COBB COUNTY 2025 FACTBOOK
Everything you need to know about Cobb County Its 7 cities, economy, history, events and people
FACTBOOK 2025
EXECUTIVE
PUBLISHER
Otis Brumby III
GENERAL MANAGER
Lee B. Garrett
V.P. OF CONTENT
J.K. Murphy
EDITORIAL STAFF
FACTBOOK EDITOR
Emily Boorstein
CONTRIBUTORS
Joe Adgie, Kim Ellet, Jon Gillooly, Skyler Heath, Allie Kraus, Jack Linder, Isabelle Manders, Annie Mayne, Kai Millette, Damon Poirier, Arkesh Ray, Robin Rayne, Hunter Riggall, Beth Slaughter Sexton
Jennifer Hall & Beth Poirier
ADVERTISING STAFF
V.P. OF SALES
Bob McCray
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Stephanie deJarnette, Paula Milton, Becky Opitz
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Windsor Armour, Erin Barkwell, Tona Deaton, Jennifer Hall, Beth Poirier
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Dave Gossett
Factbook is published by the Marietta Daily Journal. To subscribe, email circulation@cobblifemagazine.com or call 770-795-5001. To advertise, contact Maryann Holland at 770-428-9411, ext. 4511.
From the publisher
For almost half a century, we have welcomed our new neighbors and said hello to our longtime friends on the pages you are now reading in this latest issue of The Cobb County Factbook. While the Marietta Daily Journal has been publishing since December of 1866, this 2025 Cobb County Factbook marks our 48th consecutive year sharing facts, stories and updating information and data in this way. Factbook helps explain why Cobb County is such an amazing place to live, work and play. This is just one of the many special publications The Marietta Daily Journal presents each year and one of its largest. It takes a lot of pages to cover this county from top to bottom.
From Dobbins Air Reserve Base and Lockheed to Truist Park and the Atlanta Braves to our schools, hospitals, churches, businesses, museums, festivals and renowned people with ties to Cobb County, it’s all here in Factbook. This is the perfect guide for newcomers who want to learn more about the community, but it is also an interesting read for those who have lived here for generations.
Cobb County has always been a special place and on these pages, we have worked hard to show the heart and spirit of our community. From news about our great cities to our top 10 employers to learning more about local healthcare services to what’s new for our veterans and senior citizens, Factbook has it all.
We are grateful to those who have shared their stories with us and for those who helped us confirm facts and figures and we greatly appreciate the many businesses who have chosen to advertise their goods and services on these pages. We ask you to please support them as they play such an important role in helping create and maintain the quality of life Cobb residents enjoy.
Thank you for also supporting local journalism as we continue to bring you award-winning coverage of news, features, business and sports along with publications such as the 2025 Cobb County Factbook. We hope you enjoy this year’s edition and discover more about why Cobb County is such a great place to call home.
— Otis A. Brumby III, Publisher
{ INDEX OF ADVERTISERS }
Welcome to Factbook
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Since the end of the war — that would be the “civil” one — The Marietta Daily Journal has given its readers a front row seat to history. Reporting on the milestones of this great county has been our calling and purpose. From generations of newspaper reporters to generations of newspaper readers, the award-winning Marietta Daily Journal has continued to provide a written record of people, places and events that will impact generations to come.
Our newest issue of The Cobb County Factbook offers a big, colorful snapshot of those people, places and events that are important to residents who have called this community home for years and to those who are just now discovering what they have been missing. Welcome to our old friends and welcome to our new ones. This latest issue is filled with important information to help navigate everything from getting your lights and water turned on to finding a great school or college for your kids to discovering new things to do and see in Cobb County.
Filled with pages of information, The 2025 Cobb County Factbook covers every community from Acworth to Smyrna, as well as the latest news in economic development, sports, education, government, real estate, senior living, health and fitness and arts and entertainment. Our readers will also find information on services for
veterans, news about civic clubs, transportation and even where to adopt a new pet in Cobb County. You will find it all between these covers.
Just northwest of Atlanta, Cobb County is set between the Chattahoochee River and the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains. Georgia’s third largest county by population is known for its schools, low taxes and America’s team — the Atlanta Braves. A mix of urban and suburban development, Cobb is a vibrant community of seven cities.
Within its 345 square miles, the county is home to two school systems: Marietta City Schools and the Cobb County School District, Georgia’s second largest public school system and the 23rd largest in the nation. Cobb is also among the top educated populations in the state with an estimated 49 percent of its residents 18 years of age or older having a bachelor’s degree or higher. The county is home to the third largest university in Georgi a — Kennesaw State University.
As its population nears an estimated 790,000, Cobb County is home to top Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies and some of the top medical providers in the nation, such as Wellstar, Northside, Children’s Healthcare and others. All of that is just a sampling of what you will find in this latest edition. We hope you enjoy reading about all of that and more as you turn the pages of The 2025 Cobb County Factbook.
WHAT IS COBB’S best kept SECRET?
“The public library offers a lot of services. It’s there almost every day of the week and the people that work there are fantastic and very helpful. I use the East Cobb Library because that one’s closest to me but I’ve used the others, they’re all good.”
- Janis Hill, east Cobb
“Highland Rivers Behavioral Health is a mental health, substance abuse and intellectual and developmental disabilities program. They cover 13 counties and Cobb is one of them. A lot of people don’t know that they’re here and here to help people in the community who have issues around mental health or substance abuse or developmental disabilities.”
- Shannon Tillett, Smyrna
“I think Cobb County’s best kept secret is East Cobb Park because there’s a playground, so families can go, but there’s also a beautiful lawn, a long trail and there’s a creek nearby. And it’s so close to all of the shopping yet it’s kind of hidden.”
- Olivia Patrick, east Cobb
“The Alley Stage in Marietta … they’ve been open for just under a year and they have weekly comedy shows and they’ve got jam sessions for musicians. They’ve got all kinds of stage productions that they’re doing there too and they’ve donated I think over $70,000 in free tickets to veterans.”
- Chase Sanger, Powder Springs
Snapshots of
History
Forested Glover Park on Marietta Square
Acworth High School’s bus driver, Clint Brown Kelly Motor Company
1969 Capping Ceremony for the Licensed Practical Nurse
Snapshots of
History
Lemon Street Elementary School
1912 Smyrna Baseball Team
Cherokee St. looking north. Old Marietta Hospital on right.
Bell Bomber Line
Allatoona Dam
First mail box on Anderson Street
Gem City Bottle Works
1967 Marietta High School Blue Devil Roster
Hodges Drug Co.
Installing Electric Lines
COMMUNITY
Origin stories: How Cobb places got their names
Which Cobb community gets its name from a tale about a young Cherokee woman, her suitor and her unhappy father? Which community got its name after a city was destroyed because a lake was created? Study the information below to find those answers and more and you will be well on your way to becoming a Cobb County trivia champion.
Cobb County
Cobb County, which became Georgia’s 81st county in 1832, was named after Georgia Congressman Thomas Willis Cobb. Cobb, who also served as a senator and superior court judge, died at the age of 46 in 1830. Less than a decade after Cobb’s founding, the state began building the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which influenced the development of the county and many of its cities.
Acworth
The area now known as Acworth was once a watering station for locomotives traveling from the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Originally, the station was called Northcutt Station after station master Alfred Northcutt. In 1843, railroad engineer Joseph Gregg renamed the surrounding town Acworth, after his hometown of Acworth, New Hampshire, which was named for English Admiral Jacob Acworth. Today, Acworth is known as “The Lake City.”
Austell
Austell is named for Alfred Austell, founder of the Atlanta National Bank, which later became Wachovia. One of the nation’s largest cotton dealers, Austell was also known for his efforts to build railroads in Southern states.
Early visitors to the area claimed the waters there had medicinal properties. The area was known as Salt Springs for the water’s healing powers and for hunters’ use of the salt licks to trap animals. Later, the area was renamed Lithia Springs because of the lithium carbonate in the water.
Marietta local Janet Hayes made Big Chicken birdhouses for May-retta Daze, the annual arts and crafts festival held the first weekend in May each year on the Marietta Square.
Volunteers fire off cannons as part of an artillery demonstration at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
Kennesaw
The word Kennesaw comes from the Cherokee people who used to farm there. The Cherokee word gah-nee-sah means “cemetery” or “burial ground.”
As the Western and Atlantic Railroad was being constructed, small shanty towns began to crop up on the edge of the railroad. These towns were located on elevated ground near a spring, with this location being called “Big Shanty Grade.” Eventually, the “grade” was dropped, and the area became known as “Big Shanty.”
Mableton
In November 2022, voters approved a referendum to make Mableton Cobb’s seventh city. Mableton was previously the largest unincorporated area in metro Atlanta.
The city is named after Robert Mable, who purchased 300 acres of land in the area in 1843. In 1881, the Southern Railway opened a train station in Mableton and one year later, a post office opened. The city of Mableton was incorporated in 1912, but it was disincorporated just four years later.
Marietta
There are two competing stories as to how Marietta got its name, according to Sarah Temple’s “The First Hundred Years.”
One is that there were two local women — named Mary and Etta — whose beauty “so dazzled the gentlemen of the town by their charms that the county seat was named for them.
The second — and more plausible — theory, is that the town was named after Willis Cobb’s wife, Mary.
Isabelle Manders
Powder Springs
Incorporated in 1838, Powder Springs was originally called Springsville. Early settlers to the area came in the hopes of finding gold but found little in the surrounding hills. The name was changed in 1859 to Powder Springs after the seven springs located throughout the city that are enriched with minerals, turning the sand and soil black like gunpowder.
Smyrna
The original Smyrna was a church founded by the apostle Paul in what is now Turkey. Area churches began to use the Biblical term to refer to their new surroundings, and the Methodists’ gathering place became known as the Smyrna Camp Ground.
Smyrna is also known as “the Jonquil City” after the yellow flowers that bloom there in the spring. According to the Smyrna Historical Society, the first jonquils were brought to Smyrna by Samuel Taylor in 1883.
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WHERE COMFORT MEETS COOL
City of Smyrna.
City of Powder Springs skate park.
Unincorporated areas:
Cumberland
The unincorporated area now known as Cumberland was once best known as the home of Camp Ben Adams, a Boy Scout reservation.
The development of Cumberland Mall in 1973, which was at the time Georgia’s largest enclosed regional mall, sparked the area’s change into an economic powerhouse. Cumberland is home to the Cobb Galleria Centre, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta.
The Cumberland Community Improvement District, a tax district that invests in the area’s infrastructure and beautification, is the largest of Cobb’s three CIDs.
East Cobb
East Cobb is an affluent unincorporated suburb located in the eastern part of Cobb County. Many of its locations were peopled by settlers since the county’s early incorporation. Mount Bethel Church got its start in 1840 as Bethel Methodist Episcopalian Church. Johnson Ferry, which is now a major road in the area, was originally a ferry that took people from Atlanta across the Chattahoochee.
Lake Allatoona
This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Etowah River has a fun name to say, but one whose origins are unclear.
It shares its name with the Allatoona Mountains, the Allatoona pass through the mountains and the former city of Allatoona, which was destroyed when the lake was created.
Historian Richard Thornton said Allatoona is often thought to come from a Cherokee word, but he said there is no proof of this.
“The origin of the word, Allatoona, has remained a mystery for two centuries,” Thornton writes on his blog, “People of one Fire.” “Neither the Creek nor the Cherokee Peoples claim the word as theirs, although local white historians typically describe the word Allatoona as ‘a Cherokee word of unknown meaning.’ For 14 years, I have tried to translate the word, using the mathematics of statistics applied to Muskogee, Miccosukee (Itsate Creek), Panoan, Itza Maya, Cherokee and Arawak dictionaries, but to no avail.”
Thornton posits the name may come from an archaic European language and mean “All the low mountains” or “All the mountaintop/hilltop fortified towns.”
Lost Mountain
According to the papers of Walter McElreath, Lost Mountain resident and one of the founders of the Atlanta History Center, Lost Mountain got its name from an old Cherokee legend.
In the tale, the beloved daughter of a Cherokee chief eloped with a member of an enemy tribe the night before she was to be married to a Cherokee man her father chose for her. Racked with sorrow, the chief spent the rest of his days staring at the mountain to which his daughter escaped and muttering “Lost, lost.”
In a different version of the story, published in the Jan. 29, 1869, edition of the Marietta Journal, the chief kills the suitor and chases his daughter onto the mountain. When he does not return, others form a search party and discover that the father and daughter died together under an oak tree after becoming lost on the mountain.
Town Center
This Kennesaw mall is part of a major retail hub in Cobb County,
located along Barrett Parkway and nestled between Interstates 75 and 575.
The shopping spot first opened its doors in February 1986, and according to an April 1984 MDJ story by Maggie Willis, it almost had a different name.
“(Developer Scott) Hudgens, who opened Gwinnett Place, a large regional mall in Gwinnett County, in February said he actually liked the name ‘Cobb Place’ better but was convinced by one of his anchor department stores that the nomenclature would be confused with Cobb Center, a comparatively small shopping center located west of Smyrna.”
Town Center is also governed by the Town Center Community Improvement District, the second largest CID in the county behind the Cumberland CID.
Vinings
Vinings was named after William H. Vining, who came from the Northeast to work on the construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Vining oversaw the construction of a difficult trestle bridge known as Vining’s Bridge. Local streets Paces Ferry Road and Paces Mill Road are named after North Carolina entrepreneur Hardy Pace, who established a ferry service and mill along the Chattahoochee.
West Cobb
The unincorporated community in the western part of Cobb County features close-knit neighborhoods and a lot of space between them. Though it is less dense than east Cobb, west Cobb still features plenty of amenities, such as the Avenue West Cobb shopping center.
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COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
A CobbLinc bus turns onto South Marietta Parkway.
Staff — File
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
How to get around in Cobb without a car
Whether your car is in the shop or if you simply don’t own four wheels or even two, getting around in Cobb County without a car is not a problem, thanks to CobbLinc’s transit system. The public transportation system includes two transfer centers — Marietta and Cumberland — three Express routes, nine local routes, two free Circulator routes and three FLEX zones. CobbLinc routes serve six park-and-ride lot locations throughout the county.
The Xpress commuter bus service, operated by the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (The ATL), carries commuters from four Cobb stops to midtown and downtown Atlanta.
In addition, bikeshare programs are available in the Town Center and Cumberland areas, operated by their respective community improvement districts.
CobbLinc
Inaugurated as Cobb County Transit in 1989, CCT was rebranded as CobbLinc in 2016. The service operates nine local service routes, three express routes, two free circulator routes and three “flex”
routes, a demand-response service available in some areas. CobbLinc also offers a paratransit service (individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables) within three-quarters of a mile of the 11 fixed routes.
Two transfer centers serve as hubs of the system. One is located in Marietta on South Marietta Parkway, the other in Cumberland on Cumberland Boulevard. The Marietta Transfer Center connects to all local routes except one (25). It’s located adjacent to the Marietta Park-and-Ride Lot. The Cumberland Transfer Center, steps from Cumberland Mall, connects to all but three local routes and also connects with MARTA bus Route 12.
All CobbLinc buses are equipped with Wi-Fi and bus-tracking technology.
CobbLinc bus fares can be paid using CobbLinc tickets and passes, MARTA Breeze cards and exact cash (fareboxes accept bills and coins but cannot produce change).
For comprehensive information, including route maps, schedules, and fares, visit cobbcounty.org/transportation/cobblinc.
Fares
Adult local one-way: $2.50
Adult express one-way: $5
FLEX bus service one-way: $2.50
CobbLinc Circulator: Free
Paratransit fare: $4
Paratransit youth fare: $3
Reduced Local Fares
Senior citizen: $1
Medicare card holder: $1
Youth under-18: $1.50
Paratransit certified: Free Children (under 42 inches tall): Free
Fare Products
10-ride local ticket: $18
31-day local ticket: $72
20-ride express pass: $65
31-day express pass: $125
Paratransit 10-ride ticket: $30
Paratransit 31-day ticket: $115
Park and Ride
Park-and-ride lots allow drivers to park and take the bus to destinations in Cobb County. Some also have Express routes that connect to midtown and downtown Atlanta, targeted at commuters.
Acworth park-and-ride lot: 6045 Lake Acworth Drive
Acworth 30101
Busbee park-and-ride lot:
3221 Busbee Drive NW Kennesaw 30144
Floyd Road park-and-ride lot: 4342 Floyd Road
Mableton 30126
Mableton park-and-ride lot:
700 Maran Lane
Mableton 30126
Marietta park-and-ride lot:
800 South Marietta Parkway Marietta 30060
Town Center (Big Shanty) park-and-ride lot: 634 Big Shanty Road NW
Kennesaw 30144
Xpress
The ATL, a regional state transit agency, operates several Xpress commuter bus routes (not to be confused with CobbLinc’s Express routes).
Xpress route stops in Cobb are located in Powder Springs, Town Center, Hickory Grove and Acworth and all connect to intown Atlanta.
Fares range from $3-4 for a one-way trip, $5-7 for a round-trip ticket, $25-35 for 10-trip passes and $100-$125 for 31-day passes.
Full maps, schedules and fares can be found at xpressga.com.
The ATL has two of its own park-and-ride lots in Cobb, while other routes connect to CobbLinc park-and-ride lots.
Powder Springs park-and-ride: 5100 Powder Springs-Dallas Road, Powder Springs 30127
Hickory Grove park-and-ride: 2018 Hickory Grove Road Acworth 30102
Bike share
The Town Center and Cumberland CIDs offer bike share programs, which can be used for recreation or practical, point-to-point transportation. The services are connected and both use the Movatic mobile app to rent out bikes. Riders can rent and drop off bikes at stations in either location. There are 80 bikes across the two systems and 12 bike stations (bikes can also be rented at the Cumberland transfer station).
Fare
First hour: free
Every hour after: $3, with $24 maximum per day
Cumberland stations:
Cochran Shoals — CRNRA
Paces Mill — CRNRA
The Battery Atlanta Galleria Gardens
CobbLinc Cumberland Transfer Center
Riverwood Pkwy Near Cumberland Blvd
Bob Callan Trail Trailhead
Town Center stations:
Bells Ferry Trailhead
Town Center at Cobb shopping mall
Avonlea Creekside Apartments
Founders Park
Aviation Park
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Renowned residents in Cobb
Many influential people have come from or lived in Cobb County.
TV & Film
“America’s sweetheart” Julia Roberts hails from Smyrna, while another Academy Awardwinning actress, Joanne Woodward, moved to Marietta when she was in second grade and attended Marietta High School. Woodward married Paul Newman.
Actress and comedian Brett Butler, best known for “Grace Under Fire,” is a Marietta native. Born in Marietta, country music singer/ songwriter and actor Doug Stone released his debut album in 1990 with his lead single, “I’d Be Better Off (In a Pine Box),” becoming a huge success and hitting the Top 5 on Billboard’s Country Music chart. The Academy of Country Music named him Top New Male Vocalist. Stone has enjoyed multiple Top Ten hits on Billboard’s Country Music charts and had eight number one singles in the U.S. He learned to play guitar at the age of 5and was 7years old when he opened for the late Loretta Lynn. Stone also performed in such films as “Gordy” and “The Rook.”
Wheeler High School graduate Becca Tobin is an American actress and producer who played Kitty Wilde in the hit Fox TV series Glee. She was born and grew up in Marietta where she was a cheerleader at Pebblebrook High before transferring to Wheeler.
Actor Lucas Till, who played superhero Havok in Marvel’s X-Men series and the titular secret agent in the “MacGyver” TV remake, is a graduate of Kell High School and lived in Kennesaw. West Cobb meteorologist Jen Carfagno, known as the “dewpoint diva” appears on The Weather Channel, which has its headquarters in Cumberland.
Food guru and TV personality Alton Brown lives in Marietta and shot in town for the “Good Eats” comeback “Good Eats: The Return.”
Alan Ball, an award-winning writer, director and producer perhaps best known for writing “American Beauty” and creating “Six Feet Under” and “True Blood,” was born in Marietta. So was Robert Patrick, an actor known for his villainous roles, such as the T-1000 in “Terminator 2.”
Lennon Parham, an actress and comedian from the Upright Citizens Theater, was born in Marietta. She is known for her roles in “Horrible Bosses 2” and “Confessions of a Shopaholic.”
Ty Pennington, known as the host changing people’s houses and lives on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” attended Sprayberry High School and Kennesaw State University.
Filmmaker Chris Wyatt, known for producing the comedy “Napoleon Dynamite,” is a graduate of Marietta’s Walker School.
Jeff Small, co-chief executive officer and president of Amblin Partners and Dreamworks, is a Marietta native.
Arts & Culture
Country superstar and Marietta native Travis Tritt began writing music while attending Sprayberry High School. His family has deep Cobb roots — Post Oak Tritt Road and Tritt Elementary School, both in east Cobb, were named for his grandfather, Will Tritt.
Country music crooner Zach Seabaugh got his start in Marietta before attaining fame on “The Voice” (his father is state Rep. Devan Seabaugh). In 2019, Cobb native Carter Horne, a graduate of Sprayberry High School, competed on “The Voice” and in the next season later that year, Alex Guthrie of Marietta appeared on the show.
Pop singer and songwriter Jennifer Paige also got her start in her hometown of Marietta, where she sang in local restaurants and coffee shops. Guitarist Robin Finck started in Marietta and went on to play with bands including Nine Inch Nails and Guns N’ Roses.
Lil Nas X, or Montero Lamar Hill, spent much of his childhood in Austell with his dad. The rapper known for such hits as “Old Town Road” worked at Six Flags while he was developing his music career.
Rapper Miles Parks McCollum, better known as Lil Yachty, hails from Mableton.
Music producer Michael Len Williams II, known as Mike Will Made It, was born in Marietta and went on to produce records by acts including Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce and Miley Cyrus.
Ronald “Ron” Pope, who wrote the hit song “A Drop in the Ocean,” grew up in Cobb and attended Wheeler High School. Marco Restrepo, who wrote the hit song “Get Up & Go” under the name A. Tone Da Priest, was born in Marietta and grew up in Atlanta.
Chris and Rich Robinson, founding members of the Black Crowes, went to Walton High School.
Julia Roberts
photo: Dale Robinet
Joanne Woodward
Travis Tritt
Brandon Stanton, a Marietta native, is a photographer, blogger and author of “Humans of New York.”
Vocalist Mac Powell and guitarist Mark Lee formed the Christian rock band Third Day while they were students at McEachern High School, and the band went on to win multiple Grammy Awards.
Carol Aebersold and her twin daughters, Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts, are creators of “Elf on the Shelf,” the Christmas book that since publication in 2005 has seen millions of people invite a little elf into their homes during the holidays. All three are Cobb County natives.
Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon, of Vinings, is widely regarded as one of the best directors on Broadway. In recent years, he has turned his sights to television, winning acclaim for directing live TV versions of musicals like “The Wiz” and “Hairspray.” Another Tony winner, singer and actor Shuler Paul Hensley, grew up in Marietta. The Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards are named in Schuler’s honor.
Cobb-based artist Thomas Arvid has received national acclaim for his photorealistic oil paintings.
Billy Joe Royal, who wrote “Down in the Boondocks,” grew up in Marietta.
Sports
Cobb has had more than its fair share of accomplished athletes come from the area, including 2019 FIFA World Cup champion Emily Sonnett, a Marietta resident. Another soccer star was born in Kennesaw: Jane Campbell was the youngest goalkeeper ever called to a national training camp for the senior United States women’s national soccer team.Kendell Williams, a Kell High School graduate, was a seven-time NCAA champion in track and field for the University of Georgia and went on to compete for the U.S. in the 2016 Olympics, and finished fifth in the heptathlon in the 2020 games in Tokyo.
Marietta resident Daniel Haugh won the first NCAA national championship for Kennesaw State by winning the hammer throw in 2019. He went on to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and finished 11th in the event.
Locals can find another homegrown athlete at the ballpark when the Atlanta Braves play at Truist Park: Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson is a Marietta High School alum. Infielder Michael Chavis, a Sprayberry graduate, plays for the Washington Nationals. Pope’s Nate Lowe is with the Texas Rangers, while his younger brother, Josh, is with the Tampa Bay
Rays. Former Kennesaw Mountain star Tyler Stephenson is a catcher for the Cincinnati Reds. North Cobb’s Harry Ford was selected by the Mariners in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft and has played for the Mariners’ minor league teams.
Cobb has recently sent a number of players to the NFL.
Former Harrison High School quarterback Justin Fields got his college football start at the University of Georgia before joining Ohio State, where he led the Buckeyes to a National Championship appearance. Fields was the 11th overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft, selected by the Chicago Bears.
Sprayberry has four former players in the league. The Yellow Jackets have running back Jerick McKinnon (Kansas City), defensive end Jabari Zuniga (N.Y. Jets), kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (Tampa Bay) and running back Trey Sermon (San Francisco).
Bradley Chubb was selected with the No. 5 overall selection in 2018 by the Denver Broncos and is now with the Miami Dolphins. The year prior, Evan Engram was the No. 23 pick to the New York Giants (he has since gone to Jacksonville) and in 2016, Kenyan Drake was a third-round pick of the Miami Dolphins (he now plays for Las Vegas). All three men are graduates of Hillgrove High School.
McEachern has two players in the NFL — offensive lineman Chuma Edoga (N.Y. Jets) and offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum (L.A. Rams).
Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, now with the New York Giants, attended North Cobb High School and Georgia Tech.
South Cobb’s Justin Jones plays for the Chicago Bears. Former Marietta and Georgia standout Azeez Ojulari was taken in the second round of the 2021 draft by the New York Giants.
The NBA currently has three former Cobb stars making a name for themselves. Wheeler’s Jaylen Brown has been with the Boston Celtics since 2016, Pebblebrook’s Collin Sexton was a first-round selection of Cleveland in 2018, and the Cavaliers followed that by drafting former McEachern star Isaac Okoro in 2020.
Currently, former Wheeler stars and brothers Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Amir Abdur-Rahim are also making their mark in basketball off the court. Shareef, after a 13-year career in the NBA, and a member of the 2000 Olympic team that won the gold medal in Sydney, Australia, is now the president of the NBA’s developmental league, the G League. Amir
Kenny Leon
Justin Fields
photo: Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS
Rodrigo Blankenship photo: Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star
Dale Ellis
has been a coach since 2006 and earned his first head coaching job when he took over the men’s program at Kennesaw State in 2019, leading the Owls to the 2023 NCAA Tournament before taking a job at Florida Atlantic.
Other Cobb athletes of note include golfer Ollie Schniederjans, the former No. 1 amateur golfer in the world, who grew up in west Cobb and graduated from Harrison High School.
Quarterback Eric Zeier, played for Marietta High School before going on to play at the University of Georgia and the NFL. He is the current color commentator on the Bulldogs’ radio network.
Three-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Larry Nelson has lived in Cobb. Retired Atlanta United defender Mark Bloom was born in Marietta.
Retired NBA all-star Dale Ellis was a 3-point sharpshooter who played throughout the NBA and at Marietta High School. Josh Smith, who attended McEachern and Whitefield Academy, had a 13-year career, including nine seasons in Atlanta.
Former Pope softball star Kelly Barnhill was the 2017 USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year while at the University of Florida and won the ESPY as the Women’s Collegiate Athlete of the Year.
Cody Runnels turned a successful wrestling career at Lassiter High School into years of professional wrestling. He wrestles as Cody Rhodes for WWE after a tenure with All Elite Wrestling. Rhodes has also had a few stints as an actor, making appearances on the Netflix superhero show “Arrow” in its fifth and seventh seasons.
Former Sprayberry wrestler Austin Watson has achieved great notoriety with WWE under the name of Xavier Woods.
Politics
Former U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson lived in east Cobb. He retired at the end of 2019 due to health challenges related to Parkinson’s disease after 45 years of public service, and died in 2021.
Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes grew up in Mableton and lives in Marietta, where his law firm is based. Former Attorney General Sam Olens lives in Marietta and works as an attorney for the global law firm Dentons.
Other notable political locals include former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr and Gen. Lucius D. Clay, a hero of the Berlin Airlift.
The late Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harris Hines spent most of his life in Marietta, where a bridge was dedicated in his honor in 2019.
Carolyn Meadows, an east Cobb native, recently served as president of the National Rifle Association.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary William Gibbs McAdoo Jr. grew up in Marietta. McAdoo is notable for serving as United States president for one day while President Woodrow Wilson and everyone else in the line of succession was out of Washington for Christmas.
One of the co-founders of the Parent Teacher Association of America, Alice McLellan Birney, was born in Marietta.
Gen. Lucius D. Clay
Veterans Services
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Cobb County is home to almost 40,000 veterans, according to U.S. Census numbers. It is an active population with groups of veterans meeting across the county for fellowship and in organizations where they can continue to serve and at other places where they can receive assistance.
Cobb County Senior Services offers monthly Veteran Connection programs throughout Cobb County, fostering camaraderie among local veterans. These monthly meetings, open to both men and women, provide a space to share experiences, build connections, and enjoy special guest presentations. veterans can choose from five locations throughout the month.
The programs help veterans stay connected and engaged within the community. Beyond the monthly meetings, Cobb County Senior Services also offers an annual Veteran Christmas luncheon, which offers a chance to celebrate the holidays with fellow veterans in a festive atmosphere as well as day trips for veterans where they explore interesting destinations.
For more information on Veteran Connection, visit cobbseniors.org or call Andrea Rapowitz at 770-528-1445.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting America’s first responders, Gold Star families and military veterans, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Atlanta veterans Village in Cobb County. When completed in 2025, the facility at 65 S. Service Road in Mableton will provide permanent and transitional housing to almost 100 area veterans. As part of T2T’s nationwide Homeless veterans Program, the organization is turning the former Wingate by Wyndam Hotel into a veterans Village.
Cobb has a number of organizations designed to foster service and friendship among veterans. Anyone who has served active federal duty for at least one day during the eligibility period can join the American Legion by filling out a form at a local post or by going online to www.legion.org/join. Thanks to the LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service Act) signed into law in 2019, the current eligibility period is Dec. 7, 1941, to the present, and includes the current war campaigns.
Check out the American Legion websites below to learn about the American Legion Auxiliary, which supports the local chapters, or visit www.legion-aux.org.
Any veteran who served in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters and is currently serving or was honorably discharged can join the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association by visiting a post or going to www.vfw.org/join. If you are not eligible for membership in VFW but have a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, or spouse who would be eligible, then you may apply for membership in the VFW Auxiliary. Learn more at vfwauxiliary.org.
Disabled American Veterans provides services, transportation and counseling to veterans in need. DAV’s free, professional assistance helps veterans and their families get the benefits they have earned — staying with them through every step of the process. And because disabling injuries can affect veterans at any stage in life, DAV is there with support whenever they need it.
For more information, contact Disabled American veterans, Chapter 6, 1290 Kennestone Circle, D-111, Marietta or call 678388-1568, or visit davchapter6.com.
For more than 30 years, the Cobb Collaborative has served hundreds of organizations and individuals in Cobb County, including veterans. Its goal is to be the bridge that con-
nects all of the collective efforts into a greater impact. An official Georgia Family Connection Partnership, meaning it has statewide support but delivers on a local level, the Cobb Collaborative helps veterans by partnering with the Georgia Department of veterans Services, veterans Education Career Transition Resource, DAV and the American Legion to connect veterans with the resources they need. For information, visit https://www.cobbcollaborative.org/connecting-cobb-veterans
The Georgia Department of Veterans Services’ local office is at 1150 Powder Springs Street in Marietta. Call 770-528-3254, or visit https://veterans.georgia.gov/locations/ marietta.
American Legion
Horace Orr Post 29 921 Gresham Avenue, Marietta 770-427-5900, post29marietta.org
Ron Asby North Cobb Post 304 4220 S. Main Street, Acworth 678-217-5738, post304.org
Austell Post 216 3914 Ewing Road, Austell 770-943-7030
Paul E. Kelly Jr. Post 296 906 West Atlanta Street, Marietta 770-427-6595, post296marietta.org
Smyrna Post 160 160 Legion Drive, Smyrna 770-436-2501, post160.com
Powder Springs Post 294 3282 Florence Road, Powder Springs 770-439-0956, post294.org
John R. Dodgen Post 264 6251 Ivey Road, Mableton 770-944-8099
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 5408
4764 Cobb Parkway, Acworth 770-974-0958, www.vfw5408.org
Rainbow Post 2681 140 Powers Ferry Road, Marietta 770-977-2088, vfw2681.org
Civic Clubs
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order that dates back to 1868. It got its start in New York as the “Jolly Corks,” a collection of 15 actors, entertainers and others. Today, headquartered at Elks National Veterans Memorial in Chicago, it is one of the leading fraternal orders in the U.S., claiming almost a million members and nearly 2,000 “lodges” across the country. Elk lodges bring more to their communities than just a building, golf course or pool. They are places where neighbors come together, families share meals, and children grow up. Elks invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free by undertaking projects that address unmet needs and by honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans.
The Marietta Elks Lodge No. 1657, the
only lodge in Cobb County is in Marietta on Powder Springs Road. Marietta Elks Lodge — (770) 337-7256; contact Nita Knighton at nitaknighton@ yahoo.com
Parent organization: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America
Founded: 1868
Founded in Cobb: 1942
Number of chapters in Cobb: 1 Number of members: 85
Membership dues: $124/year Website:www.elks.org
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest women’s volunteer organizations in the world. This is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer actions,
The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta completed more than 390 community service hours this past year.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks along with Elks National Foundation awards top 20 seniors Legacy Scholarships to students whose parents are not Elks. Kalyan Toussaint from Marietta High received a $30,000 scholarship from the Elks.
collaboration and training. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta completed more than 390 community service hours this past year.
Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, making a demonstrable impact on their communities.
The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta is made up of 200 women, and in its more than 90 years of community service has supported many projects, particularly those benefiting children and women. The Junior League of CobbMarietta most recently provided six grants to community partners, including the Center for Family Resources, The Center for Children and Young Adults, Cobb Family Advocacy Center and others.
Prospective members must be at least 22 years old, reside or work within a 30-mile radius of Cobb County and demonstrate an interest in volunteerism and a commitment to community service.
Junior League of Cobb-Marietta — (770) 422-5266
Parent organization: Association of Junior Leagues International.
Founded: 1901 in New York
Founded in Cobb: 1933
Number of chapters in Cobb: 1 Number of members: 200
Membership dues: $275/year (active) or $90 (sustainer) Website:www.jlcm.org
Kiwanis Club
Kiwanis clubs are as diverse as the neighborhoods and cities across the 85 countries where they have been established, but what they have in common is a commitment to service. Its international motto is “Serving the children of the world.”
Kiwanis was founded in 1915 by a group of businessmen in Detroit and adopted the name from a Native American expression that means “we trade.”
Kiwanis clubs focus on changing the world by serving children, one child and one community at a time. To do this, many clubs also sponsor a Kiwanis family club — K-Kids for primary school children; Builders Clubs for adolescents; Key Clubs for teens; Circle K International clubs for university students and Aktion Clubs for adults with disabilities — to reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities.Membership: 445,167 adult and youth members. Clubs: 14,147 adult and youth clubs.
Every year, Kiwanis members stage more than 1.3 million service projects and raise nearly $390 million for children, families and communities around the world. Kiwanis club projects are based on the community’s needs — club members build playgrounds, purchase medical equipment, stuff backpacks with school supplies, restock libraries and much more. The average Kiwanian makes an impact on the lives of 106 children.
Parent Organization:
Kiwanis International
Founded: 1915
Founded in Cobb: 1930
Number of chapters in Cobb: 7
Number of members: Varies by chapter
Membership dues: Vary by chapter Website:www.kiwanis.org
Greater South Cobb: www.facebook.com/gsckiwanis
Jonquil City:jonquilcitykiwanis.org
Lost Mountain: www.lostmountainkiwanis.org
Marietta: Kiwanis Club of Marietta
www.mariettakiwanis.org
Marietta Golden “K”:sites.google.com/ view/kiwanisclubofmariettagoldenk/ home
Metro Marietta: facebook.com/ groups/1575433252683985
Galleria-Northwest Atlanta Kiwanis Club:www.facebook.com/GalleriaNWATLKiwanis
Lions Club International
The service club organization Lions Clubs International boasts more than 1.4 million members and more than 47,000 clubs across 200+ countries. Last year, Lions Clubs completed 1.5 million projects; served 539 million people and awarded 20,000 grants.
It was founded in the U.S. on June 7, 1917, by Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman.
Lions do whatever is needed to help their local communities. They engage in a broad range of service projects built on three mission pillars: improve health and
well-being; strengthen communities and support those in need.
Parent organization: Lions Club International
Founded: 1917
Founded in Cobb: 1944
Number of chapters in Cobb: 6
Number of members: Varies by chapter
Membership dues: Vary by chapter Website:www.lionsclubs.org
Atlanta Latino:e-clubhouse.org/sites/atlantalatino East Cobb:eastcobblions.club
Marietta:e-clubhouse.org/sites/marietta_ga North Cobb:northcobblionsclub.com
Smyrna Jonquil:e-clubhouse.org/sites/smyrnaj South Cobb:www.facebook.com/SOUTHCOBBLIONSCLUB
Optimist Club
Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization made up of more than 2,500 local clubs, whose members work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, in their communities and in themselves.
Optimist International’s motto is “Friend of Youth” and the organization also uses the branding statement “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.”
The first Optimist Club was formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1911, and a small association of clubs joined together in what became Optimist International in 1919. The international headquarters is in St. Louis.
Optimist International is also the sponsor of Junior Optimist Octagon International designed for elementary schoolthrough high school-aged youth. Optimist International states its purpose as follows: To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed; to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; to inspire respect for the law; to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; to aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world. Parent organization: Optimist International
Founded: 1916
Founded in Cobb: 1962
Number of chapters in Cobb: 2
Number of members: Varies by chapter
Membership dues: Vary by chapter Website:optimist.org
Kennesaw:www.kennesawacworthoptimists.org
Smyrna:www.smyrnaoptimist.org
Rotary International
Rotary International is a membership service organization that unites a global network of volunteer leaders from all continents and cultures who partner with communities to find long-term solutions to the world’s most persistent issues. Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs around the world. The organization got its start when attorney Paul Harris founded the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1905.
Rotary collaborates with communities to carry out impactful programs that fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, grow local economies, support education, promote peace, protect the environment, care for mothers and children and end polio. There are 193 Rotary clubs and eight Rotaract clubs in Georgia.
Parent organization: Rotary International
Founded: 1905
Founded in Cobb: 1919
Number of chapters in Cobb: 8
Number of members: Varies by chapter
Membership dues: Vary by chapter Website:rotary.org
Atlanta Brasil: atlantabrasilrotary.club
East Cobb:eastcobbrotary.com
Marietta:mariettarotary.org
Marietta-Metro: rotary6900.org
North Cobb:northcobbrotary.org
Smyrna:smyrnarotary.org
South Cobb:southcobbrotary.org
Vinings Cumberland:viningsrotary.org
Where to adopt pets in Cobb
Finding a friendly face and a wagging tail is easy as more than a dozen places offer pet adoptions in Cobb County.
Last year, Cobb County Animal Services took in 7,914 animals; a 17% increase from 2022, according to Steve Hammond, Cobb’s Animal Services director.
The county had 3,052 pet adoptions and 1,816 animals went to area rescues. The following is a list of places where you can adopt pets in Cobb County.
Humane Society of Cobb County
148 S. Fairground Street SE, Marietta, Ga. 30060
Phone: 770-428-LOST (5678)
Hours: By Appointment Only www.humanecobb.com
Good Mews Animal Foundation
3805 Robinson Road, Marietta, Ga. 30068
Phone: 770-499-2287
Adoption hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. www.goodmews.org
Homeless Pets Foundation
1343 Gresham Road, Marietta, Ga. 30062
Phone: 770-971-0100
Hours: Monday — Friday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. www.homelesspets.com
Our Pal’s Place 4508 Canton Road, Marietta, Ga. 30066
Phone: 678-795-0202
Adoption hours: Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; weekdays by appointment opp.ourpalsplace.org
Mutt Madd-ness Dog Rescue
P.O. Box 71821, Marietta, Ga. 30007
Phone: 404-406-6322
Adoption hours: Saturdays, noon-3 p.m.
Check website calendar for locations. www.muttmaddness.org
Cobb County Animal Services 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta, Ga. 30008
Phone: 770-499-4136
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; adoptions by appointment www.cobbcounty.org/pets
Fancy Feline Rescue of the South (Foster-based group without a facility)
Call for adoptions held at:
Kennesaw Petsmart
860 Cobb Place Blvd NW Kennesaw, GA 30144 770-424-5226
Marietta Petsupermarket 3405 Dallas Highway, SW Marietta, GA 30064 770-794-7283
Dallas Pet Supermarket 8765 Dallas-Acworth Highway Dallas, GA 30132
678-239-0121
www.fancyfelinerescue.org
Gavin Scaggs, a Cobb County Animal Services worker, holds an un-named kitten. Names are typically chosen by employees and volunteers to help fit the animal’s personality. Dax, a lab-mix at the
Cobb County Animal Services’ shelter.
Georgia House Rabbit Society
3114 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw, Ga. 30144
Phone: 678-653-7175
Monday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Adoptions by appointment only www.houserabbitga.com
Bosley’s Place
3485 South Cobb Drive SE, Smyrna, Ga. 30080
Phone: 404-565-4025
Adoption hours: Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.bosleysplace.com
Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue and Adoption
3238 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw, Ga. 30144
Phone: 770-272-6888
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday www.mostlymutts.org
Kitty Angel Rescue
Kennesaw Petsmart, 860 Cobb Place Blvd, Kennesaw, Ga. 30144
Phone: 404-272-8962
Monday through Wednesday by appointment
Thursday & Friday: 4-8 p.m., Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: noon-5 p.m. www.kittyangelrescue.org
mariettaga@woofgangbakery.com
Puppy Land
125 Ernest W Barrett Parkway NW Suite 108, Marietta, Ga. 30066
Phone: 470-497-1488
Monday — Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: noon-8 p.m. www.puppylandgeorgia.com
An iguana up for adoption and being held by Cobb County Animal Services Officer Alex Deans.
New resident information
Welcome home to Cobb County, where the property taxes are among the lowest, the economic powerhouses are among the best and communities are among the strongest in all of metro Atlanta. As a new resident, we invite you to take a look at the following information.
One of your first stops might be one of the county’s two Government Service Centers designed to bring services closer to its residents. The South Cobb Service Center and the East Cobb Service Center contain full-service tag offices and allow residents to pay water bills, make property tax payments, apply for property tax exemptions, obtain business applications, get documents notarized, pick up state and federal tax forms and purchase CobbLinc transit tickets. Details on those centers and other information helpful to new residents of Cobb County are listed below.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICE CENTERS
East Cobb Service Center
4400 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta 770-528-8600
South Cobb Service Center 4700 Austell Road, Austell 770-499-4494
Business Offices:
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tag Offices: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Certain offices within the service center may have varying hours of operation
Cobb County Government (main office)
100 Cherokee Street Marietta 30090
770-528-1000 www.cobbcounty.org
GEORGIA DRIVER’S LICENSE
Cobb County Locations: Marietta 1605 County Services Parkway Marietta, GA 30008
Hours: Tues.-Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 a.m. to noon Kennesaw 3690 Old 41 Highway NW Kennesaw, GA 30144
Hours: Tues.-Fri., 7:30 a .m.6:30 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 a.m. to noon
What to bring:
• An original or certified document to prove who you are such as a birth certificate or passport
• Social Security card or other proof of Social Security number
• Two documents showing your residential address such as a bank statement or utility bill
• If you have had a name change, a document to prove that, such as a marriage license
• Any out-of-state IDs, to surrender
More information: www.dds.ga.gov or 678-413-8400
VOTING
To reach voter registration eligibility residents must be:
• A United States citizen
• A legal resident of a Georgia county
• At least 17½ years old
• 18 years old before or on Election Day
• Not been found mentally incompetent by a judge
• Not serving a sentence for conviction of a felony
To register or change your registration address, visit mvp.sos. ga.gov, mail a voter registration form to the Cobb elections office or register in-person at the elections office. A valid driver’s license or state ID card is required to register.
Cobb Board of Elections Main Office
995 Roswell Street NE Marietta, GA 30060
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More info: Call Cobb Elections at 770-528-2581 or visit cobbcounty.org/elections
TAX COMMISSIONER
The Tax Commissioner’s Office is responsible for every phase of collecting and disbursing ad valorem property taxes. There are two divisions: Property Tax Division and Motor Vehicle Division. Cobb County Tax Commissioner
Main Property Tax Office
736 Whitlock Avenue NW Marietta 30064
East Satellite Office
4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068
South Satellite Office
4700 Austell Road,
Austell 30106
Hours and phone number for all locations: 770-528-8600
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More info: cobbtax.org
REGISTERING YOUR VEHICLE
Vehicles must be titled and registered in the state of Georgia within 30 days of establishing residency. East Cobb Government Center 4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068
North Tag Office — Canton Road Shopping Center
2932 Canton Road NE, Suite 300, Marietta 30066
South Cobb Govt. Center 4700 Austell Road, Austell 30106
West Cobb County Fire Station #28
3858 Kemp Ridge Road, Acworth 30101
All offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Self-service, 24/7 tag kiosks are available at the South Cobb Government Center, North Tag Office, East Cobb Government Center and at five Kroger stores across Cobb. Visit cobbtax. org/locations for more information.
PROPERTY TAXES
The Property Tax Division bills, collects and distributes ad valorem property taxes. It is responsible for auditing, accounting, disbursing and reporting of collections, processing homestead exemption applications and levying taxes on property. Taxes are mailed by Aug. 15 and payment is due by Oct. 15. If a bill is not received by Aug. 30, a copy can be obtained at www. cobbtax.org.
Cobb County Tax Commissioner
736 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta 30064 770-528-8600
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. East Cobb Government Center 4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068-4233
South Cobb Government Center 4700 Austell Road, Austell 30106
Residents can go to these offices to pay taxes, file for exemptions
and conduct basic motor vehicle transactions.
UTILITIES
Water:
Cobb County Water System 660 South Cobb Drive SE, Marietta 30060
770-419-6200
cobbcounty.org/water
Gas: A complete list of all gas providers is located at www.psc. state.ga.us under the Natural Gas/ Approved Natural Gas Marketers provider. Gas is provided by Atlanta Gas Light but sold to consumers by a number of marketers.
Electric:
Cobb EMC 770-429-2100
Georgia Power 1-888-660-5890
Greystone Power 770-942-6576
Marietta Power 770-794-5150
Acworth Power 770-917-8903
TRASH AND RECYCLING
Cobb County does not provide countywide garbage or sanitation service, rather, several private companies provide these services. A number of them are listed below.
Garbage Collection (unincorporated Cobb County) American Disposal 678-720-0500
B Green Services 404-660-1392
Community Waste Disposal 770-382-0736
Custom Disposal Services 770-977-2788
Cycle Works Sanitation 770-592-1515
Hugh’s Garbage Service 770-529-9330
Plum Crazy Disposal 678-994-6269
Quality Sanitation Service 770-944-7769
Smith’s Sanitation 770-941-2498
Waste Management 678-495-0058
West Cobb Sanitation 770-499-1279
Garbage collection inside the city of: Acworth 770-917-8903
Austell 770-944-4325
Kennesaw 770-421-8582
Marietta 770-794-5595
Powder Springs 770-943-8010
Smyrna 678-631-5438
RECYCLING
Cobb County encourages its residents to recycle. Many of the municipalities offer curbside pickup of recyclables for city residents. If you live in unincorporated Cobb, you’ll need to contract with your garbage hauler for curbside recycling. Recycling Facilities
WestRock Recycling Center 1775 County Services Parkway SW Marietta 30008
678-403-3900
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Electronics Recycling Advanced Disposal Services (ADS) Transfer Station 1897 County Services Parkway SW, Marietta 30008 770-485-8940
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
TAG Grinding Services, Inc. Vegetative Waste Recovery Center 2150 County Services Parkway SW, Marietta 30008
Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information:
Keep Cobb Beautiful 770-528-1135
Keep Marietta Beautiful 770-794-5606
Keep Smyrna Beautiful 770-431-2863
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Cobb County School District
Enrollment 514 Glover Street, Marietta 30060 770-426-3300
Website: cobbk12.org
• Proof of residency
• Certified birth certificate from your state department of vital statistics or other accepted document
• Hearing, Dental, Vision and Nutrition Screening Certificate
• Certificate of Immunization
• Certain documents such as report card, transcript, discipline record and withdrawal form may be required if transferring schools.
Marietta City Schools
Enrollment 250 Howard St., Marietta 30060 770-422-3500
Website: www.marietta-city.org
Required enrollment documents:
• Birth Certificate
• Custody Documentation
• Hearing, Dental, Vision and Nutrition Screening Certificate
• Certificate of Immunization
• Proof of Residency
• Certain documents such as report card, transcript, discipline record and withdrawal form may be required if transferring schools.
Immunizations:
Contact Cobb and Douglas Public Health at 770-514-2300
Website: cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
South Cobb Service Center 4700 Austell Road, Austell 30106 770-499-4494
Cobb Elections and Registration 995 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, 30060 770-528-2581
Cobb Animal Services 1060 Al Bishop Dr., Marietta 30008 770-499-4136
Cobb Tax Assessor’s Office 736 Whitlock Avenue, Suite 200, Marietta, 30064 770-528-3100
Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs 1792 County Services Parkway SW, Marietta, 30008 770-528-8800
Cobb County Department of Transportation 1890 County Services Parkway SW, Marietta 30008 770-528-1600
Cobb County Library System 266 Roswell Street Marietta 30060 770-528-2320
Visit www.cobbcounty.org/library to find a branch near you Cobb County Police Department Headquarters Chief Stuart VanHoozer 545 S. Fairground Street, Marietta 30060
770-499-3900
Cobb Fire Department
Chief Bill Johnson 1595 County Services Parkway, Marietta, 30008
770-528-8000
Cobb Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Craig Owens 185 Roswell Street, Marietta 30060
770-499-4600
Cobb County Permit Office 1150 Powder Springs Street, Suite 400, Marietta, 30064
770-528-2060
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Business Licenses Office 1150 Powder Springs Street Marietta, 30064
770-528-8410
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
DO NOT CALL REGISTRY
The Do Not Call Registry accepts registrations from both cellphones and land lines. To register by telephone, call 1-888-382-1222. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. To register online (donotcall.gov), you will have to respond to a confirmation email.
POLICE & FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Call 911 for emergencies. Non-emergency numbers are listed below.
Acworth: Acworth Police Department 4440 Acworth Industrial Drive Acworth 30101 770-974-1232
Chief of Police: Jesse D. Evans jevans@acworth.org
Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Station 11 4550 Cowan Road, Acworth 30101 770-917-5150
Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Station 28 3858 Kemp Ridge Rd, Acworth, 30101 770-528-8000
Austell: Austell Police Department
2721 Joe Jerkins Boulevard Austell 30106, 770-944-4331
Chief of Police: Scott Hamilton Austell Fire Department
5300 Austell-Powder Springs Road SW, Austell 30106 770-944-4333
Fire Chief: Brandon Merritt bmerritt@austellga.gov
Kennesaw: Kennesaw Police Department 2539 J.O. Stephenson Avenue Kennesaw 30144 770-429-4532
Chief of Police: Bill Westenberger wwestenberger@kennesawga.gov
Marietta: Marietta Police Department 240 Lemon Street, Marietta 30060 770-794-5300
Chief of Police: Marty Ferrell mferrell@mariettaga.gov
Marietta Fire Department 112 Haynes St., Marietta 30060 770-794-5450
Fire Chief: Tim Milligan tmillig2@mariettaga.gov
Powder Springs: Powder Springs Police Department
1114 Richard D. Sailors Parkway P.O. Box 46
Powder Springs 30127 770-943-1616
Chief of Police: Lane Cadwell lcadwell@cityofpowdersprings. org
Smyrna: Smyrna Police Department 2646 Atlanta Road, Smyrna 30080 770-434-9481
Chief of Police: Keith Zgonc kzgonc@smyrnaga.gov
Smyrna Fire Department 2620 Atlanta Road, Smyrna 30080 770-434-6667
Fire Chief: Brian Marcos bmarcos@smyrnaga.gov
Cobb County Police Officer Nicholas Muncy with K-9 Metro, a Dutch Shepherd, after a training demonstration at the West Cobb Regional Library.
Jack Lindner
The city of ACWORTH
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Located just 35 miles north of Atlanta, Acworth boasts a historic downtown, two lakes, endless trails and greenspaces and a thriving commercial district all located in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains.
The city of Acworth was incorporated on Dec. 1, 1860, in a halfmile radius surrounding Northcutt Station, 15 years after the Western and Atlantic Railroad began laying tracks from Atlanta to Chattanooga. Its evolution from a railroad town to a vibrant and modern city is the result of a community built around “an exceptional leadership culture working with local partners and residents to preserve history with thoughtful growth for a community that exemplifies the quality of life that most Americans dream of,” city leaders state.
Acworth’s growth in the last 20 years has come with a focus on infrastructure, improvements in parks and recreational facilities and the goal of attracting a diverse range of businesses for a balanced commercial mix.
This Cobb County city is home to four beaches on two lakes: Lake Acworth is a 362-acre manmade body of water located southwest of the downtown area and sub-dammed from the larger Lake Allatoona. The lakes are separated by Highway 92. Cauble and South Shore Parks are nestled along Lake Acworth and Dallas Landing and Proctor Landing Parks are located on the shores of Lake Allatoona.
Acworth is known as “The Lake City” and is a favorite place for fishing, boating, kayaking and paddle boarding. Explore Georgia has named Lake Acworth as one of the six “Beaches for Family Fun” in the state of Georgia.
Acworth’s downtown area is composed of three unique districts, each with its own history and character. The Historic Downtown District is home to a two-block area of chef-driven restaurants and eclectic boutiques. The Parkside District is anchored by the expansive Logan Farm Park, the Acworth Community Center, and Acworth’s rich African-American history. Acworth’s Mill District is a newly branded district encompassing three different historic mill operations in Acworth’s walkable downtown area.
Acworth’s accolades are many, including being designated as a Georgia Exceptional Main Street City, which is awarded to those cities that preserve character and history while growing their downtowns. In addition, 14 years ago, it was named an All-America City and most recently, Acworth was one of two cities annually inducted into the All-America City Hall of Fame.
The city is surrounded by 14 parks and Cobblestone Golf Course, which is situated on the banks of Lake Acworth and has been named number 14 out of 215 public golf courses in Georgia by Golfweek.
Now home to more than 22,000 people, Acworth is governed by a mayor and Board of Aldermen, with the city manager running the day-to-day business of the city.
Places of Interest: See numerous places of interest all at once along the Acworth Historic Walking Tour. Participants will see houses, churches and buildings, many of which date back to the early 1800s. The city has more than 300 historic buildings. Enjoy visiting the three downtown districts and parking is free.
No matter the season, there is always something to see and do in the city’s 14 parks. Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona offer a range of fun activities. Dallas and Proctor Landing Parks (Lake Allatoona) are open from mid-April to mid-September.
In addition, the Acworth Sports Complex is home to the Acworth Warriors Football & Cheer and the Acworth Baseball Association. It’s also home to the Horizon Field, which is an adaptive field that allows therapeutic recreational programming for children and adults in the community with physical, social, and cognitive disabilities through the Horizon League. Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Department offers an extensive array of recreational programming and
community events throughout the year. Visit www.Acworthparksandrec.org or call 770-917-1234.
Annual Events: Acworth Art Fest; Live! At Logan Farm Park; Smoke on the Lake; Concert on the Green: A Juneteenth Celebration; 4th of July Concert and Fireworks at Cauble Park; M2R Traveling Fence Gallery; Concert on the Green: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month; Taste of Acworth; Acworth Turkey Chase 5K Fun Run; Santa’s Arrival and Acworth Menorah Lighting.
A Bit of History: The Cowan Historic Mill was built by John Cowan, who struck gold in Montana’s “Last Chance Gulch” in the mid 1800s. Cowan and three others from Acworth are credited with the founding of Helena, Montana. Acworth got its name from a railroad engineer named Joseph Gregg, who renamed the train stop after his hometown of Acworth, New Hampshire. Famous residents (now or former): American football quarterback (Clemson University and NFL Jacksonville Jaguars) Trevor Lawrence played for the Acworth Warriors; former professional wrestler and former Army Ranger Robert Lee Ross Jr., who is known by his ring name, Ranger Ross; professional soccer player Warren Creavalle; professional baseball player Clarke Schmidt and PGA Tour and World Golf Hall of Fame Member Larry Nelson. What’s New in Acworth: The Public Art Master Plan is under way as the city looks forward to new public art and placement opportunities within the community as a way to enhance its public spaces while showcasing the city’s vibrancy and culture. The new Historic Downtown Walking Tour Web-Based App features more than 30 historic Acworth properties. Two conveniently located touch-screen information kiosks can now be found at the Acworth Community Center and the Acworth Depot History Center to help visitors find the best places to eat, shop and explore in Acworth’s downtown districts.
Acworth City Hall
4415 Center Street, Acworth 30101 770-974-3112, www.acworth-ga.gov. The Board of Aldermen meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month at City Hall in the council chambers.
Board of Aldermen:
Tommy Allegood, Mayor
678-801-4024
tallegood@ acworth-ga.gov
Toby Carmichael, Post 1 678-801-4008
tcarmichael@acworth-ga.gov
Steve Prather, Post 2 678-801-4004
sprather@acworth-ga.gov
Brett North, Post 3 678-801-4006
bnorth@acworth-ga.gov
Tim Richardson, Post 4 678-801-4009
trichardson@acworth-ga.gov
Tim Houston, Post 5 678-508-2801
thouston@acworth-ga.gov
Jesse Evans, Chief of Police 770-974-1232
jevans@acworth-ga.gov
The city of AUSTELL
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Almost 8,000 residents call this 6-square-mile Cobb County city home. Historically recognized as a therapeutic city, Austell rose to fame as a natural health resort.
Originally called Salt Springs for its lithium-rich water springs believed to have medicinal qualities, the city thrived as a tourist destination in the early 20th century as the springs brought about the establishment of several resort spas.
Incorporated in 1885, the city was named for Gen. Alfred Austell, a banker and railroad builder who organized the Atlanta National Bank and served on the first Atlanta Board of Education. Austell was home to the first transit station and division site of the old Georgia Pacific Railway for routes to Birmingham and Chattanooga. The railway helped the city grow and attracted trainspotters with its historic merging railways in the heart of the town. Today it is host to one of the region’s largest variety of trains and attracts railfans from everywhere because of these two merging railways.
Cobb County’s first public school was built in Austell in 1890 where Austell Elementary is now located. Austell established long ago to be a “city of opportunity” and strives for growth for its citizens and businesses. Today, the city manages 91 acres of green space, parks and trails including Sweetwater Creek, which offers fishing and kayaking experiences. Austell remains one of “Cobb County’s best kept secrets” providing an easy-going, small-town atmosphere, but still within arm’s reach of Atlanta.
The city is located less than 20 miles west of downtown Atlanta. It has easy access to I-20 and I-285 and is conveniently nestled within minutes of Arbor Place Mall, Hiram shopping centers, Cumberland Mall, Town Center and Kennesaw State University. Six Flags over Georgia and Sweetwater Creek State Park are each only minutes away.
Governed by a 6-member council, the city of Austell is led by Mayor Ollie Clemons who was elected in January 2020 as the first Black mayor to serve the city in its history.
Places of Interest: Lithia Springs Water at Frog Rock; disc golf at Suggs Memorial Park; Sweetwater Creek for fishing and kayaking; railfanning as rail lines from the west and north merge downtown, coupled with the intermodal railyard offer some of the best opportunities for diverse rail sightings. In addition, restaurants, shopping, area parks and Six Flags Over Georgia are all nearby.
Annual Events: Austell BBQ, Blues & Brews live music and food festival; Lighting of the Green Tree and Santa’s Arrival.
A Bit of History: As Austell’s fame as a natural health resort grew, several spas opened and were visited by
dignitaries of all kinds. The city became the home to Mae “Louise” Suggs, one of the founding members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Her course is now the Frog Rock Disc Golf venue, one of the highest rated disc golf courses in the region.
Famous Residents (now and former): Children’s author James Dashner was born in Austell and best known for writing “The 13th Reality” series as well as the “Jimmy Fincher Saga.” He published “The Maze Runner” in 2009, which was turned into a 2014 film starring Dylan O’Brien and Kaya Scodelario. Other famous people from Austell include LPGA founding member Mae “Louise” Suggs and Singer Ray Stevens.
What’s new in Austell: The city of has moved its Police Department and City Hall to the new City of Austell Municipal Annex at the historic Threadmill Complex. The Coats and Clark Threadmill Complex is now a restored multi-use facility housing numerous city, county, and state offices as well private offices. A Scottish textile business, the Clark Thread Company, purchased the old Acworth Hosier Mill in 1894. In 1932 Clark built Clarkdale, a planned community in Georgia. Engineers and a construction firm were hired to create the entire mixed-use community on 50 acres. The Coats and Clark Threadmill was built on top of a hill, surrounded to the west at the bottom of the hill by 138 homes on tree-lined streets. The recreation facilities and green spaces planned in the original village and added during its first 20 years remain part of the historic district. In 1950, the mill civic association added Pineview Lake and stocked it with fish. The mill began selling the homes to residents in the 1960s. After the mill’s thread making operations ceased in 1983, the new owners nominated the district to the National Register of Historic Places, noting that the village remains today almost without intrusion as it was first designed and built. The Clarkdale Mill and Village were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
City of Austell Municipal Annex 5000 Austell Powder Springs Road Austell 30106 770-944-4300 www.austellga.gov
City Council meetings are held the first Monday of each month at City Hall at 7 p.m.
Ollie Clemons Jr., Mayor mayor@austellga.gov 770-944-4328
City Council Members:
Marlin Lamar, Ward 1 mlamar@austellga.gov 404-808-4003
Devon D. Myrick, Ward 2 dmyrick@austellga.gov 470-922-4632
Meredith Adams, Ward 3 madams@austellga.gov 470-366-1727
Sandra Leverette, Ward 4 sleverette@austellga.gov 470-755-4590
Melanie Maria Elder, At-Large, Post 1 melder@austellga.gov 470-922-4631
Valerie Anderson, At-Large, Post 2 vanderson@austellga.gov 470-755-4589
Austell Police Department 5000 Austell Powder Springs Rd., Ste. 202, Austell 770-944-4331
Scott Hamilton, Chief of Police 678-564-0888
Austell Fire and Emergency Services 5300 Austell Powder Springs Road, Austell 30106 770-944-4333
Brandon Merritt, Fire Chief 770-944-4333 bmerritt@austellga.gov
The city of KENNESAW
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Once known as Big Shanty, Cobb County’s city of Kennesaw is certainly no longer a shanty, but it is big.
More than 1,600 businesses call Kennesaw home, as do almost 34,000 residents; a population increase of 1,189 since 2000. A successful and growing community, Kennesaw’s median household income is close to $74,000. Those are just the numbers. The other part of the story includes its people and its legendary history.
Kennesaw began in the 1830s when the Georgia Legislature authorized construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad line through the region. Several small towns were founded along the railroad, including Smyrna, Acworth and Big Shanty. Historians say the abundance of water and high ground adjacent to the railroad led to the construction of the railroad workers’ shanties, or shacks near present-day Kennesaw. As time went on, Big Shanty became home to those working on the railroad, along with other families moving into the area. The community continued to grow and would keep that name until long after the historic role it played in America’s Civil War — a role made famous today through books and movies. The 1956 Disney movie “The Great Locomotive Chase” tells the story.
On April 12, 1862, Union spies secretly boarded a northbound train at Marietta which was powered by the locomotive, The General. At Big Shanty, the crew and passengers left the train to eat breakfast at the Lacy Hotel and in plain view of Confederate soldiers, the Union raiders stole The General and headed north to destroy the Western and Atlantic Railroad.
President Joe Biden recently awarded the Medal of Honor to Philip Gephart Shadrach and Pvt. George Davenport Wilson, two Union soldiers who took part in the raid.
Big Shanty lay in ruins following the Civil War, but by the 1870s, the town was beginning to recover. Stores sprang up, churches were built and the railroad was reconstructed. On Sept. 21, 1887, a petition for incorporation was presented to the Georgia Legislature and the city of Kennesaw was born. In the years that followed, Kennesaw endured ups and downs, as did most places in the South, where cotton was king until the boll weevil destroyed the industry and then in the early 20th century, the Great Depression took its toll across the country.
City historians say Kennesaw began its upward economic trek in the 1980s. Today, Kennesaw is home to some of the region’s top businesses and industries, as well as the site of the third largest university in the state — Kennesaw State University.
The city made national news in 1982 when it unanimously passed a law requiring “every head of household to maintain a firearm together with ammunition.” After passage of the law, reports state the burglary rate in Kennesaw declined and the city is now often included on the list of the safest cities in Georgia.
As it grows, the city continues to move forward on its master plan designed to serve the community. Part of that plan is now complete as Kennesaw residents turned out to celebrate the opening of the new Piedmont Bank Amphitheater, which will now be a community gathering site.
“The Piedmont Bank Amphitheater at Depot Park represents a significant milestone for Downtown Kennesaw,” Mayor Derek Easterling said. “With its unveiling, our community can look forward to a vibrant venue of cultural and entertainment experiences. The Piedmont Bank Amphitheater is poised to redefine how locals and
visitors alike engage with the arts, music and community gatherings. Its centralized presence symbolizes our commitment to fostering a dynamic and enriching environment, where creativity flourishes and shared experiences create community.”
Places of Interest: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park showcases the history of the Civil War where more than 67,000 soldiers died. The park was under the authority of the War Department in 1917, and was made part of the National Park System in 1933. The 2,888-acre park includes the site of some of the heaviest fighting of the Atlanta Campaign in the Civil War. Swift-Cantrell Park, the city’s largest community park features two playgrounds, three picnic pavilions, open turf, asphalt trails, splash pad, dog park, lighted skatepark and a wellness station. Swift-Cantrell includes an 18,500-square-foot inclusive playground. Other places of interest include The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History; Downtown’s Depot Park; Kennesaw State University and the Smith-Gilbert Gardens, a 16-acre botanical garden which includes the Hiram Butler House, dating to the 1880s.
Annual Events: Kennesaw Concert Series; garden events, such as Art Blooms and the Garden With Wings butterfly exhibit; Trains! Trains! Trains!; Big Shanty Arts & Crafts Festival; Kennesaw Grand Prix 5K Series; Civil War History Day; Railroad Rendezvous; Salute to America; Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival; Taste of Kennesaw; A Day With Santa and All Aboard for Holiday Fun.
A Bit of History: The city’s name comes from the Cherokee word pronounced Gahneesah, which is what the Native Americans called Kennesaw Mountain. Today, The General locomotive is on display at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, a Smithsonian affiliate. The museum also has two Medals of Honor in its collection. Some of the Union raiders were the first to be awarded
MAIN STREET ON THE MOVE
From hometown history to hopping hotspots, burgers and brews to rhythm and views, there’s always something new to discover in Downtown Kennesaw.
Grab your favorite morning coffee and find a sunny spot to watch Main Street come to life. Meet the crew for lunch and a leisurely sidewalk storefront stroll. Explore some local history then make tracks to grab your favorite sweet treat. Catch up over a local brew, then catch a concert in the park. Every day, you’ll find a new way to play right here at home.
Welcome to Downtown Kennesaw. Welcome to Main Street on the Move.
the Medal of Honor by Congress for their actions.
Famous residents (now and former): Actor Taylor McPherson was born in Kennesaw and is known for roles in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay”; “Fast & Furious 7”; “Vampire Diaries”; “The Nice Guys” and “Den of Thieves.” Others include Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields; American journalist and host of CNN’s Student News Carl Azuz and actress, writer, producer and owner of Greenlight Acting Studio in Kennesaw, Erin Bethea.
What’s New in Kennesaw? The city held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration for The Piedmont Bank Amphitheater. The event also featured the first concert of the new Kennesaw Concert Series, which was presented by Wellstar Health System. The Piedmont Bank Amphitheater at Depot Park features a 50-by-42-foot stage, with a back of house and lawn space to hold up to 3,000 people. The Piedmont Bank Amphitheater will host a variety of annual Kennesaw events each year, including the Kennesaw Concert Series, Salute to America and A Day with Santa. The grand opening signifies the completion of Phase 8 of the Depot Park Master Plan.
Kennesaw City Hall
2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue Kennesaw 30144 770-424-8274
City Council meets at 6:30 p.m., the first and third Monday of every month in the council chambers at City Hall.
Derek Easterling, Mayor 770-424-8274
deasterling@kennesaw-ga.gov
Council Members: Madelyn Orochena, Post 1 470-786-8771 morochena@kennesaw-ga.gov
Tracey Viars, Post 2 404-822-8589 tviars@kennesaw-ga.gov
Pat Ferris, Post 3 404-599-5761 pferris@kennesaw-ga.gov
Antonio Jones, Post 4 404-599-6189 ajones@kennesaw-ga.gov
Anthony Gutierrez, Post 5 404-599-6185 agutierrez@kennesaw-ga.gov
Kennesaw Police Department
2539 J.O. Stephenson Avenue Kennesaw 30144 770-429-4535
Bill Westenberger, Chief of Police 770-429-4535
wwestenberger@kennesawga.gov.
The city of MABLETON
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Mableton has been selected by the renowned Tunnel to Towers Foundation as home for its newest facility.
Tunnel to Towers (T2T), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting America’s first responders, Gold Star families and military veterans is continuing its commitment to eradicating veteran homelessness by turning the former Wingate by Wyndam hotel into a Veterans Village.
Long-term living spaces will include apartments, a gym, business center, great room, cafeteria and commercial kitchen for the almost 100 male and female veterans who will be living there. The T2T Veterans Village will be located at 65 South Service Road in Mableton.
Being chosen as the site for the T2T facility is a boon to Cobb County’s newest and largest city. In a November 2022 referendum, voters approved the creation of Cobb’s seventh city by a decision of 53 percent to 47 percent.
The newly formed city of Mableton has about 77,500 residents across a broad swath of south Cobb. Roughly speaking, the city is bordered by Douglas County to the southwest, the Chattahoochee River and the city of Smyrna to the southeast and east, Flint Hill Road and the city of Austell to the west and Hurt Road/East-West Connector to the north.
The city is governed by a mayor and six council members, with each council member being elected by the voters of their district and the mayor elected citywide. Its first municipal elections were held in the spring of 2023, and the mayor and council conducted its first meeting that May.
State law allows for a two-year period when the city may phase in services and get the government up and running. During that time, Mableton officials will decide which services it wants to take over from Cobb, then negotiate with the county to make it happen.
The city elected to levy no property taxes in the 2024 fiscal year. For now, the city plans to fund itself via insurance premiums, franchise fees, motor vehicle taxes, building permits and occupation taxes.
The new city has not been without its critics. After the cityhood referendum passed, residents opposed to incorporation lobbied the Georgia Legislature to deannex areas which voted against the city, but were unsuccessful.
A group of residents filed a lawsuit alleging the creation of the city was unconstitutional, but in the spring of 2024, the city celebrated a legal victory as Cobb County Superior Court Judge Sonya Brown issued the final order granting the respondent’s motion to dismiss in the case challenging the city’s incorporation. The court determined that the legislation establishing the city of Mableton, approved by voters in November 2022, complies with Georgia law. The court’s decision affirms the legitimacy of Mableton’s incorporation as a city.
“Mableton has won decisions at the General Assembly, at the Governor’s Office, at the ballot box and now in the courts,” Mableton Mayor Michael Owens said. “We are here to stay and look forward to a future of growth, progress and unity as we continue to build our city and serve and represent the interests of our residents.”
Mableton was previously a city from 1912 to 1916. After a brief stint of self-government, residents persuaded the state Legislature to abolish the town’s charter amid rising costs related to flood control.
Places of Interest: The Mable House, Mable House Amphitheater and Arts Center, Discovery Park at the River Line and Silver Comet Trail. Six Flags Over Georgia is located in Mableton’s City Limits. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six
Flags chain following the original Six Flags Over Texas, which opened in 1961. Six Flags Over Georgia is one of three parks in the Six Flags chain to have been founded by Angus G. Wynne.
A Bit of History: From 1912-1916, Dr. H.A. Glore served as Mableton’s first mayor. The town owes its name to Scottish immigrant Robert Mable, who purchased 300 acres in the area on Sept. 11, 1843. Mable, a millwright and farmer, was a notable figure in the community, growing crops such as cotton, corn, potatoes and sorghum. The Robert Mable House and Cemetery, remnants of his legacy, now serve as a historical site and venue for public events.
Famous Residents (now or former): Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes was born in Mableton.
Annual Events: Taste of Mableton in April
What’s New: CobbWorks celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Cobb Work Source Center in Mableton with more than 50 people in attendance. With a $4 million-plus investment, CobbWorks will renovate the Old Mableton Fire Station I, transforming it into CobbWorks’ second workforce development center in Cobb County. The 10,000-square-foot facility will operate as a full-service workforce development center and co-working space, providing job seekers and businesses with a wealth of free resources and services. This includes access to a computer lab and Wi-Fi, job search assistance, professional development workshops, literacy services, employment placement and funding support for skills training. These resources will be instrumental in helping individuals secure employment and advance in their careers. The center’s impact will not be limited to individuals. It will also play a vital role in revitalizing the business sector. The center will offer business coaching, incubation, a full-service business services team, and a full range of resources to help entrepreneurs and small businesses overcome obstacles and enhance their capabilities.
The City of Mableton now has a website; a location for people to visit during office hours and a regular meeting schedule. Meetings are the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Riverside Epicenter located at 135 Riverside Parkway. For more information, visit the city’s website at https://mableton.gov.
City Council
Michael Owens, Mayor michael@owens formableton.com
Ron Davis, District 1
Dami Oladapo, District 2
Keisha Jeffcoat, District 3
Patricia Auch, District 4
TJ Ferguson, District 5
Debora Herndon, District 6
LEANINTOYOURNEWCITY. Growwithus,thrivewithus, andgetinvolved.
The city of MARIETTA
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
It is a record no one wants to break.
For the 23rd year in a row, the city of Marietta has not increased its tax millage rate. Cobb’s county seat balances its budget each year and takes care of business — including the 6,500 businesses who call Marietta home. Some of the top employers in the region are on that roster, including Home Depot, Lockheed Martin, Wellstar Health System and others.
With a daytime population of 100,000, almost 57,000 people live in the city, which is located 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. At 23 square miles, Marietta is blessed with an abundance of history, natural resources, famous people, beautiful houses, thriving businesses and a growing arts and culture community. It is often called “The Gem City” and no doubt, it is a jewel for Cobb County. Its historic downtown square is the heart of the city and where residents and visitors gather to enjoy locally owned restaurants, shops and art galleries. Recent renovations of private properties on Church Street in the Marietta Square are nearing completion and promise to bring several new businesses to the downtown area, including restaurants and retail shops. The city also has five National Register historic districts, in addition to being close to Kennesaw Mountain.
Arts and culture are at the forefront of entertainment in Marietta, which is home to several professional theaters, including the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre and the New Theatre in the Square. Each first Friday of the month, Marietta celebrates the arts together on the square during the Marietta Square Art Walk. The square is also home to the 1.35-acre Glover Park, which features a three-tiered fountain, gazebo and playground. The park regularly hosts city festivals and concerts. Historic buildings, restaurants and shops are all around the Marietta Square, making it a popular site. A quick snapshot of the square reveals 58 restaurants; 30 retailers; 14 murals; seven art galleries; five museums and three theaters.
History shows the first residents lived in the area in the 1830s, with local surveyor James Anderson creating the first town plat in 1833, and the state Legislature chartering Marietta the following year. The most popular theory on how the city got its name is that it was named after Mary Moore Cobb, wife of the man for whom Cobb County is named, U.S. Sen. Thomas Cobb.
Marietta has known its share of difficult days. Union Gen. William T. Sherman occupied the city in 1864, after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Upon his departure, Union troops destroyed around 20 homes, the Georgia Military Institute and burned many buildings to the ground. Despite its devastation, Marietta managed to recover after the war. Prosperous families started moving in and building large, beautiful homes throughout its downtown, many of which are still standing today.
Mills began to open and The Brumby Chair Company started manufacturing rocking chairs, while Glover Machine Works set about producing narrow-gauge locomotives.
While war once brought disaster, decades later it would set Marietta on an upward economic trajectory that continues to this day. Bell Aircraft Corp. opened its Bell Bomber Plant in Marietta during World War II, turning the city into one of the Sunbelt’s main industrial centers as it worked to help win the war. Bell Bomber’s Marietta assembly lines supplied the U.S. Army Forces with 663
Boeing-designed B-29s, and at its peak, employed almost 30,000 workers, making Marietta a hub for aviation, which helped spur tremendous economic growth in the area.
After the war, the plant closed and sat idle until 1951, when it became home to Lockheed-Georgia, now known as Lockheed Martin, one of the world’s top global security and aerospace corporations. Marietta is also home to Dobbins Air Reserve base, which states its purpose is to “provide mission ready forces.”
Places of Interest: Marietta’s Black Heritage Walking Tour; Mountain to River Trail; Marietta Square Market Food Hall; The Strand Theatre; Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum; Marietta History Center; Marietta Square; Elizabeth Porter Park and Sprayground; Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.
Annual Events: Marietta the Gathering; Glover Park Concert Series; Taste of Marietta; May-retta Daze Arts & Crafts Festival; Juneteenth; July 4th Annual Parade, Festival and Fireworks; Art in the Park; Harvestfest; Chalktoberfest and Santa on the Square.
A Bit of History: The city was home to the Georgia Military Institute’s first superintendent, Col. Arnoldus V. Brumby. The Georgia Military Institute was founded in Marietta in 1851, and modeled on a curriculum similar to West Point. Many GMI students were called to active duty during the Civil War and the school was burned by Union
troops in 1864. Marietta Square is built on land that was donated by the city’s first mayor, John H. Glover in 1852.
Famous Residents (now and former): County music singer Travis Tritt; celebrity chef and author, Alton Brown and Academy-awardwinning actress Joanne Woodward, who was the wife of actor Paul Newman. Also on the list is the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, who lived in Marietta while representing Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. This list includes former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, whose law practice sits just off the Square and Alan Ball, a writer and producer for such popular TV shows as “Here and Now,” “True Blood” and “Six Feet Under.”
What’s New in Marietta? Marietta is home to Atlanta United’s Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, which is undergoing a $23 million expansion that will double the footprint of its headquarters. Wellstar is building a nine-story, $300 million tower, which will be its largest building on the Kennestone campus. Construction was completed on the Marietta Fire Training Tower, the latest addition to the Marietta Public Safety Training Center. The five-story, multifaceted tower is designed to simulate fire scenarios, allowing firefighters to hone their skills for residential and commercial environments. With this addition, Marietta firefighters can complete all required training at the location within the city rather than traveling to outside agencies.
Marietta City Hall
205 Lawrence Street
Marietta 30060
770-794-5530
City Council meets the second Wednesday of every month in the council chambers of City Hall at 7 p.m.
Steve “Thunder” Tumlin, Mayor
770-794-5501
stumlin@mariettaga.gov
Council Members: Cheryl Richardson, Ward 1 770-794-5526
crichardson@mariettaga.gov
Griffin L. Chalfant, Ward 2 770-351-7035
gchalfant@mariettaga.gov
Johnny Walker, Ward 3 770-794-5526
johnny.walker@mariettaga.gov
G.A. “Andy” Morris, Ward 4 770-527-2785
amorris@mariettaga.gov
M. Carlyle Kent, Ward 5 770-794-5526 mckent@mariettaga.gov
Andre L. Sims, Ward 6 770-794-5526
asims@mariettaga.gov
brumby@brumbyrocker.com Visit us online at: brumbyrocker.com
Joseph Goldstein, Ward 7 770-794-5526
jgoldstein@mariettaga.gov
Marietta Police Department 240 Lemon Street Marietta 30060 770-794-5300
David Beam, Police Chief dbeam@mariettaga.gov
Marietta Fire Department 112 Haynes Street Marietta 30060 770-794-5450
Tim Milligan, Fire Chief tmillig2@mariettaga.gov
Marietta Water 770-794-5150
Marietta Property Tax Division 770-7945680
The city of POWDER SPRINGS
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Powder Springs first saw growth come its way when prospectors traveled to these parts in the 1820s looking for gold.
Small amounts were reportedly found at Lost Mountain and in the area near Brownsville Road. A community began to grow and by 1838, it was incorporated as Springville.
The name referred to the seven springs found within the boundaries of the city. The water of these springs is said to contain around 26 different minerals, some of which turn the sand black, making it look much like gunpowder. In 1859, the city was renamed Powder Springs.
Like other Cobb County cities, Powder Springs grew in conjunction with the railroad. The Seaboard Coastline rail ran through the city and eventually became known as the Silver Comet Trail, named after a train. Today, the Silver Comet Trail is a popular running and cycling trail that goes from nearby Smyrna to the Georgia-Alabama state line. The City of Powder Springs’ Silver Comet Linear Park is now the site of a professional skatepark.
In addition to its expected population growth and development this year, the City of Powder Springs will see the expansion of its borders following the annexation of properties on both sides of Barrett Parkway, north of the intersection of East West Connector and Powder Springs Road.
While it was the lure of finding gold that first brought settlers to this Cobb County community, today’s Powder Springs is “striking gold” of a different kind as it renovates its downtown and adds a mixed-use development to a city already alive with events, festivals, parks, restaurants, shopping and businesses.
In the heart of the city’s downtown is Thurman Springs Park, which, since it opened in 2020, has become the hub for city events, such as the city’s 4th of July Celebration, the “Sounds of the Springs” summer concert series, family movie nights, monthly Marketplace events with food trucks and farmer’s market-type vendors, and more. The park’s amphitheater hosts live performances during these festivals and events, plus a spring and fall lunchtime concert series, while the park’s free splash pad allows visitors to cool off during the warmer months.
Across from Thurman Springs Park, named in honor of Mayor Al Thurman, is the city of Powder Springs’ former Municipal Court building, which will be renovated and expanded to become the site of a new Powder Springs City Hall and parking deck. The project is set to be completed in early 2025.
Marietta Street runs through downtown Powder Springs and includes numerous longtime businesses, such as Hand-Me-Up’s Consignment and Pear Tree Home Florist Gifts, while relative newcomers include Skint Chestnut Brewing Company, SGC Chicken and Seafood and Sangster’s Cafe, the latter a Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee shop that also offers breakfast and lunch fare.
The 2024 opening of Springside Apartments downtown and the rollout of apartments at Heartwood Powder Springs on Brownsville Road that began in fall 2023 are bolstering the city’s tax base and also bringing new residents to enjoy city businesses and other offerings.
Places of Interest: Thurman Springs Park, its amphitheater and splash pad; the Silver Comet Trail; Silver Comet Linear Park; Powder Springs Park; Seven Springs Water Park; the Seven Springs Museum and Wildhorse Creek BMX track. Also of interest, Historic Downtown Powder Springs and The Southern Quilt Trail, which originated in Powder Springs and works to promote and preserve the history of traditional folk art quilt patterns handed down from generations. Stop by the “Welcome to Powder Springs” mural on the side of Sangster’s Cafe on Marietta Street. It is the 50th mural by John W. Christian Studios and is part of the Georgia Mural Trail.
Annual Events: Spring Chicken Run benefiting Sweetwater Mission; National Day of Prayer; Memorial Day and Veterans Day commemorations at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Powder Springs Library; Juneteenth; 4th of July Celebration; family nights at Thurman Springs Park; Summer Concert Series and the Brown Bag Concert Series in the spring and fall. Other events include the Fall Festival featuring the city’s Trunk or Treat; hosting of the Mountain 2 River Fence Gallery in the fall in and around Thurman Springs Park and the City’s annual Christmas Parade the first Friday in December.
A Bit of History: In the 1850s, Powder Springs was a health resort. Doctors prescribed a trip to the springs and treatments of various lengths for patients with serious kidney and bladder diseases. Before the settlers arrived, the area’s seven springs were well known to the indiginous people who lived there.
The Cherokee and Creek called the site Gunpowder Springs because of the mineral bearing sulfur and blackish sediment in the springs. Native Americans used the water of the springs for medicinal purposes and would bring their sick to the springs to take advantage of the curative power of the minerals. The spring located in the City of Powder Springs Park by Powder Creek was the most popular. It supplied water for the town of Powder Springs for many years as its only public water supply.
Famous Residents: NFL guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr., a 2020 draft pick who played for the Super Bowl LVI-winning Los Angeles Rams and on Clemson University’s 2016 and 2018 season national title-winning squads. Myles Rowe, the first African-American driver to win a major U.S. open-wheel championship, the 2023 USF Pro 2000 title. Actress Robyn Elaine Lively, who is known for her roles in “Teen Witch,” “Karate Kid III,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “Twin Peaks” and “Saving Grace.” Author, humorist and commentator on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” Lauretta Hannon; A.W. Young, second baseman for the Atlanta Black Crackers Negro League and vice president of the Cobb County branch of the NAACP; Lionel Watts, member of the All-League Baseball Team for the Georgia Cracker League and Johnny Hill, remembered for his .338 batting average that led the Atlanta Crackers to win the Dixie Series in 1938.
What’s New in Powder Springs? The City’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department was recognized last year at the Georgia Recreation and Park Association Awards Banquet in Athens as the 2023 Agency of the Year (Population under 20,000). The department manages 47 acres of park space as well as the Patricia C. Vaughn Cultural Arts
Center, the multipurpose Ford Center Reception Hall and the Seven Springs Museum at the Bodiford House. Last year also saw the department open the city’s new Skate Park at Silver Comet Linear Park, which welcomed several pro skaters and skate enthusiasts at an October 2023 grand opening event.
The city was one of 310 grantees selected to receive a 2023 AARP Community Challenge grant from AARP Livable Communities and AARP Georgia. Through the grant, the City was able to install five new, permanent bike racks in the downtown area, each decorated by a local artist, to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. The city purchased the bike racks and partnered with the South Cobb Arts Alliance to have artists paint them. Through the partnership, the city was able to work with Tapp Middle School and McEachern High Schoolto paint two of them. The city plans to add two more bike racks and work with SCAA to paint and install, bringing the total to seven in a nod to the city’s historic seven springs.
Powder Springs City Hall
Due to renovations and a move to a new location, public access to operations out of City Hall is temporarily located at the Powder Springs Police Department, 1114 Richard D. Sailors Parkway 770-943-1666 cityofpowdersprings.org
City Council typically meets the first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m., with the exception of July through September along with December, with only one meeting normally held in those months. Meetings are held at the Patricia C. Vaughn Cultural Arts Center, 4181 Atlanta Street.
Al Thurman
Mayor
770-943-1666, ext. 309 athurman@cityofpowdersprings.org
Council Members:
Henry Lust Ward 1
770-943-1666, ext. 322 hlust@cityofpowdersprings.org
Doris Dawkins Ward 2
770-943-1666, ext. 323 ddawkins@cityofpowdersprings.org
Dwayne Green Ward 3
770-943-1666, ext. 324 dgreen@cityofpowdersprings.org
Dwight McMutry At-Large, Post 1 770-943-1666, ext. 321 dmcmutry@cityofpowdersprings.org
Patricia Wisdom At-Large, Post 2 770-943-1666, ext. 320 pwisdom@cityofpowdersprings.org
Lane Cadwell
Chief of Police
770-943-1616 lcadwell@cityofpowdersprings.org
City of Powder Springs Police Department 1114 Richard D. Sailors Pkwy. Powder Springs 30127 770-943-1616
THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING WORTH STEPPING OUT FOR
photos by Liz By Design Photography
The city of SMYRNA
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
With an estimated population at 56,268, the city of Smyrna has seen significant growth in the past 20 years.
In 2010, Smyrna had 50,242 residents; as numbers from the past two decades show the city has had an overall 12 percent increase in its population. Smyrna is one of the top 20 largest cities in Georgia and is the Cobb County city that is closest to Atlanta, which is about 10 miles away. While it has been around for 152 years, the city of Smyrna is a young city, with 26 percent of its residents between the ages of 20-34 years old. The median age in Smyrna is 36.8 years old. Known as The Jonquil City, Smyrna offers a beautiful and bustling community. Thousands of jonquils bloom throughout the city each year, bringing residents and tourists to Smyrna’s thriving downtown region.
2400 Cobb Parkway SE, Smyrna 30080 Close to Cumberland Mall, Truist Park, and right off of I-75 470-308-3333 www.chowkingcobb.com
Several areas make up the city’s downtown, including the Market Village and The Village Pavilion, which is adjacent to the Market Village and the new Village Green Park area. There is also the newly redeveloped downtown area known as Village Green Park, which includes a new playground; a green that expands the pedestrian gathering area; a new water feature, as well as other pedestrianfriendly enhancements. Downtown is also home to King Street where City Hall is located. The Village Green Park area includes the Community Center and the Smyrna Public Library. There are shops and restaurants in the downtown within the Market Village and the Village Pavilion. The 20th Century Veterans Memorial is also located downtown adjacent to the library.
The region’s hikers and bicyclists know Smyrna well since it is the start of the popular Silver Comet Trail. The 61.5- mile trail begins at the Mavell Road Trailhead in Smyrna and ends at the GeorgiaAlabama state line. The Silver Comet pedestrian and bike trail runs through Smyrna and the city runs along the Chattahoochee River at Riverview Landing, which is adjacent to a brewery and recreational activities.
The community was originally known as Ruff’s Siding and later Varner’s Station. As it began to grow up around the nearby Smyrna Camp Ground, the area was later named Smyrna. The city is little more than 15 square miles in size and operates under a form of government with a mayor and council members representing seven wards and elected to four-year terms. The governing body appoints a city administrator to serve as the city’s chief administrative officer. Smyrna has been recognized for its achievements and is a previous recipient of the prestigious Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence.
Places of Interest: Truist Park is at the entrance to Smyrna at I-285 via Spring Road, which leads to downtown Smyrna. Brawner Hall and Taylor-Brawner Park, home of the Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays, are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown dining opportunities abound in The Market Village, as well as The Village Pavilion with other places to eat and drink nearby, including alongside the Chattahoochee River.
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Annual Events: The Spring Jonquil Festival and the Crafts & Drafts Festival herald in the spring season and welcome the fall in Smyrna. In between, there are summer concerts, weekly Food Truck Tuesdays, weekly Handmade Market, Taste of Smyrna in September and the now famous Smyrna Birthday Celebration with fireworks and stage performances paired with the Culture & Spirit Festival. During the holidays, the city hosts Coming Home for the Holidays and the downtown annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
A Bit of History: Incorporated in 1872, Smyrna, like all of Cobb County sits on former Cherokee land. Its name originated in the Bible, which is fitting since it began as a religious campground. The first European settlers in the area came sometime around 1832, and built a religious encampment called Smyrna Camp Ground, which became a popular travel destination. It began to grow significantly after 1842, when the Western and Atlantic Railroad was completed.
Famous Residents: Academy Award-winning actress and Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts; the late Smyrna Mayor Lorena Pruitt was the first female mayor elected in the state of Georgia (1946); retired American football player Hines Ward and Fanny Williams, who was known for her legacy of activism and social justice.
What’s New in Smyrna: A plan for significant and transformative changes to the downtown area that came after the citizen input phase of what to do with nine downtown acres purchased by the city. Redevelopment plans for those nine acres and other properties already owned by the city are to be based on a major amount of citizen input and careful planning regarding market analysis combined with community desires that will take place throughout the next couple of years. Residents should also expect enhancements to parks and recreation offerings, including facilities, as well as future changes to South Cobb Drive between Windy Hill Boulevard and Concord Road, along with the completion of Windy Hill Boulevard.
Smyrna City Hall
2800 King Street Smyrna, GA 30080
770-434-6600
smyrnaga.gov
City Council meets at 7 p.m. every other Monday. As the schedule is subject to change, check the city website at www. SmyrnaGa.gov for meeting dates, updates and changes.
Derek Norton, Mayor 678-631-5302
dnorton@smyrnaga.gov
City Council Members:
Glenn Pickens, Ward 1 678-631-5306
gpickens@smyrnaga.gov
Latonia P. Hines, Ward 2 678-631-5307
lphines@smyrnaga.gov
Travis Lindley, Ward 3 678-631-5308
tlindley@smyrnaga.gov
Charles “Corkey” Welch, Ward 4 678-631-5309
cwelch@smyrnaga.gov
Susan Wilkinson, Ward 5 678-631-5310
swilkinson@smyrnaga.gov
Tim Gould, Mayor Pro Tem, Ward 6 678-631-5311
tgould@smyrnaga.gov
Rickey Oglesby Jr., Ward 7 678-631-5312 roglesby@smyrnaga.gov
Smyrna Police Department 2646 Atlanta Road Smyrna, GA 30080
770-434-9481
Keith Zgonc, Police Chief 678-631-5100
kzgonc@smyrnaga.gov
Smyrna Fire Department 2620 Atlanta Road Smyrna, GA 30080
770-434-6667
Brian Marcos, Fire Chief 770-434-6667
bmarcos@smyrnaga.gov
We are a well-rounded community alive with community spirit, a touch of urban chic and plenty of down-home natural charm.
Nestled among lush trees, you’ll feel at home in our diverse neighborhoods. Residents and visitors enjoy access to indoor and outdoor amenities, from boating on the Chattahoochee, to biking, walking, or running along our trails, watching baseball at the Battery, or catching good vibes in our downtown.
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Cobb Chamber Works to Support Local Businesses
By Isabelle Manders imanders@mdjonline.com
Supporting local businesses has always been at the heart of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s mission. Through a combination of targeted programs, strategic partnerships, and proactive advocacy, the Chamber plays a crucial role in driving economic growth and fostering a thriving business environment in Cobb County.
The Cobb Chamber’s SelectCobb team has led 25 major project wins over the last year, according to chamber president and CEO, Sharon Mason. She has been CEO and president of the chamber since 2018.
Mason said new business recruitments and existing industry expansions have brought 2,337 jobs and $523 million in new investment to the county.
“We have continued to market Cobb globally, including expanding relationships with site selectors leading to more than 55 active projects in our pipeline considering relocating or expanding in Cobb,” Mason said.
SelectCobb is an initiative born from the Cobb Chamber that works to attract new businesses, grow existing Cobb businesses, and develop the local workforce. Since its inception 12 years ago, Mason said the initiative has brought more than 46,000 jobs and $6.3 million in private new investment to the community.
“The Cobb Chamber and SelectCobb have also been honored to support the Atlanta Braves Development in each step in the process that has led Truist Park and the Battery Atlanta to drive 10.3 million visitors per year to The Battery Atlanta,” Mason said.
By the end of 2024, the new national headquarters for Truist Securities is expected to be complete, making it the fourth Fortune 500 company to establish a global or business unit headquarters in The Battery Atlanta. Truist will join Comcast, TKE and Papa Johns.
The Atlanta Braves Development brought in $21.7 million in tax revenue to the county
and its schools in 2023, according to Mason. The Chamber has also made efforts to support entrepreneurship, from launching an entrepreneurship guide for new businesses and an internship guide for assistance with workforce needs to partnering with Kennesaw State University to launch Hatchbridge, which has served 43 companies in its first year.
Advocacy is another critical component of the Chamber’s work. The Chamber actively engages with elected officials at all levels of government to address issues impacting businesses. This advocacy work is supported by the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, which plays a key role in representing the business community’s interests in policy discussions, said Mason.
Federal funding from the American Rescue Plan has allowed SelectCobb to implement grants for childcare facilities.
“As a business advocacy organization, we have been working with all partners to drive significant wins for our community,” Mason said.
After years of advocacy work, Mason said the Chamber was thrilled when Lockheed Martin delivered C-130J Super Hercules to the Georgia National Guard in early 2024. Other recent successes included the groundbreaking of KSU’s interdisciplinary STEM building on its Marietta campus and the opening of the workforce & entrepreneurship center in Mableton, she added.
Mason said, through existing industry site visits, they have learned that many
Sharon Mason, Cobb Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, speaks during the grand opening of BrandsMart’s Kennesaw location in July.
Isabelle Manders
businesses face challenges with the permitting process. To improve communication and processes, the fire marshal met with more than 60 local businesses at the Chamber over the last year through monthly meetings, said Mason.
Looking ahead, the Chamber remains focused on its strategic plan for 2023-2027, which revolves around three key pillars: grow, foster, and advocate. The Chamber aims to drive economic growth, enhance talent and workforce development programs, and continue advocating for a pro-business environment.
“As the needs of businesses grow and change, the Cobb Chamber is dedicated to providing relevant programs, events, resources, solutions and advocacy,” Mason said.
Sharon Mason and Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company.
Plant is the 2024 chair of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
The Extension opens new $7 million facility
By Joe Adgie jadgie@mdjonline.com
MARIETTA — The Extension Rehabilitation Center formally opened the Tyler A. Driver Center, a new $7 million facility that houses 52 men on Church Street Extension near Kennestone Hospital.
Tyler Driver, executive director of The Extension, said the new facility increases capacity by 70%, and replaces an old 6,000-square-foot building on the same site with a 22,000-squarefoot building.
Founded in 1987 as the Marietta-Cobb Winter Shelter, The Extension provides longterm residential treatment to homeless and addicted men and women. The women’s facility, located on Holiday Street east of Marietta Square, houses 21 beds, and while the new facility is for men, Dave Schwickerath, cochair of the organization’s capital campaign committee, said there is a plan to expand the women’s facility footprint.
“It’s purpose-built for what we do, unlike that old warehouse,” Driver said. “We’re very excited to offer more opportunity for those in our community.”
Driver said the biggest advantages for the new facility include the increased space, but also additional amenities for those that use The Extension’s service.
“We have dedicated rooms for therapy, offices for our family therapists and addiction counselors and other therapists we have on staff,” Driver said.
Driver said the facility was largely funded through private donors.
He thanked former executive director Rev. Frank Wilson for his work, but Wilson directed his credit to the people of Cobb County and Marietta for their support.
“The credit really goes to the community, the people that got behind this program, but the leadership of Cobb County, the leadership of Marietta, and the community has been very supportive,” Wilson said. “In the span of 20 years, this program, which started off as a homeless shelter in an old warehouse was transformed into a drug addiction, substance abuse program.”
Wilson called the new facility a “main event” facility and expressed his appreciation over what had been accomplished.
“It’s major league, I think everybody involved, including all the donors and the staff, can be real proud of what’s been achieved here,” Wilson said. “I just applaud everyone that played a role in getting us here.”
Driver said the upgraded facility would help in providing “balance” to the community.
“We count jail beds by the thousands and treatment beds by the dozens,” Driver said. “This facility brings a little bit more balance, balance this community needs.”
A number of dignitaries were on hand for Thursday’s ribbon cutting, including Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady Jr., who spoke of his office’s involvement with The Extension program.
“Lots of times, we get people into the criminal justice program who are homeless, who have substance abuse problems, so we look for a place to put them,” Broady said. “The Extension has been welcoming and helping them to overcome their addictions, getting them set on the right path as far as employment and future housing, and helping us do the things we need to do to help people be restored to the community as productive citizens.”
FAIR HOUSING
What Should I Do If I Have a
or by calling 1(800) 440-8091 or (TTY) (404)730-2654
TOP TEN EMPLOYERS inCOBB
Cobb County CIDs
For anyone who lives in metro Atlanta, chances are they have encountered services of community improvement districts, or CIDs. CIDs are a type of business improvement district, an economic development tool used worldwide. A BID is a group of property owners within a defined geographic area where a majority of owners agree to impose additional taxes or fees on themselves to fund public services. Georgia CIDs are described as a quasi-governmental entity with the “legal characteristics of both the governmental and private sectors.” CIDs’ primary financing mechanism is an additional property tax, which is levied on commercial and industrial properties that are not otherwise tax-exempt.
In the 1980s, a group of property owners in Cobb County, sought ways to improve mobil-
ity in the Cumberland Galleria area. After seeing Virginia’s CIDs, the group worked with the Georgia Legislature for the creation of Georgia CIDs. In 1984, the legislation for Georgia CIDs was incorporated into the Georgia Constitution. Four years later, Cumberland CID became the first in Georgia and is still active today. Today, there are more than 29 active CIDs, with Cobb County being home to three of them.
The state’s first CID, then called the Cobb County Community Improvement District, was officially established May 1, 1988. Almost a decade later, it changed its name to the Cumberland CID following the formation of the Town Center CID in the mid-1990s. Cobb’s newest CID is the Gateway Marietta CID, which was established in 2014.
CUMBERLAND
The Cumberland CID includes 190 commercial property owners, entertainment venues and several major companies. The nearly 7-square-mile area is 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta surrounding the intersection of I-75 and I-285.
Cumberland’s 36-year evolution includes six class A office towers, 88,000 jobs, 31,000 residents, and the Atlanta Braves’ $1.3 billion stadium at The Battery Atlanta.
The CID recently launched a nonprofit community organization, One Cumberland, to maintain a thriving community. Cumberland already has a $26.6 billion dollar impact on Georgia’s economy, according to the CID.
“Since 1988, the Cumberland CID has invested and committed over $180 million into key infrastructure projects and enhancements that have led to the success of the region,” said Kim
See COBB CID, 58
Cobb business associations
Acworth Business Association
P.O. Box 448
Acworth, GA 30101
770-423-1330
aba@acworthbusiness.org acworthbusiness.org
Austell Business Association
P.O. Box 371 Austell, GA 30168 marketing@austellba.org austellba.org
Cobb Chamber of Commerce 1100 Circle 75 Parkway, #1000 Atlanta, GA 30339
770-980-2000 www.cobbchamber.org
East Cobb Business Association
P.O. Box 70814
Marietta, GA 30007
678-956-5086
Communications@EastCobbBA.com eastcobbba.com
Kennesaw Business Association
P.O. Box 777
Kennesaw, GA 30156
770-423-1330
kba@kennesawbusiness.org kennesawbusiness.org
Marietta Business Association P.O. Box 2152 Marietta, GA 30061
770-423-1330
admin@mariettabusiness.org mariettabusiness.org
Metro Atlanta Business Assoc. 4355 Cobb Pkwy, Suite J254 Atlanta, GA 30339
678-725-0099
MetroAtlantaBusiness@gmail.com maba.clubexpress.com
Northeast Cobb Business Assoc. 570 Piedmont Rd. Marietta, GA 30066 info@northeastcobbba.com northeastcobbba.com
Powder Springs Business Group P.O. Box 1426
Powder Springs, GA 30127
hello@psbusinessgroup.com psbusinessgroup.com
Smyrna Business Association
200 Village Green Circle, SE, Ste. A Smyrna, GA 30080
membership@smyrnabusiness.org smyrnabusiness.org
South Cobb Business Association P.O. Box 1383 Mableton, GA 30126 678-224-7300
dcrouse@southcobbba.org southcobbba.org
Vinings Business Association 2690 Cobb Parkway SE, Suite A5-326 Smyrna, GA 30080 678-725-0099 chris@viningsbusiness.com vba.clubexpress.com
West Cobb Business Association 2500 Dallas Hwy. Suite 400 Marietta, GA 30064 678-773-4043 membership@westcobbbusiness.com westcobbbusiness.com
Mike Plant brings sports success to Chamber chairmanship
Staff reports
CUMBERLAND — Mike Plant is no stranger to leading major organizations into uncharted waters.
The head of development for the Atlanta Braves, Plant, 64, is the chair of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce in a county that will consider a 30-year transit tax expected to collect $11 billion in a referendum in November.
For now, the chamber is taking the education route instead of endorsing or opposing the tax. It’s “not for us to take a position one way or another,” Plant said. “It is a little bit of a hot potato.”
As Greg Teague, the chamber’s outgoing chair, made clear before his year-long term finished, Cobb’s business community is opting to educate the public about the tax and its implications — something Plant reaffirmed.
“Our (position) is neutral, to educate people so they understand when they’re making the decision,” Plant told the MDJ.
During the chamber’s annual dinner at the Cobb Galleria Centre in January, an event that saw a turnout of 1,100 people, Teague formally passed the leadership torch to Plant in an evening filled with awards, music and dancing.
“I’m honored tonight to join you as your 2024 chairman,” Plant told the audience. “In my career, I’ve learned way back when the value of asking smart questions and building the right team. If you want to drive results, you need to ask yourself a simple question. Are you built to win? Like the legend John Schuerholz in his great leadership book, which was named ‘Are You Built
THE MIKE PLANT FILE
Hometown: Green Bay, WI Age: 64
Education: University of Milwaukee (did not graduate)
Family: Wife Mary Meagher Plant, three children, two grandchildren (ages 12 and 9)
Occupation: President and CEO, Braves Development Company
Residences: Peachtree City; the Battery; Park City, Utah
Church: Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City
Hobbies: Biking, wine collecting
to Win?’ — that’s from my experience based on the performance of Cobb County and this chamber. We are built to win.”
Sports from the start
Mike Plant was born in a town synonymous with its favorite football team: Green Bay, Wisconsin, home of the Packers.
Plant is “a proud cheesehead,” and much of his family, including his oldest daughter and her children, still live in Green Bay.
He moved to West Alice, a suburb of Milwaukee, where his older brother, Tom Plant, introduced young Mike to speedskating.
That introduction to speedskating was fortuitous. His brother got involved first, which was made easier by the fact that a brand new speedskating course was built just two miles from their home.
At 12, Plant started speedskating, and in his first four races, he finished “dead frickin’ last,” he said.
Plant told his father and brother he planned to hang up the skates, but after their guilt trips, he got back on the ice and ended up competing in junior world championships en route to the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, as a member of the Olympics speedskating team, along with Tom.
Plant did not medal in the games. The Olympic bling was reserved for his wife, swimmer Mary Meagher Plant, aka “Madam Butterfly,” who won three gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and a silver and bronze at the ‘88 games in Seoul.
After the Lake Placid games, President Jimmy Carter announced the U.S. would boycott the summer games in Moscow, a move which thrust Plant into the politics of sports, and which helped determine the course of the rest of his career.
Where business and politics meet sport
When Plant and the rest of his team were invited by Carter to the White House following the games, they refused to go.
However, at the urging of Col. Don Miller, a champion boxer in college who served as executive director of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1973-1985, the athletes accepted the invitation.
After traveling to Europe for a series of competitions, Plant came back to the states and was again invited to the White House, this time as the representative for the speedskaters, to learn about the reason for the boycott: the Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.
That, Plant said, launched his Olympic career, he said, as well as his broader career in sports.
He was unafraid to speak his mind and was drawn to the men in suits while his brother and Eric Heiden, Plant’s speedskating partner, scratched their heads at his business approach to sport.
His turn toward the business side of things was also practical, as Plant realized the competition on the ice wouldn’t last, something he said many athletes who never make it big do not realize until it’s too late.
“I still see that to this day, not only in the Olympic world but in the professional world, it’s like, you’re not all going to make $200 million. Your careers are going to be mostly short. What are you going to do when it’s over?” Plant said.
On the back of his partner Heiden, who won five Olympic medals, Plant and Heiden’s agent worked out a sponsorship deal with Atari for $400,000, a credit to the duo’s popularity on the speedskating circuit in places like Norway and Holland.
Plant ran the deal, which launched his business career parallel to his “political” career in the U.S. Olympic Committee.
In 1985, he became chair of the U.S. Canoe/ Kayak team — he was also the janitor, because he was the only employee of the sport.
Then came 1987, when Plant, an avid biker, became second-in-command at U.S.A. Cycling. That experience led him to meet one Donald Trump, with whom he worked to put on the first “Tour de Trump” in 1989, a race in New Jersey modeled after the Tour de France that helped put cycling on the map in the states.
“There’s no way that that race would have launched” without Trump, Plant said. “He was hotter than hot then, and he was the icon.”
Plant took a leave of absence from U.S.A. Cycling to start the race and did so through his new company, Medalist Sports.
The first race was a major success, which led to opportunities for Plant to start a race in China — he flew there and back 36 times over three and a half years, part of his 300,000-milea-year flying activity thanks to his concurrent business and Olympic involvements.
Plant’s career was going at full speed, not unfamiliar to a guy who was once zooming around the Olympic ice, when a fellow in Atlanta came calling.
Welcome to Atlanta
It was Harvey Schiller, Plant’s close friend and his best man at his wedding, who encouraged Plant to come work for Ted Turner at Turner Sports in 1995.
Turner had started the Goodwill Games in response to the political turmoil engulfing the Olympics in the 1980s, and Schiller, the head of Turner Sports, wanted Plant to come in and turn things around for the struggling event.
(Harvey Schiller is the father of Derek Schiller, president and CEO of the Atlanta Braves and, along with Plant and Alex Anthopolous, Braves general manager and president of baseball operations, one of the top three executives for the team.)
Harvey Schiller and Plant worked out a deal for Turner to buy Plant’s company, and Plant came to Atlanta in 1995, where he’s been ever since.
“I’m probably one of the few people in this world that have had working relationships with guys named Donald Trump and Ted Turner,” Plant said.
Plant told the Turner Sports team they had to totally reimagine the Goodwill Games, which had been bleeding money since they started in Moscow in 1986.
It was money that would bring the top athletes to the games, which also ran on a four-year cycle, and Turner gave Plant the goahead to turn things around.
Shortly after Plant joined Turner Sports, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) merged with Time Warner, and though he stuck around for a few more years, the Goodwill Games were going down the drain.
Plant shifted to Turner Sports fulltime in 2001, and in 2003, Phil Kent, the CEO of TBS, asked Plant to help turn around the Atlanta Braves, which had lost $100 million in the prior three years.
“That’s how it all started,” Plant said.
Building the Braves in Cobb
Plant’s political and business experiences combined to help bring the Braves to Cobb County in 2017.
But before that, his Olympic background combined with his newfound Atlanta connection to help bring the Centennial Olympic Games to Atlanta.
Plant served on the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, which chose a piece of land next to Fulton County Stadium for Turner Field, the Olympic stadium that became the home of the Braves.
The connections don’t end there. According to Plant, the site of Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta, which Plant made happen, was the second choice for Atlanta’s Olympic stadium.
With the Braves riding high since moving to Cobb in 2017 — the trio of Plant, Schiller and Anthopolous were awarded the MDJ’s 2022 Citizen of the Year Award for their roles in the move and the Braves’ recent success, including the 2021 World Series win — Plant is poised for success as the chair of the Cobb chamber, according to CEO Sharon Mason.
“What he brings with his background and what he’s done with the Braves is tremendous,” Mason said.
The chamber is on year two of its strategic plan, she noted, and Plant is the right person to have chairing the organization as it continues through that process.
The success of the Battery and Truist was expected, Mason said, but it “has even far exceeded our expectations,” Mason said.
Looking outside the Cobb chamber’s headquarters, across Circle 75 Parkway from the stadium, that is made clear by the hum of activity in the area and the new construction underway.
That activity is projected to grow this year, with 10.3 million visitors to the Battery expected in 2024.
Plant noted the Braves “are beyond proud” of what they’ve built with the Battery and Truist. His takeaway from the experience of building something that has never been done before, and which many are now trying to replicate, is straightforward.
“Don’t listen to the noise,” Plant said. “Stick with our conviction, we know what we’re capable of, and here we are 10 years later, and as I always say, I’d be lying to you if I thought it would be this successful.”
2023 Cobb Chamber of Commerce
Chairman Greg Teague, right, hands over the reins to his year’s chairman, Mike Plant, president & CEO of the Braves Development Company, during the chamber’s annual dinner at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
Robin Rayne
COBB CID
From page 55
Menefee , executive director for the Cumberland CID. “One Cumberland will build upon this success by being the engine that continues to boost quality of life and elevate all the assets that make Cumberland unique.”
Cumberland’s success story as the state’s first CID cannot be told without mentioning the key projects that are recently completed or under construction.
An extension of the Bob Callan Trail at Interstate North Parkway began construction in January 2024. This portion of the trail will connect to Cobb County’s Terrell Mill — Windy Hill Connector at Bentley Road and is planned to open in spring 2025.
A $100,000 grant was awarded to the Cumberland CID by the Atlanta Regional Commission in May 2023 for the improvement of pedestrian safety and local art. Once the plan has been submitted, the Cumberland CID will be eligible to apply for federal transportation funding projects, such as corridor improvements and biking infrastructure.
The Cumberland CID broke ground on the Akers Mill Ramp in 2021. The $44 million express lane received funding from local, state and federal governments, as well as the Cumberland CID and the Atlanta Regional commission. It is estimated the ramp will be completed by the end of this year.
Another major project in development is the Cumberland Sweep — a planned 3-mile multimodal path around the heart of the CID with pedestrian bridges and an autonomous shuttle system.
The preliminary engineering and design of the third segment of the Sweep is in development. The third segment, a stretch of the path along Galleria Drive from Akers Mill to the I-285 pedestrian bridge, is expected to begin construction in 2027.
Finally, the first phase of a $15.8 million rehabilitation project begins this fall in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s Palisades Unit at Paces Mill. Phase One ($6.3 million) is estimated to be complete by late spring 2025. Phase Two ($9.5 million) is estimated to begin fall 2026.
The final phase of construction on the Bob Callan Trail broke ground in January 2024. Cumberland Community Improvement District
TOWN CENTER
The Town Center CID, created in 1997, is located north of the city of Marietta and just southeast of the city of Kennesaw. The Cobb County International Airport, Kennesaw State University, Town Center Mall, Noonday Creek Trail and Aviation Park are the most notable landmarks in the improvement district.
Town Center Community is composed of the Town Center CID and its nonprofit partner (501c3), Town Center Community Alliance. This 6.25-square-mile district makes up only 1.8 percent of Cobb County’s land area but accounts for more than $758 million in assessed commercial property value. It includes 1,500 businesses with more than 35,000 jobs and is home to 13,000 residents.
Town Center CID has invested more than $62.3 million and leveraged $210 million-plus to complete transformative projects for the area and the region. The largest infrastructure project in its history — South Barrett Reliever Phase 3 — is scheduled for completion in fall 2025.
The $35.4 million project will complete an alternate route of travel across I-75, and the Express Lanes System, to reduce traffic on Barrett Parkway by 22 percent, according to the Town Center CID. The project is jointly funded by the Town Center CID, Atlanta Regional Commission, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Cobb County Department of Transportation and the State Road and Tollway Authority.
Town Center CID recently received a $200,000 Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to fund the much-anticipated update to Town Center Community’s decade-old LCI plan.
“This LCI Plan marks a pivotal moment for Town Center Community,” according to Tracy Styf, executive director for Town Center Community. “It’s our chance to weave together the tapestry of progress and innovation that has defined our landscape since 2015 into a cohesive strategy for the future.”
GATEWAY MARIETTA
Created in 2014, Gateway Marietta is approximately 1.2 square miles and consists of 76 commercial properties. It is located right off I-75 at the Delk Road and South Marietta Parkway interchanges. By issuing bonds and recuperating the area in the mid-2000s, Gateway Marietta has attracted local MLS club Atlanta United. The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the club’s $60 million investment off Franklin Gateway, opened in 2017.
The area includes property owners south of Delk Road as well as additional property along Franklin Gateway.
Marietta’s CID states its goal is to encourage revitalization and redevelopment of Delk Road, South Marietta Parkway and Franklin Gateway. The Gateway Marietta CID is a collection of commercial property owners who agree to invest their own money back in the area by levying an additional tax on themselves to be spent on projects that benefit the entire community. Located just three miles north of The Battery/Cumberland area, within the City of Marietta, the Gateway Marietta CID states it is thriving because of its focus on infrastructure improvements, beautification, and public safety.
The Gateway Marietta CID has invested in landscaping and landscape management efforts. Completed in 2016, the Delk Road and South Marietta Parkway Interchanges were the first major re-landscaping projects for GMCID. In 2019, GMCID designed and relandscaped the Delk Road and South Marietta Parkway, continuing to establish a sense of place and pride in the community. GMCID contracts with Cumberland Landscape Group to provide mowing, weed control and litter removal at the interchanges and through the South Marietta Parkway and Delk Road Corridors. Additional landscaping will be installed throughout the CID over the coming years, including at I-75NB Interchange at Delk Road; I-75NB Interchange at South Marietta Parkway; Franklin Gateway and South Marietta
Parkway; Franklin Gateway and Delk Road.
The projected tax revenue has steadily increased year over year, with 2024’s projection at more than $450,000. Other projects in the area include infrastructure such as lane widening, sidewalk improvements, and water and sewer upgrades. GMCID was earlier awarded an ARC Community Development Assistance Program Grant, funded by LCI funds, to study signage and creative placemaking within the CID.
In 2019, GMCID entered into a partnership with Flock Safety. Four solar powered advanced technology cameras were installed on Franklin Gateway, to capture a vehicle’s license plate day or night, plus the vehicle’s make, model, and color. Timestamps are also included in the recordings making it easy to spot specific vehicles. In 2021, GMCID renewed the contract with Flock Safety and continue to follow the direction of the Marietta City Police in terms of location and number of needed cameras. Marietta City Police have access to realtime information to immediately respond to alerts and solve crimes. GMCID is one of the first CIDs to install Flock Safety cameras and has led the way for the City of Marietta and Cobb County. The CID reports the four cameras on Franklin Gateway are the top performing cameras in the city, averaging 44 hits per month and have an 80 percent capture rate. The CID also states the cameras have led to lower crime on Franklin Gateway and have helped recover more than $100,000 of property. GMCID’s goal is to create an environment of trusted public safety.
COBB COUNTY CDBG PROGRAM OFFICE
National Fair Housing
This year marks the 54th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. This landmark legislation was signed into law on April 11, 1968, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and family status.
Fair Housing & Housing Affordability
Although affordable housing is an important policy goal for local jurisdictions, the terms “fair housing or affirmatively furthering fair housing” are not necessarily synonymous in describing affordable housing. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), affordability is defined as housing that can be obtained for 30 percent or less of a household’s income. However, the affordability rate can vary dramatically from city to city.
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The Act also protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, known as the Fair Housing Act, requires HUD and recipients of federal funds from HUD to affirmatively further the policies and purposes of the Fair Housing Act, also known as “affirmatively urthering fair housing” or “AFFH.” The obligation to affirmatively further fair housing requires recipients of HUD funds to take meaningful actions, in addition to combating discrimination, to overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on the protected classes. The AFFH provision was part of the Fair Housing Act when it was passed by Congress in 1968. Through that provision, Congress directed HUD to make sure that neither the agency itself, nor the ties, counties, states and public housing agencies it funds, discriminate in their programs.
Pursuant to its authority under the Fair Housing Act, HUD has long directed program participants, such as Cobb County, to undertake an assessment of fair housing issues known as the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). Further, HUD has always required recipients of federal financial assistance, such as States, local governments, insular areas, and Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to engage in fair housing planning which is a required document in conjunction with the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, and PHA plan. HUD also requires Local governments, PHAs, States, and Insular Areas to be involved in fair housing planning to ensure they meet the obligation to\ affirmatively further the Fair Housing Act.
Cobb County has consistently exceeded HUD’s compliance standards in assessing fair housing and housing needs to develop strategies to increase affordable housing. HUD grant funds have contributed to improvements in the physical, social, and economic conditions of the County’s lowincome residents. These funds have been used to promote affordable housing, maintaining a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. Since 1982, HUD has allocated over $197 million dollars to Cobb County to invest in the local community through partnerships with local nonprofits, housing providers, and municipalities.
How to File a Fair Housing Complaint
Cobb County CDBG Program Office, 150 Anderson Street, Ste 150, Marietta, GA 30060 770-528-1455, www.cobbcounty.org/cdbg, info@ cobbcountycdbg.com If you believe that you have experienced housing discrimination, you can contact HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 or visit file a complaint online. Provide as much information as possible, including:
• Your name and address;
• Name and address of the person(s) or organization
• your complaint is against;
• Address or other identification of the housing or program involved;
• Short description of the event(s) in question;
• Date(s) of the alleged violation For additional resources on Fair Housing
Cobb County CDBG Program Office, 150 Anderson Street, Ste 150, Marietta, GA 30060 • 770-528-1455, www.cobbcounty.org/cdbg, info@cobbcountycdbg.com
Braves Find Ways to Keep Winning
By Kai Millette
MDJ Sports Writer
Key injuries and an inconsistent lineup have not kept the Atlanta Braves out of contention.
Still, with one of the best rosters in baseball, the Braves excited fans for months in 2023 but fell short of a second championship under the guidance of general manager Alex Anthopoulos.
Atlanta coasted through the 2023 regular season with 104 wins, the most in Major League Baseball. Ronald Acuna Jr. walked away with the NL Most Valuable Player Award after hitting 41 home runs to go along with a .337 batting average and 73 stolen bases.
First baseman Matt Olson won over any Braves fan who was still disappointed with him as a trade return for franchise great Freddie Freeman. The slugger led the majors in home runs with 54.
Other highlights in 2023 included a return to form from Marcell
From left: Orlando Arcia, Matt Olson, Whit Merrifield, Austin Riley Jamie Spaar
Ozuna, a second straight All-Star selection for Austin Riley and a dominant 20-5 campaign from ace Spencer Strider.
After earning a first-round bye, the Braves found themselves pinned against division rival Philadelphia in the National League Division Series for the second straight year. Atlanta bats fell cold, scoring just eight runs in a 3-1 series loss to end the season.
In 2024, expectations hadn’t gotten any lower. The Braves entered the season as the odds-on favorite to win their seventh straight NL East crown.
An obstacle was quickly thrown in Atlanta’s path, however. Just two starts into the season, Strider suffered a UCL injury that would require season ending surgery.
Hot bats kept Atlanta at the top of the division through April and into May. Late in the month, devastation struck. Acuna went to the ground in obvious pain early in a game against the Pirates on May 26. He had torn an ACL for the second time in his career.
With a red hot Phillies team holding the best record in the majors, the Braves spent most of the summer playing catch up while falling gradually further behind. The attention has now shifted to holding
onto a wildcard spot.
Late into July the race remained tight. Atlanta holds a slim lead at the top, with the Padres and Mets alongside them. The Diamondbacks, Cardinals and Pirates are all expected to remain in the mix as the season heads into its final two months.
The story of the year perhaps in Atlanta has been Ozuna’s career renaissance. The 33-year-old made his third all-star game appearance and has garnered real attention in the NL MVP race.
Veteran pitcher Chris Sale is also on pace for one of the best seasons of his career at 35-years-old. The lefty maintained a subthree earned run average through the end of July and earned his first All-Star selection since 2018.
Excitement for the fan experience at Truist Park in 2025 has already begun. The Braves revealed renovation plans for the stadium in March that included an expanded clubhouse store, changes to concessions and the addition of Blue Moon Beer Garden and Jim Beam Bourbon Deck. Each will serve a variety of drinks and food options.
Matt Olson high-fives teammates after hitting a home run.
Jamie Spaar
Cobb has Large Contingent of Pro Athletes
By Arkesh Ray MDJ Sports Writer
Cobb County is filled with high level talent from top to bottom, ranging from NFL record holders to successful Olympic performances. The county also boasts NBA Finals MVPs and World Series champions.
In June, Wheeler’s Jaylen Brown helped the Boston Celtics win their first championship since 2008 as the Celtics triumphed over the Dallas Mavericks in five games. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.6 steals on his way to winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. He also won the Larry Bird Trophy, which is awarded to the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, after averaging nearly 30 points per game on 51% shooting.
The 27-year old made history in 2023 after signing a $304 million, five-year contract extension with the Boston Celtics, which was the largest deal in NBA history until teammate Jayson Tatum’s extension in July. Brown, who was the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, has helped lead the Celtics to one championship, two finals appearances, and six eastern conference finals appearances including three in a row.
Brown leads a large contingent from Cobb County in the NBA. Pebblebrook’s Colin Sexton was selected eighth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 draft. Sexton has an All-Rookie Second Team selection under his belt and currently plays for the Utah Jazz. McEachern’s Isaac Okoro was also selected by the Cavaliers, being picked fifth overall in the 2020 draft. Kell alum
Scoot Henderson was drafted third overall in the 2023 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Cobb’s most recent addition to the NBA is Wheeler’s Isaiah Collier, who joins Sexton in Utah after they selected him 29th overall. Collier is coming off a successful season at Southern California in which he was named to the Pac-12 All Freshman Team. McEachern’s Sharife Cooper and Pebblebrook’s Jared Harper are both currently playing overseas, but could be playing in the NBA in the future.
Marietta alum Dansby Swanson helped the Atlanta Braves win the World Series in 2021, and is one of a large handful of players in Major League Baseball. Swanson’s home run against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning of Game 4 was huge, tying the game at two a piece until teammate Jorge Soler hit the winning home run later in the game. Swanson, who was the first overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft, has won championships at both the collegiate level (Vanderbilt) and the pros and now plays for the Chicago Cubs.
Kennesaw Mountain’s Tyler Stephenson was also picked in the first round of the 2015 draft, going 11th overall to the Cincinnati Reds, where he still plays.
Pope’s Josh and Nathaniel Lowe were both drafted in the 2016 MLB draft, with Josh going in the first round and Nathaniel in the 13th, both to the Tampa Bay Rays. Nate, a first baseman, was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2020, and helped them win their first World Series in 2023.
Josh is a right fielder for the Rays.
Allatoona’s Clarke Schmidt was drafted in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft by the New York Yankees. Schmidt has been pitching for the Yankees since 2020.
Cobb boasts formidable NFL talent.
In the 2021 NFL draft, Harrison’s Justin Fields was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Bears. The 25-year old Fields was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers this off-season, and coach Mike Tomlin said he has been impressive in camp.
Fields has already broken NFL records with his legs. His 178 rushing yards against the Miami Dolphins in 2022 is the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game in NFL history, a record previously held by Michael Vick. Fields’ 1,143 rushing yards in 2022 is the second most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. Sprayberry alum Jerrick McKinnon has won at the highest level. The running back was part of the Chiefs team that won back-toback Super Bowls.
Former McEachern offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum has also had a taste of victory, winning the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021-2022 season. Hillgrove alum Bradley Chubb has seen success in the NFL, being selected to two Pro
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown lifts the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after a victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 17, 2024, in Boston.
The Dallas Morning News/TNS — Smiley N. Pool
Bowls in four healthy seasons. His 11 sacks in 2023 were tied for 10th in the NFL. Azeez Ojulari out of Marietta was selected 50th overall by the Giants in 2021 after lighting it up at the University of Georgia.
Three other Cobb County football players are entering the NFL this season, joining the 15 who are currently playing.
McEachern Alum Javon Baker was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Baker, who played wide receiver at Central Florida, is coming off a season where he had 1,139 yards, seven touchdowns, and was voted First Team All-Big 12 by coaches.
Walker’s Hunter Nourzad joins the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs after they selected him in the fifth round. The Penn State offensive lineman was voted Second Team All-Big 10 by coaches in 2023.
Kimani Vidal out of Marietta was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the sixth round. The running back had 2,791 yards in his final two seasons at Troy along with 24 touchdowns and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award last season, an award given to college football’s top running back.
As one running back enters the league another exits.
NBA
Isaiah Collier Wheeler
Scoot Henderson Kell
Sharife Cooper McEachern
Hillgrove’s Kenyan Drake announced that he was retiring from the NFL after eight years. Drake played for five different teams but spent most of his time with the Miami Dolphins and scored the “miracle in Miami” touchdown, a 69-yard walk off touchdown against the Dolphins’ division rivals the New England Patriots.
Another player leaving the NFL is North Cobb’s Darren Waller. Waller played eight seasons for three different teams and was selected to one pro bowl.
Kell’s Kendell Williams was a generational athlete. The 29-year old was a two-time Olympian and dominated in track and field at the University of Georgia.
She holds the title as the only athlete (male or female) to win an NCAA championship in the same event four years in a row. She won the indoor pentathlon from 2014 to 2017. She is a three time collegiate-record holder for the pentathlon, a two time champion for the heptathlon, and was named the 2016 U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year.
In her previous Olympic appearances Williams placed 17th (2016) and fifth (2020) in the heptathlon. In 2022 she took home bronze in the women’s pentathlon.
COBB COUNTY PRO ATHLETES
48 (R2) Atlanta 2021 Cleveland
Isaac Okoro McEachern Auburn 5 (R1) Cleveland 2020 Cleveland
Jared Harper Pebblebrook Auburn UDFA Phoenix 2019 Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague
Collin Sexton Pebblebrook Alabama 8 (R1) Cleveland 2018 Utah
Jaylen Brown Wheeler California 3 (R1) Boston 2016 Boston
NFL
Javon Baker McEachern UCF 110 (R4) New England 2024 New England
Hunter Nourzad Walker Penn State 159 (R5) Kansas City 2024 Kansas City
Kimani Vidal Marietta Troy 181 (R6) LA Chargers 2024 LA Chargers
Myles Murphy Hillgrove Clemson 28 (R1) Cincinnati 2023 Cincinnati
B.J. Ojulari Marietta LSU 41 (R2) Arizona 2023 Arizona
Chigoziem Okonkwo Hillgrove Maryland 143 (R4) Tennessee 2022 Tennessee
Chandler Wooten North Cobb Auburn UDFA — 2022 Carolina
Raliegh Webb Allatoona The Citadel UDFA — 2022 Tampa Bay
Justin Fields Harrison Ohio State 11 (R1) Chicago 2021 Pittsburgh
Azeez Ojulari Marietta Georgia 50 (R2) N.Y. Giants 2021 N.Y. Giants
Trey Sermon Sprayberry Ohio State 88 (R3) San Francisco 2021 Indianapolis
Jerry Jacobs South Cobb Arkansas UDFA — 2021 —
Tremayne Anchrum McEachern Clemson 250 (R7) L.A. Rams 2020 Seattle
Chuma Edoga McEachern USC 92 (R3) N.Y. Jets 2019 Dallas
Bradley Chubb Hillgrove N.C. State 5 (R1) Denver 2018 Miami
Justin Jones South Cobb N.C. State 84 (R3) L.A. Chargers 2018 Arizona
Evan Engram Hillgrove Mississippi 23 (R1) N.Y. Giants 2017 Jacksonville
Jerick McKinnon Sprayberry Ga. Southern 96 (R3) Minnesota 2014 — — —
MLB
Name School College Selection Drafted by Year Current team
Clarke Schmidt Allatoona Clemson 16 (R1) N.Y. Yankees 2017 N.Y. Yankees
Taylor Trammell Mount Paran None 35 (R1) Cincinnati 2016 Seattle
Carter Kieboom Walton None 28 (R1) Washington 2016 Washington
Nathaniel Lowe Pope Mississippi St. 390 (R13) Tampa Bay 2016 Texas
Josh Lowe Pope None 13 Tampa Bay 2016 Tampa Bay
Tyler Stephenson KMHS None 11 (R1) Cincinnati 2015 Cincinnati
Dansby Swanson Marietta Vanderbilt 1 (R1) Arizona 2015 Chicago Cubs
Michael Chavis Sprayberry None 26 (R1) Boston 2014 Washington
Duane Underwood Pope None 67 (R2) Chicago Cubs 2012 Pittsburgh
KSU Joins Conference USA
By Allie Kraus MDJ Sports Writer
In October 2022, Kennesaw State formally accepted an invitation for membership within Conference USA. The university wanted to push their athletes to the next level.
“The day is finally here, get ready to see us in a whole new way,” KSU president Kathy Schwaig said on Twitter. “Kennesaw State is ready for Conference USA. Hooty hoo.”
The football team finished 2023 with a 3-6 record and there is room for strong improvements and a bright future. They are expected to increase its stadium capacity by the 2024 season to over 15,000 seats. In addition, the school is attempting to raise money for a football operations building.
The familiar rivalry with Jacksonville State will continue with new rivalries in Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. The Owls host the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana at the Fifth Third Stadium as their first game as a part of FBS on September 7. The first nationally broadcasted home game will be on October 4 against Jacksonville State.
“What a great time to be at Kennesaw State university,” football coach Brian Bohannon said in a press release. “Our first year going FBS, first year going into Conference USA, there’s a lot of excitement, a lot of buzz around our campus and community about this opportunity we have and we’re excited about it as well. There’s a lot of unique things going on at this time. We’re a young program. We’re going into our 10th season of football and we’re already making this jump to Conference USA
Scrappy and the KSU cheerleaders lead the team onto the field for its homecoming game against Tennessee State.
which is a huge and heavy lift but an exciting lift.”
The Owls’ basketball team found success in the 2022 season, winning their first ASUN championship and earning a bid to the NCAA tournament. In the 2023 season under new coach Antione Pettway, the team finished 15-16. They lost in the first round of the ASUN Tournament against Jacksonville.
After three ASUN championships, the baseball team has had a couple of less successful seasons. The 2023 season overall record was 25-29. The new conference play will force the team to play smarter and harder.
The men’s and women’s track and field team are both coming off first place wins in the ASUN outdoor track and field championships. Coach Cale McDaniel was named ASUN championships coach of the year.
KSU’s volleyball team finished with a 18-11 and made it to the semifinals in the ASUN tournament, losing 3-1 to Florida Gulf Coast. Women’s basketball had an overall record of 11-19. They lost the first round of the ASUN tournament, 73-60 against Austin Peay.
KSU’s freshman section celebrates after the Owls score a touchdown against Louisiana.
KSU head coach Brian Bohannon walks the sideline during their home opener against Louisiana.
MetroAtlanta Ambulance CEO on origins, successes and the future
Staff reports
When he was four years old, Pete Quinones and his parents came to the U.S. to escape Fidel Castro’s takeover of Cuba.
Quinones’s father, an orthopedic surgeon in Santiago de Cuba who became a general practitioner in the U.S, had advised his son to steer clear of a career in healthcare. Quinones did not listen, and it has paid off.
Quinones is the CEO of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, based in Marietta and serving a 911 area of more than 1 million people that includes Cobb, Bartow and Paulding counties. His persistence and success in building one of the leading healthcare providers in Georgia is a testament to what can come of pursuing the American dream.
Navigating the market
Before there was MetroAtlanta Ambulance, there was Metro Ambulance, one of the original 911 ambulance providers in the U.S. Quinones, now 62, was working for Metro Ambulance about three decades ago when consolidation began to hit the industry.
Laidlaw first acquired MedTrans in 1993, then bought American Medical Response and CareLine, which had previously acquired Metro Ambulance.
LaidLaw consolidated the three into what became the largest ambulance company in the world, with more than 35,000 employees operating in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The boom would not last. Laidlaw, Quinones explained, ran into bad debt and uncompensated care, and by the turn of the century, Canadabased investment firm Onex bought LaidLaw.
THE PETE QUINONES PROFILE
Profession: CEO, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
Birthplace: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Education: Undergraduate business degree from Georgia
State University, MBA from Georgia Tech
Family: Wife Michelle, four children
Church: Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Hobby: Fly fishing
It was time for Quinones to go his own way.
He, along with two partners, started Medicaid logistics company Southeastrans. However, Quinones said, he kept one foot in the ambulance business with one ambulance.
Former customers started encouraging Quinones to expand the ambulance side of his business, and, taking a gamble, he bought another ambulance and hired six more people.
That was around 2000. MetroAtlanta Ambulance had arrived.
Range of service
Fast forward to today, and MetroAtlanta Ambulance has around 900 employees and a 210-vehicle fleet.
“I’m very humbled by it, just very thankful for how not only our employees, but our customer base supported through all this, because it wouldn’t have happened without them,” Quinones said.
There are two types of ambulance services, and MetroAtlanta Ambulance is on both sides of the equation, Quinones said, serving as an emergency/911 service and a hospital-to-hospital transit service.
The state of Georgia contracts with providers, whether public or private, hospital-based or volunteer, for 911 transports.
MetroAtlanta Ambulance is one of those, in addition to working with private healthcare providers, like Wellstar and Emory Healthcare, to transport patients from hospital to hospital or, in the case of patients unable to get home on their own, from the hospital to their residence.
Freda Lyon, the vice president of emergency services at Wellstar, said that, above all else, MetroAtlanta Ambulance benefits Wellstar’s patients.
The tight relationship between the Wellstar system and the ambulance service means patients have transport to where they need to go after a hospital stay, whether to another hospital, a treatment center or back home.
Not only that, but MetroAtlanta Ambulance has a range of vehicles to transport patients depending on their needs, Lyon noted.
“They have done a lot of innovative things, and that’s because of Pete,” Lyon said.
MetroAtlanta Ambulance fields three to five calls a day involving patients on life support who need to be transferred from one hospital to another, Quinones said.
And while the company’s 911 zone covers three counties, it has 15 stations around metro Atlanta. It’s normal, Quinones said, for the company to go as far as Savannah to transport a critically ill patient to one of the metro area’s top hospitals.
In-house training
Something else that sets the company apart, Quinones said, is its in-house training offerings.
MetroAtlanta Ambulance partners with the prestigious Cleveland Clinic for a critical care program, the one LA Davis completed on his road to becoming a manager for the company.
Lisa Birkinbine, MetroAtlanta Ambulance’s training manager, detailed the different options available to those interested in a career with the company.
There is training for those with no experience whatsoever. The six-week program for first aid and driver training is not only free — participants are paid while they train, Birkinbine said, and nearly 90% of participants pass their first time around.
Emergency medical technician, or EMT training, is more involved and also offered free of charge to the company’s employees, with paramedic training taking a year.
Birkinbine, who celebrated her 19th anniversary with MetroAtlanta Ambulance in June, said the company has succeeded in adapting to the changing landscape of healthcare.
“It’s a good operation overall,” Birkinbine said.
To Lyon, MetroAtlanta’s training programs will go a long way for the company as Cobb grows — it is expected to surpass 1 million residents by 2050 — and the need for EMS services continues to increase.
With growth in those calls, Quinones’s team has already done a great job keeping up with the times, according to Lyon.
The challenge for healthcare in general, she added, will be finding more and more providers as the need continues to grow.
Quinones has an answer for that.
“He teaches,” Lyon said. “That’s how he keeps up. He provides training so that he has paramedics and EMTs.”
Part of the future of Wellstar and MetroAtlanta Ambulance’s partnership, Lyon said, will be continued collaboration in training healthcare providers.
“I think it’s pretty powerful, if you want to get your foot in the door of healthcare, this is one of the ways to do it, and he has a track for those individuals,” Lyon said. “That’s how he keeps his growth going.”
Responding to the call
Since Quinones started MetroAtlanta Ambulance in 2001, the company has encountered an array of health crises that have established it as a premier healthcare service in Georgia.
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans
in 2005, MetroAtlanta Ambulance sent its vehicles to transport 1,700 patients for care.
In 2010, the company transported 105 people injured in the catastrophic Haiti earthquake from Dobbins Air Reserve Base to hospitals in the area.
More recently, MetroAtlanta Ambulance, like other healthcare providers worldwide, confronted COVID-19, which Quinones said presented the biggest challenge of any public health event in the company’s 22-year existence.
Instead of being bogged down by the pandemic, however, MetroAtlanta Ambulance took its services to new heights.
MetroAtlanta vehicles became mobile vaccination clinics, Quinones said, thanks in large part to the public-private partnership with Cobb & Douglas Public Health, which helped the company acquire vaccines and offered guidance on distributing shots.
“We were going to elderly high-rises right off the (Marietta) Square where they couldn’t go jump in a car and go get vaccinated like everybody else could,” Quinones said. “Our medics were just going floor-to-floor vaccinating elderly people that were unable to go get the vaccine.”
The adjustments made during COVID also speak to the dynamism of MetroAtlanta Ambulance as a standalone healthcare company with a vast store of high-tech medical equipment and standout employees.
At his office on an overcast October morning, Quinones bragged on LA Davis, who heads up the company’s intensive care paramedic program.
Quinones recounted how Davis was the hero when a hospital failed in bringing an intensive care patient down to the ambulance.
“He fixed it, saved that patient’s life,” Quinones said.
Deep roots
With employees like Davis and increasing demand from hospital systems, Quinones said he only expects more growth for a company that traces its roots to a single ambulance as a side-hustle.
“We’ve got a lot of folks that are very dedicated,” Quinones said.
There are more than 40 people in management that have been MetroAtlanta Ambulance more than 20 years, he added.
“That to me shows that we’re doing something right,” Quinones said.
For Lyon, Quinones’ commitment to his community ensures that MetroAtlanta Ambulance is able to provide the best service it can, which in turn brings out the best in Wellstar.
“He gives back to the community, and I think that’s part of the reason that Metro is successful,” Lyon said. “He’s not just here providing this particular service, he’s here as member of our community.”
Among his many Cobb community involvements, Quinones was recently appointed to chair the Cobb County Board of Health.
Outside of leading MetroAtlanta Ambulance, Quinones has built a family in Cobb with his wife Michelle, and their four kids, and considers himself blessed to have ended up in Cobb.
“To land in Cobb, where there’s a good business environment, where public-private part-
nerships are prevalent, it’s just very fortunate,” Quinones said.
When he’s not working, you’ll probably find Quinones fly fishing, but he does not hesitate in identifying the activity that dominates his schedule.
“Mostly work,” Quinones said.
Pete Quinones is the founder and CEO of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service. Staff — File
A CobbLinc bus stops at the Marietta Transfer Center.
GOVERNMENT
Cobb Preps for Historic Transit Tax Vote
3247 Austell Road SW
Marietta, GA 30008
Bus: 770-432-7775
sean@seanperren.com
By Hunter Riggall hriggall@mdjonline.com
(Editor’s note: This magazine was published approximately one month before Election Day. To learn more, visit mdjonline. com/transit.)
In 1960, Cobb County had roughly 114,000 residents. Over the next three decades, the population nearly quadrupled to reach 448,000 residents.
And the next three-and-ahalf decades, up to the present day, saw the population grow by 70%, to 766,000.
Cobb’s growth, like that of so many American communities, was centered around the automobile. As more people flocked to Cobb, residents swapped farmland for subdivisions, and replaced two-lane roads with sweeping parkways. Cobb rejected joining Atlanta’s MARTA rail system in the 1960s. And while the county government created a bus system in 1989, Cobb has remained mostly car-dependent.
Over the next three decades, Cobb is expected to keep growing — albeit at a smaller pace — to reach 1 million residents.
It’s in that context that residents are considering whether to spend billions of dollars to upgrade Cobb’s transit.
In a Nov. 5, 2024, referendum, voters countywide will decide whether to raise the county sales tax by 1% for 30 years to fund investment in public transportation.
If the transit tax is approved, Cobb’s sales tax would rise from 6% to 7%.
The tax, known officially as the Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (M-SPLOST), would collect $11 billion to construct 108 miles of rapid bus routes, half a dozen new transit centers and a countywide system of on-demand “microtransit” service.
Supporters say the tax will bring a host of benefits: providing more transportation options, tempering congestion, reducing emissions, spurring economic development and more.
The transit tax has been spearheaded by Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and her fellow Democrats on the Board of Commissioners, while the board’s two Republicans oppose it.
“I just don’t think we’re going to build our way out of making congestion any less of an issue than what it is today. At some point you have to start looking at other options,” Cupid previously told the MDJ.
Opponents have criticized the tax for its size and length, both of which are unprecedented for a Cobb SPLOST referendum.
“We’re talking about 30 years, and I can’t support binding, not just future boards for 30 years, but citizens and kids and grandchildren,” Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, a Republican, previously said. “I won’t be here, but they will, and they’ll be paying that.”
Much of the debate has centered around ridership, and whether the new system would be widely used.
The county’s existing CobbLinc bus system has seen ridership decline by 73% from 2013 to 2022, going from 3.7 million annual trips to just shy of 1 million annual trips.
At the request of a state oversight agency, Cobb produced ridership projections and estimated that by 2050 — 25 years into the 30-year tax — there will be an average of 40,600 rides on weekdays. That would represent a twelvefold increase over the average weekday ridership of 3,180 trips in 2022.
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MARIETTA HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Marietta Housing Authority is "Making Housing Work" by offering housing programs that lift up the community and set the foundation that empowers families to take charge of their future.
noel taylor Executive Director
dinah KinG Adminstrative/HR
MarK wriGht Chief Operating Officer
SCott CaMpbell Development
robert buCKner Contracting
valerie hilley Finance
brandie Garner Housing Choice Voucher
ella Murphy Senior Asset Manager
brenda Marlin Information Technology
COBB Board of Commissioners
Note: In October 2022, the Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to invoke the Georgia constitution’s home rule powers and change its electoral map, ignoring a map passed by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor earlier that year. In August 2024, a Cobb Superior Court judge ruled the “home rule” map — which the May primaries for the District 2 and District 4 seats were held under — to be unconstitutional. The county is now operating under the state map, displayed here. The ongoing litigation could result in Jerica Richardson being removed from office.
Cobb County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners consisting of a chair and four district commissioners. The district commissioners are elected by and represent one of four areas of the county; the chair is elected county-wide.
The chair’s position is full time, and the district commissioners work part time.
All positions have four-year terms. The incumbent commissioners, for districts 1 and 3, were reelected in November 2022. The election for Commission Chair will be held Nov. 5, 2024. Court-ordered special elections for districts 2 and 4 will be held in 2025, a result of litigation over the map.
The county government is headquartered at 100 Cherokee Street in Marietta. The Board of Commissioners typically meets at 9 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Commissioners’ zoning hearings are typically held the third Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m.
COBB Congressional Districts
Four members of the U.S. House represent Cobb County. Their terms expire at the end of 2024.
Note: The Georgia General Assembly passed new state congressional maps during a special session in December 2023. Those maps are being used for the 2024 elections, and lawmakers will be seated in January 2025.
RICH McCORMICK
R-Suwanee
U.S. Representative Georgia’s 6th District mccormick.house.govSuwan
770-232-3005 (Local office) 202-225-4272 (D.C. office)
BARRY LOUDERMILK
R-Cassville
U.S. Representative Georgia’s 11th District loudermilk.house.gov
770-429-1776 (Local office) 202-225-2931 (D.C. office)
DAVID SCOTT
D-Atlanta
U.S. Representative Georgia’s 13th District davidscott.house.gov
770-210-5073 (Local office) 202-225-2939 (D.C. office)
Georgia U.S. Senators
JON OSSOFF
United States Senator
ossoff.senate.gov/contact
470-786-7800 (Local office) 202-224-3521 (D.C. office)
RAPHAEL WARNOCK
United States Senator warnock.senate.gov
770-661-0999 (Local office) 202-224-3643 (D.C. office)
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE
R-Rome
U.S. Representative Georgia’s 14th District greene.house.gov
706-226-5320 (Local office) 202-225-5211 (D.C. office)
COBB House Districts
Cobb is represented by 14 lawmakers in the Georgia House of Representatives — eight Democrats and six Republicans. The two-year terms for these legislators expire at the end of 2024.
Chair of the Cobb County Legislative Delegation
TERI ANULEWICZ
Representative, D-Smyrna House District 42 teri.anulewicz@house.ga.gov 404-656-0116
LISA CAMPBELL
Representative, D-Acworth House District 35 lisa.campbell@house.ga.gov 404-656-0202
JORDAN RIDLEY
Representative, R-Woodstock House District 22 jordan.ridley@house.ga.gov 404-656-0254
GINNY EHRHART
Representative, R-west Cobb House District 36 ginny.ehrhart@house.ga.gov 404-656-5024
MICHAEL SMITH
Representative, D-Marietta House District 41 michael.smith@house.ga.gov 404-656-9227
DEVAN SEABAUGH
Representative, R-Marietta House District 34 devan.seabaugh@house.ga.gov 404-656-0152
MARY FRANCES WILLIAMS
Representative, D-Marietta House District 37 maryfrances.williams@house.ga.gov 404-656-0287
SOLOMON ADESANYA
Representative, D-east Cobb House District 43 solomon.adesanya@house.ga.gov 404-656-0220
Note: The Georgia General Assembly passed new state legislative maps during a special session in December 2023. Those maps are being used for the 2024 elections, and new lawmakers will be seated in January 2025.
DAVID WILKERSON
Representative, D-Powder Springs House District 38 david.wilkerson@house.ga.gov 404-656-0314
DON L. PARSONS Representative, R-north Cobb House District 44 repdon@donparsons.org 404-656-5143
TERRY CUMMINGS
Representative, D-Mableton House District 39 terry.cummings@house.ga.gov 404-656-0202
SHARON COOPER
Representative, R-east Cobb House District 45 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov 404-656-5069
DOUG STONER
Representative, D-Smyrna House District 40 doug.stoner@house.ga.gov 404-656-0220
JOHN CARSON Representative, R-northeast Cobb House District 46 john.carson@house.ga.gov 404-656-7855
COBB Senate Districts
Cobb is represented by six lawmakers in the Georgia Senate — three Republicans and three Democrats. The two-year terms for these legislators expire at the end of 2024.
Note: The Georgia General Assembly passed new state legislative maps during a special session in December 2023. Those maps are being used for the 2024 elections, and new lawmakers will be seated in January 2025.
JASON ESTEVES
Senator, D-Atlanta Senate District 6 jason.esteves@senate.ga.gov
404-463-1562
ED SETZLER
Senator, R-Acworth Senate District 37
ed.setzler@senate.ga.gov 770-420-0520
KAY KIRKPATRICK
Senator, R-east Cobb Senate District 32 kay.kirkpatrick@senate.ga.gov 404-656-3932
HORACENA TATE
Senator, D-Atlanta Senate District 38
horacena.tate@senate.ga.gov 404-463-8053
MICHAEL “DOC” RHETT
Senator, D-Marietta Senate District 33 michael.rhett@senate.ga.gov 404-656-0054
JOHN ALBERS
Senator, R-Roswell Senate District 56 horacena.tate@senate.ga.gov 404-463-8055
Superior Court of Cobb County
Cobb County District Attorney
FLYNN D. BROADY, JR.
The Superior Court of Cobb County has 11 elected judges who preside over jury trials, rule on evidence, hear motions, and render verdicts in bench trials. Each Superior Court judge is elected to a four-year term.
The court also has eight senior judges, who are retired judges who have reached their retirement and pension age and are granted senior status by the governor. They can sit as acting superior court judges.
70 Haynes St., Marietta, GA 30090 770-528-3080 770-528-3030 (Fax) cobbdistrictattorney@cobbcounty.org
Flynn D. Broady Jr., an Army combat veteran and prosecutor, became District Attorney of the Cobb Judicial Circuit on Jan. 1, 2021. Broady’s four-year term will expire at the end of 2024.
Cobb County Superior Court Clerk
CONNIE TAYLOR
70 Haynes St., Marietta, GA 30090 770-528-1300
Clerk of Court is an elected position serving the Superior Court in Cobb County. The Clerk and Deputy Clerks are custodians over the property records of the county as well as the civil and criminal files and records in the courts served. Taylor’s fouryear term will expire at the end of 2024.
MARY STALEY CLARK ROBERT E. FLOURNOY III G. GRANT BRANTLEY
GEORGE H. KREEGER
JAMES G. BODIFORD ADELE P. GRUBBS S. LARK INGRAM J. STEPHEN SCHUSTER
CHIEF JUDGE A. GREGORY POOLE
JUDGE ROBERT D. LEONARD II
JUDGE ANN B. HARRIS
JUDGE KIMBERLY A. CHILDS
JUDGE KELLIE S. HILL JUDGE JASON D. MARBUTT
HENRY R. THOMPSON
JUDGE ANGELA Z. BROWN
Cobb Sheriff
CRAIG OWENS
185 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060 770-499-4600
The sheriff is elected to office by the voters of Cobb County and is statutorily responsible for the management of the sheriff’s office. His four-year term expires at the end of 2024.
Cobb Chief Magistrate Judge
BRENDAN F. MURPHY
32 Waddell Street, Marietta, GA 30090 770-528-8900, 770-528-8947 (Fax)
The chief judge appoints full and part-time magistrate judges to serve on the court. At present there are 21 total judges on the court. The Magistrate Court presides over several case types such as civil small claims, garnishments, evictions, civilian warrant applications, probable cause and bond hearings, as well as ordinance violations.
Cobb County State Court - State Court Judges
12 East Park Square, Marietta, GA 30090 State Court Case Assistance: 770-528-2660
The State Court of Cobb County handles criminal cases below the grade of felony, civil actions, except those actions in which exclusive jurisdiction is vested in Superior Court, and traffic cases. The court is comprised of 12 elected judges. Cases brought before the judges are completed by way of jury and non-jury trials in addition to pleas and settlements.
Cobb County Juvenile Court
32 Waddell Street, 5th & 6th Floor, Marietta, GA 30090 770-528-2220, 770-528-2561 (Fax)
Cobb County Juvenile Court judges are appointed to a four-year term by the Superior Court judges.
PRESIDING JUDGE JEFFREY D. HAMBY
JUDGE AMBER N. PATTERSON
Cobb County Probate Court
32 Waddell Street, Marietta, GA 30090 770-528-1900, 770-528-1996 (Fax)
The Probate Court of Cobb County has exclusive jurisdiction in the following matters: appointment and removal of executors and administrators; appointment and removal of guardians of minors and incapacitated adults; audit of returns of executors, administrators, and guardians; issuance of marriage licenses; issuance of weapons carry licenses; and other miscellaneous services.
JUDGE KELLI L. WOLK
CHIEF JUDGE ERIC BREWTON
JUDGE CARL W. BOWERS
JUDGE BRIDGETTE CAMPBELL
JUDGE JASON B. FINCHER
JUDGE MARIA B. GOLICK JUDGE MARSHA S. LAKE
JUDGE JANE P. MANNING
JUDGE JOHN S. MORGAN
JUDGE ASHLEY PALMER JUDGE ALLISON B. SALTER
JUDGE DIANA M. SIMMONS
JUDGE JARET USHER
JUDGE WAYNE E. GRANNIS JUDGE KAREEM WEST
CHIEF
JUDGE TARA C. RIDDLE JUDGE KRISTIN POLAND
Cobb and Marietta Schools Bring ‘Life Changing’ Initiatives to Students
By Annie Mayne amayne@mdjonline.com
Roughly 106,000 students in the Cobb County School District and 9,000 students in the Marietta City Schools were welcomed back to class in August.
The start of the 2024-45 school year brings several new initiatives to both districts, all aimed at advancing the districts’ guiding mantras of “One team, one goal: student success” and “Special, different and better,” respectively.
In Cobb, 10 new principals and over 500 new teachers joined the
“one team” this year.
The district’s new principals are: Kendra Brooks at Bells Ferry Elementary, Paul Watson at Bullard Elementary, Melissa Faklaris at Cheatham Hill Elementary, Sara Ostrander at LaBelle Elementary, Zach Mathis at Murdock Elementary, Shannon Thorpe at Durham Middle, David Church at Simpson Middle, Lexie Bultman at Allatoona High, Jeff Milton at Harrison High and Stephanie Santoro at Walton High.
Marietta City Schools welcomed a new chief operations officer, Michael Santoro, and appointed former COO Chuck Gardner to the position of chief academic officer.
Cobb schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale cuts the ribbon on Betty Gray Middle School in October 2023. Pictured, from left, are former state Sen. Lindsey Tippins; Lisa Gray, daughter of Betty Gray; Cobb school board member Leroy Tre’ Hutchins; Ragsdale; school board member Brad Wheeler; Betty Gray Middle School Principal Denise Magee; school board member Randy Scamihorn; and school board member Nichelle Davis.
Hunter Riggall
Marietta’s crackdown on cellphones
Marietta City Schools introduced a new phone policy to its middle grades students this year, locking students’ personal devices in a portable pouch throughout the school day.
The Marietta Board of Education approved the $100,000 purchase of Yondr pouches in June, which will hold smartwatches and cellphones from the first period of school to just before the final bell.
Board approval came at the request of Superintendent Grant Rivera, who told the MDJ he hopes the move has impacts not only on students’ attention during instructional period, but mental health outside the classroom.
“That vision also includes efforts to inform and empower families to make sure their home becomes an extension of the classroom and quite candidly that we don’t limit student access during the school day only to see them on social media and cellphones twice the amount of time when they get home,” Rivera said.
‘Life-changing’ tools brought to Cobb classrooms
Meanwhile in Cobb, students at 10 middle and 10 high schools started using virtual reality in their math and science classrooms.
At its June meeting, the Cobb Board of Education green-lit the $2 million purchase of Prisms of Reality, which puts students in VR to get firsthand experience solving real-world problems.
“This just has the potential to be changing for education. Life changing for students, life changing for teachers, but ultimately, if our one goal is student success, then our team has gotta get on board with this,” Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said. “It’s just awesomely exciting.”
In a 50-minute class, students will spend roughly 25 to 30 minutes in virtual reality before being asked to remove their headsets and translate their experiences onto pencil and paper.
The headsets will be used in seventh- and eighth-grade math and science classes at: Awtrey Middle School, Barber Middle School, Campbell Middle School, Daniel Middle School, Durham Middle School, Floyd Middle School, Hightower Trail Middle School, Lovinggood Middle School, Pearson Middle School, Simpson Middle School and Tapp Middle School.
It will be implemented in algebra and biology classes at: Allatoona High School, Campbell High School, Hillgrove High School, McEachern High School, North Cobb High School, Osborne High School, Pope High School, South Cobb High School and Sprayberry High School.
Literacy
Marietta City Schools continues to lead the Peach State in elementary literacy efforts, but this year, thedistrict is expanding its literacy push to the middle school-level students.
The middle school model is one that Marietta created and coined “Writing the Book on Literacy: The Next Chapter.”
Using over $1 million in grant funding from the Goizueta Foundation over the next two school years, the district has already begun implemented lessons that are typically not extended past elementary school.
“This is a big deal,” said board member Angela Orange at a May 2024 board meeting. “As we found out, The Goizueta Foundation does not often fund K-12 schools, so for them to fund our work is a big deal and a testament to ... Dr. Rivera and the entire team who put this together.”
Split into cohorts, teachers will be able to address specific students reading below, at, or above grade reading levels. In the district’s middle grades, 37% of students read below grade level, roughly 20% read at grade level or “grade level plus,” and between 40% and 42% of students read above their grade level.
“We have talked to many national experts and they will tell you that there is no middle school model for public education to address the science of reading and the continuum of needs for our students who walk in to sixth through eighth grade,” Rivera said. “Some who we need to push to read at a high school or college level, and some who are reading on a first-grade level.”
{h2 class=”subscriber-only”}Investing in staff{/h2}
Cobb Schools has continued investing in its staff futures with the expansion of the Georgia’s BEST (Building Educator Success Together) program for the 2024-25 school year.
The program funds master’s, education specialist and doctorate degrees for educators through the University of West Georgia at no cost to them. Over $2 million has been invested into the program so far, per Ragsdale.
According to the Cobb County School District, roughly 200 new educators were added to the program in August, totalling 700 teachers in the program’s first two years of operation.
The program is one of the school district’s best recruitment and retention tools. According to the district, there were only 20 vacancies across Cobb in the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year — compared to hundreds in districts across metro Atlanta — and over 98% of Cobb educators planned to return to the district for the 2024-2025 school year.
When the district announced the expansion of Georgia’s BEST in May, Ragsdale applauded the school board for its continued support of the “historic” program.“I am thankful to the Cobb County Board of Education for unanimously approving the costs associated with keeping Cobb as the place where educators from across the state and country want to teach,” Ragsdale said. “Georgia’s BEST benefits our entire team of students, staff, families, and taxpayers, and I could not be happier with the expansion of the historic program following a successful first year.” Both Cobb Schools and Marietta City Schools gave teachers raises for the 2024-25 school year, with all staff in Cobb getting somewhere between a 4.4% and 9% boost, and Marietta educators earning an average 5.3% raise. ”We’re grateful to continue to support our staff and teachers,” Marietta Board of Education member Jaillene Hunter said. “Our priority in the budget is our staff.”
Yvette Corella, a bus driver for Marietta City Schools, and her grandson Joshua Powell, get ready to ride the school bus together during the district’s annual “Ready, Set, Ride!” Day in this July 2024 MDJ file photo.
Jack Lindner
COBB
Board of Education
The Cobb school board is a seven-member body consisting of a chair, a vice-chair and five board members. All seven positions are elected by and represent one of seven areas of the county. The chair and vice chair are elected by the board at a specialcalled meeting. All positions serve four-year terms.
Editor’s note: These are the Cobb school board members through the end of 2024, when terms for posts 1, 3, 5 and 7 will expire. Elections for those posts will be held in November 2024. Elections for posts 2, 4, and 6 will occur in 2026.
MARIETTA School Board
The Marietta school board is a seven-member body consisting of a chair, vice-chair and five board members. All seven positions are elected by and represent one of seven areas of the city. The chair and vice chair are elected by the board at the first board meeting of the year. These are the Marietta Board of Education members through the end of 2025, when all seven terms expire.
770-422-3500 ext. 7253
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• A Georgia Drug-Free Workplace ensuring a safe, professional environment
MARIETTA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
1. A.L. Burruss Elementary
325 Manning Road
Marietta, GA 30064
(770) 429-3144
Grades: K-5
Students: 390 Teachers: 40
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 538
Grade 4 530
Grade 5 532
2. Dunleith Elementary
120 Saine Drive
Marietta, GA 30008 (770) 429-3190
Grades: K-5 Students: 550 Teachers: 56
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 496
Grade 4 505
Grade 5 505
3. Hickory Hills Elementary
500 Redwood Dr., SW Marietta, GA 30064 (770) 429-3125
Grades: K-5
Students: 404 Teachers: 44
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 510
Grade 4 524
Grade 5 520
4. Lockheed Elementary 1205 Merritt Road
Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 429-3196
Grades: K-5
492
Students: 736 Teachers: 83
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 464
Grade 4 467
Grade 5 491
471
5. Marietta Center for Advanced Academics 311 Aviation Road Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 420-0822
Grades: K-5
Students: 290 Teachers: 19
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 583
Grade 4 584
Grade 5 577
582
6. Park Street Elementary 105 Park Street SE Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 429-3180
Grades: K-5
Students: 482
Teachers: 57
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 473
Grade 4 480
Grade 5 489
7. Sawyer Road Elementary 840 Sawyer Road
Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 429-9923
482
Grades: K-5 Students: 505 Teachers: 64
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 481
Grade 4 502
Grade 5 509
495
Mathematics results are not yet available due to the implementation of new mathematics content standards, which were assessed for the first time during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Georgia Department of Education
8. West Side Elementary 344 Polk Street NW
Marietta, GA 30064 (770) 429-3172
Grades: K-5 Students: 531 Teachers: 51
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 575
Grade 4 567
Grade 5 555
552
9. Acworth Intermediate
4220 Cantrell Road
Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-6600
Grades: 2-5
Students: 511 Teachers: 51
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 527
Grade 4 518
Grade 5 524
10. Addison Elementary 3055 Ebenezer Road
Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 578-2700
Grades: K-5 Students: 579 Teachers: 47
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 546
Grade 4 522
Grade 5 545
11. Argyle Elementary 2420 Spring Road
Smyrna, GA 30080 (678) 842-6800
Grades: K-5
Students: 348
549
Teachers: 35
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 478
Grade 4 467
Grade 5 491
467
PK(3)-12
700 Cobb Parkway N. Marietta, Ga. 30062
Open to all faiths
12. Austell Elementary 5600 Mulberry Street
Austell, GA 30106 (770) 819-5804
Grades: K-5
Students: 387
Teachers: 38
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 493
Grade 4 508
Grade 5 507
13. Baker Elementary 2361 Baker Road NW
Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-6629
Grades: K-5
Students: 786
486
Teachers: 62
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 525
Grade 4 517
Grade 5 532
14. Bells Ferry Elementary 2600 Bells Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30066 (678) 594-8950
Grades: K-5
Students: 776
521
15. Belmont Hills Elementary 605 Glendale Place
Smyrna, GA 30080 (678) 842-6810
Grades: K-5 Students: 284
Teachers: 37
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 479
Grade 4 475
Grade 5 495
16. Big Shanty Elementary 1575 Ben King Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144 (678) 594-8023
Grades: 3-5
Students: 543
493
Teachers: 43
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 514
Grade 4 524
Grade 5 537
17. Birney Elementary 775 Smyrna-Powder Springs Rd. Marietta, GA 30060 (678) 842-6824
Teachers: 52
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 513
Grade 4 517
Grade 5 532
516
Grades: K-5 Students: 688
505
Teachers: 64
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 479
Grade 4 492
Grade 5 513
482
18. Blackwell Elementary
3470 Canton Road
Marietta, GA 30066 (678) 494-7600
Grades: K-5 Students: 603 Teachers: 52
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 497
Grade 4 516
Grade 5 527
19. Brumby Elementary 815 Terrell Mill Road SE Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 916-7070
500
Grades: K-5 Students: 1069 Teachers: 78
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 483
Grade 4 475
Grade 5 496
20. Bryant Elementary 6800 Factory Shoals Road
Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-2402
473
Grades: K-5 Students: 883 Teachers: 53
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 473
Grade 4 491
Grade 5 491
21. Bullard Elementary 3656 Old Stilesboro Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 (678) 594-8720
477
Grades: K-5 Students: 819 Teachers: 61
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 523
Grade 4 529
Grade 5 530
22. Chalker Elementary
325 North Booth Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 (678) 494-7621
25. Clarkdale Elementary 4725 Ewing Road Austell, GA 30106 (770) 819-2422
Grades: K-5 Students: 754 Teachers: 59
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 501
Grade 4 494
Grade 5 526
26. Clay Harmony Leland Elementary 6326 Factory Shoals Rd SW Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-0736
32. Eastvalley Elementary 2570 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-7214
Grades: K-5 Students: 690 Teachers: 53
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 513 -
Grade 4 515
506
Grades: K-5 Students: 989 Teachers: 72
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 497
Grade 4 507
Grade 5 522
27. Compton Elementary 3450 New Macland Road Powder Springs, GA 30127 (770) 222-3700
Grades: K-5
Students: 627
Teachers: 56
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 484
Grade 4 498
Grade 5 494
28. Davis Elementary 2433 Jamerson Road Marietta, GA 30066 (678) 494-7636
Grades: K-5
Students: 625
Teachers: 20
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 566
Grade 4 540
511
Grades: K-5 Students: 680 Teachers: 49
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 511
Grade 4 505
Grade 5 530
23. Cheatham Hill Elementary 1350 John Ward Road SW Marietta, GA 30064 (678) 594-8034
518
Grades: K-5 Students: 1012 Teachers: 78
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 523
Grade 4 519
Grade 5 547
24. City View Elementary 285 South Gordon Road Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-2553
Grade 5 533 -
33. Fair Oaks Elementary 407 Barber Road Marietta, GA 30060 (678) 594-8080
525
Grades: K-5 Students: 749 Teachers: 73
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 470 -
Grade 4 478
Grade 5 494
34. Ford Elementary 1345 Mars Hill Road Acworth, GA 30101 (678) 594-8092
486
Grades: K-5 Students: 762 Teachers: 59
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 531
Grade 4 542
Grade 5 545
35. Frey Elementary 2865 Mars Hill Road Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-6655
549
Grades: K-5 Students: 740 Teachers: 60
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 554
Grade 4 529
Grade 5 551
29. Dowell Elementary 2121 West Sandtown Road Marietta, GA 30064 (678) 594-8059
Grades: K-5 Students: 896
539
Grade 5 541
36. Garrison Mill Elementary 4111 Wesley Chapel Road Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 642-5600
Teachers: 70
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 495
Grade 4 507
Grade 5 511
30. Due West Elementary 3900 Due West Road Marietta, GA 30064 (678) 594-8071
Grades: K-5 Students: 659
493
Teachers: 46
GA English/ Math Science Social
Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 544
Grade 4 537
523
Grades: K-5 Students: 914 Teachers: 70
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 466
Grade 4 476
Grade 5 491
479
Grade 5 550
31. East Side Elementary 3850 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-7200
Grades: K-5 Students: 1076
549
Teachers: 80
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 577
Grade 4 551
Grade 5 568
527
Grades: K-5 Students: 659 Teachers: 49
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 553
Grade 4 547
Grade 5 560
37. Green Acres Elementary 2000 Gober Avenue Smyrna, GA 30080 (678) 842-6905
Grades: K-5 Students: 585 Teachers: 55
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 462
Grade 4 461
Grade 5 476
38. Hayes Elementary 1501 Kennesaw Due West Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 (678) 594-8127
Grades: K-5 Students: 820 Teachers: 66
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 505
Grade 4
Grade 5 523
39. Hendricks Elementary 5243 Meadow Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127 (770) 819-2387
Grades: K-5
Students: 520 Teachers: 44
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 513
Grade 4 502
Grade 5 516
40. Hollydale Elementary 2901 Bay Berry Drive Marietta, GA 30008 (678) 594-8143
486
Grades: K-5 Students: 548 Teachers: 57
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 487
Grade 4 495
Grade 5 507
41. Keheley Elementary 1985 Kemp Road Marietta, GA 30066 (678) 494-7836
482
Grades: K-5 Students: 397 Teachers: 35
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 525
Grade 4 510
Grade 5 536
510
42. Kemp Elementary 865 Corner Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127 (678) 594-8158
Grades: K-5 Students: 926 Teachers: 63
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 541
Grade 4 546
Grade 5 552
43. Kennesaw Elementary 3155 Jiles Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 (678) 594-8172
542
Grades: K-2 Students: 602 Teachers: 58
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
SCORES NOT AVAILABLE
44. Kincaid Elementary 1410 Kincaid Road Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 578-7238
Grades: K-5 Students: 626
Teachers: 45
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 536
Grade 4 535
Grade 5 551
542
45. King Springs Elementary 1041 Reed Road
Smyrna, GA 30082 (678) 842-6944
Grades: K-5 Students: 1124
Teachers: 82
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 537
Grade 4 538
Grade 5 551
46. LaBelle Elementary 230 Cresson Drive Marietta, GA 30060 (678) 842-6955
Grades: K-5 Students: 659
Teachers: 39
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 472
Grade 4 488
5 505
47. Lewis Elementary 4179 Jim Owens Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 (770) 975-6673
Grades: K-5 Students: 577
Teachers: 57
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 516
Grade 4 536
5 527
514
48. Mableton Elementary
5220 Church Street
Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-2513
Grades: K-5 Students: 963 Teachers: 86
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 467
Grade 4 476
Grade 5 496
49. McCall Primary 4496 Dixie Avenue
Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-6775
473
Grades: K-1 Students: 306 Teachers: 29
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade
Grade
SCORES NOT AVAILABLE
Grade
50. Milford Elementary 2390 Austell Road
Marietta, GA 30008 (678) 842-6966
Grades: K-5 Students: 383 Teachers: 38
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 482
Grade 4 492
Grade 5 514
492
51. Mount Bethel Elementary 1210 Johnson Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-7248
Grades: K-5 Students: 931 Teachers: 69
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 568
Grade 4 568
Grade 5 586
52. Mountain View Elementary 3151 Sandy Plains Road
Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 578-7265
Grades: K-5 Students: 846 Teachers: 64
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 572
Grade 4 581
Grade 5 578
53. Murdock Elementary 2320 Murdock Road
Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 509-5071
Grades: K-5 Students: 932
Teachers: 62
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 571
Grade 4 561
Grade 5 568
561
54. Nicholson Elementary 1599 Shallowford Road
Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 928-5573
Grades: K-5 Students: 413
Teachers: 43
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 538
Grade 4 537
Grade 5 539
55. Nickajack Elementary 4555 Mavell Road SE Smyrna, GA 30082 (678) 842-5814
Grades: K-5 Students: 1198
MOVEmountains
535
Teachers: 77
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 530
Grade 4 524
Grade 5 524
56. Norton Park Elementary 3041 Gray Road
Smyrna, GA 30082 (678) 842-5833
Grades: K-5 Students: 679
Teachers: 63
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 481 -
Grade 4 481
57. Pickett’s Mill Elementary 6400 Old Stilesboro Road
Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-7172
Grades: K-5 Students: 750 Teachers: 56
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 537 - -
Grade 4 538 -
Grade 5 547
58. Pitner Elementary 4575 Wade Green Road
Acworth, GA 30102 (678) 594-8320
540
Grades: K-5 Students: 811 Teachers: 62
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 521 - - - - - -
Grade 4 507 - - - - -
Grade 5 521 - - - 507 -
59. Powder Springs Elementary 4570 Grady Grier Drive
Powder Springs, GA 30127 (770) 222-3746
Grades: K-5 Students: 828 Teachers: 62
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 505 -
Grade 4 497 -
Grade 5 516 -
484
60. Powers Ferry Elementary 403 Powers Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 578-7936
Grades: K-5 Students: 410 Teachers: 36
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 487
Grade 4 495
Grade 5 503
61. Riverside Elementary 461 South Gordon Road Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-5851
485
Grades: K-5 Students: 534 Teachers: 46
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 459
Grade 4 463
Grade 5 476
62. Rocky Mount Elementary
2400 Rocky Mountain Road
Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 591-5050
449
Grades: K-5 Students: 588 Teachers: 43
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 557
Grade 4 542
Grade 5 562
568
63. Russell Elementary 3920 South Hurt Road
Smyrna, GA 30082 (770) 437-5937
Grades: K-5 Students: 595
Teachers: 51
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 478 - -
Grade 4 478
Grade 5 516
64. Sanders Elementary 1550 Anderson Mill Road SW Austell, GA 30106 (770) 819-2568
Grades: K-5 Students: 615
506
Teachers: 53
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 495
Grade 4 499
Grade 5 508
65. Sedalia Park Elementary 2230 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 509-5162
Grades: K-5 Students: 624
491
Teachers: 52
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 492 -
Grade 4 502 -
5 510
66. Shallowford Falls Elementary 3529 Lassiter Road
Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 642-5610
Grades: K-5 Students: 606 Teachers: 51
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 561
Grade 4 553
Grade 5 566
67. Smyrna Elementary 1099 Fleming Street
Smyrna, GA 30080 (678) 842-6741
562
Grades: K-5 Students: 887 Teachers: 78
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 521
Grade 4 511
Grade 5 522
68. Sope Creek Elementary 3320 Paper Mill Road
Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 916-7085
497
Grades: K-5 Students: 1103 Teachers: 75
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 566
Grade 4 555
Grade 5 575
577
69. Still Elementary 870 Casteel Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127 (678) 594-8287
Grades: K-5 Students: 761 Teachers: 63
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 533
Grade 4 534
Grade 5 538
70. Teasley Elementary 3640 Spring Hill Parkway Smyrna, GA 30080 (770) 437-5945
525
Grades: K-5 Students: 976 Teachers: 66
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 523
Grade 4 530
Grade 5 538
71. Timber Ridge Elementary 5000 Timber Ridge Road Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 642-5621
Grades: K-5 Students: 505
Teachers: 40
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 573
Grade 4 576
Grade 5 579
72. Tritt Elementary 4435 Post Oak Tritt Road
Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 642-5630
Grades: K-5 Students: 810
Teachers: 61
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 582
Grade 4 568
Grade 5 584
73. Varner Elementary 4761 Gaydon Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127 (770) 222-3775
592
Grades: K-5 Students: 768 Teachers: 59
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 512
Grade 4 509 -
Grade 5 531
74. Vaughan Elementary 5950 Nichols Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127 (678) 594-8298
Grades: K-5 Students: 639
514
579
Teachers: 48
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 3 552 -
Grade 4 540 -
Grade 5 549 -
539
MARIETTA CITY MIDDLE SCHOOLS
1. Marietta Sixth Grade Academy
340 Aviation Road SE
Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 429-3115
Grades: 6 Students: 682 Teachers: 54
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 511
2. Marietta Middle School 121 Winn Street NW Marietta, GA 30064 (770) 422-0311
Grades: 7-8 Students: 1329 Teachers: 105
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 7 509
Grade 8 515 -
- 487 510
COBB MIDDLE SCHOOLS
3. Awtrey Middle School 3601 Nowlin Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 975-6615
Grades: 6-8 Students: 648 Teachers: 44
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 514
Grade 7 505
Grade 8 521
4. Barber Middle School 4222 Cantrell Road Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-6764
471 513
Grades: 6-8 Students: 824 Teachers: 53
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 531
Grade 7 508
Grade 8 526 - - - 494 497
5. Betty Gray Middle School 1550 Pebblebrook Circle Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-2414
Grades: 6-8 Students: 662 Teachers:
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 483
Grade 7 490
6. Campbell Middle School 3295 Atlanta Road Smyrna, GA 30080 (678) 842-6873
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1278 Teachers: 66
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 512
Grade 7 503
Grade 8 522
7. Cooper Middle School 4605 Ewing Road Austell, GA 30106 (770) 819-2438
- 472 505
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1067 Teachers: 60
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 510
Grade 7 515
Mathematics results are not yet available due to the implementation of new mathematics content standards, which were assessed for the first time during the 2023-2024 school year. - Georgia Department of Education
8. Daniell Middle School 2900 Scott Road Marietta, GA 30066 (678) 594-8048
Grades: 6-8 Students: 902 Teachers: 61
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 521
Grade 7 509
Grade 8 500 - - - 483 493
Grade 8 522
- 510 519
Grade 8 520 - - - 494 508
9. Dickerson Middle School
855 Woodlawn Drive
Marietta, GA 30068
770-578-2710
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1217 Teachers: 72
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 581
Grade 7 578
Grade 8 573
10. Dodgen Middle School 1725 Bill Murdock Road Marietta, GA 30062
770-578-2726
538 555
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1246 Teachers: 69
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 583
Grade 7 558
Grade 8 560 -
- 523 550
11. Durham Middle School
2891 Mars Hill Road NW Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-6641
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1011 Teachers: 55
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 549
Grade 7 528
Grade 8 543
12. East Cobb Middle School 825 Terrell Mill Road Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 578-2740
493 541
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1366 Teachers: 79
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 499
Grade 7 487
Grade 8 512
13. Floyd Middle School 4803 Floyd Road Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-2453
476 492
16. Hightower Trail Middle School
3905 Post Oak Tritt Road
Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-7225
Grades: 6-8 Students: 965 Teachers: 65
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 568
Grade 7 554
Grade 8 555
17. Lindley Middle School 50 Veterans Memorial Hwy. Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-2496
Grades: 6-8 Students: 892
521 542
23. Palmer Middle School
690 North Booth Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 591-5020
Grades: 6-8 Students: 773
Teachers: 55
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 522 - -
Grade 7 499 -
Grade 8 529 -
24. Pearson Middle School 240 Barber Road Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 429-6012
Teachers: 67
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 481
Grade 7 487
Grade 8 509
18. Lost Mountain Middle School
700 Old Mountain Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 (678) 594-8224
Grades: 6-8
Students: 997
Teachers: 53
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 546
Grade 7 540
Grade 8 552
19. Lovinggood Middle School 3825 Luther Ward Road Powder Springs, GA 30127 (678) 331-3015
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1211
Teachers: 79
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 541
Grade 7 533
Grade 8 541
20. Mabry Middle School 2700 Jims Road Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 928-5546
515 537
Grades: 6-8 Students: 838 Teachers: 55
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 494
Grade 7 497
Grade 8 501
14. Garrett Middle School 5235 Austell-Powder Springs Road Austell, GA 30106 (770) 819-2466
473 491
Grades: 6-8 Students: 908 Teachers: 58
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 495
Grade 7 484
Grade 8 499 - - - 488 486
15. Griffin Middle School 4010 King Springs Road SE Smyrna, GA 30082 (678) 842-6917
Grades: 6-8 Students: 982 Teachers: 66
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 526
Grade 7 515
Grade 8 522 - - - 462 504
Grades: 6-8 Students: 930
Teachers: 59
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 550
Grade 7 560
Grade 8 551
21. McCleskey Middle School 4080 Maybreeze Road Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 928-5560
- - 521 539
Grades: 6-8 Students: 556
Teachers: 43
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 533
Grade 7 524
Grade 8 540
22. McClure Middle School 3660 Old Stilesboro Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 (678) 331-8131
Grades: 6-8 Students: 1007
490 522
Grades: 6-8 Students: 848 Teachers: 58
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 475
Grade 7 475
Grade 8 497
25. Pine Mountain Middle School 2720 Pine Mountain Circle Kennesaw, GA 30152 (678) 594-8252
Grades: 6-8 Students: 538 Teachers: 42
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 518 -
Grade 7 519
Grade 8 535
26. Simpson Middle School 3340 Trickum Road Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 971-4711
Grades: 6-8 Students: 892 Teachers: 61
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 564 -
Grade 7 545
Grade 8 556
27. Smitha Middle School 2025 Powder Springs Road Marietta, GA 30064 (678) 594-8267
Grades: 6-8 Students: 894 Teachers: 66
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 498
Grade 7 478
8 507
28. Tapp Middle School 3900 Macedonia Road Powder Springs, GA 30127 (770) 222-3758
Grades: 6-8 Students: 867 Teachers: 58
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 515 -
Grade 7 507
514
Teachers: 65
GA English/ Math Science Social Milestones Language Arts Studies
Grade 6 545
Grade 7 532
Grade 8 553
8 522
29. Marietta High School
1171 Whitlock Avenue SW Marietta, GA 30064 (770) 428-2631
Grades: 9-12
Test Takers
243
#
GA Am. Lit.
Milestones 505
30. Allatoona High School
3300 Dallas-Acworth Hwy. NW Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 975-6503
Grades: 9-12
#
GA Am. Lit.
Milestones 533
31. Campbell High School 925 Powder Springs Street SE Smyrna, GA 30080 (678) 842-6850
Grades: 9-12
MARIETTA CITY HIGH SCHOOL AND COBB COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS
35. Kell High School
4770 Lee Waters Road NE
Marietta, GA 30066 (678) 494-7844
Students: 2584
Teachers: 153
Grades: 9-12
Students: 1609
Students: 1544
36. Kennesaw Mountain High School
1898 Kennesaw-Due West Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 (678) 594-8190
Grades: 9-12
Students: 2891
37. Lassiter High School 2601 Shallowford Road Marietta, GA 30066 678-494-7863
Grades: 9-12
Milestones 522
32. Cobb Horizon High School 1765 The Exchange SE Atlanta, GA 30339 (678) 594-8240
Grades: 9-12
Students: 1098
Teachers: 83 Test Takers
# Tested
25 538
33. Harrison High School 4500 Due West Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 (678) 594-8104
Grades: 9-12
410 572
34. Hillgrove High School 4165 Luther Ward Road Powder Springs, GA 30127 (678) 331-3961
Grades: 9-12
Teachers:
Students: 1639 Teachers:
Students: 1926
38. McEachern High School 2400 New Macland Road Powder Springs, GA 30127 (770) 222-3710
Grades: 9-12
39. North Cobb High School 3400 Old 41 Highway, NW Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 975-6685
Grades: 9-12
40. Osborne High School 2451 Favor Road Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 437-5900
Grades: 9-12
#
41. Pebblebrook High School 991 Old Alabama Road Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-2521
Grades: 9-12 Students:
#
42. Pope High School
3001 Hembree Road Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-7900
Grades: 9-12
43. South Cobb High School 1920 Clay Road Austell, GA 30106 (770) 819-2611
Grades: 9-12
Students:
44. Sprayberry High School
2525 Sandy Plains Road Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 578-3200
Grades: 9-12
GA Am. Lit.
Milestones 524
45. Walton High School
1590 Bill Murdock Road
Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-3225
Grades: 9-12
Students: 2680 Teachers:
City Schools board member A.B. Almy with her daughter Mabel Almy, a second grader at West Side Elementary School, during a visit on the first day of school.
#
46. Wheeler High School 375 Holt Road Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-3266
Grades: 9-12 Students:
Marietta
Jack Lindner
Private Schools IN COBB
1. Acton Academy Marietta
3481 Campus Loop Road, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 770-421-5839
Website: www.actonmarietta.org
Director: Michael Ashley
Accreditation: IALDS and GAC
Number of staff: 3
Grades: K-9
Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $12,750
School programs: student-driven learning model, full-day/5 days a week, secular
After-school care: no
Year established: 2019
2. Brookwood
Christian School
4728 Wood St, Acworth, GA 30101
Phone: 678-401-5855
Website: www.brookwoodchristian. com
Director: Kim Wigington, Founder & Director
Accreditation: GAC
Number of staff: 18
Grades: 1-12
Application fee: $35
Average tuition: $21,300
After-school care: yes
Year established: 2004
3. Carman Adventist School
1330 Cobb Pkwy N, Marietta, GA 30062
Phone: 770-424-0606
Website: www.caschool.org
Director: Jeff Freeman, principal Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, National Council for Private Schools Accreditation, Adventists Accrediting Association
Number of teachers: 9
Grades: Pre-K — 8
Application deadline: rolling
Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $6,000
School programs: STEM, Art, P.E., technology and bible class
After-school care: Yes, and before-school care.
Year established: 1955
4. Casa Montessori School
150 Powers Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30067
Phone: 770-973-2731
Website: www.casamontessori.com
Director: Suzanne Johnson, Directress
Accreditation: AMI, State of Georgia
Number of staff: 20
Grades: 18 months — 6th grade
Application fee: $0
Average tuition: $13,000 — $16,000
School programs: Montessori
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1974
5. Cornerstone
Preparatory Academy
3588 Hickory Grove Road
Acworth GA 30101
Phone: 770-529-7077
Website: www.cornerstoneprep.org
Director: Marsha Robbins, head of school
Accreditation: COGNIA
Number of staff: 65
Grades: K-12
Application fee: $225
Average tuition: $4,700 — $9,240
School programs: University model, hybrid learning
After-school care: No
Year established: 2004
6. Covenant Christian School
3130 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30080
Phone: 770-435-1596
Website: www.ccsconroe.org
Director: Phenette Pugh, head of school
Accreditation: Cognia, GAC
Number of staff: 17
Grades: K4-8th Grade
Application fee: $50
Average tuition: $12,000
School programs: Music, art, computer and Latin
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1975
ACWORTH KENNESAW MARIETTA
AUSTELL
7. Covered Bridge
Montessori School
488 Hurt Rd SW, Smyrna, GA 30082
Phone: 770-801-8292
Website: www.coveredbridgemontessori.com
Director: Qiu Fang Accreditation:
American Montessori Society Number of staff: 10
Grades: 18 months — 6 years old. Georgia Pre-K
Application deadline: rolling Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $11,900 — $14,600
School programs: Mandarin, Spanish, Gardening
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1984
8. Cumberland Christian Academy
545 Lorene Dr SW, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 678-426-1600
Website: www.cumberlandchristian.org
Director: Eddie Fincher Grades: K3 — 8th
Application fee: $75
Average tuition: $6,995 — $9,995
Year established: 1989
9. Dominion Christian School
4607 Burnt Hickory Road, Marietta, GA 30064
Phone: 770-420-2153
Website: www.dominionchristain.org
Director: Ed Morris, head of school Accreditation: Cognia, ACSI Number of teachers: 22 Grades: 6-12
Application fee: $120
Average tuition: $10,600 — $11,600 Year established: 1997
10. East Cobb Christian School
4616 Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30062
Phone: 770-565-0881
Website: www.ecss.org
Director: Billy Creech, head of school Accreditation: Cognia, ACSI Grades: K-8
Application fee: $150
Average tuition: $8,337 — $12,575 Year Established: 1987
11. Eastside Christian School
2450 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068
Phone: 770-971-2332
Website: www.eastsidechristianschool.com
Director: Dr. Tiffany Stark, Head of School
Accreditation: ACSI and Cognia Number of staff: 53
Grades served: K — 10th grade
Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $13,350 School programs: full day, 5-days per week, traditional learning environment, accelerated academics with honors/AP/ DE options, HS research & internship program, STEM, performing arts, K — HS athletics options. After-school care: Yes Year established: 1983
12. Faith Lutheran School
2111 Lower Roswell Rd. Marietta, Ga 30068
Phone: 770-973-8921
Website: www.faithmarietta.org
Director: Amy Kurtz, Principal Accreditation: National Lutheran School Accreditation and COGNIA Number of staff: 35-40
Grades: Pre-K (18 months) — 8th grade
Application fee: $50 application fee; $50 evaluation fee for K-8th
Average tuition: $11,400 School programs: Christian Education with Music, Spanish, PE, middle school sports After-school care: yes, both beforecare and after-care Year established: 1968
13. First Baptist
Christian School
2958 N Main St, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 770-422-3254
Website: www.fbcskennesaw.com
Director: Sue Gunderman, headmaster Number of teachers: 28 Grades: Pre-K (age 2) — 8th grade
Registration fee: $275 — $550
Average tuition: $2,730 — $9,830 Year established: 1969
14. Foundations for the Future
1500 Stanley Rd NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152
Phone: 770-429-4799
Website: www.cadence-education. com/locations/ga/kennesaw/769/ Accreditation: NAEYC, Cognia Grades: PreK — 2 Year established: 2004
15. GRACEPOINT School
1407 Cobb Pkwy N, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 678-709-6634
Website: www.gracepointschool.org
Director: Liz Powell, Head of School
Accreditation: SAIS, OGA
Number of staff: 50
Grades: 1-8
Application fee: $150
Average tuition: $27,750
School programs: Music, Art, STEAM, Team-building and leadership programs Year established: 2012
16. Johnson Ferry
Christian Academy
955 Johnson Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30068
Phone: 678-784-5231
Website: www.jfca.org
Director: Nathan McCown, Head of School
Accreditation: ACSI, Cognia, SACS
Number of staff: 50
Grades: K-12
Application fee: $250-$450
Average tuition: $7,000
School programs: Athletics, Musical Theater, Leadership Clubs
After-school care: No
Year established: 2004
17. Marietta First Baptist Church — Center for Early Education
148 Church Street Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 770-424-8797
Website: www.mariettafbc.org/cee
Director: Elizabeth Coan
Grades: Ages 2-4, Kinder Connection
Registration fee: $100 — $365
Average monthly tuition: $215 — $380
Year established: 1955
18. MDE School
1517 Johnson Ferry Rd Unit 100, Marietta, GA 30062
Phone: 770-971-4633
Website: www.mdeschool.org
Director: Mindy Elkan
Accreditation: GAC
Grades: K — 8
Average tuition: $25,000
Year established: 2009
19. Midway Covenant
Christian School
4635 Dallas Hwy, Powder Springs, GA 30127
Phone: 770-590-1866
Website: www.midwayschool.org
Director: Matthew Ross, head of school Number of teachers: 27
Grades: Pre-K — 8th grade Application fee: $35
Average tuition: $2,940 — $8,544 Year established: 1996
20. Mt. Bethel Christian Academy
4385 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068
Phone: 770-971-0245
Website: www.mtbethelchristian.org
Director: Jim Cianca, Head of School
Accreditation: SAIS
Number of staff: 130
Grades: Junior kindergarten — 12 Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $16,500 School programs: college prep, christ-centered, athletics, fine arts, world language, STEM, honors and AP courses, film academy
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1998
21. Mount Paran
Christian School
1275 Stanley Road Kennesaw, GA 30152
Phone: 770-578-0182
Website: www.mtparanschool.com
Director: Matt Kerlin, head of school Accreditation: SAIS, Cognia, CESA
Number of staff: 275
Grades: Pre-K — 12
Application deadline: rolling Application fee: $95
Average tuition: $4,780 — $24,221 School programs: AP/honors courses, instructional support, robotics, Spanish and STEAM, and a 1:1 device program
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1976
22. North Cobb
Christian School
4500 Eagle Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 770-975-0252
Website: www.ncchristian.org
Director: Todd Clingman, head of school Accreditation: Cognia, ACSI and CESA
Number of staff: 220
Grades served: Pre-K — 12th
Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $13,500
School programs: 5 Upper School Academies (Business; Arts; STEM; Counseling/Ministry/Education; Exercise and Sports Science), 54
Championship Athletics Teams, 17 Performing Arts Ensembles, Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment Courses, Foreign Language
After-school care: yes
Year established: 1983
23. Omega Private Academy
5340 Brookstone Dr NW, Acworth, GA 30101
Phone: 770-792-7431
Website: www.acworth-ga.omegalearning.com/private-school/
Director: Jennifer Lynch, principal
Accreditation: Cognia
Number of staff: 8
Grades served: 2 — 12
Application deadline: rolling
Registration fee: $975
Average tuition: $11,500
School programs: Four full days plus one independent study day, College prep high school, individualized teaching
After-school care: No
Year established: 2008
24. The Quadrilingual Academy
2581b Spring Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30080
Phone: 404-777-7823
Website: www.thequadacademy.com
Director: Ericka Garcia
Accreditation: GAC
Number of staff: 48
Grades: Toddler 1 — 3rd Grade
Application fee: $0
Average tuition: $1,850
School programs:
French, Spanish, Chinese, English
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 2020
25. SAE School
6688 Mableton Pkwy SE, Mableton, GA 30126
Phone: 678-239-3200
Website: www.saeschool.org
Director: Desmond Bobbett, head of school
Accreditation: GAC, AdvancED, Quality Rated Child Care
Grades: Pre-K — 8th grade
Average tuition: $12,600 — $14,400
26. St. Benedict’s Episcopal School
2160 Cooper Lake Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30080
Phone: 678-279-4300
Website: www.stbs.org
Director: Brian Sullivan, head of school
Accreditation: SAIS, Cognia
Number of teachers: 100
Grades: Pre-K — 8
Average tuition: $9,000 — $16,000
School programs: Spanish, religious curriculum, art
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 2009
27. St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School
1618 Ben King Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 770-419-8601
Website: www.scsiena.org
Director: Kelly Wood, principal Accreditation: Cognia, NCEA, SAIS
Grades: K-8
Application fee: $155
Average tuition: $8,989 — $11,200
Year established: 2002
28. St. Joseph Catholic School
81 Lacy Street, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 770-428-3328
Website: www.stjosephschool.org
Director: Ramon Villacure, principal Accreditation: Cognia, NCEA, AAAIS, ACSD
Number of staff: 55
Grades: Pre-K4 — 8
Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $8,750 — $11,354 School programs: fine arts department, robotics, Spanish, band, drama
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1953
29. The Garden School of Marietta
4010 Canton Rd, Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: 770-765-2036
Website: www.thegardenmarietta.org
Director: Sara Walsh, director of operations
Grades: Pre-K — 8
Average tuition: $5,250 — $15,550
School programs: nature immersive
Year established: 2015
30. The Link School
3891 Nance Rd, Acworth, GA 30101
Phone: 404-558-9809
Website: www.thelinkschoolacworth.org
Director: Rebecca Sartain, head of school
Grades: K-12 (ages 6-21)
Average tuition: $17,000
Year established: 2014
31. The Stonehaven School
Lower School Campus: 1480 Joyner Ave SE, Marietta, GA 30060
Upper School Campus: 1650 Old Concord Rd, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 770-874-8885
Website: www.thestonehavenschool.org
Director: Brett Edwards, Head of School
Accreditation: SAIS and ACCS
Number of staff: 63
Grades: K-12
Application deadline: February 2025
Application fee: $150
Average tuition: $11,800
School programs: full day, 5-days per week classical Christian education, athletics teams, drama, chess, nature studies, music, art, latin
After-school care: yes
Year established: 2004
32. The Walker School
700 Cobb Parkway North, Marietta, GA 30062
Phone: 770-427-2689
Website: www.thewalkerschool.org
Grades: Pre-K(3) — 12
Application fee: $85
Average tuition: $17,200 — $35,400. School programs: Arts, Athletics, Science, Technology and Spanish beginning in Pre-K(3) with offerings in each area expanding in each grade.
Academic concentrations in Public Health, Engineering and Humanities in Upper School. A multitude of in-school and after-school clubs, academic and athletic teams.
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1957
33. The Wood Acres School
1772 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30062
Phone: 484-218-4279
Website: www.woodacresschool.org
Director: Laurie Mazor, head of school
Accreditation: GAC
Number of staff: 60
Grades: 2s — 8
Application deadline: rolling
Application fee: $75
Average tuition: $8,560 — $15,020 School programs: STEM, Spanish, Band, Art, PE, Science
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1969
34. Whitefield Academy
1 Whitefield Dr SE, Mableton, GA 30126
Phone: 678-305-3000
Website: www.whitefieldacademy.com
Director: Kevin Bracher, Head of School
Accreditation: CESA, SAIS
Number of staff: 200
Grades: Pre-K — 12
Application deadline: Feb. 25, 2025
Application fee: $100
Average tuition: $27,000
School programs: Christ Centered, College Preparatory School with over 50 sports teams, 40 arts performances, and 19 AP classes.
After-school care: Yes
Year established: 1997
Ribbon cutting and celebration of Mount Paran Christian School’s new dining facility and kitchen in August 2024
North Cobb Christian School student and football player Halen Bennett, left, escorts a lower school student to their classroom from the car line drop off in August 2024. Special — File
Cobb County Public Libraries
EAST COBB LIBRARY
4880 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30068
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 509-2730
GRITTERS LIBRARY
880 Shaw Park Road
Marietta, GA 30066
Currently closed for rebuilding. (770) 528-2524
Note: During the rebuild of the new Gritters Library, the Mountain View Regional Library will serve as the go-to location for Gritters patrons.
KEMP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
4029 Due West Road
Marietta GA 30064
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 528-2527
LEWIS A. RAY LIBRARY
4500 Oakdale Road
Smyrna, GA 30080
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 7 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 1 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 801-5335
MOUNTAIN VIEW REGIONAL LIBRARY
3320 Sandy Plains Road
Marietta, GA 30066
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. — 5 p.m. (770) 509-2725
NORTH COBB REGIONAL LIBRARY
3535 Old 41 Highway Kennesaw, GA 30144
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 801-5320
POWDER SPRINGS LIBRARY
4181 Atlanta St., Bldg. 1
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 439-3600
SEWELL MILL LIBRARY & CULTURAL CENTER
2051 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 509-2711
SIBLEY LIBRARY
1539 South Cobb Drive
Marietta, GA 30060
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 7 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 1 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 528-2520
SOUTH COBB REGIONAL LIBRARY
805 Clay Road
Mableton, GA 30126
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. — 5 p.m. (678) 398-5828
STRATTON LIBRARY
1100 Powder Springs Road SW Marietta, GA 30064
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 528-2522
SWEETWATER VALLEY LIBRARY
5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Suite 100 Austell, GA 30106
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 7 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 1 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 819-3290
SWITZER LIBRARY
266 Roswell St.
Marietta, GA 30060
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. — 5 p.m. (770) 528-2320
VININGS LIBRARY
4290 Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, GA 30339
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (770) 801-5330
WEST COBB REGIONAL LIBRARY
1750 Dennis Kemp Lane Kennesaw, GA 30152
Monday — Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Thursday — Friday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. — 5 p.m. (770) 528-4699
Visit www.cobbcounty.org/library/locations/ bookmobile to learn more about this service and upcoming Bookmobile stops.
Left: Children listen to stories at the West Cobb Regional Library.
Joe Adgie
Founded in Faith
In 2012, two mothers wanted to provide their dyslexic children with a specialized education in a Christian setting. GRACEPOINT school began with four students and has steadily grown to an enrollment of more than 130 students in grades one through eight.
GRACEPOINT Mission
The mission is to equip dyslexic students with the skills needed to develop into independent and confident learners. They strive to instIll a life-long desire for their students to grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord, so each will fulfill God’s purpose, and bring Him glory.
Nationally Accredited by OGA
GRACEPOINT’s instructional program is 1 of only 19 programs in the nation to be accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practioners and Educators. After completing remediation, students transition to area public and private schools.
Small Classes, Big Impact
GRACEPOINT utilizes the Orton-Gillingham method, a multi-sensory approach woven into all subject areas. Their students receive seventy-five minutes of explicit reading instruction daily by a certified Orton-Gillingham teacher. The student /teacher ratio for reading and math is 5:1, while all other core subjects have a student/teacher ratio of 8:1.
A new day is dawning at Kennesaw State
Special/Kennesaw State University
The signs of Kennesaw State University’s growth are easy to see — whether it’s the enrollment that has risen to more than 45,000 students, or a structural addition to the landscape such as the STEM building that’s being built on the Marietta Campus. Even more significant, though, is the bigger picture of KSU’s growth.
Kennesaw State has adopted a strategic plan to achieve national prominence for academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships, and economic opportunity. The initiatives will build on achievements that already have elevated the university’s profile and, more importantly, positively impacted the lives of KSU students and the broader community.
“We are proud of what our university is today, but the future holds even greater promise as we continue to innovate and excel,” said Kennesaw State President Kathy S. Schwaig. “The region and the state are counting on KSU to be a leader in higher education, and our strategic initiatives will guide us in developing the workforce and leaders of tomorrow.”
To meet the needs of an evolving workforce, Kennesaw State has and will continue to offer degrees in high-demand fields. To name a
few, KSU has launched a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, doubled its nursing student enrollment, and expanded its data science program to a full complement of degrees from bachelor’s to doctorate.
KSU’s teaching and learning initiatives include expanding graduate programs and enrollment, undergraduate internship participation, education abroad opportunities and the university’s Honors program. Another commitment is to grow the Double Owl pathways, which allow students to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in an accelerated timeframe.
While students’ academic progression and graduation always will be a priority, another is to ensure that students feel at home at KSU. For example, the FLIGHT program helps first-year students transition to college life and unites them in a supportive community. Now in its third year, FLIGHT has shown positive results in GPA and retention rates.
“We have seen that students who feel connected to their school are more likely to thrive academically and personally,” said Eric Arneson, vice president of student affairs. “By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we help our students build lasting relationships, develop essential life skills, and achieve their full potential.”
Flowers bloom in front of Prillaman Hall, the home of KSU’s Wellstar College of Health and Human Services.
Matthew Yung | Kennesaw State University
Commencement ceremonies in May celebrated Kennesaw State’s more than 5,300 spring and summer graduates.
Matthew Yung | Kennesaw State University
In reaching that potential, students have an opportunity that sets KSU apart from many other universities — undergraduates participating in hands-on research. The university is dedicated to increasing external research funding and expanding graduate and undergraduate research experiences. That builds on last year, when Kennesaw State received more research funding than ever before through grants from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
In addition, the STEM building on the Marietta Campus, set to open next fall, will advance collaborative research and teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The interdisciplinary nature of the work will extend research discoveries into other disciplines such as business, the arts, humanities, and education.
Coinciding with KSU’s growth, school spirit has reached a new high as Kennesaw State Athletics is in its inaugural year of competing in Conference USA. With the move, the Owls elevated to the highest level of college football, the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Along with the hard work and dedication of students, faculty and staff, KSU’s success would not be possible without public and private support. Kennesaw State is now in The Campaign for KSU, the most comprehensive fundraising effort in the university’s history.
Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2). Undergraduate students participate in research endeavors, an opportunity that sets KSU apart from many other universities.
Matthew Yung | Kennesaw State University
The initiative has generated passion and energy beyond Kennesaw State’s campus borders, including contributions from many donors who previously had no direct connection to the university. The Campaign is inspiring student success through scholarships and support programs, strengthening multidisciplinary research initiatives, and expanding academic and athletic facilities as KSU rises to a national stage.
“Kennesaw State is committed to driving economic growth and strengthening communities in Georgia and the nation,” Schwaig said. “Together with our dedicated faculty, staff, and partners, we will continue to set new standards of excellence in higher education.”
FACTS ABOUT KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
• Two metro Atlanta campuses, in Kennesaw and Marietta, with 11 academic colleges
• Enrollment of more than 45,000 students, including more than 4,500 at the graduate level
• More than 142,000 alumni, including over 36,000 from Cobb County
• 38.3 percent of undergraduates are first-generation college students
• Economic impact of more than $2 billion on the local and regional economy
• 10 residential facilities housing 5,900 students
• More than 300 student-led organizations
• 18 NCAA Division I athletics teams (10 women’s varsity sports, 8 men’s)
Fifth Third Stadium, home of the Owls
Judith Pishnery | Kennesaw State University
Chattahoochee Tech: Real-World Career Training Close to Home
Special/Chattahoochee Technical College
Students don’t have to look far from home for an excellent and affordable college education that prepares them for exciting career opportunities in the local workforce. They can graduate in two years or less at Chattahoochee Technical College with a meaningful degree that is immediately usable and builds a lasting career. Chattahoochee Tech offers real-world training in a wide range of programs for students at all stages of life to quickly start, change, or accelerate their careers.
A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Chattahoochee Tech awards certificates, diplomas and associate degrees in programs of study linked to the state’s fastest-growing, high-demand career fields.
Chattahoochee Tech has nine campus locations throughout Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Paulding and Pickens counties. The Aviation Training Academy is the college’s newest campus, which opened in the 2024 spring semester near the Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport. Three of the Chattahoochee Tech campuses are located in Cobb County.
The Chattahoochee Tech Marietta Campus continues to have the college’s largest campus enrollment each semester. This campus is located off South Cobb Drive, approximately two miles south of the Marietta Square. Popular areas of study at the Marietta Campus include the Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistant programs, Dental Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, Phlebotomy Technician, Health Care Management and Medical Assisting. These healthcare programs are housed in the college’s 71,716-square-foot Health Science building. This state-of-the-art facility features Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) classrooms and dedicated labs for anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics and physiology.
Popular programs of study at the Marietta Campus also include Cybersecurity, Computer Programming and Web Application Development, as well as Paralegal Studies, Cosmetology, Accounting,
Business Management Early Childhood Care and Education, Automotive Technology and Criminal Justice Technology. In the Marketing Management program, Chattahoochee Tech began offering Real Estate professional training in the 2024 fall semester.
The Chattahoochee Tech Marietta Campus is also home to the Superior Plumbing Veterans Education and Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center, which is one of only two VECTR Centers in Georgia. U.S. military veterans and their families can come to the VECTR Center for help with transitioning successfully into the civilian workforce and into postsecondary educational systems. The VECTR Center at Chattahoochee Tech also features the Jim Cunningham Veteran Services Center, which provides a supportive environment for the college’s vast student population of veterans and military-affiliated students.
In east Cobb, the Chattahoochee Tech Mountain View Campus is located off Shallowford Road next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center.
The college launched its Esthetician program at the Mountain View Campus in the 2024 fall semester following an extensive campus renovation. Estheticians are licensed skin care professionals who help people look and feel their best. They provide facial treatments to improve the health and appearance of the skin, along with services that include makeup techniques, hair removal, spa therapies and more. Esthetician students at Chattahoochee Tech will be able to gain hands-on experience in an appealing real-world setting to ensure they are well-prepared for entering the workforce.
Popular programs of study at the Mountain View Campus also include Film and Video Production Technology, along with Design and Media Production Technology. Graduates of these programs are successfully applying their skills in the state’s robust film and television industry. The college also offers adult education programs in Cobb County that include free GED preparation classes at both the Mountain View and Marietta campuses.
In south Cobb, the college’s Austell Campus is located on Veterans
Accelerate Your Career
Our blend of programs, flexibility and savings helps you get your career moving.
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Memorial Parkway, with convenient access to I-285. This campus has a major focus on continuing education courses and professional development training. Customized workforce training for local industry is available at multiple campus locations through the college’s Office of Economic Development.
Chattahoochee Tech is also an excellent option for current high school students. The college offers both the Georgia Dual Enrollment program and the state’s Dual Achievement program.
The Dual Achievement Program offers qualified students between the ages of 16 and 21 an alternate path to high school graduation. Dual Achievement students can simultaneously earn their high school diploma from the Chatt Tech Academy along with college credentials in a specific career pathway.
The Dual Enrollment program offers concurrent enrollment for high school students to take courses at Chattahoochee Tech while remaining enrolled in their high school. Dual Enrollment students take Chattahoochee Tech courses that earn both college credit and high school credit.
As an affordable path to a bachelor’s degree, high school students can transition easily from local high schools into Chattahoochee Tech and then on to four-year colleges. Making this transfer process even better for many students is the new LINK program, an academic bridge from Chattahoochee Tech to Kennesaw State University. Chattahoochee Tech also recently established an articulation agreement with Clayton State University that provides a strong pathway to a bachelor’s degree for Chattahoochee Tech paralegal students.
Since the college began in Marietta 61 years ago, Chattahoochee Tech graduates have been helping to build our communities and our local workforce. Most of the students come from towns near one of Chattahoochee Tech’s campuses and they tend to stay in the communities for work. The evolution of Chattahoochee Tech through the years has been grounded in dynamic enrollment for programs of study designed to transform lives and meet workforce needs. These programs of study prepare Chattahoochee Tech students to become the highly skilled professionals who are needed within the local workforce.
More information about the college is available at www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu
FACTS ABOUT CHATTAHOOCHEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
• 2024 Fall Enrollment number: 11,345 students. This includes 2,217 Dual Enrollment high school students and 178 Dual Achievement high school students.
• In-state tuition: $1,770 per semester for 12 credit hours
• Out-of-state tuition: $3,054 per semester for 12 credit hours
• International/foreign student tuition: $5,622 per semester for 12 credit hours
Life University: A Beacon of Excellence in Higher Education
Special/Life University
Nestled in the heart of Marietta, Life University is an institution that fosters an environment for innovative research, a holistic education and a deep-seated commitment to improving the lives of individuals locally, nationally and globally. This year, as Life U celebrates its 50th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the vision and dedication of its founder, Dr. Sid E. Williams. Since its establishment in 1974, Life U has evolved from a small chiropractic college into a comprehensive institution offering a diverse range of academic programs and making a significant impact in the world through the work of its graduates and the institution’s value- centric initiatives. This milestone anniversary is not just a time for reflection, but also an opportunity to look forward to the university’s promising future.
A Diverse Array of Degree Programs
Life U offers a variety of degree programs designed to cater to the diverse interests and career aspirations of its students. At the undergraduate level, the university provides degrees in fields such as Biopsychology, Exercise Science, Nutrition and Business
Administration. The graduate programs are equally robust, featuring advanced degrees such as the M.S. in Sport Health Science and M.S. in Positive Psychology. The university’s flagship Doctor of Chiropractic program stands out as a professional degree program, renowned for its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on hands-on clinical experience. These programs are meticulously designed to blend theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to excel in their chosen fields.
A PICTURESQUE AND SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS
The university’s beautiful campus is evidence of its commitment to sustainability and student well-being. Spanning more than 110 acres, the campus is adorned with lush greenery, state-of-the-art facilities and serene outdoor spaces that promote a conducive learning environment. Life U’s dedication to sustainability is evident in its numerous green initiatives, including LEED Gold, energy-efficient buildings and eco-friendly practices, which contribute to a healthier planet and community.
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
At the heart of Life U’s mission is a commitment to innovative research and academic excellence. The university’s faculty members are leaders in their respective fields, actively engaging in groundbreaking research that advances knowledge and improves practice. With a low 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Life U ensures personalized attention and mentorship, fostering an environment where students can thrive academically and personally.
CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Life U prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive institution. Consistently ranked highly for diversity (No. 2 in Georgia and No. 33 in the nation, according to Niche.com), the university embraces students from various backgrounds, cultures and perspectives. This rich tapestry of experiences enriches the academic environment, preparing students to become global citizens who are empathetic, culturally aware and ready to make a positive impact in an interconnected world. In fact, Life U established its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2020 to advance its initiatives in this area.
GLOBAL AND LOCAL IMPACT
Life U’s influence extends far beyond its campus. Locally, the university engages with the community through various outreach programs, public health clinics and educational initiatives that promote well-being and knowledge. Nationally and globally, Life U’s alumni are making significant strides in their professions, contributing to the advancement of chiropractic, positive psychology, business and other fields.
Looking to the Future As Life U marks its 50th anniversary, it is poised for continued growth and success. The university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovative research and community engagement ensures that it will remain a leader in higher education, dedicated to shaping the leaders of tomorrow and making a lasting impact on society.
FACTS ABOUT LIFE UNIVERSITY
• Celebrates its 50th anniversary this year
• Ranked No. 2 in Georgia for diversity (niche.com)
• Life U’s campus spans 110 acres
• Started as a small chiropractic college
Cobb residents can complete new online bachelor’s in organizational leadership with GHC
Special/Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Highlands College, which has a location at 1090 Northchase Parkway in Marietta, now offers an online Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, the ninth bachelor’s degree program option at the college.
The program, offered in partnership with the University System
of Georgia eMajor, can be completed fully online.
Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sarah Coakley says the program would be a good fit for self-motivated, independent learners interested in a leadership role within the public, private, or nonprofit sector.
“The broad reach of the bachelor’s in organizational leadership creates maximum job opportunities for program graduates,” Coakley said. “Graduates could work as city managers, heads of public departments
or agencies, heads of nonprofit organizations, or office managers in a number of businesses.”
It is also an excellent degree choice for those seeking to grow an existing career.
“This degree program is perfect for working adults, military members and transfer students as the program is fully online and consists of eight-week courses,” Program Coordinator Alan Nichols said. “Also, with the degree program being fully online, working adults can fit courses around their busy work and life schedules.”
“The convenience of the degree for working adults cannot be understated,” he added.
The program hosts four concentrations: Public Service, Social Justice, Office Administration and Technology and Healthcare Administration.
The bachelor’s in organizational leadership provides current students an additional opportunity to continue their academic journey at GHC while meeting the needs of a diverse workforce and expanding economic development throughout the region and neighboring states.
“The curriculum is interdisciplinary and flexible, and students from a variety of academic backgrounds and pathways can enter the program,” Professor for the School of Social Sciences and Education Teresa Hutchins said. “For students who want to go into public service or work for nonprofit organizations, the bachelor’s in organizational leadership allows them to earn their credentials close to home and upon graduation, the potential to stay in the community.”
Georgia Highlands College recently expanded its in-state tuition to the entire state of Alabama and assists students transferring from
colleges in Alabama. General education courses for the bachelor’s in organizational leadership are $101 per credit hour, while courses in the major are $199 per credit hour.
Georgia Highlands College is a multi-campus, state college member of the University System of Georgia. Founded in 1970 as Floyd Junior College, the college now serves thousands of students from more than 30 counties in Northwest Georgia. GHC has five sites in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta and Dallas, as well as a robust online program. GHC offers more than 40 areas of study with associate degree and bachelor’s degree options both in the classroom and online. GHC is proud to support the local economy with a regional economic impact of nearly $170 million.
Learn more at www.highlands.edu. Apply now at www.apply. highlands.edu.
FACTS ABOUT GA HIGHLANDS COLLEGE
• The college is estimated to have an almost $170 million impact
• Georgia Highlands serves thousands of students from more than 30 counties in northwest Georgia
• Degrees can be fully completed online
• Courses designed for students who work
Georgia Trade School
Georgia Trade School was launched in 2012 to challenge the notion that middle class suburban kids had to matriculate to college. From a very humble group of seven welding students in the first class to 2,000 graduates today, GTS continues to focus on experience, culture and developing life changing skills that offer a pathway to middle class security. In an era where results in education are under scrutiny, outcomes are central at GTS.
Students are offered rolling admission instead of the traditional semester or quarter system. A seven-time Cobb Chamber Top 25 Small Business of the Year nominee, GTS is an independent school that does not participate in grants or federal loans, lending to ini-
tiative-taking students with skin in the game. 83% of the program is spent on direct experience and practice. With two certified welding inspectors on staff, there are opportunities for multiple industry certifications. With a full-time day program and two part-time programs, completion can be achieved in just four to six months. Students often receive multiple offers before graduating. By offering just a single program, plate and pipe welding, GTS staff have been able to develop deep relationships in the welding industry with employers, top vendors and media. Instead of sending students out with a resume and a list of employers, GTS launched a quarterly career fair that also serves as a party with support from
Georgia Trade School graduate Peyton Adams Georgia Trade School
award-winning businesses like Honeysuckle Bakery, 1885 Grill and the Cheezy Truck. Major tool and equipment partners include Milwaukee, Outlaw Leather and Up in Smoke. GTS’ 20 to 25 employers include unions, merit shops, small businesses and large corporations from across the southeast.
After five years operating near Kennesaw’s Central Business District, Georgia Trade School made a seven-figure investment in Acworth’s Historic Mill District. That move has provided a unique place for students with award-winning restaurants and retail within walking distance. The welding lab at GTS dates to 1928 where it once housed the Rothschild tapestry mill.
GTS is proud to be a Cobb-based business and has many community relationships with booster clubs, board appointments, including an advisory role at the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, and philanthropic opportunities. The Founder of GTS, Ryan Blythe, serves on the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Education Council and served as the chairman of the Board of the Gulf States Shipbuilders Consortium alongside publicly-traded heavyweights in the defense industry.
Georgia Trade School attracts students from across the country and has graduates working in 20 states. GTS produces talent for a host of industries from manufacturing to construction, energy, film and television. In Cobb, graduates worked extensively on Truist Park and the Battery. In entertainment, graduates worked on top programs like “Stranger Things” and set designed for a Tony nominated Broadway production. GTS graduates have even done work for the Super Bowl and the White House.
Georgia Trade School graduate Kelly Myers
Georgia Trade School
Georgia Trade School graduate William Schuler
Georgia Trade School
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cobb County Event and Performing Arts Venues
Bailey Performance Center (Kennesaw State University)
488 Prillaman Way Kennesaw, GA 30144 (470) 578-6650
Brawner Hall 3180 Atlanta Road Smyrna, GA 30080 (678) 631-5545
Cobb Civic Center
548 South Marietta Parkway SE Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 528-8453
Jennie T. Anderson Theatre
548 South Marietta Parkway SE Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 528-8490
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339 (770) 916-2800
Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre 117 North Park Square Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 293-0080 (770) 293-0075 (Fax)
Marietta Performing Arts Center 1171 Whitlock Avenue NW Marietta, GA 30064 (770) 428-2631
Mable House Arts Complex 5239 Floyd Road SW Mableton, GA 30126 (770) 819-6735
Mount Paran Christian School’s Murray Arts Center 1275 Stanley Road NW Kennesaw, GA 30152 (770) 578-0182
Coca-Cola Roxy 800 Battery Avenue SE Atlanta, GA 30339 (470) 351-3866
2024WINNER
Italian Food ............................................................................ Pisano’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen
Japanese Food ......................................................................................... Thaicoon & Sushi Bar
Juice & Smoothie Bar ...................................................... UpDog Smoothies and Juices - Marietta
Kid-Friendly Restaurant ................................................................. Otter’s Chicken - Dallas Hwy.
Local Coffee Shop............................................................................Cool Beans Coffee Roasters
Mediterranean Food ......................................................................................... It’s Greek to Us
Mexican Food ........................................................................................ Poblanos Mexican Grill
New Local Restaurant (as of March 2022) .................................................... Marietta Melt Yard
Outdoor Dining ...................................................................... Pisano’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen
Overall Local Restaurant........................................................................................... 1885 Grill
Pizza...................................................................................... Pisano’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen
Sandwich Shop ................................................................................ Hoboken Cafe on Whitlock
Seafood ................................................................................................................... 1885 Grill
Southern Food ............................................................................................... West Cobb Diner
Steakhouse .............................................................................................................. 1885 Grill
Sushi ....................................................................................................... Thaicoon & Sushi Bar
Thai Food ................................................................................................. Thaicoon & Sushi Bar Vegetarian ...................................................................................................Piastra Restaurant Rug Cleaning .............................................................................Jonquil Rug Cleaning Company
Assisted Living Facility ................................ Sterling Estates of East Cobb Retirement Community...................................................................................................Independent Living and Assisted Living Cardiac/Vascular Specialist........................................ Dr. William Brown - Wellstar Cardiovascular Chiropractic Group ................................................................................... Lake City Chiropactic
Chiropractor ............................................................... Dr. Andrew Payne - Lake City Chiropractic Dental Group.............................................................................. Verde Pointe Dental Associates
Dental Hygenist ............................................... Shari Grossmann - Verde Pointe Dental Associates
Dentist ......................................................... Dr. Kirk Kimmerling - Verde Pointe Dental Associates
Dermatologist ...................................................................................... Zachary DelConte, PA-C
Dermatology Group ............................................. Skin Cancer Specialists, P.C. & Aesthetic Center
Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist ....................................................Alexis Gonzalez - E/N/T East Cobb
Eye Care Group .............................................................................................. Cobb Eye Center
Family Physician ............................................................................................... Amber Driskell
Gastroenterologist ......................................................... Dr. Suku George, MD, MPH, FACP, FACG
General Practice Doctor ..................................................................................... Amber Driskell
Hearing Center .................................................................................... Marietta Hearing Center
Hearing Professional ....................................................................... Dr. Brittney Tardy - Marietta Home Care (non-medical) ................................................................... Skylark Adult Day Center
Memory Care Facility .................................. Sterling Estates of West Cobb Retirement Community...............................................................................................................................................The Grande
Nursing Home .............................................................................................. A.G. Rhodes Cobb
OB/GYN .......................................................................................................... Angel Paas, MD
OB/GYN Group .......................................................................................Kennesaw Gynecology
Occupational Therapist.......................................................... Rachel Lopez - Pineapple Wellness
Occupational Therapy Group................................................................... Pinnacle Orthopaedics
Optometrist & Ophthalmologist ............................................................. Ranan B. Stimpson, OD
Orthodontic Group ................................................................................ Due West Orthodontics
Orthodontist ................................................................ Dr. Ashley Smith - Due West Orthodontics
Orthopaedic Group ................................................................................. Pinnacle Orthopaedics
Orthopaedist ....................................................... R. Brandon Burris, M.D. - Pinnacle Orthopaedics
Pharmacist .........................................................................Connor O’Daniel, Shallowford Publix
Pharmacy Drug Store ................................................................................... Poole’s Pharmacy
Physical Therapist ....................................................... Amy Gross - Acworth Wellstar Health Park
Physical Therapy Group .......................................................................... Pinnacle Orthopaedics
Podiatry .................................................................... Village Podiatry: Stephanie A Michael, DPM
Psychologist ............................................................................................ Amy J. Holland, M.D.
Pulmonary Medicine ...................................................................................... Brion Lock, M.D.
Therapist ....................................................... Angella Ocheltree - Right Path Hypnosis & Wellness
Therapy Group ................................................................................. Atlanta Wellness Collective
Weight Loss Clinic ................................................................... Real Results Medical Weight Loss
Birthday Party Venue ................................................. Chuck E. Cheese - Barrett Pkwy/Kennesaw
College/University Local Professor................................ Emily Berreth, Kennesaw State University
Dance Studio................................................................................ Mount Paran Christian School
Day Care ................................................................................... Primrose School at Oregon Park
Educational Supply Store ....................................................................The School Box - Marietta
Karate/Martial Arts School .................................................................... Iron Dragon Martial Arts
Music Instruction ....................................... Murray Arts Academy at Mount Paran Christian School
Pediatric Dentist ............................................................................. Rossitch Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric Group ........................................................................................ Kennesaw Pediatrics
Pediatrician ........................................................................ Larry V. Clements - WellStar KenMar
Performing Arts Program.............................................................. Mount Paran Christian School
Pre-School .................................................................... Mount Paran Christian School Preschool
Private School .............................................................................. Mount Paran Christian School
Public School - Elementary.......................................................... A.L. Burruss Elementary School
Public School - High School ....................................................................... Marietta High School
Public School - Middle School..................................................................... Floyd Middle School
Teacher ........................................................................ Dr. Linda Skaggs, Marietta Middle School
Trade/Technical School ..................................Chattahoochee Technical College - Marietta Campus Tutoring ..........................................................................................................Marietta Speaks Youth Sports Organization ......................................................... Powder Springs Youth Baseball
Park ..................................................................................................... Swift Cantrell Park
Adoption Agency .................................................................. Good Mews Animal Foundation
O’Neal, Hungerford & Blanchard
Attorney- Corporate.......................................Nick Booth - O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford & Blanchard
Attorney- Criminal .................................................................Kim Keheley Frye - Frye Law Group
Attorney- Elder Care ................................ Leslee Hungerford - O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford & Blanchard
Attorney- Employment & Labor .......................................................................Gregory Shenton
Attorney- Family/Divorce ...........................Alyssa Blanchard - O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford & Blanchard
Attorney- Individual....................................Leslie O’Neal - O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford & Blanchard
Attorney- Overall Attorney .......................... Justin O’Dell - O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford & Blanchard
Attorney- Overall Law Firm ............................................ O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford, & Blanchard
Attorney- Personal Injury ........................................................................ Johnson & Alday, LLC...............................................................................................Personal Injury & Workers’ Compensation
Attorney- Real Estate ......................................................................... Crane Elder Law Firm,
WHAT IS A PERFECT Date Night
OR
Night
on the Town IN COBB?
“I would say Sushiology (in Kennesaw) is a good date night spot. The food is very yummy and the environment is cute. It’s a familyowned business so everything’s very well crafted and fresh.”
- Nastassia Kozmava, Marietta
“The Battery we’d say is our favorite date night spot. It’s local, it’s accessible. There’s tons to eat, do, buy, see and experience there. It’s a lot of different options in one small radius and I think it’s very unique to Cobb. We don’t have to go to Atlanta to have a myriad of opportunities to entertain ourselves and not one date night feels the same even though we’re coming to that same place.”
- Yashira Willis and Damon Willis, Smyrna
“She and I have been together for 10 years and we’ve come to most of the concerts during (the Glover Park Concert Series). That’s one of our big nights here is the concerts in the park on the last Friday of the month. It’s fun because it’s a lively crowd and we usually come with friends and it’s a great night out to enjoy music.”
- Shari Winer and Larry Carr, east Cobb
“There’s a place called unCorked and they do wine tastings. It’s on Mary Eliza Trace in Marietta and they have hors d’oeuvres and next door, they have a tapas restaurant (unWine’d & Tap). I enjoy doing that, it’s a lot of fun.”
- Melinda McDonner, Kennesaw
By Kim Ellet Special
Whether you’re a hometown tourist or a visitor, there is plenty to discover in Marietta. Marietta holds a wealth of fascinating stories from real-life to fictional characters. While exploring the sites and history, I uncovered a captivating mix of people and tales, both true and larger-than-life.
REAL-LIFE STORIES
Marietta History: Stories of Real Life and Fiction
The William Root House at the corner of Polk Street and Marietta Parkway, was built circa 1845 for Hannah and William Root, who were early Marietta settlers.a
William Root was one of the earliest merchants and the first druggist in Marietta. The Root House is one of the oldest and bestpreserved houses remaining in the Atlanta area. Within the 180-yearold walls, award-winning interactive exhibits examine the lives of the Root family and their enslaved house servants. Touchscreens, activity books, scavenger hunts, and interactive areas make a visit to the William Root House engaging and enriching for all ages.
Designated as 2023’s Museum of the Year by the Georgia Association of Museums, The Root House also provides local walking tour information and is recognized as a Georgia Grown Agritourism Site.
INTERSECTING TRUE LIFE STORIES WITH FICTION
Brumby Hall & Gardens currently houses Marietta’s Gone With the Wind Museum at 472 Powder Springs Street. The Greek revivalstyle house was built in 1851 by prominent Marietta Brumby family member and Georgia Military Institutes’ first superintendent, Colonel Arnoldus V. Brumby. Brumby Hall served as Colonel Brumby’s quarters, next door to the GMI, until General William
Sherman and his men made their way through Marietta with their “march to the sea” and the burning of Atlanta. The GMI and cadet housing were the first to meet Sherman’s torch, as they marched toward historic Marietta Square. Brumby Hall was to be burned as well until Sherman realized he knew its owner, Colonel Brumby. The two men had been friends at West Point years prior, and honoring the cadet code, Sherman spared the house.
The true-life story of the Brumby family over many generations in Marietta has been tied to local politics, newspaper publishing and the famous rocking chair brand, The Brumby Chair Company.
Brumby Hall & Gardens is a local favorite for weddings and garden parties. Be sure to check out the beautifully maintained Gardens as well as the annual garden party event in June.
NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS
In addition to a connection with larger-than-life character Scarlett O’Hara, Marietta also has ties to Virginia Hill, the reallife girlfriend of mobster Bugsy Siegel, who was a gang leader in
Exterior of the William Root House Museum & Garden in Marietta Special Photo
Brumby Hall in 2024. The building is now home to the Gone with the Wind Museum and is located next to the Marietta Conference Center.
Photo by Jack Lindner
A photograph, circa 1980s, of longtime civic leader and the Marietta Daily Journal’s 1976 Citizen of the Year Jack Crowder outside of the Kennesaw House in downtown Marietta.
Photo courtesy of Marietta History Center
New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. The movie “Bugsy” starring Annette Benning and Warren Beatty, chronicles the life of these two reallife characters of the 1930s and ’40s. Virginia’s ties to Marietta began when she moved here as a young child to a home off Church Street. Stories of her visits back to Marietta during her infamous life continue to sow intrigue in Marietta town lore as do her friendships with local politicians and newspapermen.
Marietta Square has served as a popular filming location for numerous movies and TV shows, hosting a variety of memorable characters including “Remember the Titans” starring Denzel Washington as non-fictional football coach Herman Boone, as well as scenes from the real-life story, “Hidden Figures.
Several fictional stories have filmed in and around the Marietta Square area including “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” as well as television favorites “Stranger Things” and “The Walking Dead.”
OTHER-WORLDLY CHARACTERS
With its history and notoriety, it’s no surprise that Marietta also boasts supernatural characters as well. Local tour company Marietta Tours offers guided Ghost Tours that highlight some of the ghostly stars in and around Marietta’s historic buildings and cemeteries.
Resources for Additional Marietta Stories
The Marietta History Center is located in the historic Kennesaw House, one of Marietta’s oldest buildings. Originally built as a cotton warehouse by John Glover in 1845, the warehouse was purchased and remodeled by Dix Fletcher in 1855, transforming it into the Fletcher House Hotel. In April 1862, Andrews’ Raiders stayed in a second-floor room the night before stealing the steam engine, The General. During the early years of the Civil War, the hotel served as a Confederate hospital and later as a Union hospital. A house this old comes with a lot of stories, and the Kennesaw House is no exception, bearing witness to significant moments in American history.
As the war was nearing its climax in July 1864, the Union Army took over the building, and when General Sherman came through town on his “March to the Sea,” he did not burn the Fletcher House. Sherman spared the hotel because Dix Fletcher was a Mason and because his son-in-law, Henry Cole, was a Yankee spy.
However, the fourth floor did catch fire as embers from other burning buildings blew onto the roof, and this floor was not rebuilt.
Today the building houses the Marietta History Center, featuring historic and modern-day gallery exhibits.
The Marietta Welcome Center is an excellent source for additional information for visitors and locals alike. The Marietta Welcome Center is housed in the historic Marietta Train Depot between the Railroad tracks and the Marietta Square and is staffed by very friendly locals of Visit Marietta. Ask questions, pick up brochures, and purchase keepsakes to commemorate your visit.
For more true-life stories about the city, check out Marietta History: A Brief Overview. Written by the History Center, it is a recap of the establishment of Marietta on Cherokee land and its journey through the Civil War.
As we look back in time and learn about these characters, places, and stories, I can’t help but wonder which tales about our current friends, neighbors, andleaders will be written and shared with generations to come!
Kim Ellet is a local writer, resident, and member of the Visit Marietta Board of Directors. www.KimEllet.com
Movie crews filming on Marietta Square for a Lifetime TV Christmas movie. File Photo
HEALTH & FITNESS
Getting to Know Wellstar in Cobb County
Special/Wellstar Heath System
At Wellstar, our patients are the center of everything we do. We’re one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia and are nationally ranked and locally recognized for our high-quality care, inclusive culture, exceptional doctors and caregivers and innovative technologies. We’re right here at your doorstep — in multiple convenient locations in Cobb County — to care for you and your family, whatever your health needs may be.
WELLSTAR KENNESTONE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: EXPERT CARE IN MARIETTA
As one of only six Level 1 Trauma Centers in Georgia, Wellstar Kennestone provides the highest level of care available in an emergency, with a full range of specialists available 24 hours a day. Our emergency department is also one of five Comprehensive Stroke Centers in
Georgia and Georgia’s first Comprehensive Cardiac Care Center.
Opening in 2026, Wellstar Kennestone’s new, state-of-the-art bed tower will enhance care for families with an expanded neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and all private cardiovascular and neurological care rooms. Every square foot of the tower is designed with the comfort of our patients, families and team members in mind.
Wellstar Kennestone has also been recognized with an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit that measures the hospital’s success in keeping patients safe from infections, injuries and medical and medication errors.
“Patient safety is at the forefront of everything we do at Kennestone, and we are pleased to be recognized by The Leapfrog Group for earning an A grade,” said Callie Andrews, Wellstar Kennestone Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Wellstar Cobb Medical Center: Advanced Care in South Cobb County
You don’t have to leave Cobb County to find top-rated maternity care and childbirth services. Wellstar Cobb is designated as a Level III Maternal Care Center by The Joint Commission, which means we offer care for complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications and fetal conditions. You and your baby are in expert hands, from your first prenatal appointment through labor and delivery.
Wellstar Cobb is also home to Metro Atlanta’s leading burn center, offering critical care for severe burns and management of chronic, non-healing wounds. We have 26 inpatient beds dedicated to burn care for adults and children and an outpatient clinic for continuing care. We also offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy that can speed the burn recovery process.
CARING FOR COBB COUNTY’S KIDS
When a child experiences a sudden medical emergency, it can be stressful for the whole family. Both Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Cobb Medical Centers have dedicated Pediatric Emergency Departments with specially trained teams to care for our community’s youngest patients. Wellstar Kennestone also includes a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, providing specialized care for our community’s most seriously ill children.
In addition to special, child-sized equipment and the latest technologies, our young patients also have access to child life specialists, who are trained to help children understand their injuries or disease, medical care and even how to cope with difficult emotions.
WELLSTAR HEALTH PARKS: BRINGING CARE TO YOUR COMMUNITY
At each of our Health Parks, patients can access multiple services close to home and under one roof, including primary care, urgent care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, outpatient surgery, medical imaging, lab services and physical therapy. In Cobb County, you can find the Wellstar Vinings Health Park in Smyrna and the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park in Marietta.
VIRTUAL CARE, VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE
Whether you’re an established Wellstar patient or in search of a new provider, you can connect with a Wellstar primary care or specialty medicine expert from your phone, tablet or computer. Through virtual visits, we provide the personalized, tailored treatments our patients expect from our team straight to wherever you are. To learn more and schedule an appointment, visit www.wellstar.org/virtual-care.
Need care now? We also offer immediate access to a board-certified care provider through WellstarON, our virtual urgent care service at www.wellstaronlinecare.org.
MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY
At Wellstar, we’re on a mission to enhance the health and well being of every person we serve, within our walls and out in the community. Last year, Wellstar provided nearly $1 billion in charity and uncompensated care for our neighbors with limited resources, and Modern Healthcare magazine named us one of the top providers of charity care in the country.
Through the Wellstar Center for Health Equity (WCHE), we’re creating lasting benefits across Georgia, with an emphasis on access to healthcare, behavioral health, food access and healthy living, housing, pediatrics and women’s health.
We’re also committed to training the next generation of caregivers. Wellstar operates residency training programs throughout the region, and we’re actively expanding initiatives with the Medical College of Georgia. We also fund scholarships and programs at high schools, colleges and universities to attract young people to healthcare careers that can provide economic stability for themselves and their families.
Visit www.wellstar.org to learn more.
WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM IN COBB
• Health Parks bring multiple services under one roof
• Wellstar Kennestone is one of only six Level I Trauma Centers in Georgia
• Connect with provider virtually on phone, tablet or computer
• Designated Level III for maternity care and childbirth services
Children’s brings top-tier healthcare to Cobb County kids
Special/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta continues to provide nationally recognized care as a leading pediatric hospital in Georgia. Parents know Children’s is where they want to be when their child has cancer, heart problems, breathing trouble, neurological difficulties or dozens of other health-related issues.
Children’s is ranked among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals and on the list of 2023-2024 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. The report ranks hospitals for excellence in outcomes, program structure and national reputation in 10 pediatric
specialty areas — with the survey questions created and refined by experts in each field.
Children’s ranked in each of the 10 specialty areas: The Cancer Program (No. 8), the Gastroenterology and GI Surgery Program (No. 9), the Orthopaedics Program (No. 10), the Urology Program No. 10), the Nephrology Program (No. 11), the Cardiology and Heart Surgery Program (No. 12), the Pulmonology and Lung Surgery Program (No. 16), and the Neurology and Neurosurgery Program (No. 19) all ranked in the top 20 for their individual specialties. With locations in Kennesaw, Smyrna and Marietta, Children’s brings top-tier healthcare for children to Cobb County. Focusing on
care for kids ages 0-21, Children’s local services include audiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, nephrology, occupational therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine, orthotics and prosthetics, ENT, physical therapy, pulmonology, rheumatology, sleep, speech language pathology, sports physical therapy, urgent care and radiology services. Children’s Cardiology, located in Marietta, specializes in caring for children born with congenital heart defects.
This past fall, Children’s opened Arthur M. Blank Hospital, the newest hospital within its system. Made possible through a $200 million donation from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the hospital was a $1.5 billion project. The two million-squarefoot facility is located at the corner of North Druid Hills Road and 1-85 in Brookhaven.
Children’s states the new hospital is “designed to take advantage of research-proven healing views of nature” and includes one tower with two patient wings and additional operating rooms, specialty beds and diagnostic equipment to meet the needs of its patients. Also, there is space for clinical research, clinical trials and overall patient care. As the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, Children’s is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to “make kids better today and healthier tomorrow through more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs, top healthcare professionals and leading research and technology.”
It is one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country, managing more than one million patient visits each year at three hospitals, Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, urgent care centers and neighborhood locations. Children’s has impacted the lives of kids in Georgia, across the U.S. and around the world for more than 100 years. For families who cannot cover the cost of care for their children, Children’s can help. It provided $196.2 million in unreimbursed clinical care for more than 250,000 children last year.
For more information, visit www.choa.org.
CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country, managing more than one million patient visits each year.
• Children’s treats patients from all 159 counties in Georgia, including all 120 rural counties
• Children’s saw more than 245,600 visits to the emergency department last year and 178,800 visits to urgent care.
• Children’s Arthur M. Blank Hospital is a $1.5 billion project that opened this fall.
• Approximately 1,635 employees who live in Cobb County work for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Northside offers care across Cobb County
Special-Northside Hospital
From Acworth to Cumberland, Northside has a decades-long commitment to providing health care and more for the people of Cobb County.
Several medical office buildings have opened in recent years across Cobb County, with many new practices available at Northside Medical Acworth. The facility at 4450 Calibre Crossing offers specialists in surgery, primary care, orthopedics, sports medicine and total joint care.
Northside Medical Cumberland opened in 2023. Practices at the medical office building at 4298 Atlanta Road SE, Smyrna, include
Northside/Cumberland Imaging, Georgia Cancer Specialists, the Northside Hospital Cardiovascular Institute, Surgical Specialists of Atlanta, Northside Breast Surgery — Atlanta and Georgia Urology. Primary care and family practice services are also available. Northside East Cobb Medical Center offers online scheduling for urgent care. Also at the facility at 4800 Olde Towne Parkway, Marietta, Laureate Medical Group provides specialty care, and an imaging center is also on site. Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute — Sports Medicine and Surgical Specialists of Atlanta have practices at the East Cobb location. Ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; obstetrics and gynecology and primary care
services also are available. Check northside.com/locations to find physicians and offices close to you.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Northside has also invested in more than health care for Cobb residents. The hospital is also a community partner. One highly visible way Northside supports the community is as a longtime partner of the Atlanta Braves. The Northside Hospital Nursing Lounge opened in 2023 at Truist Park. It provides a private, airconditioned space for moms and babies just steps away from the seating bowl, near the left field gate. New furnishings were put in the Nursing Lounge during the 2024 baseball season.
Northside is also a partner with MUST Ministries, which for more than 50 years has connected Cobb and Cherokee County residents in need with the resources to help. “This past year, we served over 70,000 of our neighbors in need,” MUST Ministries President and CEO Dr. Dwight “Ike” Reighard said. “You (at Northside) help us in all of these different ways, helping us with our homeless shelter, where you provided space for us to be able to provide medical care.”
Northside is also a presenting sponsor of the Chalktoberfest Chalk and Beer Festival and a lead partner of the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.
The Northside Hospital health care system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers with five acute-care hospitals in Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth and Lawrenceville and more than 300 outpatient locations across the state. Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and is among the state’s top providers of cancer care, sports medicine, cardiovascular and surgical services.
For more information, visit northside.com.
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Photo of the new Northside Nursing Lounge at Truist Park on May 22, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Hospitals and health centers
WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center
677 Church Street NE, Marietta Emergency Department address: 115 Cherry Street NE, Marietta www.wellstar.org
Wellstar Windy Hill Medical Center
2540 Windy Hill Road SE, Marietta www.wellstar.org
This medical center’s services include long-term acute care, a sleep center, outpatient services, ambulatory surgery, specialized services, interventional radiology, and a renovated orthopedics center.
Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital features a specialized center for orthopedics and total joint replacement. The fully renovated space offers the latest technologies, and it features six dedicated operating rooms to provide the highest quality orthopedic care for adult and pediatric patients who require a 23-hour or less hospital stay. The medical center has earned designations and recognitions from the Joint Commission in advanced total joint replacement, sleep medicine, pathology, and respiratory care.
Wellstar Cobb Medical Center
3950 Austell Road SW, Austell www.wellstar.org
This full-service, acute care hospital and Level III trauma center offers adult and children’s emergency services, a comprehensive oncology center, cardiology, neurosurgery, labor and delivery, behavioral health, a bariatric care center, an advanced surgery center, and a burn and wound care center. Wellstar Cobb Medical Center is a Healthgrades Top 100 Hospital in the U.S. for General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Care, Pulmonary Care, Stroke Care and Vascular Surgery and was recently awarded the Georgia Oglethorpe Award from the Sterling Council for performance excellence and quality management.
Wellstar Acworth Health Park
4550 Cobb Parkway NW, Acworth www.wellstar.org
Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The facility offers a wide array of outpatient and physician services, including urgent care, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), pediatrics, imaging, laboratory services, physical therapy, cardiac diagnostics, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, retail pharmacy and a variety of other medical specialties.
Wellstar East Cobb Health Park
3747 Roswell Road, Marietta www.wellstar.org
Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. {div}The facility offers outpatient and physician services, including urgent care, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), pediatrics, imaging, laboratory services, physical therapy, cardiac diagnostics, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, retail pharmacy and a variety of other medical specialties.
Wellstar
Vinings Health Park
4441 Atlanta Road SE, Smyrna www.wellstar.org
Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The facility offers outpatient and physician services, including urgent care, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), pediatrics, otology, rheumatology, imaging, laboratory services, physical therapy, cardiac diagnostics, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, retail pharmacy and a variety of other medical specialties.
Wellstar Pediatric Center
1180 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway NW, Kennesaw www.wellstar.org
Patients benefit from care provided by certified pediatricians, nurses, and trained staff. Pediatric specialties available include cardiology, urology, orthopedics, neurology, and pediatric occupational, speech, and physical therapies. A variety of pediatric imaging services are also available, including MRI, low-dose radiation CT scan, ultrasound, X-ray, electroencephalogram (EEG), outreach lab, and after-hours care.
Wellstar Medical Group and Primary Care
Visit www.wellstar.org/locations or call 470956-STAR to find a Wellstar physician near you.
Wellstar Urgent Care
Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Urgent Care provides treatment for routine conditions such as sore throat, stomach pains, and more. Patients two years old through adulthood can be treated for a full range of conditions from minor needs to higher acuity issues.
Urgent Care in Marietta
Delk Road
2890 Delk Road SE, Marietta www.wellstar.org
Urgent Care in Marietta
Kennestone
780 Church Street NE, Suite 1110, Marietta www.wellstar.org
Urgent Care in Marietta
East Cobb Health Park
3747 Roswell Road, Suite 107, Marietta
Urgent Care in Marietta
Sandy Plains Road
3600 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta www.wellstar.org
Urgent Care in Kennesaw
3980 Jiles Road NW, Kennesaw www.wellstar.org
Urgent Care in Smyrna Cooper Lake Road
4480 North Cooper Lake Road SE, Suite 100, Smyrna www.wellstar.org
Urgent Care in Smyrna
Vinings Health Park
4441 Atlanta Road SE, Suite 107, Smyrna www.wellstar.org
CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Town Center Outpatient Care Center
605 Big Shanty Road NW, Kennesaw www.choa.org
Focusing on care for children, includes audiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, nephrology, occupational therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine, orthotics and prosthetics, otolaryngology (ENT), physical therapy, pulmonology, rheumatology, sleep, speech-language pathology, sports physical therapy.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Town Center Urgent Care
625 Big Shanty Road NW, Kennesaw www.choa.org
Focusing on care for children, includes urgent care, laboratory and radiology services.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Ivy Walk
1675 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 305, Smyrna www.choa.org
Children’s at Ivy Walk is a department of Scottish Rite hospital specializing in sports physical therapy for children and teens.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Sibley Heart Center Cardiology — Marietta
355 Tower Road, Suite 204, Marietta www.choa.org
Specializes in caring for children born with congenital heart defects.
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL
Acworth Imaging
4791 South Main Street, Suite 140 Acworth 30101 678-701-6868
Astra Plastic Surgery — Marietta
620 Cherokee Street, NE, Suite 250 Marietta 30060
Atlanta Colon & Rectal Surgery
780 Canton Road NE, Suite 315 Marietta 30060 770-794-7203
Atlanta Gynecologic Oncology
780 Canton Road, Suite 320 Marietta 30060 404-459-1900
Cherokee Lung & Sleep Specialists
6110 Pine Mountain Road, Suite 102 Kennesaw 30152 678-354-9821
East Cobb Family Medicine
1121 Johnson Ferry Road Building 2, Suite 100 Marietta 30068 770-509-0017
Galleria Imaging
3200 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Suite 120 Atlanta 30339 770-933-1963
Georgia Cancer Specialists Cobb 1668 Mulkey Road, Suite 164 Austell 30106 770-948-3233
Georgia Cancer Specialists Marietta 790 Church St., Suite 335 Marietta 30060 770-590-8311
Marble Mill Imaging
121 Marble Mill Road, Suite 001 Marietta 30060 770-794-6700
Marietta Imaging
780 Canton Road NE, Suite 230 Marietta 30060 770-792-1234
Northside East Cobb Medical Center
4800 Olde Towne Parkway Marietta 30068 northside.com/eastcobb
Northside Medical Acworth
4450 Calibre Crossing Acworth 30101 northside.com/acworth
Northside Medical Cumberland 4298 Atlanta Road SE Smyrna 30080 northside.com/cumberland
Northside Thoracic Surgery
780 Canton Road, Suite 320 Marietta 30060 404-252-9063
Southeastern Neurosurgical Specialists
631 Campbell Hill Street, Suite 100 Marietta 30060 770-422-0444
KAISER PERMANENTE
Cumberland Medical Center 2525 Cumberland Parkway SE Atlanta 30339 404-365-0966
TownPark Comprehensive Medical Center
750 TownPark Lane NW Kennesaw 30144 404-365-0966
West Cobb Center 3640 Tramore Pointe Parkway Austell 30106 404-365-0966
Photo courtesy of Wellstar Health System
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Cobb County Parks is paving the way for innovative special events
By Tonya Ashley Cobb County Parks
Community spirit thrives through Cobb Parks’ diverse community events and gatherings. From family-friendly festivals to cultural celebrations, sports competitions, and art exhibitions, CobbParks and Recreation Department (Cobb Parks) offers an array of innovative events for everyone to enjoy.
This year, Cobb Parks’ Cultural Affairs unit organized “FED” (Focus. Energy. Direction), a two-day wellness retreat aimed at empowering individuals to prioritize self-care and explore new avenues for enhancing their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Combining arts activities, animal therapy, and traditional park methods, this conferencestyle event provided opportunities for emotional expression, stress relief, and physical activity in a natural setting.
Besides promoting community bonding through shared experiences, FED helped combat feelings of isolation and loneliness often associated with individual self-care.
Known as the place where fun begins, Cobb County Parks values and embraces innovative suggestions from both its staff and the community. In addition to the popular Father-Daughter dance, Cobb Parks successfully introduced the inaugural Mother Son Dance, which is set to become a staple in its event lineup. The event included formal photo sessions, dancing, crafts, competitions, and light refreshments.
The first Cobb Parks Diamond Classic was a resounding success, bringing together teams from Cobb and neighboring counties at Lost Mountain Park. With more than 50 skilled recreational softball teams participating from various leagues, the tournament created a vibrant and competitive atmosphere. This platform allowed young athletes to showcase their talents ahead of the 2024 postseason. The triumph of the initial Cobb Parks Diamond Classic sets the stage for future editions, offering softball teams opportunities to enhance their skills and build lasting memories.
The tournament witnessed remarkable sportsmanship and participation, reflecting the dedication of players and coaches. Spectators, families, and friends cheered enthusiastically, creating an electrifying atmosphere that inspired the athletes to excel. Local vendors and businesses added to the festive vibe by offering a range of refreshments.
For the second consecutive year, Cobb Parks hosted the popular Wine Down Wednesdays series at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre. This community-wide free series has seen increasing attendance, with shows selling out within two weeks of ticket sales. Performances featured artists across genres such as Luis Coronel and Willie Ziavino and The C.O.T. Band, Michel’le and Cherrelle, and Homegrown: The Zac Brown Band Experience. Attendees can anticipate an evening of Symphonic Soul and Comedy on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at https:// mablehouse.org/amphitheatre.
The fun never stops so check out some upcoming events!
♦ Wizarding Weekend, Oct. 19 at The Art Place, 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.
♦ Fall Festival, Oct. 26, Jim R. Miller Park and Event Center, 2245 Callaway Road SW, Marietta.
♦ Mable House Harvest Festival, Oct. 12, Mable House Arts Center, 5239 Floyd Rd SW, Mableton.
♦ Yule Ball, Dec. 5 — 7, The Art Station, 2050 Kennesaw Due West Rd NW, Kennesaw.
♦ Cobb Parks Holiday Artisan Market, Dec. 13 -15, Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta.
New mental health center for youth opens in Smyrna
By Annie Mayne amayne@mdjonline.com
A haven for Cobb teens struggling with their mental health is available in Smyrna.
Highland Rivers Behavioral Health, one of Georgia’s 22 community service boards, opened in July to serve youth aged 6 to 21. Located near Griffin Middle School, It’s a place where young people can seek traditional mental health services like counseling, but also create positive connections with peers and gain important life skills from mentors.
That growth happens at the facility’s Bright Changes Clubhouse, which acts as an after-school program for children and young adults. The clubhouse provides a safe space for youth with a diagnosed mental health condition to create healthy connections through peer mentorship, social outings, and by learning adult transitional life skills, among other things.
“We’re really focused on the vicarious learning aspect, so kids can learn from each other as well as the staff,” said Cameron Morrison, case manager for the Bright Changes Clubhouse.
The clubhouse is open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the school year, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer, at zero cost to participants. There are about 30 young people that are members of the clubhouse, all provided with transportation to and from the facility, as well as a hot meal during their time there.
EARLY INTERVENTION
The center is also home to Cobb County’s only Light Program — a two-year, state-funded program helping people aged 16 to 30 experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
“It’s a specialized, community based intensive treatment team for those who are experiencing that first episode (of psychosis),” said Amy Lasher, a licensed social worker and director of adult mental health services at Highland Rivers.
Lasher said early intervention is one of the most important parts of mental health care and that programs like Light and the clubhouse, which provide that mediation, make a huge difference in a young person’s life.
“If we can intervene early, and we can intervene quickly, then we can reduce the impact that it has on those who are being served,” Lasher said. “Anybody who has any sort of mental health issues can have the ability to recover and have a life that they want to live if they would just reach out. We would be more than happy to help them with that recovery.”
The new facility previously served as a clinic for Cobb and Douglas Public Health, with one part of the building housing administrative offices for Highland Rivers. The facility has a projected yearly operation cost of $1,085,000. CEO Melanie Dallas said none of that money is coming directly from the county.
The facility did, however, receive $750,000 from Cobb to repair the parking lot, roof, and air conditioning system, allowing the space to be renovated for its new purpose.
“It just made sense to make this a site,” Dallas said. “We knew we had a really large percentage of the individuals who we see annually that are from the south Cobb area.”
SERVING SOUTH COBB
Dallas said south Cobb has some of the highest rates of uninsured and underinsured people in the area, and that 40% of the people Highland Rivers treats in Cobb come from the southern part of the county.
“There is definitely a need in Cobb County. Certainly the south part of the county. It’s great to have additional services that are being made available to the southern part of the county,” said Dante McKay, director of the Office of Children, Young Adults, and Families for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities.
Cost for treatment varies greatly. Highland Rivers uses a sliding
A mural inside Highland Rivers Behavioral Health’s new youth outpatient center in Smyrna.
Annie Mayne
and Dante McKay, director of the Office of Children, Young Adults, and Families for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities. The two stand in front of Highland Rivers new youth outpatient center in Smyrna.
still meeting their needs.”
McKay said roughly one in five children struggle with mental health, with varying levels of need. He said facilities like the ones run by Highland Rivers are crucial in providing care to those kids.
“People resonate with Boys and Girls Clubs. And this is similar, but it has a therapeutic nature,” McKay said. “It’s a safe place for (kids) to go and feel comfortable.”
While the clubhouse and Light Program focus specifically on mental health care, the outpatient clinic is able to serve people with a dual need for mental health and substance abuse treatment. The clinic, which is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., has the capacity to treat hundreds of patients through therapy and medication as necessary.
Dallas said between the clinic, Light program, and the Bright Changes Clubhouse, this new facility expects to serve over 700 youth every year.
COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARDS
Community service boards were established by a state law in 1994 as a safety net for people who are on Medicare, Medicaid, or otherwise underinsured. They connect people of all ages to critical mental health, addiction and developmental disability care.
Cobb’s Community Service Board began consolidating with Highland Rivers in 2021, officially becoming the Highland Rivers Community Service Board in January 2022.
scale to adjust the price of care to people’s income and insurance levels. But, Lasher said, no one is simply turned away.
“Just because somebody has an inability to pay doesn’t mean that we are going to cut off services entirely,” said Lasher. “We are going to work with them to develop a payment plan and create a treatment plan that they can work with and we can make sure we’re
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners appoints four members to the Highland Rivers Governing Board to represent Cobb County. There is currently one vacant seat, with the three serving members being:
♦ Pete Quinones, president and CEO of METRO Atlanta Ambulance Service
♦ Dr. Carol Holtz, retired registered nurse and professor from Kennesaw State University
♦ Chinwe Okoronkwo, chargemaster analyst at Northside Hospital Highland Rivers receives funding from a variety of sources. According to their 2023 annual report:
♦ 40% of their funding comes from Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
♦ 40% comes from billing insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, and
♦ 20% comes directly from counties Highland Rivers serves in the form of grants and direct funding.
That shakes out to $440,000 a year from Cobb County to fund operations and co-response teams Highland Rivers operates in the county, like the PATH program which sends mental health professionals out with first responders in Cobb.
The county also uses funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to give Highland Rivers money through three different grants over a three-year period, including:
♦ A three-year $474,000 grant to fund a licensed mental health clinician within the county’s 911 center
♦ A three-year $1,887,984 grant to increase the number of co-response teams in the county
♦ A three-year $1,177,607 grant to add case managers and licensed clinicians in State, Superior, Probate and Magistrate Courts in Cobb County, as well as the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, according to Highland Rivers’ 2023 annual report.
FIGHTING STIGMA
Highland Rivers has been providing mental health and addiction treatment to Georgians since 2001, but Dallas said there is still a great stigma around such care.
“I would like us to have inclusive communities that can understand and have some sensitivity to individuals that are experiencing issues with their mental health,” Dallas said. “Once we have inclusive communities, those will be healing communities for those we serve.”
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225, or Highland Rivers 24/7 Crisis Stabilization Unit at 1758 County Services Parkway in Marietta.
To learn more about Highland Rivers Behavior Health services, or apply to work for their new youth outpatient facility, visit the website at www.HighlandRivers.org.
From left: Highland Rivers Behavioral Health C.E.O. Melanie Dallas
Annie Mayne
PARKS & RECREATION CENTERS IN COBB
Acworth Community Center
770-917-1234
4361 Cherokee Street, Acworth
Acworth Sports Complex
770-917-1234
4000 S. Main Street, Acworth
Adams Park
770-422-9741
2600 Park Drive, Kennesaw
A.L. Burruss Nature Park
770-794-5601
75 South Cobb Drive, Marietta
Al Bishop Softball Complex
770-528-8860
1082 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta
Aline Wolfe Adult Rec. Center
678-631-5541
884 Church Street, Smyrna
Allatoona Creek Park
770-528-8825
5690 Old Stilesboro Rd, Acworth
Arboretum & Pond (Smyrna)
770-431-2842
1250 Powder Springs St., Smyrna
Argo Road Park
678-631-5394
4885 Argo Road, Smyrna
Askew Park
770-431-2842
1048 Pinehurst Drive, Smyrna
Atherton Square Park
770-794-5601
4 Depot Street, Marietta
Aviation Baseball/Softball Complex
404-281-2285
455 Aviation Road, Marietta
Aviation Park
770-528-8800
2659 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Kennesaw
Baker Plantation
770-917-1234
4790 Baker Plantation Dr, Acworth
Bell Bomber Park
770-794-5601
600 S. Fairground St., Marietta
Ben Robertson Community Center
770-422-714
2753 Watts Dr, Kennesaw
Big Shanty Park & The Art Station
770-528-8890
2050 Kennesaw Due West Rd, Kennesaw
Bells Ferry Trailhead / Noonday Creek Trail - Passive Trails
2995 Bells Ferry Road, Marietta
Birney Street Park
770-794-5601
473 Birney Street, Marietta
Bob Callan Trail / Rottenwood Creek - Passive Trails Akers Mill Road, Atlanta
Brawner Hall
678-631-5545
3180 Atlanta Road, Smyrna
Brinkley Park
678-631-5393
1270 Hunter Street, Smyrna
Brown Park
770-794-5601
358 West Atlanta Street, Marietta
Burger Park Dog Park
770-431-2842
680 Glendale Place, Smyrna
Burrell Field
770-425-6905
3076 Moon Station Road, Kennesaw
Butler Ridge Park
770-422-9714
4020 Wellcrest Drive, Kennesaw
Butner Park
770-943-1666
end of Butner St., Powder Springs
Cato Park
770-528-8829
5286 Austell Road Austell
Chuck Camp Park
678-631-5393
2270 Benson Poole Road, Smyrna
Church Street Park
678-631-5541
884 Church Street, Smyrna
Central Aquatic Center
770-528-8465
520 Fairground Street, Marietta
City Club
770-528-4653
510 Powder Springs St., Marietta
City Hall - Big Shanty Spring
770-422-9714
Cobblestone Golf Course
770-917-5152
4200 Nance Road, Acworth
Collar Park
770-944-4309
2625 Joe Jerkins Blvd., Austell
Commemorative Park
770-422-9714
2870 N. Main Street, Kennesaw
Concord Road Linear Park
770-431-2842
1061 Concord Road, Smyrna
Creatwood Park
404-431-2842
3465 Creatwood Trail, Smyrna
Custer Park Soccer Complex 770-997-9551
600 Kenneth E Marcus Way, Marietta
Custer Park Sports & Fitness Center
770-794-5630
545 Kennesaw E Marcus Way, Marietta
Dallas Landing Park 770-917-1234
5120 Allatoona Dr., Acworth
Depot Park 770-917-1234
4794 South Main Street, Acworth
Depot Park 770-422-9714
2828 Cherokee Street, Kennesaw
Deerfield Park 770-422-9714
2401 Deerfield Drive, Kennesaw
Dillard Trail Connector
770-943-1666
End of Dillard Street, Powder Springs
2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave. NW Kennesaw
Civic Center
770-528-8450
548 South Marietta Pkwy., Marietta
Clarkdale Park
770-528-8890
4905 Austell-Powder Springs Rd., Austell
Cobb Park
770-431-2847
950 Powder Springs St., Smyrna
Discovery Park at the River Line 770-528-8800
6653 Discovery Blvd., Mableton
Durham Park 678-631-5394
1554 Spring St., Smyrna
East Cobb Park 770-591-3160
3322 Roswell Road, Marietta
East Lakeshore Park 770-917-1234
4425 Beach Street, Acworth
Elizabeth Porter Park 770-794-5637
370 Montgomery St., Marietta
Fair Oaks Park
770-528-8839
1460 W. Booth Rd., Marietta
Fairfax Park
770-422-9714
2253 Bayswater Drive, Kennesaw
Flournoy Park
770-794-5601
179 Roswell Street, Marietta
Fox Creek Golf Course
770-435-1000
1501 Windy Hill Road, Smyrna
Franklin Gateway Sports Complex
770-794-5056
1040 Franklin Gateway, Marietta
Frana Brown Park
770-917-1234
4901 North Main Street, Acworth
Fullers Park
770-591-3160
3499 Robinson Rd., Marietta
Gantt Park
770-794-5601
128 Maple Avenue, Marietta
Gateway Park
770-422-9714
2740 S. Main Street Kennesaw
GB Williams Park
770-431-2842
1313 Roswell Street, Smyrna
George Beavers Park
770-944-4300
3011 Broad Street Austell
Glover Park
770-794-5601
50 N. Park Square NE, Marietta
Green Meadows Preserve
770-528-8819
3780 Dallas Highway, Marietta
Gymnastics Center
770-528-8475
542 Fairground Street, Marietta
Harrison Park
770-591-3160
2653 Shallowford Rd., Marietta
Henry Memorial Park
770-794-5601
81 Reynolds St, Marietta
Heritage Park
770-528-8890
60 Fontaine Road, Mableton
Highland Park
770-431-2842
3209 Highland Dr., Smyrna
Hill Park
770-917-1234
4426 Cherokee Street, Acworth
Hill Park
770-794-5601
144 Lemon Street, Marietta
Hopkins Disc Golf Course
770-943-1666
350 Hopkins Disc Road, Powder Springs
Hopkins Pedestrain Park
770-943-1666
3675 Hopkins Road, Powder Springs
Hubert Park
770-591-3160
3412 Cobb Pkwy., Acworth
Hugh L. Grogan Community Center
770-794-5425
510 Lawrence St., Marietta
Hurt Road Park
770-528-8890
990 Hurt Road, Marietta
Hyde Farm
770-528-8819
721 Hyde Road, Marietta
Jim R. Miller Park
770-528-8875
Lake Court Park 678-631-5395
3500 Lake Drive, Smyrna
Lancer Park
770-943-1666
3225 Lancer Dr., Powder Springs
Larry Bell Park
770-528-8810
592 Fairground St., Marietta
Laurel Park
770-919-8602
151 Manning Rd., Marietta
Legacy Golf Links/Fox Creek Golf Club
770-434-6331
1825 Windy Hill Road, Smyrna
2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta home of the N. GA State Fair, Sept.
Joanne Woodward Park
770-794-5601
195 Blackwell Lane, Marietta
Joe Mack Wilson Park
770-794-5601
190 Roswell Street, Marietta
John Street Park
5966 John Street, Austell
Jonquil Park
770-421-2842
2411 Spring Rd., Smyrna
Legion Park at Sweetwater Creek 770-944-4310
5514 Austell-Powder Springs Rd., Austell
Leone Hall Price Park
770-528-8890
4715 Stilesboro Rd., Kennesaw
Lewis Park
770-794-5601
475 Campbell Hill St., Marietta
Lions Park 770-591-3160
620 Lions Club Dr., Mableton
Logan Farm Park 770-917-1234
4762 Logan Rd., Acworth
Lost Mountain Park 770-528-8890
Kennesaw Mtn. National Battlefield
770-421-4656
900 Kennesaw Mtn. Dr., Marietta managed by Nat’l Park Service
Kennesaw Recreation Center
678-385-0165
2737 Watts Drive Kennesaw
Kennesaw Station Park
770-422-9714
3506 Lee Court, Kennesaw
Kennworth Park
770-528-8890
3900 S. Main St., Acworth
Kirby Park
770-794-5601
426 Frasier Street, Marietta
Jennie T. Anderson Theatre
770-528-8490
548 S. Marietta Pkwy., Marietta
Lake Acworth Beach at Cauble Park
770-917-1234
4425 Beach St., Acworth
Lake Park
770-794-5601
311 Lake Drive, Marietta
Lake Court Park
770-917-1234
4425 Beach Street, Acworth
4845 Dallas Highway Powder Springs
Louise Suggs Memorial Park 6145 Spring Street, Austell 18-hole, 36-basket disc golf
Mable House Art Center 770-819-6735
5239 Floyd Road Mableton
Mabry Park 770-591-3160
4470 Wesley Chapel Rd., Marietta
Marietta Golf Center 770-977-1997 1701 Gresham Road, Marietta
Mableton Town Square Park 770-528-8800
5220 Church Street, Mableton
McCollum Park 770-422-9714
3602 McCollum Pkwy., Kennesaw
Merritt Park
770-794-5601
501 Wallace Rd., Marietta
Milford Park 770-528-8890
3025 Hicks Rd., Marietta
Monarch Park
770-794-5601
246 Kennesaw Ave., Marietta
Mount Bethel Park
770-591-3160
477 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta
Mountain View Aquatic Center (770) 509-4925
2650 Gordy Parkway, Marietta
Mud Creek Soccer Complex
770-528-8816
5600 Ernest Barrett Pkwy, Marietta
Newberry Park
770-917-1234
5321 Toccoa Dr., Acworth
North Cooper Lake Mountain Bike Park
678-631-5395
Perry Parham Park
770-528-8890
550 Fairground St., Marietta
Pine Street Park
770-944-4310
6040 Pine St., Austell
Pitner Road Park
770-528-8890
2302 Pitner Rd., Acworth
Pitner Road Dog Park
4201 North Cooper Lake Rd., Smyrna
Northeast Cobb Community Center 770-509-2737
3100 Jaycee Drive, Marietta
Nickajack Park
770-528-8890
5500 Nickajack Road, Mableton
Noonday Park
770-591-3160
489 Hawkins Store Rd, Kennesaw Oakdale Park
770-240-2001
4160 Atlanta Road, Smyrna
Old Clarkdale Park
770-528-8800
5195 Clark Street Austell
Ron Anderson Recreation Center
770-631-5394
3820 Macedonia Rd., Powder Springs
770-528-8890
2450 Pitner Rd., Acworth
Powder Springs Park
770-528-8890
3899 Brownsville Rd., Powder Springs
Proctor Landing Park
770-917-1234
5260 Proctor Landing Rd., Acworth
Reed House
678-631-5545
3080 Atlanta Rd., Smyrna
Rhyne Park
770-528-8890
4145 King Springs Rd., Smyrna
Ridge Forest Fitness Trail
678-631-5394
3401 Ridge Road, Smyrna
River Line Park
678-631-5395
6043 Oakdale Rd., Mableton
Riverview Park
678-631-5395
6275 Rivewview Rd., Smyrna
Ron H. Francis Park
770-794-5601
135 Gramling St., Marietta
Rose Garden Park
678-631-5395
1870 Teasley Road, Smyrna
Sandy Plains Park
770-591-3160
2977 Gordy Pkwy., Marietta
Seven Springs Water Park
770-528-4036
3820 Macedonia Rd., Powder Springs
Sewell Park 770-591-3160
2055 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta
Shaw Park 770-591-3160
900 Shaw Park Rd., Marietta
Shillings Park
770-422-9714
2869 Shillings Chase Court, Kennesaw
Shoupade Park
678-431-2842
4770 Oakdale Rd., Smyrna
Silver Comet Trail Depot
Oregon Park, Disc Golf, Escape Room 770-528-8890
145 Old Hamilton Rd., Marietta Overlook Park 770-917-1234
4280 Lake Acworth Dr., Acworth
770-819-3279
4342 Floyd Road, Mableton
Silver Comet Linear Park
770-943-1666
1301 Richard D. Sailors Pkwy, Powder Springs
Skip Wells Park 770-591-3160
2334 Bells Ferry Rd, Marietta
Smyrna Community Center
770-431-2842
1250 Powder Springs St., Smyrna
South Cobb Aquatic Center
770-819-3240
875 Riverside Pkwy., Austell
South Shore Park
770-917-4555
4555 Ragsdale Rd., Acworth
Spring Road Linear Park
770-431-2842
Spring Road, Smyrna
Stout Park
770-528-8829
5315 Brownsville Road, Powder Springs
Sweat Mountain Park
770-591-3160
4346 Steinhauer Rd., Marietta
Sweetwater Park
770-528-8890
2447 Clay Rd., Austell
Swift-Cantrell Park
770-422-9714
Tolleson Park Day Room
770-431-2843
3515 McCauley Rd., Smyrna
Tramore Park
2150 East-West Conn., Austell
3140 Old 41 Hwy, Kennesaw
Also offering 1 skate park & 1 dog park
Tara Park
770-422-9714
2095 Twelve Oaks Circle, Kennesaw
Taylor-Brawner Park
678-631-5545
3180 Atlanta Rd., Smyrna
Taylor Brawner House 678-631-5545
3182 Atlanta Rd., Smyrna
Terrell Mill Park
770-591-3160
480 Terrell Mill Rd., Marietta
Terry Lane Park
770-422-9714
3530 Terry Lane, Kennesaw
The Art Place - Mountain View
770-509-2700
3330 Sandy Plains Rd. Marietta
Thompson Park
770-819-3215
555 Nickajack Rd., Mableton
Trolley Line Park
4700 North Church Lane, Smyrna
Tumlin Park at Hickory Hills
770-794-5601
400 Chestnut Hill Rd., Marietta
Twentieth Century Veterans Memorial
770-431-2842
2800 King Street, Smyrna
Veteran’s Memorial Park
770-944-4300
2651 Veteran’s Memorial Hwy. Austell
Victory Park
770-794-5601
823 S. Park Dr., Marietta
Village Green Park
678-631-5395
1250 Powder Springs St. SE, Smyrna
Wallace Park
770-528-8839
6289 Pisgah Rd., Mableton
Washington Park
770-944-4309
2981 Landers St., Austell
Ward Park
770-431-2842
2602 Ward Park, Smyrna
Ward Recreation Center
770-528-8885
4845 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs
Thurman Springs Park & Hardy Family
Automotive Amphitheater
770-943-1666
4485 Pineview Dr., Powder Springs
Tolleson Park
678-631-5393
3515 McCauley Rd., Smyrna
West Cobb Aquatic Center
770-222-6700
3675 Macland Rd., Powder Springs
West Dixie Park
770-794-5601
125 West Dixie Ave., Marietta
Whitaker Park 770-794-5601
1540 Holcomb Lake Rd., Marietta
Whitfield Park 770-431-2842
1519 Whitfield St., Smyrna
Wildwood Park 770-794-5601
1050 Barclay Cir., Marietta
Wild Horse Creek Park 770-528-8890
3820 Macedonia Rd., Powder Springs
Winchester Forest Park 770-422-9714
2126 Lindley Lane, Kennesaw
Windy Hill Community Center 770-528-2562
1885 Roswell St., Smyrna
Woods Park 770-794-5601
147 Hayes St., Marietta
Wrens Ridge Park 770-422-9714
4040 Wrens Way, Kennesaw
Wright Environmental Education Center 770-528-8825
2661 John Ferry Rd., Marietta
SENIOR LIVING
Cobb Senior Services helps an increasing senior population
According to the U.S. Census, 2030 will mark a demographic turning point for the country as baby boomers will be 65 years of age or older. In just a few short years, one in every five Americans is projected to be of retirement age, which means a greater demand for services and activities provided by Cobb County Senior Services and other such service agencies in counties across the U.S.
The Cobb Senior Services department serves community members starting at age 55 and above. The Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget reports that sector of the population will increase from a projected 201,535 individuals in 2024, or approximately 25 percent of the Cobb County population, to 269,980 individuals in 2030, or approximately 32 percent of the overall county population.
“With this increase in Cobb County, we recognize that our older adults will be facing comprehensive and complex aging issues which cannot be solved in a vacuum or in a single day,” according to Johnny Barfield, communications specialist with Cobb Senior Services. “Cobb County Senior Services is committed to finding innovative ways to address the needs of older adults, offering, and expanding programs and services throughout Cobb County, researching, and proposing various initiatives with impact on quality of life and providing transportation options, volunteer opportunities, health and wellness programming, social engagement opportunities, as well as fostering collaborations and partnerships.”
For the past several years Cobb County Senior Services has continued to collaborate with many community agencies and numerous county departments to start new initiatives and help its community members who are 55-plus in Cobb County.
“To be able to do that we continued to look for funding opportunities and in the last two years we leveraged $6,367,097.68 in grant funding,” Barfield said. “We stepped up to serve individuals and to ameliorate immediate needs, such as food insecurity and remaining housed. Our Community Health and Education Unit was recognized for its efforts by the Atlanta Regional Commission and won the Evidence Based Aging Services Coalition 2023-2024 Above and Beyond Award, as well as the Evidence Based Program Coach 2023-2024 Peer to Peer Recognition Award.”
In addition, Barfield said Cobb Senior Services has more than doubled its durable medical equipment distribution from FY23
(92 items) to FY24 (250 items); provided 112,146 meals in FY23 and is projecting it will provide more than 118,000 meals in FY24; approved $83,189 in emergency financial assistance in FY23 and has $216,800 to distribute by the end of FY24 (part of that is from Community Services Block Grant funds — $75,000 FY23 and $70,000 for FY24).
Cobb Senior Services also answered more than 100,000 general, information and referral and case management connection calls just in FY23 and provided more than 41,000 one-way transportation trips to critical medical appointments and to and from senior centers. Barfield said Senior Services is poised to see that number increase by 15 percent by the end of 2024.
What’s New at Cobb Senior Centers
What’s new for seniors in Cobb County? To start with — a slight name change. The facilities where seniors gather across the county known as “Neighborhood Centers” will now be known by the areas and population they serve, such as Austell Senior Center and Marietta Senior Center — two centers that provide daily meals and transportation for the county’s older population.
In addition, North Cobb Senior Center offers programs for adults 55 and older, while also providing daily meals and transportation to Cobb County residents who are 60 and older and who qualify. Several senior centers have undergone recent renovations and feature new furniture, paint and carpeting to create a more comfortable and welcoming environment for Cobb County’s older population.
In addition to a full schedule of activities and programs, Cobb County’s Senior Services department sponsors two special events each year. Its Veterans Christmas Luncheon in December honors local veterans with food, socialization and entertainment and its Santa’s Elves program, which gives the local community a chance to donate gifts to isolated seniors in Cobb. While the exact details on these programs have yet to be announced, as it gets closer to the holidays, the public can visit the website for more information — http://www.cobbcounty.org/senior-services.
“Beyond our senior centers, Cobb County Senior Services is dedicated to supporting the overall well-being of our aging population,” Barfield said. “We offer a variety of programs and services, including Meals on Wheels, transportation assistance, and comprehensive
case management. Our case managers help seniors access essential resources, provide emergency financial assistance — including one-time rent or utility assistance when eligible and connect them with community programs and benefits. We also offer the Share the Care program, which assists qualifying seniors with dental, vision, and hearing expenses. To promote healthy eating and support local farmers, we provide $50 vouchers to eligible seniors for use at our on-site farmers markets during the summer months.”
Cobb Senior Services offers so much locally to the older adult population that people often think it also operates assisted living or retirement facilities, but it does not. Its work with U.S. Veterans is particularly noteworthy. Cobb County Senior Services offers monthly Veteran Connection programs all across Cobb County, fostering camaraderie among local veterans.
“Cobb County is dedicated to creating a ‘Lifelong Community’ where individuals can live, work, play, and age successfully,” Barfield said.
For more information about these programs and services, contact: Meals on Wheels and Case Management: 770-528-5364
Transportation: 770-528-5380
Cobb senior centers, assisted living, and hospice care
COBB COUNTY SENIOR CENTERS FOR AGE 55 AND ABOVE:
Freeman Poole Senior Center
4025 South Hurt Road Smyrna, GA 30082 | 770-801-3400
North Cobb Senior Center
3900 South Main St. (inside Kennworth Park) Acworth, GA 30101 | 770-975-7740
Senior Wellness Center
1150 Powder Springs St. Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-528-5355
Tim D. Lee Senior Center
3332 Sandy Plains Road Marietta, GA 30066 | 770-509-4900
West Cobb Senior Center
4915 Dallas Highway Powder Springs, GA 30127 | 770-528-8200
NOTE: Eligibility requirements and services vary by location. The centers offer many programs, but are not adult day facilities. Individuals must be able to function independently, both physically and cognitively.
Austell Senior Center 4915 Austell-Powder Springs Road (inside Clarkdale Park) Austell, GA 30106 | 770-819-3200
Marietta Senior Center 1150 Powder Springs St. Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-528-2516
ADULT DAY CENTERS:
Green Park Senior Care Home 3861 Jiles Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 | (877) 318-0055
Skylark Adult Day Center of Cobb 120 Interstate N Pkwy E, Ste. 420 Atlanta, GA 30339 | 770-580-4484 https://www.skylarkseniorcare.com/marietta
Golden Rose Adult Daycare Community Outreach
2147 Post Oak Tritt Road Marietta, GA 30062 | (770) 973-1691 https://www.goldenrosehome.com/
Comfort Community Center
700 Sandy Plains Road, Suite B14 Marietta, GA 30066 | 678-581-1831
Crubell Adult Care
3565 Austell Rd, SW #1051
Marietta, GA 30060 | (800) 926-5787
House of Peace And Hope Personal Care Home and Adult Day Care Services
2432 Powder Springs Rd., SW Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-771-4220
Art and Food Adult Day Center
Kennesaw State University Marietta Campus 1395 Building 100 Suite 128, South Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA 30067
Sunrise Elderly Daycare 3012 Donamire Ave NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 678-923-8594
Marietta Seniors Club 748 Lawrence Street, NE Marietta, GA 30060 | (404) 707-1774
ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES:
Legacy Ridge at Marietta 840 Lecroy Drive
Marietta, GA 30068 | 770-635-5516 atlasseniorliving.com/Legacy-ridge-marietta
Amelia Gardens 4561 Canton Rd. Marietta, GA 30066 | (678) 388-0088
Azalea Gardens at Mableton 3829 Floyd Rd. Austell, GA 30106| (770) 435-0750 azaleagardensatmableton.com
Arbor Terrace of Burnt Hickory 920 Burnt Hickory Road
Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-343-3370 Arborcompany.com
Arbor Terrace of East Cobb 886 Johnson Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30068 | 770-343-4378 Arborcompany.com
Bethel Gardens
3805 Jackson Way Extention Powder Springs, GA 30127 | (770) 943-3620 bethelgardens.com
Brickmont of Acworth 3114 Cobb Parkway NW Kennesaw, GA 30152 | 770-886-4074 Brickmont.com
Brickmont of West Cobb 2782 Dallas Highway SW Marietta, GA 30064 | (770) 685-3010 Brickmont.com
Cadence Marietta 1345 Milford Church Road Marietta, GA 30008 | (678) 309-1220 Cadencemarietta.com
for your needs now and in the future. For couples, the continuum of care provides to remain in the same community.
Canterfield of Kennesaw 4381 Bells Ferry Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 470-308-5260 Canterfieldofkennesaw.com
Celebration Village Acworth 4460 Celebration Boulevard Acworth, GA 30101 | 678-594-3570 www.agewellliving.com/senior-living/ga/acworth/ celebration-village-acworth/
Charter Senior Living of Vinings
2401 Cumberland Pkwy SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 (770) 679-8329 https://www.charterofvinings.com
Daybreak Village Assisted Living
3056 Cherokee St NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 218-6166
Delmar Gardens of Smyrna 404 King Springs Village Parkway Smyrna, GA 30082 | 770-432-4444 Delmargardens.com
Dogwood Forest of Acworth
4461 South Main Street Acworth, GA 30101 | (678) 831-4999 Dogwoodforest.com
The Georgian Lakeside 1070 Hardscrabble Road Roswell, GA 30075 | 678-498-5375 cadencesl.com/communities/the-georgian-lakeside/
Gaines Park Senior Living 1740 Old 41 Hwy NW Kennesaw, GA 30152 (770) 424-1414 gainespark.com
Greenwood Place 1160 Whitlock Dr. Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-422-7778 Enlivant.com
Golden Rose Assisted Living 2147 Post Oak Tritt Rd. Marietta, GA 30062 | (678) 313-4673 goldenrosehome.com
Grace Living 2417 Canton Rd. Marietta, GA 30066 | (678) 313-4673
Green Park Senior Care
3861 Jiles Rd. Kennesaw, GA 30144 | (877) 318-0055 greenparkpch.com
Hawthorne Terrace at Mableton 6571 Valley Hill Dr. Mableton, GA 30126 | (404) 390-1335
Holbrook Acworth
4491 S Main St. Acworth, GA 30101 | (678) 424-3053 holbrooklife.com
Kennesaw Village 2800 Jiles Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 | (470) 348-8365 Enlivant.com
Legacy Ridge at Brookstone 5235 Stilesboro Road Kennesaw, GA 30152 | (770) 423-0800 atlasseniorliving.com/legacy-ridge-brookstone/
Legacy Ridge at Sandy Plains
3039 Sandy Plains Road Marietta, GA 30066 | (770) 973-7303 atlasseniorliving.com/legacy-ridge-sandy-plains/
Marietta Life Center 447 Atlanta St SE Marietta, GA 30060 | (770) 726-9630
The Legacy at Walton Heights 178 Roberts Trail Marietta, GA 30066 (678) 367-4421 legacyatwaltonheights.com
New Life Personal Care Home 2570 Cherrywood Ln SW Marietta, GA 30060 | (770) 731-3546 newlifepch.com
Northstar Square 3250 Quick Water Landing Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 678-257-4362 Enlivant.com
Oaks at West Cobb 3292 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW Marietta, GA 30064 | (470) 329-7775 oaksseniorliving.com
Parkland Manor 3755 Medical Park Dr. Austell, GA 30106 | (833) 763-7337 https://www.parklandmanorseniorapts.com/
Parc at Piedmont – East Cobb 999 Hood Rd. Marietta, GA 30068 | (770) 565-8828 parcatpiedmont.com
The Phoenix at Johnson Ferry 9 Sherwood Ln. Marietta, GA 30068 | (470) 536-8150 phoenixsrliving.com
Silver Comet Village 4900 Richard D Sailors Pkwy. Powder Springs, GA 30127 | (770) 766-8837 silvercometvillage.com
Smyrna Village Memory Care 1418 Spring St SE, Smyrna, GA 30080 | (770) 319-1000 smyrnavillage.com
Sullivan House Senior Living 200 Village Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30067 | (470) 681-2753 https://www.sullivanhouseseniorliving.com/
Sterling Estates — East Cobb
4220 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30068 | 678-946-4454 Sterlingestateseastcobb.com
Sterling Estates — West Cobb
3165 Dallas Highway
Marietta, GA 30064 | (770) 255-7000 Sterlingestateswestcobb.com
The Cambridge Assisted Living and Memory Care
4838 South Cobb Drive
Smyrna, GA 30080 | 678-903-0339 smyrnaseniors.com
The Heritage of Marietta 1790 Powder Springs Road
Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-919-7799 Marietta.surpassliving.com
The Solana East Cobb 1032 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, GA 30068 | (770) 685-7946 www.arborcompany.com
Varenita of West Cobb
1979 Mars Hill Rd.
Acworth, GA 30101 | (470) 750-3500 varenita.com
Wellstar Atherton Place 111 Tower Rd Suite 313
Marietta, GA 30060 | (770) 421-7300 athertonplace.org
Winnwood Retirement Community 100 Whitlock Avenue
Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-692-3963 Winnwoodretire.com
Woodland Ridge Assisted Living 4005 South Cobb Drive Smyrna, GA 30080 | 770-431-7055 Woodlandridge.com
HOSPICE CARE:
Amedisys Central Home Heath Care 4255 Wade Green Road NW, Bldg. 300, Suite 320 Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 770-423-1316 locations.amedisys.com/ga/kennesaw/
Amity Care
161 Village Parkway, Building 7 Marietta, GA 30067 | 678-402-5235 Amitycarehospice.com
Angel Heart Hospice
1225 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 855 Marietta, GA 30068 | 770-738-7083 Angelhearthospice.com
Bristol Hospice Georgia
2849 Paces Ferry Road, Suite 380 Atlanta, GA 30339 | 770-434-9530 bristolhospice.com/georgia/
Compassus — Kennesaw
300 Chastain Center Boulevard, Suite 345 Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 470-450-3183 www.compassus.com/locations
Cornerstone Hospice & Palliative Care of Georgia
1225 Johnson Ferry Road, Bldg 100, Suite 160 Marietta, GA 30068| 866-742-6655 Cornerstonehospice.org
Encompass Health Hospice
1000 Cobb Place Boulevard NW, Suite 310 Located in Bailey Park Kennesaw, GA 30144 | (678) 218-5745
Heritage Hospice, Inc. 3315 Hilltop Drive Marietta, GA 30066 | 770-423-5959 Heritage-hospice.com
Inspire Hospice 4255 Wade Green Rd Suite 815 Kennesaw, GA 30144 | (404) 596-8906 inspirehospice.com
Ladahma Hospice 1755 The Exchange SE, Suite 360D Atlanta, GA 30339 | 470-552-8502
Trinity Hospice Care
3660 Cedarcrest Rd. Ste 120 Acworth, GA 30101 | (770) 599-2477 https://thc-ga.org/
Wellstar Tranquility at Cobb Hospital
4040 Hospital West Drive Austell, GA 30106 | 770-732-6710
wellstar.org/locations/community-hospice/community-hospice4040-hospital-west-drive
Wellstar Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain
475 Dickson Ave NW Marietta, GA 30064 | 470-245-9930
wellstar.org/locations/community-hospice/community-hospice475-dickson-avenue-nw
NONPROFIT
Runners
Make-A-Wish 5K
October 5, 2024
Taste of Acworth
School & Charity Benefit
October 12, 2024
Love Out Loud Music Festival
Loving Arms Cancer Outreach
October 12, 2024
Special Needs Cobb
Annual Golf Invitational
October 14, 2024
LiveSafe Resources ‘Que & Brew October 18, 2024
American Legion Riders Chapter 29 4th Annual “Salute the Fallen” Charity Ride October 19, 2024
Vision Rehabilitation Services of Georgia Spooktacular Chase TBA
Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s November 2, 2024
in the 1k race make their way down East Park Square at the 21st MDJ Gobble Jog.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Jeff Francoeur Home Run Derby
November 7, 2024
American Legion Post 29
10th Annual Veterans Memorial 5K Run/Walk/Wheelchair/Tot Trot
November 9, 2024
Special Olympics Georgia
29th Annual Bob Busse Memorial Golf Classic
November 11, 2024
MUST Ministries
Gobble Jog (1K, 5K, 10K and Tot Trot)
November 28, 2024
The Pearl Foundation Dashing Through The Square 5K Walk/Run
December 21, 2024
Marietta Police Athletic League Shamrock Shuffle
March 15, 2025
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Cobb County
May 10, 2025
Hemophilia Of Georgia Trot to Clot
May 2025
Thousands of visitors lined the streets for Taste of Acworth.
Information provided courtesy of Visit Marietta and Cobb Travel & Tourism.
REAL ESTATE
Cobb’s Most Expensive Home: 4571 Columns Drive
By Isabelle Manders imanders@mdjonline.com
Some of metro Atlanta’s finest homes and neighborhoods can be found in Cobb County.
Nestled outside some of the area’s most coveted neighborhoods, like the Atlanta Country Club Estates, is the county’s most expensive home on the market, according to the Cobb County Association of Realtors.
At 4571 Columns Drive in east Cobb, the grandeur of this 12,267-square-foot mansion is rivaled only by the natural beauty that surrounds it, said Jan Sherman, the property’s listing agent.
Built in 1986, the seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom and three-halfbath home sits on 7.79 acres between Sope Creek and the Chattahoochee River.
Originally listed at $7.99 million in January, the price has since been reduced to $7.35 million.
“This property would be ideal for somebody who might want a small homestead without having to go far out (of the city),” Sherman said.
She emphasized the unique appeal of the estate’s location in an area renowned for its exclusivity and high-end living.
To Sherman, what truly sets this property apart is the sheer expanse of the estate — the largest on Columns Drive — creating a private oasis just minutes from the bustling city center.
The mansion itself boasts a combination of traditional and Mediterranean architectural elements. A two-story foyer entrance, with a chandelier hanging above the grand staircase, sets the tone for the luxury that awaits inside.
The home’s updated ensuite bathrooms, each featuring large windows or skylights, offer a modern touch, while maintaining the character of the residence.
The main level is designed for both entertaining and family living. It includes a dining room that comfortably seats 12, a spacious kitchen with high-end appliances, a walk-in pantry, and a prep kitchen, said Sherman. The master bedroom features a walk-in closet and spacious bathroom.
Sherman said the grand room, with its arched floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the saltwater pool, is her favorite part of the house and offers great views of the backyard.
“It’s just serene out there. It’s just so beautiful and if you see it in the evening, there’s so much wildlife and nature,” Sherman said.
On the east wing of the second floor are four bedrooms each with walk-in closets and ensuite bathrooms. The west wing has two spacious options for an au pair or in-law suite with laundry and direct access to the back staircase.
The estate is well suited for a large family or for those who love to entertain, said Sherman. The third floor, previously used as a game room, features a stage and bar, offering endless possibilities for customization — whether for a theater room, a dance floor or private concert space.
Outside, the estate continues to impress. The 792-square-foot pool is surrounded by crape myrtles and Japanese maples, providing a serene environment that’s perfect for relaxation or entertaining.
“You get a nice combination of shade and sunlight and the crape myrtles are just exquisite. They’ve been in there a long, long time,” Sherman said.
Beyond the pool, the property includes a 1,776-square-foot, fivestall barn for horses, a 900-square-foot greenhouse, and a gazebo, all contributing to the estate’s versatility.
Sherman believes the two-story carriage house, currently a workshop, with full finished bath and two-car garage can easily be converted into an in-law suite, studio or accessory dwelling unit. The carriage house is also accessible by a separate service entrance.
The backyard, fully fenced and gated, also features a large pond with a dock, a playground, garden beds, and a tennis court that, according to Sherman, would make a perfect pickleball court for today’s active homeowners.
In the evening, she said the street lamps around the pond light up softly, adding to the ambiance.
“It’s a nice soft light enough to see around so you can walk or take the kayaks out,” Sherman said. “It is your own oasis. Kids can run around, you can feel safe.”
The property is such an oasis that Sherman said it’s regularly mistaken by passersby as being part of the nearby Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
With taxes for 2024 estimated at $56,506, this estate is not just a home, but a lifestyle — a rare opportunity to own a piece of paradise in the heart of Cobb County.
4571 Columns Drive
Price: $7.35 million Square Feet: 12,267 Acres: 7.79 Taxes: $56,506 Neighborhood: Columns Drive
Residential real estate is the ‘heart of the American dream’
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
As a Cobb County native with more than 28 years in the real estate industry, Realtor and broker/owner of RE/MAX Pure, Wendy Bunch has seen the local market fluctuate, yet through good times and bad, her business managed to stay strong thanks to a positive personal outlook and a commitment to continually educate herself to better serve her clients and community.
“Real estate has always been and will continue to be the heart of the American dream,” Bunch said. “Every day we all work hard to provide for our families, keep a roof over our heads and contribute to our communities. It has been nice to see the handiwork bring wonderful returns on homes in recent years for the citizens of Cobb. This is what the American dream is all about — your investment, your future, your home and it will pay off.”
This longtime Smyrna resident and residential real estate expert said 2024 has been a much stronger market as consumers adjusted to a new normal in the interest rate.
Rates fluctuated between 2 percent and 3.5 percent for a few years, but when rates went back to the national average of 7.5 percent, it took consumers a minute to process the change, Bunch added.
“Many Cobb County folks remember back in the ’80s, you were lucky if you got a 15 percent interest rate,” she said. “Rates will
not stop people from moving to Cobb. A lack of inventory will. I do think we will see a lower interest rate before we finish out 2024.
Wendy Bunch
“We are very blessed in Cobb County that our local and city officials work together to improve our community. Cobb is one of those places you want to live work and play. Cobb alone has seven colleges and over 112 schools, We have become a power in sports, tourism, movie and film industry, arts, employment, education and home of the Atlanta Braves. All of these things make people want to move here.”
Bunch said as people understood that interest rates would stabilize, the mindset shifted back to its familiar focus: finding the perfect home and securing the best possible rate.
“Homeowners quickly realized that waiting for rates to drop further wasn’t the best strategy,” she added. “This led to a surge in activity in 2024 with Realtors, mortgage bankers and lenders seeing increased transactions. People have been actively buying and selling homes, refinancing, and tapping into their home equity to fund improvements.”
However, in 2025, there will be limited inventory, Bunch advisesd.
“Many individuals and families with low interest rates are likely to stay in their homes and choose renovations over moving — this will reduce available properties,” she said. “Cobb County is thriving, with growth and job opportunities. I do think we will see a good real estate market in 2025.”
Bunch also said that historically, election cycles can create uncertainty, leading to market fluctuations as people speculate on future developments.
“Our Cobb Chamber is always working on economic development and opportunities.” she added. “Cobb’s top employers, including Wellstar, Lockheed Martin, Cobb County Schools and Home Depot continue to provide employment options, which means even more demand for housing. I can’t think of a better place to invest than Cobb County. There is something for everyone.”
Whatever the market does, Bunch says she “likes to stay positive” and tries to use her abilities and her business to help others, such as making her office on Polk Street in Marietta a “Miracle Office.” RE/ MAX and Bunch are heavily involved with the Children’s Miracle Network. Realtor Bunch holds the following designations: Five Star Professional, Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Certified Distressed Property Expert, Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource,
Seniors Real Estate Specialist and Seller Representative Specialist. There were 5,597 closings for residential single-family detached homes in metropolitan Atlanta in July 2024, according to the First Multiple Listing Service. This reflects an increase of 7 percent from July a year ago. There were 1,159 closings for residential single family attached in July 2024, which reflects a decrease of 1 percent over July 2023. The average sale price for a residential single family detached home was $526,282 for July 2024 versus $498,327 for July 2023. The average sale price for residential single family attached was $393,386 for July 2024 with the average sale price at $392,163 for July 2023.
FMLS reports that in metro Atlanta, there were 35,557 closings for residential single family detached homes for the year to date (YD) July 2024. This reflects a decrease of 1 percent over YTD 2023. There were 7,728 closings for residential single family attached for YTD 2024. This reflects a decrease of 6 percent over YTD 2023. The residential detached home average sales price YTD through July 2024 was $516,593 versus $484,615 for YTD 2023. This represents an increase of 7 percent. The residential attached average sales price YTD through July 2024 was $401,999 for YTD through July 2024 versus $380,780 for YTD 2023. This represents an increase of 6 percent for YTD 2024 versus YTD 2023.
Commercial real estate leasing is ‘on the upswing’
By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Commercial real estate experts report that leasing activity is on the upswing as the market continues to struggle with elevated vacancy rates. The aftermath of COVID-19 has moved from emergency rooms to company board rooms as business leaders across the country seek ways to go forward.
“While the office sector in Atlanta continues to face headwinds as the vacancy rate across the city approaches 25 percent, this doesn’t tell the full story,” says Chad Koenig of Cobb County, a partner for the Houston, Texas-based Partners Real Estate firm. “Tenants continue to pursue Class A+ office space which offers an amenityrich environment to give employees a premier office experience as the hybrid work week continues to find its norm and company executives create a work experience that brings their team members back to the office.”
Rental rates have continued to climb through the years, but as limited new office space becomes available at rates substantially more than existing Class A office space, rates are expected to start to decline in the coming quarters.
“The construction pipeline is drying up due to interest rates and we expect to see another period of limited office construction like what we experienced following the Great Financial Crisis,” Koenig said.
While the impact is widespread, some areas are in a better position than others.
“The bright spot for Cobb is that the Northwest submarket has the lowest vacancy rate — at roughly 20 percent — of any major submarket in Atlanta that has more than 20 million square feet of office inventory,” Koenig said. With a track record of leasing more than 8.5 million square feet of space, totaling more than $900 million in transactions, Koenig is a respected adviser in the commercial real estate industry involved on economic development panels and councils.
With more than 25 years experience in the field, Koenig counts among his clients Cobb Travel & Tourism, Deere & Co., Wells Fargo, Emory University, Shorter University, Applied Systems, TK Elevator, Lassiter Properties, UP Entertainment and many others.
As a resident of Smyrna for the last 23 years, Koenig has strong ties to the county and is on the Cobb Chamber Board, Select Cobb Board and One Cumberland Board. He and his wife Kati, a senior business analyst at Booz Allen Hamilton have three children, Madison, Abigail and Tyler. Koenig and his Partners’ Office Tenant Representation team member, Katelyn Fabian, who is also a company vice president, are passionate about serving their clients, as well as staying abreast of market trends and industry best practices.
In its mid-year report, Partners stated the average monthly rental rate for Atlanta’s office market is $30.09 per square foot. This is down slightly from last quarter (0.1 percent), but up 1.9 percent over the past year. Newer Class A properties continue to achieve at or near record high rates ($50 to $70 per square foot), while Class B more
Cobb Residents Use Airbnb, Vrbo for Supplemental Income
By Isabelle Manders imanders@mdjonline.com
For Cobb County residents like Carin Melet, owning a shortterm rental property is a way to keep up with rising living expenses.
“People have this impression that those who are renting are doing it to get quick cash,” Melet, who works as a client executive for a payroll processor in Atlanta, said. “Nobody decides to share their space without there being a very good reason why they have to.”
Melet first began renting out her four-bedroom, east Cobb home on Airbnb in 2015.
The decision to do so came after her husband unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack in 2014.
“We bought the house keeping the possibility in mind that one of us could lose their job, Melet said.
“It was supposed to be manageable for me on my income, the expenses, but it just wasn’t and I had to find another way,” Melet said.
Because her house has a pool, Melet typically tries to rent her
The interior of a home listed on Airbnb in Cobb County.
home out during the summer months, from May to October.
In 2020, she made between $40,000 and $60,000 from renting. This year, because she didn’t begin renting until June, she expects to make around $20,000. These figures, however, do not include the additional expenses that go towards the upkeep of the rental, like painting, landscaping and maintenance, as well as the almost $500 cleaning expense per booking.
Melet wants people interested in becoming rental hosts to know that there’s more to it than just putting up a listing on an app.
You have to vet your guests, you can’t take everything people say at face value and you’ve got to position your listing so it’s clear what you do and don’t allow, she said.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into this, it takes me about two months just to prepare the house to start renting,” Melet said. “Had I not had that rental income, I don’t know what I would have done as far as the upkeep of the house.”
The bulk of her renters are traveling families visiting the area for high school baseball tournaments or to see relatives in town. Her other main demographic are people who have had property damage nearby and want to remain close to work or the school district.
Since Melet first became a moderator for the Airbnb Host Community of Atlanta Metro Facebook Group nearly eight years ago, she has seen the amount of short-term renters in the metro Atlanta area skyrocket, adding that the group has gone from a few hundred to a few thousand members.
In 2022, after getting a new job, Melet decided to take a break from renting.
The pool and backyard of a home listed on Airbnb in Cobb County.
Work With Marietta Real Estate Experts
“Salary wise, I should have been able to take care of everything and all expenses on my own, … but what happened was insurance rates skyrocketed out of nowhere and then property taxes,” Melet said. “Even if I kept my standard of living exactly the same, everything else was going up and so the salary that I thought was comfortable, to carry all of the expenses, I realized wasn’t.”
Most renters she knows got started with Airbnb or Vrbo as a way to get supplemental income.
However, after Atlanta hosted Super Bowl LIII in 2019, Melet began seeing more and more investor hosts rather than local hosts. She added that many of these new hosts were following the rental arbitrage method, renting a property only to rent it as a short-term rental on sites like Airbnb.
“We didn’t have any regulations in Cobb County until 2022. It was kind of a free-for-all and that did cause a lot of problems,” Melet said.
In 2022, the Cobb County commissioners adopted a new ordinance that required all short-term rental operators to register with the county and follow specific guidelines. To operate a short-term rental, renters must now pay a $55 application fee and submit the appropriate documents to get a short-term rental certificate each year.
Rentals are considered short-term if they provide lodging for 30 days or less.
Since January 2023, when the short-term rental ordinance went into effect, the county has issued approximately 300 short-term rental certificates, said county officials.
Cobb Commissioner Keli Gambrill said the requirements came out of complaints about noise, trash and parking.
“From a district commissioner perspective, I know since we tightened up the ordinance I have not had as many constituents reaching out with complaints,” she said.
Similarly, Melet said she can’t remember the last time she heard complaints from rental owners in the Facebook group about unauthorized gatherings and noise complaints caused by their guests.
“It’s narrowed the amount of listings that are available,” Melet said. “Because hosts are registered and their neighbors are notified in writing, ... neighbors can now reach out to hosts when there is a problem and nip it in the bud.”
However, Derek Whitner, president of the Cobb County Association of Realtors, said theordinance is a violation of private property rights.
“There’s a state law on the books that prohibits local governments from mandating that residential rental properties be registered with the county and so Cobb County is in violation of that state law as it stands,” Whitner said.
He said the Cobb Association believes that individual property owners should be able to do as they see fit, within the current regulations, with their land and real estate.
Meanwhile, “short term rentals allow people to come here and experience what Cobb County has to offer,” Gambrill said. “The hope would be that they find the county attractive enough that they would want to come back and become residents in the future and invest in a home and enjoy what all we have to offer.”
It also allows workers to come and do their jobs on a temporary basis, added Gambrill.
She expects that short-term rentals will be booming within the next few years, especially when Atlanta hosts the 2026 World Cup.
“You’re never going to have enough hotel rooms to handle the crowds that are going to be coming with those events, but the short-term rentals will be able to allow more people to come and experience the events which of course then helps with our (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax),” Gambrill said.
The interior of a home listed on Airbnb in Cobb County.
TOP 10 AGENTSReal Estate TOP 10 TEAMSReal Estate
Will Realtors settlement shake up the Cobb housing market?
By Hunter Riggall hriggall@mdjonline.com
$25,440.
That’s the typical commission Realtors collect on the sale of a $424,000 home, the median sales price in Cobb County.
That payout, however, could soon change.
In October 2023, a federal jury sided with plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors and several of the country’s large brokerage firms. The plaintiffs alleged the real estate industry conspired to maintain the standard commission at 5-6%, to the detriment of home sellers.
In March 2024, the NAR settled the suit, agreeing to pay $418 million and change several of its rules.
Experts and media reports have called it a landmark case which could shake up the real estate industry, possibly leading to lower commissions and fewer Realtors.
Cobb real estate agents who spoke to the MDJ, however, were skeptical that the suit, and more than a dozen copycat suits, would cause major shifts in Georgia.
in a competitive market ... would be paid by the buyer.”
The suit noted in other developed countries, commissions range from 1-4%, and that U.S. commissions have remained high even while technology progressed, giving consumers more control over home-buying.
The NAR is the largest trade association in the U.S., with more than 1.5 million members, and even holds a trademark on the term “Realtor.” Its local affiliates control multiple listing services (MLS) — databases through which most homes are advertised and then sold.
A major rule change the NAR agreed to is doing away with a requirement that the seller’s agent offer payment to the buyer’s agent.
“Most buyer brokers will not show homes to their clients where the seller is offering a lower ... commission, or they will give priority to showing homes with higher ... commission offers first,” the plaintiffs argued in their complaint.
They believe most consumers will still use Realtors, that prices will keep climbing, and that established agents will adjust.
A home for sale in Marietta
Hunter Riggall
“There’s going to be a lot of chaos and a lot of commotion, probably for the first year, and then everything’s going to settle back down,” said Chris Evans, who co-owns Sellect Realty with his wife, Celine Evans.
Darren Hayunga, a housing economist at the University of Georgia, said the settlement raises questions about who will pay commissions, and how much agents will be able to charge. But it’s too early to have definitive answers.
“We have yet to see how the market responds,” Hayunga said.
The complaint against Realtors
The original suit alleged a conspiracy between the NAR and brokerages which inflated real estate commissions.
Traditionally, the seller pays a 5-6% commission on the sale price, which is split between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. That arrangement has been the norm in the U.S. for more than a century.
Plaintiffs argued that it “forces home sellers to pay a cost that,
Hayunga said that doesn’t reflect anything nefarious, only basic economic sense.
“We do have some empirical evidence that agents would be disincentivized to bring their clients if the commission was only, say, 2%. That’s just standard economic understanding,” he said.
The plaintiffs successfully argued, however, that the system is anticompetitive, and that buyers paying their own agents would create competition and lower commissions.
Impact on buying and selling
The court gave initial approval to the settlement agreement in April 2024. The new rules were set to go into effect in August 2024.
After that, commission offers would no longer be advertised alongside homes on the MLS.
“Buyer brokers should be able to get that information by calling the listing broker and asking, but this may make the process of showing houses more cumbersome,” wrote Seth Weissman, general counsel for the Georgia Association of Realtors, in a letter to members.
Derek Whitner, president of the Cobb Association of Realtors, noted that’s already the case in commercial real estate.
When going to look at a commercial property, “first thing I do is call the listing agent and say ‘Hey, what are you paying commissionwise?’” Whitner said.
With all the attention the settlement has received, sellers may try
to avoid paying both commissions. Buyers, in turn, might demand a lower sale price.
“That may be where we kind of end up, is that buyers will have to pay their agents, but they may have a lower price, so it may kind of come out to be no net gain or loss,” Hayunga said.
Alternative payment models
Hayunga said the settlement could lead to alternative compensation structures for agents, such as hourly rates or a flat fee for limited services.
In addition to owning a full-service residential brokerage firm, Chris and Celine Evans own Simply List, an east Cobb-based transaction brokerage.
Simply List is one of many companies which offers limited services to home sellers, charging flat fees or much-reduced commissions. The service offered might be as little as listing the home on the MLS and sites like Zillow.
Chris Evans said Simply List is often used by savvy sellers who have been through the process before and feel comfortable doing most of the work themselves.
One couple to use the service was Sally and David Wilson, a retired couple who sold their east Cobb home last year.
The Wilsons were seeking to downsize from their house in the Peppermill subdivision off Lower Roswell Road. Sally Wilson had a real estate license in the past, and so was familiar enough with the industry to do most of the work.
The home sold in 30 days for asking price.
“It was just seamless, it was great, and we feel like we saved money,” Sally Wilson said of working with the pared version of the home sale process.
Chris Evans said the new world of real estate could mean more sellers using brokerages like Simply List. But he believes most will stick with full-service agents.
“A vast majority of consumers don’t have their pulse on what’s happening on the individual sales. And that’s why an overwhelming majority of buyers use real estate agents,” Evans said.
The settlement, he said, could also lead to more buyers not using an agent at all.
“In that situation, the public should be aware that the listing agent will not have their best interests at heart,” Evans added. “Because they would be representing the seller, and the buyer would be a customer.”
Lower commissions or fewer people using agents could mean fewer agents in the industry.
“There is some expectation that agents may exit the business, because it will not be as lucrative,” Hayunga said. “And there’s also a question of whether inexperienced agents will have a more difficult time.”
Local Realtors said agents with established businesses should be fine. But they believe there may be a higher barrier to entry for those starting a real estate career.
Whitner said there are thousands of part-time agents in Georgia who sell two or three homes a year. Those people may struggle.
Georgia’s environment
Local Realtors said the impact of the settlement will be smaller in Georgia, because the state is one of at least 13 which requires a buyer and their agent to have a written agreement.
Nationally, only 41% of home buyers surveyed by the NAR in 2023 said they signed such an agreement.
The new NAR rules would require Realtors nationwide to have written agreements with buyers.
“We’ve been practicing buyer agency (agreements) … for, Lord, probably back into the 1990s,” said retired Realtor Donna Rowe. “So, we’re not going to have as much of an impact. … I think that the NAR has pretty much said that states with buyer agency have already dealt with this issue.”
Wendy Bunch, the broker-owner of Marietta-based RE/MAX PURE, said the state has a good record of ensuring transparency.
“Our Georgia Real Estate Commission, our boards, our legislators, they are on top of us making sure that the Realtors in Georgia are doing the right thing, that they are showing good ethics, they’re showing good fiduciary responsibility,” she said.
All of the Realtors who spoke to the MDJ said they don’t believe the settlement will lead to lower home prices in Cobb. Rising prices, they said, are being driven not primarily by low inventory and high demand.
High interest rates have led to homeowners being wary of selling, since it could mean swapping their old 3% interest rate for a 7% one.
“If we want to really do something to impact and help attainability, we need to work on our county commissioners and get them to relax some of the rules and standards that they place on the builders to really lower the cost of the product,” Whitner said.
‘You need a Realtor’
Susan and Geoff Harper recently sold their Paulding County home and bought a house off Dallas Highway in west Cobb.
Susan Harper is a human resources director; her husband works in the film industry. The two moved because they wanted a larger space.
They went the traditional route, paying full commission and using Realtor Libby Bramlett of Keller Williams.
They quickly sold their old house for asking price. Susan Harper said she had no regrets, and couldn’t imagine doing all the work of selling a home.
“If I had to do all that, there’s no way. … I don’t have time to do that,” she said.
In purchasing the new home, she was glad to have a professional by her side.
“For me at least, it was just a relief to have somebody in my corner who did the negotiating,” Harper said.
Local Realtors told the MDJ the public doesn’t always understand all that goes into their job — guiding consumers through the process; ensuring they understand their costs; coordinating appraisals, inspections, loans, and repairs; and listing and marketing the house.
“You need a Realtor, because the process is a whole lot more complex than people realize,” Whitner said. “In this transaction of buying or selling a house, there’s probably 10 other interested parties that are involved.”
Rowe said Realtors also protect homes from bad actors.
“Realtors work extremely long hours,” she said. “Realtors today are the ones that protect the public from some of the stuff we’re seeing, such as squatters, such as casing a house for a burglary hit. That Realtor’s sign in the front yard is a shield for John Q. Public.”
It’s one of life’s biggest decisions, Whitner added.
“It’s the biggest thing that you’re going to buy in your life, usually,” he said. “… We basically create generational wealth, through buying and selling real estate for our clients. And we love what we do.”
THE PERKS
AND
CHARM OF CALLING BRAVES COUNTRY HOME
From the crack of the bat and roar of the crowd at Truist Park to the bustling dining and entertainment ecosystem at The Battery Atlanta, Braves Country is a cherished sanctuary for Georgians, whether a sports enthusiast or not. The Battery is a 2.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development where it’s possible to ride a mechanical bull, go to a baseball game, bowl a strike and catch a movie all in one trip — an impressive aspect that drew 10.3 million visitors to The Battery in 2023, according to Braves Development Company’s annual report.
For a few hundred Cobb Countians, though, they get to call the thriving district home, taking the work-live-play concept to a whole new level. Cortland at the Battery Atlanta is a three-building property in the heart of the district, yielding 531 apartment units just a stroll away from the stadium. The
three buildings, dubbed “1st, 2nd and 3rd Base,” are the only residential-living properties inside the complex. With a wide array of amenities and services just steps from their front door, Cortland residents say Battery life is as convenient as it is fun.
‘FROM MINORS TO MAJORS’
For Battery dwellers Marley Brown, 25, and Zane Malas, 27, living in a thriving entertainment district is no new concept. In fact, throughout their 20s, the couple said living amid the hustle and bustle was a personal preference.
“We’ve just always loved living in a work-live-play environment,” Brown said.
The couple, who met in their hometown while attending Milton High School, followed each other to the University of
The Battery Atlanta, anchored by Truist Park and the Braves, welcomed 10.3 million visitors to its district in 2023, most of whom were not residents of Cobb County, according to Braves Development Company’s annual fiscal report.
Photo courtesy of The Battery Atlanta
Georgia, where they lived together in downtown Athens.
After graduating from UGA, Brown and Malas moved to Augusta, settling into a quaint apartment overlooking the outfield of the Augusta GreenJackets, a Minor League Baseball team and Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
“We’ve always lived in places where there’s action going on,” Malas explained. “So, naturally, when we wanted to move to Atlanta, we were looking to find an atmosphere, activity and nightlife similar to what we experienced in Athens and Augusta.”
At first, the young couple wanted to rent a house in the heart of the city, but after scouring the home market and having no luck, they decided to explore alternatives in other pockets of metro Atlanta.
“We thought, ‘Let’s just get a really cool apartment in a really cool location,’” Brown said.
As “moderate baseball fans,” the couple said they weren’t magnetized to the district just for the Braves, but moving to their home turf was definitely a plus.
“Since moving to The Battery (in February 2023), we kind of joke around and say, ‘We went from the minors to the majors,’” Brown said.
Malas and Brown, who commute daily to work, said two major perks of living at The Battery is its connectivity and convenience. The district is nestled where Interstates 285, 75 and Cobb Parkway overlap, a main draw for residents and visitors alike.
“I think for a lot of Battery residents, whether you’re working on the southside of Atlanta or way up there on the northside, the Battery is a good location with all the highways and transportation,” Malas said.
Brown said she also appreciates The Battery’s walkability, comparing the district to accessible cities, like New York City and Chicago.
“You have everything you need in a mile or so around The Battery
that makes day-to-day life easier,” she said. “Atlanta isn’t really like that — there’s a lot of driving. It’s also just a cool place to have friends over, especially since you can peek over the balcony and see the Braves stadium.”
“It’s also nice that we can take a couple steps to the bars and have some beers without worrying about Ubers or getting home safe,” Malas added.
A BRAVES FAN’S OASIS
For Bryan Ballas, a Columbus native and avid Braves fan, he moved to The Battery in December 2022. He wanted to buy season tickets without having to rideshare home after every ballgame. Another charming aspect, he said, was rent at Cortland was wellwithin his budget.
“Pretty much everything I need is within a mile of my apartment, so living here is just super convenient,” Ballas, 24, said. “I really don’t have to drive too much. If I want a quick snack, I just walk downstairs. Plus, where I live, I’m close enough to the park, but all not in the thick of it, so it’s not too loud.”
Though Ballas’ plans look different each week, he said they share a few common elements. If it’s baseball season and the Braves are home, Ballas will head downstairs and take a swift stroll to Truist Park, which is only 800 feet away from his apartment. If the Braves are away, he’ll set up shop with friends at Live! at The Battery, which is home to two popular entertainment hubs, PBR Atlanta and Sports & Social. Other days, Ballas will catch some rays at Cortland’s resort-style pool, grab a bite at one of the chefdriven restaurants or check out the latest offerings at Sitka, a new outerwear store that offers a wide array of hunting and outdoor gear.
“I think it’s a common misconception that only Braves fans live here — in my opinion, there’s a good mix of people living in the Battery because there’s just so much to do,” he said. “I know people that work some of the headquarters in the Battery, some who moved here for the Braves and others who wanted to live in the city, but not be downtown, downtown.”
Meanwhile, Lexie Quinton, a UGA grad and former Sandy Springs resident, said she moved to Battery in October 2023 to live in the heart of Braves Country and have an easier commute to work.
“I’m a huge Braves fan and so is my family,” she said. “Of course, nothing beats watching the Braves in the stadium, but The Battery is just a great atmosphere, even if you’re not going to a game. It’s almost impossible to get bored here.”
‘Double-edged sword’
While Battery life has its perks, residents say there are some drawbacks to calling the district home. For Marley and Zane, who have spent the duration of their 20s living in vibrant community hubs, the hustle and bustle is starting to get old.
“Zane and I are in the phase of life right now where we’re sort of ready to settle down into a quiet house,” Marley explained. “It’s a double-edged sword because you get the bustle when you want it, but it’s also there when you’re trying to relax.”
Traffic in the district is another common factor expressed among Battery residents.
“Traffic, obviously, really depends on the day and if (the Braves) are home or away,” Ballas said. “If you’re trying to leave the Battery on a weekday after a game, you’re looking at around 20 minutes. Now if it’s a weekend game, don’t even try.”
“If there’s a game, I can expect to wait 45 minutes to an hour after I arrive at Cumberland Boulevard just to get home,” Marley said. “Then if we ever want to have friends over and realize there’s a game, we say ‘Well, guess we can’t have friends over.’”
For Quinton, she says the only caveat of living at The Battery is the lack of guest parking, particularly when there’s home games or concerts at Coca-Cola Roxy.
“Guest Parking is really the only downside I can think of,” Quinton said. “But other than that, I love it here and definitely plan to stay a while.”
THE MOST IMPRESSIVE LISTING
IN COBB COUNTY
OUR TOP PRODUCERS
Top row: Becky Branan • Kathy Brock • Darryl Carlbom • Kyle Duncan • Helen Durrence
Tanya Ess-Young Second row: Zach Fox • Ali Herring • Gail Holman • David Holmes • Fitz Johnson
Third row: Lindsey Kent • Shelia Marshall • Tania May • Cathy Meder • Margie Medlin • Kristi Navarre
Fourth row: Kevin Neel • Jeff Nowlin • Robert Quigley • Luis Ramirez • Joyce Wahrer
We are constantly growing our team. Check our web site for complete listing of agents.
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WENDY BUNCH Broker/Owner
