Wendy Parker, Author at East Cobb News

Northeast Cobb Business Association to hold 5K-9 event

June 7, 2021 8:05 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The North Cobb Business Association is proud to present the 6th annual 5K-9 Race and introduce The Barking Lot street market! This great fundraiser is a pet friendly, socially distanced event which raises money to purchase a service animal for Cobb County Students and Residents. The event will take place at Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Church, Marietta.

The race was founded when the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office lost one of its beloved canines. NCBA wanted to start a fundraiser to aid the purchase of a service dog for the Sheriff’s Office. Thus, the 5K-9 Race was born. Since its founding, the 5K-9 event has raised money to provide service and support dogs for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, the Cobb County Police Department, US Military Veteran, a student with autism, and most recently, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

This year, for the first time in the event’s history, TWO service dogs will be placed with residents. The first recipient is a Cobb County student who struggles with autism. The second is a young woman living in Cobb County who has suffered multiple car accidents leaving her with partial paralysis.

Join us in supporting this very worthwhile fundraising event on June 12. For Race Sponsorship, click here. For Runner Registration, click here. For Barking Lot Registration, click here.

For more information, visit northeastcobbba.com/events.

NCBA K5-9

Cobb non-profits team up to provide COVID-19 prevention kits

June 6, 2021 1:57 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb non-profits COVID prevention kits

Submitted information and photo:

Tommy Nobis Center, a Marietta-based nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment, produced 10,000 COVID prevention kits over the course of the last nine months. Kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and COVID education materials were provided to neighboring partner nonprofits to distribute to individuals they serve who were significantly impacted by the pandemic. This included senior citizens, homeless persons, families in poverty, adults with disabilities, women and children experiencing abuse and/or neglect, and individuals in recovery from substance abuse.

Nonprofit organizations that received the kits included liveSAFE Resources, Sweetwater Mission, Special Needs Cobb, Ser Familia, Walton Communities, The Center for Family Resources, The Zone, Freedom Church, and Next Step Ministries.

The initiative which was made possible by the generous support from the Cobb County Community Development Block Grant created employment opportunities for people with disabilities that Tommy Nobis Center serves.

“We are thankful for Cobb County CDBG’s investment in our local community,” says Dave Ward, President and CEO of Tommy Nobis Center. “This project put people to work while helping Cobb County’s most vulnerable stay safe.”

Town Center at Cobb to hold American Red Cross blood drive

June 6, 2021 2:04 PMJune 6, 2021 11:00 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: East Cobb orthdontist blood drive

Supporting the highest blood donor shortage since COVID-19 hit, Town Center at Cobb will hold an American Red Cross blood drive from Weds, June 9-Thurs, June 10 from 12-5 p.m.

Blood donations provide patients with necessary, life-saving treatment. According to the American Red Cross:

Someone needs blood every two seconds in the U.S.

One in seven hospital patients need blood

Just one pint of blood can save up to three lives

Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed in the U.S. every day

Approximately 38% of red blood cells are needed in the U.S. every day

The American Red Cross supplies approximately 40% of the nation’s blood supply

WHERE: Town Center at Cobb – Upper Level JCPenney Wing
400 Ernest Barrett Pkwy
Kennesaw, GA 30144

WHEN: Weds, June 9-Thurs, June 10
12-5 p.m.

HOW: Visit redcrossblood.org using sponsor code ‘tcac’ to schedule an appointment in advance. Donors receive a free gift while supplies last. Appointments are recommended but are not required.

The Red Cross is following FBA blood donation eligibility guidance for potential donors who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. To determine eligibility, donors that have received a vaccine should know the name of the manufacturer. To learn more, please visit redcrossblood.org.

For more information on these events, visit bit.ly/tcc-blood-drive.

Cobb COVID cases continue fall below ‘high community spread’

June 5, 2021 3:04 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb COVID community spread — *Source: Cobb GIS. For more Cobb COVID graphics and data, **click here**.*

In recent weeks the community spread of COVID-19 in Cobb County has dropped well below a key barometer.

What public health officials call “high community spread” is a 14-day average of 100 confirmed cases per 100,000 people.

Cobb figures haven’t been below that threshold since late last summer, but as case rates plummet that line was crossed in mid-May (as indicated in dotted yellow line above). The Cobb GIS office compiled that data, and you can see more by clicking here.

At the end of last month, that number was 52. As of Friday, the 14-day average in Cobb was 39, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, which posts a daily status report.

Similar trends are taking place across Georgia and the United States, as mask mandates and other restrictions are being lifted.

The drop in case rates from the start of the year was just as precipitous as its climb at the start of winter. The 14-day high of 980 was on Jan. 3, right as vaccines were being rolled out.

By the start of February, the 14-day average had dropped nearly in half, and by a similar rate by the end of the month, when that metric was 264.

Earlier this week, the Cobb County School District announced that masks will be optional for students and staff for summer school and the 2021-22 school year.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, there have been more than 61,000 confirmed cases in Cobb County, and 994 confirmed deaths, according to Cobb and Douglas Public Health.

In Georgia, there have been 897,240 cases during that time, and 18,144 deaths. Cobb’s death total is the third-highest in the state, behind Fulton (1,324) and Gwinnett (1,108).

The Cobb GIS update includes COVID-related hospitalization figures that also have fallen dramatically in recent months, from 1,139 in December to under 200 each in the months of March, April and May.

Vaccination rates in Cobb and Georgia continue to lag other states, but have been climbing steadily.

According to the Georgia DPH vaccination dashboard, 37 percent of Cobb citizens (275,884) are “fully vaccinated,” or have been given both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Another 326,617 Cobb residents have received the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, representing 43 percent of the county population.

Across the state 41 percent of Georgians have received at least one dose and 34 percent are considered fully vaccinated.

Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, is scheduled to provide her latest COVID-19 briefing to the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.

Gritters Library to hold free vision screenings for children

June 5, 2021 2:21 PMJune 5, 2021 12:15 PM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Vision To Learn mobile clinic will visit Gritters Library, 880 Shaw Park Road, on June 14, June 15, and June 16. Clinic hours are 9:30 am – 3:30 pm.

Vision To Learn is a national nonprofit that provides free vision screenings, eye exams and free glasses for children in need. The 2021 summer break clinic visits will operate under health and safety protocols of Vision To Learn and Cobb County. Registration is required and space is limited.

For the VTL at Gritters registration forms, visit www.cobbcounty.org/library/news/vision-learn-back-register-now-free-eye-exams-and-glasses-space-limited.

The generosity of Vision To Learn and VTL supporters has resulted in more than 900 eye exams in Cobb County with over 600 children receiving free glasses. Vision To Learn has provided mobile clinic visits at Cobb libraries since mid-2018.

The VTL events at Cobb Libraries’ are part of collaboration with Learn4Life, Metro Atlanta Regional Education Partnership to make our region a more equitable and prosperous community.

For information on Gritters Library programs, visit cobbcounty.org/library or call 770-528-2524.

Cobb schools to continue summer meal kit distribution service

June 5, 2021 2:15 PMJune 5, 2021 9:14 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

School may be out for the summer, but Cobb Schools will continue to dish out food for students through July 21. Just as they did during the school year, Cobb’s Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) team will provide meal kits for students at no charge, thanks to waivers from the USDA.

Families will be able to pick up the meal kits for children ages 0-18 on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. at one of six school locations. Check here on pick-up day to verify the location and time and make sure your location is still available.

Cobb Schools Summer Meal Kit Pick Up Locations, which are subject to change:

Clarkdale Elementary School

Clay Harmony Leland Elementary School

Daniell Middle School

King Springs Elementary School

North Cobb High School

Smitha Middle School

Meal kits will include food for breakfast and lunch to help fuel student success on the go. When families arrive at one of the six designated school locations, they will tell the Cobb Schools FNS team member how many meal kits are needed, and the team member will place the meal kits in the trunk or backseat of the car. The FNS team is proud to offer meal kits with items that can be reheated at home. Reheating instructions and a menu will be provided in meal kits for appropriate consumption of meals.

Summer Meal Kit Reminders:

Meal Kits are available at no charge to all children ages 0-18.

Children do not need to be enrolled in the Cobb County School District, Summer School, or Summer Learning Quest to receive Meal Kits at no charge.

Check back here on pickup day to ensure your location is still available as a pickup location.

The last day of the Cobb Schools Summer Meal Kits pickups will be July 21st.

Families may pick up meal kits for children at one location.

Children do not need to be present in the car.

For students that are enrolled in Summer School:

Meals will be provided on-site at no charge.

Additional drink and snack items will be available for purchase in school cafés.

Families with additional questions can email Meals@cobbk12.org or call the Cobb Schools FNS team at 770-426-3380.

East Cobb food scores: Cazadores; Laredo’s; Menchies; more

June 4, 2021 2:21 PM by Wendy Parker

Cazadores, East Cobb food scores

The following East Cobb food scores for the week of May 31 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Arby’s
4367 Roswell Road
June 1, 2021 Score: 91, Grade: A

Cazadores Mexican Restaurant
3165 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite D-2
June 3, 2021 Score: 81, Grade: B

Laredo’s Mexican Bar & Grill
1860 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 400
June 2, 2021 Score: 97, Grade: A

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 205
June 2, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital verified as Level II trauma center

June 4, 2021 2:33 PMJune 4, 2021 9:30 AM by Wendy Parker

Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Department

Submitted information:

Wellstar Health System, one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia with the largest trauma network in the state, announced that Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Trauma Center has been verified as one of only four Georgia Level II Trauma Centers by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement recognizes the Trauma Center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients. Building on Wellstar’s commitment to healthcare excellence, the System was named a top-five finalist for the American Hospital Association’s 2021 Quest for Quality Prize and had 130 physicians – representing almost 26% of the total list – named as Georgia Trend “Top Doctors.”

Wellstar operates the largest trauma network in Georgia, with Wellstar Kennestone’s new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, which opened in July 2020, being one of the largest and busiest in the nation. Wellstar Kennestone provides comprehensive trauma care, with 24/7 access to on-site trauma, critical care trained surgeons, and a wide range of surgical subspecialties to consistently meet the needs of the most seriously injured patients following the highest care, quality and safety standards.

Established by the ACS in 1987, the Committee on Trauma’s (COT) Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers. Participants provide the hospital resources and level of care necessary to address the needs of all injured patients across the entire trauma continuum of care. Trauma center verification provides a structure for trauma care that can raise the overall level of performance throughout a hospital. This prestigious verification recognizes the Wellstar Kennestone Trauma Center’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care for injured patients, spanning community outreach and injury prevention efforts, emergency trauma, operative care, critical care, and rehabilitation.

“Receiving this verification further validates the exceptional life-saving care we provide at Wellstar Kennestone for patients who have suffered from all ranges of traumatic injury,” said Mary Chatman, Wellstar Health System executive vice president and president of Wellstar Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals. “We are so proud of the Trauma Center team’s commitment to ensuring that all patients get the appropriate care in a timely and coordinated manner because our communities rely on Wellstar to provide the very best care for every person, every time.”

Trauma is the leading cause of death and disability between ages 0-44, and the fourth leading cause of death overall. According to the Georgia Trauma Foundation, nine main causes account for 92.1% of trauma in Georgia. The leading causes of major trauma are motor vehicle crashes (37.7%); falls (22.2%); gunshot wounds (8.0%); motorcycle crashes (5.4%); pedestrian incidents (5.2%); assaults (4.3%); accidents (4.0%); stab wounds (2.9%) and all-terrain vehicle crashes (2.4%).

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

East Cobb author’s latest detective mystery novel publishes

June 3, 2021 3:21 PMJune 3, 2021 1:08 PM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: Lance Lo Russo

“Hijacking Justice,” the latest in Lance J. LoRusso’s Blue Mystery series featuring Detective Johnny Till is being released on Friday, June 3, 2021, to subscribers of the Lance LoRusso Books Newsletter. Each week, a new chapter of this police thriller will be released. With a plot similar to today’s headlines, LoRusso draws upon his extensive experience representing over 100 law enforcement officers involved in shootings, in this serial novel portraying a fictionalized world where the fair treatment of our front-line heroes is often sacrificed to feed power hungry politicians and a criminal machine. In this eight-episode story, Detective Johnny Till finds himself thrown in jail and charged with triple murder after being ambushed while visiting Ingram County on the Georgia Coast to help put away a serial rapist. Fans and readers of police mysteries can go to lancelorussobooks.com to sign up for the LoRusso Books Newsletter and read the thrilling chapters of Hijacking Justice as they are released weekly. Regardless of when a person signs up, they will get all the chapters in the order in which they were released. Hijacking Justice is a great easy read for the summer. Readers can also make a donation to the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation that directly benefits and supports our first responders on the frontlines.

“I am very excited and proud to release Hijacking Justice and continue the story of Johnny Till” said author Lance J. LoRusso. “For fans of Hunting of Men, they will love the continuing saga of Johnny and for new readers it will be a captivating read and introduction to the world of the Blue Mystery series. But more importantly, it shows what our brave men and women in blue confront in today’s polarized world.”

In Hunting of Men the first book featuring Johnny Till, LoRusso draws upon his diverse law enforcement background that saw him work the street, serve as a trainer, hostage negotiator, and an investigator. The book launches the career of central character, Johnny Till who will be the key character in all the Blue Mystery books. The book’s title, Hunting of Men, is drawn from Ernest Hemingway’s quote, “There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.” The mystery in Hunting of Men focuses upon a cold case murder.

Johnny Till is a force to be reckoned with as a new homicide detective for the Lawler County Police Department. As tradition demands, on his first day on the job, Till pulls a cold case file to investigate. The file in question is one that has haunted the department and community for years: the cold-blooded murder of Officer Michael Dunlap, gunned down in the black of night some twenty years earlier.

Now, in order to solve the murder and heal the victims left behind, Till must reopen old wounds and retrace the final days of Dunlap’s life. The journey will lead him down a rabbit hole to a darker, more sinister conspiracy, one that threatens to steal the lives of children around the world. In order to close this cold case, Till must not only come into his new role as a homicide detective, but face his own fears to truly become a hunter of men.

LoRusso is a lawyer and former police officer who serves as the general counsel to the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police and Cobb County’s Lodge 13 of FOP. He also the founder of the Cobb Public Safety Foundation, which advocates on behalf of the county’s law enforcement and first responder personnel and their families.

Golden K Kiwanis honors 2021 Silver Pen Award winners

June 3, 2021 2:35 PMJune 3, 2021 9:30 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information and photo:

May of 2021 was the month to honor fourth graders from three elementary schools in Cobb County. Talented fourth grade students from Rocky Mount, Acworth, and Tritt Elementary Schools received the now prestigious Silver Pen Award.

The Silver Pen Awards, now statewide programs, were presented by Jim Perry, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K and Co-Chair of the Silver Pen program as the officers of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K were in attendance for the presentations.

As explained by Jim Perry, “Over 25 years ago, Jack Boone started what was called ‘The Silver Pen Award for fourth graders and all the elementary schools could participate. We gave the kids either a story or an essay question to write about. Each classroom had a winner, and the winning entries were sent to the administration. The administration would then forward them to the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K, where a panel of judges, including educators, made the final selection for the school-wide winner.” Each Silver Pen Award winner received a bag containing: a Silver Pen, a roll of 25 one dollar golden coins, and a special engraved plaque that reads: Silver Pen Writing Award presented by The Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K.

This year’s Silver Pen writing winners are: Aubrey Smothers from Acworth Elementary School, Anna Raciborski from Rocky Mount Elementary School, and Adriana Fernandez from Tritt Elementary School.

Each school as well as parents are very proud of this year’s Silver Pen Award winners, since many exceptional entries were submitted and competition was tough!

Congratulations to all the winners and everyone sincerely hopes that the winning students will continue on with their writing skills.

East Cobb veterinarian, homeless pet advocate dies suddenly

June 2, 2021 2:02 PM by Wendy Parker

Dr. Michael Good

The Homeless Pets Foundation, a Marietta-based non-profit, announced that its founder, veterinarian Michael Good, died Friday after a heart attack.

For more than 40 years, he was the owner of the Town and Country Veterinary Clinic on Gresham Road, and used his clinic to provide temporary shelter for animals without homes and to serve as a hub for other pet advocacy work.

The foundation “was founded to provide a solution to the endless homeless pets population by educating our next generation, providing communities, and businesses a means to get involved and tell their stories,” said a post on the Homeless Pets Foundation Facebook page. “He was our visionary and the voice of the voiceless. Dr. Good seemed invincible to all who knew him and our hearts will forever be filled with adoration.”

He was involved in a variety of fundraisers to pay for the organization’s work. East Cobb realtor Janice Overbeck, who has held Homeless Pet Foundation vaccination clinics at her office on Sewell Mill Road, said in a statement that “his loss leaves a hole in the heart of our community, where he served so many others in countless ways. Dr. Good had the biggest heart for animals of anyone you’ve ever met. It’s practically in his name.”

He founded the Homeless Pets Foundation in 1998 and extended his animal advocacy to include the Underhound Railroad, which claims to have rescued more than 20,000 dogs from kill shelters in the South and sent them for adoption in the Northeast and Canada.

In 2016, Good was fined by $90,000 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for not properly recording the inventory of drugs at his clinic. According to the AJC, Good said the incident was the result of a “witch hunt.”

In 2019, a non-profit with which Good was involved was investigated by the Georgia Veterinary Medicine Board for allegations that orthopedic surgeons trained to operate on humans were performing unlicensed operations on homeless animals.

The board found no violations on Good’s part, and while the non-profit was shut down, Good defended the work of Surgeons for Strays.

Many of the comments on the Homeless Pets Foundation Facebook page thanked Good for his generosity toward their pets. One woman called him an “earth angel for everything he did for our fur friends” while another remembered that he “also personally kept our other cat alive when another vet all but wrote him off. My girl greeted him in heaven for sure because of his organization, she was saved from a kill shelter before we adopted her.”

The Homeless Pets Foundation said a celebration of life service will take place for Good from 2-3 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church in Marietta (148 Church St.), preceded by a visitation from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.

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

12 more East Cobb students earn National Merit Scholarships

June 2, 2021 1:29 PMJune 2, 2021 9:10 AM by Wendy Parker

The following students from East Cobb high schools have been named recipients of National Merit Scholarships that are financed by the colleges and universities of their choice.

Criteria for the scholarships is explained by the NMSC:

To compete for Merit Scholarship awards, Semifinalists first had to advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling additional requirements. Each Semifinalist was asked to submit a detailed scholarship application, which included writing an essay and providing information about extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership positions. Semifinalists also had to have an outstanding academic record, and be endorsed and recommended by a high school official. From the Semifinalist group, some 16,000 met requirements for Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will be Merit Scholarship winners in 2021.

The recipients listed below include their high schools, college destinations and likely career fields indicated on their scholarship applications:

Sai Anoop Avunuri, Walton, University of Georgia, computer science;
Eric Brewster, Walton, University of Florida, finance;
Caroline G. Brooks, Walton, University of Georgia, criminology;
Matthew L. House, Wheeler, University of Georgia, computer programming;
Caroline K. Hugh, Wheeler, University of Chicago, urban/city planning;
Anushka Jain, Wheeler, Emory University, quantitative analysis;
Alexander W. Krupp, Walton, Arizona State University, computer science;
Samuel A. Maloney, Wheeler, University of South Carolina, political science;
Allison D. Mawn, Sprayberry, University of Georgia, journalism;
Aniketh S. Tadepalli, Wheeler, University of Alabama-Birmingham, medicine;
Charles M. Yu, Wheeler, Purdue University, aerospace engineering;
Aidan C. Payne, Lassiter, University of Alabama, applied mathematics.

Masks optional in Cobb schools for summer, 2021-22 year

June 1, 2021 7:38 PMJune 1, 2021 6:08 PM by Wendy Parker

The Cobb County School District on Monday updated its COVID-19 health guidelines to make face masks optional starting June 7.

That’s the start of the district’s summer schedule, and a release issued Monday afternoon said the masks-optional policy will continue for students and employees for the 2021-22 academic year, which begins Aug. 2.

“Any individual wishing to continue wearing a mask while attending school and/or school events should feel free to do so,” the district said.

The district’s decision came after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Monday announced new guidelines saying that fully vaccinated people could go without masks both indoors and outdoors.

On May 13 Cobb schools dropped the mask mandate for vaccinated staff and students for the last two weeks of the 2020-21 school year, and also did not specify any proof of vaccination procedures.

“Fully vaccinated” status applies to individuals two weeks after they receive the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after the sole dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The Cobb school district opened the 2020-21 school year online-only until October, then imposed a mask mandate for all students and staff on campuses, as well as for extracurricular activities, including outdoor sporting events.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, the Cobb school district has reported a total of 5,224 cases of the virus among students and staff.

The weekly figures have been dropping sharply since the first of the year. For the week of Jan. 15, that total was 470, the highest for any week in the district.

During that time, three Cobb school teachers and classroom staffers died, including a paraprofessional at Sedalia Park Elementary School on the day of a Cobb Board of Education meeting.

Public commenters urged the district to go back to online-only classes and some admonished Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and board members David Chastain and David Banks of East Cobb for not wearing masks at meetings.

But the district did not change its hybrid learning options.

By the first of March, the weekly case count figures had dropped roughly in half. By late April, they were under 100 a week, and in the final week of the school year in late May a low of 44 new cases was reported.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, one-third of all Georgians are considered fully vaccinated (7.368 million doses) against COVID-19.

In Cobb County, 35 percent are fully vaccinated (264K with second doses) and 42 percent haved received one dose (317K).

Some Cobb parents filed a lawsuit against the district for its mask mandate, saying it was negatively affecting the breathing of their children and was creating “separate but unequal” learning environments.

A federal judge in Atlanta rejected their request for a temporary restraining order for the rest of the 2020-21 school year, and last week the parents dropped the lawsuit after Ragsdale said he expected the coming school year to be masks-optional.

The district will offer virtual learning for students for the coming school year but has not indicated how many of them have chosen that option.

For the spring semester, nearly two-thirds of the district’s 107,000 students attended classes in person.

Planning Commission punts on Sprayberry Crossing rezoning

June 1, 2021 11:41 AM by Wendy Parker

After hearing the complicated Sprayberry Crossing rezoning case for the third month in a row, the Cobb Planning Commission decided on Tuesday to make no recommendation about whether rezoning should be approved or denied.

After hearing the latest site plan revisions and being briefed about last-minute meetings to create a signalized main entrance to the proposed mixed-use development on Sandy Plains Road, the three members of the planning board who were in attendance voted unanimously not to forward a recommendation to approve or deny.

Instead, the Cobb Board of Commissioners will be asked to make a final decision on June 15 with a number of issues pending, including traffic concerns that were the focal point of questions by planning commissioners.

While saying that “everyone ought to be commended for the great attention that’s been shown to this matter,” planning commissioner Deborah Dance said that “challenges remain.”

Yet “time is of the essence and there is a time for taking action,” she noted, in reference to comments by Kevin Moore, the attorney for the developer, Atlantic Reality Acquisitions LLC, that his client wants no further delays in rezoning decisions.

The redevelopment proposal for the blighted shopping center on Sandy Plains Road, between East Piedmont Road and Post Oak Tritt Road, has been underway for nearly two years by Atlantic Realty Acquisitions, LLC.

Atlantic Realty, an Atlanta-based apartment builder, has revised the site plan several times for more than a year.

In what went before the planning commission Tuesday, the developer would build a senior apartment building, townhomes and a retail grocery center on property that’s been the site of a run-down shopping center.

The latest Sprayberry Crossing site plan, filed last week, reduces the number of senior apartments to 132 and increases the number of townhomes to 102.

It was the latest attempt by the developer to alleviate community opposition to rental residential units, after Atlantic Realty dropped plans in April to build a market-rate apartment building.

“There could not be a greater candidate for redevelopment” than the Sprayberry Crossing property, Moore said, while acknowledging that his client’s proposal “does have some challenges.”

On Friday, the developer met with Brij Patel, owner of the Sprayberry Bottle Shop, which sits on an outparcel along Sandy Plains across from Kinjac Drive, where the main entrance would be located.

In order to align the traffic signal at Kinjac into Sprayberry Crossing, the developer is proposing to cut through what’s now the front parking lot of the liquor store and relocate parking to the other side of the building.

Moore and Shaun Adams, an attorney for the liquor store, said they’re confident they can continue discussions before county commissioners meet in two weeks.

Other traffic access challenges include Post Oak Tritt Road, and planning commissioner Fred Beloin fretted that Atlantic Realty hadn’t done much to address it.

“The applicant doesn’t want to spend any money to fix the problem on Post Oak Tritt,” he said, referencing a Cobb DOT recommendation to provide right-out-only access from Sprayberry Crossing.

While he said his preference would be to hold the case again, Beloin, serving in his first meeting as chairman, voted for Dance’s motion.

Planning commissioners Tony Waybright and Michael Hughes, appointed last week, were not in attendance.

The Avenue East Cobb to hold Fast Lane Performance car show

May 31, 2021 3:36 PM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information and flyer for Sunday’s event:

SHOP, DINE AND ADMIRE! We are excited to invite you to the first Exclusive Car Meet of the year! From American muscle to exotic performance, Fast Lane Performance is bringing together a car selection you won’t want to miss.
Enjoy dinner at Drift Fish House, Tin Lizzy’s, Stockyard Burgers, Panera and Kale Me Crazy as well as sweet treats at Smallcakes and Menchies.
Fun for the whole family! No tickets required.

To register a vehicle: www.facebook.com/groups/exclusiveatlmeet/

Avenue East Cobb car show

Cobb libraries holding free summer food service events

May 31, 2021 3:32 PMMay 31, 2021 11:28 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Cobb County Public Library System is teaming up with Georgia Educational Resources (GER) to host free Summer Food Service Program distribution events in June and July for children ages 18 and younger.

Children will receive seven days of breakfast and lunch emergency meals on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Distribution will take place in library parking lots at six locations across the county. Recipients will remain in their cars.

The Cobb library continues to seek ways to partner with community agencies to help address food insecurity in Cobb County, said Terri Tresp, Division Director of Branch Services.

“We’re a learning organization and children struggle to learn when they are hungry,” Tresp said. “We worked with GER last summer at one library location. This year, we’re thrilled to be able to expand service to more residents.”

Libraries offering the food events on Tuesdays in June include:

Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta: 10 am-11 am Tuesdays, June 8-29. 770-509-2725

Gritters Library, 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta: Noon to 1 pm Tuesdays, June 8-29. 770-528-2524

Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta: 2-3 pm, Tuesdays, June 8-29. 770-509-2711

Cobb Libraries hosting the drive-through food events in June and July include:

Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street, Marietta: 10 am-noon Thursdays, June 10-July 29. 770-528-2320

Stratton Library, 1100 Powder Springs Road, Marietta: 1:30-3:30 pm Thursdays, June 10-July 29. 770-528-2522

South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton: Fridays, June 11-July 30, 10 am to noon. 678-398-5828

Georgia Educational Resources, a children and family social service agency based in Mableton, is a certified SFSP sponsor which provides food to distribution sites. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program has helped feed children since 1975. The program is administered locally by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

For information on Cobb library programs and resources, visit cobbcounty.org/library.

East Cobb Church rezoning request put on hold until July

May 29, 2021 2:57 PMMay 29, 2021 11:49 AM by Wendy Parker

Another last-minute request for a major rezoning case before next Tuesday’s Cobb Planning Commission meeting involves North Point Ministries.

The Atlanta-based religious organization wants another month to finalize design changes for its proposed East Cobb Church-townhomes-retail multi-use development at the southwest corner of Shallowford and Johnson Ferry roads.

Kevin Moore, an attorney for North Point Ministries, asked for the request on Wednesday, the deadline for cases to be automatically continued without a vote of the planning board.

The applicant has also filed a new site plan (above, click here for a larger view) with the Shallowford-Johnson Ferry intersection in the top left.

In his letter, Moore said another month was needed due to the “detailed nature” of the design updates, and that the extra time “will allow circulation of these designs to the community well in advance of a public hearing.”

The North Point request has twice been heard by the Planning Commission, which has voted to hold the case both times.

Planning commissioner Tony Waybright said in April that he was concerned about proposed high-density housing when the JOSH Master Plan calls for medium density residential as a transition between commercial zoning and low-density residential in the surrounding community.

The new site plan has 70 townhomes and 59 single-family detached homes. The revised Cobb Zoning Staff analysis submitted April 26 indicates density levels of nearly 6 units an acre.

Also delayed until July is a request to turn the former Park 12 Cobb movie theater into a self-storage facility, more than four years after community opposition shot down a proposed Lidl grocery store on the site at Gordy Parkway and Shallowford Road.

As we noted earlier this week, the Sprayberry Crossing rezoning request, also held for the last two months by the Planning Commission, remains on Tuesday’s agenda, and some more changes were submitted after a community meeting.

The number of senior units have been dropped by 40 to 132 and 102 townhomes are in a revised site plan, up 40 from the April hearing.

The Planning Commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Tuesday and it has a loaded agenda.

In-person seating will be limited due to social distancing protocols, but there also will be commenting for those watching online. They can sign up to speak by clicking here.

You also can watch on the county’s website, Facebook Live and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

Marietta Memorial Day 5K/10K returns to Sprayberry Square

May 29, 2021 2:11 PMMay 29, 2021 8:59 AM by Wendy Parker

For the last few years Five Star NTP has organized a 5K/10K race in the Sprayberry area on Memorial Day, and the event is continuing on Monday. Marietta Memorial Day 5K/10K

The Marietta Memorial Day 5K/10K starts at 7:30 a.m. Monday at the Sprayberry Square Shopping Center (2550 Sandy Plains Road), and registration is free for active and retired military veterans.

The event includes same-day registration that starts at 6:30 a.m., with entry fees starting at $45 (you can sign up in advance through Sunday with fees starting at $40).

Both races start and finish in the Sprayberry Square Shopping Center parking lot, and the the routes will be run entirely on E. Piedmont Road.

The awards in both races are for Top 3 Overall Male & Female, Top 3 Overall Masters (40+) , Top 3 Overall Grand Master (50+), Top 3 Overall Senior Master (60+) and Top 3 in each age group (10 & under – 75+).

There’s also a virtual race option.

For information and to register, please click here. COVID-19 protocols will be in place

East Cobb man indicted for shooting at police in standoff

May 28, 2021 5:49 PM by Wendy Parker

An East Cobb man charged with shooting at police officers during a standoff at his home last fall has been indicted on 14 felony counts by a Cobb grand jury. East Cobb grandfather sentenced

The Cobb District Attorney’s office said that that Donald Terry Welborn was indicted on Thursday on nine counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.

Welborn, 57, was arrested at his home on Kingsley Drive (off Post Oak Tritt Road and near Johnson Ferry Road) on Sept. 22, 2020, hours after neighbors began hearing shots from his residence around 5:30 a.m.

Cobb Police, including a SWAT unit, arrived on the scene, beginning a standoff that closed off the New Castle neighborhood for the rest of the morning.

During the standoff, police said Welborn shot at multiple officers as negotiators tried to get him to come out of the home. According to the indictment, Welborn took aim at nine different officers.

He was taken into custody about six hours later with no injuries and was charged with eight felony counts, police said.

Welborn remains at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office booking records.

In February, Welborn’s attorney attempted to have his client’s case assigned to a mental health court, but that request was turned down by the Cobb District Attorney’s office.

According to Cobb Superior Court records, assistant district attorney Maurice Brown told Robert Citronberg that “Defendant’s offense does not appear to be sufficiently connected to Defendant’s health diagnosis” but did not elaborate.

According to a criminal warrant taken out against Welborn, he went into a bedroom where Susan Welborn was sleeping, then shot at a ceiling fan.

Cobb court records indicate that she is Welborn’s wife, but they had been separated. Susan Welborn filed for divorce in Cobb Superior Court on the same day of the shootings.

The warrant also states that Welborn was inside his residence when he shot at the homes of two neighbors, one next door and another across the street, striking their homes, before police arrived.

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

Willeo Creek bridge to close until late Sept. for replacement

May 28, 2021 3:11 PMMay 28, 2021 12:57 PM by Wendy Parker

Willeo Creek bridge replacement closures — *For a larger view of the detour map, **click here**. Source: City of Roswell.*

Back in February we reported on the closure dates for the Willeo Creek bridge that’s to undergo a full replacement, and that time has come.

The bridge connecting the Timber Ridge Road-Lower Roswell Road roundabout in East Cobb with Willeo Road in Roswell is closing on Tuesday, June 1, and is expected to reopen on Sept. 29.

That’s the latest from Cobb DOT, which is overhauling the 60-year bridge in a joint project with the City of Roswell at a cost of more than $3 million.

The wider bridge will include room for cyclists and pedestrians, linking existing sidewalks and trails between Willeo Road and Lower Roswell Road.

The area is heavily used in the summers for recreational facilities along the Chattahoochee River, and the City of Roswell has drawn up a detour map.

Willeo Road will be fully opened east of Bywater Trail, which is just east of Willeo Creek.

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