UPDATE: Fundraiser for family of Eastvalley ES student tops $50K

Mahoney family

A fundraiser begun by an Eastvalley Elementary School teacher to help the family of one of her students who was tragically killed over the weekend has netted more than $50,000.

A GoFundMe drive created by Jennifer Swafford indicates that a little more than $51,000 of a goal of $55,000 has been pledged thus far to aid the Mahoney family of East Cobb.

Blake Mahoney, age 11 (in the bowtie), died Sunday after a car hit him and the bicycle he was riding near his home on Lucky Drive.

Since then, friends, co-workers, and those who know the family through Eastvalley—where Blake’s mother Dawn is the school nurse—have sent in contributions.

“The generosity of people near and far is mind blowing!,” said Swafford, Blake’s 5th grade teacher this year. “Thank you for your love and support for the Mahoney family!”

One donor who pledged $500 wrote that “I donated because he was my best friend in school and I miss him so much and let him rest in piece. It was good meeting you Blake in this short time God bless you and your family.”

Also contributing were those who know the Mahoneys through the East Marietta National Little League, where Blake played baseball.

On Wednesday a memorial sign was set up at the entrance of Sewell Park, with flowers being left behind.

“If your child learned something from Blake as his teammate we would love to hear about that as well,” the youth baseball organization said in a Facebook post. “The loss is immeasurable but so is the love left behind. Today let’s celebrate our love!”

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 boy, 11, killed after bicycle crashes into car

Blake Mahoney, East Cobb boy killed
Photo: Blake Mahoney Memorial Fund GoFundMe page

An 11-year-old boy riding his bicycle in his East Cobb neighborhood died Sunday afternoon after crashing into a car, according to Cobb Police.

Cobb Police Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a statement Monday morning that the crash happened at 5:06 p.m. on Lucky Drive, off Lower Roswell Road and between Holt Road and Old Sewell Road.

Delk said David Mondecar, 65, a Lucky Drive resident, was driving a red 2005 Volvo XC90 and was approaching a sharp left curve on that street when the boy was making a sharp right curve as he rode from the other direction.

Police said the crash happened when the front of Mondecar’s car collided with the bike.

The boy was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m. Sunday after being taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Delk said, adding that Mondecar was not injured.

Police did not identify the victim, but social media postings in the community were mourning Blake Mahoney, whose family lives on Lucky Drive. He played in the East Marietta National Little League and was a student at Eastvalley Elementary School, where his mother is the school nurse.

A fund has been started in the school community to provide food for the family.

A GoFundMe also has been established by Jennifer Swafford, Blake’s 5th grade teacher at Eastvalley. The Blake Mahoney Memorial Fund also will help the family.

Blake was to have begun attending East Cobb Middle School this fall. His older brother Will is a student at Wheeler High School.

Delk said Cobb Police are continuing to investigate the crash and anyone with information should call 770-499-3987.

East Cobb boy killed

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 outdoor burn ban to start April 10 due to shelter-in-place

The Cobb outdoor burn ban that runs from May 1-Sept. 30.each year has been moved up due to the statewide shelter-in-place order. The ban now will start next Friday, April 10.

Here’s more from the county:Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

Leaves, pine straw, and other yard debris may NOT be burned starting that date, and the Fire Marshal’s Office will also stop the issuance of Large Yard Waste and Bonfire permits during this time. Please note there is no ban on fire bowls, chimineas, or similar devices as long as clean wood (not pressure treated, and no varnish) is being burned.

More about outdoor burning from the Cobb Fire Marshal’s Office.

Related Content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 Police limiting certain call responses; closing some offices

Cobb Police said Wednesday that they’re making some policy changes as county government goes into “limited operations status” due to the Coronavirus outbreak.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

A release issued by Cobb Police said that while they’ll still respond to calls from the public that require the presence of officers, those that don’t will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

“In such cases residents may, after making an initial 911 call, get a call back from a police supervisor or an officer to make a report over the phone,” Cobb Police spokesman Sgt. Wayne Delk said in the release.

He also said the police department’s record’s office will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at headquarters (140 North Marietta Parkway, Marietta).

The lobby also will stay open, but citizens are asked that if they need to get copies of accident or incident reports to use the department’s website or call 770-499-3900 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The department’s permit office is closed until further notice, and anyone wishing to or eligible to obtain an employment permit cannot get one until it reopens. Information is available by clicking here or by calling 770-499-3932 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Also closed is the Cobb Police evidence unit, which will reopen on April 7. For any items that may be needed due to an emergency (medication, currency, house/car keys, etc.) the number to call is 770-499-4128 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Precinct 4, two Cobb Police Coffee With a Cop sessions have been cancelled: Thursday at the Janice Overbeck Real Estate office, and on March 26 at The Art Place.

Related stories

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Driver in fatal East Cobb crash charged with vehicular homicide

Alabama Road crash kills motorcyclist

UPDATE to the fatal crash involving a motorcyclist on Feb. 22 on Alabama Road in Northeast Cobb: The driver of the car who hit the bike turned herself in Wednesday after being charged with vehicular homicide.

Cobb Police Sgt. Wayne Delk said Thursday that Genesis Lugo, 21, of Woodstock, also has been charged with a failure to yield.

They’re both second-degree misdemeanor charges, and Lugo was released from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center after paying a $2,970 bail, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records.

According to those records, Lugo was booked shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday and was released around 11:30 p.m.

Police said that at 4:25 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 18-year-old Cameron S. Clason, of Woodstock was heading west on Alabama Road when his black 2009 Suzuki SV650 motorcycle collided with a gray 2001 Nissan Altima making a left turn from eastbound Alabama Road to Old Mountain Park Road, according to police.

Clason was later pronounced dead at North Fulton Hospital. Lugo, the driver of the Nissan, not did not require medical attention at the scene.

The crash was the second of three in as many days that took the lives of motorists in East Cobb, following a Feb. 21 incident at Johnson Ferry Road and Powers Drive that killed a nearby resident.

On Feb. 23, a 91-year-old man died after he was trying to turn left on Davis Road from Sandy Plains Road southbound.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 public health officials issue coronavirus statement

As the first cases of coronavirus in Georgia were revealed, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department has issued a statement about the outbreak.Cobb coronavirus statement

The alert was issued prior to a late-night press conference Monday by Gov. Brian Kemp confirming two cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County.

They’re a father and son, and one of them had traveled back recently from Milan, Italy, which is experiencing an outbreak of the virus.

During the press conference, state health officials said the two individuals were in home quarantine and in communication with their doctor.

More than 90,000 people have contracted coronavirus, a highly contagious illness, in nearly 80 countries around the world. More than 3,000 deaths have been reported, mostly in China.

The only deaths thus far in the U.S. have been in Washington State, where on Tuesday a ninth fatality was confirmed.

The Cobb/Douglas statement contains a basic explanation of the virus, along with preventative measures, such as thorough hand-washing, and that all testing is being done by the state at this time.

The statement said coronavirus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and that symptoms appear between two and 14 days after exposure. They include:

  • runny nose
  • headache
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • fever
  • a general feeling of being unwell.

Here’s more about the local response, as the number of cases is expected to grow:

  • Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is preparing internally, as well as with the state and the CDC to slow or prevent community spread. We are working with our partners, including the local governments, healthcare organizations, businesses, first responders, and local school districts to ensure our community is prepared for a potential COVID-19 outbreak.

  • We are reaching out to our county Boards of Health, emergency management agencies, chambers of commerce, and other partners who may need our guidance and are sending them guidance on how to prepare their organizations.

  • CDPH staff receive frequent updates from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health. These updates include information on the current situation abroad and in the U.S., testing, surveillance, quarantine, and more. This helps shape our local response.

  • CDPH  has a previously-developed pandemic influenza plan that can serve as a template for responding to other outbreaks of severe respiratory disease, like COVID-19. We are reviewing our plan and are also prepared to implement specific COVID-19 guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC as the situation evolves.

The Cobb County School District last week sent out a notice about the coronavirus, including a statement from the Georgia Department of Public Health, as well as an updated FAQ Tuesday following the confirmation of the Georgia cases:

The District will continue to stay in constant communication with Georgia Department of Health officials and will follow their guidance every step of the way in order to keep our students and staff safe. Our schools continue to remind students and staff on how to prevent the spread of illness including hand washing, covering mouths when they cough, and keeping their hands away from their face. Parents are urged to keep students at home if they have any symptoms of sickness. 

Should a staff member or student become ill, Cobb Schools already has a reporting protocol in place regarding infectious diseases, which is part of the District’s Infectious Disease Response Plan. The District will use guidance from public health officials to update and apply the plan to respond to COVID-19.  

DPH has also issued guidance about the coronavirus, which was first diagnosed in December in Wuhan, China.

The federal Centers for Disease Control has issued its highest alerts for China and Iran, recommending against non-essential travel there, and that entry by foreign nationals from those countries has been suspended.

U.S. travelers are being advised against non-essential trips to South Korea and Italy, and older adults or those with chronic medical conditions not visit Japan.

More CDC coronavirus information can be found here.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

91-year-old man dies after Sunday crash on Sandy Plains Road

Sandy Plains Road crash

Cobb Police said a 91-year-old man died Sunday after his car crashed with another on Sandy Plains Road, near the entrance of Mountain View Elementary School.

John A. Spadafora, of Marietta, was pronounced dead at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, according to a release from Cobb Police Monday.

Police said Spadafora was driving a black Mazda truck south on Sandy Plains Road at 5:38 p.m. Sunday, attempting to make a left turn onto Davis Road, when it collided with a gray Infiniti.

Sgt. Wayne Delk, a Cobb Police spokesman, said Spadafora was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but that his condition worsened and he died Sunday night.

The driver of the Infiniti, John Hamm, 42, of Roswell, also was hospitalized at Kennestone but does not have life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Cobb Police said the crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

The incident was the third fatal crash of the weekend in East Cobb.

Related story

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

18-year-old motorcyclist killed following Alabama Road crash

Alabama Road crash kills motorcyclist

Cobb Police said an 18-year-old motorcyclist was killed Saturday after he was hit by a car on Alabama Road near the Fulton County line in Northeast Cobb.

Sgt. Wayne Delk of Cobb Police said in a release Sunday that Cameron S. Clason, of Woodstock, was pronounced dead after being taken to North Fulton Hospital.

Clason was heading westbound on Alabama Road at 4:25 p.m. Saturday when his black 2009 Suzuki SV650 motorcycle collided with a gray 2001 Nissan Altima making a left turn from eastbound Alabama Road to Old Mountain Park Road, according to police.

Police said Genesis L. Lugo, 21, of Woodstock, the driver of the Nissan, not did not require medical attention at the scene.

Delk said the crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

The incident was the second fatal crash of the weekend in East Cobb. On Friday night, a 61-year-old man, Robert Higginbotham, was killed when his car was struck by another at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Powers Road (click link below).

Related story

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 man killed in crash at Johnson Ferry/Powers Road

East Cobb man killed Johnson Ferry crash

An East Cobb man was killed after a late Friday car crash at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Powers Road that also injured another person.

Cobb Police said Rob Higginbotham, 61, of a nearby East Cobb address, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The collision took place at 11:19 p.m. on Friday and involved two white Mercedes Benz cars, police said.

A Mercedes SL550 driven by Higginbotham was attempting a left turn onto Powers from a northbound Johnson Ferry lane, when it was struck by a Mercedes C300, traveling south on Johnson Ferry, police said.

Police said Higginbotham was ejected from his car and that Colin W. Outz, 19, of Marietta, the driver of the other car, was taken to WellStone Kennestone Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident was first reported by WSB-TV, which talked to eyewitnesses who said that stretch of Johnson Ferry—between Lower Roswell Road and Paper Mill Road—has had numerous high-speed crashes.

Cobb Police said the crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

The incident was the second fatal crash of the weekend in East Cobb. On Saturday afternoon, an 18-year-old motorcyclist died after he was hit by a car at the intersection of Alabama Road and Old Mountain Park Road, near the Cobb-Fulton line (see link below).

Related story

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Police seek witnesses to Canton Road Connector crashes

Marietta Police are looking for witnesses to chain-reaction crashes Monday night on the Canton Road Connector at Cobb Parkway North that seriously injured two drivers.

Kanisha Thompson, 25, of Lapine, Ala., and Connie Hawkins, 51, of Euharlee, Ga., were both taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Police said the incidents took place atMarietta Police, Delk Road motel arrests 10:15 p.m.

They said Thompson was driving a 2011 BMW 328i and Hawkins was behind the wheel of a 2008 Buick Enclave when their cars crashed at the intersection. Police said 911 dispatchers initially reported only minor injuries, and that after the crash, both drivers left their vehicles.

Shortly after that crash, and before first responders arrived at the scene, two other vehicles approached the intersection, according to police.

Police said the cars from the original wreck and their drivers were still standing in the road, and that visibility in the area was poor.

Police said Samy Nolasco, 21, of Rome, was driving a 2001 Nissan Frontier northbound on Cobb Parkway. The truck hit the BMW, which then struck Thompson and Hawkins, according to police, who said the Nissan also hit a 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Jabari Mckenzie, 27, of Kennesaw.

Marietta Police are asking anyone with information to contact Investigator Samimi at 770-794-5384.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 traffic alert: Sandy Plains Road closed due to gas leak

Sandy Plains Road closed

Cobb Police just issued a notice that a stretch of Sandy Plains Road near Scufflegrit Road is closed because of a gas leak.

The portion of Sandy Plains that is shut down in both directions is between Broussard Way and Rosebriar Drive, both residential streets, and the closure could last for several hours.

Police and fire crews are on the scene. The closest alternates are Canton Road and the Canton Road Connector to the west and Scufflegrit Road and Piedmont Road to the east.

Related story

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

St. Ann Catholic to hold Cobb emergency preparedness training classes

Submitted information:

Cobb CERTThere are two Cobb County Community Emergency Response Team training opportunities in February and residents are encouraged to sign up now.

Cobb Senior Services Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs Street, MariettaClasses will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on three consecutive Wednesdays (must attend all three classes), Feb. 5, 12 and 19.To register, contact Tracy Shehab at tracy.shehad@cobbcounty.org.

St. Ann’s Catholic Church, La Salette Hall, 4905 Roswell Road, MariettaClasses will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays (must attend all three classes), Feb. 22, 29 and March 7.To register contact Linda Walsh, RN at LWalshRN@st-ann.org or call 770-552-6400 ext. 6019.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 Police Coffee With a Cop meetings coming in Precinct 4

Submitted information about several upcoming Cobb Police Coffee With a Cop meetings, where the public is invited to bring questions and discuss crime and public safety issues with Precinct 4 community officer Nathalie Jegg:Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

  • Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 AM to noon at IHOP, 3130 Johnson Ferry Road
  • Tuesday, February 186:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Starbucks, 2424 Roswell Road
  • Monday, May 4 10:00 AM to noon at Jacobs Java 1350 Terrell Mill Road

Upcoming major/public events for Cobb Police Community Affairs:

  • Ride with the Blue Charity Motorcycle Ride on Sunday, April 19 at Jim Miller Park time TBA (for more info contact Officer Granell at, Raymond.Granell-Reyes@cobbcounty.org)
  • Copz, Kidz, & Chicken event at Zaxby’s, 2981 Delk Road, April 22 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Brumby Elementary School to pay down outstanding school lunch debts (for more info contact Officer Jegg at Nathalie.Jegg@cobbcounty.org)

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 public safety step-and-grade plan approved unanimously

Susan Hampton, Cobb public safety advocates
Susan Hampton

Cobb public safety personnel will be receiving a new salary structure that becomes effective in March.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday night to implement a step-and-grade plan that will provide for incremental pay boosts, based on years of service and other factors.

Details of the plan were revealed last week as a “next step” toward increasing salary and benefits for Cobb public safety workers. Commissioners last year approved a seven-percent raise and a one-time bonus after coming under pressure from public safety personnel and community activists.

“This is a step forward,” South Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid said before the vote. “It is not a panacea.”

The new plan kicks in March 22, and all qualified personnel in Cobb police, fire and sheriff’s departments will move up a step at that time.

The additional funding will come to $5.7 million for the current fiscal year 2020, which goes through the end of September.

The step-and-grade plan would increase starting pay for entry-level police officers, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from $41,000 a year to $46,000.

Salaries for the highest police officer and firefighter positions would range from $67,290 to $103,626. For rank-and-file sheriff’s deputies, that top-end range would be $48,435 to $74,590.

Unlike other step-and-grade pay models—including the Cobb County School District—the Cobb public safety raises would not be automatic, and would have to go before commissioners during the annual budget process.

East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott was absent from the meeting.

“We still have work to do, but a lot has been done in the past 11 months,” said Susan Hampton of East Cobb, an advocate with the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation.

She urged commissioners to “never allow public safety to be removed as the No. 1 priority in future budgets.”

But another public safety advocate, Kimberly Peace Hill, was irate, saying “this scale does nothing for retention.”

She told commissioners that “if you’re going to do this, don’t drop the ball. Give them [public safety employees] a commitment.”

Cobb Sheriff Neil Warren, whose department is understaffed, said the step-and-grade plan “is outstanding. It’s long overdue.”

The commissioners’ comments were brief, with East Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell pledging that “as long as I’m in this seat, [public safety] will be my No. 1 priority.”

North Cobb commissioner Keli Gambrill voted for the measure, but wondered how the plan will be financed in the long haul since the county brings in $21 million less in property tax revenues ($392 million) than it pays for county employee salaries ($414 million).

She wanted future public safety raises to be tied to additional revenues from the state tag and ad valorem tax, the source of most of the funding for the step-and-grade costs.

“I hope our actions over the last year will show we are moving in the right direction.” Cupid said.

Related story

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 resident earns Cobb Chamber’s public service award

Susan Hampton, Cobb Chamber public service award
Susan Hampton with outgoing Cobb Chamber of Commerce president Mitch Rhoden. (Cobb C of C photo)

At its annual gala dinner Saturday, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce presented East Cobb resident Susan Hampton with its Mack Henderson Public Service Award, given to “someone who is outstanding in their commitment and dedication to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Cobb County.”

Hampton has organized the East Cobb Business Association’s appreciation events for Cobb Police Precinct 4 officers and Cobb Fire personnel, and is part of the newly formed Cobb County Public Safety Foundation.

Over the last year, she has been outspoken in favor of better pay and benefits for Cobb public safety workers.

In being presented the award Saturday, the Chamber called Hampton a “tireless advocate for Cobb’s public safety personnel. Whether it’s acting as a vocal supporter for higher wages or organizing an appreciation event for local law enforcement, this award winner devotes her volunteer efforts to the community she serves.”

Hampton also is active with the Cobb County Coalition of Business Associations, “working with the coalition’s founders and other committed volunteers continuing the legacy of Barbara Hickey, lending her hand whenever it is needed,” according to the Chamber’s presentation.

The Cobb Chamber also honored former U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson at the gala dinner. The Republican from East Cobb was presented with the Chamber’s Senator Johnny H. Isakson Leadership Award, which has been renamed in his honor.

The Chamber has dedicated the 10th floor of its new offices at 1100 Circle 75 Parkway in Isakson’s name.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, Cobb chamber
Retired U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson speaks at the Cobb Chamber gala dinner Saturday. (Cobb C of C photo)

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Three people injured, two seriously, in Woodstock Road crash

Woodstock Road crash

Three people were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital Saturday night after their car crashed with another vehicle on Woodstock Road in Northeast Cobb, according to Cobb Police.

Officer Sydney Melton said in a release Sunday morning that Dorothy Graham, 81, and Victoria Graham, 67, both of Marietta, suffered serious injuries. Cline Graham, 74, of Marietta, had non-life-threatening injuries, Melton said.

Melton said they were in a blue 2008 Honda CR-V traveling westbound on Woodstock Road at 9:44 p.m. Saturday when Cline Graham, the driver, tried making a left turn onto southbound Mabry Road.

The Honda hit a silver 2014 Jeep Wrangler that was heading east on Woodstock Road, according to Melton. She said the Jeep’s driver, Brittany Bonner, 18, of Marietta, did not require medical attention at the scene.

Melton said the crash is still being investigated and that anyone with information is asked to call the Cobb Police Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Unit at 770-499-3987.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Revised Cobb public safety step-and-grade would cost $5.7M

Cobb County Chairman Boyce, revised Cobb public safety step and grade

With a new budget season on the horizon, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said this week his agenda for 2020 is clear-cut.

He told members of the East Cobb Business Association on Tuesday that his top budget priorities are to keep the current property tax millage rate in place, and continue reducing the amount of money the county borrows from the water fund.

Another major objective he’s bringing up next week is a revised step-and-grade salary proposal for public safety personnel that he said “is a really big deal” for police officers, firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, sworn personnel and others.

“There’s nothing else on my plate,” Boyce said during a luncheon at the Olde Towne Athletic Club.

After the Cobb Board of Commissioners approved a one-time bonus, a seven-percent pay raise and an outline for a step-and-grade plan last year, Boyce floated a more detailed proposal last fall that fell flat with some of his colleagues or public safety leaders.

On Tuesday, Boyce will present a revised proposal that would cost an additional $5.7 million annually: $2.1 million for police, $2 million for fire and $1.6 million for the sheriff’s office.

Boyce wants to fast-track this proposal as well, having it take effect for the pay period starting on March 22, if approved.

According to a summary of the proposal included in the commissioners’ meeting agenda, $3.3 million of that new revenue would come from state title and ad valorem tax (TAVT) collections, with $1.1 million coming from the county’s general fund, and another $1.1 million from the fire fund.

The step-and-grade structure is similar to what Cobb County School District employees receive—annual, incremental and automatic raises based on a combination of factors, including years of service, promotions and performance reviews.

Under the revised proposal, the starting salary for an entry-level police officer, sheriff’s deputy or firefighter would jump from around $41,000 a year to $46,000, with the highest salary at that position earning $70,840.

Salaries for the highest police officer and firefighter positions would range from $67,290 to $103,626. For rank-and-file sheriff’s deputies, that top-end range would be $48,435 to $74,590.

The pay raises would be around three percent; under the draft proposal, however, they would not have been automatic and the salary boost would be subject to a performance review.

The revised numbers are slightly higher than what was presented in October. (For the full step-and-grade breakdown chart, click here, and for other proposed public safety salary ranges, click here.

After the ECBA luncheon, Boyce told East Cobb News said he is confident the new formula “is the issue that will restore confidence” to current public safety personnel, and will help with recruiting and retention.

He said that “we’ve engaged the officers,” and that “the key to me is, can we do this without a millage increase?”

For those critical of the draft proposal in October, the revision may pose similar concerns. East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott said then that the plan wouldn’t be step-and-grade if it needed annual budget approval.

Included in the recommendation in Tuesday’s budget item is language that would “authorize the County Manager to proceed working with county staff to develop a policy to review the Step & Grade Plan on an annual basis to determine effectiveness including an annual step as a top priority in future adopted budgets.”

Boyce, a Republican from East Cobb, is seeking re-election in November. His declared opposition includes South Cobb Democratic commissioner Lisa Cupid and East Cobb Republican Larry Savage, who ran for chairman in 2012 and 2016.

Two years ago, Boyce angered fiscal conservatives with a millage rate increase that didn’t address public safety staffing shortages and morale problems over pay and retention.

During last year’s budget deliberations, public safety staffers and advocates, as well as community leaders, implored commissioners to take measures to address what they termed a “crisis.”

One-time bonuses approved in May were promised as a “first step,” and when commissioners approved the fiscal year 2020 budget in July, it included a seven-percent raise for public safety employees.

Tuesday’s commission meeting is at 7 p.m. in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta. You can read through the full agenda by clicking here.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Fundraising continues for survivor of fatal NE Cobb crash

NE Cobb car crash survivor

A 16-year-old girl who was seriously injured in a two-car crash that took the life of a Kell High School student last week is recovering, and her friends are raising money for her hospital bills.

The Zaxby’s restaurant at 2756 Sandy Plains Road will donate 10 percent of its receipts from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday for a girl named Emily.

According to a Go Fund Me account set up by Peyton Miller, nearly $19,000 has been raised for Emily (in photo above), who’s a student at Lassiter High School.

The girl was not identified by Cobb Police since she is a juvenile. Kayleigh Neste, 17, a senior at Kell, was killed in the crash, which took place January 12 on Jamerson Road near the Kell campus.

Police said Neste’s Nissan lost control heading westbound on Jamerson and crashed into a Kia driven by the 16-year-old that was heading eastbound.

Both girls were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, where Neste was pronounced dead.

The Zaxby’s fundraiser was announced in Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell’s weekly newsletter on Friday (flyer at right).

According to a message posted by Miller on the Go Fund Me page for Emily, “Major surgeries have been completed for now and she is looking 100 times better.”

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!

Jamerson Road crash kills teen girl; another seriously injured

Jamerson Road crash

A teenage girl was killed and another suffered serious injuries Sunday night in a two-car crash on Jamerson Road, according to Cobb Police.

Officer Sydney Melton, a police spokeswoman, said Kayleigh S. Neste, 17, of Kennesaw, was pronounced dead after being taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Neste was a student at Kell High School.

A 16-year-old girl, who was not identified, also was taken to Kennestone, with serious injuries that were not specified, Melton said.

Police said the crash happened at 7:14 p.m. Sunday on Jamerson Road at Navilly Way, near Kell High School. A westbound-traveling white 2008 Nissan 350Z driven by Neste lost control and collided with a white 2012 Kia Forte, heading east and driven by the 16-year old.

Neste’s car caught fire after the crash, and Melton said bystanders helped her out of the car and also pulled the Kia away from the Nissan before it could catch fire.

The 16-year-old girl was trapped inside the Kia until fire and rescue crews could free her, Melton said.

Melton said the crash remains under investigation and anyone with information should call Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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 traffic alert: Storm leaves roads blocked by trees

Cobb storms block roads

Cobb County government is saying Saturday night that thunderstorms that came through late this afternoon have left some roads blocked by trees.

Those roads include portions of Old Canton Road, Post Oak Tritt Road, Bill Murdock Road, Casteel Road and Bishop Lake Road.

A message sent out by the county around 7:30 p.m. Saturday wasn’t more specific, except to say that it was responding to at least two dozen calls, and likely more, around Cobb.

The county said Cobb police and fire/rescue crews that have responded thus far haven’t reported any injuries.

Cobb EMC is updating its power outage map (see above), which as of 8:30 p.m. included some locations in East Cobb. The biggest cluster was in the Terrell Mill/Powers Ferry area, with nearly 500 outages reported.

More than 200 outages were reported in an area around Lower Roswell Road and the South Marietta Parkway, around 30 off Canton Road near Morgan Road, and 20 or so off Lower Roswell, east of Johnson Ferry Road.

Georgia Power showed some outages on its map around the Noonday area, also around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

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!