There’s been a lot in the news recently, but last week, Senator Isakson introduced new legislation and even had some of his previously introduced bills pass the Senate or U.S. House and head to the president’s desk! Here’s what you may have missed:
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson
The Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 – Last Tuesday, Sept. 25, the Senate unanimously passed Senator Isakson’s bipartisan legislation to reform the U.S. Peace Corps. The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. More information about the bill here.
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018 – Also last Tuesday, Sept. 25, the Senate passed Senator Isakson’s bipartisan legislation to increase veterans’ disability benefits from the VA. This bill would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, as well as the clothing allowance for veterans, based on rising costs of living. The bill heads to the president’s desk this week to be signed into law. More information about the bill here.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018 – Last Friday,Sept. 28, President Trump signed into law Senator Isakson’s bipartisan legislation to ensure veterans continue to have access to critical programs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation continues many important programs, including veterans homelessness prevention, adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans, and workforce training for injured service members. More information about the bill here.
The Scarlett’s Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act – Last Thursday, Sept. 27, Senator Isakson introduced critical bipartisan and bicameral legislation to combat Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood and strengthen existing efforts to understand these tragedies and improve prevention efforts. The bill would supply grants to help states, municipalities and nonprofits improve data collection and death scene investigations related to unexpected infant and child deaths, promote safe sleep practices, and ensure death reviews for every infant and child fatality. More information about the bill here.
The Global Food Security Reauthorization Act – Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Senator Isakson’s bipartisan legislation to extend the life-saving food security programs managed under the Feed the Future Initiative for another five years. This legislation previously passed the Senate in June and is headed to the president’s desk to be signed into law. More information about the bill here.
The Preserving America’s Battlefields Act – Last week, Senator Isakson introduced the Preserving America’s Battlefields Act to ensure our nation’s living memorials honoring those who fought for our freedoms are protected for current and future generations. This bipartisan legislation would provide for the restoration of battlefield sites across the country, including the one in Chickamauga, Ga., helping transform them into historic tourism destinations. More information about the bill here.
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All county high schools will be represented at the Cobb Marching Band Exhibition, starting next Monday, Oct. 8, and continuing the following Monday, Oct. 15.
The performances will all be at Walter Cantrell Stadium McEachern High School (2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs), and will start at 7 p.m. each time.
On Oct. 8, the East Cobb schools that will perform are from Pope, Kell and Lassiter High Schools.
On Oct. 15, the Sprayberry, Walton and Wheeler bands will be in action.
In addition, bands from Kennesaw State University and Auburn University will perform.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
The event is organized by the Cobb County School District and Marietta City Schools. For information, contact Stacy Levy, CCSD Fine Arts Assistant or Chris Ferrell, Supervisor of Instrumental Music at (770) 426-3404.
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The following East Cobb restaurant scores from Sept. 17-Oct. 3 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing to view details of the inspection:
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No reason has been given by the Wheeler PTSA, which had organized the event.
The candidates are Republican incumbent Scott Sweeney, who told us yesterday he’d been notified via text message, and Democratic challenger Charisse Davis, who’s been informing her supporters of the cancellation as well.
Sweeney also told us there is no other scheduled event for the candidates in that race before the Nov. 6 election.
Post 6 includes the Walton, Wheeler and part of the Campbell attendance zones.
On Thursday the League of Women Voters of Marietta/Cobb is holding a candidates forum for District 3 Cobb Commission candidates and those running for state senate, including District 32 in East Cobb.
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On Thursday the League of Women Voters of Marietta/Cobb will be holding a candidates forum in downtown Marietta that will include candidates for the District 3 Cobb Commission and legislative races.
The forum lasts from 7-9 p.m. and will be held in the 2nd floor board room of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St. (where county commissioners hold their meetings).
The candidates who have been invited include those vying for the Georgia State Senate District 32 seat that covers most of East Cobb: Republican incumbent Kay Kirkpatrick and Democrat Christine Triebsch.
That’s a rematch of last year’s special election won by Kirkpatrick. They will be included in a discussion with other Cobb state senate candidates from 7-8 p.m.
From 8-9, the focus is on the District 3 Cobb Commission race, which pits Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell against Democrat Caroline Holko.
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If you use the top end of Holt Road in the late afternoons, Thursday is going to be a no-go for you, because of the Wheeler homecoming parade.
That’s because it will be closed, from the intersection of Robinson Road to the Wheeler High School area, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Wheeler PTSA is sending out a message that if you’re going to be a parade-watcher, you should park in the Wheeler bus lanes.
The parade starts at 6 p.m.
After the parade, there will be food trucks, games and other activities across the street in the old East Cobb Middle School parking lot.
The Wildcats’ game on Friday with region rival Newnan, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. is special for more than just homecoming purposes.
Coach Mike Collins’ team is 5-0 on the season and is No. 9 this week in the GeorgiaSports Writers Association Class 7A state rankings.
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On Monday U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos named Mt. Bethel Christian Academy of East Cobb a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School, the only in Cobb County to earn that designation this year.
Mt. Bethel, which has an enrollment of more than 600 students in K-12, is one of around 350 schools (and 49 private schools) to make this year’s list.
Here’s more of what Mt. Bethel headmaster Jim Callis has been sharing with the school community:
Specifically, Mt. Bethel was recognized in the category of Exemplary High Performing Schools. Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. MBCA was recognized in this category for its many years of sustained academic excellence.
“I’m pleased to celebrate with you as your school is named a National Blue Ribbon School,” said Secretary DeVos in a video message. “We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives. Congratulations on your students’ accomplishments and for your extraordinary commitment to meeting their unique needs.”
Mr. Callis shared news of this achievement today at a surprise-filled, all-school assembly. Special guests included Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce and Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott. We are grateful for the support from local leadership as we strive to grow God’s kingdom and prepare our students to be leaders themselves.
The 2018 National Blue Ribbon School designation makes a powerful statement about the Academy’s commitment to developing and nurturing students who will succeed mightily in college and beyond. MBCA students are led and supported by the very best faculty, ready to be a force for good in the world.
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A man found guilty last week of raping a 4-year-old girl at his Delk Road apartment was given two life sentences plus 120 years.
Frederick Wade Sherwood, 48, was convicted Friday by a Cobb Superior Court jury of all charges, including rape, aggravated sodomy and child molestation, according to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office.
The sentence was handed down by Cobb Superior Court Judge Grant Brantley.
Prosecutors said the attacks occurred between 2014 and 2015 in Sherwood’s Delk Road apartment (according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office, his home address is listed as 2650 Delk Road, the Stratford Ridge Apartments).
Prosecutors said the girl was four years old when the assaults began, and she disclosed the abuse to family members in early 2016.
During the trial, according to the DA’s office, she clutched a stuffed animal on the witness stand, saying she initially told no one about the abuse because she feared Sherwood would be mad at her.
A male witness testified during the trial to having been sexually abused by Sherwood years before in another city.
“Any time a small child has to face their abuser in court is particularly difficult,” Cobb assistant district attorney Katie Gropper, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement.
“We are always hopeful that the judicial process is an empowering step towards healing. While we can’t undo the harm the Defendant caused to this child, the jury’s verdict will help bring a sense of justice and closure and ensure that Mr. Sherwood can never harm another child in our community.”
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Around 4 p.m. today Georgia DOT noted what appeared to be one of the last of the cows rambling around I-285 and I-75 that literally stopped traffic for a time in one of metro Atlanta’s busiest interchanges.
Traffic in the area was affected all day after a tractor-trailer truck carrying dozens of cows overturned on a ramp from I-285 east to I-75 north after 3 a.m.
The above Georgia 511 camera photo was taken near Northside Drive on the eastbound side of 285, with the possibility that there was one other cow still at-large.
Shortly after that, police in Sandy Springs—were many of the loose cows had roamed—reported that “we have captured the rogue cow.”
After the accident, many cows spilled out onto the roadway and nearby areas, and around a dozen cows reportedly were killed by oncoming vehicles.
More than 70 cows were ultimately retrieved by law enforcement. Cobb Fire crews, assisting Georgia DOT, worked with saws to cut open the cattle truck to free the remaining cows inside.
Traffic on I-285 was shut down for a time before daybreak, but the round-up—as well as the clean-up from the aftermath of the accident—lasted into the afternoon rush hour.
The driver of the truck was taken to a hospital with injuries.
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Continued from last week are road closures along Sandy Plains Road posted here previously, and announced by commissioner JoAnn Birrell’s office.
This week’s closures are in the northbound lanes of Sandy Plains, between Kinjac Drive and Ebenezer Road, from 9 a.m. To 2:30 p.m. weekdays through Friday.
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Only two of the six East Cobb high school football teams were in action Friday, but they made emphatic statements with region play underway.
The Pope Greyhounds blanked Dunwoody 26-0 at the Hound Pound, the first shutout for a Pope varsity team in six years. That’s when current seniors were still in middle school.
Pope played without star receiver Zack Owens, who’s recovering from an injury, and raced to a 20-0 halftime lead.
More importantly, the win gives Pope (2-4 overall) a 2-2 record in Class 6A Region 7 play, with another key game coming on Friday at Johns Creek, which is tied for the region lead at 4-1, 3-0.
After two tough losses in Class 5A Region 7, the Kell Longhorns were off last week. On Friday, at winless Paulding County, they scored the first 33 points of the game and cruised to a 54-20 win.
Isaiah Cruz scored two touchdowns for Kell, which moves to 3-2 and 1-2 in region play, but tougher foes are ahead as the playoff stakes grow.
The Longhorns return home to The Stockyard Friday against region rival Villa Rica, which is tied for second in the region at 4-2, 3-1.
Also coming up on Friday is an East Cobb rivalry game. The Walton Raiders, ranked No. 2 in Class 7A at 5-0, opens its schedule in Region 4 against Lassiter, which is 1-4.
Also ranked in Class 7A is Wheeler, which is 5-0 for the first time in 25 years. The Wildcats will be at home for their Region 2 opener against Newnan (2-3).
Sprayberry is off to a 1-4 start and is 1-2 in Class 6A Region 6. The Yellow Jackets will be at home Friday for a region game against Osborne (0-6, 0-4).
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From the Cobb County Neighborhood Safety Commission and Cobb Police:
National Coffee-With-A-Cop Day is Wednesday, October 3, 2018.
Coffee-With-A-Cop brings police officers and the community members they serve together–over coffee–to discuss issues and learn more about each other. In the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, citizens and police officers can get to know each other and discover mutual goals for the communities they live in and serve.
Officers will be at the following locations on Oct. 3rd:
– Dunkin Donuts located at 4290 Bells Ferry Rd., Kennesaw, Ga. 30144 (from 2:30 pm until 4:00 pm)
– Panera Bread located at 1605 East-West Connector, Austell, Ga. 30106 (from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm)
– Dunkin Donuts located at 2022 Powers Ferry Rd., Atlanta, Ga. 30339 (from 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm)
– Whole Foods located at 1311 Johnson’s Ferry Rd., Marietta, Ga. 30068 (from 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm)
– Dunkin Donuts located at 2475 Dallas Highway, Marietta, Ga. 30064 (from 8:00 am until 9:30 am)
We look forward to seeing you at one of these locations. As always, please be careful in your travels.
If you have any questions concerning this event, please contact Sgt Tatroe at 770-399-3981. Also, all our events are child friendly, so if the youngsters are available, please bring them so they can meet and talk with the officers as well.
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Around 5 p.m. Friday the office of Sen. David Perdue sent out the following statement about the Judiciary Committee vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh:
In yesterday’s hearing, we heard directly from both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh. Here is what we know:
No corroborating evidence has been presented to support these accusations.
Judge Kavanaugh has been consistent & categorical in his denial. While Dr. Ford identified 3 witnesses, each of these witnesses stated under penalty of perjury that the events did not occur, which further corroborates Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony.
While Democrats continue to clamor for further FBI investigation, let’s look at what happened. To date, Judge Kavanaugh has been thoroughly investigated by the FBI 6 times, which is more than any other Supreme Court nominee in history.
If Senate Democrats really wanted to get at the truth, they would have immediately provided the information that only they received to the FBI & Senate Judiciary. Instead, Senator Feinstein held onto Dr. Ford’s letter for 6 weeks before it was leaked to the press.
When Chuck Grassley learned of Dr. Ford’s letter in the media, he quickly instituted a full committee investigation. Since then, the Democratic members of the committee chose not to participate.
It is clear that Senate Democrats’ demands for an FBI investigation are nothing more than an orchestrated effort to cause a delay and push this decision past the election in November.
Shame on the United States Senate if it puts political interest before its constitutional responsibility. In America, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty is a cornerstone of our democracy. That’s at the heart of what makes our country exceptional.
Now that the committee has voted to move this nomination forward, it is time to take a vote before the full Senate. It is time to put the Democrats’ partisan delays behind us. It is time to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.
We will post a response from Sen. Johnny Isakson when that becomes available.
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From the office of Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, who recognized the East Cobb Lions Club at Tuesday’s meeting:
The East Cobb Lions Club has a legacy of service that spans 60 years! They received their charter July 14, 1958 from the Lions Clubs International to serve the eastern portions of Cobb County. The East Cobb Lions have conducted fundraisers of every kind and have worked tirelessly to benefit the citizens of East Cobb and Cobb County.
Their efforts over the past 60 years helped lead the expansion of the Cobb County Library System and they have been vigilant in providing eye exams and glasses for countless children and adults.
The East Cobb Lions’ work is not limited to services in Georgia for they have provided training and dog guides which restore independence and mobility through Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills, MI and Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, FL.
As part of their greater mission they support Lions Clubs International Foundation which provides disaster relief both within our state and internationally and works to eradicate measles and preventable causes of blindness throughout the world.
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From Cobb school board member David Banks comes word (and photo) that Simpson principal Dr. Ansley Daniel recently was presented with the first Cobb County School District “Middle School Leadership Award.”
Here’s more from him about how it came about:
This award represents not only her leadership, but also the hard work and dedication from the entire staff at Simpson Middle School.
This award was based on overall increases in test scores, the significant reduction in our discipline data, and beautification of our school.
When asked about the award, Dr. Daniel was quick to give credit to teachers, staff, admin, and all the wonderful students we have at Simpson.
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Next week the Wheeler PTSA will be holding a candidates forum for the Cobb school board Post 6 race.
That forum is Thursday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at East Cobb Middle School (825 Terrell Mill Road).
The candidates are Republican incumbent Scott Sweeney of East Cobb and Democrat Charisse Davis of Smyrna.
Sweeney, first elected in 2010, is seeking his third term. He is an executive with InPrime Legal, which provides legal services for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Davis is a first-time candidate and has children at Teasley Elementary School and Campbell Middle School.
She is a youth services librarian in the public library system and former school librarian and classroom teacher.
She supports expanding the statewide pre-K program.
Post 6 includes the Wheeler and Walton and part of the Campbell attendance zones. A map can be found here and Post 6 is indicated in pink.
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!
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Cobb DOT is reminding motorists about Sandy Plains Road lane closures that will be in effect next week:
Beginning Monday, Sept. 24, utility relocation work will reduce Sandy Plains Road to one lane for traffic traveling in both directions between Ebenezer Road and Kinjac Drive, north of Piedmont Road. The shift is expected to remain in place no later than Sunday, Sept. 30. However, completion of this work is dependent upon favorable weather conditions.
Signage and traffic control devices will be positioned to guide motorists. Drivers are advised to take Canton Road or Holly Springs Road and should reduce their speed and exercise caution in the area.
This utility work comes as part of a 2011 SPLOST road safety and operational improvements project for 8-mile-long Sandy Plains Road, where a raised median is present in all areas except between Kinjac Drive and Ebenezer Road. The project will add a median, as well as left and right turn lanes, to this road segment.
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Three students who attended Mountain View Elementary School were killed along with their mother in a traffic accident on Thursday, according to information shared with the East Cobb school community.
The students were Chase, Aaniyah and A.J. Standberry and their mother was Chelsea Standberry, according to a message sent Friday morning by Principal Renee Garriss.
“They touched the lives of many students, parents and staff members,” Garriss said. “Their passing is a terrible loss to all of us.”
News reports in Beaumont, Texas said the family was traveling in a vehicle on Interstate 10 early Thursday morning when it got involved in a multi-vehicle accident that included an 18-wheeler. Some of the vehicles caught fire.
Shaundrea Woodard of Houston, Chelsea Standberry’s cousin and who is organizing a fundraising drive to help pay for funeral expenses, said three others in the car survived, including Chelsea Standberry’s husband Anthony Standberry Sr. and mother-in-law.
Mountain View staff said when contacted by East Cobb News that they could not provide more information and referred questions to the Cobb County School District.
A district spokeswoman said she “could not confirm specifics” related to students in the district. All she would say is the following:
“Our counselors and crisis response team are all well-trained to help those suffering through grief, and we offer various tools and services in addition to in-school counseling.”
Cobb schools are out next week for a scheduled fall break. Garriss said in her message that when classes resume Oct. 1, extra counselors from the district will be available at the Mountain View campus.
“During this time of loss, we are reminded of the importance of the simple acts of sharing kindness with one another each day,” Garriss said. “In tribute to their memory, I hope to see an abundance of such acts between students, teachers and community members. Please keep their family and friends in their thoughts and prayers.”
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Thanks to Kali Mann of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta for the information and photos of last week’s food and housing insecurity outreach event involving Cobb YMCA volunteers, including those from the East Cobb-McCleskey Family and Northeast Cobb branches:
On Saturday, September 15, nearly 80 volunteers assembled more than 300 meal kits and toiletry kits, and knitted 50 blankets for Cobb’s food and housing insecure individuals. Volunteers included employees from J.M. Huber Corporation, members and employees from the Northwest, McCleskey, and Northeast Family YMCAs, and non-Y members.
Helping Cobb’s needy families is not new to the YMCA. Now that the “Days of Service” event is complete, the Northwest YMCA in Kennesaw will begin gathering food to feed Cobb’s children during the Fall and Winter breaks.
“Over the past 160 years, the Y has evolved to meet the unmet needs within communities around the Metro Atlanta area,” said Kristin McEwen, senior VP of operations for the YCMA of Metro Atlanta. “While times have changed since the Y’s founding in 1858, the Y’s focus on serving the community has not.”
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Isaiah Cruz scored two touchdowns for Kell, which moves to 3-2 and 1-2 in region play, but tougher foes are ahead as the playoff stakes grow.
Davis is a first-time candidate and has children at Teasley Elementary School and Campbell Middle School.
