County by county news for Wednesday

Conviction affirmed in mother’s murder

What started out as an argument between a mother and son over dirty dishes escalated to the mother’s killing and eventually resulted in her son’s conviction for the murder.

In a recent ruling, the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the conviction against Ernest Lee Walker for killing his mother, 47-year-old Katherine Fountain, at their Marietta home on the evening of June 19, 2007. Fountain had called 911 after Walker punched her in the face after she complained about his sloppiness. While she was on the phone, Walker stabbed her 19 times in the back, the ruling said. Bill Rankin

Austell mayor to give state of city address

Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins will deliver his annual state of the city address at next week’s meeting of the Austell Business Association. The luncheon meeting will begin at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 21 at the City of Austell Threadmill Complex, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Suite 105. Cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members.

For information and reservations, contact felicia@servproswcobb.com.Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Tennis tourney to help fight ALS

Harrison Tennis Center at 2653 Shallowford Road in Marietta will be hosting the 2012 Volley to Defeat ALS tennis tournament, presented by Sterling Autobody Centers on March 8, 10 and 11. Proceeds from the doubles only tournament will benefit the Georgia Chapter of the ALS Association. Registration fee for the tournament is $40. Information: http://tennislink.usta.com/TOURNAMENTS or email Stephen.lottinger@cobbcounty.org or call 770-591-3151. Sandra Marshall Murray

Marietta youth actors to present play

Curtain Call Youth Players will present “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” March 15-18 at The Art Place, Mountain View. Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. March 15-16; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 17, and at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. March 18.

The Art Place, Mountain View is at 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta. For information: www.ccyp.org. Laura Hoffman

Hospital holds class on aging vision

The public is invited to a free community education class, “Low Vision: What It Means To You,” sponsored by Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna, 3949 South Cobb Drive, on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in the hospital’s cafeteria.

The class is designed to educate individuals 55 and older about conditions of the aging eye . To RSVP, call 770-319-2025. Veronica Fields Johnson

GWINNETT

$11.2 million in drugs found in warehouse

Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputies on Monday confiscated $11.2 million in illegal drugs during a search of a warehouse near Duluth. Channel 2 Action News reported Tuesday that the sheriff’s office got a tip about drugs being stored in the warehouse on Peachtree Crest Drive. Deputies found 264 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $3.6 million and 380 pounds of methamphetamine worth $7.6 million, the station reported. Jose Romero of Gainesville, Epifanio Sandoval-Hernandez of Athens and Luis Vasquez of Forest Park were charged with drug trafficking and are being held without bond. Mike Morris

County asks input on animal welfare

Gwinnett County is seeking public input on animal welfare issues. A task force is studying ways to improve animal control services. To assist the task force, Gwinnett is asking residents to take a brief survey. To take the survey : www.gwinnettcounty.com.

David Wickert

Annandale Village to begin expansion

Annandale Village in Suwanee breaks ground March 2 on a 10,000-square-foot facility for individuals experiencing a decrease in independent living skills due to aging and/or characteristics in their developmental disabilities.

The new facility, The Amy Somers Center for Continued Care, will effectively double capacity at Annandale’s nationally recognized Laura Grier Center for Special Care and the D. Scott Hudgens Center for Skilled Nursing. Nancy Badertscher

Gwinnett Village to study improvements

The Atlanta Regional Commission has given $48,000 to the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District to study pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Indian Trail Road.

District officials say the study will examine strategies for transforming Indian Trail Road into a walkable, economically viable corridor. David Wickert

Library offers help with college planning

The Gwinnett County Public Library will sponsor a series of college financial planning workshops beginning Feb. 28. The workshops will focus on such topics as financial aid, saving for college and how to get a state tax deduction. The sessions are for parents, grandparents and others hoping to help a loved one save for college.

The free workshops will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Mountain Park Branch, 7 p.m. March 7 at the Hamilton Mill Branch and 2 p.m. March 17 at the Grayson Branch. For more information visit www.gwinnettpl.org. David Wickert

Rabbi Taub to speak at Chabad of Gwinnett

Rabbi Shais Taub, a scholar and teacher of Jewish mysticism and a specialist on addiction issues, will be the keynote speaker at Chabad of Gwinnett.

The event will be held at 8 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Chabad Enrichment Center, 3855 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross.

The cost is $18 per person. Register online at www.chabadofgwinnett.org or call 678-595-0196. Shelia Poole

NORTHSIDE

Epstein School hosts education summit

The Epstein School recently held an international summit on Jewish education that attracted more than 700 attendees.

The third annual North American Jewish Day School Conference was held in Atlanta. It was attended by educators and leaders from across the world.

The conference “Current Landscapes— Changing Horizons” focused on future planning for schools and included workshops on technology, education innovation and financial sustainability. D. Aileen Dodd

North Fulton libraries offer tax help

Volunteers with AARP Tax-Aide will be offering free help with 2011 tax returns at three north Fulton libraries during the tax season. Tax assistance and preparation service, including e-filing of both federal and state returns, is available to low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older.

On various dates and times leading up to the April 17 filing deadline, volunteers will be at the Roswell Library, the Sandy Springs Library and Johns Creek’s Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library. For a schedule, go to www.afpls.org or call 404-730-1700. Johnny Edwards

Color guards, drumlines to compete on Saturday

The White Columns Southern Association for Performance Arts competition will be at Milton High School, 13025 Birmingham Highway in Milton Saturday, at 9 a.m. The show will feature 43 color guards and 13 indoor drumlines showcasing their talent before a panel of judges in the categories of general effect, visual and music and percussion. Tickets are $8 at the door. SAPA governs indoor percussion and color guard groups around the Southeast. Kenneth Musisi

Park offers Winter Owl Prowl on Saturday

The National Parks Service will host its Winter Owl Prowl on Saturday from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Chattahoochee River Environmental Education Center at 8615 Barnwell Road in Johns Creek. The event includes a campfire, night hikes, and live owl programs courtesy of the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Reservations are required. Information: call 678-538-1200 and visit www.nps.gov/chat. Sandra Marshall Murray

Woodstock gets grant to update LCI plan

Woodstock has been awarded an $80,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission to complete a 10-year update to its Livable Centers Initiative. The original plan adopted in 2002 changed the face of downtown Woodstock, with major street, sidewalk, parking, landscaping and street light improvements. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Senior Expo in Cumming on Saturday

Forsyth County Senior Services department officials expect hundreds of attendees for the 10th Annual Forsyth Senior Expo, Saturday from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. at the Central Park Recreation Center, 2300 Keith Bridge Road in Cumming. The event will feature free health screenings, musical entertainment and a free lunch. Info: www.forsythco.com Mark Woosley for the AJC

ATLANTA

Conviction upheld in woman’s stabbing death

The Georgia Supreme Court recently upheld the murder conviction against Herman Ingram for killing an Atlanta woman in July 2006.

According to evidence at trial, Ingram attended a party in the basement of a friend’s home where he got drunk and repeatedly made physical advances toward Gloria Cochran. When he refused to stop, Cochran slapped him in the face, prompting Ingram to pull out a knife from his pocket and fatally stab Cochran in the chest, the ruling said. Bill Rankin

Bus tours, workshop for potential homebuyers

Atlanta City Councilwoman Cleta Winslow, Invest Atlanta and developer Jerome Russell will sponsor a series of housing and down-payment workshops and bus tours to help potential home buyers find available homes in Atlanta. The first workshop and tour will take place on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Registration is required. Residents can call 404-330-6047 to register. Jeremiah McWilliams

Workshop today on arts grant applications

Fulton’s Arts and Culture department is holding workshops for nonprofit arts organizations interested in applying for grants through the county’s contracts for services program, a quality-of-life investment. One will be held today at the Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples St., S.W., Atlanta, from 2 to 4 p.m. Directions: www.hammondshouse.org.

Grants range from $1,000 to $150,000, and the application deadline is March 15. Information: 404-612-5780. Johnny Edwards

King Center marks “Bloody Sunday’

The King Center marks the 47th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” with a 7 a.m. bus tour to Selma, Ala., on March 4. The tour will return to Atlanta. at approximately 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.

To register, visit www.thekingcenter.org. Information: Barbara Harrison at 404-526-8961 or bharrison@thekingcenter.org. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

EPA chooses GPC for green flagship project

Georgia Perimeter College has been chosen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be the nation’s flagship for sustainability education in community colleges. The EPA will use GPC as a sustainability model for a consortium of community colleges across the country. The plans will be formalized today at GPC’s Clarkston campus by EPA Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming and GPC President Anthony Tricoli. University System Chancellor Hank Huckaby also will help open the college’s new Southeastern Institute for Sustainable Education. Nancy Badertscher

Court upholds DeKalb murder conviction

Shortly after stabbing a man to death in 2006, Brian Dukes showed up at his mother’s house wearing only jockey shorts, socks and slippers. He told her he was thinking of reenlisting in the Army because he might as well get paid for killing instead of doing it for free, prosecutors said.

The Georgia Supreme Court recently upheld the DeKalb County murder conviction against Dukes, now serving a life sentence for stabbing 33-year-old Demetric Johnson after an argument at an apartment on Evans Mill Road. The court noted a jail cellmate testified that Dukes told him he showed up at his mother’s house in his underwear because he had discarded his bloody clothing after the killing. Bill Rankin

Public can weigh in on county budget

A DeKalb County commissioner will hold a public meeting next Tuesday to discuss with citizens the 2012 budget.

Commissioner Larry Johnson, who represents District 3, will host the meeting that is planned for 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Exchange Park Intergenerational Center at 2771 Columbia Drive in Decatur. Those wanting more information on the meeting should call 404-371-2988. Rhonda Cook

Truck hits pedestrian on interstate ramp

The ramp from I-20 westbound to I-285 northbound in DeKalb County was shut down during the early stages of Tuesday’s morning commute after a pedestrian was struck by a tractor-trailer.

DeKalb police Detective E. Gakstatter said the man was walking in the travel lane when he was hit by the truck about 4:15 a.m. The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in serious condition, Gakstatter said.

He said that while the incident remains under investigation, the truck driver is not likely to be charged. Mike Morris

Camp ‘Funtastic’ registration on Saturday

DeKalb County will take applications Saturday for its summer Camp “Funtastic,” a day program for children 14 and older with mild to moderate disabilities.

The day-long camp will be held June 11 through Aug. 3 at a cost of $90 per week.

Registration will be at all DeKalb’s centers. Registration at Exchange, Lucious Sanders, Redan and Tucker centers starts at 9 a.m.; Briarwood, Browns Mill, Hamilton, Lynwood and Mason Mill centers starts at 10 a.m.; Gresham, N. H. Scott and Midway centers beginning 11; and Tobie Grant Recreation Center starts at noon. Rhonda Cook

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette schools look at reducing staff next year

Lower enrollment is causing Fayette County Public Schools to need 72.5 fewer staff allotments for 2012-13. Human Resources Director Dr. Reaneé Ellis outlined the current reduction estimates at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. Elementary positions will be lowered by 24.5, middle school teachers by 23 and high school staff by 14. Special education positions will be revised to include fewer parapros but more collaborative parapros. Custodial staff will drop by 17.5 positions. Ellis said most reductions will occur through attrition. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Peachtree City pool at Kedron reopens

Peachtree City’s bubble is back.

The Kedron Fieldhouse and Aquatic Center pool has reopened after several months of construction to replace the concrete foundation and the all-weather fabric “bubble” cover.

Construction took longer and cost more than expected because of unforeseen additional repairs to the infrastructure.

The pool is operating on its normal winter schedule, and local swim teams have resumed practice. For details, see www.peachtree-city.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Deadline is March 15 to apply for arts grants

The deadline is March 15 for nonprofit arts organizations to apply for $1,000 to $150,000 grants through Fulton County’s contracts for services program, a quality-of-life investment.

The Arts and Culture department is holding workshops on the application process, and first-time applicants must either attend or consult with the arts staff.

A workshop will be held Thursday at the South Fulton Library, 4055 Flat Shoals Road, Union City, from 2 to 4 p.m. Directions: www.AFPLweb.com. Information: 404-612-5780. Johnny Edwards

Piedmont Henry has new financial controller

A 22-year veteran of the health care industry has joined Piedmont Henry Hospital as finance controller.

Scott Merkle holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, masters in business administration and public health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Prior to joining Piedmont Henry, Scott Merkle worked at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

He is licensed as a nursing home administrator. Merkle lives in Henry County and has a 12-year-old daughter. Tammy Joyner

Southwest Library offers help with taxes

Low- and middle-income taxpayers befuddled by tax forms can get free assistance at several Atlanta-Fulton libraries this tax season, including the Southwest Library, 3665 Cascade Rd., S.W., in south Fulton.

Through April 17 -- the filing deadline -- volunteers with AARP Tax-Aide will be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Special attention will be given to those age 60 and older.

Tax assistance and preparation service, including e-filing of both federal and state returns, is available.

Information: 404-730-1700 or www.afpls.org. Johnny Edwards