On Wednesday, the Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors appointed Christine Stinchcomb as the new Director and Chief Appraiser of the Tax Assessors Office.
Stinchcomb brings over 25 years of experience in property tax services, beginning her career at the Paulding County Tax Assessors Office before serving as a manager with the Georgia Department of Revenue. Most recently, she held the position of Commercial Division Manager at the Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors Office.
She succeeds Stephen White, who was recently promoted to Support Services Director for Cobb County Government.
The Chief Appraiser is a state-mandated position responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the Tax Assessors Office and overseeing the appraisal of every parcel in the county at least once every three years.
A Cobb County resident, Stinchcomb has two grown sons.
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After hearing the pleas of citizens to opt out of a new state law capping property taxes, the Cobb Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to do just that.
By a 4-0 vote, commissioners voted against adopting HB 581, a law passed by the Georgia legislature in 2024 designed to limit property tax increases at the local level.
Georgia voters later approved a Constitutional amendment that tied property tax increases to the previous year’s inflation rate.
But citizens speaking during public comment and commissioners agreed at Tuesday’s meeting that the current homestead exemptions in Cobb are more beneficial.
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb said that she received 215 messages in support of opting out of the law, and only two in favor of it.
“What we’ve had in place is better for the citizens and is beneficial for taxpayers,” she said to loud applause right before the vote.
Cobb’s decision follows similar action by the Cobb Board of Education, the Marietta City Council and Marietta Board of Education and city governments in Smyrna, Powder Springs, Acworth and Kennesaw.
Local governments have until March 1 under the new law to decide whether to opt out.
But speakers claimed Tuesday that HB 581 was altered by lobbyists to trigger automatic tax increases that elected bodies could do nothing about.
Some called HB 581 is “a shameless con” and others called it a “joke.”
Resident Ann Parsons called it “a politician’s dream. More money. No consequences.”
Chairwoman Lisa Cupid made the motion to pass the opt-out resolution, saying that “we feel the pain of our citizens who are here” and “we are fortunate to live in Cobb” because of the existing homestead exemptions.
In other action Tuesday, commissioners voted 4-0 to begin a process that would call for a referendum in 2026 to renew the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), which collects a one-percent sales tax to fund county construction, maintenance, improvements and technology operations.
The current SPLOST ends at the end of 2027.
The resolution passed Tuesday did not indicate how long the next SPLOST collection period might be, nor did it provide an estimate for how much money would be raised.
Birrell asked deputy county manager Jimmy Gisi if it was “premature” to ask for those details.
He said it would be, because the county first must meet with officials from Cobb’s cities as well as county staff to begin developing a project list.
The maximum SPLOST collection period is six years.
The proposed timeline leading up to a 2026 referendum (click here) would include meetings with the other cities this year, followed by an Oct. 1 deadline for a draft project list to be submitted.
In early 2026, the county would conduct public input and town hall meetings, with commissioners to approve the final project list next April.
Commissioners also would have to vote separately to hold a referendum in November 2026.
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Nearly a year after a fire partially damaged a now-closed funeral home in Northeast Cobb, the Cobb Medical Examiner’s office has identified the cremated remains of at least 57 individuals at that building.
Cobb government said in a release Wednesday morning that Medical Examiner Christopher Gulledge has posted a list of those people whose remains were taken from the former Norman Medford Peden funeral home on Canton Road.
The funeral home had closed and the building had been scheduled for a foreclosure auction on April 23, 2024 when the fire broke out. Initial reports indicated there were no remains of any deceased.
But the county said that remains were recovered at the funeral home in November and turned over to the Cobb Medical Examiner’s Office.
“We hope to provide answers to any family with lingering questions about a loved one’s passing,” Gulledge said in the release. “Our office has worked tirelessly to identify these cremains using various methods, and we are committed to reuniting them with their families.”
His office said that if any cremains may belong to a loved one, survivors should contact the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office at 770-590-6596 or via email at gillian.fletcher@cobbcounty.org.
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Cobb County officials will present the Board of Commissioners with a proposal on Tuesday to consider holding a referendum in November 2026 to continue collecting the county’s Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).
The current 2022 SPLOST, which collects a one-percent sales tax to fund county construction, maintenance, improvements and technology operations, expires at the end of 2027.
The proposed timeline leading up to a 2026 referendum (click here) would include meetings with officials from Cobb’s seven cities this year, followed by an Oct. 1 deadline for a draft project list to be submitted.
In early 2026, the county would conduct public input and town hall meetings, with commissioners to approve the final project list next April.
Commissioners also would have to vote to hold a referendum and the county would have to publicly advertise it.
The proposed process is similar to the current and previous SPLOST approvals.
The resolution attached to Tuesday’s agenda item (click here) doesn’t indicate a length for the 2028 SPLOST, nor does it estimate an amount to be collected. Typically they’ve been for five- and six-year periods since first being approved to start in 2011.
The six-year, $750 million 2022 SPLOST was approved in 2020, and includes $329.8 million—more that half of all revenues—for transportation and road improvement projects.
Of those new road projects, the big-ticket item in East Cobb is $3.9 million for intersection improvements at Post Oak Tritt Road and Holly Springs Road. Another $2.4 million would be used for Canton Road corridor improvements.
Another project on the 2022 list is the development of Ebenezer Downs Park on Ebenezer Road, at a cost of around $3 million.
Also on the project list are renovations and improvements at Fullers Park, Sewell Park, Terrell Mill Park, the Mountain View Aquatic Center. additional amenities at East Cobb Park and video surveillance cameras at the Mountain View Regional Library.
Tuesday’s presentation will come during the regular agenda portion of the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.
You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.
Commissioners also will hold a final public hearing and will be asked to vote on a measure to opt out of a new state homestead exemption law.
A number of local governments and elected bodies, including the Cobb Board of Education, have opted out of the law, which caps the rate of property tax increases, saying current homestead and exemptions are more beneficial to parents and taxpayers.
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It’s time to apply for homestead exemptions. A homestead exemption is savings on property taxes available to homeowners who meet certain qualifications, such as residency.
Use the online form at cobbtax.org/property/exemptions.php to submit a 2024 Homestead Exemption application. Applications must be received, or USPS postmarked, by April 1 to be accepted for this tax year.
Other exemptions you can apply for include disability, state veterans disability, state senior age 65, Cobb County School Tax exemption for homeowners over 62 and more.
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!
Stephen White, who has been the Cobb Tax Assessor since 2013, has been appointed the Cobb Support Services Agency director.
He was appointed Jan. 27 by the Cobb Board of Commissioners and begins his new role on Feb. 17.
He succeeds Sharon Stanley, who has retired.
Cobb Support Services oversees a number of county departments, including information technology services, procurement, property and fleet management and the tax assessor’s office.
White has been with the tax assessor’s office since 2005, starting as a senior appraiser, and was named a deputy chief in 2010.
As assessor, he oversaw daily operations of the office and the compilation of the county tax digest.
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Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson is no longer in office after the Georgia Court of Appeals declined to hear her appeal.
Richardson, a one-term Democrat whose tenure representing District 2 expired at the end of 2024, is no longer a “de facto” commissioner, as she described herself in taking up the appeal last month.
A Cobb Superior Court judge ruled on Dec. 31 that Richardson could no longer serve, due to Cobb residency requirements.
Her district lines were changed in 2022 during reapportionment and drew her out of her East Cobb home, triggering a legal battle lasting more than two years.
On Wednesday, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid issued a statement saying that “I respect the decision of Georgia’s Court of Appeals and look forward to moving beyond the divisive issues of the past few years.
“Unfortunately, this process has temporarily left residents of one district without their commissioner on the board. However, our intent from the beginning has been to uphold the rights of our citizens and ensure that those they elect have the opportunity to serve.”
For the time being, the five-member commission is down to four members, and will likely stay that way until the end of April, at the conclusion of special elections for District 2 and District 4.
Updated, 10:30 pm:
Here’s what Richardson posted on social media Wednesday night:
I stand by my statement that it is unacceptable for 200,000 to go unrepresented and for our legislature to have the legal authority to systematically remove elected officials. For the last four years, this office has been under attack by the entire state infrastructure because change is scary for so many. Unfortunately, the unknown is exploited so that power can be transferred from the hands of many to the hands of few.
Early voting in those primaries began on Saturday. District 2 formerly included some of East Cobb, which is now mostly in District 3.
Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt said Wednesday there wouldn’t be an interim appointment to fill the District 2 seat, since the special elections fall outside a 180-day window for such action.
District 2 includes some areas of East Cobb near I-75, as well as most of the city of Marietta, Smyrna and the Cumberland-Vinings area.
The special elections were ordered by another Cobb judge following May 2024 primaries that followed “hone rule” maps approved by Cupid, Richardson and Monique Sheffield, the other Democratic commissioner, that differed from the legislative maps signed into law.
Court rulings rejected the “home rule” maps, since the Georgia Constitution requires that county redistricting be approved by the legislature.
District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, a Republican, said last month that “it’s time to put an end to ignoring the Constitution and the laws of this state and the county and go back to the real business of the county at hand.”
Richardson hasn’t commented on the appeals court’s decision not to hear her appeal. Her colleagues declared her seat vacant in December, but she had the right to appeal.
But when Richardson resumed her seat in January, she was adamant that it was important to fight a “precedent” in the legislature not honoring a local delegation redistricting map.
“This fight was never about me but about protecting American values,” she said.
Commissioners meet for their first business meeting without Richardson on Tuesday, with split 2-2 partisan lines.
More from Richardson’s statement:
“To my community: In many ways we won the minor battle- I was able to serve a complete term, although tumultuous, as a result of bold leadership and constant action from an empowered and educated community. I hope that the legacy of this office is to know if we take ownership of our government, we can accomplish so much and fight off some of the most terrible threats to our safety and stability. While there is much to be proud of, the warfront is bigger than the battle. This precedent is set, and our state delegation now has a legal, but undemocratic power. We must not cease in our fight to reinstate checks and balances. That is true from the top of our government all the way to the bottom. No one should be above the law, and everyone should be equally protected by the law. That is this nation’s moral high ground and we cannot lose it. I may be out of office, but I am not out of ideas, nor am I out of a community. We will continue to stand up for what is right and pull together to accomplish the impossible.
“As I have mentioned before, there is an election underway to choose my successor. A lot is at stake, and we need people in office who are going to go beyond the bare minimum. That means, as a voter, more than the bare minimum is required from you. Get to really know each of the candidates. Challenge them on the challenges we face today. Ask them how they are going to tackle all of facets of the job. This is your representation, and if the last few weeks have demonstrated anything — elections have consequences.
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!
Once again, AARP Foundation Tax-Aides will be helping low to moderate income households prepare and file their 2024 taxes at no charge.
This year, appointments are available at Gritters Library, South Cobb Library, and the Senior Wellness Center on Mondays, East Cobb Library on Tuesdays, Wolfe Recreation and Ward Recreation on Wednesdays, Mountain View Library and Switzer Library on Thursdays, and Robertson Community Center on Fridays.
South Cobb Regional Library – Mondays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Feb. 3 – April 14, 805 Clay Road, Mableton. Email sclibtaxes@gmail.com for an appointment. Appointments can also be made at these locations on the AARP website here or in person during the times listed above.
East Cobb Library – Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Feb. 4 – April 15, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta. Email eclib.taxaide@gmail.com for an appointment or on the AARP website here.
Switzer Library – Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Feb. 6 – April 10 (except Feb. 27), 266 Roswell Street, Marietta. Email Switzertaxes@gmail.com for an appointment or go to the AARP website here.
Mountain View Regional Library – Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Feb. 6 – April 10, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta. Email mvlibtaxes@gmail.com for an appointment or go to the AARP website here.
TaxAide volunteers will confirm appointment requests made by email or in person. Membership in AARP is not required but appointments are required. Bring your 2023 returns and 2024 tax documents, your social security card or other identification documents for yourself and all dependents. For direct deposit refunds, you must have a valid check.
February is Black History Month! We’ve compiled a booklist for all ages to help celebrate the importance of black history and of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.
Click on a title to find it in our catalog; and find many more titles at cobbcat.org.
Check out our Black History Month reading challenge on Beanstack! Sign up today on the website or app (Apple Store or Google Play). Log your reading and complete fun activities to earn badges!
Chairwoman Lisa Cupid will host a series of community meetings in the next few weeks addressing items before the Board of Commissioners including House Bill 581 and the Unified Development Code, and also community involvement opportunities.
The meetings will also have representatives from Cobb departments to share information with you about upcoming initiatives, events and more.
Join us for these informative sessions:
Jan. 29 – Wednesday, 7 – 9 p.m., Smyrna Community Center (Magnolia Room) 1250 Powder Springs Street, Smyrna
Jan. 30 – Thursday, 7 – 9 p.m., Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta
Feb. 4 – Tuesday, 7 – 9 p.m., South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Riverside Parkway, Austell
Feb. 8 – Saturday, 10 a.m. – noon, Ron Anderson Recreation Center, 3820 Macedonia Road, Powder Springs
Feb. 12 – Wednesday, 7 – 9 p.m., Northeast Cobb Community Center, 880 Shaw Park Rd., Marietta
Feb. 18 – Tuesday, 7 – 9 p.m., North Cobb Senior Center, 3900 S. Main Street, Acworth
To learn more about HB 581 in Cobb County, please visit our website here https://bit.ly/40u2JpJ
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
Cobb County NAACP hosts its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365, 10 a.m. – noon Monday, Jan. 20 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, SE, Marietta.
Austell – MLK Day of Service – Keep Cobb Beautiful Adopt-A-Mile – 8:30 a.m. at Riverside EpiCenter, 135 Riverside Parkway, Austell. Make an impact in the community by participating in a roadside cleanup with Keep Cobb Beautiful. High school students: Earn community service hours while making a difference. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to this community volunteer event and help us create a cleaner, brighter environment for everyone. For questions, email yamos@riversideepicenter.com.
Kennesaw – Community Volunteer Day, 9 a.m. – noon at Smith Gilbert Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw. Garden entryway beautification project. Project coordinators will lead volunteers in cleaning up the front entryway off Pine Mountain Road into the Gardens and plant new annuals. Register here.
Marietta will celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a parade and ceremony organized by Cobb County Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Al Tariq Temple No. 245, and Al Tariq Court No. 228.
This celebratory parade will trace a route that allows participants to pay tribute to Dr. King’s vision of unity and equality. Participants will begin at 350 Lemon Street at 1 p.m. and march to the Marietta Square.
National parks – Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a free entry day at all national parks, including Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The Cobb Board of Commissioners will hold three public hearings by the end of February after announcing it plans to opt out of a new Georgia ad valorem homestead exemption law.
The county is one of several local jurisdictions—including the City of Marietta and Marietta City Schools—that is pursuing the opt-out.
HB 581 was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2024, and state voters approved enabling legislation in a November referendum to establish a statewide floating homestead exemption.
Those exemptions apply to counties, school districts and municipalities, and would place a cap on property tax rates based on an inflation rate set by the Georgia Department of Revenue.
In a release sent out Wednesday by Cobb government, the county said it declared its intent to opt out of the new law because the county “currently has a floating homestead exemption which provides a greater benefit to taxpayers.”
The statement did not elaborate. Cobb offers a floating homestead exemption to property owners that does not change as long as their own their home.
The rate on a floating exemption in the new law would be set to the previous year’s rate of inflation and locks in a home’s valuation for up to three years.
Local bodies can also impose an additional sales tax to make up for lost revenue from a capped tax rate under HB 581.
The law was passed following concerns about dramatic property tax rate increases due to soaring assessments during periods of high inflation.
HB 581 contains an opt-out clause for local jurisdictions, but they must adopt a resolution to do so after holding three public hearings that must also be publicly advertised.
They also must announce their intent to seek the opt-out by March 1. The Cobb County School District has not announced whether it may also seek the same process.
The biggest chunk of local property tax rates in Cobb are for school taxes. In Cobb, homeowners over the age of 62 can apply for a senior exemption.
In announcing its intent to opt-out of HB 581, Marietta City Schools said this week that “the legislation could result in significant funding reductions for local school systems, potentially impacting classroom instruction, teacher retention, and school programs. Opting out of the exemption will allow the Board of Education to continue making financial decisions that align with the needs and priorities of the Marietta community.”
The dates Cobb commissioners have set for those hearings are Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
The board is scheduled to vote on the opt-out resolution at its regular meeting on Feb. 25.
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“This fight was never about me but about protecting American values,” Commissioner Jerica Richardson said.
The day after filing a last-gap appeal to stay in office for a little while longer, Jerica Richardson took her familiar seat on the dais of the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday.
After a Cobb judge ruled on Dec. 31 that she must vacate her seat, the District 2 commissioner got a reprieve on Monday when she appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
That means that the ruling by Judge Ann Harris to vacate the seat is stayed during the appeal. The Georgia Court of Appeals has 30 days to decide whether to hear the appeal.
Richardson was appealing a decision by her colleagues last summer to vacate the seat after Harris ruled that she did not live within the boundaries of District 2 and therefore was ineligible.
On Tuesday, she cast votes from a short roster of agenda items and introduced a new assistant.
Richardson’s term expired on Dec. 31, as did the term of District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield. But special elections have been called after another court ruling invalidating 2024 primaries in those races after county-observed “home rule” electoral maps were ruled unconstitutional.
But a two-year drama over those maps, and who’s legally qualified to serve on the board now, continues.
At the board’s first meeting of the year Tuesday, all four district commissioners read from prepared statements.
Richardson, a Democrat who was drawn out of her East Cobb home in legislative maps passed in 2022, said she was continuing her legal battle because of “precedent”—Republican Cobb lawmakers pushing through maps not submitted by the county delegation—and for being reapportioned during the middle of her term.
The Georgia Constitution delegates county reapportionment only to the legislature. Cobb’s “home rule” claims to draw electoral maps, Harris ruled last fall, violated that Constitution.
Richardson labeled herself a “de facto commissioner” as the appeal continues, and with her successor to be determined by the end of April (She unsuccessfully ran for Congress last year).
“Some would say that’s unacceptable, to take this seat on the dais,” she said. “I would say that having 200,000 people not represented for nearly half the year is unacceptable. I would say that the right of the General Assembly to remove elected officials at any point in their term is unacceptable. I would say that overturning elections is unacceptable.”
She said that “this fight was never about me but about protecting American values.”
Richardson’s old District 2 included a portion of East Cobb. But most of East Cobb is now represented by District 3 Republican JoAnn Birrell.
While she still thinks it’s unfair that Richardson was redrawn out of her seat, Birrell said the court rulings have been clear that she’s no no longer eligible to serve.
“When will this stop? Enough is enough. Taxpayers should be furious of the time spent and the cost involved by the county in these actions.”
She said she didn’t it was right for Richardson to continue to serve past the end of her term and because the courts have ruled her to be ineligible.
“It’s time to put an end to ignoring the Constitution and the laws of this state and the county and go back to the real business of the county at hand.”
Republican Commissioner Keli Gambrill of North Cobb said “Welcome of Cobb County’s J 6″—a reference to the January date in 2021 when supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop the Electoral College process.
Gambrill, whose initial lawsuit challenging the “home rule” maps was thrown out due to a lack of standing, objected to the Cobb County Attorney’s Office unilaterally concluding that one commissioner is “ruled de facto.”
“There are no laws that govern de facto status, those have only been awarded by judges based on legal challenges,” she said.
“Because of an unconstitutional home rule resolution, the chair of the Cobb Board of Commissioners is now extending the term of commissioners.”
Sheffield is a Democrat who won her primary in May and has qualified for the special election in District 4 in South Cobb.”
She said that during the two years of the home rule maps, commissioners made a number of important decisions, including the current fiscal year 2025 budget with improved salaries and benefits for public safety personnel.
“Were there any gaps in the efficiency of the county?” she said. “Were we able to move the county forward? For me that answer is yes.”
She disputed assertions that she was wrongfully occupying her seat past the end of her term, saying state allow allows for a continuation until a special election is decided.
“The role is temporary and tied to a proper transition,” in this case a special election meant to bridge a gap, Sheffield added.
Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, presiding over her first meeting since being re-elected in November, didn’t offer her thoughts, but said “the public was due an explanation as to why we are here the way we are today.”
You can watch all the comments on the issue on the video below, starting around the 20:00 mark.
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!
We’re conducting a survey to understand how the community perceives the value of Cobb County Government services. Your feedback will help us evaluate the strengths of our image, identify areas for improvement, and ensure we continue to meet the needs of the community.
The survey, located here, should take just a few minutes to complete, and your responses will remain confidential. We greatly appreciate your input!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
Cobb County’s Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) has earned one of the highest honors from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED). The IAED recently announced that Cobb’s DEC achieved Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) status for police dispatch.
This recognition places Cobb County DEC among an elite group, as it is only the 33rd police dispatch center worldwide to receive this accreditation.
“I am extremely proud of our team for this extraordinary achievement,” said DEC Director Melissa Alterio. “This accomplishment exemplifies their professionalism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to serving the citizens, visitors, and first responders of Cobb County.”
The IAED’s ACE credential represents the highest distinction for emergency communication centers, certifying that they meet or exceed global standards for best practices in emergency response.
Achieving ACE status was the result of a multi-year effort, starting with a comprehensive overhaul of the DEC’s quality assurance program. Alterio praised Training Coordinator Leighann Schultz and Quality Assurance Evaluator Sidney Walker for their instrumental roles in implementing innovative training strategies, providing quality feedback, and successfully navigating the accreditation process.
“This accomplishment marks a significant milestone in our journey of continuous improvement,” Alterio said. “Achieving ACE status for Emergency Police Dispatch is particularly remarkable because police calls represent the highest volume of calls we handle. This achievement reflects our team’s dedication and commitment to delivering exceptional service to the community.”
The accreditation process required the DEC to meet 20 Points of Accreditation, which include stringent local oversight, rigorous quality standards, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement. The IAED’s Priority Dispatch System, recognized as the standard of care for emergency dispatch, is used in over 3,500 emergency communication centers across 46 countries.
The IAED will present the Cobb County DEC team with an accreditation plaque during the 2025 Navigator Conference in Orlando, Florida.
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!
Reader Tami McIntire outside her home in East Cobb, with an outer space theme to Winter Storm Cora.
The winter storm that swept through East Cobb on Friday, leaving snow and some freezing conditions gave plenty of families a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
Thanks to readers Tami McIntire and Catarina Kommer for the photos from their yards Sunday on what’s the last of a three-day snow holiday here for many. (You can send yours if you like, too, and we’ll add them to this post: editor@eastcobbnews.com).
With somewhat warmer temperatures in the forecast, activities that had been cancelled or postponed are returning to normal.
The Cobb County School District sent this message to the public Sunday afternoon:
“All Cobb County School District schools are fully operational and will be open on a normal schedule on Monday, January 13th.
“We look forward to seeing all students in school and on time!”
The sun came out on Sunday and highs crept up into the low 40s, enough for some of snow/sleet to melt.
It’s expected to freeze back again Sunday night, with lows back in the 20s, so there are continued road hazards in some spots.
Cobb government said Sunday afternoon that “icy spots could persist in shaded areas and could re-form Monday morning. Cobb DOT will respond to calls as they arrive, but please use caution.”
Cobb DOT has a maintenance work desk at 770-528-1600 for routine issues to be handed during regular business hours, and via mobile app: https://seeclickfix.com/cobb-county.
Inside, Tami McIntire’s cat doesn’t know what to make of the snow.Luna, Catarina Kommer’s Rottweiler, enjoying a tromp in the snow.A cardinal in the snow in Catarina Kommer’s yard.
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!
In-person programs for all ages are on the 2025 calendar for the new Gritters Library, including storytime sessions and programs on literacy, health and wellness, language, and driver safety. Registration at cobbcat.org is preferred for some Gritters programs.
The January-and-beyond lineup at Gritters Library features a range of programs and activities within the comfortable space designed to serve the growing community, said Cobb Library Director Keith Schuermann, who started in his leadership role one month ago, succeeding Helen Poyer, who retired December 31.
“We strongly encourage the neighbors from around Gritters Library and beyond to visit and explore the programs offered by the Gritters staff and community partners,” Schuermann said. “The reality of Gritters Library is already starting to fulfill in a meaningful way the vision of serving as a true community focal point.”
The new Gritters facility opened in November as a replacement for the library built in the early 1970s on the same site at 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta 30066, off Canton Road, one mile north of the Piedmont Road intersection. The new building also includes space for CobbWorks, Cobb PARKS, and the Northeast Cobb Community Center.
Upcoming programs at Gritters Library for children include:
Baby Storytime, organized for babies six weeks to 18 months old and their caregivers, features stories, songs, rhymes and fingerplays each Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Toddler Storytime for children 18 to 36 months old and caregivers meets every Thursday at 11 a.m.
Cobb Collaborative is presenting Storytime Basics Playground Palooza, a series designed for children ages two to five accompanied by a participating adult, on five consecutive Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting January 15. The interactive Storytime workshops are based on five principles of early literacy and child development: Maximize Love, Manage Stress; Talk, Sing, and Point; Count, Group, and Compare; Explore Through Movement and Play; and Read and Discuss Stories. Registration at cobbcollaborative.org/events is requested.
Bad Art Club for Tweens & Teens, a program for young artists ages 9-17 to have “the freedom to do anything and go with the flow,” meets Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. Registration is required.
Upcoming adult programs at Gritters Library include:
Stretch and Stroll, a community walking and stretching session for adults, meets 2 p.m. Thursdays, including Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Feb. 6, and Feb. 20. Children are welcome with an adult caregiver. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes, and to bring an exercise mat and water. No registration is required.
The AARP Smart Driver Course will be offered Monday, Jan. 13 for individuals age 16 and up. The course runs 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break. Participants should bring lunch and a beverage, and members are asked to bring their AARP cards. The course cost for supplies, to be paid by check or cash at check-in, is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. Space is limited and registration is required. For information on the course, visit https://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety.
Beginner Yoga with Airi Yoga, a local yoga studio, will be led by certified instructor Iri Kim on Monday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. Registration is required and space is limited. Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat or beach towel, and to wear comfortable clothing.
Gritters English Conversation Group will meet for eight consecutive weeks starting 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. The library recommends the group for adult intermediate to advanced English Language Learners (ELL) speakers to practice speaking English with other learners led by Gritters Library staff.
The Computer Basics: Gmail class meets Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. The course is designed novice Gmail users and does not require prior computer knowledge. Space is limited and registration is required.
The Gritters Book Discussion Group for readers of fiction and non-fiction age 18and up meets the last Thursday of the month at 11 a.m. The Jan. 30 title is the novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Register at cobbcat.org.
For information on the full set of programs offered at Gritters Library during the winter of 2025, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-528-2524.
The regular hours for Gritters Library are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 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!
A winter storm watch has been issued for Cobb and North Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Cobb County government and Cobb County School District officials said Tuesday that they’re closely monitoring weather reports for a likely winter storm later this week.
The National Weather Service forecast includes a strong chance of precipitation Friday into Saturday as temperatures are expected to plunge well below freezing.
The forecast includes an 80 percent chance of rain Friday night, which could include snow, sleet and freezing rain and temperatures expected to fall into the high 20s.
The NWS forecast is predicting the most severe weather for north Georgia to fall along a line north of Interstate 20.
At a special Cobb Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Cobb school district Chris Ragsdale said that “we intend, if a call needs to be made, you will hear about the call Thursday before Friday, if the case needs to be called for school.”
Cobb government said Tuesday afternoon that road crews will be ready to treat more than 400 miles of roads if/when necessary.
Thus far, there are no closures reported.
The forecast calls for sunny skies on Wednesday with a high of around 40 and a low of around 20.
On Thursday, more sun and high of 40 are in the forecast, with a low of 26.
The high on Friday is expected to reach only 36 with a low around 30.
The chance of precipitation is in a range of 50-90 percent/
Clear, but cold weather returns for the weekend, with highs ranging between 38-42 and lows between 22-26.
The MUST Ministries warming shelter will be open every evening at least through Friday, as overnight temperatures are expected to be at or below freezing.
Here’s the extended Cobb-area forecast for the moment; we will be updating with information about closures and related details as they are announced.
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson said she is pursuing legal options after a Cobb judge this week declared her seat immediately vacant.
Superior Court Judge Ann Harris on Tuesday upheld the commission’s vote to declare a vacancy after the county lost a legal effort in court to keep her in office. You can read the ruling by clicking here.
“I will be reviewing the Court order to determine what, if any, other options are available in the attempt to continue to fight for Georgia’s Republic,” Richardson wrote in a social media posting shortly before her term expired on Tuesday.
She had filed an appeal to remain in office until her successor is chosen in a special election in April.
In a statement issued by the county, Cobb County Attorney William Rowling said “the Court’s well-reasoned decision affirmed the correctness of the County’s determination that the Office of BOC District 2 Commissioner is vacant, given that Commissioner Richardson does not reside within BOC District 2 under the currently applicable state legislative map.”
It’s unclear how the commission will be constituted when it holds its first meeting on Jan. 14. An interim replacement for Richardson could be appointed through the special election.
The term of District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield also expired on Tuesday. Special elections for District 2 and District 4 will culminate in April.
County ordinance requires that commissioners reside in the district they represent.
Richardson, a Democrat elected to the District 2 post in 2020, moved to a home in East Cobb that was later drawn into District 3 during reapportionment.
She and the board’s other two Democrats tried to claim home rule powers in 2022 to draw commission electoral maps after balking at the Georgia legislature’s maps.
Her District 2 initially included some of East Cobb, but the redrawn maps placed most of East Cobb in District 3, represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell.
For more than two years, commissioners used the “home rule” maps to conduct county business, and the Cobb Elections Board used those maps in the May primaries.
Along the way, Richardson reiterated what she said was an “unprecedented” action to force her from office. As the dispute lingered, she decided to run for the 6th Congressional District, but was routed by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in the Democratic primary.
And court rulings later reaffirmed that only the legislature can conduct county reapportionment in Georgia.
The May primary elections in District 2 and District 4 were thrown out by a Cobb judge, who ordered the special elections.
Here’s more of what Richardson posted on Tuesday:
“It is now precedent that the General Assembly has the blanket permission to remove a sitting elected official, at any time, and for any reason.
“While the General Assembly should not work to unilaterally overturn elections, they clearly and legally have the ability to, in accordance with this ruling. The future of elected representation is at stake in this state. Not only does the ruling reaffirm this undemocratic power, it also renders the purpose and authority of local state delegations powerless, local law unnecessary, and local calendars a voluntary exercise. A state representative in one area can override a whole group of state representatives in a completely different part of the State with impunity.
“Then, to know that the cosponsor of this bill felt it was inconsequential to remove me because I was ‘young and urban and should move to the Southside’ to ‘protect his community’ and make sure that the ‘representation matched’ bodes an unstable future for this State and is indicative of the fear that has permeated our communities
“Trust and believe that my vacancy is but a canary in the coal mine for what is to come. We have already seen other legislative bills chip away at the essence of the delicate checks and balances that have made our Country great. It is a slippery slope that we find ourselves on, and the fact that I am being removed from office this much later than originally thought is only because those in opposition struggled to file a legitimate legal challenge against the County for over a year.
“The County fought hard to prevent this precedent and stop a government branch from encroaching on local control. As an institutionalist, I am quite proud of the County’s legal work in defending a Constitutional procedure put in place to specifically protect the checks and balances between the State and the County, and the diligence of the community along the way.”
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid will take the oath of office for her second term on Monday at a swearing-in ceremony at the Cobb Civic Center (548 S. Marietta Parkway).
The event is free and is open to the public and starts at 6 p.m. You’re asked to contact her office at 770-528-3306 or email allin@cobbcounty.org if you’d like to attend.
A Democrat, Cupid won re-election in November over Republican Kay Morgan.
Cupid was the first woman and first African-American to hold the position, which is elected countywide.
But her tenure thus far marked by a number of mostly partisan issues that were eventually shelved.
They included a major overhaul of private trash services, a proposed stormwater fee and a plan to allow accessory dwelling units in residential backyards.
Cupid and her Democratic colleagues also claimed home rule powers to draw commission electoral maps in an attempt to keep Commissioner Jerica Richardson in her seat.
That move was eventually struck down in the courts, and Richardson’s seat has been declared vacant and special elections will be held early this year for two commission district seat.
Cupid also pushed through a vote to call a referendum to impose a transit tax in Cobb. It would have collected nearly $11 billion over 30 years, but was soundly defeated by voters in November.
An ethics complaint was filed against Cupid by Lance Lamberton of the Cobb Taxpayers Alliance, who claims she “engaged in unethical behavior by using taxpayer dollars to promote passage” of the transit tax.
A Cobb Ethics Board hearing was to have been held in December but was cancelled because there was not a quorum.
Lamberton said the meeting has been rescheduled for Monday at 4 p.m., two hours before Cupid’s swearing-in ceremony.
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!
On Wednesday, the Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors appointed Christine Stinchcomb as the new Director and Chief Appraiser of the Tax Assessors Office.
