County by county by news for Wednesday

Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Bullock Hope House in Powder Springs, providing free private housing to cancer patients and their families.

Information: bullockhopehouse.org/golf-fore-hope. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Video to help explain 2014 budget

Cobb County Schools' administration has posted a video on its website to help the public understand next year's budget. The district faces an $86.4 million deficit due to state austerity cuts and declining property tax values. The board will discuss ways to close the deficit at its April 17 meeting. Information: www.cobbk12.org/budget/. Daarel Burnette II

Tree Keepers to close planting season

The Marietta Tree Keepers needs volunteers of all ages from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday April 13 for the last work session of the season at Hill Pocket Park, 144 Lemon St. The former vacant lot is at the corner of Lemon and Waddell Streets. Sign up and refreshments start at 8:30 a.m., and tools will be provided. Information: www.mariettaga.gov/committee/treekeepers or 770-424-4664. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Lifeguard training begins at aquatic centers

Lifeguard training classes begin this month at the four Cobb aquatic centers.

While classes began last week at the West Cobb Aquatic Center, 3675 Macland Road, Powder Springs, other classes will begin at 6 p.m. April 15 at these aquatic centers: Central, 520 Fairground St., Marietta; Mountain View, 2650 Gordy Parkway, Marietta and South Cobb, 875 Six Flags Drive, Austell.

Registration must be completed in person at one of the centers. Cost is $200. Information: prca.cobbcountyga.gov/aquatic.htm. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Sex-exploitation rescue training offered

Out of Darkness, “reaching, rescuing and restoring victims of commercial sexual exploitation,” will conduct training for rescue volunteers Friday and Saturday at Trinity Chapel, 4665 Macland Road, Powder Springs. The $30 cost includes meals and training materials for this ministry of the tax-exempt Atlanta Dream Center.

Registration: outofdarknessatlanta.eventbrite.com. Information: alicia@outofdarkness.org or 404-719-4854. Rescue Hotline 24/ 7: 404-941-6024. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Registration open for chamber expo

Registration is open for the 2013 Cobb Chamber Business to Business Expo, which takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. May 16 at the Cobb Galleria Exhibition Hall D. The event is expected to draw 1,600 attendees and will feature more than 150 companies showcasing products and services.

Information: jdudley@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2359 or visit www.cobbchamber.org/businessexpo. Jaime Sarrio

GWINNETT

Police identify man killed crossing road Sunday

Lilburn police have discovered the identity of a pedestrian that was struck and killed while crossing the road near the 500 block of Pleasant Hill Road and Burns Road at 8:45 p.m. Sunday.

He is a Lawrenceville resident. Immediate family identified him Tuesday morning. The man’s name is being withheld pending notification of other family members.

A vehicle traveling northbound on Pleasant Hill Road near Burns Road struck the unidentified man as he was crossing the road on a dimly lit section of Pleasant Hill Road. Angel K. Brooks

Lilburn Farmers Market Awarded Grant

AgSouth Farm Credit awarded the Lilburn Farmers Market a $500 grant to be used to promote its community based market in the "Think Outside the Store" campaign. The grant will finance advertisements and promotions for the Lilburn Farmers Market. In addition to the award, Lilburn Farmers Market will be given 250 reusable bags for their customers' convenience while shopping at the market. Beginning the fourth season, the Lilburn Farmers Market opens June 7 and runs through Aug. 30 operating 4. to 8 p.m. in downtown Lilburn. Information: lilburnfarmersmarket.org. Staff

Peachtree Corners volunteers needed

The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association is seeking volunteers to help clean city streets 9:30 to 11 a.m. April 20 as part of the Great American Cleanup. To volunteer, email Debbie Mason at masons4nor@comcast.net with name, phone number and email. Children 12 and older welcome. All supplies provided. Each volunteer will receive bottled water from and a t-shirt. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth wants your photos for new contest

Submit your best photos to Duluth’s new Capture the Spirit of Good Living Photo Contest by 5 p.m. June 7.

Photos can include anything in Duluth from shops, events, parks, people, or historical sites. The winner’s photo will be featured on the cover of Duluth Life. Top photos will be hung in City Hall and potentially used in other promotional items.

Submission details: www.duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Summer art camps open for registration

The Hudgens Center for the Arts is accepting registration for four different week-long camp sessions of the Color Wheel Summer Art Camp for children ages 5 to 12 in June, plus, three different week-long sessions of the Summer Pottery Camp for kids aged 8 to 14 in July. www.thehudgens.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Kid self-defense classes coming to park

Duluth Parks has partnered with Revved Up Kids to bring self-defense training 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 at Bunten Road Park. These classes teach children and teens how to recognize, avoid and escape dangerous situations and people.

Register www.duluthga.net/Parks & Recreation. $35 resident/$45 non-resident. Questions: revvedupkids.com or call 678-526-3335. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee County fugitive caught in Florida

Karen Lynn King, 52, was arrested by sheriff's deputies in Florida on Saturday night at her current boyfriend's home. She was wanted on charges of aggravated assault with intent to murder, aggravated battery with disfigurement and kidnapping with bodily injury. She is accused of ordering five men to attack her then-boyfriend, Lyndon Smith, who was nearly beaten to death at her Cherokee County home in March 2012. The men were allegedly supposed to dump Smith's body across the state line, but they were stopped by police in Alabama. Angel K. Brooks

Canton to study fire services feasibility

Canton City Council voted last week to proceed with a fire protection feasibility study by the Ecological Planning Group. The move follows the defeat of an up-to $6 million bond issue at the polls last month. The bond would have paid for three additional stations in growing areas of the city, plus renovation of the downtown station. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta kicks off food truck event

Alpharetta's "Feast on the Street" begins at 5 p.m. Thursdays through June 27, with six to eight food trucks and music weekly near 37 Old Roswell St. The city seeks to attract the several thousand patrons a similar Smyrna event reportedly has. Parking is available in the lots at 37 Old Roswell, on Old Milton Avenue and on Haynes Bridge Road. Information: 678-297-6000. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Woodstock seeks light at mall intersection

Woodstock has applied to Georgia DOT for traffic signal installation at Interstate 575 and Ridgewalk Parkway, adjacent to the Shoppes at Atlanta. City Manager Jeff Moon says the light on the east side of the interstate, closest to the mall, will be installed before the mall opens July 18. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Marble industry exhibition offered

A marble industry exhibition will be featured at the Cherokee County History Museum and Visitor's Center through May 15. "Carved in Stone: The Marble Industry in North Georgia" will feature photographs, documents and artifacts, tools, carved marble pieces and a special profile on the prominent marble sculptor, James K. Watt. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 100 North St., Suite 140, Canton. Free and open to the public. Information: 770-345-3288, or www.rockbarn.org. Mea Watkins

Alpharetta Streetfest to include 98 artists

A jury of local art professionals has selected 98 artists from around the country to be featured in the 9th Annual Alpharetta Arts Streetfest Saturday and Sunday. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days on Milton Avenue between Main Street and Roswell-Canton Street.

This year’s event features outdoor galleries of paintings, mixed media, photography, pottery and jewelry, as well as textiles, glass, wood, metal and paper art.

There will also be live music, cultural dancing and a wide variety of foods. Information: www.alpharetta.ga.us. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Student arrested for loaded gun at school

Atlanta police arrested a 16-year-old student at Benjamin E. Mays High School who was found inside a restroom with a loaded and concealed .22-caliber handgun.

Atlanta police Sgt. Greg Lyon said a school resource officer discovered the student and the gun Friday, and the student faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a weapon at a school gathering and disrupting public school.

Lyons said the circumstances surrounding the incident at the southwest Atlanta school are under investigation. Mark Niesse

Earth Day Celebration returns to Candler Park

SweetWater 420 festival will be April 19 to 21 at Historic Candler Park. The Earth Day celebration will include live musical performances, earth-friendly activities, stand-up comedy acts, food trucks, SweetWater brews, artist market and more. Festival times: Friday, 4:20 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30 to 7 p.m. Admission is free. Drink wristband are $5 a day. Information: www.sweetwater420fest.com. Sandra Marshall Murray

Fashion show to benefit kids

Steve Hightower's Hair Artists Studio will hold a runway fashion show, benefiting the Childkind, Fragile Kids Foundation and The Center for Children & Young Adults 7 p.m. April 26 at 200 Peachtree St. Tickets: $75 and $175 for VIP. Information: atlthrivingchildren.org or 404-248-1988 ext. 238. Sandra Marshall Murray

GJP to host annual awards event

The Georgia Justice Project announced its annual Grass Roots Awards and 25th anniversary campaign celebration will take place Thursday at Greystone Hall in Piedmont Park. Teri McClure, the general counsel of UPS, will be honored with a Grass Roots Justice Award. GJP serves economically disadvantaged members in the community who are also at the highest risk for criminal involvement. Information: Shannon DeMyers at shannon@GJP.org. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Top county manager stepping down

The man who has overseen DeKalb County’s roads, libraries and water systems is resigning to take a job in the private sector. Ted Rhinehart announced Tuesday that he will leave April 30 to take a position with an unnamed software company. Rhinehart started with DeKalb in 2002 as public works director.

He has been deputy chief operating officer of infrastructure since 2009. In that role, he was responsible for the county's public works, watershed, parks, airport, libraries and mapping departments. April Hunt

Courts: Man hired bumbling hit man

Antiwan Dontabiya Lane was found guilty of murder, felony murder – committing a felony that leads to a person’s death – and criminal solicitation for his part in the 2011 killing of Ivan Perez.

Prosecutors said Lane, 36, believed his wife was sleeping with Hector Gonzalez, and contracted Kevin Stallworth to kill Gonzalez.

But Stallworth shot Gonzalez’s cousin, Perez and left evidence leading police to Lane.

Sentencing for Lane will be set at a later date.

Both men are being held at the DeKalb County jail. Marcus K. Garner

Registration open for 5K on PDK runway

Registration is now open for a 5K and 1K race that includes parts of the runways at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

The Chamblee Run and Rotary Roll is designed for runners and walkers of all levels, and is open to people in wheelchairs.

Race day is April 27. Registration is $20, with proceeds split between the Shepherd Center in Atlanta and Chamblee’s Huntley Hills Elementary. I

nformation: 770-986-5016 or www.chambleega.com. April Hunt

Stone Mountain CID improves landscapes

The Stone Mountain Community Improvement District is partnering with several businesses to add new trees and plants to high-traffic intersections in the district.

Four crossroads – Hugh Howell Road at both Mountain Industrial and Tucker Industrial boulevards and Mountain Industrial at East Ponce de Leon Avenue and Hirsch Drive – are the focus of the first wave of landscaping improvements.

The work is in addition to district-funded landscaping at other spots in the area, funded by companies that self-tax for the improvements.

Information: www.stonemountaincid.com. April Hunt

Public input soughton transportation plan

DeKalb County’s public works department will hold a meeting 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McNair High School, 1804 Bouldercrest Road and 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 18 at the Emory University Winship Ballroom in the Dobbs University Center to gather resident input on the county’s transportation plan.

Information: www.dekalbcountyga.gov/transportationplan2014. April Hunt

Decatur to participate in drug take-back

Decatur police will accept prescription drugs for disposal 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. April 27 at the police communications center, 314-C Church St. Information: 404-373-6551. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton County approves new CFO, COO

Clayton County has a new chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Ramona Thurman, former Clayton County Public Schools budget director, is the new CFO and Anthony Brister will serve as COO.

Brister came from the Waggoner Engineering firm in Louisiana where he has a background in project and personnel management. The two were approved by the county commission in a 3-2 vote last week. Tammy Joyner

Registration closing for Earth Day vendors

Today is the deadline for market vendors and educational exhibitors to register for space at Fayette County’s Earth Day event on April 27 in Peachtree City.

Minimum vendor donation is $30 for a 12-foot-square booth; donation is optional for nonprofit and education groups.

Information: www.fayettecoearthday.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry to privatize custodial services

The Henry County Board of Education voted Monday night to accept a bid from SSC Services Solutions for outsourcing of custodial services at the county’s 50 public schools.

The school system currently employs more than 300 custodial employees, many of whom came out to the meeting to voice their opposition to the proposal.

Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Lupus forum at Piedmont Henry

The Southside Lupus Support Group will host a community forum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13, in the Foundation Education Center at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

Topics will include the effects of lupus on the body, Social Security disability, lupus employment and a caregivers workshop. The forum is open to those living with lupus as well as family and friends.

Information: lupusga.org or 770-333-5930. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Service board position open in Fayette

Fayette County is accepting applications for the McIntosh Trail Community Service Board.

The three-person volunteer board meets monthly to provide for mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services to residents of Fayette, Butts, Henry, Lamar, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties.

Deadline is May 3.

Information: Floyd Jones at fjones@fayettecountyga.gov or 770-305-5102. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Lupus forum at Piedmont Henry

The Southside Lupus Support Group will host a community forum 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, in the Foundation Education Center at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

Topics include the effects of lupus on the body, Social Security disability, lupus employment and a caregivers workshop.

Information: lupusga.org or 770-333-5930. Monroe Roark for the AJC