The Rib Ranch restaurant closes after nearly 35 years on Canton Road

The Rib Ranch restaurant closes

Christmas Eve was the last day in business for The Rib Ranch, a barbecue restaurant at 2063 Canton Road (near the split with the Canton Road connector).

WhatNowAtlanta reported that the owners announced that the restaurant was serving for the last time at 2 p.m. today.

There wasn’t an initial reason given for the closure when the announcement was first made on Dec. 18. The following day, Barbara Folwell, one of the longtime owners of The Rib Ranch, said on the restaurant’s Facebook page that she has purchased a cafe in Canton and plans to add The Rib Ranch there.

She didn’t respond to customers’ questions about the business reportedly losing its lease.

Folwell said she is hopeful the new restaurant will be approved by the summer, since variances and renderings are required, but in the meantime, she is operating the Keithsburg Cafe for breakfast and lunch, with a country cooking menu, at its location on Ball Ground Highway.

In addition to serving a full barbecue menu, The Rib Ranch has been a meeting spot for many civic groups and other organizations over the years, including the East Cobb Lions Club.

The Rib Ranch opened in 1983 at the site of a former hot dog stand. Cindy Newman, the original owner, moved from Idaho and turned it into a family-run business, selling the restaurant and a related catering operation to her siblings David and Barbara in 1992.

The restaurant building burned down in 1995 after being struck by lightning in a storm, and The Rib Ranch didn’t reopen until 1997.

After that, however, the Rib Ranch won several awards at the Taste of Marietta.

 

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Christmas weather in East Cobb: The sun returns, but bundle up

Christmas weather in East Cobb

Two weeks ago, East Cobb and most of North Georgia was digging out of several inches of snow.

Two days before Christmas, the temperatures were nearly 70 degrees, and Christmas Eve day weather will be mild, with highs in the 50s.

But if you’re heading out to Christmas Eve services or other activities tonight, dress warm, and expect to stay bundled up most of the week, heading into the new year.

In addition to getting much colder, the weather also will be windy for the next few days.

After several days of rain and dreary skies to go with those warm temperatures, the skies will be clearing up. Sunday’s forecast will be mostly cloudy, with a high around 53, according to the National Weather Service.

By mid evening, temperatures will drip into the 40s, and may fall below freezing overnight, with some lows into the high 20s. Winds could get as high as 30 mph throughout the day on Sunday.

The Christmas Day forecast calls for sunny skies, but highs may not reach into the 40s all day, and winds as high as 20 mph.

On Tuesday, it will start to warm with sun, and highs in the high 40s, and the same goes for Wednesday, when rainy weather could return.

By Thursday, we may be in for a chance of freezing rain, with precipitation continuing and highs reaching into the high 30s.

Sunny skies will return by Saturday, but high temperatures aren’t likely to exceed the low 40s.

 

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Where to worship in East Cobb on Christmas Eve

Eastminster Presbyterian
Eastminster Presbyterian Church is having three services on Christmas Eve, including one for children.

We’ve previously rounded up the Christmas service schedule in East Cobb that has all the details, but wanted to note that several of them will be starting on Sunday morning, with a handful pushing into Christmas Day with late-night Candelight services.

Sunday is also the 4th Sunday in Advent, and a good number of East Cobb churches will be holding traditional Advent services in the morning, then offering special Christmas worship services later in the day. Click the link on the church name for that information.

On Monday, a few churches will be having Christmas Day services in addition to Christmas Eve, and we’ve pulled them out individually and listed them below:

To report incorrect or updated information or to add a service you don’t see here e-mail: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

 

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Cobb government holiday schedule released, including for libraries and transit

Released by Cobb County government:Cobb County goverment holiday logo

All Cobb County Government offices will be closed Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 25-26, for the Christmas holiday. In addition, Switzer Library — which is the only county library usually open on Sundays — will be closed Sunday, Dec. 24, for Christmas Eve. Cobb County offices will also be closed for New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

There will also be modifications to CobbLinc’s commuter service for the holidays, with no bus service, Paratransit service or Paratransit reservation service on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. For more information about transit service, click here.

Contract for Cobb school bus traffic cameras extended by commissioners

ATS school bus camera
An external school bus traffic camera made and monitored by American Traffic Solutions.

After hearing some emphatic comments from school bus drivers, the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to extend a contract with the Cobb County School District for the use of cameras that record traffic violations at bus stop points.

The measure, which passed by a unanimous 5-0 vote and extends the contract with American Traffic Solutions for a year, was necessary since it had expired due to legal reasons.

At issue is whether citations issued from the cameras are enforceable under state law.

“All of us on the board support the program and we are glad to renew it,” Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said. “We are already working with our legislative delegation to fix the issues that were raised.”

The extension allows the Cobb County Police Department to review the recordings of suspected violations and approve issuing citations.

Before the vote, some drivers urged commissioners not to delay any further. Some said they are troubled how many drivers still ignore stop-arm signs and threaten the safety of children getting on and off buses.

“People don’t know what danger their children are in at the bus stop,” said a Meredith May Banks, a driver who mentioned that drivers are trained to tell students to “stay back” and “stay alive” and not stand near the street.

In 2011, the Georgia legislature passed a law permitting stop-arm cameras two years after the death of Karla Campos, a kindergartener at Mountain View Elementary School. She was killed when she was hit by a car after getting off a bus.

Two Northeast Cobb mothers, Sheri Lewis and Mandi Call, began Operation Stop Arm to campaign for the law.

In 2012 Cobb County government and the Cobb school district entered into a five-year contract to purchase cameras and issue citations.

The CCSD has estimated that fewer than 1,000 citations are issued, down from around 2,000 or so when the cameras were first installed.

 

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East Cobb Government Service Center business office closing Dec. 31

East Cobb Government Service Center business office

East Cobb Government Service Center business office

Earlier this fall the Cobb Board of Commissioners voted to close the East Cobb Government Service Center business office at the end of the year.

Everything else in the building at 4400 Lower Roswell Road—tag office, Cobb police and fire stations and the community meeting room—will remain open.

But if you have used the business office to renew a business license, pay county property taxes or water bills, apply for a property tax exemption or a handicapped parking permit, you’ll have to do those things differently.

Most of those services will now be available across the hall at the tag office. In addition to renewing your vehicle tag, you can apply for a handicapped parking permit, pay property taxes and apply for property tax exemptions there. The tag office is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can also visit the Cobb Tax Commissioners Office website or call 770-528-8600.

Water bills can’t be paid at the tag office, but payments can be made online at the Cobb Water Department website or in person at 660 South Cobb Drive. Business hours are 8-5 Monday-Friday, and the drive-through hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. The night deposit drop is 24/7 but customers are advised not to leave cash. The phone number is 770-419-6200.

If you need to renew a business license, that can be done at the Cobb Community Development website. Applicants must have in their renewal package an instruction sheet with a PIN number at the bottom of the page.

In-person applications or renewals can be made at the business license office at 1150 Powder Springs Road in Marietta. The hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and the phone number is 770-528-8410.

Closing the business office is a savings of more than $94,000, and commissioners transferred that amount to fund the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center that opened earlier this month.

Groups that want to reserve meeting room space at the East Cobb Government Service Center now must pay $25 per event, and make reservations online. Those changes also begin on Jan. 1, and here are more details on how to proceed.

For more information on other services no longer available at the East Cobb Government Service Center, please click here.

 

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SunTrust Bank robbed at Powers Ferry Road and Terrell Mill Road

SunTrust Bank, 1380 Powers Ferry Road

Cobb Police are searching for a man whom they say robbed a SunTrust Bank Wednesday at Terrell Mill Road and Powers Ferry Road.

The incident happened around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday at the SunTrust branch at 1380 Powers Ferry Road, located near the Terrell Mill Village Shopping Center.

Police say a black male entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash, which he received, and that he left on foot.

There was no vehicle description, but Cobb Police further identified the suspect as being between 20-25 years old and weighing 175-180 pounds. Police said he last seen wearing a black baseball hat, a camouflaged hoodie a black jacket and blue jeans.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 770-499-3945.

 

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Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square expansion plans approved by Cobb commissioners

Chick Fil A Woodlawn canopy rendering

The construction of a double drive-through at the Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square store in East Cobb was approved at Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners zoning hearing.

The rezoning request was approved 4-0 by the commissioners on their consent agenda. Interplan LLC, which operates the Chick-Fil-A store at 1201 Johnson Ferry Road, wants to reconfigure the parking lot to accommodate the expansion, and needed to convert a parcel of .15 of an acre from community retail to neighborhood shopping (previous East Cobb News post here).

The drivethrough plans include a canopy, as shown in the above rendering, the design of which, as well as other architectural renderings, must be approved by District 2 commissioner Bob Ott.

Other conditions include limiting construction vehicles to the Chick-fil-A site, and not allowing them to be parked along Johnson Ferry Road and Woodlawn Parkway while the renovations are in progress.

Commission chairman Mike Boyce recused himself from the vote, saying he frequently attends a men’s group meeting at the Chick-fil-A.

Zoning cases that do not generate opposition are commonly placed on the consent agenda and are voted on collectively.

The commissioners also voted 5-0 to approve a rezoning request by Walton Riverbend (previous East Cobb News post here). The rezoning was necessary for the developer to relocate its headquarters to the 46-acre Walton on the Chattahoochee residential site on Akers Mill Road.

The application is for a master plan for the Walton Riverbend office, as well as stipulations to guide a future mixed-use development that would keep an existing 26-unit residential building, and allow for new office buildings totaling 16,800 square feet.

“The only thing that will be approved today is the moving of the office,” Ott told his colleagues before the vote.

 

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Handel, Isakson and Perdue hail passage of tax reform bill

U.S. Rep. Karen Handel

U.S. Rep. Karen Handel (R-Roswell), who represents East Cobb in the 6th Congressional District of Georgia, was among those lawmakers voting for major tax legislation on Tuesday.

Georgia’s two Republican senators, Johnny Isakson of East Cobb and David Perdue of Macon, voted with the majority in a 51-48 passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act  early Wednesday morning.

The $1.5 trillion measure was sent back to the House this morning for a revote because of minor provisions ruled to have violated Senate rules, but passage is expected a second time. The House vote on Tuesday was 227-203, and as in the Senate, went mainly along party lines.

Democrats decried the bill as tax cuts for the wealthy and for major corporate interests that would significantly add to the national debt. Republicans hailed the first major overhaul of the tax code in nearly 30 years as beneficial for job creation and the middle class.

The bill calls for a wide variety of tax cuts for individuals and businesses and eliminates tax deductions in a number of categories. Individual taxpayers will see the doubling of their standard deductions and the doubling of the child tax credit, while general corporate tax rates will be reduced across the board.

On the Senate floor, Isakson said that:

“When you take a risk, at the end of that rainbow is a reward. And in the case of risking lower taxes, the greater reward is more jobs, more opportunity, and a better America for our children and our grandchildren.”

Here’s his full statement.

Perdue said:

“This is an historic achievement. These changes to the tax code mean greater job opportunities, more capital at work in our economy, and more money back in the pockets of middle-class American families.”

Handel, who was elected in June to succeed Tom Price, issued the following statement after one of her first major votes as a member of Congress:

“This is a historic moment. The provisions of this tax cut bill will be transformative for hardworking American families and American companies, especially our small businesses.

“More than half of Americans currently live paycheck to paycheck. In the end, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is about letting hardworking Americans keep more of their money. The typical American family of four earning the median family income of $73,000 will see a tax cut of $2,059.”

This bill, which is the result of compromise negotiations between the House and Senate, lowers federal income tax rates for all low and middle-income Americans. It also nearly doubles the standard deduction, increases the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 per child, retains deductibility of up to $10,000 in state and local property taxes, and preserves $750,000 in mortgage interest deduction benefits.

Additionally, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% – helping put U.S. companies on par with the global averages and their international competitors. America’s current corporate rate is far and away the highest in the industrialized world, as these other nations place – on average – a roughly 22% rate on their corporations.

Most of America’s small businesses will have their rates slashed from the current 40% down to 25%. And each of these entities will be able to fully and immediately deduct investments in equipment and other resources.

“This bill also benefits America’s main street businesses – those small businesses that are the backbone of our economy and job creation. By lowering the small business tax rates, these companies can do what they do best – innovate and grow.”

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East Cobb teachers awarded IMPACT grants from Cobb Schools Foundation

East Side Elementary School, Cobb Schools Foundation IMPACT grants
East Side Elementary School teacher Leslie Lyiak (center) is receiving a grant for her “Why Math Works” program. (Photos courtesy of Cobb County School District)

Eight East Cobb teachers have been named recipients of the Cobb Schools Foundation IMPACT grants, which are used to enhance classroom learning and other academic purposes.

According to information released Tuesday by the Cobb County School District, the foundation (which is independent from the school system) raised a record $40,000 for the grants, which are based on teacher “wish lists” for programs to help student success.

The money is raised from a variety of sources, including an upcoming fundraiser in January at SunTrust Park, as well as from several foundation partners, including the Cobb EMC Community Foundation, the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Gas South and the Credit Union of Georgia.

Sprayberry IMPACT grant
Sprayberry High School English Language Learner teacher Stacey Arnett (center) is using her grant to purchase Word-to-Word dictionaries to assist ELL students with test scores and graduation rates.
J.J. Daniell IMPACT grant
Leigh Anna Engkaninan, who has already introduced chickens to her students at Daniell Middle School, will receive a $1,810 IMPACT grant to expand her teaching about the animals, including the use of a chicken coop.
East Cobb Middle School IMPACT grant
Charmagne Quenan, East Cobb Middle School, is receiving a $1,695 grant for PocketLab Voyager Probes to increase science engagement.
Sedalia Park Elementary School IMPACT grant
Moniquea Willingham of Sedalia Park Elementary School is receiving a grant for her “Park Math Squad” program in the amount of $1,183.39.
Keheley Elementary School IMPACT grant
Kelley Davis of Keheley Elementary School has been awarded a grant of $1,834.94 for “Keheley Needs the Cube!”

Other East Cobb teachers receiving IMPACT grants include Susanne Smith, East Side Elementary School, who is receiving $2,500 for “Picture-Perfect STEM Books” and Debbi Snyder of Kincaid Elementary School, a $900 grant for “Extraordinary Gentlemen.”

A total of 23 teachers in the Cobb school system received IMPACT grants for the coming year.

In addition to the IMPACT grants, the Cobb Schools Foundation, a non-profit, helps raise money for SAT test prep, college scholarships and other academic and school-related programs.

 

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Cobb Chamber of Commerce names Sharon Mason new president and CEO

Sharon Mason, Cobb Chamber of Commerce

Sharon Mason, Cobb Chamber of Commerce

Sharon Mason of East Cobb has been named president and chief executive officer of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, where she has worked for the past decade, most recently as chief operating officer.

Mason was the unanimous choice of the chamber’s board of directors to succeed another East Cobb resident, David Connell, who is retiring at the end of the year after seven years in the job.

Mason will assume her new duties on Jan. 1, 2018. The Cobb Chamber of Commerce has more than 2,500 members and organizations.

“Sharon Mason is the right person for the job,” Gary Bottoms, chair of the Cobb Chamber Board of Directors, said in a statement. “She inherits a strong chamber and engaged business community. Over the years, she has worked closely with David Connell to create a national reputation for Cobb County and deliver creative solutions to recruit and retain businesses. We are grateful for David’s leadership and his contribution to the growth of our county, and we are excited to embrace Sharon Mason’s vision for the future.”

Among her duties has been helping raise more than $3 million for Cobb’s Competitive Edge, a chamber initiative for job creation that began in 2012. According to the chamber, more than 22,000 new jobs and $2.5 billion in private investment are attributable to the program.

“I am excited and honored to accept the role of President and CEO of the Cobb Chamber,” Mason said in a statement. “I know as a business community we can achieve great things by working together to advance a vibrant economy. It is important that we continue to offer programs and services that are beneficial to our members, while also addressing the education, workforce and business climate needs of our community.”

In addition to her professional endeavors, Mason has been heavily involved in community activities. She is a past president of the Friends for the East Cobb Park and has been on the board of MUST Ministries, as well as a former director of the Marietta Rotary Foundation.

A graduate of Samford University, Mason previously worked for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the American Cancer Society. She and her husband and daughter attend North Point Community Church in Alpharetta.

 

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Walton on the Chattahoochee rezoning case on Cobb commissioners’ agenda

walton on the chattahoochee

A proposal to rezone the Walton on the Chattahoochee residential complex on Akers Mill Road is on the agenda for the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the 2nd floor commissioners meeting room at 100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta.

It’s one of just a few East Cobb cases on the agenda that will be heard after the Cobb Planning Commission voted earlier this month to table or continue two other major applications in the same Powers Ferry corridor.

The planning board voted on Dec. 5 to table the proposed Terrell Mill Towne Center, at the corner of Terrell Mill and Powers Ferry roads, after residents at the adjacent Salem Ridge condominium complex protested (previous East Cobb News story here).

Another residential proposal, to build townhomes at Windy Hill Road and Wildwood Parkway, is being continued after objections from nearby residents.

The Walton on the Chattahoochee rezoning case also drew opposition from residents in nearby condominium communities in the Akers Mill Road corridor, but the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval. Walton Riverbend, the property owner which has its headquarters on the property, wants to convert the 46-acre tract into three office buildings totaling 16,800 square feet and to keep a 26-unit residential building.

The complex was once known as the Riverbend Apartments, and was a trend-setting development for young renters in the 1970s. Now the area is being eyed for more upscale commercial and residential development with the addition of SunTrust Park in the Powers Ferry corridor.

Kevin Moore, Walton Riverbend’s attorney, said at the planning board hearing that there are no other intentions to develop the property. “We want to set this up for the future,” he said.

That open-ended intent bothered residents of nearby communities. Brian Cipriani of the Chattahoochee Trail complex said Walton Riverbend has engaged in “constant misrepresentation about how it’s going to be developed and what’s going to take place.”

Cipriani said that “it’s inconsistent to add office space along the river,” and that he’s not the only homeowner who’s spent money trying to prevent runoff issues.

Planning Commission chairman Mike Terry, who represents the area, said the proposal “truly is a plan for the future” and added that any “trust issues” residents had with the developer are “with what’s gone on in the past.”

Still, the planning board was split 3-2, with Galt Porter and Thea Powell opposed.

The rest of the commission zoning hearing agenda can be found here.

Cases that are continued or held will be taken up in February, since Cobb does not conduct zoning hearings in January.

 

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East Cobb Biz Notes: Engel & Völkers opens office at The Avenue; new owners for Brewster’s Neighborhood Grille

Engel & Volkers East Cobb

Engel & Völkers, a real estate brokerage firm with five offices in metro Atlanta, has recently opened at The Avenue East Cobb.

The North Atlanta office is being led by CEO and managing broker Cynthia Lippert, real estate advisor Jaime Turner and qualifying broker Scott Askew. The office also has 14 other real estate advisors who service the East Cobb, Roswell and Sandy Springs areas.

The Engel & Völkers office is located in Suite 200, next to Bed Bath and Beyond, and the phone number is 770-744-3205.

Changes at Brewster’s Neighborhood Grille

Brewster’s Neighborhood Grille, which opened on Canton Road in 1996, is under new ownership. Tommy and MacKenzie Gilbert, doing business as Goodwin Gilbert Inc., are now the proprietors. They received their business license last week and held a party over the weekend for staff and customers to mark the occasion.

The restaurant, located at 3595 Canton Road in the New Chastain Shopping Center, features live music, karaoke, trivia and darts in addition to a sports bar-style menu.

Cobb teacher for a day program 

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce is asking for business and community leaders to participate in its Teacher for a Day program during the week of Feb. 5-9, 2018, that include the Cobb and Marietta public schools and post-secondary institutions

The aim is to give participating individuals a first-hand perspective on public education, as they work with a school’s teacher of the year to learn about what schools and teachers face on a daily basis.

Applications are due Jan. 17. For information or to apply online, visit www.cobbchamber.org or contact Katie Guice at 770-859-2334 or kguice@cobbchamber.org.

 

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The East Cobb News Digest is out!

Catch up with top headlines from last week and get a glimpse of what’s to come in this week before Christmas. Click here to read this week’s newsletter.

PLEASE NOTE: We have been having some maintenance issues this weekend that have limited access to East Cobb News. We hope to have these problems resolved by Monday. Thanks for your patience!

EAST COBB WEEKEND EVENTS: Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations; Cobb Wind Symphony; prep wrestling and more

Holiday Lights East Cobb Park
The Christmas tree at East Cobb Park will be joined on Sunday by Chabad of Cobb’s coin Menorah in an event that benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

The last weekend of holiday activities before Christmas is busier than usual since some were rescheduled due to the winter storm, and that’s where we’ll lead off in noting East Cobb weekend events over the next few days:

  • The Empty Bowl Brunch at The Art Place-Mountain View (3330) Sandy Plains Road) was to have taken place last Sunday, but it’s just been moved a week, and at the same time this coming Sunday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. as the original schedule. The cost is also the same; a $15 ticket gets you a handmade soup bowl to fill as often as you like, with the proceeds benefitting MUST Ministries;
  • Another delayed event is the final local holiday market of the season. The St. Nicholas Holiday Market goes from 12-4 on Sunday at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (3431 Trickum Road), with gift items, crafts, jewelry and Greek food goodies;
  • Also in its final weekend is the Good Mews Holiday Decor Market (1860 Sandy Plains Road), which is open until 6 on Friday, and from 10-6 Saturday and 12-6 Sunday;
  • Santa’s been making plenty of rounds in East Cobb, even with the snow, but there’s a special visit he’s got in store for pets Saturday at the Janice Overbeck Real Estate office (2249 Sewell Mill Road). Bring your furry family member(s) between 12-2 for free photos with St. Nick and refreshments;
  • One of your last chances to see a live Nativity Scene takes place from 7-9 tonight and Saturday at Wesley Chapel Road UMC (4495 Sandy Plains Road), and it’s a drive-through set up so you can stay in your car, and out of the cold;
  • Music is in the air all over East Cobb, led by the Cobb Wind Symphony Orchestra holiday concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lassiter Concert Hall (2601 Shallowford Road). It’s free to get in but they’ll gladly accept donations;
  • The same Lassiter Concert Hall is the venue at 7:30 p.m. Sunday for the Pope High School Fine Arts Showcase, but you MUST purchase tickets in advance. They’re $10 each and can be ordered here; there will be NO sales as the door;
  • On Sunday at 6:30 p.m., East Cobb UMC (2325 Roswell Road) is having its musical celebration of the Christmas season. “Chosen” features the church’s children’s and adult choirs and orchestra. It’s free, and the 4 p.m. concert is sold out, with seating limited for 6:30 p.m.; get your online tickets here;
  • As Hanukkah comes to a close, the Chabad of Cobb congregation is once again holding a Coin Menorah event at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road). Bring loose change and help what’s billed as the largest coin Menorah in the world; your contributions will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta;
  • This isn’t on the holiday list of things to do, but is festive in its own way: The 47th annual Cobb County Invitational Wrestling Tournament takes place starting at 6 p.m. Friday and continues through Saturday afternoon at Lassiter High School (2601 Shallowford Road); it features all six East Cobb high schools, including Pope, the reigning county and state champion. Saturday’s slate starts at 8 a.m. and the championship round gets underway at 2:30 p.m.

Check out East Cobb Holiday Guide as well as our listings of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

Here’s our full Events Calendar, holiday or otherwise.

Did we miss something? Want to add a calendar listing? Please let us know! E-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post it!

Have a great weekend!

 

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Sam Olens to resign as president of Kennesaw State University

East Cobb resident Sam Olens, who has been president of Kennesaw State University for just over a year, has announced he is stepping down effective Feb. 15, 2018.Sam Olens

Olens, a former Cobb Commission Chairman and Georgia Attorney General, had come under fire this fall for his handling of a protest by KSU cheerleaders who kneeled during the national anthem before football games, a controversy that involved Cobb Sheriff Neil Warren and Cobb State Rep. Earl Ehrhart.

In a letter sent Thursday to KSU staff, faculty and students, Olens recounted the successes of his brief tenure at KSU, which is Georgia’s third-largest university, but said that “I have decided that new leadership will be required for KSU to fully reach its potential.”

He did not allude to the cheerleader controversy, which was the subject of a review by the Georgia Board of Regents. The report was critical of how Olens handled the matter, saying he went against the university’s legal guidance that cheerleaders or others shouldn’t be prevented from kneeling as long as they’re not disruptive.

Warren and Ehrhart were upset when five black cheerleaders kneeled before a Sept. 30 KSU game, and demanded that they be kept off the field. Olens denied he was under any pressure to make changes.

In Nov. 2016, Olens was appointed by the regents after being the only candidate considered, a move that was criticized for not being more comprehensive and transparent, and for hiring a politician with no higher education background. It was nearly a year before Olens was formally installed.

A Republican, Olens got his political start in East Cobb, being elected to represent District 3 on the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 1998. He served as chairman from 2002 to 2010, when he resigned to run for Georgia Attorney General.

He was elected Attorney General in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. As noted by the Atlanta Jewish Times, Olens, a member of East Cobb’s Congregation Etz Chaim, is the first Jewish person elected to statewide office in a partisan race.

Olens resigned to become KSU president following the retirement of Daniel Papp, and took over just as KSU was consolidating with Southern Poly, expanding its enrollment to 35,000.

After Olens’ announcement Thursday, KSU said it would conduct a national search to name his successor. KSU Provost Ken Harmon will serve as interim president.

 

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East Cobb Toys for Tots dropoff spots collecting donations through Monday

East Cobb Toys for Tots dropoff, Great Expressions Dental
The staff at Great Expressions Dental Center, 3823 Roswell Road, is accepting toy donations through next Monday, Dec. 18.

There’s still time to donate unwrapped toys in the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation holiday drive. Some locations have stopped accepting toys, but the following places in East Cobb are continuing as dropoff points through Monday, Dec. 18, the final day:

  • Appliance Smart, 1355 Roswell Road, 10a-9p;
  • Great Expressions Dental Center, 3823 Roswell Road, 730a-430p Tue-Fri;
  • Great Expressions Dental Center, 2211 Roswell Road, 7a-3p;
  • Great Expressions Dental Center, 1545 Powers Ferry Road, 7a-4p Mon-Fri;
  • Just Fitness 4 U, 3101 Roswell Road, 5a-10p;
  • Re/Max Greater Atlanta, 2245 Roswell Road, 9a-5p Mon-Fri;
  • Rocco’s European Garage, 2245 Roswell Road, 8a-6p;
  • School of Rock East Cobb, 2469 East Piedmont Road, 3p-9p Mon-Thur, 9a-3p Sat;
  • Weichert Realtors, 3535 Roswell Road, 9a-4p;
  • AAA Car Care Plus, 3445 Gordy Parkway, 730a-6p;
  • AAA Car Care Plus, 1097 Johnson Ferry Road, 73a-6p;
  • Catfish Hox Restaurant, 2595 Sandy Plains Road, 11a-830p;
  • Johnny’s New York Pizza, 2970 Canton Road, 11a-9p;
  • Atlanta Medical Day Spa, 1232 Johnson Ferry Road, 830a-5p Mon-Fri, 830a-4p Sat;
  • DeKalb Tire, 1105 Johnson Ferry Road, 7a-6p Mon-Fri, 7a-5p Sat;
  • Dorsey Alston Realtors, 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, 9a-5p Mon-Fri;
  • Langley Family Chiropractic, 4994 Lower Roswell Road, 8a-630p;
  • Peachtree Hearing, 4939 Lower Roswell Road, 9a-5p;
  • The Eye Gallery, 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, 10a-6p Mon-Fri, 10a-4p Sat;
  • TS Hair Studio, 551 Johnson Ferry, 9a-5p;
  • Welltower Property Management, 4800 Olde Towne Parkway, 8a-5p.

Online financial donations also are being accepted and can be made by going here.

To report incorrect or updated information please e-mail: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

 

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East Cobb restaurant scores: Sage Woodfire Tavern; Moxie Burger; La Strada and more

Sage Woodfire Tavern, East Cobb restaurant scores

The following East Cobb restaurant scores from Nov. 20-Dec. 13 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing to view details of the inspection:

3 Colors Asian Kitchen 
2060 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 160
November 30, 2017 Score: 84, Grade: B

Addison Elementary School 
3055 Ebenezer Road
December 6, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Arby’s East Cobb Crossing 
4367 Roswell Road
November 28, 2017 Score: 98, Grade: A

Baskin Robbins 
4811 Lower Roswell Road
December 13, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Blackwell Elementary School 
3470 Canton Road
December 1, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Goianao Restaurant and Catering 
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 103
December 11, 2017 Score: 97, Grade: A

Good Food 
2044 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 200
November 30, 2017 Score: 87, Grade: B

Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar Marietta 
1477 Roswell Road
December 6, 2017 Score: 82, Grade: B

Home Base Dominican Restaurant 
279 Powers Ferry Road, Suite B
November 27, 2017 Score: 89, Grade: B

Imagine World Studios 
2060 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 280
November 30, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

J. Christopher’s Restaurant East Lake
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 500
December 6, 2017 Score: 96, Grade: A

J.J. Daniell Middle School 
2950 Scott Drive
November 29, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Karachi Broast & Grill 
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 110
November 22, 2017 Score: 85, Grade: B

Keheley Elementary School 
1985 Kemp Road
November 30, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Kell High School 
4770 Lee Waters Road
December 1, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

La Strada Restaurant 
2930 Johnson Ferry Road
November 28, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Lassiter High School
2601 Shallowford Road
December 8, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Loyal Q and Brew 
4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 180
December 7, 2017 Score: 99, Grade: A

McDonald’s 
4819 Lower Roswell Road
November 21, 2017 Score: 89, Grade: B

Minas Emporium 
2555 Delk Road, Suite B4
December 6, 2017 Score: 65, Grade: U

Mountain View Elementary School 
3151 Sandy Plains Road
November 29, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Moxie Burger 
255 Village Parkway, Suite 110
December 13, 2017 Score: 93, Grade: A

Nicholson Elementary School 
1599 Shallowford Road
November 29, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Olde Towne Athletic Club 
4950 Olde Towne Parkway
November 27, 2017 Score: 80, Grade: B

Papa John’s Pizza 
4811 Lower Roswell Road
December 13, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Powers Ferry Elementary School 
403 Powers Ferry Road
November 28, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Rocky Mount Elementary School
2400 Rocky Mountain Road
December 13, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Sage Woodfire Tavern Windy Hill
3050 Windy Hill Road
December 7, 2017 Score: 86, Grade: B

Sakura Restaurant 
4880 Lower Roswell, Suite 130
December 7, 2017 Score: 99, Grade: A

Shallowford Falls Elementary School 
3500 Lassiter Road
December 6, 2017 Score: 99, Grade: A

Simpson Middle School
3340 Trickum Road
December 13, 2017 Score: 97, Grade: A

Sope Creek Elementary School 
3320 Paper Mill Road
November 28, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Sprayberry High School 
2525 Sandy Plains Road
December 1, 2017 Score: 91, Grade: A

Waffle House 
1176 Roswell Road
November 30, 2017 Score: 94, Grade: A

Wendy’s 
2238 Roswell Road
December 5, 2017 Score: 76, Grade: C

Wendy’s 
1043 Sandy Plains Road
November 28, 2017 Score: 92, Grade: A

Willie Jewell’s Old School Bar-B-Q 
2550 Sandy Plains Road
November 30, 2017 Score: 95, Grade: A

Zaxby’s 
3030 Johnson Ferry Road
December 7, 2017 Score: 98, Grade: A

 

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East Cobb bank robbery suspect wanted by FBI in serial robbery investigation

East Cobb bank robbery, Regions Bank Roswell Road
Surveillance photos of the robbery suspect at the Regions Bank, 2486 Roswell Road, on Dec. 7. 

Following up the story about a bank robbery we posted last week during the midst of winter storm: The suspect in that incident at the Regions Bank on Roswell Road is wanted by the FBI for other robberies in metro Atlanta.

On Tuesday, the Atlanta field office of the FBI issued an alert asking for the public’s help in capturing the suspect whom they believe is responsible for five bank robberies since September. The FBI refers to him as the “Zombie Hat Bandit” due to the details of the hat he has worn during the robberies.

The inscription reads “Walking Dead-Beware I Bite” and the FBI believes the man who robbed the East Cobb bank is the same person shown below in a surveillance photo from another incident.

East Cobb bank robbery suspect

Last Thursday’s robbery in East Cobb is believed to be the last of those robberies, according to the FBI, which released information about the other robberies it is investigating:

  • Sept. 6, at 12:39 p.m., Regions Bank, 2419 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta. Suspect left in in a black Toyota Corolla (2014 to 2016);
  • Sept. 22, 2:23 p.m., Regions Bank, 6637 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. Wearing same outfit as in Sept. 6 robbery;
  • Oct. 16, Regions Bank, 6503 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia. Same clothing as in September robberies;
  • Dec. 5, 11:45 a.m., Bank of America, 8755 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs.

The East Cobb Regions Bank branch robbed last week also was robbed during a serial robbery spree in 2016 that resulted in a 25-year prison sentence for a Marietta man.

The FBI further describes the suspect in this fall’s robberies as a black male, mid-to-late 30s with a medium build. He has some facial hair and wears a large black wrist watch and shirts that have the “Punisher” logo. He also has been described as occasionally carrying a small zippered bag.

The FBI asks anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, which offers a reward, and callers can remain anonymous.

 

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