Month: May 2024

East Cobb Votes: District Attorney upset; Commission runoff

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East Cobb Votes: District Attorney upset; Commission runoff
L-R: Lisa Cupid; Flynn Broady; Jaha Howard

UPDATED, TUESDAY, 10:10 A.M.:

Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid easily won her Democratic Party Primary on Tuesday, defeating Shelia Edwards with more than 69 percent of the vote.

(View results here)

In November, Cupid will face Kay Morgan, the only Republican to qualify.

The Democratic runoff in District 2, which includes some of East Cobb, will feature former Cobb school board member Jaha Howard and Taniesha Whorton, who edged out former State Rep. Erick Allen.

(View results here)

In District 4, first-term incumbent Democrat Monique Sheffield earned a second term, defeating Yashica Marshall with 73 percent of the vote. No Republicans qualified for the seat that includes South Cobb.

Coming later this week, we’ll have more results and breakdowns of the primary elections, including Congress, the Georgia legislature and judicial races.

Updated 10:45 p.m.:

With 97 percent of the vote reporting, Sonya Allen has defeated Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady in the Democratic primary.

Allen, a deputy district attorney in Fulton County, has 24,303 votes to 20,164 for Broady, a first term incumbent who prevailed in several East Cobb precincts.

No Republican qualified for the general election.

The Democratic primary for Cobb Commission District 2 is going to a June 18 runoff.

Former Cobb school board member Jaha Howard has 32 percent of the vote with all 39 precincts reporting.

Taniesha Whorton has 25 percent of the vote and former State Rep. Erick Allen has 23 percent.

More details and full results will be posted on Wednesday.

Updated 9:50 pm:

Most Cobb incumbents in contested primaries are enjoying comfortable margins in early returns.

The exception is District Attorney Flynn Broady, who is in a tight race in the Democratic primary with Sonya Allen.

The Democratic primary for Cobb Board of Commissioners District 2, which includes some of East Cobb, appears headed for a runoff.

Former Cobb Board of Education member Jaha Howard has around 32 per of the vote, with former State Rep. Erick Allen and Taniesha Whorton competing for second.

Original Report:

The polls have closed in Georgia, and the counting has begun for the 2024 primary elections.

East Cobb News will continuously update this post all evening with results, reaction and more coverage.

You can find all Cobb results, including contested primaries for Cobb Commission chair, district attorney, Sheriff, Superior Court Clerk, tax commissioner, District 2 Cobb commission and others, at this link.

Those others appearing on the ballots of East Cobb voters include the 11th U.S. Congressional District, legislative seats and a number of contested judicial races.

You also can track all results around the state compiled by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office by clicking here.

(Here’s our election day set-up post that breaks down key races and candidates at the local, state and federal level.

Typically early voting and absentee figures are tallied first, followed by same-day voting results and more recent absentee votes.

Earlier absentee ballots are expected to be counted rather quickly, as they have been processed to prepare for tabulation when the polls close.

While we await full results, we’ll post early voting and absentee figures as they are revealed.

Cobb Elections estimates the turnout Tuesday was around 10 percent.

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East Cobb traffic alert: Vehicle overturned in JF crash

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Johnson Ferry Road crash

A reader sent the above photo heading northbound on Johnson Ferry Road near the entrance to Woodlawn Square Shopping Center.

A crash has resulted in a vehicle being overturned in the southbound direction, and is causing serious delays.

Cobb police and fire/rescue crews are on the scene, and we’re seeking further information.

A Pope High School social media message said the crash occurred around 5:35 p.m. The school is having its baccalaureate service Tuesday at nearby Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.

Cobb DOT said only the left southbound lane is open for the time being.

Johnson Ferry Road crash
Cobb DOT camera photo

 

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East Cobb zoning update: Whataburger request continued

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East Cobb O'Charley's restaurant closes

At the start of Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners zoning hearing, a request on the agenda for a site plan for a proposed Whataburger restaurant in East Cobb was continued.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to hold off on hearing the plans until June. It’s an “Other Business” case, which means it doesn’t need to go before the Cobb Planning Commission since it’s not a full rezoning request.

The Texas-based fast food chain wants to occupy the former O’Charley’s restaurant on Sandy Plains Road at Shallowford Road, but stipulations include restrictions against a fast-food restaurant and anything with a drive-through service.

Whataburger wants to convert the 7,000-square-foot building for a sit-in restaurant with double drive-through service, and on Monday notified the Cobb zoning office it wanted a delay.

The land was rezoned in 1999 and an Other Business approval in 2000 permitted the opening of the O’Charley’s, which closed last year. The 1.3 acres at 3550 Sandy Plains Road formerly belonged to the Gordy family.

Any changes on those former Gordy properties in the area include a review by a special architectural control committee

In making a motion to continue the request, Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said the continuance would provide time for the site plan details to be considered by the ACC.

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East Cobb 2024 primary election day voters guide and info

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Georgia runoff elections

Voters in East Cobb and throughout Georgia are voting today in the 2024 primary elections, choosing party candidates in a number of local, state and federal races, as well as non-partisan judicial seats.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and registered voters must to their designated precincts to cast a ballot (consolidated countywide sample ballots here).

There is a detour to reach the Murdock 01 precinct this morning, due to a road closure because of a gas main break.

You can find a list of contested primary races by clicking here; some may be decided in runoff elections to culminate June 18.

To check your polling station and which races will be on your ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s GA My Voter Page.

All voters must go to the polls with proof of identification (details here).

Absentee ballots also must be received at the Cobb Elections office, either in person or via mail, by 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Cobb Elections officials estimate that around 29,000 votes were cast during the advance voting period the last three weeks.

East Cobb News will be providing coverage of Tuesday’s returns in a separate post to be published after 7 p.m.

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Cobb schools announce 2024 valedictorians and salutatorians

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Cobb schools 2024 valedictorians and salutatorians
L-R: Sprayberry valedictorian Isabella Sternagle; Walton valedictorian Ethan Ju; Lassiter valedictorian Kelly Wu.

As graduation ceremonies take place this week, the Cobb County School District on Tuesday announced the Class of 2024 valedictorians and salutatorians.

Overall, the valedictorians in the Cobb school district combined for an average grade-point average of 4.697, with salutatorians at 4.659.

Nine seniors from high schools in East Cobb had grade-point averages above 4.7, and two were above 4.8, both from Walton: Valedictorian Ethan Ju and salutatorian Xiyuan Li.

Ju’s grade-point-average of 4.86 is the highest for a student in the Cobb school district, which has announced a Class of 2024 of around 8,000 seniors.

What follows are the vals and sals from the six East Cobb high schools, their GPAs, college choices and intended majors.

Seven of the vals and sals from East Cobb are headed to Georgia Tech, with others bound for UGA, Penn, Cornell, Rice, and MIT.

Kell High School
Valedictorian— Claire Lanaghan, 4.703, Georgia Tech, physics
Salutatorian—Ajanay Butts, 4.648, Rice University, biology

Lassiter High School
Valedictorian—Kelly Wu, 4.768, Georgia Tech, biomedical engineering
Salutatorian—Ruhi Datar, 4.75, Cornell University, history

Pope High School
Valedictorian—Bryce Chapin, 4.796, Georgia Tech, industrial engineering
Salutatorian—Jay Natu, 4.779, Georgia Tech, biochemistry

Sprayberry High School
Valedictorian—Isabella Sternagle, 4.692, University of Georgia, biology
Salutatorian—Jordan Toliver, 4.656, University of Pennsylvania, economics and computer science

Walton High School
Valedictorian—Ethan Ju, 4.86, Georgia Tech, computer science
Salutatorian—Xijuan Li, 4.821, Georgia Tech, industrial engineering

Wheeler High School
Valedictorian—Zachary Tong, 4.766, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, computer science
Salutatorian—Richard Kang, 4.758, Georgia Tech, electrical engineering

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Sewell Mill Road closed at Bill Murdock Road after gas leak

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Sewell Mill Road closed at Bill Murdock Road after gas leak

Updated, Tuesday 8:15 am:

Cobb Police say Sewell Mill Road has reopened.

Original story:

Cobb government and Cobb Police said Monday that the busy intersection of Sewell Mill Road and Bill Murdock Road was closed Monday afternoon for repairs following a gas main break.

Cobb Police issued the first message after 11 a.m. Monday, saying the Sewell Mill closure was between Meadow Chase Drive to its intersection with Ardsley Drive.

That was right before early release at Walton High School and Dodgen Middle School on Bill Murdock Road.

Around 1:30 p.m., Cobb government provided an update saying that “is no danger at either school, however repair work is underway and the intersection will be closed until it is completed.”

Shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, Cobb Police said that “Sewell Mill Road at Murdock Road is still closed and will likely be closed for the remainder of the night.”

Cobb government said around 9 Monday night the work will continue into Tuesday morning and could affect access to a voting precinct in the primary elections:

Repair crews are working into the evening to repair damage done by a gas main break at the intersection of Sewell Mill Road and Bill Murdock Road in east Cobb County.  The intersection remains closed at this hour.

The closed intersection is near a polling place that will be used in Tuesday’s General/Nonpartisan election.  The Murdock 01 precinct is at the Atlanta Chinese Christian Church Northwest at 1837 Bill Murdock Rd.

The building and area are safe and work to repair the intersection should be completed in the early morning hours. However, Cobb DOT crews are prepared to post a detour routing voters to the precinct if the work is not finished by the time the polls open at 7 a.m.

Elections officials say the precinct has been prepared and workers should be able to open it on time for voters. Voters who use Murdock 01 as their precinct should be prepared to follow the detour to the building if work on the intersection is still in progress.

For more updates, visit cobbcommute.org and click on the Sewell Mill Road Closure link.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, April 29-May 3, 2024

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Raintree Forest, East Cobb real estate sales
Raintree Forest

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports. They include the street address, subdivision name, high school attendance zone and sales price:

April 29

218 Indian Hills Trail, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $1.925 million

2354 Chimney Cottage Circle, 30066 (Chimney Cottage, Sprayberry): $418,600

1870 Twin Branch Drive Unit 1, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates, Sprayberry): $120,000

655 Anderson Walk, 30062 (Barnes Mill Townhouses, Wheeler): $295,000

1245 Stonecroft Way, 30062 (Stonecroft, Walton): $1.7 million

2751 Terrell Trace Drive, 30067 (Terrell Trace Condos, Wheeler): $342,000

4114 Columns Drive, 30067 (River Place, Walton): $851,500

981 Oriole Lane, 30067 (Meadow Brook, Wheeler): $350,000

1944 Hamilton Place, 30067 (Wheeler): $699,996

132 Lakeshore Drive, 30067 (Hidden Valley, Walton): $460,000

3730 Ramsey Drive, 30062 (Hembree Crossing, Pope): $420,000

1235 Rodrick Drive, 30066 (Oxford Manor, Kell): $395,000

1161 Clarendon Drive, 30068 (Camden Place, Walton): $951,000

April 30

3759 Crossvine Bend, 30066 (Mountain Creek Estates, Lassiter): $995,000

1195 Lincoln Drive, 30066 (Lincoln Estates, Sprayberry): $950,000

3275 Timberloch Drive, 30068 (Sentinel Lake, Wheeler): $1.15 million

778 Chelsea Park Lane, 30062 (Chelsea Park, Walton): $775,000

3515 Brighton Place, 30062 (Independence Square, Walton): $710,040

2335 Snug Harbor, 30066 (St. Charles Square, Sprayberry): $573,000

2550 Rocky Springs Drive, 30062 (Post Oak Springs, Pope): $540,000

3637 Longfellow Trail, 30062 (Chestnut Ridge, Pope): $656,400

2299 Wickingham Drive, 30066 (Cambridge Crossing, Lassiter): $560,000

3936 Bellair Drive, 30066 (Philmont Estates, Sprayberry): $515,000

3620 Brookhill Circle, 30062 (Woodbine Station, Lassiter): $675,000

4688 Jefferson Township Lane, 30066 (Jefferson Township, Lassiter): $825,000

5424 Tally Green Drive, 30068 (Tally Green, Walton): $750,000

1974 River Forest Drive, 30068 (River Forest, Walton): $799,000

1959 River Forest Drive, 30068 (River Forest, Walton): $$930,000

5198 Ozark Lane, 30062 (Plantation Place, Walton): $645,000

708 Parkaire Crossing, 30068 (Parkaire Crossing Condos, Walton): $285,000

2739 Old Mill Trail, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $756,000

May 1

4560 Woodlawn Gates Lane, 30068 (The Gates on Woodlawn, Walton): $924,000

2032 Abode Way, 30066 (Courtyards at Ebenezer, Sprayberry): $665,000

919 Needle Rock Ridge, 30062 (Stoneoak Pointe, Wheeler): $625,000

2148 Kinridge Road, 30062 (Piedmont Bend, Sprayberry): $400,000

2432 Renny Court, 30066 (Village North, Sprayberry): $395,000

2711 Idlewood Drive, 30062 (Mountain View, Sprayberry): $416,500

1442 Waterford Green Drive, 30068 (Waterford Green, Walton): $1 million

May 2

3256 Winthrop Circle, 30067 (Amberley Park, Wheeler): $735,000

890 Birds Mill, 30067 (Sibley Forest, Wheeler): $890,000

3341 Brickey Lane, 30068 (Sentinel Lake, Wheeler): $865,000

1827 Jacksons Creek Drive, 30066 (Jacksons Creek-The Bluffs, Walton): $795,000

5002 Meadow Lane, 30068 (The Meadows Condos, Walton): $348,000

May 3

258 Grand Manor Drive, 30068 (Grand Manor, Wheeler): $560,000

4334 Granby Way, 30062 (East Hampton, Walton): $1 million

2420 Wood Thrush Court, 30062 (Chestnut Springs, Walton): $500,000

3052 Bunker Hill Road, 30062 (Bunker Hills, Pope): $500,000

2509 Waterstone Way, 30062 (Autumn Lake, Sprayberry): $385,000

3249 Sandy Plains Road, 30066 (Sprayberry): $530,000

3198 Guynelle Drive, 30066 (Addison Heights, Sprayberry): $450,000

3625 Candlewood Way, 30066 (Stocktons Mill, Lassiter): $502,000

3325 Holliglen Drive, 30062 (Woodbine Station, Lassiter): $480,000

4485 Fox Creek Drive, 30062 (Raintree Forest, Lassiter): $600,000

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2024 commencement information for East Cobb high schools

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2024 commencement information for East Cobb high schools

More than 8,000 high school seniors in the Cobb County School District will be graduating this week.

The Class of 2024 will have commencement exercises from Monday-Saturday, mostly at the Kennesaw State University Convocation Center, including all six high schools in East Cobb:

  • Wheeler: Tuesday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.
  • Pope: Wednesday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.
  • Kell: Thursday, May 23, 2:30 p.m.
  • Lassiter: Friday, May 24, 10 a.m.
  • Walton: Friday, May 24, 2:30 p.m.
  • Sprayberry: Saturday, May 25, 7:30 p.m.

All of the ceremonies will be streamed live at this link, and videos can be ordered by clicking here. The cost is $30 for DVD and $35 for a USB version and includes shipping.

More graduation information can be found here; it includes more details about each school’s commencement and venue information, including directions and a KSU campus map, tickets and a graduation contract.

In 2023, the Cobb County School District’s graduation rate was 87.7 percent, second in metro Atlanta to Fulton County (90.3 percent).

Those are federally-calculated figures that include students enrolled for a single day of high school. Walton’s 96.3 percent was fourth in the Cobb, behind 98.4 percent at Lassiter, and 97 percent at Harrison and Hillgrove.

Pope’s graduation rate was 95.6 last year, followed by Kell (93.8), Wheeler (90.7) and Sprayberry 87.5.

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2024 Cobb primary election day preview: Candidates, ballots, more

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Georgia runoff elections

Advance voting is over in Cobb County and Georgia for the 2024 primaries, and on Tuesday will continue with election-day in-person voting at precincts.

Voters will chose Democratic, Republican or non-partisan ballots (consolidated countywide sample ballots here) in a variety of federal, state legislative and local races.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters standing in line by the time the polls close will be allowed to vote.

To check your polling station and which races will be on your ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s GA My Voter Page.

All voters must go to the polls with proof of identification (details here).

Here are the key contested races on the ballot for East Cobb voters; they do not include candidates who are running unopposed and will be on the general election ballot in November:

Cobb Commission Chairwoman (Democrat)

  • Lisa Cupid (incumbent), Shelia Edwards

Cobb Commission District 2 (Democrat)

  • Erick Allen, William Costa, Jaha Howard, Kevin Redmon, Taniesha Worton

Cobb District Attorney (Democrat)

  • Sonya Allen, Flynn Broady (incumbent)

Cobb Sheriff (Democrat)

  • Greg Gilstrap, Craig Owens (Democrat)

Cobb Sheriff (Republican)

  • David Cavender, Antaney Hogan, Ricci Mason

Cobb Superior Court Clerk (Democrat)

  • Brunessa Drayton, Carole Melton, Nick Simpson, Connie Taylor (incumbent)

Cobb Tax Commissioner (Democrat)

  • Jan Becker, Carla Jackson (incumbent)

U.S. House District 11 (Republican)

  • Barry Loudermilk (incumbent), Lori Pesta, Michael Pons

U.S. House District 11 (Democrat)

  • Antonio Daza, Katy Stamper

State Senate District 32 (Republican)

  • Ben Fremer, Kay Kirkpatrick (incumbent)

State Senate District 33 (Democrat)

  • Euriel Hemmerly, Michael “Doc” Rhett (incumbent)

Georgia Supreme Court (Non-Partisan)

  • John Barrow, Andrew Prinson (incumbent)

Georgia Court of Appeals (Non-Partisan)

  • Jeff Davis, Tabitha Ponder

Cobb Superior Court Judge (Non-Partisan)

  • Sylvia Goldman, Julie Jacobs (incumbent)

Cobb State Court Judge, Post 7 (Non-Partisan)

  • Carl Bowers (incumbent), Matt McMaster, Crystal Stevens McElrath

Cobb Probate Court Judge (Non-Partisan)

  • Rebecca Keaton, Kellie Wolk (incumbent)

The two major parties also will have a number of party questions on their ballots that are non-binding: Democrat and Republican.

Please Note: Voters who ask for a non-partisan ballot will not be able to vote for either Democratic or Republican candidates. The non-partisan ballot contains only state and local judicial candidates.

Primaries that are not decided on Tuesday will go to a runoff to be concluded on June 18.

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Self-storage case, Whataburger request on Cobb zoning agenda

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East Cobb rezonings held; Terrell Mill self-storage facility

After rejecting a rezoning request for a self-storage building at the intersection of Terrell Mill and Delk roads last year, the Cobb Board of Commissioners is scheduled to re-hear the case on Tuesday.

That’s because the applicant, ADP-Terrell Mill LLC, filed a lawsuit, and a reconsideration to settle the litigation is on the board’s zoning agenda.

It’s near the end of a lengthy agenda in the Other Business category.

According to the agenda item (you can read it here), the proposed 111,230-square-foot facility on 2.5 acres would feature exterior architecture to match nearby townhouse developments.

Despite the fact that some nearby residents—including former commissioner Bob Ott—supported the development, other citizens did not, and commissioners voted 4-1 to deny the request.

During their deliberations, commissioners said they didn’t think a self-storage building should go on the land, where two abandoned homes sit. The property is owned by Mary Beard and Nancy Moore, executors of the estate of Ruby Inez Fridell.

The lawsuit was filed by noted zoning attorney Kevin Moore for what he said in a March letter was an “unconstitutional deprivation of the constitutional rights of the Applicant.”

He said in the suit that “there is no existing use or demand for the Property under the existing classification, and the Property is substantially and unreasonably diminished in value due to the continuation of such zoning restrictions.”

Moore proposed a variety of stipulations as part of the proposed settlement, including an office-industrial zoning category (OI) from low-density residential and a limit of two stories for the building and extensive landscaping.

In 2022, ADP-Terrell Mill sought a community retail commercial (CRC) designation.

Commissioners also would have to approve a special land-use permit, which is required in Cobb for self-storage facilities.

The Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance said that “the project would still meet community priorities for anything developed on this property: low-traffic, residential-friendly, and architecturally attractive. Self-storage facilities generate very little traffic.”

Also at the end of Tuesday’s agenda is another Other Business request by Whataburger, a fast-food chain that wants to occupy the former O’Charley’s restaurant at Sandy Plains and Shallowford roads.

Whataburger is seeking a site plan change that restricts fast-food and drive-through operations on that property, which has been vacant since 2023.

The Cobb zoning staff is not making a recommendation, but noted in its analysis that the proposed site plan (you can read it here) doesn’t have sufficient parking availability.

The zoning hearing begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta), and the full agenda can be found by clicking here.

You also can watch on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

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Mt. Bethel ES, East Side ES students win youth essay contest

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Mt. Bethel ES, East Side ES students win youth essay contest
L-R: Tucker Smith (Mt. Bethel Elementary School Principal), Community Development Representative William Wesley (Delta Community), Youth essay winner Alexander Goldband and his mother, and Branch Manager Corey Higman (Delta Community).

Submitted information and photo:

Six elementary school students from Cobb County were among the winners of Delta Community Credit Union’s 2024 Youth Essay Contest. There were 21 winners selected from more than 170 entries. Cobb had the most winners of any county in metro Atlanta this year. Each of the winning essayists will receive a $100 Delta Community Youth Savings Account.

The winners from Cobb County are:

  • Dara Du, third grader from East Side Elementary
  • Fiona McMillan, third grader from Teasley Elementary
  • SaiVinayak Anantharaman, fourth grader from Teasley Elementary
  • Alexander Goldband, fifth grader from Mount Bethel Elementary
  • Spencer Kehinde, fifth grader from Bryant Elementary
  • Delaney Stimac, fifth grader from East Side Elementary

The contest was open to third, fourth and fifth graders across metro Atlanta, and seven winners from each grade level were selected. Students were asked to write an essay about what they would do to make an impact at their school if they had unlimited money.

Many of the winning essays described increasing salaries for teachers and staff, offering after-school programs, providing healthier foods and snacks and buying playground equipment for students with special needs. Some unique student ideas to invest in their schools and classmates included establishing a trade school on campus, getting therapy dogs for students, and creating a community garden to help fight hunger.

Delta Community launched the contest in 2016 to recognize the importance of youth financial education and invest in future generations. The winners were contacted in late April in celebration of National Youth Month.

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Cobb Sheriff’s Office opens new jail security checkpoint

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Cobb Sheriff's Office opens new jail security checkpoint
From L-R: LTC Kelker (Training & Accreditation Commander- CCSO), David Jones (Chief of Staff – CCSO) , LTC Hilsmen (Jail Commander – CCSO), Judge Bowers (Cobb County), Chief Deputy Anderson (CCSO) Sheriff Owens (CCSO), Asst. Chief Hawkins (CCSO) and Capt. Holt (CCSO).

Submitted information and photo:

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of its new security checkpoint entrance on Thursday, May 9, 2024, with special guest Judge Carl W. Bowers in attendance. 

The upgraded security checkpoint features cutting-edge technology designed to enhance public safety and security. This new checkpoint effectively screens visitors and employees entering the Adult Detention Center, with a particular emphasis on ensuring the safety of attorneys, detainees, and sheriff’s office personnel.

Notable features include a snack center, lobby area, an innovative cell phone holding center, and the Tek-84 full-body scanner. The event was organized to increase transparency, educate the public, and offer insights for other facilities considering similar security upgrades. 

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized its commitment to maintaining strict measures to safeguard individuals entering the facility and the detainees housed within, including state-of-the-art controls to prevent contraband from entering the premises.

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New principals named at Walton HS; Simpson MS; Murdock ES

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New principals were appointed to four public schools in East Cobb on Thursday for the 2024-25 academic year.

Stephanie Santoro

During its May voting session, the Cobb Board of Education ratified the appointment of a number of principal and central office administrators, after emerging from an executive session.

They include Dr. Stephanie Santoro, who is the new principal at Walton High School.

She has been an assistant principal at Walton and has been at the school for 20 years in a variety of teaching an administrative capacities.

Santoro succeeds Richard Tischler, who was appointed to principal in 2022.

At Simpson Middle School, Dr. David Church is the new principal. He had been an assistant principal at Cobb Horizon High School and also has been an assistant principal at Wheeler High School.

He succeeds Dr. LaEla Mitchell, who was appointed to Simpson in 2021.

Kendra Brooks is leaving as principal of Murdock Elementary School to become principal at Bells Ferry Elementary School.

Kendra Brooks

Brooks has served in a number of East Cobb schools, including Sope Creek Elementary School. She has been Murdock’s principal since 2021 and at Bells Ferry, she succeeds Gail May, who has retired.

Murdock’s new principal is Zach Mathis, who has been an assistant principal at King Springs ES.

He has been an elementary school teacher and administrator in the Cobb County School District, including a stint as assistant principal at Sedalia Park Elementary School.

In addition, Sarah Ostrander, an assistant principal at East Side Elementary School, has been appointed principal at LaBelle ES.

Their new tenures will begin on July 1, the start of the fiscal year 2025 for the Cobb school district.

The Cobb school board also voted to extend the contracts of school district executive staff. Among them are Chief Accountability and Strategy Officer John Floresta.

When his name was announced, a spectator in the audience shouted “Fire Floresta!” Board Democrat Tre’ Hutchins sought to remove a staff member he identified only by a number, but his motion failed 3-4 along partisan lines.

The audience member continued to shout, and she and another person were removed from the room. They were identified as Melissa Marten and Jennifer Susko, part of a group called the Community Care Coalition.

The group wants Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and Floresta terminated. Last September, the group complained about a change in procedures to sign up to speak during public comment, saying they were physically injured in a scuffle after the registration table location was moved.

Floresta’s office is in charge of those procedures as well as media and public relations. Susko filed an open records request that revealed that Floresta and his unit planned a new location, with the aim of limiting anti-Ragsdale commenters.

Critics allege that’s part of an effort to silence them, especially due to a “Replace Ragsdale” rally that took place before that September meeting.

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Cobb school board approves FY 2025 budget with raises

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The Cobb Board of Education Thursday approved a $1.8 billion fiscal year operating budget that includes across-the-board pay raises for full-time employees.Campbell High School lockdown

With little discussion, the board voted 6-0 to approve the budget.

For the second year in a row, vice chairman David Banks of Post 5 in East Cobb voted present. He didn’t indicate a reason, but last year voted present because he wanted the board to further reduce the property tax millage rate.

A public speaker urged the board during its final hearing on the budge Thursday to reduce the property tax rate, following another year of rising assessments in Cobb County.

The FY 2025 budget is based on a property tax rate of 18.7 mills (the millage rate is formally adopted in July, after the county tax digest is published).

Cobb school district full-time employees will be getting raises between 4.4 percent to 9 percent, which Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said represents an “employee-centric” budget.

Some other members of the public were critical of the district’s spending $50 million for a new special-events facility (that isn’t part of the FY ’25 budget) they said could be better-spent elsewhere.

The budget takes effect on July 1, the start of the fiscal year 2025 in the Cobb school district.

FY 2025 budget documents can be found by clicking here.

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Sponsored Post: Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

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Sponsored Post: Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

Please note: This is a paid advertisement from Tomo.com.

As interest rates begin to trend down throughout the year, the real estate market is ripe for high-return home flips. Lower rates will mean more potential buyers—and higher valuation. If you’re considering flipping your property in 2024, the key word is “timing.” A successful flip in East Cobb, GA is as much about timing as about the features and improvements you choose to add to your home.

Tomo, a Stamford-based real estate company, analyzed the most successful home flips in East Cobb. These top 10 best flips generated combined resale prices that were $3.2 million over the initial purchase prices. How did they close with increases as high as 120 percent? The secret isn’t just “how” but “when.”

Identifying what to renovate

The most valuable flips share one thing in common–the entire home was remodeled–some homes were taken down to the studs. Open floor plans, new kitchens with granite or quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and finished basements were just some of the home improvements. But aesthetic changes weren’t the only upgrades, behind-the-wall updates were also made, including new electric, HVAC, insulation and plumbing. The most amazing fact about some of these flips–3 on the list were accomplished in only 4 months!

Tomo’s Top 10 Best Flips in the East Cobb area:

City Initial Purchase Price  Resale Price  % Change
Marietta $165K $365K 121%
Roswell $465K $989K 113%
Marietta $195K $399K 105%
Marietta $612K $1.25M 104%
Marietta $200K $405K 103%
Roswell $420K $850K 102%
Marietta $270K $525K 94%
Marietta $230K $435K 89%
Marietta $220K $405K 84%
Roswell $430K $790K 84%

Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

Methodology 

We needed to first find homes that were actually “flipped” (i.e., where there was a focused investment on renovating and subsequent reselling of the property). So, we analyzed home purchases (and re-purchases) from January, 2022 through March 30, 2024, and excluded any “new construction” properties. We only looked at houses that were bought and sold within 90-365 days, and didn’t include places that might be in the middle of a flip or that haven’t sold yet. We then analyzed the listings to see whether those properties used terms like “new kitchen,”  “new windows,” or “gut renovation” in the description from their agents, which are a pretty clear signal that the property was invested in with a flip as the endgame.

By looking at the original sale price versus resale price, compared to the increase in property value across the area over the same time period, we were able to identify which homes had the highest resale returns. Since there aren’t universal costs associated with development and renovation (e.g., square footage benchmarks don’t typically reflect the real range of costs for a premium home flip). We opted instead to compare cities “apples-to-apples” on original purchase price vs. resale price. 

Want to know more about flipping homes?

If you are looking for tips, look no further than House Flipping Flops for what NOT to do, or our House Flipping 101 Guide. Happy Flipping!

Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

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Cobb school board slated to adopt fiscal year 2025 budget

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The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday will hold a final public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget before voting on final adoption.Campbell High School lockdown

The public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Cobb County School District central office, 514 Glover St., Marietta.

The voting meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

Proposed FY 2025 budget documents can be found by clicking here.

The board in April voted to tentatively adopt the $1.85 billion budget, which includes across-the-board staff pay raises.

The budget would maintain a property tax rate of 18.7 mills, holding from last year, when the school board reduced that rate by 0.2 percent to offset rising assessments.

A citizens group called the Watching the Funds-Cobb asked for additional public hearings to be held to give the public time to read through and comment on the budget.

But that isn’t happening, so the group held an online forum last week, inviting all seven board members. Only two, Democrats Nichelle Davis and Becky Sayler, took part.

The school board is scheduled to hold a work session starting at 2 p.m. Thursday that includes a demographics study update.

After that, the board will go into an executive session before the evening public meetings.

At the 7 p.m. meeting, recognitions include state literary champions, including Nathaniel Long of Wheeler High School, as well as the Georgia STAR student and teacher, Omer Mustafa Inan and Tamara Hollingsworth of Walton High School.

Agendas for the public meetings can be found by clicking here.

The open meetings also will be live-streamed on the Cobb County School District’s BoxCast channel and on CobbEdTV, Comcast Channel 24.

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Simpson MS student earns National PTA award for film

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Submitted information and photo:Simpson MS student earns National PTA award for film

“For the Future,” a film by Riya Kumar, a 7th grader at Simpson Middle School, has received the National PTA Award of Excellence in Film Production (Middle School division) in the 2023-2024 National PTA Reflections program. The Award of Excellence includes a $200 Young Artist Scholarship, Silver Medal, Certificate of Excellence, and her work will be featured in the National PTA Reflections virtual exhibition.

To be awarded the National PTA Award of Excellence, the piece must be one of the 3 or 4 top-scoring entries for its division/arts category in the nation! School winners PTA round. Georgia PTA then judged the artwork by division, each of which encompass multiple grade levels, making these recognitions extremely selective.The first place winners advanced to the National PTA Reflections competition.

Congratulations to Riya on this incredible accomplishment!

About Reflections: The National PTA Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K-12 create original works of art in response to a student-created theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.

Here’s a link to the film, which is 1:41 in length. Here’s more about the Reflections contest, and a list of winners nationwide.

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Update: Police say missing East Cobb juvenile found dead

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Updated 4:05 pm:

Cobb Police Sgt. Eric Smith told East Cobb News Springer was found dead of a “self-inflicted injury” but had no more details.

According to his obituary, Springer was a student at the Cobb Online Learning Academy and was an honor-roll student who “dreamed of working at a history museum.”

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Monday at Marietta Funeral Home.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations in Springer’s memory be given to Good Mews Animal Foundation of East Cobb or any teen suicide prevention non-profit.

Updated, 1:58 pm:

Police say Springer has been located, but they have not provided any further information.

Original Report:

Cobb Police are urging motorists to avoid the area around Sewell Mill Road between Murdock Road and Old Canton Road Wednesday morning as they are conducting a search for a missing juvenile

A social media post published shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday gave the address as 3125 Sewell Mill Road—Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Police said regular patrol units were joined by special units.

Sgt. Eric Smith of Cobb Police told East Cobb News the juvenile, identified as Reed Springer, 17, is considered endangered because he is autistic.

He said the boy left his home in the area after noon Tuesday for a walk, but never returned. Police said Springer had been feeling stress due to final exams.

 

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East Cobb PTA names 2024 Margie Hatfield scholarship winners

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East Cobb PTA names 2024 Margie Hatfield scholarship winners
Pictured from L to R: Jennifer He (Walton), Timy Dang (Sprayberry), Ella Jeffres (Pope), Margie Hatfield, Julia Randall (Lassiter) and Andrew Herrera (Kell).

Information and photo submitted by Micheal Garza, Scholarship Chair, East Cobb County Council of PTAs:

The East Cobb County Council of PTAs (ECCC PTA) named its 2024 recipients of the Margie Hatfield Scholarship at its general meeting at Kell High School in April.

Hatfield is a former ECCC PTA president, and the ECCC PTA scholarship was named on her behalf due to her diligent work and tireless commitment to the students of East Cobb.

Every year, ECCC PTA offers a $1,000 service-based scholarship to deserving seniors at each of the six high schools in the East Cobb area. Each recipient has worked hard to be successful, not just in their scholastic endeavors, but also by giving back to the community through their service and their time.

Selected from 30 applicants across five schools, the scholarship recipients are:

Andrew Herrera, Kell High School, who will attend Kennesaw State University to study Mechanical Engineering. When Andrew isn’t winning BMX races, he can be found maintaining the local BMX track, being a role model to the next generation of young racers, and volunteering at food drives for veterans.

Julia Randall, Lassiter High School, who will study Accounting at University of Georgia. Guided by the Maya Angelou quote, “Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud,”, Julia has been that rainbow for her peers in starting The Joy Mission Club that supports students in the community grieving the loss of a loved one.

Ella Jeffres, Pope High School, who will attend Georgia Tech where she will study History, Technology, and Society. Ella’s passion for making the world a better place knows no bounds, as she has organized meals for families dealing with food insecurity and provided hygiene care packages for the homeless.

Timy Dang, Sprayberry High School, who will study Marketing at Georgia State University. Timy’s commitment to acts of service is drawn from his Vietnamese American culture that thrives on community and includes painting murals with pop culture references that will adorn the halls of Sprayberry for years to come.

Jennifer He, Walton High School, who will attend Princeton University to study Operations Research Financial Engineering. Through her work distributing school supplies to the homeless, Jennifer hopes to humanize their experience and build relationships with kids to inspire their academic growth regardless of income barriers.

As the largest council within the state of Georgia, the East Cobb County Council of PTAs promotes the academic achievement and well-being of all students within the 35 schools within East Cobb.

Cobb approves ridership study for transit tax referendum

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CobbLinc World Series bus service

Cobb commissioners on Tuesday approved spending $23,000 for a consultant to provide ridership projections for proposed projects listed for the county’s transit tax referendum that’s on the November general election ballot.

Along party lines, commissioners voted 3-2 to authorize Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to do the ridership projections. They also voted to formally submit the project list for the Cobb Mobility SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) to the Transit Link Authority of metro Atlanta, a prerequisite for the referendum.

The proposed 30-year, one-percent sales tax would collect an estimated $11 billion, primarily for building out a high-capacity bus transit system in the county, and increase other transit operations.

They include restoring a two-pronged bus line between the Marietta Transfer Station and the Roswell Road-Johnson Ferry area, and from there to the Dunwoody MARTA Station.

Another local bus route would connect East Cobb and Roswell, but route specifics haven’t been released.

There also would be an East Cobb Transit Center constructed, but a specific site has not been determined.

Nor were details included in the project sheet (you can read it here) that would designate a Northeast Cobb microtransit zone.

If the referendum is approved, it would restore bus service to East Cobb that was eliminated in county government budget cuts during the recession.

At the time, that route, bus line No. 65, had one of the lowest ridership figures in the Cobb Community Transit system.

Cobb DOT officials haven’t estimated any ridership numbers for the proposed routes.

Earlier this year, the MDJ reported that ridership across the overall Cobb bus system has plummeted from 3.7 million annual trips in 2014 to just under 1 million trips in 2022, and that the decline began well before COVID-19.

A total of $6 billion from the referendum would be used to build out and expand “high capacity” transit, including the East Cobb route.

Most of the projects on the newly released list are in South Cobb and areas of the county along the I-75 corridor, including Marietta and around Town Center and Kennesaw State University, as well as the Cumberland area and Truist Park.

Also on the project list is a proposed shuttle that would run between the Cumberland area and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

During their discussion, Republican commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Keli Gambrill said they weren’t clear whether the transit resolutions needed four of five votes from the commission to be approved.

Commissioners adopted new rules in March requiring a four-fifths vote for resolutions, but the county attorney’s office said that any item coming before the vote needs only a simple majority.

Other more formal resolutions need a fourth vote, but Birrell and Gambrill—both of whom oppose a 30-year-transit tax—voted against both measures Tuesday.

Kimley-Horn also is being paid $287,000 by the county to develop an education program for the public ahead of the referendum.

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