County by county news for Thursday

Austell looks for owners of abandoned homes

Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins announced an initiative during Monday’s City Council meeting to locate the owners of around 100 houses that were abandoned as a result of the 2009 floods. The city hopes they can find the lien holders of those houses to involve them in razing their properties instead of using city funds. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Smyrna to hold open house a Brawner Hall

Smyrna will have an open house from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Brawner Hall and the Taylor-Brawner House on Atlanta Road. The city renovated the former mental health hospital building into city offices, meeting and reception space surrounded by a 10-acre park in 2009. Citizens raised money to remodel a 100-year-old residence on the property for meetings and receptions. Information: Shea Daniels at mdaniels@smyrnaga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Mardi Gras 5K to benefit charities

The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta will hold its third-annual Mardi Gras 5K fundraiser on Saturday benefiting local charities. The run is a certified Peachtree Road Race qualifier, and will include a Tot Trot for children. The 5K race starts at 8 a.m. in Marietta Square, followed by a 1K at 8:45 a.m., and the Tot Trot at 9 a.m.

Registration: $30; Tot Trot, $15; http://www.marietta5k.com

Janel Davis

Scholarship workshop at Cobb Galleria

The Scholarship Academy in conjunction with the Black College Expo will hold its Annual Scholarship Teaser Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Center. Students of The Scholarship Academy are educated on collegiate funding and also mentored in embracing civic engagement and community service.

Entrance fee is $8. Information: 770-391-9500 or Jessica@scholarshipacademy.org and www.scholarshipacademy.org. Kenneth Musisi

Meeting for prospective foster parents today

Cobb County will hold a meeting for prospective foster parents today in Marietta.

Georgia has more than 7,000 children in foster care at any give time. Cobb residents will learn more about the needs for foster parents and their role in a child’s physical, emotional, medical and psychological needs.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Cobb Department of Family and Children Services, 325 S. Fairground St. in Marietta.

Information: Cindy Teate, 770-319-3712 Janel Davis

GWINNETT

Woman visiting jail accused of heroin use

A woman visiting an inmate at the Gwinnett County Jail ended up spending the night after she was caught using heroin in her car, according to police.

Haley Ruth Spears, of Ellenwood, was arrested Monday night after a deputy spotted her in the jail’s parking lot holding a small silver spoon, a cigarette lighter and a syringe, according to Lt. Sean Smith with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. Spears was arrested and was charged with drug possession and crossing the guard line with weapons, both felonies, according to jail records. Alexis Stevens

Partnership Gwinnett plans Asian trip

The Partnership Gwinnett economic development initiative will lead a business mission to South Korea, China and Hong Kong later this year.

The two-week trip will begin on May 31. Organizers say it will focus on business recruitment and trade opportunities. For more information, visit www.gwinnettglobal.com. For information on joining the trip contact Nick Masino at nick@gwinnettchamber.org. David Wickert

Duluth installs security camera system

Duluth police now have a new browser-based camera system that records high-definition footage officers can access from any computer, including their patrol car laptops.

Eleven, high-definition pan-tilt-zoom cameras have been installed along Buford Highway, in downtown Duluth, and in Bunten Road Park. Duluth’s system incorporates computer-aided dispatch data, which maps patrol cars, incidents and camera footage.

Iron Sky, the equipment provider, has similar systems in College Park, Conyers, Decatur, Hapeville, Lilburn, Norcross, Sandy Springs, Valdosta. Andria Simmons

Schools recognized for AP classes

Gwinnett County’s high schools have been recognized for encouraging more students to take Advanced Placement classes that can earn them college credits.

All of the county’s traditional high schools and a system charter school were named as 2012 AP Honor Schools by Georgia Superintendent John Barge.

The 19 schools were among 367 honored statewide.

Eight of them also earned the AP Merit title. The recognition is given to schools with at least 20 percent of teens taking AP exams and at least half of tests scoring a 3 or better, qualifying for college credit. D. Aileen Dodd

Christian Academy to hold open house

Gwinnett Christian Academy at 2306 Bethany Church Road, Snellville, will hold an Open House on Feb. 18 from 1 p.m. -- 4 p.m.

For information, call 770-982-3773 or visit www.gwinnettchristianacademy.org. Kenneth Musisi

Sierra Club to get legislative update

The Greater Gwinnett Group of the Sierra Club will get a legislative update at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill Road, Lilburn.

Information: Dan Friedman at dan3688@aol.com. David Wickert

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee commissioners approve 2012 budget

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night unanimously approved the nine-month 2012 budget. The $132.3 million budget is down from $133.8 million compared to the first nine months of 2011. The budget is only through September because the county is changing from a calendar year to a fiscal year budget next October. The $5.3 million general fund reserves in the budget are up from last year’s reserves of $3.3 million. Jeffry Scott

Woodstock officials to go on retreat

Woodstock’s elected officials will head for the hills this weekend. Mayor Donnie Henriques and the City Council will hold a retreat from Friday at 8 a.m. until Monday at 5 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 653 U.S. Highway 376, Hiawassee. The agenda had not been firmed up as of midday Wednesday, but Henriques says it will be “very informal” in nature and led by a moderator, with a great deal of brainstorming. The meeting is open to the public. Information: www.woodstockga.gov Mark Woolsey for the AJC

King nephew visits Heards Ferry school

Heards Ferry Elementary in Sandy Springs kicked off African-American History month with a visit from Isaac Farris, nephew of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Farris’ mother, Christine King Farris, wrote the children’s biography, “My Brother Martin.” Issac Farris read the book to all kindergarten students at the north Fulton school. He also was in charge of a question-and-answer session about the past and things have changed. Nancy Badertscher

Mock Trial Competition on Saturday

Cumming will host its second regional Georgia Mock Trial competition Saturday.

Approximately 100 students from Forsyth County’s five public and one private high schools will be competing at the Forsyth County Courthouse, Forsyth County Administration Building and Cumming City Hall for a chance to advance to the state level.

Registration is from 8-8:30 a.m. The final round is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

The public and the media are invited to attend this event. Patrick Fox

Crabapple school recognized at Capitol

Crabapple Middle School was recognized at the state Capitol last week for being on the Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch list.

State Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, lauded students and teachers watching in the Senate Gallery on being named to the list for the third time.

He presented them with a resolution to recognize the middle school as one of only 16 in the state to make the list. Andria Simmons

Canton to hold Chocolate Walk

Canton Historic Downtown announces that the Valentine’s Chocolate Walk will be Saturday,1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Advance tickets are $10. Purchase tickets at http://wwwcantonhdlcom-efbevent.eventbrite.com. Information: Ginger at 770-704-1548. Kenneth Musisi

ATLANTA

Pro Bono Partnership honors law firm

The Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta recently named Atlanta’s Sutherland Asbill & Brennan its 2011 law firm of the year and named Sutherland’s Adrienne L. Smith its lawyer of the year.

Sutherland was recognized for providing $200,000 worth of free legal work from 46 of its attorneys. Smith was honored for counseling clients on 15 matters, including a nonprofit merger.

The Pro Bono Partnership was founded by several Atlanta corporations and law firms, including Sutherland, to provide legal services to nonprofits serving poor and disadvantaged communities. Bill Rankin

City Council changes truancy process

The Atlanta City Council on Feb. 6 unanimously approved an ordinance allowing for more flexibility in combating school truancy.

In 2009, the City Council created a daytime curfew for children ages 6 to 15. Currently, Atlanta police may cite the parent and order them to appear in court after finding a student breaking the curfew three times.

Monday’s vote gives courts more options on the first conviction, including parenting classes, counseling, community service, or possibly a fine or jail time for the parent.

“The goal of this ordinance is not to put parents in jail or to administer fines,” said City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell. “Those are the methods of last resort.” Jeremiah McWilliams

Restaurants donate in honor of officer

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Big Tex and Smith’s Olde Bar joined together recently to raise funds in honor of Gail Thomas, an Atlanta police officer who was killed two weeks ago in a crash authorities claim was caused by a drunk driver.

On Feb. 1, the restaurants pledged to donate a percentage of the restaurant sales to a charity called Humble Heroes and Thomas’ family.

The restaurants raised $5,413 for donations. Jeremiah McWilliams

DEKALB

Driver killed, passenger flees in wreck

A motorist was killed early Wednesday in a single vehicle wreck in south DeKalb County.

Channel 2 Action News reported that a car hit the South River bridge on Waldrop Road and went down an embankment. The driver was killed, and a passenger in the vehicle fled the scene following the wreck. The identity of the person killed was not immediately released. Mike Morris

Legislators to address school redistricting

Legislator will give a public update about proposals to redraw school board lines.

Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody, and Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, were invited to the panel hosted by the Emory Lavista Parent Council. They are to address reapportionment and a reduction in the number of DeKalb County school board districts.

The meeting starts at 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 15 at Briar Vista Elementary School, 1131 Briar Vista Terrace N.E., Atlanta. Ty Tagami

Panel recommends schools’ start times

An eight-person committee studying the ideal bell schedule for Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School, recommended a start time between 8:15 and 8:45 for each. The committee’s report was presented during Tuesday’s school board meeting. Further, it advised the current 45-minute difference (Decatur starts at 8 a.m., Renfroe at 8:45) was too wide due to shared athletics and extracurricular commitments between both schools, and that a 15-minute difference is ideal. Finally the committee recommended exploring the sharing of buses between the two schools. Bill Banks for the AJC

Volunteers needed for Arabia Mountain work

There will be a tree pruning work day at the Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve in Lithonia on Saturday and volunteers are needed, not just to work but also to learn. Work is planned for 9-11 a.m. at Lyons Farm at 4506 Lyons Road. In those two hours, park ranger Robby Astrove will explain the art and science of pruning and how to care for fruit trees during the summer months. Volunteers also will be asked to apply mulch to a grove of historic fruit trees. Rhonda Cook

‘Community arts weekend’ coming up

DeKalb County’s Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center will host a ‘community arts weekend” next weekend.

The event features a free acting workshop, with theater games and script readings, on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a $5 Black Box concert, featuring performances from the gospel group Theory.

More information or to register for the workshop: 404-687-2775 ext. 6 or www.portersanfordarts.org. April Hunt

Volunteers needed to help senior citizens

A group that matches drivers with DeKalb County senior citizens who need rides for medical appointments needs additional volunteers. I Care volunteers use their own vehicles for the appointments, most of them between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays. I Care occasionally can provide gas cards to help defray costs. Information/sign ups: www.icareseniors.org. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Man, woman found shot to death at home

Two people were found fatally shot Tuesday inside a Newton County home in what investigators are calling a double homicide, authorities said. The victims were identified as Peggy Molden, 66, and her nephew, 56-year-old Donald McCollough, Channel 2 Action News reported. Responding to a medical alert triggered around 9:30 a.m., sheriff’s deputies and paramedics rushed to the house in the 100 block of Tempie Lane near Covington.

A relative said Molden was a caretake for McCullough, who was parlayzed. The GBI is assisting in the investigation. Marcus K. Garner

Fayette names teacher of year candidates

Three Fayette educators are finalists to become the county’s Teacher of the Year for 2012.

The candidates are Chris Cannon, an advanced placement government and economics teacher at Sandy Creek High School; Malia Bergstrom, who teaches biology, anatomy and physiology at Fayette County High; and Jacqueline Mullen, a math teacher at Whitewater High School.

The three will next complete interviews and site visits with the judges, who will announce the winner on April 19. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Public workshops slated for Henry budget

Two called public workshop meetings have been scheduled by the Henry County Board of Commissioners for next week as county officials consider the budget for the 2013 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

A meeting is set for Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the county administration building, and another is scheduled for Feb. 17, at 8:30 a.m. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Register for Clayton’s pre-k lottery

Registration for Clayton County Public Schools’ pre-k lottery for the 2012-13 school year will be March 5-10. The lottery will be at each pre-k site. Children must be four years old on or before Sept. 1 to quality. Registration is 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1- 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Extended registration hours are March 8, from 1 -- 6 p.m. Details: www.clayton.k12.ga.us. Tammy Joyner

Peachtree City sets plans to update

Peachtree City’s City Council and Planning Commission held a joint workshop Tuesday to announce the process for updating the community’s Comprehensive Plan. Planning and Zoning Administrator David Rast outlined the “ONE Peachtree City” campaign, which aims to reinforce the village concept and modernize visual elements within the city, including new signage for facilities, subdivisions and streets.

A series of round tables and other public meetings will be held in April to get citizen feedback.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Cycling club to hold annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Southern Crescent Cycling Club will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Heritage Park, 97 Lake Dow Road, McDonough.

Those interested in cycling are invited to meet other enthusiasts as they prepare for the 2012 cycling season. Information: www.bikescc.org. Veronica Fields Johnson