Georgia Tight End Arik Gilberts was involved in a wreck in Athens; Kennesaw has a recycling question; And one of Cobb's problems is not enough officers.
#CobbCounty #Georgia #LocalNews
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From the Chattahoochee Tech studio Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast
Today is Thursday September first and happy 26th birthday to actress Zendaya
***Audio MJ ***
I’m Dan Ratcliffe and here are your top stories presented by Engineered Solutions of Georgia
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STORY 1:UGA
According to UGASports.com, redshirt sophomore Arik Gilbert was involved in a two-vehicle wreck Monday morning.
The accident took place on campus at the intersection of Lumpkin and Baxter streets.
Sources also confirmed to UGASports.com that Arik’s Mercedes was totaled, but there appears to be no injury to the tight end.
Arik was at practice Monday afternoon and he appeared to have no restrictions. Georgia is preparing for its season opener versus Oregon on Saturday.
Arik, who returned to the team in January after sitting out last season, caught two touchdowns in the spring game and is expected to make an impact on the offense in 2022.
STORY 2:police
What is the greatest need of the Cobb County Police Department?
“More officers,” Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said during a recent community forum.
The department brought on nine new officers Thursday but is headed for a net loss of officers this year. The biggest reason, per Chief VanHoozer: retirements.
According to the county, the department is currently short 85 officers, and the MDJ reported in May it employs more than 700 sworn officers. Chief VanHoozer said problems the department faced both prior to and during the pandemic are high attrition rates — losing staff to retirement or other departure reasons — and pay compression, which occurs when new hires’ wages are similar to experienced employees as a result of the labor market outpacing raises over time. He thanked Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb Board of Commissioners, who was in attendance, and other county officials for helping to address pay for police staff.
In its 2023 budget, the commission gave public safety employees a “step” increase, moving them up a pay level under the county’s “step-and-grade” pay plan. This year was the second with a raise for public safety workers since the plan was instituted in 2020, and the department is working to address compression over a three-year period, according to Public Safety Director Randy Crider.
Public safety employees not covered by the step-and-grade program — high-ranking police and fire officials, for example — saw an average raise of 3.3% in the 2023 budget.
The department’s successes did not go unmentioned during the forum. Deputy Chief Dan Ferrell, who oversees the department’s special investigations and response division, touted the fact that the department has already taken more guns off of the county’s streets this year than in any year prior. He also made clear one of his biggest priorities as head of special investigations.
STORY 3:Recycle
City Council members face a decision on whether to keep curbside recycling for residents after this summer.
If the service does remain, it will come at a cost.
Republic Services of Georgia was the lone bidder to reply to an August request for proposals on the collection and disposal of solid waste, recyclables and yard waste.
Two other companies attended a pre-bid meeting but declined to submit an offer.
Republic Services, which is the existing provider in Kennesaw, would keep running the garbage routes but is proposing a price hike in recycling for items other than glass.
To continue with full recycling service, Atlanta-based Republic would raise rates by $5.75 a month for every customer, regardless of participation, according to city Public Works Director Ricky Stewart.
As a result, Stewart told Mayor Derek Easterling and council members at a Monday work session he recommends they approve the contract without the recycling program.
Mayor Easterling said the issue facing council members at their meeting next week comes down to the contract they wish to approve. The monthly bill for customers is currently $29.15, including stormwater and streetlight service.
As news has spread of a potential rate increase should recycling continue, citizens have begun reaching out to the mayor. He expects to hear more in the coming week.
STORY 4:Art
dk Gallery will kick off its September show with an opening reception on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at 25 West Park Square in Marietta.
The show will feature “All Creatures Great & Small” from artists Jeffie Brewer, Julia Burns, Lauren Chambers, Amy Cobb, Claire Dunaway, Jared Knox, Lorra Kurtz, Ellen Langford, Russell Miyaki, Lauren Pallotta Stumberg, Brenda Sulmonetti, Laura Surace, Jeff Surace, and guest artist Demond Matsuo.
The opening reception will include a contest for Best Ears, Best Senior, Most Like a Painting, Best Wrinkles, Best Trick and more. Prizes will be judged and awarded by Bob Pressley Jr. of Barktopia. The evening will highlight the Humane Society of Cobb County whose mission is to promote humane welfare and responsible animal guardianship through educational community outreach, shelter and spay/neuter programs. Pets are welcome to the show, which will run from Friday to October 1.
The opening recption will also coincide with Art Walk, a free self-guided walking tour of the Marietta Square’s galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants and businesses on the first Friday of each month. During Art Walk, each participating venue hosts a local artist outside of its storefront in Marietta Square.
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BONUS: Cupid
Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid is taking a national leadership position. Here is Matt Goldin with more.
STORY 5: Pageant
Young ladies from ages 3 to 24 years old are encouraged to participate in the annual beauty pageant highlighting the opening night of the North Georgia State Fair presented by Superior Plumbing on September 22.
The fair, which will run for 11 days, will feature many family events, exhibits, midway rides, concerts and special attractions.
North Georgia State Fair ambassadors will be named for the following titles and ages:
Tiny (3-4 years old), Petite (5-7 years old), Little (8-10 years old), Junior (11-13 years old), Teen (14-16 years old) and Miss (17-24 years old). Winners will be invited to ride in area parades during the coming year. Winners will be awarded a crown, trophy, title sash, flowers and passes to the fair. The early registration fee is $65 through September 21, when there will be an optional rehearsal. Full registration of $75 will be accepted one hour prior to each pageant on September 22.
The new Miss North Georgia State Fair also receives a $1,000 cash college scholarship and advances to the Georgia-South Carolina State Fairest of the Fair contest next January. The Miss first runner-up gains a $500 cash scholarship and the second runner-up wins a $250 cash scholarship.
STORY 6: Kell
***Audio For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow BED***
After two years without its annual honoring of retiring staff, the Cobb County School District hosted approximately 170 former staff to thank them for their years — or in most cases, decades — of service.
The district annually honors its retiring staff with a luncheon at Roswell Street Baptist Church. But in 2020 and 2021, the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and the Cobb school board invited those retirees back to be recognized. In September, the district will hold another banquet to honor the 2022 retirees. A full list of all retirees and the amount of years they served Cobb Schools can be found at MDJ Online dot Com.
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