County by county news for Wednesday

Powder Springs mayor to run for third term

Powder Springs Mayor Patricia Vaughn confirmed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday night that she plans to seek a third term as mayor. Since 2004, she has served as mayor for two terms. Before then, Vaughn was a City Council member for two terms. She is married to the Rev. Ray Vaughn. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Austell sets election qualifying dates

Austell qualifying dates have been set for mayor and three City Council posts to be decided on Nov. 8.

Hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 29 and 30 and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 in the City Clerk’s office, Suite 137, Austell Threadmill Complex, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road. The posts are held now by Mayor Joe Jerkins, At-Large Post 2 Councilman Randy Green, Ward 4 Councilwoman Virginia Reagan and Ward 2 Councilman Scott Thomas. Fees are $900 for mayor and $360 for City Council.

Information: 770-944-4303 or email clerk@austell.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Animal control offers ‘Cobb Company Cats’

Cobb County Animal Control is adopting adult cats to local businesses free of charge as part of the “Cobb Company Cats” program. To adopt under the Company Cats program, businesses must have a current Cobb business licenses for a “brick and mortar” business. Information: 770-590-6593 or www.cobbanimalcontrol.org Janel Davis

Police offer firearm safety seminar

The Marietta Police Department will host a free firearm safety seminar Sept. 15.

The seminar will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Marietta City Hall Council Chambers at 205 Lawrence Street in Marietta. To secure a seat, email jmurphy@mariettaga.gov or call 770-794-5379 leaving your name, telephone number and number of requested seats. The seminar will cover firearm/weapon safety, firearm/weapon law, home defense weapons, civilian model stun guns and use of pepper spray. Andria Simmons

KSU Flourish Luncheon to be Sept. 13

The Kennesaw State University College of the Arts is staging the Fourth Annual Flourish Luncheon Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 11:30 a.m. at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Approximately 300 guests are expected to attend the luncheon, which is anticipated to raise more than $100,000 to benefit scholarship endowments and initiatives in the KSU College of the Arts. Information, click the “Flourish Luncheon” link at www.kennesaw.edu/arts . Or call 770-499-3214. Jeffry Scott

GWINNETT

School enrollment closes in on expectations

Gwinnett County Public Schools added nearly 3,700 more kids to rosters this week bringing the enrollment closer to its projection of 162,459 students for the academic year.

The district is currently1,810 students below forecast, school officials said.

Last school year, about 1,800 students returned to rosters between the second and final Labor Day enrollment counts. Based on preliminary numbers, district planners expect the Labor Day count to be close to the forecast. The remaining counts will be conducted on Aug. 22, Aug. 29 and Sept. 6. D. Aileen Dodd

School board to meet on Thursday

The Gwinnett County school board will hold its workshop and business meetings Thursday. The board workshop will be at 3 p.m. in the executive board room at the district’s headquarters, 437 Old Peachtree Road N.W. in Suwanee.The public forum will follow later in the school board meeting room at 6:15 p.m. The business meeting will begin at 7 p.m. For information: www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us D. Aileen Dodd

Police investigate home invasion

Gwinnett County police are still investigating a home invasion that happened Thursday at Gwinnett Place Apartments off Sweetwater Road in Lawrenceville.

Two suspects approached a resident who was standing outside talking on a cell phone at 10:50 p.m., held him at gunpoint and forced him inside his apartment. The men demanded money and jewelry from the victim and his roommate, and punched the victim in the eye.

No arrests have been made, said Gwinnett Police spokesman Cpl. Ed Ritter. Andria Simmons

Charity golf tournament to be held Sept. 12

Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services will host a golf tournament Sept. 12 at TPC Sugarloaf, 2595 Sugarloaf Club Drive, Duluth. Proceeds from the Charity Golf Classic will benefit Meals on Wheels and other programs for senior citizens. Players must register by Sept. 6. Those who want to sponsor the event or make a donation must register by Sept. 2. Information: 678-377-3020 or www.gwinnettcounty.com. David Wickert

Benefit for childrens’ shelter on Saturday

SONIC Drive-In of Dacula, in partnership with the Moms Offering Moms Support Club of Dacula, invites the public to a benefit on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. to support the Gwinnett Childrens’ Shelter. SONIC Drive-In, located at 812 Dacula Road, will donate a portion of their total sales to the Shelter. Veronica Fields Johnson

Group attacks man at Lilburn restaurant

An Atlanta man was mugged by half a dozen men Sunday outside of Quisqueya Restaurant in Lilburn.

The victim told Gwinnett County police that he was walking out of the club at 3:12 a.m. when the suspects encircled him, beat him and demanded his wallet. The victim managed run back inside to call 911.

He declined medical attention. Police are still investigating. Andria Simmons

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee Democrats fire back over charter vote

The Cherokee County Democratic Party responded to the Cherokee County Republican Party’s criticism of four school board members who voted against the Cherokee Charter Academy in a June meeting when the school’s funds were denied by a 4-3 vote. The school opened this week with state funding. The Democratic party called the Republican Party’s denouncing of school board members who voted against the charter school -- Janet Read, Rick Steiner, Mike Chapman, and Robert Wofford -- “divisive and inflammatory,” and asked for a retraction. Jeffry Scott

Fulton school board to meet on Thursday

The Fulton County school board will hold its business meeting Thursday at Dunwoody Springs Elementary School. The school board will begin in executive session at 4:30 p.m. and open for the business meeting at 6 p.m. at 8100 Roberts Dr. in Sandy Springs.

For information:www.fultonschools.org

D. Aileen Dodd

Cherokee Tea Party forms budget-cut group

Members of the Cherokee County Tea Party Patriots met with county manager Jerry Cooper Monday and agreed to move forward with the formation of a citizen’s committee, composed of Tea Party members, to find ways to reduce the county’s expenditures. The nine-member group, The Cherokee County Research and Recommendations Committee, plans to begin regular meetings later this month with commissioners and county officials as they begin work on the proposed 2012 budget, said committee chair Carolyn Cosby. Jeffry Scott

Work to close Kimball Bridge Road

Kimball Bridge Road over Big Creek in Alpharetta will be closed this weekend as road crews work to complete paving to a new bridge that will open Monday morning. The road will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. The city negotiated the closure with the Georgia DOT to avoid ongoing lane closures that would have backed up traffic for weeks, Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said. Patrick Fox

Fall gardening classes in Cherokee today

Come one, come all green-thumbs to the next Cherokee County Extension Office class, Gardening for All Seasons: Fall.

Seasoned and novice gardeners can expect to get useful tips and ideas on planning, planting, and maintaining an interesting landscape in the fall. The class will be at 10 a.m. today at Ball Ground Community Center at 250 Civic Drive in Ball Ground. Info: 770-479-0418. Andria Simmons

Alpharetta councilman to run for mayor

Alpharetta City Councilman Douglas DeRito announced Monday evening he plans to run for mayor this fall, leaving his Post 1 seat open. DeRito joins fellow Councilman Jim Paine in a bid to replace retiring Mayor Arthur Letchas. Former Councilman David Belle Isle has also announced.

Later Monday, local businessman Donald Mitchell declared he intends to run for the Post 1 seat. Mitchell sits on the board of the Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association and the Design Review Board. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Ex-prosecutor attorney joins law firm

Kurt Erskine, a former prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta, is joining Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in the law firm’s white collar litigation practice.

Erskine was deputy chief of economic crimes in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and worked on a variety of cases, including Atlanta Police Department corruption prosecutions that grew out of the 2006 fatal shooting of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in an illegal drug raid. Erskine will work with former U.S. Attorney Joe Whitley, who chairs Greenberg Traurig’s white collar litigation group. Bill Rankin

Marist graduate wins $100,000 scholarship

Loren Ramirez, a recent graduate of Marist School, has won a $100,000 scholarship for outstanding Hispanic students.

She is one of four recipients nationwide to receive this year’s $100,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities/HACER scholarship. Ramirez will begin college at Washington University in St. Louis on Aug. 30. She plans to study pharmacology. D. Aileen Dodd

APS back-to-school bash to be Saturday

The Atlanta Public Schools special education department is hosting a “parent back-to-school” bash from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Douglass High School. Topics will include new technology and information on pilot programs at local high schools, among other things. RSVPs are due Thursday. Call 404-802-2633 or 404-802-3607 or visit www.atlantapublicschools.us. Jaime Sarrio

Cyclorama to hold Civil Rights program

The Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum will hold a discussion Thursday at 6:30 p.m. called “From Civil War to Civil Rights,” focusing on how the war laid the foundation for the civil rights movement. It will be led by Atlanta Daily World Publisher Alexis Scott, African American Civil War Museum Curator Hari Jones and Atlanta History Center Senior Military Historian and Curator Gordon Jones.

Information: 404-658-7625. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Dunwoody prepares to purchase land

Dunwoody will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m., Monday as it prepares to make two land purchases, totaling more than $6.9 million. Both pieces of land are in the Georgetown / North Shallowford area of Dunwoody. The purchases will allow the city to move forward with the parks, transportation, and Georgetown master plans, which were all adopted earlier this year. The city council meets at Dunwoody City Hall, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite No. 103. Michelle E. Shaw

Decatur takes first vote on redistricting

Decatur’s Commission took a first vote on amending the city charter’s election district map, which should ultimately be approved with a second vote in September. The district realignment became necessary when the 2010 census revealed Decatur’s north district had 5.76 percent more people than the south. In conforming to the “one person, one vote” standard of the Voting Rights Act, the new map assimilates the north part of Agnes Scott’s campus into the south district, thus reducing the deviation between districts to an acceptable 2.72 percent. Bill Banks for the AJC

Clarkston gears up for fall festival

The City of Clarkston will host its 2nd Annual International Festival Oct. 1 on the downtown plaza.

The event, which will feature food and live entertainment representing Clarkston’s Asian, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and African American cultures, is free.

For information, interested vendors, sponsors and volunteers may contact India Pullin of Step Up In Georgia, Inc. at 404-343-1452 or log onto www.StepupinGeorgia.org and click on “International Festival” icon. Gracie Bonds Staples

Chamber offices to move to Decatur Sept. 1

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce is moving across the county. The chamber’s offices move on Sept. 1 from Tucker to a spot in downtown Decatur. The new address is 125 Clairemont Ave., Decatur.

Phone and fax numbers for will remain the same. Information: www.dekalbchamber.org. April Hunt

Rep. Johnson to host job fair on Thursday

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, is hosting more than 80 employers in a job fair Thursday in Atlanta.

The job fair, which is open to all residents, are part of the Congressional Black Caucus’ “For the People” jobs effort. It runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Atlanta Technical College, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, Atlanta. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Johnson also will hold a town hall meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the college.

More information: http://hankjohnson.house.gov. April Hunt

Grease clog causes sewage spill

Heavy grease clogged a sewer main Thursday evening on Munday Drive in Chamblee, creating a small spill.

About 7,200 gallons of raw sewage dumped out of the sewer pipe before DeKalb County crews were able to clear the grease. The county plans a $1.35 billion overhaul of its water/sewer system to meet a federal consent decree to prevent such spills. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Parent arrested in school confrontation

A Clayton County parent faces charges after she allegedly swung at a school resource officer and had to be pepper-sprayed to be subdued, Channel 2 Action News reports.

Betty Anne Richardson, 44, of Jonesboro, was arrested Monday morning at Sequoyah Middle School. Richardson first drove against the flow of traffic as parents were dropping off their children, then got into a confrontation with the school resource officer who stopped her after the woman refused to sign into the building, authorities said. David Ibata

Peachtree City set to finalize 2012 budget

Thursday’s 7 p.m. meeting of the City Council of Peachtree City will finalize the 2012 budget and millage rates.

Following input from public hearings and staff recommendations, the budget’s general fund expenditures for next year have been reduced by another $100,000, and the millage rate will be the same as last year.

The full agenda packet is at www.peachtree-city.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Workshop on helping homeless today

For those in need and those looking to volunteer, Fulton County’s Housing and Community Development Office will hold an information session today on transitional housing and emergency shelters. The workshop lasts from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the South Fulton Annex, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park.

County-operated and collaboratively-operated facilities include the Jefferson Place Assessment Center for men, Eden Village at the City of Refuge for women and children, and Odyssey Villas at Vineyard Courts for families. Information: 404-613-0412. Johnny Edwards

Recycling event in East Point Saturday

Keep East Point Beautiful & Office Recycling Solutions will accept electronics to recycle from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Movies ATL at Camp Creek Marketplace. $1 per car load of electronics; $15 fee for disposal of hazardous materials from each TV & Monitor. Cash only. Information: 404-762-5326 or www.officerecyclingsolutions.com. Sandra Marshall Murray

Children’s Village asks for donations

The Children’s Village at Christian City, a nonprofit in Union City that cares for abandoned and abused children in a family-centered residential setting, is asking the public for help with basic necessities. Items needed include gift cards, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items and hygiene products. Information: Heidi Becker at 770-703-2636 or www.christiancity.org. Veronica Fields Johnson

County rolls out emergency service

Fulton County is providing a new service to notify citizens about emergency situations.

All citizens and businesses are encouraged to register for CodeRED, a telephone communication service that notifies citizens about emergencies such as severe weather, utility outages, missing persons, fires, floods and chemical spills. To register online, visit www.fultoncountyga.gov and click on CodeRED or call 404-730-7900. Andria Simmons