East Cobb News

Center for Family Resources revamps Thanks for Giving event

September 26, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Center for Family Resources (CFR) is asking the community to help them reach their goal of providing 1,000 Thanks for Giving Food Boxes for 1,000 families for this year’s reimagined Thanks for Giving event. Rather than hosting food drives throughout the area, supporters are asked to pack family food boxes themselves using a premade shopping list. The CFR is asking the community to get involved by becoming a Smart Stuffer Packing Partner, or by sponsoring or donating to this year’s “I’m Thankful For…” giving campaign. Celebrating its 35th year, Thanks for Giving provides everything a family needs to keep or create their own family traditions in ways that are meaningful to them.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges unlike any other for our community, including a rise in food insecurity, unemployment and incredible uncertainty,” said Melanie Kagan, CEO for the Center for Family Resources. “Due to restrictions on large gatherings and general health concerns, we are unable to conduct our event in the same manner as in previous years, however, we know the need is even greater. We are committed to providing Thanksgiving family food boxes to ensure families can celebrate the holiday in whatever way works best for them,” she continued.

Smart Stuffer Packing Partners will commit to donating pre-packed family food boxes ($60-$65 each) using a suggested shopping list, and deliver the completed boxes to a designated community drop-off location, or to the IAM Local Lodge #7091032, Marietta, in November. This event is a perfect way to invite colleagues, neighbors, family members and civic groups to participate and be involved with a great cause for the holiday season. Food boxes are distributed to families the week before Thanksgiving.

For more information on how you can get involved please visit www.thecfr.org/t4g.

Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour to be self-guided event

September 26, 2020September 26, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Marietta Pilgrimage Tour

Submitted information:

In light of the current conditions concerning COVID-19, the Marietta Visitors Bureau and Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, organizers of the Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, have decided to transition this year’s tour to a self-guided walking tour featuring historic homes located in the Church-Cherokee Historic District.

The Marietta Pilgrimage is an annual home tour typically attended by 2,500-3,000 people over a two-day period each December. The tour usually features six private homes and a variety of local historic sites and museums. Money raised from the tour, which has been held each year since 1987, helps fund the Marietta Visitors Bureau and Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society.

“This was a difficult decision, but we feel the self-guided walking tour is the best option for the safety of the homeowners, our volunteers, and the community,” said Trevor Beemon, Executive Director of Cobb Landmarks.

Those wishing to enjoy the walking tour will need to purchase an official Marietta Pilgrimage Walking Tour booklet, which will be available for $25 at the Marietta Welcome Center or the William Root House. Each booklet will include a walking tour map, photos and information about the participating homes, and a scavenger hunt for younger tour-goers. The booklet will also include discounts and coupons from local Marietta restaurants and merchants.

Proceeds from sales of the booklet will benefit the Marietta Visitors Bureau and Cobb Landmarks.

“The pandemic has created a hardship for non-profits whose budgets rely on donations and fundraising events. This year’s Pilgrimage fundraiser is more critical now than ever before to help Cobb Landmarks and the Marietta Welcome Center,” said Amanda Sutter, Executive Director of the Marietta Visitors Bureau.

Homes included in the walking tour will be eligible to win one of three prizes. Tour-goers can cast their votes for the homes they feel have the “Best Traditional Decor,” “Most Over-The-Top Decor,” and “Best Light Display.” Tour homes should be enjoyed from the sidewalk. No homes will be open to the public. The self-guided tour can be enjoyed anytime in December, but houses will be decorated December 4-18 for the public to cast their votes.

“We know many people in the community are disappointed they will not be able to see inside any homes this year – we are disappointed, too. But we hope this walking tour will be a good alternative until we can return to our regular tour format in 2021,” said Amanda Seals, Marietta Pilgrimage Co-Chair.

For more information and tickets click here.

Low-level flights included in military exercises in Marietta

September 26, 2020September 25, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Information from the Marietta Police Department about military training exercises at Dobbins starting Sunday and for the next week:

The U.S. Army requested we share with you information about planned military exercises that will take place in Cobb County.

LOW FLYING fixed wing and helicopters are part of these training exercises.

Here is their official statement:

“Elements of the Department of Defense are conducting training in Blairsville, Atlanta, and Marietta, Georgia from 27 September – 04 October, 2020. Aviation assets will be involved in this training, so citizens may experience a higher than normal level of noise associated with military aircraft. This training is fully coordinated with local government officials, and every effort will be made to fly friendly and limit inconvenience to the local communities. Extensive safety precautions are in place to protect the service members and local citizens and to limit inconvenience to the communities. Due to inherent risks to personal safety, there will be no opportunities for public viewing of this training.”

WellStar East Cobb Health Park workers get a parachute salute

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Cobb absentee ballot dropboxes open at 4 East Cobb locations

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb absentee ballot drop boxes

Last week we noted the addition of an absentee ballot dropbox at the Sewell Mill Library, to go along with a dropbox that had been at the East Cobb Government Service Center during the primaries.

Cobb Elections announced this week that more dropboxes have been opened around the county, including two at library branches in East Cobb.

They’re the Gritters Library (880 Shaw Park Drive) and the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road).

A total of 16 dropboxes are now open (see full list here) and are available 24/7 up through 7 p.m. on the Nov. 3 election day. For a map of dropbox locations, click here.

The dropboxes are secure and are not used for any other purpose, and Cobb Elections says ballots are collected daily. They also have video cameras installed for security surveillance.

As they did during the primaries, Cobb Elections officials are strongly encouraging voters to send in absentee ballots. That’s how the vast majority of Cobb voters cast their votes this summer in primary and runoff elections.

Heavy voter turnout is expected with a presidential race and competitive local races on the ballot, social-distancing measures will be enforced and there is a shortage of poll workers.

More absentee ballot information in Cobb can be found here and Cobb Elections is seeking poll workers.

Earlier this week Cobb Elections director Jeanine Eveler answered questions about the elections, voter registration and absentee balloting (before the Gritters and Mountain View library locations were announced).

On Tuesday she will discuss related topics in a Zoom meeting of the Mableton Improvement Coalition that begins at 7 p.m. Attendance is free but registration is required and can be done by clicking here.

The Art Place, Sewell Mill Library offer Fall Break, October classes

September 25, 2020 by Wendy Parker

The Art Place

Fall Break for Cobb County School District students is next week, and the deadline for applying for week-long classes is Friday, Sept. 25, at 5 p.m.

Classes include custom t-shirt creations, papier mache cactus, potter and more.

Call (770) 509-2700 for more information or click https://www.artplacemarietta.org to register.

The Art Place and the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center are holding registration for October art classes for youths and adults. At Sewell Mill, adult course offerings include oill painting, handbuilding at home and instruction in making glass mosaics.

For youths, there are classes in clay ocean adventures, papier mache unicorns, character drawing and celestial-themed art class suncatchers.

For more click here.

At both locations, class sizes are limited to due to social distancing measures and all participants must wear masks. Only students and teachers are allowed.

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Murdock ES named National Blue Ribbon School for a 2nd time

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020 by Wendy Parker

For the second time, Murdock Elementary School in East Cobb has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. National Blue Ribbon Schools

Murdock is the only school in the Cobb County School District and is one of nine in the state of Georgia to earn the designation, which goes to schools “based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.”

Murdock, which also was named an “Exemplary High Performing School” was cited for what school leaders noted in their application as having “a family culture in our community” that has created “a winning combination of and partnership of families and staff that make Murdock a special place.”

Murdock is among the 317 public and 50 private schools that will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington in November.

Here’s more from Murdock’s application:

“Our most notable strength/accomplishment is also our greatest challenge. Overall, we are a high performing school. This often means there is not a lot of room for growth. However, Murdock has been recognized by the state of Georgia for achieving the Platinum Award for Highest Performing schools as well as the Bronze Award for Greatest Gains.”

Murdock has been among the highest-performing elementary schools in Cobb, according to 2019 testing results. In last year’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores, Murdock overall score of 92 was fourth in the county (previous ECN story here).

The CCRPI is a state accountability measure that gauges overall achievement results and how schools are preparing students for the next level of education. The 2019 CCRPI scores will be released next month.

Murdock also rated in the Top 10 in the Cobb school district on the 2019 Georgia Milestones assessment where 97 percent of students scored levels 2-4.

Murdock was first named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1988 and is one of five East Cobb schools to have been named more than once.

2019: Tritt Elementary School; Sope Creek Elementary School
2018: Mt. Bethel Christian Academy
2016: Mt. Bethel Elementary School
2013: Tritt Elementary School
2011: Timber Ridge Elementary School
2009: Hightower Trail Middle School
2008: Mabry Middle School
2007: Walton High School
2003: Dickerson Middle School
2001: Shallowford Falls Elementary School
2000: Lassiter High School
1996: Sprayberry High School
1994: Eastvalley Elementary School
1992: McCleskey Middle School
1990: East Cobb Middle School
1988: Murdock Elementary School; Sope Creek Elementary School
1986: Mt. Bethel Elementary School
1984: Walton High School.

East Cobb Food Scores: IHOP; Suburban Tap; Los Bravos; more

September 25, 2020September 24, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Food Scores, Suburban Tap

The following East Cobb food scores from Sept. 17-25 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for details of the inspection:

IHOP
3130 Johnson Ferry Road
September 22, 2020 Score: 97, Grade: A

J.J. Daniell Middle School
2950 Scott Drive
September 24, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Jersey Mike’s Subs
2960 Shallowford Road, Suite 106
September 23, 2020 Score: 90, Grade: A

Los Bravos
2125 Roswell Road, Suite B-40
September 21, 2020 Score: 75, Grade: C

Mazzy’s Sports Bar & Grill
2217 Roswell Road, Suite A-200
September 25, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Starbuck’s Coffee
2424 Roswell Road, Suite 1
September 24, 2020 Score: 99, Grade: A

Suburban Tap
1318 Johnson Ferry Road
September 21, 2020 Score: 92, Grade: A

Wellstar East Cobb Health Park Parkside Bistro
3747 Roswell Road
September 25, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Zeus Greek Street Food
2022 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 130
September 17, 2020 Score: 42, Grade: U

The Avenue East Cobb presents Date Night Dinner and a Move

September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 by Wendy Parker

The Avenue East Cobb Date Night

Submitted information:

Create a magical evening together at our Dinner & Drive In Movie Friday September 25th – featuring one of the following: Sleepless In Seattle, Pretty Woman or When Harry Met Sally. Vote for your favorite by commenting on The Avenue East Cobb facebook page https://www.facebook.com/avenueeastcobb/.

The Avenue East Cobb restaurants and eateries will be offering either Curbside Pickup or Car Delivery. RSVP by purchasing a $15 ticket PER VEHICLE/parking space. https://datenightdrivein.eventbrite.com.

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Cobb public safety agencies welcome additions to K-9 corps

September 24, 2020 by Wendy Parker

New Cobb K-9 dogs

From Cobb government about Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners: meeting that “went to the dogs” with the introduction by commissioner JoAnn Birrell of new K-9 additions for public safety agencies:

“‘Vinny’ is a 2 ½ year old black Labrador Retriever who works with Lee Maness. Maness has been with Cobb for 17 years as both a Police Officer and a Firefighter. He is currently an Investigator II assigned to the Fire Investigations Unit with Vinny, who is trained to detect ignitable liquid accelerants.

“Officer Barlett was accompanied by ‘Brave,’ a brindle colored Dutch Shepherd. Barlett has served with the Cobb County Police Department since November of 2004. K9 Brave was purchased with a donation from the Atlanta Braves. We thank them all for their service to our community.”

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Cobb COVID case counts falling close to spread threshold

September 23, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb COVID case counts fall

For the last two months the rate of new COVID-19 cases has been falling steadily in Cobb County.

After high spikes during the early summer in the number of cases, test positivity rates and other metrics, those numbers have reached levels that public health officials have targeted for reopening of schools, among other things.

Cobb is closing on 20,000 cases, with 19,283 as of 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

That’s the third-highest total in the state, trailing Fulton County (27,247) and Gwinnett County (26,931). Cobb’s death count of 423 is second only to 568 in Fulton County.

But the downward shift in slowing the spread of the virus is one of the more encouraging trends in Georgia.

The chart above is the Cobb case progression according to the date of onset (meaning the day a positive test was confirmed).

Compared to the single-day high in terms of seven-day moving average of 296 on July 11, that rolling total was down to 79 as of Sept. 9, two weeks ago from today.

Georgia DPH issues a 14-day rolling average line (at the far right in the graphic above), indicating that data in that window is likely to be added due to lags in reporting.

One of the key metrics noted by Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale in his decision to phase in classroom return starting in October is the cases per 100,000 people figure.

The Cobb Geographic Information Systems unit released the graphic below earlier Wednesday showing another steep drop in that figure.

Cobb GIS COVID 140-day per 100k chart

Public health advisors have said that anything more than a 14-day average of 100 cases or more per 100,000 is considered high community spread.

When Ragsdale announced the Cobb schools reopening, he said he was aiming for an average of between 100 and 200.

After Cobb’s two-week rolling number topped out close to 500 in early August (noted on blue line) it’s now down to 146 per 100,000.

That’s a trend that’s occurring through metro Atlanta and a good portion of the state.

At Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting, Chairman Mike Boyce noted the numbers and thanked Cobb citizens for doing their part to slow the spread of the virus.

He has been reluctant to issue a mask mandate, but asked citizens to continue following what he has called a “nice mask ask,” as well as regular hand-washing and physical distancing practices.

Some Georgia cities and counties have imposed mask mandates, but Gov. Brian Kemp has not made a statewide edict. The current hot spots with high averages of cases per 100,000 people are in various rural areas.

A total of 309,678 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Georgia, with 6,773 deaths.

Those include 1,577 cases and 98 deaths reported on Wednesday. Cobb reported 95 new cases and no new deaths.

Another positive metric for Cobb is a drop in the percentage of positive tests. On Wednesday, for the first time since early June, that number in the county was five percent. Anything over that is considered is a high figure according to public health officials.

In Cobb that seven-day moving average topped out around 30 percent in late March and was in double figures until mid-July.

The Cobb and Douglas Public Health agency updates those and other county figures, including the pie chart below breaking down Cobb COVID cases by age group.

While more than three-quarters of those who have died in Cobb are 70 and older, the biggest age groups with positive tests are younger.

Cobb cases by age CDPH 9.23.20

East Cobb man charged with 8 counts of aggravated assault on police

September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 by Wendy Parker

A man who Cobb Police said barricaded himself at a home in East Cobb for several hours Tuesday after firing gunshots has been charged with eight counts of aggravated assault on police officers.

Cobb Sheriff’s Office records show that Donald Terry Welborn Jr., 57, is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

He is accused of shooting at officers after he fired a weapon in a bedroom where his wife was sleeping, and striking the homes of neighbors with gunfire.

Welborn was booked Tuesday on the aggravated assault charges, which are felonies, and three misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct for the other shootings.

Welborn, whose home address is listed as 2518 Kingsley Drive, off Post Oak Tritt Road and near Johnson Ferry Road, was apprehended there shortly after noon on Tuesday, according to Cobb Police.

According to a criminal warrant taken out against Welborn, he was at that address around 5:30 a.m. and went into a bedroom where Susan Welborn was sleeping, then shot at a ceiling fan.

According to Cobb court records, she is Welborn’s wife, but they had been separated. Susan Welborn filed for divorce in Cobb Superior Court later Tuesday afternoon. The filing states they had been married since 1994, but the marriage was “irretrievably broken” and that they had been living in a “bona fide state of separation.”

The warrant also states that Welborn was inside the residence when he shot at the homes of two neighbors, one next door and another across the street, striking their homes.

A statement issued Wednesday afternoon by Sgt. Wayne Delk, a Cobb Police spokesman, said the first officers who arrived at the scene said they heard shots coming from a residence at 2518 Kingsley Drive and that were fired in their direction.

The warrant alleges that eight officers were shot at by Welborn outside the home.

The Cobb Police SWAT team and a crisis negotiation team later arrived and “after an extended negotiation” the suspect, identified as Welborn, was arrested without injuries to him or the officers.

Delk further said that a police bomb squad checked the house and no explosive devices were found.

Police said a 911 dispatcher got a call from Kingsley Drive in the New Castle neighborhood around 5:30 a.m. of gunshots being fired, both inside a home and outside in the neighborhood.

Police blocked off the New Castle and nearby Arthur’s Vineyard neighborhoods while negotiators attempted to get a man to come out of his home.

Delk said Wednesday that the incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945.

Tim D. Lee Senior Center reopening delayed due to renovations

September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Senior Center
Three Cobb County senior centers will be reopening Oct. 5 after being closed since March due to COVID-19 restrictions.

But the Tim D. Lee Senior Center in East Cobb will remain closed for an unspecified time because of ongoing renovations.

County spokesman Ross Cavitt said the renovations are extensive, and are related to roofing issues caused by water leaks, and that “COVID has made the progress slower than we had hoped.”

He said Cobb Senior Services has retained an engineering firm to work on a redesign to direct water away from the north side of the building, which has had water retention issues after rain. Cavitt said a reopening date hasn’t been determined.

The senior centers are the last county facilities to reopen from COVID-19 closures. Those reopening on a limited basis Oct. 5 are the Freeman Poole Senior Center in Smyrna, the Cobb Senior Wellness Center in Marietta and the West Cobb Senior Center. The North Cobb Senior Center will reopen on Nov. 5.

Those centers will be subject to additional safety protocols and and other measures which can be found here:

“Everyone must be registered in advance before coming to a center, temperature screenings will be conducted at the door, and rooms will be setup to allow social distancing. While there will be some in-person activities, we will continue to offer virtual programs on our Facebook pages and via online links. We have given much thought and care in preparing for seniors to return and are eagerly looking forward to seeing them.”

Kathy Lathem, strategic partnership manager for Cobb Senior Services, said the department continued to provide transportation for seniors for medical appointments, shopping and banking, and also continued Meals on Wheels. Here’s more about what’s been happening over the last seven months:

“We began partnering with local organizations and the community for donations of shelf stable items and toiletries; WOW, did they ever respond!! From April thru mid-July, we were able to hold weekly food giveaways for Cobb residents age 60+, resulting in:

2,677 people served

1,260 produce/dairy boxes given

2,335 restaurant meals provided

“After a break to secure more donations, the food giveaway resumed on September 3rd. The next one takes place this Thursday, September 24 at our office, 1150 Powder Springs St, Marietta, 30064 from 11am until Noon, or while supplies last. An ID showing birth date and Cobb County home address is required upon arrival for each senior being served. Visit www.CobbSeniors.org for upcoming dates and locations.”

There’s a continuing food drive with needed items listed below.

Cobb schools issue mask guidance; 49% of students returning

September 23, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb schools mask guidance The Cobb County School District has issued specifics on face masks that will be required for everyone when students begin returning to classrooms on Oct. 5.

That includes teachers, staff, students and any visitors in district school buildings at all times.

The guidance instructs parents to provide a mask for their children that fully covers the mouth and nose, is “secure under the chin” and “fits securely against both sides of the face.”

The guidance said the Centers for Disease Control does not recommend masks that have an exhalation valve or vent, and face shields are not a substitute for masks.

If students don’t wear a mask, they will be asked to do so, and a disposable mask will be provided.

If the student still refuses, the parent will be called to pick up their child “and a conference will be held to discuss the option of digital instruction.”

Any students who continue to refuse to wear a mask will be considered “insubordinate” and will be subject to the district’s student code of conduct.

The district guidance allows for some exceptions that include medical conditions and students with disabilities.

The district says in its guidance that students uncomfortable wearing masks should wear them for short periods before returning to school “so that they become accustomed to wearing a mask.”

The district’s face mask policy includes extracurricular activities, including sporting events, even outdoor football games.

More guidance about masks can be found here.

At last week’s Cobb Board of Education meeting, two board members tried to get a face mask requirement in the district’s dress code policy. Their attempts were turned down, but they said the would bring the matter up for discussion in October.

The period for choosing in-person or remote learning ended Sunday, and 52,000 of the district’s 112,000 students, or 49 percent, will be coming back to their schools.

Another 37,000 students, or 35 percent, will continue remote learning through the end of the fall semester.

There also are 18,000 students, or 16 percent, whose parents had not made a choice as of Sunday. They will have to notify their child’s home school of their decision.

Elementary school and special education students will be returning on Oct. 5, followed by middle school students Oct. 19 and high school students Nov. 5.

Cobb commissioners narrowly approve new diversity council

September 22, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb diversity council approved

By a 3-2 vote the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved the creation of what will be called the Council for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation, a citizens’ body that will report to the county manager.

The objective of the appointed body will be to “develop proactive solutions embracing diversity by collaborating with government and community stakeholders to make Cobb County a more inclusive and enjoyable place for all citizens to live, learn, work and visit.”

(See previous ECN post here.)

The council was proposed by Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, who was one of the votes in favor, along with commissioners Bob Ott and JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb.

But Lisa Cupid, the commission’s only black member, and its only Democrat, was one of the votes against the measure, saying it “was difficult to digest this with any seriousness.”

Not only was there not a work session, she said the resolution expressing the board’s sentiment in reaching out to the diverse communities of the county isn’t backed up by recent votes.

Among them was the board rejecting her proposal earlier this month for three county non-profits to provide rental assistance with federal CARES Act funding. That program will instead be administered by an out-of-county non-profit that’s also working with Cobb homeowners affected financially by COVID-related closures to make mortgage payments.

“This board doesn’t foster that kind of collaboration,” she said in reference to the Cobb non-profits, further objecting to the resolution initially being put on Tuesday’s consent agenda.

Cupid, who is challenging Boyce in the chairman’s race in November, said that while she supported the resolution in spirit, she understood how it might look if she voted against it. She said she first heard about the proposed council on Aug. 27, and at one point said she “just got tired of playing along.

“What’s the detriment to me if I say no right before an election?”

Republican commissioner Keli Gambrill of North Cobb opposed the resolution for other reasons, saying she thought it would be a “quasi-shadow government in the name of diversity.”

She also didn’t like that there wasn’t a work session and thought the council “would have a direct bearing on county policy.”

Birrell said she had some initial reservations but thought there had been ample time for commissioners to express their concerns about the resolution.

Ott, who is retiring at the end of the year, said he has been involved in three previous attempts to re-form what had been the Cobb Community Relations Council.

That body, formed in the early 1990s, has dissolved, and he said it’s important for there to be continuing dialogue in Cobb across racial, religious and cultural lines.

“We can’t just sit back while Rome burns,” Ott said. “Is this perfect? No.”

But he said “it’s more healthy when there is disagreement because it opens discussions and dialogue. It allows things to change.”

Ott said he was pleased that Ben Williams of the Cobb chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an occasional critic of the county on racial issues, endorsed the resolution.

During a public comment before the vote Tuesday, Williams said the language is “clear, strong and resolute, reflecting where this board is.”

Cupid said in reference to Williams’ remark that “I’m not convinced of that.”

Boyce was the only commissioner who did not take part in the discussion.

Canton man arrested in hit-and-run death of I-75 worker

September 22, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Marietta Police said Tuesday they’ve charged a Canton man with the hit-and-run death of a construction worker on Interstate-75 near Delk Road on Sept. 13.

Police said in release Tuesday that Daniel Broder, 20, was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on felony charges of first-degree vehicular homicide and another felony count of hit-and-run resulting in serious injury or death.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Broder is being held without bond.

Police said Martin Rivera, 30, of Chicago, was hit twice by vehicles as he was placing signage on the I-75 shoulder just north of Delk Road near 9 p.m. on Sept. 13.

Police said the first vehicle, a black Volkswagen Golf GTI, hit Rivera and drove away from the scene. The force of the first collision threw Rivera into the path of another vehicle, which police said stopped and the driver cooperated with the investigation.

Police said at the time that the Volkswagen may have “abruptly” exited I-75 at the South Marietta Parkway.

Police said they got an anonymous tip on Monday and worked leads to identify the suspect and his vehicle, and made the arrest at Broder’s home.

Update: Man barricaded in East Cobb home taken into custody

September 23, 2020September 22, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Police SWAT East Cobb home

UPDATED, WEDNESDAY, 12:30 P.M.

Police have charged Donald T. Welborn Jr., of 2518 Kingsley Drive in East Cobb, with eight counts of aggravated assault on police officers. He is being held without bond.

UPDATED, TUESDAY, 12:40 P.M.

Cobb Police said they have taken the barricaded man into custody and that the standoff ended peacefully with no injuries.

They said the neighborhood will be reopening soon.

ORIGINAL STORY, POSTED 11:07 A.M.:

Residents of two East Cobb neighborhoods were ordered to shelter-in-place Tuesday morning while Cobb Police SWAT officers responded to a call of a barricaded man in his home.

Police said around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday that shots were “actively being fired” at a home on Kingsley Drive in the Newscastle subdivision, near Post Oak Tritt Road.

Police also ordered residents of Kingsley Drive between Castle Lane and Vineyard Court to remain in their homes. The entrance to the New Castle and Arthur’s Vineyard neighborhoods also have been blocked off by police.

Police were called to the scene after neighbors reported shots around 5:30 a.m.

Sgt. Wayne Delk, a Cobb Police spokesman, said in a statement around 9:30 a.m. that a man was shooting both inside and outside the home, but no injuries have been reported.

Delk said police believe the man is home alone, but he didn’t have any information about what type of weapons were used in the shootings.

“Obviously we’re taking this very seriously in shutting down the neighborhood for the safety of everyone,” Delk said in a press briefing.

He said Cobb Police SWAT team members and negotiators have been in contact with the man, but he wouldn’t elaborate.

Tokyo Valentino business license revocation hearing delayed

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Tokyo Valentino East Cobb

A due cause hearing for revoking a business license for the Tokyo Valentino adult retail store in East Cobb is being delayed until Oct. 27.

The hearing was to have taken place Tuesday night before the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

The county said that the delay is taking place because Tokyo Valentino lawyers have submitted open records requests for information.

The county notified Tokyo Valentino Sept. 8 it was suspending a business license granted in March because of what the Cobb Community Development Agency said was false and misleading information provided in the application.

Those details included the name listed on the application, 1290 Clothing Co. LLC, the store’s inventory and misrepresentations it said Tokyo Valentino owner Michael Morrison made to the news media about his intentions for the East Cobb store.

Tokyo Valentino opened in a vacant Mattress Firm store space in June without needing rezoning or any action from the county, other than a business license that was granted in March.

Considerable opposition came from nearby residents before the store opened, as first reported in May by East Cobb News.

Commissioner Bob Ott of East Cobb said at the time there wasn’t anything the county could to stop the store from opening.

Last month, he proposed an overhaul of the county’s sex shop ordinance that would further restrict such businesses, and those measures passed unanimously without much public discussion.

In June, the Marietta City Council revoked the business license of a Tokyo Valentino store on Cobb Parkway for 180 days, saying the store inventory didn’t match what was on its application.

Tokyo Valentino is appealing that decision in Cobb Superior Court.

Cobb schools Class of 2020 tops national, state SAT averages

September 21, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Walton High School, East Cobb SAT scores

Despite disruptions due to COVID-19 closures, the Class of 2020 of the Cobb County School District surpassed both the U.S. and state averages in scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

The district said in a news release Monday that the “nationwide mean score on the college-entrance test was 1030 out of a possible 1600. Statewide, Georgia students beat the national score by 13 points with an average score of 1043.”

Four East Cobb schools led the way in the 16-high school district, with Walton’s 1,272 overall average (635 verbal/637 math) at the top of the list.

Pope and Lassiter tied with 1,195 overall (Pope: 606/589, Lassiter: 602/593), and Wheeler with an 1,160 overall (581/579).

Kell’s overall score was 1,061 (539/522) while Sprayberry’s was 1,040 (539/501).

The Cobb average score was 1107, which is down from 1114 in 2019, and that reflects a slight drop across the country.

The district said 1,350 fewer tests were given in 2020. A total of 5,283 Cobb school district students took the test, second in the state to Gwinnett. That 1,107 score is better than the averages of the top five school districts in the state, including Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton and Clayton.

Here’s more from Georgia school superintendent Richard Woods:

“The class of 2020 has faced unprecedented adversity and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given all they have overcome, I am so proud of these students for becoming the third graduating class in Georgia history to beat the national average on the SAT. I continue to be optimistic about the future of Georgia public schools as our students, teachers, and schools continue to surpass expectations and outperform their peers nationally.”

Scores were down slightly across the entire country in 2020. Cobb’s overall score was 1,114 in 2019.

Cobb school district students averaged 564 in verbal sections and 544 on math, compared to 520/510 nationwide, and 532/511 in Georgia.

Walton’s 1,272 score was third in Georgia, trailing only the Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology (1,361), Northview in North Fulton (1,282).

The scores released Monday were only for public schools. Full school-level and district-level results can be found here.

Earlier this month the Georgia Department of Education said it would be eliminating half of the Georgia Milestones end-of-course requirements for current high school students, given the varying start dates and virtual learning operations of districts due to COVID-19 measures.

More high school testing information for the 2020-21 school year in Georgia can be found here.

East Cobb restaurant update: Five Guys, Panera Bread opening soon

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Five Guys East Cobb opening

We’re still waiting to get official word on a specific date but the new Five Guys location in East Cobb is a step closer to opening.

The former Del Taco space at the East Cobb Crossing Shopping Center (4269 Roswell Road) has been converted over the past weeks, and the final stages of the project are in progress.

That includes getting a business license, which the Cobb Community Development Agency said was issued Sept. 16.

Typically restaurants get business licenses right before opening their doors. We’ve left several messages with Five Guys for more details and will pass that along when we get them.

East Cobb Crossing also will be the location for the newest Publix store in East Cobb, with plans underway to occupy space next to Dick’s Sporting Goods. That was to have taken place this fall but there’s not an opening timetable forthcoming.

Five Guys, which specializes in gourmet hamburgers, has 48 other locations in Georgia, including Austell, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Sandy Springs, Roswell and Woodstock.

Also last week, a business license was granted for a Panera Bread location at the new MarketPlace Terrell Mill (1430 Terrell Mill Road).

It will be the second East Cobb location, along with The Avenue East Cobb. A Panera Bread location closed several years ago at the Pavilions at East Lake, on the site of a new Kroger gas station.

Cobb Diaper Day drive being held virtually through September

September 21, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Diaper Day

Submitted information:

The Cobb Diaper Day Committee announces that it is holding its 12^th Annual Diaper Day virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual community-wide effort to collect diapers for low-income families is occurring throughout the entire month of September. Organizations, companies and individuals are encouraged to donate to the Barbara Hickey Children’s Fund (managed by Cobb Community Foundation), purchase diapers through their Amazon Wish-list and hold diaper drives, especially during Diaper Need Awareness Week, being held September 21 – 27. All diaper donations will be given to the Cobb Douglas Public Health Teen Pregnancy Program, Communities in Schools of Georgia in Marietta/Cobb County, liveSAFE Resources, MUST Ministries, Ser Familia, Simple Needs GA and Sweetwater Mission for distribution to help ease some of the burdens of the thousands of families in critical need.

Through the efforts of the Cobb Diaper Day Committee, founded by the late Barbara Hickey, more than one million diapers have been donated to assist low-income families in Cobb County. The goal this year is to donate more than 110,000 diapers.

Low-income families often have the daily stress of choosing between food and diapers. Prolonged wearing of a wet diaper causes diaper rash, and a crying baby leads to more stress in the home. Low-income families also face the facts that:

Food stamps do not include hygiene products, such as diapers.

On average, the cost to purchase diapers is approximately $100/month.

Day care centers require parents to provide their own diapers.

Barbara Hickey reminded us all that, oftentimes, it is the little things in our lives that make the biggest difference, when she envisioned the community coming together to support local families in need.

For more information, visit www.cobbdiaperday.com.

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