Marietta Daily Journal
Police: Kell HS coach catches a DUI charge
Todd Harris, head coach of the Kell High School varsity baseball team, was arrested Wednesday on DUI charges in Cherokee County, court documents show, the same day his team won a two-game playoff series to advance to the state semifinals. Harris’...
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Green thumbs
EAST COBB — East Cobb was in full bloom Saturday as several residents opened their gardens for visitors as part of the annual Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County Garden Tour. Now in its 23rd year, the tours show off Master Gardeners’ own hard...
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A day for Mom
Mother’s Day is Sunday and Cobb’s florists and even Good Morning America are well underway with the celebrations. The national morning news show paid a visit to Smyrna Friday morning for a special visit to the city for its annual “Mother’s Day...
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A true classic
MARIETTA — Several local and state leaders took a sip of nostalgic Americana Wednesday during a tour of CocaCola’s Marietta bottling facility. The tour was held to unveil a specialty “America 250” label that will be plastered on Coke bottles across...
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‘Mouth of the South’
NEW YORK — Ted Turner could never be defined by just one role. He was a media mogul, philanthropist and conservationist. A yachtsman who won boating’s most famous race and owner of a baseball team that captured the World Series trophy. The brash...
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COBB DEMOCRATS CELEBRATE SERVICE, UNITY AT GALA
The Cobb County Democratic Committee hosted its biannual fundraising gala Friday evening, themed “We the People: Our Future, Our Responsibility” at the Cobb Convention Center. The evening is a major fundraiser to help “get out the vote” efforts for...
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‘Something more’
MARIETTA — Larry Ceminsky Park has a brand new look after officials and community members gathered to celebrate the park’s upgrades on Monday. The park, formerly West Dixie Park, was renamed after Larry Ceminsky, a community advocate and businessman...
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Sheriff’s office welcomes first graduating class of program
MARIETTA — The Cobb County Sheriff’s office celebrated Friday the first graduating class of a new industrial maintenance program meant to give inmates job opportunities. The program, hosted by Chattahoochee Technical College facilitated by the...
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Open for fun
SMYRNA — With summer vacation around the corner, city officials celebrated the grand opening of their highly-anticipated $2.8 million splash pad Friday. During the grand opening, Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton and City Council members turned the sprinklers...
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‘They represented the best’
MARIETTA — The late Georgia Supreme Court Justices Harris Hines and Conley Ingram are now forever memorialized at their old stomping grounds in paint and plaques. Both men, who also served on the Cobb Superior Court, were honored for their judicial...
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‘A moment of fun’
MARIETTA — Marietta High School seniors gathered Saturday evening for their annual pre-prom photo — a time-honored tradition generations of students have taken part in. This year’s photo looked a little different as it was taken among the scenic...
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Ready, set, grow
MARIETTA — The annual Cobb Master Gardener Plant Sale encourages local residents to get outside and in touch with nature. The plant sale, in its 26th year, was at Jim R. Miller Park on Friday and Saturday, and typically runs the weekend before Earth...
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As Big as ever
KENNESAW — Despite strong winds overnight Saturday, downtown Kennesaw came alive over the weekend with music, food, vendors and more for the annual Big Shanty Festival. The festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, evolved from a...
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‘Elevated’ space
MARIETTA — A new sports bar from the creators of Taqueria Tsunami Latin Asian Kitchen and Silla Del Toro is set to open on Marietta Square Monday. Described as an “elevated sports bar” by co-owner Alexis Kinsey, West Park Sports Club aims to blend the...
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Two in two months
Less than two months after a fire left three dead, a second fire broke out Thursday in the same Smyrna apartment complex, according to Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services. No injuries were reported; however, a total 12 units at the Concord Crossing...
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TUMLIN BOOSTS WOMEN’S SOCCER AT MHS SENIOR DAY
Marietta Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin paid a visit to the Marietta High School girls soccer team’s Senior Day match Tuesday to cheer on the team and promote Arthur Blank’s incoming professional women’s soccer club. Tumlin gifted each player scarves...
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Sliding into Cobb
A new cheeseburger slider restaurant is open for business in Cobb County. Smalls Sliders, located at 2355 Windy Hill Road in the Windy Hill Village Shopping Center, cut the ribbon on its 50th location on Tuesday. Smalls Sliders, known for...
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Fore a good cause
ACWORTH — Over 100 golfers hit the greens at Cobblestone Golf Course Monday for the Acworth Police Department’s second annual community golf tournament, a fundraiser supporting the department’s nonprofit foundation. Community members were invited to...
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‘Georgia first’
MARIETTA — To Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, putting Georgians first is critical. Jackson, a billionaire healthcare businessman and CEO, spoke to the Cobb GOP at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2681 during the party’s monthly breakfast...
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SATURDAY/SUNDAY, APRIL 11/12, 2026 Soccer club will return to Marietta City Council
Arthur Blank’s professional women’s soccer club has submitted site plans for its planned headquarters to the city of Marietta, and the City Council is set to vote on a rezoning next week. The plans call for a 38,000-square-foot training headquarters,...
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Jobless rate ticks up across Cobb, metro
Unemployment rose in January in Cobb County and across Georgia’s 12 regional commissions, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday. In Cobb, the unemployment rate for January was 3.3%, lower than Georgia’s statewide unemployment rate...
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Star treatment
EAST COBB — It was an afternoon of games, cheeseburgers and fun at the McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA Wednesday when Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts made a surprise appearance for over 60 kids enjoying spring break camp. Pitts, 25, was drafted by the...
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Our pale blue dot
HOUSTON — The Artemis II astronauts are now forever intertwined with Apollo 8. A day after the historic lunar flyaround, NASA on Tuesday released striking new photos taken by the U.S.-Canadian crew.
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THE MASTERS ARE UPON US
Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion, presents Marietta’s Finley Nelson with his medal for winning the chipping portion of the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals in the 7-9 age group at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday. For more, see
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An egg-cellent event
NORTHEAST COBB — Easter eggs rained from the sky as kids of all ages worked to hunt over 90,000 eggs during the 17th annual Northeast Cobb Community Egg Drop on Saturday at Sprayberry High School. During the event, a helicopter flew over twice,...
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Our blue home
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The Artemis II astronauts have captured our blue planet’s brilliant beauty as they zoom ever closer to the moon. NASA released the crew’s first downlinked images Friday, 1 ½ days into the first astronaut moonshot in more than...
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‘Age of technology’
EAST COBB — The Cobb County Police Department is preparing for the global spotlight — and potential security challenges — that will come with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Cobb Police Chief James “Dan” Ferrell spoke to the East Cobb Area Council Thursday...
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Back to the moon
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years. Carrying three...
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‘It’s a journey’
MABLETON — A sixpanel mural exploring mental health across every stage of life is set to go on display, following its unveiling by Cobb Collaborative and Paint Love on Tuesday. The mural supports “Mind Your Mind,” an initiative through Cobb...
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‘No Kings’ protests sweep across Cobb, country
MARIETTA — Chants, car horns and calls for impeachment echoed across Cobb County on Saturday as hundreds of demonstrators gathered at four separate protests during the third wave of the national “No Kings” movement. From Marietta Square to busy...
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‘I’m not alone’
MARIETTA — Chants, car horns and calls for impeachment echoed across Cobb County on Saturday as hundreds of demonstrators gathered at four separate protests during the third wave of the national “No Kings” movement. From Marietta Square to busy...
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Best of Cobb
It was a packed house at Jim Miller Park Thursday night celebrating Cobb’s top businesses and service providers. Cobb Life Magazine’s Best of Cobb 2026 Showcase event, presented by Superior Plumbing, recognized winners of its reader-decided contest...
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‘Spiritual siblings’
EAST COBB — More than 80 residents gathered Wednesday at the Catholic Church of St. Ann for an interfaith program designed to bring Christians and Jews together by exploring the Jewish roots of the Last Supper and its connection to Passover. Just...
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State of the City
AUSTELL — Austell can “see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Mayor Ollie Clemons Jr. said during his State of the City Address this week. Clemons held two addresses, one in the morning and one in the evening to provide updates and answer questions...
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Diamond anniversary
TRUIST PARK — First pitch of the Atlanta Braves’ 2026 season is Friday and Truist Park is bringing in a slew of new experiences, stadium spaces and foods for baseball fans. For the first time since 2022, the Braves will kick off their season at home...
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Fun is a shoe-in
MARIETTA — Marietta Middle School students traded backpacks for bow ties and dresses Saturday night at the annual Sneaker Ball, a free spring dance coordinated by the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association for seventh- and eighth-graders. “They...
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‘Outrageous’: Drivers react as gas prices jump in weeks
MARIETTA — Local drivers say the rising cost of gas is hitting their wallets hard. At a local gas station, several residents and commuters described sharp increases in what they pay at the pump, with some saying prices have jumped dramatically in just...
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Like father, like son
MARIETTA — Nearly 30 years after his father was sworn in as president of the Cobb Bar Association, Marietta attorney Ryan Ingram is taking up the same mantle. Ingram, a partner with the Marietta firm Moore, Ingram, Johnson and Steele, took the oath as...
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The $28M plan
ACWORTH — For Acworth officials, infrastructure and walkability top the list of proposed sales tax-funded projects on the ballot this November. Voters will have the opportunity to renew a countywide 1% sales tax, called a Special Purpose Local Option...
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Mascotmania
SMYRNA — Second graders at Russell Elementary School got a chance to leave their mark on the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, helping officially name the office’s new community mascot during a lively event. The mascot was unveiled after students...
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WHEELER BRINGS TITLE HOME TO COBB
Wheeler celebrates as head coach Larry Thompson is interviewed after their win over Pebblebrook in Saturday night’s Class AAAAAA state championship game at the Macon Coliseum.
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GOP gubernatorial candidate Jackson draws crowd at rally
SMYRNA — Supporters and undecided voters alike gathered at a campaign rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson over the weekend. The rally was held at Adventure Outdoors, a popular campaign stop for Republican candidates that boasts...
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Makeover creates calming retreat for teachers
Teachers at Sawyer Road Elementary now have a new place to recharge during the school day — thanks to a makeover led by Piedmont Church. Through its Love Does initiative, the church redesigned the school’s staff lounge into a calming retreat with soft...
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Road relocation
The National Park Service has approved the relocation of a section of Old 41 Highway after finding no significant environmental impacts for the road project running through Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The approval puts the Old 41...
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‘For everyone’
MARIETTA — Gamers, cosplayers, artists and puzzle enthusiasts gathered Saturday in Marietta Square for Marietta the Gathering. Named in inspiration of the popular trading card game “Magic: The Gathering,” the festival celebrates geek culture through...
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‘A huge, huge honor’
EAST COBB — Amanda Dillard, a special education teacher from Pope High School and the Cobb School District’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, was named a top 10 finalist in the annual statewide Teacher of the Year competition Wednesday State Superintendent...
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‘Makes our heart happy’
Every year, Kennesaw Mountain High School hosts the Special Education Dance, welcoming middle and high school students with special needs from across Cobb County for a joyful day of celebration, inclusion and community. This year’s dance took place on...
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Rhoden named Citizen of the Year
TODAY’S WEATHER TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK /B6 70 | 44 PARTLY SUNNY GET SOCIAL @MDJOnline 74 | 52 MOSTLY SUNNY /MDJOnline CUMBERLAND — The Marietta Daily Journal presented Jim Rhoden, known for a lifetime of service and community building, with the Cobb...
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Cantrell to bring ‘small business lens’
CUMBERLAND — From age 11, Melissa Cantrell knew she wanted to be an architect. “I decided in high school I wanted to design schools because I wanted to impact children, because they are our futures,” Cantrell said. That early sense of purpose has...
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Shooting for the top
MARIETTA — Having served as Georgia’s attorney general since 2016, Chris Carr has now set his sights on the governor’s mansion, launching a bid to succeed Brian Kemp as the state’s chief executive. Carr sat down with the Marietta Daily Journal last...
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‘Best kept secret’
MARIETTA — Just over 100 days into his tenure as president and CEO, Ketul Patel has reached a firm conclusion about Wellstar Health System. “We are the best kept secret in healthcare,” he said. Patel speaks about Wellstar with the conviction of...
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‘Putting in the work’
MARIETTA — With less than a year left in his final term in office, Gov. Brian Kemp told Marietta Rotarians he wants to enact the lessons he learned in high school football: “to leave everything on the field. “That’s exactly what I plan on doing,” Kemp...
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DEAREST GENTLE READERS: A BALL AMONG THE BOOKS
A crowd turned out for a “Bridgerton” themed ball at the North Cobb Regional Library, where organizers transformed the space into a Regency-era setting for an evening of dancing, crafts and music. The free event, held Feb. 20 at the library, was...
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‘Uninhabitable’
Three people are dead and approximately 30 have been displaced from their homes after a fire broke out at a Smyrna apartment complex late Sunday night, Cobb Fire reports. In total, eight units at the Concord Crossing Apartments complex were “heavily...
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Chillin’ for charity
ACWORTH — Braving the chilly waters of Lake Acworth, law enforcement officers, athletes and area residents came together Saturday for a fundraising event in support of the Special Olympics Games. The event featured a costume contest, a game of...
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New name, same mission
MARIETTA — It’s the dawn of a new era for historic Roswell Street Baptist Church as it prepares for its upcoming merger with a Woodstock megachurch after years of declining attendance. What was once one of the largest and most influential Southern...
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On the rise
VININGS — Grab a tray and a pair of tongs: a new café promises rows of sugar-dusted doughnuts, flaky croissants and cakes made fresh daily just off South Atlanta Road. The soft opening of Paris Baguette, a South Korea-based Parisian bakery and café, is...
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Clogged Cloverleaf
The interchange of Interstate 75 at I-285 North near The Battery — known as the Cobb Cloverleaf — has once again been identified as one of the most congested freight corridors in the country, according to the latest Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks report...
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Market expansion
Kroger has begun a $23 million expansion to East Cobb’s Parkaire Landing location, adding new amenities including new service counters and a fuel station. The expanded Kroger, located at 4880 Lower Roswell Road, will total 85,000 square feet and fill...
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A new course
MARIETTA — In what district leaders described as one of the strongest applications in recent memory, the Cobb Board of Education voted 6-0-1 last week to approve a new charter school aimed at serving students in south Cobb. Board member Becky Sayler...
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Marietta’s story
MARIETTA — The Marietta History Center is celebrating three decades of preserving local history with a new exhibit that traces the museum’s own journey — from a volunteer-driven startup to the city of Marietta’s official historical...
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A day for flowers
Valentine’s Day is the busiest day of the year at owner Mike Whittle’s florist shop, and red roses are the most popular choice, to no surprise — but his favorite is daffodils. MIKE WHITTLE, DAFFODIL Whittle, 68, has been in the floral industry for 55...
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Top of the craft
MARIETTA — Chloe Muse started in the taproom as a bartender at Atlanta Hard Cider Company. Now, she’s one floor below in the lab as the lead cidermaker — and she’s winning awards. Muse is the 2026 recipient of the Peter Mitchell Award for Educational...
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