County by county news for Wednesday

Hearing Monday on Austell redistricting

The second and final public hearing on Austell’s new election ward redistricting plan will be Monday . The 7 p.m. meeting will be at City Hall, 2716 Broad St. SW. This plan may be viewed and copied in the City Clerk’s office, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Suite 137 or the Cobb Clerk of Superior Court’s office, 70 Haynes St., Marietta.

The first plan was voted down 6-0 on July 11 by the council, leaving ward lines for the Nov. 8 city elections unchanged and not reflecting 2010 Census population changes. Information: clerk@austell.org or 770-944-4326. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Police have suspect in fatal shooting

Cobb County police on Tuesday identified the victim and suspect in a fatal shooting at a Mableton apartment complex.

The victim was identified as Ricardo Reese, 41, of Atlanta. Reese was found dead Monday afternoon at the Mableton Reserve Apartments off Mableton Road, Sgt. Dana Pierce with Cobb County police said.

The suspect was identified Tuesday as Darius Dionne Oliver, 18, of Atlanta.

He was being held Tuesday without bond at the Cobb County jail on charges of murder. Alexis Stevens

Woman accused in club theft released

A woman accused of stealing more than $2,000 from a Cobb County high school booster club was released from jail Monday night after posting bond.

Stacy Danyelle Newton, 44, was arrested Monday morning and charged with felony theft by taking for allegedly depositing $2,257.02 belonging to the Sprayberry High School track and field team into her personal banking account, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the AJC. Alexis Stevens

Mableton amphitheater tickets to go on sale

Tickets go on sale Friday for the summer concert series at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton.

Performing will be Chris Cagle on May 25, Steel Magnolia on June 29, Lorrie Morgan on July 27, Marty Stuart on Aug. 11 and Little Texas and Restless Heart, both on Aug. 24.

Costs are $48, $35 and $15 with tables for six at $402. Season tickets are $204, $148.75 and $63.75 with tables for $1708.50.

They may be bought at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and the Mable House box office, 5239 Floyd Road.

Information: MHBA@cobbcounty.org or 770-819-7765. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Schools’ counseling programs take honors

Gwinnett County’s Trip Elementary and Hull Middle schools have been recognized nationally for their counseling programs. Both had been recognized as having model programs by The American School Counselor Association, based on their commitment to delivery comprehensive, data-driving counseling programs in an exemplary educational environment. The American School Counselor Association is a worldwide nonprofit organization which supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social, and career development. Nancy Badertscher

Kindergarten sign-up set for Thursday

Kindergarten registration is set for Thursday for Gwinnett County Public Schools. Parents and guardians of children who will be five years old by Sept. 1 are invited to their neighborhood schools for registration. The first day of kindergarten will be Aug. 6. Parents and guardians should call their local elementary school for registration times or visit the “2012 Countdown for Kindergarten” section on the GCPS website (www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us) for information and school phone numbers. Nancy Badertscher

Students’ art to be featured at symposium

The artwork of 54 Gwinnett County students will be featured in the All-State Art Symposium at Kennesaw State University on Saturday. These include art pieces by students from Brookwood High, Collins Hill High, Grayson High Technical Education Program, Mill Creek High, Mountain View High, Norcross High, North Gwinnett High, Parkview High, Peachtree Ridge High and Shiloh High. The symposium is held annually to cultivate art appreciation in Georgia high schools Nancy Badertscher

Berkeley Lake suggests millage rate cut

Berkeley Lake’s Mayor, Lois Salter, treasurer and administrator are recommending the City Council cut residents millage rate by 48 percent. The recommended reduction from 5.386 mils to 2.8 mils reflects FEMA’s contribution to the city’s dam repairs and new annexations that have broadened the tax base.

Berkeley Lake’s City Council will begin a review process of the proposal.

For information visit www.berkeley-lake.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Snellville gearing up for big weekend festival

The 39th Annual Snellville Days Festival kicks of this Saturdayat 9:30 a.m. with a parade on Wisteria Dr. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at T. W. Briscoe Park with over 150 food and craft booths, activities for the kids and pony rides. Details: www.snellvilledays.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Sugar Hill launches clean-up program

Sugar Hill and its garbage service, Advanced Disposal, begin “Clean Up our City Week” on May 7. Advanced will pick up items it typically doesn’t, including lawn equipment and debris, furniture and appliances that don’t contain freon. For information, visit cityofsugarhill.com. Michael Alpert for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

School celebrates student’s math success

Fulton County’s Manning Oaks Elementary is celebrating the recent success of student Nicholas Sanchez. Nicholas won third place in the Individual Math Competition at Creek View Elementary Math Olympiad last month. The competition drew 220 fourth, fifth and sixth graders from 23 schools in metro Atlanta. Ten questions were posed of each school team, as well as students in the individual competition. Nicholas went through two tie-breaker rounds to clinch the third -place spot. More info: www.manningoaks.com. Nancy Badertscher

Fulton sex ed materials available for public view

Sex education materials recommended for use in Fulton County Schools are available for public review. The materials, which cover human sexuality and HIV/AIDS, were suggested by the district’s Health Education Advisory Committee.

They can be viewed at the following locations through May 14:

- Milton Center, 86 School Dr., Alpharetta. Viewing hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

-Fulton County Schools Administrative Center, 786 Cleveland Ave. S.W., Atlanta. Viewing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information: 404-763-6795 D. Aileen Dodd

Welcome center marks tourism week

Residents and visitors are invited to stop by the Alpharetta Welcome Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 during the center’s celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week.

The center’s staff will offer refreshments and information about Alpharetta, and the services of the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. One guest will be selected to win tickets to Taste of Alpharetta, held May 10.

The Alpharetta Welcome Center is at 178 South Main St., Alpharetta. For center information: www.awesomealpharetta.com. Laurie Hoffman

School to hold cancer fundraiser

Cherokee County’s Creekview High School presents its fourth annual “Screen on the Green” cancer fundraiser Saturday from 7-11 p.m. on the school’s football field. The event will feature a screening of the film “Beastly” plus concessions, live music, and a raffle. Information: call Jenny Hopkins at 404-643-5131. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

First Friday event this week in Woodstock

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 late, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Participating merchants will have activities for each theme of the Friday Night Live series, with the “Cuatro de Mayo” theme this week. Information: 770-924-0406. Kenneth Musisi

Students mark read-aloud day

Georgia Reads Aloud Day, an annual event recognizing the impact of reading on children’s lives, was celebrated last week by Kari Kennedy’s preschool class at Fulton County’s Alpharetta Elementary School. Twenty-two volunteers read 33 books to the students. Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Grady to combine mental health offices

Grady Memorial Hospital plans to combine three behavioral health offices that provide services for the mentally ill into a larger, central location near the Five Points MARTA station starting this month.

The new facility, at 10 Park Place SE, will include mental health services, financial counseling and a pharmacy. The first patients will start being see at the new location on May 22, according to a statement from Grady.

Shuttles will be provided from the old locations – Auburn Avenue Recovery Center, 250 Auburn Avenue, and Grady’s main campus – during the transition. Misty Williams

Business group holds education forum

The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education is holding a forum Tuesday at the Georgia-Pacific Auditorium to discuss the need to remain focused on accountability in education despite the state’s waiver from “No Child Left Behind” federal rules.

State Farm CEO Ed Rust, co-chair for the national Business Coalition for Student Achievement, will lead a discussion on why the state’s education policy should remain results-oriented.

Rust will be joined by state school superintendent John Barge, Steve Smith, deputy superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, and business leaders. Wayne Washington

Georgia Justice Project has new chief

Anna Blitz has been named director of legal services at the Georgia Justice Project, overseeing the organization’s legal services in Atlanta and Macon.

Legal services include criminal defense, criminal records restriction and policy advocacy. She will also maintain a caseload of clients and supervise staff and volunteer attorneys.

Blitz has more than two decades experience as a criminal defense attorney, most recently at the Federal Defender Program.

She received her law degree from Georgia State University’s college of law. Shelia M. Poole

DEKALB

CEO vetoes board’s grab for $75,000

DeKalb County Chief Executive Burrell Ellis has vetoed a county commission vote to move $75,000 out of his office’s communications budget.

Ellis’ struck down the 6-1 vote on Monday , saying the move would decimate the $150,000 budget for three county’s staff to run the cable-access channel.

The board’s approved the transfer to its own budget on July 1. The money would pay for a public information officer job that would, among other duties, record and broadcast commission committee meetings.

The commission next meets on May 8 and may vote to override the veto at that session. April Hunt

Schools submit election laws for review

The DeKalb County School District has submitted two new Georgia election laws for review by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Act 592, which stems from House Bill 1289, shortens to two years the terms of four school board seats up for election this year. Act 593, from HB 1290, alters the outlines of seven of the nine school board members’ districts to deal with population changes.

In 2014, the General Assembly is scheduled to reduce the number of school board districts, and lawmakers decided that would be easier if all seats were vacant. Ty Tagami

Man charged in killing woman, hurting another

A domestic shooting Sunday in south DeKalb County left one woman dead, another injured and a 19-year-old man jailed on murder and aggravated assault charges.

DeKalb police Lt. Frank P. Braun said officers responding to a 4 p.m. person shot call in the 3000 block of River Road in the Ellenwood area found two women suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

The women were taken to a local hospital, where one died. The other woman was in stable condition, Braun said late Sunday.

The DeKalb Medical Examiner’s office identified the dead woman as Latonya Jones, 28, of Atlanta.

Police have not released the names of the wounded woman or the suspect. Mike Morris

Decatur sidewalk repairs begin next week

Sidewalk and curb repairs are slated for Decatur’s West Ponce de Leon Avenue beginning early next week. Approximately 400 feet of both curbing and sidewalk will be fixed in front of the First Christian Church, along with another 250 feet of curbing and 70 feet of sidewalk alongside the Hampton Court townhouse development. “The sidewalks are busted up pretty bad,” said Assistant City Manager David Junger, “and the curbing is so eroded the road becomes dangerous when it rains.” The projects should take two weeks to complete and total cost is $636,500. Bill Banks for the AJC

Federal grant to aid summer camps

The DeKalb County Commission recently agreed to use federal funds to help low- and moderate-income youth participate in summer camps.

The $92,278 in block grants will provide $300 vouchers for kids between 5 and 15 to join camps, recreation activities and educational programs run by the county or approved non-profit agencies. Information: 404-286-3308. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Award against Hustler in Benoit case thrown out

The federal appeals court in Atlanta has thrown out a $250,000 punitive damage award against Hustler for publishing nude photographs of wrestler Chris Benoit’s late wife. A jury originally awarded $19.6 million in punitive damages to the estate of Nancy Benoit, but a judge reduced that to $250,000. The court vacated that award after finding evidence Hustler mistakenly believed the photos were subject to a newsworthiness exception allowing their publication. Chris Benoit killed his wife and son at their Fayette County home before committing suicide. Bill Rankin

Peachtree City spring cleanup this weekend

Peachtree City’s Annual Spring Cleanup will be Saturday and Sunday at the Recycling Center on Rockaway Road.

Residents may drop off unwanted appliances (with Freon removed), furniture and other junk items the center doesn’t normally accept, with the exception of tires, batteries and household garbage.

The center will be open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on both days. Contact the Public Works Department at 770-487-5183 for questions about disposable items. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette outdoor burning ban begins

Fayette County’s outdoor burning ban took effect May 1 and will continue through Sept. 30. Fayette is among 54 Georgia counties that ban summer burning to reduce air pollution.

According to Fire Marshal and Commander David Scarbrough, “It is very important for all citizens in Fayette County to follow the burn ban rules and regulations for the health and safety of our citizens during these months.”

Violators are subject to citations. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

McDonough wastewater plant wins award

The City of McDonough won its sixth Gold Award, and fourth in a row, for its wastewater pollution control plant’s operation in 2011. The award is presented by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals in recognition of complete and consistent permit compliance during the calendar year. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Yard sale to benefit Humane Society

The Clayton County Humane Society hosts the Annual Spring Treasures for PAWS Yard Sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Jonesboro High School. Items for sale include furniture, books, videos, appliances, computers, golf clubs and more. Proceeds will benefit the Clayton County Humane Society. Information: www.claytoncountyhumane.org or 770-471-9436.

Kenneth Musisi

Church hosts appreciation clinic

Covenant Presbyterian Church will host a First Responders Appreciation Clinic at 11 a.m. Saturday at 819 Highway 314, Fayetteville. Members of the church are honoring the first responders serving Fayette County. Police officers, firefighters, EMS technicians, call center personnel and their families are invited. The carnival type event will feature inflatable play stations, face painting and music. Information: 770-460-9450 or Susie Brown swbrown52@gmail.com. Kenneth Musisi