Cobb Superior Court Clerk indicted for destroying records

July 31, 2025 by Wendy Parker

A Cobb grand jury has indicted Cobb Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor following an investigation into her alleged conduct over the handling of passport fees processed by her office.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a release Thursday that Taylor has been charged with two counts of destroying government records and two counts of violating her oath of office—all felony counts.

The indictment by a Cobb grand jury comes after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a probe into the matter following allegations that Taylor tried to direct an employee to delete government e-mails and financial records in response to an open records request in late 2022.

Taylor had come under fire for personally pocketing $425,000 in passport fees, on top of her $170,000 annual salary.

Under state law, court clerks are allowed to personally keep such funds. But Rebecca Keaton, Taylor’s predecessor, forwarded some of those monies to the county’s general fund.

The Cobb Superior Court Clerk is an elected constitutional officer, one of four in the county.

Maya Curry, who worked in the clerk’s office, said Taylor ordered her to destroy records about the passport application fees when The Atlanta Journal-Constitution filed an open records request seeking that information.

Curry’s allegations (you can read her attorney’s letter here) include a comment by Taylor that “we’re just going to Donald Trump this thing,” a reference to deleting any files or records that would be germane to an open records request.

Carr’s office went to a Cobb grand jury with the GBI’s findings after the Cobb District Attorney’s Office recused itself. Cobb judges also recused themselves, and a retired Douglas County judge presided over the grand jury’s presentment in Cobb Superior Court.

“Georgians deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials, and anything less undermines public trust,” Carr said in a statement. “Any attempts to conceal or destroy government records are serious allegations that cannot be ignored, and those responsible will be held accountable.”

Taylor has hired former Gov. Roy Barnes to represent her, and he has declined comment.

Taylor is a Democrat who was first elected in 2020, ousting Keaton from office. Even after the passport issue became public, and a judicial emergency was declared over her implementation of a new court online filing system, Taylor easily won re-election in 2024.

She beat a crowded field in the Democratic primary and then prevailed over Republican Deborah Dance, a former Cobb County Attorney, in the general election.

After Taylor’s indictment Thursday, Cobb District Attorney Sonya Allen issued a statement, saying that “we recognize the significance and understand the public’s concern, however we are not involved in this prosecution. Our office remains focused on fulfilling our responsibilities and serving the people of Cobb County with integrity and impartiality.”

She referred further inquiries to the Attorney General’s Office.

Cobb government issued the following statement:

“We respect the judicial process and will allow it to run its course. Regardless of the outcome, Cobb County is committed to ensuring residents continue to receive efficient and effective services through the Clerk of Superior Court’s office.”

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East Cobb Weekend Events: Lutzie 43 Race; Black Comedy; more

July 31, 2025July 31, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Lutzie 43 Road Race

If you haven’t checked out our revamped calendar listings, please check them out now! We’d love to share your events with the community too—see the instructions at the bottom of this post.

This weekend the key activities include Sprayberr High School’s Black vs. Gold football scrimmage, the first three of six presentations of “Black Comedy” by CenterStage North at The Art Place, and the 11th running of the Lutzie 43 Road Race.

That takes place Saturday morning at Lassiter High School (2601 Shallowford Road), and is run in the memory of former Trojan and Auburn University football standout Philip Lutzenkirchen.

After he was killed in a car crash in 2014, his family set up a foundation to inspire people to make better decisions as drivers and friends, using Philip’s life and legacy to inspire change.”

The Lutzie 43 Foundation exists to reduce the number of distracted, impaired and unsafe driving incidents, ultimately diminishing the number of deaths caused by poor decisions behind the wheel.

The event, which features a 5K race around the school grounds, steps off from Frank Fillman Stadium with a short kids’ run.

The cost is $30-$43 and you can register onsite or at this link. All proceeds benefit the Lutzie 43 Foundation.

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If your organization or entity is holding an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!

This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.

Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

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Anti-Trump ‘Rage Against the Regime’ rally set for East Cobb

July 30, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Progressive groups who have been involved in two previous public rallies in East Cobb against the policies of the Trump Administration have scheduled another one for Saturday.

What’s being called a “Rage Against the Regime” protest will take place at the intersection of Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads—the same venue as the previous events—from 12-1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The protest is being organized by Indivisible Cobb, a liberal advocacy group, in conjunction with the 50501 Movement, in a nationwide effort across more than 300 communities.

In a press release, 50501 calls Saturday’s event as “a mass mobilization to channel our collective rage against the Trump administration for its weaponization of ICE against our communities, construction of concentration camps, covering up the Epstein files, attacks on transgender rights, and its dismantling of Medicaid, SNAP, USAID, the Department of Education, NOAA, and the National Weather Service into collective action.”

Indivisible Cobb leader Stacey Parlotto said that “If you are not outraged by Trump’s reign of terror, you are not paying attention to the alarming erosion of democratic norms, attacks on truth, and the marginalization of vulnerable communities. Trump’s actions have normalized extremism, incited violence, and undermined institutions meant to protect civil rights and social justice. Now, how about releasing those Epstein files?”

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Tom Cousins, who developed Indian Hills in East Cobb, dies

July 30, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Tom Cousins, the influential Atlanta real estate mogul and philanthropist who developed the Indian Hills subdivision in East Cobb, has died. Tom Cousins dies

Cousins died Tuesday at the age of 93, and left a major imprint on residential and commercial development in the Atlanta area.

Indian Hills, which opened in the early 1970s as a planned, staged development with golf courses and a country club, is considered the key development in the transformation of East Cobb.

Cousins also helped bring professional sports to Atlanta in the late 1960s as the ower of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team and the Atlanta Flames, a hockey franchise.

Along with architect John Portman, Cousins during his career included developing many of the landmark buildings of the Atlanta skyline, including CNN Center and the Omni sports arena, as well as the 191 Peachtree Tower.

In addition to redeveloping the famed East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Cousins turned his eyes in the late 1960s to a new kind of development in the Atlanta suburbs.

Until then, most of Cousins’ residential development had been in the Augusta area, where he built prefabricated homes, and was the largest homebuilder in the state of Georgia according to a history of Indian Hills.

He came to Atlanta seeking more opportunities, initially building apartment complexes.

Cousins set his sights on building out roughly 1,000 acres of farmland several miles east of the city of Marietta between Lower Roswell Road and what was then called Upper Roswell Road (now just Roswell Road).

Linking those two roads was Gray Road, which traversed hills that dropped down to Bishop Creek. That became the heart of a planned community with homes and golf courses, the first such development of its kind that far out from the city of Atlanta.

As the development progressed, other changes came about. Gray Road was renamed Indian Hills Parkway. Lots were laid out and sold for as little as $7,000 (in late 1960s money).

But an economic downturn cast doubt on the Indian Hills project, and Cousins had to be talked into finishing the work, according to the Indian Hills history (you can read it at this link).

Lot sizes were reduced and size of the golf clubhouse was also cut down to raise the funding to build out Indian Hills, which was regarded as a very experimental project.

Hal Adams, who worked with Cousins and bought a home in Indian Hills, said in the Indian Hills history that sales were slow at first, but school busing plans in the city of Atlanta resulted in many residents moving to Cobb County.

(Cobb schools began desegregation in the late 1960s, but without a busing program.)

Cousins also had to build a temporary sewage treatment facility at Indian Hills to accommodate the development until Cobb could construct its sewer lines to the East Cobb area.

For the final phase of Indian Hills in the early 1970s, Cousins purchased 3oo more acres of land, built out 350 residential units—including condominiums—as well as a third nine-hole golf course.

By the mid 1970s, growth in East Cobb was exploding, with the opening of Walton High School and other schools in the Johnson Ferry corridor.

Cherie Poss Chandler, who grew up on a farm on Lower Roswell Road at Woodlawn Drive, said the opening of Indian Hills changed everything about the community.

“That’s when it went from being Mt. Bethel to East Cobb,” Chandler said a 2018 interview with East Cobb News.

She said that while she and her siblings still had farm chores to do before going to school—their cows sometimes wandered onto the Indian Hills golf course—their new schoolmates had very different backgrounds.

To promote Indian Hills, Cousins and his team also built tennis courts and swimming pools. The golf course was showcased as the venue for a stop on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.

The development was sold in 1978 to Futren Hospitality, a private club management that continues to operate Indian Hills today.

Today Indian Hills has more than 1,680 homes on around 2,000 acres. Many of the small, single-story ranch homes that Cousins built are being torn down for mega-mansions selling for well above $1 million.

You can read more about how Indian Hills came to be at this link. The information was compiled by a special committee created in 2008 to collect documents and conduct interviews with residents and key players in the creation of Indian Hills.

East Cobb Food Scores: Sabores de Mexico; Karachi; more

July 30, 2025July 30, 2025 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb food scores; Sabores de Mexico

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

East Cobb Fit Nutrition Club
2145 Roswell Road, Suite 130
July 29, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Goianao Restaurant and Catering
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 103
July 25, 2025, Score: 89, Grade: B

Karachi Broast and Grill
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 110
July 29, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Sabores de Mexico
1951 Canton Road, Suite 330
July 28, 2025, Score: 56, Grade: U

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Bells Ferry ES reconstruction cost comes to $29.9 million

July 30, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Bells Ferry ES 2nd and 3rd graders to relocate to Chalker ES — *A rendering of the new Bells Ferry Elementary School campus.*

After approving nearly $10 million in preliminary costs in March for the reconstruction of Bells Ferry Elementary School, the Cobb Board of Education last week signed off on the rest of the project.

The school board voted on its consent agenda last Thursday for a guaranteed maximum price of $29.9 million for Winter Construction Co. of Atlanta, which has been doing first-phase work that includes sitework and utility relocation.

The funding comes from the current Cobb Education SPLOST VI sales tax, and the project is expected to be completed by July 2027.

The current Bells Ferry facility at Bells Ferry Road and Piedmont Road was built in 1973, and currently enrolls 750 students.

The oldest portion of the main building will be rebuilt, and the school will get upgraded technology and communications equipment, including new computing and interactive devices for classrooms, telephone systems and replacing two playground areas.

The project will also prompt portable classrooms on the campus, and second- and third-grade classes will be relocated to nearby Chalker Elementary School when the 2025-26 academic year begins on Monday.

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East Cobb weather: Heat advisory in effect through Wednesday

July 29, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Temperatures reached 100 degrees in the Atlanta area on Tuesday, and while there will be some cooling off into the weekend, the weather will remain uncomfortably hot.

The National Weather Service has extended a heat advisory until 8 p.m. Wednesday for most of north and central Georgia, including Cobb County.

A heat advisory issued when high temperatures and high humidity combine to form dangerous conditions for some individuals, including heat-related illnesses.

Heat indexes have surpassed 100 degrees in the area on Monday and Tuesday, and are expected to reach triple-digits again on Wednesday as some storms move in.

Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Wednesday, with patchy fog expected in the early daylight hours.

The highs Wednesday will be around 90 with a heat index of 99 expected. The chance of rain is 80 percent, in particular after 5 p.m., with lows in the mid 70s.

On Thursday, more rain and storms are in the forecast, with more patchy fog again in around 8 a.m., and more stormy weather again after 2 p.m. Chance of rain also is 80 percent.

The highs Thursday will be around 90, with a heat index of around 99.

Friday’s forecast calls for rain in the morning and in the evening—a 70 percent chance—with highs in the low 90s.

The temperatures will cool on Saturday to highs in the low 80s and an 80 percent chance of rain. On Sunday, the highs will be around 80, also with rain, a 60 percent chance.

For more local weather information, click here.

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Cobb judges take part in Stuff the Bus back-to-school event

July 29, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Cobb judges take part in Stuff the Bus back-to-school event

Submitted information and photo:

In a powerful display of unity and service, five Cobb County judges—Kellie S. Hill, Angela Z. Brown, Sonja N. Brown, Ashley Palmer, and Mellori Lumpkin-Dawson came together to support Channel 2 Action News’ annual Stuff the Bus campaign, now in its 22nd year. The campaign, in partnership with the Children’s Restoration Network, collects backpacks and school supplies for children living in foster care, group homes, or facing homelessness throughout metro Atlanta.

Channel 2 Action News received its first 1,000 backpacks this week at its Midtown Atlanta studio, thanks to generous community partners and supporters like the judges representing part of the nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations and multiple classes of courts in Cobb County.

Their participation adds a powerful symbol of leadership and civic responsibility to this beloved campaign. These judges not only don the black robes of justice but also serve through the colors of their historic Black Greek-letter organizations—pink and green, red and white, and beyond—representing decades of community engagement and public service.

In addition to their professional responsibilities, these judges remain active in their churches, their sororities, and local outreach programs, continually investing in the communities they serve both inside and outside the courtroom.

The Stuff the Bus drive, benefiting the Children’s Restoration Network, helps provide school supplies to thousands of children across metro Atlanta. Volunteers describe the joy of giving as “Christmas in July,” with students excitedly unzipping brand-new backpacks filled with pencils, pens, paper, and hope.

“Stuff the Bus” is a long-standing community initiative spearheaded by Channel 2 Action News in partnership with the Children’s Restoration Network. The campaign works to provide school supplies to children experiencing homelessness or living in foster care, ensuring they have what they need to start the school year strong. The Children’s Restoration Network serves homeless children and mothers throughout metro Atlanta, offering programs that focus on education, enrichment, and empowerment.

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Cobb County Sheriff’s Office hosts back-to-school event

July 29, 2025July 29, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information and photos:

On Saturday, July 26, 2025, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office hosted its annual Back to School event at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. Families from across the county gathered for a day of giveaways, learning, and community connection.

This free, family-focused event provided children with essential school supplies and educational resources to help them start the school year with confidence. Vendors included local organizations and businesses such as Artportunity Knocks, a Georgia-based nonprofit, and Walmart, along with volunteers across the county.

Walmart presented an $8,500 donation to the Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation. Sheriff Craig Owens and Foundation Executive Director and Founder Robert Haley thanked Walmart for their generosity, which will support future community and youth engagement efforts.

The Back to School event continues to grow as a cornerstone initiative of the Sheriff’s Office, promoting education, preparedness, and partnership with the Cobb County community.

Click the middle button below to view the slideshow.

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Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

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Junior League of Cobb-Marietta awards $9.5K in grants

July 30, 2025July 29, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta (JLCM) has announced the results of its 2024–2025 League year, including $9,500 awarded in community grants, 360 hours of volunteer service, and a strategic shift in focus toward supporting families and children in Cobb County.

Building on over 90 years of community leadership, JLCM reintroduced a formal grantmaking process this year, distributing funds to five nonprofit partners: Cobb Collaborative, Waymark, Kidz2Leaders, LiveSafe Resources, and Heartbeats and Hands 540. Each organization received up to $2,000 to support critical local programs, with impact reporting scheduled for next year.

“The generous support of the Junior League of Cobb Marietta will have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of the children we serve”, stated Megan Cannady, Director of Development of LiveSafe Resources. “We are so grateful for their partnership and commitment to our community.”

JLCM members also gave their time and energy directly to the community, assembling hygiene kits, collecting over 100 pounds of food for local resource centers, and volunteering more than 360 hours. In addition, JLCM returned to the Georgia State Capitol for State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) Day, advocating for community needs in direct conversation with legislators.

“The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta is a powerful force for good — a collective of women committed to identifying community needs and creating sustainable solutions that uplift lives,” stated JLCM President Ashley Farris. “Our impact is seen not just in the programs we support, but in the partnerships we build and the lives we touch. By bringing together women of purposeand passion, we create meaningful change that strengthens the very fabric of Cobb County.

Together, we lead with heart, serve with intention, and work toward a future where every member of our community can thrive.”

To support funding the League’s grant program, JLCM introduced two new fundraisers during the 2024-2025 League year: a bingo night held in October 2024, and the Serve Up Some Good pickleball tournament in March 2025, hosted at the Old Towne Athletic Club. Together, these events raised over $16,800 to help fund grants awarded to this year’s community partners.

The League welcomed 11 new members and 10 transfers in the 2024-2025 League year, while prioritizing member engagement through 48 community-building events. JLCM’s signature blend of service, advocacy, and leadership development continues to attract women seeking meaningful impact through collective action.

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Cobb Community Foundation non-profit deadline approaches

July 29, 2025July 28, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) is reminding local nonprofits that the deadline to apply for the 2025 Match Magic: Cobb’s Holiday Giveathon is this Wednesday, July 30 at 5:00 p.m. The program offers an opportunity for Cobb-based charitable organizations to supercharge their year-end fundraising efforts and receive matching funds based on what they raise.

Match Magic is more than just a fundraising campaign—it’s a visibility boost, a donor acquisition strategy, and a platform to amplify impact. Participating nonprofits receive a customized online donation portal, a feature in a printed and digital gift guide distributed to thousands of Cobb residents courtesy of the Marietta Daily Journal, and access to a multi-channel marketing campaign managed by a strategic communications firm. Last year, one nonprofit raised over $95,000 and received an additional $10,800 in matching funds through the program.

Feedback from 2024 participants was overwhelmingly positive:

76% reported receiving larger gifts from existing donors.

64% gained new donors.

68% reached new audiences.

100% said the effort was worth it.

“This isn’t just about the match,” said Shari Martin, President and CEO of Cobb Community Foundation. “It’s about helping nonprofits expand their donor base, increase visibility, and end the year with meaningful momentum.”

To be eligible, nonprofits (or their fiscal sponsors) must serve Cobb County residents and be recognized as 501(c)(3) organizations. Applications, training videos, and additional resources are available on the CCF website at https://cobbfoundation.org/non-profits-atlanta-marietta-ga/apply-for-a-grant-atlanta-marietta-ga/.

“We don’t want any eligible nonprofit to miss this opportunity,” Martin added. “If you support a nonprofit serving Cobb County, please reach out to them to make sure they’ve either applied or are working on their applications!”

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Wheeler HS brothers lead The Sandwich Project summer effort

July 28, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Wheeler HS brothers lead The Sandwich Project summer effort

Submitted information and photos:

This summer, a group of local kids came together and made over 2,000 sandwiches in just six weeks, donating them to The Sandwich Project of Atlanta, a nonprofit dedicated to feeding food-insecure individuals and families across the city.

The effort was spearheaded by two teenage brothers (Zanye and Kenric Nair) from Wheeler High School, who have been volunteering with The Sandwich Project for the past three years. Wanting to make a larger impact during their summer break, they set an ambitious goal: 250 sandwiches per week. They rallied friends, peers, and community members to join them—using social media to organize donations, coordinate volunteers, and plan weekly sandwich-making events.

Despite obstacles like holiday schedules and limited volunteer availability, they stayed committed, adjusted plans as needed, and met their goal. The teens led the initiative end to end: planning logistics, managing sanitation protocols (including gloves and clean workspaces), and ensuring each sandwich followed specific measurements—critical, since for some recipients, it might be their only source of protein that day.

They also went the extra mile to reduce waste by donating bread ends (“bread butts”) to another local organization.

This was not a school requirement or a summer program—it was simply young people giving their time, energy, and heart to serve the community.

You can follow the Nair brothers and The Sandwich Project on Instagram: @2025.sandwiches.

Wheeler HS brothers lead The Sandwich Project summer effort

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We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!

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Editor’s Note: During the Dog Days, support the underdog!

August 1, 2025July 28, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Editor's Note: During the Dog Days support the underdog!

We appreciate the donations we received for the month of July—more than $900 in all—as summer vacation is waning for school families and you are out and about, going out of town on vacation or otherwise taking a break from your usual routines.

I know it’s the Dogs Days, but I’d like to ask for your help before the summer turns to fall and all of a sudden we’re looking at holidays and cold and winter.

With a new month on the horizon, and before you get too busy with late summer and fall activities, please consider making a donation today. As we explained in a previous post, we’re using reader contributions to help pay for our recurring office and business expenses.

This summer has flown by for me, but I’ve been buoyed by the support East Cobb News has received from our readers. Thanks to all of you who have pledged to help us continue to provide the local news that you love.

Donating is safe, secure and easy!

Even though we’ve been around for eight years now, East Cobb News still operates with a scrappy spirit. We’re not corporate-owned and we’re truly independent in how we do everything.

The battles that local news publishers face these days are difficult for us all, but for those of us in the mom-and-pop world, even more so.

I was reminded of that this weekend when I cracked open a fortune cookie. It said: “Root for the underdog.”

Well, I wanted to bark with approval, but I was at a restaurant and thought better of it.

Whatever you think of the value of a message in a fortune cookie, this one energized me.

We know many of you are rooting for us. But we’d like you to do more than that, and to become regular supporters of East Cobb News.

If you haven’t contributed thus far, please consider doing so today.

Please contribute today!

A new school year is around the corner and we’ll soon be into full swing with that.

But no matter the time of year, East Cobb News is here for you every single day. We mean that—it’s not hyperbole.

We publish news stories on our site six days a week, Monday-Saturday, and on Sunday bring you our weekly newsletter and major breaking news.

While we do take some time off when we can, we remain fully committed to providing you with original reporting and useful community information as it happens.

Why? Because it matters. Local news matters to you, or you wouldn’t be reading this now, following us on our social media channels or subscribing to the newsletter.

Does it matter to you enough to provide a modest amount of financial support? We hope you’ll say yes today.

Your donation 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 contribution delivers the news to readers everywhere—via e-mail, 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, regardless of the subject.

We do it without ginning up stories to get you to click, or to stoke your outrage for no good reason.

Please don’t take that for granted!

When you give to East Cobb News, you 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’d like to hear from you.

Thank you for your support of East Cobb News!

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, July 14-18, 2025

July 28, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Dorset, East Cobb real estate sales — *Dorset*

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

1575 Barrier Road, 30066 (Lamplighter): $434,900

1605 Barrier Road, 30066 (Lamplighter): $385,000

Lassiter

3714 Thunder Way, 30066 (Highland Ridge): $760,600

Marietta

1020 Broadview Drive, 30062 (Parkside East): $455,000

403 Oak Harbor Court, 30066 (Oak Harbor): $199,500

Pope

2564 Lulworth Lane, 30062 (Mabry Manor): $930,000

3007 Manning Drive, 30062 (Manning): $635,000

2579 Lulworth Lane, 30062 (Mabry Manor): $1.1 million

2802 Arabian Trail, 30062 (Kings Farm): $850,000

3915 Woolbridge Way, 30062 (Dorset): $790,000

1956 Regents Way, 30062 (Regents Park): $620,000

Sprayberry

1871 Kinridge Road, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $410,000

1630 Park Lane, 30066: $370,000

2826 Summit Ridge Drive, 30066 (Piedmont Hills): $387,500

Walton

4030 Muirfield Lane, 30068 (Indian Hills): $765,000

3794 Brown Owl C0urt, 30062 (Providence Corners): $631,000

1428 Brookcliff Drive, 30062 (Brookcliff): $527,000

1975 River Forest Drive, 30068 (River Forest): $1.05 million

1850 Mallard Lake Drive, 30068 (Mallard Lake): $765,000

683 Highland Court, 30068 (Wimbledon Place): $390,000

1438 Heritage Glen Drive, 30068 (Heritage Glen): $595,000

4794 Dalhousie Place, 30068 (Chadds Lake): $890,000

4503 Woodhaven, 30067 (Woodhaven): $825,000

2770 Wooded Hills Walk, 30062 (Ridgewood at Wooded Hills): $1.649 million

2480 Sewell Mill Road, 30062: $414,000

4135 Shoshone Valley Road, 30068 (Seven Springs): $635,000

601 Park Ridge Circle, 30068 (Park Ridge): $260,000

Wheeler

884 Edgewater Circle, 30062 (Barnes Mill Lake) $363,000

733 Huntington Place, 30067 (Stratford): $615,000

217 Millbrook Farm Road, 30068 (Gant Quarters): $568,000

1376 Woodbine Street, 30062 (Briarwood Hills): $298,500

3228 Turtle Lake Drive, 30067 (Somerset): $750,000

620 Clearbrook Court, 30068 (Country Place East): $464,900

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Cobb County International Festival to return Aug. 23

July 26, 2025July 26, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Cobb International Festival

Submitted information:

Cobb County will host the return of the International Festival 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Jim R. Miller Park and Event Center in Marietta. This event will showcase and highlight the vibrant cultural diversity that shapes and enriches the community. The free festival is a celebration of global cuisine, music, and visual and performing arts. There will be performances, vendors, and activities for all ages. Go here for more information.

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Davis Direction Foundation co-founder speaks in East Cobb

July 26, 2025July 26, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Davis Direction Foundation co-founder speaks in East Cobb

Submitted information and photos:

Grace Resurrection Methodist Church’s Men’s Group welcomed Michael Owen, co-founder and CFO of the Davis Direction Foundation and The Zone, as the featured speaker for its quarterly dinner in July.

Owen co-founded The Zone in honor of his late son, Davis, to provide a safe, supportive, and faith-based recovery community for individuals reclaiming their lives from substance dependence. Since opening its doors in 2016, The Zone has served thousands, offering 24/7 resources rooted in compassion, connection, and accountability.

During his talk, Owen shared his family’s personal journey through Davis’s battle with opioid misuse and the eventual turn to heroin. He spoke with honesty and heart about the confusion and emotional toll families face when trying to support a loved one struggling with substance use. “It may begin with one person, but its impact reaches the entire family,” Owen explained.

The presentation also included compelling data on the prevalence of addiction across all sectors of society, including the fact that one in ten individuals is genetically predisposed to addictive behavior. Owen highlighted the social stigma often attached to those in recovery and urged the community to promote greater understanding and education around this growing public health issue.

Grace Resurrection’s Men’s Group is one of the church’s most active and growing ministries, fostering spiritual growth, service, and authentic connection among men of all ages and backgrounds. Events like this dinner are part of the group’s mission to offer space for real conversations around faith, purpose, and the challenges facing men today.

Attendees expressed deep appreciation for the insights shared, many leaving with a stronger sense of empathy and a more informed perspective on the challenges faced by those in recovery—as well as the families who walk alongside them.

To learn more about The Zone and the Davis Direction Foundation, visit www.davisdirection.com.

To learn more about Grace Resurrection Methodist Church, visit www.graceresurrection.org

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Mabry MS student recognized for saving his grandmother

July 25, 2025July 25, 2025 by Wendy Parker

On Tuesday, the Cobb County School District announced that a rising eighth-grade student at Mabry High School had been recognized by the school for the act of saving his grandmother’s life.

Logan Richardson was honored in May by Mabry principal Jonathan Tanner, not long after the student had performed the Heimlich maneuver on his grandmother, who had begun choking while they were at home together.

According to a Cobb school district release, he asked if he should call 911 and she declined, but he saw she was in serious condition and he dialed for emergency help anyway.

After his grandmother stopped breathing, Logan administered CPR with instructions from the 911 operator.

“Logan’s Grandma was taken to the hospital and eventually released and is OK due to his quick thinking and reaction,” Mabry counselor Amy Hinsley said in the release. “Logan is a true hero!”

A few days later, Tanner surprised Logan with the recognition before his classmates, along with Hinsley, his parents, and Mabry MS nurse Samantha Stephens.

Stephens gave him three beads, signifying hope and will, the loyalty of a wingman and a ladybug, “a symbol of good fortune, good luck and protection.”

Logan said the key to his actions was to “try to stay calm and follow your gut.”

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Center for Family Resources holds Client Achievement Night

July 25, 2025July 25, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information and photo:

In early July, The Center for Family Resources proudly hosted its bi-annual Client Achievement Awards Night, honoring the remarkable journeys of the families it serves.

For 65 years, the organization has empowered clients who face homelessness and food insecurity to change the trajectory of their lives through comprehensive wraparound programs.

This celebratory evening brought together clients, staff, partners, and community members to spotlight stories of resilience, transformation, and unwavering strength.

According to The CFR’s 2024 Annual Impact Report, the organization has made measurable strides for families:

32 households secured employment

481 individuals obtained stable housing

2,275 people served through our choice pantry

8,860 people received vital services through our programs

These outcomes reflect The CFR’s ongoing commitment to helping families overcome crisis and move toward long-term stability. The focus remains on equipping individuals with the tools, skills, and guidance they need to take charge of their future with programs that teach financial literacy, savings, and employment skills.

A highlight of the evening was a heartfelt speech from Kelley Scott, who shared her story “not as a statistic, but as a testimony.” After facing profound loss and relocating to Georgia with her young son, she found herself struggling, until connecting with The CFR. Through their short-term housing program, she gained stability, found meaningful work, and began writing again.

In February, she and her son moved into permanent housing. By April, she had published her first book, titled It Doesn’t End Here.

“I went from homeless and heartbroken to published and purpose-filled,” she said. “Your pain is real, but your purpose is far greater.”

Her journey, and those of many others, served as an inspiring reminder of the transformative impact of compassion, community, and support. To learn more about how The CFR helps to keep children housed one family at a time, visit TheCFR.org. To help ensure that The CFR’s wrap-around programs that foster long-term stability can continue, visit TheCFR.org/ways-to-give/.

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Cobb Galleria Centre overhaul gets final approval

July 25, 2025July 25, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Galleria Centre overhaul gets final approval

Submitted information and photo:

The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, owner and operator of Cobb Galleria Centre, Georgia’s premier mid-size convention venue for tradeshows, meetings and special events, has approved the funding for a transformational, $190 million renovation and expansion project. It is scheduled to break ground in the fall of 2025 and be completed in early 2027.

“Over the past two years, we have conducted multiple supporting studies alongside design, master planning, pre-construction analysis, and financial reviews,” said Charlie Beirne, General Manager and CEO. “With this groundwork laid, we are poised to hit the ground running.”

The renovation and expansion will happen in phases. While the convention center will be closed for the last four months of 2025, it will reopen for business in January 2026 in the exhibit halls and ballroom.

“Cobb Galleria Centre will be open throughout 2026 and will continue to host trade shows, expos, meetings, conventions and social events in the exhibit halls and ballroom,” Beirne said.

The outside arrival area, new parking deck, and expanded meeting and event space will remain in progress until early 2027

RENOVATED BALLROOM, EXHIBIT HALL, ROTUNDA COMING IN JANUARY 2026

In January 2026, the rotunda, ballroom, and common area spaces will boast a major facelift with a completely new, contemporary look. From new carpet, wall coverings, new wood finishes and modern chandeliers, guests will be impressed with the lighter, brighter event spaces. The rotunda will be transformed with new terrazzo flooring and a new, large sculptural chandelier that will dazzle from above. Additionally, the 144,000-square-foot exhibit halls will feature updated entrance vestibules, upgraded restrooms, new electrical floor boxes, and LED lighting throughout.

The project master plan scope includes:

Demolition of Galleria Specialty Shops and 2nd floor meeting rooms;

Expansion to include:

An exciting new, two-story grand entryway

A new, 7,200-square-foot junior ballroom

11 new meeting rooms and an executive board room, totaling 24,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting room space with enhanced graphics and technology

A unique, 11,000-square-foot outdoor event courtyard and a separate garden, both allowing natural lighting to penetrate interior conference room spaces

New, connected parking with covered, all-weather access into the expanded facility

Overall addition of 13,000 square feet of indoor event space

Extensive renovation and facelift of existing exhibit hall, concourse, rotunda and ballroom.

For more information, visit cobbgalleria.com/where-it-all-comes-together.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb Food Scores: Completos; Marietta Square area; more

July 24, 2025July 24, 2025 by Wendy Parker

Completos Burgers, East Cobb food scores

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

Completos Burgers
2852 Delk Road, Suite 215
July 21, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Giga-Bites Cafe
1851 Roswell Road
July 14, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

JR Crickets
1854 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 100
July 18, 2025, Score: 75, Grade: C

Marietta Perks
800 Whitlock Ave., Suite 116
July 17, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

One Korean Bistro
68 North Marietta Parkway, Unit 101
July 22, 2025, Score: 78, Grade: C

Phyllis
732 Cherokee St., Suite 300
July 17, 2025, Score: 85, Grade: B

Pie Bar
60 Powder Springs St.
July 21, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Sarah Jean’s Ice Cream
109 North Park Square
July 21, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

Sully’s Steamers
50 Powder Springs Street
July 21, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Taqueria Jireh
1458 Roswell Road
July 17, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

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