County by county news for Wednesday

The car was attempting to go through an unprotected railroad crossing that was marked only with a stop sign, authorities said.

No one was hurt on the train, which was traveling to Washington, D.C., from New Orleans. Angel K. Brooks

Court rejects self-defense arguments

The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the conviction against Anthony Jabbar Shaw of the 2009 murder of Baron Harbin of Smyrna.

The court rejected Shaw’s argument that he should be granted a new trial because a Cobb County judge failed to instruct the jury that one acting in self defense has no duty to retreat. According to the court’s opinion, Harbin confronted Shaw at his apartment and left, but Shaw got a kitchen knife and followed Harbin outside and fatally stabbed him in a scuffle.

Bill Rankin

Man sells bomb to undercover officer

Mark Young, 46, of Cobb County, was sentenced to five years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for selling a homemade bomb to an undercover officer, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in an emailed press release. Young pleaded guilty and was convicted in February.

Young sold the device to the undercover officer and ATF chemists determined it was an explosive, Yates said.

In April 2012, Young and the officer arranged to meet again to sell another explosive. Young sold the device to the officer for $750 and was arrested, Yates said. The device was determined to be an Improvised Explosive Device. Alexis Stevens

Barbecue festival this weekend

The 4th Annual North Cobb Rotary Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival kicks off at 8 p.m. Friday at Cauble Park with a free concert featuring Sons of Sailors, a Jimmy Buffett cover band.

The festival will feature a cooking contest with more than 30 teams competing, a tasting event, and a kid’s activity zone. Proceeds go to the charities of the North Cobb Rotary Club. Admission is free and free parking and shuttles will be available. The festival runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday5/10 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday5/11. Cauble Park is located at 4425 Beach St. in downtown Acworth.

Information, 770-423-1330, or www.smokeonthelake.org.

Mea Watkins

Beautification event Saturday

The Keep Powder Springs Beautiful Committee will host a day of cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, starting at Powder Springs City Hall, 4484 Marietta St. to pick up garbage along Brownsville Road and U.S. 278.

Safety vests, water and snacks will be provided by the city. Rain date will be May 18.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/?nid=152 or City Hall, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Gwinnett Village CID expands

Gwinnett County commissioners Tuesday approved the addition of 30 parcels to the existing 14-square-mile Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District, which will add about $45,000 per year in revenue for the organization that helps fund infrastructure improvements and provide security for businesses in the Interstate 85 corridor in the southwest portion of the county.

The district, the largest in the state, formed in 2006 and represents more than 550 commercial owners, accounting for over $1 billion in commercial property value. The district’s annual budget is about $9 million. Dan Klepal

$2M in meth seized from local home

Federal Homeland Security agents and Gwinnett County Sheriff’s deputies seized more than $2 million in methamphetamine at a house on James Road near Lawrenceville on May 1.

Overall, about 131.2 pounds of the highly addictive drug was found at the house, with a street value of $2.1 million, authorities said. Marcus K. Garner

Ga. 20 widening approved Tuesday

Gwinnett Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $31.8 million agreement with C.W. Matthews Contracting Company for widening 3.7 miles of Ga. 20, from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to the Chattahoochee River on the western edge of the county.

The important thoroughfare, which serves about 30,000 cars every weekday, will expand to four lanes in each direction from the current two. The project, which had been estimated to cost $33.7 million, is being funded by the state.

The improvements also include a 44-foot grass median, 16-foot shoulders, curbs and gutters on the outside pavement edges, and five-foot concrete sidewalks on both sides of the roadway. The state previously spent about $30 million for rights of way for the road expansion.

The county will be responsible for the cost of inspection of the construction and materials, which is expected to run about $2.5 million. Dan Klepal

Gwinnett County to hire new manager

Gwinnett County Commissioners are expected to approve a contract for a new manager of the county’s Support Services Department, which oversees upkeep of county buildings and vehicles while also managing construction of most new county buildings.

Angelia Parham will be paid $132,000 a year to manage the department with 114 employees. She also will receive a $320 monthly vehicle allowance.

Dan Klepal

Suwanee invites dog owners to Woofstock

Suwanee and Star 94 will host its annual Woofstock event from 12-7 p.m. Saturday, May 11, in Suwanee’s Town Center Park. The event will include dog exhibitions, pet contests, live music, inflatables for children, food and beverage vendors, as well as pet adoption and rescue groups.

Departure, a Journey tribute band, Gareth Asher, and the Dave Matthews Tribute Band will provide music. Admission is free.

Dogs, cats, birds, and ferrets are welcome. All animals must be on a leash. www.suwanee.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Bomb threats close area courthouses

The Cherokee County Justice Center and the Historic Courthouse were evacuated after receiving a bomb threat around 11:20 a.m. The courthouse was evacuated, and North and West Main streets were closed downtown.

A threat was also called about a bomb at the Cobb County Courthouse. Both were searched by deputies and K-9s. No device was located, officials from both jurisdictions said.

Marcus K. Garner and Fran Jeffries

Holly Springs to consider chickens

The Holly Springs City Council will take up the issue of whether to allow laying hens-not roosters-in residential back yards, after a group of supporters of the idea squawked about it Monday night. Current zoning law bans livestock-including chickens-from residential areas.

City Manager Rob Logan says the Council will probably consider an ordinance modification in June. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth school district conducting survey

Forsyth County Schools officials are asking stakeholders to take an online survey on instructional facilities and financing needs over the next five years.

The survey covers such topics as possible classroom construction to reduce trailer use and expanding capacity at elementary, middle and high schools.

Deadline to participate is Monday. Information: forsyth.k12.ga.us Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Taste of Alpharetta coming Thursday

The Taste of Alpharetta takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday in downtown Alpharetta, 2 South Main St. The event will feature gourmet food options, live music, food competitions, culinary demonstrations and shopping with local merchants. Admission is free and food tickets are 50 cents each. Participating restaurants will charge $1 to $3 per food sample.

Information: www.awesomealpharetta.com. Mea Watkins

Holly Springs seeks park name suggestions

The city of Holly Springs is asking for citizen input on the naming of a planned 33-acre park. The City Council decided Monday night to accept citizen input until July 31. The so-called passive park on Hickory Road is tentatively set for an early summer, 2014 completion. To make suggestions: jstanley@hollyspringsga.us or 770-345-5536.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

County seeks youth commissioners

Fulton County is seeking youth commissioners to help develop policies and legislation to address the concerns of young people.

A student must be a Fulton resident, attend a school within the county, be in ninth through 11th grade during the 2013-14 school year and submit a completed application and two-page essay.

Deadline is 5 p.m. May 17.

Information: 404-612-7386 or Reginald.crossley@fultoncountyga.gov. David Wickert

ATLANTA

Man shot and killed during robbery

Atlanta police Tuesday were investigating an early morning shooting that left a man dead.

A man was shot and killed around 1 a.m. Tuesday during an apparent robbery in the 2400 block of Lowe Street in a neighborhood off Hollywood Road. The victim, whose name hasn’t been released, returned home when several suspects forced inside the house and shot him five or six times. He died at Grady Memorial Hospital. Mike Morris

Child accused of bike hit-and-run

A just before 8 a.m. police received a report that a child on a bicycle ran into a car on Ponce de Leon at North Highland Avenue. By the time officers arrived the child’s mother came and took him away.

Police didn’t know the age of the child or whether the child was injured. Mike Morris

Georgia Southern coaches come to metro

The Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation’s Eagle Funds Coaches Tour will stop in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. Friday at STATS-The Adidas Room, 300 Marietta St. N.W. Eagles fans will receive updates on all the happenings in the university’s athletics programs and a chance to meet and hear from athletic coaches.

Tickets are $25 and include parking, two drink tickets and food. Information: Sally Scott, 912-478-5520 or swscott@georgiasouthern.edu. Veronica Fields Johnson

High court suspends lawyer for one year

The Georgia Supreme Court has suspended Atlanta attorney Eric C. Lang from practicing law for one year.

Lang had defended a doctor in a case where the doctor had to pay a $100,000 settlement by November 2011.

The doctor paid in full by August 2011 but Lang, whose firm was having financial trouble, dipped into his trust account to use his client’s funds to pay other bills and then covered it up until he finally admitted he had misappropriated the money. Lang expressed remorse and has paid back the money in full, the ruling said. Bill Rankin

DEKALB

School board to hold budget hearings

Superintendent Michael Thurmond’s proposed budget contains $18.5 million in cuts to legal fees and the central office. The savings would go toward eliminating a furlough day at a cost of $3 million so teachers and others will have another day for training.

Thurmond is also recommending $4 million for textbook purchases, $1.1 million for a new student assessment system and $1 million to plan for a new “career pathways” academy. He is proposing other new expenditures in his $759 million budget that also sets aside nearly $13 million in savings. The board will hold a hearings at 6 p.m. today and 3 p.m. May 15 at 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain.

A final vote on the budget will come in June.

Read Thurmond’s budget at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us. Ty Tagami

Diabetes seminar at MJCCA

Speaker Lisa Graham, a certified diabetes educator, will answer questions about diabetes 10 – 11 a.m. Monday at MJCCA at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. The event is free and open to the community. Information: sandra.bass@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-3798. Veronica Fields Johnson

Brookhaven Beer Fest set for June 8

The third annual Brookhaven Beer Fest will be 3 to 8 p.m. June 8 at Apple Valley Road behind the Brookhaven Marta Station, 4047 Peachtree Rd., N.E. The festival will feature more than 150 beers from around the world, live music, and food vendors. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Atlanta Fundraising Foundation. Admission price of $35 includes a commemorative driving glass and unlimited beer tastings.

Information abd tickets: www.brookhavenbeerfestival.com Mea Watkins

PAWS Atlanta offering low-cost pet clinics

PAWS Atlanta, a DeKalb County animal welfare group, is offering weekly low-cost pet health clinics.

The group, formerly known as the DeKalb Humane Society, can provide spay-neuter services as well as vaccinations and pet dental cleanings.

PAWS Atlanta also runs a no-kill shelter of adoptable pets.

Information and to view available animals: www.pawsatlanta.org. April Hunt

Horizon production will benefit libraries

The Horizon Theatre production of “The Book Play,” a comic look at friends in a book club, will benefit DeKalb County’s 22 libraries for one night’s showing May 15. Proceeds will go to the DeKalb Library Foundation, which helps buy books and materials for county libraries.

Tickets are $30 online at www.dekalblibrary.org and www.afpls.org. They also are available at the Horizon box office, 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta.

Information: 404-584-7450.

April Hunt

Summer program offered at Art Institute

The Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur will offer a four-day summer program aimed to help high school juniors build new skills in the fields of design, culinary, media arts or fashion June 10-14. Registration deadline: May 31. Information: www. summerstudio.com/decatur, or contact Mavia Fleury, 404.942.1807, mfleury@aii.edu.

Mea Watkins

SOUTHSIDE

Morrow attorney disbarred for perjury

The Georgia Supreme Court has disbarred Morrow attorney Lynn Swank from practicing law because of a felony conviction.

Swank pleaded guilty March 28 to perjury in Fulton County Superior Court, the high court noted.

In 2010, Swank was arrested on charges she forged a Fulton judge’s signature on several court orders.

Those orders, required before a child can be placed for adoption, were presented by Swank on behalf of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the GBI said. Bill Rankin

Clayton honored for community health

The Clayton County Archway Partnership has received Georgia Public Health Association’s highest award for health-related community service.

Archway received The Al Dohany Award for helping designate Clayton as a federal Health Professional Shortage Area and for setting up the Lovejoy Medical Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center last September.

The Dohany award is given every year to an individual or group that has made contributions to communities through collaboration with the community and its leaders.

Tammy Joyner

Budget focus of Fayette meetings

Fayette County Board of Commissioners will hold two meetings this month to discuss the fiscal 2014 budget. They will meet 6 p.m. Monday and 5 p.m. May 23 in the Board of Commissioners Conference Room, 140 Stonewall Ave.West, Suite 100, Fayetteville.

The public is urged to attend.

Tammy Joyner

Humane Society needs foster families

The Fayette County Humane Society is seeking foster families to care for the many kittens and puppies needing temporary homes pending adoption. The FCHS will provide food, supplies and medical care.

Volunteers are also needed to help with adoption events in Peachtree City.

Information: 770-487-1073 or email info@fayettehumane.org.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Free stroke assessments in May

In observance of National Stroke Awareness Month, Piedmont Henry Hospital will provide free blood pressure screenings and stroke risk assessments from 1-5 p.m. Thursday and May 23 at the Walmart on Hudson Bridge Road in Stockbridge.

Information: 678-604-1040 or piedmonthenry.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Family Services board position open

Fayette County has a volunteer vacancy on its Board of Family and Children’s Services.

Members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners to five-year terms, and help disadvantaged individuals and families progress toward independence.

Applications, available from Floyd Jones at fjones@fayettecountyga.gov or 770-305-5102, are due May 17.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC