Editor’s Note: Help spark ECN in 2026 with your support!

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Editor's Note: Help spark ECN in 2026 with your support!

We enjoyed a quiet and restful holiday season, and hope you did too. Thanks to so many of our readers for helping make 2025 a very successful one for East Cobb News—with your readership, staying in touch, and with your financial support.

We pride ourselves on being reader-focused, and we aim to continue that pledge as 2026 gets underway.

As we have mentioned before, we’re asking for continued reader support to help us keep giving you the local news that you love.

East Cobb News has become a go-to source for all kinds of news that offers more than a glimpse of what’s happening in East Cobb—they reveal quite a bit about what makes this community tick.

Whether it’s stories featuring our original reporting, or others in our community passing along news about local events and activities, East Cobb News is focused on what’s valued the most by readers here.

It’s our stock-in-trade, and for eight-plus years we’ve been building that community trust, one story at a time.

We do this without charging readers, because we believe reliable local news should be accessible to all.

Please donate today!

Local business advertising is how we pay most of the bills at East Cobb News, which like our competitors is a for-profit business.

These days, many news outlets, including those that are much bigger, also ask their readers for support.

But unlike some of our competitors, we don’t hide our reporting behind a paywall.

We believe high-quality local journalism is the bedrock of a healthy community.

In order to keep local news free, however, we need your help.

You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible.

As a new year is underway, we’d like to ask you to take some time and think about what East Cobb News means to you. We’ve had some great traffic and engagement during the fall and end of last year, and we’re anticipating more of the same in 2026.

At East Cobb News, nobody else does what we do, every day.

It’s our passion and our pride to give you the local news that makes a difference in this community.

Donating is secure and easy!

Our donation amounts are voluntary, and what you pay is up to you. We are suggesting $6 a month on a recurring basis. You can also donate on an annual or one-time basis.

You rely on us to stay informed and we depend on you to make our work possible.

We appreciate whatever you are able to donate. Please click the box below to show your support via our Press Patron payment platform, which is safe, secure and easy. 

Thank you and Happy New Year!

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East Cobb Real Estate: Sturbridge Heights home sells for $1M

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East Cobb Real Estate: Sturbridge Heights home sells for $1M

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from Dec. 22-26, 2025, were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

4281 Keheley Lake Drive, 30066 (Lakewood Colony): $365,000

Lassiter

3334 Timber Hollow Court, 30062 (The Glenns): $395,000

Pope

4055 Cloister Drive, 30062 (Wedgewood): $825,000

2864 Saint Andrews Way, 30062 (Ashford Pines): $530,000

Sprayberry

2588 Alcovy Trail, 30066 (East Cobb Walk): $519,000

3416 Chastain Glen Lane, 30066 (Chastain Glen): $455,000

1234 Windburn Drive, 30066 (Shaw Woods): $399,000

1939 Redfield Drive, 30066 (East Cobb Walk): $607,500

Walton

608 Serramonte Drive, 30068 (Villas at Parkaire): $357,000

1961 Fields Pond Drive, 30068 (Fields Pond): $886,500

33 Old Stonemill Road, 30067 (Sturbridge Heights): $1.05 million

Wheeler

3064 Balearic Drive, 30067 (Valencia Hills): $380,000

3511 Brookview Drive, 30068 (Crossgate): $525,000

Related:

 

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Cobb school board to elect 2026 officers at Tuesday meeting

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Cobb school board won't probe Cristadoro's court settlement

The Cobb Board of Education has announced a special-called meeting for Tuesday to elect officers and set its meeting schedule for 2026.

The meeting takes place Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the board room of the Cobb County School District central office 514 Glover St., Marietta.

The meeting is open to the public but there is not a public comment session.

The board is required to vote on a chairman and vice chairman at the start of every calendar year; the chairman cannot serve in successive terms.

Board members nominate candidates to become officers; they must receive at least four votes.

In 2025 the chairman was David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb and the vice chairman was John Cristadoro of Post 5 in East Cobb.

Both are Republicans, and as the party has held a 4-3 majority in recent years, the officers have been from the GOP

Democratic candidates have not been able to get any Republican member to cross parties to vote for officers in that period.

The 2026 elections include three board seats: Post 4, where Chastain is entering the last year of his third term; Post 2 in South Cobb, held by first-term Democrat Becky Sayler; and Post 6, in Smyrna-Vinings-Cumberland, held by first-term Democrat Nichelle Davis.

The first regularly scheduled Cobb school board meeting is Jan. 22.

Related:

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Student winners named in Cobb waterArt calendar contest

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Student winners named in Cobb waterArt Calendar contest

Seven students from middle schools in East Cobb are among those whose works have been included in the Cobb County Water System and the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority’s 2026 waterArt calendar

Nearly 200 students submitted “original artwork judged on creativity, relevance, and artistic ability” for consideration for the calendar, which features themes relating to nature and water conservation.

Penelope Schroeder from Mabry Middle School was the cover art winner (her work is seen above) in the Cobb waterSmart waterArt calendar contest.

The other students from East Cobb whose works are featured in the calendar include Grace Valdivia and Raya Owings of Dickerson Middle School (the latter’s work is seen below); Olivia D’Anna of Mabry Middle School; Esme Etkin and Riley Pearson of East Cobb Middle School; and Angel So of Simpson Middle School.

You can download the calendar by clicking here; it includes water conservation tips from the water authorities.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], 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, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.

Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!

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Cobb Police appoints Maj. Darin Hull as Precinct 4 commander

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Darin Hull, a nearly 20-year veteran of the Cobb Police Department, has been named the commander of Precinct 4 in East Cobb.

Cobb Police appoints Maj. Darin Hull as Precinct 4 commander
Maj. Darin Hull

Hull, who most recently had been head of the Cobb Police Major Crimes Unit, began his duties in December succeeding Brian Batterton, who retired after 30 years of service.

Hull also has been commander of the Cobb Police Violent Incident Prevention and Early Response (VIPER) unit, supervised an organized crime and gang unit and has had roles with the DUI Task Force, Underwater Search and Recovery Team (USRT) and in a variety of positions in Precinct 1 in northwest Cobb.

From 2018-24, Hull also served in a part-time role as police coordinator with the Atlanta Braves and for events at Truist Park.

In 2023, Hull was part of a Cobb Police real-time crime response operation that tracked down a suspect in a shooting at a Midtown Atlanta medical office. The suspect was found near Truist Park and The Battery after an extensive manhunt facilitated by the use of advanced technology and criminal intelligence.

Before joining Cobb Police, Hull was an investigator with the Cobb Sheriff’s Office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from American InterContinental University and a Master’s of Public Administration in emergency management from Jacksonville State University.

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Credit Union of Georgia gives Salvation Army a holiday lift

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Credit Union of Georgia gives Salvation Army a holiday lift

Submitted information and photo:

The Credit Union of Georgia is proud to close out the year on a high note, celebrating the generosity and community spirit of its employees during the 2025 holiday season.

During the month of December, Credit Union of Georgia employees volunteered their time to ring the bell for The Salvation Army at the Kroger on Cherokee Street in Kennesaw. Over the course of one week, 48 employees contributed nearly 100 volunteer hours, raising $3,611 to support The Salvation Army’s mission of serving those in need.

The impact was doubled thanks to the Credit Union of Georgia Community Foundation, which matched the funds raised dollar-for-dollar. As a result, a total of $7,222 was donated to The Salvation Army to support vital programs and services in the local community.

“We love ending the year on a positive note, and our employees truly embodied the spirit of ‘Doing the Most Good’ this holiday season,” said Amanda Arnold, Director of Community Outreach. “Their willingness to give their time and energy during such a busy time of year reflects the heart of who we are as a credit union.”

Credit Union of Georgia extends its sincere gratitude to every employee who volunteered, as well as to the Credit Union of Georgia Community Foundation for amplifying the impact of their efforts. This initiative highlights the credit union difference of people helping people, especially when it matters most.

For more information about Credit Union of Georgia and its community involvement, visit www.cuofga.org.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your business or organization is doing in the community!

Pass along your details to: [email protected], 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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East Cobb restaurant update: Tin Lizzy’s closes at Avenue

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East Cobb restaurant update: Tin Lizzy's closes at Avenue

The crowded restaurant lineup at Avenue East Cobb has lost one of its longest-lasting members.

Tin Lizzy’s closed between Christmas and New Year’s, along with its sidekick, the Tin Pin Game Bar.

A reason wasn’t given on messages taped to the doors of both establishments, which said only that “our team members have opportunities at our other Tin Lizzy’s locations, and we hope you’ll visit us at Tin Lizzy’s Downtown, Midtown or Kennesaw soon.”

According to ToNeTo, which first reported the story on Wednesday, the Tin Lizzy’s parent company, Southern Proper Hospitality Group, also closed a Tin Lizzy’s location at Perimeter Mall at the same time.

Southern Proper, based on Powers Ferry Road in East Cobb, also closed its Chido and Padre’s and The Blind Pig concepts in Buckhead in the last week, the ToNeTo report said.

Prior to the most recent closings, Southern Proper had operated 14 restaurants in Atlanta and the Southeast.

The Tin Lizzy’s at Avenue East Cobb opened in 2016, and in early 2024, Tin Pin opened in the former Beni’s Cubano space that also had been part of Southern Proper.

Avenue’s restaurant openings most recently included the Luga Italian Eatery and Giulia Italian Bakery in the former Drift space.

Tenku, a Japanese concept based in Woodstock, is preparing to open at Avenue this spring in one of the “jewel box” structures that’s part of the retail center’s overhaul focusing on restaurant additions that also have included Round Trip Brewing Co. and Peach State Pizza.

Related:

 

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The year that was: Top East Cobb News headlines for 2025

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The year that was: Top East Cobb News headlines for 2025
Headliners included a devastating restaurant fire; a vigil for a slain political activist; and a proposed new church worship center.

We’re condensing the leading stories published at East Cobb News during 2025 into this single post. They’ve been chosen according to newsworthiness and reader interest, and occasionally include countywide stories that go beyond the community.

This isn’t being listed in a countdown format, but in a general way by categories and with links and any follow-up updates as needed. We didn’t include stories related to the weather, regular posts like food scores and stories published in 2024 that got substantial traffic this year.

This is our eighth full calendar year publishing East Cobb News, and we’re proud of what we bring to you every day on this website, and in our Sunday newsletter. It’s an honor and a privilege to provide you with original reporting and useful community information, much of that provided by the public.

With a day or so left in the year, we’ve had more than 1.3 million pageviews and nearly 715,000 unique visitors at East Cobb News, and those are very similar figures to 2024. Our newsletter readership is holding steady at about 9,300 subscribers; if you’d like to sign up, it’s free and easy!

Thank you so much to all East Cobb News readers for your readership and your financial donations that have helped us keep giving you the local news that you love! If you’d like to contribute, you can do so here on our safe online system, at an amount and frequency of your choosing.

We couldn’t do what we do what we do at East Cobb News without you, but we do all of this for you! Happy New Year East Cobb! Looking forward to a fantastic 2026!

News

xSandy Plains Road Waffle House employees attacked by teens
Teens attacking employees at a Sandy Plains Road Waffle House.

Crime and Public Safety

Schools

Cobb school board member John Cristadoro came under fire for personal business dealings that led to a court settlement.

Zoning & Development

Government/Politics

Miscellaneous

Commentary

Editor's Note: Whither public comments in an age of rage?
Critics of the Cobb school district lashed out when their public comments were no longer aired.

Food and Lifestyle

Luga, East Cobb food scores
Among the new restaurant openings in East Cobb was an Italian eatery at Avenue.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Barbecue spots; New Lucky China; more

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Righteous Que, East Cobb food scores

The following food scores have been compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Cherokee Cattle Company
2710 Canton Road
Dec. 23, 2025, Score: 96, Grade: A

Heavenly BBQ
2550 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 400
Dec. 24, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Los Bravos
2125 Roswell Road, Suite B-40
Dec. 24, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

New Lucky China
3045 Gordy Parkway, Suite 104
Dec. 29, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

Righteous ‘Que
1050 East Piedmont Road, Suites 136-140
Dec. 23, 2025, Score: 97, Grade: A

Tokyo Boat (re-inspection)
4750 Alabama Road, Suite 101
Dec. 23, 2025, Score: 85, Grade: B
Previous inspection: Dec. 9, 2025, Score: 60, Grade: U

Turmeric Indian Restaurant
1043 Sandy Plains Road
Dec. 23, 2025, Score: 85, Grade: B

Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q
1425 Roswell Road
Dec. 29, 2025, Score: 81, Grade: B

Related:

 

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New Year’s Eve 2025 fireworks guidelines in Cobb County

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Cobb fireworks New Year's Eve

Cobb County government issuing reminders for New Year’s fireworks use.

Permissible use of fireworks on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, goes through 1 a.m.

On Thursday, New Year’s Day, you can discharge until midnight.

Prohibited locations include county parks. “This includes historic sites, recreational areas and state property. It is illegal to use them within 100 yards of an electric plant, water or wastewater treatment plant, gas station, refinery, electric substation, jail, helipad, hospital, nursing home or other health care facility,” Cobb government’s guidelines state.

And here’s some more info to keep in mind:

Brush off the old and ring in the new this week. Cobb County Government offices will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1. We hope everyone enjoys their New Year celebrations in safe and fun ways.

If you use consumer fireworks, protect yourself, your loved ones, and abide by regulations. See the state law here. Ordinances and safety tips include:

  • Read and follow label directions.
  • Fireworks should only be used with adult supervision.
  • Only use fireworks outdoors.
  • Ensure you have water and fire extinguishing equipment handy.
  • Only light one firework at a time.
  • Be prepared to dial 911.

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Duo Arpeggione to perform in St. Catherine’s January concert

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Duo Arpeggione at St. Catherine's in January public concert

Submitted information and photos:

St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church is pleased to announce a special performance by the internationally acclaimed Duo Arpeggione as part of its Friends of Music community concert series. The concert will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in the church’s sanctuary, which is located at 571 Holt Road in Marietta, Ga.

Formed in 2017, Duo Arpeggione features pianist Catherine Lan and cellist Claudio Jaffe. Their upcoming program, “Romantic Resonance,” promises to captivate audiences with a musical journey highlighting the evolution of music for piano and cello.

The concert will highlight a variety of works that contrast the formal elegance of the Classical era with the passionate and nationalistic spirit of the Romantic and post-Romantic periods. The program includes:

  • Ludwig Van Beethoven’s revolutionary Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69

  • Arthur Foote’s elegant song-like “Romanza”

  • Gaspar Cassadó’s Spanish-flavored “Requiebros”

  • David Popper’s dazzling “Tarantella”

  • Frédéric Chopin’s exuberant and technically demanding “Introduction and Polonaise Brillante” in C major, Op. 3

All Friends of Music events are free to the public and donations are accepted. General seating is first-come, first-served. No tickets are necessary. For more information, please contact the church at 770-971-2839 or email [email protected].

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Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing!

Pass along your details to: [email protected], 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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East Cobb Real Estate: Chimney Springs traditional sells

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East Cobb Real Estate: Chimney Springs traditional sells

This week’s featured home sale is in Chimney Springs, a traditional-style with 5,658 square feet on nearly three-quarters of an acre.

It sold for $1.225 million and features five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms and ample living space on the main level and a basement area as well as the backyard.

A basement den area includes a home theater and game room, and outdoors is another entertainment center with a swimming pool and treehouse that leads into a “summer kitchen” with a grill and refrigerator.

The primary suite includes vaulted ceilings, a kitchenette and a large double shower. Secondary bedrooms and a laundry room are upstairs, and the layouts include possible home office space.

The home includes a three-car garage with a fourth garage for a golf cart, as well as an RV garage, workshop area and another garage for a boat or additional vehicle.

Community amenities include clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, a playground and walking trails.

Click the middle button below to view more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from Dec. 15-19, 2025, were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

1513 Jamerson Landing, 30066 (Jamerson Forest): $410,000

5100 Ravenwood Drive, 30066 (Ravenwood): $392,000

1849 Service Street, 30066 (Greenland): $415,000

Lassiter

2124 Lassiter Field Drive, 30066 (Lassiter Ridge): $1.15 million

2603 Chadwick Road, 30066 (Dover Crossing): $560,000

2768 Hawk Trace Court, 30066 (Falcon Crest): $505,550

2842 Forest Chase Drive, 30066 (Forest Chase): $492,000

3856 Fenway Crossing, 30062 (Beacon Hill): $745,000

Marietta

1599 Cambridge Place, 30062 (Cambridge Walk): $432,000

1800 Chardin Way, 30062 (Gables at East Worthington): $428,000

1871 Chardin Way, 30062 (Gables at East Worthington): $375,000

Pope

1942 Hunters Bend Court, 30062 (Hunters Court): $710,000

2743 Chimney Springs Drive, 30062 (Chimney Springs): $1.225 million

2269 Chimney Springs Drive, 30062 (Chimney Springs): $650,000

Sprayberry

782 Prince Avenue, 30062 (Kings Estates): $265,000

2729 Stillwater Lake Lane, 30066 (Stillwater Lake): $629,000

3006 Alberta Drive, 30062 (Holly Springs): $375,000

799 Weybourne Court, 30066 (Chastain Commons): $370,000

3935 Bellair Drive, 30066 (Philmont Estates): $383,550

184 Bluffington Way, 30066 (Old Bells Ferry): $379,900

3962 Fairington Drive, 30066 (Lookout Point): $410,000

2289 Glenridge Drive, 30062 (Glenwood Ridge): $518,000

613 Silverwood Court, 30066 (Canterbury Ridge): $389,000

2153 Deep Woods Way, 30062 (Piedmont Forest): $635,000

Walton

4201 Fairgreen Terrace, 30068 (Indian Hills): $725,000

3661 Clubwood Trail, 30068 (Indian Hills): $2.625 million

4960 Meadow Lane, 30068 (The Meadows): $325,000

909 Otter Way, 30068 (Woodlawn Lake): $645,000

5140 Timber Ridge Road, 30068: $2.45 million

2225 Johnson Ferry Road, 30062: $1.85 million

5197 Forest Brook Parkway, 30068 (Forest Brook): $699,000

Wheeler

2811 Georgian Terrace, 30068 (East Valley Estates): $572,500

456 Sybil Lane, 30067 (Red Oak Park): $380,000

3615 Paper Mill Road, 30067 (Sibley on Paper Mill): $2.4 million

1056 Dunhill Drive 30067 (Millridge): $600,000

302 Chase Lane, 30068 (Sentinel Chase): $875,000

9 Pioneer Trail, 30068 (Pioneer Woods): $462,500

2827 Beverly Hills Drive, 30068 (Beverly Hills Estates): $583,000

Related:

 

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Good Mews receives $113K in GAGives non-profit fundraiser

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Good Mews 30th birthday

The Good Mews Animal Foundation of East Cobb was among the leading recipients of donations from the public during the annual GAGives non-profit fundraising campaign on Dec. 2.

A total of 443 Good Mews donors pledged $113,050, surpassing its goal of $100,000, according to figures compiled by Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), which organized GAGives. Those figures are for online donations only.

Good Mews, located with its no-kill shelter on Robinson Road, was one of seven animal non-profits in the top 10 of organizations receiving the most pledges (you can view all the recipients here).

Good Mews, which has operated since 1988, provides a full range of cat rescue services in addition to the shelter, which houses up to around 100 cats at a time. The organization typically adopts out 600 cats a year.

Good Mews conducts a trap-neuter-vaccinate-release program for community cats, provides low-cost neutering and spaying services, has a foster cats program and provides rescue services at overwhelmed public shelters throughout the Southeast.

In its GAGives appeal, Good Mews broke down how donors’ pledges helps their efforts:

  • $75 = covers a spay or neuter surgery for one cat.
    $150 = covers the total costs for a new Good Mews intake.
    $250 = covers the monthly supply of medicine for five cats.
    $500 = covers the whole week of food and litter for the entire shelter.
    $1,250 = covers vaccinations and microchips for 20 cats.

Also in the Top 10 was the Cobb-based Tommy Nobis Center, which received $88,000 in GAGives donations.

GCN said a total of $41 million in donations was pledged to GAGives, a record, and a 24 percent increase from 2024.

Since its launch in 2012, GAgives on GivingTuesday has raised over $241 million from more than 897,000 donors for nonprofits working to strengthen communities across the state.

Prize sponsors and supporters of the GAgives campaign include Inspire Brands Foundation, Aprio, Carr Riggs & Ingram (CRI), Mauldin & Jenkins, Cox, Coca-Cola, Alston & Bird, Gas South, WABE, 11Alive, iHeart Radio, Outfront, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Cobb Collaborative gets $25K for mental health initiative

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Submitted information:Cobb Collaborative gets $25K for mental health initiative

Cobb Collaborative, a local partner of the Georgia Family Connection Partnership and the leader of a 3-county coalition for Resilient Georgia, is pleased to announce the expansion of its Mind Your Mind mental health initiative, after receiving a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta. The initiative helps to raise awareness, promote resiliency and reduce stigma around mental health issues, particularly in light of increased numbers around the incidences of people reporting high levels of stress, anxiety and suicide ideation. 

“We are honored to be awarded this grant to support the vital trauma-informed and resiliency-focused training, resources and programming that are a part of our Mind Your Mind initiative,” said Irene Barton, Cobb Collaborative Executive Director. “Mental health conditions are on the rise, and suicide is the leading cause of death for Cobb County youth ages 15-24 over the past five years. Clearly there is a need to have important conversations and grow our understanding of how to recognize the warning signs of mental health conditions and how to build protective factors. Now more than ever, it is critical to connect our community with knowledge and resources to help improve positive outcomes for our County’s children and families,” she continued. 

The year-long grant will support:

  • A series of mental health trainings including Community Resiliency Model ®, Connections Matter, Mandated Reporter, Trauma 101, Brain 101, and suicide prevention training;
  • Bilingual digital information, containing crisis line contact information and links to mental health statistics, blogs, tools, and supportive content;
  • Townhall-style quarterly convenings addressing behavioral health needs, issues, and resources in partnership with Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid;
  • A social media campaign to direct residents to digital content, provide encouragement to those struggling with or caring for loved ones with mental health issues, and inform residents of local mental health events. Other social media platforms will continue sharing information as well;

The support of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta will help ensure that critical mental health programs, services and resources are continuing to be provided in Cobb County and keep events open to the community.

For more information about the mental health initiative and other work at Cobb Collaborative, visit www.cobbcollaborative.org

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Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing!

Pass along your details to: [email protected], 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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East Cobb football stars earn Touchdown Club all-state honors

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Football players from Kell, Sprayberry and Walton high schools in East Cobb are among those selected for all-state honors by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta.East Cobb football stars earn Touchdown Club all-state honors

The prestigious honor, which was launched in 1938, includes first- and second-team players on offense and defense from around the state of Georgia.

Linebacker Brayden Rouse of Kell and defensive back Jorden Edmonds of Sprayberry were named to the first-team defense. Another Kell player, running back Moonie Gipson, was named to the second-team offense, and Walton linebacker Noah LaVallee was named to the second-team defense.

Kell reached the semifinals of the Georgia High School Association Class 4A playoffs and was the last team eliminated from Cobb County.

Gipson set a school record with 1,918 yards as a junior. Rouse was an all-Region player of the year who has signed to play college football at the University of Tennessee.

Edmonds, who led Sprayberry to a second consecutive state playoff appearance, will be headed to the University of Alabama.

LaVallee, a senior, recorded 124 tackles for Walton, which reached the Class 6A quarterfinals. Earlier this month, he signed a football scholarship offer to play at Florida State, where his brother Caleb also is a linebacker.

The Touchdown Club’s other season honors also included several players from East Cobb schools. The Litle Peach Freshman watchlist includes another Walton player, Jordan Peacock, a wide receiver who was named a Rivals High School Freshman All-American.

His brother was Walton’s quarterback in the 2025 season, sophomore Christion Peacock.

The Little Peach Junior watchlist includes Gipson of Kell.

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Pedestrian killed on I-75 at Terrell Mill NW Corridor lanes

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Cobb Police said a pedestrian was killed Tuesday night after being hit by a vehicle on the Interstate 75 Northwest Corridor lanes at Terrell Mill Road.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Sgt. Eric Smith said that the unidentified pedestrian walked into a northbound lane near 9 p.m. Tuesday and was struck by a marked DeKalb Police patrol car driven by an off-duty officer.

The pedestrian landed on the right shoulder of the corridor after impact, and was pronounced dead on the scene by the Cobb Medical Examiner’s Office, Smith said.

Police said the man’s next of kin has been notified, and the off-duty DeKalb officer was not injured. The crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

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East Cobb man arrested after hiding in ceiling at his home

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East Cobb man arrested after hiding in ceiling at his home
A screengrab of Cobb Sheriff’s deputies pulling a suspect from a ceiling hiding spot in his home.

An East Cobb man whom Cobb Sheriff’s Office deputies were trying to arrest on an outstanding warrant made them dig deep inside his home earlier this month to pry him out.

The Cobb Sheriff’s Office posted a bodycam video Monday showing that on Dec. 2, deputies searched the home of a suspect, later identified in an arrest warrant as Jason Black, before locating him in an area above a ceiling, then pulling him out.

The warrant stated that Black, 50, was wanted on a family violence order in another jurisdiction.

Deputies arrived at his home on Tremont Drive, located off Trickum Road, around 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 2, according to the warrant.

The bodycam video (you can watch it here) showed deputies banging on the front door, loudly and repeatedly demanding that the door be opened, then stepping inside as another man left the entrance with his hands up.

The deputies then carefully walked through the home, searching rooms with weapons at the ready, until they went into the garage. They made their way through debris until they discovered “a freshly cut hole in the ceiling, with dust and footprints below,” according to the video.

Deputies then ordered the suspect to come down, and one of them pulled the suspect by the hands after he obeyed their orders to show them, the video shows.

The suspect’s face was blotted out in the video as he was escorted into to a deputy’s vehicle without incident.

“You’re in big trouble,” one of the deputies said to the suspect.

Black was charged with a misdemeanor count of willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer, as well as a probation violation, and was being detained on a hold by Doraville Police for the family violence matter, according to his booking report.

The booking report said that Black posted a $1,320 bond on Dec. 19.

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East Cobb Kroger shopper wins $50K Powerball lottery prize

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Powers Ferry biz update Kroger opening

A shopper at a Kroger store in East Cobb is among the latest recipients of a $50,000 Georgia Lottery Powerball prize.

One of nine winning tickets was sold Monday at the Kroger at 1310 Powers Ferry Road by matching four of the five white-ball numbers and the Powerball. The winning numbers were 03-18-36-41-54 and 07.

The next drawing will be Wednesday for $1.7 billion, the fourth largest jackpot in the game’s history.

As with all Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Powerball benefit education in the state of Georgia.

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East Cobb Food Scores: LongHorn; LaStrada; Aspen’s; more

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Longhorn opening East Cobb

The following food scores have been compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Aspen’s Signature Steaks
2942 Shallowford Road
Dec. 18, 2025, Score: 85, Grade: B

Euro ATL
1265 Powers Ferry Road
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Harold’s Chicken and Ice Bar
1477 Roswell Road
Dec. 17, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Johnboy’s Home Cooking
3050 Canton Road
Dec. 18, 2025, Score: 73, Grade: C

La Carreta
1252 Roswell Road
Dec. 17, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Laredo’s Mexican Bar and Grill
1860 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 400
Dec. 22, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

LaStrada
2930 Johnson Ferry Road
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

LongHorn Steakhouse
4370 Roswell Road
Dec. 22, 2025, Score: 95, Grade: A

Lucia’s Italian Restaurant (Re-inspection)
4705 Woodstock Road
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 97, Grade: A
Previous Inspection: Dec. 12, 2025, Score: 79, Grade: C

Madras Restaurant
2349 Windy Hill Road, Suite 120
Dec. 17, 2025, Score: 87, Grade: B

Montana’s Bar and Grill
2995 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 330
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 90, Grade: A

Movie Tavern
4651 Woodstock Road, Suite 430
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 95, Grade: A

Parc at Piedmont
999 Hood Road
Dec. 17, 2025, Score: 97, Grade: A

Picture Show
4400 Roswell Road, Suite 110
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

Planet Smoothie
2014 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 350
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Vespucci’s Pizza and Pasta Tavern
4805 Canton Road, Suite 100
Dec. 19, 2025, Score: 81, Grade: B

Wildwood Cafe
2300 Windy Ridge Parkway, Suite 175
Dec. 18, 2025, Score: 95, Grade: A

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Early-morning East Cobb house fire displaces four people

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Cobb Fire said Monday that four people have been displaced from a home in East Cobb after a fire broke out there early Monday morning.

Cobb Fire Lt. Troy Lange told East Cobb News that nobody was injured and a firefighter sustained minor burns to the ears.

Lange said that fire crews responded to a fire in the 3000 block of Vinyard Way, in the Arthurs Vinyard subdivision off Johnson Ferry Road, north of Oak Lane, around 3:45 a.m. Monday.

He said that the fire was coming from the garage, where crews worked to contain the fire. Lange added that the cause of the fire is not known and that it is being investigated.

Lange also said that the Red Cross has been contacted to assist those who were in the home.

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