County by county news for Wednesday

Mayor Joe Jerkins explained and emphasized to station owner Shamsuddim Nassar that his alcohol license will be suspended automatically if another underage sale takes place within the next three months of probation.

Police Chief Bob Starrett said this violation is the first for this owner “but numerous at this location” at 5184 Austell Road. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Group to hold vigil over immigration bill

The Cobb Immigration Alliance is holding a prayer vigil at 10 a.m. today in Glover Park in Marietta to call for Gov. Nathan Deal to reconsider his promise to sign a controversial immigration bill which would allow police to check people’s immigration status. It also requires many businesses to verify the immigration status of new hires. Alliance director Rich Pellegrino says that the bill would hurt the state’s economy and that the state would face similar lawsuits that Arizona has encountered after a similar law. Rich McKay

Blugrass concert comes to Austell on Saturday

The Austell Business Association and the City of Austell will host their 1st Annual Bluegrass Concert on Saturday.

The free festival begins at 4 p.m. at Austell’s Collar Park, 2625 Joe Jerkins Blvd. next to the police station.

“The Ramblin’ Grass Band” has performed traditional bluegrass and gospel music all over the Southeast for the past 25 years. Food and drinks will be sold.Information: 770-944-4326. Carolyn Cunnigham for the AJC

Robotics team vows to try again next year

The kids at Marietta’s Walton High School’s Robotics Team vow to try again next year to compete in the world competition for high school robot builders. The team, lead by science teacher Brian Benton, brought their 120-pound robot named Walta-Saurus-Rex to the contest in St. Louis last week where they squared off against about 300 other teams. They faced some early challenges including a broken robot claw. But they placed 88. Benton said that they did great for their first try. “We’ll be back,” he said. Rich McKay

Smyrna’s Fresh Produce Market opens Saturday

Smyrna’s Fresh Produce Market, which will have fresh fruits and vegetables for sale, opens 8 a.m. to noon this Saturday in the parking lot between Smyrna First Baptist Church and the Market Village, 1275 Church St., Smyrna. The market will operate Saturdays through early fall. A closing date hasn’t been set. Tucker McQueen

May-retta Daze this Saturday in the Square

More than 100 local artisans are expected to sell their work at the 35th May-retta Daze arts and Crafts Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday on the Marietta Square. Booths will include pottery, woodwork, painting, jewelry, glass, fabric and floral designs. Free parking will be available in the Cobb County parking garage. Tucker McQueen

GWINNETT

Richard Steele becomes new tax commissioner

Richard Steele became Gwinnett County’s new tax commissioner Sunday. Steele replaces Katherine Meyer, who retired April 30 after 26 years in office. He will fill the remainder of her term, which expires in December 2012. Steele joined the tax commissioner’s office in 2005, serving as chief deputy tax commissioner, director of property tax and motor vehicles branch manager. He previously worked as operations manager for the UGA Campus Transit System and as a budget analyst for the Centers for Disease Control. A 1996 University of Georgia graduate, Steele lives in Buford with his wife and two children. David Wickert

Police initiate online crime reporting

The Gwinnett County Police Department has a new Web-based police reporting option.

Victims of certain crimes like thefts, car break-ins, identity fraud, criminal trespass, damage to property and lost property can file a report over the Internet. The public can print a temporary copy. Once police approve it, the person receives an email with a copy of the report attached at no cost.

The program is accessible at www.gwinnettpolice.com. Click on Citizens Online Police Reporting System. Andria Simmons

Burn ban in effect from May 1-Sept. 30

The Gwinnett County fire department is reminding citizens about a total ban on outdoor burning from May 1 to Sept. 30 in Georgia.

Some open burning is still allowed with proper permits.

Info: 678-518-4980 or www.gwinnettfiremarshal.com. Andria Simmons

National Train Day celebration on Saturday

Gwinnett County will celebrate National Train Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Vines Gardens, 3500 Oak Grove Road, Loganville. The free event will feature information on trains and model trains and a demonstration of the largest garden railroad in the Southeast. Crafts, food and tours of the gardens also will be featured. Information: www.gwinnettparks.com or call 770-822-5414. David Wickert

Tennessee Titan Jared Cook to visit school

Head Elementary will welcome a special guest from the National Football League this week for field day activities.

Tennessee Titan Jared Cook, a former Head Elementary student, will visit the school Friday. The school will celebrate the return of their famous alumni and have all students walk around the track to support Relay for Live, a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society. D. Aileen Dodd

School offers mentor for first freshman class

Ivy Preparatory of Academy of Norcross has launched a leadership program that provides mentors for its first high school freshman class.

The program, “Girls Rock, Women Rule,” which was launched at a tea over the weekend, pairs students with successful women in business, education, arts, law and media careers. The professionals will advise the students as they move toward graduation.

Information: www.ivyprepacademy.org. D. Aileen Dodd

NORTHSIDE

Milton council imposes pill mill moratorium

The Milton City Council placed a one-year moratorium on pain clinics Monday. The action follows a 2009 Broward County, Fla., grand jury report linking these clinics to increased crime and drug use. The moratorium exempts hospitals and registered pharmacies.

City officials said the ban was imposed to give the Legislature time to consider state regulations on so-called “pill mills.”

There are currently no pain clinics operating in the city. Andria Simmons

Fulton schools honors two for their work

George Walker, a school resource officer at Chattahoochee High School, and Patricia Munford, a professional assistant with The Meadows Operations Center, have, respectively, been named as Fulton County Public School’s 2011-12 School Professional of the Year and Support Professional of the Year, it was announced Tuesday. Walker describes himself as “a role model, a father figure, an advisor, a counselor, a big brother, a friend, a life coach, and a mentor.” Munford, a 23-year veteran of the school system, is considered “the heart and spirit” of the operations division. Nancy Badertscher

Cities host rainbarrel, compost bin sale

Roswell, Alpharetta and Keep Roswell Beautiful will sponsor a backyard compost bin and rain barrel truckload sale from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. May 14 in the parking lot of Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street. Barrels are $55 each and bins are $45 each.

Information: jliberman@roswellgov.com or 770-594-6451 or Terry Porter at tporter@alpharetta.ga.us or 678-297-6200 Patrick Fox

Alpharetta soccer registration underway

Registration is under way for the Alpharetta Ambush Soccer Program. Organizers will hold tryouts for Academy and Select teams in late May and early June for youth ages 9-18. Alpharetta Ambush offers training and facilities at Webb Bridge Park. Registration is $5 per person.

Director of Coaching David Eristavi will oversee all tryouts along with Ambush trainers and city staff.

Information : www.alpharettaambush.org; 678-297-6163; tmcklveen@alpharetta.ga.us Patrick Fox

Sandy Springs to install new streetlights

Sandy Springs is using federal funds to install new streetlights in what it hopes will become its downtown.

The city is spending $486,454 of its federal community block grant money on 92 lights for Roswell Road between Dalrymple and Northridge roads. April Hunt

Scholarships go to North Fulton students

The Kimberly-Clark Foundation, the charitable arm of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, is giving Bright Futures college scholarship to several North Fulton high school seniors whose parents work for the company. They are Centennial High School’s Jenny Collier; Milton High’s McKinley King, Casey Ward and Collin Williams; Roswell High School’s Kevin Pan; and Alpharetta High’s Anjaly Poruthoor. Nancy Badertscher

ATLANTA

Immigration bill cited in group’s plan to boycott

A human rights organization has canceled plans to hold its biannual conference in Atlanta this year amid calls to boycott Georgia because of a tough immigration enforcement bill approved by the state Legislature.

The U.S. Human Rights Network, a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, had not booked a meeting location yet for its three-day event but was expecting more than 600 people to attend the meeting in December, said a spokeswoman for the organization.

The meeting will be held in another state because of Georgia’s House Bill 87, the spokeswoman said. Jeremy Redmon

Police officers offered incentives to buy houses

In continuing efforts to fill vacant houses in areas wracked by mortgage fraud and foreclosures near the Atlanta Beltline, the BeltLine Team and EpiCity are offering financial incentives to make Atlanta police officers into intown homeowners. The Atlanta Police Foundation will take part in the realtors’ next “Committed to Communities” open house event Saturday, which will include walking tours of over a dozen homes in Adair Park -- including Brookline Street, Allene Ave, Elbert Street, Pearce Street, and Oak Hill Avenue.

The event starts at 10 a.m. at 1052 Allene Avenue, across from a BeltLine entrance. A neighborhood cookout begins there at 11 a.m. Information: derrick@thebeltlineteam.com. Johnny Edwards

Jazz concert May 14 in John A. White Park

Atlanta City Councilmember Keisha Lance Bottoms will host a Neighborhood Jazz Concert at John A. White Park on May 14 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.The concert features a mix of the new and the classic.

Jodi Merriday, an up-and-coming jazz vocalist and spoken word artist, will perform along with Julie Dexter, a classically trained, award-winning British vocalist.

Bottoms is presenting the concert in partnership with the 34th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, a musical showcase that celebrates jazz in venues throughout Atlanta in May. Ernie Suggs

DEKALB

N.C. district hires school chief candidate

Lillie Cox, the one-time front-runner to lead DeKalb Schools, was hired Monday as superintendent of Alamance-Burlington Schools, a North Carolina district where she used to work. Cox dropped out of contention for the DeKalb job after contract negotiations stalled and details about the potential agreement were made public. The Alamance-Burlington Board of Education said they voted unanimously to hire Cox to run the 23,000-student district. Her new job begins July 1. Jaime Sarrio

Students to receive merit scholarships

Two DeKalb students were picked from more than 15,000 finalists to receive $2,500 National Merit Scholarships. Winners are selected from each state based on their accomplishments, skills and potential for college success. A committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors made the selections. The winners are Charles S. Pennell and John K. Ewing of Lakeside High. Jaime Sarrio

Astronaut to make rounds at schools

NASA Astronaut and Air Force Col. Eric A. Boe is visiting several schools in the DeKalb this week including Cedar Grove, Druid Hills and Sequoyah middle schools, and Evansdale, Chapel Hill, Fernbank, and Princeton elementary schools. Boe will also speak to the public at 6:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Fernbank Science Center. Information: http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/ Jaime Sarrio

Falun Dafa Day at Stone Mountain Saturday

To commemorate the 12th anniversary of World Falun Dafa Day, local practitioners will host a celebration 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Stone Mountain Park.

Activities include free teaching of Falun Gong exercises on the lawn in front of Memorial Hall.

Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline that is Buddhist in nature and consists of moral teachings, a meditation, and four gentle exercises that resemble tai-chi and are known in Chinese culture as “qigong.”

Information: 770-313-3254 Staff reports

Ribbon-cutting at Mary Scott Park on Saturday

DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Saturday at the renovated Mary Scott Park, 4150 Briarcliff Road in Atlanta. The event is free and open to the public. Michelle Shaw

Decatur school board assume property titles

Decatur’s City Commission approved transferring property titles for each of the city’s eight existing schools from the city to the city’s school board. “It’s been more than 15 years since we’ve transitioned from an appointed school board to an elected one,” said City Manager Peggy Merriss. “[The Board has], in actuality, been insuring, operating and managing these properties, but they didn’t own the land. This formalizes the deal.”

Merriss added that by owning all property titles, the school board will have access to grants and other “fairly sizeable construction money” for building new classrooms. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

New rules could clarify number of employees

New rules being considered by Fulton County commissioners would clear up how many employees they can have. Current policy allows them four, but Chairman John Eaves, following the lead of predecessor Karen Handel, split one into two part-time positions and hired a media relations manager. He dismissed her in March after several commissioners objected. The new policy -- sponsored by Eaves and on today’s meeting agenda -- would allow four full-time employees, or three full-time and two part-time employees, if commissioners stay within budget. Johnny Edwards

Teens can sound off without interruption

Teens who feel parents just don’t understand can take to a microphone Saturday and air grievances, without any adult interruptions, courtesy of Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards. Edwards is holding a summit called “Nobody Listens to Me: You Talk, We Listen” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Tri-Cities High School cafeteria, 2575 Harris St., East Point.

The Fulton Youth Commission, a group of students selected to address community issues, will document the statements for the 2011-12 Youth Action Agenda, which will be presented to the commission. Johnny Edwards

Clayton Humane Society to host yard sale

The Clayton County Humane Society is hosting a yard sale Saturday, starting at 8 a.m. in the Jonesboro High School Vocational Building Parking Lot. Furniture, appliances, electronics, books, children’s toys and much more will be available. Details: Clayton County Humane Society at 770-471-9436. Tammy Joyner

Illness sends drug dog into retirement

The Henry County Police Department has retired one of its drug dogs due to illness. Kimbo, a Belgian Malinois, has had a lengthy and effective career with the department and will be leased to his handler for one dollar per year as approved May 3 by the Board of Commissioners. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Youth commission applications due Friday

Fulton County’s Office of Children and Youth is taking applications this week for the Fulton County Youth Commission of school year 2011-12. The group works to solve problems facing teens, meets with elected officials and organizes community events and service projects. Students rising into grades 9-11 can apply, which requires a two-page essay and a nomination letter. The deadline to submit applications -- available at www.FultonCountyGa.gov -- is Friday at 5:30 p.m. Information: 404-612-7386. Johnny Edwards

New location for Peachtree City market

Fresh produce and other homegrown and homemade items will again be sold on Saturdays in Peachtree City. What used to be Fresh South Market is now called the Peachtree City Farmers Market, due to the recent opening of The Fresh Market grocery store at the market’s former site.

The market’s new location is the Aberdeen Shopping Center parking lot on Ga. Highway 54. Vendors will be on hand each Saturday until fall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jill Howard Church