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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!
Last November, Superior Court Judge Ann B. Harris was elected by her fellow judges to serve a two-year term as the next Chief Judge of the Cobb Judicial Circuit beginning January 13, 2025.
Judge Harris was elected to the Superior Court of the Cobb Judicial Circuit in July 2014 and was re-elected without opposition in 2018 and 2022. In addition to managing a full docket of criminal, domestic, and civil matters, Judge Harris presides over Cobb County’s Mental Health Accountability Court, a model court for the treatment and restoration of persons with mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system. She also presides over Cobb’s Parental Accountability Court, an award- winning alternative to incarceration that transforms chronic non-payers of child support into financially supportive parents through job assistance and placement, education, and substance abuse treatment.
Over the past six years, Judge Harris has been participating in a cooperative effort with the Republic of Georgia to promote the independence of the Georgian justice system and strengthen the rule of law in that country by assisting their judiciary in court and jury trial management. She currently serves as President of Georgia’s Council of Superior Court Judges and is Chair of its Pattern Jury Instructions Committee. She is also a member of the Weltner Family Law Inn of Court.
Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Harris served the people of Cobb County as an assistant district attorney for 19 years. Among other notable cases, she tried the first case of felony elder abuse in the state of Georgia. In addition to prosecuting all types of serious felony offenses, she helped draft the first human trafficking laws in Georgia in 2006 and was a member of the regional Human Trafficking Task Force. Prior to her legal career, Judge Harris worked for several years as a senior consultant with an international information services consulting firm.
Judge Harris earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University and her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. She is a recent past Chair of the Board of Directors of MUST Ministries, a non- profit organization dedicated to assisting homeless and struggling families and individuals with housing, food, clothing, employment, and other needs. Judge Harris is also a longtime member and past president of the Smyrna Optimist Club. She is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Cobb and has been an active member of Cobb’s Honorary Commanders Association since 2012. She and her husband Jim have been married for 39 years and live in Smyrna with their rescue dog Bert.
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!
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!
Slushy conditions on Johnson Ferry Road at Paper Mill. Road Saturday afternoon. (511 GA)
Some businesses and other activities resumed Saturday as the cleanup is underway for Friday’s Winter Storm Cora.
But road and power line hazards are expected to continue through Saturday night with the return of sub-freezing conditions.
The National Weather Service in Atlanta reported a record 2.1-inch downfall of snow for a single day, but the storm also brought ice, sleet and freezing rain that made roads treacherous and caused power outages.
Cobb government and public safety officials were urging residents to be careful if venturing out on the roads, because of below-freezing temperatures early Saturday that produced slick spots and black ice in many areas.
The NWS issued a special weather statement Saturday afternoon about icy roads in North Georgia, including Cobb, with the most serious hazards lasting through 10 a.m. Sunday.
While travel conditions have been clear in most of East Cobb Saturday, there have been some foggy, drizzly patches, such as at Johnson Ferry Road and Paper Mill Road (above, 511 Georgia screen grab).
The NWS is urging motorists to observe caution Saturday night and Sunday morning if venturing out, as temperatures will once again fall into the 20s.
“Interstates & major highways may largely be safe, but secondary roads, back roads, bridges & overpasses will likely have black ice,” the NWS stated in a social media message Saturday afternoon.
Some churches have either cancelled in-person worship altogether or are holding services only later in the morning. The forecast for Sunday calls for sunny skies and highs in the mid 40s, the warmest it’s been since Thursday.
According to power outage maps from the electric companies, only a pocket of East Cobb residents lost electric power during and after the storm.
As of 5 p.m. Saturday, Georgia Power is reporting around 10 outages in East Cobb; and fewer than 5 by Cobb EMC.
Cobb County facilities, including libraries, remained closed Saturday, and businesses such as health and fitness spas either cut back or cancelled activities.
Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing around sunset on Saturday, with low into the low 20s.
On Sunday morning, the sun will return as the conditions break above freezing, with highs in the mid 40s.
Here is a partial list of altered church service schedules that we’ve seen. This is not complete, and is subject to change, so visit your church’s website or social media channels for updated information. Some of those cancelling everything 0utright are saying their parking lots are frozen:
Piedmont Road Church of Christ: Worship only 2 p.m.
East Cobb UMC: Worship only 11 a.m.
Mt. Paran North Church of God: Worship only 11:15 a.m.
Emerson Unitarian Universalist: All activities cancelled
Mt. Zion UMC: 10 a.m. Sunday school; 11 a.m. Worship
Mountain View Church: All activities cancelled
St. Andrew UMC: In-person worship cancelled; virtual prayer (FB/YT) 11 a.m.
Beautiful Savior Lutheran: Worship only 11 a.m.
East Cobb Church of Christ: Online communion 9:30 a.m.
East Cobb Church: All activities cancelled
Mt. Bethel Church: Worship only 9:30 a.m.
Chestnut Ridge Christian Church: Online worship only (FB/YT) 11 a.m.
Piedmont Church: Online worship only 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church: Worship 10, 11:30 a.m. only
St. Catherine’s Episcopal: Worship only 11 a.m.
Eastside Church: All activities cancelled
Holy Trinity Lutheran: Worship only 11 a.m.
Grace Resurrection Methodist: All activities cancelled
Eastminster Presbyterian: All activities cancelled
East Cobb Presbyterian: Worship only 10:30 a.m.
Unity North Atlanta Church: All activities cancelled
To track the latest conditions, including electrical service, visit the following links. If you have updated information to share with us about openings/closings/delays, etc., please e-mail us: editor@eastcobbnews.com.
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 snapshot from a reader-submitted drone video (see below) of a neighborhood off Casteel Road in East Cobb on Friday.
At least a couple of inches of snow have fallen in the East Cobb area, and now the really dangerous stuff—sleet, freezing rain and ice—is starting to accumulate.
The winter storm that moved through much of the Deep South early Friday morning is continuing through the rest of the day, with precipitation in the forecast through the early evening.
Here’s what the Cobb Emergency Management Agency posted late Friday afternoon:
“Dangerous road conditions are expected to continue through the night as dropping temperatures encourage freezing rain. Please stay home and do not travel. It is much better to enjoy this winter wonderland from the safety and warmth of your home than to get stranded on the side of the road in your vehicle.
“The possibility of trees falling and electricity being impacted will increase overnight as well. If your devices aren’t charged already, here is your reminder to plug them in. Locating flashlights and batteries now and having them in an easy to access place is also a great idea.”
Here’s what Cobb government posted late Friday afternoon as well:
The main roads in East Cobb had turned to an icy slush Friday, after being treated by Cobb DOT crews.
But temperatures will once again be falling into the 20s overnight into Saturday, when the winter storm warning ends.
Residents heeded government and public safety warnings to stay off the roads Fridau, as the “wintry mix” has been wreaking havoc across the area.
Johnson Ferry Road was blocked at Columns Drive for a while on Friday, as vehicles struggled to navigate the hilly area around the Chattahoochee River.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the road was reopened to traffic, but you’re advised to travel only when necessary.
“Cobb’s public safety units and Cobb DOT have a long list of calls and will work throughout the day to get to stranded motorists and help others get to the hospital,” Cobb government said in a message late Friday morning.
We’ll pass along specifics of where other traffic problems exist, along with downed power and tree lines, when we get them.
You can also let us know and we’ll post them there. Send your updates to editor@eastcobbnews.com.
And like our reader, Ariel Starke, has done with the drone video below, please send us your photos/videos if it’s safe for you to do so.
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!
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!
Here’s the latest information we’ve pulled together late Thursday afternoon, as road crews begin brining work and citizens make last-minute plans and shopping for the winter storm:
THE FORECAST: The latest from the National Weather Service is calling for up to two inches of snow at least for Cobb County and the north metro area Friday morning, and anticipates up to a quarter-inch of ice on top of that.
The NWS on Thursday afternoon upgraded a winter storm watch to warning for most of north and central Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday.
A state of emergency has been declared across Georgia by Gov. Brian Kemp.
Cobb government offices and the Cobb school district are closed on Friday, and most businesses and organizations have cancelled activities on Friday and Saturday.
It’s expected that snow will come first, followed by ice/sleet/freezing rain or some combination.
You’re asked not to travel at all on Friday, as roads are expected to be extremely hazardous and road crews will be applying a salt-sand combination to make major roads passable.
Bridges and overpasses tend to freeze over first, along with standing water on and along roads.
Highs are only forecast to be in the mid-30s, as precipitation is expected through the late afternoon Friday.
It’s very likely that travel may be difficult on Saturday, as temperatures are not expected to get out of the 30s and will fall into the 20s overnight.
Sunday will have highs around 40 and partly sunny skies but there may be areas where roads are not passable at all, especially residential streets that county road crews may not be able to get to.
It may not be until Monday that road conditions are safe enough for regular local travel.
TO GET PREPARED: Grocery and other stores were busy Thursday afternoon as shoppers stocked up on food and other items in the event of being home for a few days.
Have plenty of perishable food on hand, including pet food and water, as well as food that doesn’t need electric heat in case of a power outage.
Also keep on hand flashlights with fresh batteries, extra blankets, coats, gloves, caps and other clothing to stay warm should the power go out.
Stay tuned to emergency information via your favorite media outlets and radio communications and official channels.
Keep computer and mobile devices fully charged and turn on notifications for weather alerts.
TO REPORT AN OUTAGE: The following links are provided by Cobb County government:
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From the Cobb County School District around 11 a.m. Thursday:
“As we prepare for forecasted ice and snow and to protect students and staff who could be traveling to school during dangerous road conditions, all Cobb schools and offices will be closed on Friday, January 10th, for all students and staff. All extracurriculars, including sports, are also canceled on Friday, January 10th, and Saturday, January 11th.”
UPDATED, around noon Thursday, from Gov. Brian Kemp:
“Governor Brian P. Kemp today declared a statewide State of Emergency, effective immediately through Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in preparation for the approaching winter storm expected to impact Georgia beginning this Friday. The State of Emergency authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts. GEMA/HS, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), and other state agencies are instructed to provide essential personnel to the SOC, which will move to a Level 2 Activation beginning tonight at 7 p.m.
“The Georgia Department of Transportation, along with the Department of Public Safety, began treating roads early this morning to prepare for the approaching winter storm, and I’m asking all Georgians to help them do their jobs by limiting travel as much as possible in the coming days,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Hazardous conditions, including ice and snow, can develop quickly and make travel very dangerous. Plan ahead and stay tuned to updates from state and local officials to ensure you and your loved ones remain safe while our first responders continue to work tirelessly throughout this weather event.”
“Among other provisions, the State of Emergency order prohibits price gouging; suspends hours-of-service limitations for commercial vehicle operators involved in response activities; and temporarily increases weight, height, and length limits for commercial vehicles transporting essential supplies.”
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Cobb government said Wednesday afternoon that all county facilities will be closed starting at 5 a.m. Friday due to the winter storm.
Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris issued the advisory to all staff, “emphasizing the priority of ensuring safety and reducing traffic on roadways as Cobb DOT works to clear and treat roads,” the county said in a release.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for North Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, and the Cobb area could get two inches or more of snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain, or some combination.
In addition, Cobb County Superior Court Chief Judge Gregory Poole has issued an order closing the courthouse on Friday, with normal court operations scheduled to resume Monday morning. The only exception is Cobb Magistrate Court, which will maintain its 24/7 operations.
At this time, the Cobb County School District has not announced any closings of classes and activities for Friday.
The Cobb release said Cobb DOT crews will begin pretreating roads on Thursday, working in 12-hour shifts to treat 430 miles of roads.
“We’ll begin pre-treating the roads with a brine mixture on Thursday afternoon,” said Cobb DOT Deputy Director J.D. Lorens in the county release. “As the event progresses, we’ll switch to a sand-salt mixture to address icy conditions. Our team recently completed its annual inclement weather exercise and is prepared for whatever comes our way.”
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An East Cobb man is being held without bond for threatening to shoot the manager of a Roswell Road sports bar, according to an arrest warrant.
Andrew Bradley Thompson, of Sheila Lane, has been charged with a felony count of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and loiter prowl, according to his Cobb County Adult Detention Center booking report.
The report said that he was taken into custody on Jan. 3. The warrant states that around 3:30 a.m. that day, he went to the Mazzy’s Sports Bar and Grill at 2217 Roswell in a Land Rover and threatened to shoot the restaurant manager.
The restaurant had been closed for several hours at the time of the incident, according to the warrant.
Police said Thompson said to “watch out for a red dot” while pointing a laser at the restaurant entrance with the intent to invoke fear of a firearm.”
Officers found a 12-gauge shotgun inside his vehicle and two shotgun shells they believe Thompson left at the front doors on purpose, “for the purpose of intimidating the employees of the establishment and warning them of imminent danger, which he intended to cause,” according to the warrant.
The warrant further states that police conducted an alcohol search on Thompson in his vehicle and “detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.”
The suspect also “had glassy bloodshot eyes and slurred speech,” according to an officer’s description in the warrant and Thompson said he suffered from PTSD.
Officers determined he wasn’t safe to operate the vehicle, the warrant said, and Thompson was taken into custody,
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A little more than three years after opening at Woodlawn Square Shopping Center, the Alumni Cookie Dough location is closing in East Cobb this week.
Co-franchisees Eric and Leana Tatum made the announcement on a social media posting Monday, saying the last day of business is Saturday.
The message to customers said that “your love and loyalty have meant the world to us, and we are forever grateful for the community we have built together.”
In response to a request for information from East Cobb News, Eric Tatum said the business was not profitable and “our landlord was nice enough to give us a manageable deal on early termination of our commercial lease.”
He said he’ll be looking for employment after the store closes.
The Tatums—he’s a Walton High School graduate—opened an East Cobb location of the Athens-based novelty food shop in October 2021, serving up cookie dough-based desserts, ice creams, sundaes, pretzel bites and more.
In addition to its original location in Athens, Alumni Cookie Dough also operates stores in Milton and Cumming. Another store in the Augusta area closed in 2023.
The Tatums were vendors at the Taste of East Cobb and invited local school and community organizations for special events.
The East Cobb store will observe regular hours until Saturday’s closing, “pending icy weather,” the closing message said. “We’ll probably close around 6pm on Saturday.”
Hours are 1-9 Wednesday-Thursday and 12-10 Friday-Saturday.
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A winter storm watch has been issued for Cobb and most of North Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday.
The precipitation is forecast by mid-to late Friday afternoon, and continuing through Friday evening.
The chance of precipitation is 90 percent, with temperatures hovering at or below freezing.
Across the watch area, anywhere from one to seven inches of snow, sleet, freezing rain and other precipitation is possible, with higher totals expected in the mountains.
In Cobb and metro Atlanta, the expectation of snow/ice could be anywhere from two to four inches, particularly above Interstate 20.
Cobb DOT crews are preparing to treat roads, and Cobb County Emergency Management is working with GEMA to monitor conditions in the area, according to Cobb government.
There’s no update Wednesday yet from the Cobb County School District. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said Tuesday that any decision about Friday classes and activities is expected to be announced on Thursday.
The NWS forecast Wednesday morning said snow is likely before 4 p.m. Friday, then a mixture after that with a high near 34 and a low around 29.
Saturday should be partly sunny but only with a high of 36 and a low dipping into the teens.
On Sunday, the forecast has sun returning to the area with a high around 40 and a low around 25.
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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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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John Cristadoro takes the oath of office joined by his family. From Cobb County School District streaming video.
Just minutes after being publicly sworn in as a new member of the Cobb Board of Education, John Cristadoro was elected Tuesday to serve as vice chairman.
Cristadoro is a recently elected Republican from Post 5 in East Cobb, succeeding retiring GOP member David Banks.
David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb was elected to serve as chairman for 2025.
Their duties include presiding over board meetings and representing the board in an official capacity.
During a special organizational meeting Tuesday, the votes were both 4-3 along party lines, reflecting the Republicans’ 4-3 majority on the board.
The board also set the 2025 meeting schedule (you can read it here), starting with the first work session and voting session of the year on Jan. 16.
Democratic board member Becky Sayler of Post 2 in South Cobb proposed an amendment that would have the work sessions and voting sessions on separate days to invite more public participation.
But that motion and two others she offered failed along the same party lines by 3-4 votes.
She also made a motion for fellow Democrat Tre’ Hutchins to become board chair, but that also defeated by the same 3-4 split.
Republicans have held the majority on the school board for the past decade, and have rotated the leadership roles ever since.
In November, Hutchins was re-elected without opposition to a second term to Post 3 from South Cobb. Republicans Randy Scamihorn and Brad Wheeler were re-elected in November, while Cristadoro defeated Laura Judge, like him a parent in the Walton High School cluster.
Hutchins, Scamihorn, Wheeler and Cristadoro took their official oaths of office Tuesday morning, then repeated the procedure publicly before the meeting.
Cristadoro, who runs a digital media company, was joined by his wife and two children, who attend Walton High School and Dickerson Middle School.
Chastain, a Wheeler High School graduate who is in his third term, will be serving as chairman for the fourth time.
Cristadoro’s vote into leadership as a first-year member is a departure from recent practice.
In 2021, Charisse Davis, a Democrat who represented the Walton and Wheeler clusters, was nominated for vice chair for a third consecutive year, but didn’t have the votes.
Instead, the vice chair role that year went to Banks, who was beginning his fourth term, and who had several public disputes with Davis.
She said she had been told that she was too new to the board for a leadership role. After the 2021 vote, Davis wrote i on social media that “sharing leadership opportunities strengthens our board, and subsequently, the district. I do not believe it best serves the district to recycle leadership opportunities amongst the same couple of people.”
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!
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.”
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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.
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