3 metro students in Ga. bee

Three metro Atlanta students have qualified as a semifinalists for the National Geographic Bee. Luke Mabry of Freedom Middle School, Woodward Academy North sixth-grader Eesh Trivedi and Woodward Middle School eighth-grader Alex Bates will compete March 31 at the Georgia State Bee, which is the second level of the national competition. Students in the fourth through eighth grades who were school champions moved on to a qualifying test round. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state compete as semifinalists. The winner of each state event will receive a trip to the National Geographic Bee Championship in Washington, D.C., in May, as well as $100 and other prizes. The national winner will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, an all-expenses paid Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour ll and other prizes.

University of North Ga. wins NCAA accolades

The University of North Georgia won the 2017 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, an annual accolade recognizing positive campus and community engagement events. UNG was selected as one of 25 national finalists for its Operation Nighthawks of Honor initiative, which the university’s athletics department announced on the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The initiative enables the university’s sports teams to celebrate men and women of the military, paying specific tribute to those who have a distinct connection to UNG.

Gwinnett schools honor top media specialist

Karen Garner of Couch Middle School is the 2017 Gwinnett County Public Schools Media Specialist of the Year. The award honors a k-12 library media specialist whose services have resulted in exemplary library media programs. Couch Middle School principal Devon Williams said Garner’s “willingness to connect to teachers to enhance instruction ... improves teaching and learning.”

Cherokee High welding students win scholarships

Cherokee High School welding students earned scholarships in the National High School Senior Welding Competition hosted by Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville, Fla. Grant Blalock, Eric Cochran, Jack Elwell, Ed Herrera, Jacob Little and Damon Sheffield competed against 200 students from across the country. Herrera placed second and won a $9,000 scholarship, along with other prizes. Jacob Little placed 12th and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Each of the students earned $500 for their efforts.

City sells property for Town Center development

Peachtree Corners has sold the town center property to Atlanta-based Fuqua Development. The developer expects to break ground this spring. The 21-acre site will be a mixed-use development with a theater, restaurants, retail shops, office space, townhomes and a town green.

The sale, which took place on Feb. 28, follows Fuqua Development meeting its pre-leasing target of 60 percent that includes the center’s anchor tenant, Cinebistro. The Town Center will feature at least 10 restaurants, ground floor retail space and second floor office space and 2-acre town green for community gatherings and events.

The development includes over 70 high-end townhomes to be built by Inline Construction. Work

City earns agencies’ highest credit ratings

Johns Creek has received the highest possible credit ratings after separate reviews of the city’s credit and financial standing by analysts of Moody’s Investor Service and Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings.

Having applied for its first credit rating after voters in November approved a $40 million parks bond issue, Johns Creek became one of four cities in Georgia to be assigned Moody’s AAA rating and one of six cities in the state to get an S&P AAA rating, city officials said.

The ratings mean lower interest rates for the debt than might otherwise be the case. The city plans to use the proceeds to build out five new parks and refurbish four existing parks.

“These ratings are a direct reflection of 10 years of sound fiscal policy and planning, which has been envisioned by our elected representatives and carefully implemented by our management and staff,” said Mayor Mike Bodker.

Information: http://bit. ly/2mnKu0Z.

City amends alcohol code to match state

Lilburn’s Alcohol Review Board, a citizens advisory board appointed by the city council, recommended that the city’s distance requirements be updated to reflect those of the state. On Monday, the city council approved the changes.

The amended ordinance states alcoholic beverages may not be sold or offered within 100 yards of a church, measured in a straight line from the front door of the business to the front door of the church. Alcoholic beverages may not be sold or offered within 200 yards of a school, measured from the front door of the business to the property line of the school.

STEM, fine arts enrollment opens

Open enrollment is underway and continues through March 31 for the Cherokee County Schools’ STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Fine Arts academies for the 201718 school year.

All elementary-age students in Cherokee are eligible to enroll, according to an announcement by the school district. Applications available online at http:// bit.ly/2n2QmQB. They must be returned to the front office of the desired academy or to the Division of School Operations, 1030 Keeter Road, Canton, GA 30114.

Applications will be processed “first come, first served,” and approvals will be granted where space is available. Also, transportation will be available within a “hub” system. Enrollment guidelines and transportation information are posted at: http://bit. ly/2nnl5Fo

STEM academies are at Ball Ground, Canton, Clark Creek (Acworth) and Holly Springs elementary schools, while Fine Arts academies are at Oak Grove Elementary School, Woodstock, and

Special-needs teacher takes education honor

A longtime Forsyth County special needs educator has been named the school district’s 2017 teacher of the year. Maleah Stewart was honored at the school system’s annual Celebration of Excellence luncheon at the Forsyth Conference Center recently. She is a speech pathologist at North Forsyth Middle School.

Stewart was one of three finalists. The other two were Shiloh Point Elementary School kindergarten teacher Maggie Tompkins and Forsyth Central High School Advanced Placement English language teacher Michele Dugan.

The annual luncheon also recognizes parent leaders, mentors and volunteers at the schools.

Stewart will now represent Forsyth County in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition, with the chance to advance to the national level.

GSO Jazz Big Band performing music of the University of Texas One O’Clock Lab Band. 8 p.m. Saturday. $10 to $39. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta. GeorgiaSymphony.org.

Business and Technology Job Fair by Chattahoochee Technical College’s Career Services Department. 1-3 p.m. Wednesday. Atrium, Marietta Campus, 980 South Cobb Drive, Marietta. Sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.’s Marietta-Roswell Alumnae Chapter, the career fair will provide business opportunities in the areas of business management, business technology, marketing management, logistics and supply chain management, accounting, networking, cybersecurity, web application development and computer programming. Participating employers: ChattahoocheeTech.edu/career-fairsand-upcoming-events.