Cobb Police: Missing man found dead in Noonday Creek

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Cobb Police said Tuesday that a man who jumped into Noonday Creek over the Memorial Day holiday weekend has been found dead.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Sgt. Eric Smith said the body of Otoniel Cruz, 31, of Woodstock, was discovered Monday morning after an extensive search by police, Cobb Fire and the Cobb Sheriff’s Office.

Smith said that Cruz “jumped into the creek and attempted to swim across” and was reported missing.

Officers first responded at Noonday Creek (550 Shallowford Road) shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday.

That’s as heavy rains continued to pour down over Cobb and north Georgia, prompting flash flooding conditions.

Rescue crews used thermal imaging equipment, drones and other resources to search for Cruz, according to police, who said that the victim was “swept away by the current and failed to resurface.”

Smith said that an investigation is continuing and Cruz’ next of kin has been notified.

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East Cobb restaurant update: Reunion Kitchen relocating

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Reunion Kitchen and Bar opens
Reunion Kitchen and Bar opened at Market Plaza in April 2024.

A little more than two years after opening in the former Red Sky Tapas space, Reunion Kitchen and Bar said Tuesday the restaurant will be relocating

Management wrote on the Reunion Facebook page Tuesday afternoon that the decision is due to “the continued rise in rent and operating costs.”

“East Cobb has meant so much to us, and this community will always be part of the Reunion story,” the message began.

Reunion will close at the end of this week for the rest of the summer and “begin preparing for our next chapter. This is not goodbye—just a pause while we work toward reopening Reunion in our new home.”

The message didn’t indicate where the restaurant would be moving, or to say if it would remain in East Cobb, only that it wouldn’t be far away.

“We would love to see all of our amazing guests and friends one more time this week, so come enjoy dinner, cocktails, live music, and celebrate the memories we’ve created together,” the message said.

East Cobb News has left a message with Reunion co-0wner Ilene Kapper Oxman, who said in response that “I prefer not to say until the week is over” when asked about where the restaurant will be relocated. “I need to finish negotiating.”

Oxman, a former East Cobb resident, opened Reunion in April 2024 with two other partners at the Market Plaza Shopping Center (1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 16) with an upscale dinner menu and live music to try and fill the void of Red Sky, which closed in 2022.

Initially the new restaurant was to be called 1255 Social, reflecting the street address.

Oxman, who has been an owner Harry’s Pizza and Subs in Sandy Springs, said at the time the name was switched to Reunion “as a testament to the power of bringing people together. Whether it’s a gathering of family, friends, or colleagues, Reunion is the place where memories are made, and connections are forged.”

McFarlane Nature Park earns top arboretum accreditation

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McFarlane Nature Park earns top arboretum accreditation
A yellowood tree at McFarlane Nature Park

Submitted information and photo:

McFarlane Nature Park has been awarded Level 1 Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens.

The Park stands out for its tree collection which includes specimens of every Piedmont-region native tree, except two that want to grow in the mountains. Fourteen different species of Oak live at the Park, highlighting the diversity of this keystone genus that supports more other living species than any other kind of tree.
The arboretum provides an opportunity for visitors to see trees that belong in this ecoregion and which could also be planted on their own properties.

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Sprayberry graduates told: ‘Chase the dream that excites you’

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Sprayberry graduates told: 'Chase the dream that excites you'

Having a Sunday night graduation ceremony in the middle of major storm didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Sprayberry High School’s Class of 2026.

One senior even clicked his heels in mid-air after jumping with joy upon getting his diploma.

As the rain pounded the ceiling of the KSU Convocation Center, Sprayberry seniors concluded the Cobb County School District’s commencement schedule with a considerable list of accomplishments.

More than 200 of them had grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher, and 143 took part in dual enrollment programs for college credits. Nearly 200 will be heading to four-year college programs soon.

Sprayberry also had one of the single-highest GPAs in Cobb in valedictorian Payton Pace, whose 4.813 total was third in the entire school district.

Yellow Jackets athletes also stood out in the district, with 37 signing college scholarship offiers—the most of any school in the county.

“These are representative of more than trophies and titles,” principal David Church said. “They represent commitment, discipline and the courage to pursue excellence.”

But he told Sprayberry seniors that they should get accustomed to regarding their legacy, and their lives to this point, as unfinished—in a good way.

He noted that’s the theme of this year’s Sprayberry yearbook, and for a compelling reason.

“Unfinished is a great way to describe where you are right now,” he said. “It’s just the beginning of your story.

“It’s proof that your life is not something that you ever finish. It’s something that you continuously build, revise and grow into.”

Pace’s academic journey is a prime example.

Homeschooled until the sixth grade, Pace told her classmates that she came to Sprayberry as a freshman four years ago lacking confidence and doubted she could aspire to her dreams.

“But fear has a funny way of either stopping you or pushing you,” said Pace, who will be enrolling at Emory University. “And for me, it pushed. So I worked a lot.

“Success is rarely about being naturally talented. It’s about commitment. It’s about deciding what matters to you and continuing to show up for it, even when it’s difficult.”

Church said that “the most meaningful lives are not the ones that are perfectly finished. They are the ones that are courageously unfinished.”

Pace added that the only way to pursue such a life is to embark upon it without reservation.

“You have to be willing to work for the life that you want,” she said. “Chase the thing that excites you, even if it scares you. Because fear will tell you all of the reasons why you shouldn’t do something.

“But dedication proves that you can succeed.”

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Walton graduates implored: Invest in others, ‘pay it forward’

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Walton graduates implored: Invest in others, 'pay it forward'

On Sunday afternoon 631 seniors at Walton High School received their diplomas, and they were reminded of the many people who helped them get there.

Almost all of those seniors are college-bound, accounting for more than $20 million in scholarship funding outside of the HOPE program. There are 24 National Merit Scholarship finalists from Walton at a school that teachers and students alike admit poses high academic challenges—and stresses.

“You’ve come out of it with a lifetime of friendships, a strong foundation of knowledge and experiences that you’ll never be able to forget,” senior class president Abhijeet Ghosh said.

“And now for the most important part—think about everything that changes in these four years, and compare yourself from then to now.

“How has Walton shaped you?”

Ghosh said that each diploma “represents a culmination of real-world skills that are guaranteed to make everything down the road easier.”

Principal Stephanie Santoro expanded on that theme in urging Walton seniors, as they continue on with college and their adult lives, to continue to “pay it forward.”

She came to Walton as a teacher and volleyball coach in 2002, when another teacher-turned-principal, Catherine Mallanda, became her mentor.

Mallanda, a Walton graduate who for the last four years has been the Cobb County School District’s chief academic officer, attended Sunday’s graduation, just as she is set to retire.

Santoro called Mallanda “a trusted friend” in explaining that “you are where you are because people invested in you.

“Now it’s your turn. The most important investment you can make is in people.”

When those investments are made, Santoro continued, not only are the lives of others changed, but “it transforms yours and elevates everyone else.

The Class of 2026 has done some of that already, having logged more than 58,000 hours of community service in their final year of high school.

Ghosh asked his classmates to “remember the community you came from, and remember the struggles as they get harder.” After all, they’ve done it before.

“When it got hard, we didn’t give up. Keep that attitude up.”

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East Cobb Real Estate: Haven Ridge retreat sells for $655K

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East Cobb Real Estate: Haven Ridge retreat sells for $655K

This week’s featured home sale is a two-story brick retreat in the Haven Ridge subdivision, located in the Sprayberry High School, Daniell Middle School and Bells Ferry Elementary School attendance zones.

It has 5 bedrooms and 4 baths, covering 3,386 square feet. The home, which is on 0.47 acres, sold for $655,000 on May 12, 2026.

The home features an open floor space on the main living level, with a family room centered around a fireplace, connected to a dining space and kitchen with granite countertops and an oversized island. A large deck is connected at the rear, overlooking a wooded backyard.

Upstairs the primary suite has a large walk-in closet and spa-like bath with double vanities, a soaking tub and separate shower.

Three other bedrooms, a full bath and a laundry room complete the upper level.

A mostly finished basement includes a kitchenette and full bath ideal for guest suite, in-law space, home office or a studio apartment.

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The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from May 11-15, 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

1501 Olde Mill Court, 30066 (Olde Mill Ford): $430,000

4887 Willow Creek Drive, 30066 (Willow Creek): $500,000

4515 South Landing Drive, 30066 (North Landing): $300,000

1528 Forest Trace, 30066 (Jamerson Forest): $410,000

Lassiter

2644 Forest Glen Drive, 30066 (Forest Chase): $567,500

2861 Landing Drive, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): 4480,000

3002 Creekside Way, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $610,000

2936 Summitop Road, 30066 (The Summit at Sweat Mountain): $850,000

3402 Woodrun Trail, 30062 (Country Woods): $545,000

Marietta

1513 Summer Song Drive, 30067 (The Townes at Marietta):$412,000

1517 Briarfield Way, 30066 (Briarfield): $383,000

Pope

2124 Hawthorne Point, 30062 (Chadds Ford): $690,000

3298 Robinson Oaks Way, 30062 (Robinson Oaks): $805,000

3411 Winter Wood Court, 30062 (Holly Springs Crossing): $550,000

2875 Barbara Lane, 30062 (Barbara Estates): $657,000

4380 Oak Lane, 30062 (Chimney Springs): $635,000

2839 Meadow Drive, 30062 (Rising Sun): $535,000

2620 Tritt Lane, 30062: $470,000

2530 Kingsley Drive, 30062 (Newcastle): $535,1000

2532 Stockbridge Road, 30062 (Chimney Springs): $730,000

4076 Tritt Homestead Drive, 30062 (Lost Forrest): $819,000

2681 Tritt Springs Trace, 30062 (Post Oak Springs): $750,000

Sprayberry

241 Cavendar Way, 30066 (Barrett Creek Condos): $315,000

2659 Bethel Court, 30066 (Haven Pointe): $655,000

551 Duke Drive, 30066 (Kings Wood Estates): $445,000

282 Mark Avenue, 30066 (Kings Wood Estates): $400,000

2228 Concord Square, 30062 (Concord Square): 4478,000

2656 Shaw Road, 30066 (Pine Valley Farms) $445,000

832 Stansbury Drive, 30066 (Colleton Plantation): 4448,000

3790 Apple Way, 30066 (North Ridge): $525,000

Walton

5050 Meadow Lane, Unit 9, 30068 (The Meadows): $335,000

104 Lakeshore Circle, 30067 (Hidden Valley): $950,000

3781 Canvasback Court, 30062 (Providence Corners): $700,000

4436 Ivywood Drive, 30062 (Ivywood): $705,000

1772 Huntingford Drive, 30068 (Willow Point): $750,000

902 Saint Lyonn Court, 30068 (St. Lyonn): $1.8 million

2110 Old Forge Way, 30068 (Old Forge): $610,000

4832 Lake Fjord Pass, 30068 (Lake Fjord): $1.284 million

5186 Baldwin Terrace, 30068 (Baldwin Farms): $1.38 million

1362 Murdock Road, 30062 (Roswell Downs): $520,000

562 Tenby Lane, 30068 (Cobblestone Manor): $1.2 million

904 Pritchard Place, 30068 (Pinecrest): $435,000

1704 Barrington Circle, 30062 (Haverford) $1.045 million

Wheeler

3640 Rivers Call Boulevard, 30339 (Rivers Call): $1.9 million

413 Virginia Place, 30067 (Meadow Brook): $400,000

194 Pioneer Trail, 30067 (Pioneer Woods): $345,000

490 Guilford Circle, 30068 (Hanover Woods): $575,000

496 Guilford Circle, 30068 (Hanover Woods): $585,000

126 Abbington River Lane, 30339 (Abbington at Wildwood): $1.035 million

1130 Valley Ridge Court, 30067 (Millridge): $620,000

2744 Pinestream Drive, 30068 (Beverly Hills Estates): $825,000

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East Cobb restaurant update: La Madeleine cafe closes

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East Cobb restaurant update: La Madeleine cafe closes

The La Madeleine French-themed cafe at Providence Square has closed, as of Friday.

There are twin signs on the door thanking customers for their patronage but the reason for the closure wasn’t indicated.

According to the ToNeTo restaurant and retail website, this is the most recent closing for the Texas-based chain, which has more than 80 locations in the U.S.

A Sandy Springs La Madeleine location closed in January, and according to the sign posted on the door of the former East Cobb site, only two Gwinnett cafes remain in metro Atlanta.

A La Madeleine location “abruptly” closed near its home base in Fort Worth in March, according to a published report there, while another opened around the same time in the Nashville area.

The Providence Square shopping center features a number of fast-casual restaurant concepts, including the adjacent Chicken Salad Chick and nearby Einstein Bagel, as well as Salata and the newly opened Beyond Juicery and Eatery.

Another sign taped to the front window at the former La Madeleine in East Cobb says that “Everything must go. Souvenirs, antiques, picture frames. Make me an offer.”

Temporary Closure

The Chipotle Mexican Grill at Merchant’s Walk is closed temporarily. A sign at the entrance doesn’t indicate the reason or how long the closure will be in effect.

“We apologize for the inconvenience and will be up and running as soon as possible.”

Inside the premises, chairs were stacked on top of tables.

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Kell graduates asked to remember: ‘None of us got here alone’

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Kell graduates asked to remember: 'None of us got here alone'

Kell High School’s Class of 2026 walked across the stage Friday night to receive their diplomas, but school leaders encouraged them to think of the occasion as so much more than that.

This year’s seniors include 87 Presidential Scholars—students with GPAs of 3.5 or higher and ACT scores of 1100 or higher—and earned more than $8 million in college scholarship funding.

“You’re not just walking away with a diploma,” Principal Peter Giles said. “You’re carrying memories, lessons and relationships that have shaped you and in turn have shaped this school.”

Giles said he watched this year’s group from the time they were freshmen four years ago, and like all incoming high school students, was curious to see what they would make of their time at Kell.

“You didn’t just find your place, you created it.”

Among the students offering remarks was salutatorian Dylan Brostoff, who will be enrolling at the University of Georgia with plans to major in nursing.

He admitted to being one of those freshmen who wasn’t sure what to expect of high school. Like other seniors speaking at graduation ceremonies, he mentioned his classmates’ school years being interrupted by COVID, and said that the experience fostered a spirit of resilience.

Kell salutatorian Dylan Brostoff

“We have grown in ways we could never have imagined,” Brostoff said. “Our hard work and determination got us here, but none of us got here alone.”

He paid special tribute to “the teachers who genuinely cared about our success—they made the biggest impact on us.”

Kell’s seniors took active part in community service, logging in more than 3,000 hours and raising $100,000 as part of the Shop With a Longhorn program to help needy younger students enjoy their Christmas holidays.

Those will all be part of this class legacy, Giles said, and serves as an important component of their lives going forward.

He urged them to “find your why,” a purpose to fuel their aspirations, which he said are guaranteed to hit some rough spots.

“Your why keeps you going,” he said. “But your toughest challenges will give your journey its real purpose.

“Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of it. You’re being redirected, not defeated. You won’t always succeed, but you will always learn.”

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Kettle Krush 5K at Mt. Bethel raises $180K for Salvation Army

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Kettle Krush 5K at Mt. Bethel raises $1M for Salvation Army

Submitted information and photo:

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary has exceeded the $1 million milestone for dollars raised in its annual Kettle Krush 5K that it has coordinated for the last nine years. 

This milestone was achieved following the completion of SAWA’s 12th annual event – that helps The Salvation Army “krush” poverty, homelessness, and human trafficking while supporting youth enrichment and veterans – on May 16 on the campus of Mt. Bethel Church in Marietta.

“We’re so appreciative of all the support we’ve received for this event throughout the years, especially this year,” said Cheryl King, SAWA’s co-fundraising chair. “This year Mt. Bethel Church was not only the title sponsor for the seventh year but hosted our event on its campus. In addition, the Home Depot Foundation and Bay Point were two major external sponsors.”

This year’s event also had a record number of participants (880) and dollars raised ($180,000). Participants also donated food items to the Marietta Corps’ food pantry to help increase its summer food supply.

“Thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers and participants for making this year’s event so successful,” said Mary Jacobs, SAWA’s co-fundraising chair. “We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help.” 

SAWA is a Christian-centered, women’s organization that supports The Salvation Army with the Kettle Krush and other volunteer projects and programs throughout the year. For more information about membership, contact https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/metro-atlanta/womens-auxiliary or [email protected].  

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Motorist killed in I-75 crash near North Marietta Parkway

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Marietta Police said a motorist was killed early Friday when his vehicle slammed into a stopped tractor trailer on Interstate 75 near the North Marietta Parkway exit.Marietta Police

Police said that Gordon Fields, 47, of Marietta, was pronounced dead on the scene after officers responded to the crash, which took place around 1 a.m. Friday.

Fields was driving a white Volkswagen southbound in the middle lanes of I-75 at the North Marietta Parkway bridge when the vehicle crashed with a tractor tractor that had been stopped due to a previous accident, according to police.

Police said that all southbound lanes previously had been shut down due to the original crash, and that a tractor trailer, driven by Mayki Marcelin, 29, of Davenport, Fla., remained stationary after traffic began to move.

Another tractor trailer, driven by Daniel Granados, 35, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was southbound in the same lane as Marcelin’s vehicle, according to police, and that Granados swerved to avoid hitting it.

The Volkswagen driven by Fields also was in the same southbound lane, and crashed into Marcelin’s tractor trailer, police said, adding that the drivers of the tractor trailers stayed on the scene until officers arrived.

Marietta Police said they are continuing to investigate and that no charges have been filed, and asked anyone with information to Traffic Investigator Henry at 770-794-5266.

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Scouts to participate in Memorial Day events in Marietta

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Scouts to participate in Memorial Day events in Marietta

Submitted information and photos:

Members of the Scout Buglers Assembly will participate in the flag placement ceremony at Marietta National Cemetery this coming Saturday, May 23 and also Taps Across America on May 25.

To get more information or to register, use this link: Taps Across America.

The Taps Across America program takes place across the country every Memorial Day at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

That’s part of the official Marietta Memorial Day observance that begins on Monday at 12 p.m. at the Marietta National Cemetery. The event is presented by National Memorial Day Association of Georgia:

Support for this ceremony comes from individuals, veterans organizations and other patriotic groups, the local military bases, the staff of Marietta National Cemetery, local Scouts and High School JROTC and Sea Cadet Units and several interested companies, local Police, and city and county officials. Memorial Day is one of the best opportunities for all of us to express our gratitude for those who have and are serving our country and to honor their sacrifices. The Officers, Directors, and Members of the NMDA encourage as many as possible to share in this patriotic ceremony. 

The flag placements took place on Saturday, as American flags were left at every gravestone.

The guest speaker at the Memorial Day event is U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk and the honoree organization is Gold Star Families, who are the family and loved ones of fallen American military personnel.

Marietta National Cemetery is located at 500 Washington Street, near the Marietta Square.

 

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Kell and Pope baseball teams reach state championship series

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The last competitions in Georgia high school sports conclude over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and two East Cobb schools will be taking part.GHSA logo, Walton and Pope volleyball, East Cobb swimmers

The Kell and Pope baseball teams have reached the final series in the Georgia High School Association’s state tournaments.

On Saturday, the Kell Longhorns will be vying in the Class 4A finals against North Oconee in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. at AdventHealth Stadium in Rome.

Should a decisive game be needed in the best-of-three series, the final would take place at the same venue at 6 p.m. on Monday.

On Monday, the Pope Greyhounds will face Loganville in a doubleader beginning at 1 p.m. at Gwinnett Field in Lawrenceville.

Kell is 25-15 and has rebounded after going 5-7 in regional play. The Longhorns also have won five games a row in the state tournament, even after their coach, Todd Harris, was arrested on DUI charges. He has remained in the dugout since then.

Kell has swept series against East Forsyth and Cartersville to reach the finals.

Pope has been dominant in Class 5A all season, sporting a 36-2 record and 20-1 in regional play.

The Greyhounds will be taking a 25-game winning streak into the finals, as they take aim on their sixth state championship.

Pope last won a state title in 2022, and was a runner-up in 2023 and 2024.

Should the series go to a rubber match, it would be played at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, also in Lawrenceville.

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Lassiter graduates told to ‘throw yourself into that dream’

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Lassiter graduates told to 'throw yourself into that dream'

Some severe weather delayed their graduation celebration, so Lassiter High School’s Class of 2026 got to spend some extra last time together on Thursday.

The start of commencement was held up by more than an hour due to thunderstorms at the Kennesaw State University campus, pausing assembly of the 485-student senior class and movement by guests and staff outdoors and between buildings.

“Because the district does not control the venue and the facility was not designed to accommodate graduations, students and staff must stage in a separate building detached from the ceremony space due to limited capacity onsite,” the Cobb County School District told East Cobb News in a statement.

Principal Chris Richie told the graduates that “you have altered the DNA of Lassiter High School forever.”

“When weather conditions worsen, there is no protected way for students, staff, and families to move safely from one location to another, which contributed to the delay.”

Inside the KSU Convocation Center, Lassiter principal Chris Richie thanked everyone for their patience, and rattled off a long list of accomplishments for a class of which 90 percent is college-bound.

That includes four National Merit Scholarship finalists and more than $11 million in college scholarship finding, excluding the Georgia HOPE program, as well as a variety of artistic, athletic and military accomplishments.

Salutatorian Chloe Cummings said the intangibles are what makes this class special, saying their legacy will be determined not by grade-point averages and honors but “by the kind of people we’ve become.

“The world needs good people, people with compassion and discipline. . . This class is full of those kinds of people.”

Richie said as ninth graders, he “saw you as a class that was full of potential. I hoped that you’d find something to be passionate about and find the power of your voice.

“I’m proud to see that dream fulfilled.”

Taking their aspirations into the larger world was the subject of remarks by Valedictorian Evan Buchanan.

“I’ve found that the pursuit of a dream is a truly beautiful endeavor,” said Buchanan, who will be studying aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech.

Whatever you decide to do, Buchanan told his classmates, “throw yourself into that dream.”

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East Cobb Quilters’ Guild presents Georgia Celebrates Quilts

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Georgia Celebrates Quilt Show set for Cobb Civic Center

Submitted information:

The East Cobb Quilters’ Guild is proud to present Georgia Celebrates Quilts, our 20th Biennial Quilt Show and Market, June 4-6, 2026, at the Cobb County Civic Center. It is Georgia’s largest continuing juried and judged Quilt Show with over 300 quilts by artists from all over Georgia. Beautiful handmade ribbons and over $4,000 in cash prizes will be awarded by nationally certified judges. From artful wall quilts to traditional bed coverings, this show has something for everyone.

Come see the quilts, shop with the vendors, and participate in the raffles. Your interest demonstrates the powerful effect of the quilt-making arts and their ability to strengthen friendships and contribute to our community as a whole.

The purpose of Georgia Celebrates Quilts is to promote the appreciation of quilt making, to encourage excellence in quilt making, and to present the best in traditional and contemporary quilted works. The quilts in the show were entered by their makers, then selected for display by a jury, and judged for visual impact and technical skill by nationally-certified judges. The quilts on display come from all over Georgia and represent a wide range of styles, sizes, techniques and inspiration, and were made by quilters of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels. Every visitor will find quilts that speak to them.

Raffle Quilt

We are excited to present “Terrazzo” the 2026 raffle quilt made by the members of the East Cobb Quilters’ Guild. Thank you for your interest in buying tickets to win this great quilt! “Terrazzo” measures 76″ x 87.″

Proceeds from the raffle support the educational mission of the Guild, providing workshops and lectures by nationally and internationally known quilt artists. If you’re not already a member, why not check out our programs, join online and be part of the fun!

Buy Tickets

Local Vendors

One of our absolute favorite local gems is joining us at Georgia Celebrates Quilts 2026 — and we could not be more excited to welcome Stitched Gifts from right here in Marietta!
Stitched is so much more than a quilt shop — it is a boutique, class venue, fabric store, and crafting community all in one! They specialize in t-shirt quilts, memory quilts, longarm services, and custom handmade sewn gifts, and their boutique is filled with locally handmade treasures for everyone. Winner of the Best of Georgia Award!

 

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East Cobb Food Scores: Moxie Burger; Timeless Kitchen; more

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Moxie Burger Moxie Taco close COVID

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

876 NyamMinz Jamaican Cuisine
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 106
May 5, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Euro ATL
1265 Powers Ferry Road
May 19, 2026, Score: 96, Grade: A

Jimmy John’s
1337 Powers Ferry Road
May 15, 2026, Score: 81, Grade: B

Moxie Burger
255 Village Parkway, Suite 110
May 18, 2026, Score: 88, Grade: B

Taco Bell
4720 Alabama Road
May 11, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Timeless Kitchen and Cocktails
2769 Delk Road
May 19, 2026, Score: 92, Grade: A

Touchdown Wings
2856 Delk Road, Suite 301
May 13, Score: 98, Grade: A

Zaxby’s
2981 Delk Road
May 12, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

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Gritters Library to offer free summer meals for children

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Gritters Library to offer free summer meals for children

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Breakfast and lunch meals will be served to children free of charge weekdays in June and July inside three Cobb County public libraries.

Nutritious meals will be provided by Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program, through the local partnership of Cobb County Public Library (CCPL) and Georgia Educational Resources Inc. (GERI). Happy Helpings is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

The meals will be offered June 1 through July 24 three days per week on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No meals will be served Friday, June 19 on the Juneteenth holiday and Friday, July 3, a Cobb County holiday for Independence Day.

The Happy Helpings 2026 schedule is:
South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton 30126

  • Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
  • Breakfast: 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

North Cobb Regional Library, 3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw 30144

  • Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays
  • Breakfast: 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.; lunch: 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Gritters Library, 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta 30066

  • Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
  • Breakfast: 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.; lunch: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Call 770-528-2524 to confirm availability

The meals, prepared by a local county-inspected commercial kitchen, are free for children ages 18 and younger. Adults 19 years and older who are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities will also receive meals. Parents and caregivers must remain with the children during the meals.

“Cobb libraries partner with the community to target barriers of access to learning and play, like food insecurity,” said Terri Tresp, CCPL Division Director. “Happy Helpings meals offer a cool, comfortable space for families to meet neighbors and connect with countywide Summer Reading programs.”

For information on the Happy Helpings program and children’s food insecurity in Georgia, visit happyhelpingsga.com. For information on summertime Cobb County Public Library programs and resources, visit cobbcat.org.

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Key Cobb school board race separated by fewer than 100 votes

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Key Cobb school board race separated by fewer than 100 votes
Micheal Garza and Susan McCartney are vying to challenge Republican Cobb school board member David Chastain in November.

The Democratic candidates in a Cobb Board of Education primary in the East Cobb area are fewer than 100 votes apart following Tuesday’s elections.

Micheal Garza leads Susan McCartney by 78 votes in Post 4 results that are final, but unofficial, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

Post 4 includes the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry high school clusters.

A critic of the Cobb County School District’s leadership, Garza has 5,016 votes, or 50.39 percent. McCartney, a retired teacher at Shallowford Falls Elementary School, has 4,938 votes, or 49.61 percent.

That’s a margin of 0.78 percent. Under Georgia law, second-place candidates can call for a recount if the difference is 0.5 percent or less.

Garza told East Cobb News Wednesday afternoon that “our campaign is confident that we will be named the winner of the primary when the results are made official.”

He said it’s his understanding that “every vote, outside of any provisional votes, has been counted in the early vote, mail vote, and election day vote.”

On her campaign Facebook page, McCartney conceded Wednesday afternoon, saying that “I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished with a grassroots effort and absolutely no financial backing from any groups or PAC’s. We ran a race with a hundred dollars and only lost by less than one percent.”

The Cobb Board of Registration and Elections will meet next Tuesday to certify primary election results.

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Garza will face three-term incumbent David Chastain in November in a contest that will determine party control of a Cobb Board of Education that has been increasingly fractious in recent years.

Chastain, who was unopposed Tuesday, is the only Republican on the ballot in this year’s school board elections. Republicans hold a 4-3 majority, while Democrats control the Cobb Board of Commissioners and the county’s legislative delegation.

In the Post 6 school board race, Democratic incumbent Nichelle Davis easily won her primary over school district critic Jennifer Susko and has no Republican opposition. Post 2 Democratic incumbent Becky Sayler was unopposed in the primary and the general election.

In 2022, Chastain was re-elected following a bitter general election battle with Democrat Catherine Pozniak (he was later fined for campaign finance violations).

This year, Chastain has early support from prominent Cobb business and civic leaders, including John Loud of Loud Security Systems, a former Cobb Chamber of Commerce chairman who’s gotten involved recently in local Republican campaigns, and who is Chastain’s steering committee chairman.

Garza unsuccessfully ran twice against Republican State Rep. John Carson of Northeast Cobb in 2022 and 2024.

“The challenge for us was to impress upon voters the importance of a school board race and to hit enough voters in a short amount of time in a large post that spanned 27 precincts,” Garza said Wednesday.

He said his campaign had more than 100 volunteers who wrote 7,000 postcards and knocked on almost 3,000 doors during the primary, including high school students writing out notes on a digital learning day.

“You don’t win races like this alone, and I am humbled that so many people in the community have supported me over the years, including my school community,” said Garza, a PTA leader at Keheley Elementary School, where his daughter is a student, as well as the East Cobb County Council of PTAs.

McCartney pledged her support to Garza and said that “my commitment to our community and to public education remains as strong as ever. I ran because I care deeply about our students, our teachers, and the future of our schools, and that passion does not end tonight. This is not the last you will see of me.”

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Cobb schools announce 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians

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Cobb schools announce 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians
Valedictorians Peyton Pace of Sprayberry and Dev Patel of Walton had GPAs above 4.8.

The Cobb County School District on Wednesday announced the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians.

Overall, the valedictorians in the Cobb school district combined for an average grade-point average of 4.717, with salutatorians at 4.50.

The highest GPAs are all at Campbell High School, which has three valedictorians—Krishna Anand, Amulya Patil and Livia Ross, with 4.848 scores.

Among East Cobb high schools, Sprayberry valedictorian Peyton Pace has the highest GPA, at 4.813.

Sixteen of the vals and sals from the Cobb school district are headed to Georgia Tech, with six others bound for the University of Georgia.

Other college destinations for this year’s vals and sals are Stanford University, Duke University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Rice University, the University of Pennsylvania, the California Institute of Technology, and the United States Air Force Academy.

What follows are the vals and sals from the six East Cobb high schools, their GPAs, college choices and intended majors. For the full list of vals and sals in the Cobb school district, click here.

Kell High School
Valedictorian— Juan Diego Jimenez Ramirez, 4.750, Rice University, pre-med
Salutatorian—Dylan Brostoff, 4.507, UGA, nursing

Lassiter High School
Valedictorian—Evan Taylor Buchanan, 4.790, Georgia Tech, aerospace engineering
Salutatorian—Chloe Elizabeth Cummings, 4.729, UGA, business

Pope High School
Valedictorian—Kenneth Kim, 4.778, Duke University, biology
Salutatorian—Malachy O’Connor, 4.776, Georgia Tech, computer science

Sprayberry High School
Valedictorian—Peyton Pace, 4.813, Emory University, neuroscience
Salutatorian—Sebastian Ezqueda, 4.646, Georgia Tech, computer science

Walton High School
Valedictorian—Dev Patel, 4.808, Georgia Tech, computer science
Salutatorian—Jerry Xu, 4.803, Princeton University, classics or economics

Wheeler High School
Valedictorian—Vidya Sinha, 4.794, Stanford University, computer science
Salutatorians—Devang Doshi, 4.779, Georgia Tech, computer science

Click the middle button below to view the photo gallery of all the East Cobb vals and sals.

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Wheeler graduates urged to ‘look uncertainty in the eye’

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Wheeler graduates urged to 'look uncertainty in the eye'
Wheeler graduates celebrate after getting their diplomas Tuesday. CCSD screenshots.

More than 300 students at Wheeler High School received their diplomas on Tuesday.

The Class of 2026 held commencement exercises at the KSU Convocation Center with plenty of plaudits.

Principal Sara Fetterman said that the seniors will be receiving nearly $20 million in scholarship money, and a majority of them graduated with honors.

Another 14 will be entering the ranks of the military or the National Guard after high school.

“This class exemplifies a true sense of community,” said Fetterman, in her first year at Wheeler after coming from Sprayberry, and recalling its commitment to community service.

Those distinguishing marks may be many, but seniors speaking to their classmates offered some sobering reminders of what they’ve gone through, and how to remember their days in high school.

Wheeler graduates urged to 'look uncertainty in the eye'
Wheeler senior class president Kassidy Sweeney

Senior class president Kassidy Sweeney recalled that at times, the rigors of being a high school student can make them feel “overwhelmed,” and not just academically.

“We still pushed through, and we made it through,” Sweeney said, applauding her classmates’ demonstration of patience and resilience “that has made us stronger people.

“Remember these lessons and take them with you.”

Valedictorian Vidya Sinha, who will be attending Stanford University, expanded on that theme and asked the graduates to consider how their experiences now will be remembered in the years to come.

“There’s something special, the feeling you can come out together in the confines of a classroom,” she said.

But this class, she added, has had to endure experiences that go far beyond an academic setting.

Halfway through their education, they experienced the closures and disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is no certainty about anything,” Sinha said, adding that perhaps the greatest lesson the Wheeler seniors have learned is that “we’re willing to look uncertainty straight in the eye and keep going.

“In a few years, these memories will belong to strangers,” she added. “But for now, they belong to us.”

Click the middle button below to see more photos.

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Runoffs loom for Ga. Congress, Senate, governor’s primaries

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Runoffs loom for Ga. Congress Senate governor's primaries
L-R: John Cowan, Rob Adkerson

Republican voters in the Georgia primaries will have some more voting ahead of them in key races at the federal and state levels in June.

The 11th Congressional District, which includes most of East Cobb, has a vacancy due to the retirement of U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk.

In Tuesday’s elections, physician John Cowan led a crowded field, receiving 42 percent of the vote. He will be in a June 16 runoff against Rob Adkerson, who is Loudermilk’s chief of staff.

According to final, unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, Adkerson received 21 percent, while former Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore got 18 percent.

The 11th District also includes Cherokee, Bartow and parts of Gordon and Pickens counties. The Democratic nominee is Chris Harden, who easily won his primary on Tuesday.

U.S. Senate runoff

The Republican battle in the U.S. Senate also was extended when Tuesday’s results weren’t sufficient to secure the nomination.

Two-term U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley will be competing for the right to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.

Collins led the five-man field with 40 percent of the vote, to 30 percent for Dooley, who coached at the University of Tennessee and is the son of the late University of Georgia football coach and athletics director Vince Dooley.

Dooley, who is supported by outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp, got more votes in Cobb County than the other candidates, receiving 4o percent.

Battle for Governor

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and business executive Rick Jackson will square off in the Republican runoff for Georgia governor.

Jones received 38 percent of the vote to 33 percent for Jackson, who entered the race in January and spent an estimated $100 million on his campaign.

Both candidates are vying for the votes of supporters of President Donald Trump, who officially endorsed Jones.

Jones narrowly led in votes in Cobb County.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr got 15 and 11 percent of the vote, respectively, in the gubernatorial primary.

In November, the GOP nominee will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who crushed Democratic primary opposition, getting 56 percent of the vote.

Former State Sen. Jason Esteves, who briefly represented a portion of East Cobb, finished second with 18 percent of the vote.

There also will be a Republican runoff for lieutenant governor between two Georgia state senators, Greg Dolezal and John F. Kennedy.

The Democratic runoff for the same seat also has two state senators, Josh McLaurin and Nabilah Parkes.

For more Congressional and state election results, click here.

Supreme Court decisions

Two incumbent members of the Georgia Supreme Court beat back challenges in non-partisan elections that were watched around the country.

Charlie Bethel and Sarah Hawkins Warren defeated candidates promoted by Democratic Party interests.

Bethel received 51 percent of the vote against Miracle Rankin, an Atlanta personal injury attorney. Warren soundly defeated former State Sen. Jen Jordan with 59 percent of the vote.

Rankin and Jordan, the Democratic nominee for Georgia Attorney General in 2022, were cited by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission for likely violating ethics rules prohibiting endorsements of one another and by stating positions on issues likely to come before a court, in particular abortion rights.

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