County by county news for Wednesday

Opponents said the proposed cuts only pushes more difficult cuts down the road. Daarel Burnette II

Marietta to look at redevelopment

The Marietta City Council will consider projects for a proposed $35 million urban redevelopment bond at committee meetings 5:15 p.m. today at City Hall, 205 Lawrence St. The council will also discuss expanding digital billboards, now allowed in the I-75 corridor, to Cobb Parkway and east of Cobb Parkway or east of I-75 on North Marietta Parkway. Information: www.mariettaga.gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Senior Idol promises song, dance and laughs

Cobb County seniors will be performing their favorite musical, comedy and dance acts at 1 p.m. on May 7 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theater for the ninth annual Cobb Senior Idol. Judges will select five finalists and the audience will determine the winner. Event tickets are $5 at senior centers or at the door. Applications to perform are available at all senior centers and rehersal will be held on May 6. Information: 770-528-1445 Melissa Abbey

Washington’s relative to speak at event

Robin Washington Banks, great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington, will speak at a historic preservation event at 1 p.m. on May 7 at Sweetwater Library, in the Threadmill Mall Complex. The event, called “Remembering My Father: A Tuskegee Airman,” will also include exhibit display panels “The Tuskegee Airman: the Segregated Skies of World War II” from the Kennesaw State University Museum of History and Holocaust Education. Information: 770-819-3290.

Melissa Abbey

Armed robbers target gas station

Cobb County Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Saturday at a gas station in Mableton.

According to investigators, three males — one of whom carried a semiautomatic pistol — entered the Valero at 6161 Mableton Parkway at 11:21 p.m. and demanded money. They fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Two of the suspects reportedly wore a red bandana. Anyone with information is asked to call Cobb police investigators at 770-499-3945. Andria Simmons

National Day of Prayer observance Thursday

Powder Springs will host a service to observe the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer at noon May 2 outside City Hall, 4484 Marietta St., Powder Springs. This observance was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Information: facebook.com/pages/Powder-Springs-National-Day-of-Prayer/483774585005769

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Peeping Toms nabbed at movie theater

Two men fell through a restroom ceiling as they tried to spy on women, Gwinnett County police said. The alleged incident took place Sunday night at the Venture Value Cinema in Duluth. According to arrest warrants, the manager said he thinks the men went up through the men’s restroom, crawled over to the women’s and then fell through landing directly inside the stalls. An officer wrote that the men were “invading the privacy” of various customers. The suspects, 26-year-old Eduard Petrovich Kovynev and 27-year-old Eduard Alexander Kovynev, are both charged with peeping Tom and criminal damage to property. Staff

Gwinnett County joins suit against FAA

In response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to stop funding Briscoe Field’s air traffic control tower, Gwinnett County government filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the Spokane, Wash. airport board against the Federal Aviation Administration to overturn the decision.

Gwinnett County Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said it is unclear how funding for airports passed by Congress last week will impact Briscoe Field in the long-term. Dan Klepal

Student entrepreneurship

The city of Snellville and two local high schools have partnered to form the Entrepreneur Alliance, with the goal of engaging the city’s next generation in entrepreneurship while creating new employment opportunities in the community. As part of that initiative, students from South Gwinnett High and Brookwood High will be pitching their business ideas to a panel of local business owners at Snellville City Hall on today and Thursday. A total of $2,000 in “venture capital” will be awarded. On May 8, two start-up companies from each school will compete for the title of “Best Young Entrepreneur” in Snellville. Nancy Badertscher

County hosts home buyer workshop

Gwinnett’s Health & Human Services is conducting a workshop to help guide participants through the complex process of purchasing a home 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 4 at the Buford Human Services Center, 2755 Sawnee Avenue in Buford. Topics will include: finding the right mortgage product, understanding costs of ownership, preparing for closing, down payment assistance programs, and budgeting and money management. Cost: free. Information: 800-251-2227. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Online class registration extended

A spring registration period for Gwinnett County Online Campus is extended to Thursday.

Gwinnett’s full-time, online learning option will expand next school year and serves students in grades 4-12. Because Gwinnett Online Campus is a system charter school, enrollment is open to all current school-aged children who reside in the county.

The school opened in 2011 as a full-time high school (Grades 9-12) and extended its reach in 2012 to offer middle school students (Grades 6-8) the opportunity to attend the online school full time.

As of fall 2013, the school will serve 4th and 5th graders. Nancy Badertscher

NORTHSIDE

Galambos recovering from surgery

Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos will take a brief absence from her duties while she recuperates from abdominal surgery performed last week.

A city spokesman said doctors expect a full recovery, but Galambos will likely take the next several weeks to rest and recuperate. Tibby DeJulio, mayor pro-tem, will take on the mayor’s responsibilities.

Galambos announced last month that she will not seek another term as mayor. Patrick Fox

Pets killed in Cherokee County house fire

No humans were hurt, but a dog and cat perished in a Cherokee County fire Tuesday morning. Firefighters rushed to 1551 Wildwood Drive just west of Woodstock about 7 a.m. The blaze caused major damage to the home, whose occupants were away at the time of the blaze.

The cause is under investigation. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth school district conducting survey

Forsyth County Schools officials are asking stakeholders to take an online survey on instructional facilities and financing needs over the next five years.

The survey covers such topics as possible classroom construction to reduce trailer use and expanding capacity at elementary, middle and high schools.

Deadline to participate is May 13. Information: forsyth.k12.ga.us Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Reinhardt graduation speaker set

Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens will serve as keynote speaker for Reinhardt University’s 2013 commencement ceremony, set for 9 a.m. Saturday.

More than 250 students will participate at the James and Sis Brown Athletic Center on the Waleska campus.

Olens became attorney general in January of 2011. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Powder Springs hosts gun safety seminar

With the dramatic increase in the public’s escalating desire to learn more about gun safety, the Powder Springs Police Department will host a free gun safety seminar May 21.

This program is intended for civilians and will be focused on safety, Georgia laws, and the use of alternative weapons. The seminar will be at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Tapp Middle School at 3900 Macedonia Rd. in Powder Springs.

To register, email SSlay@cityofpowdersprings.org or call 770-943-1616. Participants should not bring any firearms or weapons to the seminar.

Andria Simmons

Roswell concert series kicks off Saturday

Chris Thomas King will be the featured performer Saturday in the first of six Roswell Riverside Sounds concerts.

The free monthly outdoor concerts are held at Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, from 7 to 9 p.m. Guests are invited to bring blankets and coolers. A shuttle service will be offered this year to transport attendees to the park from the Ace Sand lot on Riverside Drive.

Several food trucks will also be on hand at the concerts.

Patrick Fox

ATLANTA

Some special ed teachers may be let go

Atlanta Superintendent Erroll Davis confirmed Monday that a group of special education teachers who have failed to become highly qualified in the subjects they teach aren’t being offered contract renewals for next school year.

About 50 people attended a community meeting at Therrell High School to voice their concerns that dozens of special education teachers in Atlanta Public Schools could lose their jobs.

Davis said the teachers signed contracts over two years ago that required them to gain additional certifications by the end of this school year. He added contract nonrenewals have nothing to do with the budget.

Mark Niesse

Firefighters to undergo rescue training

Swiftwater rescue teams will be conducting a training session at Six Flags Over Georgia 1:30 to 4 p.m. today.

The Thunder River attraction at Six Flags mimics many of the turbulent waters that rescuers encounter, so firefighters will be perfecting their skills to swim across strong currents, demonstrate swiftwater rescue techniques, deal with obstacles in the water, and learn self-rescue and survival methods. Andria Simmons

Woman sentenced to prison for pimping teen

A 25-year-old Atlanta woman was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison Monday for transporting a teenage girl across state lines for prostitution.

Jessica Loren Posey pleaded guilty in February to transporting a 16-year-old to Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio to have sex for money, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Posey met the teen at a party in 2010 and later caused her to engage in prostitution, taking half of the money, prosecutors said.

She was sentenced to seven years, three months in prison and five years of supervised release.

She must pay restitution of $1,200 to the victim, perform 100 hours of community service and register as a sex offender, authorities said.

Angel K. Brooks

DEKALB

Governor to speak at DeKalb graduations

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is among several high-profile figures who will give commencement addresses for DeKalb County high schools.

The school district says it’s received confirmations from Deal and others, including Mark Elgart, the president of AdvancED, which oversees district accreditation; Thurbert Baker, the former Georgia attorney general; George Andrews, founder and leader of Capitol City Bank & Trust Co.; Carlton Brown, president of Clark Atlanta University and State Rep. Darshun Kendrick of Lithonia.

Deal will speak to students from NcNair and Chamblee high schools; Elgart, Druid Hills High; Baker, Tucker High; Andrews, Stone Mountain High; Brown, Lithonia High; and Kendrick, Towers High. Ty Tagami

Cyber safety program scheduled

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Cybersafety Taskforce will present Cyber Crimes Against Children 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, 1978 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody. The free program, focused on protecting children from cyber bullying and other online dangers, is aimed to educate communities, parents and students about cyber safety. Information: dwallace@slpres.org. Mea Watkins

Clarkston offering ticket amnesty

Clarkston’s Municipal Court will offer amnesty for people who have past due, unpaid traffic tickets and bench warrants through Thursday and waive the warrant fee for those who pay overdue fines.

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Information: 404-292-9465.

April Hunt

Lawmakers to meet on cityhood bills

State lawmakers from DeKalb County who have proposed new city bills will hold an informational meeting on the efforts 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Clairmont Hills Baptist Church, at the corner of Clairmont and North Druid Hills roads.

Issues to be discussed include options of forming cities and annexing into existing cities as well as how to get involved in the efforts. April Hunt

Play to benefit DeKalb libraries

The Horizon Theatre production of “The Book Play,” a comic look at friends in a book club, will benefit DeKalb County’s 22 libraries for one night’s showing May 15. Proceeds will go to the DeKalb Library Foundation, which helps buy books and materials for county libraries.

Tickets are $30 online at www.dekalblibrary.org and www.afpls.org. They also are available at the Horizon box office, 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta.

Information: 404-584-7450.

April Hunt

Beacon Hill groundbreaking set

A groundbreaking for the Beacon Municipal Complex is 8:30 a.m. May 7. The West Trinity Place development, featuring a new police department, new gym and new central office for City Schools Decatur should be finished in a year with a priority on the central office. CSD must vacate its current office at Westchester by next May so that building can be reconfigured into a school. Total cost is $5.9 million which will be paid over 20 years. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Henry’s Rock Quarry Road bridge now open

The bridge over the railroad tracks on Rock Quarry Road in Stockbridge opened Tuesday to motorists, more than a year after the road was closed for the construction. The road, an important link between downtown Stockbridge and Piedmont Henry Hospital, was hampered by frequent train traffic through the at-grade crossing in years past. Construction of the bridge began in October of 2011 and was originally scheduled to be completed this past December, but several construction delays pushed the most recent projected opening date to May 1. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Deal speaks at Clayton State graduation

Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall will be the commencement speakers at the Saturday graduation ceremonies at Clayton State University. Gov. Deal will speak to about 240 graduates from the Colleges of business, health, Information and Mathematical Sciences at the 9 a.m. ceremony while councilman Hall will speak to 275 graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences at the noon ceremony. Tammy Joyner

Fayette renames elementary school

Hood Avenue Primary School in Fayetteville will have a new name when the new school year starts. Due to closures and redistricting, the facility will house students from kindergarten through fifth grade and be known as Fayetteville Elementary School. The name was chosen by school officials and parents, and was approved by the Fayette County Board of Education on April 29. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette selects new school superintendent

The Fayette County Board of Education finalized the appointment of Dr. Joseph C. Barrow, Jr. as the new school superintendent Monday night. His three-year contract includes an annual salary of $190,000. Dr. Mary Kay Bacallao voted against the contract, but Interim Superintendent Dan Colwell said the compensation “is certainly in line with superintendents across the state.” Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Comic honors mothers with Friday show

Riverdale comedian K.C. Cristian will present a comedy routine in honor of Mother’s Day called “The Gospel According to Grandma Presents Ain’t That A Mother” 7 p.m. Friday at The Thrift Store, 383 Fayette Place in Fayetteville.

Tickets can be purchased at The Thrift Store, $15 a person, $20 for two and $25 at the door. A portion of the proceeds will go toward Fayette High senior fees. Information: 404 437-1309. Tammy Joyner

Free health screening in Stockbridge

Hidden Valley Senior Center, Stockbridge hosts a free health screening 6-9 p.m. Friday . The screening is not limited to senior citizens, and is being held in coordination with the Henry County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The event will consist of free screenings for blood pressure, BMI, and vision assessments. Attendees are asked to bring canned goods to donate to Helping in His Name Food Pantry, Stockbridge. Monroe Roark for the AJC