We invite our colleagues, clients, and the broader community to join us in honoring the life and remarkable legacy of our beloved Senior Business Advisor and friend, Scott Sweeney.
The Sweeney family has shared the following details for Scott’s Celebration of Life:
DATE: Monday, July 27, 2026 TIME: 11:00 a.m. EDT LOCATION: Mt. Bethel Church (4385 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068)
A reception and visitation will be held in the Connector immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the Sweeney family has kindly requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In honor of Scott and the incredible impact he had on all of us, InPrime Legal will make a donation on behalf of our entire firm.
Please continue to keep Sandy, Gabe, Jake, and the entire Sweeney family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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!
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There was very little middle ground when President Trump came to East Cobb this week. (Photo credits: Debbie Fisher and Jadyn Villegas)
The very first story I published about the scheduled appearance of President Donald Trump at Wheeler High School this week came with the contentious vibes that carried through his visit and beyond.
It was a quick story for which details would be added; hence I wrote at the bottom of the post, as I usually do on a breaking piece, that “this story will be updated.”
It’s a message I use on a significant story that’s fluid, such as election results, a crash or crime incident, etc.
Before I had a chance to round up initial reaction to Trump’s visit, a reader e-mailed to say he had run my first draft of that story through an AI prompt, and it spit out that “the article shows a mild-to-moderate appearance of anti-Trump bias, primarily through its framing and source selection rather than through any clearly false factual claims.”
All it contained was the basic information about the visit, and a brief comment at the very bottom from the head of the Cobb County Democratic Committee.
This reader suggested that “I’d encourage you to start checking what’s written against an LLM or 3rd party to look for bias that you may not even realize exists.”
He also said the following:
“The fact that you’d report on the plans to host protest events at a Cobb County School and that’s the focus of a group, no matter who the group is or what they are protesting should trouble everyone. Our schools are a place of learning and safety and promoting somebody’s plans to disrupt that is shameful. Please consider this and if any changes need to be made to the article.”
I didn’t see this e-mail until after I had updated the story that was revised with ample reaction supporting Trump’s visit, including a response from the Cobb County School District. But this reader couldn’t wait, or didn’t read the disclaimer at the bottom.
I sent him a link to the updated story and told him to “stick that in your ChatGPT pipe and smoke it.” Don’t come at me with an accusation of bias and say, as this reader did, that “hey, it wasn’t me, it was AI.”
Normally I don’t respond like this to readers, but it wasn’t only the subject matter—Trump is a lightning rod no matter what—but the gall of hiding behind whatever an AI response returns as the undisputed truth.
This reader asked a machine to check for bias in a way that suited his own human biases, and, quelle surprise, it backed up exactly what he wanted confirmed. (This is one of many problems with AI that are a subject for another time.)
So I knew when Wednesday came, I was going to catch hell no matter what I wrote. I understand that; this has been part of the territory that comes with being a professional journalist, as I have been for more than 40 years.
I received a credential from the White House Press Office to cover the rally inside the Wheeler gym and for the first half of my report I wrote about the atmosphere and the messages from the stage that were decidedly pro-Trump. I focused on the Trump Accounts that were featured and a comment from Scott Bessent, Trump’s Treasury Secretary (who got a very loud applause from the audience) about them.
Likewise from a speech by Rick Jackson, a Republican candidate for Georgia governor, who later reappeared on the stage with Trump. The energy inside Wildcat Arena was upbeat, and I can see the appeal of attending Trump rallies if you like the president—they’re well orchestrated and very entertaining.
Media seating was bad and I could not get any good photo closeups from the stage except a few, and that I published on that original report and am adding here.
The three video clips that I shot and included in that same piece were all from the rally.
I also relied on readers attending the protests to provide photos and any comments they wished to share, since I wasn’t there, and I got a few and posted them with that report.
In fact, I asked readers—pro- or anti-Trump or otherwise—to send photos, and I got plenty from both. At the very end of that story, I thanked those who had contributed and said I would be doing some follow-up stories.
There simply was too much to put in one story, and I knew there would be fireworks the next day at the Cobb Board of Education meeting—as there certainly were.
But I heard from Trump supporters anyway who were furious with what I wrote. It was more than slanted, they said, suggesting I shouldn’t have included anything about the protests at all.
After all, this was the President of the United States visiting our community. Wrote one reader who’s been complimentary of our work in the past:
“If this article were the first article I read from East Cobb News, it would have been the last. I hope you give consideration to the real reason for Trump’s visit by writing a non-biased article without the protest propaganda, and give the President his due respect along with the thousands of Trump supporters that you basically ignored.”
I don’t know how you can read my initial report and conclude that I was ignoring Trump supporters or the messaging that was going on in that packed gym. I there with them for most of the day, and tried to reflect what it was like being at a rally with the president.
But there were protesters, and that cannot be ignored. I quoted one—exactly one—person with an anti-Trump message, compared to multiple quotes from the president and his supporters.
My brother, who’s as big a Trump fan as it gets, told me he thought it fairly reflected all sides: “Good job on covering the different viewpoints.”
So accuse him of sibling bias if you like.
Journalists are accused of bias all the time—especially liberal bias from conservatives—and some of those criticisms are valid. But this cuts both ways.
There were some readers who didn’t like the fact that I reported there would be anti-Trump “No Kings” protests in East Cobb over the last year.
Others were liberals spitting nails when I covered a vigil at East Cobb Park after Charlie Kirk’s murder, and some of their comments were ever-gleeful in the wake of a horrifying political assassination.
They were as repulsive as anything I’ve seen in all my years in this unforgiving business.
Since then, I’ve had to restrict comments on political stories, because of unhinged levels of profanity and abuse. This is what’s new in recent years.
I kept comments on for the Trump visit, holding my breath, and was relieved that most of you who left comments behaved well enough.
But after this past week, I will state here something I’ve understood for a good while now—accusations of media bias come from those who simply want their priors confirmed.
They’re the noisy, all-online people, losing their absolute minds on social media on a constant basis about nearly everything. They say they want straightforward, “objective” journalism, but that’s just not the case.
I see and read them all the time, and they’re relentless. They’re liberal and conservative, Democratic and Republican, anti-Trump and pro-Trump.
And they’re getting worse.
At the local level, they’re conservatives who blast Lisa Cupid and the Democrats on the Cobb Board of Commissioners, and liberals who seethe with disgust at Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and the Republicans on the Cobb Board of Education.
I’m an ardent free speech advocate and support everyone’s right to speak their mind, especially about important issues. But it’s also proper to worry that this political race to the bottom still has a ways to go.
Most of the rest of us—the vast majority of the citizenry, in fact—are none of the above. Indeed, we’re not really all that political, even less so in these last few years.
There’s an adage that if you go looking for bias, you’re sure to find it, and this suits the Trump Age to a tee.
(And if you were adding up the pro- and anti-Trump slants of the photos above—because some of you do—they were three and three, respectively, with the top photo a 50/50 montage.)
I launched East Cobb Newsnine years ago as a general interest news site, and while I cover a lot of politics, most of what seriously affects and interests people here is something else.
So a little perspective, please, as this long hot summer continues.
Get offline. Touch some grass. Reconnect with the real world.
And most of all, get the heck out of your suffocating political echo chambers.
Because that’s where the real bias exists, and it’s growing like a cancer. Including here in East Cobb.
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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!
With a six-month moratorium on considering data centers set to expire in August, the Cobb Board of Commissioners will be getting an update on the subject next week.
An agenda item for a work session Tuesday says it will be to “present information” from the Cobb Community Development Agency.
The agenda item doesn’t state a recommended course of action, and East Cobb News contacted Cobb County government Friday to see if a moratorium extension may be proposed.
Spokeswoman Shelly Wiedner said in response that according Jessica Guinn, the community development agency director, her office and the Cobb Economic Development Agency “are planning to bring the extension forth as an agenda item at the August 11 BOC meeting. I’m sure she will discuss it further at the work session on Tuesday.”
The agenda item (you can read it here) notes the current issues involving data centers, especially over energy and water consumption and the potential impacts on local infrastructures.
The item states that the Cobb zoning code adopted in 1972 “gives no consideration for this more modern land use. Today, data centers are most similar to a private utility or a warehouse use, both of which are permitted by right in Cobb County” in two industrial zones.
There’s a new use for that created in the proposed Cobb Unified Development Code, which “also proposes regulations specific to data centers that would mitigate the impact of data centers on surrounding properties, as well as on infrastructure, power and water resources.”
The Cobb moratorium is set to expire just as the City of Marietta imposed a six-month moratorium while delaying a data center request on Delk Road at Interstate 75.
There have been no data center proposals in unincorporated Cobb. But in her agenda item, Guinn said that “these facilities, particularly large-scale campus type developments, can impact local infrastructure and utilities significantly. Specifically, the power and water supply demands present a strain to local resources.
“Furthermore, these facilities can present negative impacts to nearby properties, including noise pollution and air quality impacts resulting from cooling systems and backup generators, as well as undesirable aesthetic impacts if the facilities are not visually screened properly.”
Other local governments in metro Atlanta have been issuing shorter moratoria, including a new 30-day pause in Cherokee County.
The work session Tuesday also will include an update on the American Rescue Plan Act and “information and updates regarding housing in Cobb County.” An agenda item for the latter states only that “Community Development will present information on programs and initiatives that the Board of Commissioners could consider regarding housing.”
The work session begins at 1:30 p.m. in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta.
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“Divide & Conquer: Perennial Plant Division” is the topic for the Gardeners’ Night Out programs in August through early November at six Cobb County library locations. The free programs will cover the best practices and reasons for dividing plants to boost garden health and expand landscaping. Participants will be eligible for raffles, door prizes and take-home plants.
The evening horticultural education programs are presented at Cobb libraries by Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County in collaboration with Cobb County UGA Cooperative Extension Service.
The upcoming round of Gardeners’ Night Out programs, all starting at 6:30 pm, include:
Tuesday, Aug. 11: East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068
Tuesday, Sept. 8: West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw 30152
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!
At a Thursday night Cobb Board of Education meeting, Ragsdale defended the district’s decision to allow Trump and leading Georgia Republican candidates to speak inside the Wheeler gym.
Shortly after he began reading from prepared remarks, a few citizens interrupted with heckling, just as they did during a public comment period prior to that.
He said the White House decision to come to a Cobb school was “a rare and historic honor,” and while there were protestors, “the large majority of Cobb residents treated it as the honor it was.”
Ragsdale spoke briefly at the start of the Trump event, and acknowledged that while this president is “not universally liked,” other presidents have not as well.
But “like all of them, when the president of the United States chooses to honor your school district, you say yes.
“The saying, ‘Not My President’ is not an option for a school system . . . We do not control the president, the White House, the Secret Service or the content of any remarks of anyone the president asks to speak.”
At both board meetings Thursday, many speakers said that’s why there shouldn’t have been what they said amounted to a political rally to take place on a public school ground at all.
All of the other elected officials on the Wheeler stage were Republican nominees for state office—governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state.
Some questioned the district’s process for permitting the Trump event to take place, and how much local taxpayer dollars and district staff time was spent.
“We’re just seeking some transparency about the planning and the execution of the event,” said Laura Judge of East Cobb, who ran for the Post 5 school board seat as a Democrat in 2024.
“You had to know that Trump’s appearance would further divide Cobb neighbors and increase angst,” said Rose Caplan during the evening board meeting.
“Why would you host a political rally when the headlines spread vile propaganda and disrespect for women?”
Andrew Nelms flips a bird at the Cobb school board and superintendent.
A few minutes before that, the meeting was stopped for a moment when speaker Andrew Nelms began yelling at the board during his public comment.
“Why did you welcome a pedophile to one of our schools? Why did you stump for it?”
When board chairman Randy Scamihorn asked for order, Nelms shot back that “there should have been order yesterday!”
Nelms then left the microphone and flipped a bird toward the dais.
Ella Ugwuandu, a 2023 Wheeler graduate, told the board that when she learned her former high school was to have a Trump event, “it felt like a gut punch.”
She said Wheeler’s strength is its diversity and having the event at Wheeler “truly rattled my trust in the district’s ability to protect and represent Cobb County students.”
But several speakers thanked Ragsdale and the board for having the event.
One of them was Leroy Emkin of Marietta, a retired Georgia Tech professor, who said it was “an honor” for Cobb schools to have “a president of the United States who chose to come here.
Chris Ragsdale meets with U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon at the Trump event at Wheeler HS.
“You have done an incredible job to keep DEI out of our schools, to keep woke out of our schools, and to teach our kids what they need to know in school.”
At the later meeting, the district presented a video from the Wheeler event, which also was interrupted, so Scamihorn ordered that it be shown again.
Ragsdale said that Trump is the third sitting president to visit a Cobb school, following Ronald Reagan in 1984 and George W. Bush in 2003. Barack Obama also held a campaign rally at McEachern High School in 2008 during his first run for the presidency.
“Anyone who opposes our district having the president needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are supporting students or waving their own political flag,” Ragsdale said.
You can watch all the public commenters below, thanks to the Cobb County Courier (since the Cobb school district does not air them), followed by Ragsdale’s full remarks.
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!
An employee of a Starbucks in East Cobb was hospitalized Wednesday when a car came crashing through the coffee shop, according to Cobb Police.
Sgt. Eric Smith told East Cobb News that the crash took place at 8:42 a.m. Wednesday at the Starbucks at 2424 Roswell Road. He said a blue BMW sedan crashed through the front window but didn’t offer further details except to say that the victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A customer who knows the injured man posted on the social media channel NextDoor that the employee’s name is Chris Bargeron, and he suffered a concussion.
“Chris is a devoted father of two, a talented sound bath practitioner, and someone whose kindness, positivity, and genuine care for others have reflected within his and our community,” said a fundraising appeal on GoFundMe to help pay for Bargeron’s medical expenses.
“Whether through his work, his healing practice, or simply his everyday interactions, Chris is always there to support those around him.”
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After redeveloping Merchants Walk Shopping Center a decade and a half ago, South Carolina-based commercial real estate developer EDENS is selling the East Cobb retail center.
The buyer is Sterling Organization, a private equity real estate investment firm based in West Palm Beach, Fla.
According to a statement released by Sterling, the purchase price is $93.2 million, and was made on behalf of Sterling’s $600 million equity institutional value-add fund, Sterling Value Add Partners IV (SVAP IV).
“Merchants Walk is exactly the type of asset we are targeting on behalf of our SVAP IV fund. The property is well-located, attracts an affluent customer base, and maintains a deep roster of high-performing national tenants with long operating histories at the center,” Jordan Fried, Principal at Sterling Organization, said in the statement.
“We have had the pleasure of transacting with EDENS as both a buyer and a seller on many occasions and appreciate their professionalism and collaborative approach, which results in smooth and efficient transactions.”
The statement didn’t indicate what plans Sterling may have for the 271,992-square foot shopping center anchored by Whole Foods and Kohl’s.
Merchants Walk (1289 Johnson Ferry Road) attracts more than 3 million customers a year, according to the statement.
The Georgia Theater Company Stadium Cinema, Marshall’s, PetSmart, Office Depot and Old Navy are among the national tenants, along with local boutiques and restaurants.
EDENS rebuilt Merchants Walk in the early 2010s, with Whole Foods opening in 2011, and paid to have a Cobb County Public Library branch relocated to Parkaire Landing to what is now called the East Cobb Library.
The old Merchants Walk Library site is close to Seed Kitchen and Bar, and other restaurants include Stem Wine Bar, Seed’s sister restaurant, and Marlow’s Tavern.
Mirko Pasta closed recently and the signage has been taken down, following the closure of the adjacent Duck Donuts last year, and which still sits vacant. There’s also 17,273 square feet of available retail space near Marshall’s which opened in 2023 after relocating from the East Lake Shopping Center.
Sterling invests in a number of retail shopping centers across the county in a variety of funds. Its properties in the Atlanta area include Five Forks Crossing and Marketplace at Buckhead in the city of Atlanta and Presidential Commons in Snellville.
According to a Merchants Walk directory on the Sterling website, an A & J Jewelers is coming soon to the former Spenga fitness salon.
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“Found My Part,” a film by Riya from Wheeler High School, “Until the Streetlights Come On,” a literature entry by Shreya from Dickerson MS and “Rina the Rainbow Dolphin” a literature entry by Amulya from Sope Creek ES have all been awarded the National PTA Award of Excellence in the 2025-2026 National PTA Reflections program.
The Award of Excellence includes a $200 Young Artist Scholarship, Silver Medal, Certificate of Excellence, and their work will be featured in the National PTA Reflections virtual exhibition.
To be awarded the National PTA Award of Excellence, the piece must be one of the 3 or 4 top-scoring entries for its division/arts category in the nation! School winners moved to the ECCC PTA round. Georgia PTA then judged the artwork by division, each of which encompass multiple grade levels, making these recognitions extremely selective. The first place winners advanced to the National PTA Reflections competition. Congratulations to Riya, Shreya and Amulya on this incredible accomplishment!
“The United Nation is Where I Belong,” a photography entry by Evan from East Side ES, “I Belong – Two Homes, One Heart,” a visual arts entry by Ayaan from Sope Creek ES and “Belonging in the Poor World,” a film by another ECCC student, were honored with the National PTA Award of Merit in the 2025-2026 National PTA Reflections program. The Merit Award includes a Bronze Medal, Certificate of Merit, and their work will be featured in the National PTA virtual exhibition.
ECCC PTA is very proud of all our students who submitted creative works and cannot wait to see submissions for the 2026-2027 theme “What My Culture Means To Me” About Reflections: The National PTA Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K-12 create original works of art in response to a student-created theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.
We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.
It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.
Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!
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!
It felt like a rock-and-roll party with a president serving as the maestro.
For most of the day on Wednesday, fans of President Donald Trump waited outside, and then inside the gymnasium, at Wheeler High School, eager to get a glimpse and take part in in a program touting the American economy and a new investment program for children.
Fans of President Trump could get their pictures taken before Wednesday’s rally.
Those who don’t like the president showed up in droves too, in multiple locations, to register their displeasure that Trump’s appearance was nothing more than a partisan political rally conducted on the grounds of the Cobb County School District.
Several prominent Georgia Republican candidates running for statewide office this fall spoke—no Democrats did—as did two of Trump’s cabinet secretaries in a jam-packed Wildcat Arena.
Not far away, at Eastvalley Elementary School, and the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center, Trump foes hoisted signs and chanted their opposition.
There were no reported signs of trouble or incident at any venue during the day-long event. Parking lots at Wheeler and Eastvalley opened at 8 a.m., and traffic was still filing out near 6 p.m.
There was a heavy law enforcement presence at two schools, with a full force of Cobb County School District police officers and Cobb Police, in addition to te U.S. Secret Service protecting the president.
Photo by Nicholas Hoffman.
Hundreds of attendees lined up hours before the event began and as the weather began to turn hot. Several food trucks offered some quick food—a television correspondent wolfed down a hamburger before heading through the press entry.
And there were numerous black armored vehicles surrounding the Wheeler campus as a security sweep was conducted mid-morning.
The attendees waiting hours for Trump to arrive, entertained by an eclectic playlist ranging from Elvis Presley to disco tunes to “How Great Thou Art” and Trump’s signature rally song, “YMCA.”
“We’re finally turning money over to our children,” the president said of the Trump Accounts. Photo by Aaron Cleveland.
Inside the arena
“This is the Golden Age of America,” Trump proclaimed as he began his nearly wide-ranging, more than an hour-long remarks, after arriving nearly an hour late.
He repeated familiar themes since his return to the presidency, saying that the “whole world” was laughing at the U.S. under “Sleepy Joe” Biden, “but now we’re respected like never before. This country is rocking and rolling.”
Trump’s visit was to tout the programs and initiatives that are forming the core of a national Republican election campaign message this fall—”Powering the American Dream,” and that went heavy on affordability issues.
He said it was fueling “the next generation with the power of freedom and capitalism.”
Among those measures are “Trump Accounts,” investment accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028—the years of Trump’s second term—seeded with a $1,000 government payment, and with a maximum of $5,000 each yea until that child is 18.
“We’re finally giving money back to our children,” Trump said, and he introduced two families after that were taking advantage of the new program to sign up for the accounts.
Virginia Pasquarelli called the Trump rally a “farce.”
As did the warm-up speakers before him, Trump attacked Congressional and other Democrats and the “radical left” for pushing Communism, which he called “the single-greatest threat that we have ever seen to our country.
“The United States of America is not and never will be a Communist country,” he said, as the hundreds of attendees inside the gym rose to their feet, chanting, “USA! USA!”
Trump took aim at Congressional Democrats for blocking or voting against most of his legislative and policy goals on the economy, immigration, and cultural issues, and noted that they continue to support “men in women’s sports.”
He singled out incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is up for re-election in November, referring to him as “PeeWee Herman.”
His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, was in Washington with voting sessions in progress.
But other Georgia Republicans were front and center at the Trump rally, including gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson.
Jackson said he wanted Georgia to add to the Trump Accounts by matching the $1,000 federal payment, and if he’s elected governor and the legislature doesn’t do it, “I’ll personally donate it myself.”
Battleground Cobb
In recent election cycles once staunchly-Republican Cobb has gone Democratic, with only the Cobb Board of Education in GOP hands, by a 4-3 edge.
The only Republican up for election in November is David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb, who is being challenged by Democrat Micheal Garza, a frequent critic of the Cobb school district.
Chastain was among the six of the seven current board members who attended the Trump rally on Wednesday, including two of the three Democrats. Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, a Republican from District 3 in East Cobb, also was in attendance.
Cobb school district Superintendent Chris Ragsdale began the speeches by saying it was “an awesome honor to have the president of the United States.” He also was loudly applauded later when Trump referenced him.
In addition to Jackson, GOP nominees for statewide office who spoke were Greg Dolezal (lieutenant governor), Brian Strickland (attorney general) and Tim Fleming (secretary of state), who also emphasized the affordability and “American Dream” themes.
So did two of Trump’s cabinet members, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who got one of the larger ovations even before he said that “Cobb County is Trump Country.”
He said the Trump Accounts program wasn’t a “government handout” but rather “a triumph of capitalism over socialism.”
Anti-Trump protestors lined Roswell Road Wednesday during the Trump event nearby at Wheeler. Photo by Jadyn Villegas.
Protesting ‘this farce’
Several hundred people turned out Wednesday near Wheeler to oppose the president’s visit.
They included Virginia Pasquarelli, who showed up at the Pavilions at East Lake “No Kings”protest organized by Indivisible Cobb, a liberal advocacy group that has held several “No Kings” protests in East Cobb since Trump’s return to office.
Photo by Ray Dafrico.
“Ashamed Wheeler would play host to this farce,” she said. “We know Trump came to drum up GOP enthusiasm for the elections.”
Across from Wheeler at Eastvalley Elementary School, the Cobb County Democratic Committee also set up a protest, with people lining the fences behind Holt Road for most of the day.
At both venues, some of the messages were rather frank, and even profane. But another East Cobb News reader, Ray Dafrico, sent us a photo he took of someone he identified as a Trump supporter who was holding a sign with an anti-Semitic message.
Cobb Democrats posted photos of the same man, with a social media message asking “Cobb Republicans sent their best today. Is this what you think is acceptable Cobb County Schools?”
The Democrats also refuted claims about Cobb being Trump Country, noting he’s lost the county in all three of his presidential race.
Early Wednesday night, Georgia Democratic Party chairman Charlie Bailey said “Trump tried and failed to do damage control” in his East Cobb speech, calling it “a disaster for Georgia Republican candidates at every level of the ticket.
A young protester at the “No Kings” event counters the Trump message to future generations. Photo by Jadyn Villegas.
Among those in attendance at the Cobb Democratic protest was Michelle Schreiner, who is challenging veteran GOP State Rep. Sharon Cooper.
“Thirty years after graduating from Wheeler High School, I came back to stand with neighbors speaking up for our public schools, our families, and the future our children deserve,” she said on her campaign Facebook page.
“This is what democracy looks like.”
East Cobb News will have more coverage and photos in future posts over the next few days. If you attended and would like to share your photos/videos/experiences, please e-mail us: [email protected].
Thanks to all of you who sent in your items today! We appreciate all of our East Cobb News readers!
Please click the middle button below to view more photos, and under that are some videos from inside the rally venue.
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!
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!
Information and photo submitted by Cobb County School District:
Through a partnership with the University of West Georgia, educators within Cobb Schools are able to earn advanced degrees at no cost of their own.
Since the launch of the Georgia’s BEST program, well over 500 Cobb teachers and staff members have graduated.
This year, 74 Cobb educators completed their doctorate degrees and presented their capstone projects in front of a panel of leaders from Cobb Schools and the University of West Georgia.
“I’ve always wanted to get my doctorate, but really, I have a daughter. I’m paying for college, and I was like, it was out of reach. Having this opportunity was huge, and I definitely think I am a greater asset to Cobb now that I’ve gone through this program,” said Walton High School teacher Tobie Hendricks.
To successfully defend their Capstone projects, these Cobb educators spent months researching their assigned topics.
The topics were intentionally aligned with each educator’s background and district role, giving them the opportunity to apply their research in ways that could strengthen classroom instruction and support student success across Cobb.
“It really has helped me to see how the instruction and the decisions that we’re making in our classroom, how we can even look at it on a bigger scale and improve student instruction in our district, and also to help make sure that we’re meeting all the students’ needs,” said Dowell Elementary School 2nd-grade teacher Lindsey Tackett.
Along with these teachers finding personal and professional growth, they did so without paying any money of their own.
“It’s amazing that we have such a wonderful district and superintendent who really cares about helping his teachers be the best that they can be, and he’s putting his money where his mouth is. And we really appreciate his support through all of this,” said Eastside Elementary 5th-grade teacher Elisabeth Gibbon.
Georgia’s BEST made an advanced degree possible for many educators who recognized its value but once thought the opportunity was out of reach.
What this means for Cobb Schools and the more than 100,000 students is that more educators are advancing their own learning and ensuring that Cobb continues to provide the best possible learning environment.
“I do firmly believe that Cobb is the best place to teach, lead, and learn,” said Compton Elementary teacher Emily Robinson.
To learn more about Georgia’s BEST and how Cobb teachers can apply, you can click HERE to learn more.
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!
Approaching Wheeler and Eastvalley Elementary School across the street, preparations were underway for the traffic, crowds and activities that will engulf the school campuses and surrounding neighborhoods.
Yellow fencing has been placed along the campus fronts of both schools, and traffic cones and other items used for traffic purposes are being laid out.
At the entrance to Club Valley Drive, directly across from the Wheeler gym, yellow tape has been placed along either side of the road.
In the parking lot of Eastvalley, Verizon equipment was being uploaded for television crews and other recording activities that accompany presidential visits.
In the bus lane at Wheeler, a row of portable toilets has been set up, and a food truck is parked near the entrance. A few workers were milling around in both parking lots, as was a Cobb County School District police car.
Trump’s visit comes less than two weeks before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in the Cobb school district. Teachers and staff have not yet reported to their campuses.
A Wheeler band camp has been relocated to the campus of East Cobb Middle School on Terrell Mill Road.
“We are also incredibly grateful to our Booster Board and the parent and community volunteers who moved instruments and equipment, set up scaffolding so our directors could see the drill, and lined the field for marching rehearsal.” according to a message on the band’s Facebook page.
Trump will be speaking in Wildcat Arena, the Wheeler gymnasium, starting at 3 p.m., according to an update from the White House Press Office. The ticketed event that’s open to the public will be filling up well before that, including local elected officials from the Cobb Board of Education.
Also expected to attend are Rick Jackson, Republican nominee for Georgia governor, and Mike Collins, Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate.
On-site parking will open around 8:30 a.m Wednesday and road closures will begin in the area starting at 12:30 p.m. East Cobb News has contacted the Cobb Police Department for details, but has not received a response.
The Cobb school district has spread its initial message about the Trump message through its Cobb Teaching and Learning System portal to school families.
“The visit provides an opportunity to showcase the academic excellence, exceptional educators, and high-achieving students that have made Cobb Schools a national leader in public education,” the district said.
But the district has not explained how the Trump visit was arranged, or why Wheeler was chosen. He is the third U.S. president or presidential candidate to visit a Cobb school campus, along with Georgie W. Bush (Harrison) and Barack Obama (McEachern).
Trump is expected to speak about child investment accounts and other legislation targeting affordability issues as the 2026 elections approach in November.
The Cobb County Democratic Committee and other liberal groups are planning protests near Wheeler.
The CCDC said Tuesday it will be having a “Trump Out of Cobb” rally at Eastvalley between 9-4. Indivisible Cobb, a liberal advocacy group that has organized No Kings rallies in East Cobb, will have a “base camp” at the Pavilions at East Lake shopping center (2100 Roswell Road) from 12-4.
The group also has set up shuttle service to Wheeler from Sedalia Park Elementary School and Eastside Baptist Church on Lower Roswell Road.
“No matter how much school leadership at the Cobb County School District tries to deny it, this is an event to boost the profiles of local and statewide Republicans in one of the state’s bluet counties,” the CCDC said in a statement Tuesday.
A Cobb school district police car patrols Holt Road between the Wheeler and Eastvalley entrances Tuesday.
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!
Unity North Church of Atlanta (4255 Sandy Plains Road) is reporting that vandals caused “thousands of dollars in property damage” recently and has posted photos from a surveillance camera to help locate the suspects.
Anthony Jayesingha, executive director of the church, told East Cobb News that “We have 2 police reports in, still assessing the damage—a few glass doors and a few windows have been broken.”
The photos from a video captured by church cameras shows one of two young males covering his face. At the end of the 11-second video, he’s seen throwing an object as both are looking up at the camera.
Jayesingha followed up to tell us that “we have one family that has owned up so far.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Atlanta Unity North at 678-819-9100 or [email protected]. “We appreciate your support as we work to protect our community and hold those responsible accountable,” the church said in a social media post.
Road incident leads to assault charge
A Northeast Cobb man has been held without bond since last Wednesday after allegedly threatening two people with a gun while in his car on Canton Road.
According to an arrest warrant, John Michael Wier Sr., 50, of a Lakewood Drive address, is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and reckless conduct for brandishing a 9-millimeter handgun at two people on July 15 near the Chevron station at 3349 Canton Road.
The warrant states that Wier was driving a black 2003 Dodge Durango when he stopped beside another vehicle and yelled obscenities at the two people inside.
When the light turned green, according to the warrant, Wier pulled ahead of the other vehicle and “pointed the handgun at both victims. He pointed the handgun with his right hand, out the driver’s window.”
When officers arrived at his home a short time later, they also found a sawed-off rifle that according to the warrant did not possess a required tax stamp from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Suspect facing California fugitive charge
A man with an East Cobb address is being held without bond while he awaits extradition to California, according to an arrest warrant.
Mark Stephen Jansen, of a Karls Gate address, was arrested there last Thursday on a felony warrant in San Diego, Calif., where is wanted for fraud, according to the warrant.
He was taken into custody at the Cobb Adult Detention Center and remains there until his extradition by the “appropriate agency.”
How we cover crime reports
Editor’s Note: East Cobb News regularly publishes reports about crime incidents taken from arrest warrants and other official reports provided by law enforcement agencies. All accused parties are presumed innocent upon being charged.
Reports published by East Cobb News about criminal allegations are for informational purposes only and should not be considered a final legal judgment or an official finding of guilt.
East Cobb News does not publish photos of those charged with crimes unless or until they are proven guilty or admit to guilt in a court of law and are sentenced, but there are some exceptions.
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!
Paula Fidler and John Kone of the Marietta Kiwanis Club Golden K at her 100th birthday party at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Submitted information and photos:
Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K member Paula Fidler turned 100 years old on our nation’s 250th year birthday. On July 16th in lieu of the regular meeting, the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K held a birthday party celebration to honor Paula.
The program agenda summed up how the party unfolded as the opening read, “Kiwanis Celebrate—Paula Tate Fidler is 100!!!: July 11h, 1926–July 11th, 2026—one hundred years of living and loving.”
In addition to Kiwanis Club members, several of Paula’s family were in attendance. Paula is an amazing person and has a colorful background. Some of Paula’s history is as follows:
After the Second World War, while working at Wright Patterson Airfield, she met and married Paul Fidler. They were married for 49 years before his tragic death in 1995. As a military wife, she and Paul traveled all over the world living in such countries as Austria, Germany, Japan and South Korea. Stateside travels included states of North Carolina, California and Georgia.
Wherever they lived, Paula found places to volunteer her services. Among some of the activities were visits to orphanages in South Korea, and volunteering at the Red Cross Woman’s Thrift Shop. In 1969, she was selected as Fort Leonard Woods Military Wife of the year.
After her husband passed away, she kept busy spending time with her 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren by going out on the lake, climbing Kennesaw Mountain and at the tender age of 92 went ZIP lining.
In 2021, she was interviewed by Kennesaw State University and became part of their legacy series whereby students could hear about her life growing up during the depression and her World War II experiences.
She joined the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K on October 11th, 2011 and has been a proud, participating and active member ever since. She has received numerous congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes from many, including two governors, Gov. Barry Gardner, Kiwanis Club Georgia District Governor, and Brian Kemp, Governor of the State of Georgia.
However the most memorable birthday greeting was from Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.
Paula Fidler is joined by family and fellow members of the Marietta Kiwanis Club Golden K.
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Ever since opening at the Piedmont Commons Shopping Center (1050 East Piedmont Road) more than a decade ago, Righteous ‘Que has been closed on Sundays.
That’s about to change as the restaurant will be open for a few hours each Sunday, starting this coming week.
The Sunday lunch hours are from 11:30-3:30 p.m.
The change is the latest evolution of a Southern barbecue spot that’s had success what had been a tricky location for restaurants.
Righteous ‘Que was started by Patrick Verzone as a home cookout/catering effort, initially for friends, family and church members.
He opened up a brick-and-mortar space at Piedmont Commons in 2012, then moved into larger space in the same retail center that had had sporadic tenets in a number of food genres.
The former Righteous ‘Que space is now occupied by Belen de la Cruz Empanadas and Pastries.
In a video posted this week, Verzone said that “as we get closer to football season, we’ll be throwing in some wings.”
Serving Sunday Mimosas
Two longstanding East Cobb restaurants that specialize in Sunday service—they’re breakfast and brunch spots—will soon be offering mimosas to their customers.
Eggs Upp Grill (4401 Shallowford Road) and J. Christophers at the Woodlawn Square Shopping Center on Johnson Ferry Road recently had to get county approval to do so, since they didn’t have pouring licenses.
The process takes several steps, and in the case of both restaurants, started with initial denials by the Cobb Business License Divison.
That’s because both establishments are located within 300 feet of homes, schools, libraries, parks and places of worship—the county ordinance’s distance requirement—and quite a few restaurants have had to appeal those denials as a result.
The Cobb License Review Board approved the Eggs Up and J. Christopher’s requests for beer, wine and Sunday alcohol sales, and the Cobb Board of Commissioners recently upheld those approvals by consent.
The process has become standard and routine, but it’s also cumbersome for restaurant owners.
In addition to their applications, they also have to fill out extensive questionnaires stating whether their serving alcohol will have an “adverse effect” on those homes, schools, libraries, parks and places of worship.
The restaurants also have to explain how they plan to train employees to serve alcohol, if they’ve provided written policies and procedures for doing so, the percentage breakdown between food and alcohol sales and more (36 questions are asked).
County officials also compile a list of nearby establishments that serve alcohol as the applications are considered.
In the case of Eggs Up, its ownership told the county it’s being required to serve mimosas at the behest of the company.
That will start after a remodeling project that will keep the restaurant closed for at least another week.
Sterling Estates serves up its version of a Philly cheesesteak at the Taste of East Cobb.
2027 Taste of East Cobb date
Organizers of the Taste of East Cobb (Walton Band Parent Association) announced last week that the 2027 event will be held earlier than usual.
The festival will take place April 17, 2027, at its familiar venue at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.
The Taste of East Cobb traditionally has been held the first Saturday in May, a week after the much larger Taste of Marietta.
The new date for the Taste of East Cobb—two weeks earlier than usual—will now be a week ahead of the Marietta Square festival, which is set for April 25, 2027.
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!
This week’s featured real estate sale is a two-story home in the Highland Pointe subdivision, in the Lassiter High School, Mabry Middle School and Davis Elementary School attendance zones.
It has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths and includes 3,318 square feet on 0.34 acres, and sold for $649.9K on July 9, 2026.
Click the middle button below to see more photos.
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The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from July 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:
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!
A bill to name a Veterans Administration clinic after the late Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce has passed the U.S. House.
The bill (H.R. 5362) is sponsored by Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, whose 11th Congressional District includes East Cobb.
It would rename the clinic on 1263 Cobb Parkway North, just north of Bells Ferry Road) to the Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic.
Boyce, who lived in East Cobb and was was chairman from 2017-2020 and died in 2022, was a longtime officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.
The renaming bill passed the House by 418-0 vote and moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Loudermilk, an Air Force veteran who is retiring from Congress this year, issued the following statement:
“My good friend and well-respected community leader, Colonel Mike H. Boyce, spent much of his life in service to his community, state, and nation. Through his service as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and later in elected office as the Chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, Mike was a tireless advocate for the health and welfare of our active duty servicemembers and our veterans.
“Mike worked to ensure our servicemembers had the tools to succeed and was instrumental in establishing the Cobb County VA Clinic, which remains a vital resource for those who served our country honorably.
“Recognizing Colonel Boyce through this legislation is a fitting tribute to an American hero whose service and advocacy inspired so many, and I greatly appreciate his wife, Judy, for working to continue his incredible legacy.”
More reaction from local elected and business officials can be found by clicking here.
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!
The Rotary Club of East Cobb invites the community to participate in the 21st Annual Dog Days 5K, taking place on Saturday, August 8, 2026, beginning at 7:00 a.m.
A beloved East Cobb tradition, the Dog Days 5K brings together runners, walkers, families, businesses, and community supporters for a morning of fun while raising funds for local nonprofit organizations.
Since its inception, the Dog Days 5K has:
Raised more than $1.3 million for local charities
Welcomed more than 10,000 participants
Supported dozens of nonprofit organizations serving East Cobb and the surrounding communities
Last year’s event attracted more than 700 runners and raised over $84,000, with proceeds benefiting more than 30 local nonprofit organizations that provide critical services to children, families, seniors, veterans, and individuals in need.
The Rotary Club of East Cobb is also seeking sponsors for the 2026 event. Sponsorship offers businesses an opportunity to increase community visibility while directly supporting local charities. Sponsorship benefits include recognition on the event website, race-day signage, social media, promotional materials, the official race T-shirt, and recognition at the annual Dog Days Giveback Ceremony.
Whether you’re a runner, walker, volunteer, or business looking to make a difference, there are many ways to get involved.
To register, become a sponsor, volunteer, or learn more about the event, visit www.dogdaysrun.com.
Event Details
Event: 21st Annual Dog Days 5K Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026 Time: 7:00 a.m. Hosted By: Rotary Club of East Cobb Website:www.dogdaysrun.com
Join us as we celebrate 21 years of running for a purpose and supporting the nonprofits that strengthen our community. Every step, every sponsor, and every participant helps make a lasting impact.
Send Us Your News!
Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.
We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.
It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.
Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!
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!
The Cobb County School District officially celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its second Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy(CITA), located at Allatoona High School, marking another significant investment in preparing students for high-demand careers.
The state-of-the-art facility expands career-focused educational opportunities for Cobb students by offering hands-on learning experiences, industry-recognized certifications, internships, and direct pathways into college and the workforce.
The new academy features four career pillars:
Aviation
Healthcare
Skilled Trades
Advanced Computing
Students enrolled at CITA will learn from instructors with real-world industry experience while gaining practical skills aligned with Cobb County’s workforce needs.
“This facility represents our commitment to preparing students for high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers,” said Dr. Tiffany Barney, Executive Director of the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy. “Our students have access to incredible opportunities that allow them to explore their passions while earning valuable certifications and workplace experience before they graduate.”
The academy was made possible through voter-approved SPLOST funding and strong partnerships with local businesses, higher education institutions, and community organizations, including Wellstar Health System, Chattahoochee Technical College, Cobb EMC, NAPA, Evergreen Construction, and DLR Group.
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale emphasized that the new academy demonstrates the district’s commitment to ensuring every student has a pathway to success.
“Student success looks different for every child,” Ragsdale said. “Whether students choose college, technical education, military service, or enter the workforce immediately after graduation, CITA provides the tools and certifications they need to succeed.”
The Allatoona campus will welcome 116 students during its inaugural year, joining nearly 500 students already enrolled at the original CITA campus at Osborne High School.
District leaders noted the academy is designed not only to benefit students but also to strengthen Cobb County’s future workforce by aligning educational programs with regional industry needs.
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!
Ashley Ford is moving from Mt. Bethel ES to Brumby ES.
With the 2026-27 school year starting in the Cobb County School District Aug. 3, a number of schools are announcing staff changes.
In June, the Cobb Board of Education signed off on several school-level appointments, including assistant principals.
At East Cobb schools, 13 new assistant principal appointments were made, as teachers and staff begin to report.
In a separate post, we noted the hiring of former Wheeler football coach Bryan Love to an assistant principal position at Pope High School, and here are the others.
Brumby Elementary School
Ashley Ford comes from Mt. Bethel Elementary School, where she was an assistant principal. She has served in other roles at Smyrna Elementary School, Sedalia Park Elementary School and Fair Oaks Elementary School.
Daniell Middle School
John Cole Ross has been a teacher at Wheeler High School for the last two years. He also has been a teacher in Cherokee County schools.
Dickerson Middle School
Elin Griffin has taught at Hightower Trail Middle School and East Cobb Middle School as well as in Griffin, Woodstock and at Mt. Paran Christian School. She also was the director of adult growth at His Hands Church in in Woodstock.
East Cobb Middle School
James Auld comes from North Cobb High School, where he was an assistant principal and teacher since 2021.
Keheley Elementary School
Helen Walcott has been an assistant principal at Sanders, Compton and Baker elementary schools in Cobb and also taught and was a counselor in DeKalb County and Atlanta schools.
Matthew Staruch was a longtime teacher at Walton HS.
Kell High School
Matthew Staruch has been an assistant principal at Harrison High School since 2022 and was a teacher at Walton High School from 2006-2022.
Marion Ealy has been an assistant principal at Pebblebrook High School and Wheeler High School and was a teacher and school leadership intern at Kennesaw Mountain High School.
Mabry Middle School
Dustin Owens has been a teacher at East Cobb Middle School since 2023, and has taught and been a parapro in Fulton County schools.
Mt. Bethel Elementary School
Marlo Williams was a teacher for the last 10 years at Dowell Elementary School.
Sedalia Park Elementary School
Tara Oliver comes from Austell Elementary School, where she has been an assistant principal since 2018. She Also has been a teacher and administrator at Birney Elementary School
Simpson Middle School
Allen Cami has been a teacher since 2006 at McClure Middle School, and began his career in the Gwinnett County schools.
Sprayberry High School
Michaela Hicks has been a teacher at Allatoona High School since 2021, and before that, taught in Paulding County schools for seven years.
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!
