Crime Blotter: East Cobb man charged with Kennestone threats

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An East Cobb resident is in custody after threatening a police officer while being treated at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, according to an arrest warrant.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

The warrant for John Edward Sneed, 55, of Robinson Road, said that he told a Marietta Police officer who was trying to move him on a hospital bed that “take these things off and I will beat you to death” and “I’ll shoot you dead. Next time I see you, you’re all dead, ” as well as “I’m not homicidal, except for you two.”

The incident occurred last Wednesday, Aug. 19, shortly after Sneed threatened another man with “bodily harm with a liquor bottle” during a separate incident at a home off Davis Road in East Cobb, according to the warrant.

Sneed has been charged with felony counts of making terroristic threats and obstruction and a misdemeanor count of simple assault.

According to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office, he was booked on Aug. 20 and remains at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on a $11,220 bond.

The warrant did not indicate why Sneed was receiving medical attention.

Drug arrest on Keheley Road

A man charged with five felony drug counts during an attempted narcotics transaction in Northeast Cobb is being held without bond at the Cobb County jail, according to his booking report.

Lydell McGee, 64, of a Trickum Road address, was arrested on Sunday after trying to sell several kinds of substances at a house on Keheley Road earlier last week.

He is facing charges of intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, levorphanal tartrate and hyrdocordone, according to an arrest warrant.

The warrant states that on Wednesday, Aug. 19, McGee was at a home in the 4000 block of Keheley Road and tried to sell six small bags on meth, two bags of cocaine, a bag with levorphanal tartrate, an opioid, and other pills and substances.

The warrant also states that $654.97 in small bills were found in one of the bags.

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Cobb Chamber names KSU president as 2028 board chairwoman

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Cobb Chamber names KSU president as 2028 board chairwoman
(L-R): Sharon Mason, President & CEO of the Cobb Chamber, Pete Quinones, 2027 Cobb Chamber Chairman, Dr. Kat Schwaig, 2028 Cobb Chamber Chairwoman, and Melissa Cantrell, 2026 Cobb Chamber Chairwoman.

Submitted information and photo:

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors has named Kathy “Kat” S. Schwaig, President of Kennesaw State University, as its 2028 Chairwoman of the Board.

Schwaig will succeed Pete Quinones, CEO of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Inc., who begins his term as Chairman of the Board in 2027. Schwaig will start her term as Board Chairwoman in January 2028 and will serve as Board Chair-Elect in 2027.

“The Cobb Chamber plays a vital role in bringing together business, education, and community leaders to strengthen our region,” Schwaig said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to working alongside the Chamber’s outstanding Board, leadership, members, and partners to build on its strong foundation and create even greater opportunities for Cobb County.”

Schwaig’s ties to Kennesaw State span more than two decades of service, with a career path that has carried her from dean to provost and now to president — a role she has held since 2022 after first serving as interim president in 2021. She previously served as dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business from 2012-19 and as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs from 2019-2021, facilitating KSU’s transition to a Carnegie-designated R2 doctoral research institution and placing it among an elite group of U.S. colleges and universities.

Today, Schwaig leads one of Georgia’s largest public universities, serving more than 50,000 students. Under her leadership, KSU launched the Taking Flight strategic plan and the FLIGHT student success program, introduced more than 50 new academic offerings, and invested significantly in academic and research infrastructure, including the state-of-the-art Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center. Since 2022, KSU has nearly tripled its research expenditures and, in 2026, became a member of the Georgia Research Alliance. In athletics, Schwaig led the Owls’ transition to Conference USA in 2024, with KSU earning five conference championships to date. She also guided Kennesaw State through the public phase of The Campaign for KSU, the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which surpassed its $200 million goal and secured the largest single gift in KSU history.

Schwaig is a longtime member and community partner of the Cobb Chamber and SelectCobb. She has served on the Chamber’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and SelectCobb Board since 2022. She chaired SelectCobb from 2024-25, served on the Cobb Chamber/SelectCobb Strategic Plan Task Force in 2022, participated in the Chamber’s Washington, D.C., Fly-In, and has been an active member of the Chairman’s Circle. She also led Kennesaw State’s relaunch of HatchBridge Incubator, in close partnership with the Cobb Chamber. HatchBridge has helped more than 290 startups raise over $37.4 million in follow on funding since 2023. Schwaig was a member of the 2013 Honorary Commanders class and previously served as a mentor in the Chamber’s mentoring program.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and previously served on boards for the Cobb Community Foundation, Mount Paran Christian School, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Cobb County, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Engage Scholarship Consortium, and the Alliance for Children Everywhere.

Schwaig was named to Georgia Trend magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians list in 2025 and 2026 and was recognized among Atlanta magazine’s Atlanta 500 in 2026. Her honors also include the Town Center Community Citizen of the Year Award in 2025, the Cobb Chamber’s Mack Henderson Public Service Award in 2023, Atlanta magazine’s Women Making a Mark Award in 2015, the Oscar Burnett Award of Distinguished Achievement in Business from the Morris Brown College Foundation in 2013, and the Cobb Executive Women’s Glass Ceiling Award in 2013.

A native of central Texas, Schwaig holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA in Information Systems from Baylor University, a Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of South Carolina.

“Kat has been an extraordinary partner to the Cobb Chamber and a respected leader in our community for decades,” said Sharon Mason, President and CEO of the Cobb Chamber. “Her vision, collaborative leadership, and deep commitment to workforce and economic development, innovation, partnerships and entrepreneurship make her exceptionally well suited to lead our Board. I look forward to working alongside her as we continue to strengthen our community together.”

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Ga. Secretary of State to hold small business seminar at KSU

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Submitted information:Ga. Secretary of State to hold small business seminar at KSU

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is excited to announce FIN FIT (Financially Fit) “Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business” event, which will be held on Monday, September 14, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm at KSU Center-Room 400, Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Secretary of State’s Office is proud to partner with Kennesaw State University – Coles College of Business, Cobb Chamber, and UGA SBDC at Kennesaw State University for this small business event.

This event is free and open to all Georgians. A free continental breakfast and workbook are included with registration. This event is for educational purposes only; no products or services will be sold.

Starting a business and making it profitable is challenging. Secretary Raffensperger is dedicated to empowering Georgians to acquire the skills needed to start and grow their businesses.

Join us for a powerful event designed to equip participants with real-world insight and actionable tools.

  • Panel Discussion with insights and resources to grow and sustain a small business.

  • Hands-On Learning Lab to help sharpen participants’ strategy and move their business forward. Participants will learn about the Invest Georgia Exemption (IGE), a powerful tool for Georgians looking to raise capital to fund their new venture or grow their already thriving business.

  • Network with fellow entrepreneurs, community leaders, and growth-minded professionals.

“Starting and growing a small business takes more than a great idea; it takes knowledge, preparation, and access to the right resources,” said Secretary Raffensperger. “This event will give Georgia entrepreneurs the practical tools necessary to raise capital, grow their business, and turn their goals into a reality.”

The first part of the event will be a panel discussion moderated by Donna Lowry, award-winning journalist. Panelists will include Antonio Barrios, Senior Business Consultant, UGA SBDC at Kennesaw State University; Marguerite Pressley Davis, Growth-Stage CFO | Angel Investor, Founder, Finance Savvy CEO®; Nickolas (Nick) Downey, Founder and CEO of MerchLogix, Inc., Angel Investor; Jeanne’ Mack, Vice President, Small Business Banker, SouthState Bank; and Carrie Roeger, CEO, Rally Point Grille Franchising.

The second part of the event will be a hands-on learning lab, with a free workbook for each attendee, led by Marguerite Pressley Davis, Founder & CEO of Finance Savvy CEO®, Angel Investor & Small Business Advisor.

FIN FIT is a financial empowerment seminar series hosted by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as part of his multi-faceted financial literacy effort and is administered through the Securities and Charities divisions of the Office of the Secretary of State. These free programs feature industry leaders who discuss resources to help attendees increase their knowledge of money, their relationship to it, and financial issues and strategies for growing their wealth.

The office of the Secretary of State invites all Georgians to attend these free, informative events.

To register for this free event, click here.

To learn more about FIN FIT, click here.

To review and download our free financial resources, click here.

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East Cobb Real Estate: Forest Brook home sells for $540K

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Forest Brook, East Cobb real estate sales

This week’s featured real estate home sale is in the Forest Brook subdivision, in the Walton High School, Dickerson Middle School and Mt. Bethel Elementary School attendance zones.

It has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and includes 2,587 square feet on 0.46 acres, and sold for $540,000 on Aug. 11, 2026.

Click on the middle button below to see more photos.

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The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from Aug. 10-14, 2026 were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

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

Kell

None

Lassiter

3583 Lassiter Road, 30062: $470,000

3390 Woodrun Trail, 30062 (Country Woods): $345,000

2407 Woodbridge Drive, 30066 (Cambridge Forest): $490,000

2970 Forest Chase Terrace, 30066 (Forest Chase): $415,000

4499 Browning Court, 30066 (Winchester Manor): $345,000

3069 Hillside Trail, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $780,000

Marietta

1539 Summer Song Drive, 30067 (Townes at Marietta): $424,900

1212 Baker Lane, 30062 (Bonnie Dell): $331,500

1487 Brentwood Drive, 30062 (Brentwood): $540,000

1462 Gateview Circle, 30062 (Stonegate at East Worthington): $500,000

Pope

4197 Chadds Crossing, 30062 (Chadds Ford):$610,500

3420 Winter Wood Court, 30062 (Country Crossing): $415,000

3916 Brintons Mill, 30062 (Chadds Ford): $700,000

3109 Hudson Pond Lane, 30062 (Hudson Pond): $1.35 million

2771 Interlaken Drive, 30062 (Alpine Lakes): $690,000

3042 Pathview Lane, 30062 (Wendwood): $510,000

3515 Creek Court, 30062 (Hickory Bluff): $625,000

Sprayberry

1182 Broward Drive, 30066 (Broward Place): $353,000

2693 Piedmont Oak Drive, 30066 (Oaks on Piedmont): $405,000

1658 Whitlock Road, 30066: $415,000

Walton

3948 Cliffmont Circle, 30068 (Fairvue at Indian Hills): $739,900

1463 Hembree Station Drive, 30062 (Hembree Station): $255,000

4571 Rutherford Drive, 30062 (East Hampton): $955,000

1280 Partridge Way, 30062 (Providence Corners): $630,000

1189 Forest Brook Court, 30068 (Forest Brook): $540,000

562 Pine Valley Road, 30067 (The Columns): $815,000

2426 St. Croix Circle, 30062 (North Forest): $729,000

746 Hillwood Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $782,000

903 Banford Court, 30068 (Hampton Woods): $955,000

3626 Oxford Trace, 30062 (Princeton West): $810,000

4748 Karls Gate Drive, 30068 (Princeton Lakes): $915,000

Wheeler

1781 Millview Drive, 30068 (Barnes Mill Lake): $315,000

2165 Lower Roswell Road, 30068 (Pioneer Woods): $525,000

3500 Oak Knoll Drive, 30068 (Heritage Woods): $560,000

802 Ivy Green Lane, 30067 (Powers Ferry Green): $248,000

3365 Turtle Lake Drive, 30067 (Somerset): $620,000

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Editor’s Note: Support paywall-free, community-driven news!

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The Avenue East Cobb mural

At East Cobb News, we’re all about scaling walls.

The walls that have gone up in recent years between communities and local news that serves a vital function for them is the primary reason we started this venture, back in the summer of 2017.

We’ve found that when all citizens of a community—regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background or political views—have access to the same supply of local news, that community stands to benefit.

That’s why we founded East Cobb News without a paywall, and invited readers to contribute their news items.

It’s been a big undertaking, not just to scale those walls, but ideally to knock them down.

Please help us keep local news free.

But since we launched, our hunch has paid off. Readers appreciate getting their local news as it happens, and how they like it—directly from our website, or social media channels, or newsletter. Or a combination.

They also love sending us news to share with the community. Earlier this week, we announced an even easier way to do that. It’s called Partyline, and with just a few clicks you can send us your photos, videos and news, and we’ll publish them for all to enjoy.

We also appreciate the financial support we get from readers, so we can keep this community news and information resource free to all who read it.

But East Cobb News also is a local small business, and we have bills to pay that are increasing. We don’t have any plans to put up a paywall, but we do ask readers that if they value what they get from East Cobb News, to consider making a voluntary donation.

We’re suggesting $6 a month on a recurring basis, but you can donate what you like, when you like—monthly, annual or on a one-time basis.

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Your donation—continued or new—will help keep East Cobb News strong, free and independent for years to come.

We have been publishing non-stop since we got this thing going more than nine years ago, more than 7,000 posts in all,

We intend on keeping it that way, and to keep publishing indefinitely into the future.

For just a few dollars a month, your support will help sustain local journalism—right here in East Cobb.

Click the box below to indicate your donation amount today.

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Cobb Police: Motorist killed in crash at I-75 and I-575

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Cobb Police said that a man was killed early Saturday morning in a crash at Interstate 75 and Interstate 575.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Sgt. Eric Smith said that Casey Price, 26, of Cartersville, was pronounced dead on the scene after his vehicle slammed into a parked tractor-trailer at around 3:23 a.m.

Smith said that Price’s gray 2024 Mazda CX-30 was traveling northbound in the right lane of I-75 when it left that lane and headed into the gore separating I-75 and I-575.

The Mazda then crashed into a red 2022 Freightliner tractor belonging to Lee Roy Morris (60, Killeen, Texas) that was parked in the gore, according to police.

Police said that Morris was not injured in the crash, and that Price’s next of kin has been notified.

Smith said the crash investigation continues, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department STEP Unit at (770) 499-3987.

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‘Popefest’ celebrates 40 years of Pope HS with high-energy vibe

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'Popefest' celebrates 40 years of Pope HS with high-energy vibe
Photos from Cobb County School District

The 40th anniversary of Pope High School echoed back to the time of the school’s founding in the mid-1980s but trotted out a contemporary level of energy.

At Matt Hobby Field last weekend, “Popefest” featured more than six hours of live music, food, an artisan market, family activities and fireworks.

The bands featured local talent from around the Cobb area, and one was made up of teachers, according to the Cobb County School District.

In a district release, Pope social media coordinator Hayden Fraker said that “I have worked here for 10 years, and this is the first thing we’ve ever done like this to this large of a scale. We have different theme nights and invite people back for different sporting events, but nothing to this extent of having just the huge stage and just really incorporating every aspect of the community and what we’re doing.”

The event also benefitted one of the Cobb County School District’s key partners, the American Heart Association. A portion of the proceeds from Popefest were donated to the AHA, which last month was the recipient of a $1 million donation from the Kids Heart Challenge, an initiative of the Cobb school district.

At the end of the night, Popefest attendees were treated to a fireworks show from Pyrotechnics, which recently staged fireworks in Washington for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

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Ragsdale and critics clash again over books, cultural issues

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Chris Ragsdale said at a back-to school rally for teachers and staff that there are those “who think that we are doing the wrong thing by removing inappropriate sexually explicit materials who have chosen to run for the Board of Education.”

Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale has repeatedly defended decisions to remove sexually explicit books and other materials for the last few years, without reservation.

That includes remarks he made recently at a kickoff rally for teachers and staff  in which he referenced a pivotal race for the Cobb Board of Education in November with party control at stake—Post 4 in Northeast Cobb.

He tied the introduction of sexually explicit materials to young people with sex trafficking, and pushed back against critics who have accused the district of imposing book bans.

“What’s even more disturbing is that the environment that I just described—there are some of those very people who think that we are doing the wrong thing by removing these inappropriate sexually explicit materials who have chosen to run for the Board of Education,” Ragsdale said at the kickoff, which took place at Harrison High School.

“Make no mistake about it. It’s about the protection and safety of kids. Nothing having to do with politics. There is no room for disagreeing with what we’re doing. Somebody that disagrees with it has no business in education or anywhere around education, where there is responsibility of kids.”

Ragsdale didn’t mention anyone by name, but the Post 4 challenger Micheal Garza, a Democrat, came out swinging in response earlier this week.

He called Ragsdale’s speech a “tirade” that “was not only appalling in its content, but even more so in that he felt like this is what teachers needed to hear days before their first day of classes. Our teachers deserve a leader who doesn’t question their integrity because they don’t agree with the decisions he makes.”

Garza—who is trying to unseat Post 4 three-term Republican incumbent David Chastain—didn’t get much support when he posted those comments last weekend on his campaign’s Facebook page.

“Was his speech long winded? Yes. Should he have brought up politics? No. Is he perfect? No,” wrote a commenter who has been a Cobb teacher for 15 years. “But he has done an amazing job as superintendent. I feel supported with staff, supplies, trainings as well as the the money I am making.”

Another said that “I thank the good Lord for Ragsdale, who has the courage to stand against the forces that are eager to corrupt other people’s children. We must re-elect David Chastain. Sorry Garza, you are so wrong on this issue.”

After a contentious meeting in July in which some citizens complained of President Trump’s rally at Wheeler High School, tensions rose even higher Thursday during public comment at the Cobb Board of Education.

Ragsdale’s critics came out in strong force. Some read from social media comments from anonymous staff and teachers, or spoke on behalf of them “because they don’t feel safe speaking up for themselves.”

One of them is Katie Hearn, the mother of Hillgrove High School graduates, who told the board that “teachers are disheartened, and stunned by their superintendent’s lack of professionalism and leadership.”

She read from a comment from an unidentified teacher/staffer who claimed that Ragsdale’s “condescending remarks about a school board candidate” were “a conflict of interest in a speech meant to be inspirational.”

Laura Judge of East Cobb, who ran as a Democrat in 2024 for Post 5, told the board that “when taxpayer-funded events leave staff questioning the person leading them, our board should pay attention.”

At a Thursday night school board meeting, Ragsdale didn’t back down, repeating his comments about the need to purge sexually explicit materials.

He also said that “contrary to what it is now being suggested by some political campaigns, we do not fire educators simply because they read books to children.”

That was a swipe at Garza, who has been critical of the district’s decision to terminate former Due West Elementary School teacher Katie Rinderle in 2023.

She was the subject of a parental complaint for reading a book to her fifth-grade class about gender identity.

Ragsdale said she was fired “for making a decision for parents and intentionally elementary-age students to content with which which some families might disgree,” among other reasons.

He would up his comments by insisting that “I shall not be moved” and that “sexually explicit materials in schools is not a political issue, it is a student safety and protection issue.”

The district highlighted that comment in a release distributed after the meeting, as well as a statement from Chastain, the current school board vice chairman, that “we choose what’s best to nurture a young mind and to nurture a young heart.

“So yes, certain books are not permitted in the Cobb County School District, and that is because we’re thinking about protecting children.”

Chastain made similar remarks on Monday at a campaign fundraiser that included U.S. Rep. Clay Fuller, who told an audience at the Governor’s Gun Club that the school board race in Post 4 was “a fight of good vs. evil.”

At that event, Chastain touted Cobb as the “the largest conservative school district” on the country. “Family values and conservative principles are what guide us. This election is about maintaining that stability . . . that is how we ensure that students have a learning environment that is free from distraction.”

But on Thursday Garza noted that Ragsdale spoke about sexually explicit materials for 14 minutes during the school board meeting and only a few seconds about an incident at Campbell Middle School in which a student was found with a gun.

(Ragsdale said he couldn’t say much because of an ongoing “multi-state investigation” and that the student in question is in custody “and will face the full consequences.”)

Garza countered that “our students don’t need to be protected from books. They need to be protected from the growing epidemic of gun violence in our schools and communities. Our families are worried about it. Our teachers are worried about it.

“Those are the conversations that we should be having. But we’re not having them because of this board—a board that fails to hold our Superintendent and district accountable. We can change that with one single race in November.”

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East Cobb Food Scores: Winston’s; Cositas Rican; more

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East Cobb Food Scores, Winston's Food and Spirits

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

Chick-fil-A Sprayberry
2530 Sandy Plains Road
Aug. 11, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square
1201 Johnson Ferry Road
Aug. 12, 2026, Score: 95, Grade: A

Cositas Rican Colombian Restaurant
2418 Canton Road
Aug. 20, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Los Gueros Taqueria
2200 Roswell Road, Suite 160-170
Aug. 17, 2026, Score: 91, Grade: A

McDonald’s
4819 Lower Roswell Road
Aug. 20, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Taichi Bubble Tea
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2148
Aug. 18, 2026, Score: 87, Grade: B

Winston’s Food and Spirits
1860 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 101
Aug. 19, 2026, Score: 89, Grade: B

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2026 Cobb property tax bills mailed; payments due Oct. 15

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2026 Cobb property tax bills mailed; payments due Oct. 15

Submitted information:

Cobb County Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson announced Tuesday that 2026 property tax bills have been issued following the review and approval of the county’s tax digest by the Georgia Department of Revenue. Payments are due October 15, 2026, and must be received by the Tax Commissioner’s Office or USPS postmarked by the due date to be considered on time.

“Our goal is to make sure taxpayers have the information and resources they need to understand their bills and convenient payment options,” said Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson. “We are grateful for the collaboration among the Cobb County Tax Assessors, Information Technology Services, Finance, Clerk, and Tax Commissioner offices.”

A total of 270,574 tax bills representing $1,363,609,369 were calculated for 2026. This includes 256,894 real property bills totaling $1,268,654,750 and 13,680 personal property bills totaling $94,954,619. For 2026, Cobb County property owners should be aware of two important tax-related updates. First, the State of Georgia has applied the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant (HTRG), providing property tax relief to qualifying homeowners. This is separate from other homestead exemptions and is reflected as a reduction on eligible property tax bills. Second, property owners who receive a homestead exemption for which they are no longer eligible are required to notify the Tax Commissioner’s Office. Individuals who fail to report their ineligibility may be subject to a penalty. You may check your exemptions on your tax bills at cobbtax.gov.

The Tax Commissioner’s Office bills and collects property taxes for the Cobb County Board of Commissioners and the Cobb County School District. The seven cities of Cobb bill and collect their own property taxes. The chart below details the 2026 property taxes for Cobb County’s billing and collection authorities

Payments

Payments are accepted online, by phone, mail, or in person, and processing fees may apply. Make checks or money orders payable to Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office. The following payment options are available for your convenience:

  • Online at cobbtax.gov via e-Check, debit/credit card, or digital wallet

  • Phone automated system at 1-866-535-COBB (1-866-535-2622)

  • Mail to Cobb County Tax Commissioner, PO Box 100127, Marietta, GA 30061

  • Visit any one of our locations to make payments in person or in drop boxes:

    • 736 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta (drop box available)

    • 4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta (drop box available)

    • 4700 Austell Road, Austell (drop box available)

    • 2932 Canton Road, Marietta (drop box available)

    • 3858 Kemp Ridge Road, Acworth

Taxpayers enrolled in e-alerts will receive official communication from the Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office from [email protected] for emails and 678-244-0361 for text messages.

Questions

For questions or assistance, email [email protected] or call 770-528-8600. You may also visit the Understanding Your Tax Bill section at cobbtax.gov for a detailed explanation of the 2026 tax bills.

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East Cobb high schools stand out in U.S. News rankings

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Lassiter High School graduation rate

Walton High School and Lassiter High School in East Cobb are ranked among the top public high schools in Georgia by U.S. News.

The long-standing news organization’s annual Best High Schools were released earlier this week, and Walton was ranked No. 11 in the state and Lassiter came in at No. 12.

Nationally, their ratings were No. 375 and No. 436, respectively, among more than 27,000 public high schools that were evaluated.

Walton also was ranked No. 77 nationlly among charter schools and Wheeler High School was ranked No. 46 across the country in a listing of top STEM high schools.

Here’s how those ratings are compiled, per the U.S. News release announcing the listings:

“The 2026-2027 Best High Schools national rankings identify top public schools based on six key performance indicators, including student achievement on state-required assessments, strong graduation rates and college readiness measures. Schools are evaluated on how effectively they serve all students, including underserved populations, with college readiness specifically measured through student participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams. The rankings consider curriculum breadth and overall student outcomes as well.”

The Georgia rankings include 522 schools and are led by the Gwinnett school of Mathematics, Science and Technology, which is at No. 7 nationally.  Most of the state Top 10 are specialty magnet or charter schools in metro Atlanta.

Among the other East Cobb high schools, Pope is ranked No. 25 in Georgia and No. 823 across the country, followed by Wheeler at No. 54 and No. 1,859 respectively, Sprayberry (89 and 2,991) and Kell (92, 3,197).

In the Cobb County School District, Kennesaw Mountain, Hillgrove and Harrison followed Walton, Lassiter and Pope, and Wheeler came in at No. 7.

We’ve posted links to the rankings by creating a required free account; if you cannot access those links on this post let us know and we’ll try to get the information you’re looking for.

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Great Southeast Pollinator Census takes place Friday

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Submitted information:McFarlane Nature Park preps for Great SE Pollinator Census

What’s buzzing in Cobb County? On August 21 and 22, you can help find out!

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a University of Georgia citizen-science project, invites people of all ages to spend just 15 minutes counting pollinators. You don’t need to be a scientist or an insect expert. With a simple identification guide, you’ll count the insects visiting a flowering plant and record what you see. Your observations become part of a growing regional database that helps researchers and communities better understand and protect our pollinators.

And you can participate with Master Gardeners right here in Cobb County!

On August 21, join us at the Wright Environmental Education Center or the North Marietta Neighborhood Community Garden. Then, on August 22, you can participate at either the Cobb County Extension Office Living Classroom Garden or Green Meadows Preserve.

Last year, Georgians submitted more than 13,000 pollinator counts, contributing to one of the largest regional citizen-science projects focused on pollinators.

So grab your family, bring a friend, and spend 15 minutes discovering the fascinating world of bees, butterflies, flies, wasps, and other garden visitors. Every count matters—and every person who participates helps Cobb grow together!

Grab your family, friends, or fellow gardeners and come count with us! Every observation helps Cobb grow together.

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Keep Cobb Beautiful starts alkaline battery dropoff program

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East Cobb Library replacement proposed on 2028 SPLOST list

Submitted information:

Keep Cobb Beautiful and the Cobb County Public Library are launching a new sustainability initiative to keep hazardous household waste out of landfills. Residents can drop off used alkaline batteries for recycling at seven designated library branches across the county:

  • East Cobb: 4880 Lower Roswell Rd Ste 510-B, Marietta
  • Mountain View Regional Library: 3320 Sandy Plains Rd, Marietta
  • North Cobb Regional: 3535 Old 41 Hwy NW, Kennesaw
  • South Cobb Regional: 805 Clay Rd, Mableton
  • Sweetwater Valley: 5000 Austell Powder Springs Rd #100, Austell
  • Switzer: 266 Roswell St NE, Marietta, GA 30060
  • West Cobb Regional: 1750 Dennis Kemp Ln NW, Kennesaw

Through a partnership with recycling innovator TerraCycle, specialized battery collection buckets will be stationed behind service desks of select high-traffic library locations. This initiative addresses a critical gap in local waste management, as alkaline batteries are frequently discarded in regular household trash.

Batteries thrown away in household trash pose a fire hazard, putting residents and sanitation workers at risk. While there are other free recycling drop-off options for other battery types like lithium-ion and lead-acid, finding places to take alkaline batteries is a challenge in our area. This program gives residents a convenient, free way to safely dispose of batteries and support Cobb’s long-term environmental sustainability and safety goals.

The program accepts standard household alkaline batteries, including AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V at the circulation desks of participating library branches. Library staff will ensure safety by making sure all terminals of batteries are taped before placing them in collection buckets.

The battery recycling program began August 17, 2026. 

 

 

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East Cobb Waffle House serving up tacos for a limited time

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East Cobb Waffle House serving up tacos for a limited time

Waffle House is mixing up its menu in a novel way, and one of its restaurants in East Cobb is part of the experiment.

The Atlanta-based Southern 24/7 chain announced Wednesday that it’s offering seven kinds of breakfast, lunch-dinner tacos at 45 select locations in metro Atlanta.

One of them is the Waffle House at 621 Johnson Ferry Road, across from Parkaire Landing Shopping Center.

According to the location’s menu, the breakfast taco options are bacon, egg and cheese; chicken sausage, egg and cheese; sausage, egg and cheese; and ham, egg and cheese.

Customers can order chicken melt; patty melt; and cheesesteak melt tacos on the lunch-dinner menu, all served with onions.

Like everything else on the Waffle House menu, all varieties of the tacos—served in flour tortillas—can be ordered at anytime of the day.

Waffle House has over the years tried or added items to its traditional menu, including protein bowls that are standard at most locations.

Waffle House hasn’t indicated how long the taco test run will last.

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A new orthopedic option for East Cobb—no appointment needed

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A new orthopedic option for East Cobb—no appointment needed

Please Note: This is a paid advertisement.

There is a resource on Bells Ferry Road that a lot of East Cobb families still drive right past. OS1 Orthopedic & Sports Injury Clinic is a walk-in orthopedic clinic, about fifteen minutes from most of East Cobb, and it fills a gap this side of the county has lived with for years: somewhere to take a hurt knee that is not a three-week wait for an orthopedic office or an afternoon in the emergency room.

There are two kinds of orthopedic patients around here. The one who rolled an ankle Friday night, and the one who has been saying the shoulder is fine since March. OS1 treats both, and you do not need an appointment to be either one.

What comes through the door

Sprains and strains. Broken bones. Knee, shoulder, hip and back pain. Foot and ankle injuries. Wrist and hand injuries. Sports injuries. Arthritis. Tendon problems like tennis elbow. And the everyday wear and tear that shows up somewhere around the fortieth birthday and never quite leaves. Patients age two and up. Sports physicals are $25.

You can just walk in

No appointment, ever. No referral needed on most insurance plans. Walk in hurting, see an orthopedic provider the same day, and leave with a diagnosis and a plan, not a triage note and a phone number for somebody else. Doors are open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pain that has been hanging around

The injuries are the obvious cases. The bigger group is quieter. The knee that complains on the stairs. The hip that has stopped tolerating a walk. The elbow that has outlasted two tennis seasons. Arthritis slowly shrinking the list of things you are willing to do on a Saturday.

That is treatable, and it does not start with surgery. OS1 does joint injections, ultrasound-guided injections placed exactly where the problem is, PRP and regenerative options for the right candidates, bracing, casting, fracture care, and a real return-to-activity plan. Ultrasound-guided injections and non-surgical treatment are Dr. Andrew Alexander’s specialty. He trained in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic, completed a sports medicine fellowship at Emory, and has covered professional and high school teams. PRP and regenerative treatments are cash-pay, and you get the price before anything is done.

X-ray and an open MRI, same building

Most people get sent somewhere else for imaging. Different building, another appointment, another week, then a second visit to hear what the pictures showed. At OS1 the X-ray room and the MRI suite are down the hall, and the provider who examined you is the one who orders the scan and goes over it with you.

The MRI is open design, not a tunnel. No sliding into a narrow tube, no long stretch of trying not to panic, which matters to anyone claustrophobic, anyone larger framed, and any parent who has tried to get a nervous fourteen year old to hold still. For anyone paying cash it is a flat published rate of $475, a number most places will not say out loud.

On the sideline in Cobb

OS1 is a partner of North Cobb Warriors football, sponsors the Injury Timeout on the Warrior Radio Network at every game home and away, and runs K-8 physical days for local teams. It is also the preferred orthopedic and injury clinic for USA Prime Atlanta, the travel baseball program running more than thirty teams out of Titan Sports Academy. When a coach or an athletic trainer needs a kid looked at fast, this is the number they call.

And the bill

Most major insurance is accepted, and an orthopedic visit generally lands in the usual specialist copay range. Self-pay patients get flat published cash rates for the visit, the X-ray and the MRI, so nobody learns the price three weeks later in an envelope.

Walk in. Get answers. Get back to it. The clinic puts it in two words: Better. Sooner.

OS1 Orthopedic & Sports Injury Clinic
4300 Bells Ferry Road NW
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Last patient accepted at 5:15 p.m.
(470) 790-0725
bettersooner.com/kennesaw

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Letter to the Editor: Drag queen author’s book in Reading Bowl

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The following letter was submitted by Wes Jackson, a Cobb County School District parent, to the Cobb Board of Education and Superintendent, and also was sent to East Cobb News and other media outlets. Jackson has children attending Dodgen Middle School and Mt. Bethel Elementary School in East Cobb.Letter to the Editor: Drag queen author’s book in Reading Bowl

Jackson is a partner with Freeman, Mathis and Gary LLP, a Cobb-based law firm which has represented the Cobb County School District on redistricting matters.

The firm also made contributions to Republican members of the Cobb school board in 2024 elections via three political action committees it controlled that the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission determined exceeded contribution limits.

Those board members—John Cristadoro, Randy Scamihorn and Brad Wheeler—returned some of those contributions after the commission determined that the PACs were bundled together from the same source. One of those entities, Business Supporting Schools Inc., was fined $5,000 for campaign finance violations.

Jackson told East Cobb News he “sent this letter solely as a concerned parent with several children in Cobb County schools. My law firm had no role in or knowledge of my letter as I was speaking only in my personal capacity. I do not do any legal work with the Cobb County School District.”

We have added a photo of the book that is the subject of the letter and related links for the public’s reference:

Dear Board Members and Superintendent Ragsdale:

I am a Cobb County resident and parent of four current Cobb County public school students. (We have one more who will start kindergarten at Mt. Bethel ES soon.)

My eldest has participated twice in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. She enjoyed it very much, and I think it is so important that we teach our children to love reading.

That being said, I recently learned that one of HRRB’s selected books for middle schoolers for the 2027 competition is “The Queen Bees of Tybee County,” by Kyle Casey Chu. Mr. Chu is a self-avowed “drag queen” and “founding member” of Drag Queen Story Hour [author’s website].

I have read his book, and it is exactly what you would expect: a narrative designed to introduce children to “drag culture.”

Respectfully, I do not believe this type of literature should be promoted through Cobb County’s extracurricular reading programs.

I have written an (admittedly long) analysis of the book, the selection process, and what it means for Cobb County families: https://sites.google.com/view/qbtc-review/home.)

I invited the HRRB president to discuss my concerns, but was unable to connect with her. I hope that each of you will give serious consideration to whether “Drag Queen Story Hour” has a place in Cobb County Schools.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my concerns with each of you further.

Thank you for your time and consideration. More importantly, thank you for the challenging task of maintaining such an excellent school system for our children. I am continually impressed with your work as a Board and our local schools.

Go Panthers and Buccaneers!

Regards,

Wes Jackson

Editor’s Note: Members of the public are welcome to send Letters to the Editor to East Cobb News on topics of interest to the community. Please e-mail [email protected]. We recommend keeping letters to around 500 words maximum. Contributions may be lightly edited for accuracy and style and to include related links.

Cobb school board to get demographic update at work session

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Cobb school board to get demographic update at work session

The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday will get an annual demographic update to be presented during its August work session.

The work session takes place starting at 3 p.m., and will be followed by an executive session and a voting session at 7 p.m.

All meetings take place in the board room of the Cobb County School District Central Office, at 514 Glover St. in Marietta. The combined agenda for the public meetings can be found at this link.

The public meetings will be streamed live and you can watch on Comcast Cable or on a livestream on the district’s Boxcast Channel.

The Cobb County School District contracts with Education Planners, a private Marietta company run by a former Cobb school superintendent, and that provides demographic updates on an annual basis.

Education Planners takes data from the Atlanta Regional Commission, Cobb building permits, live birth numbers and other sources to project long-term enrollment to help Cobb school district officials plan for school construction needs.

Last May, Education Planners founder James Wilson provided a demographic update that projected selected growth “in pockets” of the county.

Those include most school attendance zones in South Cobb, in Smyrna-Cumberland-Vinings and the Town Center-KSU area as well around Wheeler High in East Cobb, where apartments abound and many schools are well over capacity.

A figure in that presentation showing that more apartment units have been approved in Cobb County since 2006 than any other jurisdiction in metro Atlanta prompted a lengthy, sharp response from Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale, who called the numbers “more than disturbing . . . that is alarming.”

He said that an increase in this trend will “continue to have a detrimental impact on schools’ performance, whether they’re perceived or real.”

Ragsdale went on for a good while about high-density zoning and mentioned how such growth has led to split sessions. Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid invited the district to a “stakeholders” meeting during the week of high school graduations.

Last week, the Atlanta Regional Commission said that the area added more than 53,000 new residents in the last year, with only 3,600 coming to Cobb County.

At the Thursday night board meeting, a number of recognitions will involve students at schools in East Cobb.

They include the state championship baseball team from Kell, the girls state track and field champions from Pope and the girls state tennis champions from Walton, as well as individual athletes winning state championships in the spring.

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Cobb Library System fall book sale returns in October

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Weekend events, Cobb Library Book Sale

After being cancelled last year due to storage issues, the Cobb County Public Library System announced Tuesday that its fall book sale is coming back this year.

The dates are Oct. 16-18 at the familiar venue, the Cobb Civic Center, with items ranging from 10 cents to $4. The proceeds support library branches and bookmobile.

Here’s what the library system issued on Tuesday:

Shoppers can explore an extensive selection of hardcover and paperback books for all ages, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, magazines, puzzles, graphic novels, and vinyl LPs.

Note that new Opening Day Guidelines will be implemented in order to speed checkout lines, shorten wait times, and ensure fair access to high-demand items. Guidelines will be in effect Friday, Oct 16, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

  • 20-Item Checkout Limit: Shoppers may check out up to 20 items per transaction. Families shopping together may each check out 20 items, provided each individual can carry their own selections (children must be able to hold their own items to qualify). Excess items will be sent to Return Tables and will not be held.
  • Re-entry Permitted: Shoppers are welcome to return to the sales floor and check out 20 items as many times as they like.
  • No Stashing or Holding Items: Storing/saving boxed items on the floor for purchase at a later time is strictly prohibited on ALL sale days. Staff will not accept holds nor take responsibility for watching shoppers’ belongings.
  • Scanning: Electronic scanning devices are not permitted until after 1:00 PM on Friday.
  • Popular Item Limits (Per Person):
    • Puzzles: 1
    • Graphic Novels: 1
    • Manga: 1
    • Comic Books: 2
    • Vinyl LPs: 2

Event Schedule & Deals:

  • Friday, Oct. 16 & Saturday, Oct. 17 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM): Open shopping across all levels.
  • Sunday, Oct. 18 (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM) – Bring Your Own Box (BYOB) Day: Fill any box you can physically carry to your vehicle for a flat rate ($10 upper level only; $20 lower level only; $20 mixed levels).
  • Address: Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA 30060 (Free parking available).
  • Accepted Payment: Cash, check, debit, and credit (Visa and MasterCard only).

For full event details, please visit cobbcounty.gov/library or contact your local branch.

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Democratic candidates to hold East Cobb community kickoff

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Democratic candidates to hold East Cobb community kickoff
Michelle Schreiner

Two Democrats seeking to unseat long-standing Republican incumbents in East Cobb will be holding a joint community kickoff event on Thursday.

Kevin Redmon, a candidate for District 3 on the Cobb Board of Commissioners, and Michelle Schreiner, who is vying for State House Seat 45 in the Georgia General Assembly, will meet with voters Thursday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Chimney Lakes subdivision clubhouse (4350 Lake Chimney Court).

According to a release sent by Redmon’s campaign, attendees “will have the opportunity to meet both candidates, hear about their campaigns and learn about upcoming volunteer and canvassing opportunities. The campaigns will also collect school supplies for distribution in the community.”

Richardson advisor declares intent for Cobb commission campaign
Kevin Redmon

Redmon is on the November ballot against four-term Republican commissioner JoAnn Birell in Disrict 3, which includes most of East Cobb.

Schreiner is facing State Rep. Sharon Coooper, a Republican who has been in office since 1997 and is chairwoman of the House Health Committee.

Democrats are challenging Republican incumbents throughout East Cobb, which has long been a GOP stronghold.

Those races include the Cobb Board of Education and other state legislative seats.

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How Georgia Votes: Checking your voter registration status

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Submitted information:How Georgia Votes: Checking your voter registration status

The most common Election Day surprise in Georgia isn’t long lines — it’s discovering that a move, a marriage, or a simple typo left your registration out of date. This week, the League of Women Voters of Georgia’s “How Georgia Votes” series shows voters how to head that off with a two-minute check, well ahead of the October 5 registration deadline.

Every registered Georgian has a personal record on the state’s My Voter Page (mvp.sos.ga.gov), maintained by the Secretary of State’s office. Log in with your name, county, and date of birth, and you can see your registration status, your assigned polling place, a sample of the exact ballot you’ll receive, and, once voting begins, the status of any absentee ballot you request. Vote411.org, the League’s own nonpartisan voter information site, offers the same starting point, along with candidate information as it becomes available.

The check matters most for anyone whose life has changed since the last election. Moved across town or across the state, even within the same county? Your registration address needs to match where you live. Married or changed your name? The name on your registration should match the name on your photo ID. Each of these updates can be made through the same online portal or at your county registrar’s office, and each takes only minutes, provided it happens by October 5.

“I tell people to check their registration the way they’d check the batteries in a smoke detector. It takes two minutes, and you want to find out now, not the morning it matters,” said Jackie Killings, President of the League of Women Voters of Georgia. “Whether you vote in Floyd County or Fulton County, the My Voter Page shows you your own record, your own polling place, and your own ballot. It is your election, and the state has built you a window into it.”

Next week in the series: the people who run Georgia’s elections — county election directors, trained poll workers, and the neighbors who make voting work in all 159 counties.

About the League of Women Voters of Georgia

The League of Women Voters of Georgia is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League never supports or opposes candidates or political parties. Through roughly fifteen local Leagues across the state, volunteers register voters, host candidate forums, and provide trusted election information through Vote411.org.

Learn more about the League of Women Voters of Georgia at lwvga.org.  To see information about activities of the local League of Women Voters of Marietta-Cobb County, along with Cobb-specific voting and elections information, visit lwvmariettacobbga.com.

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