Month: January 2026

Light flurries fall on East Cobb as extreme cold moves in

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Light flurries fall on East Cobb as extreme cold moves in

The amount of snowfall forecast for Cobb County is turning out to be less than projected in this weekend’s winter storm, but very cold temperatures could make travel hazardous into Sunday morning.

Light flurries began falling in East Cobb mid Saturday morning, with little initial accumulation. The National Weather Service is forecasting that less than an inch of snow overall is expected as the precipitation continued through mid Saturday afternoon.

But dropping temperatures and high wind gusts not only will make it feel like below zero.

Some businesses and events were closed or canceled on Saturday, including Cobb County libraries and all Cobb County School District extracurricular events.

We’re starting to get some announcements about Sunday plans at churches, and will update them here:

  • Eastminster Presbyterian—Regular 9 and 11:15 am, as well as all scheduled activities will go ahead.
  • Mt. Zion United Methodist—All Sunday worship and activities canceled
  • Wesley Chapel United Methodist—All Sunday worship and activities canceled
  • St. Catherine’s Episcopal—All Sunday activities will take place, including 8:30 and 11 a.m. services
  • Eastside Church—All Sunday activities will take place, including 11 a.m. service
  • Grace Resurrection Methodist—11 a.m. worship will take place
  • Johnson Ferry Baptist—In-person services will take place at 10 and 11:30, no 8:30 service
  • East Cobb United Methodist—All Sunday worship and activities will take place
  • Mt. Bethel Church—In-person worship will take place at 11 a.m. only; all other services and activities are canceled
  • St. Andrew United Methodist—All Sunday worship and activities are canceled

Let us know about your church or other activities for Sunday, and send us any weather pictures: editor@eastcobbnews.com. If you see any downed tree or power lines or road issues, please let us know and we’ll s spread the word.

We haven’t heard anything from Cobb DOT or other sources about road or power issues on Saturday.

Cobb is in an extreme cold weather warning area from 7 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday.

Saturday’s high is only in the mid 20s, with a low Saturday of around 13, and a wind chill factor of minus -3 degrees.

On Sunday, the sun will return with a high around 32, with also with a wind chill factor of minus -3 and wind gusts up to 30 mph. Sunday night’s low will be around 20, and then a warming trend comes through the area early next week. Tuesday’s high is expected to be in the mid-50s.

For more local weather information, click here.

 

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Students walk out at Sprayberry and Wheeler to protest ICE

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Students walk out at Sprayberry and Wheeler to protest ICE
A still photo of Sprayberry HS students protesting ICE from video shot by Andrew Register.

Students at a number of Cobb County high schools walked out of classes and other school activities Friday afternoon to protest federal immigration operations in Minnesota that havd galvanized opposition across the country.

Dozens of students at Sprayberry High School in East Cobb gathered at the intersection of Sandy Plains Road and Piedmont Road, across from the school, holding signs and getting motorists to honk in support.

Local videographer Andrew Register sent us the footage below and the photos in this post from the Sprayberry protest that included interviews with some students.

A smaller group of students gathered outside Wheeler High School on Holt Road in East Cobb on Friday afternoon as well, as students around Georgia coordinated protests agains the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency raids in the Minneapolis area.

Sprayberry Principal David Church

Two protesters there were shot and killed in recent weeks by U.S. Border Patrol agents involved in activities to remove illegal immigrants.

The Cobb County School District issued a statement early this week saying that students who disrupted class activities would be subject to its student code of conduct, including out-of-school suspension and “the potential loss of parking privileges, sports, and extracurricular privileges. Each has long-lasting impacts that could be taken into account by college admission offices and future employers.”

Students organizing the walkouts complained that threatened their free-speech rights, and Cobb students published an open letter demanding mental-health services due to “immigration-related stress” but the school district did not respond.

On Wednesday Sprayberry principal David Church wrote an open letter to the school community saying that he and his staff met with students and staff, as well as parents, “to help students find ways to share their voice, support causes they care about and express their views, all while staying within the guidelines of the school district.

“I am proud of our students for having the courage to come forward with their ideas and questions.”

Church added in his letter that proceeds from the Sprayberry Student-Principal Advisory Committee’s winter dance on Thursday will be used “to support a group benefitting local families and children.”

A message posted by a Wheeler student protest organizer after the walkout Friday expressed disappointment with the turnout, “as this morning, admin had threatened students again through announcements, and many felt scared to walk out—but we would advise you not to be discouraged.

“We see all of you, and we are so grateful to have members of our community that have the compassion and motivation to speak up for what is right,” said the message, which did not include any names.

“Today’s events should not be seen as signs of failure, but rather as an increasingly evident fact that there is still so much work to do, and that we have to realize we have more power than we think.”

The Wheeler student message said that Principal Sara Fetterman “has spoken about other opportunities and alternatives that we can pursue to be civically engaged, and we encourage students to work together to find out more ways to stand up for this cause.”

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Cobb added to winter storm warning as DOT pretreats roads

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Cobb added to winter storm warning as DOT pretreats roads

Cobb DOT crews are pretreating major roads on Friday as the county was added to a winter storm warning, and with the possibility of two inches of snow or more in the forecast.

Cobb County government said late Friday morning that the brine pretreating of more than 500 miles major roads will continue through early Saturday morning.

Cobb has been included in a winter storm watch area since Thursday. Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency in Georgia for the second weekend in a row.

The Cobb County School District also announced Friday afternoon that all extracurricular activities scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have been canceled.

Also canceled was the Braves Fest fan event Saturday at Truist Park.

Cobb DOT director Drew Raessler said Friday that crews will be coming in at 3 a.m. Saturday to monitor the weather and “to respond to the weather as it comes.” The shifts will run 12 hours after that “until the worst of the weather passes,” he said.

For the second weekend in a row, those crews have been working around the clock. Last weekend’s ice storm did not result in any road closures, although there were some downed trees.

The National Weather Service has declared the winter storm warning period from 1 a.m. Saturday through 1 a.m. Sunday.

Cobb DOT is urging motorists to avoid travel during this period, as roads are expected to become hazardous and possibly impassible in areas. The agency also wants the roads to be cleared so crews can work ahead of the storm as much as possible.

There’s a 20 percent chance of precipitation overnight Friday, and a 40 percent chance during the day Saturday,k with highs only in the mid-20s.

The Cobb area is expected to get up to two inches of snow, but more snow could fall in localized areas.

Cobb continues to be under a cold weather warning from 7 p.m. Friday to 10. a.m. Sunday.

With temperatures dropping into the low teens, there’s no ice, sleet or freezing rain in the forecast. But with wind chills the weather could feel like it’s below zero Saturday and into Sunday.

The low Saturday will reach around 12 degrees, but the wind chill could make it feel like it’s below zero in some areas.

Sunday will be sunny with a high of 32 and the low will also be the teens before a warming trend comes through the area early next week. Tuesday’s high is expected to be in the mid-50s.

For more local weather information, click here.

 

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Holcaust service at Gritters Library rescheduled for Feb. 11

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Holcaust service at Gritters Library rescheduled for Feb. 11

Submitted by the Cobb County Public Library System after Monday’s event was postponed due to weather:

The Holocaust Remembrance Day program at Gritters Library is rescheduled to Wednesday, February 11 at 1 pm.
The Kennesaw State University Museum of History and Holocaust Education (MHHE), in partnership with Gritters, is presenting the program featuring a talk by Katy Matello, MHHE Educational and Outreach Coordinator. This event honors the victims and survivors of the Holocaust while reaffirming a commitment to stand against hatred in all its forms.
The MHHE exhibit “Enduring Tension: (En)Countering Antisemitism in Every Age” is on display in the library through Wednesday, February 11. This exhibit educates visitors about the history of anti-Semitism in the U.S. and challenges them to consider how they can help combat hate. Through stories and historical context, it sparks dialogue and action toward a more inclusive future.
A link to the “Enduring Tension” exhibit is at digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/mhheexhibits/5.

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Wheeler names new football coach who won Fla. state title

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Wheeler High School’s new head football coach is Travis Roland.Wheeler names new football coach who won Fla. state title

He was introduced on the school’s social media channels on Thursday, and he comes from Camden County High School in South Georgia, where he was 13-8 over the last two seasons.

Roland has a 75-29 record as a high school head coach, and he led Mainland High School of Daytona Beach to the 2023 Florida High School Athletic Association state championship, as well as a runner-up finish in 2022.

His teams at Mainland also were regional quarterfinalists six times and won district championships three times.

Wheeler made a coaching change after the Wildcats finished 3-7 in 2025. Bryan Love was 26-47 in seven seasons and led Wheeler to one playoff appearance, in 2023, with a 7-4 record.

That has been Wheeler’s only winning season since 2018.

Roland came to Camden County, one of Georgia’s most successful high school football programs, in 2024, but was dismissed after the team went 6-4 in 2025 and failed to make the playoffs.

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Cobb included in winter storm watch with snow in forecast

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Cobb included in winter storm watch with snow forecast

Another weekend, another winter storm is in the forecast for Cobb County.

The National Weather Service has extended a winter storm watch area to include Cobb from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Sunday.

According to the NWS forecast, up to two inches of snow is possible in some areas, and wind gusts could be as strong as 35 mph.

“Bridges and overpasses could become slick and hazardous,” according to a message from Cobb government Thursday afternoon.

“Residents are urged to delay travel if possible and use extreme caution if travel is necessary.”

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News Thursday afternoon that Cobb DOT is “working on getting crews on standby” for possible treatment of roads, “and we’ll discuss brining or anything tomorrow [Friday] morning.”

An extreme cold watch also in effect for the same time period, as temperatures in most of north Georgia could drop below zero with the wind chill.

Friday’s high will be much like Thursday’s, in the mid-40s, but there’s a 20-30 percent chance of precipitation in the Cobb and metro Atlanta area from Friday night into Saturday.

Friday’s low will be around 20, and Saturday’s high is expected to reach only into the mid-20s.

The weather will clear out on Saturday afternoon, but temperatures are expected to fall into the low teens, and possibly lower, with high wind gusts (up to 35 mph in some areas) making it feel like it’s 10 below zero.

Sunday will be sunny with a high of 32 and low back into the teens before a warming trend comes through the area early next week.

By Tuesday the highs are forecast into the high 40s, and there’s a chance of rain Wednesday before sunny weather returns for the rest of the week.

Fore more local weather information, click here.

 

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East Cobb Civic Association participates in Adopt-A-Mile cleanup

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East Cobb Civic Association participates in Adopt-A-Mile cleanup

Submitted information and photo:

The East Cobb Civic Association (ECCA) Board and its members play an important role in shaping Cobb County government decisions, initiatives, zoning and variance rulings that affect East Cobb neighborhoods. By staying engaged, ECCA members remain informed about key votes, meetings, and emerging issues, and are encouraged to actively voice their support or concerns to help protect and strengthen our community.

As part of ECCA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening and beautifying our community, our organization joined the Keep Cobb Beautiful (KCB) Adopt‑a‑Mile program several years ago. Four times each year, ECCA members gather along Johnson Ferry Road to maintain a clean and welcoming one‑mile stretch.

Our first cleanup of 2026 took place on Saturday, January 17, and we were thrilled with the turnout. The Adopt‑a‑Mile program is also an excellent opportunity for Boy Scouts and high school students to earn Community Service credit while making a visible difference in East Cobb.

Three additional cleanup dates are scheduled for 2026: April 18, July 18, and October 17. Volunteers meet at 10:00 a.m. at the back of the Publix parking lot at Johnson Ferry Road and Woodlawn Drive. Please bring gloves—trash bags and vests are provided.

ECCA welcomes all who want to help keep East Cobb beautiful.

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Armed woman shot at Cobb Police HQ in critical condition

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a woman who drew a gun at an officer at the Cobb Police headquarters Wednesday was shot several times and is in critical condition.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

The GBI, which investigates officer-involved shootings in Georgia, said Rebekah Patterson, 26, of Marietta, arrived at the police headquarters on Fairground Street in Marietta at 4 p.m. Wednesday, asking to speak with an officer.

An officer met with her outside the building, in the headquarters parking lot, according to the GBI, who said Patterson pulled out a firearm and pointed it at the officer.

The GBI said in a statement that the officer gave her “multiple verbal commands” to drop the gun, and when she refused, the officer fired at her, “hitting her multiple times.”

The GBI said aid was rendered to Patterson before she was taken to a hospital, where she is listed in critical condition, and that no officers were injured during the incident.

The GBI will turn over its findings in the investigation to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office for review.

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ICE walkout group responds to Cobb school district statement

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ICE walkout group responds to Cobb school district statement
Wheeler is one of three East Cobb high schools with student walkouts announced for Friday.

The organizers of a campaign to conduct immigration-related walkouts at public high schools in metro Atlanta on Friday said that the Cobb County School District is being asked to refuse to cooperate with any enforcement efforts that may take place on campuses.

The group known as abolish.ice.georgia also said the district is being requested to provide “access to counseling and mental health support for students affected by immigration-related stress, as well as staff training on students’ rights and how to respond appropriately if immigration officials appear at school.”

The walkouts are in response to two shooting deaths of civilians and related violence in recent weeks in Minneapolis, where federal immigration authorities—including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE—have been carrying out enforcement activities.

The abolish.ice.georgia group—which has been posting anonymously but claims it’s run by students—also said that “if these concerns are not addressed by Thursday, students will proceed with a peaceful walkout on Friday.”

The message was addressed to “Dear Cobb County School District” and signed by “All Cobb County Students” but no names were included (see below).

The message, posted Wednesday on the group’s Instagram account, is in response to a statement from the Cobb County School District on Tuesday that students who violate its code of conduct will be facing disciplinary action.

The district said that walkouts during the class day would “disrupt school operations and distract students and teachers.”

Walkouts have been announced at several Cobb high schools, including Lassiter, Sprayberry and Wheeler in East Cobb.

All are tentatively scheduled to be held after class periods or blocks, either at main entrances or in the case of Sprayberry, on the football field.

Updated, Thursday, 3:30 p.m.:

In a request for comment from East Cobb News, abolish.ice.georgia said it consists of a small group of three student organizers, and that it is relaying messages from individual school walkout organizers on a social media channel.

“Our role is to help share information, amplify student voices, and promote peaceful protest. We are not a formal organization, nor do we claim to represent every student in the Cobb County School District.”

The response from abolish.ice.georgia—whose individuals are not named—said it could not identify those students at the school level.

“Many of the students involved are minors and have explicitly requested that their identities remain private for safety and personal reasons. We take that responsibility seriously.”

Original story resumes:

In its statement Tuesday, the Cobb school district said that the code of conduct includes “disrupting the instructional day,” and that the consequences include out-of-school suspensions, as well as “the potential loss of parking privileges, sports, and extracurricular privileges. Each has long-lasting impacts that could be taken into account by college admission offices and future employers.”

The district encouraged “families to speak with their children about appropriate civic engagement and the importance of not disrupting school.”

On Wednesday, abolish.ice.georgia claimed that “attempting to silence voices through threats or intimidation do not create safety or trust. They only show who you choose to side with and that student voices are not being heard.”

East Cobb News has left a message with the Cobb school district seeking a response to Wednesday’s abolish.ice.georgia statement.

In its statement to East Cobb News, abolish.ice.georgia said that “at this time, we are not in direct contact with Cobb County School District officials. No formal discussions are taking place regarding calling off the walkouts. Students are making individual decisions about participation, understanding that consequences may apply, and many have expressed that they are prepared for that in order to raise awareness and speak out peacefully.”

ICE has been in Minneapolis in recent weeks as part of a 3,000-troop federal effort to detain illegal immigrants, including the involvement of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Two U.S. Border Patrol agents involved in the fatal shootings have been placed on administrative leave as the Trump Administration is changing leadership for its Minnesota operations.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Cafe Rivkah; Toastique; Atami; more

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Cafe Rivkah, Taste of East Cobb

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

Apple Spice Atlanta Catering
2030 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 368
Jan. 28, 2026, Score: 81, Grade: B

Atami Grill Sushi
2960 Shallowford Road, Suite 311
Jan. 22, 2026, Score: 96, Grade: A

Brazilian Bakery Cafe
1260 Powers Ferry Road, Suite E-115
Jan. 23, 2026, Score: 89, Grade: B

Cafe Rivkah
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2104
Jan. 23, 2026, Score: 93, Grade: A

Chopsticks China Bistro
3822 Roswell Road, Suite 113
Jan. 23, 2026, Score: 80, Grade: B

Domino’s Pizza
2146 Roswell Road, Suite 100
Jan. 22, 2026, Score: 95, Grade: A

Hibachi Stop
2856 Delk Road, Suite 305
Jan. 23, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q
3420 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 100
Jan. 22, 2026, Score: 92, Grade: A

Mercado Latino
279 Powers Ferry Road, Suite F
Jan. 23, 2026, Score: 82, Grade: B

Toastique
4250 Roswell Road, Suite 510
Jan. 23, 2026, Score: 96, Grade: A

Zaxby’s
2756 Sandy Plains Road
Jan. 28, 2026, Score: 91, Grade: A

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Cobb OKs resurfacing projects that include Providence Road

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Providence Road (at right) at the intersection of Pine Road.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved resurfacing contracts for a number of roads in Cobb County, including the full length of Providence Road in East Cobb.

It’s one of 11 major road repaving contracts totaling $11.6 million that will be performed by C.W. Matthews Construction Co. Inc.

Providence Road is 1.25 miles in length, stretching from Roswell Road near East Cobb Park to Roswell Road at the entrance to Merchant’s Walk Shopping Center.

In addition to providing access to subdivisions, it’s also a busy route for Walton High School traffic.

Here’s a list of the other major road resurfacing projects that have been approved.

The funding for that contract comes from the current 2022 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax).

The 2022 SPLOST also is the funding source for four other repaving contracts in the county, totaling $26.7 million, for local roads. They include the following in East Cobb:

  • 1.43 miles of Loch Highland Parkway between Wesley Chapel Road and Mabry Road
  • 0.70 miles of Lassiter Road from Shallowford Road to its dead end
  • 0.62 miles of Murdock Road from Sewell Mill Road to a cul-de-sac in Roswell Downs
  • 0.62 miles of Beverly Hills Drive from Club Valley Drive to Beverly Hills Drive

There are many, many others, in quite a few East Cobb subdivisions, and you can read through them here and here.

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Cobb school district warns students about Friday ICE walkout

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Cobb school district warns students about Friday ICE walkout

The Cobb County School District said Tuesday that students who take part in a planned walkout to protest U.S. immigration actions in Minnesota later this week will be subject to suspension and other disciplinary measures.

The planned protests include Lassiter, Wheeler and Sprayberry high schools in East Cobb, according to abolish.ice.georgia.

It bills itself as a student-run organization that is encouraging students to walk out of their classes Friday to protest the controversy in Minneapolis, where two protesters have been shot and killed in recent weeks by federal agents.

ICE is the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, which has been in Minneapolis in recent weeks as part of a 3,000-troop federal effort to detain illegal immigrants, and whose ranks include the U.S. Border Patrol.

On Saturday, an intensive-care nurse, Alex Pretti, was killed by a Border Patrol officer, two weeks after Renee Good was shot and killed in her vehicle while blocking Border Patrol officers in a Minneapolis street.

Abolish.ICE.Georgia says it’s “not here to cause chaos or disrespect anyone — we are here to stand together as one voice, one community, and one generation that refuses to stay silent.

“When we walk out, we are not skipping class for no reason; we are raising awareness, speaking up for what is right, and showing that we care about the lives and futures of our people. We are stronger when we unite, and our power comes from our unity.”

In a statement issued at its website, the Cobb school district said that any students walking out would be in violation of the district’s student conduct policy.

“Your teachers and principal are focused on teaching and learning,” the district statement said.

“While we respect the right of students to express their views in a non-disruptive way, students are expected to be in class and engaged in learning throughout the school day.”

In addition to suspensions, the punishments listed include “the potential loss of parking privileges, sports, and extracurricular privileges. Each has long-lasting impacts that could be taken into account by college admission offices and future employers.”

Students around the country have been marching to protest the ICE actions in Minnesota. On Monday, President Donald Trump spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey about de-escalating tensions and revamping the federal presence there.

Some school students in DeKalb County conducted walkouts on Friday, including more than 600 at Druid Hills High School.

The abolish.ice.georgia Instagram page includes a graphic indicating that protests are being planned at a number of Cobb high schools.

Among them is Lassiter High School, with a walkout planned after the 4th period Friday at the main school entrance.

At Sprayberry, the protest is slated after thd 3rd block at the football field. The Wheeler protest is also scheduled after the 3rd block at the main school entrance.

Other schools that may have protests in Cobb are at Harrison, Kennesaw Mountain, Allatoona, Campbell, Osborne, South Cobb, McEachern and Marietta high schools.

“This is not about hate it’s about justice, dignity, and human rights,” abolish.ice.georgia said. “We will not let fear control us, and we will not let threats silence us. We are the new generation, and we are awake. We will speak, we will stand, and we will be heard. If they try to divide us, we will stay united. If they try to ignore us, we will become louder. We are here, we are united, and we will not be silenced.”

Cobb Board of Education member John Cristadoro, who represents Post 5 in East Cobb and whose children attend Walton High School, said on his Facebook page late Tuesday that “as a parent of two high school students, I am extremely concerned about messages that have been circulated to children in our county.”

In 2018, the Cobb school district suspended students who walked out to protest a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Those included students at Walton, Pope, Wheeler and Lassiter high schools in East Cobb. During that school day, the district closed off public access and in some cases had law enforcement block entrances to school campuses.

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Pope youth football coach and booster battling dementia

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Pope youth football coach and booster battling dementia

The Pope High School football community is rallying behind one of its leading figures.

Tom Stuetzer, whose sons played for the Greyhounds and who’s been active as a youth coach and official with the program’s booster club, has been diagnosed with an incurable form of dementia at the age of 51 and is facing major medical bills.

Stuetzer is battling behavioral variant frontal temporal dementia (FTD), and friends have set up a fundraiser for some of those expenses.

Stuetzer had to leave his job as the CFO of a DIY art and craft supply company last summer due to his illness, and health insurance doesn’t cover all of the expenses.

The GoFundMe campaign thus far has nearly $155,000; according to the fundraising message Stuetzer can no longer drive or be left alone for extended periods of time. The message also lays out the details of the estimated expenses for his care.

“We would love to see our football family help the Stuetzer family in this time of need,” said a message on the Pope Football Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.

“They are trying to prepare to a future of full time care. We are also asking for prayers of healing and support for Tom and his family.”

Stuetzer and his wife Kerri have athletic backgrounds. He played football at Wake Forest, and she is a member of the Dunwoody High School sports Hall of Fame.

Stuetzer has been involved in coaching in the Pope youth football feeder program and had served on the board and been president of the Pope Touchdown Club.

They are the parents of three children, Ryan (25), Katelynn (22), and John (19). The boys played football and baseball for the Greyhounds, and the youngest is currently on the baseball team at Florida State. Katelynn is a former lacrosse player at Pope who attends Clemson University.

“As the disease has progressed, the children have stepped into roles no young adults expect to carry so early,” the GoFundMe message states. “They help manage finances, schedules, appointments, research, and daily logistics. They advocate for their father, support their mother, and share responsibility for navigating the roadmap ahead, all while working and building their own lives.

“Their strength is steady and rooted in the values Tom and Kerri spent decades instilling.”

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Democrat announces 11th Congressional District candidacy

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Democrat announces 11th Congressional District candidacy
Chris Harden

Chris Harden, an attorney from Cherokee County, has announced his candidacy for the 11th Congressional District of Georgia as a Democrat.

The 11th District includes East Cobb and parts of North Cobb and is represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who is serving his sixth term.

In announcing his campaign, Harden is calling himself “a moderate Democrat focused on results, not rhetoric.” The 11th District is one of the most conservative in Georgia and includes western Cherokee County, as well as Bartow, Gordon and Pickens counties.

Harden’s campaign website can be found by clicking here.

He said his priorities would be strengthening public education, expanding affordable healthcare access and “restoring common sense and stability in government.

“My life is proof that when communities invest in people, families can thrive,” Harden said in his announcement statement that was issued over the weekend.

“But right now, too many families in Northwest Georgia feel like they’re falling behind while chaos and dysfunction dominate our politics. I’m running for Congress to bring common sense back into the conversation — and to focus on real solutions, not shouting matches.”

Harden is one of four Democratic candidates who have announced for the 11th District seat. The others are Chase Lamanick of Kennesaw, Christopher Dale Vines of Atlanta and Barry Wolfert, a real estate professional.

Loudermilk, of Cassville, was re-elected in 2024 with 65 percent of the vote. The only other Republican who has announced is Chris Mora, a Republican Party activist from Pickens County. There is one independent candidate, Natalie Richoz, of Cassville.

The Georgia Congressional primaries will be May 19. Candidate qualifying takes place from March 2-6.

Harden is a native Rossville, Ga., and graduated from Georgia State University. He earned a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta.

He worked as an attorney in juvenile courts in northwest Georgia and founded Harden Law Firm, LLC, an estate planning and probate practice in downtown Woodstock he operates with his wife. They are the parents of triplets.

Harden said he would work to make healthcare and prescription drug costs lower and to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, offering a few more details about that and his other main issues on his website.

“Northwest Georgia deserves a representative who shows up, treats people with respect, and works every single day to make their lives better,” Harden said. “I’m not running to add to the noise—I’m running to cut through it. Together, we can build a future rooted in stability, opportunity, and common sense.”

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East Cobb weather update: Cobb schools to reopen Tuesday

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East Cobb weather update: Cobb schools to reopen Tuesday
An East Cobb News reader-submitted photo of a fallen tree at Indian Hills Country Club.

As roads are clearing around Cobb County on Monday, many activities and business will be back to usual on Tuesday.

The Cobb County School District announced late Monday morning that all Tuesday classes and activities will resume as scheduled.

The same goes for Marietta City Schools and most private schools.

The district said in a statement that “after overnight monitoring of our schools and consultation with Cobb Emergency Services, conditions are expected to be safe for travel and school tomorrow.”

Cobb County government said that all major reads Cobb DOT crews have been treating and monitoring are open, but that “residents are urged to use caution on neighborhood and secondary roads, as road temperatures across the county remain below freezing.”

If you do get out today—and you’re asked to avoid travel if possible—use caution on neighborhood streets and in parking lots which may have some ice and in particular black ice.

Cobb DOT said the storm caused some falling power lines and trees, and that 29 trees around the county blocking roads had to be removed.

All Cobb government offices, including courts and libraries, also will resume their regular schedules Tuesday.

The rain from Winter Storm Fern ended mid-evening on Sunday but temperatures dropped into the 20s overnight, and Monday’s high is only around freezing.

Winds also are high on Monday, with gusts as high as 30 mph. A cold weather advisory will be in effect in Cobb from 8 p.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The sun will remain this week but it will continue to be cold, with Monday’s lows possibly falling into the low teens and Tuesday’s high in the high 30s.

For more local weather details, click here.

Reported power outages in the East Cobb area were rare and sporadic; Cobb EMC is reporting a few outages near the Catholic Church of St. Ann and in the East Piedmont Road area and has sent crews with an estimated restoration time of mid-afternoon Monday.

If you have any other information or photos/videos to share of storm damage, get in touch: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Stay safe, and thanks for your readership!

 

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Former Cobb Galleria reopens as Cobb Convention Center

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Former Cobb Galleria reopens as Cobb Convention Center
Submitted information:

 The Cobb Convention Center Atlanta, formerly Cobb Galleria Centre, has reopened with a new logo after a four-month closure. 
Atlanta’s premier mid-size venue for conventions, trade shows, meetings and special events, Cobb Convention Center has rebranded in the midst of a transformational, $190 million renovation and expansion project.  
The renovation and expansion is happening in phases. Cobb Convention Center closed in September 2025 for an extensive renovation in the exhibit halls, ballroom and common areas. The convention center reopened this month and will remain open throughout 2026 to host trade shows, expos, meetings, conventions and social events in the exhibit halls and ballroom. The expansion project will continue through early 2027. 
The new logo is a dynamic, radial “C” that conveys energy, movement, and connection—reflecting the Cobb Convention Center’s role as a vibrant hub for events in Cobb County and metro Atlanta. Its layered geometry suggests multiple “C”s within, creating a sense of rhythm and architectural precision. 
The completed renovation of the Cobb Convention Center includes the following: 
  • Exhibit Halls – New tunable LED lights with three color temperatures and color-changing capabilities; a new Grab N’ Go market in Hall A and renovated fixed food outlets in the additional three halls; renovated restrooms 
  • Ballroom and prefunction– new carpet, wall coverings, chandeliers, wood finishes, restrooms, lighting systems and speakers 
  • Rotunda – new terrazzo flooring, glass railings, wood finishes (complete) and signature sculptural chandelier (April 2026) 
  • New fixed and digital signage throughout 
  • Renovated, state-of-the-art kitchen with all-new equipment, pastry kitchen and expanded pantry 
The final stages of the demolition of the Galleria Specialty Shops are happening now, which will make way for an 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 boardroom, 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 
For more information, visit cobbconvention.com/where-it-all-comes-together. 

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East Cobb Real Estate: Blackwell Estates home sells for $733K

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East Cobb Real Estate: Blackwell Estates home sells for $733K

This week’s featured home sale is a 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom home in the Blackwell Estates subdivision.

It contains 3,289 square feet on a 0.35-acre lot in the Lassiter High School attendance zone (Simpson MS, Rocky Mount ES) and sold for $733,000 on Jan. 14.

The features include an open floor plan on the main living level, a two-story entry hall, a main-level office and an open kitchen with white cabinetry, granite countertops and a large island with a breakfast bar.

The primary suite upstairs includes a sitting room and a bathroom with double vanities, a separate shower and a soaking tub.

All bedrooms have custom closets, and outdoors, a covered back deck overlooks a large, level yard. Landscaping features include hydrangeas, lilies, roses, and jasmine plants.

Click the middle button below to see more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from Jan. 12-16, 2026 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

4314 Keheley Lake Court, 30066 (Lakewood Colony): $449,900

Lassiter

2309 Wickingham Drive, 30066 (Cambridge Crossing): $638,000

1984 Credence Court, 30066 (Blackwell Estates): $733,000

Marietta

1387 Woodcutt Place, 30062 (The Pines at East Worthington): $475,000

Pope

2942 Graham Gardens Lane, 30062 (Graham Gardens): $1.014 million

285 Ashleigh Terrace, 30062 (Heartwood): $475,000

Sprayberry

2403 Wistful Way, 30066 (Brookview Manor): $918,000

487 Embry Lane, 30066 (Addison Heights): $403,000

3980 Philmont Drive, 30066 (Philmont Estates): $399,900

Walton

297 Greyhaven Lane, 30068 (The Vineyard): $1.4 million

Wheeler

220 Lamplighter Court, 30067 (Fox Hills): $389,000

2952 Chipmunk Trail, 30067 (The Village): $349,000

489 Little Road, 30067 (Princess Square): $235,000

1940 Oak Ridge Court, 30062 (Woodmont): $525,000

708 Hanover Lane, 30067 (Covered Bridge): $225,000

213 Indian Trail, 30067 (Sewell Manor): $391,000

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East Cobb Sunday storm update: Some ice; cold weather advisory

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East Cobb Sunday storm update: Some ice; cold weather advisory

A reader in the Wellington Forest neighborhood (off Murdock Road) sent us this photo of his deck that he took Sunday morning, after the first wave of Winter Storm Fern came through East Cobb.

He said the measured ice accumulation was around an eighth of an inch, and that amount is similar to what’s been reported in this part of metro Atlanta.

Heavier amounts are being reported in northeast Georgia, so we were spared far worse.

As of this writing there are no road closures or downed tree or power lines in the East Cobb area that we know of; if you know otherwise, let us know: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Some stores, restaurants and businesses are open Sunday, but you’re best advised to contact them for their hours.

At the bottom of this post are some local openings/delays/closures for Monday.

Cobb government is asking residents to stay off the roads if possible so DOT trucks can continue treating major roads (totaling 500 miles) before more serious icing occurs Sunday night.

Again, Cobb county government and schools are closed on Monday, and most private schools in East Cobb also have called off all classes and activities on Monday. Among them are Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, which announced the news this way:

Related coverage:

Highs today have been in the low 40s, but Cobb is included in a cold weather advisory from 4 a.m. Monday until 10 a.m. Monday.

Rain is continuing through Sunday evening, and then freezing temperatures will continue through Monday and into Tuesday, with wind chills possibly hovering around zero.

Low temperatures Sunday night are forecast to be around 20 degrees, with a slight chance of showers and patchy fog.

As Monday daylight breaks, it will be partly cloudy, then sunny, but highs are expected to be only around 32 degrees.

Monday night will be as cold as it has been in a long while, in the low teens, with clear skies.

Tuesday will be sunny and cold, also in the high 30s, with lows in the low 20s, and Wednesday will be similar.

High temperatures may not get above 40 degrees all week.

For more local weather information, click here.

In case of power outages . . .

Utility companies also have set up outage channels to provide information and take outage reports from customers.

As of late Sunday afternoon there are a handful of outages reported in East Cobb by the two major electric providers in our area.

Here’s the link to Georgia Power’s storm center; and here’s the link to Cobb EMC’s storm center.

East Cobb News will have a new post on Sunday as the storm comes through, and as we are able to update should there be power outages affecting us as well.

Monday openings/delays/closings

Here’s a partial list of what some businesses and other organizations have decided to do Monday, and we’ll have a fresh updated list in a Monday post:

  • Montrose Animal Hospital—Delayed opening, hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Righeous ‘Que—Closed
  • Johnson Ferry Baptist Church—Closed; all activities canceled
  • Burn Boot Camp—Classes from 4:45-9:45 a.m. canceled; child care open 12-6:30 p.m.
  • Rise Coffee and Tea—Closed
  • Club Pilates Merchants Walk and East Cobb—Early morning classes canceled
  • StandUp Family Medicine—Closed
  • East Cobb Pediatrics—Closed
  • Tritt Animal Hospital—Opening at 12:30 p.m.
  • LGE Community Credit Union–Opening at 11 a.m.
  • élon Salon–Opening at 11 a.m.
  • Celebree School East Cobb—Closed
  • Andretti Indoor Karting—Closed
  • Apricot Lane Boutique—Closed
  • East Cobb/Northeast Cobb YMCA—Both branches are delaying openings to 12 p.m.
  • Dentistry at East Piedmont—Closed
  • Soma Studio—Morning classes canceled
  • Lassiter Animal Hospital—Delayed opening to 10 a.m.
  • Abbadabba’s—Closed
  • Credit Union of Georgia–Delayed opening at 11 a.m.
  • Stretch Zone—Closed
  • Sculpted Body Studio—First classes at 9:30 a.m.
  • Orangetheory Fitness—First classes at 11:15 a.m.
  • East Cobb Prep—Closed
  • Delta Community Credit Union–Closed
  • Milan Eye Center–Closed

Again, if you have photos, videos to share, as well as details of any road or debris issues, send them to us and we’ll add them to our coverage: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Stay safe, and thanks for your readership!

 

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East Cobb Saturday storm update: Cobb schools closed Monday, more

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East Cobb Saturday weather update: Forecast, closings, more

Updated Saturday, 5:05 p.m.:

The Cobb County School District has announced that all classes and activities are canceled on Monday. Here’s the full statement:

This decision follows an update from the National Weather Service issued Saturday afternoon, as well as from the Governor’s office, which forecasts dangerous conditions for Monday morning. They anticipate the possibility of significant ice accumulation, dangerous driving conditions, high winds, and dangerously low temperatures. 

While all schools and district offices are closed, annual operational staff should consult theReporting to Work on Inclement Weather Days directionsfrom Human Resources or your supervisor. In any case, no team member should attempt to report to work if the route is unsafe. 

We will continue to monitor conditions and share updates as needed on Monday. 

Stay tuned to CTLS Parent, your school’s website, and our social media feeds for the very latest updates. 

Original post, 1:40 p.m.

We’re going to keep everything related to Saturday’s ice storm coverage on this post. More recent information will be posted at the top; please scroll down for more detailed information on closings, the forecast, etc.

Let us know what’s going on in your area—e-mail us at editor@eastcobbnews.com or text/call 404-219-4278.

For the time being, the National Weather Service is forecasting that the Cobb area can expect to get between a quarter-inch to a half-inch of ice accumulations.

Many businesses closed Saturday altogether, and just about everything scheduled for Sunday—including church worship services—are canceled or are going online.

Cobb government, as we noted Friday, will be closed through Monday, including courts. The Cobb County School District has not updated its notice on Thursday that it will be making a decision about Monday classes and activities until Sunday afternoon.

Related coverage:

The latest weather conditions

Here’s the full local weather forecast for the coming days.

Winds are already gusting too, up to 25 mph in some places locally, according to the NWS, hastening the chance of downed trees and power lines.

The rain/freezing rain will continue through Saturday night and into early Sunday, with a 100 percent, chance, and Saturday’s low around 30.

Sunday’s high will be only in the high 30s, with a 70-100 percent chance of rain/freezing rain. That will taper off to a 40 percent chance Saturday night, with lows dropping into the high 20s.

That’s the danger zone in the forecast, going into Monday morning. Although the sun will return on Monday, the high may not go above freezing, and low temperatures when you wake up could be in the teens. Wind chills could make conditions feel below zero.

Residents should have finalized plans for sheltering in place at least through Monday, with enough food and water for a few days, as well as extra blankets and related measures to stay warm should the power go out.

In case of power outages . . .

Utility companies also have set up outage channels to provide information and take outage reports from customers.

Here’s the link to Georgia Power’s storm center; and here’s the link to Cobb EMC’s storm center.

East Cobb News will have a new post on Sunday as the storm comes through, and as we are able to update should there be power outages affecting us as well.

More church closings

We included some churches in a post above that announced Friday they were canceling or holding services online, and since then we’ve heard from a few more. If there are online services, check the church website, Facebook or YouTube channels for times and details:

  • Chattahoochee Baptist Church—Sunday service canceled
  • Cumberland Community Church—Sunday in-person services canceled; online service at 10 a.m.
  • Chestnut Ridge Christian Church—Sunday in-person service canceled; online worship at 11 a.m.
  • Mt. Zion UMC—Sunday services canceled; 11 a.m. live online worship (unless there’s a power outage)
  • Catholic Church of St. Ann—Sunday and Monday Masses canceled
  • Eastminster Presbyterian Church—Sunday services canceled
  • Eastside Church—Sunday services canceled
  • Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church—Sunday activities canceled
  • Faith Lutheran Church—Sunday activities canceled
  • Episcopal Church of the Annunciation—Sunday and Monday activities canceled
  • Piedmont Road Church of Christ—Sunday services canceled
  • Mount Paran Church of God North—Sunday services canceled
  • Grace Resurrection Methodist Church—Sunday service canceled
  • Zion Baptist Church–Sunday services and activities canceled

 

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Cobb added to ice storm warning as road preparations begin

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Cobb added to ice storm warning as road preparations begin
Cobb DOT crews roll out trucks Friday for pre-brining treatment on major reads. Cobb DOT screengrab

Cobb DOT crews will begin to treat major roads in the county before Winter Storm Fern makes its way through the Southeast Saturday.

Cobb County was added to a ice storm warning area Friday, with a quarter-inch to an inch of ice possible through north and central Georgia.

Some forecast maps have East Cobb in an area with ice accumulations projected to be between a quarter-inch and a half-inch.

Rain is expected to begin falling by Saturday evening and will continue through the weekend as temperatures fall below freezing.

The warning period begins Saturday at 1 p.m. and continues to 10 a.m. Monday, with the brunt of the storm coming through late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

Many events have been canceled and church and government closures have been announced, some through all day Monday.

Cobb County School District extracurricular events have been called off for Saturday and Sunday and a decision on Monday classes and activities is expected by Sunday afternoon.

Citizens are asked to complete their pre-storm preparations, including food shopping, fueling and safety measures, by Saturday morning.

Related coverage:

Cobb DOT director Drew Raessler said Friday that brine pre-treating will take place on major roads first, with the priority to have to those routes available for first responders answering service calls and for road and utility crews to do cleanup work.

Cobb officials said Friday that brining will begin on Saturday, with round-the-clock maintenance crews on hand until the roads are passable.

As the ice accumulates Saturday into Sunday, Raessler said, the roads will then be treated with a salt-gravel mix “throughout the night, and they will be working 24 hours, until the weather breaks.”

With ice accumulations and wind gusts likely to contribute to power outages and downed trees, “being able to keep those roads open is especially important,” he said.

Cobb DOT will be using a new brining machine that can pump out 10,000 gallons of brine an hour, increasing the available supply significantly. The department also will be employing portable road temperature sensors to supplement stationary sensors to help determine where to apply necessary treatment.

“Stay home if you don’t need to get out,” said J.D. Lorens, the Cobb DOT deputy director. “Don’t put yourself in a position where you have to be rescued from a local road.”

The Cobb Emergency Management Agency said in a social media posting Friday that “many side streets, subdivisions, private drives, etc., will not be treated so the risk of sliding off the road or being in an accident is still very high.”

Saturday’s high will be in the low 40s, and temperatures will begin dropping by late afternoon as the precipitation arrives.

There’s a 100 percent chance of rain and freezing rain Saturday night, with lows in the high 20s.

Overnight Sunday is when the storm is forecast to make its way through Cobb. Another 100 percent chance of rain is on tap for Sunday, with highs only in the high 30s.

The chance of rain will drop to 50 percent by Sunday night, but so will the temperatures, with lows in the low 20s to high teens.

Monday will be sunny and clear, with highs around 32, and lows could drop into the single-digits Monday night.

Tuesday also will be sunny but not much warmer, with highs in the mid 30s and lows around 20.

For more local weather information, click here.

Let us know what’s going on in your area—e-mail us at editor@eastcobbnews or text/call 404-219-4278.

Cobb added to ice storm warning as road preparations begin

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