You are now entering the city of Dunwoody ... officially

Cobb County commissioners have green-lighted the construction for a new transportation management center.

The project consists of a three-story, 24,000-square-foot center for traffic management, control of traffic signals and changeable message boards.

The building will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified. It would be only the second county building to be LEED certified. The center will be just outside Marietta and will replace the current traffic control center.

Commissioners awarded the contract, capped at $4.39 million, to Hogan Construction Group. SHANE BLATT

Educators to speak at state conference

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators announced this week that three Cobb educators have been invited to make presentations at the organization's state conference June 19-21 in Atlanta.

Tenia Boone of Argyle Elementary School, Chris Canter of Pope High School and Erin Eby of McClure Middle School were invited to speak at "Designing Engaging Schools: How to Put the Joy Back Into Teaching."

PAGE, the state's largest organization for professional educators, is an independent association of more than 75,000 teachers, administrators and support personnel. SHANE BLATT

Sign up for summer camp in Marietta

The city of Marietta Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registration for its summer camp programs. Laurel Park day camp is for children ages 6 to 15, and participants will be grouped by age. The camp will feature field trips, games and arts and crafts. Eight one-week sessions begin June. 1.

The Marietta Youth Experience, a youth development program, combines education and community service activities for ages 13 to 15. Campers will be involved in the city's preparation for the July Fourth celebration on the Marietta Square.

Registration can be done in person in the parks department, Marietta City Hall, 205 Lawrence St., or online at www.mariettaga.gov /departments/parks_rec. Information: 770-794-5601.

Road improvements subject of hearing

A public hearing on improvements to Floyd Road will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Floyd Middle School, 4803 Floyd Road in Mableton. The road-widening project is from Clay Road to Hicks Road. Plans call for the existing five-lane section of the road to be replaced with a four-lane divided section with a raised median. A 10-foot sidewalk will be constructed on the west side of the road. For more information, visit cobbcounty.org/DOT or call 770-528-1621.

DeKalb

Avondale Estates * Chamblee Clarkston * Decatur * Doraville Dunwoody * Lithonia * Pine Lake Stone Mountain * Tucker

May is full of concerts on the square in Decatur

A month of concerts on the square kick off in Decatur tonight with the city's Green Fest. The event, which begins at 3 p.m., features the band Y-O-U at 8:15 p.m. It is part of the Decatur Business Association's Saturday Concert on the Square series, which will feature soul/blues band Baatin and Top Secret on May 9, bluegrass/Americana artist Roxie Watson on May 16, funk band Lekan on May 23 and jazz artist Tammy Allen on May 30. All Saturday concerts, except for today's Green Fest, run from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

The association also hosts lunchtime concerts on the square Wednesdays in May. Folk singer Leslie Dysinger kicks off the Blue Sky Concert series Wednesday. Singer-songwriters Tom Wolf and Morgan Rowe play on May 13 and May 20, respectively. Douglas Brake, who sings children's music, concludes the series on May 27.

For more information, visit the association Web site at www.decaturdba.com.

APRIL HUNT

Underage rules go into effect at Stonecrest

The Mall at Stonecrest has begun enforcing new rules which limit when children younger than 18 can shop.

The Parental Involvement Program prohibits those under 18 from being at the mall after 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. It covers the entire mall, including the theater, plazas and parking lots.

Mall officials said the change came from consultations with community leaders as well as their own research, as a way to encourage a more family-friendly atmosphere.

Officials will hold a news conference at the mall at 3 p.m. today, as part of Family Fun Day.

For additional information, visit the mall's Web site at www .mallatstonecrest.com. APRIL HUNT

Decatur official adds national position

One of Decatur's assistant city managers has been elected as regional vice president of a national professional group. Andrea Arnold, who oversees the city's administrative services, will begin her three-year term as Southeast vice president of the International City/County Management Association in September. Arnold has been with the city of Decatur since 1997 and in her current role since 2004. APRIL HUNT

Fulton

Alpharetta * Chattahoochee Hills * College Park * East Point Fairburn * Hapeville * Johns Creek * Milton * Palmetto Roswell * Sandy Springs * Union City

Get Web updates, Twitter in Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs is staying connected with residents online. In addition to its constantly updated Web site, www.sandyspringsga.org, the city recently launched a Twitter account to let residents get updates on road closures or other emergencies. The city also has a page on Facebook, where it lists information on news and events.

To follow the city on Twitter, visit

/sandyspringsga. The city's Facebook page, which allows for people to become fans to receive updates, is at

/pages/Sandy-Springs-GA/City-of-Sandy-Springs-Georgia /48424174072. APRIL HUNT

Milton student among Georgia essay winners

Hayden Butler of Hopewell Middle School in Milton was among 13 youths in Georgia who were winners in the Georgia Municipal Association's "If I Were Mayor, I Would . . ." essay contest.

Hayden wrote that he'd make sure every person in the community had a voice in city government if he were mayor. More than 5,600 essays were submitted by sixth-graders from around the state. Hayden, along with his parents and teacher Debbie Cohen, was honored April 22 in Atlanta. Each student won a $250 savings bond. RALPH ELLIS

Milton officials on planning retreat

The Milton City Council will hold a planning retreat Sunday and Monday at the Evergreen Conference Center in Stone Mountain. Sessions run 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday. The council will discuss subjects such as roles and responsibilities and priority setting on Sunday. On Monday, most of the discussion will be about "goal setting and work plan development." RALPH ELLIS

Gwinnett

Berkeley Lake * Buford * Dacula * Duluth * Grayson * Lawrenceville * Lilburn * Norcross * Snellville * Sugar Hill * Suwanee

County still negotiating service agreement

The second week of mediation in a service delivery agreement between Gwinnett County and its cities ended Friday with no deal signed.

County officials reported "progress was made" this week, echoing sentiments expressed last week when city and county officials bargained through a court-appointed mediator. This week's negotiations were less structured and involved putting into writing what was discussed during mediation.

The service delivery strategy contract is required by the state to reduce overlapping services and ensure city residents are not taxed for county services they don't receive. If formal mediation is required again, May 13-15 has been set for those sessions. PATRICK FOX

Biotech firm opens for plasma donations

ADMA Bio Centers has opened a plasma donation center in Regency Center at 6290 Jimmy Carter Blvd. The new facility is expected to bring 40 biotech jobs —- with an average wage of $50,000 —- to the community by the end of 2010.

"Georgia's strong position in the bioscience industry continues to solidify with the expansion of life sciences companies like ADMA BioCenters," said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

The company will collect plasma for biopharmaceutical research in the development of medications for cancer and transplant patients, premature infants, pregnant women and those with autoimmune disease. The standard fee is $25 per donation. PATRICK FOX

Group to install device for lightning warning

The Norcross Soccer Association has been granted a license to install a lightning detection device near the soccer fields at Pinkneyville Park.

The $6,825 device is equipped with a lightning detection computer to evaluate data from a sensor and provide warnings in case of imminent danger. The agreement provides that the soccer association use the device only during its sponsored activities. It also provides that the association is to monitor its use so as not to present a nuisance to neighbors. PATRICK FOX

Greater Atlanta

Cherokee * Clayton * Coweta * Douglas * Fayette * Forsyth * Henry * Paulding * Rockdale

Man dies in Clayton home invasion

A man was killed Friday in an early morning home invasion at a Clayton County apartment complex, police said.

Clayton County police spokesman Tim Owens said a masked gunman burst into a unit at the Poplar Springs Apartments on Dayna Drive near Riverdale about 1:30 a.m. A woman grabbed two children and fled into a bedroom, police said.

Owens said the woman's boyfriend was shot and killed during a struggle with the intruder. The victim's name was not immediately released.

The motive for the intrusion was also not released. No arrests had been made just before daybreak. MIKE MORRIS

ARC invites comments on stimulus projects

Anyone aching to share an opinion on some metro Atlanta federal stimulus projects, including the use of stimulus funds to avoid service cuts at MARTA, has a place to turn.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is accepting comments on a specific batch of metro Atlanta projects proposed for the stimulus at this e-mail address: transportation@atlantaregional .com. The batch also encompasses $80.8 million in projects including new sidewalks on 14th Street in Midtown and Marietta Street, and rebuilding an interchange at Roswell Road and the 120 Loop to make left turns easier.

The state is expecting about $1.1 billion for transportation from the stimulus, about $931 million of that for roads. This batch of projects, on which ARC legally must request public comment, includes at least one high-profile item. It's the use of $25 million in federal stimulus money to plug a budget gap at MARTA. Although stimulus money is supposed to be used for projects, not operations, ARC and MARTA officials say that they think the payment will pass muster because they will use it for preventive maintenance at MARTA. ARIEL HART

Georgia

Fewer swimming pools open in state parks

Swimming pools at 11 state parks won't open this summer because there's no funding to make needed repairs. None of the pools are in the metro Atlanta area.

New federal regulations require specific pool drain covers, said Sally Winchester, spokeswoman for Georgia's parks.

Parks where pools won't open include:

> A.H. Stephens in Crawfordville

> Bobby Brown in Elberton

> Crooked River in St. Marys

> F.D. Roosevelt in Pine Mountain

> Florence Marina in Omaha

> General Coffee in Nicholls

> Georgia Veterans in Cordele

> Gordonia-Altamaha in Reidsville

> Kolomoki Mounds in Blakely

> Laura Walker in Waycross

> Skidaway Island in Savannah

State officials plan to contact anyone who may have already made a reservation at one of the parks. Refunds or transfers will be offered, if requested. The pools that will remain open include High Falls in Jackson, Magnolia Springs in Millen and Victoria Bryant in Royston. They will open Memorial Day weekend.

ALEXIS STEVENS

Georgia Southern gets $2.3 million grant

Georgia Southern University received a $2.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to benefit the college's biology students and high school teachers in rural school systems.

The grant, which will be spread out over five years, will provide additional training for graduate students, who will work with several schools in rural Georgia. The graduate students will partner with high school teachers and provide skills in molecular biology and help teachers with classroom activities. LAURA DIAMOND

State retains its top bond rating

Despite falling state revenues and billions in budget cuts, Georgia has maintained its top-tier bond rating, Gov. Sonny Perdue said Friday in announcing the sale of more than $300 million in bonds.

Three New York investment firms award states a bond rating to reflect the quality of the investment, and Georgia's AAA rating is the highest available to governments. Only six other states have a AAA rating. Along with better prospects for the sale of bonds, it guarantees the state a lower interest rate, saving the government money.

The bond sale was included in the budget for fiscal year 2009, which ends June 30. Another $600 million is included in the 2010 budget. AARON GOULD SHEININ

State board of education member seeks input

Jose Perez, a member of the State Board of Education, will hold a meeting May 18 to get feedback from parents, teachers, students and others in the community about education in Georgia. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the media center at Norcross High, 5300 Spalding Drive, Norcross.

LAURA DIAMOND