A pedestrian was killed Friday night after being struck by a vehicle on Canton Road near the intersection of Jamerson Road, according to Cobb Police.
Officer Aaron Wilson said in a release that the unidentified victim, a Hispanic male, was trying to cross Canton Road outside a crosswalk just north of Jamerson Road around 7:27 p.m. Friday when he was hit by a black 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE heading north on Canton Road.
Wilson said the car was driven by a 42-year-old man from Woodstock and included two juvenile occupants.
Police said the pedestrian was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital by ambulance, and was pronounced dead there. The occupants of the car were not injured, according to police.
Wilson said anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department STEP Unit at 770-499-3987.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
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The last weekend before Christmas is expected to be chilly, but you won’t have to leave your car to take in a Nativity scene at Wesley Chapel UMC.
The birth of Christ will be played out with live actors and animals Friday and Saturday between 7-9 p.m. at the church (4495 Sandy Plains Road).
It’s free for the public to attend.
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Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing for our community events calendar.
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Cobb has set up e-commerce zones to provide residents with a safe place to make purchases or sell items. The e-commerce zones are located at the five police precincts and headquarters and are marked with blue signs in well-lit areas that are monitored by video surveillance.
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The former Sunrise at East Cobb nursing home is being proposed for an independent senior living facility. ECN file photo.
A former nursing home on Johnson Ferry Road that was sold earlier this year is being proposed for a different kind of senior living facility.
The new owner of Hammocks at East Cobb is proposing to convert the former Sunrise at East Cobb into a townhome-type concept with 72 separate living units.
The applicant is requesting a setback variance and other changes that will be heard Tuesday by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.
According to an agenda item (you can read it here), Hammocks at East Cobb would include the existing building for most of those units, plus a new amenities area with an activity room, gym, conference room, mailroom, salon and bistro.
Hammocks at East Cobb also wants to build six independent cottages along Johnson Ferry Road, and add 16 parking spaces to the facility.
The setback variance being sought would be reduced from 50 feet to 40 feet from the road to make room for the cottages, according to the agenda item.
Renovations crews already are upgrading the courtyard amenities at the site, which is just north of Roswell Road.
The Cobb Zoning Office hasn’t made a recommendation on the application, which will be heard with Other Business items.
Those are cases that aren’t seeking rezoning but changes to existing site plans.
Sunrise at East Cobb opened in 1997 on land zoned for office and industrial use. A senior living facility being proposed by Hammocks is allowed there under the residential senior living use, subject to certain criteria, including commissioners approving a site plan.
Sunrise was sold in May to Hammocks at East Cobb Propco LLC in May for $1.795 million, according to Cobb property tax records.
The Hammocks at East Cobb case is on the consent agenda, meaning there is no known opposition.
Commissioners also are scheduled to rehear a master plan proposal by Mt. Bethel Christian Academy that was delayed last month following community opposition.
The zoning hearing begins at 9 a.m. in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.
You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.
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Cobb Police said Friday that a motorist was killed in a two-car collision on Hawkins Store Road Thursday night.
Sgt. Eric Smith said in a release that the unidentified victim was pronounced dead on the scene of the crash at the intersection of Hawkins Store Road and Farmbrook Lane.
Smith said the incident took place at approximately 6:57 p.m., when a white 2006 Toyota Tundra heading west on Hawkins Store Road veered off the road and onto a curb and sidewalk.
At the same time, according to police, a white 1997 Ford F-250 was traveling east on Hawkins Store, and was struck by the Toyota as the driver tried to get back into the westbound lane.
Smith said first responders attended to the driver of the Toyota, but he died on the scene. His next of kin has been notified, said Smith, who added that the driver of the Ford truck was hospitalized with minor injuries.
Police are continuing to investigate, and anyone with information asked to call the Cobb County Police Department STEP Unit at 770-499-3987.
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Find a new hobby or dive into a favorite activity with Cobb PARKS winter season activity guide. The issue features an article showcasing participants in Therapeutic Recreation taking part in the Special Olympics, a holiday lineup that promises fun for the whole family, exciting events like the Holiday Artisan Market, a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt, a Galentines party, and more. Cobb recreation centers are introducing new programs, with additional offerings added throughout the season, so bookmark the page and check back often.
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As we noted previously, this Guthrie’s will be drive-through only due to the small size of the 3.17-acre property.
Cobb commissioners approved site plan changes in December 2023 that include right-in, right-out access only on Lower Roswell Road.
Guthrie’s knocked down the small building that formerly housed several small businesses for a new 1,500-foot structure with a drive-through canopy and 10 parking spaces.
An inflatable chicken greets motorists along Lower Roswell Road, but is partially hidden due to a low wall constructed near the intersection.
Guthrie’s is an Alabama-based chain that has one other Cobb location, in Mableton, and recently opened a restaurant in the Woodstock area.
It’s coming into a competitive East Cobb area for fast casual food, and chicken in particular. Guthrie’s menu features chicken fingers, and includes chicken sandwiches and buckets.
A Super Chix opened at Avenue East Cobb in September. In April, Howlin’ Willy’s, a hot-chicken concept from Willy’s Mexicana Grill, opened at Pine Straw Place near Trader’ Joes.
There’s also a long-standing Zaxby’s caddy-corner at the northeast intersection of Johnson Ferry and Lower Roswell.
Guthrie’s hours in East Cobb are 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. daily.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
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More than 40 performing groups will be on stage, including many from local schools, along with inflatables, handmade gifts, free photos with Santa and the Piedmont Winter WonderLand display.
Hours are 5-9 Friday and 10-5 Saturday; admission and parking are free.
Another Friday-Saturday holiday extravaganza is the Pope Winter Showcase of the Arts, with showtimes at 7 p.m. each day at the Pope High School Performing Arts Center (Hembree Road), and featuring school’s orchestra, band, chorus, drama and visual arts students.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and may be purchased at this link.
CenterStage North’s venerable presentation of “A Christmas Carol” is Thursday-Saturday at The Art Place Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road). Showtimes are 8 p.m. each night; tickets are $15 and can be reserved at this link.
The Cobb Civic Center (548 S. Marietta Parkway) is the venue for the Cobb PARKS Holiday Artisan Market Friday-Sunday.
Retailers and artists will be showcasing their handmade goods, fine arts, musical performances, visits from Santa, kids crafts, and more.
Admission is free; hours are 4-8 Friday and 10-5 Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Santa Claus is the star attraction at “Sweets With Santa” in a kid-oriented event at the Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team (2249 Sewell Mill Road) from 11-4. In addition to having photos with St. Nick, guests can sample tasty holiday treats and ride on a trackless train.
All the festivities are free, but you’re asked to register online at this link.
Merchants in and around the Marietta Square are organizing another Ugly Sweater Block Party from 3-10 at the Brickyard (129 Church Street).
You and your most garish holiday threads are welcome for food, drink and holiday cheer. A ticket gets free admission to more than 10 bars and restaurants, complimentary shots, live music and holiday entertainment and more.
Tickets are $15-$25 and can be purchased at this link.
The Atlanta professional choral ensemble Coro Vocatireturns to East Cobb Sunday for a Christmas concert.
The concert starts at 3 p.m. at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (571 Holt Road) and features Silent Night, Coventry Carol, Angels We Have Heart on High and more.
Tickets are $10-$20 and can be purchased at this link.
The Lassiter Bands Christmas Tree sale continues through Saturday at the Highland Plaza Shopping Center (3605 Sandy Plains Road, at Gordy Parkway). Frasier firs will be cut on site, and wreaths, tree stands and disposal bag also will be available.
The Fox Family holiday lights display continues nightly through Jan. 7 at 2994 Clary Lakes Drive. Set your car radio tuner to 88.3 FM for a specially curated playlist and enjoy a walk-through with craft stations and more.
Send us your holiday event news!
If your organization or entity is holding such an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!
This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
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Mt. Bethel ES was one of five elementary schools in East Cobb with a perfect score in content mastery in the 2024 CCRPI results.
Schools at all grade levels in East Cobb turned in some of the best results in the county in the 2024 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores collected by the Georgia Department of Education.
Students at several elementary, middle and high school levels in East Cobb excelled in particular in the content mastery area, according to data released last week by the state.
The CCRPI is a comprehensive indicator that includes content mastery, progress, closing performance gaps and readiness. It takes in an array of standardized test scores and other metrics.
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, all of those areas were collected and analyzed. At the high school level, graduation rates also were included in the formula.
The Cobb County School District said in a release that the district exceeded state results in 12 of 13 measurements, with a double-digit lead or more the state average in content mastery at the middle school and high school level.
Cobb elementary students outpaced metro Atlanta peers in content mastery, progress and readiness, and matched them in closing the gaps.
Middle school students in Cobb also surpassed others in the area in all four categories, and high school students in Cobb did likewise, including an overall graduation rate of 88.8 percent.
Readiness scores also rose in Cobb in 2024, reflecting Georgia Milestones in literary metrics and other tests indicating students are prepared for the next academic level.
The CCRPI is Georgia’s way of complying with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which requires states to have a statewide accountability system that includes information on how well schools are performing.
Here’s how they break down, per the Georgia Department of Education:
Content Mastery includes student scores on statewide assessments in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Progress measures how much growth students demonstrate in English language arts and mathematics and how well English learners are progressing toward English language proficiency.
Closing Gaps measures how well schools meet annual improvement targets for student subgroups.
Readiness includes literacy scores; student attendance; the percentage of students succeeding in “beyond the core” instruction; accelerated enrollment; pathway completion; and measures of college and career readiness.
Graduation Rate includes both the 4- and 5-year graduation rate and is a component for high schools.
CCRPI no longer includes an overall score for school districts, schools or the state. Last year, a new state law was passed in Georgia requiring the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) to calculate a single score for schools and districts.
The following tables were compiled from Georgia Department of Education data. You can search for more results by clicking here; more details on academic perf0rmances resources from the state can be found here.
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Sonya Allen was sworn into office Wednesday as the new District Attorney in Cobb County, a little more than a month after her election.
The Democrat and former assistant district attorney in Fulton County was accompanied by her parents and daughter as she took the oath of office from Georgia Supreme Court Justice Verda M. Colvin.
Allen, who rose to the ranks of chief deputy of the Cobb Sheriff’s Office during a 30-year career, unseated former Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady Jr. in the May primary.
Unopposed in the general election, Allen is the first elected African-American woman to hold the post. Joyette Holmes was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill a vacancy before she was defeated by Broady in 2020.
According to a release from Cobb County government, “Allen pledged to lead the District Attorney’s Office based on the three principles she emphasized throughout her campaign: fairness, transparency, and a deep respect for the law.
“Every decision we make will be grounded in these principles; I can assure you of that. The criminal justice system has the power to protect, heal, and sometimes restore what has been broken. There will be difficult days ahead. We will face complex cases, hard choices, and sometimes public scrutiny. But I promise to meet these challenges with integrity and a firm belief that the justice system must serve people equally.”
Allen is a graduate of West Georgia University and the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta.
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(L-R CCF CEO Shari Martin, CCF Board President Kim Gresh and Cumberland Diamond Exchange owners Rhonda and Mark Jacobson, winners of the 2024 James L. Rhoden Philanthropist Award)
Submitted information and photo:
Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) proudly awarded Mark and Rhonda Jacobson of Cumberland Diamond Exchange the 2024 James L. Rhoden, Jr. Visionary Philanthropist Award during the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Marquee Monday event. This monthly gathering brings together local leaders, businesses, and community members to recognize achievements, discuss regional matters, and celebrate philanthropy.
Established in 2003 to commemorate CCF’s 10th anniversary and honor founder James L. Rhoden, Jr., this award is annually bestowed upon a Cobb business and community leader who demonstrates exceptional vision and leadership in enhancing community welfare, addressing critical needs, and improving residents’ quality of life.
CCF Board President Kim Gresh presented the award, stating, “I can’t begin to list all the incredible contributions Mark and Rhonda make each year. Their unwavering support benefits numerous nonprofits, including the Wellstar Foundation’s work to improve healthcare access for underserved communities, SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center’s mission to support children facing abuse, and Shepherd’s Men’s efforts to aid veterans and active-duty service members with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. You can’t attend a gala in Cobb County without seeing their generous donations for auctions or raffles.”
The Jacobsons expressed gratitude for the recognition. “Our goal has always been to offer people a hand up, not a handout. Success isn’t just about the jewelry we sell; it’s about the lives we touch and the positive influence we create,” they said.
CCF commends Mark and Rhonda Jacobson for embodying the spirit of visionary philanthropy and for their unwavering commitment to the Cobb community. Their efforts inspire others to give back and create meaningful change.
For more information on upcoming events or ways to support charitable causes through the Cobb Community Foundation, visit cobbfoundation.org or call (770) 859-2366.
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L-R: Marie Jernigan, Cobb County Parks Department; Jocelyn Roper, Cobb County Finance; Shannon McClure, Interim Director of Development, InCommunity; and Sylvia Robinson, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
Submitted information and photo:
InCommunity (www.incommunityga.org), which provides support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, was recently recognized by the Cobb County Friendship Club, a long-standing committee of Cobb County employees dedicated to giving back to local organizations.
At an event held on December 4th at the Sewell Library & Cultural Center, InCommunity was awarded a $1,000 grant for 2024. This is the first year InCommunity has received a grant from the Friendship Club, which has contributed over $3 million to community organizations since its founding in 1972.
This support comes directly from the generosity of 806 Cobb County employees who contributed to the fund this year through workplace giving, without any reliance on taxpayer funds from the general budget. At the event, District 3 County Commissioner JoAnn Birrell delivered remarks highlighting the importance of the Friendship Club’s mission. InCommunity was honored to join other inspiring organizations, including Sunshine on a Rainey Day, Special Needs Cobb, and Cobb County Special Olympics, who were also recognized with grants for their impactful work.
The Friendship Club’s investment strengthens InCommunity’s ability to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority has announced the hiring of Charles Beirne as General Manager & CEO.
With more than 25 years of venue management experience, Beirne will be responsible for the administrative oversight and strategic growth of the Cobb Galleria Centre, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Galleria Specialty Shops and ArtsBridge Foundation.
“Charlie is uniquely qualified for this position because of his combination of experience leading convention centers, entertainment venues and performing arts centers,” said Jerry Nix, Chairman of the Authority. “Additionally, as we prepare to launch the renovation and expansion of the Cobb Galleria Centre in 2025, Charlie brings expertise in this area that is a perfect fit for our future growth.”
Beirne joins the Authority from the Broward County Convention Center Expansion and Hotel Project, where he was regional general manager responsible for the day-to-day operations of the convention center, which is currently undergoing a $1.4 billion expansion project. He has operated and expanded a variety of other facilities including the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the convention center, two theaters, and an arena, as well as the Atlantic City Convention Center, where he held a variety of roles including regional general manager for the convention center and arena. Beirne is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
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Workers inspect the Power-Jackson Cabin after it was moved to Hyde Farm. Cobb Landmarks photo.
After being moved from Post Oak Tritt Road in August, the Power-Jackson Cabin will soon undergo restoration work at its new home at Hyde Farm in East Cobb.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to fund the restoration work for $354,000, preserving the 1840s-era structure for use at Hyde Farm, a Cobb PARKS educational and recreational facility.
The contract was awarded to Leatherwood Inc., a Tennessee-based company that restored 13 structures at Hyde Farm in 2014.
The work will include setting a stone foundation, installing wide plank flooring, repairing logs as necessary and installing a front porch to the log cabin. The building also will be coated with an insecticide and waterproofed, according to Leatherwood’s scope of work.
“As a collaborative community effort, moving the cabin to and restoring the cabin at Hyde Farm honors the history of Cobb County by saving this valuable historic asset,” stated an agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting.
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb asked Cobb PARKS director Michael Brantley what specific plans might be in store for the cabin once it’s restored.
He said there are several possibilities as Hyde Farm expands, including using the cabin as a nature center, and for other educational functions.
Also being considered are using the cabin as part of a walking tour around the pond at Hyde Farm, he added, but no final decisions have been made.
Hyde Farm, located off Lower Roswell Road near the Chattahoochee River, is where two other Power family cabins exist, as part of a working 1840s farm that was in family hands until the 1990s.
According to the agenda item, the original cost of the Power-Jackson Cabin restoration was set at $321,000, but extra funds were needed to replace wood elements that deteriorated “greater than was originally anticipated.”
The funding is coming from the 2011 Cobb Parks SPLOST.
The Power-Jackson Cabin is regarded as one of the oldest existing structures in Cobb County. Cobb Landmarks, a Marietta non-profit, raised more than $70,000 to move the cabin to Hyde Farm.
The Power-Jackson Cabin, possibly built before 1840 by farmer William Power, was located on 13 undeveloped acres on Post Oak Tritt Road near McPherson Road that was part of a 2023 zoning case.
Landowner Kenneth B. Clary sought rezoning for a single-family subdivision, but issues over the cabin and possible Power family burials complicated the issue.
Clary later withdrew the rezoning request, and his family agreed to allow Cobb Landmarks to remove the cabin.
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The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to raise water and sewer rates for each of the next five years.
Starting next year, residential and commercial customers will pay an additional 3.5 percent for water and sewer services each year through 2029, according to estimates presented by the Cobb County Water System at Tuesday’s meeting.
Judy Jones, the water system’s director, said the additional revenues are necessary due to rising costs for purchasing water wholesale and for wastewater treatment plant construction projects.
(More details of water, sewer and stormwater charges can be found by clicking here.)
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb, the only vote against, noted that while the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority is charging Cobb higher rates for water, “I cannot support this” because the county continues to transfer water revenues to its general fund budget for other expenses.
She has consistently 0pposed rising rates because of the transfer practice. Cobb, which topped out at a 10 percent transfer several years ago, now takes five percent of annual water revenues as it attempts to reduce that figure by a percent each year.
According to Jones’ presentation, the average increase for customers will be $1.90 a month, or a 2.8 percent increase.
She said the average residential customer in Cobb uses 5,000 gallons of water a month and is charged $67.50 for water, sewer and stormwater.
When asked to explain the multi-year charges, Jones said it helps for long-term planning of services and maintenance.
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Several hundred people gathered at East Cobb Park at sunset on Sunday for the 19th Holiday Lights celebration.
Two giant trees framing the concert stage glistened with colorful lights against the darkened skies following a brief countdown.
The Dodgen Middle School Pops band performed, and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on their sleigh as the event culminated, having their pictures taken with children and their families.
The trees were lit by Butch Carter, owner of Honest-1 Auto Care, who is the 2024 East Cobb Citizen of the Year.
The celebration was organized by the volunteer group Friends for the East Cobb Park, with Wellstar Health Systems as the presenting sponsor.
Also sponsoring the event were the Rotary Club of East Cobb and Frameworks Gallery.
Congregation Etz Chaim will be holding a Menorah Lighting at East Cobb Park on Dec. 25, the first day of Hanukkah, starting at 5:55 p.m.
Click the middle button below to view the slideshow.
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Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said Monday that an internal investigation is continuing into the shooting death of a pet dog last week by an officer making a 911 call to a residence in South Cobb.
During a brief press conference at Cobb Police headquarters in Marietta, VanHoozer said that while the event was “tense and unpleasant,” no apparent department policies have been violated.
Cobb Police released a four-minute segment of officer bodycam footage from the Dec. 2 incident at a home off Macland Road near Powder Springs (see below; the video is graphic and reader discretion is advised.)
Police were responding to a 911 call about a reported missing person in the area when they arrived at the home of Justin and Tessa Carr around 8:40 p.m.. They own two dogs and according to the initial police report, the dogs began to leave the home.
Police said one of the dogs ran toward an officer, who “perceived the dog’s actions as potentially threatening” and then shot the animal in self-defense.
That dog was named Zeta (photo above), who was fatally wounded.
VanHoozer said Monday (you can hear his comments here) that he watched the video footage, pledging transparency and a better understanding of the incident. But he said he didn’t any conclusions about possible contact between the officer and the animal.
“Part of doing right is to look into what happened to see if we can do better as a profession,” he said.
He offered condolences to the family of Zeta, saying that “it’s very, very sad to lose a dog, a friend, man’s best friend.”
The officers have not been cleared of wrongdoing, and they are back on duty, VanHoozer said, adding that more information will be coming out as open records requests have been filed.
The Carrs have started a Facebook page and are raising funds for legal action they’re planning against the police.
They said on that page after the incident that Zeta never showed aggression to humans or animals, except for barking.
Tessa Carr said she took a video of the dog’s corpse and has no intention of releasing it publicly but “in case I need it for later.”
She added that “we are not going to stop until we have real answers. . . I wanna know what the Cobb County Police Department’s training looks like for situations like these. Most of all, I wanna know who’s gonna make this right for my family, my friends, and most of all Zeta.”
Editor’s Note: Viewer discretion is advised.
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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!
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