County by county news for Wednesday

City Manager Rick Eckert said that he is going to present some budget options to the council, but since it’s a work session, no votes will be taken. Eckert said that because of falling property values, he’s expecting a budget shortfall of about $500,000 or $600,000. The meeting will be held on the 2nd floor conference room at 4484 Marietta St. Rich McKay

Full agenda for school board work session

The Cobb school board is slated to discuss a variety of topics at today’s 8:30 a.m. work session, including standards for high school athletics, whistleblower policies, Teach for America and the millage rate.

The meeting will be held at the district’s central office, 514 Glover St., Marietta. Meetings are streamed live at www.cobbk12.org and broadcast on Comcast channel 24 and Charter channel 97. Jaime Sarrio

Marietta City Council to meet today

Marietta City Council will meet for an agenda review session today at 6 p.m. to be followed by Council’s regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. The City Council chamber is located on the lobby level of City Hall, at 205 Lawrence St.

An agenda will be posted online at www.mariettaga.gov prior to the meeting. Rich McKay

Alison Bartlett cancels town hall meeting

A town hall meeting scheduled for Thursday with Cobb school board chairwoman Alison Bartlett has been canceled. Bartlett is recovering from a heart attack she suffered late last month.

She represents the Post 7 district, which includes Osborne and Oakwood high schools. Jaime Sarrio

KSU offers career night Thursday

Area residents can learn about certificate programs offered by Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing and Professional Education during a career night scheduled for Thursday.

The college offers more than 40 professional certificates and hundreds of classes online and at the KSU Center.

The career night will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Dr. in Kennesaw.

Information: 770-423-6765 Janel Davis

Medical clinic opens for Marietta employees

A medical clinic for Marietta city employees and their dependents opened Tuesday at 78 Atlanta St.

The clinic, which will be open 24 hours a week, will have two doctors, two nurse practitioners and a licensed practical nurse/phlebotomist.

The city council approved the clinic in September to offset rising health insurance costs. City Manager Bill Bruton has said the clinic will save the city $300,000 a year in health insurance expenses by offering a cheaper alternative for treatment of minor ailments.

The city has about 2,200 people on its health plan that is managed by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Georgia Guard unit to help Afghans with crops

Col. Bill Williams of Gwinnett County will lead a specially organized Georgia Army National Guard team to Afghanistan in late April. The Agribusiness Development Team will deploy for a year to help increase crop yields, control pests, improve crops and better irrigation. They will also work to improve domesticated animal populations.

The unit -- the first of its kind in the Georgia Army National Guard -- includes horticulturists, veterinarians, agricultural engineers, irrigation specialists, teachers and farmers who are guard members. Andria Simmons

Ticket amnesty program nets $734,521

Gwinnett County’s general fund got a $734,521 boost from a traffic ticket amnesty program that went on during the month of March. Recorder’s Court also recalled 605 outstanding bench warrants that had been issued for failure to appear in court, more than any other month to date.

As part of the amnesty program, anyone with an outstanding traffic citation in Gwinnett was able to pay their fine without added penalties and have their bench warrant recalled. Andria Simmons

Gwinnett Village CID meets Thursday

The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District will hold its monthly business meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the district office, 5855 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite 122, Norcross. The Board of Directors will elect officers for 2011. David Wickert

‘Bunny Bash Breakfast’ to be Saturday

Gwinnett County will host a “Bunny Bash breakfast” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lucky Shoals Community Park Recreation Center, 4651 Britt Road, Norcross. The event will feature breakfast, crafts, an East egg hunt and a photo with the Easter Bunny. It is open to children age 3 to 12. The cost is $5 per child. Parents must attend with their child but are admitted free. Pre-registration is required by Thursday. To register, call 770-723-9516. David Wickert

County Earth Day celebration on Saturday

Gwinnett County will celebrate Earth Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford.

The celebration will include games, guided nature hikes, crafts, solar t-shirt screening and trivia. The Mill Creek High School Orchestra will perform. There will be a $2 discount on regular admission for all ages. For more information, visit www.gwinnettehc.org. David Wickert

Senior Lifestyle Showcase to be April 21

The Gwinnett Council for Seniors will hold a Senior Lifestyle Showcase from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 21 at the Bethesda Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville.

More than 40 vendors that cater to the needs and lifestyles of seniors will participate. Admission is free. Complimentary refreshments will be served. For more information, call 770-822-5147 or e-mail info@gwinnettcouncilforseniors.org. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Superintendent finalist to meet/greet next week

Robert Avossa, finalist for Fulton County school superintendent, will meet with residents and community leaders next Tuesday and Wednesday. The meet-and-greets are being held in conjunction with a 14-day comment period that proceeds the school board’s formal offer to Avossa.

The meetings are set for Tuesday at Westlake High School and Wednesday at Centennial High. At each location, a reception will be held at 6:30 p.m., followed by a community meeting at 7 p.m. Nancy Badertscher

Parents plead guilty in adoption fraud

Birth parents in Ulysses, Ky., pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from the defrauding of a prospective adoptive couple in Alpharetta.

Janie and Michael Young will be sentenced May 13 in Lawrence County, Ky., according to Kentucky state prosecutor Tony Skeans. The Youngs accepted about $12,000 in living expenses from Tracey and Jeff Scholen, of Alpharetta, beginning in late 2008. At the same time, they received money from an adoption agency in Massachusetts. The Youngs promised their unborn daughter to both, but didn’t follow through with either placement. Andria Simmons

Alpharetta holds Easter Egg hunt Saturday

The Alpharetta Parks Department and Golden Age Club are sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. Sunday at North Park, 13450 Cogburn Road. Information: 678-297-6140; activeadults@alpharetta.ga.us. Patrick Fox

Forsyth recognizes public safety workers

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners declared April 10-17 Forsyth County Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in recognition of employees who work in the county’s 911 Center. “Public safety telecommunicators of Forsyth County have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, and the treatment of patients,” Chairman and District 2 Commissioner Brian Tam said in the April 7 commission meeting. Jeffry Scott

Epstein School students honored for inventions

Three students at The Epstein School in Sandy Springs -- Maia Barton, Zahava Feldstein and Yarden Willis -- are being honored by the National Museum of Education for taking to heart that necessity is the mother of invention. Maia designed t-shirts with removable pockets as a result of her battle with leukemia and the need for port access for medications. Zahava designed a wet-head pillow wrap to avoid having to blow dry her hair after a shower. Yarden created a motorcycle jacket with turn signals and brake signals. Nancy Badertscher

Johns Creek symphony holds finale April 30

The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will present its season finale, “Shall We Dance?”, at 8 p.m. April 30 at the Theater in Johns Creek High School. The program explores dance through the ages, from a Mozart minuet to west coast swing. Tickets are $28 for adults, $22 for ages 55 and up and $15 for students. Information: 678- 748-5802; email info@johnscreeksymphony.org. Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Piedmont Park opens Legacy Fountain

Piedmont Park got a little bigger and greener Tuesday, as city officials opened 35 new acres of park, including the spectacular Legacy Fountain, where 70 jets shoot water 30 feet up in the air. Aside from the fountain, the new green space includes two grand meadows with views of wetlands and woodlands. This is the first phase of a 53-acre expansion. Ernie Suggs

City denies permit for Freaknik-like event

Amid renewed efforts to revive Freaknik, the once notorious street party, the city of Atlanta has rejected an application for an event called iFreaknik that would have taken place April 16, at South Bend Park.

City Chief of Staff Candace Byrd said the event’s organizer, DaVinci Barcelo, submitted an application based on inaccurate and low crowd estimates, despite touting that the event would be attended by thousands. Ernie Suggs

Court rejects deputy’s discrimination claim

The federal appeals court in Atlanta has rejected age and disability discrimination claims by a former Fulton County deputy sergeant. Johnnie Hollins was injured during an altercation with an inmate in June 2006. Then 58, she was granted leave to recover, but never returned to work and was fired, the court said. The ruling said Hollins presented no direct evidence of discrimination and her circumstantial evidence fell short as well. Bill Rankin

Man gets life for beating death of son, 4

A Fulton County judge on Monday sentenced Marcos Cordero to life in prison for the beating death of his 4-year-old son. Cordero was convicted on March 8 for the death of Marc Estephano Sanchez Mendez. On Jan. 18, 2008, Cordero brought the child to Piedmont Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Marc’s mother testified that Cordero had beaten his son with a wooden board, a plunger, a broom, a screwdriver and shoes and also kicked him repeatedly, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office said. Bill Rankin

DEKALB

Plans to build Avondale station may be delayed

Plans to rebuild the Avondale Estates fire station (though operated by DeKalb County) may be delayed due to uncertainty of a federally-funded Community Development Block Grant. DeKalb has budgeted the project at $2.3 million, with $2 million expected to come from CDBG funds. But Congress is debating how much money to cut from the block grant program. Station demolition is scheduled for late summer, with new construction expected to take nine months.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Kammerer joins Emory as bishop-in-residence

Charlene Kammerer, bishop of the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church, will join the faculty of Emory University’s Candler School of Theology as bishop-in-residence. Her term runs from January 2013 until 2016. Kammerer is retiring from the active episcopacy in 2012. As bishop-in-residence, Kammerer will teach, mentor students and act as a key resource for spiritual formation. Shelia Poole

Input sought on Decatur shuttle

Decatur has begun exploring options for a downtown shuttle service, one of the most popular items on the recently-adopted 2020 Strategic Plan. Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne said the city’s open to community ideas regarding, among others, how large the shuttle vehicle should be, its coverage area and its frequency of operation. Menne said that initially the shuttle would likely serve only the city’s downtown, where parking is extremely limited. Ideas can be sent to lyn.menne@decaturga.com.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Educators back Culver for superintendent

The Organization of DeKalb Educators is supporting Arthur Culver as the next DeKalb superintendent. Culver, a superintendent in Champaign, Ill., is one of three finalists for the top job. The organization said they felt he was the strongest candidate because of his experience leading a diverse system, his proven track record and his knowledge of special education students. The board is expected to make their selection in the coming weeks. Jaime Sarrio

Two Decatur schools to start earlier next year

Pending approval from the city’s school board, Decatur High and Renfroe Middle School will hold classes from 7:45 to 2:45 next year, starting 50 and 45 minutes earlier respectively. The schedule change accommodates the new bus schedule for Fifth Avenue Academy, the fourth and fifth grade school which opens next year. The 2011-12 schedule also includes Oakhurst and Clairemont Elementary schools running from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Winnona Park and Glennwood Elementary schools remaining open from 8:15 to 2:45, with Fifth Avenue going from 8:30 to 3:30. Bill Banks for the AJC

Tucker group to hold plant swap on Saturday

The Tucker Historical Society will hold its 10th annual Plant Swap 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Tucker First Baptist Church, at the corner of LaVista Road and Fourth Street in Tucker. A yard sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. .Proceeds will benefit a missionary team to Chile.

Information: Tim Timmons at 770-938-3861. Staff reports

SOUTHSIDE

North Clayton High to honor Super Bowl grad

North Clayton High School will honor one its graduates Thursday for his efforts on the field in locally and at the Super Bowl.

After graduating from Clayton, Morgan Burnett played at Georgia Tech and then joined the Green Bay Packers.

Burnett was a rookie on the Packers’ team that went to the 2011 Super Bowl .

At 2 p.m. Thursday, Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell and school officials will hold a special ceremony to retire Burnett’s high school jersey. Megan Matteucci

Patron input asked for library expansions

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System plants to expand two libraries in downtown Atlanta and Union City and will hold meetings at both to take suggestions. Input sessions, both at 7 p.m., will be held Thursday at the South Fulton Branch library, 4055 Flat Shoals Road, Union City, and April 19 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Ave., Atlanta. The latter is the library for black history and culture.

Comments can also be sent to librarycomments@fultoncountyga.gov or submitted online at www.afpls.org. Information: 404-730-1777. Johnny Edwards

Citizens Police Academy starts April 19

The East Point Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy is set to begin April 19. The program is designed to acquaint citizens with the organization and interior workings of the East Point Police Department.

To register for the class, call Detective Donna Bridges at 404-559-6282 or email dbridges@eastpointcity.org. John Thompson for the AJC

Stockbridge approves plans for mosque

The Stockbridge City Council Monday night approved a request by The Islamic Society of South Atlanta to locate a mosque at 4340 N. Henry Boulevard in Stockbridge.

The council voted 4-0 to give a six-month temporary approval on the matter. Monroe Roark

Extension offers class on fruit tree care

The Fulton County Cooperative Extension is offering a class on small fruit tree care Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at its East Point Education Center, 1757 Washington Road, East Point. The class covers growing healthy trees, site selection, varieties to plan, pruning, insects and disease prevention.

Registration: 404-762-4077. Johnny Edwards

Commission holds meeting on contractors

The Fulton County Commission will hold a special-called meeting today to devise a strategy for hiring contractors in the building of new libraries. The meeting will be at 3 p.m. in the Assembly Hall of the Fulton County Government Center, 141 Pryor Street, SW, Atlanta. Johnny Edwards

Holmes to hold town hall meeting Saturday

Henry County commissioner Bruce Holmes will hold his third monthly town hall meeting on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Fairview Recreation Center.

Fairview Rec center is at 35 Austin Road in Stockbridge. Tammy Joyner