East Cobb News

COVID cases falling in Cobb schools, but Dickerson MS reports outbreak

September 17, 2021 8:14 PMSeptember 17, 2021 7:42 PM by Wendy Parker

Dickerson MS

The Cobb County School District on Friday said there are 576 active cases of COVID-19 among staff and students, and that the figure reflects a steep decline since a late August peak.

However, a new outbreak has been reported at another school in East Cobb.

In its weekly case notification report, the district said Friday that there have been 4,978 cases since July 1.

This week, the school with the highest number of active cases is at Dickerson Middle School, which has 38.

It’s the only middle school in double figures in cases this week, and Dickerson has reported 62 of its 75 total cases since July 1 over the last three weeks.

At Addison Elementary School in Northeast Cobb, there are 13 active cases this week, down from 32 a week ago and 11 at Rocky Mount ES, which reported 24 a week ago.

Timber Ridge ES in East Cobb reported 10 cases this week, but there was only one other elementary school in the district in double figures.

For 10 days last month the entire 5th grade at East Side Elementary School went to remote learning due to an outbreak in which there were 46 active cases at one point.

The district released a school-by-school weekly report on Friday showing how those numbers have been falling in most places (you can read through it by clicking here).

The district said case rates have dropped 44 percent since Aug. 27 and are down 90 percent at 103 of the 114 schools.

“For those schools which have not yet seen drops, we expect similar declines as COVID-19 spread also declines in those areas of the Cobb community,” said Superintendent Chris Ragsdale in the release.

Last week he was the only member of the Cobb Board of Health who did not vote for a statement urging universal masking in schools, per the latest CDC guidance.

Instead, Ragsdale abstained, saying the statement was not sent to him before a virtual meeting. He also said the Cobb school district was following all other CDC-recommended protocols.

Cobb has a masks-optional policy and is one of the few school districts in metro Atlanta not to require face coverings.

In Friday’s release, Ragsdale didn’t mention masks, but said the following:

“Our commitment to our staff, students, and parents will continue focusing on data-based approaches, balancing our commitments to continuing to provide Cobb County’s students with an internationally competitive education, ensuring a safe instructional environment for our staff and students, and preserving the overwhelming preference of our community for a choice of in-person learning.”

Cobb 2021 SAT scores: Big jump at Wheeler; Walton tops county

September 17, 2021 7:12 PMSeptember 17, 2021 2:25 PM by Wendy Parker

Wheeler name change town hall

The average mean Scholastic and Aptitude Test score for Wheeler seniors in the Class of 2021 jumped by 73 points from last year, the biggest increase among the 16 high schools in the Cobb County School District.

The district released scores on Friday, showing Wheeler’s average score at 1,233, just behind Walton High School at 1,275, which once again led the district. Pope High School was third at 1,205.

At Kell High School, the average score was 1,076, at Lassiter it was 1,176 and at Sprayberry it was 1,104.

In a news release, the district said Cobb students taking the SAT in 2021 averaged a score of 1,50 points (out of a possible 1,600), 43 points higher than a year ago.

Walton’s SAT score was tied for third-highest in Georgia, and Wheeler was in the top 10.

The statewide average this year is 1,077, and the national average is 1,038.

The Cobb school district said this year’s score is higher than other large school districts in Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Education released district and school-level data, including average scores by subject, that you can view here.

The Cobb score for evidence-based reading and the writing section was 581 out of a maximum of 800, 17 points higher than 2020. In math, Cobb students scored a 568 out of a maximum 800, a jump of 24 points.

For Lease sign goes up at East Cobb Tokyo Valentino store

September 17, 2021 1:48 PMSeptember 17, 2021 12:38 PM by Wendy Parker

Tokyo Valentino for lease sign

A couple months after being temporarily shut down by a Cobb County judge, the Tokyo Valentino adult retail store on Johnson Ferry Road in East Cobb appears to be closed for good.

A For Lease sign has been posted in a front window, and East Cobb News has left a message with Tokyo Valentino’s attorney seeking further information and comment.

On July 19, Cobb Superior Court judge LaTain Kell ordered the store closed after a hearing in a legal dispute between Tokyo Valentino owner Michael Morrison and the county.

Cobb commissioners voted late last year to revoke the store’s business license, saying it misrepresented what kind of business would be going there when it received a business license in March 2020.

The county charged that Tokyo Valentino falsely applied to open a clothing store—calling itself the 1290 Clothing Co.—then featured an inventory mostly of sex toys after opening in June 2020 as Tokyo Valentino.

It was the fifth Tokyo Valentino location opened by Morrison, who has been embroiled with other jurisdictions in metro Atlanta over his various adult businesses.

After his store opened in East Cobb, Cobb commissioners overhauled the county code governing adult businesses.

Tokyo Valentino filed a federal lawsuit against the county, but that was dismissed in May.

Kell’s order was to enjoin Tokyo Valentino from doing business while the legal wrangling continued, and was not a permanent closure.

In August, Tokyo Valentino attorney Cary Wiggins made an emergency appeal for Kell to stay that injunction, but the judge declined.

Cobb officials said during the hearing before Kell that Tokyo Valentino had not applied for a general business license for 2021 or for an adult oriented business license, something that’s now required under the revised ordinance.

The new ordinance also permits adult businesses only in office-industrial zoning categories. The Tokyo Valentino store, which was formerly a mattress store, has been in a standalone building zoned for general commercial use and didn’t need to get county approval before opening.

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News that Tokyo Valentino’s appeal of the county’s attempt to permanently revoke its business license “is still underway.”

Cobb Police said that last fall, the Tokyo Valentino store was robbed by a burglar whom they allege stole more than $21,000 of lingerie, sex enhancement pills, CBD products, sex toys and gift cards.

A suspect was arrested in June and is facing numerous burglary and related charges for what police said was an extensive crime spree in Cobb from last September to March of this year.

Cobb zoning hearing schedule changed for social-distancing

September 18, 2021 8:31 PMSeptember 17, 2021 9:56 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb commissioners public comments

Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners zoning hearing—which features the East Cobb Church and Ebenezer Road cases—will be conducted in two phases to accommodate public interest and to meet social-distancing protocols.

Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris issued a mask mandate last month for anyone visiting indoor county facilities. Those attending the Tuesday zoning hearing will be required to wear masks.

The county also reverted to social-distancing protocols that were followed earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic and thus the capacity in the meeting room will be limited.

The morning session—which starts at 9 a.m.—will include East Cobb Church/North Point Ministries (Z-31, 2020) as well as consent agenda items, Z-28, Z-23, and Z-26 of 2021.

The afternoon session begins at an unspecified time and will include Z-31 (the Ebenezer Road case) as well as Z-40, OB-45, and OB-48.

The full agenda can be found here; there have been major changes submitted this week in the East Cobb Church and Ebenezer Road cases.

North Point Ministries’ application for a church, residential and retail at Johnson Ferry and Shallowford Road late last year has been delayed several times.

While there’s substantial community support, there’s also vocal opposition protesting the density of the proposed single-family homes and town homes, and related traffic issues.

Pulte Homes wants to build 99 homes on a 50-acre undeveloped tract on Ebenezer Road.

Both cases are holdovers from the August zoning calendar. In the case of North Point Ministries, District 2 commissioner Jerica Richardson asked for the delay when she couldn’t get a majority support for a motion to approve.

The five-woman board was down to four during its August hearing as chairwoman Lisa Cupid was absent due to a death in her family.

Earlier this month, the Cobb Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the Ebenezer Road case, which also has faced opposition from nearby residents for density and stormwater reasons.

Tuesday’s zoning hearing begins at 9 a.m. in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta, and will be live-streamed on the county’s website, cable TV channel (Channel 24 on Comcast) and Youtube page. Visit cobbcounty.org/CobbTV for other streaming options.

Cobb Police shoot, kill man in NE Cobb domestic dispute

September 17, 2021 7:58 PMSeptember 17, 2021 7:27 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Police kill man NE Cobb domestic dispute — *Photo courtesy Georgia Bureau of Investigation*

Cobb Police said early Friday that officers shot and killed a man overnight at a home in Northeast Cobb after responding to a domestic dispute.

Public Information Officer Wayne Delk said in a release that shortly after midnight, police were called via 911 to a home at 4592 North Landing Drive.

That’s off Kemp Road near Trickum Road, and Delk said that when officers arrived they found a male at the residence with a large hunting knife.

“At some point the armed male presented a threat to the officers and was shot by officers,” Delk said.

The man died of his wounds, and nobody else was injured, including the officers, Delk said.

He provided no other details, including the identity of the man who was killed. The investigation is being turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.

UPDATED:

The GBI issued a release after 3 p.m. Friday and identified the man who was shot and killed by police as Joseph Wilbanks, 41, of Marietta.

According to the release, an officer shot Wilbanks after he advanced toward police with the knife.

The release said the 911 call was made to Cobb Police in regarding a domestic dispute involving a suicidal man, but didn’t indicate if that was Wilbanks.

The GBI said after its investigation is complete, its report will be submitted to the Cobb County District Attorney’s office.

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 school district responds to anti-Semitic incidents

September 16, 2021 4:35 PM by Wendy Parker

We reached out to the Cobb County School District to get a response to the anti-Semitic incidents that took place at Pope High School and Lassiter High School in the last week.

East Cobb News specifically asked if the district would be responding in a broader fashion than the separate investigations that are taking place at each school.

In both instances, swastikas and the words “Hail Hitler!” or “Heil Hitler” were scrawled on the walls of restrooms.

Here’s what a district spokeswoman sent to East Cobb News via e-mail:

“A recent disturbing social media trend involving hate speech is unacceptable and distracting from our teachers’ and students’ ability to focus on teaching and learning. Our principals are engaging with students, teachers, parents, and community members about how to prevent the harmful and illegal behavior from happening. There is zero tolerance for actions that harm individual students, people groups or the school building, and all applicable District policies and laws will be applied.

“We encourage families to talk to their students about the impacts of inappropriate and dangerous trends circulating on social media. Parents, students, or staff members can report safety concerns to the District’s Tipline via call, text or email.”

The statement, published in full, is identical to what was sent to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday.

The Cobb school board meetings that were to have taken place Thursday are being delayed a week in observance of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Rabbi Larry Sernovitz of Temple Kol Emeth in East Cobb and the Atlanta office of the Anti-Defamation League have called the district’s response to the Pope incident inadequate.

That was before the incident at Lassiter that was announced Wednesday, just as Yom Kippur was set to begin, and that was concluding on Thursday.

Blood drive event to honor Lassiter students with leukemia

September 16, 2021 3:49 PM by Wendy Parker

The Lassiter High School community has been rallying around students Sam Lucas and Luc Mire, both of whom are battling leukemia.

This Saturday several events will be taking place at the Paradise Grill (3605 Sandy Plains Road) in their honor, as September is also Leukemia Awareness Month.

There will be a blood donation station from 10-3, bone marrow swabbing from 10-5 and live music from 6-9, with 10 percent of all sales being donated to the Ronald McDonald House.

Details are in the flyer below, including QR Code/registration information.

Lassiter leukemia students blood drive

East Cobb Civitan Club brings back Wine and Vine fundraiser

September 16, 2021 1:31 PM by Wendy Parker

The East Cobb Civitan Club’s Wine & Vine fundraiser was among the many event casualties in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year the civic group is bringing the event back to the Olde Towne Athletic Club, but with a twist.

Next Thursday, Sept. 23, the auction that raises funds for various local charities is being conducted poolside—hence the “Wine & Vine Poolside” title.

There will be food and wine, live music and the auction starting at 6 p.m. The cost is $30 a person and VIP tickets are $150 per couple.

Here’s an online order form that includes sponsorships and additional donations.

EC Civitan Wine & Vine

Georgia Symphony Orchestra begins new season Sept. 25

September 19, 2021 12:16 PMSeptember 16, 2021 8:03 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: Maria Valdes, Georgia Symphony Orchestra

Georgia Symphony Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville leads the orchestra as it opens its 71st concert season on Sept. 25, 2021, with Mahler, smahler, a reduced orchestration of Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.

Acclaimed soprano and Marietta native Maria Valdes will be the featured soloist at the performance, which will be held at the Marietta Performing Arts Center.

This special chamber version of the Fourth Symphony was arranged by Yoon Jae Lee, founder and artistic director of Ensemble 212, located in New York City, and curator of the Mahler Chamber Project.

“Mahler’s Fourth Symphony often is referred to as the most ‘chamber-like,’ due to the exquisite intricacies and interplay between instrumental sections,” said Verville. “The GSO’s chamber version of this work contains all the sublime melodies and progressive harmonies that have led to Mahler’s popularity as a composer.”

Mahler, smahler is the first of three performances in the GSO’s Classics Series. The GSO’s 2021-2022 season performance schedule also includes its Holiday Pops, Sensory Friendly, GSO Chorus and GSO Jazz! concerts.

To ensure the health, safety and comfort of its patrons, musicians and staff, the GSO is offering socially distanced matinee and evening shows of this performance at reduced seating capacity. The GSO also will require all patrons to be fully vaccinated, show proof upon entry and be masked for the duration of the concert. Season subscriptions and individual tickets can be purchased online at georgiasymphony.org/events.

Lassiter principal: Anti-Semitic graffiti found in restrooms

September 15, 2021 6:10 PM by Wendy Parker

Lassiter High School graduation rate

The principal at Lassiter High School informed his school community Wednesday afternoon that anti-Semitic graffiti was found earlier this week in restrooms.

In a message that went out to Lassiter families, Dr. Chris Richie said that swastikas and “Heil Hitler” were found scrawled in two restrooms, similar to what happened last week at nearby Pope High School.

“In both locations, the deplorable symbols and language were behind stall doors,” Richie wrote in a letter that has been posted on the Lassiter PTSA Facebook page.

He said the discovery was the result of an organized effort that began Monday to monitor student activity, especially in restrooms, following the Pope incident.

Richie said Lassiter restrooms have been checked on an almost hourly basis during the school day, and that school officials are reviewing video footage and conducting an active investigation into the anti-Semitic messages. The Lassiter resource officer also has filed a report.

“I am both angered and saddened by the appearance of symbols and words of hatred in our school and community,” Richie wrote. He added:

“When hate and ignorance surface in our school, we ask that parents engage in meaningful conversations and dialogue with your children. I can cite the Cobb County School District’s Administrative Rule that these hate symbols/speech violate, and I can talk to students in the morning over the announcements about repercussions for this despicable act; however, for these disgusting acts to stop, we must all come together as a school and a community to commit that Lassiter High School will be a safe, respectful environment for all students, faculty, and staff. We must work together to teach our students to be better.”

The Lassiter letter comes as Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins, lasting from sunset Wednesday to sunset Thursday.

On Tuesday, the Cobb Board of Education announced it was delaying its scheduled monthly meetings on Thursday by a week in observance of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Both Rabbi Larry Sernovitz of Temple Kol Emeth in East Cobb, who visited with Pope students, and the Anti-Defamation League in Atlanta said the Cobb County School District response to the Pope incident was insufficient.

The ADL issued a particularly scathing statement, saying the school board’s recent decision to ban Critical Race Theory “could tie their hands in responding to and countering incidents of hate through educational initiatives for the school community.”

East Cobb Food Scores: Stockyard Burgers; Kale Me Crazy; more

September 17, 2021 8:11 PMSeptember 15, 2021 4:37 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb food scores, Kale Me Crazy Avenue East Cobb

The following food scores for the weeks of Sept. 6-13 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Chicken Salad Chick
4101 Roswell Road, Suite 811
September 15, 2021 Score: 88, Grade: B

Clean Juice Sandy Plains MarketPlace
3460 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 600
September 14, 2021 Score: 90, Grade: A

Carol’s Cafe
2543 Bells Ferry Road, Suite 50
September 7, 2021 Score: 98, Grade: A

East Side Elementary School
3850 Roswell Road
September 17, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Great Wall Chinese & Sushi Bar
1275 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 180
September 16, 2021 Score: 80, Grade: B

Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar
1477 Roswell Road
September 10, 2021 Score: 96, Grade: A

Jimmy John’s
1337 Powers Ferry Road
September 16, 2021 Score: 88, Grade: B

Kale Me Crazy
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1620
September 15, 2021 Score: 94, Grade: A

Mazzy’s Sports Bar & Grill
2217 Roswell Road, Suite A-200
September 15, 2021 Score: 95, Grade: A

Mt. Bethel Elementary School
1210 Johnson Ferry Road
September 17, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

O’Charley’s
3550 Sandy Plains Road
September 15, 2021 Score: 93, Grade: A

Papa John’s Pizza
1325 Powers Ferry Road
September 16, 2021 Score: 95, Grade: A

Stockyard Burgers & Bones
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1700
September 16, 2021 Score: 95, Grade: A

Subway
2610 Delk Road
September 14, 2021 Score: 98, Grade: A

Subway
4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 115
September 16, 2021 Score: 97, Grade: A

Taquito Express
3065 Shallowford Road, Suite A
September 17, 2021 Score: 81, Grade: B

Wendy’s
2668 Windy Hill Road
September 17, 2021 Score: 83, Grade: B

Cobb Elections announces 2021 advance voting information

September 15, 2021 2:25 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Elections has released advance voting dates, times and locations for the Nov. 2 elections, which include the Cobb Education SPLOST and municipal elections.

Among the locations having advance voting include The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road, from Oct. 12-29.

A few other things to know, especially regarding absentee ballots, from Cobb Elections:

All precincts will have an education SPLOST question on the ballot.
Precincts within incorporated cities will also have municipal offices on the ballot.
Voters must register to vote or update their address by Oct. 4 at MVP.sos.ga.gov.
Voters may submit an absentee ballot application only between Aug. 16 and Oct. 22.
Voters must use the new absentee ballot application to request an absentee ballot. One may be found here. Former absentee ballot applications will not be accepted.
Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters beginning Oct. 11.
Voted absentee ballots must be received by Cobb Elections staff before 7pm on Nov. 2, 2021.
- Ballots can be returned by postal mail, or
- hand-delivered to the ballot box inside the Cobb Elections office, or
- hand-delivered to any early voting location during voting hours.
In a pilot program, Cobb Elections staff will also accept voted ballots at certain libraries starting on Oct. 25. A schedule or dates, times and locations will be published soon.
Early voting will begin on Oct. 12. A schedule of dates, times and locations will be published no later than Sept. 27.

For questions and for more information, visit cobbcounty.org/elections, email info@cobbelections.org, or call 770-528-2581.

Cityhood news: Buckhead financial feasibility study released

September 15, 2021 12:22 PM by Wendy Parker

*For a larger version of the proposed Buckhead city map, **click here**.*

While a financial feasibility study for a proposed City of East Cobb is expected to be finished in November, a similar study conducted for a group pushing for cityhood in Buckhead was released on Tuesday.

That study, conducted by Valdosta State University, shows a budget surplus of $113 million, even with police and fire services.

The overall budget would be $203 million, according to the study, which is summarized here and can be read in full here.

Those behind the Buckhead breakaway have cited rising crime and pressure on public safety services in the City of Atlanta, and the proposed city would have more patrol officers than what are currently staffed in the Buckhead area.

The proposed City of Buckhead would have a population of just over 100,000 and cover what’s now Atlanta to roughly the I-75/I-85 split.

The other proposed services are public works, parks and recreation and community development.

From the Buckhead.com site is an analysis of the study, and there are a few things about the Buckhead effort worth noting.

First, none of the legislators who have co-sponsored the bill are from the proposed city area, which is required under state law. They’re North Fulton and Gwinnett Republicans, and thus far no Atlanta lawmakers have signed on.

Secondly, the study was done at a small-town South Georgia university that normally limits is work to that part of the state, certainly not a big city.

The Buckhead cityhood group approached the University of Georgia, which declined to do the study. Georgia State University is conducting the East Cobb feasibility study, as it did for the previous East Cobb cityhood effort in 2018.

The website for the pro-cityhood Buckhead City Committee can be found here; a group against cityhood is the Committee for a United Atlanta.

Like the four cityhood efforts in Cobb County, Buckhead legislation filed this year would call for a November 2022 referendum, if that bill is passed by the Georgia legislature next year.

In addition to the renewed East Cobb effort, some Mableton citizens have revived their cityhood ambitions under the South Cobb Alliance. Their impetus has been community redevelopment.

New organizations have been formed to create a City of Vinings and a City of Lost Mountain in West Cobb, which, like the new East Cobb effort, are focused on zoning and development issues.

Feasibility studies for those three proposed Cobb cities also are still underway.

Bells Ferry ES student named SagerStrong Hometown Hero

September 15, 2021 12:45 PMSeptember 15, 2021 10:40 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information from the Cobb County School District: Bells Ferry ES student Jensen Oliver, SagerStrong Hometown Hero

The SagerStrong Foundation recently announced that Bells Ferry Elementary student Jensen Oliver won it Hometown Hero Award. As the winner, Jensen will receive a $3500 in scholarship award made possible through a generous donation from Rand Refrigeration and individual donors.

Jensen is a pediatric cancer patient who is thriving through her fight with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Diagnosed with ALL in 2017, Jensen continues to fight hard and endure her treatment with great strength and determination. She will soon “graduate” from treatment to the survivor’s program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Read more about Jensen, her cancer story, and how she and her family are staying #SagerStrong through the fight, here. According to the SagerStrong Foundation, a special thanks to Heather Roe and Karl Kaiser for nominating Jensen for this award and contributing an additional gift to this year’s special honoree.

Jensen was honored in August at the third annual 2021 SagerStrong Foundation Stadium Fun Run at Truist Park and at the Atlanta Braves game against the San Francisco Giants. Thanks to Rand Refrigeration, Jensen will receive the scholarship gift now as inspiration and a promise for keeping strong in her fight to beat blood cancer.

“We are continually inspired by the uplifting stories that the Foundation receives for the annual SagerStrong Foundation Hometown Hero Award Program, presented by Rand Refrigeration,” said Stacy Sager, President of the SagerStrong Foundation. “We were truly blown away by the applicants this year – it was difficult to choose just one, but Jensen’s great attitude and love of life reminded us so much of Craig and his passion to do what he loved, even while in his fight. We are grateful to our partner, Rand Refrigeration, for making the scholarship possible for Jensen, and to individual donors Heather Roe and Karl Kaiser for contributing additional funds to help us make the honor even more special in 2021!”

The SagerStrong Foundation Hometown Hero Award honors a pediatric leukemia patient annually that embodies everything that the SagerStrong Foundation stands for perseverance, strength, and, above all, courage. The program was created in Craig Sager’s memory to inspire and “lift up” young patients in their fight to know that they have so many others “fighting” in their corner with them.

“We are proud to support the SagerStrong Foundation’s Hometown Hero Award program again this year and grateful to continue to give back in the communities that we serve,” said Randi Davis Minor, principal, Rand Refrigeration. “Supporting others, like Jensen, in her fight to achieve her dreams in the face of adversity and challenges is a wonderful way we can help make a difference.”

Walton, Wheeler students headline National Merit scholar lists

September 15, 2021 7:36 AM by Wendy Parker

The first batch of National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for the 2021-22 school year have been announced, and they include quite a few students from Walton and Wheeler High schools in East Cobb.

The full list of East Cobb students is below; here’s some background on the program, which has 16,000 semifinalists nationwide:

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school offi cial must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2022. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 220 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2022 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 362,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

INDEPENDENT STUDIES AT JOHNSON FERRY

William L. Reese

LASSITER H. S.

Faaris Hussain

POPE H. S.

Patrick M. Astorga; Oluwaseminire A. Oloyede; Madeleine M. Stewart

SPRAYBERRY H. S.

Bradley Scott

WALTON H. S.

Zain M. Akram; Mark Arshavsky; Stephanie Bergman; Lawrence J. Cai; Wonho Choi; Fevin Felix; Fiona P. Guo; Sahil J. Handa; Katelyn L. Henry; Ryann A. Jacobson; Saloni Jain; Chinmay P. Joshi; Aadi Kadi; Sungwon Kim; Abhinav Kona; Abhishek Kona; Maxwell E. Leamy; Daniel Y. Liu; Vikas Malepati; Ana E. Mocklar; Cynthia Peng; Imaan A. Pirani; Neerav Ravirala; Aryan Roy; Advaith Shivaram; Jonathan Shu; Nairita S. Siddiqui; Lawrence A. Thomas; Kunling Tong; Abhay R. Vittal; Joseph M. Walter; Asad Yamin; Emma L. Zeng; Franklin S. Zhao

WHEELER H. S.

Rhea Baghel; Evan Bauer; Smera V. Bhatia; Pranav R. Devarinti; Arjun J. Dewan; Carson D. Felton; Angela M. Francis; Archishma V. Goli; Kyle A. Hampton; Samyukta S. Iyer; Sujit Iyer; William P. Jewel; Charlie J. Jin; Kavita Kar; Nelitha E. Kulasiri; Nishka Mirkhelkar; Achyutan T. Narayanan; Vijay Shastri; Chirag Shetty; Emma G. Teng; Satya S. Tetali

Mt. Bethel pastor likens church saga to Civil Rights movement

September 15, 2021 6:23 PMSeptember 14, 2021 7:11 PM by Wendy Parker

The day after Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church was sued by the denomination’s North Georgia Conference, Pastor Rev. Dr. Jody Ray sent a letter to the East Cobb church’s membership, accusing Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of “a power play.”

Mt. Bethel Church prayer service, Jody Ray — *Rev. Dr. Jody Ray at a prayer service at Mt. Bethel in July.*

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, seeks Mt. Bethel property and assets, as the denomination has claimed is its right under the UMC Book of Discipline governing document.

Ray resigned his UMC ministerial credentials this spring after being reassigned out of Mt. Bethel by Haupert-Johnson, touching off a fierce public controversy that has landed in court, after a failed attempt at mediation.

“So here we are today, mired in what many would characterize as a conflict over ‘appointments and property,’ ” Ray wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by East Cobb News (you can read it here).

He then wrote the following:

“Well, it is! But it’s for so much more than that. Describing our present challenges that way would be like saying Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott was all about where African-Americans could sit on the bus. Well, it was—but it was about so much more!”

He went on to explain how that event, in 1955, at the start of the modern Civil Rights movement, “changed the course of history for our nation.” Ray continued:

“Mt. Bethel, our conflict may center around ‘appointments and property,’ but it’s about so much more! It’s about contending for our faith.”

Referring to Mt. Bethel, he wrote toward the end of his letter that “our stand today—united in Christ—as proclaimed in the Scriptures will not only impact today but will also have an impact on generations of Christians in this community and globally in the future.”

You can read the lawsuit in full by clicking here; the case has been assigned to Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley but no initial hearings have been scheduled.

Some prominent Marietta legal teams have been hired on both sides. The North Georgia Conference has hired Cauthorn Nohr & Owen, led by former Cobb Superior Court Judge Thomas Cauthorn.

Mt. Bethel has retained the law firm of Moore, Ingram Johnson & Steele.

On Monday, Keith Boyette, the head of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, filed an application in Cobb Superior Court seeking pro hac vice admission. That’s when an attorney not licensed in a particular state asks to be admitted in a special instance.

The WCA is a consortium of conservative UMC congregations who’ve been planning in recent years for disaffiliation over theological disputes, centered highly on gay and lesbian clergy and same-sex marriages.

Mt. Bethel has been a leading member of WCA and has been a host of its annual conference. The church’s public comment issued after the lawsuit was filed urged for a vote for disaffiliation. The national UMC is to consider approving a protocol for that process in September 2022.

In his Cobb court filing, Boyette noted that he’s a qualified attorney licensed to practice in Virginia and that he has been retained by Mt. Bethel.

Cobb extends paid leave for vaccinated county employees

September 15, 2021 12:29 PMSeptember 14, 2021 11:33 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb extends paid leave vaccinated employees — *“We are giving people a choice,” Cobb commission chairwoman Lisa Cupid said.*

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to extend paid leave hours for county employees who are out due to COVID-related reasons through the end of the year.

The measure revising the county’s emergency paid leave provision would use $750,000 of federal American Rescue Plan funding allotted to Cobb County, and employees could get up to 80 hours of paid leave.

But that’s only for county employees who have been vaccinated against the virus. The board’s vote was 4-1, opposed by Keli Gambrill of North Cobb, who said the policy is discriminatory and would hurt the county’s ability to hire and retain employees.

“Using COVID as a red herring and justification to take away personal choice—it begs the question: Why would an employee want to continue working for Cobb County?” Gambrill said in reading prepared remarks.

“It is no wonder our turnover rate is so high and we are unable to attract new employees when we fail to appreciate their service in exchange for political posturing.”

She got no support from her colleagues, including her fellow Republican JoAnn Birrell of Northeast Cobb, who said that “I see this as a benefit, not a penalty.”

Democrat Monique Sheffield of South Cobb said the policy is “simply an effort to stop the spread” of COVID-19. She said the public “elected us to do the responsible thing, and this agenda item reflects that.”

Tony Hagler, head of the Cobb government human resources office, requested the change due to “the significant increase in COVID-19 cases associated with the more contagious Delta variant within Cobb County. In addition, this Emergency Paid Administrative Leave will help alleviate the stress on staff when faced with the decision of staying home to quarantine and/or caring for family member(s).”

The new policy would pay workers who are out due to COVID-19 symptoms or quarantine their full salary, and two-thirds of their pay if they’re tending to a relative who’s got the virus.

Cobb workers now get between 13-25 days of paid sick leave annually, based on their years of employment.

Cobb’s latest 14-day average of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people has fallen under 800, but still remains extremely high, Cobb and Douglas Public Health director Dr. Janet Memark told commissioners earlier in Tuesday’s meeting.

Commission chairwoman Lisa Cupid disputed a suggestion by Gambrill that the policy change is politically motivated, calling it an “apolitical agenda item.”

She also said employees do have a choice, and that COVID-related absences are draining county resources, noting that the county is spending heavily in overtime pay to cover for COVID-related absences.

“It is a choice,” Cupid said. “You may not like the choice, but not liking the choice doesn’t mean you don’t have one.”

Commissioner Jerica Richardson, who represents part of East Cobb, voted for the policy change but did not offer any comments beforehand.

Water bills to go up

Commissioners also voted 4-1 to approve a request by the Cobb County Water System to raise rates starting in January.

The agenda item states that rates for a typical residential customer will go up by $5.43 a month.

Birrell was the only vote against, saying she couldn’t support a rate increase as long as commissioners continue to transfer revenues from the water system to fund the county budget.

The last increase was in mid-2018; here’s a detailed list of the new charges.

Elections Office renovation funds approved

Gambrill and Birrell voted against spending $3.8 million from the county’s fund balance to complete renovations of the new Cobb Board of Elections and Registrations office on Roswell Street in Marietta.

They said that the project was eligible for American Rescue Plan funding, which was noted in the agenda item but scratched out.

But the three Democrats on the board voted to use reserve county funding. Cobb government received nearly $75 million in ARP money.

Tim D. Lee Senior Center fully reopens after renovations

September 14, 2021 10:05 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Senior Center

The Tim D. Lee Senior Center in East Cobb (3332 Sandy Plains Road) fully reopened on Monday morning after repairs and renovations that lasted more than a year.

Visit the center’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TimLeeSeniorCenter/ for more details.

Below is a glimpse of events offered there in September.

Tim D. Lee Center

East Cobb Cub scouts camp under the stars at McFarlane Park

September 14, 2021 7:33 AM by Wendy Parker

Cub scouts McFarlane Park

Submitted information and photos:

Cub Scouts is a program that brings families together to learn new things and accomplish fun challenges. Pack 797, chartered to St. Peter and St. Paul Episcopal Church on Johnson Ferry Road, serves over 100 elementary-aged children from East Cobb.

On Saturday, September 11, 98 Scouts and parents gathered for their first campout of the year held right in East Cobb at McFarlane Park. The “Movie Under the Stars” Campout was designed for families to have fun, get to know each other, and for new campers to experience camping close to home. Families arrived at 5:00 PM to set-up their tents, enjoyed hot dogs from the grill, a moving campfire with a 9/11 moment of silence, watched a movie under the stars, and slept comfortably in their tents overnight.

Sometimes it is hard for parents to see how much value Scouting can bring to their family, especially if it is all new to them. The outdoor component of the program can be intimidating for some, and while Cub Scouts is designed to introduce families to the outdoors, children gain much more benefit from the program than just an appreciation of nature and how to be prepared in all elements. Scouting introduces children to countless skills and experiences, brings families closer together, and ultimately builds children into values-based leaders. Pack 797’s Campout was a terrific first experience for many of the new Cub Scout families and a great kick-off to the fall for the returning Scouts as well.

McFarlane Nature Park was a terrific host located off of Paper Mill Road on Farm Road. It’s 11.5 acres was once the centerpiece of extensive agricultural acreage owned by the late Atlanta attorney Hughes Spalding, Sr. William and Florence McFarlane bought the property in 1958. When Florence McFarlane died in 1990, she willed her land to the community. The Park has been a terrific and appreciated resource for Pack 797 and other Scouting groups in the area.

Packs and Troops in Marietta are welcoming new Scouts throughout the fall. If you are interested in learning more about joining Cub Scouts or Scouts BSA, visit www.AtlantaBSA.org/Join.

Cub scouts McFarlane Park

East Cobb teen part of initial class of female Eagle Scouts

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 school board delays September meetings for Yom Kippur

September 13, 2021 6:38 PMSeptember 13, 2021 4:49 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb school board COVID-19

The Cobb County School District said Monday is it pushing back the Cobb Board of Education’s monthly meetings in September due to Yom Kippur, the holiest observance of the Jewish calendar.

The board’s work session and voting meeting were to have taken place Thursday, but that’s during Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Instead, those meetings will take place next Thursday, Sept. 23, at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

Yom Kippur begins at sunset Wednesday and continues through sunset Thursday.

From a Cobb school district release Monday afternoon:

“We recognize that Yom Kippur is of vital importance to our Jewish community members and have decided to postpone our regular meeting to ensure that as many of our community members as possible can participate.”

The district’s announcement also said that “while we understand that this schedule change may cause inconvenience to some, the Board and District are committed to making our meetings as inclusive as possible.”

The change comes a few days after the Pope High School principal announced an investigation was underway following the discovery of anti-Semitic graffiti on the wall of a boys bathroom.

There were two swastikas scrawled above urinals with the words “Hail Hiter!,” and prompted a visit to the campus Friday by Rabbi Larry Sernovitz of Temple Kol Emeth in East Cobb.

The Southern Division of the Anti-Defamation League in Atlanta said on Monday that the Cobb school district’s response to the Pope incident was inadequate.

In a Friday letter to assistant superintendent Christian Suttle, ADL regional vice president Allison Padilla-Goodman was critical of the district for failing to specify the incident as being anti-Semitic.

The ADL said that letter has gone unanswered, and in a statement issued to the media, she blasted the school board’s vote in June to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory.

She said it was a decision that “could tie their hands in responding to and countering incidents of hate through educational initiatives for the school community.” More from Padilla-Goodman:

“This is a direct example of how these shortsighted, politically-driven policies will have a detrimental impact on our children — antisemitic incidents, and hate of all forms, must be called out and countered as teachable moments and through educating the school community to create equitable, inclusive environments where all students can learn and thrive.”

She also noted that Cobb has dropped a public education campaign, “No Place for Hate,” that the ADL had offered to school districts.

There will be a special school board meeting this Thursday at 2:30 p.m. for a student disciplinary matter that is closed to the public.

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Water bills to go up

Elections Office renovation funds approved

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