By DAVID MARKIEWICZ / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Candidates for Dunwoody’s first council got a look Saturday at what might serve as the blueprints for the new DeKalb County city.
Task forces set up to study the best ways to provide municipal services when Dunwoody begins to operate Dec. 1 issued their reports to the candidates at an all-day session.
The reports are only recommendations and are non-binding. But they likely will carry significant weight with new council members, who will have little time to prepare for cityhood after Sept. 16, when they and a mayor will be elected.
Candidates for the six council seats heard reports on zoning, courts, parks and police, among other areas.The lengthiest presentation, though, came from the private company that wants to provide basic services to the city.
Representatives from CH2M Hill explained how the firm would provide services such as planning and zoning, inspections and permitting and code enforcement and how it would help secure grant funds if the council chooses to hire it.
The firm does such work for other new metro Atlanta cities – Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hill Country. The company was selected over another bidder by a panel appointed by the Citizens for Dunwoody Inc., the group that headed the task force effort.
Oliver Porter, a consultant to Dunwoody in its cityhood preparations, said council members could set up their own municipal operation, but that would be far costlier than hiring an outside contractor.
Rick Hirsekorn, vice president for CH2M Hill, said the company already has selected the staff that will work for Dunwoody, if the council selects the firm. The company also has a building that initially would be used as a city hall.
As for the recommendations in the task force reports, council candidate Tom Taylor summarized them by saying that the groups asked for a higher and costlier level of services than was projected in a budget submitted to Dunwoody by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.
Taylor noted that the police task force, which he chaired, recommended a police budget of about $3.4 million in the first year of the city, compared with the $2.8 million projected cost in the Vinson study.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Dunwoody Woman Wins U.S. Silver Medal At Beijing Olympics
From The Associated Press.
August 9, 2008
BEIJING -- Mariel Zagunis won the first U.S. gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, leading an American sweep Saturday in women's sabre fencing. Zagunis, the 2004 sabre champion, took the gold with a 15-8 victory over Sada Jacobson, who took the silver. Becca Ward took the bronze.
When Zagunis won four years ago, she was the first American in a century to win a fencing gold. Now, it's becoming commonplace in this event. The United States will also be favored to win the team competition in women's sabre.
Before the fencing medals were awarded, the Americans had been shut out of Olympic medals completely, trailing the likes of Cuba, North Korea, Taiwan and Uzbekistan in the overall standings. Now, the United States is the only country with three medals.
Jacobson, of Dunwoody, Ga., won the bronze in 2004. She was the top seed in this year's competition but couldn't overcome Zagunis in the final. Zagunis, of Beaverton, Ore., led throughout the gold medal bout -- her most lopsided win of the tournament.
Zagunis and Ward, members of the same Oregon fencing club, met in the semifinals. Zagunis prevailed 15-11, and Ward left the competition area in tears. "That was probably the hardest bout I've ever fenced in my career," Zagunis said.
Ward still looked shaken when she came out for the bronze medal match, and she fell behind 6-1 to Russia's Sofiya Velikaya. But the 18-year-old from Portland, Ore., rallied for a dramatic 15-14 victory that ensured a U.S. sweep.
August 9, 2008
BEIJING -- Mariel Zagunis won the first U.S. gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, leading an American sweep Saturday in women's sabre fencing. Zagunis, the 2004 sabre champion, took the gold with a 15-8 victory over Sada Jacobson, who took the silver. Becca Ward took the bronze.
When Zagunis won four years ago, she was the first American in a century to win a fencing gold. Now, it's becoming commonplace in this event. The United States will also be favored to win the team competition in women's sabre.
Before the fencing medals were awarded, the Americans had been shut out of Olympic medals completely, trailing the likes of Cuba, North Korea, Taiwan and Uzbekistan in the overall standings. Now, the United States is the only country with three medals.
Jacobson, of Dunwoody, Ga., won the bronze in 2004. She was the top seed in this year's competition but couldn't overcome Zagunis in the final. Zagunis, of Beaverton, Ore., led throughout the gold medal bout -- her most lopsided win of the tournament.
Zagunis and Ward, members of the same Oregon fencing club, met in the semifinals. Zagunis prevailed 15-11, and Ward left the competition area in tears. "That was probably the hardest bout I've ever fenced in my career," Zagunis said.
Ward still looked shaken when she came out for the bronze medal match, and she fell behind 6-1 to Russia's Sofiya Velikaya. But the 18-year-old from Portland, Ore., rallied for a dramatic 15-14 victory that ensured a U.S. sweep.
Dekalb Cops Hope Robbing Crew Busted
By RHONDA COOK / www.ajc.com / Published on: 08/09/08
DeKalb County police may have shut down a robbing crew that has hit as many as 20 businesses, including three Family Dollar stores.
The investigation turned Friday with an armed robbery call to an AutoZone store on Covington Highway. Two of six teenagers, Devontae Patridge, 18, and Dexter Lovelace, 17, were arrested shortly after and that led to the other four, police said Saturday.Maurice White, 17, and a 16-year-old and two 15-year-old boys, who were not identified because of their ages, were picked up.
Multiple armed robbery charges are pending against all six.
DeKalb County police may have shut down a robbing crew that has hit as many as 20 businesses, including three Family Dollar stores.
The investigation turned Friday with an armed robbery call to an AutoZone store on Covington Highway. Two of six teenagers, Devontae Patridge, 18, and Dexter Lovelace, 17, were arrested shortly after and that led to the other four, police said Saturday.Maurice White, 17, and a 16-year-old and two 15-year-old boys, who were not identified because of their ages, were picked up.
Multiple armed robbery charges are pending against all six.
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