Cobb County Government offices will be closed Friday, April 18. The Good Friday holiday allows our staff members additional time to spend with their friends, family and loved ones for the holiday weekend. Cobb Libraries will also be closed Sunday, April 20, for Easter. Information and many services remain available 24 hours a day online at cobbcounty.org.
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!
The signature public Easter-related event is Saturday at Sprayberry High School (2525 Sandy Plains Road). The Northeast Cobb Community Egg Drop is hosted by the Cobb County School District and Piedmont Church and sponsored by Superior Plumbing, SA White Oil Company, Inc. and C and S Paving.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., includes food, games, and around 90,000 eggs to be collected, dropped onto the football field via helicopter. Kids can have their photos taken with the Easter bunny. Free admission; proceeds from vendor sales support local charitable organizations.
Overflow parking is at Sprayberry Square Shopping Center (2550 Sandy Plains Road).
As we noted earlier this week, Saturday is a very special day in the Walton High School Community. The school’s 50th anniversary celebration takes place from 1-4 p.m. all over the campus (1590 Bill Murdock Road), and will include an open house, tours, music, food, booths featuring school-related organizations and a “Walton Through the Years” retrospective with photos, yearbooks, and memorabilia. Free admission.
Spring cleaning is also in season, and on Saturday you can get rid of unwanted materials at the Pope HS Band Recycling event. It’s from 9-2 at the Northeast Cobb YMCA (3010 Johnson Ferry Road) and they accept metal, electronics, appliances, paint, and offer paper shredding while you watch! For a full list, visit: http://www.popeband.com/recycling.html.
Friday and Saturday is another spring tradition in Cobb County: The 25th Annual Cobb Master Gardener Plant Sale and Expo, at Jim Miller Park (2245 Callaway Road).
The event is from 10-4 both days, and dozens of vendors will be on hand. Plants, gardening supplies, bird and bee products, yard art, crafts, pottery, food, and more will be available. Admission is free.
The Prokofiev classic “Peter and the Wolf” will be performed Saturday by the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, which is staging two sensory-friendy concerts at Wheeler High School (375 Holt Road). The first show is at 2 p.m. and includes sensory activities, followed by a family-style show at 4 p.m.
Easter Sunday is filled with religious and family activities. Check out our listings of church service times, Two Sunrise services of note, that are off-campus if you will: At 6:30 a.m. featuring ministers and music from East Cobb’s Piedmont Church at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
A 7 a.m. Sunrise service of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church will be held at nearby Mabry Park (4466 Mabry Road).
There’s also a public concert on tap as well later on Sunday.
The first of the spring Music in the Park series takes place from 4-6 p.m. at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road). You can bring a blanket and chairs, food and drink to the back quad and enjoy the sounds from the concert stage.
Additional events in the series, presented by the Friends of East Cobb Park. are April 27, May 4 and May 11. The sponsors are Wellstar, Rotary Club of East Cobb, Frameworks Gallery, Home Depot and Site One Landscaping.
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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!
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!
Walton High School is celebrating a remarkable milestone—50 years of Raider pride, tradition, and achievement. Since opening its doors in the fall of 1975, Walton has grown into one of the top public high schools in Georgia and has earned a national reputation for academic excellence, innovation, and student success.
The community is invited to commemorate this golden anniversary on Saturday, April 19th, with a special open house and festival on campus from 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Location: Walton High School, 1590 Bill Murdock Rd, Marietta, GA 30062
Date: Friday, April 19, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
A Festival of Raider Pride
The anniversary celebration will be an engaging and family-friendly event that reflects the school’s dynamic community spirit. Sports teams, student organizations, and academic groups will host booths outside the school, offering informational displays, student projects, and activities for kids. Whether you’re a longtime Raider, a new Raider, or a future Raider, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Guests will also have a chance to explore some of the most innovative areas of Walton’s campus, including:
The state-of-the-art gymnasium
The cutting-edge sports medicine facility
The high-tech robotics annex
The school’s modern theater
Walton Through the Years: A Walk Down Memory Lane
Inside the Information Center, visitors can step back in time to see “Walton Through the Years.” This retrospective includes a collection of Walton yearbooks, a video montage of memorable moments, and memorabilia spanning five decades of Raider tradition and excellence.
Continuous Music and Delicious Bites
While guests explore Walton’s past and present, the celebration continues with live musical performances inside the Theater throughout the event. Outside, food and snack options will be available, giving visitors a chance to grab a bite while strolling down memory lane or learning about the impressive opportunities available to Walton students.
A Legacy of Excellence
Since opening its doors in the fall of 1975, Walton High School has grown into one of the most recognized and high-performing schools in Georgia and the nation. Known for its strong academic performance, dedicated teachers, and successful extracurricular programs, Walton continues to be a model of student achievement and community involvement. You can explore more of Walton’s accomplishments here.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
Last week we heard from Brian O’Malley, a former East Cobb resident we talked to recently about his upcoming attempt to scale Mount Everest.
On Tuesday he began that journey to Nepal, and taped this message on his Facebook page before heading off.
He and his wife Shelley, who raised their three children here—all Lassiter High School graduates—recently relocated to the Northern Virginia area to be closer to them for the next couple of years.
O’Malley is using the trip with his brother-in-law to raise funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage-free homes for the families of fallen first responders, Gold Star families, and catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
They’re calling it the “Boomer Veterans and First Responders Mt Everest Summit Expedition 2025” and they’ve raised more than $16,000 thus far, about two-thirds of their goal (you can donate here).
Here’s more about his “why” that he furnished to us, with details on his family’s long history of military service, including two of his three children. Luke O’Malley is currently attending the U.S. Naval Academy, like his parents and one of his sisters:
Why am I attempting to summit Mt Everest?
“Because it’s there.” Famous quote by early English Everest mountaineer George Mallory.
Since my latest successful back surgery about a year ago which has resulted in me feeling better than I have in 40+ years, I made a decision to attempt one of the ultimate physical and mental endeavors on this earth. I’ve always been enthralled by Mt Everest. The “records” of oldest Navy Veteran, top 10 oldest ever, etc, are also contributing factors that helped push me during training and helped me get both my physical body and my mind in a positive attitude and direction while attempting one of the most challenging endeavors out there, summiting Mt Everest.
Why do I want to support Tunnel to Towers Foundation, “T2T”?
Simple…T2T’s mission to assist first responders and our military when they are most in need for our support. Few really know exactly what our first responders and military personnel experience on a continuous basis, especially when extreme tragedy strikes them and their families. Frank Siller and T2T is the absolute best resource for these people in their deepest moments of need. There are so many examples of what T2T actually does for our National Heroes who protect us domestically and internationally that I hope to bring awareness to throughout my expedition to summit My Everest. I wholeheartedly want to bring continued awareness and financial support to this incredible helpful organization, T2T.
With the utmost humility and sincerity, God has blessed me and my life with so much; the most loving wife in the world, amazing kids and family, special loved ones, incredible friends, great leaders and some personal somewhat decent physical abilities. I feel that it is my obligation, while I still can, to do His will and to help those who need it most.
I’ve also been extremely blessed to have incredible parents, family, friends (especially my Aurora, IL buddies from elementary school, the “Click”, my teachers, squadron mates (especially my F-14 Tomcat Black Knight squadron mates), teammates, military and civilian leaders and peers whom have supported me and have offered continued encouragement during my life of service and always doing my very best with my God given talents. We have all experienced and know that life on this earth can be very fragile and God often calls his Angels (our loved ones and friends) at anytime…many times when we least expect it. I am so blessed and I truly believe that life on this earth is but a nanosecond in time and that we will all be together again in His Majesty’s Grace for Eternity. While I can, I want to continue to challenge the talents blessed upon me by God and do what I can to help those true heroes in our Nation whom protect all of us at home (first responders) and abroad (military service personnel).
What connection do I have to T2T?
T2T has been one of our family’s favorite charities mainly due to our immediate connection to the very people T2T supports. Namely:<
Myself: 1986 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Naval Flight officer for approximately 10 years.
My wife of 35+ years, Shelley O’Malley: 1987 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Naval Aviator for about 10 years. I owe everything to my wife, Shelley. She has always supported me and has been the “rock” of our family. Shelley, among other incredibly great life accomplishments, was the first female Aircraft Carrier Landing Signals Officer “LSO”. I could not do what I’m embarking on without the support of my beautiful, loving, caring, tough, dedicated (not enough positive acronyms to describe) love of my life! Shelley is the main reason that I can focus and do what I can to both challenge myself and to help others through organizations such as the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
My children:
Shannon McKinney: U.S. Naval Academy “2015” Naval Academy recruit and “Academy Summer Seminar Attendee and candidate”; University of Georgia College All-American and 2 x National Champion; 2 x Olympic Trials Qualifier and World Ironman Triathlon Championship qualifier conducted in Helsinki, Finland.
Lauren O’Malley Stephenson: U.S. Naval Academy 2019 graduate and Brigade Commander (highest student leadership position at the Naval Academy); Naval Surface Warfare Officer; Served high-level Naval leadership in daily analysis of combat operations and readiness.
Luke O’Malley: U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman (Class of 2027) and future U.S. Naval Officer and Leader. of 2027)
Son-in-Law: Jared Stephenson, U.S. Naval Academy 2018 graduate and active Marine Corps Infantry Officer.
Father: James O’Malley, Retired Aurora / Chicago area Firefighter
Mother: Edna Mae O’Malley: Retired Nurse
Father-in-Law: James Laurilla, U.S. Airforce Veteran
Brother-in-Law: Steve McDaniel, U.S. Airforce Veteran, State of Georgia police officer and accompanied me on the approximate 100 mile trek through the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp. Steve is an incredible inspiration and high-achiever and loving husband to my sister, Kari McDaniel (a Naval and Airforce Officer spouse and nurse).
Best Man and Life Brother: Steve Wisotzki, 1986 U.S. Naval Academy graduate; U.S. Navy Special Operations (Seal)
Brother-In-Law: JP Aragon, U.S. Naval Aviator
Niece: Natalie Aragon, U.S. Naval Medical Nursing Corps Officer
Nephew: Camden Aragon, U.S. Naval Aviator
Special consideration and appreciation to our incredible lifelong community of friends in Marietta and Woodstock, Georgia, in the Chicago / Aurora area and the Norfolk / Virginia Beach, Virginia area, my loving family, teammates, squadron mates, professors, and much loved peers whom have always supported me and our family throughout our life’s journey.
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Tuesday is April 15, or Tax Day for most individuals and businesses.
But in Georgia, there’s been an extension granted to file certain state and federal income tax returns.
The Georgia Department of Revenue granted the extension in the wake of Hurricane Helene last fall.
In October, the state set a new deadline of Thursday, May 1, following an emergency declaration in all 159 counties of Georgia by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The highlights of the extension, as GDOR announced it at the time:
The May 1, 2025, extension date applies to individuals and businesses that have a 2024 income tax return normally due during March or April 2025; calendar year corporations whose 2023 extensions run out on October 15, 2024; quarterly estimated income tax payments due on January 15 and April 15, 2025; and quarterly payroll tax returns normally due on October 31, 2024, January 31, 2025, and April 30, 2025.
Affected taxpayers who had a valid extension until October 15, 2024, to file their 2023 income tax return will now have until May 1, 2025, to file their return. Because income tax payments related to these 2023 returns were due on April 15, 2024, however, those payments are not eligible for this relief.
The extended deadlines for filing and payments do not apply to information returns in the W-2 and 1099 series; or to Forms 1042-S; or to employment and excise tax deposits. However, penalties on deposits due on or after Sept. 24, 2024, and before October 9, 2024, will be abated as long as the tax deposits are made by October 9, 2024. It also does not apply to International Fuel Tax Agreement interest or scheduled payments which are the result of a taxpayer entering into an Installment Payment Agreement since those liabilities were due prior to the disaster relief.
The Department is also extending limited relief for sales and use tax, excise tax, and other miscellaneous taxes. The relief includes quarterly and monthly returns and payments originally due in the month of October 2024 (e.g., September 2024 sales and use tax returns due October 21, 2024). These returns and payments are now due on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
Likewise, the Internal Revenue Service granted an extension to May 1 in Georgia for certain individual and business tax returns.
All returns must be received or postmarked by May 1 to be considered filed in time to avoid late penalties.
Georgia is one of nine states with tax extensions, due to FEMA emergency declarations. All taxpayers in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina also have until May 1, while taxpayers in certain locations in Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee and Virginia also have an extra two weeks to file.
In Los Angeles, where wildfires destroyed thousands of home this winter, taxpayers will have until October to file their returns.
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Yes, I am showing you a photo of a cute pet to get your attention for something else.
My little cat Whisper (aka the Big Bopper) is as camera-shy as I am, but I couldn’t help myself when he jumped into the car the other day as I had the window down.
He knows I keep of a bag of treats with me, and went right for it after I snapped this picture.
Once rewarded, he wanted no further attention—that’s how felines are, after all, and I didn’t mind.
He knows where to come when he needs something, and that’s what pet owners sign up to do.
We do it out of love for these creatures, and ask for nothing in return.
I find some parallels to publishing this local news site. I began East Cobb News to serve the community with daily news and information that wasn’t available anywhere else.
It has been a labor of love, especially building it into a sustainable business that will stand the test of time.
One of my objectives was to make local news accessible to everyone. That’s why there’s not a paywall, unlike many corporate media outlets.
But even though East Cobb News has a true hyperlocal, down-home focus, we do have expenses. Local business advertising provides most of the revenue, but we’re asking for readers to help support us financially.
Over the last few months, so many of you have generously done that. I know it can seem annoying, but we’d like for those of you who have not contributed to consider doing so.
We raised around $1,000 from readers last month. That may not sound like much, but it goes a long way. And every dollar is appreciated! Click below if you’re ready to help out right now!
We’re off to a slow start this month—especially coming off spring break—but I’d like to ask those of you who enjoy East Cobb News, and value what you get here, to consider becoming a recurring donor.
We’re suggesting $6 a month, but you can donate at whatever amount you like, whether is on a monthly, annual or one-time basis.
If we could get to $1,000 a month again in April, that would be fantastic!
Why do we do this, every week, to ask for your support?
The state of local news in many communities is dire. In East Cobb, we launched this site more than seven years ago to address that dearth here, and many of you have responded.
We think we’ve built up a good following of engaged residents who appreciate what happens here, and that turns to East Cobb News to find out.
We have nearly 9,300 newsletter subscribers, for example, and that has grown organically. We appreciate people spreading the word about East Cobb News, which is produced for you—the citizen, voter, homeowner and stakeholder in this community.
We get reader comments all the time—many positive, some with complaints, but we welcome and value them all the same. They help us to serve you better.
I just got an e-mail from a reader who’s moved out of the area, but continues to read East Cobb News. Why? Here’s what she told us:
“You are so great at traditional ‘just the facts’ news with a balance of information and happenings. It is so refreshing. I hope your work is rewarding in every aspect. Local news is so critical to all of us. Thanks for all you do to continue to make it happen.”
Yes, this work is very rewarding—the most gratifying of my professional career in journalism, which spans more than 40 years. And yes, local news is very critical for everyone who lives in any community.
And absolutely yes, I want to continue to make it happen.
But I’d like to ask you to help me with this.
I feel blessed to have grown up in East Cobb, like my reader’s children did, and have always appreciated what the people and institutions here did to nurture me along the way.
Unlike my cat’s treats, I like to think of what we produce for you at East Cobb News to be more than just occasional noshing. You come here when you want to know what’s going on, but I’d like for you to think of this site—and the community resource we aim to be—as contributing to the social capital of East Cobb.
If you find value in what you get from East Cobb News, please consider making a donation today, if you haven’t already.
Press Patron, our online platform is safe, secure and easy to use, and you can manage your account however you like.
Just click the link below! The Big Bopper and I thank you so very much!
The Music Studio Atlanta, a private music instruction business that includes a location in East Cobb, and Peachtree Hearing, also of East Cobb, were named among the Top 25 small businesses for 2025 by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
Cecilia Rowe, The Music Studio Atlanta
In addition, The Music Studio Atlanta was named the Chamber’s top woman-owned business for 2025.
Those and other honorees will be recognized by the Chamber at a May 12 luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre in the Cumberland area.
The Chamber selects small businesses to recognize each spring, and the “winners are determined by a thorough selection process including applications and site visits by a panel of outside judges,” according to a release.”
The small business of the year will be selected from the Top 25 recipients and annonced at the luncheon.
The Music Studio Atlanta opened in Vinings and later expanded in East Cobb at the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center under founder Cecelia Rowe. Last year, the business was named the 2024 School of the Year by Music Academy Success, the largest international coaching organization dedicated to music academy owners.
Peachtree Hearing opened on Lower Roswell Road in 2016, and founder Dr. Melissa Wikoff was recognized by Cobb Young Professionals, a development arm of the Chamber.
She is on the board of directors on the national level for the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) and at the local level for Aloha to Aging, an East Cobb-based non-profit that helps seniors and their caregivers.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The new Walton fine arts performing center and gym sits on land that once housed the original classroom building.
I’m old enough to remember how things were in East Cobb before some of the landmarks of the community we all know today came into being.
Next weekend, there will be an extravaganza at Walton High School to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the school.
An open house from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 will include food, music and plenty of shared memories, as alumni revisit and reconnect with one another. The entire community is invited, and the event is free to the public.
It was in the fall of 1975 that Walton opened, on land across from a subdivision on Bill Murdock Road and near Pine Road.
The school was meant to relieve overcrowding at Wheeler High School, where I had just finished my freshman year, and remember that well.
We were on split sessions during that time, and like Walton would soon come to know, we had vastly outgrown a small, single-story campus building.
In those days, school buildings were constructed with money derived from bond issues. In other words, you built the school you could with the money you had at that time, and not necessarily the one that you needed for the long term.
Not long after Walton opened, it too became overcrowded, and in 1981 Lassiter opened, followed by Pope in late 1980s.
This was the second major “boom” period of growth in East Cobb.
As a result, so much has changed, as we now live in a community with nearly 200,000 residents, many drawn here to the public schools.
Both Wheeler and Walton have been rebuilt with sales tax revenues and house state-of-the-art space for classrooms and other activities. Sprayberry High School is undergoing the same process.
Pope and Lassiter have received sparkling performing arts and gymnasiumspace to accompany their main facilities.
These are more than buildings for education and extracurriculars; they’re community hubs that have helped create a sense of place.
So are our many faith communities. When I was a kid, it was basically Protestant churches. As I entered high school, Holy Family and Transfiguration were being planned to cater to Roman Catholics.
And in that same year of 1975, the Jewish community in Cobb finally had a place of worship they could call their own. Congregation Etz Chaim came into being that year, and moved to its current location on Indian Hills in 1980.
It’s one of three synagogues in East Cobb, and later this month will be observing its Golden Anniversary.
As our Jewish friends and neighbors observe Passover and as Christians prepare for Holy Week, it’s a reminder of how far East Cobb has evolved as a welcoming community for people of all faiths and creeds.
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Not long ago I received a note from a reader who had unsubscribed from our weekly newsletter, saying that she “hated” the format.
I e-mailed her to find out what she didn’t like about it, and she replied that “I struggled with the different font sizes and so many different sections, multiple bullet points.”
It was hard for her to read this on her phone—which is how three-quarters of you read the newsletter and all East Cobb News content.
She said she still follows what we post on Facebook, and “realize what you’re doing is a thankless job. I do love being informed and know what’s going on in our community—so thank you.”
Again, this is all very helpful for me, and I apologize if any of you have a negative or unsatisfying experience. I want to know if you’re unhappy or disappointed with what we do here at East Cobb News—it’s how we get better—so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Whether it’s about technology or content or anything else, I do keep these things in mind as I contemplate changes.
For the time being, I will experiment with giving you the newsletter in a condensed fashion, with non-featured items listed under either “This Week’s News” or “Living” tabs, to see how that goes.
Let me know what you think—I’m always open to suggestions that would improve your experience. Get in touch via e-mail: wendy@eastcobbnews.com. Our aim is to make it more relevant and useful for you, because that’s what we’re all about.
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The Power of Local—which is not only our theme but a core of our mission—comes from being in this community every day, and being all-in in this community, whether it’s covering stories, talking with prospective advertisers or sharing some goodwill about what makes this place so special for all of us.
If you find value in what you get from East Cobb News, please consider making a donation today, if you haven’t already.
We’re asking for a $6 donation on a recurring monthly basis, but you can contribute whatever amount you like, either monthly, annually or on a one-time basis.
Press Patron, our online platform is safe, secure and easy to use, and you can manage your account however you like.
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!
Gritters Library located at 880 Shaw Park Road in Marietta, Georgia will be closed Monday, April 14 due to a transformer installation. We expect the library to reopen on Tuesday, April 15 for regular hours. Stay updated by visiting cobbcounty.org/library.
Nearby libraries include Mountain View Regional Library (map) and Switzer Library (map).
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!
Left to right: Reina Jones, assistant vice president of Community Development, Delta Community; 2025 scholarship award recipient Medha Krishna; Jai Rogers, vice president of Business and Community Development, Delta Community; and Matthew Shepherd, chief operating officer, Delta Community
Submitted information and photo:
Delta Community Credit Union is pleased to announce its 2025 Scholarship Award recipients, who were selected based on their academic accomplishments, community engagement and essay submission. As Georgia’s largest credit union, Delta Community will continue its tradition of providing financial support to deserving students for the 20th consecutive year.
More than 300 applications were reviewed, and the following five students were chosen to each receive a $5,000 award to assist with tuition, books, housing and other college-related expenses:
Asfa Karim, a sophomore at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) majoring in business administration
Medha Krishna, a senior at Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia, planning to attend Georgia Tech and major in neuroscience
Caleb Miller, a senior at Creekview High School in Canton, Georgia, planning to attend Kennesaw State University to major in entrepreneurship
Jaden Newman, a senior at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, planning to attend The College of Wooster to major in biochemistry or biology
Kyle Ssendagire, a graduate of Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, planning to attend the University of Georgia to major in chemistry and German, and minor in Russian
“Our scholarship program has supported many talented, civic-minded students over the past two decades who now contribute to the success and vitality of our local communities through their chosen professions,” said Hank Halter, Delta Community’s CEO. “I would like to congratulate this year’s award recipients and commend them for their dedication and career aspirations.”
Delta Community’s community investment activity also includes scholarships for students attending historically Black colleges and universities as well as free personal finance classes and workshops delivered through its award-winning Financial Education Center.
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Marietta Police said Thursday that six people have been arrested after gunfire broke out an an apartment complex in East Marietta, followed by a law enforcement pursuit that ended with a crashed BMW.
Police said that two people who suffered gunshot wounds in the incident have been discharged from Kennestone Hospital.
Marietta Police said they were called to the Lakeside at Town Center complex at 425 Williams Drive, off Bells Ferry Road, around 10 p.m. Wednesday, after residents reported hearing gunfire.
Police said one of the callers said bullets entered her unit, but she was not struck, and that several vehicles and apartments were damaged by the gunfire.
Others described a vehicle leaving the scene as a black BMW sedan, according to police, and patrol units located it on Polk Street and Mountain View Road in Marietta.
After a police chase began the driver of the BMW lost control, and the car crashed into a power pole near that intersection and overturned, according to police, who said all six occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody.
Police said they also found four weapons in the car: three handguns and a rifle.
The suspects are Artavious Corley, 19, and Arthur Stanley, 18, both of an East Cobb address in Marietta; Charles Eliot, 20, of Canton; Dorian Santos, 18, of Canton; Arshad Head, 23, of Dallas; and Alexander Gonzales-Mendoza; 18, of Canton.
All six were charged with felony aggravated assault with intent to commit murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to police, who said they are being held without bond at the Cobb Adult Detention Center.
Marietta Police said the investigation continues and that anyone with information is asked call 770-794-5200 or Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta (404-577-8477).
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The Cobb County Drug Treatment Court recently honored six individuals who completed the program, marking a significant milestone in their journey to lasting recovery. Judges, elected officials, community members, court staff, attorneys, family, and friends gathered in the Cobb Superior Court Ceremonial Courtroom to celebrate the graduates’ achievements. The ceremony was a powerful testament to resilience, filled with heartfelt moments of reflection, joy, and hope for the future.
The Cobb County Drug Treatment Court offers an alternative to incarceration for individuals in the justice system struggling with substance use disorders. This 18–to 24-month voluntary program combines close judicial supervision, individualized treatment, and recovery support to help participants regain stability and become productive members of the community.
One graduate shared, “This program has been a major help for me—it changed my life just in time. The tools I’ve learned will take me places I never thought possible. It’s worth it, and it works if you truly want help and a better life. I’m forever grateful for this opportunity to get back on track and for the staff who supported me along the way. This isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning.”
Another graduate reflected, “Drug Court is the best thing that ever happened to me. Before this program, I had nothing. I was constantly chasing drugs and committing crimes. Now, I’ve been sober for 21 months, I have a car, can maintain a steady job, and I have the tools to stay sober. I owe so much to the Drug Court team.”
Superior Court Judge Jason D. Marbutt, who presides over the Drug Treatment Court, shared his thoughts onthe significance of the program: “Drug Treatment Court is a reminder that change is possible for those whochoose it. We believe in our participants, and we remind them that although their journey is their own, they arenot alone in it.”
Program Coordinator Porsha Winfrey emphasized the life-changing impact of Drug Treatment Court, stating: “Witnessing the transformation of our participants is nothing short of incredible. This program is more than an alternative to incarceration—it’s a second chance at life. Seeing individuals rebuild their futures, reconnect with loved ones, and achieve sobriety is priceless. Drug courts work, and our graduates are proof of that.”
For more information about Cobb County Drug Treatment Court, including how to become involved or support the program, please contact Porsha Winfrey, Program Coordinator, at 770-528-1933, Porsha.Winfrey@cobbcounty.org.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
A line of severe thunderstorms will be making its way into northwest Georgia Thursday, including Cobb and metro Atlanta, according to the National Weather Service.
No advisories have been issued thus far, but on Wednesday afternoon the NWS in Peachtree City issued an extended forecast with storm possibilities from Thursday afternoon through early Friday morning.
The forecast indicates that some storms could have damaging wind gusts and hail (indicated in yellow in the map), and that the severe weather is expected between 2 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday.
The severest risk, according to the NWS, should be between 6-10 Thursday.
The green areas of the map could include the possibility of tornadoes, but they are well south of metro Atlanta.
Thursday’s high is expected to be in the mid 70s in the Cobb area, and sunny before the storms move in by mid-afternoon.
Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with lows around 50, and a 70 percent chance of rain, with between a quarter- and a half-inch of rain likely.
On Friday, thunderstorms are possible by mid-afternoon, with highs in the mid-60s. Friday night also could have some thunderstorms with lows in the low 40s.
Sunny and weather returns for the weekend, with highs on Saturday in the low 60s and around 70 on Sunday.
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The YMCA of Metro Atlanta will host its 62nd Annual Good Friday Breakfast, on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre. This non-denominational event brings together over 800 YMCA friends, members, volunteers and staff each year to celebrate the Y’s mission of building healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Kevin Greiner, President and CEO of Gas South, will be honored at this year’s breakfast as the recipient of the Bransby Christian Leadership Award, the YMCA’s highest recognition. Named in honor of Joe Bransby, the award recognizes individuals who exemplify extraordinary leadership and service to the community. A longtime and steadfast supporter of the YMCA, Greiner’s visionary leadership and Gas South’s philanthropic generosity have made a profound impact on programs that serve individuals and families across metro Atlanta.
“Kevin has been a dedicated champion of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta for over a decade and served as chair of our Board in 2021 and 2022, where he further demonstrated his compassion and commitment to our community, said Lauren Koontz, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. His leadership, coupled with Gas South’s support of STEAM education, early learning and our adaptive swim program, serves as a powerful example of how community-driven efforts can create meaningful and lasting change.”
Gas South has been a steadfast supporter of the YMCA, contributing over $1.3 million in lifetime giving along with numerous hours of volunteer time and projects. Their partnership has been especially transformative for the Y’s Adaptive Swim program, which serves individuals with diverse abilities by promoting water safety, building confidence and fostering inclusion. Through their generosity, the Y refined its curriculum, ensuring that instructors received advanced training tailored to participants’ unique needs.
Building on the adaptive swim program’s success has been a new partnership with the Special Olympics which has expanded opportunities in competitive swimming and skill-building. In 2024, the program’s reach doubled, providing life-changing aquatic experiences to over 400 participants of all ages. Gas South has also pledged continued support for 2025, enabling the YMCA to extend these critical programs to even more communities across Metro Atlanta.
Along with adaptive swim, Gas South has been a longtime advocate for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) initiatives. Since 2020, the company has invested in the establishment and development of multiple YMCA STEAM Labs enabling their creation and ongoing support. The labs provide educational programming that fosters curiosity, inspires creativity and teaches kids how to succeed.
The Good Friday Breakfast is a longstanding tradition that reflects the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s dedication to fostering community and shared purpose. This event provides attendees with an opportunity to connect, and recognize the impactful work being done by the YMCA across the region. For more information or to purchase tickets to the Good Friday Breakfast, visit the YMCA website.
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!
Rabbi Albert Slomovitz, the executive director of the Jewish Christian Discovery Center (JCDC), will lead a model Passover Seder Supper at the Catholic Church of St. Ann in Marietta on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 pm. This year Passover and Easter share a date on the calendar with Passover beginning at sundown Saturday, April 12 and ending on Easter Sunday, April 20.
Passover is the Jewish holiday that commemorates the ancient Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Jews around the world sit with friends and family for the Seder meal to retell the Exodus story of Moses leading the Israelites to freedom.
Each spring as Jews observe Passover, Christians celebrate Easter. They believe that Jesus’s last supper was a Passover Seder.
“Both Passover and Easter have a lot of shared meaning,” Rabbi Slomovitz said. “Jesus would have celebrated Passover as the Jews of his era did. His Seder would retell the story of freedom from slavery in ancient Egypt.”
The Passover and Easter holidays are times when both faiths celebrate freedom and religious renewal.
“As a practicing Jew, Jesus led his Seder with his apostles. Christians and Jews can come together for Passover to celebrate shared religious meaning,” Rabbi Slomovitz said.
JCDC is a non-profit educational foundation whose mission is to reduce antisemitism and other forms of intolerance. It publishes children’s books in English and Spanish about Judaism and Jesus’ Jewish life. It produced the award-winning film, “The Magical Encounter.” In December 2024, it sponsored the Let There Be Light campaign with billboards and public service announcements across the country commemorating shared meaning for Hannukah and Christmas. In 2023 it worked with several Atlanta area churches on the Breaking Badness Choosing Goodness Easter and Passover interfaith prayer service.
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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!
Most of metro Atlanta and portions of west and central Georgia will be under a frost advisory Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, as overnight temperatures are expected to be around freezing.
There’s a freeze warning for most of north Georgia, with lows dipping into the high 20s in some areas.
The specific Cobb forecast for late Tuesday-early Wednesday is for lows around 39, right before daybreak.
Winds of ar0und 15 mph are in the forecast, with gusts expected of up to 25 mph.
Wednesday’s weather will be sunny with highs in the mid 60s and lows in the high 40s.
Low temperatures will remain in the 40s for most of the rest of the week as highs return to the 60s through the weekend.
Next week will be warmer, with highs generally in the 70s and lows in the 50s, and with no rain in the forecast.
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Cobb County Public Library announces the launch of the CCPL Perks Program during National Library Week, offering exclusive discounts to library cardholders at popular participating Marietta Square businesses.
With over 480,000 cardholders, Cobb County Public Library serves a large and diverse community, and now, library cardholders can receive a 10% discount at participating Marietta Square shops, restaurants, and service providers simply by presenting their library card. The CCPL Perks Program is designed to encourage library membership, support small businesses, and strengthen connections between the library, local businesses, and the community.
Funded by the Georgia Public Library Service 2025 Marketing Grant, this program is part of a broader effort to expand library services and benefits throughout Cobb County. While the pilot program begins in Marietta Square, the Cobb County Public Library aims to expand the CCPL Perks Program across the county, including those areas near its 15 library locations.
The following Marietta Square businesses are the first official CCPL Perks Partners, providing a 10% discount to Cobb Library cardholders:
Marietta Proper, 9 W Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060, Cozy brunches with gourmet coffee, curated wine selections, and small plate pairings reminiscent of the Great Gatsby era.
Sweet Treats Ice Cream, 134 S Park Square NE, Marietta, GA 30060, Soft-serve ice cream with customizable toppings, hot chocolate, and a variety of candies.
Bomb Babes, Pop-up with assorted gourmet cake bombs, cupcakes, and more. Find them at The Local Exchange at the Marietta Square or look for their next pop-up shop here:
New businesses will be added to the CCPL Perks Program regularly. Visit the Cobb Library’s website for an updated list of Perks Partners.
Are You a Local Business in Cobb County? Join the CCPL Perks Program!
The Cobb County Public Library invites local businesses throughout Cobb County to join the CCPL Perks Program and benefit from increased visibility and community engagement. Interested businesses can sign up or learn more by contacting Allyson at allyson.eads@cobbcounty.org or by visiting cobbcounty.org/library/services/perks.
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!
