East Cobb Quilters’ Guild presents Georgia Celebrates Quilts

May 21, 2026May 21, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Georgia Celebrates Quilt Show set for Cobb Civic Center

Submitted information:

The East Cobb Quilters’ Guild is proud to present Georgia Celebrates Quilts, our 20th Biennial Quilt Show and Market, June 4-6, 2026, at the Cobb County Civic Center. It is Georgia’s largest continuing juried and judged Quilt Show with over 300 quilts by artists from all over Georgia. Beautiful handmade ribbons and over $4,000 in cash prizes will be awarded by nationally certified judges. From artful wall quilts to traditional bed coverings, this show has something for everyone.

Come see the quilts, shop with the vendors, and participate in the raffles. Your interest demonstrates the powerful effect of the quilt-making arts and their ability to strengthen friendships and contribute to our community as a whole.

The purpose of Georgia Celebrates Quilts is to promote the appreciation of quilt making, to encourage excellence in quilt making, and to present the best in traditional and contemporary quilted works. The quilts in the show were entered by their makers, then selected for display by a jury, and judged for visual impact and technical skill by nationally-certified judges. The quilts on display come from all over Georgia and represent a wide range of styles, sizes, techniques and inspiration, and were made by quilters of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels. Every visitor will find quilts that speak to them.

Raffle Quilt

We are excited to present “Terrazzo” the 2026 raffle quilt made by the members of the East Cobb Quilters’ Guild. Thank you for your interest in buying tickets to win this great quilt! “Terrazzo” measures 76″ x 87.″

Proceeds from the raffle support the educational mission of the Guild, providing workshops and lectures by nationally and internationally known quilt artists. If you’re not already a member, why not check out our programs, join online and be part of the fun!

Buy Tickets

Local Vendors

One of our absolute favorite local gems is joining us at Georgia Celebrates Quilts 2026 — and we could not be more excited to welcome Stitched Gifts from right here in Marietta!

Stitched is so much more than a quilt shop — it is a boutique, class venue, fabric store, and crafting community all in one! They specialize in t-shirt quilts, memory quilts, longarm services, and custom handmade sewn gifts, and their boutique is filled with locally handmade treasures for everyone. Winner of the Best of Georgia Award!

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!

East Cobb Food Scores: Moxie Burger; Timeless Kitchen; more

May 21, 2026May 21, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Moxie Burger Moxie Taco close COVID

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

876 NyamMinz Jamaican Cuisine
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 106
May 5, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Euro ATL
1265 Powers Ferry Road
May 19, 2026, Score: 96, Grade: A

Jimmy John’s
1337 Powers Ferry Road
May 15, 2026, Score: 81, Grade: B

Moxie Burger
255 Village Parkway, Suite 110
May 18, 2026, Score: 88, Grade: B

Taco Bell
4720 Alabama Road
May 11, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Timeless Kitchen and Cocktails
2769 Delk Road
May 19, 2026, Score: 92, Grade: A

Touchdown Wings
2856 Delk Road, Suite 301
May 13, Score: 98, Grade: A

Zaxby’s
2981 Delk Road
May 12, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

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!

Gritters Library to offer free summer meals for children

May 21, 2026May 21, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Gritters Library to offer free summer meals for children

Submitted information:

Breakfast and lunch meals will be served to children free of charge weekdays in June and July inside three Cobb County public libraries.

Nutritious meals will be provided by Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program, through the local partnership of Cobb County Public Library (CCPL) and Georgia Educational Resources Inc. (GERI). Happy Helpings is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

The meals will be offered June 1 through July 24 three days per week on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No meals will be served Friday, June 19 on the Juneteenth holiday and Friday, July 3, a Cobb County holiday for Independence Day.

The Happy Helpings 2026 schedule is:
South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton 30126

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Breakfast: 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

North Cobb Regional Library, 3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw 30144

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays

Breakfast: 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.; lunch: 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Gritters Library, 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta 30066

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Breakfast: 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.; lunch: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Call 770-528-2524 to confirm availability

The meals, prepared by a local county-inspected commercial kitchen, are free for children ages 18 and younger. Adults 19 years and older who are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities will also receive meals. Parents and caregivers must remain with the children during the meals.

“Cobb libraries partner with the community to target barriers of access to learning and play, like food insecurity,” said Terri Tresp, CCPL Division Director. “Happy Helpings meals offer a cool, comfortable space for families to meet neighbors and connect with countywide Summer Reading programs.”

For information on the Happy Helpings program and children’s food insecurity in Georgia, visit happyhelpingsga.com. For information on summertime Cobb County Public Library programs and resources, visit cobbcat.org.

Cobb public libraries to launch summer reading program

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Key Cobb school board race separated by fewer than 100 votes

May 20, 2026May 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Democratic candidates in a Cobb Board of Education primary in the East Cobb area are fewer than 100 votes apart following Tuesday’s elections.

Micheal Garza leads Susan McCartney by 78 votes in Post 4 results that are final, but unofficial, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

Post 4 includes the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry high school clusters.

A critic of the Cobb County School District’s leadership, Garza has 5,016 votes, or 50.39 percent. McCartney, a retired teacher at Shallowford Falls Elementary School, has 4,938 votes, or 49.61 percent.

That’s a margin of 0.78 percent. Under Georgia law, second-place candidates can call for a recount if the difference is 0.5 percent or less.

Garza told East Cobb News Wednesday afternoon that “our campaign is confident that we will be named the winner of the primary when the results are made official.”

He said it’s his understanding that “every vote, outside of any provisional votes, has been counted in the early vote, mail vote, and election day vote.”

On her campaign Facebook page, McCartney conceded Wednesday afternoon, saying that “I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished with a grassroots effort and absolutely no financial backing from any groups or PAC’s. We ran a race with a hundred dollars and only lost by less than one percent.”

The Cobb Board of Registration and Elections will meet next Tuesday to certify primary election results.

Cobb school board Post 4 Democratic profiles: Garza | McCartney

Garza will face three-term incumbent David Chastain in November in a contest that will determine party control of a Cobb Board of Education that has been increasingly fractious in recent years.

Chastain, who was unopposed Tuesday, is the only Republican on the ballot in this year’s school board elections. Republicans hold a 4-3 majority, while Democrats control the Cobb Board of Commissioners and the county’s legislative delegation.

In the Post 6 school board race, Democratic incumbent Nichelle Davis easily won her primary over school district critic Jennifer Susko and has no Republican opposition. Post 2 Democratic incumbent Becky Sayler was unopposed in the primary and the general election.

In 2022, Chastain was re-elected following a bitter general election battle with Democrat Catherine Pozniak (he was later fined for campaign finance violations).

This year, Chastain has early support from prominent Cobb business and civic leaders, including John Loud of Loud Security Systems, a former Cobb Chamber of Commerce chairman who’s gotten involved recently in local Republican campaigns, and who is Chastain’s steering committee chairman.

Garza unsuccessfully ran twice against Republican State Rep. John Carson of Northeast Cobb in 2022 and 2024.

“The challenge for us was to impress upon voters the importance of a school board race and to hit enough voters in a short amount of time in a large post that spanned 27 precincts,” Garza said Wednesday.

He said his campaign had more than 100 volunteers who wrote 7,000 postcards and knocked on almost 3,000 doors during the primary, including high school students writing out notes on a digital learning day.

“You don’t win races like this alone, and I am humbled that so many people in the community have supported me over the years, including my school community,” said Garza, a PTA leader at Keheley Elementary School, where his daughter is a student, as well as the East Cobb County Council of PTAs.

McCartney pledged her support to Garza and said that “my commitment to our community and to public education remains as strong as ever. I ran because I care deeply about our students, our teachers, and the future of our schools, and that passion does not end tonight. This is not the last you will see of me.”

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

Cobb schools announce 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians

May 20, 2026May 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Cobb County School District on Wednesday announced the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians.

Overall, the valedictorians in the Cobb school district combined for an average grade-point average of 4.717, with salutatorians at 4.50.

The highest GPAs are all at Campbell High School, which has three valedictorians—Krishna Anand, Amulya Patil and Livia Ross, with 4.848 scores.

Among East Cobb high schools, Sprayberry valedictorian Peyton Pace has the highest GPA, at 4.813.

Sixteen of the vals and sals from the Cobb school district are headed to Georgia Tech, with six others bound for the University of Georgia.

Other college destinations for this year’s vals and sals are Stanford University, Duke University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Rice University, the University of Pennsylvania, the California Institute of Technology, and the United States Air Force Academy.

What follows are the vals and sals from the six East Cobb high schools, their GPAs, college choices and intended majors. For the full list of vals and sals in the Cobb school district, click here.

Kell High School
Valedictorian— Juan Diego Jimenez Ramirez, 4.750, Rice University, pre-med
Salutatorian—Dylan Brostoff, 4.507, UGA, pre-dentistry

Lassiter High School
Valedictorian—Evan Taylor Buchanan, 4.790, Georgia Tech, aerospace engineering
Salutatorian—Chloe Elizabeth Cummings, 4.729, UGA, business

Pope High School
Valedictorian—Kenneth Kim, 4.778, Duke University, biology
Salutatorian—Malachy O’Connor, 4.776, Georgia Tech, computer science

Sprayberry High School
Valedictorian—Peyton Pace, 4.813, Emory University, neuroscience
Salutatorian—Sebastian Ezqueda, 4.646, Georgia Tech, computer science

Walton High School
Valedictorian—Dev Patel, 4.808, Georgia Tech, computer science
Salutatorian—Jerry Xu, 4.803, Princeton University, classics or economics

Wheeler High School
Valedictorian—Vidya Sinha, 4.794, Stanford University, computer science
Salutatorians—Devang Doshi, 4.779, Georgia Tech, computer science

Click the middle button below to view the photo gallery of all the East Cobb vals and sals.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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!

Wheeler graduates urged to ‘look uncertainty in the eye’

May 20, 2026May 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

More than 300 students at Wheeler High School received their diplomas on Tuesday.

The Class of 2026 held commencement exercises at the KSU Convocation Center with plenty of plaudits.

Principal Sara Fetterman said that the seniors will be receiving nearly $20 million in scholarship money, and a majority of them graduated with honors.

Another 14 will be entering the ranks of the military or the National Guard after high school.

“This class exemplifies a true sense of community,” said Fetterman, in her first year at Wheeler after coming from Sprayberry, and recalling its commitment to community service.

Those distinguishing marks may be many, but seniors speaking to their classmates offered some sobering reminders of what they’ve gone through, and how to remember their days in high school.

Senior class president Kassidy Sweeney recalled that at times, the rigors of being a high school student can make them feel “overwhelmed,” and not just academically.

“We still pushed through, and we made it through,” Sweeney said, applauding her classmates’ demonstration of patience and resilience “that has made us stronger people.

“Remember these lessons and take them with you.”

Valedictorian Vidya Sinha, who will be attending Stanford University, expanded on that theme and asked the graduates to consider how their experiences now will be remembered in the years to come.

“There’s something special, the feeling you can come out together in the confines of a classroom,” she said.

But this class, she added, has had to endure experiences that go far beyond an academic setting.

Halfway through their education, they experienced the closures and disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is no certainty about anything,” Sinha said, adding that perhaps the greatest lesson the Wheeler seniors have learned is that “we’re willing to look uncertainty straight in the eye and keep going.

“In a few years, these memories will belong to strangers,” she added. “But for now, they belong to us.”

Click the middle button below to see more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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!

Runoffs loom for Ga. Congress, Senate, governor’s primaries

May 20, 2026May 20, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Republican voters in the Georgia primaries will have some more voting ahead of them in key races at the federal and state levels in June.

The 11th Congressional District, which includes most of East Cobb, has a vacancy due to the retirement of U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk.

In Tuesday’s elections, physician John Cowan led a crowded field, receiving 42 percent of the vote. He will be in a June 16 runoff against Rob Adkerson, who is Loudermilk’s chief of staff.

According to final, unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, Adkerson received 21 percent, while former Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore got 18 percent.

The 11th District also includes Cherokee, Bartow and parts of Gordon and Pickens counties. The Democratic nominee is Chris Harden, who easily won his primary on Tuesday.

U.S. Senate runoff

The Republican battle in the U.S. Senate also was extended when Tuesday’s results weren’t sufficient to secure the nomination.

Two-term U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley will be competing for the right to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.

Collins led the five-man field with 40 percent of the vote, to 30 percent for Dooley, who coached at the University of Tennessee and is the son of the late University of Georgia football coach and athletics director Vince Dooley.

Dooley, who is supported by outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp, got more votes in Cobb County than the other candidates, receiving 4o percent.

Battle for Governor

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and business executive Rick Jackson will square off in the Republican runoff for Georgia governor.

Jones received 38 percent of the vote to 33 percent for Jackson, who entered the race in January and spent an estimated $100 million on his campaign.

Both candidates are vying for the votes of supporters of President Donald Trump, who officially endorsed Jones.

Jones narrowly led in votes in Cobb County.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr got 15 and 11 percent of the vote, respectively, in the gubernatorial primary.

In November, the GOP nominee will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who crushed Democratic primary opposition, getting 56 percent of the vote.

Former State Sen. Jason Esteves, who briefly represented a portion of East Cobb, finished second with 18 percent of the vote.

There also will be a Republican runoff for lieutenant governor between two Georgia state senators, Greg Dolezal and John F. Kennedy.

The Democratic runoff for the same seat also has two state senators, Josh McLaurin and Nabilah Parkes.

For more Congressional and state election results, click here.

Supreme Court decisions

Two incumbent members of the Georgia Supreme Court beat back challenges in non-partisan elections that were watched around the country.

Charlie Bethel and Sarah Hawkins Warren defeated candidates promoted by Democratic Party interests.

Bethel received 51 percent of the vote against Miracle Rankin, an Atlanta personal injury attorney. Warren soundly defeated former State Sen. Jen Jordan with 59 percent of the vote.

Rankin and Jordan, the Democratic nominee for Georgia Attorney General in 2022, were cited by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission for likely violating ethics rules prohibiting endorsements of one another and by stating positions on issues likely to come before a court, in particular abortion rights.

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

Cobb incumbents cruise; school board race too close to call

May 20, 2026May 19, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Cobb’s two Republican commissioners claimed decisive victories in their contested primary races on Tuesday, as did a Democratic Cobb school board member (here are links to the races we were watching).

Another Cobb school board race, to determine a general election opponent for an East Cobb incumbent, appears to be too close to call.

And there will be a runoff to determine a Republican nominee for the Congressional seat that includes East Cobb, as well as Republican Party candidates in November for governor and the U.S. Senate.

The links below include continuously updated totals by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, including precinct breakdowns. The figures are unofficial and must be certified by the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration.

District 3 Republican Commissioner JoAnn Birrell received more than 72 percent of the vote against challenger Chris Wasserman, with 41 of 53 precincts reporting.

Birrell, seeking her fifth term, advances to the November general election against Kevin Redmon, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary. District 3 covers most of East Cobb.

Commissioner Keli Gambrill, a Republican from District 1 in West Cobb, also easily won her primary, as well as a third term on Tuesday. She trounced Cobb Development Authority member Clark Hungerford with 71 percent of the vote, with 41 of 44 precincts reporting.

There was not a Democratic qualifier for that race in November.

Democratic Cobb Board of Education member Nichelle Davis handily defeated challenger Jennifer Susko to earn a second term in Post 6, which includes some of the Wheeler High School attendance zone.

With all 16 precincts reporting, Davis received 76 percent of the vote against Susko, a vocal critical of the Cobb County School District.

There wasn’t a Republican candidate who qualified for that seat, which is centered in the Cumberland-Smyrna-Vinings area.

In the Democratic primary for Cobb Board of Education Post 4, another school district critic, Micheal Garza, was holding a razor-thin lead over retired Cobb school teacher Susan McCartney.

That post includes the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry high school clusters.

With all 27 precincts reporting, Garza had 5,014 votes, or 50.38 percent of the vote, to 4,938 votes for McCartney, or 49.62 percent.

The winner will be opposed in November by Republican David Chastain, a three-term incumbent, with party control of the school board on the line. The GOP holds a 4-3 majority and Chastain is the only Republican on the ballot this year.

In the Post 2 school board seat in the Smyrna area, first-term Democrat Becky Sayler ran unopposed in the primary, and she has no Republican opposition in November.

John Cowan, a physician, got 34 percent of the vote and will be in a June 16 runoff for the Republican nomination for the 11th Congressional District seat that’s being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk.

Cowan’s opponent is Rick Adkerson, Loudermilk’s chief of staff.

In November, the winner will meet Chris Harden, who won the Democratic primary Tuesday with 73 percent of the vote.

There will be runoffs in a variety of statewide races, including Republican primaries for governor and the U.S. Senate.

Burt Jones and Rick Jackson will vie June 16 in the GOP gubernatorial runoff with the winner to meet former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who easily won the Democratic primary Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley are in a Republican runoff for the right to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.

More statewide election results can be found at this link; East Cobb News will have more coverage on Wednesday and throughout the rest of the week.

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

Pope graduates told to ‘make moments of influence count’

May 19, 2026May 19, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Pope High School led off a week-long schedule of Cobb County School District graduations on Monday night, and its Class of 2026 had much to celebrate.

As seniors listened during commencement exercises at the KSU Convocation Center, they were told by Principal Matthew Bradford that they set some school records along the way, especially when it came to community service.

He said that this class exemplified the “characteristics of greatness” that included excellence, respect, integrity and toughness.

Among the notables were 17,000 hours of community service, “the most in school history,” as well as raising more than $25,000 for cancer research in the name of former Pope student Matt Hobby.

Pope students also raised $40,000 as part of its Shop With a Greyhound program to assist Brumby Elementary School students during the holidays.

As far as class legacies go, Bradford said, “you have not just met” such a high standard, “you have surpassed it.”

Nearly a half of Pope’s seniors graduated with honors, and its college-bound graduates have accrued more than $12.5 million in scholarship assistance, excluding the Georgia HOPE program.

“Wherever your journey takes you, know that your Pope family will always be behind you,” Bradford said.

The student speakers included valedictorian Kenneth Kim, who will be attending Duke University, and salutatorian Malachy O’Connor, who is bound for Georgia Tech.

Cobb Board of Education member John Cristadoro urged all the graduates to become influencers, not on social media, but in their communities and with people in their lives on a daily basis.

He cited a figure that some people could influence more than 80,000 others—enough to fill a football stadium—during the course of their lives, and that as they will be remembered at the end of their lives, to consider “what the reaction will be.

“Make those moments of influence count,” Cristadoro said. “Leave every situation better than when you found it.”

Click the middle button below for more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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!

Cobb commissioners reject RaceTrac rezoning on Bells Ferry

May 19, 2026 by Wendy Parker

With practically no discussion, the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday rejected a request by RaceTrac Inc. to build a 24/7 gas station and convenience store near Bells Ferry Elementary School.

Two weeks after the Cobb Planning Commission recommended approving rezoning to the Neighborhood Retail Commercial (NRC) category, but prohibiting fuel sales and other uses, Commissioner Erick Allen quickly made a motion to deny the application outright.

This is the second time RaceTrac has applied for rezoning—its initial request last year was withdrawn before commissioners could formally consider it.

“We’ver heard this case several times,” Allen said after the RaceTrac presentation Tuesday, adding that that “not a lot has materially changed.”

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell—whose East Cobb District 3 formerly included the two-acre tract on Bells Ferry at Barrett Parkway—just quickly seconded the motion, and the vote was a unanimous 5-0.

The property had been zoned for Planned Shopping Center, which doesn’t allow for a gas station.

For decades, a structure known as the McAfee House, built in the 1840s, stood on the land. The home was used by a Union general during the Civil War and recently was relocated to Cherokee County earlier this year by Cobb Landmarks, an historic preservation non-profit.

Some citizens opposed to the gas station suggested the property maintain its natural character, retaining many of the trees.

But the tract is surrounded by commercially zoned development in a busy corridor.

Opponents have fought the proposal for months, citing the land’s proximity to the school and being adjacent to a day care center, and a gas station’s effect on traffic and the environment.

Kevin Moore, Race’Trac’s attorney, presented slides repeating his client’s claims that there wouldn’t be much additional traffic coming to the intersection to get gas. And he also reiterated claims from a third-party environmental engineer that RaceTrac’s vapor recovery systems would capture 98 percent of benzene emissions at the gas station.

He showed a map of a RaceTrac near Milford Elementary School and said that what his client was seeking now isn’t unusual.

But earlier this month, Planning Commission member Fred Beloin noted that “I don’t think there’s any serious question that people should not be breathing any great quantities of benzene on a regular basis.”

He cited various distance requirements in other jurisdictions, as well as those cited for increased cancer risks, and noted that Cobb has no such restrictions on how close fuel storage tanks can be located to such sensitive operations like child care centers and schools.

“We don’t have a strict rule, but we don’t have a strict rule that we’re supposed to stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich,” Beloin said, generating some applause in the audience.

“Where this community stands, there is no doubt. I just don’t see that this is an appropriate use of this property.”

Before Tuesday’s vote, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid made a similar reference, suggesting “to take a look at this in code,” meaning a possible county ordinance change.

“There have been instances where looked at the impact of gas stations near residential property. So we need to make sure that we’re being consistent as a board in protecting the health and safety and welfare of all of our residents.”

Cobb Elections reports ‘election operations’ issues at polls

May 19, 2026May 19, 2026 by Wendy Parker

ELECTION RESULTS COVERAGE:

We’re updating all the races at this link.

UPDATED, TUESDAY, 6:20 P.M.

Cobb Superior Court Judge Kimberly Childs has issued an order keeping 11 precincts open past the 7 p.m. closing time Tuesday, due to technical issues with polling pad devices.

The order was requested by the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration. In East Cobb those precincts and new closing times are as follows:

Eastside 02 (EA02) – Sewell Mill Library, 2051 Lower Roswell Road—Open until 7:09 p.m.
Elizabeth 03 (EL03) – Piedmont Road Church of Christ, 1630 Piedmont Road—Open until 8 p.m.
Elizabeth 04 (EL04) – Gracelife Church, 1083 Allgood Road—Open until 7:30 p.m.
Lassiter 01 (LA01) – Pilgrimage United Church of Christ, 3755 Sandy Plains Road—Open until 7:30 p.m.
Powers Ferry 01 (PF01) – Sewell Mill Library, 2051 Lower Roswell Road—Open until 7:09 p.m.

UPDATED, TUESDAY, 5:30 P.M.

East Cobb News readers reported lengthy lines at their precincts on Tuesday.

Lauren Beth Reid said she waited two hours to cast her ballot at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, which this year is the venue for two precincts, and reported there hasn’t been much communication with voters on-site about the problems.

When East Cobb News visited the polling station around 3 p.m. Tuesday, the back of the line formed outside the front doors, and continued inside the lobby and through the facility’s art gallery leading to a room where the voting was taking place.

“There’s 30 people waiting out the sun. I’ve personally made phone calls to try to get things situated in a better way,” Reid wrote on the East Cobb News Facebook page after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“They have no notices on the doors. Nobody’s come out and talk to anybody.”

Reid said older people initially were being allowed to come inside to the front of the line, but some were sent back.

“It’s a little chaotic. We’re trying to keep people safe and we’re the ones waiting in line doing it,” she added. “It’s a very disappointing. I have Uber eats and I’m half tempted to order five cases of ice cold water and pass them out to people, but I’d probably get in trouble. That’s truly how bad it is.”

Teri Hovsepian said the line where she votes at Sope Creek Elementary School is “the longest it’s been in recent memory.”

She said when she arrived at 2 p.m., three check-in machines weren’t working, and when her husband went there at 4 p.m. “the line was twice as long.”

Updated, 3:15 Tuesday:

Cobb Elections said the issues involve poll pad devices:

We are actively working with the Secretary of State to deploy additional poll pads. In the meantime, polling places are successfully utilizing backup manual check-in procedures to ensure voting continues without interruption.”

UPDATED, 8:50 A.M.:

Cobb Elections just issued the following message:

Cobb County Elections & Registration is aware of issues impacting some election operations today. Backup procedures are in place and voting has NOT stopped.

Voters are encouraged to remain patient as our staff work to assist voters and support polling locations across the county.

All eligible voters in line by 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballot.

For questions or assistance, please call our office with any issues or concerns at 770-528-2581.

At 10:15 a.m., Cobb government sent out a release saying that there are “technical issues” at “some polling locations” but wasn’t more specific.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7 A.M.

The polls are open in East Cobb and throughout Georgia Tuesday for the 2026 primary elections.

All precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and East Cobb News will be providing updates at this link during voting hours.

We will update election results after the polls close on a separate link.

The deadline for mailed-in or hand-delivered absentee ballots to the Cobb Elections office is 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters in East Cobb will be deciding party nominees in local Cobb commission and school board races, as well as legislative and Congressional races and statewide elections, including governor and U.S. Senate.

See our complete voting guide for details, including sample ballots.

If there are runoffs, those will take place on June 16.

Voters must go to their assigned precincts. In East Cobb, seven precincts will have new locations for the primaries.

Voters must bring a valid photo ID with them to the polls (click here for details).

To check your voter registration status, and to get a customized sample ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

East Cobb News has published a story on our approach to covering politics and elections; we don’t endorse candidates and focus instead on providing information to help citizens cast their votes.

Cobb Elections said Monday that more than 78,000 ballots were cast in early voting, about 14 percent of all registered voters in the county.

The Tim D. Lee Senior Center and the East Cobb Government Service Center had the most early voters, with around 9,000 and 8,700 ballots cast there, respectively.

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

Your business has a story—let East Cobb News tell it!

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026 by Wendy Parker

At East Cobb News, storytelling is what we do. Every day for nearly nine years now, we have proudly told the stories that are important to East Cobb residents on a variety of subjects, to keep them updated on what’s happening in the community. Your business has a story—let East Cobb News tell it!

But our storytelling mission includes letting readers know about the small and local business owners in East Cobb who form the backbone of our community.

East Cobb’s a big place, and there’s a lot of competition for customers and clients in almost every kind of business.

There are also so many ways to get your message out, and it can be bewildering to sort it all out.

Business owners have to wear a lot of hats, and marketing their businesses can be a challenge.

At East Cobb News, we’d love to tell your story to East Cobb’s most engaged audience. We offer a variety of digital advertising products—display, newsletter and sponsored posts—that effectively and affordably tell your story.

If you want to let people know who you are, and distinguish yourself from the competition, hit the “yes” button below, fill in your e-mail address and we’ll get back to you promptly.

We’d love to hear your story, so we can tell it to the rest of East Cobb.

At East Cobb News, we want to help you tell your story and Discover the Power of Local!

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!

Cobb REALTORS to hold grand reopening event Thursday

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Cobb REALTORS will officially celebrate the grand reopening of its headquarters on Thursday, May 21, 2026, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The celebration will take place at 444 Manget Street SE, Suite 100, Marietta, GA 30060, with guests invited to attend between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

The event will feature tours of the newly renovated space, opportunities to connect with local REALTORS, business and community leaders, food from local restaurants, live music, giveaways, interactive experiences, and more. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 4:00 PM.

Community members, local businesses, families, and friends are invited to attend the celebration.

Cobb REALTORS is proud to unveil a refreshed headquarters designed to better serve its members, strengthen local connections, and support the future of the real estate industry in Cobb and beyond.

Founded in 1954, Cobb REALTORS has served as the professional trade association for real estate professionals across Cobb County, providing advocacy, education, leadership, and resources that help members succeed while supporting strong communities and protecting private property rights.

“Cobb REALTORS has proudly served and supported the Cobb community for more than 70 years,” said Norm Kennedy, 2026 President. “This reimagined space reflects our continued commitment to our members, our profession, and the communities we serve. We’re excited to welcome our members, partners, and neighbors as we celebrate this new chapter together.”

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Man charged with rape, child molestation at East Cobb home

May 18, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Police last week charged a man in East Cobb with a number of sex crimes involving a minor, some of which are alleged to have taken place over more than a decade.

According to an arrest warrant, Efren Olguin Vega is facing two felony counts of rape, one felony count of child molestation and two felony counts of incest.

The warrant, which was taken out on Thursday, alleges that the suspect began sexually assaulting a female minor at a home off Old Mountain Park Road, near the Cobb-Fulton line, starting in September 2015.

The warrant states that three of the charges stemmed from an incident early on the morning of last Sunday, May 10 and involved an act of sexual intercourse with the victim “against her will” in the kitchen of the residence.

Vega also is charged with one count of felony sodomy, as he “manipulated and intimidated said victim to get on her knees and perform oral sex on him,” according to the warrant.

There isn’t any Cobb Sheriff’s Office information available on whether Vega has been taken into custody. East Cobb News has contacted the Cobb Sheriff’s Office seeking more information.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Cobb Public Library System to launch Summer Reading Program

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Public Library System to launch Summer Reading Program

The 2026 Cobb Public Library Summer Reading program takes place from June 1-July 30, and pre-registration continues leading up to four kickoff celebrations on May 30.

Those events will place from 4-6 p.m. at Gritters South Cobb Regional Library, Switzer Library and West Cobb Regional Library.

Here’s more about what it’s all about:

Cobb Library’s Summer Reading Program is an all-ages reading program designed to spark community connection, strengthen family bonds, and turn every page into a shared adventure.

Children: Lay the foundation for lifelong literacy by reading and learning together. Interacting with books—even with infants—boosts word recognition, expands vocabulary, and builds vital social-emotional connections.
Students: Prevent the “summer slide.” Students can lose up to three months of reading and math skills over the break. Keep your student engaged and learning while they earn rewards and build community!
Adults: Take a moment to reset and rediscover the joy of reading. Reading for pleasure is a proven way to relieve stress and keep your mind sharp.

To sign up online follow these instructions:

Create an account on Beanstack and join Summer Reading.
Log minutes read and/or activities completed to earn Bingo.
One Bingo earns you a prize at your library and an entry into the grand prize drawing.
Black out your Bingo board for another entry into the grand prize drawing (or a second prize for children).

If you’d rather do this the old-fashioned paper way:

Log for children | Log for teens and adults

For more information on the Summer Reading Program, click here.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

East Cobb Real Estate: Fox Hills traditional sells for $650K

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Real Estate: Fox Hills traditional sells for $650K

This week’s featured home sale is a two-story traditional in Fox Hills, located in the Wheeler High School, East Cobb Middle School and Sope Creek Elementary School attendance zones.

It has 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, covering 2,920 square feet. The home, which is on 0.51 acres, sold for $650,000 on May 4, 2026.

The home has been updated throughout, with new hardwood floors and kitchen appliances, a finished terrace and a renovated primary bath suite in living space featuring an abundance of natural light.

The living space includes a fireside family room, a coffee/bar area, a private, tree-lined back yard and an elevated deck with shade.

Click the middle button below to see more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from May 4-8, 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

4274 Reef Road, 30066 (Lamplighter): $411,450

Lassiter

4215 Brandon Ridge Drive, 30066 (Brandon Ridge): $455,000

2855 Lamer Trace, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $875,000

3800 Northpoint Drive, 30062 (Spring Wood): $415,000

3701 Shallowford Road, 30062: $780,000

2662 Forest Way, 30066 (Forest Chase): $560,000

2417 Stockton Drive, 30066 (Stocktons Ford): $462,000

Marietta

347 Scott Drive, 30067 (Powers Ferry Hills): $361,699

1672 Evanston Circle 30062 (The Gables at East Worthington): $459,000

Pope

2049 Kramer Way, 30062 (Holly Springs Crossing): $620,000

2945 Wendy Lane, 30062 (Wendwood): $501,000

2986 Windstone Circle, 30062 (Lassiter Walk): $1.25 million

1941 O Shea Lane, 30062 (Wicks Creek): $565,000

1802 Wicks Valley Drive, 30062: $620,000

3892 Johnson Ferry Drive, 30062 (Secluded Pines): $397,500

2100 Stone Hollow Court, 30062 (Chimney Springs): $600,000

Sprayberry

3310 Ebenezer Farm Road, 30066 (Ebenezer Farm): $750,000

1803 Hasty Road, 30062 (Hasty Acres): $335,000

1002 Brackett Road, 30066: $440,000

134 Bluffington Way. 30066 (Bluffs at Bells Ferry): $395,000

1839 Wilkenson Crossing, 30062 (St. Charles Square): $570,000

1467 Oak Springs Drive, 30066 (Oak Creek Estates): $480,000

133 Parkstone Way, 30066 (Park at Barrett Creek): $670,000

445 Arnold Avenue, 30066 (Kings Wood Estates): $353,500

2340 Danielle Court, 30062 (Sprayberry Crossing): $430,000

Walton

1386 Churchill Way, 30062 (Roswell Downs): $700,000

1718 Barrington Circle, 30062 (Haverford): $820,000

2201 Meadow Wood Court, 30062 (Meadow Wood): $504,000

1210 Windsor Estates, 30062 (Windsor Estates): $1.646 million

1523 Brookcliff Circle, 30062 (Brookcliff): $535,000

3055 Brown Point Place, 30068 (Walton Glen): $1.6 million

3004 Asheton Place, 30068 (Ashebrook): $745,000

4974 Odins Way, 30068 (Lake Fjord): $707,500

2192 Heritage Trace Drive, 30068 (Heritage Trace): $600,000

4604 Karls Gate Drive, 30068 (Princeton Lakes): $830,000

4480 Dobbs Crossing, 30068 (Woodlawn Commons): $760,000

Wheeler

384 Lamplighter Lane, 30068 (Fox Hills): $650,000

689 Old Canton Road, 30062 (Cobb Estates): $395,000

3559 Oak Knoll Drive, 30062 (Heritage Woods): $599,900

3311 Sulky Circle, 30067 (Ward Meade Farm): $1.29 million

2389 Princess Lane, 30067 (Red Oak Park): $351,000

2158 Freydale Road, 30067 (Freywood Estates): $436,000

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

East Cobb election-day voting guide for the 2026 primaries

May 19, 2026May 16, 2026 by Wendy Parker

ELECTION RESULTS COVERAGE:

We’re updating all the races at this link.

UPDATED TUESDAY, 5:15 P.M.:

Cobb Elections says it is having technical issues with poll pads that are used to check in voters and that there are lengthy delays at some precincts.

“We are actively working with the Secretary of State to deploy additional poll pads. In the meantime, polling places are successfully utilizing backup manual check-in procedures to ensure voting continues without interruption.”

ORIGINAL REPORT:

According to Cobb Elections, nearly 62,000 Cobb residents have cast votes in advance of Tuesday’s primary elections, which will decide party nominees in a variety of local, state and federal races and determine some judicial seats.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The deadline for mailed-in or hand-delivered absentee ballots to the Cobb Elections office is 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters who will be voting on Tuesday must go to their assigned precincts. In East Cobb, seven precincts will have new locations for the primaries.

Voters must choose to vote in one of the following primaries: Democratic, Republican or non-partisan; no switching over is allowed.

Voters must bring a valid photo ID with them to the polls (click here for details).

To check your voter registration status, and to get a customized sample ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

Cobb Elections also has prepared consolidated sample ballots: Democratic | Republican | Non-Partisan

Who/What’s on the ballot?

East Cobb News Explainer: Covering politics and elections

At the local level, voters in East Cobb will be choosing candidates in a number of races, including the Republican nominee for District 3 on the Board of Commissioners. Four-term incumbent JoAnn Birrell is facing a challenge from first-time candidate Chris Wasserman. Democrat Kevin Redmon awaits in November.

In Post 4 on the Cobb Board of Education, three-term Republican incumbent David Chastain will face either Micheal Garza or Susan McCartney, the Democratic candidates who have qualified.

First-term Democratic incumbent Nichelle Davis is being opposed in Post 6 on the Cobb Board of Education by Jennifer Susko. There is no Republican who qualified, so Tuesday’s winner will win that seat.

East Cobb News conducted the following interviews with each of those candidates in contested primaries:

Cobb Commission District 3, GOP

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell seeks fifth term as ‘energizer bunny.’ Story.
Challenger Chris Wasserman calls for ‘new energy and ideas.’ Story.

Cobb Board of Education Post 4, Democrat

School activist Michael Garza says ‘it’s the right time’ to take on status quo. Story.
Retired teacher Susan McCartney wants to ‘give back to education.’ Story.

Cobb Board of Education Post 6, Democrat

First-term incumbent Nichelle Davis prefers to ‘lead with joy.’ Story.
School district critic Jennifer Susko endorsed by former board member. Story.

Other Races

The only countywide race on the ballot is Cobb Solicitor General. Democratic incumbent Maria Metzger has a primary opponent in Christopher Futch; no Republican qualified.

There are seven incumbent judges on Cobb Superior Court and Cobb State Court who are running unopposed.

At the state level, crowded primaries are in store for the governor’s race, where incumbent Brian Kemp is term-limited. Other statewide races include lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, the commissioners of agriculture, labor and insurance and state school superintendent.

There are five races for Georgia Public Service Commissioner, and all state legislative seats will be decided in 2026.

In East Cobb, there is only one contested primary for a legislative seat. Democratic incumbent Mary Frances Williams will face Graham Bowers in the District 37 race.

There are contested primaries in both the Democratic and Republican parties in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk in the 11th Congressional District that includes most of East Cobb.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is unopposed in the Democratic primary as he seeks a second term, while there are five candidates seeking the Republican nomination.

There are three contested non-partisan primaries for Georgia Supreme Court Justice and another for Georgia Court of Appeals Justice, as those incumbents are facing opposition.

Coming on Tuesday

During the day, as the polls are open, East Cobb News will have a live, continuously updated post as voting goes on. Once the polls close, we will provide up-to-the minute results from key local races in particular.

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!

Editor’s Note: Support community-first news all summer long!

May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Weather This Week: Heat indexes pushing toward 100 — *We’ll be enjoying some picnics this summer, but East Cobb News remains focused on giving you the local news you love year-round!*

School’s just about out and the heat’s on, and at East Cobb News, graduation is only the start of a sizzling summer of local news on our home front.

We’re thrilled to see this year’s senior class get their diplomas and move on into the adult world, and for families and kids to enjoy some down-time.

But at East Cobb News, we don’t slow down during the school break months. In fact, some of our most important stories have come during June and July.

We ask for readers to share their news, to let the community know, and that in turn helps make East Cobb News better. We’re grateful that so many of you oblige.

That’s the true value of what East Cobb News does every day, and has done every day, since we began publishing nearly nine years ago.

We got a reader tip recently about a decision by Mt. Bethel Church to cut ties with a scout troop after more than 50 years. It’s a story that has resonated with many of our readers, because we understand the impact such developments can have in a community.

As Tuesday’s primary elections approach, we’ve also put together deep coverage of the local races that matter the most to you, and to help you cast your ballots.

We’re absolutely reader focused, and those stories are examples of the many exclusives we keep bringing you, week after week, month after month, and year after year. It’s in our blood!

East Cobb News also asks for reader donations to help us to keep giving you the local news that you love.

We’ve had excellent web traffic all spring—more proof of h0w much our stories mean to the public—but we would love to have the support of more of our readers than we do.

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.

You’ve told us how much you value East Cobb News, and here’s your chance to show that support with a donation today.

Here are some suggested levels of support:

$6/month or $60/year
$12/month or $125/year
$30/month or $300/year
$50/month or $500/year
Custom amount
One-time donation

Click here to donate to ECN today!

We do this for our readers without a paywall. We make it easy for you to find out what’s going on, so you can get on with other things.

Whether it’s stories featuring our original reporting, or others in our community passing along news about local events and activities, East Cobb News is devoted to what’s valued the most by readers here.

It’s our stock-in-trade, and for eight-plus years we’ve been building that community trust, one story at a time.

We do this without charging readers, because we believe reliable local news should be accessible to all.

Donating is secure and easy!

At East Cobb News, nobody else does what we do, every day.

It’s our passion and our pride to give you the local news that makes a difference in this community.

Our donation amounts are voluntary, and what you pay is up to you. We are suggesting $6 a month on a recurring basis. You can also donate on an annual or one-time basis.

You rely on us to stay informed and we depend on you to make our work possible.

We appreciate whatever you are able to donate. Please click the box below to show your support via our Press Patron payment platform, which is safe, secure and easy.

Thank you East Cobb! And long live local news! Today and every day!

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!

KinRise youth leadership program has East Cobb opening

May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: KinRise youth leadership program has East Cobb opening

Together with Families officially launched KinRise on Thursday with a ribbon cutting celebration at its community Hub in Cobb County (2790 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 101).

At the ribbon cutting, the teens who helped design KinRise cut the ribbon themselves, reinforcing one of the program’s core beliefs: young people should not just be invited into programs, they should help shape and lead them.

KinRise is a new youth leadership and wellness program for high school students across Cobb County living with grandparents, relatives, siblings, and family friends — many of whom are quietly carrying grief, instability, poverty, stress, caregiving responsibilities, and overwhelming pressure while trying to navigate adolescence.

KinRise is built around a simple belief: no teen should navigate life alone. The program helps teens belong, grow, lead, and rise through consistent relationships, wellness support, academic help, leadership opportunities, and trusted mentors who show up consistently.

The launch comes during Mental Health Awareness Month amid growing concern about youth isolation, anxiety, depression, and disconnection across Georgia and the nation.

Georgia has thousands of young people living in kinship and relative care. Many of these young people are being raised outside the formal foster care system and receive little formal support despite experiencing many of the same challenges as youth involved in foster care.

“No teen should have to navigate life alone,” said Sarah Winograd, founder and executive director of Together with Families. “Many of these teens are carrying grief, instability, poverty, stress, and adult-sized responsibilities while still trying to be kids. KinRise exists so they do not have to carry it alone.”

KinRise was seeded by the Jesse Parker Williams Foundation and Bonnie Stewart Hardage as an investment in young people who are too often overlooked and disconnected from support.

“The Jesse Parker Williams Foundation is proud to support KinRise, a program of Together with Families, because it centers the voices, lived experiences, and wisdom of young people in both program design and delivery,” said Bonnie Stewart Hardage, executive director of the Jesse Parker Williams Foundation. “By empowering youth to help shape the support they receive, KinRise creates meaningful pathways for healing, resilience, and connection while helping young people strengthen their well-being, navigate difficult circumstances, and support their peers, families, and communities.”

KinRise was co-designed with teens living in relative and kinship care and will continue to be shaped by youth voice, family feedback, and the KinRise Advisory Council.

The program will be led by Ashley Saunders, a leader who was previously supported by Together with Families and was raised in both foster care and kinship care. Saunders brings lived experience, trust with teens, and a deep understanding of what it means for a young person to need stability, belonging, and adults who do not give up.

“Young people need people who see them, believe in them, and help them realize they are more than what happened to them,” Saunders said.

Every Tuesday night, teens will gather for dinner, leadership development, tutoring, mentorship, and honest conversations about life, stress, relationships, and their future. Dinner is provided weekly.

The program also includes access to a licensed counselor, outings, trusted adult mentors, academic help, and up to $500 in flexible assistance per youth to help remove barriers related to transportation, school needs, wellness, opportunities, and stability.

The program is designed to create not only support, but also joy, friendship, confidence, and hope for the future.

Angela Watson, who is raising her three granddaughters in kinship care, said one of the most meaningful parts of watching her granddaughters help develop the program last summer was seeing them begin to view themselves as leaders.

“They were able to interact with other kids going through the same thing,” Watson said. “Seeing their confidence come back was big.”

Together with Families believes communities must build more relationship-centered spaces for teens living in kinship and relative care before crises escalate into school disengagement, homelessness, system involvement, or deeper mental health struggles.

The organization hopes KinRise can become a model for how communities across Georgia support youth before they fall through the cracks.

Community leaders, schools, churches, businesses, volunteers, and local organizations attended Thursday’s ribbon cutting to celebrate the launch and explore ways to support the program.

The organization is currently seeking volunteers, mentors, tutors, meal sponsors, business partners, and community members who want to invest in teens across Cobb County.

“Too many teens are trying to survive without consistent support or connection,” Watson said. “KinRise reminds young people they matter, they belong, and they are not alone.”

About Together with Families

Together with Families is a Georgia-based nonprofit working to prevent foster care caused by poverty by supporting families through community-based, relationship-centered support.

For more information about KinRise or to get involved, visit:
https://www.together-families.org/kinrise

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!

Cobb schools 2026 graduation: A Monday through Sunday affair

May 16, 2026May 15, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Cobb schools 2026 commencement schedule — *Pope High School kicks off Cobb County School District commencement exercises on Monday.*

Seven days of commencement ceremonies in the Cobb County School District begin on Monday and end next Sunday, and East Cobb high schools will be bookending the schedule.

The first school to hold graduation will be Pope High School, starting at 7 p.m. Monday, and will conclude on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with Sprayberry High School’s graduation.

All commencement exercises will take place at the KSU Convocation Center, and all will be shown live at this link. There won’t be a replay, but DVD and USB drive copies of the high-definition broadcast will be available for sale at this link.

Here’s the schedule for East Cobb high schools, and we’ll have coverage of each one as the week continues:

Pope: Monday, May 18, 7 p.m.
Wheeler: Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.
Lassiter: Thursday, May 21, 2:30 p.m.
Kell: Friday, May 22, 7 p.m.
Walton: Sunday, May 24, 3 p.m.
Sprayberry: Sunday, May 24, 7:30 p.m.

The Cobb school district class of 2026 is nearly 8,800 graduates strong, and according to district figures, seniors have earned more than $110 million in college scholarship offers and have been accepted to colleges and universities in 45 states, including every Ivy League institution and all U.S. military academies.

The 2025-25 Cobb school district academic year will come to a close this week as well, with all grade levels on early schedules Monday-Wednesday. Those dismissal times are as follows:

11:30 a.m.—High Schools
12:30 p.m.—Elementary Schools
1:30 p.m.—Middle Schools

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!

Raffle Quilt

Local Vendors

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

U.S. Senate runoff

Battle for Governor

Supreme Court decisions

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories:

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related:

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Kell

Lassiter

Marietta

Pope

Sprayberry

Walton

Wheeler

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Who/What’s on the ballot?

Cobb Commission District 3, GOP

Cobb Board of Education Post 4, Democrat

Cobb Board of Education Post 6, Democrat

Other Races

Coming on Tuesday