Lassiter leads Cobb high schools in 2024 graduation rates

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Lassiter High School graduation rate

For the third year in a row, Lassiter High School led the Cobb County School District in its graduation rate in 2024.

According to data released by the Georgia Department of Education, 98 percent of Lassiter’s Class of 2024 (435 of 444 seniors) received their diplomas in May.

That’s just above 97.6 percent for Walton and Harrison and 97.3 percent for Pope.

Cobb’s overall graduation rate was 87.9 percent, up from 87.7 percent in 2023 and above the Georgia average of 85.4 percent, according to a Cobb school district release.

In addition, the graduation rates at Sprayberry High School was 90.8 percent, a 3.3-percent increase from last year, the highest jump in the district.

The figures are compiled as part of what the state calls the “4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate.”

That is defined as follows:

“The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma, divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduation class.”

The federal rate is calculated in the ninth grade, and includes even students who are enrolled only for a day.

Cobb also produces what it calls “a more complete” graduation rate, comparing the actual class sizes as they go through the 10th, 11th and 12th grades.

Those numbers have Kell and Pope at 100 percent, and with every other Cobb high school at least atd 97,3 percent.

“For students enrolled in Cobb Schools for at least 2 years, the District’s graduation rate jumps by 5.9 percentage points to 93.8% and steadily increases the longer a student is enrolled,” the Cobb release said.

“For students enrolled all four years of high school, Cobb’s ‘real’ graduation rate skyrockets to 99.1%.”

The Georgia Department of Education said its 85.4 percent graduation rate, which rose from 84,4 percent last year, is an all-time high.

“A total of 115 Georgia school districts recorded graduation rates at or above 90%, and 44 districts recorded rates at or above 95%. Georgia’s statewide graduation rate has increased by 18 percentage points since 2011,” Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a release.

Grad Class Size Total Graduates 2024 Rate 2023 Rate
Kell 371 342 92.2 93.8
Lassiter 444 435 98.0 98.4
Pope 446 434 97.3 95.6
Sprayberry 434 394 90.8 87.5
Walton 653 637 97.6 96.8
Wheeler 577 512 88.7 90.7
Cobb 9260 8188 87.9 87.7

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East Side ES Cub Scout Pack 744 celebrates 50th anniversary

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East Side ES Cub Scout Pack 744 celebrates 50th anniversary

Submitted information and photo:

On October 6th, Cub Scout Pack 744 of Marietta celebrated its 50th anniversary of their founding at McFarlane Park, marking five decades of building young leaders and fostering a sense of adventure. Chartered by Eastside Elementary since its inception, Pack 744 has been a cornerstone of the community, with hundreds of Scouts and families impacted over the years.

Cub Scouting is part of the Scouting program of Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America, available to youth from kindergarten through fifth grade, 5 to 10 years of age, and their families. In Cub Scouts, youth are encouraged to make friends, be helpful to others, and do their very best no matter the outcome. With the help of powerful learning projects and exciting outdoor activities, we aim to teach children that doing their best can be a fun and rewarding experience—no matter the difficulty of the challenge.

The anniversary event welcomed eight former Cubmasters, including Mark Roberts (2022-2024), David Linsey (2020-2022), Chris Ray (2016-2019), Hilary Thornton (2014-2016), John LaVoy (2013-2014), Steve Kleinrichert (2009-2010), Scott Lovell (2008), and Zett Quinn (2005-2007), who shared memories of their time leading the Pack. Each Cubmaster reflected on the adventures, challenges, and camaraderie that shaped Pack 744 and guided it to success. Former Committee Chairs, Den Leaders, and scout alumni also attended. Cubmaster James Stovall, who is now coming through the Pack for a second time with his youngest son Luke, expressed his gratitude to these former leaders and shared his excitement for the Pack’s future.

The Pack’s vision—”We want to be the most fun and adventurous pack in Georgia, preparing our Scouts for both Scouting and life”—is evident in their activities. In the past year, Scouts have explored Cumberland Caverns spending overnight in a cave in Tennessee, rafted the Nantahala River in North Carolina, and are preparing for a mountain biking event at Blankets Creek in Cobb County. With over 100 participants registered for SpookyRee, an upcoming camping weekend at Bert Adams Scout Camp in Covington, the Pack is as adventurous as ever.

State Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, representing Georgia’s 32nd District, was also in attendance. A dedicated supporter of Scouting, Senator Kirkpatrick praised the Pack’s enduring commitment to service and community. She and her husband, both lonhg-time Scout supporters, recently hosted Scout Day at the Capitol, in which Pack 744 proudly participated.

The anniversary’s theme, “Scouting: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” captured the essence of Pack 744’s legacy. With 63 families, including 26 new families in the last six months, the Pack continues to grow and thrive. Much like other organizations, Pack 744 faced a dip in participation during the COVID era, but today, it is rebuilding with energy. The pack continues to recruit more youth than are graduating out each year, signaling a bright and adventurous future ahead.

A significant highlight of the celebration was the international food tasting, where each Scout family made a dish to represent their cultural heritage. This showcased the Pack’s rich diversity, with dishes such as Southern smoked barbecue sliders, japchae (a Korean favorite of sweet potato noodles with meat and vegetables), Chinese dumplings, Russian angel wings pastry, crepes with beef, French apple tart, Dutch oven apple cobbler, and much more. The food offered a flavorful glimpse into the Pack’s international makeup and symbolized the spirit of unity within diversity that Scouting fosters.

While much has changed since Pack 744’s founding in 1974 the values of Scouting remain constant. For 50 years, Pack 744 has instilled leadership, responsibility, and a love for adventure in young Scouts, preparing them for life and making a lasting impact on the community.

As the celebration concluded, it was evident that the Pack’s legacy is built on the dedication of its leaders, families, and Scouts. With a focus on adventure, service, and fun, Pack 744 is ready to continue its journey for another 50 years, growing stronger and carrying on the scouting legacy each step of the way.

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Cobb Library Foundation to hold ‘Casino Night’ fundraiser

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Submitted information:Cobb Library Foundation to hold 'Casino Night' fundraiser

Join us for an evening of fun, music, great prizes, and so much more at the elegant Atlanta Country Club on November 9, 2024 for the Cobb Library Foundation’s 3rd Annual Casino Night. Don’t miss out, buy your tickets now!

Can’t attend? Donate now (form below) and help us continue our mission to help our Cobb County Public Libraries be the best in the State! This year we have funded the Summer Reading Program, the North Cobb Regional Library Garden, purchased a new ScanPro for the Georgia Room, OBIE Projector that will be circulated throughout the Library System, an Illumination Station for the Vinings Library, and so much more! Thank you for your participation and support!

For more information and tickets, click here.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Sept. 16-20, 2024

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Giverny Park, East Cobb real estate sales
Giverny Park

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

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

Kell

None

Lassiter

3583 Clementine Court, 30066 (Churchill Falls): $465,000

4301 Highborne Drive, 30066 (Highland Pointe): $680,000

Pope

3290 North Hembree Road, 30062: $850,000 (lot)

2242 Cedar Forks Drive, 30062 (Cedar Forks): $512,000

3347 Millinocket Road, 30062 (Cutters Gap): $412,000

4107 Twin Leaf Court, 30062 (Lost Forest Place): $915,000

3244 Rangers Gate, 30062 (Pine Springs): $415,000

Sprayberry

124 Vintage Club Circle, 30066 (The Vintage Club): $430,000

3120 Boyce Drive, 30066 (Princeton Pointe): $730,000

2777 Stillwater Lake Court, 30066 (Stillwater Lake): $587,000

1525 Kincaid Road, 30066: $510,000

2143 Ridgewood Court, 30066 (North Field): $330,000

1940 Kerry Creek Drive, 30066 (Kerry Creek): $691,000

405 England Place, 30066 (Canterbury North): $420,000

2111 Bungalow Park Drive, 30066 (Bungalow Park): $629,362

1651 Northwoods Drive, 30066 (Caribou Hills): $475,000

3186 Mary Drive, 30066 (Russell Plantation): $493,000

Walton

4080 Summit Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $847,400

2990 Octavia Circle, 30062 (Vestavia Estates): $1.2 million

617 Serramonte Drive, 30068 (Villas at Parkaire): $380,000

120 Woodlawn Drive, 30067 (Sanders Field Estates): $950,000 (lot)

4205 Cove Court, 30067 (Kings Cove): $764,000

4387 Cove Island Drive, 30067 (Kings Cove): $535,000

Wheeler

3760 Waterlilly Way, 30067 (Giverny Park): $1.3 million

70 Wagon Wheel Court, 30067 (Cherokee Crossing): $601,000

291 Lamplighter Lane, 30067 (Fox Hills): $465,000

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Bi-partisan interfaith panel to discuss worship safety

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An interfaith groups, Jews and Allies of Georgia, is holding a panel discussion Sunday in East Cobb on the subject of safety in houses of worship.Bi-partisan interfaith panel to discuss worship safety

The event is free and takes place from 4-7 p.m. in the Chimney Springs subdivision clubhouse (2465 Hearthstone Circle).

The invited speakers include State Sen. John Albers, a Republican who represents part of East Cobb, and Eric Castater, a Democrat seeking the State House District 45 seat.

The moderator is JoEllen Smith of East Cobb of Jews and Allies of Georgia and an advocate for legislation to protect houses of worship.

The discussion will examine security threats to places of worship in the United States as is occurring in Europe and elsewhere, and the need for additional measures to protect churches, mosques and synagogues and evaluating K-12 curricula for religious bias.

Anyone wishing to attend is asked to e-mail JewsAllies@gmail.com to RSVP.

 

 

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East Cobb weekend events: Oktoberfest; book sale; more

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Holy Trinity Oktoberfest, East Cobb weekend events

There’s a bit more fall in the air as a variety of seasonal events take place in East Cobb and beyond, and the weather should be perfect for the outdoor activities that are on tap:

Early on Saturday is the fall Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance Adopt-A-Mile Cleanup. It gets underway at  8:30 a.m. at the Kroger Fuel parking lot, 1310 Powers Ferry Road, and volunteers will be working in that area in conjunction with Keep Cobb Beautiful.

All supplies and safety equipment will be provided; all you need to do is click here to sign up.

The monthly gathering of the East Cobb Park Garden Club takes place from 10-12 as work continues on Sunny’s Butterfly Garden (our previous story here). They’re looking for volunteers and all you have to do is show up if you’re interested.

Get your oompa on all day Saturday at the 13th rendition of Oktoberfest at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (2922 Sandy Plains Road), from 10-6.

It’s the church’s annual festival of German heritage and culture, featuring German food, a live polka band, craft fair, horseshoe tournament, and a kid’s area with bounce houses, face painting and more.

Bring canned food for MUST Ministries food pantry in place of an entrance fee: $7 or seven cans for each adult, $3 or three cans for each child or $20 for twenty cans for a family.

You can park at the U.S. Post Office after 1 p.m.

A bit off-calendar and just outside our coverage area: the Cobb Truck-A-Palooza Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Town Center at Cobb (400 Ernest W Barrett Parkway).

There will be fire engines to police motorcycles for kids and adults, and all proceeds from Truck-A-Palooza will benefit the Cobb County Safety Village.

Admission os $5 adults and free for 2 and under, or $20 for a family/group up to 6 people.

The Cobb Library System’s Fall Book Sale is Friday-Sunday at the Cobb Civic Center (548 S. Marietta Parkway). Bring whatever you think you need to take away your purchases of books, CDs, magazines, puzzles and more, ranging in price from 10 cents to $4.

Hours are 9-5 Friday-Saturday and 1-5 Sunday and parking is free, along with admission.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing for our community events calendar.

Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

 

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Thanks for Giving annual food drive to get underway

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Submitted information:Center for Family Resources

The thanks for Giving annual food drive is collecting donations to feed 1,000 families in need in Cobb County for the entire Thanksgiving week.

The drive is organized by The Center for Family Resources which serves Cobb County families experiencing homelessness or who may be in danger of becoming homeless. 

Community members are asked to participate by becoming an event sponsor, hosting a Thanks for Giving food drive, or making a charitable donation. Local schools can also support The CFR’s efforts by hosting a food drive. 

For donations of food, drop off your non-perishable food items Oct. 7 – Nov. 15 at the Cobb Family Advocacy Center, 277 SE Fairground Street, Marietta.

Read more about how you can help here.

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Cobb to monitor effects of Rockdale chemical plant fire

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Here’s what Cobb County Government and the Cobb Emergency Management Agency released late Wednesday afternoon, after saying on Monday the Rockdale chemical plant fire posed no local threat:Cobb to monitor effects of Rockdale chemical plant fire

“The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) has issued an advisory stating that a shift in weather patterns could push smoke from the BioLab facility in Rockdale County toward metro Atlanta. Winds from the southeast are expected late Wednesday. As the smoke settles near the ground after sunset, ‘there is a high likelihood that people across Metro Atlanta will wake up Thursday morning seeing haze and smelling chlorine.’

“While it is unlikely that any haze reaching Cobb County will contain chlorine at harmful levels, the GEMA advisory notes, ‘It is important to know that as the air settles each evening, smoke also settles toward the ground. As the air lifts back up in the afternoon and evening, the smell and haze should dissipate. Chlorine has a very low odor threshold, meaning you can smell it before it reaches a harmful level.

“ ‘We are working closely with GEMA and the EPA, and we are prepared to conduct air testing in Cobb County if necessary,’ said Cobb Emergency Management Agency Director Cassie Mazloom. ‘We requested testing earlier this week, and the EPA reported no traces of chlorine or hydrogen chloride were found.’

“Cobb County Fire Department’s HazMat team will also be on standby to conduct air quality testing should calls come in.

“No shelter-in-place advisories have been issued for Cobb County at this time.

“The shift in winds could last several days. Although chlorine concentrations are not expected to be hazardous, individuals with sensitive respiratory conditions should follow the Georgia Department of Public Health’s precautions, which are listed [here].‘

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East Cobb Food Scores: Tijuana Joe’s; 101 Bagel Cafe; more

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East Cobb Tijuana Joe's

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

101 Bagel Cafe
4811 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 112
October 2, 2024 Score: 74, Grade: C

Canton Cook III Restaurant
2063 Canton Road
October 1, 2024 Score: 88, Grade: B

Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant
617 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 1
October 1, 2024 Score: 84, Grade: B

Eastvalley Elementary School
380 Holt Road
October 3, 2024 Score: 100, Grade: A

Great Wall Chinese & Sushi Bar
1275 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 180
October 2, 2024 Score: 78, Grade: C

IHOP
2520 Delk Road
October 2, 2024 Score: 96, Grade: A

La Carreta 
1252 Roswell Road
October 1, 2024 Score: 97, Grade: A

Los Bravos Mexican Restaurant
1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 42
October 3, 2024 Score: 87, Grade: B

The Orient
3050 Windy Hill Road
October 3, 2024 Score: 83, Grade: B

Tijuana Joe’s Cantina 
690 Johnson Ferry Road
October 1, 2024 Score: 92, Grade: A

Timber Ridge Elementary School
5000 Timber Ridge Road
October 4, 2024 Score: 100, Grade: A

Wendy’s
2238 Roswell Road
October 1, 2024 Score: 96, Grade: A

Zama Mexican Cuisine
2550 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 300
October 3, 2024 Score: 93, Grade: A

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Avenue East Cobb to debut holiday tree lighting event

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The Avenue East Cobb holiday events
Santa’s been at Avenue East Cobb before, but now he’ll be a featured part of a tree lighting celebration.

For the first time, Avenue East Cobb will have a tree lighting celebration to kick off the Christmas season.

For several years, Avenue East Cobb has held a Menorah lighting with the Chabad of Cobb synagogue at the start of Hanukkah.

The retail center on Monday announced that “The Lighting of Avenue East Cobb” will take place on Friday, Nov. 22, from 5:30-8 p.m. Featured components include live holiday music and a visit from Santa Claus before the countdown begins to lighting the 26-foot-high tree.

The event takes place at the plaza, and will include face-painting, live reindeers, a magician, photo ops and roaming entertainment.

All of those activities are free; the Santa’s Express train rides are $6 a rider or $8 per rider on Santa’s sleigh.

The sponsors are the LGE Community Credit Union and East Cobb Church.

The longstanding Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park returns on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 5-8 p.m.

That event, organized by the volunteer Friends for the East Cobb Park, is also free of charge, but the parking areas will fill up fast.

Send us your holiday event news!

If your organization or entity is holding such an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!

This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.

Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Editor's Note: Introducing 'The Power of Local' initiative

 

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Pope students named to Georgia schools advisory council

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Pope High School students Ansley Bruder and Felipe Zimelewicz Pires are among the 74 students selected from across the state to serve on the Georgia Superintendent of Schools 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council.Pope students named to Georgia schools advisory council

According to the Georgia Department of Education, ” these students will meet with Superintendent [Richard] Woods to provide feedback on the impact of state policies in the classroom.

“Members of the Student Advisory Council will also discuss other education-related issues, serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students.”

Bruder, a junior, and Pires, a senior, are the only students serving on the council who are from the Cobb County School District. They were chosen from among more than 1,500 applicants.

Council members are from grades 10-12 in Georgia public high schools. Their application process includes writing an essay relating to education issues, “including curriculum and graduation requirements; the impact of federal- and state-mandated assessments in the classroom; the importance of teacher recruitment and retention efforts to students’ classroom experience; and access to opportunities and resources for students in rural areas,” the Georgia DoE said in a release.

“”These young leaders represent the future of Georgia, and their voices are crucial as we continue to shape the direction of education in our state. I look forward to hearing their ideas, insights, and perspectives as we work together to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed,” Woods said in the release.

The full list of council members can be found by clicking here.

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Cobb-Marietta marching band exhibition set for October dates

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Cobb-Marietta marching band exhibition set for October dates

High school marching bands from the Cobb County School District and Marietta City Schools will be featured on the first two Mondays in October in the Cobb-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition.

The event—which dates back to 1972—takes place Oct. 7 and Oct. 14 at Walter Cantrell Stadium at McEachern High School (2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs) starting at 7 p.m. each evening.

Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students, and the Cobb school district will be live-streaming the festivities.

The bands from Kell and Wheeler high schools will be performing on Oct. 7, while the Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry and Walton bands are scheduled for Oct. 14.

For more information, click here.

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Prominent Cobb business leader opposes transit tax referendum

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One of the most high-profile business leaders in Cobb County organizing a rally this week against the Cobb transit tax referendum that’s on the November ballot.

John Loud, Cobb Chamber of Commerce
John Loud

The event on Thursday was led by John Loud and Cobb Republican state legislators John Carson and Ginny Ehrhart “and other Cobb County business leaders.”

Loud is the founder of Loud Security Systems and is a former president of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. He was a key figure in efforts to lure the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County in 2013.

He has become more active politically recently, recruiting Republican candidates John Cristadoro (Cobb Board of Education Post 4) and Kay Morgan (Cobb Commission Chair) to run for office in 2024.

What’s being called the Cobb Mobility SPLOST, if approved by voters in the referendum, raise the current sales tax totals in Cobb County from six to seven cents on the dollar.

The transit tax would collect a one-percent Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax for 30 years (more than $11 billion) to expand bus service in Cobb County, including 108 new miles of routes as well as construction of transfer stations and expansion of microtransit and other related services.

In a social media post Monday, Loud called the tax “such a waste of money” and said the county hasn’t been transparent on ridership figures and how the money would be spent.

The MDJ has reported that ridership across the overall Cobb bus system has plummeted from 3.7 million annual trips in 2014 to just under 1 million trips in 2022, and that the decline began well before COVID-19.

Cobb commissioners voted in a 3-2 partisan vote in June to put the tax out for a referendum. It’s the longest and most ambitious sales tax in Cobb County, and Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has frequently defended both in public statements.

“What it comes down to is do we perceive the future is worth it?” she said before the vote in June. “We can do something that is transformational . . . it enhances our ability to serve our own citizens.”

Loud said in a social media post Monday that while he supports the current sales taxes to finance Cobb County government and Cobb County School District construction and maintenance projects, “this M-SPLOST, for public transportation is nothing like the others.”

The existing SPLOSTs have been approved since the late 1990s for shorter periods (typically four to six years), have committed project lists and citizen oversight committees.

If the Mobility SPLOST passes, he claimed on the Vote NO M-SPLOST Facebook page he created, that “future elected officials can make all sorts of changes and use these funds in all sorts of ways as there is no committed full list of how these [BILLION$ Lisa Cupid] will be spent.”

Among the proposed projects that would be funded with the transit tax is the construction of a bus transfer station in the Roswell-Johnson Ferry Road area and the restoration of two bus routes through East Cobb that were eliminated during recession budget cuts.

Loud claimed that nearly $300,000 of taxpayer money has been diverted for “an education campaign” to inform voters about the referendum, and that Cupid “pressured” Community Improvement Districts to spend around $260,000 on “education initiatives” for the tax.

The former figure is around $287,000 that’s being paid to Kimley-Horn, an Atlanta consulting firm, to build an informational web site for the tax and to hold open houses.

The latter reference includes around $100,000 in contributions by the Cumberland CID and around $110,000 by the Town Center CID, per the MDJ.

The county cannot officially make an endorsement on the tax, but a sentence on the SPLOST “overview” page states that “this initiative seeks to improve the county’s transit infrastructure with a focus on safety, flexibility, and reliability tailored to meet the specific needs of our growing community and local economy.”

More than 200 people have joined the Facebook page started by Loud and Carson, and some are fellow GOP elected officials and conservative activists.

Opposition also has come from the Cobb Taxpayer Association, which held a rally in East Cobb last month.

The Cobb Business Alliance, made up of companies in the construction industry, has also launched a website that it says is informational only.

However, the CBA sent out media and other invitations to its campaign kickoff in support of the tax, and that Cupid attended.

And the MDJ reported last week that a CBA poll shows that two-thirds of respondents don’t even know there’s a transit tax vote coming up.

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St. Catherine’s Friends of Music announces 2024-25 concert series

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Submitted information and photo:

The Friends of Music ministry of St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church will begin its 2024-2025 community concert series with a performance by the Amadeus String Ensemble on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at 3 p.m.

St. Catherine's Friends of Music announces 2024-25 concerts
Amadeus String Ensemble cellist Charae Kreuger

The performance will be led by Sou-Chun Su, acting principal second violin of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and will feature his wife, violinist Sheela Iyengar Su, violist Zhenwei Shi and cellist Charae Kreuger. The ensemble of professional musicians has been performing in the Atlanta area for more than 20 years. 

The musical program will include “String Quartet Opus 18, No. 1” by Ludwig van Beethoven and “String Quartet No. 12 in F,” nicknamed the American quartet, by Antonin Dvorak.

St. Catherine’s 2024-25 concert series also will include the following performances:

  • Christmas with Gate City Brass on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at 3 p.m.

  • Ensemble Chaconne on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, at 3 p.m.

  • A Lenten Choral Evensong, featuring the Choirs of St. Catherine’s and special guest artists, on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 3 p.m. 

All Friends of Music events are free to the public and donations are accepted. General seating is first-come, first-served. No tickets are necessary. All concerts are held at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, which is located at 571 Holt Road. For more information, email stcats@stcatherines.org or call 770-971-2839.

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Cobb Diaper Day to be held virtually through Oct. 31

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Submitted info and photos:

The 16th Annual Cobb Diaper Day is being held virtually throughout October 2024. Through the efforts of the Barbara Hickey Children’s Fund – Cobb Diaper Day Committee, more than two million diapers have been donated to assist low-income families in Cobb County. The goal this year is to collect over 100,000 diapers.

Organizations, companies and individuals are encouraged to participate in various  ways:

  • Make a donation at www.cobbdiaperday.com.
  • Purchase diapers on Amazon through the Cobb Diaper Day Wish-list.
  • Declare a day to collect diapers from fellow employees, organization members, neighbors or friends.
  • Drop off donations on one of our community collection days at the Cobb EMC Solar Flower Garden in Marietta, GA: October 22 and October 24, 2024 from 2 PM to 6 PM.

Cobb Diaper Day was founded by the late Barbara Hickey in 2008 to help families in Cobb County. Barbara envisioned the community coming together to support local families in need and reminded us all that it is often the little things in our lives that make the biggest difference. 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 additional challenges:

  • Food stamps do not include hygiene products such as diapers.
  • On average, the cost to purchase diapers is approximately $100/month.
  • Daycare centers require parents to provide their own diapers.

To help ease some of the burdens of the thousands of families in critical need, diaper donations will be distributed to the community through the following community partners:

  • Cobb Douglas Public Health
  • Communities in Schools of Georgia in Marietta/Cobb County
  • LiveSafe Resources
  • MUST Ministries
  • Ser Familia
  • Simple Needs GA
  • Sweetwater Mission
  • The Center for Family Resources

For additional information, please visit www.cobbdiaperday.com or donate to the Barbara Hickey Children’s Fund to support the efforts. To arrange for a diaper pick-up or for any other questions, please email DiaperDayCobb@gmail.com.

Cobb Diaper Day to be held virtually through Oct. 31

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Cobb officials: Rockdale chemical plant fire no local threat

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Cobb government officials on Monday said that a chemical plant fire in Rockdale County that prompted a shelter-in-place advisory there poses no threat here.Cobb County Government logo

A “public safety alert” was sent out by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency about a “LOCAL AREA EMERGENCY” following a major fire at the BioLab facility.

More than 17,000 people in the vicinity of the plant have been evacuated, and all Rockdale County residents were urged to shelter-in-place Monday afternoon.

The fire broke out on Sunday, and some parts of metro Atlanta were reporting a haze and chemical smells this morning.

But Cobb was not among them, according to the county’s message.

“The alert was sent to anyone within a 50-mile radius of the facility and noted that the chemical levels were unlikely to cause harm to most people.

“Although Cobb County was included in the alert area, the prevailing winds have shifted the fire’s effects away from our region. Out of an abundance of caution, our Emergency Management Agency has coordinated with state and federal officials to conduct air sampling in Cobb County. At this time, there is no indication that the impacts of the Rockdale incident have reached our area.”

The AJC reported that some schools and outdoor activities in Fulton County and DeKalb County were cancelled Monday afternoon and DeKalb officials are testing air quality. Some sampling in the city of Atlanta showed small amounts of chlorine in the air, the newspaper reported.

The fire at BioLab is the third there in the last seven years, according to published media reports.

 

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Sept. 9-13, 2024

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Riverside Park Estates, East Cobb residential real estate sales
Riverside Park Estates

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

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

Kell

1451 Ebb Court, 30066 (Lamplighter): $394,500

1910 Falcon Wood Drive, 30066 (Falcon Wood): $380,000

Lassiter

3357 Shallowford Green Drive, 30062 (Shallowford Green): $570,000

3600 Allpoint Drive, 30062 (Spring Wood): $565,000

4214 Summit Way, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $734,000

Pope

2211 Cedar Forks Drive, 30062 (Cedar Forks): $365,000

2558 Old Orchard Trail, 30062 (Chimney Springs): $601,000

2139 Carlyle Drive, 30062 (Cedar Hill Estates): $485,000

Sprayberry

1355 Dogleg Road, 30066 (Magnolia Court): $685,000

3281 Melrose Drive, 30066 (Providence North): $385,000

3231 Rigel Drive, 30066 (Shaw Woods Crossing): $427,000

3433 Hickory Woods Trail, 30066 (Hickory Woods): $995,100

2382 Wilderness Way, 30066 (Wilderness Ridge): $519,000

3166 Shelia Robin Trail, 30066: (Russell Plantation Estates): $371,000

4041 Maybreeze Road, 30066: $450,000

134 Bluffington Way, 30066 (Old Bells Ferry): $429,900

146 Bluffington Way, 30066 (Old Bells Ferry): $409,900

2133 Ridgewood Court, 30066 (North Field): $399,000

2800 Princeton Lane, 30062 (Mountain View): $455,000

941 Old Farm Walk, 30066 (Hadley Farm): $435,000

Walton

2787 Dellinger Drive, 30062 (Wooded Hills): $525,000

1260 Seven Springs Circle, 30068 (Seven Springs): $493,000

3368 Clubland Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $605,000

3531 Princeton Corners Lane, 30062 (Princeton Corners): $750,000

1243 Partridge Way, 30062 (Providence Corners): $685,000

1427 Brookcliff Drive, 30062 (Brookcliff): $435,000

5390 Willow Point Parkway, 30068 (Willow Point): $628,000

704 Bridle Path, 30068 (Mulberry Farms): $550,000

146 Robin Road, 30067 (Riverside Park Estates): $1.395 million

3131 Garden Lane Drive, 30062 (Sewell Mill Heights): $525,000

549 Rivercliff Trace, 30067 (Rivercliff): $2.4 million

1148 Seven Springs Circle, 30068 (Seven Springs): $610,000

Wheeler

573 North Palisades Circle, 30067 (Park Place): $565,000

689 Huntington Place, 30067 (Stratford): $490,000

525 Milledge Gate Drive, 30067 (Belmont Point): $705,000

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Editor’s Note: The Power of Local during a dangerous storm

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Editor's Note: The Power of Local during a dangerous storm

Tropical Storm Helene’s arrival in our area Friday morning was bound to have a devastating impact, and there’s no better way to illustrate how damaging the storm was than to see what those most affected by it have had to deal with.

When I issued a call-out to readers for photos of storm damage and flooding near them, I was honored that so many bothered to take the time to share what they saw.

One of them is Renae Popkin, a resident of Columns Drive, who sent the photos and video included in this post of the flooding in her yard, the road in front of her home and in the neighborhood.

This was where storm flooding from Helene was worst in East Cobb, and Columns Drive was closed until late Friday afternoon.

In addition to surging storm waters, downed trees and debris in the road made it impassable.

Popkin told us on Friday that there were staff from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office trying to cut the trees and remove pieces from Columns Drive.

When we checked back with her on Saturday, she sent a photo of a portion of the road that’s still blocked off.

“Luckily most of the water has receded!” she said.

(Click the middle button to view the slideshow.)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

While she and her neighbors still have cleaning up to do as they dry off from a very soggy few days, we in East Cobb are breathing a sigh of relief that the damage wasn’t worse.

Only a few thousand people in Cobb County lost power, and the wind gusts that promised to be at tropical-storm levels didn’t materialize as they could have.

We really dodged a catastrophe. When I woke up after daybreak Friday morning, I said a prayer and cried a little.

I won’t lie, I was deeply afraid of what might have happened here. I had my evacuation bag packed and ready to go. My cat slept through the whole thing, right near a window, so perhaps I should have taken that as a clue.

When I see photos and videos of what Helene wrought elsewhere in Georgia, and in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee—where whole towns disappeared and doctors, nurses and patients had to be rescued from the top of hospital that had been flooded—tears come to my eyes.

Mostly, I feel a great sense of gratitude that our lives haven’t been ripped apart by the storm like so many others have.

Around 15 Georgians have died, including a first responder. Parts of the city of Valdosta have been leveled. Massive flooding in the metro Atlanta area persists. A million people were without power.

We have so much to be thankful for in East Cobb, and this local news publisher is especially grateful to readers for giving us an up-close glimpse of what even a fraction of a powerful storm can do.

One of the biggest changes in the news business in the digital age is the ease with which everyday people can be citizen-reporters, if you will, relaying their observations, photos and videos with the public.

The last thing I did as the editor of East Cobb Patch was cover the major ice storm of January 2014. Like everyone else, I was hunkered down and frozen in, but readers sent in their information and photos of what their neighborhood looked like, how long it took them to get home, etc.

That’s the Power of Local on display, as it was here again on Friday, in a time of a potential crisis that could have crippled this community.

I deeply appreciate Renae and all the others who shared with us a sense of what it was like out there.

I like to say that readers have helped make East Cobb News better—not just with their contributions but also with their feedback—good, bad or otherwise—to guide me as we continue here.

Thanks to all of you for your readership, and for investing your time with East Cobb News. Please get in touch at wendy@eastcobbnews.com with suggestions, comments, etc. I’d love to hear from you!

 

 

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East Cobb restaurant update: Flying Biscuit Cafe closes

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East Cobb Flying Biscuit opening

The Flying Biscuit Cafe at Parkaire Landing was among the restaurants in East Cobb that announced Friday it was closing due to weather stemming from Tropical Storm Helene.

But a social media posting from the restaurant also indicated the doors won’t be opening up again.

“We have made the decision to permanently close this location and focus our growth with our other Atlanta locations,” the message on its Facebook page said.

“Please visit us nearby in Kennesaw, Roswell or Sandy Springs!”

East Cobb News has left a message with the company seeking more information.

Flying Biscuit opened at the retail center in March 2021, then closed several months later due to a management change and staff retraining.

The restaurant reopened in August 2022.

It’s the second time a location of the Atlanta-based breakfast and lunch chain has left East Cobb.

Flying Biscuit occupied an outparcel in the Woodlawn Commons Shopping Center until 2010.

Since its reopening in East Cobb, however, the local breakfast-lunch competition has grown. In addition to J. Christopher’s, Biscuits and More and Eggs Up, the Johnson Ferry corridor also includes a First Watch location, also in Woodlawn Commons.

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East Cobb Helene update: Columns Drive reopens after flooding

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East Cobb Helene update: Columns Drive closed; send your storm photos!
A reader photo from Columns Drive, which is closed between Atlanta Country Club Drive and Riverlook Parkway.

UPDATED, 6:20 P.M.:

Cobb Police said just a few moments ago that Columns Drive has reopened. “There is still some standing water and a tree down in the area, but the roadway is deemed passable,” according to a message on its Facebook page posted around 6 p.m.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Cobb County was spared the worst of Tropical Storm Helene Friday morning, but there’s extensive flooding that’s affecting travel for the remainder of the day.

A local state of emergency remains in place as cleanup crews continue their work.

Cobb also remains under a flash flood watch until 1:15 p.m. Friday, and citizens are urged not to get out on the roads before then, if at all today, unless absolutely necessary.

That’s because even main roads are treacherous after heavy rains, estimated to be in excess of six inches in some places, and trees and power lines were downed.

High winds are also continuing through Friday, with gusts in parts of the East Cobb area topping 40 mph.

Cobb DOT said Friday morning that Columns Drive in East Cobb, along the Chattahoochee River, is closed between Atlanta Country Club Drive and Riverlook Parkway.

A reader sent the following photos from her backyard on Columns Drive that extends to the river. Click the middle button to start the slideshow:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In Northeast Cobb, Blackwell Road is closed between Fowler Drive and Windridge Drive (east of Canton Road) because of downed power lines.

Cobb government said its crews have already dealt with 55 downed trees on roads, 11 flooded roads and eight reports of traffic lights being out.

In addition, flood warnings are in effect along most rivers and major streams and creeks in Cobb, including the Chattahoochee River and Noonday Creek.

Cobb Police said in a social media posting that the Bells Ferry Trailhead at Noonday Creek “saw quite a bit of water buildup, now it’s more of a ‘Trail-Lake’—serious flooding over there, so maybe skip that hike for now!”

A reader sent the photo below of  flooded soccer fields at Noonday Park:

We haven’t heard of any such warnings along Sope Creek in East Cobb, but the U.S. Geological Survey indicated water levels above 12 feet.

The reader who sent the photo above tells us that the creek “looks like it’s about to come over the bridge on Columns where it dumps into the Chattahoochee.”

Another East Cobb resident posted this video of Sope Creek at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area:

We’d also like to share your information/photos/videos of storm conditions near you with the community. If it’s safe, please e-mail editor@eastcobbnews.com or text 404-219.4278.

Nearly 1 million Georgia electrical customers were without power Friday morning after Helene barged in from Florida as a Category 2 storm, then was downgraded to a tropical storm as it approached metro Atlanta.

More than 5,000 electrical customers in Cobb County are without power as of mid-Friday morning, according to Georgia Power and Cobb EMC, which provide most service to the East Cobb area.

According to Georgia Power, roughly 1,000 East Cobb customers are without electricity, while Cobb EMC reports that an estimated 750 customers in East Cobb are reporting outages.

Another Columns Drive reader sent us this video showing the extent of the flooding, and how it trapped residents for hours:

Much heavier wind damage and flooding occurred east of the metro area. Gov. Brian Kemp said at a news briefing Friday morning that 11 deaths have been reported across Georgia, including a first responder.

As the storm gathered in the Gulf of Mexico, a rare tropical storm warning was issued for north Georgia, with gusts as high as 73 mph anticipated.

Winds were expected to gust between 30-40 mph through Friday afternoon, with partly sunny skies also in the forecast as Helene moved north out of Georgia.

Cooler temperatures also greeted the passage of the storm, in the mid-60s on Friday morning, as the weather improves for the weekend.

Sun and highs in the high 70s return for the weekend and temperatures will be back in the low 80s next week.

But for the rest of Friday, you’re asked to stay put if possible while the cleanup work continues.

If/when you do get out, do not try and drive through a flooded area. You’re asked to call 911 or Georgia Power/Cobb EMC immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line.

Cobb government said if you have structural property damage to report, you can do so by clicking here.

An aerial photo of a flooded golf course at Indian Hills Country Club, posted on its social media account:

 

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