Marietta

Atlanta isn’t the only Georgia city with a mayor’s race this year

Early voting for November’s city elections began this week, and while only a handful of Georgia’s municipalities are holding contested mayoral elections, Atlanta’s will undoubtedly have the most impact throughout the state. “Lots of groups rate Georgia very highly as a business-friendly state, and Atlanta as a forward-looking city,” said Tom Smith, an economics professor at Emory’s Goizueta Business School. “Atlanta’s mayors have historically been very aggressive in what the city has to offer businesses, making sure those workers are protected, and that they have access to housing, libraries and roads. “People underestimate the mayor’s overall impact in coordinating and…

Cobb County escape room lets you stage a prison break

The newest escape room at Cobb County Parks, "Prison Break," opens Sept. 10 and runs through Oct. 30 at the Oregon Park Annex in Marietta. You can try this interactive challenge with friends, family or colleagues. Teamwork and puzzle-solving a must. In the escape room, you’ve been wrongfully sentenced to life without parole. You’ve settled in, made a few friends, but every one has their breaking point. While the prison is in chaos because of a riot in the yard, you have a tiny window of opportunity to explore the building and carry out a great escape. It’s time to…

Art in the Park returns to Marietta Square for Labor Day weekend

Art in the Park returns to historic Marietta Square this Labor Day weekend. Featuring more than 150 fine art booths, this outdoor event also delights the entire family with children’s activities, live music and great food from local restaurants. ART Art in the Park is a fun and interactive way to experience a wide variety of artists working in many media. This year, the festival will feature more than 150 artists from 17 states with offerings in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel,woodworking, glass, photography, textiles and jewelry in fine metals and precious stones. At the Artist Market, visitors can purchase art and learn about it in person with the artists. Some…

Teach your kids these safety tips before they go online

With school starting up in many Georgia school districts next week, now is a good time to talk to your kids about online safety and being smart when using the Internet. The internet is an important educational tool for students, but online access also comes with risks. Before students’ head back to class, the Marietta Police Department is reminding parents to review account privacy settings, establish guidelines around internet use and discuss ways to keep them safe while online. The department is also reminding parents of the following safety tips to pass on to kids. Don’t reveal personal information including…

It’s time to talk to your kids about school safety

With schools starting back up soon, the Marietta Police Department is reminding everyone to start the year off safe by discussing back to school safety with your children. The department is asking you to ensure your children are familiar with general information that may be needed if they get lost or encounter police officers. Role playing with with your children is recommended as well as taking time to discuss personal safety and awareness. According to the Police Department, before starting the school year your kids should: Know their address, telephone number and how to contact a parent or guardian.Remain aware…

Fireworks can cause anxiety for dogs. Here’s how you can help

Many animals are very sensitive to loud noises and fireworks are a big offender. The noise and unpredictability of fireworks leads many dogs to perceive them as a threat. This triggers their fight-or-flight response. Your dog may bark at the noises or try to run away and hide. Dogs may show other signs of anxiety, too, like restlessness, panting, pacing and whining. There are some things you can do to prepare your pup for Fourth of July fireworks celebrations. The Marietta Police Department advises pet owners to try to prepare for holidays where you know fireworks will be a part…

Marietta Police show serious consequences of drinking and driving

MARIETTA -- The Marietta Police Department posted a picture on social media of an overturned car with a beer can that police say rolled out of the window during the wreck. The crash occurred Tuesday night. Below is the post from the police department. Last night as most of us got ready for bed, the (intoxicated) driver of this car, struck a parked disabled vehicle on the side of I-75 at high speeds and flipped over. Driver had to be transported to the hospital with what appeared to be serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The empty beer can rolled out of the wrecked…

Switzer Library in Cobb County will reopen June 1

Charles D. Switzer Library will reopenTuesday, June 1, after the branch underwent an extensive renovation. The Switzer facility in downtown Marietta has had a major renovation since mid-2019 to improve indoor and outdoor spaces of the library system’s central library complex and its administrative and support services spaces. The project was expanded in late 2020 to include a complete roof replacement for the 30-plus years old building. “The Switzer Library will grow as a destination for the Cobb and Marietta communities as everyone experiences all the Switzer Library offers,” said Cobb Library Director Helen Poyer. “This combination of special areas,…

Some Georgians will vote in a special election in June. Here’s why

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Friday the date of the special election required for House Districts 34 and 156 which became vacant with the resignation of Rep. Bert Reeves, a Republican from Marietta, and Rep. Greg Morris, a Republican from Vidalia. The special election will be June 15. District 34 includes part of Cobb County, and District 156 includes Montgomery and Toombs counties and portions of Appling and Jeff Davis counties. A run-off, if needed, will be July 13. Qualifying for the special election will be in the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State at 2…

Georgia lawmaker leaves legislature to take job at Georgia Tech

Georgia Rep. Bert Reeves is leaving the General Assembly to join the administrative staff at Georgia Tech, the university announced Thursday. Reeves, R-Marietta, will serve as vice president for institute relations at his alma mater starting May 1. He will report directly to Tech President Angel Cabrera and serve as a member of the president’s cabinet. “Bert’s unmatched passion for Georgia Tech and his firsthand experience as a leader in state government make him a perfect match for this role,” Cabrera said. “I very much look forward to working with him in moving Georgia Tech forward and finding ways to…

Vehicles damaged under Allgood Road Bridge in Marietta

MARIETTA -- The Marietta police are asking for your help determining the cause of falling debris that damaged several vehicles under the Allgood Road bridge at about 7 p.m. Wednesday evening. Several vehicles were damaged while driving on the northbound express lanes under the Allgood road bridge. According to the police department, the bridges were inspected and are all fine with no visible damage. Police say that had a report that someone may have been throwing rocks and chunks of concrete from the bridge. No one was injured during the incident. Anyone with information is urged to call the Marietta…

CDC Study of Marietta schools says teachers should be vaccinated

A CDC study of COVID cases in Marietta City Schools, whose results were published Monday, found that educators played a major role in recent school outbreaks there. The researchers concluded that vaccinations of teachers, along with school mitigation measures, “is a critical component of preventing in-school transmission.’’ Vaccination of teachers has become a high-profile topic in Georgia. Most states have begun vaccinating educators against COVID-19, while Georgia has not done so. But Gov. Brian Kemp said last week that the state is finalizing plans to expand its list of people eligible for the shots, and his subsequent remarks focused on…

Georgians dispute claim that Marietta is ‘one of the most dangerous’ cities in the world

A video clip from a documentary about Jaylen Brown mentioned that the standout NBA star grew up in Marietta, Georgia and then made the claim that Marietta is "considered one of the most dangerous and unsafe cities in the world." Twitter users familiar with the area rejected the claim and had a field day with the video. Before we show the reaction, here is the tweet containing the video clip. https://twitter.com/EverettJohnson6/status/1362600404735950848 And now, here are some of the reactions to the clip. https://twitter.com/MKZhane/status/1363208414495723523 https://twitter.com/Mr_bplay/status/1363175918471110657 https://twitter.com/IAmDaniCanada/status/1363174697777643527 https://twitter.com/nickaepi1/status/1363207864295297030 https://twitter.com/teatime75/status/1363178027581116419 https://twitter.com/CoachJu_/status/1363225981792698372 https://twitter.com/MarkALamprecht/status/1363225947051327492 https://twitter.com/larryfeltonj/status/1363225433991479301 https://twitter.com/onestarr23/status/1363225099625725954 https://twitter.com/garnles/status/1363224579976663047 https://twitter.com/Krj81Jacobs/status/1363223290114953219 https://twitter.com/CelesteHeadlee/status/1363221880329670661 https://twitter.com/MiaNaipaul/status/1363201151299178501 https://twitter.com/kaylinvaughnk/status/1363174611089825794 According to crime data…

News Blog: The fire you see near Sandy Plains Road isn’t an emergency

If you're driving in the area of Sandy Plains Road and Pete Shaw Road in Cobb County and see fire or smell smoke, don't be alarmed. It's just a training exercise for the Cobb County Fire Department. The department will be conducting what it calls an "acquired structure burn" at 3100 Pete Shaw Road in Marietta. Residents and commuters may see smoke and fire in the area until 6 p.m.

Railroad conductor saves life of man stuck on tracks

MARIETTA -- A CSX railroad conductor saved the life of a homeless man who was stuck on the tracks Friday morning. According to the Marietta Police Department, the conductor was entering Marietta with a mile-long freight train at full normal speed when he noticed a person down on the tracks. The conductor acted swiftly and was able to stop the mile long train before striking the man. Police say the homeless man had fallen and was unable to get up. He became hypothermic and would have been killed instantly had he been struck by the train. Metro ambulance, Marietta Fire…