County by county news for Wednesday

The Wheeler high stadium was named after Kell, who went on to become the county schools athletic director. Carole Kell and their son, Superior Court Judge Tain Kell, will attend the 7:15 p.m. ribbon cutting, with Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and several school board members.

The event precedes a 7:30 p.m. football game between the varsity squads of Wheeler and Pope High. Ty Tagami

NAACP chapters to rally in Marietta

The North Carolina and Georgia conferences of the NAACP are staging a press conference and rally at 11 a.m. today , in front of the Old Cobb County Courthouse Building at 30 Waddell Street in Marietta. The rally is in support of John McNeil, who was convicted in Cobb County in 2006 and sentenced to life in prison for killing Brian Epp when the two men had an argument on the front lawn of McNeil’s home. Jeffry Scott

Marietta school board to meet Aug. 30

The Marietta school board will hold a special called meeting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30.

A school system official said the topic will be personnel.

The public meeting will be at the administrative offices, 250 Howard St., Marietta. Ty Tagami

Tennis tourney to benefit Hillgrove High

To bring awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), the Jeff Bradford Memorial Tennis Tournament will be held in Powder Springs this weekend.

The tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Lost Mountain Tennis Center, 4845 Dallas Highway, under the sponsorship of the Lost Mountain Community Tennis Association. All players are welcome and all proceeds will go to the Hillgrove High School Grid Iron Club. Information: 770-528-8525 or lmcta.usta.com/events. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

School to dedicate outdoor classroom

East Cobb Middle School will dedicate an outdoor classroom built by a former teacher there at a ceremony at 5 p.m. on Sept. 23.

David Dewar designed the landscaping and helped raise money to build the project, which converted a weed-choked and debris-filled courtyard between two buildings into usable space.

Dewar, who has transferred to Walton High, began the project in 2008 and recently finished it with the help of several donors, including Pops Landscaping, Lowes, Corner Stone Walls, PSK Landscaping and Coastal Pond Supply. Ty Tagami

MUST Ministries gets ready for Gobble Jog

MUST Ministries will begin the season for the annual Gobble Jog with a kick-off breakfast for potential sponsors on Aug. 30 @ 7:30 a.m. at 1407 Cobb Parkway North in Marietta. The Gobble Jog is a fundraiser that helps support the nonprofit’s mission of providing food, shelter, services and assistance to individuals and families who are in crisis.

Organizations interested in attending the breakfast should RSVP to Lane Henderson at 678-218-4515 or lbhenderson@mustministries.org. Veronica Fields Johnson

GWINNETT

Snellville’s Bender quits council to run for mayor

Snellville council member Barbara Bender, who has announced her intentions to run for mayor, resigned Monday as part of a city law requiring members to step down when seeking another office.

Bender made the announcement following the council’s regular Monday meeting.

She has served on the city council since 2005.

“I am proud of the meaningful accomplishments I have achieved,” Bender said in a press release.

Bender also announced that she has raised nearly $20,000 for her mayoral campaign. Joel Anderson

Suwanee business owner to run for council

Doug Ireland, a Suwanee business owner and Gwinnett Chamber member, has announced that he plans to run for the Suwanee City Council seat being vacated by Jimmy Burnette. Ireland, 38, is a member of the city’s planning and zoning board, Vision 20/20 steering committee and Day Planning Committee. He owns Freeland Painting & Construction. Joel Anderson

Snellville approves Walmart market store

Over the protests of about 100 residents, the Snellville City Council on Monday approved zoning modifications that would allow for construction of a Walmart Neighborhood Market store.

By a 4-2 vote, the council supported plans for a new 40,600-square-foot grocery store to be located at 2912 W. Main Street. The smaller-format grocery store and another in Marietta are slated to open in the fall of 2012; they would be the first of their kind in metro Atlanta.Joel Anderson

Schools close to enrollment projections

Gwinnett County Public Schools is moving closer to its projection of 162,459 students for the academic year.

This week the district added more than 1,000 students bringing the enrollment count to 161,698, which is 761 below forecast. The remaining counts will be conducted on Aug. 29 and Sept. 6. D. Aileen Dodd

Author to hold student math workshop

The author of an advice book on helping kids with math homework will hold a problem solving workshop for students in September at the Centerville Community Center.

The workshop will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sept. 10 at 3025 Bethany Church Road in Snellville.

The cost is $40. Parents can pre-register by calling 770-985-4713. Three seats are available for free.

Saundra Carter will lead the session.

For information: www.math1on1.net. D. Aileen Dodd

Applications still open for Ivy Prep school

Ivy Preparatory Academy is still accepting applications for the 2011-12 school year at its campuses in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.

Ivy Prep has a grades 6-9 program in Gwinnett for girls, that will add grades each year through grade 12.

Ivy Prep in DeKalb opens on Aug. 31 with schools for boys and girls. For information: www.ivyprepacademy or 770-342-0089. D. Aileen Dodd

NORTHSIDE

Woodstock set to increase millage rate

The Woodstock City Council prepared Monday to raise the city millage rate, on staff recommendation, to make up for an projected almost $500,000 shortfall in revenue.

Staff recommended hiking the millage from 7.016 to 7.292, instead of as high as 7.49, which would mean the city would collect the same amount of tax on a property valued at $200,000 ($561), as it did last year. By increasing the millage rate to only 7.292, city officials said the tax paid on the $200,000 property this year will be $539. Jeffry Scott

Board member suggests creating charter school

Cherokee County Post 2 school board member Mike Chapman -- who voted against Cherokee Charter Academy when it was rejected 4-3 by the school board in June -- suggested at last week’s meeting that the school board look into the creation of another charter school focusing on an area of need, such as career technical education, or fine arts. Cherokee Charter Academy was only able to open last week after the state stepped in with funds. Jeffry Scott

Alpharetta relaxes restrictions on alcohol

The Alpharetta City Council unanimously approved a proposal Monday night that allows the outdoor sale and consumption of alcohol in the Downtown District during regular operating hours.

The Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association pushed the change to get more people downtown and help boost economic activity. The group sponsors a fall festival as well as other events. Angel K. Brooks and Patrick Fox

River Eves PTA is ‘Calling All Dads’

The PTA at River Eves Elementary in Roswell will host the 3rd annual “Calling All Dads” breakfast at 7 a.m. on Sept. 9. Fathers and all male role models are invited for breakfast and a chance to learn how to get involved at the school. Nancy Badertscher

Miss Mary’s holds benefit for Drake House

The public is invited to the seventh annual Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ fundraiser benefiting “The Drake House,” a crisis residential assessment center for homeless women and children in the North Fulton area.

The event is Sunday, Aug. 28, 2- 4 p.m. at the Historic Roswell Town Square, 616 Atlanta St., Roswell (Corner of Mimosa Boulevard and Marietta Highway 120). Trolley service will be available to and from the parking areas.

Tickets are $5 for individuals and $15 for family at the event. Information: www.thedrakehouse.org or 770-587-4712. Kenneth Musisi

Roswell sets election qualifying dates

Qualifying for City of Roswell municipal elections runs from Aug. 29-Sept. 2 for Council Posts 1, 2 and 3, as well as the municipal judge. Candidates can file between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., weekdays at City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Suite 115.

Qualifying fee for City Council is $540. The fee is $2,730 for municipal judge.

Information: www.roswellgov.com/municipalelections. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Farming is coming to downtown Atlanta.

Mayor Kasim Reed is expected to announce today a design competition to convert a 1.3-acre vacant lot across the street from city hall into an urban farm.

The lot, at Trinity and Central avenues is the former home to the Atlanta Municipal Court. Ernie Suggs

APS board gets Open Records lesson

A staffer for Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens explained open government requirements to members of the Atlanta school board Monday.

The briefing on open records and open meetings law came weeks after the attorney general sanctioned the board for violating it.

Some board members were surprised that school boards are expected to interview candidates for superintendent in public and that private information, such as children’s dental records, can be subject to disclosure if left as voicemail on a government phone or recorded on a government computer. Ty Tagami

Prescription discounts cards to be in water bills

Atlanta residents will receive registration forms for a free prescription discount card inserted in their September water bills.

Sponsored by the National League of Cities, the program provides residents with a card that offers an average of 20 percent savings off the retail price of prescription medications.

Atlanta residents can locate the nearest participating pharmacy by calling 1-888-620-1749 or by visiting www.caremark.com/nlc. Ernie Suggs

Foreclosure prevention workshop today

Fulton County’s Housing and Community Development Office will hold another free information session today for residents trying to save their homes from foreclosure.

The class will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Adamsville-Collier Heights Library, 3424 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta.

Information: 404-612-3024. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Contract details superintendent’s perks

The proposed contract for DeKalb County’s next school superintendent offers a $275,000 salary and a slew of perks including a one-time gift of 30 vacation days, as well as a three-year standing contract, $2,600-per-month expense account, $750-per-month travel allowance, a home computer and Internet fees and other benefits. The finalist, Cheryl Atkinson of Ohio, will be on hand to meet residents and teachers at 10 a.m. Saturday at district headquarters, 1701 Industrial Mountain Blvd., Stone Mountain. A vote on the selection will be held later. Rich McKay

Ex-recreation employee indicted

A former DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Department employee was indicted Tuesday for allegedly offering to falsify a probationer’s community service report in exchange for $40.

According to the indictment, Shirley Frank Harland is accused with racketeering with three crimes providing a base for the charge -- bribery, false statement and wire fraud.

If she is convicted, Harland could be sentenced to five to 20 years in prison. Rhonda Cook

Dunwoody councilman backtracks on remarks

Dunwoody Councilman Robert Wittenstein took time during Monday’s council meeting to retract a comment he made earlier in the month. A couple of weeks ago, during a heated discussion about the city’s 911 services, the councilman said staying with DeKalb County’s E911 dispatch service was equivalent to playing Russian roulette.

Monday he acknowledged that remark was a bit dramatic, and said he wanted to retract the statement. “It was definitely an overstatement of the facts,” he said. Michelle E. Shaw

Commission approves diversion program

The DeKalb County Commission unanimously approved a plan to create a misdemeanor pre-trial diversion program for the State Court, which handles misdemeanors.

Solicitor General Sherry Boston told the commission on Tuesday the fees collected from those who participate in the program will cover the costs of operation. Rhonda Cook

SBA administrator to visit DeKalb

The regional administrator of the Small Business Association will visit DeKalb County this week. Cassius Butts will meet with small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs.

The event is free an open to the public.

The meeting runs from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Porter Sanford center, 3181 Rainbow Dr., near Decatur.

More information: 404-371-2425. April Hunt

Decatur hotel to close for renovation

The 23-year-old downtown Holiday Inn in Decatur, purchased in May by Noble Investment Group, will close Oct. 1 for remodeling that should take four months. The work includes a complete renovation of every guest room, with the hotel changing its name to Courtyard By Marriott. Linda Harris, Decatur’s assistant director of community development said the makeover may cost the city as much as $32,000 in lost revenue from hotel-motel taxes. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Child safety workshop to be on Thursday

Fulton County’s Safe Kids Division will have another free child safety seat workshop Thursday at the Center Hill Health Center, 3201 Atlanta Industrial Parkway, Atlanta, starting at 9:30 a.m. Certified safety technicians will teach parents and caregivers about the requirements of Georgia’s new Booster Seat Law, as well as proper car seat and booster seat installation.

Information: 404-613-1309 or www.fultoncountygahealth.org. Johnny Edwards

East Point makes voting precinct changes

East Point officials alerted the public this week of two important changes for this November’s municipal elections. Ward D’s 9th precinct address has changed to 2475 Stone Road, while Ward C’s 10th precinct changes from Conley Hills Elementary School to Christ Lutheran Church and School. John Thompson for the AJC

East Point expects 80 jobs from new business

A business under construction in East Point is projected to bring 80 jobs to the area. The Odyssey Bowling and Entertainment Complex is in the Camp Creek area of the city and will feature a laser tag arena, go-carts and a bowling center. The $11 million complex is set to open early in 2012. John Thompson for the AJC

Golf tourney benefits service members

The Fairways of Freedom Golf Tournament will be held Monday at the Flat Creek Club in Peachtree City. Proceeds will benefit deployed service members through the nonprofit HeroBox.org.

The $100 individual registration fee includes a cart, range balls, box lunch, beverages and a gift bag. Participants can also attend an awards dinner featuring a raffle and silent auction of items from famous athletes. Retired military personnel may register for $75.

For details and registration, visit www.herobox.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Pink Backpack Project focuses on girls

The Atlanta Chapter of the Pink Wish Foundation will host the first annual Pink Backpack Project on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hapeville Public Library, 525 King Arnold Street in Hapeville.

The project assists girls and families in recognizing the signs of bullying, putting a stop to violence and spreading awareness to create change.

Attendees are asked to bring school supplies to fill pink backpacks that will be distributed to schools. Information: www.pinkwishfoundation.org. Kenneth Musisi