IN BRIEF: Former county Commissioner Bud Soesbee, a World War II veteran and one of the driving forces behind the Walk of Heroes Veterans Memorial at Black Shoals Park, and Tommy Clack, a Vietnam veteran, veterans' advocate and coordinator of Veterans Services for the region, were named the recipients of the Charles P. Cole Citizen Involvement Award at Thursday night's State of the County address.

"The state of the county in 2011 was very strong," Commission Chairman Richard Oden said.

The theme of the address was "Re-uniting, Re-building, Re-energizing Rockdale" and featured the accomplishments of county departments and services over the last year as well as Oden's accolades and appointments to various boards and task forces.

Guest speaker Doug Hooker, executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, spoke of the importance of regional decision making in the next few years.

The night's address opened with a presentation of the colors by the Rockdale County Fire and Rescue Color Guard, the national anthem sung by the Conyers Arts Conservatory Youth Singers. Invocation was given by the Rev. Leonel Raamirez, senior pastor of the Hispanic Christian Church of Conyers, and benediction was given by Bishop Al Sermon.

Accomplishments and awards described included the building of the South Park trail and starting of the Lorraine Trailhead, the Finance Department's CAFR award by the Government Finance Officers Association, the gold award given to Rockdale Water Resources water treatment plant, and the Neighborhood Stabliziation program. He also listed regional transportation and transit boards and task forces he had been named to. The night also featured video taped messages from Clayton and DeKalb County heads.