COBB
Kennesaw to use seized funds to renovate jail
The Kennesaw City Council has approved spending up to $800,000 to renovate the 25-year-old city jail.
Funding will come from the federal asset forfeiture program that allows the city to seize assets and personal property related to crimal activity.
The project will update the jail’s security and interior space and improve the parking lot. The work is expected to be finished before the end of the year. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Marietta to seek input at council meeting
Marietta's City Council will ask the public for ideas on a redevelopment plan near Southern Polytechnic State and Life Universities at a meeting starting 7 p.m. today at Marietta City Hall, 205 Lawrence St. The city is finishing an eight-month study to increase public and private investement along Cobb Parkway and South Marietta Parkway and to connect the schools to the community. Information: www.mariettaga.gov.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Powder Springs man wins $350k in lottery
Powder Springs resident Garry Fain landed $350,000 playing a new Georgia Lottery instant game, Elegant Riches.
Fain, 61, a retired service technician, redeemed a free ticket at Jalaram Food Shop LLC, 4551 Brownsville Road in Powder Springs, for the Elegant Riches instant ticket. Nancy Badertscher
East Cobb Park holds anniversary event
Friends for the East Cobb Park will celebrate the park’s 10th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 13 at the park, 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta.
Food, refreshments, bounce houses, guest speakers, a disc jockey and entertainment will be on site. The park’s founders and the East Cobb Civitan Club will be honored.
Information: eastcobbpark.org Jaime Sarrio
Complete summer reading to win prizes
Children who want to participate in Cobb County Public Library’s summer reading program can now pick up a reading folder at any branch.
They need to record what they read, bring it back by July 31 and claim a certificate.
The library has partnered with Stevi B's to offer free pizza to the first 5,000 children who bring their folder back to the library. Each child who completes the program will be entered to win an iPad. Information: www.cobbcat.org/srp/. Jaime Sarrio
Powder Springs ward lines ready for comment
Powder Springs residents may review, copy and submit comments about the city’s submission to the U.S. Justice Department of its proposed line changes for three City Council wards.
Through Georgia House Bill 633, the plan seeks to equalize population numbers among the city’s wards based upon the 2010 U.S. Census in advance of the Nov. 5 elections.
The plan is available in the office of city clerk Dawn Davis, Powder Springs City Hall, 4484 Marietta St.
Information: City Hall, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
GWINNETT
Suwanee budget keeps same millage rate
Suwanee’s City Council adopted a FY 2014 budget that proposed to maintain the city’s current 4.93 millage rate. The $12,162,550 budget, 1.3 percent bigger than this year’s, includes cost of a new police detective, as well as two mowers and a replacement vehicle for public works and police.
The Council also approved the city’s five-year, $18,731,122 capital improvements plan that funds 30 long-term projects, including enhancements to the Buford Highway corridor, street resurfacing and pedestrian and bicycle upgrades. Information: 770-945-8996. Michael Alpert for the AJC
Peachtree Corners State of the City set
The Peachtree Corners Business Association will host Peachtree Corners Mayor, Mike Mason, as he reviews the city's first year and shares insights about the future 7:30 a.m. Monday, July 15 at Atlanta Marriott Norcross. Advance registration required: www.peachtreecornersba.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Peachtree Corners taking proposals
The Peachtree Corners Downtown Development Authority has extended the deadline for requests for proposals to 11 a.m. Aug. 1 for a developer to purchase and develop a mixed-use project on a 20-acre site across from the Forum shopping center.
The city hopes to develop the land as a city-center with retail, restaurant, office and residential use along with a 1-acre town green for community events.
Information: www.cityofpeachtreecornersga.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Duluth Fine Arts hosting fundraiser
The Duluth Fine Arts League will host “A Tour of Italy” July 20 at Hardeman’s Fine Art Glass Studio, 311 Main St., Duluth. The event will include Italian cuisine, wine, entertainment and a silent auction. Cost: $35 with proceeds going to the League’s high school scholarship program.
Tickets available at Hardeman's Fine Art Glass Studio. Information: 770-476-7328 or www.duluthfineartsleague.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Project to raise money for officer’s family
Project LEO, a non-profit fundraising organization, is asking for donations to help the family of Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Deputy Oscar Batista, who died May 9.
Project LEO is a 501(c)3 dedicated to providing support and assistance to officers and their families who are in need due to injury, bereavement or other hardship. All donations are tax-deductible and can be submitted through PayPal at www.projectleo.org.
For more information, contact Michelle Couch at 770-676-8924 or e-mail to michelle.couch@americanangelworks.org or email Ken Stepp at info@americanangelworks.org. Dan Klepal
Grayson hosts farmers market Wednesdays
Local vendors have convinced Grayson to begin offering a weekly farmers market 4 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday at the Grayson Community Park, 1 Park Drive. The community anticipates twenty to thirty vendors available each week. www.cityofgrayson.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Woodstock enlarges redevelopment zone
The Woodstock City Council has significantly enlarged its downtown Urban Redevelopment Area designation, voting 6-0 Monday to add a number of parcels it feels are eligible for redevelopment.
With the change, the city will apply for designation of the expanded area as a state Oportunity Zone, which would allow the redevelopment area to qualify for state job tax credits.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth has no plans to tweak property tax rate
Forsyth County Commissioners say with the county tax digest’s growing 3.1 percent they intend to keep the county’s millage rate level for 2014 at 7.656.
The rate is 0.40 percent over the rollback millage rate.
A public hearing on the matter is at 5 p.m. July 18 at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee offers back-to-school health clinic
The Cherokee County Health Department is planning a back-to-school health clinic from 2- 6 p.m. July 30 at both public health centers.
Hearing, dental and vision screenings will be offered for $30, as will immunizations (with a charge for vaccines).
Locations: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, and 7545 N. Main St., Woodstock.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth considering election changes
The Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections is proposing a series of changes in election day voting locations and precinct lines that would begin in 2014. The changes would cut the current 25 precincts to 16.
Officials say they’re considering the plan to save money, and because a large number of voters now cast ballots before election day. Three public input meetings are set for this month and next.
Information: forsythco.com
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Cherokee exhibit traces history of cotton mills
The Cherokee County History Museum and Visitors Center presents the temporary exhibit “Life with the Mills: The Canton Cotton Mills” through Sept. 14.
The free exhibit traces the mills from 1900 to 1981 and features documents, artifacts and photographs.
The museum is at 100 North St., Suite 140, Canton.
More information: rockbarn.org
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Alpharetta run, block party in August
The Alpharetta Rotary Mayor’s Challenge is 6-11 p.m. Aug. 17 in the heart of Historic Downtown Alpharetta.
Bring lawn chairs for the block party that runs until 11 p.m.The event includes food trucks, concert, expo, etc.
Registration: $25 until Aug. 3; $30 after at Big Peach Running Co. or www.mayorschallenge.com.
Arlinda Smith Broady
ATLANTA
Arrest made in NW Atlanta arson
Brendan Middleton, 22, has been charged with arson after he’d been on the run for a week, Atlanta Fire and Rescue officials said.
He allegedly started a fire in the 1800 block of Greystone Drive in northwest Atlanta on July 1.
According to police, Middleton left the home safter having an argument with his parents.
He returned, forced his way into the home and set it on fire before fleeing on foot, police said. Marcus K. Garner
Clinic disputes disability allegations
Midtown Neurology strongly denies a disability rights complaint’s accusations and recently settled the case with the Justice Department to avoid protracted and costly litigation, the office’s owner, Husham Mishu, said Monday.
The claims filed by a former patient, a deaf woman who said the office failed to help her communicate, “had no merit,” Mishu said. It settled the case by paying the woman $20,000 and agreeing to provide training for staff and to consult with future hearing-loss patients to ensure they get the services they need, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Bill Rankin
Summer enrichment program underway
The S.E.E.D Academy and the West Hunter Street Baptist will host a summer camp 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through July 19 for ages 5-14 at the church, 1040 Ralph David Abernathy. Cost: $25/week. Additional cost for before/after care.
Information: www.theseedacademy.org, 678-824-5441 or theseedacademy@gmail.com. Sandra Marshall Murray
Atlanta schools begin enrolling new students
Atlanta Public Schools is opening its enrollment and registration center next week for students who are new, moving, withdrawing or re-registering.
The Centralized Enrollment and Registration Center in the Capitol View building on Metropolitan Parkway will be open through Friday.
Appointments aren’t necessary. Mark Niesse
DEKALB
Decatur Police discuss recent crimes
Approximately 150 people concerned about the recent spate of crimes in the Decatur area wedged into the Oakhurst Solarium Monday night to hear police report on the cycle of city-wide crimes.
From May 30 to July 1 there have been 16 burglaries, 14 in South Decatur, and 10 of those in the Winnona Park section, his staff reported. No arrests have been made, and it’s uncertain how many perpetrators are involved.
All burglaries have been before noon and mostly involve the theft of televisions, laptops and jewelry.
Decatur’s 46 full-time officers including investigators and special units are working with DeKalb County and city of Atlanta police and putting in overtime on the crimes. Bill Banks for the AJC
Residents urge against Brookhaven annexation
Two citizen groups have asked Brookhaven not to annex the Century Center office complex into its borders, over fears of leaving residents in their area without annexation options of their own.
The Dresden East Civic Association and Citizens for Chamblee represent residents in that could to be annexed, along with Century Center, into the city of Chamblee. A referendum is slated for November.
If Brookhaven annexes the complex, and accompanying tax revenue, residents worry Chamblee would not be able to afford to provide services for the 11,000 residents there.
April Hunt
Residents can vote on favorite park
DeKalb County residents can vote for their favorite county park this week as part of Coca-Cola Co. grant project.
The “Take it to the Park” challenge will award three grants – of $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 – to the parks that receive the most votes nationwide. Another $15,000 grant will be awarded at random to one park in the top 25 vote getters.
Residents can vote by "checking in" to their favorite of the county's 130 parks on Foursquare, logging a daily fitness routine using MyMapFitness or by voting online at www.coke.com/parks.
April Hunt
DeKalb residents needed for survey
The Atlanta Regional Commission is asking DeKalb residents to take an online survey to see how the public is included in regional plans and policies.
DeKalb is one of 18 counties included in the study, known as Metro Atlanta Matters.
The survey is online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S52HS5Y
April Hunt
Avondale to launch citizens patrol
Avondale Estates will launch its Citizens Patrol, a force of approximately 50 volunteers, in the next 30 days.
Patrol members can’t be confrontational, can’t engage suspects, can’t issue tickets and won’t carry weapons, but will identify suspicious persons, activities, and vehicles, while also helping drivers with directions, dead batteries and flat tires.
Shifts are four hours, totalling 20 hours per month, mostly (though not exclusively) in daylight hours.
The city has one Citizens Patrol car topped with amber (not blue) lights. Bill Banks for the AJC
SOUTHSIDE
Peachtree City requires tree removal permits
Peachtree City is reminding residents that they must receive prior approval to remove fallen and/or storm-damaged trees that are more than six inches in diameter.
The city’s tree ordinance also requires contractors to register annually to confirm the proper bonding, insurance and occupational tax requirements.
Guidelines and contractors are listed at www.peachtree-city.org/index.aspx?nid=487. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Peachtree City meeting postponed
The next meeting of the Peachtree City Planning Commission (originally scheduled for this week) will be held at 7 p.m. on July 22 at City Hall.
The agenda includes a public hearing for the proposed rezoning of nearly three acres at Ga. Hwy. 74 and Wisdom Road for the construction of two five-story hotels.
Information: www.peachtree-city.org/planningagenda.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Dance company to host entertainment series
Ballethnic Dance Company will host a Cultural Cul de Sac 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at the studio, 2587 Cheney St., East Point.
The event is part of its summer-fall entertainment series and will feature performances by the company’s Youth Ensemble, the adult performing company and guest musical artists.
Arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities, grilled foods and homemade desserts will be offered.
The event is free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted.
Information: 404-762-1416 or www.Ballethnic.org.
Veronica Fields Johnson
Clayton hosts fishing derby for kids, adults
A fishing derby hosted by Clayton County Parks & Recreation is from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 3, at Clayton County International Park, 2300 Highway 138, Jonesboro.
Bring bait and equipment.
Prizes will be awarded.
Cost: $5. Nancy Badertscher
Community invited to block party
Center of Hope Ministries will host a community back to school block party from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 10 at 492 Roy Huie Rd., Riverdale. The event will feature music, fun, food, games and special guests.
School supplies and backpacks will be given away to children who attend.
Information: Dee Dee Dunmore at 770-807-4673.
Veronica Fields Johnson
Church to sponsor free legal workshops
World Changers Church International Legal Resources Department will host Law Day 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the church, 2500 Burdett Road, College Park. Attorneys will offer free legal consultations.
Free.
Registration is required.
Information: www.worldchangers.org.
Veronica Fields Johnson
