County by county news for Wednesday

Johnson’s visit is part of the state board’s formal evaluation of the standards.

Information: www.cobbk12.ga.us. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Free job workshops continue

Free job networking workshops will continue at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church, 4780 Flint Hill Road, Austell with a seminar on “Networking/Building Self-Confidence.”

Entrance is behind the stairs to the Youth Room on the ground floor behind the sanctuary building.

Information: kgrosskurth@gmail.com or 770-941-8445.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Deadline for wellness 5K near

Early registration ends Saturday for the Austell Wellness 5K, 8 a.m. Sept. 20 at 2777 Jefferson St., Austell.

This rain-or-shine, run/walk event will be a part of Austell Wellness Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at Collar Park, 2625 Joe Jerkins Blvd.

Costs through Saturday: $15, adults; $10, ages 13 and younger. After Saturday until Sept. 16: $20, adults; $15, ages 13 and younger.

Information: wellnessdaysouthcobb.com. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Public car sale in Austell Saturday

A court-ordered car sale will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at A-1 Towing, Inc., 2945 Angelette Drive, Austell.

All sales will be final at this cash-only, as-is, rain-or-shine event.

Vehicles for sale will be a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country, a 1998 BMW 328i and a 1999 Jeep Cherokee.

Information: 770-943-0765.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Windy Hill Road improvements planned

Cobb County Department of Transportation will break ground Oct. 20 on a $34.5 million, SPLOST project from Windy Hill Road at Cobb Parkway to Powers Ferry Road. Construction will start later this year to ease congestion in the high traffic area including widening roads, adding medians and improving pedestrian access.

Work on a diverging diamond intersection on the Windy Hill/ I-75 bridge is expected to start in 2015 and finish in 2017. Information:www.cobbdot.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Nominations open

for business awards

Nonprofits are invited to nominate their community partners by Sept. 26 for the 2014 Sam Olens Business Community Service Awards.

These awards are presented by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Trend magazine. Any Cobb business that has given back to the Cobb community is eligible.

Information: sleithead@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2326. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Board reappoints county administrator

Gwinnett Commissioners approved a new employment agreement with County Administrator Glenn Stephens.

Prior to his appointment as County Administrator in 2009, Stephens led the Department of Planning and Development for nearly three years. It was during this time he oversaw the development of Gwinnett County’s 2030 Unified Plan. Stephens will earn an annual salary of $250,000. Gwinnett County government has about 5,100 employees and a $1.5 billion annual budget. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Norcross qualifying results set

In November, Norcross residents will select from the following candidates for three available City Council posts: incumbent David McLeroy will run unopposed ; incumbent Keith Shewbert will run opposed by Josh Bare ; and incumbent Andrew Hixson will run opposed by Randy McAdoo.

Elected candidates will take office in January.

They will be sworn in at the first Council meeting of the year. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Chamber luncheon will feature author

The Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce will host syndicated columnist and author Carole Townsend 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at Summit Chase Country Club, 3197 Classic Drive, Snellville.Information: www.eastsidechamber.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Voting begins for next dog mayor

Finalists will be announced this week and voting begins to elect Duluth’s next dog mayor. Look for photos and a “campaign statement” from each candidate at voting sites.

The Duluth Parks and Recreation Department and Duluth Historical Society will announce Duluth’s next Top Dog to serve as Mayor of the Chattapoochee Dog Park at the Chattapoochee Pet Festival in Rogers Bridge Park Oct. 5.

Information: www.duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lilburn City Market extended

Lilburn City Market on Main will extend its season 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 30 from in the Greenway parking lot across from City Hall.

Vendors: Rozalyn Schmitt, 770-638-2225 or rschmitt@cityoflilburn.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth Fall Festival set for end of month

The Duluth Fall Festival kicks off Sept. 23 with a carnival. The festival continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a parade, arts and crafts, food booths, entertainment venues, a 5-K road race, and a “Man’s Corner.”

Proceeds are used to promote the general welfare and beautification of downtown Duluth while providing wholesome entertainment for families across Metro Atlanta.

Information: www.duluthfallfestival or www.duluthga.net.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Ga. 400 toll area shifting to permanent lanes

The Georgia Department of Transportation is warning motorists on Ga. 400 to slow down as traffic near the old toll plaza is shifted into its permanent lane configuration.There will be three travel lanes in each direction.

Northbound traffic will be shifted beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, with work extending into the early hours Saturday morning. At 10 p.m. Saturday, the southbound shift will begin.

Delays are likely while the work is ongoing. Andria Simmons

Forsyth weighs alcohol code change

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a proposed modification to the county’s alcohol code, 5 p.m. Thursday at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming. The change would modify the effect that a prior misdemeanor conviction would have on issuance of a servers permit. The proposal specifies that a prospective server would be banned from getting a permit for one year following most misdemeanor convictions. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth deputies seek burglary victims

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Offic deputies are looking for potential victims of burglars they say pretended to be a couple in search of a home.

Deputies say that in one case Tyler Michels and Rebecca Weismayer toured the home of a 76-year-old man, waited for him to leave, the broke in and stole multiple items. Both have been arrested. Sheriff’s officials say anybody else similarly victimized should call 770-781-2200.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee IT firm moving, expanding

The Cherokee Office of Economic Development says local IT product and service firm Prologic ITS is moving from the Ball Ground area to larger, 50,000 square foot digs in Majestic Realty’s Cherokee Commerce Center in southwest Cherokee County. Officials say the company started with six employees in January of this year, and has seen a quadrupling of its work force since.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Museums offering free admission

Roswell’s three historic homes will offer free admission Sept. 27 as part of Smithsonian Magazine’s “Museum Day Live!’ program. In Roswell, program tickets will offer admission to Barrington hall, Bulloch hall and the Smith Plantation with tours set 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Tickets must be reserved in advance by visitingwww.smithsonianmag.com/museumday. Hundreds of other venues nationwide will also take part in the program.

Mark Woolsey forthe AJC

Little River cleanup planned in Cherokee

Woodstock, Holly Springs, Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, Rivers Alive and the Upper Etowah River Alliance team up to clean the Little River on Oct. 11.

Volunteers should wear old shoes, clothes that can get dirty or wet, and heavy work gloves. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, water and coffee will be provided.

Information: lori.forrester@ccwsa.com. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Fulton installs new traffic light

Fulton County has installed a new traffic light at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Adamsville Place Parkway.

County officials will dedicate the new light at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Adamsville Regional Health Center parking area, 3700 Martin Luther King Drive. Fulton officials hailed the new light as a collaboration between the county and the City of Atlanta. David Wickert

Fire rating could lower insurance premiums

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department has received a class 1 public protection rating by the Insurance Services Office.

The rating indicates the highest level in public protection and could lower insurance premiums on commercial properties by the end of the year.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Homicide victim identified

The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office has identified the man shot and killed late Monday in southwest Atlanta as Tabaris Sheets, 19, of Atlanta.

Investigators told Channel 2 Action News that Sheets got into an argument with a group of men sometime Monday, and as he and a woman were walking down Campbellton Road near Venetian Drive around 11 p.m., the group approached the victim and shot him in the leg.

Sheets told the woman to run, and as she did, the men shot him several more times, killing him, Channel 2 reported.

“We don’t believe it is a random act,” Atlanta police Capt. Paul Guerrucci told the station. “We do believe that the parties knew each other.” Mike Morris

How to access free online textbooks

The Georgia Department of Educations offers free, interactive digital textbooks online at gavirtuallearning.org.

The books are currently available for middle and high school courses in subjects including language arts, math, science, social studies, world languages and electives.

The books are free for use by schools, districts and individuals. Molly Bloom

DEKALB

Store clerk shot in the head during robbery

A DeKalb County convenience store clerk was shot and wounded Tuesday during a predawn robbery.

The shooting happened about 2:45 a.m. during a shift change at a Texaco gas station and convenience store on Flat Shoals Road.

There were two clerks inside a bulletproof cubicle, and as one exited the cubicle, “the suspect forced his way in, held the second clerk at gunpoint and demanded money,” police said.

The clerk, whose name has not been released, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center in critical condition.

The gunman got a way with less than $200, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Mike Morris, John Spink

Dunwoody extends traffic signal network

Dunwoody’s traffic signal communications network will extend beyond the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts to Dunwoody Village and other major corridors. The latest development of the fiber optic project is funded by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

A Perimeter Traffic Operations Program started in 2012 to connect 76 signals in the PCIDs - Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Sandy Springs. Cameras in those areas will be connected to the new coverage areas.

The program has improved traffic flow and signal timing through monitoring and adjustments made at each city’s traffic center. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

School leader wants more tutoring

Decatur schools superintendent Phyllis Edwards recently stated her long-term goal for more intensive tutoring during school breaks. The school calendar, including 2015-16 and 2016-17, allow for one-week breaks every six weeks.

Edwards wants to provide “tutoring opportunities” for Decatur High students three days per break, potentially allowing students catch up with a class instead of waiting to take it over in the summer.

She believes the budget will allow increased tutoring by 2016-17. Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur High posts high ACT scoress

City Schools Decatur recently announced that 2014 Decatur High School seniors posted the highest average ACT district scores in five years while also outperforming the state in all parts of the test.

The overall composite score increased from 22.7 in 2013 to 23.9 this year, compared to a state composite score of 20.8 and the nation at 21.0.

Additionally participation in the test rose from 60 to 66 percent this year, and there has been a 48 percent increase since 2010. Bill Banks for the AJC

Fracking subject of engineer group dinner

The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers will host a presentation on hydraulic fracturing, know as fracking, during its monthly dinner meeting 6 p.m. Monday at Piccadilly Cafeteria, 2000 Crescent Centre Blvd.Tucker.

Haiying Huang, an associate professor from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech will discuss fracking techniques, limitations and consequences.

Information: 404-509-2399.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Teen struck, killed by stray bullet in Clayton County

Devin Jackson, 18, was sitting on a couch inside a Clayton County apartment complex when he was struck and killed by a stray bullet shortly after midnight Tuesday. Police responded to reports of shots fired from an assault rifle in the 200 block of Upper Riverdale Road.

Jackson was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Clayton County Police Department tip line at 770-477-3513. Rodney Thrash

Police: I-285 traffic fatality was suicide

A motorist died Tuesday morning after he wrecked his car while driving eastbound on I-285 in Clayton County, then got out and ran into traffic in what police said was a suicide.

The man, whose name has not been released, was hit by several westbound cars and later died at an area hospital, police said.

A woman in the car was injured in the wreck, but is expected to recover.Mike Morris

Marathon will cause traffic detours

The Divas Half Marathon and 5K races in Peachtree City Saturday will cause temporary road closures. Areas along Robinson Road, Kelly Drive/McIntosh Trail and Holly Grove Road will be closed at various times between 6 a.m. and noon.

The races will also affect golf cart path access. A link to a map of the route is at www.peachtree-city.org.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Peachtree City to discuss sidewalks

The City Council of Peachtree City will hold a special workshop meeting tonight (Sept. 2) at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall to discussed a proposed amendment to the ordinance regarding concrete sidewalks in new developments.

Two large developments are currently planned for the West Village area off MacDuff Parkway.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Retired teachers meeting Thursday

Representatives from the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia will speak at the Fayette County Retired Educators Association meeting 10:30 a.m. Sept. 4 at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, 175 E. Lanier Ave.

TRS members, their spouses and the public are invited to learn about the retirement system. Information: hiestandmm@comcast.net.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Water authority to host business program

The Clayton County Water Authority will host the fall event for its Small Local Business Enterprise Program on Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. – noon.

The event is designed to help businesses learn about the water authority’s certification process and procurement opportunities.

The session will be in the authority’s Community Use Room at its headquarters, 1600 Battle Creek Road in Morrow. Doors will open at 9 a.m. for networking and refreshments. Tammy Joyner