County by county news for Wednesday

Demarcus Antonio Sears had argued he deserved a new trial because his lawyer was incompetent. In 1993, Sears was sentenced to die for kidnapping and killing 59-year-old Gloria Wilbur as she loaded groceries in a supermarket parking lot. Sears later admitted raping and stabbing her and leaving her to die in the woods near I-75 in Kentucky. Bill Rankin

Free pre-Thanksgiving meals today

Free hot meals will be served during the pre-Thanksgiving feast 3 to 7 p.m. today at the Mableton Banquet Hall, 6114 Mableton Parkway, Mableton.

Volunteers, donations and sponsors are invited to assist these sponsors - H.O.P.E., Family Resource Center, Inc. and Mableton Banquet Hall.

Information: Carolyn Turner at 770-842-0388 or Jeanette Cipriano at 678-613-3860.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Bids due Monday on Linear Park playground

Bids must be submitted before 10 a.m. Monday to Powder Springs City Hall, 4484 Marietta St. for a treehouse playground and rock-climbing structure at the Powder Springs Linear Park, Richard D. Sailors Parkway at Villa Springs Circle.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org, Croy Engineering LLC, the city’s program manager, at 770-971-5407 or eflynn@croyengineering.com. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marietta to use eminent domain

Marietta will use eminent domain to acquire rental property at 343 and 349 Allgood Road for a 2009 parks bond project that will replace the Elizabeth Porter Recreation Center with a larger facility.

The city has bought other property for the $3.75 million project, but was unable to reach an agreement for the two homes.

The new center will be about double the existing size and have frontage on North Marietta Parkway.

Information: www.mariettaga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Update Smyrna session Wednesday

A public meeting on projects in Smyrna will be 6 -8 p.m. today at Smyrna City Hall, 2800 King St. Residents will have time to ask questions at the Update Smyrna 2013 session. A video of the meeting will also be available on the city’s website or live broadcast, Channel 19 on Charter Cable. Information: www.smyrnacity.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Cobb schools seek input on plan for future

The Cobb County School District is looking for input on a Vision 2026 plan that is considering future options that include charter, performance-based or status quo systems. The 6:30 p.m. meetings will be Thursday at South Cobb High School in Austell, Dec. 3 at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw and Dec. 5 at Lasster High School in east Cobb. Information: www.cobbK12.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Norcross giving to benefit mental health hospitals

The annual Mayor’s Motorcade campaign will accept donations of toothbrushes, combs, brushes, bath soaps, lotions, make-up kits, art supplies, new clothing, PG or G-rated videos and board games through Dec. 2 for patients living in mental health hospitals across Georgia.

Call 678-421-2069 to schedule a pick-up or drop off donations to Norcross City Hall or email angie.padilla@norcrossga.net for more ideas. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Alumnus speaks at commencement

Georgia Gwinnett College class of 2011 graduate Homero Gonzalez will join the ranks of former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, Georgia U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal when he presents the keynote address at GGC’s Dec. 19 winter commencement. Since graduation, he has received two Emmy awards from the Southeast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Information: www.ggc.edu.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Kids grief awareness event scheduled

Carry On Youth will mark Children’s Grief Awareness Day with a meet and greet for new program participants from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sky Zone Suwanee, 560 Old Peachtree Road N.W., No. 300.

Carry On Youth is a non-profit organization that provides recreational and mentoring services to youths who have lost a parent. Free. Information: 770-540-3170 or carryonyouth@gmail.com.

Mea Watkins

Lilburn to relocate Public Works

Lilburn will move its Public Works Department to 4428 Lilburn Industrial Way, opening up property across from City Park for future development. The $715,000 project will be fully funded by 2009 SPLOST funds. Information: 770-921-2211 or bjohnsa@cityoflilburn.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Final public meeting to review Norcross plan

The last of three interactive public workshops to update Norcross’s Comprehensive Plan is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Norcross Community Center, 10 College St.

Input will help shape the program and 5-year action plan. Community members are also encouraged to participate in a survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/norcross2034.

Information: 770-421-2027 or cmccrary@norcrossga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth’s Citizen Police Academy starts Jan. 23

The Duluth Police Department is beginning a Citizen Police Academy. Citizens may attend this free academy to introduce functions of police work beginning Jan. 23 and ending May 24. Each class will be approximately three hours, meeting every other Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 3276 Buford Highway in Duluth. Information: woodruff@duluthpd.com, 678-512-3705, or www.duluthga.net/departments/police. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Canton planning group against development

The Canton Planning Commission Monday night recommended 4-1 against annexing a tract of land on Ga. 20 east of I-575, part of a Macon-based developer’s plan to build a gas station there. The meeting was packed with nearby residents who have objected to the prtoposal, fearing it would create traffic, noise and other problems.

The planning recommendation heads to the City Council in early December. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Early voting underway in Cherokee races

Early voting for the Dec. 3 runoff election is underway in Cherokee and will continue 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 27 at the Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration office, 400 E. Main St., Canton. Eligible voters will cast ballots in the Ward 1 and Ward 3 Canton City Council races and the State Senate District 14 special election. Information: voter.cherokeega.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee ethics group seeks new member

The Cherokee County Board of Ethics is looking to fill a vacancy immediately. Prospective candidates should be Cherokee County residents and Democratic Party members.

The position opened up when the incumbent moved outside the county, and the term expires in January of 2016.

Information: lbahrens@cherokeega.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Road work set on Cherokee highways

The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded a $4.1 million contract for safety improvements to Ga. 20 and Ga. 140 in Cherokee County.

The project will include improving signage and pavement markings on both highways, guardrails and edge line/centerline rumble strip installations.

Work is set to be complete by the end of June 2014, but no start date has been set.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

University reports enrollment increase

Officials at the University of North Georgia, with a Forsyth campus, say fall enrollment continued an upward trend, with 15,455 students registered for fall. That’s an increase of 2.5 percent over last fall. The school was created in January from the merger of Gainesville State and North Georgia College and State University. Enrollment at those schools had shown a steady uptick prior to consolidation.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

FULTON

PTA to host art reception

The North Fulton Council PTA is hosting a reception today at the Teaching Museum North, 793 Mimosa Blvd. to showcase the work of students, who won awards as part of the North Fulton Council Reflections program.

Students compete in several categories including dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts.

The community is invited to attend from 3-6 p.m Thursday. Rose French

DEKALB

Court unveils new courtrooms, upgrades

A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for the expansion and renovations of DeKalb County Recorders Court, 3630 Camp Circle, Decatur, is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Recorders Court will have two additional courtrooms, bringing the total to five. This also includes a new reception and lobby area. These improvements will reduce wait times and increase the capacity and productivity of the court.

Other upgrades include new state of the art court equipment, and computer network upgrades to allow greater communication and evidence display. Arlinda Smith Broady

Decatur to annex six more properties

Decatur’s commission approved annexing six properties, all single-family residences, three on McKinnon Drive and three on Kirk Road. It was the third such annexation this year with five properties in the same area approved in January and four more in June. City Manager Peggy Merriss said the city is trying to “round out” that area in southeast Decatur where some properties are half in Decatur, half out, and some aren’t contiguous. The city pursues small-parcel annexation like these, she added, only after property owners have submitted petitions. Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur pursues COPS funding for schools

Decatur’s school board approved pursuing COPS (Certificate of Participation) as a way to partially fund building additions to Decatur High and Renfroe Middle schools. Funding is acquired based on the value of the City Schools’ existing properties. Superintendent Phyllis Edwards hopes COPS can provide $17.5 million, or about 30 percent of the projects’ anticipated total cost of $59.5 million, and will play for both schools’ architectural plans along with construction of some new classrooms and a cafeteria for the high school.

Bill Banks for the AJC

DeKalb hosting canned food drive

DeKalb County parks department is hosting a canned food drive to help the community’s needy.

Donations will be accepted through Thursday at county recreation centers, the Porter Sanford performing arts center and the Maloof government building in downtown Decatur.

Information: 404-371-3643.

April Hunt

Chamblee seeks input for town center

Chamblee will host a meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad St., to gather public input for its town center and 10-year-plan.

A Livable Centers Initiative grant is helping to fund the study, which will focus on development, walkability and transportation.

Information: 770-986-5010, extension 223. April Hunt

Doraville projecting growth in fund balance

Doraville’s city manager recently reported that the north DeKalb city is on pace to end the year with nearly $2.8 million in its fund balance.

That is more than double the $1.2 million left over in 2011, when the city reorganized its structure to better handle the $1 million yearly loss in revenue from the closing of the General Motors plant. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Riverdale man arrested on rape charge

Calvin Rivers, 38, of Riverdale was arrested without incident by deputies from Clayton and DeKalb counties, and was booked into the DeKalb County jail late Monday on a felony rape charge stemming from an October 6 incident, jail records show.

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office said in a release that Rivers “is also a suspect in other rapes per DeKalb County.”

DeKalb authorities have not released details on the alleged attacks. Mike Morris

CDC scientists to visit Woodward Academy

Woodward Academy is hosting a group of CDC commissioned officers for the first of two visits on Thursday.

The scientists will visit the College Park academy’s seventh grade science classes to discuss disease transmission, lead an interactive lesson about germs and talk about their careers as science professionals.

During their second visit, slated to take place in the spring, the scientists will speak to seventh grade students about several public health topics including drug use, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Rose French

Riverdale hosts transportation forum

Will Clayton County restore bus service?

What is the county’s master transportation plan?

These and other questions will be discussed at the “Moving People and Communities Forward” forum 6 - 9 p.m. Thursday at Riverdale Town Center, 7210 Church St., Riverdale.

Information: Karen Askew at 404 293-7260. Tammy Joyner

Fulton commissioner hosts meeting

Fulton County District 7 Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards will hold a quarterly Community Listening Session at 7 p.m. Thursday at the South Service Center, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park.

The public’s invited to give feedback on services in unincorporated South Fulton County.

Staff will be on hand to answer question and follow up on inquiries. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

School board approves Fayette tax district

The Fayette County Board of Education approved a resolution Monday to establish a Tax Allocation District in Fayetteville, paving the way for its implementation. The plan makes tax rates more conducive to redevelopment in specific parts of the greater downtown area in an effort to attract new businesses and future tax revenue. Fayette voters approved the plan in 2012.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Coughlin essay chosen as finalist

Union Grove Middle School student Maggie Coughlin is one of 16 finalists in the Clean Water Essay competition. Her essay was chosen out of more than 1,100 entries from students in grades 6-8 all over the metro area. She was greeted at the Capitol by Henry County Water Authority general manager Lindy Farmer and state Sen. Rick Jeffares as she received her award. Information: www.cleanwatercampaign.com. Monroe Roark for the AJC