County by county news for Wednesday

Police investigators determined that Gore was traveling north on Cobb Parkway and was turning left on to White Avenue when she turned into the path of the Harley Davidson. The motorcycle struck the right front of the Mazda. Fran Jeffries

Smyrna meeting on master park plan

Smyrna is looking for public opinion on a master plan for parks at a hearing at 7:30 p.m. today at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle. The city will weigh input from residents before approving a 10-year master plan for the city’s 26 parks and recreation spaces. Information: www.smyrnacity.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Acworth to expand Logan Farm Park

Acworth’s Board of Alderman has approved hiring design and survey services to continue development of 120-acre Logan Farm Park on Logan Road. The park currently has 60 acres in use.

The $1.5 million project on 12 acres will add a playground, large play area, two pedestrian bridges over Tanyard Creek and road improvements on nearby Taylor Road and Southside Drive.Funding will be $475,000 from the 2011 SPLOST and also federal funds. Construction is expected to start in 2014. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Recruiters wanted for Sept. 11 job fair

Marietta is looking for employers to recruit at an annual job fair scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta. The Marietta/Cobb Career Expo is sponsored by Marietta, Cobb County, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Department of Labor. Information: www.mariettaga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Complete summer reading to win prizes

Children who want to participate in Cobb County Public Library’s summer reading program can now pick up a reading folder at any branch.

They need to record what they read, bring the completed folder back on or before July 31 and claim a certificate.

The library has partnered with Stevi B’s to offer free pizza to the first 5,000 children who bring their folder backto the library. Children who complete the program will be entered to win an iPad. Information: ww.cobbcat.org/srp/. Jaime Sarrio

Kennesaw approves funds for museum

Kennesaw’s City Council has approved an agreement that will allow the city’s Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History to receive $500,000 in federal funds for a 15,000-square-foot expansion. Construction on the $1.1 million project is expected to start before the end of the year.

The city will give $125,000 toward the project and the museum has raised the rest. The expansion will provide more room for collections and railroad researchers and historians to study. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Snellville controller wins national award

Snellville’s Controller, Jan Burke, has received an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for the city’s comprehensive annual financial report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Snellville’s annual financial report has been judged to meet high standards, demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the city’s financial story and motivate users to read the report. www.snellville.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett Tech student exhibit opens to public

Gwinnett Tech photography students will display their work with a portfolio presentation, beginning with an opening night reception 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Defoor Centre, 1710 Defoor Avenue NW, Atlanta. The exhibit will continue at the Defoor Centre through Sept. 8 and then move to Gwinnett Tech’s Media Gallery on Sept. 13. Information: www.GwinnettTech.edu or 770-962-7580. Karen Huppertz

Seniors can learn dietary lessons

The Gwinnett Cooperative Extension Service will host a class to learn how much protein is needed in your diet and how to determine the quantity in different foods 11 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, August 6 at the Lawrenceville Senior Center, 225 Benson Street. Class is free, and no registration required. Info: Ines Beltran at inesb@uga.edu or 678-377-4010. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Nonprofit looking to build Warrior Challenge

Operation One Voice needs volunteers to help build a Warrior Challenge Obstacle Course in Buford and Lake Lanier Islands for the upcoming Special Ops Warrior Challenge 5K scheduled for Aug. 10. Last workdays is Saturday. Operation One Voice supports families of wounded and fallen Special Operations Forces soldiers. Details: john@nehemiahcustomhomes.com or www.operationonevoice.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Food trucks return to Suwanee

Food trucks roll back into Suwanee Town Center Park 6 p.m. Friday. As part of the event, Band of Gold will perform on the Town Center stage beginning at 7 p.m. The first two Suwanee food truck events, held in May and June, were extremely popular, drawing large crowds. Informaiton: www.suwaneega.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Back-to-school event this week in Duluth

The city of Duluth will host a Back 2 School Fun and Flicks on the Bricks event 4 to 10:30 p.m.Friday at the Duluth Town Green, 3167 Main Street. The city and Gwinnett Division of Family and Child Services will collect school supplies to provide for children in care and indigent families in the surrounding community. Flicks on the Bricks will be playing the movie “Despicable Me” at dark. For more information and a complete list of supplies needed please visit www.duluthga.net under community/what’s happening.Sandra Marshall Murray

NORTHSIDE

Fulton waives adoption fees for cats

Fulton County Animal Services is waiving its adoption fee on cats to free up space in a shelter overrun with them.

The county has room for 90 cats at a time but currently has 175. It’s waiving the adoption fee for all cats and kittens through Aug. 10 to save as many lives as possible.

Adopters will be screened to ensure animals are placed in good homes. At no cost, the cats will be spayed or neutered, microchipped and have all vaccinations. To view cats available for adoption visit www.fultonanimalservices.com.David Wickert

Cherokee schools anticipate growth

It appears Cherokee County School District enrollment is on track to grow more slowly this year than last. The district expects 104 additional students as school begins Aug. 5 for total enrollment of 39, 324. Last year, enrollment grew by more than 450 students. A school spokeswoman attributes it to a lagging economy. The district will begin the year with 4.439 employees. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth County plans pawnshop hearing

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners holds a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday on a proposed change to the county’s pawnshop ordinance. The change, suggested at a June 25 meeting, would clarify that the county is not trying to regulate gun and firearms transactions except for record-keeping provisions. The hearing is set at the county administration building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Canton officials may raise property tax

Following a series of budget workshops, Canton’s mayor and city council have tentatively adopted a 17.5 percent property tax increase. The hike would raise the millage rate to 7.980 mills, an increase of 1.187 mills. The tax increase for a home with a fair market value would be about $70. The first of three public hearings on the proposal is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the council chambers at Canton City Hall, 151 Elizabeth St. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee exhibit traces history of cotton mills

The Cherokee County History Museum and Visitors Center presents the temporary exhibit “Life with the Mills: The Canton Cotton Mills” through Sept. 14.

The free exhibit traces the mills from 1900 to 1981 and features documents, artifacts and photographs.

The museum is at 100 North St., Suite 140, Canton.

Information: rockbarn.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fulton to break ground on new library Thursday

The Atlanta-Fulton County Library System will break ground on the new East Roswell Library at 11 a.m. Aug. 1 at 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road.

The 15,000-square-foot library is expected to open in the third quarter of 2014. Fulton County plans to build eight new library branches in coming years.

Information on the groundbreaking: 404-730-1972 or email laura.wright@fultoncountyga.gov.

Information on the library building program: www.afpls.org. David Wickert

ATLANTA

Drugs found after driver flees traffic stop

A trooper tried to pull the vehicle over for speeding on I-20 near Moreland Avenue in southeast Atlanta around 5:30 p.m. Monday, the Georgia State Patrol said. The driver pulled over then fled the scene on foot and remains at large.

Approximately 11 pounds of marijuana, worth about $8,800, and a package of pills were found in the vehicle, the GSP said. Angel K. Brooks

Residents must register alarm systems

Effective Sept. 15, Atlanta businesses and residents will be required to register their alarm system and burglar alarms in an attempt to reduce the number of false alarms that authorities respond to, the police department announced Monday.

Residents need to register their alarms at www.crywolf.us/atlantaga or 1-855-725-7102 by Feb. 14 to avoid a $150 fee.

Registration is free. Cailin O’Brien

Scholarships awarded to APS graduates

Four recent graduates of Atlanta Public Schools have been awarded $1,000 college scholarships by the Comcast Foundation.

The scholarship recipients, who are preparing for their freshmen years in college, are Demetria Trammell of Vanderbilt University, Divine Butts of Syracuse University, Johnathan Mitchell of Georgia Tech, and Kornelius Taylor of Southern Polytechnic State University.

Mark Niesse

School closings move students around

School construction, renovations and closures are forcing hundreds of Atlanta Public Schools students to relocate during the 2013-2014 school year.

Atlanta Preparatory Academy charter school and Parks Middle School are closing, and Westside Academy and KIPP Vision Primary are opening.

Other affected schools include Bunche Middle, Coan Middle, Kennedy Middle, Jackson High, North Atlanta High, E. Rivers Elementary, Sutton Middle and Sylvan Hills Middle.

Mark Niesse

DEKALB

Atlanta Dream to hold open practice

The Atlanta Dream’s “Take the Show on the Road” campaign, which gives fan a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s practice, will visit Redan Middle School, 1775 Young Road., Lithonia, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The event, open to the public, includes an autograph session, giveaways and on-court contests with Dream players. For every ticket purchased, $5 will go to Redan High School.

Information: www.AtlantaDream.net or Natalie White, 678-510-7466, Natalie.White@AtlantaDream.net.

Mea Watkins

Rain barrel workshop scheduled

DeKalb County’s Department of Watershed Management will hold a rain barrel workshop 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 10 at Stone Mountain’s Education Annex, 6826 James B. Rivers Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain.

The workshop is part of the county’s ongoing efforts to educate residents about water conservation, how it can assist in lowering water costs, and how rain water can be useful during the drought season. Attendees will learn how to make their own rain barrels and collect rain water.

Pre-registration is required by Friday. Cost is $40 and the workshop is limited to 30 participants. Information and registration: Michael O’Shield, 770-724-1456, or moshield@dekalbcountyga.gov. Mea Watkins

South River focus of upcoming canoe outing

The South River Watershed Alliance is again organizing a canoe/kayak outing of to encourage more awareness and conservation of the river.

The next outing begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and will cover about 5.5 miles of the river. Cost is $30 and includes canoe rental, lunch and insurance.

Registration: 404-285-3756.

April Hunt

Non-emergency police number recommended

Given the spate of Decatur burglaries and robberies during the past seven weeks, police urge residents within city limits that, if wanting to report a crime, a suspicious person or activity, or if followed by another vehicle, call the non-emergency number (404-373-6551) which, unlike 911, goes directly to Decatur police.

With the new police station currently under construction, the department’s Communications Center (staffed 24 hours) is at 314-C Church St., the entrance to the right of the Big Peach Running Company on East Trinity Place. Bill Banks for the AJC

Volunteers needed for book festival

Volunteer applications are being accepted for the AJC Decatur Book Festival, which comes to the city Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to help with setup, book signings, sales and other activities.

Information: 678-615-0915 or sherry.jackman@decaturga.com. April Hunt

Clarkston police to hold Night Out

The Clarkston Police Department is hosting a celebration of the 30th annual “national night out” on Aug. 6. The event will include free food, kids’ activities, public safety vehicle displays and a school supply giveaway. It takes place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Milam Park, 3867 Norman Road. Nancy Badertscher

SOUTHSIDE

Authorities ID teen who drowned in Henry lake

The 16-year-old boy who drowned Monday afternoon in a Henry County’s Lake Dow was identified as Benny Davis, of Albany.

Firefighters arrived at the private lake within minutes of an emergency call saying the youth dove in but didn’t resurface. Within an hour, a diver located the teen’s body in 15 feet of water, about 27 feet from the dock. His’s body was transported to Piedmont Henry Hospital. The drowning happened near Pilgreen’s Steakhouse on Lake Dow Road, where signs are posted prohibiting swimming. Alexis Stevens

NAACP to host youth town hall meeting

The NAACP Clayton County Youth Council is hosting a “Youth Town Hall Meeting” Saturday at The Tara Center, 7651 Tara Blvd., in Jonesboro. The noon to 3 p.m. meeting is in preparation for the civil rights group’s “Justice for Trayvon Martin” rally to be held Aug. 17. Saturday’s event will cover such issues as Stand Your Ground laws, racial profiling, voting rights and police encounters. There also will be information about healthy living, high school completion, college and career readiness, financial aid, help with college applications, internships, community service and voter registration. For details: call (770) 471-0669 or (404) 424-6567. Tammy Joyner

Quilting for charity in Peachtree City

Local sewers and quilters are invited to join the Quilters Guild of the Southern Crescent’s Community Service Sew from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Peachtree City Library. The group will work on projects to benefit Fayette Meals on Wheels and Quilts of Valor, among others; see www.southerncrescentquilters.com.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette sets SPLOST stormwater timetable

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners has set a schedule for finalizing the Core Infrastructure SPLOST to finance stormwater system repairs. A list of 181 proposed projects is available at www.fayettecountyga.gov and at the libraries and city halls in Fayetteville, Peachtree City and Tyrone. Residents can send comments to stormwaterinput@fayettecountyga.gov. A final public hearing will be held at the BOC meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 in Fayetteville.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

SBDC offers business plan classes

The Clayton State University Small Business Development Center is offering a class on “Writing a Living Business Plan” 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 in room G127 on the first floor of the Clayton State Arts & Sciences Building. Among the topics: goal-setting, calculating profit and loss, finding sources and determining capital costs. Cost: $69 a person. Information: www.georgiasbdc.org or 678-466-5100. Tammy Joyner

Fayette chamber launches website

The Fayette Chamber of Commerce launched the Chamber for Good website to letlet individuals and businesses donate money, time and/or items to nonprofit organizations.

Information: www.chamberforgood.com/fayettechamber. Jill Howard Church for the AJC