County by county news for Wednesday

Those named in the indictment are Helen Johnson, Larry McGill, Nicholas Mitchell, Rocky Mitchell and Gidget Williams.

They are accused of conspiring to defraud 25 elderly victims out of almost $75,000 in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Walton counties from July 2011 to this past February, the AG’s office said. Bill Rankin

Kennesaw program to celebrate MLK legacy

Kennesaw hosts a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration 5 p.m. Sunday at Kennesaw Mountain High School auditorium, 1898 Kennesaw Due West Road NW.

The event is free and open to the community. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov or www.thankfulbaptistkennesaw.org.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Cobb students can apply for school choice

Cobb County schools students can apply to transfer to a school of their choice Feb. 10- Feb. 28 for the 2014-2015 school year. A list of school/class space will be posted on the district website on Feb. 3. Charter schools and new schools are exempt from the choice program. Information: www.cobb12k.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Student MLK project: helping residents

Middle and high school students in an Acworth mentoring program will help residents Monday as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service after a MLK Day ceremony 10 a.m. Monday at Acworth City Hall, 4415 Senator Russell Ave. Information: mlewis@acworth.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Chamber luncheon next Wednesday

Friday noon is the online registration deadline for the quarterly South Cobb Area Council luncheon of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell.

Holly Bass, CEO of Cobb Travel and Tourism, and Eddie Cannon, director of Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, will discuss the economic impact of the Cobb Sports Alliance in South Cobb.

Costs: $10 online or $20 at the door, members; $20 online or $30 at the door, guests.

Reservations: cobbchamber.org/events/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=4419.

Information: 770-980-2000.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Austell posts flood alert signs

Austell officials have posted flood alert signs to warn property owners or those interested in purchasing restricted properties in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Special Flood Hazard Area.

Those areas face the risk of increased flooding, enforcement of the city’s floodplain management regulations and mandatory purchase of flood insurance.

These signs should not be removed without the city’s permission, said Duane R. Demeritt, the city’s floodplain administrator.

Information: Austell Public Works, 770-944-4325 or e-mail duane@austell.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Peachtree Corners to receive downtown grant

The newly-incorporated city of Peachtree Corners has been awarded a $96,000 Atlanta Regional Commission grant to develop a plan for a town center.

The grant requires a $24,000 local match.

The Peachtree grant is part of $800,000 in the latest round of commission Livable Centers Initiative grants to 11 metro Atlanta communities. Other grants went o to the cities of Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Clarkston, Hiram, Kennesaw and Woodstock and to several metro Atlanta improvement districts. The grants are funded by federal transportation dollars. Molly Bloom

Coalition seeking volunteers for MLK Day

The Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services in partnership with Volunteer Gwinnett is seeking volunteers for its MLK Day of Service in support of local veteran military families 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at StreetWise Georgia, 1750 Cedars Road, Lawrenceville.

Information: intern4@gwinnettcoalition.org or 770-995-3339. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Commission chair to discuss state of county

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash will review 2013 achievements and unveil the vision for 2014 at a State of the County address 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. Register at gwinnettchamber.org or 678-957-4958. Karen Huppertz

Suwanee’s old town on National Register

Approximately 40 properties within a 67-acre area of Suwanee’s historic Old Town district have now been officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Contributing properties within the district will now be eligible for federal and state tax incentives for improvements to help preserve the property’s historic value.

Information: www.suwanee.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Fire, EMS collecting heaters for seniors

Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services is accepting new portable electric heaters for seniors to be distributed through Project AWARE.

Drop off donations at fire stations until Feb. 28.

Monetary donations should be sent to Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services, P.O. Box 1680, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.

Information: 678-377-4150. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Hudgens to open three new exhibits

The Hudgens Center for the Arts will open three new art exhibits today through March 29. The first, Evolving Visions: Larry Walker & Colleagues: Joe Camoosa, Patricia Drew, Eleanor Neal, Yanique Norman and Michael Scoffield will feature over twenty works.

The second exhibit features Lillian Blades’ large-scale multi-media works. The third exhibit features new artworks pulled from the Hudgens’ own private collection. Reception: 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 25. Information: thehudgens.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Marlow’s case goes before state hearing officer

The ethics case involving Cherokee County school board member Kelly Marlow went before a hearing officer for the Georgia Board of Education Monday.

Marlow is appealing an ethics violation cited by the Cherokee County school board, which sanctioned her in October in connection with a June letter she sent to the district’s accreditation agency seeking an investigation of alleged policy violations.

When the state hearing officer issues a recommendation, it’ll go to the state board for a ruling, possibly in February. Ty Tagami

Bike Alpharetta meeting today

Bike Alpharetta is sponsoring a public forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Salud! Cooking School at Harry’s Farmers Market, 1180 Upper Hembree Road, Roswell.

The meeting is open to the public. Topics will cover activities for the current year, including the Georgia Rides to the Capitol in March, National Bike Month in May, the marking of city bike routes, and safety events scheduled throughout the summer.

Information: www.bikealpharetta.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Roswell Fire and Police Foundation gala

A charity gala to benefit the Roswell Fire and Police Foundation will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Roswell Mill, 85 Mill St., Roswell.

Individual tickets are $150 per person. Corporate sponsorship packages are also available. Proceeds from the gala will be used to help Roswell public safety employees and their families in times of need.

Information: roswellfpf.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Deal to address Forsyth GOP

Governor Nathan Deal will speak at the regular monthly meeting of the Forsyth County Republican Party this weekend. U.S. Senate candidate Eugene Yu is also set to address the group. The meeting is set for at 9 a.m. Saturday at the VFW Post, 1045 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Gardening program seeks volunteers

The UGA Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Service is seeking applicants for the 2014 Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program.

Applicants must have an interest in gardening, take part in an intensive training program and be willing to share their knowledge with the community.

Application deadline is March 31.

Applicant selection is set for May 1, with training in June.

Information: 770-721-7803.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth planning law enforcement academy

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for its first 2014 Citizens’ Law Enforcement Academy.

The 10-week course starting Feb. 3 will cover such topics as constitutional law, traffic stops, use of force, and K-9 and SWAT demonstrations.

It’s open to all Forsyth residents, employees and business owners.

Information: 678-513-5880.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Superintendent to be announced in April

Atlanta’s next superintendent will be named in April, according to a timeline set by the Atlanta Board of Education on Monday.

The Superintendent Search Committee will interview candidates in January and February, and then the full school board will choose from finalists after they’re announced in March.

The incoming superintendent is expected to start working for Atlanta Public Schools in June as current Superintendent Erroll Davis prepares to retire.

Mark Niesse

Two convicted in retaliatory murder

A Fulton County jury has returned guilty verdicts against Freedell Benton, 26, and Quantavious Guffie, 22, for the retaliatory murder of 24-year-old Drexel Berry. Both were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On May 29, they lured Berry to a Cooper Street apartment complex and confronted him about a prior shooting that left an acquaintance paralyzed. When Berry tried to flee, Benton and Guffie fired as many as 11 shots at him. Berry died at Grady Memorial Hospital. Bill Rankin

APS ends year-round school calendars

The Atlanta school board voted Monday to eliminate year-round instructional calenders still used at two elementary schools.

A survey found that Hutchinson Elementary paremts opposed the year-round calendar, and Boyd Elementary parents were neutral.Mark Niesse

APS board changes legislative priorities

Atlanta Board of Education on Monday voted against asking state lawmakers to make schools proportionately share financial liabilities — language that was aimed at having charter schools contribute to pension debts.

House Bill 680, which is pending in the state House of Representatives, would allow school systems to deduct money from charter schools to help pay unfunded pension liabilities. Mark Niesse

DEKALB

Vacant property registry talks set

DeKalb County will host two meetings in the coming week to explain its new vacant property registry,

The registry is designed to help officials keep track of empty homes to ensure they are properly maintained and secured.

The first meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr., Decatur.

The second session will be held at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday at the Wade Walker YMCA, 5605 Rockbridge Road, near Stone Mountain. April Hunt

Doraville council, development meet

The Doraville City Council and the city’s Downtown Development Authority will host a joint meeting today to introduce members of both bodies.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Doraville Civic Center, 3770 Central Ave.

Refreshments will be provided. April Hunt

Retired educators meet Thursday

The Georgia Retired Educators Association in Decatur and DeKalb will hold its holiday luncheon during its monthly meeting Thursday 1/16 in Decatur.

Retirees from Decatur and DeKalb schools, both public and private, as well as retirees of other districts who live in the county, are welcome in the group.

The focus of the meeting will be safety issues for seniors. The meeting begins at noon Thursday at Decatur First Christian Church, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.

Information: 770-498-9493.

April Hunt

Volunteers still needed for MLK Day project

Volunteers can still sign up for Decatur’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project this weekend.

Workers will do repairs at the homes of senior citizens and also help with yard work for those unable to tackle the chores or pay for help.

Volunteers with carpentry skills or from other skilled trades are especially needed.

Information about shifts available or to sign up: leeann.harvey@decaturga.com or 678-553-6548. April Hunt

Legislative update for parents

The Emory LaVista Parent Council, an education advocacy group, hosts a discussion 9:15 a.m. today at at Briarlake Elementary School, 3590 LaVista Road.

State lawmakers Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) and Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) will join DeKalb Commissioner Jeff Rader to discuss politics as the 2014 session at the state capitol gets underway.

Information: www.emory-lavista.org. Ty Tagami

School district goes mobile with info

The DeKalb County School District has new smartphone apps that offer calendars, phone numbers, addresses and other basic information.

The app, available free for phones running the Apple and Android operating systems, includes news, a tip line and a district directory.

Get it online at the iTunes and Google Play stores. Ty Tagami

SOUTHSIDE

Florida man charged with molestation in Fayette

Peachtree City police have charged a Florida man with child molestation and other offenses in connection with an incident involving a 13-year-old.

Joseph Lundstrom, 30, of Middleburg, Fla., was taken into custody after traveling to Peachtree City to meet the child with whom he had previous sexual contact following interaction on social media. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Key re-elected as Fayette BOE chair

In its first called meeting of 2014 Monday night, the Fayette County Board of Education re-elected Marion Key as its chair and Bob Todd as its vice chair. Barry Marchman initially offered his candidacy for vice chair to counter what he called the “single-minded” effect of Key and Todd voting similarly on most issues.

His nomination was not seconded. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Clayton commission to hold planning retreat

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners will meet Jan. 18 for a retreat at the J.W. Smith Community Use Building, 143 Northbridge Road in Hampton.

The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. retreat will focus on 2014 goals for the county. Among the goals: this year’s legislative agenda and projects to be funded by a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which voters will decide on later this year. Tammy Joyner

Brown keeps Fayette chairman post

Despite recent public arguments and a threatened challenge for its leadership, the Fayette County Board of Commissioners unanimously re-elected Steve Brown as its chairman Thursday night.

“We’ve talked things out,” Brown said. “Things are healed, and we’re back to full speed.”

Charles Oddo was elected vice chairman, and Dennis Davenport was confirmed as the county attorney.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Credit cards now accepted at tag offices

Customers can now pay for motor vehicle tags in person using credit or debit cards at both the McDonough and Stockbridge tag offices.

The Henry County Tax Commissioner’s office made the announcement just before Christmas.

Previously customers could only make in-person transactions by cash or check.

The office also offers a variety of services online at www.henrytc.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Piedmont Hospital offering scholarship

The Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary is accepting applications for the Elizabeth Wilmot Bull Memorial Scholarship until Monday.

The merit-based award is open to students enrolled in a medical- or health-related field of study (except pre-med or pre-nursing) at an accredited Georgia college or university.

Information: 770-719-7098.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC