Judges for Fayette County’s 2013 Teacher of the Year award have narrowed down 30 candidates to three finalists.
Laura Griffies of Kedron Elementary teaches fourth-grade math, reading and language arts; Susan Skaff teaches eighth-grade Georgia history and gifted English at Flat Rock Middle School; and Fayette County High School’s Chasity Manning teaches world history and Advanced Placement world history.
The winner will be announced April at the annual ceremony. — Jill Howard Church
Peachtree City offers homestead exemption
Qualifying individuals can apply for the Senior Homestead tax exemption through March 1 in Peachtree City. Homeowners must be age 65 by Jan. 1 and have already applied for the Fayette County exemption. Proof of income is required; visit City Hall, call 770-487-7657 or email info@peachtree-city.org. — Jill Howard Church
Arrest made in teen’s shooting death
A 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of an Ellenwood teenager on Feb. 5, according to Atlanta police.
Darnell Hudson turned himself in Feb. 15 on a warrant for the murder of 17-year-old Wilton Smith-Muirhead, police said. He was charged and taken to the Fulton County Jail.
The shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. in the 500 block of James P. Brawley Drive in Atlanta. Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said officers found Smith-Muirhead lying on the ground, bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
Investigators did not release a motive for the shooting. — Fran Jeffries
Program provides free parking to patients
Park’N Ticket in College Park, an offsite airport parking and shuttle service, has partnered with the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the Angel Parking program. The program provides free parking and shuttle service to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for M.D. Anderson cancer patients and their caregivers traveling to Houston.
Angel Parking was created after Park'N Ticket witnessed through a customer the physical, emotional and financial hardships that families endure during cancer treatment. Information: www.parknticket.com/angel-parking.shtml — Kenneth Musisi
Tax credits available for East Point firms
East Point's recent designation as an opportunity zone may soon pay off for the city. This designation means that any business within the zone that creates at least two new jobs is eligible for a tax credit of $3,500 per job. The credit may be applied to Georgia income tax liability and state payroll withholding for five years, beginning with the tax year in which the jobs were created. Information: Dawn Sturbaum at 404-679-1585 or dawn.sturbaum@dca.ga.gov. — John Thompson for the AJC
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