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Gov. Proclaims Georgia's Support of National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month and Gov. Sonny Perdue is encouraging residents to get ready for the unexpected by creating an emergency plan and “Ready Kit” of emergency supplies – steps only about 20 percent of Georgians have taken.

National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready America campaign, is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage action for emergency preparedness. Nearly 2,000 private, public and nonprofit organizations across the country participate as National Preparedness Month Coalition Members to remind citizens of the importance of emergency preparedness by hosting events and initiatives during September.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Georgia campaign, an extension of Ready America, is Georgia’s local, comprehensive resource for emergency preparedness. The campaign’s Web site, www.ready.ga.gov – sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response – offers users an interactive tool that generates a tailored communications plan for the entire family and a list of specific supplies to include in household Ready kits, along with other valuable information for individuals, families and businesses on how to get ready.

To help spread the campaign’s message – prepare, plan and stay informed – The Ad Council in cooperation with DHS, launched a new public service announcement today that was localized for Georgia by the Metro Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative on behalf of Ready Georgia. The new PSA will air on television stations throughout the state to educate and engage viewers in the preparedness process.

“Research has shown that most Georgians feel immune to the threats that are real and dangerous,” said Julia Janka, program administrator for Metro Atlanta UASI. “By creating awareness for the need to be prepared, we hope that more people will act as their own first responders should disaster strike.”

Citizens Corps, Community Emergency Response Teams, local emergency management agencies and organizations across Georgia are planning additional preparedness events in their communities. For a list of events taking place during September and for more information about the Ready Georgia campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.ga.gov .

Gwinnett County Makes More Budget Adjustments

Gwinnett County's separately elected officials and Constitutional officers have agreed to $1.9 million in budget cuts to help commissioners balance the books for 2009.

The Board accepted their recommendations on Tuesday and cautioned that another $11 million in cuts will be needed for next year. These cuts are consistent with reductions in budgets throughout the County. While the Board of Commissioners appropriates funds for departments run by elected officials, they do not directly manage those departments.

The officials include the Clerk of Court, Clerk of Recorder’s Court, District Attorney, Judiciary, Juvenile Court, Probate Court, Recorder’s Court, Sheriff, Solicitor and Tax Commissioner. The County’s Department of Human Resources has offered to work with all these departments to arrange staff reductions through a retirement incentive program in those areas where personnel costs must be reduced.

In related action, commissioners approved a retirement incentive program for Probate Court, similar to the one offered to many eligible County employees last month. It is expected to save $59,295 in 2010.

Stone Mountain Man Arrested; Allegedly Hit Toddler

According to police, a 61-year-old Stone Mountain man annoyed with a crying 2-year-old girl at a Wal-Mart slapped the child several times after warning the toddler's mother to keep her quiet.

A police report says after the stranger hit the girl at least four times, he said: "See, I told you I would shut her up."

Roger Stephens of Stone Mountain is charged with felony cruelty to children.

Authorities say the girl and her mother were shopping Monday when the toddler began crying.

The police report says Stephens approached the mother and said, "If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you."

Authorities say after Stephens slapped the girl, she began screaming.

The mother then called for security.

The girl suffered some redness in the face but was otherwise okay.

Stephens was being held without bond.

Cobb Paramedic Honored for Helping Fellow Firefighter's Widow

Dennis Thayer, an engineer and paramedic for Cobb Fire and Emergency Services, was recently honored with the Special Presidential Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. The award is given at the discretion of the president when someone has met the high standards for the honor.

Thayer was chosen for this prestigious award for his efforts to help the widow of Joey Turner, a volunteer firefighter from Homerville-Clinch County who died of a heart attack while training at the Georgia Fire Academy. Thayer worked tirelessly to raise enough money to buy her a used car, new tires, insurance for a year and make six months worth of mortgage payments on her home.

Thayer also led a group effort to ensure the State Indemnification Commission paid the widow money due from her husband's line of duty death. The commission originally recommended not paying benefits because the firefighter was in training at the time of his death.
Photo by Jim Mykytyn

Grant Park Tour of Homes Set for Sept. 26-27

The 36th Annual Grant Park Tour of Homes will be held Sept. 26-27

Join organizers for the 36th Grant Park Tour of Homes and enjoy "Atlanta's Backyard". Grant Park living has it all, from historic bungalows to new construction and modern city condos.

For ticket information, visit: https://neighborhood.org/net/commerce/signup.aspx?ez=1&s=0.0.0.20

UGA to Host Young Students at Scholar Weekend

As many as 100 of the brightest middle and high school students in Georgia and nearby states will get their first taste of college courses during a Scholar Weekend Sept. 19-20 hosted by the University of Georgia College of Education’s Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development in partnership with Duke University and the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

The UGA Scholar Weekend, directed by UGA’s Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development, is part of the Duke Talent Identification Program to identify academically talented children and provide resources to nurture and challenge each child’s abilities.

TIP scholars are identified through standardized test scores and invited to take the SAT or ACT in the 7th grade as part of the program. Those scoring exceptionally well are then invited to attend TIP’s Scholar Weekends where they are exposed to interesting and challenging topics not typically covered in middle or high school curricula.

This is the first of three Scholar Weekends planned this fall at UGA, which is one of only eight locations in the nation selected to be hosts. The second Scholar Weekend is scheduled for Oct. 17-18, and the third program will be held Dec. 5-6. Other sites include the University of South Carolina, Appalachian State University, New College in Sarasota, Fla., the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, Texas Christian University and Duke University’s main campus.

At TIP Scholar Weekends, students are introduced to the collegiate experience by participating in two days of intense study in one of the provided courses taught by UGA professors and Athens area school teachers. The overall goal is to enhance student skills, enrich the learning experience and foster an interest in college as well as specific collegiate majors.

The courses available for the Sept. 19 Scholar Weekend include “Introductory Robotics,” “Architecture: From Playhouses to Mansions,” “A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words: Creative Writing and Photography,” “To Climb the Great Wall: Fun with Mandarin Chinese,” “CSI: Plant Pathology,” “Biofuels: The Next Step?,” “Rube Goldberg Challenge,” “Psychology, Human Experience and the U.S. Military,” and “The Physics of the Nintendo Wii.”

Tuition for the Scholar Weekend on Sept. 19-20 is $395 for day students and $425 for overnight students. Some financial aid is available. Registration ends Sept. 1.

For more information on these programs and a printable registration sheet, see the Torrance Center’s Web site at www.coe.uga.edu/torrance/ or call (706) 542-5104.

Gwinnett Co. Fed Stimulus Money Totals $120M

Gwinnett County commissioners heard Tuesday that they have received almost $120 million so far from the $787 billion federal economic stimulus law, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) that became law last February.

The funds are being distributed through various federal and state agencies. Gwinnett’s largest amount to date, totaling $81.3 million, is going to shovel-ready road improvements including the $24 million extension of McGinnis Ferry Road across I-85. Bids for that project were opened on July 17 and construction should begin soon.

Board Chairman Charles Bannister said, “County staff began looking for funding opportunities the day the law was passed, and we’ve obviously been very successful with our many applications. It’s clear that our success is a result of staff having solid plans in place and projects that were ready to go. We also appreciate the help of our Congressional delegations in Washington who are very aware and supportive of our needs.”

Gwinnett focused on four areas for stimulus funding: modernizing infrastructure, clean energy technology, crime control and prevention, and community stabilization in the wake of record foreclosures.

Of the funds received to date, $81.3 million came through Georgia DOT, $21.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), $16.7 million from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, $9 million from the Federal Transit Administration, $7.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, and $2.4 million through the U.S. Department of Justice. The latest award is $1.7 million from HUD to prevent homelessness and help homeless residents find new housing; four nonprofit organizations with experience in serving homeless individuals and families are recommended to receive the funds.

Gwinnett submitted successful applications for a wide variety of projects including road-building, weatherization, homelessness programs, a new Senior Services Center, mid-life overhauls of transit buses, a waste-to-energy power generator, recycling of fats, oils and grease, and new public safety systems including online citizen reporting, and improved forensic and crime scene investigation equipment.

Federal stimulus funds are subject to very thorough audit and reporting requirements and can be tracked at www.recovery.gov for federal projects and www.stimulusaccountability.ga.gov for state projects.

FedEx to Expand Cobb County Operations

FedEx Ground plans to expand its Cobb County distribution center and add 270 well-paying jobs. This initiative will add 85,000 square feet to the state-of-the-art facility.

"This has been one of FedEx's most successful distribution centers," Michael Hughes, Cobb director of economic development, said in a statement. "FedEx enjoys access to a world-class workforce as well as great infrastructure."

The facility manager of the Cobb location credits support received from the county as a major help in making the center one of the most productive facilities. The expansion will provide additional capabilities to aid efficient handling of local, regional and country-wide service.

UGA Inducts 102 Incoming Vet Students

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed the class of 2013 during its annual White Coat Ceremony held recently. Sponsored by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, this event officially recognized 102 members of the incoming class of 2013 by donning them in bright white lab coats to be worn during their veterinary education.

The hour-long ceremony was held in the Mahler Auditorium at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel. After the ceremony, Dr. Myron Downs, president of the GVMA and an Athens-area veterinary surgeon, led the two-block recessional of coated students to the College of Veterinary Medicine for a class photo and a reception with their families and veterinary faculty and staff.

This year’s incoming class includes 76 women and 26 men, with an average undergraduate GPA of 3.54 and an average GRE score of 1116.

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, providing services to animal owners and veterinarians and conducting investigations to improve the health of animals and people. The college benefits companion animals and their owners, food-producing animals and wildlife by offering the highest-quality hospital and diagnostic laboratory services. The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 570 who apply and employs more than 145 faculty members.

UPDATE: Hunt on for Gunman Who Killed 4 in Gwinnett County

Police in Gwinnett County are looking for a gunman who shot 5 people and killed 4 of them.

It happened Thursday night on Clairidge Lane in Lawrenceville which is off Sugarloaf Parkway near the Gwinnett fairgrounds. Police say when they arrived at the home they found 3 people already dead. A fourth was taken to the hospital where they died. A 4 year old was also found with a gunshot wound but alive. She's been taken to a hospital.
A neighbor told CBS Atlanta she helped put the child in the ambulance and that the child told her her family is dead. She says the child was injured and hysterical.An all out manhunt is underway for the shooter.Police say the shooter is driving a black Dodge Intrepid with Georgia tag AZH-7311. According to police the car has a New Orleans Saints sticker on the gas cap cover and is flying a New Orleans Saints Flag.

Courtesy: CBS Atlanta

The Peachtree City Council will hold the last of three public hearings on the millage rate on Thursday, Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m. The millage rate and FY 2010 budget will be adopted following the public hearing.

Staff has proposed increasing the millage rate by 0.237 mills to avoid using any cash reserves for the FY 2010 budget. Based on the proposed millage rate for the City and the other agencies in Fayette County, 16.5% of a Peachtree City resident’s property taxes would come to the City of Peachtree City, with 67.2% going to the Fayette County Board of Education,15.5% going to Fayette County, and 0.7% going to the State of Georgia.

UGA to Dedicate Expansion of Health Center

The University of Georgia will dedicate the addition and renovation of its University Health Center Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. at the facility.

The ceremony, which commemorates the $17 million project that added 30,000 square feet of new clinic and office space, will feature speakers: UGA President Michael Adams; Rodney Bennett, vice president for Student Affairs; Jean Chin, director of the center; and Jasmaine Williams, a fourth-year biology major and member of the Student Health Advisory Committee.

“The completion of the expansion project means the ‘one-stop shop’ health care experience for students is now a reality,” said Chin. “With the Vision Clinic addition, we are offering eye care services to round out our medical, dental, counseling, travel, health education and prevention, diagnostic, and pharmacy services. We have a new training kitchen for students to learn about healthy cooking and an optical shop that carries glasses, contacts, and accessories. This building brings all of these services under one roof. There are few reasons for students to leave campus for health care now.”

In addition, the project expanded the Women’s Clinic and the Dental Clinic, relocated the Allergy/Travel Medicine Clinic to the first floor to improve access, and augmented the pharmacy and waiting area. The Vision Clinic, which opened Aug. 10, serves students, faculty, staff and employee dependents by offering comprehensive eye exams and a vast selection of glasses and contact lenses. The second floor of the center is now dedicated solely to Counseling and Psychiatric Services in order to meet the rising demand for mental health services. The project added more clinician offices, group therapy rooms and testing spaces. The renovation, which was completed in two phases, began in April 2008. The University Health Center is a department within UGA’s Division of Student Affairs.

For more information on the University Health Center, see http://www.uhs.uga.edu/.

Emory Names Grad School After James Laney

The Emory University Board of Trustees has approved naming the Graduate School in honor of President Emeritus James T. Laney, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, who led the university from 1977 until 1994, a time when it emerged as a national research university.

"The naming of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies honors the vision and leadership of Jim Laney, whose ambitious plan for Emory revolved around graduate education," said Emory President James Wagner. "He understood clearly that the core of great research universities lies in the training of new generations of intellectual leaders for the academy and for the public good."

"Emory's decision to name the Graduate School for me is the greatest honor of my life," said Laney. "From the very first, Emory has been in my heart, and I am deeply touched and humbled to always be associated with the university in such a special way."

Lisa A. Tedesco, dean of the newly designated Laney Graduate School, said that "naming the graduate school is a fitting way to acknowledge President Laney because it recognizes his vision for the central role of doctoral education in establishing and sustaining a great research university at the forefront of discovery in the sciences and humanities."

UGA to Host Social Media Talk Sept. 19

Public relations professionals and academics alike are continuing to talk about how social media are changing what they do. Leading that conversation, the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will host its third annual Connect conference on public relations and social media on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Miller Learning Center on campus.

The conference, sponsored by Porter Novelli and the Grady College, is designed to bring together public relations professionals and educators to explore how social media is being used in public relations.

“We’ll be talking about whether social media should be integrated with traditional PR and marketing programs. And, if it should, how that might be done,” said Karen Miller Russell, Grady College associate professor of public relations and conference organizer.

Paula Berg, manager of emerging media for Southwest Airlines, will provide the keynote speech on Saturday evening. According to Russell, Southwest is the nation’s leading low-fare air carrier and has been one of the most successful U.S. businesses of the past 30 years.

Panel discussions on Saturday will match professionals and academics discussing important issues and practices within non-profits, business and industry, and government public relations. Speakers include Jeremy Pepper, Dan Greenfield, principal of Bernaise Source Media; Richard Waters, North Carolina State University; and Toby Bloomberg, Bloomberg Marketing/Diva Marketing.

Adding a global perspective will be two speakers joining the discussion via the Web—Melanie James of Newcastle University in Australia and Tom Watson of the United Kingdom’s Bournemouth University.

Saturday’s luncheon will feature Lauren Fernandez, marketing coordinator at American Mensa and popular public relations blogger. Fernandez recently tackled a controversial subject when she questioned whether PR agencies should be executing social media plans for their clients.

Past conferences received rave reviews from participants. “Connect really changed my approach to public relations,” said Melissa Libby of Atlanta’s Melissa Libby and Associates. “I learned it all at the conference. Facebook, YouTube, Yelp and Flickr are now all in a day’s work at our company.” Public relations measurement professional Katie Paine called Connect “a very fun and fascinating discussion of social media.”

“Social media isn’t new anymore,” said Russell. “It’s time for organizations of all types to figure out how to make it part of their overall communication programs.”

Conference registration is $150 with a deadline of Friday, Sept. 11. Space is limited. For more information and to register, see www.grady.uga.edu/connect.

Gwinnett Co. Checking Businesses on Immigration Status

More than 26,000 Gwinnett-based businesses soon will get a letter from the County’s license and revenue office asking for compliance with a new state immigration law.

The County is required to check the immigration status of all applicants for a business/occupation tax certificate, commonly called a business license.

Board Chairman Charles Bannister said the law requires all applicants to be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, qualified alien or a nonimmigrant as defined in the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act. Bannister explained, “We are making sure that Gwinnett County is in compliance with the law.”

All businesses, corporations, LLCs and partnerships registered in Gwinnett will receive the letter over the next few weeks. Applicants are required to return a signed, notarized affidavit before they can renew online or receive a 2010 business/occupation tax certificate. Those who are not U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents must also submit a copy of certain paperwork to establish their status, which the County will verify through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program operated by the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Since 2007, Gwinnett has been verifying the immigration status of applicants for jobs at the County and its primary contractors and subcontractors. The verification program also applies to other public benefits such as housing assistance, certain work permits and adult education.

Athens-Clarke County Police Battle ID Theft, Hold Sept. 2 Event

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department said it has received reports that individuals are being called on their cell phones by people posing as bank representatives.

The victims are being told their debit cards have been compromised. The caller then requests personal information from the card holder. This is an attempt to gain identity information to be used to commit identity fraud.

If you receive such a call and have doubts about the caller, contact your local bank to confirm the activity on your account before giving out any identifying information.

Do not call the number that the caller attempts to give you for that number will ring back to the suspects. Find your bank’s customer service number independent of the caller. Your bank's customer service number should be located on the back of your bank card, on your monthly billing statement, the bank’s web site, or the paperwork received when you opened your account.

Upcoming community meetings to discuss crime problems:

• Wed., Sept. 2
  6:30 p.m.
  Central Baptist Church
  720 Danielsville Rd.

Residents will be able to:

• Discuss crime problems in your community.
• Relay ideas on how to have a better community.
• Learn facts about neighborhood crime.
• Have up-to-date information on Crime Prevention and Crime Prevention tools.
• Address issues on physical condition of the neighborhood.

For information, contact Lt. Terrie Patterson at (706) 613-3358, ext 223, or Nick Aguilar, ext 237.

UGA Gains a Top Ranking in Magazine Report

The University of Georgia is ranked 21st among public universities and tied for 58th overall according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges.

UGA also was listed among 25 national universities for 2008 graduates with the least debt.

The undergraduate program at the Terry College of Business is ranked 25th overall—up from 30th last year—and 18th among public business schools. This year’s ranking marks the 11th consecutive year Terry has been ranked in the top 30. Terry’s risk management and insurance program maintained its second place ranking nationally, as did the real estate program, which is ranked third in the country.

“We see continual improvement in the quality of students and faculty in the Terry College of Business, and it is satisfying to have our undergraduate program consistently recognized as one of the very best in the country,” said Dean Robert Sumichrast. “We’re undertaking some curriculum changes this year that will challenge our students in the classroom and make their campus experience even better while they’re students in the Terry College.”

The 2010 rankings are available on-line at www.usnews.com and highlights of the college rankings will be published in the Sept.1 issue of U.S News & World Report, available for newsstand purchase Monday, Aug. 24. The U.S. News & World Report's 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges guidebook will be available as of Tuesday, Aug. 25.

U.S. News considers several factors in producing the annual ranking. Among those are graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and peer assessment.

Golf Event Tees-Off Aug. 31

The SafePath Children's Advocacy Center and Cobb Department of Public Safety's 12th annual charity golf classic, "Teeing Off for Kids," will take place Monday, Aug. 31, at the Indian Hills Country Club. Registration is at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10 a.m.

The event is a four-person Ft. Lauderdale scramble golf tournament. The fees are $175 for individual players and $700 for a foursome. Sponsorships start at $300. All proceeds of the tournament benefit the SafePath Children's Advocacy Center, which provides assistance to child abuse victims and their non-offending caregivers. The club is located at 4001 Clubland Drive, Marietta.

Registration is available online at: teeingoffforkids.com.

UGA Math Dept. to Open New Study Area

The department of mathematics at the University of Georgia will formally open a new Undergraduate Study Area in room 308 of the Boyd Graduate Studies Building on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 3 p.m. The public is invited to the event.

“The department has provided the study area Undergraduate Study Area in order to meet our students’ need for a space to study and collaborate in groups while remaining close to their instructors and classrooms,” said Jason Cantarella, an associate professor of mathematics and co-director of the Vertical Integration of Research and Education program, which is funded by a five-year $3.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

The new facility will encourage casual mathematical interaction between students and faculty before and after their classes, Cantarella said. The USA will house personal lockers so students can store books and space where they can work together. It will also host math club meetings and drop-in tutoring hours for all mathematics students.

“The USA is a modern and comfortable space equipped with seating for 25 students to work alone or in small groups, with laptop power outlets, WiFi, a conference room, a reference library of mathematics texts and a coffeemaker,” said Cantarella.

The Undergraduate Study Area was completed with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Office of the Vice President for Instruction, personal contributions from members of the mathematics department, including Jim and Nancy Cantrell, and the National Science Foundation, through the mathematics department’s VIGRE grant. The room was designed by Leslie DiSimone of the UGA Physical Plant. The department of mathematics is part of UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Stimulus, Other Grants Impact Gwinnett Co.

Just over $4.5 million in federal stimulus and state funds is headed to Gwinnett County after commissioners voted to accept five different grants on Tuesday.

Almost $3.3 million is designated for energy audits, weatherization and appliance repairs to make an estimated 461 homes of elderly, low income and handicapped residents more efficient and affordable. The stimulus funds will come from the U.S. Department of Energy through the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority and the work will be done by the non-profit organization Partnership for Community Action. Another $1.1 million will help build a new Senior Services Center at 567 Swanson Drive in Lawrenceville.

A year of construction will begin this month on the new “green building” that will centralize various programs that serve Gwinnett seniors. Deputy Secretary Ron Sims of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development came to Gwinnett on July 22 to announce the Community Development Block Grant award. Neither of these grants requires matching funds.

Commissioners also accepted a $69,411 grant to provide home-delivered and congregate meals to frail and homebound seniors provided through the Atlanta Regional Commission. The grant requires a 15 percent local match that the County is unable to provide, but the non-profit Friends of Gwinnett County Seniors group has offered to supply the needed $12,248.

Friends President Pam Tokarz said, “We don’t want to lose any opportunity to feed needy seniors in our community, so we’re happy to provide these matching funds.” Gwinnett provides more than 135,000 such meals annually but still has a wait list of more than 200 eligible seniors.

Fire and Emergency Services will receive two state grants through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. A grant of $61,430 will pay for new hazardous materials suits and reference books for the Lawrenceville-based HazMat team that handles incidents like natural gas line breaks, significant gasoline spills, victim retrieval, site decontamination and contaminated victim transport.

Another $25,000 state grant will pay to replace equipment on the department’s Buford-based Search and Rescue truck. Fire personnel use the equipment to extricate victims from traffic collisions, caved-in trenches, confined spaces, machinery entanglements, or collapsed structures using precision cutting, spreading, disassembly, rigging or heavy lifting techniques.

Peachtree City Police Remind Residents to Protect Cars

The Peachtree City Police Department is reminding residents to protect their cars at all times.

On Aug. 14 and 15, between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m., numerous items were stolen from autos and garages in the Heritage Subdivision, located on Highway 74.

There was no forced entry to any of the cars and garages (residents had left their cars and garages unlocked or open). Stolen items included radios, money, a laptop, GPS units, an IPod, wallets, and alcohol.

Peachtree City Police wants to remind residents and visitors of the following tips:

* Keep vehicles and homes locked.
* Do not leave valuable items in vehicles.
* Call the police if you see any suspicious activity, or hear suspicious noises.Be aware of you surroundings.

Thieves will watch areas and will target cars, homes, and people who make themselves easy victims. Keep this in mind when placing packages, purses or valuables in the car – keep them out of sight, or better yet, remember that . . . The safest place for valuables is on your person or secured in your home.

IBBS Moves to Cartersville Facility

Integrated Broadband Services (IBBS) has moved to a new, larger customer call facility in Cartersville, and added 30 employees.

According to a company spokesperson, having the call center in Cartersville allows the company greater access to graduates from several technical schools.

IBBS offers software and services for cable operators and broadband Internet service providers.

Finalists Named in UGA Provost Search

A University of Georgia search committee has recommended four finalists to UGA President Michael Adams for the position of senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Each finalist will visit the university and will hold a University Council forum and open public session from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Chapel on the day of their campus visit. The public sessions, which will be open to faculty, staff, and students, will be followed by a brief media availability.

The finalists were announced by search committee chair William Gray Potter, university librarian and associate provost. The 20-member committee began its work in March and is composed of faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni. The committee was assisted by Shelly Weiss Storbeck, managing partner of executive search firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates.

Adams will choose a successor to Arnett Mace Jr., who is scheduled to retire on Jan. 1 after 18 years of service to UGA, with seven of those years as provost. (Mace will continue his leadership role in the MCG/UGA Medical Partnership under the title Special Assistant to the President.)

The finalists are: Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, founding dean of the University of South Carolina College of Arts and Sciences;Sallie Keller-McNulty, William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the Rice University George R. Brown School of Engineering;Jere W. Morehead, vice president for instruction at the University of Georgia; andRobert D. Newman, dean of humanities and associate vice president for interdisciplinary studies at the University of Utah.

Governor Creates Educational Abuse Study Group

Gov. Sonny Perdue has accepted the recommendations of the Office of the Child Advocate and created a working group to examine policies and procedures that are followed when cases of abuse are alleged in an educational environment.

The Governor’s Working Group on Abuse in the Educational Setting will convene experienced school administrators and leaders along with law enforcement personnel to develop consistent statewide policies and protocols for addressing reports of child abuse by school employees.

The Governor has charged the working group with developing specific child abuse reporting and response procedures that can be adopted by every school system in the state. The group’s recommendations will include specific processes for parents and students to report abuse as well as protocols for school system management to use when taking personnel action involving accused employees and reporting the incident to law enforcement, system leadership and the Professional Standards Commission.

A specific task of the group will include developing protocols for addressing allegations abuse in special settings, such as those involving special educational programs operated by Regional Educational Services Agencies (RESAs).

Gov. Perdue’s formation of the working group comes in response to recommendations from the Office of the Child Advocate. In June, following a disturbing case alleging abuse of a child by school personnel, the Governor charged the State Child Advocate with determining whether Georgia’s laws and policies adequately address issues of abuse in the educational setting.

The first meeting of the working group has been tentatively scheduled for late August. The members of the working group are:

• Matt Arthur, Superintendent, Rabun County Schools

• Emily Lembeck, Superintendent, Marietta City Schools
• Jeannie Edwards, Student Health Coordinator, Dawson County Schools
• Stephanie (Taylor) Williams, Ed.S., Early Intervention Program (EIP), MontgomeryElementary School, DeKalb County Schools
• Jay Fowler, Principal, Rocky Creek Elementary School, Henry County
• Pete Skandalakis, Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney
• Rachael Barron, Parent Representative, Atlanta

The Georgia Review Hosts Dove Oct. 8-9

The Georgia Review, the University of Georgia’s quarterly journal of arts and letters, marks its long association with Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. poet laureate Rita Dove by hosting the renowned writer for two days of readings, talks, and informal gatherings in Athens on Oct. 8 and 9.

Scheduled events on Thursday, Oct. 8, include a 3:30 p.m. informal talk at the Tate Student Center Theater, and “How Does a Shadow Shine?” a reading at 7 p.m. at the Morton Theatre, 195 W. Washington St. On Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m., the Athens-Clarke County Public Library auditorium will be the venue for “Cafe au Libris: An Evening with Rita Dove,” a conversation and book signing.

Dove also will meet with students and faculty at Clarke Central High School while in Athens.

Acworth Park and Ride Lot Takes Off

Cobb County leaders recently cut the ribbon for the Cobb Community Transit's newly-expanded Acworth Park and Ride Lot.

About 80 percent of the $2.3 million construction cost was paid for through federal grants, according to the Cobb County Department of Transportation. Another 10 percent was paid for by state grants. The project, which expanded the lot from 274 parking spaces to 499 spaces, also included additional lighting and a covered passenger waiting area. CCT offers eight other park and ride lot locations for the convenience of patrons.

For more information, visit cobbcct.org.

Women's Empowerment Series Hits Atlanta Aug. 20

The Women’s Empowerment Series scheduled for Aug. 20 in Atlanta has added some additional prominent speakers covering topics designed to help women succeed in their personal and professional lives and to support the growth of women in business.

Keynote presentations and break-out sessions during the Women’s Empowerment Series will provide mentoring, education and motivation from accomplished business leaders and female entrepreneurs and offer ideas and insight for succeeding in the changing business environment and economy.

The list of featured speakers and topics includes:

Joyce Bone of MillionaireMom.com will speak on “The Three Keys and the Power of the Millionaire Mom Mentality.”

Bone is the founder and CEO of MIllionaireMoms.com, a Web site helping women master the art of raising a business and a family. She co-founded EarthCare, an environmental company that grew from a $10,000 investment to a $50 million company in 18 months. She is a columnist for eWomenNetwork’s “Glow Magazine” and “Inside Gwinnett” magazine. She has been featured on CNBC’s “The Squawk Box”.

Maritza Parra of MaritzaParra.com will present “Transformation from the Inside Out to Have It All as a Successful Woman”. Maritza Parra, also known as The Product Creation Queen, is an author, speaker, coach, syndicated columnist and Internet marketer. Parra trains and coaches entrepreneurs to use self-empowerment and the Internet to create financial freedom. After being featured on "Oprah & Friends: The Soul Series”, Parra became an expert at creating products quickly via teleseminars, e-books video and other product creation strategies.

Deborah Shane of TrainwithShane.com delivers her presentation, “The 21st Century Businesswoman – Five Keys to Success.” Deborah Shane is a motivational speaker and educator who founded Train With Shane to deliver education, training and professional development in relation to current market conditions and the shifting, competitive business environment. The model for Train With Shane comes from Shane’s collective experience in entertainment, teaching, sales and mentoring.

Lisa La Rochelle of ArdenPublishing.com will speak on “Savvy Marketing by Blending Traditional and New Media”. Lisa La Rochelle is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Arden Custom Publishing Group which develops and launches multimedia publishing products such as print magazines, video magazines, and multimedia content and video products.

GlowMagazine.org and GirlMogul.com are two of Arden’s products. GirlMogul.com will make a presentation on “Mentorship and Developing Others”. GirlMogul.com provides positive, encouraging messages for Tween girls. YWTF.org/Younger Women’s Task Force, Atlanta Chapter will focus on organizing young women to take action on things that matter to them. This grassroots movement is a project of the National Council of Women’s Organizations. They work to define and develop the next generation of women leaders and create a local and national network for peer mentoring and networking.

The Women's Empowerment Series was created and launched in 2007 in Southwest Florida by Train with Shane Owner Deborah Shane. The series serves to inspire, educate, mentor and encourage women to develop a sense of confidence and self-esteem that will support the growth of women in business. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at 103 West located at 103 West Paces Ferry Road in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. Registration is Buddy Up 2 for $99 and includes lunch, a Women’s Empowerment Series Gift Bag and more.

To register visit: www.womensempowermentseries.com. For more information, call Deborah Shane, Train with Shane at (239) 985-9844.

Dine Out, Help Kids Stay in School

Residents can help the Marietta/Cobb chapter of Communities In Schools, a dropout prevention program, by participating in the Dining Out for Kids event Thursday, Aug. 20.

Participating restaurants will donate a percentage of sales that day to their local Community in Schools program.

For more information, visit: dineoutforkids.com/involved.php.

Outdoor Market in Hiram Runs Each Saturday

COME SHOP WITH THE VENDORS of the OUTDOOR MARKET, Every Saturday! free to all

LOCATION: 3595 Hiram-Douglasville Hwy (Hwy 92) just at Ridge Rd in Hiram, Ga 30141

HOURS: Begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m.

Shop the vendors: Yard Sale Booths (several every Saturday), Crafts, Handmade items, Handbags, Accessories, Pet Items, Jewelry, Jams/Jellies, Great Food and Cool Drinks (Italian Ice, snowcones, etc).

FOR INFO CALL: (678) 567-5198 (call if you would like a vendor space - always FREE)

UGA Tate Student Center Expansion Dedication Aug. 20

The official dedication of the University of Georgia Tate Student Center expansion will be held Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the facility. The ceremony will feature remarks by UGA President Michael Adams and Vice President for Student Affairs Rodney Bennett.

After the ceremony, participants will move onto the west plaza facing Lumpkin Street for a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Adams and UGA alumnus Holger Weis. As president of the University Union Student Programming Board in 1983, Weis participated in the dedication ceremony for the original Tate Student Center.

Students and other guests will be given commemorative scissors to help cut the ribbon. During the dedication, University Food Services will offer sample menu items from its four new restaurants: Taste of Home Café, Barberitos Southwestern Grill, Larry’s Giant Subs and Hotei’s Asian Grill. Campus Catering will serve dessert items. The UGA Pep Band will play on the plaza.

The Tate expansion opened on June 1 after more than four years of planning and construction. The 96,000 square-foot facility includes enhanced dining options for students, faculty and staff. Meeting and conference rooms for student organizations are available, including the 12,000 square-foot Grand Hall capable of accommodating up to 1,600 guests.

17 Clarke Co. Champion Trees Grow in SBG of Georgia

Seventeen trees growing in the State Botanical Garden of Georgia (2450 South Milledge Avenue) have been named Clarke County Champion Trees by the Athens-Clarke County Community Tree Council.

A Champion Tree is the largest tree of its species recorded within the county. One of these trees, the Carolina Buckthorn, is recognized as the Georgia State Champion Tree for its species. To view information on Champion Trees, see a map and photo of each Champion Tree, or nominate a tree for recognition, see http://www.athenstrees.com/championtrees.php or call (706) 613-3565.

Clarke County Champion Trees at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia include:

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Red Hickory (Carya ovalis) Pignut Hickory (Carya ovata)
Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Ogeechee Tupelo (Nyssa ogeche)
Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Royal Paulownia (Paulownia tomintosa)
Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
Winged Pistache (Pistacia spp.)
Nuttall Oak (Quercus nutallii)
Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
Carolina Buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana)
Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) Basswood (Tilia americana)

MARKETING ASSISTANCE NEEDED

GoAtlanta is looking for someone with a marketing background and who lives or attends college in the greater Atlanta area to help market our news blog.

In return for finding advertisers for our site, we will split the profits from those ads with you 50-50.

The work can be done on your own schedule and all we need is someone who can help us in locating some advertisers for the site.

Please email Dave at: eastcoastdt@aol.com with any questions, and thank you for your time!

Peachtree City PD Hosting Fall Certification Class

The Peachtree City Police Department will host a basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class beginning Sept. 3.

The classes will be held each Thursday for 10 weeks from 6:30 - 9 p.m. The CERT Program offers valuable insight into the first few critical hours following an emergency or disaster and how people can better prepare to sustain themselves and their families. Applicants (18 and older Georgia Residents) must sign a Waiver of Liability form and undergo a criminal history background check. There is no charge to attend the program, but class size will be limited.

Visit www.peachtree-city.org/police for more information and applications. Applications are also available at the Library, City Hall, and the Police Department.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 27.

Donations Needed Saturday for Teachers

Teacher Supply Storehouse will host an open house for public and private school teachers, as well as parents who home school their children, 8-10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, at the storehouse, 440 Glover St., Marietta.

Teacher Suppy Storehouse is a 100 percent volunteer non-profit organization that reaches out to area businesses for materials that can be used by teachers and would otherwise be thrown away. During open houses, teachers can "shop" for materials and take as much as they need. Donations are requested at the back door to help cover the cost of transporting materials to the warehouse.

Last August, more than 500 teachers attended and more are anticipated this year.

Area businesses and manufacturers that have product that will otherwise be thrown away, such as paper of all types, fabric, carpet samples, art supplies, office supplies, instructional toys and books, wood scraps and gardening items, are encouraged to donate.

For more information on the organization and event, visit www.cobbk12.org/teacherssupplystore.

Gwinnett Co. Administrator Notes Retirement

Gwinnett County Administrator Jock Connell has announced he will retire at the end of the year.

First hired in 1986 to oversee the County’s risk management section, Connell briefly left the county to work in the private sector. Recruited back to Gwinnett County to become Assistant Finance Director in 1994, Connell was promoted in 1995 as Finance Director. In 2000, he was appointed as the county’s first Deputy County Administrator. In 2005, the Board of Commissioners named him County Administrator.

Commission Chairman Charles Bannister said, “Throughout his career here, Jock has been a part of the core management team that has guided the county through its most dynamic and challenging period of growth and to a solid triple AAA bond rating. We will miss him.” Glenn Stephens, current director of the County’s Planning and Development Department, has been selected as Connell’s replacement.

Already set to retire in 2010, Connell approached the Board of Commissioners with his new intentions earlier this summer. Connell said, “In a perfect world, the County would have already resolved its solid waste issues, service delivery negotiations with cities, and several other major issues that will play out over the next 18 months. For the good of the organization, I believe the next County Administrator needs to be involved in the resolution of these matters in order to effectively manage the results. I will work closely with Glenn in the coming months to ensure an orderly transition.”

Connell will not accept any of the retirement incentives being offered to other county employees as a part of the current effort to reduce the county’s workforce. His retirement will closely follow those of Deputy County Administrator Mike Comer and Assistant County Administrator Lisa Johnsa. However, most of the county’s senior management will remain intact.

Among the many accomplishments during Connell’s five years as County Administrator, Gwinnett County maintained its triple AAA bond rating, implemented a new stormwater utility, opened 12 new parks, renovated or expanded 17 parks, opened two new libraries, opened five new fire stations and relocated another five stations. The County also added 522 police officers and sheriff’s deputies, opened three police precincts, resurfaced 375 miles of roads, widened several major roads, began construction of the Sugarloaf Parkway extension, and partnered with the state to widen SR 20 and SR 120 and complete the new I-85/316 intersection in this period. Laying the groundwork for future generations during this period, Gwinnett County also adopted the Unified Plan and secured a permit from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to return 40 million gallons of highly-treated wastewater from the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center back to its source at Lake Lanier.

Connell said, “I have been truly blessed to be able to serve Gwinnett County in this capacity. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I will be forever grateful to the commissioners I’ve served, past and present, as well as former County Administrator Charlotte Nash. I’m humbled by their support and the trust they placed in me. “I’m thankful, too, for the support from our exceptional staff, our community leaders and the citizens of Gwinnett County. Gwinnett County will be in good hands. Glenn Stephens is knowledgeable and hard-working, and he has remarkable integrity. He also inherits a solid management team in our department directors and their senior staff. Glenn is certain to put his own touch on the management of the county and the county management team.”

Gov. Perdue Issues Writs of Election for State House Seats

Gov. Sonny Perdue has issued writs of special election for State House Districts 58, 129 and 141.

The vacancies are due to the resignations of Rep. Robin Shipp, Rep. Vance Smith, Jr. and Rep. Bobby Parham.

The special elections to fill the vacancies will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3 in conjunction with municipal elections. Qualifying dates will be set by the Secretary of State’s office.

More than 6,300 new Undergrads to be Enrolled at UGA

The University of Georgia expects to enroll more than 6,300 new undergraduate students this fall, including just over 4,700 new freshmen and 1,600 new transfer students.

Approximately 680 of the new students began their studies during the summer and almost 5,700 will begin classes this August. This is a growth of about 75 new students over last fall. Another 1,000 new undergraduates (200 of them freshmen) are expected to enroll in January for the spring term, bringing the overall total to more than 7,300—an increase of about 300 over the new undergraduates enrolled during the 2008-09 academic year.

Although final statistics will not be available until mid-October, the admissions office has compiled data based on the students who enrolled over the summer or who attended or registered for orientation for fall semester as of the end of July.

The number of applications received for this year’s freshmen class—more than 17,900—is the highest recorded at UGA for a new class, following several years of record applications. Since 2003, applications for UGA’s freshmen class have increased by more than 50 percent. The rigor of students’ high school curriculum continues to be a key factor in admissions decisions, with some 95 percent enrolled in College Board Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes while in high school.

While many of the incoming students have not yet decided on a major, the most popular intended majors (listed alphabetically) are art, biology, business, chemistry, international affairs, pharmacy, political science and psychology, following a similar pattern to previous years.

Although legacy is not a factor in admissions decisions, some 30 percent of the students have parents or siblings who attended UGA. The new incoming transfer students have an earned college GPA of 3.4 on work completed prior to enrolling. They are almost evenly divided between males and females and 19 percent are non-Caucasian. About 92 percent are Georgia residents.

Gwinnett County Wins 6 National Awards

Five departments of Gwinnett County government have won six achievement awards from the National Association of Counties and their accomplishments were honored at the Board of Commissioners meeting recently.

Financial Services’ entry, titled Funding Post Employment Benefits, was not only a winner but it was also named Best of Category. A five-person team developed a sustainable plan to pay for retiree healthcare while meeting new accounting requirements, minimizing cost increases and protecting the County’s triple-AAA credit ratings. Their work led to a new state law allowing the use of trust funds for this purpose.

Fire and Emergency Services had two winners, one for its Youth Firesetter Intervention Program that involves many outside professionals to help reduce juvenile arson cases and the other for its school-based program that certified more than 4,000 middle and high school students in CPR and first aid.

Water Resources won for Drought Relief with Reclaimed Water, which recognizes its innovative uses of highly treated wastewater and its plan to return highly-treated wastewater to its source in Lake Lanier.

Transportation won for its new Traffic Control Center that features 85 miles of fiber-optic links to 400 traffic signals and 50 video cameras to allow real-time remote control of traffic signal timing.

Human Resources won for its EXCEL leadership development class where County employees raised more than $12,000 and volunteered their time to make major improvements at the non-profit Dream House for medically fragile children in Lilburn. They designed and built a backyard pavilion, sidewalk, retaining wall, landscaping and sandboxes for children using wheelchairs.

“These national awards recognize the outstanding work our employees are doing across all County government operations and are a shining example of why Gwinnett is great,” said Commission Chairman Charles Bannister. “With all the budget cuts that have taken place recently, it is significant that our peers recognize we have an outstanding staff and are on the cutting edge in many areas.”

UGA Welcomes Students Back with Week of Fun

The official dedication of the Tate Student Center expansion will headline a week of free events designed to welcome students back to the University of Georgia for the upcoming school year.

Other Welcome Week activities include concerts by comedy-musicians The Dan Band and country singer Kellie Pickler and the first Dawgs After Dark late-night event of the school year. The dedication ceremony will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Tate Grand Hall. All members of the campus community are invited.

Welcome Week kicks off with a performance by The Dan Band on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. on Legion Field. Known for its pop music parodies, the Los Angeles-based band has served as the house band on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Lead singer Dan Finnerty has appeared in the films The Terminal, Starsky & Hutch and The Hangover. Non-student tickets for The Dan Band are $10 in advance and $20 at the gate.

Pickler will take the stage in the Tate Grand Hall on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. A finalist on American Idol in 2006, Pickler has released two albums and has toured extensively, appearing in two USO tours in Iraq. Her debut album, Small Town Girl, has been certified Gold by Billboard magazine for sales of more than 500,000 units. Non-student tickets to see Pickler are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Welcome Week concludes on Friday, Aug. 21 with Dawgs After Dark: Backyard BBQ from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the Tate Student center. Activities will include inflatable games, an arcade, and free food. Non-student admission is $5.

All Welcome Week events are free for students with valid UGACards who pay activity fees on the Athens campus. The Dan Band and Kellie Pickler concerts are ticketed events. Students must present their valid UGACards to claim their free tickets at the cashier window in the Tate Student Center which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about the Tate Students Center dedication and other Welcome Week events, call (706) 542-6396 or see www.uga.edu/campuslife.

Free Podcasts of TV23 Shows Available on iTunes

In an effort to continue improving its access to the public, Cobb County Government has placed video podcasts of several TV23 shows for free downloading through iTunes.

Users can go to the ITunes store site and simply look up "Cobb County." Shows such as Spotlight on Cobb, Senior Focus and Focal Point will be available for a mobile and convenient way to see what is going on in the county.

During the last several months, Cobb County Government has established a presence on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Gwinnett County Seeks to Bill Taxes

Gwinnett County’s 2009 millage rate and tax billing have been tangled in the ongoing Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) dispute with Gwinnett cities and as a result, Gwinnett County filed a petition for a Temporary Collection Order (TCO) last month. The TCO hearing will be held on Aug. 11 at 1:30 p.m. in Gwinnett Superior Court.

The TCO is a remedy of law for local governments that allows the billing of property taxes to occur without an approved tax digest from the State Revenue Commissioner. The State Revenue Commissioner has not certified Gwinnett’s tax digest, due primarily to the fact that the government has not set a formal millage rate. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners denied a proposed millage rate in June after holding three public hearings on a proposed tax increase.

“The delay in tax billing negatively impacts the County, the school system and the cities – primarily from the lack of available resources to pay the expense of operations,” said Commission Chairman Charles Bannister. “We (the Board of Commissioners) were prepared to move forward in July with a millage rate adoption that would have been revenue neutral to the County.”

This contemplated rate would have produced the same amount of tax revenue as the County received in 2008. In addition, the rate structure also would have been compliant with state law in regard to the Georgia insurance premium tax statute.

However, the cities stated they would file an injunction if the Board proceeded to adopt the millage rate. Therefore, the County felt the best alternative was to seek a TCO in order to move forward temporarily with 2009 tax collections.

The TCO only allows the billing of 2009 taxes based on a temporary millage rate. Ultimately, the Board of Commissioners must adopt the final millage rate publicly, and the tax digest must be approved by the State Revenue Commissioner. The millage rate contemplated in the TCO maintains the revenue neutral status previously contemplated by the Board of Commissioners, meaning taxes collected in 2009 will yield the same revenue as the County received in 2008.

Once a final millage rate is set by the Board, the 2009 property taxes will be reconciled and taxpayers will receive an adjustment. The 2009 temporary millage rate proposed in the TCO is 10.94 for taxpayers in unincorporated Gwinnett County and 12.00 for taxpayers in incorporated Gwinnett.

By comparison, the 2008 adopted county rate was 10.97. In accordance with state law, the unincorporated taxpayers are due a rollback for insurance premium taxes, which equates to 1.06 mills. More than 80 percent of county citizens live in unincorporated Gwinnett.