County by county news for Wednesday

The Cobb County Development Authority is set to debut its long-awaited website, Selectcobb, in June. The site is part of $75,000 in marketing efforts paid to and managed by the county’s chamber of commerce that was approved by the Authority last July. The board approved another $80,000 for marketing work last week for the Chamber to promote the Authority and economic development in the county. The latest marketing allocation runs through year’s end. Janel Davis

Traffic stop yields 20-pound pot bust

A Cobb motorist pulled over for a traffic violation was hauling more than 20 pounds of marijuana, according to a criminal warrant.

Ian Sean Smith attracted police attention by not using his blinker May 25 when making a right-hand turn onto Cobb Parkway from Airport Industrial Drive, the arresting officer said in a warrant. A police dog signaled drugs were inside the vehicle, a 2012 Dodge. An inspection of the passenger compartment and trunk turned up 20.5 pounds of marijuana. Smith is charged with trafficking marijuana and making an improper turn. Staff reports

Program provides meals for children

Children living in low-income neighborhoods in Marietta are eligible for a summer food service program that replaces the national school lunch and breakfast program during summer months. The federally funded and state operated program is available at the Fair Oaks, Elizabeth Porter and Lawrence Street Recreation Centers, Girls Inc, Anderson Boys and Girls Club and six other sites in Marietta. Information: Mitch Bland at 770-794-5437. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

‘Pip’ Arnold to perform this Sunday

Pip Andrew, a past contestant on the television singing competition show, The Voice, will perform June 3 at Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw.

The fundraiser performance is intended to help Andrew record his own song tracks. During the show, Andrew finished in the top 12 overall and worked with Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine The show runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Road in Kennesaw.

Tickets: $50, available at: http://aneveningwithpip.eventbrite.com Janel Davis

Cumberland CID board to meet Thursday

The Cumberland Community Improvement District board of directors meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, 240 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta. Information: Melissa Crook at 770-859-2357. Kenneth Musisi

GWINNETT

435 employees leave school system

Gwinnett County Public Schools said good-bye at the end of the 2011-12 school year to 435 educators and support staff members with 11,233 years in education -- 8,471 years logged locally. According to the school system, 186 of the retirees -- or more than 43 percent -- spent their entire careers in the classroom, office, cafeteria, bus or shop of this school system. One retired with 50 years in education. “Each and every one of these individuals made a difference through their contributions,” said J. Alvin Wilbanks, superintendent and CEO. Nancy Badertscher

Norcross man dies in leap from overpass

A Norcross man died late Monday night when he jumped from an interstate overpass onto I-85 in Gwinnett County, police said. Police said an officer saw LaMonte A. Shaw, 38, sitting on the Center Way overpass above I-85 northbound just before 11 p.m. The officer “attempted to speak to the male, but Shaw leaped off the overpass before he could be stopped,” the report said. Shaw died at the scene. Mike Morris

Lilburn to begin fining for false alarms

Beginning June 15, Lilburn residents and commercial alarm users must obtain a permit and reimburse the city for excessive false alarms. Police estimate responding to more than 5,000 false alarms between 2009 and 2011 costing approximately $116,000. Permits for alarms cost $15 and can be registered online at www.lilburn.city.support.org. After June 15, false alarms could cost up to $500. Registered users will receive one free false alarm per year with fines of $25 for the second, $50 for the third, and $100 each for all false alarms after the third. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Emergency notification system to be tested

Snellville is scheduled on June 7 to test its emergency communications network, which alerts residents via phone, e-mail and text message of emergencies including evacuation notices, bio-terrorism, boil-water notices, and missing child reports. Beginning around 3 p.m., the city will activate the system as though there were a community-wide disaster, directing residents to towebsites and other resources. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Buford to flush water lines, hydrants

Buford says discolored water should not pose a health risk while the city flushes its water distribution mains from June through August.

Residents are advised to visually check water before use during those months of flushing, which also might cause pressure fluctuations.

For information, contact city hall at 770-945-6761. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Gwinnett arena launches mobile app

The Arena at Gwinnett Center announced its launch of a new mobile app on May 18. The app will help patrons stay up-to-date with event details, including event discounts.

It is available for download from the iTunes App Store and Google Play. Information: www.gwinnettcenter.com/app. Kenneth Musisi

NORTHSIDE

Ex files ethics complaint against Cherokee’s Bosch

Keith Mahurin, the former husband of Cherokee County Commissioner Karen Bosch, has filed an ethics complaint with the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, claiming he was “used to cover for an illegal campaign contributions” to Bosch from the owner of Ball Ground Recycling, Jimmy Bobo. Mahurin said Bobo gave him $1,000 in cash in 10 separate envelopes with 10 a different names during the 2004 race. Bosch said she didn’t know the money was all from Bobo. Jeffry Scott

Alpharetta names new economic chief

Peter Tokar has been named director of economic development for the city of Alpharetta.

He comes to Alpharetta from Davie, Fla., where he built that community’s economic development program from scratch. Prior to his time in Davie, Tokar ran economic development programs for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward Alliance, the city of Miramar, Fla., and the Miramar – Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Bachelor of Science in communications and advertising from Liberty University and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University. Patrick Fox

Summer puppet series opens June 4

The Roswell Cultural Arts Center will launch its 15th season of the Summer Puppet Series for children. This year’s programs begin June 4 and feature seven shows running at 10 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Additional shows are at 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

Cost for children ages 2-12 is $5, $6 for adults. The Roswell Cultural Arts Center is at 950 Forrest Street. Information: 770-594-6232; www.roswellpuppets.com.Patrick Fox

Bald Ridge Road section closed for year

Forsyth County drivers beware: About 1,000 feet of Bald Ridge Road at and near Ga.9 in Cumming closed Tuesday for the rest of 2012. Georgia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Teri Pope says the shutdown will allow for grade changes and shifting of the road as the intersection is rebuilt. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Sign up now for Forsyth reading program

Registration is under way for the summer kids and teens reading incentive programs at the Forsyth County Public Library. Students from preschool to twelfth grade can earn a free book by reading what they like between now and the end of July. Information and registration: www.forsythpl.org Mark Woolsey for the AJC

‘Wireside Chats’ coming up on transit tax

One of a series of “Wireside Chats” hosted by the Atlanta Regional Commission in advance of the July 31 transportation tax referendum will feature Cherokee County officials. Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Buzz Ahrens and Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques will be on hand for an hour-long phone review of the transportation initiative and a question-and-answer period June 13 at 6:15 p.m. Residents will need to register in advance. Information: www.wiresidechats.com Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Finalists named for review board director

A selection committee has whittled down to five the candidates for executive director of the Atlanta Citizen Review Board. They are Andrea Beckman, executive director of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Citizen Review Board; Samuel Reid, assistant director of the Civilian Review Authority in Minneapolis; Sheena Robertson, an investigator with the ACRB; Holly Wiseman, former deputy independent police monitor in New Orleans; and Victoria Urbi, former director of the Berkley Police Review Commission. Rhonda Cook

Committee approves claims against city

A committee of Atlanta’s City Council voted Tuesday to approve more than $99,000 in claims against the city for property damages and bodily injuries from automobile accidents and other mishaps. The 20 claims approved by the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee ranged from $731 for property damage alleged to have been caused by a storm grate last October in west Atlanta to $20,000 in damage from a falling tree last August near Bobby Jones Golf Course. Jeremiah McWilliams

Civil rights author to speak June 15

Ray Arsenault, award winning author of “Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice,” will speak at 7 p.m. June 15 at the Shrine of the Black Madonna, 946 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. S.W.

The event is free. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. For information: 404 549-8676. Shelia M. Poole

ZooMobile to visit libraries this weekend

Zoo Atlanta’s ZooMobile will visit two Atlanta libraries this weekend, putting on children’s programs with small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. There will be two sessions Friday at the Washington Park Library, 1116 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, at noon and 1 p.m. Two more will be held Saturday at the Southwest Branch, 3665 Cascade Road, at 10 and 11 a.m.

The ZooMobile regularly goes to schools and other locations. For a schedule, go to www.afpls.org. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Cynthia McKinney set to run again

Former six-term Georgia congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, has filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission making it official she’s running for congress in her old 4th district as an independent on the Green Party ticket, if she can collect about 20,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot. She’s been working behind the scenes for weeks to organize her campaign. McKinney was defeated in 2006 by Hank Johnson, after an incident with a Capital Hill police officer.

The Georgia Green Party’s nominating convention is this Saturday in Dekalb County. Jeffry Scott

Court reverses murder conviction

The Georgia Supreme Court Tuesday reversed the murder conviction against Steven Lamar Scott, saying a DeKalb County judge improperly excluded evidence in the case.

Scott was convicted of fatally shooting Dan Smith in 2008 after, Scott said, his niece told him Smith was molesting her. The high court said the trial judge should have allowed evidence of the alleged molestation to support a charge of voluntary manslaughter, which carries a lesser penalty than murder and is committed as a result of sudden, violent and irresistible passion. Bill Rankin

Man dead at gas station after shooting

DeKalb County police are investigating a shooting early Monday morning outside a gas station that left a man dead.

Channel 2 Action News reported that a witness heard at least eight shots before the victim was found in the parking lot of a Chevron station on South Stone Mountain Lithonia Road near Lithonia.

Investigators were reviewing surveillance video from the gas station for clues to what happened. Mike Morris

Commission pushes to move auditors

The DeKalb County Commission continues to push to move some auditor positions from the CEO’s staff to its own.

The commission had proposed moving three auditors from CEO Burrell Ellis’ staff during its budget vote, a move the chief executive vetoed in March.

The commission, which did not have the votes to override the veto, has since revived the idea by suggesting it will use its own budget to hire a supervising internal auditor for those three others.

The auditors, regardless of which department, would evaluate county programs and departments on a financial level.

A commission vote on the issue is expected in June. April Hunt

Workshop on plan for Kensington Thursday

A community workshop will be held Thursday to allow residents, business owners and others interested in the Kensington area to shape the area in south-central DeKalb County.

The Kensington Livable Centers Initiative is working on an updated transportation and land use plan for the area, which includes the Kensington MARTA station, several county annex buildings and the I-285 interchange with Memorial Drive.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Georgia Perimeter College’s auditorium, 555 Indian Creek Dr., Clarkston.

The session is free and open to the public. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette searches for new county administrator

Fayette County has begun its search for a new county administrator. The position requires directing the operations of the county and developing long-range plans and goals, as well as coordinating development of the annual budget, ordinances and resolutions while working with the County Commission and other officials. In April, current administrator Jack Krakeel announced his retirement after 28 years with the county, effective July 1. Details and an application are online at www.fayettecountyga.gov/hum_res/. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Tyrone council to discuss budget Thursday

Tyrone Mayor Eric Dial and the City Council will hold a special called meeting Thursday to discuss the 2012-13 budget.

Copies of the proposed $3.7 million budget are on the Finance page at www.tyrone.org. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Tyrone Town Hall, 881 Senoia Road. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry valedictorians receive scholarships

Henry County’s nine high valedictorians will each receive $200 from the local Rotary Club.

“Our club wanted to recognize and reward the hard work and diligence of the top student at each of the high schools right here in our community,” said Patrick Healy, Rotary Foundation director.

The valedictorians are: Krupa Merchant, Dutchtown High; Ramon L. Sua, Eagle’s Landing High; Cecilia Ortiz, Henry County High; Nathaniel B. Robinson, Locust Grove High; Sheldon C. Scoggins, Luella High; Jake E. Wasdin, Ola High; Destiny A. Nieves, Stockbridge High; Jonathan D. James, Union Grove High; and Alana M. Wilson, Woodland High.Nancy Badertscher

Henry schools to pilot youth tennis initiative

The Henry County School System has entered into an agreement with the Southern Crescent Tennis Association (SCTA) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to introduce students in all 29 elementary schools to tennis through in-school and after-school opportunities.

In the first phase of a planned three-year rollout, 12 schools will take part during the 2012-13 school year through physical education curriculum and after-school programs.

All equipment, training, and supplies will be provided to the schools to implement their programs free of charge. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Vision screening program for seniors

Henry County Senior Services has approximately 70 vouchers available for senior citizens to receive a free comprehensive eye exam and glasses, if needed, through a network of local eye doctors.

Some preschool children who are being raised by grandparents may qualify for a voucher, valued at approximately $500.

If you are a U.S. citizen not enrolled in any vision insurance and meet certain family income guidelines, you may be eligible.

Call 770-288-7000 to schedule an appointment to fill out an application. Monroe Roark for the AJC