County by county news for Wednesday

Jannuzzo is charged with theft and racketeering for allegedly conspiring with another former Glock executive, Dunwoody lawyer Peter Manown, to siphon millions of dollars from the company, which has its North American headquarters in Smyrna. Jury selection began Tuesday. Opening statements are expected to begin Wednesday. Andria Simmons

CCT drive stabbed, woman charged

A Mableton woman has been charged with aggravated battery after she stabbed a Cobb Community Transit bus driver who tried to break up a fight on the bus Monday, authorities said. Police said Nicole Twyne, 21, pulled a knife when bus drive Damian Haney, 39, intervened, but passengers wrested the knife from her. She pulled a pen from Haney’s shirt pocket and stabbed him repeatedly in the face, police said. The woman was subdued. Haney was was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital, police said. David Ibata and Joel Anderson

New charges for molestation suspect

A former Cobb County church volunteer jailed on child molestation charges faces additional allegations, jail records show. Cesar Pastrana, 25, of Kennesaw, was charged Monday with three counts of sodomy and an additional charge of molestation, according to Cobb County Jail records.

The latest charges are in addition to the two counts each of aggravated child molestation and child molestation, all felonies, that Pastrana already faces. Alexis Stevens

Former mayor to be interim city manager

Former Powder Springs Mayor Brad Hulsey is now the city’s interim city manager.

City Manager Rick Eckert resigned Friday “for personal reasons,” Mayor Patricia Vaughn told the AJC after Monday night’s City Council meeting when Hulsey was approved.

Vaughn also said Eckert withdrew his name last week from consideration as a city administrator finalist for McDonough. Vaughn said Eckert will continue to serve as a consultant to the city. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Kennesaw mayor to hold town hall meeting

Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews will hold the first town hall meeting of the year at 6 p.m. today at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Dr.

The mayor will talk to residents about city programs and updates, and answer questions. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kemp to speak to South Cobb business group

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp will speak in Powder Springs on today to the South Cobb Business Association.

The luncheon will last from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ford Center, 4181 Atlanta St. behind the Powder Springs Library.

Cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members.

Information: sc-ba.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Snellville floats survey on economic plan

Snellville is seeking public input as it creates an economic development action plan.

The city plans to develop a “competitive profile” of its business environment and outline a strategy to improve that environment. Snellville officials say public input will help them develop that strategy.

To take the survey, visit www.snellville.org. David Wickert

Gwinnett Braves mascot to host reading event

Chopper, the Gwinnett Braves mascot, will help celebrate Read Across America Day from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. March 2 at the Buford branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library, 2100 Buford Highway.

The library also will host other storytellers from noon to 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Information: www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154. David Wickert

Lawrenceville asks input on corridor

Members of the greater Lawrenceville area are invited to attend the inaugural meeting for the Georgia Gwinnett College-Downtown Lawrenceville corridor study on Thursday.

The event is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawrenceville City Hall at 70 South Clayton Street. The meeting is the first of four quarterly events that will be used to collect ideas about improvements to the area between the Downtown Overlay District and GCC. Information: www.ggc-law-corridorstudy.com. Joel Anderson

Deadline near for online enrollment

Deadline approaches for students to register for Gwinnett Online Campus. Registration closes Feb. 28, for a spring mini-session, which runs March 13 to May 15. For information, including a list of course offerings, go to gwinnettonlinecampus.com. Each 0.5 credit course is $225. Nancy Badertscher

Rabbi Taub to speak at Chabad of Gwinnett

Rabbi Shais Taub, a scholar and teacher of Jewish mysticism and a specialist on addiction issues, will be the keynote speaker at Chabad of Gwinnett.

The event will be held at 8 p.m. today at the Chabad Enrichment Center, 3855 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross.

The cost is $18 per person. Register online at www.chabadofgwinnett.org or call 678-595-0196. Shelia Poole

Library offers help with college planning

The Gwinnett County Public Library will sponsor a series of college financial planning workshops beginning Feb. 28. The workshops will focus on such topics as financial aid, saving for college and how to get a state tax deduction. The sessions are for parents, grandparents and others hoping to help a loved one save for college.

The free workshops will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Mountain Park Branch, 7 p.m. March 7 at the Hamilton Mill Branch and 2 p.m. March 17 at the Grayson Branch. Information: www.gwinnettpl.org. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Forsyth opens new recreation center

A Monday ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of Forsyth County’s newest recreation center. The Fowler Park Recreation Center, located at Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way in southeast Forsyth, includes two gyms, a cardio/weight room, a walking track and art and dance studios. The 40,000-square-foot center was paid for through a combination of a 2008 park and green space bond, and impact fees. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Taste of Holcomb Bridge celebrates diversity

Holcomb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta invites the community to its annual “Taste of Holcomb Bridge” outing celebrating cultural diversity.

The PTA fundraiser will be held on March 1 from 6 p.m -- 8 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Passport to the World.”

Families are invited to contribute a dish from their country to showcase the cultural diversity in the area.

Tickets cost $5 a person or $20 per family. Free admission for five is provided to families bringing a dish serving six or more. D. Aileen Dodd

Volunteers needed for wetlands cleanup

Roswell, in conjunction with Keep Roswell Beautiful, announce the annual Big Creek Wetlands Workday from 9 a.m. to noon, March 10 at Big Creek Wetlands Park, 1600 Old Alabama Road. The rain date for this event is March 17.

Volunteers are invited to help with invasive plant removal, storm drain marking, plantings and wetlands restoration at the park. Volunteers will meet in the gravel parking lot off of Old Alabama Road. Directional signs will be posted.

Registration and information: 770-641-3742; www.KeepRoswellBeautiful.org. Patrick Fox

Library offers resume boot camp

Looking to kick-starting a job hunt? Job seekers can get help creating resumes at the Roswell Library on Thursday, using templates and online databases. “Resume Bootcamp” starts at 10 a.m. at 115 Norcross St.

The class is first come, first serve, with registration starting an hour early.

Participants should bring a list of their recent work history. Information: 770-640-3075.Johnny Edwards

Special education teacher receives honor

Lauree Lau has been named special education teacher of the year by enAble of Georgia, Inc., a nonprofit serving special-needs teens and adults. Lau, who works at Crossroads Second Chance North Alternative School in Roswell, will be honored at enAble’s Dare to Dream event on March 10 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia near Perimeter Mall.

Based in Roswell, enAble helps intellectually- and physically-disabled persons live as independently as possible. Johnny Edwards

Library offers class on identity theft

Johns Creek’s Ocee Library will offer a class on protecting against identity thieves today at 6 p.m. “Identity Theft” is open to adults. The library is at 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road. Reservations: 770-360-8897. Johnny Edwards

ATLANTA

Ethics nomination held up in committee

Stacey Kalberman’s nomination as the city of Atlanta’s ethics officer was slowed by a subcommittee of the Atlanta City Council on Monday. Members of the committee on council said Monday they wanted more information before recommending Kalberman for appointment. Kalberman worked as executive director of the state ethics commission before resigning last year. She was recommended to the Atlanta post by Caroline Johnson Tanner, chairwoman of the city’s board of ethics. Jeremiah McWilliams

Council votes to settle claims

Atlanta’s City Council voted on Monday to approve more than $40,000 in claims against the city for automobile accidents, potholes, malfunctioning gate arms and debris falling from vehicles. The 15 claims with so-called favorable recommendations ranged from $6,406 for an automobile accident in November 2011 to $552 for another accident in September of that year. Jeremiah McWilliams

Lewis to address green jobs conference

Congressman John Lewis will provide the keynote address during the opening session for the Good Jobs, Green Jobs South Regional Conference on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel, 265 Peachtree Street N.E. The conference will feature two days of speakers and workshops. Onsite registration will be open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and 7 a.m. to noon on Friday. Information: visit www.greenjobsconference.org. Sandra Marshall Murray

Read-A-Thon launches on Dr. Seuss’ birthday

The Georgia Association of Educators and the Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta kick off the local Read Across America festivities on March 2, Dr. Seuss’ 107th birthday. A Read-A-Thon for children up to age eight will be part of the 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. event at the museum.

Confirmed readers include First Lady Sandra Deal and State Superintendent John D. Barge. Nancy Badertscher

DEKALB

Pizza Hut employee dies after shooting

A Pizza Hut employee who was shot while trying to stop a gunman at the South DeKalb restaurant died on Monday, DeKalb police said Tuesday.

Samuel Wallace, 32, was shot twice and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital on Saturday.

According to police, Joshua McColley, an ex-boyfriend of an employee at the restaurant on Covington Highway, pulled out a gun after getting into a fight with Wallace.

McColley’s ex-girlfriend told police that the gunman demanded the restaurant’s security video but jumped away when customers arrived.

He then went into the back of the store and fatally shot himself. Joel Anderson

Commissioner to hold crime forum

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will hold a “No Crime” forum Thursday morning in south DeKalb.

The event is designed to encourage business owners in the Candler Road/Flat Shoals Parkway corridor to develop strategies to address crime and problems in the neighborhood.

DeKalb Police will be on hand to share prevention strategies, and the DeKalb Solicitor’s Office will discuss ways the office can help once a case is opened.

The forum begins at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Flat Shoals Library, 4022 Flat Shoals Parkway.

Information: 404-371-2425. April Hunt

Panel recommends schools’ start times

After three months of study and compiling surveys, a committee recommended that the ideal start times for Decatur High and Renfroe Middle schools is between 8:15 and 8:45.

But Superintendent Phyllis Edwards said that following this recommendation would require more buses, which cost roughly $43,000 each, per year, and that sharing buses between the two schools would probably be necessary.

She also added, “It would mean at least one elementary school would have to [start] earlier than [8 a.m.], and we know that won’t be popular with our [elementary] parents.” Bill Banks for the AJC

Stone Mountain CID wins grant

DeKalb County’s newest Community Improvement District is among groups receiving grants from the Atlanta Regional Commission to help with new growth plans.

The $80,000 grant to the Stone Mountain CID, which the group must match with $20,000, will help guide the district’s vision for its economic future and stated goal to create new jobs in southeast DeKalb. April Hunt

Community Garden to meet on Thursday

The Stone Mountain Community Garden will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church at 5312 West Mountain St.

Now in its second year, the garden has 35 individual plots – with space for more – and a 3,000 square-foot communal garden that has donated over 1,000 pounds of vegetables to the Food Pantry in Stone Mountain. The annual fee for an individual plot is $25, but communal-garden volunteers can pick vegetables for their own use.

Information: Averil Bonsall at abonsall@dekalbcountyga.gov. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Suspect in hit-and-run fatality turns self in

The driver of the car that struck and killed a Fulton County middle school teacher Sunday morning turned himself in Monday, police said. Jamonta Leon Smith, 20, surrendered to Union City police in connection with the death of Latara Patrice Worthy, authorities said. He posted $16,000 bond early Tuesday and was released. Smith saw news reports of the accident, turned himself in and is cooperating, police said. Smith is being charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to render aid. Marcus K. Garner

Police offer reward in church burglary

The Peachtree City Police Department is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for stealing audiovisual equipment from the Peachtree City First Baptist Church early Sunday morning. Witnesses saw a suspicious man near the site days before the crime. Contact the police at 770-631-2510; callers may be anonymous. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

DOT to discuss interchange work

The Georgia Department of Transportation will hold a Public Information Open House on Feb. 28 to discuss changes to the I-85/Ga. Hwy. 74 interchange. Residents and frequent users of the road are invited to learn more about the project and offer comments to DOT staff. The meeting runs from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bedford School, 5665 Milam Road in Fairburn. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Commissioner Edwards to listening session

South Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards will hold a community listening session Thursday at 7 p.m. in the South Fulton Government Service Center Auditorium, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park. Thursday’s session will be the first of four meetings in 2012. Edwards’ office can be reached at 404-612-8230 or 404-612-3079. District 7 information: www.southfultongoodthings.com. Johnny Edwards

Henry initiates virtual school programs

The Henry County School System has created a new virtual school program called Impact Academy that will serve grades 9-10 in the 2012-13 school year and grades 11-12 beyond that. Impact Academy is a non-traditional schooling option, offering the four core subject classes through online coursework. There will be a community information meeting March 29 for anyone who is interested. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us/ia. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Henry set to dedicate two projects

The public is invited to two ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Thursday. The ceremonies will mark the completion of two Henry County projects. The first ceremony is for the Firing Range at the Henry County Public Safety Complex. It will be at 10 a.m. at 2650 Stroud Road in Jackson in south Henry County. The second begins at 3 p.m. and will officially open the largest playground in Henry County at J.P. Moseley Park, 1041 Miller’s Mill Road in Stockbridge. Both ceremonies will be outdoors. Tammy Joyner