NORTH

Allatoona Lake

Campground to close for sewer work

McKinney Campground at Allatoona Lake will be closed Jan. 1 to May 15 as a sewer system is installed for Bartow County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced.

“This upgrade will improve the overtaxed dump station and aged septic systems that are currently in place,” said Chief Ranger Russell Simmons of the Allatoona Lake Project Management Office.

Other corps-managed campgrounds, including McKaskey, Payne, Sweetwater and Victoria, will open in March as scheduled.

McKinney Campground, at 6659 McKinney Campground Road, Acworth, has 150 camp sites and a shower house, restrooms, swimming beaches, a boat ramp, playground, coin laundry and other facilities. Information: 678-721-6700 or https://bit.ly/2PIwHmR

DAVID IBATA FOR THE AJC

Sandy Springs

City OKs contract for Crooked Creek Trail

The Sandy Springs City Council has awarded a $157,247 contract to construct a new trail, one mile long, from Crooked Creek Park to the Chattahoochee River.

Steele & Associates Inc. submitted the lowest of six bids for the Crooked Creek Park Trail project, Recreation and Parks Director Michael K. Perry said in a report to the council.

The natural-surface foot path will run along its namesake stream from a trailhead at Crooked Creek Park, 3100 River Exchange Drive, to the Holcomb Bridge Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The project is at the easternmost end of Sandy Springs, south of the river and west of Holcomb Bridge Road.

“The project will provide controlled public access to the 33-acre undisturbed forestland unit,” Perry said. “As a pedestrian-only trail, this amenity will provide the public a fitness feature in a natural setting.”

Plans call for a seven-car parking lot, minimal selective tree removal and trimming, and a small wooden bridge.

DAVID IBATA FOR THE AJC

Cherokee County

School district begins Pre-K enrollment Feb. 3

Cherokee County schools will conduct open enrollment for its Georgia Lottery Pre-K program starting Feb. 3 for the 2020-’21 school year.

“The early start provides parents more time to seek other preschool options should their 4-year-old not win a spot in the lottery drawing for the program’s limited seats,” according to a school district announcement.

Pre-K classes will be offered at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy, R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy and Johnston ES Preschool Center.

Parents can apply between 8 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday, Feb. 3-March 6 at the participating schools. Names will be drawn at 3 p.m., March 11, to fill the available spaces. Students who are four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2020, are eligible to enroll.

Out-of-attendance zone students will be admitted only after eligible children applying from inside the school attendance area are enrolled, officials said. For a list of documents needed for enrollment and other information: https://bit.ly/2PG0xIk

DAVID IBATA FOR THE AJC

Alpharetta

City sets Christmas tree ‘Chipper’ collection

Alpharetta residents are invited to “Bring One for the Chipper” at a Christmas tree recycling event Saturday, Jan. 4.

Trees will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Home Depot at 5300 Windward Parkway, according to an announcement by the city of Alpharetta, Alpharetta Natural Resources Commission, Keep Georgia Beautiful and their partners.

Trees will be ground by Davey Tree Expert Co., and the mulch will go to playgrounds, parks and the yards of individuals who ask for the materials. To request free mulch: https://bit.ly/2PUroiL

The initiative is an effort of Keep Georgia Beautiful and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs with corporate sponsors The Home Depot, 11 Alive and Davey Tree. Local sponsors are the Windward Parkway Home Depot, Alpharetta Rotary Club and Alpharetta Young Men’s Service League.

Information: Terry Porter, 678-297-6213 or tporter@alpharetta.ga.us or https://bit.ly/2svddJ8

DAVID IBATA FOR THE AJC

UPCOMING

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra New Year's Eve Celebration. 6 p.m. pre-show dinner, 8 p.m. Dec. 31. $60 to $75 for concert, $150 for VIP with dinner, $20.20 for Decadent Dessert package. Byers Theatre, City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs. CitySprings.com/events/Atlanta-symphony-orchestra-new-years-eve-celebration

New Year's Services. Lifeline Church, 829 Atlanta Highway, Cumming. 404-993-7984, LifelineChurchAtlanta.org

  • Watch Night Service. 10 p.m. Dec. 31.
  • New Year Worship Service. 11 a.m. Jan. 1.

Dungeons and Dragons. 2-5 p.m. Jan. 5, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7. Free. Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton. For ages 12+, join Dungeon Masters as they lead Adventurers in this classic role-playing game. Sign up: 404-613-4402. afpls.org