East Cobb Food Scores: Tacos La Villa; Terikayi Madness; more

April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Tacos La Villa, East Cobb food scores

The following food scores have been compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Blackwell Elementary School
3470 Canton Road
April 23, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Blue Moon Pizza
2359 Windy Hill Road, Suite 100
April 20, 2026, Score: 77, Grade: C

Chipotle Mexican Grill
2675 Windy Hill Road
April 21, 2026, Score: 91, Grade: A

Garrison Mill Elementary School
4111 Wesley Chapel Road
April 20, 2026, Score: 99, Grade: A

Jet’s Pizza
2900 Delk Road, Suite 300
April 21, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Little Caesars
2856 Delk Road, Suite 304A
April 17, 2026, Score: 87, Grade: B

Spizzy’s Philadelphia Water Ice
1642 Roswell Road
April 21, 2026, Score: 99, Grade: A

Tacos La Villa
3545 Canton Road, Suite 102
April 23, Score: 94, Grade: A

Rocky Mount Elementary School
2400 Rocky Mountain Road
April 23, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Teriyaki Madness
3000 Windy Hill Road. Suite 180
April 20, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Waffle House
2642 Windy Hill Road
April 20, 2026, Score: 92, Grade: A

Willy’s Mexicana Grill
2900 Delk Road, Suite 8
April 21, 2026, Score: 99, Grade: A

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Proposed Cobb schools FY 2027 budget has bonuses, no raises

April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Cobb County School District’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget is tight and lean, reflecting increased costs, lower enrollment and modest tax digest growth.

District officials on Thursday presented a nearly $1.9 billion spending packages that doesn’t include employee raises, but will have across-the-board one-time bonuses for non-temporary employees thanks to the Georgia legislature.

The budget—which would go into effect on July 1—is based on holding the property tax rate at 18.7 mills and four percent growth in the Cobb tax digest.

The Cobb Board of Education tentatively adopted the budget 7-0 at a voting meeting Thursday night, meaning that the proposal can be legally advertised.

A final budget public forum and formal adoption are scheduled for May 14.

In order to balance the budget, the district is recommending using more than $7 million in general fund reserves to help pay for those $2,000 bonuses. The total cost is around $30 million, with the state providing $22 million.

More general fund money will be needed to shore up proposed expenditures against anticipated revenues in the overall budget.

At a work session before school board Thursday afternoon, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale admitted that the budget proposal isn’t ideal. But compared to other large districts in metro Atlanta, some of which are proposing to close schools to cut costs, Cobb is in relatively good shape—for now.

“We’re not in a confetti-dropping, champagne-popping situation. But we’re not the alternative either,” he added, calling this a “catch-up” budget following employee raises last year.

Holding the line without raises also is an effort to replenish the district’s general fund balance, which is around $200 million.

Here are links to budget proposal details:

The board agreed to complete the funding to the bonuses, which will go to full-time employees. A state-passed bonus doesn’t include all the employment categories Ragsdale said he wanted to honor.

Employees eligible for “STEP” increases as part of their employment contracts will still get those, to the tune of $16 million.

Another line item of $3.5 million will go to hire literacy coaches across the district, but it’s unclear now how that money will be used pending state guidance.

Board members did have questions about some of the line items that were presented Thursday.

They include a reduction of 185 teaching allotment positions due to reduced enrollment and to balance the budget. Ragsdale said no teaching layoffs would occur—the cuts would be made through attrition and reassignments.

Lost positions include some media specialists, with schools limited to one each.

Losing those allotments will result in a budget decrease of nearly $22 million.

Another line item caught the eye of board member Brad Wheeler—a $275,000 increase in the rent the district pays Kennesaw State University for graduations.

Additional fees and increased staffing charges are the primary reasons for that jump, as well as additional charges when graduations are held on weekends.

Ragsdale had wanted to build a $50 million special events center for graduations and other events, but public pressure prompted the board to cancel that project.

The increased KSU funding, board member John Cristadoro said, “is not sustainable.”

The budget proposal also includes spending $725,000 to hold a referendum in 2027 to extend the current Cobb Education Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax, which is used to fund school construction and maintenance.

The current Cobb Ed-SPLOST VI will be collected through the end of 2029.

The district also announced that the “rollback” millage rate—what the property tax rate would be if the budget dollar amount was the same as fiscal year 2026—would be 17.69 mills.

But Ragsdale said given the legislature’s appetite for putting a cap on property tax rates, “I won’t be recommending a rollback of the millage rate.

“I have great concern over the funding of public education.”

Cobb homeowners aged 65 and older can file for exemption from school property taxes, but he also said that changes at the state level “could make that exemption go away.”

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Three East Cobb elementary schools to get new principals

April 23, 2026 by Wendy Parker

New principals at two East Cobb elementary schools were appointed for the 2026-27 school year on Thursday, and the retirement of another K-5 principal at a school in East Cobb was announced.

Three East Cobb elementary schools to get new principals — *Dr. Christina Moll*

The Cobb County School District said that Dr. Christina Moll will be the new principal at Addison Elementary School. She is currently an assistant principal at Milford Elementary School in the south Cobb area.

Addison has been led on an interim basis by Brett Ward, a former Cobb elementary school principal, following the resignation of Dr. Jill Spiva. She was arrested for driving under the influence near the Addison campus, and after refusing to take a blood test, Cobb Police got a search warrant from a judge requiring to provide blood.

Moll begins her new post at Addison on June 1.

The new principal at Kincaid Elementary School will be Lauren Rabil, an assistant principal at nearby Keheley Elementary School. Starting July 1, she will succeed Debbie Tennyson, who is retiring after 28 years with the Cobb school district.

Timber Ridge Elementary School principal Shannon McGill will be retiring, effective July 1. She has been at Timber Ridge since 2019 and has more than 30 years of experience as an educator. Her successor is to be named later.

Shannon McGill, Timber Ridge ES principal — *Dr. Shannon McGill*

Former Walton High School principal Dr. Catherine Mallanda also will be retiring. She has been the Cobb school district’s chief academic officer since 2022 after serving as a teacher and administrator at Walton. Mallanda also is a Walton graduate.

Another member of the district’s executive cabinet will be retiring. Dr. Sherri Hill has been the chief of staff since 2023 and has more than 30 years of experience as an educator.

The upcoming graduations in the Cobb school district will be the last for John Stafford, senior executive officer for the district’s events and venue management department.

He is a Walton graduate who has worked for the Cobb school district for 42 years and has been in his current position since 2017.

Stafford previously was an assistant principal at Harrison High School and was also the district’s spokesman in 2017-18.

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Editor’s Note: Support local news that’s from the heart!

April 23, 2026 by Wendy Parker

We’re taking a brief pause during what’s been a super-busy news week, and with plenty more to come with another week left in what’s been a very busy month. Editor's Note: Support local news that comes from the heart!

It’s been a strong one from what our traffic numbers tell us, and the reader feedback we get. We keep hearing from many of you how important East Cobb News is for you, and we’re delighted to hear it.

With primary elections coming up, we’re preparing in-depth coverage about the candidates you’ll be choosing to represent you at the local level.

It’s part of what we do every day, and have done every day, since East Cobb News began publishing nearly nine years ago.

In April, we’ve really been knocking out exclusive, breaking coverage that has other outlets chasing us. Readers tip us off about what’s happening because they know we’re trustworthy, credible and accessible.

We’re absolutely reader focused, and East Cobb News asks for reader donations to help us to keep giving you the local news that you love.

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We’ve set up a safe, secure and easy online payment system via Press Patron, which helps local independent online with basic business expenses. They share our passion for local news and want to help small local news businesses like East Cobb News make a go of a tough media environment.

It’s not getting easier, and while East Cobb News is a thrifty operation, our business costs are going up.

We get our payout from Press Patron by the calendar month, and we’d like to close out April with a strong response from our readers. You’ve told us how much you value East Cobb News, and here’s your chance to show that support with a donation today.

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Brothers held without bond for assault at East Cobb home

April 23, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Two brothers are being held without bond after they got into a physical altercation Wednesday in front of a home in an East Cobb neighborhood.

Warrants for Franklin Dayne Hudson, 33, and Kyle Robert Hudson, 30, said they have been charged with felony counts of aggravated assault, and misdemeanor charges of fighting in a public place and criminal trespass.

The warrants state that the incident took place Wednesday morning at a home on Ridgetree Drive in the Sentinel Lake subdivision.

Franklin Hudson is accused of hitting his brother’s motorcycle with a baseball bat after a verbal argument about money, and then throwing the bat in Kyle Hudson’s direction, according to the warrants.

Kyle Hudson is accused of throwing a crowbar at Franklin Hudson, and his vehicle.

The warrants state that “the situation escalated and got physical. The Physical altercation happened on the roadway” in front of the Ridgetree Lane home.

The warrants said the motorcycle’s tail lights and exhausts were damaged in the incident.

Both men were booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center Wednesday night, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records.

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East Cobb man’s bid for child’s emotional support pony nixed

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 by Wendy Parker

An East Cobb father who had been keeping a Shetland pony in the yard of his rented home was denied a request this week to let it stay there.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to deny a request by Timothy Terranova to keep the 300-pound pony at a residence in the Heritage Glen Drive subdivision.

That’s because it violates the Cobb code mandating that livestock animals can be kept on properties of at least two acres. Terranova was seeking a waiver from that requirement.

The home where Terranova and his daughter live is at the end of a cul-de-sac on Heritage Glen Drive, on a lot that’s a half-acre.

Terranova said he got the animal, named “Dark Chocolate,” as an emotional support animal for his daughter after a divorce, when she was five, and while they were living elsewhere in Cobb County on a 10-acre lot.

The girl is now nearly 10, but Terranova, who has sole custody of her, said he “lost everything” in the divorce, and had to relocate.

He said at the zoning hearing Tuesday that the pony has helped his daughter reduce her anxiety over the situation. Dark Chocolate is registered as an emotional support animal, he said, adding that he built a stable and fencing on the property for the pony, which neighbors said he also walks around the neighborhood.

Neighbors contacted Cobb Code Enforcement, which issued citations in October for that and other issues on the property, including scattered debris.

And the East Cobb Civic Association led the objections at the hearing. President Richard Grome said allowing a pony on a lot less than two acres at a home zoned for single-family residential would set “a far-reaching precedent.”

He said there are several boarding and riding stables in East Cobb, including the nearby Sunnybrook Stables off Roswell Road.

A Heritage Glen neighbor, Michele Smith, said she was concerned about the welfare of the animal, saying that Terranova shoots off fireworks on his property.

The Cobb Zoning Division recommended denial of the request, for the lot-size minimum and because the home is located in an area close to other neighborhoods.

When Commissioner JoAnn Birrell asked Terranova if he knew he was improperly keeping the pony, Terranova said he didn’t think so, because he was looking for a home to rent near his daughter’s school and that “had a lot large enough for the pony.”

He said that after living in apartments, he moved to East Cobb and wanted to provide “something joyful to be around” that “my daughter and I can look forward to each day.”

Birrell said “this would set a precedent for others” and made a motion to deny the request, which passed 5-0.

“It’s really not appropriate” to have a pony in such a setting, she said. Terranova will have 90 days to relocate the animal.

“I commend your consideration of your daughter during a very difficult time,” Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid told Terranova.

“A lot parents like myself would see this as an heroic effort to meet the needs of your daughter.”

However, she said, the code issues are significant, and what Cobb allows for livestock animals is similar to other jurisdictions in metro Atlanta.

*Tim Teranova constructed fencing for the pony to roam in the yard.*

Small Sliders teams with PORCH Marietta for hunger relief

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Small Sliders teams with PORCH Marietta for hunger relief

Submitted information and photo:

PORCH Marietta was recently named “Smalls Town Hero” by new Marietta restaurant, Smalls Sliders. The fast-growing slider brand opened its 50th location at 2355 Windy Hill Road on April 14. At the ribbon cutting, the owners showed their community spirit by presenting a check for $1000 to grassroots nonprofit PORCH Marietta. PORCH runs monthly food drives in 50+ neighborhoods across Marietta and purchases additional groceries like milk and eggs with financial donations. They deliver the food to 15 Marietta food pantries, schools, and organizations, helping them serve families needing assistance.

At the end of the school year, many families will have already spent their tax refunds and will be looking for extra help to compensate for the lack of school breakfast and lunch over the summer. Using Smalls Sliders’ funding, PORCH Marietta will purchase extra groceries for local pantries to ensure families have enough to feed their children until school starts again.

According to Smalls Sliders owner Rocky Moore, partnering with PORCH Marietta “makes all the sense in the world because it’s a grassroots group that feeds the local community. We’re a restaurant. We serve food. This is a group that we can partner with long term. Not only give a check, but stay in contact with and, frankly, grow with. A lot of businesses can give a check to charities, but we want to help in a number of different ways.”

PORCH Communities was started in 2010 in Chapel Hill, and there are now 75 chapters in 15 states. serving their local communities. PORCH chapters have gathered and distributed more than $17 million worth of food to neighbors in need. The PORCH Marietta chapter was founded in February 2022.

Contributing non-perishable food to local food pantries on a monthly basis is the flagship program of PORCH Marietta. To date, PORCH Marietta has donated over 185,000 pounds of food to these pantries. They collect food via monthly neighborhood food drives, based on customized wish lists from the pantries. Neighbors put the requested groceries out on their porch and volunteers pick up and deliver it to the pantries. To add your neighborhood to the team, contact marietta@porchcommunities.org.

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‘Les Misérables’ staged at Pope Theatre for final weekend

April 22, 2026 by Wendy Parker

'Les Misérables' staged at Pope Theatre for final weekend

Submitted information:

The Broadway hit “Les Misérables—School Edition” will be staged three final times at Pope’s Performing Arts Center, giving local audiences a last chance to see the globally acclaimed musical production.

When:

Friday, April 24, 7 pm

Saturday, April 25, 2 pm

Saturday, April 25, 7pm

In addition to the rarity of a high school theater producing Les Misérables, five students from nearby feeder schools, Hightower Trail and Dodgen middle schools, also take on roles in the production.

“On the artistic side, I find the themes of forgiveness and mercy vs justice compelling. The musical explores seeking the balance between the two,” said Pope’s Theatre Director Rachel Jones.

Buy your ticket today to see the performance: https://gofan.co/app/school/GA5246_15

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Woman charged with prostitution and bribery near Wheeler HS

April 22, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Police on Monday arrested a woman for prostitution near Wheeler High School and also charged her with two counts of bribery for offering officers sexual favors in exchange for releasing her.

According to an arrest warrant, Zulibeth Sarai Worsley, with an address listed at Harold Dean Drive in Northeast Cobb, was walking northbound along Holt Road near the Wheeler campus around 8:20 a.m. on Monday with a “lewd appearance,” topless and with her pants partially down, exposing her breasts and buttocks.

When Cobb Police arrived, officers said she told them she was “offering services to get money for a place to stay and that it was legal for her to do so.”

After she was charged with prostitution, according to the warrant, the woman said she told the officers she would perform oral sex for them if they let her go.

Worsley was charged with misdemeanor counts of prostitution and public indecency and two felony counts of bribery offering benefit to a representative of state or political subdivision.

She was taken into custody at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center later Monday and remains there on a $3,520 bond, according to her Cobb Sheriff’s Office booking report.

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East Cobb students earn corporate National Merit Scholarships

April 22, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Four students from East Cobb have been named recipients of corporate-sp0nsored National Merit Scholarships.

They were among the high school seniors who will receive scholarships financed by about 115 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation said Wednesday that students were selected from the finalist level in the NMS competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors.

“Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage,” NMSC said in a release.

Most of the scholarship awards are annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year for undergraduate study. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

More information about the National Merit Scholarship program can be found at this link.

- Krishna Anand, Campbell High School. Probable career field: Economics (Truist Financial Corporation)
- Ritvik Ranjan, Wheeler High School. Probable career field: Mathematics (Truist Financial Corporation)
- Jerry T. Xu, Walton High School. Probable career field: Law (State Farm Companies Foundation)
- April Zhang, The Westminster Schools. Probable career field: Law (Truist Financial Corporation).

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Woman seriously injured in pedestrian crash at Brumby ES

April 22, 2026April 22, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Updated, 3:50 p.m. Wednesday:

Cobb Police said Wednesday that a 35-year-0ld woman suffered serious injuries this morning when she was hit by a vehicle in the drop-off line at Brumby Elementary School.

Sgt. Eric Smith said that the woman was struck around 8 a.m. by a 2017 gray Chrysler Pacifica that was being operated by a 13-year-old juvenile female.

The Cobb County School District told East Cobb News earlier Wednesday that the victim was “tragically struck by their own vehicle.”

The vehicle also included a 4-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl, Smith added, but police didn’t explain what the woman was doing out of the car.

Police said that the “vehicle accelerated, and the front of the Chrysler collided with the woman and came to a final rest on top of her.”

Smith said the Chrysler then went into reverse, still in the drop-off lane, and crashed into a silver 2020 Chevrolet Equinox that was parked and unoccupied.

Smith said the woman who was hit by the Chrysler was taken to a hospital and that the collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

UPDATED, 10:30 A.M.:

The Cobb County School District said that the pedestrian involved in the crash was an adult who during the school drop-off period was “tragically struck by their own vehicle. First responders arrived quickly to provide care, and school will continue on a normal schedule today.”

ORIGINAL REPORT, 8:59 A.M.:

Cobb Police and emergency services personnel are at Brumby Elementary School Wednesday morning following a pedestrian crash in the area.

A reader dropping off someone at the adjacent East Cobb Middle School on Terrell Mill Road told East Cobb News he noticed multiple police cars and two ambulances at Brumby around 8:15 a.m.

Cobb Police Sgt. Eric Smith told East Cobb News that that “our STEP Unit has been activated to conduct the investigation. We will be able to provide more information once they have had an opportunity to complete their preliminary investigation.”

This story will be updated.

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Cobb shoots down Walmart drone kiosk for East Cobb store

April 21, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Cobb shoots down Walmart drone service for East Cobb store — *“This is a defining choice for East Cobb,” said Breckenridge resident Jackie Ellis (at microphone).*

The Cobb Board of Commissioners turned down two requests by Walmart to build drone kiosks for delivery services on Tuesday.

They would have been the first such kiosks in Cobb County for the national retailer, which has several others in metro area.

More than 50 people turned out for a zoning hearing to oppose a kiosk at the East Cobb Walmart on Johnson Ferry Road, and many of them live adjacent to the store.

They said the issue isn’t over whether Walmart should operate drones, but rather is a land-use issue.

In requesting a site-plan amendment to a 2005 zoning approval for the Johnson Ferry Road store, Walmart proposed taking out 28 parking spaces for a fenced-in kiosk to accommodate 18 drones.

The drones would travel at 60 mph at a height of 150 feet until reaching the delivery point, then would drop to around 20 feet to a driveway or yard.

By a 5-0 vote, however, commissioners concurred that while the issue of drones for commercial use is evolving, the specific locations are not ideal for that purpose.

“We do look at each case individually, said Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, whose District 3 includes East Cobb, and who held up papers indicating nearly 100 e-mails and other messages opposing the kiosk.

“This location isn’t conducive to this service.”

District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield echoed those remarks in moving to reject a Walmart drone kiosk on Barrett Parkway later in the meeting.

Residents said that locating the kiosks in heavily residential neighborhoods would set a bad precedent.

Jackie Ellis, who lives in the Breckenridge subdivision right behind the East Cobb Walmart, said a drone kiosk there could dramatically alter the residential fabric of the community.

“This is a defining choice for East Cobb.” said Ellis, who was surrounded by several other nearby residents, warning that approving a kiosk would turn the community into an “unregulated test bug” for a commercial service that is in its early stages.

*WING’s presentation stressed the consumer convenience of its drone delivery service to Cobb commissioners.*

Walmart has been working with the drone delivery service WING. Its proposal stated that Walmart deliveries would be provided only during daytime hours.

During a presentation at Tuesday’s hearing a WING representative said the noise levels coming from a drone would be between a regular car and a delivery vehicle.

The delivery parcels—between 5 and 10 pounds—also would be delivered only to single-family homes.

But Ellis and other opponents, including the East Cobb Civic Association, said granting Walmart permission to add drones would open the floodgates for other retailers to do the same.

She said it could pave the way for “a drone highway 150 feet over our heads. The technology is impressive, but it is not infallible.”

The Cobb Zoning Division recommended denial of both drone kiosk applications as land-use matters.

Cobb Commission Chairwoman called the kiosk cases “a novel matter for us to consider as a board.”

She said she wanted to be open to the idea of having drone delivery services but pointed to the neighborhood concerns.

More than a dozen East Cobb communities, or around 400 households, received notices about the Walmart plans because they live within 1,000 feet of the proposed kiosk.

(The notified neighborhoods include Shallowford Pointe, Alpine Lakes, Byrons Pond, Havencroft, Clary Lakes, Mountain Creek, Garden Gate on Lassiter, Waterfront, Yorktown, Chimney Lakes, Westfield, Marlanta, Childers Walk, Coventry Green and residents of homes on Freeman Road and Childers Road.)

Cupid said that she asked WING and Walmart to meet with the community, but there hadn’t been any dialogue.

“A denial today for this doesn’t mean a denial” for another location, she added, saying that this county “continues to evolve” when it comes to business and technological innovation.

But Cupid also admitted that “we haven’t even discussed what a highway in the sky looks like.”

*Commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Monique Sheffield made motions to reject Walmart site-plan requests for drone kiosks.*

GBI: Cobb Police kill murder suspect after officer shooting

April 22, 2026April 21, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Updated, 10: 45 a.m. Wednesday:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday that Cobb Police shot and killed a man who led them on a manhunt Tuesday after they tried to serve him with an arrest warrant for murder.

The GBI said in a release Wednesday that Damian Strozier, 31, was located by Cobb SWAT officers around 7:40 p.m. Tuesday in the woods behind an apartment complex on Leland Drive near Windy Hill Road and Interstate 75, not far from the site of the initial confrontation.

The GBI said that several officers shot at Strozier, “hitting him multiple times. Strozier was pronounced dead on scene.”

Strozier had been wanted by Atlanta Police for hitting a female pedestrian with a motor scooter last month and who later died at a hospital.

Cobb Police were trying to serve the warrant Tuesday morning when they said Strozier aimed a gun at them, and an offer shot at him in response.

Strozier managed to flee the scene on foot, and police issued a warning to the public and blocked off the area for several hours.

Police said no officers were injured.

The GBI said it will conduct a full investigation into the incident, since it is officer-involved, and turn its report over to the Cobb District Attorney for review.

Updated 10:15 pm Tuesday:

Cobb Police said Tuesday night that the suspect has been “located” and there is no longer a threat to the public, but they offered no further details.

UPDATED REPORT:

Cobb Police have identified the fugitive suspect as Damian Strozier, 31, and issued a mug shot as they continue their manhunt for him.

He is wanted for murder and likely escaped on foot after officers tried to serve a warrant in the area of Leland Road and Windy Hill Road.

Police said the suspect pointed his gun at an officer, who shot at him.

Strozier is described by police as a black male, 5-foot-6 and 135 pounds.

Police said Strozier “should be considered armed and dangerous. If you see this individual, do not approach. Call 911 immediately.”

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Cobb Police said Tuesday afternoon that a suspect they tried to serve with a murder warrant got away after an officer shot at him in the Windy Hill Road area near Interstate 75.

Police said that the suspect, who was not identified, fled on foot around 1 p.m. in the area of Leland Road and Windy Hill Road after an armed confrontation.

In a social media posting, Cobb Police said that the suspect pointed his weapon at an officer, who returned fire.

But the suspect got away, and “there is a significant law enforcement presence to locate him. No officers were injured.”

Police are asking the public to avoid the area and to seek alternate traffic routes. Anyone with information about the incident or who sees “suspicious persons or activity” in the area is asked to call Cobb County 911.

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Cobb school district proposes FY 2027 budget nearing $1.9B

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Board of Education will hold the first of its required public forums on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget on Thursday.

But there isn’t a budget proposal for the public to peruse just yet.

That’s because the Cobb County School District waits until the day of that first forum—typically only a few hours ahead of time—to lay out the budget proposal to the school board and the public.

On Tuesday, the district released its agendas for Thursday’s public meetings—a work session at 2 p.m., followed by the budget forum at 6:30 p.m. and a voting meeting at 7 p.m.—but with no budget details (you can read them here).

According to an agenda item, the district is proposing a budget of $ 1.881 billion, a slight increase from the approved FY 2026 budget of $1.8 billion.

Anticipated revenues would come to $ 1.869 billion, leaving a projected deficit of nearly $12 million.

The board will be asked Thursday for “tentative approval” of the budget, which is required for the district to publicly advertise it during the budget process; formal adoption is scheduled for May.

The fiscal year budget begins on July 1. Last month, the Cobb chief tax appraiser predicted the county’s tax digest to grow by 4 percent, a figure that is not finalized until July.

The agenda for Thursday’s meetings also indicate that the board will be asked to approve “an estimated rollback millage rate,” but there is no figure indicated about the property tax rate that will be sought for the school district.

The FY 2026 budget was adopted along with a millage rate of 18.7 mills and is typically the largest portion of a property tax bill.

The district has set up a landing page for the FY 2027 budget process that can be found at this link; budget details will be added there after they are presented at the work session Thursday.

The board also will be asked to amend the current budget to factor in $2,000 one-time bonuses for non-temporary employees that were approved by the Georgia General Assembly. According to an agenda item, the cost for the Cobb school district bonuses will come to $30 million, with $22.7 million coming from state funds.

In another agenda item, the board will be asked to provide a $50,000 loan for band uniforms for Sprayberry High School. and that would be repaid over five years.

The district also is asking for $308,798 in funding for the purchase of seven vehicles for the district’s police department.

At the evening voting meeting, recognitions will include the Wheeler High School boys basketball state championship team.

All meetings take place in the board room of the Cobb County School District Central Office, at 514 Glover St. in Marietta. An executive session will follow the work session.

The public meetings will be streamed live and you can watch on Comcast Cable or on a livestream on the district’s Boxcast Channel.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

5 East Cobb voting locations could change for 2026 elections

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Board of Elections and Registration will be asked to relocate 13 polling stations for the rest of the 2026 election cycle, include five in East Cobb. 5 East Cobb voting locations could change for 2026 elections

The board will meet on Monday at 6 p.m. in a special-called meeting to consider the requests.

There isn’t a published agenda yet, but the Cobb Elections office has posted on social media the precinct locations it wants to change, starting with the May 19 primaries.

They include the following precincts in East Cobb:

Bells Ferry 02: From Christ Worship Church to Kulture Event Center (2932 Canton Road, Suite 290);
Eastside 02: Fron Eastside Baptist Church to the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road);
Elizabeth 02: From Covenant Presbyterian Church to Crossview Baptist Church (11oo Piedmont Road);
Hightower o1: From Shallowford Church to Chestnut Ridge Christian Church (2663 Johnson Ferry Road);
Willeo 01: From Cobb Community Church to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church (4495 Sandy Plains Road).

Cobb Elections said that any individuals objecting to the changes can state them verbally or in writing at the meeting, which takes place in the second floor board room of the Cobb Government Office Building (100 Cherokee St., Marietta).

“If no objection is made, the Board will adopt this change at that time,” according to the public notices.

The adopted, the changes would go into affect on Tuesday, April 28. They would not affect early voting for the primaries that begin on Monday, April 27 at select locations in Cobb.

The new locations would be used for the primaries and any runoffs, as well as the November general election and runoffs, but only on an election-day basis.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Suspect arrested for trying to run down Cobb Police officer

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

An update to a story we posted last week:

Cobb Police said Monday they’ve arrested a man they say tried to run down an officer on Terrell Mill Road, and who fled the scene after an officer shot at his vehicle.

Sgt. Eric Smith said that Quartavious Z. Greene, 40, who has an East Cobb address, is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

According to his booking report, Greene was taken into custody on Thursday.

He is charged with felony counts of aggravated assault on an officer, two counts of interference with government property and misdemeanor counts of willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer and improper stopping on a roadway.

Police said that officers were called to the intersection of Terrell Mill Road and Brookview Drive—the entrance to the Terrell Mill Estates subdivision—around 5:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, in response to to a report of a driver asleep in a black Mercedes SUV.

Greene’s arrest warrant stated that the vehicle “was stopped long enough to raise the concern of a nearby citizen prompting them to call 911.”

When they arrived, officers saw a driver asleep inside the vehicle, according to police, and they placed a patrol car in front of the Mercedes, which was flanked at the back by a parked fire truck.

But police said that as officers woke up the driver, he refused to follow repeated commands to come out of the Mercedes.

According to the warrant, the suspect “reversed his vehicle into a parked firetruck before accelerating it towards” one of the officers “in a manner which was likely to or could actually result in serious bodily injury or death.”

Police said in their release last week that an officer fired at the vehicle, and it was unclear whether the suspect had been hit.

Greene’s warrant states that the Mercedes struck a police car as it fled the scene. Officers followed on a brief pursuit southbound on Terrell Mill Road, but they lost contact.

Smith said Monday that the incident remains under investigation by the Cobb Police Major Crimes Unit and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, since it involves an officer-involved shooting.

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Taste of East Cobb announces 2026 restaurants and exhibitors

April 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

It’s just a couple of weeks away from the 20th Taste of East Cobb festival, and organizers are rolling out the lineups for food vendors, exhibitors and sponsors for the May 2 event at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.

Some of the restaurants that have signed up thus far are newly opened, including Pho Hoa and Playa Bowls on Johnson Ferry Road. Many of the others will be familiar to regular festival attendees:

Aapka Food Adda; AXIA Chinese Bistro; Camps Kitchen and Bar; Gong cha Boba Tea; Green Coyote Cantina; Kona Ice; Mediterranean Express; Mezza Luna Marietta; Pho Hoa; Playa Bowls; Provision Cafe; Righteous Que; Schmoo Pies; Seed Kitchen & Bar; SmallCakes East Cobb; SmokeHouseQ; Sterling Estates East Cobb; Taqueria Tsunami; Ted’s Montana Grill; Wimal Authentic Thai

Business and organizational exhibitors that you’ll be seeing include Alloy Personal Training, Atlanta Swim Academy, Blue Penguin and Cactus car washes, Club Pilates of Merchants Walk, Cobb Republican Party, Mathnasium of East Cobb, Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, Peachtree Curling, PeakZen Yoga, Stretch Zone, Strongvibe and White Tiger Martial Arts.

East Cobb News is once again proud to be a sponsor of the Taste of East Cobb—our fourth year in a row!—and here’s the full contingent:

Platinum: Atlanta Tent Rental; Custom Disposal Services; Johnson Ferry Baptist Church; Montrose Animal Hospital
Gold: East Cobb News; EAST COBBER; Savage Cabinetry
Silver: All American Gutter Protection; Camps Kitchen and Bar; Cobb County Democratic Committee; East Cobb City Lifestyle; FS8 East Cobb; Green Coyote Cantina; Hometown Indoor Billboard Network; Lamar Advertising; Precision Krav Maga; Prevent and Restore Physical Therapy; Ridgeline Floors and Bath.

Musical performances will be announced later and will feature bands from Walton, Wheeler, Dickerson, Dodgen and East Side.

The festival is a fundraiser for the Walton Band Parent Association, with proceeds to benefit the school’s band programs. Admission and parking are free.

Advance food tickets are available at this link; Taste of East Cobb discount cards also are available. For $30 the cards can be used at more than 20 local restaurants and eateries (details here).

Visit the event website for more information; Taste of East Cobb updates continue on the its Facebook page.

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Cobb company to donate a roof to a veteran for Memorial Day

April 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: Cobb company to donate a roof to a veteran for Memorial Day

Bravo Company Roofing, a veteran-owned residential roofing company headquartered in Acworth, has announced the opening of its second location at 4343 Shallowford Road, Building 100, Suite 181, Marietta, GA 30062. To mark the expansion and give back to the community it serves, the company is launching a search for a local veteran, or the widow or widower of a veteran, who is in need of a full roof replacement or significant roof repairs — at no cost to the recipient.

The new Marietta office expands Bravo Company Roofing’s footprint across Cobb County and the greater northwest metro Atlanta region, strengthening service to homeowners in Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, Woodstock, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cartersville, and Dallas. The company specializes in architectural asphalt shingle roof replacements and repairs, gutter installation, and free drone-based roof inspections — a safer, more accurate way to assess storm, wind, and hail damage without walking the roof.

Operation Home Cover: Memorial Day 2026 Roof Giveaway

Through the program, Bravo Company Roofing will donate labor and materials for either a full architectural asphalt shingle roof replacement or, depending on the scope and condition, a combination of significant repairs for the selected recipient(s). Eligible candidates include veterans of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as surviving spouses of veterans, who own and occupy a home within the company’s service area and who are in genuine need.

Nominations are open to the public. Friends, family members, neighbors, churches, veterans’ organizations, and first responders are all encouraged to nominate a deserving homeowner. Self-nominations are also welcome. Nominations can be submitted at https://bravoroof.com/heroes and will be accepted through Friday, May 15, 2026. The recipient will be announced on or around Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, with the roof work scheduled in the weeks that follow.

“When we looked at where to put down our second set of roots, Marietta was the obvious answer — we already take care of families all over Cobb County, and opening here lets us respond faster when a homeowner calls,” said Wes McClure, Owner of Bravo Company Roofing. “But a new location isn’t just about business. A lot of the homeowners we meet have spent their lives serving the rest of us — veterans and the spouses who stood behind them. Giving one of those families a safe, dry roof over their head is the right way to say thank you and the right way to introduce ourselves to our new neighbors.”

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East Cobb Real Estate: Logan Park home sells for $650K

April 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Real Estate: Logan Park home sells for $650K

This week’s featured home sale is a two-story in the Logan Park subdivision, located in the Kell High School, McCleskey Middle School and Keheley Elementary School attendance zones.

It has 6 bedrooms and 4 baths, covering 3,748 square feet. The home sold for $650,000 on April 6, 2026.

The home features new flooring in the main living areas, a fireside living room, a spacious chef’s kitchen and an expansive primary suite.

Outdoors areas include a covered patio and a private, fenced backyard.

Click the middle button below to see more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from April 6-10, 2026 were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

1103 Heatherland Drive, 30066 (Logan Park): $650,000

4928 Olde Mill Drive, 30066 (Olde Mill Ford): $394,500

Lassiter

4409 Windsor Oaks Circle, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $850,000

Marietta

964 Allegro Park, 30062 (The Townes of Marietta): $416,000

Pope

3054 Whisper Knob Road, 30062 (Cutters Gap): $412,000

3170 Normandy Circle, 30062 (Normandy): $600,000

2609 Peterboro Row, 30062 (Lost Forest): $870,000

2212 Spear Point Drive, 30062 (Cedar Forks): $485,000

1873 Regents Park Court, 30062 (Regents Park): $616,000

1967 Beckett Drive, 30062 (Cedar Hill Estates): $567,500

3678 Hembree Lane, 30062 (Hembree Hills): $460,000

Sprayberry

650 Glenbarrett Court, 30066 (Chastain Glen): $465,000

2349 Sunny Day Drive, 30062 (Piedmont Crossing): $780,000

1186 Lincoln Drive, 30066 (Lincoln Estates): $811,000

2356 Barrett Cottage Place, Unit 16, 30066 (Cottages at Bells Ferry): $355,000

1680 Wingard Drive, 30062 (Hasty Meadows): $420,000

2680 Timberline Road, 30062 (Holly Springs): $430,000

2977 Lowe Trail, 30066 (Brookhaven): $510,000

3416 Chastain Trace, 30066 (Chastain Crossing): $410,000

Walton

1735 Little Willeo Road, 30068 (Willow Point): $730,000

1172 Robert Lane, 30062: $1.78 million

4384 Ivywood Drive, 30062 (Ivywood): $580,000

Wheeler

2922 Cobb Street, 30068 (Cobb Estates): $480,000

720 Denards Mill, 30067 (Sibley Forest): $1.29 million

507 Spring Creek Way, 30068 (Spring Creek): $520,000

464 Manor Oak Lane, 30067 (Paper Mill Manor): $913,225

700 Woodmont Drive, 30062 (Woodmont): $625,000

2507 Robin Hood Place, 30068 (Valley Brook): $330,000

1704 Cedar Bluff Way, 30062 (Cedar Bluff): $300,000

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East Cobb audiologist named AAP distinguished fellow

April 18, 2026April 18, 2026 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb audiologist named AAP distinguished fellow

Submitted information and photo:

Dr. Melissa Wikoff, founder of Peachtree Hearing, has beenawarded the prestigious designation of Distinguished Fellow of the American Academyof Audiology (DFAAA) through the James F. Jerger Program of Distinction, one of the highest honors in the field of audiology.

The DFAAA designation recognizes audiologists who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, sustained contributions, and a meaningful impact on the profession beyond their clinical practice. Recipients are selected by a national review committee for theirexcellence across multiple areas, including leadership, clinical expertise, and community outreach.

Dr. Wikoff’s work has focused on advancing tinnitus care, expanding access to hearing healthcare, and community service. She has served in national leadership roles, including two terms on the Board of Directors of the American Tinnitus Association, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Audiology Practice Standards Organization. She currently serves locally on the board of directors at City Springs Theatre Company.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” said Dr. Wikoff. “This profession has given me the opportunity to change lives every single day. My passion for audiology began at a young age after watching my grandfathers, both World War II veterans, struggle with hearing loss and miss out on meaningful moments with their families. That experience has stayed with me and continues to drive my commitment to ensuring that no patient feels that same sense of isolation.”

Through her private practice, Peachtree Hearing, Dr. Wikoff has become a recognized leader in tinnitus treatment and hearing healthcare. Her work extends beyond the clinic through national education initiatives, international collaboration, and extensive community outreach.

Among her most impactful efforts is a program she founded to provide hearing aids and ongoing care to Holocaust survivors in the Atlanta community, along with accessibility initiatives such as open-caption movie events, theater accessibility advocacy, and public education campaigns on hearing health.

The Distinguished Fellow designation reflects not only Dr. Wikoff’s professional accomplishments, but also her ongoing commitment to elevating the standards of care within audiology and improving the lives of those with hearing loss.

Dr. Wikoff will be formally recognized at the American Academy of Audiology Annual Convention.

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Kell

Lassiter

Marietta

Pope

Sprayberry

Walton

Wheeler

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