County by county news for Wednesday

Carson allegedly kept going, with flat tire and broken wheel, from the school to his home in the 1500 block of Barrier Road, Marietta. He was taken into custody later that morning. A chemical breath test indicated an alcohol concentration of .220 grams, his arrest warrant stated. He was released that day on $10,000 bond, according to jail records. David Ibata

Event to benefit Cobb Safety Village

Families are invited to enjoy a fun and educational event for children of all ages at the Cobb County Touch-A-Truck event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Participants can explore police cars, SWAT trucks, fire rescue trucks, fire engines, heavy construction vehicles, dump trucks, front-end loaders, TV trucks, military vehicles and a police helicopter. The event will be at Town Center Mall in Kennesaw and costs $5 per person, but no more than $20 per family.

Proceeds will benefit the Cobb County Safety Village, a comprehensive safety training environment that teaches people safety skills through hands-on experiences.

Andria Simmons

North Georgia State Fair in Marietta

The 8th annual North Georgia State Fair is going on now through Sunday at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta.

Attracting nearly 300,000 people, the fair is the largest in metro Atlanta and the second largest in Georgia, featuring rides, shows, concerts, pageants, entertainment and food. The Georgia Lottery Concert Series begins at 8 p.m. and is free with admission. Sara Evans will perform Wednesday, Thompson Square on Thursday, Colt Ford on Friday and Mark Wills on Saturday.

Parking is $3 and admission is $7 for adults; children are free. Info: northgeorgiastatefair.com.

Andria Simmons

Race to help domestic violence shelter

The YWCA of Northwest Georgia will host the First Annual Youth Track or Treat Fun Run on Sunday, Oct. 21 at Marietta High School. Proceeds benefit the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Sheltering Hands Domestic Violence Shelter, the only shelter in Cobb County. Races are open to children ages 4 to 14 and adults. Other activities include t-shirt decorating, face painting and inflatables. The race starts at 2:30 p.m., with race day check-in and registration beginning at 1:45 p.m.. Trick or Treating fun will follow the race. Costumes are encouraged, but optional. Entry fees for the Youth Track or Treat are $15 per person (Race Day $20). Register at www.youthtrackortreat.com by 6 p.m. Oct. 17. More info: visit www.youthtrackortreat.com or 770-427-2902.

Nancy Badertscher

Spooktacular 5K race

Vision Rehabilitation Services of Georgia will host its signature fundraising event, Spooktacular Chase, a 5K race at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 20 at Cobb Park (across from Campbell High School) 2776 Sanford Rd., Smyrna. Information and registration:www.spooktacularchase.com.

Sandra Marshall Murray

GWINNETT

Snellville police offer reward in gun theft

The Snellville Police Department is offering a $350 gift card to Best Buy or a Playstation 3 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) that burglarized and took 12 guns from a residence in the Hawthorn Glen subdivision.

Call 770-985-3555 or Sgt. Trey Downs at 770-985-7216 with information.

Police want to locate the weapons and get them off the streets. Arlinda Smith Broady

Cops seek public’s help in Hertz worker killing

Gwinnett County police are asking the public to help solve the slaying of a Hertz Rent-a-Car employee who was found fatally wounded behind the rental car office next to the Gwinnett Transit Center.

Monique Marlowe, 24, of Duluth was cleaning a car between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Friday when a young man wearing a light blue shirt approached her, police said. The man shot the victim once and fled the area.

Anyone at the location at the time of the incident who may have seen anything unusual or suspicious was asked to contact police by calling 911 or 770-513-5333. David Ibata

Group targets county’s Asian voters

The Asian American Legal Advocacy Center this week unveiled a billboard urging immigrants in the county to vote.

The organization’s first “Vote For Our Future” billboard is on I-85 between Beaver Ruin Road and Steve Reynolds Boulevard. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Gwinnett County has more than 86,000 Asian Americans – about 11 percent of the county’s population.

Executive Director Helen Ho said AALAC “wants to remind our community members to take greater ownership of where they live by exercising their right to vote.” David Wickert

Highway maintenance in Gwinnett this week

The Georgia Department of Transportation will be repairing damaged guardrails on Ga. 8 and Ga. 20 and repairing shoulder lanes on Ga. 20.

The department also will be mowing along I-985, Ga. 13, Ga. 316 and Ga. 20. There may be shoulder or lane closures. David Wickert

Motorcyclist killed, others hurt in wreck

A motorcyclist was killed and persons in four other vehicles were injured in a crash before 6 p.m. Monday on Beaver Ruin Road at the I-85 overpass.

Several people were transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The name of the man killed in the wreck was not available. Alexis Stevens

Buford business meeting set for Oct. 9

The Buford Business Alliance holds its monthly business-after-hours 5:30 - 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at Poste Haste, 4544 Atwater Court, Suite 105.

At these gatherings, the group plans events and provides a forum for ideas to promote and improve Historic Buford. Any local resident or business can attend the meetings.

Information: Gayle Mack, vicepresident@visitbuford.com.

Arlinda Smith Broady

NORTHSIDE

Perimeter CID’s to focus on Ga. 400/I-285

The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, self-taxing business districts that raise seed money for transportation improvements in the northern Perimeter area, have voted to focus on the interchange at Ga. 400 and I-285.

The CIDs would decide on specific contributions toward the $450 million project later, in negotiations with the state, its leaders said. After the T-SPLOST referendum failed, Gov. Nathan deal announced that with limited funding, that interchange was his priority. Ariel Hart

Forsyth budget hearing Oct. 4

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing 5 p.m. Oct. to present the proposed 2013 operating budget for Forsyth County government.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Suite 220, in the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St, Cumming.

The proposed 2013 budget is available for public review 8:30 - 5 p.m. weekdays in the office of the Board of Commissioners, Suite 210, in the Forsyth County Administration Building.

The public can also review the budget online at www.forsythco.com.

Arlinda Smith Broady

Sandy Springs road repairs on Thursday

The public is advised that the City of Sandy Springs has scheduled road maintenance for 9 a.m. Thursday to repair the asphalt in the intersection of Lake Forest and Hammond Drive.

Weather permitting, the repairs should be completed the same day.

Northbound traffic on Lake Forest Drive at Cliftwood Drive will be detoured to Cliftwood Drive, to Sandy Springs Circle then back to Hammond Drive.

Only the Northbound traffic on Lake Forest Drive will be affected during the work. Veronica Fields Johnson

GDOT mowing in Forsyth through Friday

The Georgia Department of Transportation will be mowing on State Route 9 and State Route 369 in Forsyth County7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Friday, weather permitting.

Motorists should reduce their speed in these and all work zones.

Arlinda Smith Broady

Woodstock Friday Night Live event set

The Woodstock Downtown Development Authority invites the public to spend the first Friday of each month in downtown Woodstock and take in the restaurants and stores.

Merchants will stay open until 9 p.m. and will have themed activities for each night, with the “Oktoberfest” theme on Oct. 5. Information: 770-924-0406. Kenneth Musisi

Shore cleanup set for Lake Lanier

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful and the Lake Lanier Association are teaming up for the 24th annual Lake Lanier Shore Sweep. The event from 8 a.m.-1p.m. Saturday September 29 will be held at the Bald Ridge, Habersham and Port Royale marinas. Volunteers will be given trash bags and a shoreline trash pickup assignment. Info: www.lakelanier.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Arrest made in 2010 shooting death

Brandon Lamar Philpot was arrested Monday and charged with felony murder in the Sept. 28, 2010 death of Aaron Holloway, 33, of Mableton. Two gunmen invaded a home near Turner Field. One of the people in the home, which doubled as a recording studio, got into a struggle with a gunman and several shots were fired, according to police. Two men were shot and survived, and a woman sustained broken bones as she escaped through a window. Holloway, a music engineer, was killed. Alexis Stevens

Group vows to fight charter amendment

A coalition of private citizens, parents, teachers and students Tuesday formed Georgians for Education Excellence, a group that will work to defeat the November constitutional amendment on charter schools. State Sen. Emanuel Jones, chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is a member of the coalition. Nancy Badertscher

Choi helps found Korean bar association

Atlanta lawyer Han Choi, a partner for the firm Ballard Spahr, has helped launch the Korean Bar Association of Georgia as a founding member.

The legal group will inform and work with the Korean-American community and the community at large and will provide mentors for the state’s Korean-American lawyers and law students. Choi, a public finance attorney, is a past president of the Georgia Asian Pacific Bar Association. Bill Rankin

Uncle guilty in stealing nephew’s identity

Federal prosecutors in Atlanta recently obtained an indictment against a man accused of stealing his nephew’s identity to receive at least $50,000 federal benefits.

Larry Senior, 57, assumed the identity of his nephew and obtained a Social Security card, a driver’s license, credit cards and health insurance cards, U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said in a statement. Senior also applied for and received $23,000 in Social Security benefits and $27,000 in Medicare benefits to which he was not entitled, she said. Bill Rankin

DEKALB

Superintendent updates legal fees

The DeKalb County school system spent more than $3 million on legal fees last school year and is expected to spend twice that amount this year, according to a DeKalb County grand jury report.

The information was attributed to Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson, who has met with successive grand juries as part of an agreement with District Attorney Robert James.

The report for July-August session, like prior grand juries, calls for the empaneling of a special grand jury to investigate school system finances, including legal fees.

Atkinson reportedly told the panel that the projected legal costs for this year will exceed the budgeted amount. Ty Tagami

Operation Pill Drop in Dunwoody

The Dunwoody Police Department is teaming with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to conduct a Prescription Drug Take Back event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday the police department, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 100.

The public can dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications to keep them out of the wrong hands.

Authorities cannot accept needles, syringes, thermometers, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, personal care products, inhalers and medical equipment. Andria Simmons

Soapbox derby on for Decatur

The second annual Madison Avenue Soapbox Derby is set for noon Saturday. It’s too late to register — the event is full — but the public can watch children racing down Madison Avenue in Oakhurst on the west side of the city. It was established by neighbors who wanted to raise money for Gigi’s Playhouse, a Down syndrome awareness center. Last year with 60 entrants, organizers collected $4,500. Information: madisonavesoapboxderby.org and Facebook. Ty Tagami

Decatur schools see increase on SAT

Decatur High School seniors scored above state and national averages on the SAT.

The average composite of mathematics, critical reading and writing scores increased by 52 points from 1518 to 1570, according to the city school system, while the state average increased from 1445 to 1452 and the national average dropped from 1500 to 1498.

Decatur officials said they did best in critical reading, with a 539 average — well below a perfect 800 but 51 points above the state average and 43 points above the nation. The system said it also had a relatively high proportion — 93 percent — of students taking the test. Ty Tagami

Literacy 5k Run/Walk this Saturday

The Literacy Alliance of Metro Atlanta is sponsoring the 5k Run/Walk for Literacy at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Decatur Square, 101 East Court Square, Decatur.

On-line registration is available through Friday at $20 for individuals and $60 for groups.

Event day registration is $25 for individuals and $70 for groups.

Proceeds support literacy programs and initiatives throughout metro Atlanta.

Registration: http://www.active.com/running/decatur-ga/literacy-alliance-of-metro-atlanta-5k-run—walk-for-literacy-2012. Veronica Fields Johnson

SOUTHSIDE

Fulton jobs oversight board holds retreat

The oversight board for Fulton County’s use of federal job training funds will meet for its annual retreat 10 a.m.Thursday at the Camp Truitt Neighborhood Senior Center, 4320 Hershel Road, College Park. The board, officially titled the Workforce Preparation and Employment System-Workforce Investment Act Board, oversees the creation of programs that help put the unemployed back to work, giving job seekers career training, skill upgrades and training in new fields. Services are offered through a statewide network of One-Stop centers. Johnny Edwards

Henry seeking those in contact with rabid cats

Henry County authorities are looking for anybody who adopted orange and white kittens on Aug. 25 from two women in the parking lot of a Walmart in McDonough. The kittens are believed to be rabid.

Another person who took a kitten was scratched by the kitten who turned out to be rabid.

Rabies is a deadly virus if gone untreated.

Anyone with knowledge of the kittens is asked to call the Henry County Animal Care and Control at 770-288-7387 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Fran Jeffries

Suspect surrenders in Clayton shooting death

Divonte Lester, accused of shooting to death Quinn Keevon Heckstall turned himself in at Clayton County police headquarters. Lester would not say what happened the night of the shooting except that there was no argument. He was being held without bond in Clayton County Jail.

Lester faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct and tampering with evidence.

The 20-year-old nephew of state Rep. Joe Heckstall (D-East Point), was shot around 7:30 p.m. Saturday while visiting a friend at an apartment complex on Wagon Wheel Court near Jonesboro, police said.

The victim was transported to Southern Regional Hospital, but he did not survive. Alexis Stevens

Job fair at Adamsville workforce office

Fulton County’s Adamsville Workforce Development Office will hold a job fair Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The recently-opened office is located in the Adamsville Regional Health Center at 3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.

The office is one of six career centers throughout the county, providing career advice, weekly job readiness workshops, résumé assistance, skills upgrades and other services for job hunters.

Information: 404-613-6381.

Johnny Edwards

The Arc of Georgia to host Plane Pull

The Arc of Georgia’s annual Plane Pull will be Oct. 20 at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

A rope will be attached to a FedEx Airbus and teams of 25 participants will compete for a $1,000 donation to their organization by pulling the plane 12 feet.

Individuals can compete for a $40 donation. Registration deadline is Oct. 1.

The Arc of Georgia advocates for the rights of Children and adults with developmental disabilities. Information: Tarria Whitley at 678-733-8969. Kenneth Musisi