to Roswell schools, doctor’s offices, restaurants and retailers. Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Man convicted in beating death of son

An Atlanta man was convicted of felony murder for torturing and beating to death his 4-year-old son. Marcos Cordero also was found guilty of aggravated assault and cruelty to children after beating Marc Estephano Sanchez Mendez on Jan. 18, 2008. In exchange for testifying against Cordero, the boy’s mother, Sabina Mendez, pleaded guilty to first degree cruelty for not getting help for her son, the district attorney’s office said. Cordero and Sabina Mendez are scheduled to be sentenced on April 11.

Kristi E. Swartz

VITA offers help with income taxes

Befuddled by tax forms? An IRS program will have certified volunteers at libraries across Fulton County during the tax season, helping anyone earning $48,000 per year or less with 2010 returns. On various dates and times, VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, will be in East Point, Union City, College Park, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Roswell, Atlanta and south Fulton. For a schedule, call 404-730-1900, or go to the “Tax Aide Schedule at Your Libraries” link at www.afpls.org. Johnny Edwards

Library host ‘Teacup’ program Thursday

On Thursday at 1 p.m., the Atlanta-Fulton County Library system will host “The Stories a Teacup Could Tell: Lena Horne to Margaret Mitchell.” It is part of Women’s history month program by Millie Coleman.

It will be at the Central Library at One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta 30303. Information: 404-730-1700. Steve Visser

Holy Innocent’s senior wins Spanish honor

A Holy Innocent’s Episcopal School senior has won a top academic award for achievement in Spanish. Kathryn Claire Crewdson has been named as Georgia’s High School Student of the Year by The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

Crewdson volunteers for English for Successful Living (ESL) and plans to study international relations in college. D. Aileen Dodd

DEKALB

Final input needed for transportation projects

People who want input into DeKalb County’s project suggestions for the 2012 transportation referendum have a chance Wednesday night.

DeKalb and nine other counties are nominating projects for a regional list that voters will decide on in 2012, along with a 1 percent sales tax to fund them. DeKalb’s final public input meeting is tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Chamblee High School, at 3688 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Chamblee. Ariel Hart

Commissioners cap ex-COO legal fees

The DeKalb County school board has capped legal fees for ex-school chief operating officer Patricia Reid at $100,000.

The board voted Monday night to hire Austell law firm C.F. Brock and Associates to represent Reid in the district’s civil suit against construction manager Heery/Mitchell, district spokesman Jeff Dickerson said. Reid was indicted last year on charges she ran a criminal enterprise at the school system. Megan Matteucci

Memorial Thursday for county employee

DeKalb County employees and family members will gather Thursday to remember a county employee who died at work last week. Zoning Administrator Kevin Hunter, 55, had a heart attack Friday while working in the county Planning Department. The county has scheduled a memorial for Thursday at 9 a.m. at the old courthouse in Decatur. A funeral is being planned in Memphis. Megan Matteucci

Decatur official combs property for coyotes

Decatur Assistant City Manager David Junger reported that he inspected city-owned property in west Decatur, an area where coyotes have been spotted several times in recent weeks. Junger said his inspection included a vacant lot surrounded by nearby overgrowth, with an adjacent creek. But he said he didn’t see “anything on our property directly contributing to coyote food sources.” Junger added that coyotes are predominantly attracted to pet food, and that homeowners should avoid leaving food for their pets outdoors.

Bill Banks for the AJC

School board approves hiring 75 teachers

The DeKalb County school board Monday approved the hiring of 75 Teach for America teachers, through the district’s Race to the Top grant. Teacher for America is a program that places top college graduates in hard-to-staff public schools. Race to the Top is a federal grant designed to reform education policy. The teachers will begin work this fall. Jaime Sarrio

County reports seven sewage spills in 4 days

DeKalb County has reported seven raw sewage spills in the past four days. The spills occurred in Shoal, Snapfinger, Peachtree, Indian and Cobbs Creeks, and totaled more than 28,000 gallons of sewage, according to county water reports.

The largest spill in the past four days occurred Monday when 13,400 gallons spilled in the 3000 block of McAfee Road in Decatur.

Spills were also reported on Munday Drive in Chamblee, Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, and on Robins Landing Way in Decatur on Monday.

Megan Matteucci

SOUTHSIDE

Unfilled jobs report brings more questions

Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann has received a report she requested on unfilled government jobs, but she said it doesn’t tell her which positions are critical and which can be eliminated. The report from County Manager Zachary Williams said Fulton had 299 empty positions as of Feb. 21, 30 of which have been unfilled for 18 months or more. Chairman John Eaves said he’d like to know how much the workforce has been reduced since new cities formed. Commissioner Emma Darnell said she wants to know which jobs are critical. Johnny Edwards

Peachtree City pulls plug on dive team

Budget constraints convinced Peachtree City to pull the plug on the Fire Department’s specialty dive team. The team consists of firefighters who are trained for underwater rescues and evidence recovery on the city’s two man-made lakes. A proposal to amend the 2011 budget by $18,262 to maintain the team was debated at the City Council of Peachtree City’s March 3 meeting. Mayor Don Haddix and Fire Chief Edwin Eiswerth favored keeping the divers. The Council voted 3-2 to deny funding. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Bridge OK’d over Rock Quarry Road tracks

The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with Norfolk Southern Corporation for the construction of a bridge over the railroad tracks on Rock Quarry Road in Stockbridge. Norfolk Southern will contribute a lump sum of $187,500 to the construction of the bridge, which equals five percent of the total cost.

Once construction begins, the project including the bridge is expected to take 18 months to complete. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Registration open for spring break camp

Registration is open for Fulton County Arts and Culture’s 2011 Spring Break Art Camp & Summer Camp Preview, held April 4-8 at the South Fulton Arts Center, 4645 Butner Road, College Park.

The camp for children ages 5-12 will include music, theater, dance and visual arts.

The cost is $85, or $95 for non-Fulton residents. Registration can be done at the arts center or at www.fultonarts.org. Information: 770-306-3097. Johnny Edwards

Delays cost East Point $20,000 in interest

East Point officials learned this week the interest rate for purchasing an old Wachovia building has risen from 5.49 percent to 6.1 percent. The city had the rate locked in until March 15, but delays in finalizing the financing will now cost the city an additional $20,000 in interest charges. The city hopes to use the building as part of a new city government complex. John Thompson for the AJC

Clayton offers Citizens Police Academy

The Clayton County Police Department started its first Citizens Police Academy for 2011 on Thursday.

Academy participants will be taught at the Clayton police in Jonesboro.

Citizen Police academies will be held throughout this year. Information: Sgt. Willis at 678 610-4781.Tammy Joyner