We Care Vet Fair returns to Cobb Civic Center Oct. 21

Submitted information:East Cobb-based non-profit to hold veterans resource fair

United Military Care Hosts “We Care Vet Fair” October 21 in Marietta

Marietta, GA – While Washington debates, United Military Care is taking action. On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, United Military Care will host the “We Care Vet Fair” at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, ensuring that veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors continue receiving the support they’ve earned — regardless of the federal shutdown.

This free, one-day event is packed with vital services and resources, including:

  • VA Benefits Enrollment and Review
  • Filing of New Claims and Appeals Assistance
  • Free Legal Assistance On-Site
  • Free Food Giveaway for Veterans and Families
  • Meet and Greet with Special Guest Ms. Earline, 100-Year-Old Rosie the Riveter

Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with over 90 local, state, and national organizations dedicated to supporting veterans as they navigate life after military service. From healthcare to housing, education to employment — it’s all under one roof.

“Veterans don’t get to take a day off from their needs, so neither do we,” said Kim Scofi, President of United Military Care. “Shutdown or not, we’re standing with those who served.”

The event is open to all veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors — no registration required.

Location:

Cobb County Civic Center

548 South Marietta Parkway SE

Marietta, GA 30060

For more information, visit: www.UnitedMilitaryCare.org

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Cobb County Sheriff’s Office welcomes newest GED graduates

Cobb County Sheriff's Office welcomes newest GED graduates

Submitted information and photo:

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) held its third GED graduation ceremony of the year on Wednesday, October 8at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

Seven detainees graduated from the program, with over 30 graduates since the GED Training Center opened in March of 2024. Speakers included Chief Deputy Rhonda Anderson, Col. Michael Williams, and Dr. Kim Kranzlin from Cobb County Adult Education.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of certificates, conducted by Cobb County Adult Education personnel in conjunction with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.

The GED curriculum, which includes four subject areas, requires a score of 145 or higher. Upon entering the program, detainees are enrolled in the TABE placement test to determine their educational level. Instructors tailor instructional time to keep detainees engaged and schedule testing when the detainees were ready. After 40 hours of instructional time, detainees take post-test to measure their progress if they had not already taken and passed their GED.

 

 

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Editor’s Note: Why we’re restricting some Facebook comments

Editor’s Note: Why we’re restricting some Facebook comments
These are not actual East Cobb News readers but depict a few of you who are abusing our comments policy.

In recent days I have done something I haven’t done in my eight-plus years of publication at East Cobb News: restricted comments about some posts on our Facebook page.

Not surprisingly, the stories were about hot-button political topics that were merely informing the community about upcoming or ongoing political events.

And, not surprisingly, a handful of readers—whose previous comments about political topics on our Facebook page have been a massive headache for yours truly and have been abusive to other readers—have been griping about not being able to dump their trash on our lawn.

So they complained on other posts on our Facebook page, which, if they had read our comments policy, are not allowed. Their comments were removed.

If anyone persists in making comments that are not germane to a particular topic, either on the site or on our Facebook page, they will be banned. Permanently. There will be no second chances.

If you think I’m kidding, think again.

Our story links and social media pages are not depositories for your rage, idiotic trolling or inability to understand what a news story is.

But these abusive readers—who as far as I can tell are across the political spectrum—don’t care about abiding by a comments policy anyway.

Most of you do, and for that I apologize. Our comments policy has been generous and almost all of you who have commented have followed these reasonable rules of the road.

Our Facebook page has been the best place for engagement for what we post at East Cobb News, and the persistence of these toxic comments has the potential to drive readers away.

Indeed, over the last few months, it has been been very challenging to promote a robust community dialogue at East Cobb News. From the start, fostering constructive discussion has been a core part of my editorial mission.

I may be tilting at windmills here, but I still believe that our citizens can disagree—strongly—and still be civil to one another. Most of you are, and it is the hallmark of a healthy community when the best traditions of free speech are exercised.

After last month’s Charlie Kirk vigil, however, I have been thinking about making some changes. For now, there will be some stories, like the two over the past week, for which comments will be limited to the story link only.

After you read the story, you can leave your comment at the bottom of that post—again, you must actually follow the comments policy. But you won’t be able to comment on that post on our Facebook page.

This will be decided on a story-by-story basis. If comments on other stories posted on our Facebook page get out of hand, they also will be subject to being turned off.

It’s really all up to you, our readers. And specifically, to the tiny handful of you who are the source of the problem.

This isn’t something that I wanted to do, as other news publishers have given up the ghost on allowing comments altogether. We’ve got so many other things to do on a continual basis, especially on a busy news day like this one already has been.

For all the advantages of online media, the unwillingness of some grown but obviously rather childish adults to honor simple parameters for decent behavior has always been a concern.

In these overheated political times, it’s gotten worse; in fact it’s as disgusting as anytime I can remember in my 40-plus years as a professional journalist.

I do appreciate those of you who take the time to leave comments and abide by our policy; I especially appreciate your readership. It makes East Cobb News better and it has helped us to have a strong reputation with readers in our community.

If you value what you get from East Cobb News—which comes to you without a paywall—please consider making a financial contribution today. We love nothing more than giving you the local news that you love, but we can’t do this without you.

So thanks, again, for your readership, and for your patience. And feel free to reach out about this or anything else: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

 

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Motorist killed, another injured in Lower Roswell Road crash

Motorist killed, another injured in Lower Roswell Road crash
Cobb Police photo: Lower Roswell Road was closed near Shadowlawn Drive for most of Wednesday morning.

Cobb Police said Wednesday that a female motorist has died in a two-car crash on Lower Roswell Road.

Officer Aaron Wilson said that Brenda Joya, 23, of Hiram, was pronounced dead after being rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital after her vehicle and another collided early Wednesday morning.

Kaitlin Ricketts, 45, of Marietta, the driver of the other vehicle, “sustained a complaint of injury” according to Wilson, but he didn’t elaborate.

Wilson said that Joya was driving east on Lower Roswell Road near Shadowlawn Drive shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday when her black 2023 Honda Accord “for reasons still under investigation” veered into the westbound lane and collided head-on with a gray 2024 Lexus RX350 driven by Ricketts.

Police haven’t released more details, except to say that next of kin has been notified, and that anyone with information about the crash should call the Cobb County Police Department’s S.T.E.P. Unit at 770-499-3987.

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Wheeler leads Cobb, places 2nd in Georgia in 2025 ACT scores

Wheeler name change

High schools in East Cobb held steady or did better in the 2025 American College Testing (ACT) results over the past year.

But at Wheeler High School, the improvement was significant, according to ACT results released Wednesday by the Georgia Department of Education.

Wheeler’s average composite score of 28.5 not only led the Cobb County School District, but was the best among traditional high schools in the state of Georgia and second overall.

Only the specialty Gwinnett School for Math Science and Technology had a higher average composite score, of 29.5. That school, whose student body is chosen from a Gwinnett County Public Schools lottery, typically leads the state in most testing results.

The ACT (American College Testing) tests students in four subject areas—English, math, reading and science, and combines those to determine a composite score as well. The maximum score overall and in individual subject areas is 36.

Walton was second in Cobb with a 26.6 average composite score, up from 26.0 in 2025, and that is good for seventh in the state.

Average composite scores were up from 2024 at Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry, and down slightly at Pope (see chart below).

The Cobb school district said in a release Wednesday that eight students in the Class of 2025 earned perfect scores of 36—three each from Walton and Wheeler, and one each from Lassiter and Pope.

The average composite score boost at Wheeler, home of the Center for Advanced Studies STEM magnet program, was across all subject areas.

Last year, Wheeler’s average composite score was 26.0, which tied Walton for the best in Cobb.

In 2025, Wheeler seniors led Cobb in every subject-area composite score, with a minimum of 28.0. Walton’s best average composite was in reading, at 27.4.

Cobb ACT average composite scores districtwide rose to 23.7, from 22.8 in 2025, and is second among major public school districts in metro Atlanta. Forsyth County schools had an average composite score of 24.7.

In its release, the Cobb school district claimed its average composite score led metro Atlanta, but it does not include Forsyth County.

“Strong results like these don’t happen by accident—they come from teachers, families, and a community all working together to help our students reach their goals,” Cobb Board of Education chairman David Chastain said in the district release.

The statewide average composite ACT score in 2025 is 21.4, which also is an improvement from last year; while the national average is 19.4.

More Cobb info can be found by clicking here; click here for school-level and here for district-level scores compiled by the Georgia Department of Education.

The table below details the ACT scores at East Cobb high schools; the number in parenthesis next to the school name indicates the number of students at that school who took the test.

[wptg_comparison_table id=”74″]

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East Cobb traffic update: Lower Roswell Road reopened

East Cobb traffic alert: Part of Lower Roswell Road closed

UPDATE: Lower Roswell Road has reopened after what Cobb Police said was a fatal head-on crash.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Message from Cobb County government:

There is a Road Closure on Lower Roswell Road between Shadowlawn Road and Indian Hills Parkway due to police activity following a motor vehicle collision. The closure will last a few hours and should reopen by 11 a.m.

Cobb Commute Link

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East Cobb Food Scores: Chick-Fil-A Woodlawn; Waffle House JF; more

Chick Fil A Woodlawn, 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:

Bites Sliders and Fries
4750 Alabama Road, Suite 110
Oct. 10, 2025. Score: 88, Grade: B

Blue Moon Pizza
2359 Windy Hill Road, Suite 100
Oct. 14, 2025, Score: 81, Grade: B

Chick-Fil-A Woodlawn
1201 Johnson Ferry Road
Oct. 14, 2025, Score: 89, Grade: B

Dogwood Catering
4961 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 125
Oct. 10, 2025, Score: 100. Grade: A

Garrison Mill Elementary School
4111 Wesley Chapel Road
Oct. 14, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Great Wall Chinese and Sushi Bar (reinspection)
1275 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 180
Oct. 14, 2025, Score: 89, Grade: B
Previous inspection: Oct. 6, 2025, Score: 62, Grade: U

Lassiter High School
2601 Shallowford Road
Oct. 15, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Powers Ferry Elementary School
403 Powers Ferry Road
Oct. 10, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Rocky Mount Elementary School
2400 Rocky Mountain Road
Oct. 10, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Shallowford Falls Elementary School
3500 Lassiter Road
Oct. 10, 2025, Score: 96, Grade: A

Taco Hub
2800 Canton Road, Suite 2880
Oct. 16, 2025, Score: 83, Grade: B

Waffle House
621 Johnson Ferry Road
Oct. 10, 2025, Score: 93, Grade: A

Wing City
2467 Windy Hill Road
Oct. 14, 2025, Score: 89, Grade: B

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Cobb Diaper Day donation drive continues through Oct. 28

 

Cobb Diaper Day donation drive continues through Oct. 28

Submitted information:

The 17th Annual Cobb Diaper Day is being held on Tuesday, October 28. Through the efforts of the Barbara Hickey Children’s Fund – Cobb Diaper Day Committee, more than two million diapers have been donated to assist low-income families in Cobb County since the program’s founding. This year’s goal is to collect over 100,000 diapers.

Organizations, companies and individuals are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways:

  • Make a donation at www.cobbdiaperday.com.
  • Purchase diapers for delivery through Amazon.
  • Declare a “Diaper Day” within your workplace, organization, neighborhood, or social circle to collect diapers.
  • Drop off donations during our community collection event at the Cobb EMC Solar Flower Gardenin Marietta on October 28, 2025, from 2 PM to 6 PM.

Cobb Diaper Day was founded in 2008 by the late Barbara Hickey to help families in Cobb County. Barbara envisioned the community coming together to support local families in need and reminded us that often it is the little things in life that make the biggest difference.

For many low-income families, diapers represent a daily financial strain. Prolonged use of a wet diaper can lead to diaper rash and additional stress for both children and parents. Families often face the difficult choice between purchasing food or diapers, especially since:

  • Food stamps do not include hygiene products such as diapers.
  • On average, diapers cost more than $100 per month.
  • Daycare centers require parents to provide diapers.

To help ease some of the burdens of the thousands of families in critical need, diaper donations will be distributed to local nonprofits, including:

  • Center for Family Resources
  • Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Communities In Schools Georgia in Marietta/Cobb County
  • LiveSafe Resources
  • MUST Ministries
  • Ser Familia
  • Simple Needs GA
  • Sweetwater Mission

For additional information, please visit www.cobbdiaperday.com or donate to the Barbara Hickey Children’s Fund to support the efforts. To arrange for a diaper pick-up or for any other questions, please email DiaperDayCobb@gmail.com.

About The Barbara Hickey Children’s Fund

Established in 2008 as a 501(c)3 fund under the Cobb Community Foundation, by Barbara Hickey and a group of dedicated community leaders. Through its signature initiative, Cobb Diaper Day, the Fund raises awareness of the critical need, and significant expense, of diapers for families in need. Too often, parents must make the difficult choice between purchasing food or diapers. Since its inception, Cobb Diaper Day has provided nearly two million diapers to families across Cobb County. Learn more by visiting the Barbara Hickey Children’s Fund.

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Cobb Elections Board members to get major stipend increases

Cobb Elections Board dispute roils along partisan lines
East Cobb resident Jennifer Mosbacher, chairwoman of the Cobb Board of Elections

Members of the Cobb Board of Elections will be receiving a big pay boost for the work that they do.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to increase the monthly stipends for the five-member board, which is one of only six appointed bodies in the county getting them.

By a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved a request to increase the stipends by $50 a month.

The chair’s monthly stipend will go from $200 a month to $450 a month, and the other four members’ stipends are rising from $150 to $350 a month.

While those represent more than double what they had been paid, the new amounts are less than what was requested. An agenda item stated that $600 monthly stipend was being sought for the chair and $500 a month for everyone else.

Interim Cobb Elections director Michael D’Istri said at Tuesday’s commissioners meeting that elections board members haven’t received a raise in more than three decades, and in more recent years, their workload has increased.

Typically board members are now meeting several times a month during occasionally long meetings. A new Georgia elections law requires elections boards across the state to hold additional certification meetings around elections.

This year alone, with several municipal elections concluding in November, board members will be holding more than 30 meetings.

D’Istri also noted more recent political tensions, including in Cobb, which has swung from Republican domination in local offices to Democrats holding all countywide offices as well as majorities on the commission and legislative delegation. The GOP has a slight edge on the Cobb school board.

“The culture, the environment, the atmosphere of elections has changed drastically over the years,” D’Istri said.

Those tensions have broken out into the open at elections board meetings, including a proposed by-law change that was dropped in August. Democrats have four appointees on the current board; the Republicans one.

Current chair Jennifer Mosbacher, an appointee of Democratic Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, has been attacked by some citizens for her refusal to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

After Cupid made a comparison to the stipends for Cobb Planning Commission members, who get around $10,00 a year, Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb said the comparison wasn’t fair.

She said planning board members, who meet once a month, do a lot of outside work, visiting sites and holding community meetings.

But Birrell, who voted against the elections board increases along with Keli Gambrill, the other Republican commissioner, was more concerned about the precedent.

“If we do this outside of the budget, we’re going to get a lot of other requests” from other appointed bodies.

According to the agenda item, the additional annual expense for the elections board stipend rises comes to $21,600, and those raises are effective immediately.

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Another ‘No Kings’ rally planned in East Cobb on Saturday

Another 'No Kings' rally planned in East Cobb on Saturday

Another nationwide protest against the Trump Administration entitled “No Kings” is slated for Saturday, and local organizers are once again coming to a busy intersection East Cobb.

Indivisible Cobb will be staging a protest at Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads starting at 2 p.m., following a similar rally in downtown Atlanta.

“We are planning an inclusive, safe, and fun time while addressing a profoundly serious subject–Trump and this administration claiming powers they do not have, launching one unconstitutional action after another. The citizens of Cobb County and this country are saying ‘Enough.’ We are coming together, peacefully and with one voice, to register our opposition,” said Stacey Parlotto of Indivisible Cobb.

What’s being called “No Kings 2” follows June protests that drew several hundred people to the East Cobb event.

Indivisible Cobb describes itself as ” a local, grassroots, non-partisan group dedicated to building community. We organize around progressive ideals that honor our basic human dignity and resist the oppressive policies coming out of the current administration.”

Other groups involved in the protests include the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Teachers, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters and MoveOn.

For more information, visit the No Kings and Indivisible Cobb websites.

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Sprayberry HS reconstruction open house is Wednesday

Sprayberry HS reconstruction open house is Wednesday

The $71.9 million reconstruction project that’s continuing at Sprayberry High School is the subject of a community open house on Wednesday.

The open house takes place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the main gymnasium lobby at the school (2525 Sandy Plains Road).

That’s the first phase of the project that’s expected to be done in the summer of 2026. The new main classroom building will have four stories and 68 classrooms, new administrative and guidance offices and learning commons. The funding comes from the Cobb Education SPLOST VI.

This is the second academic year for the Sprayberry rebuild, which has prompted major disruptions. Parking has been severely restricted due to several dozen portable classrooms.

When the contract was awarded last spring, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said that the three-year duration “not going to be a fun time” for the Sprayberry community.

But most of the exterior of the new building is nearing completion (here’s a time-lapse video of the construction thus far, posted recently on the school’s Instagram page). In addition to classrooms, the building will house administrative and guidance offices and a learning commons.

In the second phase, renovations will be made to existing cafeteria space and other facilities.

All work is expected to be completed by the start of the 2027-28 school year. The contractor is Carroll Daniel Construction of Atlanta, which rebuilt the Osborne High School campus.

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Cobb delays vote on appointing police chief for two weeks

The Cobb Board of Commissioners is set to vote on a new police chief this month.Cobb delays vote on appointing police chief for two weeks

But the vote naming interim chief J.D. Ferrell as police chief that had been on Tuesday’s agenda is being pushed back two weeks.

Cobb government sent out a statement Monday afternoon saying that the board “will move ahead” with a vote on the selection of Ferrell on Oct. 28.

Ferrell was recommended by Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris, but on Friday Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid called for a Monday press conference “to provide transparency in addressing challenges with the announced selection of Police Chief.”

The county statement Monday afternoon said that “the delay was requested by Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who initially sought to address issues related to the search and selection process, but supports the candidate and moving forward with the process of approving this candidate on the 28th.”

Earlier Monday afternoon, the county announced Cupid was cancelling the press conference less than an hour before it was to begin, citing a scheduling conflict.

Cobb spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News that commissioners were still in meetings, over Tuesday’s agenda, and for other matters.

The MDJ reported last week that Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid wanted former Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields for the job.

But Cupid hasn’t confirmed that information, and the paper quoted Commissioner Keli Gambrill as saying that she thought Shields had “a chip on her shoulder” in the interview process, which apparently included two other unnamed candidates.

Gambrill, in the same media report, also objected to the process, saying it’s the county manager’s job to recommend a candidate, not the elected chair.

Ferrell is a 29-year veteran of the Cobb Police Department and had been a deputy chief when former Chief Stuart VanHoozer retired in April.

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Tenor Tim Miller to perform in concert in East Cobb

Tenor Tim Miller, who features at Atlanta Braves home games, will begin the 14th annual Friends of St. Catherine’s Concert Series on Sunday.

Tenor Tim Miller to perform in concert in East Cobb
Tim Miller

The concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (571 Holt Road) and is free and open to the public.

Here’s more on Miller:

“A native of Augusta, Georgia, tenor Timothy Miller is an active performer with both national and international credits in opera, concerts and much more. Widely recognized for his stirring renditions of “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch of Atlanta Braves home games, Miller has extended his exposure well beyond the concert stage. Featured artist promos for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, and featured artist profiles for magazines including The Atlantan round out a growing list of memorable career highlights. In addition to a busy performance schedule, Mr. Miller is an Assistant Professor of Voice and Music at Morehouse College and serves on the board of the Meridian Herald.”

The Friends of Music at St. Catherine’s features several public concerts during the year. After the concerts attendees can meet and visit with the musicians. The concerts are free to the public but freewill donations are accepted.

This year’s schedule includes the pianist/cellist duo of Catherine Lan/Duo Arpeggione on Jan. 11, 2026, and the Atlanta chorale ensemble Coro Vocati on May 6, 2026. 

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‘How to Do Business With Cobb’ session set for Thursday

Submitted information:'How to Do Business With Cobb' session set for Thursday

Interested in becoming a vendor with Cobb County? If so, you don’t want to miss the upcoming free seminar, How to do Business with Cobb County Government and Cobb County Schools, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. Registration is required as seats are limited.

To register, email kimberly.jorgensen@cobbcounty.gov or call 770-528-3317.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2025

Palmer Oaks, East Cobb real estate sales
Palmer Oaks

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

4374 South Landing Drive, 30066 (North Landing): $430,000

4057 Longford Drive, 30066 (Longford): $389,000

1827 Rockybranch Pass, 30066 (Spencer’s Mill): $525,000

4525 North Landing Drive, 30066 (North Landing): $320,000

Lassiter

4976 Concert Lane, 30066 (Tanglewood Enclave): $1.399 million

2812 Forest Wood Drive, 30066 (Forest Chase): $475,000

2850 Landing Drive, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $725,000

3626 Lone Indian Trail, 30066 (Highland Pointe): $485,000

2620 Middle Coray Circle, 30066 (The Oaks at Mill Pond): $1.073 million

4815 Holmes Farm Court, 30066 (Holmes Farm): $1.225 million

4468 Windsor Oaks Drive, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $661,500

Marietta

1324 Pinebreeze Way, 30062 (The Pines at East Worthington): $425,000

Pope

2380 Chelsea Landing Way, 30062 (Chelsea Landing): $1.985 million

2728 Saddle Ridge Lake Drive, 30062 (Saddle Ridge Lake): $630,000

4011 Charrwood Trace, 30062 (Charrington): $917,500

2965 Village Drive 30062 (Brownstone): $585,000

Sprayberry

815 Sylvan Drive, 30068 (Sylvan Hills): $559,000

2140 Spalding Drive, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $400,000

2205 Beaver Shop Road 30066: $780,000

2713 Post Oak Court, 30062 (Robyn Valley): $350,000

1715 Brown Circle, 30066 (Stillwater Registry): $788,000

2418 Retreat Close, 30066 (Stone Creek): $597,500

1617 Rex Drive, 30066 (Village North): $470,000

Walton

1104 Kelden Ridge, 30068 (Camden Ridge): $1.005 million

1042 Hidden Hollow Drive, 30068 (Hidden Hollow): $706,000

5065 Fields Pond Cove, 30068 (Fields Pond): $1.1 million

4300 Cove Island Drive, 30067 (Kings Cove): $875,000

3506 Billingsley Drive, 30062 (Princeton Corners): $798,000

1735 Little Willeo Road, 30066 (Willow Point): $382,500

4619 Villa Chase Drive, 30068 (Villa Chase): $587,000

Wheeler

150 Palmer Oaks Lane, 30068 (Palmer Oaks): $780,000

2625 Sunny Lane, 30067 (Red Oak Park): $368,500

2350 Maxine Drive, 30067 (Tuxedo Estates): $428,000

277 Weatherstone Parkway, 30068 (Weatherstone): $645,000

502 Abbington River Lane, 30339 (Abbington at Wildwood): $1.285 million

478 Timberlea Lake Drive, 30067 (Timberlea Lake): $520,150

949 Bobcat Court, 30067 (The Village): $333,000

2010 Barnes Mill Road, 30062 (Woodmont): $550,000

181 Sentinel Place, 30067 (Sentinel Ridge): $1.05 million

525 Robin Lane, 30067 (Red Oak Park): $478,525

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Planning Commission scuttles NE Cobb RaceTrac proposal

Planning Commission scuttles NE Cobb RaceTrac proposal
Cobb Planning Commission member David Anderson.

The Cobb Planning Commission this week recommended approval of rezoning the former site of an historic home in Northeast Cobb for a variety of commercial uses.

But they didn’t include the use the applicant, RaceTrac Inc., had in mind.

After a very long discussion and by a 4-1 vote, the board recommended to allow Neighborhood Retail Commercial (NRC) zoning on Bells Ferry Road at Barrett Parkway where the McAfee House once stood.

That’s a home built in the 1840s that served as headquarters for a Union general during the Civil War, and was relocated earlier this year to Cherokee County after an effort to save it by Cobb Landmarks.

But the planning commission vote excludes fuel sales as one of the permitted businesses that could go on the two-acre site across from Bells Ferry Elementary School, along with no alcohol, vaping and tobacco sales, car washes, automotive uses or any type of drive-through business.

Nearby citizens turned out to oppose RaceTrac’s plans, citing safety, environmental and traffic congestion issues, among other things.

The decision rebuffed a recommendation for by Planning Commission member David Anderson, who represents the area in question, District 2.

His motion would have prohibited fuel sales and drive-through businesses, and would have required light automotive uses to come back to the county with a noise mitigation plan.

The board’s vote also went against a recommendation for approval by the Cobb Zoning Staff (analysis here).

After being satisfied with the results of a traffic analysis and an explanation from Cobb DOT, Anderson made a motion to recommend what RaceTrace was asking for—NRC designation for 24/7 gas sales and a convenience store.

But his motion died because it didn’t get a second, and another motion by Planning Commission member Fred Beloin of North Cobb added the stipulations that were approved. Under the motion that passed, small businesses and retail and some office uses would be allowed.

Anderson was the only vote against Beloin’s substitute motion. The Cobb Board of Commissioners will decide the matter at its Oct. 21 zoning hearing.

RaceTrac’s request was delayed a month after a previous Planning Commission hearing generated plenty of community opposition.

Beloin said the issue of methane gas emissions near the school—or at least the lack of definitive information about the threat it may cause—made it “impossible for me to support this request.”

He also said that school traffic issues that would arise both in the morning and afternoon “are profound. This would be the opposite of an old Beatles song where you take a sad song and make it better. This would be take a bad road and make it far, far worse.”

The land, owned by Medford Family LP, was proposed for a car wash in 2023 before applicant pulled out due to other business issues.

Some opponents wished the property, located next door to a day care center and near a retail center, would not become commercialized.

But Anderson’s issue was what he said was a lack of clarity in the county code about how close gas stations could be located next to day care centers.

“I see this site as having a lot of conflicts in terms of uses,” he said.

Anderson, an East Cobb resident initially appointed by former Commissioner Jerica Richardson, was reappointed earlier this year by Commissioner Erick Allen, whose District 2 includes the Medford property.

When the application was first filed, the land was in District 3, represented by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell.

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Cobb Foodie Week 2025 sets record for participation

Tin Lizzy's The Avenue East Cobb temporarily closing
Tin Lizzy’s was among the East Cobb restaurants taking part in Cobb Foodie Week.

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Cobb Travel & Tourism’s annual Cobb Foodie Week saw record-breaking participation and engagement this year, celebrating the county’s diverse culinary scene. Held September 6-13, the event achieved impressive year-over-year growth across nearly every category, reflecting the community’s growing appetite for local dining experiences.

This year’s event featured 72 participating restaurants, marking a 26% increase from 2024, and offered 75 exclusive meal deals – a 32% jump from last year. Participants went above and beyond with 1,832 digital pass sign-ups (up 73% from last year) and 300 meal deal redemptions throughout the week.

“Cobb Foodie Week continues to highlight the incredible talent and creativity within our restaurant community,” said Holly Quinlan, President & CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism. “Each year, we see more residents and visitors engaging with the event, both in person and online, which speaks to how strongly people connect with Cobb’s culinary experiences.”

Cobb Foodie Week has become a signature celebration for food enthusiasts and local chefs alike, offering an opportunity for diners to discover new favorites while supporting the county’s thriving culinary scene.

For more information about Cobb Foodie Week and other upcoming events, visit CobbFoodieWeek.com or follow @TravelCobb on social media.

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‘Community Coffee and Protest’ group gathering in East Cobb

'Community Coffee and Protest' group gathering in East Cobb

For the last few weeks East Cobb and Roswell residents have been gathering in front of the Trader Joe’s at Pine Straw Plaza—where anti-Trump protests took place this summer—”to bring the resistance to their own neighborhood corner” on a regular basis.

The group calls itself “The Dissenters,” and they meet every Saturday from 8-10 a.m. at the Johnson Ferry-Roswell intersection in what’s being called the “Community Coffee and Protest” initiative. Organizers provide free coffee and donuts as participants “engage in community building and peaceful advocacy on rotating weekly themes.”

The group was formed by four women who met on their neighborhood corner with coffee and donuts, as well as political signs.

“We believe real change starts with neighbors who know each other’s names and show up for each other consistently,” said East Cobb resident, Jennifer Schwert, founder of Community Coffee and Protest, in a release the group sent out this week.

“Big rallies are important, but sustainable change happens when you build genuine community networks at the local level.” 

East Cobb News has left a message seeking more specific information about what “The Dissenters” are dissenting about, how they define what they call “the resistance,” and how many people have turned out for their events thus far.

Schwert said on the group’s website that she got the idea to do something after the 2024 elections, and had around 200 names of  “women and LGBTQIA+ people across metro Atlanta—all of us furious, all of us ready to fight back” but not sure how to proceed.

Based on previous gatherings, their events favor advocacy of politically liberal positions on such issues as immigration and gun control and opposition to Trump Administration actions.

“Last week, community members who are DACA recipients approached the group to express gratitude for neighbors taking a public stand on issues affecting local families and lives,” the release said. 

[DACA means Deferred Action for Childhood Arrrivals, who are the children of illegal immigrants but who have generally been granted a reprieve from deportation.]

“The initiative is intentionally unaffiliated with any political organization, focusing instead on building grassroots community networks that can respond to local needs and concerns.”

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Town Center CID unveils murals along Noonday Creek Trail

Town Center CID unveils murals along Noonday Creek Trail

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Last Saturday, the Town Center Community debuted two new murals along the Noonday Creek Trail with a public Art Walk and artist meet-and-greet at the Bells Ferry Trailhead. The event highlighted the work of muralists Kelsey Wishik and Leigh Ann Culver, whose installations will reshape the corridor into a vibrant cultural destination. 

In addition to the Art Walk, the celebration marked the 10th anniversary of the Town Center Community Bikeshare, sponsored by Georgia Power, with a bike pop-up, the announcement of the Bikeshare Anniversary Sweepstakes winners, and family-friendly activities. Visitors can connect with the muralists, see their installations up close, and enjoy an energizing morning outdoors.

About the Muralists

  • Kelsey Wishik, a graduate of UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, explores growth, connectivity, and transformation through painting, sculpture, movement, and music. Her work draws on natural systems and cultural traditions, with exhibitions ranging from neighborhood galleries to international venues. Her newest mural will include wrapping a bridge support beam in bold blocks of color and floral motifs, creating a dynamic and uplifting visual. Her mural will be completed by October 11.
  • Leigh Ann Culver, an Atlanta-based artist, is known for evocative portraits and charcoal works rooted in Southern history. Her mixed-media pieces appear across Georgia, reflecting human stories that connect past and present. Culver will turn the adjacent embankment into a serene setting with stained glass-inspired panels and candle imagery, bringing “light” beneath the bridge. Her mural will be completed by October 20.

“The Noonday Creek Trail has become a place where art, nature, and active living intersect,” said Jennifer Hogan, Director of Community Engagement at Town Center Community. “Marking 10 years of bikeshare alongside these new works demonstrates how shared spaces can inspire creativity, connection, and healthier communities.”

The gathering also marks the 10th anniversary of the Town Center Bikeshare Program, the first CID-led bikeshare program in Georgia. Since its 2015 launch, the program has become a fixture in the area, surpassing 100,000 rides and recently adding e-bikes to make cycling more accessible. 

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East Cobb Publix store sells $30K Mega Millions lottery ticket

Submitted information:

A Georgia Lottery player won $30,000 in the Oct. 7 Mega Millions drawing with a ticket purchased at Publix, 4750 Alabama Road in Roswell. The ticket matched four of the five numbers plus the Mega Ball and had a built-in 3X multiplier, tripling the prize from $10,000 to $30,000. The winning numbers were 17-26-33-45-56 with a Mega Ball of 2. The next drawing will be Oct. 10 with an estimated jackpot of $575 million.

In addition, a Lindale resident won $15,000 playing the Pumpkin Plunder Diggi Game on the Georgia Lottery mobile app and a Powder Springs player won $10,00 playing Jackpot Spectacular on the website, both on Oct. 7.

As with all Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Mega Millions and Diggi Games benefit education in the state of Georgia. 

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