COBB
Powder Springs chooses city manager
The Powder Springs City Council voted 4-1 Monday to choose the city’s former mayor and interim city manager as the new city manager.
Councilwoman Nancy Hudson declined to comment either during or after the meeting on her opposition.
Brad Hulsey is the city’s fourth city manager in seven years, not counting the nearly three years when Mayor Patricia Vaughn served twice as the interim city manager.
His annual salary will be $104,000 with a $400 monthly car allowance, Vaughn said. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Free Class on Vitamin D
Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna will offer a Free Class on Vitamin D on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at 3949 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna.
The class will cover the benefits of Vitamin D and ways to increase your consumption, exposure and absorption of this nutrient.
Information and to register call 770-319-2025.
Sandra Marshall Murray
Powder Springs considers high fund balance policy
The Powder Springs City Council held its first of two readings Monday to maintain a 40-percent fund balance of $2.64 million.
Amy Davis, the city’s finance director, said Wednesday during the City Council’s agenda meeting, “You don’t see fund balances this high anywhere.”
This money can be used for one-time capital expenditures “with no operating costs attached” such as the recent police car purchase or for catastrophic events such as the September 2009 floods, she added.
A final City Council vote is expected at 7 p.m. Nov. 5.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Marietta superintendent to host forum
Marietta City Schools superintendent Emily Lembeck will host a forum next week to help families better navigate district services. The event, “Community Connections,” will take place Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at Woodlands Park Apartments at 861 Franklin Rd. in Marietta. It is free and open to the public. Childcare and Spanish interpreter services will be available.
Information: 770-422-3500, ext. 231. Daarel Burnette II
Well-dressed suspects rob jewelry store, beat owner
Three men entered My Jeweler on Spring Road in Smyrna last week claiming they planned to sell some jewelry.
One of the well-dressed suspects soon left the store, but moments later, the other two men had the store’s owner at gunpoint.
After the suspects took bags of jewelry, one pistol-whipped the store owner before would-be customers halted the heist.
Anyone with information about this daylight robbery is asked to call the Smyrna Police Department at 770-434-6666.
Alexis Stevens
District 3 town hall meeting is tonight
Cobb County District 3 Commissioner Joann Birrell, who represents northeast Cobb, will hold a town hall meeting about district concerns from 7 - 8:30 p.m. today at the Mountain View Community Center, 3400 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.
Topics will include the Canton Road Redevelopment Foundation.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
GWINNETT
Court suspends Lawrenceville lawyer
The Georgia Supreme Court has suspended Lawrenceville lawyer Christopher T. Adams from practicing law for 18 months.
Adams was indicted in 2008 for false statements, solicitation and theft by taking for misrepresenting the number of hours he billed Gwinnett County for representing indigent defendants. Charges were dropped after Adams admitted to wrongdoing, reimbursed $10,605 to the county and accepted a lifetime ban from accepting public funds for representing indigent clients.
Adams had asked the court to suspend him for at least six months. Bill Rankin
Gwinnett police bust watercraft chop shop
Dane Michael Sweatman was arrested Oct. 11 and charged with running a chop shop and six counts of theft by receiving, according to Gwinnett County jail records. He was released on bond the same day.
Sweatman, of Sugar Hill, who ran a legitimate repair business, bought stolen Jet Skis and Sea-Doos, police told AM750 News/Talk WSB. He’d swap the hull identication numbers with ones from nonworking watercraft and sell the stolen craft.
Joel Provano
Cocaine use blamed for man’s death
A man found dead in a office park died from using cocaine, the county’s medical examiner’s office said Monday.
Ronald Corona Jr., 39, was found around 2:30 a.m. Aug. 13 on Technology Parkway South in Peachtree Corners by police checking a report of a suspicious person “sleeping or possibly dead” behind a business.
Officers located Corona’s body, but could not immediately identify him. Investigators released pictures of Corona’s tattoos in order to learn his name. Originally from Pennsylvania, Corona had been living in the Gwinnett area since November, police said. Alexis Stevens
Asian-American college fair on Saturday
Atlanta’s Asian-American community will host its first college fair 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Korean Church of Atlanta United Methodist Church, 3205 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth.
The event features 27 colleges and seminars on SAT, essays, financial aid, community service, finding role models, military leadership and deferred action consultation.
Main events will be in English, but Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese translators will be available. Andria Simmons
Duluth requires vacant properties to register
Duluth is now requiring owners of vacant and foreclosed structures to register them with the Department of Planning & Development. Registration forms and $100 fee may be submitted electronically, by mail or in person. Information: 770-476-1790 or www.duluthga.net.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gwinnett officials to speak to seniors group
Four county officials will speak at the Gwinnett Council for Seniors monthly meeting 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Bethesda Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville.
Information: www.gwinnettcouncilforseniors.org or 770-822-5147. David Wickert
NORTHSIDE
Woodstock weighs ‘Liveable Centers’ plan
The Woodstock City Council Monday night looked at a draft 10-year updated Livable Centers Initiative plan, which has already served as a catalyst for redevelopment downtown.
The updated 5-25 year plan suggests a more livable and connective downtown, and proposes the addition of metered and time-restricted parking, as well as push for gridded streets.
An open house on the draft plan is set for Nov. 1.
Final adoption is set in December. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Milton doubles size of Bell Memorial Park
Milton’s City Council closed on the last of 14 acres of land adjacent to popular Bell Memorial Park Monday evening. The city paid $1.287 million for the land, which will more than double the size of the park. City leaders will schedule public meetings to discuss how the new property should be used.
The purchase was based on fair market value in an open environment that included public hearings. Patrick Fox
Group schedules electronic recycling event
Keep Forsyth County Beautiful is sponsoring an electronics recycling event 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Cumming Fairgrounds’ lot 3 off of Castleberry Road.
Accepted items include laptops, stereos, CD players, cell phones, microwaves and cameras. The minimum donation per carload drop-off is $5. An additional $10 fee will apply for TVs. Information: www.forsythco.com; 770-205-4573. Patrick Fox
Free mulch offered in Cherokee County
The city of Canton is offering free mulch to area residents and businesses. The public mulch site is located at Southview Cemetery off of Scott Mill road. Information: 770-720-7674 from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee school to host 5K fundraiser
Oak Grove Elementary Fine Arts Academy in Cherokee County is hosting a “Run for the Arts!” fundraiser at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 20 at Etowah High School, 6565 Putnam Ford Road, Woodstock.
Pre-race day entry fees for the 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run are $25 for adults, $20 for students, and $12 for the kids one-mile race.
Information: portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/oakgrove-es/default.aspx.
To sign up as a corporate sponsor, call 770-974-6682. Jeffry Scott
Cherokee Sheriff seeks citizen feedback
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office invites citizens to take a survey regarding law enforcement within the community that will be used to help improve the agency’s operations.
To maintain its national accreditation, the Sheriff’s Office is required to survey citizens every three years. The survey will be available until Nov. 18. Access the survey online at www.cherokeega-sheriff.org, or pick one up at the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Headquarters at 498 Chattin Drive in Canton or at the South Annex at 7545 Main St., Suite 300, in Woodstock. Andria Simmons
ATLANTA
Youth conference to be held Saturday
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach Chaplaincy Program is hosting the third annual H.Y.P.E. Conference to encourage young people to succeed 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Atlanta Metropolitan College, 1630 Metropolitan Parkway SW.
H.Y.P.E. stands for Helping our Youth Prosper and Evolve. Students ages 11 to 17 from local schools and churches are invited to participate.
Radio talk show host Derrick Boazman will moderate and television personality and DJ Ryan Cameron will facilitate a Stop the Violence Forum.
Registration is at 7:30 a.m.
Information: 404-612-3562
Andria Simmons
Nonprofit to host Halloween fundraiser
Someone Cares Inc. will host its annual Halloween costume gala 6 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland St. N.E.
Someone Cares Inc. offers HIV counseling and testing; disease education and prevention, and outreach programs. The gala will include costumes, refreshments, and a silent auction. Tickets are $50.
Information: 678-921-2706. Laurie Hoffman
Tire drive revving up for District 9
Atlanta City Council Member Felicia Moore will host a scrap tire drive 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26-27 to help tackle illegal tire dumping in District 9.
Register: Donald Jumper at dbjumper@atlantaga.gov or 404-330-6044.
Ernie Suggs
Alliance stages musical inspired by APS closings
The Alliance Theatre will open its 2012-2013 Theatre for Youth series 7 p.m. Oct. 27 with “The Real Tweenagers of Atlanta – The Final Assembly.”
The musical is inspired by the Atlanta school board’s decision this spring to close seven schools, including two middle schools.
Information: 404-733-5000 or www.alliancetheatre.org/tweenagers.
Jaime Sarrio
DEKALB
Career fair open to veterans
The Georgia Department of Labor, Berean Christian Church and Goodwill of North Georgia will host a career expo for veterans and other job seekers 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kerwin B. Lee Family Life Center at Berean Christian Church, 2197 Young Road, Stone Mountain. Veterans admitted an hour early. Applicants should bring resumes.
Information: Willie Glenn 404-298-3970 or willie.glenn@gdol.ga.gov. Veronica Fields Johnson
Workshop examines changes to transparency law
The Georgia First Amendment Foundation will offer a free workshop examining this year’s changes to the state’s open government laws.
Learn how to use open records and open meetings law at the event at 9 a.m. Oct. 30 at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway.
Reserve a seat by emailing the foundation: staff@gfaf.org. Ty Tagami
House minority leader to speak to retired educators
The Decatur-DeKalb Retired Educators Association will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Decatur First Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur.
Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, will be the featured speaker. DDREA is a unit of the Georgia Retired Educators Association and is actively recruiting retired educators.
Information: 770-498-9493. Veronica Fields Johnson
Mom: Son with gun at school was bullied
According to a police report obtained by Channel 2 Action News, classmates of a Miller Grove High School student reported seeing him with a gun and police found the weapon in the boy’s backpack on the school bus, along with seven bullets.
The 15-year-old was arrested and has been held in juvenile detention since the incident, which took place earlier this month.
The boy’s mother, Alisha Baker, said she didn’t condone her son’s actions, he was motivated by bullying. Joel Provano
Recycle household waste Saturday
Keep DeKalb Beautiful will sponsor a recycling drive for household hazardous waste 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the central transfer station, 3720 Leroy Scott Dr.
The event is designed to divert potentially hazardous materials away from Seminole Road Landfill. Examples of equipment to be accepted are: aerosols, batteries, cleaners, flammables, fluorescent lights, lawn-care products, .mercury, paints and photo and swimming pool chemicals.
Items not accepted include bio-hazards, medical and agricultural waste, pharmaceuticals and non-hazardous waste.
Information: 404-371 – 2654 or kdb@dekalbcountyga.gov.
April Hunt
Panola Slope to host food fest
Panola Slope, a new development in south DeKalb, will host its first Food Truck Festival noon - 6 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28 at the mixed-use community, 5600 Covington Highway.
The event will feature trucks from around the Atlanta area in the 10-acre community. Development began earlier this year after being stalled since 2007.
It is free and open to the public. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Fayette solicitor wins court ruling over pay
The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Fayette County Solicitor-General Jamie Inagawa, finding the county commission illegally cut Inagawa’s salary in July 2007.
A 1994 local law sets the Fayette solicitor’s salary at 75 percent of the salary of a State Court judge, but the county has been paying Inagawa only 58 percent of the judges’ salary — $86,771 instead of $105,339, the court ruled.
The court also said the county must pay Inagawa more than five years of back pay, plus interest. Bill Rankin
Early voting available at various locations
Early voting in Henry County is underway at the county’s election headquarters, 345 Phillips Dr., McDonough; Ted Strickland Community Center, 130 W. Berry St., Stockbridge, beginning Monday. Saturday voting will start Oct. 27 at those places plus the Fairview Library, 28 Austin Road, Stockbridge. Train Depot at 17 E. Main St., Hampton and Locust Grove Recreation Center, 10 Cleveland St. will be added Oct. 29.
Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org/elections. Monroe Roark for the AJC
Library to host program on turtle tracking
The Friends of the Peachtree City Library invites the public to the next “Terrific Turtle” program at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the library, 201 Willowbend Road, Peachtree City. The program, for children in grades 7-12 and adults, will focus on the technology of turtle tracking, including radio direction-finding and use of GPS.
Information: 770-631-2520.
Veronica Fields Johnson
Fayette postpones school redistricting
Parents and students flooded the Fayette County Board of Education’s meeting Monday, only to be told that the current redistricting plan is now on hold.
Superintendent Jeff Bearden announced that an unspecified real estate transaction might impact the decision-making process for several months. A more detailed statement is expected soon. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Peachtree City to hold annexation hearing
The City Council of Peachtree City will hold another public hearing 7 p.m. Thursday at City Hall on the annexation of 77 acres on Hwy. 74 South. Southern Pines Plantation is proposing a mostly residential mixed-use development at the site. Opponents have expressed concern about the impact on existing home sales. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Missing Fulton teen found safe
Mia Evon Cruse, a Fulton County teenager missing since Friday has been found safe.
She said she was at a football game at Westlake High School, where she attends, and would get a ride home with friends when she spoke to her godmother by phone at 8 p.m. Friday, according to police.
Cruse then sent a text message to a friend before calling 911 and that was the last call Cruse made before her phone shut off.
A Smyrna police officer found Cruse safe early Tuesday near Campbell High School in Cobb County. Alexis Stevens
