July 2020

Marietta CrossFit owner receives small business relief grant

July 31, 2020 5:50 PM by Wendy Parker

Marietta CrossFit small business grant

Several of the first recipients of small business relief grants issued by SelectCobb via the federal CARES Act were recognized last week by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

They include Leah Cozzo, a co-owner of Marietta CrossFit on Canton Road, whose business received $20,000, seen above with Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell and below with all commissioners and Cobb Chamber of Commerce and SelectCobb leaders.

Birrell said in her weekly newsletter that “the owner was so appreciative of the grant and that it allows her business to remain open and her employees to work The grant helps her stay in business.”

The first batch of grants has totaled $7.5 million (out of $50 million approved by commissioners), and to 409 businesses in the county.

Here’s more from SelectCobb, the economic development unit of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, about the program and the initial grantees:

The grants, designed to help businesses mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19, ranged from $20,000 to $40,000. The funding was made possible through a portion of the County’s disbursement of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, an economic stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The local grants are designed to help area businesses pay for rent, utilities, personnel payments and personal protective equipment.

Approximately 56 percent of grant recipients are minority-owned businesses, while 53 percent are women-owned, and 8 percent are veterans.

“These grants are essential in providing some measure of hope and relief to the business community,” said Mike Boyce, chairman of the Cobb County Commission. “We thank the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and members of the selection committee led by Steve Ewing for their hard work in evaluating the applications. They all truly reflect what is best about the Cobb community.”

The county-Chamber partnership is being extended for another round of grants, and the deadline to apply is Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.

More information, criteria and eligibility requirements can be bound at https://selectcobb.com/grants/. Applications are open until August 21 at 5 p.m.

Crossfit Marietta small business grant

No-parking barricades placed on Sope Creek Bridge sidewalk

August 1, 2020 4:01 PMJuly 31, 2020 2:35 PM by Wendy Parker

Sope Creek Bridge no parking

When the new Sope Creek Bridge opened on Paper Mill Road in 2013, it included widened sidewalks that have been heavily utilized by residents and pedestrians using the trails at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

They’re wide enough for vehicles to park, and a recent rash of those illegal parkings has prompted Cobb Police to put up barriers that still give pedestrians enough room.

It’s a safety issue, and the reminder and photo come from the office of Commissioner Bob Ott, who said in his weekly newsletter said police are working with Cobb DOT “to design a solution that works with the surroundings.”

East Cobb Park concert stage getting new roof

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Cobb schools releases CTLS Parent app on iPhone and iPad

July 31, 2020 5:20 PMJuly 31, 2020 11:41 AM by Wendy Parker

With online-only classes beginning on Aug. 17, the Cobb County School Disrict is rolling out more digital features to help students and parents.

The district has released a smartphone app called CTLS Parent—after the district’s Cobb Teaching and Learning online portal—enabling parents to use their mobile devices to get the same information and communications as they would on a desktop computer.

Parents will be able to access information using their ParentVue login details.

Those materials include learning content, grading, attendance, report cards and other academic features and more are coming.

For now, it’s available for those with an iPhone or an iPad. The district says it’s applied to make CTLS Parent available to Android users vis Google Play, but is waiting for Google’s approval.

Earlier this week, Cobb schools released some sample class schedules at all levels.

Here’s more from the district on the CTLS Parent app, and a video run-through of the features:

The one-stop-shop features of the CTLS platform also provides multiple ways to stay connected with schools and teachers. Parents will have the option to message their student’s teachers and track messages from their school. Parents will no longer have to hunt through their emails to find a message from their child’s school. All the messages will be saved in a centralized location on the app.

The same goes for Districtwide messages and alerts. Parents will also be able to set up push notifications, select language preferences, and indicate the frequency in which they would like to receive messages.

Parents will also be able to access a directory of teachers and important contact information for the school in one location. They’ll even have the option to add the contact numbers from the directory to their phone contacts, so they easily know who is calling them.

Elsewhere in the app, the parents will be able to access over 700,000 vetted and aligned educational resources. The Resource Library will help families stay engaged in their child’s learning at home.

Other app features include student schedule, grade book, report card, mass notifications, calendars, conferences automated attendance, lunch balance notifications, polls, school signups, and more.

The student schedule section will not only provide a list of student classes, but also a list of standards for each class and grade level. This will help parents stay informed of expected academic progress.

WellStar Foundation invites public to free virtual gala on Saturday

July 31, 2020 2:04 PMJuly 31, 2020 8:01 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: Wellstar Foundation virtual gala

Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated healthcare systems, is inviting the community to attend its first-ever Wellstar Foundation virtual gala and interactive online fundraiser on Aug. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. WSB-TV award-winning anchor Fred Blankenship will serve as the emcee of the Wellstar Starlight Grand Gala and joins celebrities, community members and healthcare heroes in raising vital donations for the Wellstar Foundation’s COVID-19 relief fund. Sponsored by ApolloMD and Bank of America, the benefit will feature performances, a live silent auction and wine wall, and a virtual photo booth.

“Our hope is to make the virtual gala just as fun as our annual live event is each year, with the bonus of being able to invite and engage with many more people on the online platform,” said Lisa Mello, Wellstar Foundation director of Strategic Giving. “What a unique opportunity to share how donations to the Wellstar Foundation are helping make Georgia well, now and in the future!”

The initial line-up of performers includes rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Michelle Malone; Atlanta Braves opera singer Timothy Miller; and country music group Brian Collins Band. Attendees will also enjoy heartfelt messages from celebrities and community members showing appreciation to Wellstar team members for working on the frontlines throughout the pandemic.

The COVID-19 relief fund supports Wellstar’s 11 hospitals, six health parks, pediatric centers, hospice facilities, and other medical offices. The fund also offers supplies and educational materials to members of the community, procures tablets that connect patients with loved ones, and provides aid to Wellstar team members in need due to the pandemic.

There are multiple ways to participate during the virtual event that include wine wall purchases starting at $25, a silent auction featuring exciting experiences, and the opportunity to donate directly to the COVID-19 relief fund. As a not-for-profit, Wellstar relies on community support to fund hospital enhancements, community programs, and resources for individuals in need. Contributions to the Wellstar Foundation support our vision of delivering world-class healthcare to everyone in our service area.

The virtual gala is free and open to anyone who would like to attend. Register now by visiting wellstar.org/gala.

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!

Wesley Chapel Road rezoning would allow 81-home subdivision

July 30, 2020 3:55 PM by Wendy Parker

One of the last rural outposts on Wesley Chapel Road could soon be plowed under for a new subdivision.

Brooks Chadwick Capital LLC, an East Cobb developer, has filed a rezoning request for nearly 50 acres that will be heard Tuesday by the Cobb Planning Commission.

The undeveloped land owned by Glennis F. Willis is zoned R-30 and R-20, lower-density categories. But the applicant is seeking R-15 density to build 81 single-family homes on those tracts.

(You can request the agenda item here. The site plan has been revised and that is shown below.)

The properties, which are fronted by older homes, are just above Garrison Mill Elementary School (at the bottom of the aerial map above) and just below Mabry Park.

According to Cobb Tax Assessor’s records, the two parcels of Willis land have appraised values of $1.5 million and $1.3 million.

Revised Z-40 Site Plan — *For a larger version of the site plan **click here**.*

There is R-15 zoning in nearby subdivisions, and the Cobb Zoning Staff is recommending approval of the application with some modifications.

They include providing left-turn lanes onto either side of the subdivision, and for deceleration lanes for right-hand turns.

Brooks Chadwick’s attorney, Kevin Moore, submitted a stipulation letter earlier this week that calls for homes to be at least 3,000 square feet.

The developer also will conduct sediment studies before and after the development of the downstream lake at the nearby Loch Highland community, and provide copies to the homeowners association.

Another stipulation would limit construction hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

However, Moore contends that his client shouldn’t be required to build left-turn lanes because of a lack of right-of-way needed for that, and that deceleration lanes “shall only be required to the extent public-right-of way is available.”

(You can read the full letter here.)

Willis House Wesley Chapel Road — *The Willis homestead that faces Wesley Chapel Road.*

The developer didn’t indicate a price range, but newer homes in that area are generally valued in the $700,000-$900,000 range.

In recent years that part of Wesley Chapel Road has begun to build out with similarly-priced developments. That includes Mabry Grove, which was once included the homestead of the expansive Mabry Farm, and whose first homes opened last year.

Across the road, there’s still a little more than 40 acres surrounding Mabry Park that’s in Mabry family hands, and that like the Willis property, contains a single-family home on largely conservation land.

In another East Cobb case Tuesday, the Planning Commission will hear a delayed request to rezone part of the Sandy Plains Village Shopping Center for a 41-townhome development and a freestanding restaurant/retail space.

That proposal was shelved last month by planning staff, and the retail center owner, Site Centers Corp., has submitted revised plans (see below) and produced a traffic study.

(You can read about the revisions here.)

Z-37 revised site plan — *For a larger version of the site plan **click here**.*

The Planning Commission also is expected to make its recommendation for the Johnson Ferry-Shallowford master plan, which has been in development for the last couple of years.

Tuesday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the second-floor board room of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta. It will be livestreamed on Cobb TV, the county’s public cable access channel (also on Channel 24 on Comcast) and on Facebook Live.

Like its zoning cases, the planning commission’s votes are advisory, and the Cobb Board of Commissioners will make final decisions on Aug. 18.

Sprayberry Crossing rezoning case scheduled for September

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East Cobb Rotary plans ‘No K’ event in lieu of Dog Days Run

July 30, 2020 1:01 PMJuly 30, 2020 8:56 AM by Wendy Parker

Dog Days Run

Instead of what would have been the 15th anniversary of its 5K Dog Days Run next month, the Rotary Club of East Cobb is conducting its biggest fundraiser in different fashion fitting the times.

What it’s calling a “No K” run will still be taking place starting in August, culminating with a final event on Oct. 17, and you don’t even have to run. You can if you like, but it’s a virtual event that will still include prizes for participants. The proceeds of entry fees will still be used to help a number of local organizations and charities that the Rotary Club works with.

The race typically drew around 1,000 runners on a 5K course at and around the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, but COVID-19 concerns aren’t going to make that possible.

Here’s more about how the process will work:

We’re hoping to enable thousands of our neighbors to contribute to our community through not running. It’ll be a footrace-themed event that will play out on social media and DogDaysRun.com through August, September and October will conclude with a live recap and awards ceremony on Facebook Live from McCleskey East Cobb YMCA on October 17. We’ll still have folks registered to not run. We’ll still have awards for participants in all age groups. It’ll still count for the Grand Prix. We’re just not actually racing.

There’s a full list of beneficiary organizations at the same link above, and they include the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts, Center for Family Resources, East Cobb Robotics, the MDE School of East Cobb, the Cobb Public Safety Celebration, the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA and the AVID program at Wheeler High School.

Before the pandemic, the Rotary Club set a hefty fundraising goal, of $125,000 (last year it raised $82,000 from the Dog Days Run).

More registration information will be coming soon and can be found here. The Rotary Club also provides updates on its Facebook page.

Cobb schools to provide weekly prepaid student meal pickups

July 29, 2020 6:00 PM by Wendy Parker

After several months of working with MUST Ministries to distribute food to students in need, the Cobb County School District said Wednesday it will continue to provide student breakfasts and lunches as a new school year begins.

Starting the first day of school on Aug. 17, parents will be able to pick up a week’s worth of prepaid meal kits. The kits will have items that can be reheated, and will come with instructions and a menu.

Those breakfasts and lunches will be available to any student in the district, and food distribution will take place each Monday from 4-6 p.m. for those families who have signed up online.

In order to do that, visit the district’s MyPaymentsPlus Page, which will be open every Tuesday starting on Aug. 11 to process orders. The deadline to purchase meals for the following week is Thursdays at 12 p.m.

The district is saying local schools will not be involved in this process at all, and that all orders must be made online.

Here’s the pricing for the meal kits, which include five breakfasts and five lunches per student, based on the program each student qualifies for:

Free = No charge for weekly meal kit
Reduced-Priced = $3.67 per week
Paid = $23.99 per week

If you’re a family that hasn’t applied for free and reduced-price benefits you need to click here to get more information.

To sign up for MyPaymentsPlus click here to create an account, which is free and is available on a desktop or mobile app.

Parents can choose during the ordering process the location they want to pick up the food, and they can designate one school if they have children attending different schools. Students do not have to be present for the distribution.

At the pickup locations you’ll have to provide confirmation information and their child’s student ID number. The food will be placed by Cobb schools food staffers in the trunk or backseat of a vehicle.

Cobb schools said family dinner pick-up options may be coming soon.

For information e-mail meals@cobbk12.org or call 770-426-3380.

East Cobb Park concert stage getting a new roof

July 29, 2020 3:45 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Park concert stage

Reader Jim was at East Cobb Park on Wednesday and passed along these photos of fencing around the concert stage and some construction workers and wondered what was going on.

We checked with Lee O’Neal, President of the Friends for the East Cobb Park, who tells us that the stage is getting a new roof.

The volunteer organization partners with Cobb County Parks and Recreation, which has contracted with Allstar Lighting and Electrical to do the maintenance work.

Tom Bills of Cobb Parks said the wooden roof is 18 years old, and that it will be rebuilt based on the original design with new materials. He said the work should be done in about three weeks.

The stage typically has several concerts during the spring and summer months as part of Sunday Funday events put on by the Friends group and sponsored by WellStar.

The concert stage also is the venue for a Christmas tree lighting celebration put on by the Friends group in early December.

There haven’t been any events there since the COVID-19 outbreak.

The park was closed with other Cobb parks for seven weeks in the spring, and partially reopened in May.

On July 1, the large pavilions at East Cobb Park and other county parks were reopened for public use, with reservations of no more than 50 people due to social-distancing guidelines.

East Cobb Park concert stage

Cobb schools release sample schedules for remote learning

July 30, 2020 1:15 PMJuly 29, 2020 11:17 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb schools sample schedule

As Cobb County School District teachers and staff reported for preplanning this week, the district also has sent out sample class schedules at all levels for the online-only start.

The district released the samples at its Cobb Learning Everywhere portal, which also includes sample schedules for Spanish-language instruction and for special education students.

Classes begin on Aug. 17, and unlike the end of the last school year, full school days with grading will be taking place.

Classes will take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and Wednesday is an instructional support day. That allows students to catch up on classwork, teachers to do planning and for smaller student-teacher group interactions to take place.

Cobb schools sample schedule

At the middle school and high school levels, the samples are headed by what are called “instructional expectations” that detail learning sessions by subject matter, group instruction and factor in independent work sessions and breaks.

At the elementary school level, there’s a mid-morning “brain break” but not a lunch break. Formal classes on the four instructional days will end at noon, with student independent work sessions going from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In middle schools, the school day on the four instructional days will last from 9:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m., with multiple breaks. The mornings are set aside for student independent work.

High school students will have either a block or traditional schedules, with breaks, including 40 minutes for lunch. Formal classes would go from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with student independent work wrapping up the day until 3:30 p.m.

Cobb schools sample schedule

More details on special education remote learning schedules can be found here. Those students also will be in classes Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with Wednesday as a support day.

Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale initially was going to offer in-person and remote options, but announced July 16 the start of the school year would be online-only due to concerns about growing COVID-19 cases in Cobb County.

He said data and public health guidance indicated Cobb was in a “high community spread” for the virus. As of Tuesday there were more than 10,000 confirmed cases in the county and nearly 300 deaths, both among the highest in Georgia.

On Monday teachers and staff reported for three weeks of preplanning ahead the Aug. 17 start of classes. That’s a two-week day from the initially scheduled start of the school year.

A group of Cobb parents demanding face-to-face learning is rounding up signatures. More than 7,000 people have signed on online petition, upset that the choice for in-person classes was taken away.

“Many families require both parents working outside of the home,” the petition states.” Virtual learning is not conducive to this kind of family structure as neither parent would be available to provide instruction.”

The petitioners also cited domestic violence and the needs of already-disadvantaged students with food issues. They also said “we pay hefty taxes for the privilege of being in one of the best school districts in the state of Georgia” and say that parents “cannot provide the quality of instruction and education that the classroom setting does. It is truly detrimental to the children’s education experience and will set them back academically, emotionally, and mentally for the coming years.”

A Facebook group called Let Parents Choose, which has more than 1,700 members, is holding a rally at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Cobb Civic Center to push for in-person classes.

Ragsdale said he didn’t want to have to go online-only, and wants the district to go back to classroom learning at some point, but he didn’t indicated when that might be.

“The sooner we can get out of the high spread the sooner we can return to face-to-face,” he said at the July 16 Cobb school board meeting.

Cobb FY 2021 budget adopted; more CARES Act funding approved

July 29, 2020 1:38 PMJuly 29, 2020 8:36 AM by Wendy Parker

Proposed Cobb FY 21 budget

The Cobb Board of Commissioners adopted a fiscal year 2021 budget on Tuesday night that includes a property tax increase and no merit increase for county employees.

Commissioners voted without discussion to adopt the $473 million general funding spending plan, which holds the line on the property tax rate at 8.66 mills. But because of additional revenues coming from growth in the Cobb tax digest and no “rollback” millage action, state law considers that a tax increase.

At Tuesday’s final slate of public hearings on the millage rate and budget proposal, no citizens signed up to speak.

The budget is effective Oct. 1.

Commissioners also approved funding from the federal CARES Act to assist the Marietta City Schools ($2.9 million) with online learning preparations and to purchase personal protective equipment for students and teachers.

Earlier this month the Cobb County School District received $8.1 million from the county in CARES Act money to purchase digital learning content.

Commissioners also voted to aid Cobb’s six cities with a total of $10.3 million CARES Act funding as follows:

Acworth: $1,855,308
Austell: $375,873
Kennesaw: $1,788,904
Marietta: $3,183,194
Powder Springs: $805,038
Smyrna: $2,968,559

The largest amount of the $132 million in CARES Act funding for Cobb County was $50 million in small business relief grants that were expanded last week. On Tuesday, commissioners voted to amend that plan again, designating $2 million of that amount for similar relief grants for Cobb non-profits.

Like the small businesses, the non-profits would apply and be eligible for funding for payroll and operations, with amounts based on tiers depending on the number of employees.

The non-profit grants also will be administered by SelectCobb, the economic development arm of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

Commissioners also approved the purchase of the Mansour Conference Center in Marietta, which will become the new home of the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration.

The $7.5 million acquisition will allow the previous owner, The Center for Family Resources, to lease office space from the county.

As Cobb COVID-19 deaths approach 300, cases exceed 10,000

July 28, 2020 5:22 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb COVID onset death — *The rate of COVID-19 deaths by date in Cobb, as well as the 7-day moving average, is shown in a Georgia Department of Public Health graphic. For more **click here**.*

Four more COVID-19 deaths were reported Tuesday in Cobb County, raising the state’s second-highest fatality total close to 300.

On Monday, Cobb’s COVID case totals surpassed 10,000.

Those figures come from the Georgia Department of Public Health, which unveiled some new data options Tuesday on its daily status report, which you can find here.

Viewers can search cases and deaths according to the date they occurred, or “date of onset,” as well as by the date in which they are reported to Georgia DPH, including down to the county level.

Tuesday’s date of onset data was incomplete when the daily status report was updated at 3 p.m.

Cobb now has 292 COVID deaths, trailing only Fulton County, which has 373 deaths.

Cobb’s four new fatalities were among 54 new deaths reported across the state Tuesday. Cobb also reported 213 new COVID confirmed cases, and now has a cumulative total of 10,453. That’s fourth in Georgia behind Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb.

A new data feature tracks the growth of cases per county over the last two weeks. Cobb has reported 2,807 new cases in that time by date of report, about a quarter of its overall total.

Georgia’s new COVID case count is 175,052, a jump of 4,293 from Monday. Another 406 new hospitalizations also were included in Tuesday’s statewide figures, including 32 in Cobb County.

In Georgia a total of 1.48 million people have been given viral tests for COVID, with a test positivity rate of 10.8 percent. That does not include antibody tests.

Cobb COVID onset cases — *COVID-19 cases by date in Cobb show a preliminary fall in the current 14-day window. Source: Georgia Department of Public Health. For more **click here**.*

Georgia DPH points out that figures shown over the last two weeks, from the “14 Day Window” line, are preliminary. That means that additional deaths and cases that take place during that period will be updated when reported by county health agencies, hospitals and care homes.

The 54 deaths added Tuesday were reported in last 24-hour period, not by the date of death.

In East Cobb, the latest totals from Cobb and Douglas Public Health show 2,188 cases and 11 deaths as of Monday, up from our last ZIP Code breakdown update last Thursday (July 23), when those numbers were 1,904 cases and 50 deaths:

30067: 655 cases (570), 10 deaths (10)
30062: 625 cases (553), 12 deaths (12)
30066: 516 cases (447), 11 deaths (11)
30068: 349 cases (300), 19 deaths (17)
30075: 43 cases (34), 0 deaths (0)

Here’s the latest briefing from Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health:

Cobb commission District 2 candidates post finance reports

July 28, 2020 1:48 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Commission District 2 race — *Fitz Johnson, left, edged out Andy Smith, his runoff opponent, in a 3-way GOP primary in June.*

Fitz Johnson was one of three primary candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the District 2 Cobb Board of Commissioners race, and the only one who didn’t take out personal loans to finance his campaign.

Johnson, a retired Army officer and businessman from Vinings, finished first with 6,656 votes, or 36.2 percent, in the June primary.

In the Aug. 11 runoff, he’ll be facing East Cobb resident Andy Smith, a former Cobb Planning Commissioner and owner of a design and construction firm, who got 5,946 votes, or 32.2 percent.

Johnson has raised $83,700 to date in 2020, including $20,475 in the second quarter. Smith has raised $66,205 overall and $23,210 in the second quarter, with $18,960 coming in the form of two loans he made to his campaign.

That’s according to second-quarter campaign finance reports filed with the Cobb Board of Registrations and Elections.

In November, the winner of the Johnson-Smith runoff will face Democrat Jerica Richardson in the general election to determine the successor to retiring Commissioner Bob Ott.

Smith previously loaned himself $31,000 in three other loans he’s reported in earlier reports.

(You can look through those and other local candidates by clicking here.)

In the second quarter, Johnson spent $42,000 and has campaign expenses of $67,151 for the year.

Smith spent $21,491 in the second quarter and $46,664 overall, according to campaign finance reports.

Smith reported more cash-on-hand as the runoff campaign began, with $19,540, compared to $16,548 for Johnson.

Johnson has received funding from prominent members of the Cobb business and civic community.

They include $2,800 from William Cooper, director of cardiovascular surgery at WellStar Health System, where Johnson serves on the board of trustees.

Other WellStar executives and physicians contributing to Johnson’s runoff campaign include John Brennan ($1,000), Rob Schreiner ($1,000), Leo Reichert ($500) and David Jones ($500).

Another $2,800 contribution is from Todd Thrasher, a managing partner at the East Cobb-based Brooks Chadwick, a development firm.

Contributions of $1,500 each include Joseph Astrachan, professor emeritus at Kennesaw State University and former head of its Cox Family Enterprise Center at the Coles College of Business; and Fuqua Development.

Other contributors include James Rhoden, founder of East Cobb-based Futren Corp., which operates Indian Hills County Club ($1,000); former Cobb Chamber of Commerce president Gary Bottoms ($500); and former Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens, with two donations of $100 each.

In Johnson’s second-quarter report, he lists expenses totaling $33,374 to Arena Mail and Digital of Salt Lake City for the production and mailing of campaign fliers, $3,500 to Strategic Partners & Media LLC, for campaign consulting services, and $2,000 for Google, Facebook and other digital ads.

Smith has received smaller individual contributions in his second-quarter report. In a filing in April, he reported several $2,700 contributions from businesses and corporate executives, including Nicholas Telesca, president of Branch Properties, an Atlanta real estate investment firm.

Smith’s major expenses include $13,594 to Data Productions of Suwanee for campaign mailers. Another $5,000 was paid to The Lowry Group of Austell, a political consulting firm run by Riley Lowry, a longtime advisor to Ott, who has not endorsed a candidate.

Kevin Nicholas, a member of the Development Authority of Cobb County who finished third in the primary, received 5,770 votes, or 31.4 percent.

His last campaign finance report was filed on April 30, showing $24,750 in overall contributions and $17,134 in expenses. He loaned himself $20,000 during that period, and his contributors included former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr ($500).

MDE special needs school in East Cobb opening Aug. 3

July 28, 2020 11:34 AMJuly 28, 2020 8:29 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Our students learn differently and are already provided with more space than in a traditional educational setting. So, as we all look to the fall, know that MDE School’s 4:1 student to teacher ratio has always been in place, allowing our students to have the space they need for educational success. This ratio also makes social distancing a natural fit and allows our staff to be vigilant in their cleaning of high touch areas. Fall 2020 will be yet another opportunity to demonstrate the incredible potential of all learners. From 1-1 academics to small groups for life skills lessons to our vibrant elective offerings, we are excited to continue working with our wonderful students.

A multi-sensory approach to learning is the key to success. Our top priority is for students to be successful, increase self-esteem and confidence, and above all stay healthy. The low student-to-teacher ratio fosters a positive learning experience throughout the day. We provide opportunities for students to develop social skills along with academics.

MDE School, the only school of its kind in Cobb County, provides an exceptional learning environment where students with special needs have access to academics, music, drama, adaptive PE, enrichment programs and life skills training. MDE serves students with, but not limited to, Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, communication disorders, and developmental delays.

Since MDE School’s inception in 2009, enrollment has increased from 3 to 50 students from all over metro Atlanta. MDE is able to uniquely serve children with special needs who cannot be served in a traditional educational environment, and addresses each students’ learning, social, cognitive, and developmental goals allowing their students to maximize their potential.

Information: https://mdeschool.org/

Kell-Walton Corky Kell Classic football game moved to Walton

July 27, 2020 7:36 PMJuly 27, 2020 3:32 PM by Wendy Parker

Kell-Walton Corky Kell Classic game

For the third time, the Kell-Walton football game in the Corky Kell Classic is being rescheduled, and this time it’s going to take place in East Cobb.

Organizers of the season-opening football event announced Monday a number of venue and game matchup changes in response to COVID-19 concerns.

The Longhorns and Raiders will be playing each other on Friday, Sept. 4, at 8 p.m.

According to the local sports website SCORE Atlanta, games that were have been played in Rome were moved out, due to concerns over rising virus cases in Floyd County.

That prompted a merry-go-round of reschedulings as the number of games was cut from 11 to nine.

Earlier this month, the Corky Kell Classic announced it was moving games out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium that included the Kell-Walton matchup. The costs of sanitizing and other measures were cited as one of the reasons.

The Kell-Walton game originally scheduled for Aug. 22 was then moved to Mill Creek High School in Gwinnett County.

Last week the Georgia High School Association, which governs high school athletics in the state, announced the football season would be starting with a two-week delay, to the week leading up to Labor Day.

Preseason football practices with helmets began on Monday with sanitizing and other restrictions issued by GHSA.

Cobb schools are starting online-only on Aug. 17, as are many public school districts in Georgia. Cobb teachers reported for preplanning work on Monday.

Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale has said most extracurricular activities will be cancelled except sports, and that he will abide by guidance from the GHSA.

Suspects sought in Andretti Indoor Karting shooting Sunday

July 27, 2020 2:50 PMJuly 27, 2020 11:49 AM by Wendy Parker

Andretti Indoor Karting shooting

Marietta Police are searching for a vehicle in connection with a shooting incident Sunday night at Andretti Indoor Karting on Roswell Road.

Marietta Police published surveillance camera photos of a car they say drove away from the venue at 1255 Roswell Road after 7 p.m. Sunday.

According to a police statement, a group of individuals got out of a black 2018 Honda Accord around 7:10 p.m. at the Andretti parking lot.

One of the suspects pointed a gun at a man who was walking to his car and demanded jewelry and money, police said.

The victim refused, according to police, who said the suspect fired at least two rounds, but did not hit anyone.

Marietta police said one of its officers arrived at the scene a minute later in a marked police vehicle to begin a part-time shift as a security officer.

At that point, police said, the suspects fled in the Honda. Police said nobody inside was injured.

Police said they don’t have any descriptions of the victims for now, but the car they’re looking for is damaged on the front passenger side and the front right tire appears to be a spare.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Marietta Police Department, or Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-8477.

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 band moves recycling fundraiser to Northeast Cobb YMCA

July 25, 2020 2:50 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobber parade, Pope Band community show

Thanks to Karen Miller and Emily Volin of the Pope Band Parents Association for passing along word of their upcoming recycling fundraiser next month, which has been moved off-campus due to COVID-19 school closures.

The Aug. 22 event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northeast Cobb YMCA (3010 Johnson Ferry Road). The rest of the event is the same, and with details they provided below:

Bring your metal, electronics, appliances, paint and paper documents for shredding. Cost is $10 per car PLUS additional disposal fees of $40/TV, $30/monitor, $20/large item, $2-$15/paint container depending on size, and $20 for 1-8 standard boxes of paper for shredding.

Pick-up available within a 5-mile radius of Pope during the week prior with advance reservation. See www.popeband.com/recycle for complete details.

For questions and pickup reservations, email popebandrecycling@gmail.com. Please wear a mask to help protect our volunteers.

Walton volleyball holding middle school tryouts on Aug. 1

July 25, 2020 2:26 PMJuly 25, 2020 10:13 AM by Wendy Parker

Walton middle school volleyball tryouts

The Walton volleyball program is more than just the varsity teams at the high school, and next Saturday, Aug. 1, aspiring players from middle school can try out.

Those tryouts will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at TK Volleyball (1425 Market Blvd Suite 100 C, Roswell). The cost is $15 per person, and you can sign up by clicking here.

The founder of TK Volleyball, a player development center and club facility, is Walton varsity coach Suzanne Fitzgerald. She also has announced those making the Lady Raiders’ high school teams:

VARSITY: Ashlyn Goolsby; Chandler Parker; Catherine Cheney; Emery Dupes; Kaye Gresham; Lia Ekendahl; Paeton Stoner; Allie Watkins; Aviah Miller; DeAnn Small; Elizabeth Curry; Greta Hans; Laura Middleton; Sophie Barrett; Elizabeth Cheney; Mary Neal; Mia Fazlagic; Rebekah Key; Katie Neal; Lihi Zaibert; Lydia Zeng; Sophia Henry.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Amy Rheaume; Hana Sucic; Kimberlyn Nicholaou; Megan Meihofer; Morgan Savula; Olivia Pavento; Perrin Evertsen; Reagan Novoselsky; Adele Beard; Ansley Asche; Ansley Vom Saal; Dorothy Johnson; Hannah Parrott; Luiza Cesar; Madelyn Lyons; McCrae Simmons; McKenzie Brown. Samantha Nagel.

Earlier this week the Georgia High School Association announced that football season will start two weeks later. The other fall sports, including volleyball, will start their seasons on time, but schedules have not yet been released.

All fall sports teams can begin preseason practices on Aug. 1, but they must practice social distancing, will be encouraged to wear masks and must follow sanitizing guidelines as well.

Last year Walton defeated Lassiter for its fifth consecutive Georgia state championship in volleyball and 14th overall. Fitzgerald was later honored as one of the Top 100 high school coaches in any sport by MaxPreps, a high school sports website.

Cobb County eyes $7.5M purchase of Mansour Conference Center

July 24, 2020 3:54 PM by Wendy Parker

Mansour Conference Center

Earlier this week The Center for Family Resources, a Cobb-based non-profit, announced it would be selling the Mansour Conference Center it owns on Roswell Street, near the Big Chicken.

CFR said it couldn’t announce the buyer, but an agenda item for Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting indicates it’s Cobb County government.

If commissioners approve a $7.5 million purchase, the building will become the new home of the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration, which is located on Whitlock Avenue in Marietta.

The agenda item (you can read it here) said commissioners met in executive session in late May to discuss and agree to the purchase.

CFR would continue to occupy 1,500 square feet of the 60,000-square foot building, which also has been the home of other non-profits since 2005, including Disabled American Veterans, Sheltering Arms and and United Way of Greater Atlanta.

The agenda item indicates that the funding for the purchase would come from the Cobb government’s general fund balance, and that license fees to be paid by CFR (at $12,500 a month) will be returned to the general fund.

What once was Sears store became the Mansour Center in 2005, with a gift from the family of John and Myrna Mansour, who were long-time CFR supporters.

In those 15 years, the Mansour Center was the host of more than 300 events and community forums.

It will be closing its doors next Friday, July 31.

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 auto shop owner holding school pantry food drive

July 24, 2020 2:40 PM by Wendy Parker

Brumby Elementary School food pantry — *Brumby Elementary School is among those in the Cobb County School District with a food pantry.*

On Sunday East Cobb auto shop owner Fred Massey is opening up the parking lot to his business to collect donations for Cobb school district food pantries in conjunction with MUST Ministries.

You can drop off food at Massey Automotive (2050 Lower Roswell Road) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday. It’s part of a “50 with $50” challenge that’s asking 50 families to spend $50 to help stock up the pantries.

Massey also is asking those participating to call on two other families to participate.

Here are the items that are requested:

Canned corn, canned mixed fruit, canned pasta, canned vegetables, chunky soup, jelly, instant noodles, boxed macaroni and cheese, canned pasta and rice.

Because of social distancing issues, participants will not have to get out of their cars to make donations.

If you do donate, you’ll be eligible for 10 percent off at the adjacent Zaxby’s location at a later day.

Call Fred Massey at 404-731-4466 if you have questions.

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!

SelectCobb to reopen applications for small business relief grants

July 24, 2020 2:42 PMJuly 24, 2020 12:11 PM by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted this week to extend its partnership with SelectCobb, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s economic development arm (story here) to aid small businesses recovering from COVID-19 lockdowns.

Eligible businesses will be able to apply, starting July 27, to receive between $20,000 and $40,000 help pay for personnel, rent, utilities and PPE costs.

Here’s what’s different in the second round of the grant selection process:

Businesses that have received financial assistance from the Payroll Protection Program or Small Business Administration are now eligible for a grant.
Businesses can include both W-2 and 1099 employees toward their total number of employees.

The following requirements include the following:

Business must be an existing for-profit corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship;
Business headquarters or primary location must be within Cobb County;
Business must have 100 or fewer full-time, W-2 employees and/or individual 1099 contractors that function like employees, i.e., employees or contractors working at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month;
Business must have been in continuous operation for a minimum of 1 year prior to March 13, 2020;
Business must have a current business license issued by Cobb County Government, City of Acworth, City of Austell, City of Kennesaw, City of Marietta, City of Powder Springs, or City of Smyrna;
Business must be current on all local taxes;
Business may be home-based or located in an owned or leased commercial space;
Business must certify if they have received PPP/SBA funds and the amount in which they received as of time of application submittal; and
Business cannot be a publicly traded company.
Ineligible Businesses Include: Gambling Institutions, Multi-Level Marketing Organizations, Real Estate Investment Firms (REITS), Adult Entertainment

The deadline to apply is Aug. 21 at 5 p.m., and you can apply and get more information by clicking here.

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