County by county news for Wednesday

At trial, DNA evidence tied Donovan Shane Leger to the murder scene and prosecutors noted that, after the slaying, Leger had gotten a tattoo on his chest that said “God Forgive Me.”

The body of his estranged wife, 36-year-old Tracy Leger, was found outside the Acworth home she shared with her brother in September 2004.

Bill Rankin

Bicyclist killed in accident

Ronnie Turner, 54, of Austell was struck and killed by a car Sunday as he was bicycling eastbound on Humphries Hill Road across C.H. James Parkway and swerved into the path of a gray Dodge Challenger.

The driver of the Dodge, Adam Yarbough, 20, of Powder Springs, was not injured and is not expected to be charged.

Andria Simmons

Court disbars Marietta lawyer

The Georgia Supreme Court recently disbarred Marietta lawyer Wendel Lawrence Bowie from the practice of law, noting an investigative panel found his conduct had been egregious.

Bowie committed a number of violations, the court said. They included his receipt of $300,000 as closing attorney in a home mortgage refinancing and his failure to disburse the funds to the original mortgage holder and, later, failure to account for the funds.

In another matter, he obtained $4,462 in settlement funds on behalf of a client and failed to turn over the funds or account for them, the court said. Bill Rankin

Man thrown from Jeep dies from injuries

The man that died after being ejected from his Jeep in a crash on I-75 has been identified as Delaney Floyd, 34, of Kennesaw.

He was driving a Jeep Wrangler that collided with a Dodge pickup truck and overturned just after noon Monday on I-75 at South Marietta Parkway, according to Marietta police. Both vehicles were northbound on I-75 at the time of the crash.

Floyd was thrown from his vehicle and taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, where he later died.

The truck’s driver was not injured.

Alexis Stevens

Cobb Transition Academy

The reception for the “Smile” exhibition is set for Thursday at The Art Station - Big Shanty, 2050 Kennesaw Due West Road, Kennesaw. Reception hours: 6 to 6:45 p.m. Kennesaw Mountain and Osborne Transition Academies; and 7 to 8 p.m. Hillgrove and Pope Transition Academies.

Cobb County Transition Academy students are displaying art work of what makes them smile.

Work is displayed through Oct. 31. Kenneth Musisi

Town hall meeting scheduled for Thursday

District One Commissioner Helen Goreham will host an informative town hall meeting for her constituents 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday at Cobb Senior Services Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs St., Marietta.

Information: 770-528-3313 or cobbcounty.org/goreham. Staff

GWINNETT

Parolee’s murder conviction upheld

The Georgia Supreme Court recently upheld the murder conviction of a parolee who shot and killed a Lawrenceville man as he was putting his 2-year-old daughter to bed.

Devin Anthony Grell was sentenced to life plus 25 years in prison for the July 11, 2008, fatal shooting of 20-year-old Donny Edouard and the shooting of Brianna Morgan, who survived the attack.

Five months before the shootings, Grell had been paroled from a sentence he was serving for stabbing a Dacula High School classmate in 2003. Bill Rankin

Property tax dates change

Gwinnett property tax bills have a single due date of Monday, instead of the previous years’ two. Owners may pay on-line, by mail, at tax commissioner office drop boxes or in person at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

Owners are responsible for making their escrow company aware of the change. Information: www.GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com, 770-822-8800.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Congressional candidates forum set

Candidates from Georgia’s 4th and 7th Congressional Districts will speak from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Gwinnett Technical College, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 700, Lawrenceville.

In the 4th District race, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican challenger Chris Vaughn will speak. In the 7th District, U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, the Republican incumbent, and Democratic challenger Steve Reilly also will attend.

The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Gwinnett, OCA-Georgia and the United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County.David Wickert

Library to test book vending machine

When the Five Forks library reopens after renovations, readers will be able to check out books from a 24-hour-a-day vending machine. The new technology is one of several money-saving ideas the library is exploring in response to shrinking tax funds. Since 93 percent of check-outs are self-check outs, the board hopes the program will help meet the needs of residents.Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn grant to measure sign safety

Lilburn has received a $6,000 grant from the Georgia Municipal Association to improve traffic safety and has used the funds to purchase a sign reflectometer, which measures the level of reflection on street signs.

A sign’s reflection wanes over time, and the sign must be replaced when it no longer meets established safety standards. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Over 200 vendors

at Lilburn Daze

The city of Lilburn hosts the Lilburn Daze 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday at Lilburn City Park, behind the Calvin Fitchett Municipal Complex featuring more than 200 booths.

Proceeds go to fund projects and community improvement activities.

Admission, parking and shuttle service are free. Arlinda Smith Broady

NORTHSIDE

County to upgrade waste water facility

Fulton County’s Water Resources Department will hold a public meeting Wednesday, in the Settindown Creek subdivision, about its planned improvements and upgrades to the Little River Waste Water Treatment Facility.

The facility is on Cox Road in Woodstock.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Settindown Creek Clubhouse, 5500 Settindown Drive, Roswell.

Johnny Edwards

Hospital breaks ground for Woodstock facility

Northside Hospital-Cherokee’s expansion into Woodstock is underway. Hospital officials broke ground Thursday on a 4-story, 100-thousand-square-foot medical office building at I-575 and Towne Lake Parkway.

Officials say the site will offer a outpatient services and physician practices. It could open by August 2013.Mark Woolsey

Road improvements begin in Johns Creek

Johns Creek has begun a year-long effort to improve traffic and pedestrian flow on heavily traveled Jones Bridge Road. The series of projects includes additional traffic lanes, turn lanes and sidewalks, as well as repaving and drainage enhancements. Turn lanes at Jones Bridge’s intersections at Morton Buice and Waters Roads will be constructed simultaneously, with lane closures scheduled for mostly off-peak hours.

MICHAEL ALPERT FOR THE AJC

Recycle electronics Oct. 13 in Cherokee

Cherokee County hosts an electronics recycling day 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday at the Cherokee County Administrative Building, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. There will be a $10 fee for old TVs. Questions about items being accepted: 770-426-1700 or mhicks at cherokeega dot com. Arlinda Smith Broady

Charity golf tournament set

Former Atlanta Braves Coach Bobby Cox chairs the 5th Annual Daniel Hager Memorial Celebrity Golf Tournament set for Tuesday at St. Ives Country Club. Many sports celebrities support the event which benefits students from Forsyth, North Fulton and East Cherokee County high schools. Proceeds have paid for 20 scholarships for students to attend Georgia Tech. Hager, a graduate of Walton High School in Marietta and Georgia Tech, was killed in a wreck in 2005.

Information:www.silentstormgolf.com. The country club is at One St. Ives Country Club Drive, Johns Creek. Nancy Badertscher

Nominations open for Achievement award

The YWCA of Northwest Georgia is accepting nominations for its Women of Achievement recognition now through Nov. 20. Women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in their professional and community endeavors and live and/or work in Cherokee, Cobb or Paulding counties are eligible. The YWCA will recognize 16 women of achievement on March 15 at Cobb Galleria Centre.Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.ywcanwga.com.

Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Woman found dead in Atlanta home

Investigators believe the overnight death of Rasheda Cauthen, 36, inside a home in the 1400 block of Andrews Street was a homicide.

Police were called after 1 a.m. Tuesday reporting a death from natural causes. Detectives found that the woman had bruises on her body. A man who lived with Cauthen is being interviewed. Mike Morris

Committee approves street name change

With the North American headquarters for Porsche moving to Atlanta, the city Utilities Committee has authorized the renaming of Henry Ford, II Avenue/South Central Avenue to Porsche Avenue.

The committee decided again naming it after founder Ferdinand Porsche, an Austrian-German automotive engineer, who reportedly had close ties to the Nazi Party.

The committee has required that Porsche reach out the Anti-Defamation League and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The full council will vote on the change next week. Ernie Suggs

Low-cost health screenings offered

Atlanta residents can get health screenings, for free or at discounted costs, through the Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration program 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Simpson Street Church of Christ, 800 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. Medicare, Medicaid and some other medical insurance is accepted. Flu shots cost $25. Information: 404-613-6000.

Johnny Edwards

Former public defender disbarred

A former city of Atlanta public defender has been disbarred from practicing law for deceitful and unprofessional conduct, the Georgia Supreme Court said.

The court noted that Lisa M. Cummings falsified $2,754 worth of invoices when she worked for the defender’s office. After being terminated from that job, Cummings took money from a client to file a lawsuit, but never filed the suit, and didn’t return funds or documants. Bill Rankin

DEKALB

School will pay more to defend Lewis

Former DeKalb County schools superintendent Crawford Lewis will get more legal protection from taxpayers.

With no discussion Monday, the school board voted 5-3 to waive a $100,000 cap on Lewis’ expenses in connection with a lawsuit brought by former contractor Heery/Mitchell. The joint venture was in charge of all school construction, and sued after it was fired by Lewis and the school board.

DeKalb did not reveal how much payments to law firm Goodman, McGuffey, Lindsey & Johnson will exceed the cap, though future fees must be approved monthly. Ty Tagami

Church to host voter education forum

The Saint Philip Lay Organization and the Women’s Missionary Society are hosting an interactive voter education forum featuring the candidates, the issues, the amendments, the platforms, and a voting machine demonstration 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at 240 Candler Road SE, Atlanta.

Information: Beatrice Williams at 770-987-8891 or 404-368-7461. Kenneth Musisi

Stone Mountain group to hold meeting

Pride Rings in Stone Mountain will hold a monthly meeting 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Timothy UMC, 5365 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain. Solicitor Sherry Boston and Major Brian Harris will attend.

PRISM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the wellbeing of Stone Mountain residents. Kenneth Musisi

Stone Mountain 5K race returns

Stone Mountain is teaming up with Stone Mountain Elementary, Champion Theme Middle and Stone Mountain High schools to host a joint 5K 8 a.m. Saturday.

The Granite Grasshopper 5K and Fun Run will begin in historic Stone Mountain Village and loop into Stone Mountain Park. Proceeds benefit the schools.

Registration, which is $25: www.stonemountainvillage.com. April Hunt

County’s ‘jobs bus’ to hit the road

DeKalb County’s “jobs bus” – an RV outfitted with computers, private interview area and office gear for job seekers – will be stationed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Villages of East Lake, 460 East Lake Blvd. Atlanta.

Next week, it will be parked 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at the state Department of Human Services, 2910 Miller Road; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, at the library branch at 2861 Wesley Chapel Road.

Information: 404-687-3400 or www.dekalbworkforce.org. April Hunt

County recovers $142k from towing firm

A tow truck operator that contracted with DeKalb County has repaid about $142,000 the firm allegedly owed to the county from impounded car auctions.

DeKalb’s solicitor, Sherry Boston, last spring reported that Cymill Motors on Covington Highway near Stone Mountain sold 336 vehicles at public auctions, without paying the county the profits.

In August, Boston arrested owners Cynthia Jarrett-Thorpe and Millern Prince Jarrett-Thorpe. The pair agreed to restitution in the case and recently paid the tab in full. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Fulton opens new Southside fire station

Fulton County’s Fire Rescue Department will have a grand opening ceremony Wednesday for its new Fire Station 11, at 4760 Fulton Industrial Blvd., in south Fulton. The event, from 10 a.m. to noon, will include a ribbon cutting and tours of the new station.

The $2.6 million facility was built on the same site as the old station 11. It was financed through low-interest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act bonds, which will be repaid through south Fulton’s special services tax. Johnny Edwards