County by county news for Saturday

Gibbs, a 35-year veteran of the department, serves on the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs board.

Milligan, a commander in the suppression division, has worked for the department for 15 years. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs budget hearing Monday

No tax increases, but five employee layoffs, are included in next year’s Powder Springs budget year, beginning July 1.

The workforce reduction will leave the city with around 83 employees.

The first public hearing on the $6.8 million budget will be 7 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers, 4488 Pineview Drive.

The second public hearing and vote are scheduled for 7 p.m. June 18.

Information: City Hall, 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Schools cited for anti-bullying effort

Wheeler High, Mabry Middle and Davis Elementary schools in East Cobb were recently dubbed “No Place For Hate” by the Anti-Defamation League. In order to be recognized, students and teachers had a majority of their peers pledge to fight bullying, evaluate their own biases and promote diversity in their schools. The schools also held school-wide activities to promote anti-bullying awareness. As part of the award, all of the schools were given “No Place for Hate” banners to hang across their buildings. Wheeler High also won the “Highlight Nice” award from V-103 radio station earlier this year. Daarel Burnette

Essay winner gets trip to France

Campbell High School student Tyler Keegan won a trip to France to study human rights this summer for his essay on how to fight poverty. As part of the “France-Atlanta Humanitarian” contest, French students across the metro area were tasked with writing an essay in French on how to raise awareness among young people on humanitarian issues. Tyler suggested using micro-credits to fight poverty and the Internet to promote awareness.Daarel Burnette

Acworth police host block party today

The Acworth Police Department will host a Summer Block Party from noon to 6 p.m. today at Firehouse Subs, 3348 Cobb Parkway. A bounce house for kids, police and fire department vehicles will be on hand. The K-9 demo is at 2 p.m. Proceeds will go to the 5th annual “Covering the Bases” event to benefit the Horizon Special needs field. Kenneth Musisi

Money help available for seniors in need

Cobb Senior Services is offering financial help for low-income senior citizens who are 60 or older. Seniors must live in Cobb and meet income guidelines to get assistance with delinquent rent and other things. Information: Cobb Senior Services at 770-528-5364. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Students soar on National Frenc Exam

Three Gwinnett County students were top scorers on this year’s National French Exam, a test of students proficiency in French. First place went to Melissa Kyelem, a Parkview High 10th grader who had the highest score in Georgia on the Level 3C exam and placed first at the national level, and to Saritha Mangones, Brookwood High rising junor who earned first place on Level 3A and placed fourth at the national level. Second place honors in Level 2A went to Ndeye Mbodji, a rising 10th grader at Collins Hill High. Mbodji finished third at the national level. Nancy Badertscher

Norcross to celebrate annexations

As part of a local grassroots movement dubbed “Norcross Together,” the city will host an event June 9 to celebrate the city’s recent annexation of properties south of Buford Highway.

The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Gwinnett County’s Cemetery Field at 211 South Cemetery Street.

The celebration will feature a soccer invitational and a reading from author and speaker Joe Kissack.

The soccer invitation will includes skill competitions for all ages and tournament-style games for youths and adults 17 and older.

Information: 678-421-2033. Joel Anderson

Lawrenceville farmers market opens Saturday

The Lawrenceville Farmers Market opens 8 a.m. to noon today at 20 South Clayton St. in the old police station, one block from the new city hall. The market’s interactive website at www.lawrencevillefarmersmarket.com has a link to view vegetables available fresh week by week.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Schools host pro basketball camps

Atlanta Hawks basketball camps are coming to Lilburn’s Berkmar High and Dacula’s Hebron Christian Academy Monday through Friday. The sites are among 14, each featuring Hawks guests and staff, official team gear and a game ticket for each participant. Camps are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for participants 7-16 years old and cost $200. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Lawrenceville offering free self-defense class

Protect your daughters and yourself by learning the basics of self-defense techniques 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Creative Enterprises, 795 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville. This free workshop is for educators, parents and teens. Lunch will be provided. Phone 678-978-4963, or email circleofsistasga@gmail.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Green book bins to benefit libraries

The Gwinnett Public Library is partnering with online book retailer, Better World Books (BWB), to provide green book bins at each location for used book donations. Books collected at these bins will be sold, donated or recycled. A portion of each sale will go to Gwinnett libraries. BWB has re-used or recycled more than 40 million books while raising over $9 million for libraries and global literacy. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Ethics complaint against Tea Party rejected

The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission rejected a complaint filed against the Tea Party Patriots Inc. by Cherokee County Commissioner Karen Bosch on the grounds that the complaint cites no violations. Bosch claimed in the complaint that the organization should be registered with the state because it collects money and influences political campaigns. Bosch, who is not running for re-election, filed the complaint May 23, the day after the tea party claimed she may have illegally not reported 2004 campaign contributions. Jeffry Scott

‘Wireside Chat’ on transit tax Wednesday

A telephone townhall meeting for north Fulton residents on the July 31 transportation sales tax referendum -- one of a series of “wireside chats” hosted by the Atlanta Regional Commission -- will be held Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. Government officials and transportation professionals from the area will take questions, and those who register in advance will receive a map of projects discussed. To register: www.wiresidechats.com or 404-463-3227. Johnny Edwards

Candidates forum in Cherokee June 21

The Cherokee County Farm Bureau and Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce are co-hosting a Political Forum at 6:30 p.m., June 21, in the pavilion at Cagle’s Family Farm, 362 Stringer Road, in Canton. All candidates with opposition will have a chance to speak.

Candidates with no opposition will be introduced. The audience is invited to ask candidates questions. Information: 770-479-1481, extension 0. Jeffry Scott

Summer puppet series opens Monday

The Roswell Cultural Arts Center will launch its 15th season of the Summer Puppet Series for children. This year’s programs begin Monday and feature seven shows running at 10 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Additional shows are at 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

Cost for children ages 2-12 is $5, $6 for adults. Puppet-making kits specifically tailored to each show are available for $4.

The Roswell Cultural Arts Center is at 950 Forrest Street.

Information: 770-594-6232; www.roswellpuppets.com. Patrick Fox

New Ball Ground school to open Aug. 1

Cherokee County school officials are putting finishing touches on the new Ball Ground Elementary School, which opens Aug. 1 for the 2012-13 school year. The new 146,000-square-foot facility on Valley Street replaces a prior campus on Old Canton Road in Ball Ground and has the capacity to serve 1,200 students. The new campus cost $18.7 million. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Reinhardt golf tourney raises $135,000

Reinhardt University in Waleska says that their 24th annual Dave Henritze Scholarship Golf Classic raised more than $135,000 this year. More than 100 players competed in the May 14 tournament at the Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground. The money will go to support 180 students in the school’s work-study program. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

‘Wireside Chat’ on transit tax Monday

Government officials and transportation professionals in Atlanta will take questions from residents about the July 31 regional transportation referendum and the projects as part of a series of “Wireside Chats.” The Atlanta-focused telephone townhall meeting is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Monday. The event is free. Participants who register in advance will receive a map they can use to view the locations of projects discussed on the call. To register, residents can visit www.wiresidechats.com or call 404-463-3227. Jeremiah McWilliams

City launches customer service initiative

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced Thursday that the city had launched new efforts to improve the customer service experience for residents and visitors, including the city’s first-ever customer service bill of rights, training for all employees and the implementation of a new 311 customer service number over the next 18 months. The new programs are coordinated by the city’s Innovation Delivery Team, which is funded by a $3.3 million grant awarded to the city by Bloomberg Philanthropies last summer. Jeremiah McWilliams

Regulators endorse extension on sewers

State and federal regulators have given their official blessing to a plan that would give Atlanta 13 additional years to complete sewer upgrades required by a landmark 1999 order.The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division said Thursday that they support extending the deadline to 2027.

“The proposed extension would reduce the financial burden on Atlanta ratepayers who are already paying some of the highest rates in the country, and allow the city to simultaneously address competing priorities to improve its drinking water system,” the agencies said in a statement.

After a 30-day public comment period, approval by the U.S. District Court in Atlanta is required before the changes become effective. Jeremiah McWilliams

DEKALB

County lets contract for water overhaul

DeKalb County recently signed its first major contract toward a $1.34 billion overhaul of its water and sewer system.

The county inked a $7.7 million contract with Desmear Systems of Tucker, which will grade and prepare the land around the Snapfinger wastewater treatment facility for a major expansion.

The firm is expected to begin clearing the site and excavating rock on June 1 and will later build a retaining wall to help with future construction.

The county plans to spend about $250 million to rebuild, upgrade and expand the Snapfinger facility, making it the single largest project in the system upgrade.

The county expects to begin about $400 million of improvements to the system this year. All of the projects are being paid using bond funds. April Hunt

Decatur to upgrade parking meters

Decatur recently announced it will upgrade the city’s 300 parking meters beginning sometime this fall. Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne said each meter will have a multi-payment system allowing for options like debit and credit. She added that eventually the city will offer a home app where residents can access which parking spaces are available.

“We want to manage our parking spaces more efficiently,” Menne said, “and make it easier for people to pay.” Decatur last upgraded its parking meters 15 years ago. Bill Banks for the AJC

Family Dollar to open in Oakhurst center

A Family Dollar store will open later this summer in the Oakhurst shopping center at 630 East Lake Drive. The center, which has been mostly empty in recent years, dates at least to the late 1950s when it originally housed a Colonial Grocery.

Family Dollar will open about 500 new stores nationally this year, and the Oakhurst location, employing roughly eight to 10 people, will be 7,700 square feet. Bill Banks for the AJC

Accounting conference to begin Monday

The City of Dunwoody hosts its second annual Dunwoody Accounting Conference starting at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday at Dunwoody Baptist Church, 1445 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody.

The theme for 2012 is “The Killer B’s: Budget, Bonds & Banking.”

The five-day conference provides an opportunity for accountants in government, business and industry to participate in training, education and networking sessions. Information: Bob Mullen at 678-382-6700 or bob.mullen@dunwoodyga.gov. Kenneth Musisi

Mayor, CEO to pitch transit vote

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis and Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd will make the case for the upcoming regional transportation referendum in a June 13 call to anyone interested.

The penny sales tax vote will be held on July 31. The local leaders’ call, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will promote projects DeKalb and the region plan if the referendum passes. They also will answer questions about the project list.

To sign up or hear the chat, call 404-463-3227 or visit www.wiresidechats.com. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette school board closes in on budget

A special workshop Thursday night brought the Fayette County Board of Education a step closer to finalizing its 2012-13 budget.

Still facing a $15 million shortfall, board members and Superintendent Jeff Bearden discussed further cost-saving measures. Now pending is a proposal to cut teacher and staff life insurance and long-term disability benefits in the fall to save enough money to keep full-time assistant principals at Tyrone and Brooks elementary schools. The board votes Monday night on the changes. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry adopts $115.5 million budget

The Henry County Board of Commissioners adopted a the 2013 budget of $115,566,262 on May 30. Projected revenues are $10 million less than the adopted budget as the county expects another 18-percent drop in this year’s residential tax digest.

County employees, who are going into their fifth year with no cost of living raises, will have four furlough days for the third year in a row. Monroe Roark for the AJC

School board members reach out

Two Fulton school board members have monthly meetings set for June. The others will resume these meetings when the new school year begins. Set to host meetings in June are board members Linda Bryant and Julia Bernath. Bryant’s meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. June 6 at Westlake High. Bernath’s will be at 9:30 a.m. June 7 at Riverwood International Charter School. Nancy Badertscher

Camp 911 offered to kids in south Fulton

Registration has opened for Fulton County’s Camp 911, a camp for children ages 9-12 that will be held July 23-27. It will last from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Public Safety Training Center at 3025 Merk Road, near the Wolf Creek Amphitheater. Children must live in unincorporated south Fulton or be the child of a county employee to be eligible. Applications are at www.fultonpolice.org. Johnny Edwards

Peachtree City runner begin summer series

The Peachtree City Running Club begins its 2012 Summer Track Series on Tuesday.

Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to events at Riley Field on Wisdom Road Tuesday nights through July 10, with championship meets on July 17-18. Races range from 50-yard dashes to 5K runs; there are no field events.

Registration begins each week at 6 p.m. with events starting at 6:30 p.m. Information: 770-722-0101 or 770-460-1425. Jill Howard Church

Henry on patrol for animals left in cars

Henry County Animal Care and Control’s “Operation Cool Down” program is gearing up for the season when residents tend to leave their pets locked inside their vehicles while shopping. Any animal found in distress in a vehicle will be removed by whatever means necessary, as permitted under county ordinance. Violators will be cited for cruelty to animals. Information: www.hcacc.org .

Monroe Roark for the AJC