County by county news for Wednesday

The foundation is entirely funded by LGE Community Credit Union employees and volunteers. LGE, formerly Lockheed Georgia Employees credit union, has seven locations in Cobb and Cherokee Counties, including its headquarters in Marietta.

The foundation also donated money to the Calvary Children’s Home in Powder Springs that provides care for children who have lost their parents. Janel Davis

Cobb helps residents recycle trees

Cobb Parks and Recreation is helping Cobb residents dispose of their Christmas trees and help the environment by hosting five tree chipper recycling sites through Jan. 7.

Trees can be dropped off at five county parks including Lost Mountain, Fullers, Sewell, Noonday Creek and Harrison Parks. On Jan. 7, Keep Cobb Beautiful and Home Depot will sponsor a tree recycling day at county Home Depot stores.

Cobb Parks chipper locations and Davey Trees will have free mulch available to residents after Jan. 7.

Information: cobbcounty.org/kcb; 770-528-1135 Janel Davis

Marietta to get new movie theater

Construction is planned to start in January on a 10-screen movie theater on Powder Springs Street in Marietta.

The Neighborhood Cinema Group (NGC Cinemas) plans to open the theater, which will replace a long-closed cinema on the site, in the summer of 2012. NCG officials say they will hire 40 to 50 workers during renovation.

The project is part of the redevelopment of the Powder Springs Street corridor. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Museum of History offers discount

Marietta’s Museum of History is offering $2 off admission through Jan. 31 with a ticket stub from the World War I movie “The War Horse.” Director Jan Galt Russell said the museum is promoting new additions to its WWI exhibit including information from local residents and artifacts from Camp Gordon.

Information: www.mariettahistory.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Smyrna hold New Year’s for kids Saturday

Smyrna will have a dance party for kids from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle.

The city and Radio Disney AM 590 are hosting a New Year’s Eve party with games, contest, prizes and a balloon drop at noon.

Information: www.smyrnacity.com. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

New Year’s services

in Powder Springs

Two New Year’s worship services are planned in Powder Springs.

The New Year’s Eve service will begin at 9 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Chapel Church of God, 4665 Macland Road.

The New Year’s Day service will be held at noon Sunday.

Information: trinitychapel.org or 770-222-7023. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Rain delays widening project on Ga. 20

Rainy weather has delayed the next phase of work to widen Ga. 20 south of Grayson to a four-lane divided highway. The Georgia DOT has not rescheduled the date for splitting traffic and activating signals along the 2.7 mile stretch from Cooper/Ozora Road to Brand Road.

Three new traffic signals are on Ga. 20 at Oak Grove, Hoke O’Kelly Mill and Brand roads. The new signals will go into flash for approximately a week before they are operational.

It may be spring before the final paving is completed on the project, estimated to cost $10.9 million. Patrick Fox

Dacula resident to run for commission

Dacula resident Mike Korom has announced his candidacy for the District 3 Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners seat. Korom, a private contractor for a company that distributes capital equipment, will seek the seat currently held by Commissioner Mike Beaudreau. Korom has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio and has lived in the Atlanta area since 1985. He is president of the Apalachee Farms Homeowners Association and a member of Hebron Baptist Church. He and his wife, Diane, have two grown sons. David Wickert

Groundbreaking for new center Jan. 3

W.P. Jones Activity Building ground breaking ceremony will take place on Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. at 3770 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. The building is scheduled to be completed in June. The 2,400-square-foot center was designed by the Duluth-based architectural and engineering firm of Hill Foley Rossi and Associates. Information: Kathy Marelle at kmarelle@duluthga.net or 678-417-9269. Veronica Fields Johnson

Holly Springs asks residents to recycle trees

The Holly Springs wants to “chip” in and help residents restore order after the Christmas holidays. Residents are invited to drop their tress at 100 Hickory Circle, behind the fire station, through Saturday. For information, call the city at 770-345-5536. Nancy Badertscher

County unveils Rhodes Jordan improvements

Gwinnett County recently unveiled improvements to Rhodes Jordan Park in Lawrenceville. The new features include a 1.1-mile paved trail, three picnic pavilions, outdoor basketball and horseshoe courts, restrooms and a parking area. The final phase of the $7.4 million renovation includes a soccer complex scheduled to open in 2012. David Wickert

Aurora Dance Nights held tonight

The Aurora Theatre has teamed with an events facility and local partner dance company for “Aurora Dance Nights” tonight. Customers will dance to the music of the Metro Jazz Club and have the opportunity to take lessons from Kathy Casper of All About Ballroom, a Gwinnett-based dance company. The event will be held at 8 p.m. at 550 Trackside, a located near the Lawrenceville downtown square at 550 North Clayton Street. Information: www.auroratheatre.com or 678-226-6222. Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

Audit: Fulton overpaid Milton by $42,000

An internal audit by Fulton County has found that, while complying with 2008 state legislation, the county erroneously sent about $42,000 to the then-new city of Milton. It happened amid a series of keying errors as special services taxes were shuffled. The majority of the money was supposed to have gone to unincorporated south Fulton, according to findings announced during a commission meeting. At the time, Fulton was complying with a law requiring it return to Johns Creek and Milton any lingering taxes paid for city-type services. Johnny Edwards

Grant helps expand mobile food market

Fulton County will match a $25,000 grant from the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation to expand its Fulton Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market, which over the summer delivered an estimated 10,000 pounds of fresh produce to more than 900 residents. Distribution will increase from four sites to eight sites in 2012. The market is operated by the Fulton County Cooperative Extension. Johnny Edwards

Workshops to teach waterways protection

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful will host four free workshops to help citizens learn how to protect local waterways through the Adopt-A-Stream program. The first workshop, scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m., Jan. 14 at the Hampton Park Library, will discuss bacterial and chemical monitoring. The session will be repeated at the same time Feb. 18 at the Sharon Forks Library. There will be two presentations of the second workshop on biological monitoring. The first is Jan. 21 at the Hampton Park Library, then again March 3 at the Sharon Forks Library. Both will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Patrick Fox

Overdue books could mean no parking passes

Alpharetta High School students could end up paying a big price for having large numbers of overdue books and fines. The school administration is warning students that, if they don’t get those books and fines to the media center immediately, they risk having their spring parking passes withheld. Patrick Fox

Groups join to feed hungry on Thursday

More than 100 volunteers have signed up to cook, serve and clean at a community dinner to feed the hungry Thursday in Cumming. The meal, which runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., is the brainchild of McDonald and Son Funeral Home, the MSG Foundation -- formerly the Forsyth Disability Coalition -- and area residents. The event will be in the community room of the McDonald & Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive. Information: 770-889-2859. Patrick Fox

Milton will offer Christmas tree recycling

Milton residents may take Christmas trees from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to multiple locations: Milton High School’s Birmingham Road entrance at 13025 Birmingham Highway and Home Depot at 5300 Windward Parkway. Scottsdale Farms at 15639 Birmingham Highway also will offer extended dropoff through Jan. 7. Milton Boy Scout Troop 841 will pick up trees for a $10 donation: email treepickup841@yahoo.com.Andria Simmons

ATLANTA

Suspect in rapper death turns self in

The man accused of killing Atlanta rapper Slim Dunkin turned himself in to police Monday. Vinson Hardimon, 28, also known as Young Vito, is being held at the Fulton County jail . According to witnesses, while at a video shoot in a Memorial Drive studio, Slim Dunkin, whose real name was Mario Hamilton, was shot in the chest on the evening of Dec. 16 during a fight that started over a piece of candy, police said. Marcus K. Garner

Mayor’s ball raises $1.2 million for UNCF

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed more than 1,200 attendees raised more than $1.2 million on Dec. 17 at the 28th Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball, breaking last year’s record of $1.1 million. The money raised will benefit the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and educational support to minority and low-income students, and its 38 member colleges and universities.Jeremiah McWilliams

APS classes to resume Jan. 4

Most Atlanta Public Schools will be on winter break until Jan. 3. Classes resume Jan. 4. Parents with students in the district’s year-round schools should note that those schools are on a separate calendar, which may differ. APS administrative offices and facilities will also be closed until Jan. 3. Information: http://www.atlantapublicschools.us. Jaime Sarrio

Project to store, sell reclaimed materials

A reclaimed industrial site is scheduled to begin storing and selling reclaimed building materials this spring in Southwest Atlanta’s Oakland City, creating the area’s first “lifecycle building center.” The facility will collect high-volume residential and commercial salvaged materials, and act as a green building education center.

A planned second phase consists of a former sprocket manufacturing facility built in 1914. That added space would bring the center to 70,000 square feet, with the entire site including 3.6 acres of heavy industrial space. Jeremiah McWilliams

DEKALB

County sells land to medical center

DeKalb County recently sold a .13-acre tract of land on Alexander Drive for $4,800.

The property was a slight strip of land that the county recently declared as surplus, with no other potential use.

The owners of the adjacent Oakhurst Medical Center is buying the land to add a few parking spaces to the clinic. April Hunt

Police alliance to hold fundraiser

The DeKalb Police Alliance will host its annual fundraiser in February to help with insurance costs for law enforcement officers.

The Hearts for Heroes Ball will be held Feb. 11 at the Thalia N. Carlos Hellenic Community Center on Clairmont Road in Atlanta. The event features a dinner, dancing and live auction.

Funds raised go to underwrite a $100,000 life insurance policy to help families of fallen sworn officers in DeKalb county and city police departments, marshals and sheriff’s office.

More information: www.dekalbpolicealliance.org or 678-362-0392. April Hunt

$10,000 home energy makeover awarded

Out of approximately 500 applicants, Oakhurst resident Dana Duggan was selected to receive a home energy makeover worth up to $10,000. In July Decatur partnered with the city of Atlanta to create the Home Energy Makeover Contest, funded through grant money from the Department of Energy Efficiency Conservation. Duggan’s home, 1,500 square feet and built in 1970, was judged to need significant energy improvements. She’ll receive, among other updates, a new heat pump, a new duct work system, new attic insulation along with foam padding in home’s crawl space. Bill Banks for the AJC

History Center kicks off Lunch and Learn

DeKalb’s History Center kicks off its 2012 Lunch and Learn Series with a presentation from Elizabeth Wilson on Decatur’s Beacon Hill community. The lecture begins at noon, Jan. 17 at the Old Courthouse on Decatur’s square. Admission is free. An African-American community whose duration was roughly 1900 to 1967, Beacon Hill disintegrated after its schools closed following integration. Wilson moved to Beacon Hill in 1949 and 44 years later became mayor. Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur named one of ‘tastiest towns

The magazine Southern Living has named Decatur among the top 10 “tastiest towns in the South,” in its January issue.

Decatur will be profiled, along with other finalists such as New Orleans and Houston, in the April issue of the magazine.

Magazine readers will determine the winning destination by voting online at www.southernliving.com/tasty. April Hunt

Volunteers need for MLK parade

The DeKalb Branch NAACP seeks volunteers to work with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade and rally. The parade will be Jan. 16 in Stone Mountain. Volunteers are needed for donations, to work with the planning committee and to assist parade participants. For information, call Sarah Copelin-Wood, 404-371-1490, or email schoolsandcommunity@yahoo.com. Mea Watkins

SOUTHSIDE

Foundation honors Fayette teachers

Three teachers and five students received honorary certificates from the Fayette County Education Foundation. The awards were designated by donors to the Foundation. Sara Harp Minter Elementary teachers Tina Giannetti, Susan Chalkley and Ashley Mol received Honor Roll certificates. Outstanding Student certificates were given to Christopher Pham (Starr’s Mill High School), Ciara Douglas (Fayette Middle School), Duran Long (Inman Elementary School) and Ian J. Smith and Skylar Timi Smith (both from Robert J. Burch Elementary). Jill Howard Church for the AJC

New Creekside principal starts Jan. 17

Brian Jones takes over Jan. 17 as principal of Creekside High School in Fairburn. Jones was most recently the Health Sciences Academy coordinator at Bayside high School in Virginia Beach, Va. His education background also includes stints as a middle school teacher, high school teacher and school improvement specialist. He is a doctoral candidate in education leadership at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and holds a Master’s of Education degree in administration and supervision from the University of Virginia. Nancy Badertscher

Tree recycling in Peachtree City Jan. 7

Peachtree City’s “Bring One for the Chipper” free Christmas tree recycling will be held Jan. 7.

Trees will all decorations removed can be brought to either the Peachtree City Recycling Center on Rockaway Road at Ga. Highway 74 South, the Home Depot store on Ga. Highway 54 West, or the Kedron Kroger between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

McDonough to launch Geranium Drop

The inaugural McDonough Geranium Drop is scheduled for Saturday night on the Square, according to the city’s web site. The party is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. with the Geranium Drop coming at midnight. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Tyrone artist releases new album

Christian recording artist Malisa Abrahams of Tyrone has released a new album.

“He’s Coming Again,” from the independent record label Tate Music Group, contains eight tracks the married mother of three calls “a message of hope and warning to a dying world.”

Details are at www.tatemusicgroup.com. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Winter fishing season to begin in Henry

The Henry County Water and Sewerage Authority has announced that the winter fishing season for local reservoir use permit holders is set to begin Dec. 16-18 and extend to every other weekend in January and February.

The Gardner and Tussahaw Reservoirs are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the select weekends from 7 a.m. until dusk. Other open weekends are Jan. 6-8 and 20-22 as well as Feb. 3-5 and 17-19.

The regular public fishing season begins March 2. Visit www.hcwsa.com for permit information. Monroe Roark for the AJC