A rendition of Beowulf at a previous MiniCon at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.
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Please note that all Cobb County Public Libraries will be closed and will not offer curbside hold pickup Thursday, June 19 in honor of Juneteenth. Normal hours will resume on Friday, June 20.
Our digital resources are available every day of the year! Visit our Research and Digital page to find eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, comics, and newspapers, streaming video, and hundreds of other databases and resources in dozens of topics.
MiniCon 2025 set for Saturday
Join us Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center for a family friendly fandom event for all ages! Enjoy a day of panels, art vendors, activities, musical performances, and more!
Come dressed in your best cosplay and take part in our annual cosplay contest!
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
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!
Several hundred people lined the intersection of Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads Saturday at a ‘No Kings’ rally against President Trump. ECN photos and video.
The “No Kings” events across the country coincided with a military parade in Washington Saturday night to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Trump’s birthday and Flag Day.
Those plans were in the works before violent protests broke out in Los Angeles over immigration raids conducted by the Trump administration.
And before California U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla interrupted a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to protest the raids, and was pushed to the floor and handcuffed by Secret Service for refusing to leave.
Along the way, East Cobb News readers were complaining that our report simply informing the community about the event was “promoting” it, and somehow proved our bias.
Given the location, I was simply trying to give a traffic heads-up to motorists in an always-congested area. It’s also a news story, which should have been fairly obvious even to low-information readers.
All week this ignorant nonsense persisted. I got this cordial, erudite e-mail from a reader on Friday:
“U have proven to be a left leaning news source. Tomorrow I will be at 120 and Johnson ferry to counter the BS rally you left, want to protest ICE arresting rapists, pedofiles and illegals that are in our country illegally overwhelming our schools, hospitals and killing* our citizens, and I will have an American flag, a TRUMP FLAG and will be armed.”
When I woke up this morning, I heard the news about a Minnesota state legislator and her husband being shot to death at their home in what’s suspected as a political assassination.
Another lawmaker and his wife were also shot, and are recovering. The suspect is believed to have compiled a long list of elected officials and might have been making plans to go to “No Kings” events in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
As I write this, there is a manhunt underway for him.
The gunman’s motives aren’t clear, but the murdered legislator, a former Speaker of Minnesota House, recently voted for a bill to end free health care for illegal immigrants.
As I prepared to go to the rally here, I saw a social media post by U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who’s now our Congressman, noting that Saturday also was the eighth anniversary of the shooting of the House Majority Leader at a Congressional softball practice.
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise was seriously injured and had a long recovery, but his Secret Service detail shot and killed the assailant, or more casualties would have been likely. Loudermilk, who was on the scene, was not hurt.
Reading this, however, I was more than unnerved, and weary of complaints about our coverage about an event that hadn’t happened.
A couple readers yakked at me that they had gone to the Roswell-Johnson Ferry intersection Saturday morning and didn’t see any protesters.
The same cordial, erudite reader sent this to me around 1:20 p.m.:
“There is nothing, why would you do that unless you are a left leaning, democrat run site”
If he had bothered to read the story, it said the rally was on Saturday afternoon from 2-3:30 p.m. Click the links, folks, that’s why we provide them.
This is not something I do, but we’re living in overheated times fraught with ridiculous political grandstanding and performative theater designed to curry attention (and campaign donations) but not much more.
But there was a good crowd of several hundred or so people, perhaps more than I anticipated, staving off some raindrops.
Thankfully, they were doing nothing more than holding signs and asking motorists to honk their horns. Many vehicles blasted away, with some waving at the protestors.
It was all rather uneventful, and that was a blessed relief.
Whatever you think about their political positions, and however contrived you think the “No Kings” rallies may be, they symbolized what peaceful protest should be about.
(At some point those who dislike the president are going to have to do more than protest; they don’t seem to have an alternative vision to Make America Great Again. And quite a few not only don’t know the meaning of fascism, they don’t care.)
With nearly 2,000 protests planned around the country, it’s possible some of Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies may have gotten out of hand. But in East Cobb, that wasn’t the case.
I talked to Cobb Police Maj. Brian Batterton, the Precinct 4 commander, who was standing near the Five Guys with several of his officers and patrol cars, and he said there hadn’t been any reported incidents.
He said a couple people stepped out into the roads, and there was a medical emergency that prompted an ambulance, but there wasn’t any sign of counterprotests (if you know otherwise, please let me know).
At one point, an organizer kindly asked me to step out of a shopping center exit, in keeping with orderly protocols set up for the event.
Free speech is the bedrock principle of what it means to be an American, and the right to dissent should be sacrosanct. In recent years, it has been coming under fire from all sides of the political divide.
That’s nothing new, as the late, great civil libertarian Nat Hentoff noted in his 1992 book “Free Speech For Me—But Not For Thee.”
Now he truly was cordial and erudite during a long and distinguished career, and is one of my journalistic heroes. He died shortly before Trump’s first inauguration, and I wonder what he would make of the times we’re in now.
He’s who I thought of when I wrote my Facebook post, and as I’m finishing this now.
But he’s almost forgotten today, in a troubling era of unhinged social media rants, cringeworthy behavior by elected officials and escalating political violence that is proving to be deadly.
Hentoff’s gentle voice and deep passion for the best values of America are in such short supply. I’m grateful we had a protest that embodied some of those qualities, and I hope they’ll be making a comeback very soon everywhere in this country.
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Just a couple weeks into its summer lunch program for needy kids, MUST Ministries this week issued a call for the public to help provide food.
In a social media posting Thursday, the Marietta-based social services charity said it’s run out of lunch entree items, and it’s asking for food or monetary donations:
“This can be a single-serve noodle bowl, rice bowls, Hamburger Helper or Chef Boyardee. For example items, please see our Amazon wish list below.
“Week 2 MUST Summer Lunch wrap-up. The last two weeks, we have served nearly double what we were during weeks one and two last year. We have had generous volunteers and donations, but the need is still great. We appreciate everyone who is helping us serve our littlest neighbors in need.
“This is a great opportunity for community groups and churches to get together to build Kids’ Kits to help our littlest neighbors in need this summer. We are serving for 7 more weeks, and will need all the help we can get. Instructions are on our website at mustministries.org/summer-lunch.”
MUST said that if you want to drop off food, you can do so at its donation center at 1280 Field Parkway, from Tuesday-Saturday 9-5. It’s closed Sunday and Monday.
MUST has been providing summer breakfasts and lunches to children since 1995, and its goal this year is to feed 7,500 children in Cobb and seven other metro Atlanta counties during the summer school break (June and July).
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The Cobb County Branch of the NAACP will once again host its annual Juneteenth celebration in the heart of Marietta Square. The holiday, recognized as the most popular annual commemoration of emancipation from slavery in the United States, is a powerful day of reflection and community.
The festivities start 6 – 11 p.m. Friday, June 13, with an “all-white” block party. The cultural festival happens 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Enjoy a day filled with delicious food, unique merchandise, informative vendors, a valuable health fair, and captivating entertainment for all ages! Then dads will get their due 2 – 6 p.m. Sunday, June 15, with a “Salute to our Heroes: Happy Father’s Day” celebration. All events are open to the public
All Cobb County Government offices will be closed Thursday, June 19, in honor of the holiday.
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“The bottom line is we’re going to be focused on having school,” Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale said.
When a student cell-phone ban takes effect in Georgia public schools in the fall of 2026, the Cobb County School District won’t be providing pouches or any other items for students to store their personal electronic devices during the school day.
They’ll have to bring their own.
What’s called the Distraction-Free Education Act becomes effective in July of 2026, and school districts must implement policies to adhere to the new state law, which covers students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
They don’t cover educational devices provided by the district or pertain to staff and teacher cell-phones, and devices for special-needs students with an Individualized Education Program.
Georgia is one of several states to enact the cell-phone bans that advocates say reduce distractions and improve the well-being of young people.
During a Cobb Board of Education meeting Thursday night, Ragsdale said that the policy must stipulate what “storage solutions” school districts will be offering to students.
“The storage place is going to be a student’s backpack, or purse, or what have you,” he said.
“The bottom line is we’re going to be focused on having school.”
Cobb has more than 100,000 students and is the second-largest school district in Georgia.
Ragsdale said the policies must be in place by January 2026, and must include punishments for violations of the ban. He said that there will be updates to the student code of conduct that will be announced when the policy has been completed.
Marietta City Schools, which has fewer than 10,000 students, enacted a comprehensive student ban on electronic devices last June, including Marietta High School.
The policy also required students at the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy and Marietta Middle School to place their devices in a Yondr pouches provided by the school district during class periods.
According to a late 2024 report, more than 4,000 school districts in the country provide the Yondr pouches, which generally retail for about $25.
“These pouches lock with a proprietary magnet, ensuring devices remain secure throughout the day,” according to the MCS policy. Teachers at those schools “understand that no assignment should require using a cellphone or access to social media.”
The policy also states that “students will keep the locked pouches with them until the end of the school day, ensuring minimal disruptions during class. Exceptions will be made for students with documented medical conditions.”
Marietta students can use their devices during lunch periods and in after-school programs.
Ragsdale didn’t indicate during his remarks at Thursday’s Cobb school board meeting whether the new Cobb policy might incorporate some of the measures in place in Marietta.
That policy will have to be approved by the Cobb school board.
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Nassir Boukari of Wheeler High School with Gail Devers and Champ Bailey. Photos courtesy of Cobb County School District.
Three students and a coach at high schools in East Cobb were among the honorees this month at the 2024–25 Positive Athlete Georgia Awards at Piedmont Church.
According to its website, “Positive Athlete is a recognition program that celebrates high character, high school student-athletes and coaches who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities in a significant way, or just have an infectious positive attitude that makes everyone around them a better person.”
The banquet featured three-time Olympic track and field gold medalist Gail Devers and former UGA and NFL football star Champ Bailey.
The honorees include:
Wheeler High School’s Nassir Boukari, who was named the state’s most positive wrestler;
Ty Brown, a senior and four-year varsity soccer manager at Lassiter High School, the state’s Most Positive Special Olympian;
Elizabeth Michalek of Walton High School, who received the Northside Hospital Leadership award;
Chris Marcusky, Kell High School boys golf coach, who received the Most Positive Boys Coach award.
“These accolades highlight the dedication of Cobb’s student-athletes, coaches, and schools to not only athletic excellence but also to character, leadership, and community involvement,” Cobb County School District Athletic Director Don Baker said in a release.
“Positive Athlete is an outstanding program, and it is an honor to have so many of our own recognized at this banquet.”
Ty Brown of Lassiter High School with Champ Bailey.Elizabeth Michalek of Walton High School with Positive Athlete CEO Scott Pederson. Chris Marcusky of Kell High School being interviewed as the Most Positive Boys Coach award recipient.
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Publix presented the Cobb Schools Foundation with a donation nearing $175K in 2022 for school supply gift cards for students. CCSD photo.
The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday heard a proposed change to its bylaws that would open the door for major corporate donors to sit on the board of the Cobb Schools Foundation.
The latter is a non-profit the Cobb County School District operates to support school families in need with learning interventions, food distribution and scholarship assistance.
The district, which operates the foundation, currently requires that board members live in Cobb County. The proposed bylaw change, which was discussed at a school board work session Thursday, would require board members to meet one of three criteria.
They would include having a student in the district, being a graduate of the district or working for a business in Cobb County.
Board chairman David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb said that the all-volunteer foundation board of trustees asked for the change. Trustees are volunteers who are appointed by the school board, superintendent and the trustees themselves (here’s a list of the current foundation board).
“Think of the large corporations for the most part, part of Cobb County, and imagine having an officer or a manager who wanted to serve—and I would like to think would want to write a big check—and if they don’t live in Cobb County they’re eliminated from being considered,” Chastain said.
But board member Nichelle Davis of Post 6 in Smyrna said that under the proposal, she wouldn’t qualify, and wanted to amend it to keep residency as a qualifier.
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale responded that “that would defeat the whole purpose of the amendment, because you’re saying you’d keep it as is.”
Davis said she meant to keep residency as an “additional”qualifier if someone didn’t meet the other three.
Board member Tre’ Hutchins of Post 3 in South Cobb welcomed the proposal, using Six Flags of Georgia and Wellstar as examples of Cobb businesses that might have potential board members, but also asked to keep the residency option.
Chastain and Ragsdale mentioned Publix, the Florida-based supermarket chain that has donated nearly $350,000 over the last two years to the Cobb Schools Foundation.
“That’s who we’re looking for,” Chastain said.
He said the foundation board members do “actual work” interviewing potential scholarship recipients and performing other tasks.
“It’s not a thing where you show up once a month and take a vote and go home. . . . You’ve got to find the person who really wants to do it.”
Board member Becky Sayler of Post 2 in Smyrna asked for the proposal to be tabled to sort through the residency issue, saying it could be unintentionally exclusive. “Maybe it was a typo in the way that it was prepared, it seemed kind of unusual.”
School board attorney Suzann Wilcox said the proposal, which was not written by her, wouldn’t exclude a parent of a student in the Cobb school district.
“What you could do, if you wanted to, is go back and ask questions of the foundation, and postpone it,” she said.
Chastain withdrew the bylaw proposal, with the intent of having it come back to the school board in July.
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The Cobb County Public Library and the Cobb County School District (CCSD) are celebrating the third successful year of their Books2Keep summer literacy collaboration.
Through this initiative, more than 35 boxes of donated books have already been collected by Cobb County School District and then donated to The Helen Poyer Cobb Library Bookmobile to distribute to families across Cobb this summer—free of charge.
In Cobb County, reading doesn’t stop when school lets out—thanks to this powerful partnership between the Cobb County Public Library and the Cobb County School District (CCSD), an initiative led by Allyson Eads, Community Engagement Librarian, and John McLaughlin, Media Specialist at Kell High School.
“Our goal is to help kids stay engaged with reading all summer long,” said Allyson Eads. “The free books create a sense of ownership and pride in reading—and that’s incredibly powerful. Every book we give away is labeled with a special Books2Keep sticker. It’s a small touch that reminds families that literacy is a gift—one that’s meant to be shared and passed on.”
The Helen Poyer Cobb Library Bookmobile, launched in 2018, was designed and developed from scratch by the library’s Community and User Engagement Division, led by Slone Williams, CUE/Communications Division Manager. Funded by the Cobb Library Foundation, the Bookmobile was fitted with an ADA lift, shelves, wrap graphics, carts, and more—turning a standard van into a full-fledged library on wheels.
In addition to free books, the Bookmobile offers free Wi-Fi access, a monthly newsletter, an engaging Instagram presence, and provides system tours for libraries across the U.S. It’s a nationally recognized model for mobile literacy services, with demand for stops doubling this year alone. Donations to support the Bookmobile can be made using the Books2Keep Donation Request Form, and community organizations can request Bookmobile stops using the Bookmobile Stop or Event Appearance Request Form.
In 2022, the Bookmobile was honored with the Preschool Outreach and School Services Inspirations Award, sponsored by the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS). The award recognized the team’s innovative launch of the Books2Keep campaign, which successfully collected and redistributed gently used books from affluent areas of Cobb County to underserved communities—ensuring equitable access to reading materials and promoting literacy across the county.
Books are collected throughout the school year by the Cobb County School District through book drives at school media centers. The Bookmobile team then picks up donations in time for summer distribution. Other community organizations have also contributed, including the JROTC program at Campbell High School, along with generous personal donations from patrons.
A notable recent contributor is the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, which has begun collecting books to donate specifically for the Bookmobile. This museum’s involvement strengthens the growing network of community support surrounding the initiative. McLaughlin is an avid supporter of the library and has also hosted several educational programs at library branches, reinforcing the shared mission to promote learning, history, and literacy across Cobb.
At stops across the county, patrons can check out library materials and receive free books to build their personal home libraries. The partnership with CCSD—driven by Eads and McLaughlin—continues to grow in scale and impact.
“This program works because of our strong collaboration with CCSD,” said Eads. “John has been an amazing partner, and together, we’re putting books—and joy—into the hands of families all summer long.”
The summer stops kicked off the first week of June at the Cobb Safety Village, where the Bookmobile team met over 800 people and gave out the first collection of free books.
As the Books2Keep program continues to expand, so does its impact—empowering children and families to build home libraries, stay connected to literacy, and discover the joy of reading. With dedicated leadership, strong community partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to access, the Helen Poyer Cobb Library Bookmobile is more than just a vehicle—it’s a movement on wheels.
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David Hobson and Melissa Hobson (wearing caps) with their children Avery and Ian Hobson. Photo courtesy Brylliant Acting Studio.
Submitted information and photo:
This summer, the cast of Footloose is cutting loose—and bringing their siblings, parents, husbands, wives, and coworkers along for the ride.
Opening on June 26 at the auditorium at 121 Winn Street in Marietta, Brylliant Acting Studio’s high-energy musical production of Footloose doesn’t just feature catchy songs, ‘80s dance moves, and rebellious teenagers—it also stars a cast that’s basically one big family reunion in costume which brings incredible chemistry to Brylliant’s first ever community theater production.
“It’s been such a joy directing the parents of my usual student actors. Watching them step into the world their kids love so much has brought a whole new energy to the rehearsal space—and plenty of laughs! It’s a full-circle moment for our theater family,” according to director Brynn Chamblee.
Based on the iconic 1984 film, Footloose tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teen who moves to a town where dancing is banned and sets out to bring the groove back. This production promises all the foot-stomping hits you know and love—from “Holding Out for a Hero” to “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”—plus some bonus off-stage family dynamics you won’t find in your typical community theater show.
Behind-the-Scenes Scoop:
Lindsey Coleman, co-founder of Brylliant Acting Studios, will escape the sound booth for a change, sharing the stage with her oldest son Bradley and her husband Matt in his inaugural stage appearance. Lindsey will be playing the wife of the town’s pastor—portrayed by David Hobson, a first-time actor himself. Hobson also happens to be the real-life dad of Brylliant stars Liam, 17, and Avery, 18, making this production a “generational.”
Marietta mom Melissa makes Footloose a full-house affair about which daughter Avery, says “I’m excited to share the stage with my parents this summer because they’ve always been so supportive of my theater productions, and now I get to support them and watch them learn and grow through the rehearsal process.”
Jackie Fogas, making her musical theater debut in the ensemble alongside her accomplished daughter Gabriella, 16, is experiencing the flip side: “I’m blown away by how complex musical theatre really is—it’s so much more than singing and dancing. This experience has given me a whole new respect for what it takes to bring a show to life.”
Even those not technically related by blood are part of a deeply connected local arts family. Josh Waters, who plays Wes, is not only performing alongside his son Nolan, 13, but also teaches drama at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy—nurturing the next generation on stage during the school year and “doing the right thing” on the stage in the summer..
Joining Waters are fellow Marietta theater educators: Haley Walter, cast as Lulu, teaches theatre at Marietta Middle School, and Elena Prestwood, playing Ethel, leads music and drama at Park Street Elementary. Together, they’re turning this production into an all-out performing arts department summer bash.
“These educators are the backbone of Marietta’s thriving theater scene,” says Lindsey Coleman. “It’s no exaggeration to say that between them, they’ve taught or directed half the town—and now they’re singing and dancing with them too.”
So bring your dancing shoes, and maybe your own relatives and co-workers, and get ready for a musical experience where the harmonies are tight—and so are the family ties.
Performance Details:
🎭 Footloose: The Musical
📅 June 26– June 28
📍 Auditiorium at MMS, 121 Winn Street, Marietta, Georgia 30064
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The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday will be presented with an amendment to bylaws involving the Cobb County School District’s partnership with the Cobb Schools Foundation.
But there’s no information on the board’s meeting agenda on what the amendment is about, and board chairman David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb said that details will be presented at a work session starting at 3 p.m.
“The Board will be briefed at the meeting. It’s a normal procedure,” he told East Cobb News on Wednesday. “I am not going to brief the media before I brief my colleagues. That’s why we have a working session.”
The agenda item to be presented by Chastain states that the amendment to the bylaws is “for potential action.”
The monthly school board meetings also include a voting session at 7 p.m. and an executive session in between.
All meetings take place in the board room of the CCSD Central Office, at 514 Glover St. in Marietta. An executive session will follow the work session.
The Cobb Schools Foundation (formally known as the Cobb County Public Schools Educational Foundation, Inc., is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit the district operates that provides support for school families in need with learning interventions, food distribution and scholarship assistance.
Most recently, CSF created a “Fan of the Game” program to invite “community partners” to promote their businesses and organizations by becoming sponsors of athletic programs within the district.
The funding would be used for equipment, coaching development, scholarships, wellness and safety initiatives and uniforms and warmups.
Extracurricular activities are not funded directly by the district, as we noted in April about a new video scoreboard at Walton High School that was paid with private funds, but that board had to formally approve.
The board also will be asked to vote on a measure to approve a permanent utility easement at Sprayberry High School for an existing cell tower.
Georgia Power is requesting the easement due to a new location for a power transformer and power pole providing power to the cell tower.
At the Thursday night meeting, recognitions include the district’s financial services division and its strategy and accountability division.
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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The sidewalk facing Johnson Ferry Road in front of Trader Joe’s has become something of a rallying point in East Cobb for political activists in recent years.
And on Saturday, the Johnson Ferry-Roswell Road intersection is one of the designated locations for a nationwide protest against the policies of the Trump Administration.
What’s being called a “No Kings” rally takes place from 2-3:30 p.m., and is organized by Indivisible, a liberal political advocacy organization.
The rallies across the nation (map here) are timed against a large military parade in Washington at the behest of Trump, whose birthday is Saturday, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
“NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his billionaire tech bros. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, disappeared people, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.”
In the protests, according to the message, “we’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind.
“The flag doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us. We’re not watching history happen. We’re making it.
“On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings. Bring your signs and your flags and stand with us in nonviolent resistance to show the country what true patriotism really looks like.”
On Saturday morning, Indivisible also is holding a rally from 10-12 at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.
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While school teachers and administrators are on summer vacation, the Cobb County School District continues to make staffing changes for the 2025-26 school year, which begins in early August.
We noted last month the schools in East Cobb that will be getting new principals, and the district also has announced a number of changes with assistant principals.
Seven of those changes involve schools in East Cobb, and these new assignments will become effective on July 10:
Melissa Paige Guthrie, reassignment to Assistant Principal, Bells Ferry Elementary School from Assistant Principal, Bullard Elementary School;
Lashonda Smith, reassignment to Assistant Principal, Sedalia Park Elementary School from Assistant Principal, Pitner Elementary School;
Kris Teller, reassignment to Assistant Principal, East Side Elementary School from Assistant Principal, Hayes Elementary School;
Lynzee Courtney, reassignment to Assistant Principal, Mabry Middle School from Assistant Principal, Griffin Middle School;
Christopher Marshall, reassignment to Assistant Principal, McCleskey Middle School from Assistant Principal, Daniell Middle School;
Kendrick Kirkland, reassignment to Assistant Principal, Kennesaw Mountain High School from Assistant Principal, Wheeler High School.
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The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to spend $1.7 million in an emergency request to replace an air conditioning unit at the Cobb Adult Detention Center, but not before some—ahem—heated discussion.
Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the request by the Cobb Sheriff’s Office to purchase a new 500-ton chiller that is nearly 40 years old.
An agenda items states that “the unit is now at high risk of imminent failure, which poses a severe threat to the facility’s ability to maintain critical climate control.”
The agenda item states that the work will take six weeks to install, and that the vendor is MaxAir Mechanical of Marietta. The aging unit was first installed in 1987, according to the agenda item.
The funding will come out of the county’s general fund, which prompted questions by Commissioner Keli Gambrill, and as the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget hearings take place in July.
She noted that several representatives of the Sheriff’s Office were in attendance, “and that’s where the citizens tend to get upset . . . that the Sheriff’s Office isn’t a good steward of tax dollars when we have emergency issues like this.”
She asked why the funding wasn’t coming from the Sheriff’s Office capital budget, and whether it should be a county responsibility (meaning coming from the general fund).
While Cobb jail operations are funded by the county, the Sheriff is an elected Constitutional officer. Gambrill wondered if current Sheriff Craig Owens budgeted for a new chiller.
“We’re not budgeting for a simple thing that is needed to ensure that the facility remains habitable,” she said, “for people who choose not to be there.”
Commissioner Monique Sheffield said that “over the years, with the last administration in particular”—a reference to former Sheriff Neil Warren, whom Owens ousted in 2020—”the items were not addressed in a timely fashion. And we all know the longer you defer maintenance, the more costly it becomes.”
Gambrill had said that she was aware that Warren had been earmarking some operational funds for an eventual replacement, and asked why that money weren’t being used now.
Flynn Broady, a former Cobb District Attorney who is a legal advisor to the Sheriff’s Office, said the funding request was deferred from the current budget, and told Gambrill that “you knew that. We have pushed this back as far as we can. But the time has come” for new equipment, “and if you don’t do it now, we’re going to be in a world of hurt, and the county will be spending a whole lot more money.”
Broady said that “these chillers are a different breed than what we’ve had before” and they are easier to maintain.
He said that Sheriff’s Office staffers turned out Tuesday to stress the importance of getting new chillers.
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb said she understands the urgency of the situation, but “I do have a problem with the way this was done.”
She said she didn’t like the funding coming from the general fund “when there’s no way to reimburse it.”
In response to Sheffield’s comments, she said that “this is [Owens’] fifth year in office. In five years, he would know that this was an issue.”
In a later interaction, Gambrill put another question to Broady, whom she called “Mr. Flynn,” and in his response he addressed her as “Ms. Gambrill.”
“That’s Commissioner Gambrill,” she shot back.
“My name is Mr. Broady,” he replied.
Gambrill, who ended up voting for the emergency funding, suggested that the board adopt a policy to appropriate funding for constitutional officers on a monthly basis, saying that “we have a spending problem in many areas of the county.”
Chairwoman Lisa Cupid was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
Commissioners also approved spending $278,900 to replace grass baseball fields with synthetic turf at Fullers Park. Most of the funding is coming from East Side Baseball, which is donating $207,000.
Another $145,151 will be spent to create a network security administrator position in the Cobb Information Technology Services Department, after a data breach was discovered in March that county officials acknowledged was a ransomware attack.
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Cobb County based Delta Community Credit Union is pleased to announce new branch managers at two of its locations in Cobb County. Corey Higman has been named manager of the Vinings branch at 3250 Riverwood Parkway, and Kara Buckner has been named manager of the Marietta branch at 1205 Johnson Ferry Road.
A graduate of Hillgrove High School with deep roots in Cobb County, Higman has been with Delta Community since 2018 and previously served as manager of the branch in Marietta. He is also involved in several of the credit union’s community outreach programs, particularly those focused on financial education and career development.
“As someone who grew up in Cobb County, I’m passionate about giving back to the community that shaped me,” Higman said. “At the Vinings branch, we’re committed to helping local families and businesses thrive by offering trusted guidance and exceptional member service. I am excited to lead this team and continue making a difference close to home.”
Buckner, who previously served as assistant manager of the credit union’s branch in Alpharetta, will now lead branch services for members in East Cobb County. She has more than eight years of experience in the financial services industry, having previously worked at United Community Bank before joining Delta Community in 2022.
“I love that credit unions have a people-first approach,” Buckner said. “Being part of a thriving, vibrant and welcoming community makes my role incredibly rewarding. I’m honored to serve our members in East Cobb and help them reach their financial goals.”
Higman and Buckner look forward to deepening relationships in Cobb County and forming new partnerships with local schools and organizations through Delta Community’s financial literacy and education initiatives.
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The first annual “Born to Be Cobb Senior” charity ride will start off in the East Cobb area on June 28.
The fundraiser to benefit Cobb Seniors Services and the MUST Ministries Senior Food Programs will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Williamson Bros. BBQ (1425 Roswell Road), and is open to Georgia drivers with motor vehicles.
The journey will conclude in Cartersville at Southern Devil Harley-Davidson (2281 U.S. 411 Highway) and will include live music and food.
The Senior Citizens Council of Cobb is partnering with the Metro Atlanta Motorcycle Riding Community, Williamson Bros. and Southern Devil Harley-Davidson to provide food to seniors who are in need.
Donation tickets are $20; for information and to donate visit seniorsofcobb.org and click on the meetings and events tab or go to at the Senior Citizens Council Facebook event at https://tinyurl.com/y7rzdmts.
For more information and for sponsorship opportunities visit info@seniorsofcobb.org.
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
Police have identified the woman as Daphne Saddler, 38, and the man as Samuel Mills, 44. Police said that her next of kin have been identified, but they have been unable to locate next of kin for Mills.
Police did not say how they were related but that they lived in the home together, and that Mills killed Saddler before committing suicide, and that both of them died from apparent gunshot wounds.
Cobb property tax records show that Saddler was the owner of the home, and purchased it in 2021.
She was an attorney and the founder of Brick Law Firm in the Cumberland area.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Cobb Police said they suspect that a man killed a woman at a residence in Northeast Cobb before taking his own life there Saturday morning.
They said that officers were called to a home on Research Drive, located off Morgan Road, shortly after 10:30 a.m., on a report of “a person down,” and found two people, a man and a woman, dead at the scene.
The address was located in the Ramblewood neighborhood near Sprayberry High School.
Their names of the dead individuals have not been released, and Cobb Police have not provided further information or indicated a possible motive.
In a brief statement to East Cobb News, Cobb Police Sgt. Eric Smith said only that the “preliminary investigation indicates that this was a homicide, and the offender then committed suicide. The male was the offender, and the female was the victim. Both subjects resided at the residence.”
Police said their investigation is continuing, and that anyone with information is asked to call the Major Crimes Unit at 770) 499-3945.
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!
After we posted this photo of a juggler at the 2019 EAST COBBER parade, his mom wrote to thank us!
Since we launched East Cobb News in the summer of 2017, we’ve been committed to covering the news that matters the most to people in East Cobb.
That includes telling the stories of people, places and events, and reflecting a sense of home, as much as tracking the recurring news about local government, schools, traffic, crime, etc.
You see, there’s no other place to turn to get news from people who know East Cobb. That’s why East Cobb News looks for important stories with unique perspectives from voices that might otherwise go unheard.
A good example was a couple of weeks ago, when we talked to leaders at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church about their plans for the future.
And over the weekend, we followed up on a story we originally reported about an East Cobb couple caught up in immigration roundups that are occurring around the country.
No other news outlet is doing these stories like we do at East Cobb News.
Why? Because we’re the only daily news source covering the community with a primary commitment to solid local journalism. It’s the foundation of our editorial approach, one that includes useful community information like calendar listings, reader contributions, lifestyle stories and more.
We’ve got feet on the ground daily, doing original reporting, getting tips from readers and keeping tabs on important developments in this area. It’s old-school journalism with a timely, relevant focus, delivered to you in real-time online.
But in a time in which doing the news—especially local news—is becoming more challenging and costly, we need your help to continue to give you the local news that you love.
We loved speaking in 2020 with East Cobb resident Harry Kone as he turned 100. He passed away in early 2023.
Help us tell the stories of East Cobb!
Your gift of $6, $12, or even $25 a month helps us to tell countless stories—keeping you informed about what’s happening in East Cobb. And your gift delivers the news to readers—via email, social media, and of course, at eastcobbnews.com.
When you support East Cobb News, you ensure stories don’t slip through the cracks. Every story we tell matters —whether it’s about local events, school board and county commission decisions, interesting people, or how people are helping out one another in East Cobb.
Without you, stories like these don’t just go untold—they go unread.
East Cobb News informs you and encourages participation in local decision-making, shining a spotlight on the individuals and events that bring us together. And reminds us—always—of the importance of community.
East Cobb News has documented plenty of momentous events, including demands to address the blighted Sprayberry Crossing Shopping Center that’s now the site of a new mixed-use development.
Will you become one of the 250?
We’ve set a special goal of getting to 250 monthly recurring donors by the end of June, and we’d like you to consider if you haven’t donated already.
Right now, we have only around 50 donors, and we want to add to that number substantially. Last week, I explained how we spend your money—mostly to help offset our office and basic business costs—and we would eventually like to expand that to pay for freelancers to do even more news than we do now.
After nearly eight years, we’re very proud of the work that we’ve done at East Cobb News to have an impact on how this community stays informed.
We love hearing from our readers, even those who have moved away. Last week, a reader got in touch to explain why they cancelled their donation, saying they’re no longer living in the area.
But she also told us this:
“Thank you so much for your work to bring local news and report in a fair and balanced way.”
While we hate to lose readers, especially those who have financially supported our work, it’s very heartening to read those words.
There’s no place else to find news and information that highlights our community and keeps it strong.
East Cobb News is proud to fill that role. As your local news provider, we pledge to provide free, relevant, local reporting about issues and events that affect you.
Please don’t take that for granted. We want to keep giving this to you for free, but we are considering some paywall options.
When you give today, you’ll ensure quality coverage with a local focus that is free and accessible to all.
Nobody else is doing this in our community, and our plans are to keep giving you the local news that you love for a long time to come.
Let us know what you think about all of this: e-mail me: wendy@eastcobbnews.com. I’m interested in hearing from you.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
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!
