The Pope High School band and cheerleaders from Addison Elementary School.
The skies were ominous Saturday morning, looming dark and heavy over East Cobb with rain in the forecast.
But as Cobb Police began closing off the busiest stretch of Johnson Ferry Road shortly before 10 a.m., the weather did parade-goers and participants a big favor.
The wet stuff held off long enough for more than 60 organizations, bands, school groups, businesses and more to take part in the 26th East Cobber magazine parade.
By the time the accompanying festival began at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, there was a bit of a drizzle, but not enough to scare away those stopping by booths, enjoying food and music and other entertainment.
This was the second year for the parade and festival since a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and an ownership change.
East Cobber founder Cynthia Rozzo was enjoying Saturday’s event for the first time as a spectator, after handing the magazine and the parade/festival to her successor, Laren Brown.
Rozzo took photos, waved at friends even did a brief interview with a local television news station.
The sense of community that’s been built up since the first parade Rozzo organized in 1993 unfolded in familiar fashion across one of East Cobb’s busiest thoroughfares, with plenty of schools represented.
In addition to public school teacher and employees of the year and three high school bands, private schools also took part the march, from Johnson Ferry Christian Academy and Eastside Christian School.
So did a number of political candidates and three members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners—a quorum—on a float.
Two standbys were Cobb librarians pushing their carts, and The Twilight Twirlers.
The chief sponsor was CertaPro Painting, with Custom Disposal and Auto Accident Attorneys Group as additional sponsor.
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The chairman of the Cobb Board of Education responded to concerns from parents and students following a deadly school shooting in Georgia last week by saying the board and Cobb County School District “have doubled and tripled down on keeping your children and grandchildren safe” over the long term.
Republican Randy Scamihorn, who is up for re-election in November, said in a “Just the Facts” newsletter issued by the district that he’s heard from parents and students since four people were killed at Apalachee High School in Winder.
He reiterated that parents should visit the district’s Cobb Shield vertical devoted to safety issues, and that includes information about a tip line and the district’s public safety staff.
Scamihorn said the mother of high school twins wrote to ask “can we do something about treating schools so they do not seem like prisons?”
A retired Cobb educator, Scamihorn replied that “we know some of our safety decisions are inconvenient. Some of my family members are teachers, and yes, I am required to check in just like everyone else. If we have to choose between convenience and keeping your children safer, we choose safety every time.”
In his newsletter, Scamihorn didn’t reference an incident this week that led to criminal charges against a Dickerson Middle School student for making threatening statements toward another student.
The district said the student is not considered a threat to the school, and that’s one of more than 50 reported incidents that have “not been proven to be actual threats to a Cobb school.”
Nor did Scamihorn indicate if the school board, which meets next week, would take up a proposal by colleague Tre’ Hutchins to implement further safety measures.
They include implementing a School Support Officers program of non-post certified personnel to assist the district’s 81-member police force, and asking for technological assistance for detecting weapons at schools and at events, games and other functions in the district.
Hutchins also is asking for a financial analysis of those three items.
He proposed those measures following the shootings of former students at the McEachern High School parking lot in February (and a stabbing incident at Sprayberry in March), but couldn’t get a discussion placed on the board meeting agenda.
That’s because board policy requires either the superintendent, chairman or a four-member board majority to add agenda items.
Earlier this week, Heather Tolley-Bauer of Watching the Funds-Cobb, a school watchdog group, said the policy “is the worst example of representative democracy that you will ever see. . . . We are talking about enhancing the safety and security of our schools and they want to call us the activists?”
At the end of his newsletter Friday, Scamihorn countered critics who “have argued for ‘defunding the police,’ taking guns out of school police officers’ hands, moving money from safety to other areas of interest, blaming community crime on the schools, criticized safety drills, and fought against money spent on the crisis response system in our schools.
“Instead, the School Board and Superintendent have doubled and tripled down on keeping your children and grandchildren safe. Because of these and other safety investments we have made, the ‘feeling’ our students and parents have is one of security, not fear.”
The board will hold a work session next Thursday afternoon and a voting meeting Thursday night but agendas have not been published.
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Richardson at a Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting in March 2024.
Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson sent out a newsletter Friday afternoon with a message for her former constituents in District 2.
Her seat was declared vacant by her colleagues Tuesday (she recused herself), following the adoption of state legislative-approved electoral maps that drew her out of her East Cobb home.
That action—after a nearly tw0-year-long partisan dispute—triggered a 10-day notice that will allow her to appeal to Cobb Superior Court.
The ‘old District 2’ is indicated in pink.
Richardson will be able to serve while she pursues her last-ditch effort to stay in office through the end of her term on Dec. 31, or possibly to extend her tenure while a special election to determine her successor takes place in early 2025.
Her District 2 included a good portion of East Cobb, including her home off Post Oak Tritt Road, under maps Democratic commissioners approved under “home rule” claims that were later ruled to be a violation of the Georgia Constitution.
Now, most of East Cobb is in District 3, while the District 2 boundaries fall along I-75 and include most of the Smyrna/Cumberland area, pushing as east as the western side of Powers Ferry Road, close to where Richardson formerly resided.
Richardson is a first-term Democrat who was narrowly elected in 2020 to succeed retiring Republican Bob Ott. She decided not to seek re-election amid the map controversy and was defeated in May by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in the 6th Congressional District primary.
Richardson hasn’t stated her plans after she leaves office, but she is expecting her first child.
Most of East Cobb is in Commission District 3 under state-approved reapportionment maps.
Here’s Richardson’s note to District 2 citizens:
“As a district, we have been through so much in such a short amount of time. As one of the most diverse districts, we found unique ways to collaborate across party, position, location, background, and so much more. We cannot forget the model of collaboration we seek to achieve where so many communities today struggle to be civil.
“In the midst of all the pressure, we accomplished so much, and it was because our community chose to recognize there is real value in appreciating what makes us different, and building on what makes us similar. There was so much richness in our district from Johnson Ferry/Shallowford area to Powers Ferry Corridor/Little Brazil, to the Battery, to the Vinings Village, and the houses along the river at Cochise, the ever growing Smyrna, the historic Rose Garden, and winding through the subdivisions all around Walton, Wheeler, and Pope. We had members of our community from all walks of life.
“This is a community that I grew up in for nearly 20 years. It’s where my brothers took the journey from Mt. Bethel elementary to Walton High School. I recall receiving my first library card when East Cobb Library was a stand-alone building in what is now a fully grown Merchant’s Walk. I remember walks at the Avenue with my family and our visitors, visits to Cumberland Mall, and the new memories at The Battery!
“This district is where I purchased my first home, and am currently growing my family with my soon-to-come baby girl. I have so much pride in representing the community where I am from, and my heart breaks that I will no longer be able to do so. Even more so that it would be taken in a way that will not only affect me, but future district representatives all around the state. I know that’s part of the reason why the community fought so hard. I recall when this map was first drawn, the press asked me—’Are you angry?’ It took no more than a second to reply with ‘I am inspired.’ I was inspired because when these maps hit the docket at the State Capitol, it was my community that called. A diverse community that at all times never ceases to amaze me.
“We fought a hard battle over the last three and a half years and faced a significant amount of misinformation, but it did not stop us or our office from serving you. You continued to show up, volunteer, ask for work to be done, held us accountable, and pushed us to work harder and bring more voices to the table.
“So, I thank you for the honor and privilege of being able to serve you as the District 2 Commissioner. While the district no longer exists as it was, it was the district I was proud to live in and even more proud to represent. On the heels of Hurricane Katrina, as a teenager, it was this community that embraced our young family. Where we struggled, neighbors pitched in to help; and to fast forward to today where I had the opportunity to represent the community that has given so much to me fills my heart with joy and gratefulness.
“Now, we must take the next step and continue our commitment in serving. We must meet our new district and never forget that what brings us together is so much greater than what separates us. My door is always open.”
Richardson’s comments after the vote to declare a vacancy on Tuesday are included below.
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East Cobb Park is featured in the Cobb PARKS fall activities guide, which includes listings of classes, events and other happenings through the end of the year at county parks and recreation centers and cultural facilities.
There’s a full-page spread about the park on pp. 50-51, as well as other spotlights on recreational activities for youth and adults, as well as information about art and music classes, swimming and tennis lessons, yoga and exercise classes, therapeutic programs and special events.
There are also listings of each facility in the county, including address, hours and contact information.
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The EAST COBBER parade is still on for Saturday morning, rain or shine, but a reminder that a portion of Johnson Ferry Road will be closed during that time.
Specifically, police will put up barricades between Roswell Road and Lower Roswell Road from 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. Princeton Lake Road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Woodlawn Road is the best alternate route but traffic will be affected. On the east side of Johnson Ferry, Little Willeo Road also is an option if you need to get around the parade.
Police will set up additional detours at the intersections of Indian Hills Parkway with Roswell Road and Lower Roswell Road.
The parade marches off from Mt. Bethel Elementary School (1210 Johnson Ferry Road) at 10 a.m., then heads southbound on Johnson Ferry to the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church south parking lot at Olde Towne Parkway.
The accompanying festival begins at 11 a.m. in the church’s north parking lot, and lasts until 3 p.m.
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The Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team is proud to host its 11th semi-annual First Responders & Military Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, October 9th, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This event, held twice a year, is dedicated to honoring our local heroes in Cobb County, including police officers, firefighters, EMTs, military personnel, and veterans.
Join us for a full-spread BBQ lunch featuring delicious pulled pork and pulled chicken, provided by PRIME Lending. Attendees can enjoy their meal on our spacious patio, network with fellow first responders, or take their food to go.
As well as many of our other wonderful sponsors will be supporting our heroes. Arrows Exterminators will provide beverages, First American Home Warranty will provide sweet treats, All Atlanta Ameri Spec and Perrie & Associates will be giving away fun swag items as a gift to those who tirelessly serve the Marietta community.
This heartfelt event is free for all first responders from Cobb County and the surrounding areas, including police, fire, detective units, and active/retired military personnel. We look forward to celebrating and expressing our gratitude to those who serve our community with dedication and bravery.
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Cobb DAR Fielding Lewis Chapter members and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell (right) at a Constitution Week recognition Tuesday.
The Fielding Lewis Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution will mark the 237th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution at an observance Tuesday at the Marietta Square.
The “Ringing the Bells” celebration begins at 3:30 p.m. Around the country, bells will ring for one minute at 4 p.m. on Sept. 17, marking the exact time the Constitution was officially signed in 1787.
During a recognition this week by the Cobb Board of Commissioners, chapter members announced their traditional practice during Constitution Week of delivering copies of the U.S. Constitution to fourth-graders in both the Cobb and Marietta public school districts.
According to the recognition, “the purpose of the Constitution Week celebration is to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, inform people that this important document is the foundation of our way of life and encourage study of the historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.”
The Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned Congress in 1955 for Constitution Week, and it was signed into law in 1956 by President Eisenhower.
Constitution Day in Cobb began in 2010 via the Cobb Republican Women’s Club.
The Fielding Lewis Chapter was founded in 1904 and named after a merchant and trader and was a leader in the revolutionary movement.
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Join us at Fair Oaks at the Marietta Educational Garden Center on Saturday, November 2nd from 10am to 2pm for a day of education and activities, hosted by the Laurel District. This event is a fundraiser for the Garden Club of Georgia’s Historic Landscape Preservation Grant offered for restoration of historic landscapes, public or private.
We have two fabulous speakers and honored guests including Lisa Hall, GCG president. Plus a special guest appearance is expected! Before and after the scheduled program, you are encouraged to stroll the grounds and enjoy the many gardens at Fair Oaks, including the “Georgia’s First Ladies” named Camellias, The Founders Garden, the Gazebo meditation area and many more! ‘Plein Air’ painters will be working outdoors to incorporate the landscape into their creations. There will also be education exhibits, music, garden club merchandise and enchanting raffle baskets. Inside the Civil War era home, there will be docents on hand offering interesting tidbits about the home’s history.
Program speakers include Trevor Beemon, Executive Director of Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, Inc. and the Chairman of the Acworth Historic Preservation Commission; along with Paul Pugliese, Bartow County Extension Coordinator/ANR Agent.
Tickets are $45 per person, including morning coffee, a boxed lunch (menu selections on form), and must be ordered by October 25th.
Donations accepted. Checks should be payable to “GCG” and sent to Edna McClellan, 180 Pacer Court, #9044, Ellijay, GA 30540-9305. Confirmation is via email. EdnaMae@ellijay.com. The form can be found here: HLP REGS 2024
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The National Weather Service is forecasting a strong chance of rain for most of Georgia on Friday and through the weekend.
A few outdoor activities this weekend in the East Cobb area have been called off or moved indoors due to a wet weather forecast.
Some light rain fell in the area on Thursday as the remnants of Hurricane Francine are expected to have an impact into early next week.
The storm reached the coast of Louisiana on Wednesday, fanning a weather system across the Deep South.
Tornado warnings have been issued in Alabama on Thursday afternoon as a weather system moves into Georgia.
A wind advisory has been issued to include Cobb County through early Friday morning, with wind gusts up to 30 mph.
On Friday, thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon, with a 60 percent chance of rain, and up to a half an inch possible in some areas.
The chance of rain Friday night is expected to be 80 percent, with up to three-quarters of an inch of new rain.
The forecast for Saturday morning—when the EAST COBBER parade is scheduled—includes showers and an 80 percent chance of rain, and continuing into Saturday night.
Sunday will be no different, with a 70 percent chance of rain all day.
High temperatures throughout that stretch are forecast to be in the 70s, with lows in the 60s.
The rain will taper off Monday and Tuesday with the sun finally returning by midweek.
The Blackwell Farmers Market on Canton Road has cancelled Saturday morning’s market and will return on Sept. 21.
Several school festivals also have been postponed or moved indoors.
If your organization is changing plans due to the weather, please let us know and we’ll update it here. Contact us: editor@eastcobbnews.com.
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The East Cobb-based Good Mews Animal Foundation said the theme of this year’s annual gala dinner and auction is “Over the Mewn.”
The event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at Salon San Francisco La Hacienda
(1906 South Cobb Drive).
The cost is $75 a person and the dress code is cocktail attire.
Tickets include dinner two complimentary drink tickets for beer, wine, soda, or a featured cocktail, and a cash bar will be available, along with non-alcoholic drinks. The program includes live and silent auctions.
The gala is the non-profit foundation’s main fundraiser. From Executive director Nikki Healey:
“Since 1988, Good Mews has been a cornerstone of feline rescue in Cobb County and the Atlanta Area. At our no-kill, cage-free shelter, we give about 600 cats each year the chance to find loving homes. Through our Community Cat Program, we tackle the feral and abandoned cat overpopulation issue head-on—providing critical medical care and surgeries to over 4,500 cats annually through our Trap, Vaccinate, Spay/Neuter, and Return Program.
“Our gala is vital in sustaining this work, raising much-needed funds and awareness to help us continue our lifesaving efforts. We invite your audience to join us at the gala for an unforgettable evening that not only supports a great cause but also strengthens the bond between animals and people in our community.”
Good Mews is also seeking sponsors for the event.
Good Mews operates an adoption and care shelter at 3805 Robinson Road, and offers several vaccination and microchip clinics a year, along with an annual book sale.
To purchase tickets and for sponsorship information, click here.
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As part of the 29th annual Public Safety Appreciation Week (Oct.7-11), the Cobb Chamber will honor Cobb County’s finest during a special recognition program at the Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon event held at the Coca-Cola Roxy on October 7. The luncheon will kick off a weeklong effort to celebrate public safety personnel in Cobb County. The luncheon is presented by Marquee Sponsor Superior Plumbing and Superior Plumbing Cooling & Heating and includes the presentation of the 2024 Public Safety Awards.
2024 Public Safety Awards and Nominees
The Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon will honor the bravery and commitment to excellence for each of the 2024 nominees – 15 individuals and 10 units, representing 12 different public safety organizations. Each nominee is eligible to win the following awards: the Public Safety Employee of the Year Award, Medal of Valor, Award of Merit, Distinguished Achievement Award, and Outstanding Community Contribution Award. The 2024 Public Safety Committee Chairwoman is Melissa Alterio, Director of the Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications.
Award winners will be announced and celebrated at the October 7 Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy. Registration is now open at https://tinyurl.com/2ba98snc.
Sponsors include Marquee Sponsor, Superior Plumbing and Superior Plumbing Cooling & Heating; Platinum Sponsors, Cobb EMC and MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service; Awards Sponsor LoRusso Law Firm; Gold Sponsors Barrow Wrecker Services, Genuine Parts, and Marietta Wrecker; and Appreciation Week Sponsor Verizon.
2024 Public Safety Appreciation Week
The Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon kicks off a weeklong community effort to celebrate the efforts of our public safety personnel, known as Public Safety Appreciation Week. Led by the Cobb Chamber, the community is invited to show their gratitude by visiting the public safety agencies in their neighborhood, between Oct. 7 through Oct. 11.
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Join us for the 2024 Holiday Artisan Market Friday, December 13 – Sunday, December 15 at Cobb County Civic Center! This festival will feature retailers and artists and will showcase handmade goods, fine arts, performing arts, and more!
Applications are open!
To apply for our Holiday Artisan Market, complete the application and email it, along with photo references, to holidaymarket@cobbcounty.org. Be sure to pay the vendor fee here.
Vendors will need to complete the application and pay the fee for submissions to be considered complete. Applications will have a rolling acceptance until November 6th or until full.
To apply for our Merry Marketplace: Youth Market, a free entrepreneurial opportunity for ages 13-17., complete the following application and email it, along with photo references, to tonya.mccain@cobbcounty.org. Space is limited so apply today!
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The Kendra Scott store at Avenue East Cobb is taking part in a “Kendra Give Back” event Friday to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s AFLAC Cancer and Blood Disorders Center during Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Month.
It’s part of the Kendra Cares charity, a creative arts program that “brings the magic and joy of Color Bar to pediatric hospitals across the country, giving patients and their caregivers a break from their everyday to design their own piece of customized jewelry at no cost.
“Patients are guided through creative activities consisting of multiple stations including choosing from colored stones and metal styles to create a custom piece of jewelry and reflecting on their experience through writing a note of gratitude to someone special in their life.
On Friday from 1-3 p.m., shoppers at the Avenue store who mention Children’s Healthcare at checkout will have 20 percent of their purchase to go to the cancer and blood disorders center.
You can also shop online Friday and Saturday use the code GIVEBACK-CHOA24 at checkout at www.kendrascott.com.
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Unicyclists from Mt. Bethel Elementary School are a regular feature at the EAST COBBER parade.
Fall is in the air, but it may be something of a wet weekend greeting a slate full of activities in the East Cobb area (check our full listings for all the details).
The signature event is the 26th EAST COBBER magazine parade and festival, marching off from 10 a.m. Saturday at Mt. Bethel Elementary School, and down Johnson Ferry Road. More than 100 sets of bands, school and community groups, baton twirlers and even unicyclists are lining up for what’s being called “the candy parade”—bring plenty of bags to take home treats.
At 11 a.m., a community festival takes place at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (955 Johnson Ferry Road) until 3 p.m., featuring food, music, vendors and family fun (more details from our story last week).
Traffic alert: Johnson Ferry Road will be shut down between 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., so plan to arrive early and/or find an alternate route for parade parking.
Another community festival will be going on at the same time on Saturday, from 12-3 p.m. It’s the Auto Accident Attorneys Group Fall Kickoff Festival at the law firm’s offices at 1454 Johnson Ferry Road. The third annual event features food, music, and fun for all ages. RSVP by clicking here to reserve a wristband for free food and drinks.
The third annual Angels of Life Bake Sale returns Saturday to Three-13 Salon and Spa (2663 Canton Road). Stop by between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to purchase sweets, savories and crafts made by the staff, with proceeds benefit the Georgia Transplant Foundation.
The November election ballot includes a referendum on a proposed 30-year transit tax in Cobb County, and organizations are starting public meetings on both sides of the issue.
On Saturday, the Cobb Taxpayer Association will kick off its campaign to oppose the Cobb Mobility SPLOST from 12-2 p.m. at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church (1200 Indian Hills Parkway).
Political candidates and other local activists will be speaking and there will be sign-up sheets for volunteers.
On Sunday, the fall schedule of Music in the Park debuts at East Cobb Park. From 4-6, the sounds of local band Man Bites Dog will emanate from the concert pavilion. Depending on the weather, you can bring a blanket/chairs and food and drink to enjoy.
(And here’s the rest of the fall event schedule at East Cobb Park, up through Holiday Lights in December.)
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Reader Helen passed along this flyer and photo of a free community glass recycling spot in East Cobb.
It’s provided by Ripple Glass, a national recycling and waste management company, and the purple bin is hard not to notice.
It’s located next to Whole Foods at Merchants Walk (1311 Johnson Ferry Road), near the rear parking area.
The flyer below shows you what you can and can’t deposit there.
Basically, everyday items like glass food and beverage containers, drinking cups and glasses, general bottles, jars and glass containers and windows and shower doors are good to go.
But cardboard, ceramics, porcelain, mirrors, dishwares, lightbulbs and television sets are not accepted.
The Merchants Walk location is the third such “purple bin” in the East Cobb area, following Jackie’s Wine and Spirits (3140 Johnson Ferry Road) and Janice Overbeck Real Estate (2249 Roswell Road).
Here’s more on Atlanta operations, including places where you can pick up a purple Ripple Glass tote bag.
Ripple Glass says it collects more than 800 tons of glass every week from its bins around the country, and offers curbside service in its home market of Kansas City.
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The Cobb County School District said Wednesday that a Dickerson Middle School student is facing criminal charges for “making threatening statements.”
A “Dickerson safety message” that was sent to the school community didn’t specify what those statements were, but said that the student is “not a threat to the school.”
The message said that the Cobb school district’s police department and administrators investigated the statements of the Dickerson student in the wake of last week’s fatal school shooting in Winder.
The Cobb school district said in response to a request for comment and further information from East Cobb News that the Dickerson administration learned of the threat “from one student to another.”
But “the details of those charges and the serious, disciplinary consequences are not publicly available,” according to a district spokeswoman, due to state and federal student privacy laws.
She said in a statement to East Cobb News that the district has received more than 50 reported threats in the last six days—since the deaths of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder.
But all of them have “not been proven to be actual threats to a Cobb school,” the district said.
“All applicable policy, and the law, have been strongly enforced and we can confirm there is no active threat to Dickerson’s students or staff,” the spokeswoman said.
The message sent to Dickerson families urged them to help “by talking to your children” about the district’s Cobb Shield safety resource page and the district’s tipline to report incidents.
School districts around metro Atlanta and north Georgia have been pressing charges in similar incidents since the Apalachee incident. A 14-year-old student, Colt Gray, has been charged with four counts of murder, accused to taking an assault rifle to the Winder campus.
His father has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and child cruelty after Barrow County authorities said he bought an AR-15 rifle.
According to a family member, the boy’s mother called the school to warn a counselor less than an hour before the shooting about her son’s mental health issues, according to published reports.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
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At 10:05 a.m. on Wednesday, crew members of Cobb Fire Station 21 in East Cobb turned on their sirens.
It was at that precise moment 23 years ago that the South Tower at the World Trade Center collapsed.
Twenty-three minutes later, at 10:28, the sirens went off again, signifying the time the North Tower fell.
Before that, crews honored the memory of those on four planes that crashed that day with a moment of silence.
The commemorations that took place at Station 21, located at the East Cobb Government Service on Lower Roswell Road, also were held simultaneously at other Cobb fire stations on Wednesday.
A total of 343 members of the New York Fire Department lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks, after hijacked commercial airliners struck the World Trade Center.
Fire departments across America have held special observances since then.
Across the street from Station 21, students from Mt. Bethel Christian Academy watched as the sirens blared, with the front facade of Mt. Bethel Church by a massive American flag.
Fire crews stopped traffic on Lower Roswell for the students to cross, and then took them on a tour of Station 21.
At the Georgia State Capitol, Gov. Brian Kemp led a special ceremony featuring music and the appearance of first responders (you can watch a replay by clicking here).
“Twenty-three years ago today, in a moment that changed the very course of history, we were painfully reminded that freedom is not free,” Kemp said, “and that the principles we hold dear, and that make America the last best hope for the world, also make us a target for those with evil intentions.
“But in the face of that horror, and the terrorism our enemies hoped would break us, we all observed the unique spirit of patriotism, of strength and of courage that we must continue to drive us forward for this day.”
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A consortium of local business interests called the Cobb Business Alliance will begin a campaign in favor of the proposed Cobb transit tax next week.
The kickoff event takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Glover Park Brewery (65 Atlanta St.), near the Marietta Square.
The event will feature “elected officials, community leaders, transit advocates and voters sharing more about the MSPLOST referendum and how it will decrease congestion, invest in transit, and move Cobb County forward,” according to a release.
The proposed 30-year, one-percent sales tax, if passed by Cobb voters in November, would collect $11 billion and fund a significant expansion of existing bus and transit services and build various transfer facilities.
Among the projects that would be funded with the transit tax is the construction of a bus transfer station in the Roswell-Johnson Ferry Road area and the restoration of two bus routes through East Cobb that were eliminated during recession budget cuts.
The Cobb Business Alliance includes a number of local companies, including Kimley-Horn, the Atlanta consulting firm that’s being paid $287,000 by Cobb government to conduct a public outreach drive ahead of the referendum.
That effort includes a series of open houses that also take place next Wednesday at various library branches.
Other members of the Alliance include the Council for Quality Growth, Georgia Power, Croy Engineering, CKL Engineers and CWM Contracting Co.
Transit tax opponents will have a campaign kickoff in East Cobb on Saturday. The Cobb Taxpayer Association will hold a town hall meeting from 12-2 p.m. at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church (1200 Indian Hills Parkway).
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Students from five high schools in East Cobb are among the more than 16,000 semifinalists for the 2025 National Merit Scholarships.
It’s the first phase of a multi-step process to award college scholarships to 6,870 high school seniors totalling more than $26 million.
According to a release, “semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
“To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
“A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.”
JOHNSON FERRY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Abigail Fisher
LASSITER H. S.
Ella Arnett, Elizabeth Ballenger, Obadia Cao, Wilson Coombs, Samuel Garrow, Elizabeth George, Jack Hansen, Isaac Hoshide, Andrea Joya; Annika Le, Vikram Sharma, Nanea Trask, Caroline Young
POPE H. S.
Aanchal Acharya, Elizabeth Jones, Ariel Sadan, Duncan Wilson, Anna Wright
WALTON H. S.
Vipul Bansal, Adam Bethea, Jack Brawner, Christopher Chen, Michelle Gu, Madeline Halloran, Nathan Hsu, Sean Jiao, Medha Krishna, Navya Kumar, Hung Le, Eugene Li, Spencer Lieth, Eric Mo, Owen Murphy, Madeline Painter, Chloe Park, Connor Park, Dhriti Raguram, Carter Ray, Riley Rice, Sanjeev Shankar, Yaocen Shen, Siddhant Singh, Grayson Snow, Tyler Sprague, Nikhil Srinivasan, Christina Strakes, Rashidul Sultan, Ryan Tan, Simon Teh, Rishab Thiyagarajan, Theodore Thomas; Ella Tse, Isha Varughese, Adam Wang, Owen Wu, Grace Xie, Edward Yao, Tiffany Yao, William Zhao
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