East Cobb News

Pope student getting national attention as trick dog handler

December 26, 2020 4:13 PMDecember 26, 2020 2:59 PM by Wendy Parker

Pope student, trick dog handler

East Cobb resident Nicole Penson is excited to pass along news about her daughter, Sophie, a student at Pope High School, who’s getting national magazine attention for her award-winning exploits as a trick dog handler.

Sophie and her dog Ducky, a rescued border collie mix, will be featured in the January-February issue of the American Kennel Club magazine.

Here’s more from Nicole about Sophie’s work with canines and school activities:

“Sophie is a junior at Pope High School and has earned numerous awards through the AKC, Universal Canine All Stars, Do More with Your Dog!, Cyber K9, International Canine Events Grand Prix Dog Shows, Sundog Sport, World Online Dog Show, and International Dog Parkour Association. She is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Certified Stunt Dog Competition Judge and Certified Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach with Do More With your Dog!, achieving the rank of All Star Trainer of the Year as a trick dog instructor and the rank of silver medal as a stunt dog judge.

“She is the first and only triple crown trainer in the state of Georgia with 185 titled students total and currently the youngest handler in the world to put the titles of stunt dog grand champion and triple crown champion on a dog (also the first junior handler for both). Her dog Ducky is the first mixed breed in the world to earn the triple crown champion title and so far the only one in the USA; she is also the first dog ever (worldwide) to earn the L2AAS agility title with Universal Canine All Stars. Sophie and Ducky will soon be pursuing their third grand championship upon release of Do More With Your Dog’s new title, Trick Dog Grand Champion (TDGCH).

“At Pope High School, Sophie is a board member of SGA and Sources of Strength. A member of Science Olympiad, Creative Writing Club, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Social Studies National Honor Society, and Math National Honor Society. She is currently a state nominee for the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) in Biology. She has also been a volunteer with Our Pals Place (OPP), a pet adoption facility, for six years. Sophie and Ducky are currently practicing trick routines in the hopes of performing for seniors who are confined in assisted living centers due to Covid restrictions.”

‘Bring One for the Chipper’ Christmas tree recycling begins

December 25, 2020 2:01 PM by Wendy Parker

tree recycling, Bring One for the Chipper, Keep Cobb Beautiful

Keep Cobb Beautiful’s annual “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling event started on Christmas day and continues through Jan. 9.

You can bring your tree to several Home Depot locations—including two in East Cobb, and at two Cobb County Parks, one of which is Fullers Park.

Here’s more from Keep Cobb Beautiful about the recycling event and its flyer with details on when and where to drop off your tree:

Flocked trees will not be accepted as they are harmful to wildlife. Trees must have all decorations, mesh, lights, stands and strings removed prior to drop off. Free mulch is available upon request and free saplings will be available, while supplies last, at participating locations 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9.

East Cobb churches deliver Christmas messages of hope

December 25, 2020 7:10 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Christmas messages — *“Every day is a gift of Christ’s presence,” said Father Joseph Aquino of the Catholic Church of St. Ann.*

Christians in East Cobb gathered in-person and online Thursday for Christmas Eve services hearing a familiar topic in a new light.

Celebrations of the birth of Jesus Christ were conducted in different formats by many congregations in the community.

Some had limited worship in-person due to COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, with attendees wearing masks, saying “the peace” without touching and limiting music to designated vocalists and instrumentalists.

A few services were done outdoors under protective coverings on a cold and rainy day. Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church decided on Wednesday to hold its Christmas Eve services online-only after an emergency meeting of its COVID-19 task force.

At a Thursday afternoon Mass at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, senior pastor Father Joseph Aquino delivered a message of hope that is the essence of the arrival of Christ.

“Tonight we celebrate the final fruit of that hope,” Aquino said.

While he didn’t reference current circumstances, Aquino said that even through “all kinds of pain, all kinds of ailments and illnesses . . . there is hope.”

The message was similar at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, which held its Christmas Eve in a virtual-only format.

The service included music from socially-distanced choir members and bell ringers. Rev. Harden Hopper said in his sermon that “God wants to leave no one lost in the dark and that one day he will lead us into his light.

“For some, this season is the hardest of all. But take heart because there is refuge in the Wonderful Counselor, Our Savior.”

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church offered in-person services, and also produced a virtual candlelight service (video below).

Rev. Clay Smith said that “2020 has been a dark year for many,” referencing COVID-19, death and loss, political strife, racial protests and economic devastation.

“It’s exposed the reality that a lot of us are still scared of the dark,” Smith said. “We need the light, and that light is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is God’s light breaking into a dark world.”

Another large East Cobb church scrapped plans for in-person services on Wednesday. The COVID-19 task force at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church decided to conduct all services in virtual format.

On its Facebook page the church has been showing a prerecorded service, and on Christmas Day will be airing a “marathon” of previous caroling performances and other special programming.

Rev. Ricky Ray said the decision was based on the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the community.

“This has been an extremely difficult season and an extremely difficult decision to make,” he said in a video message. “I hope that you’ll be safe and have a very Merry Christmas.”

St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, which has had limited in-person services outdoors since the late fall, led a late-afternoon candlelight service under an awning at its entrance, with attendees and clergy bundled up.

A later outdoor service on Christmas Eve and another in-person service on Christmas morning were cancelled for weather reasons.

St. Catherine’s designated three local charities to receive its Christmas Eve offering proceeds: Cobb Communities in Schools, Family Promise of Cobb County and Simple Needs GA.

Some churches are having online and in-person services on Christmas Day. For details, visit the East Cobb News Christmas schedule page.

Fundraiser started for Sedalia Park student shot in Buckhead

December 28, 2020 2:57 PMDecember 24, 2020 11:20 AM by Wendy Parker

Kennedy Maxie, Sedalia Park student shot

UPDATED Sunday, Dec. 27, 1:35 p.m.: WSB-TV is reporting that the girl died Saturday night.

A Sedalia Park Elementary School student is fighting for her life after being shot in the head in Buckhead earlier this week, and friends are working to raise money for her family.

Kennedy Maxie, 7, was rushed to Children’s Healthcare Scottish Rite after the Monday incident. She was riding in a car with her mother and aunt after Christmas shopping near Phipps Plaza when she was shot in the head by a stray bullet, according to Atlanta police.

An online fundraiser begun by Cassandra Wood, the girl’s godmother, sought $25,000 and had raised more than $37,000 from more than 500 donors as of Thursday.

Wood said the donations will go directly to the girl’s mother. The family lives in Mableton. “Please pray for a Christmas miracle for our precious girl!” Wood said in her appeal.

A $15,000 reward for information has been set by Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta (404-577-8477) after several individual donations.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb food scores: Chopstix; El Jinete; Moxie Burger; more

December 24, 2020 8:04 AM by Wendy Parker

El Jinete; East Cobb food scores

The following East Cobb food scores from Dec. 14-23 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Chopstix Sushi House and Asian Fustion
4651 Woodstock Road, Suite 301
December 14, 2020 Score: 84, Grade: B

Dunkin’ Donuts
2378 Shallowford Road
December 22, 2020 Score: 97, Grade: A

El Jinete Mexican Restaurant
4681 Woodstock Road, Suite 440
December 17, 2020 Score: 85, Grade: B

Giga-Bites Cafe
1851 Roswell Road
December 14, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Keheley Elementary School
1985 Kemp Road
December 14, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

La Bella Pizza
2635 Sandy Plains Road, Suite A-7
December 21, 2020 Score: 96, Grade: A

Little Caesars Pizza
2520 Shallowford Road, Suite A
December 22, 2020 Score: 94, Grade: A

Moxie Burger
2421 Shallowford Road, Suite 158
December 22, 2020 Score: 82, Grade: B

Cobb and Douglas Public Health workers get Moderna vaccine

December 23, 2020 5:31 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Douglas Public Health Moderna vaccine — *CDPH staff member Nicholas Hayes administers COVID-19 vaccine at the Marietta Public Health Center.*

Submitted information and photo:

Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) has received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and began providing vaccinations to staff wishing to be vaccinated on the CDPH Marietta campus. This will be followed by vaccine administration to district healthcare personnel working on the front lines of the pandemic, and residents of local long-term care facilities, starting this week.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, as of Dec. 22, more than 125,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and more than 30,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been shipped to Georgia.

Janet Memark, MD, District Health Director said, “After 10 very long months of fighting this virus on the front lines, CDPH is so excited to be able to provide some protection to our district healthcare workers so that they can continue to serve our residents while also protecting themselves and their families.”

A spokeswoman for Cobb and Douglas Public health could not say how many doses were administered, and to how many employees, but said the vaccinations will continue for frontline workers this week.

Doses of the Moderna vaccine also will go to organizations like CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), which partners with CDPH to conduct COVID testing.

She said other doses will be distributed “to independent healthcare providers who have not secured their own supply.”

East Cobb Christmas 2020: Online worship schedules and more

December 23, 2020 3:30 PM by Wendy Parker

Catholic Church of St. Ann, sexual abuse allegations

Every year we update out Christmas Worship Schedule page with a summary of services at selected East Cobb churches, plus links for more information.

Due to very different circumstances this year, we’re obviously changing the format, but not all that much.

What you’ll find on that link is information about virtual services—most of them on Christmas Eve—and links to other details and livestream access.

Most churches have been requiring reservations for in-person worship, and a good number of those we checked are at full capacity. We’re linking to the main church website and other appropriate links for you to check if you’re interested in attending in person.

On Christmas Day we’ll round up some of the special messages, music and other programming that East Cobb churches have put together. Some of them have been posting beforehand, such as the Sing-Along at the Catholic Church of St. Ann below.

East Cobb teachers receive holiday ‘Gift Blitz’ surprises

December 23, 2020 1:50 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb teachers holiday 'Gift Blitz' — *Kristin Muller of Shallowford Falls ES gets a visit from the Ed Voyles Automotive Group.*

Before the fall semester wrapped up last week, several teachers in the Cobb County School District got personal surprise gifts and visits from members of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and other business and community leaders.

They were chosen because they were teachers of the year at various schools in the district, and two of them come from schools in East Cobb—Karen Smith of Murdock Elementary School and Kristen Muller of Shallowford Falls Elementary School.

Here’s more from the district about what was behind these special presentations and the “Gift Blitz” packages:

“In years past, the community has been able to celebrate the District’s top teachers at a Teacher of the Year Pep rally, honoring the top teacher from every school in Cobb. This year, however, the pep rally is not possible due to the ongoing fight against COVID.

“Nevertheless, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and local community organizations still wanted an opportunity to thank some of the District’s top teachers for all that they do for Cobb students.

“They came bearing gifts and holiday cheer for the teachers of the year at five schools. The sponsors included Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Elf on the Shelf, LGE Community Credit Union, Ed Voyles Automotive group, and Superior Plumbing.”

Said Sharon Mason, president and CEO of the Cobb Chamber:

“Our goal for our 2020 Give Our Schools a Hand program was to show as much support and appreciation for our Teachers of the Year as we can,. With the support of our Give Our Schools a Hand Doctorate Sponsors, we organized individual gift baskets filled with items to support these teachers during one of the most challenging times of their careers. Each basket was personally delivered by a team of volunteers and staff members.”

The other teachers of the year at East Cobb schools for 2020 include the following:

Addison Elementary School, Kara Jorgensen
Bells Ferry Elementary School, Peter Boomhower
Blackwell Elementary School, Karlie Caulk
Brumby Elementary School, Justine Heath
Daniell Middle School, Kevin Vernie
Davis Elementary School, Darleen Johnston
Dickerson Middle School, Brooke Whalen
Dodgen Middle School, Kimberly Clark
East Cobb Middle School, Jennifer Katz
East Side Elementary School, Amy Cardwell
Eastvalley Elementary School, Sandra Magee
Garrison Mill Elementary, School Victoria Moller
Hightower Trail Middle, School Katie O’Ryan
Keheley Elementary School, Cindy Gropp
Kell High School, Amelia (Amy) Sanders
Kincaid Elementary School, Rhonda Stanley
Lassiter High School, Meredith (Dayle) Koester
Mabry Middle School, Michelle Gottenberg
McCleskey Middle School, Janni Benson-George
Mt. Bethel Elementary School, Jennifer Sigmund
Mountain View Elementary School, Ashley Gilbert
Murdock Elementary School, Karen Smith
Nicholson Elementary School, Margaret McMurtagh
Pope High School, Bradley Klink
Powers Ferry Elementary School, Dana Maghribi
Rocky Mount Elementary School, Alecia Beddard
Sedalia Park Elementary School, Priya Aiyer
Shallowford Falls Elementary School, Kristen Muller
Simpson Middle School, Valerie Johnson
Sope Creek Elementary School, Kelli Buckner
Sprayberry High School, Annie Thielen
Timber Ridge Elementary School, Amy Lee
Tritt Elementary School, Tiffany DeMeester
Walton High School, Tobie Hendricks
Wheeler High School, Raymond Furstein

Georgia Credit Union workers ringing the bells for Salvation Army

December 23, 2020 1:17 PMDecember 23, 2020 11:09 AM by Wendy Parker

Georgia Credit Union Salvation Army — *Georgia Credit Union employees Jessica Namynanik and Heather Bulloch.*

Submitted information and photos:

Credit Union of Georgia helped kick-off the Salvation Army’s Bellringing season during the 2020 Red Kettle Kick Off at the Salvation Army location on Waterman Street. Although things look a little different this year it did not stop the excitement for another season of bellringing with a new donation option! Credit Union of Georgia has proudly supported the Salvation Army throughout the years and is excited to continue to get more involved by having their own kettle this year. Credit Union of Georgia was proud to present a check of $1,250 to support the cause. Additionally, Credit Union of Georgia employees volunteered to ring the bell for their very own sponsored kettle at Kroger on Cherokee Street this month.

Due to the ongoing economic impacts of COVID-19, the need of thousands of local families is even greater this holiday season. The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta is expecting a 155% increase in requests for assistance this holiday season. Because of this, the Virtual Red Kettle has been created so everyone has the ability to rally around our community.

Credit Union of Georgia not only donates each year, but fundraises throughout the year for The Salvation Army as well as other local nonprofits. Vice President of Information Technology, Tom McNutt is currently serving on the Board of Directors for The Salvation Army Marietta Corps. Employees at the Credit Union are excited to not only continue fundraising for charities within the branches, but also volunteer to be a bellringer for The Salvation Army. “Growing up I loved being able to drop my coins in the red kettles during the holiday season- it felt so good to give back! I’m proud to be a part of an organization that values giving back to the community and allows me to volunteer,” said Kathy Winiarczyk, Business Development Representative.

Make sure to stop by the red kettles within the community this season – swipe your card or drop coins and bills into the kettle to donate. Donations collected directly impact more than 57,000 people in metro Atlanta each year through homeless services, youth enrichment and anti-trafficking programs. Credit Union of Georgia works hard throughout the year fundraising for local charities. To learn more how you can give back to your community with Credit Union of Georgia follow along on social media and www.CUofGA.org for their latest fundraising efforts.

Walton student gets perfect score in SAT and subject exams

December 23, 2020 8:28 AM by Wendy Parker

Abhinav Kona, Walton student, perfect SAT score

Sirisha Kona, the very proud mother of Walton High School junior Abhinav Kona, got in touch to let us know about her son’s perfect score of 1,600 in the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

He also got perfect scores in the subject SAT exams, an 800 in chemistry and 800 in math 2.

Here’s more from Sirisha about Abhinav’s involvement in academic and other activities at Walton and where he’s looking to attend college:

“He’s interested in neuroscience and plans to apply to many medical programs and colleges such as Northwestern, Stanford, Harvard, Brown, and the University of Michigan. He is actively involved in Walton’s math team, math and science honors society, science Olympiad, and Protein Modeling Club. At school, he enjoys playing the double bass and participating in chamber and GMEA’s all-state orchestra.

“Outside of the classroom, Abhinav cofounded a non-profit organization named the American Assimilation Helpline (AAH) to tutor refugees, immigrants, and low-income family students and provide a fair opportunity for all students to achieve high academic success wherever they are. The program is dedicated to providing free, personalized one-on-one tutoring sessions weekly, integrating student and parental preferences to match teachers with students based on teachers’ specialties.”

Cobb COVID-19 community spread numbers reach highest levels

December 30, 2020 3:34 PMDecember 22, 2020 5:53 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb COVID community spread — *To view details of the hover map, **click here**. Source: Georgia DPH*

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, the 14-day average number of daily reported cases in Cobb County has surpassed 600 per 100,000 people.

According to the latest figures from the Georgia Department of Health, Cobb’s current rate is 601 per 100,000, well above the “high community spread” metric.

Since October, when the county’s figure briefly dipped below 100—the threshold for what public health officials consider high community spread—that number has been on a sharp rise.

While Cobb’s climb has prompted two “surge alerts” over the last three weeks from Dr. Janet Memark, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health director, other areas of the state, particularly in rural counties of northeast Georgia, have seen that 14-day average shoot above 1,000.

Statewide the 14-day average is 619 confirmed cases per 100,000.

Memark’s alerts also were issued with the holiday season in mind. Last week, she wrote her most urgent message yet, warning of a “dire situation” as the combined PCR and antigen test figure soared close to 700.

On Tuesday, 347 more cases were confirmed in Cobb, continuing a trend of reported cases at or above 300 since early December, including a single-day record of 464 on Dec. 18.

Also on Tuesday, 6,242 more cases were confirmed across Georgia, a single-day record for reported cases.

Those figures do not specify what’s known as the “date of onset”—or when someone reports having COVID symptoms and gets tested. Georgia DPH keeps a tally of those figures, and they have been sharply rising as well over the last three months.

Cobb set—for now—a record of 446 date of onset cases on Dec. 14. That’s a provisional figure, since it comes within a 14-day window. On the same day, a record 5,379 cases also were comfirmed in Georgia, although that too is a number that is likely to be revised.

Since March, Cobb has 33,330 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 537 deaths, including six more reported Tuesday.

Cobb COVID case swipe map 12.21.20

In East Cobb, a ZIP Code swipe map updated Monday by Commissioner Bob Ott (above, with school icons shown in blue) shows 8,038 confirmed COVID cases and 120 deaths, broken down as follows:

30062: 2,349 cases, 30 deaths
30066: 2,150 cases, 30 deaths
30067: 2,044 cases, 23 deaths
30068: 1,227 cases, 35 deaths
30075: 268 cases, 2 deaths

The case totals for ZIP Code 30062 are the second-highest in Cobb County, trailing the Powder Springs ZIP Code of 30127, where 2,652 cases have been reported. (They’re also the two biggest ZIP Codes in the county, with respective populations of 65,662 and 66,395.)

In Georgia there have been 518,902 cases and 9,503 deaths since March, with 52 more fatalities reported Tuesday.

The rate of hospitalizations also has been a concern for public health officials in recent weeks. According to a statewide dashboard, 83 percent of in-patient hospital beds are currently in use; for ICU beds it’s 87.7 percent of capacity and for emergency beds it’s 60 percent.

In Cobb and Douglas counties (Region N) 90 percent of 1,287 total beds are currently in use.

McBath, Loeffler and Perdue vote for COVID relief package

December 22, 2020 2:39 PMDecember 22, 2020 12:49 PM by Wendy Parker

U.S. Rep Lucy McBath, gun violence research funding, McBath border-funding vote — *U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath*

The U.S. Congress passed a $2.3 trillion omnibus spending package Monday that includes $900 billion in new relief from the economic impact of COVID-19 shutdowns.

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of the 6th Congressional District and U.S. Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia were among the overwhelming majorities in both houses that approved the measures, which await President Donald Trump’s signature.

The relief bill includes $284 billion in a new round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses to keep employees on the payroll.

Another $82 billion has been designated to help K-12 schools and universities with reopenings; $25 billion for rental assistance; $22 billion to help states with COVID testing; $20 billion for vaccine development; an extension of unemployment benefits by $300 a week from Dec. 16 until March 14, 2021; and a $600 direct stimulus payment per individual.

Unlike the previous COVID stimulus bill, this one doesn’t include earmarked funding for state and local governments.

McBath, a first-term Democrat from Marietta, voted with the House majority in a 359-53 vote, while Loeffler and Perdue, who are in Jan. 5 runoffs, were part of the Senate’s 92-6 majority.

Critics of the bill complained that the catch-all fiscal year 2021 government spending bill of $1.4 trillion—done to avoid a government shutdown—was added to the COVID spending package.

The COVID relief items took up only a few hundred pages of a 5,593-page bill (you can read through the whole thing here) that lawmakers had only a few hours to absorb before the vote.

The only Georgia lawmaker to vote against the bill was U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, a Republican who represents the 10th Congressional District of eastern and central Georgia.

Ott and Boyce give farewell remarks as Cobb commissioners

December 22, 2020 7:25 AM by Wendy Parker

Ott Boyce farewell remarks

At the end of their final meetings last Tuesday on the Cobb Board of Commissioners, outgoing chairman Mike Boyce and retiring District 2 commissioner Bob Ott made some farewell remarks that you can watch in full below.

When we spoke with Ott a couple weeks back in his exit interview with East Cobb News, he said he was preparing some remarks, and they run about 20 minutes.

Although he didn’t always agree with Boyce on policy matters—especially a 2019 tax increase—Ott said of his fellow member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church that “I don’t know of anybody who pounded the pavement more than you did to get elected.”

“I want to thank you for all the time you’ve put into the county,” said Ott, a Republican who declined to seek a fourth term.

To commissioner and chairwoman-elect Lisa Cupid, who defeated Boyce in last month’s elections, Ott said “you’re taking on a big role at a big time. I wish you all the best. . . . What I would say to you is, don’t forget your family. Family comes first.”

Cupid, who has represented District 4 in South Cobb the last eight years, is the mother of two sons who are being homeschooled. She will be sworn in Jan. 7.

Ott also presented a special gift to District 3 commissioner JoAnn Birrell of Northeast Cobb, a copy of the original Mabry Park master plan.

Birrell was a driving force behind the creation of the park, which opened in 2019, and by then was located in Ott’s District 2.

“I won’t miss all the phone calls and e-mails,” said Ott, who will be succeeded by Democrat Jerica Richardson, who will be sworn in Dec. 31. “It’s amazing how many you can all write.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIITA05gNnk&feature=youtu.be

Boyce, an East Cobb resident who first ran for chairman in 2012, defeated incumbent Tim Lee in a 2016 Republican runoff.

He opened his remarks by thanking the county government staff, saying the board “is not the face of this county.” He mentioned in particular Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, and her staff, for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We just really need to do the right thing here,” Boyce said. “Wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance. We must take responsibility for each other.”

A retired Marine Corps colonel, Boyce said of his first stint in public office that “this was the fastest four years of my life. That tells me that what we did together was fun. If it’s a bad time you can count every minute.

“I focused every single day on what I thought was best for the people of this county. The message I want to leave is with this board. I hope that you’ll take some time to appreciate what you have done this year. You have been extraordinary.”

Referencing the board’s distribution of $132 million in federal CARES Act funding to help those affected by COVID-related closures, he told his fellow commissioners that “you have represented the best of what it is not just to be an elected official but what it is to be an American and a compassionate human.”

The board authorized spending to help small businesses retain employees, for mortgage and rental assistance, for food distribution and to aid county non-profits.

“This has been the challenge of a generation and probably a century and you have stepped up to the plate,” Boyce said.

Related coverage

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!

Georgia public health dept. launches COVID vaccine dashboard

December 21, 2020 6:03 PM by Wendy Parker

Wellstar receives COVID vaccines — *Initial COVID vaccine shipments being stored at Kennestone Hospital. Source: Wellstar Health System*

Submitted information:

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is launching a vaccine dashboard that will track the number of providers enrolled to give vaccines, allocations and shipments from vaccine manufacturers, and vaccines administered. The dashboard will reflect the previous day’s totals, and will be updated Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. The dashboard can be found on the DPH website at https://dph.georgia.gov.

The Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization to Moderna for its COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 18, 2020. Georgia’s first allocation of Moderna vaccine is 174,000 doses and shipments are expected to begin arriving today through Wednesday. These shipments will be sent directly to providers.

DPH is also anticipating a second allocation of 60,000 Pfizer vaccine doses this week of which 20,000 will be set aside for long-term care facilities, specifically skilled nursing facilities, to begin vaccination Dec. 28. Most long-term care facilities in Georgia are working with CVS and Walgreens on vaccine administration to residents and staff.

It is important to note that Pfizer only ships Sunday through Thursday to avoid vaccine arriving over the weekend when some facilities are closed and to avoid issues for facilities without ultracold storage that are using dry ice for temperature control. The remaining 10,000 doses of vaccine from the first Pfizer allocation of 84,000 will arrive at facilities today.

There are more than 537,000 healthcare workers in Georgia, and as of Friday, the state had received approximately 72,000 doses of vaccine. With the expected Moderna shipment and second allocation of Pfizer vaccine, that number will more than quadruple over the next several days, providing greater access to vaccine for more healthcare workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. It is up to each provider to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for prioritizing vaccination among their staff, as well as adhering to the vaccine provider agreement they signed when they enrolled as a provider. This will help ensure that vaccine is administered first to those healthcare workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients or those who handle COVID-19 materials.

As both Pfizer and Moderna are able to ramp up production of vaccine in the coming days and weeks, supply should better meet demand for each phase of allocation and administration. Until that time, providers and the public are urged to be patient as we work together to get vaccine distributed in the most efficient and equitable way possible. The criteria for allocating vaccine is based, first and foremost, on supply and shipping, neither of which DPH controls. DPH does use the following criteria for allocation of vaccine to providers:

Number of individuals within a defined group (phase) to be immunized

Previous allocations of vaccine doses received

Number of doses used from previous allocation

Ultracold storage capacity and ability to use large number of doses versus smaller may determine Pfizer versus Moderna allocation

Geographic considerations and access in rural/underserved areas of Georgia

Healthcare workers have several options for getting vaccinated:

Health care workers affiliated with a health care system (hospital, clinic or private practice) or pharmacy should contact their respective facilities about the process for vaccinating eligible employees.

Health care workers with access to a community hospital or pharmacy can seek vaccination there.

Health care workers without access to these facilities – including those who have started the enrollment process to become a COVID-19 vaccine administration site but have not yet been approved – should contact their district health office (https://dph.georgia.gov/media/60761/download) for vaccination

All Georgians are urged to continue to follow basic COVID-19 prevention measures: wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently and follow the guidance of Public Health and the guidelines in the Governor’s Executive Order.

For information about COVID-19, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Johnson Ferry Baptist’s Polar Bear Run scheduled for Jan. 30

December 21, 2020 1:33 PM by Wendy Parker

Polar Bear Run, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church

After so many events that didn’t happen in East Cobb in 2020, the organizers of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church’s Polar Bear run dropped some good news recently:

The 2021 Polar Bear Run WILL GO ON! Check out our safety precautions at www.polarbear-run.com, and make sure to get registered as live-runners are limited!

The event is scheduled for Jan. 30, and you can register online at www.itsyourrace.com, or download a registration form at www.polarbear-run.com.

Now through Jan. 8 the cost for the 5K & 2K is $30. From Jan. 8-17 it rises to $35. Cub runs are $25. Phantom is $35.

The 5K is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race and gets underway at 8 a.m. The Cub Runs starts at 9 and the Cub 50-yard dash (ages 2-3 and indoors) starts at 9:15.

The Polar Bear Run, which started in 1989, will be in its 33rd year. The proceeds for the Polar Bear Run benefit students in the Johnson Ferry Academy’s high school music group who need financial assistance to attend an annual summer mission trip.

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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