Bryan Anthony Rhoden pleaded not guilty Monday morning in the killing of three people in July 2021 at Pinetree Country Club, Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady said.
Rhoden, 25, is facing the death penalty for his alleged role in the kidnapping and slaying of Paul Pierson, 76, of Kansas, and Henry Valdez, 46, of California. He is accused of binding the two men in Jonesboro, driving them to the Kennesaw golf course and shooting them there.
The third victim — Gene Siller, who worked as Pinetree’s golf pro — is believed by investigators to have been shot and killed because he came upon an active crime when he went to investigate a truck on the course.
Monday was Rhoden’s first court appearance since August, when prosecutors entered their formal notice they would seek the death penalty. Rhoden’s attorneys Joshua Moore and Emily Prokesch of the Georgia Public Defender Council’s death penalty division said at the time they expected to plead not guilty.
To celebrate and thank essential workers, the Meeting Park neighborhood in Marietta hosted its third annual Big Thank You event on Dec. 12.
The event — organized by four Meeting Park residents — was an all-day affair that invited workers, from firefighters to EMTs to delivery drivers, to enjoy a free breakfast of doughnuts and coffee, and Subway sandwiches for lunch. Workers left with goodie bags and Chick-fil-A gift cards.
Meeting Park is made up of townhomes and cluster homes, and is located just a couple of blocks southeast of Marietta Square. Four people served on the Big Thank You organizing committee: Brazil, Jan Chandler, Wendy Rivera and Marilyn Milly. Chandler first thought of the idea amidst the pandemic in 2020, when the efforts of essential workers were especially needed and appreciated. The first Big Thank You was celebrated that year. The Meeting Park committee called upon its residents to donate money, baked goods, gift cards and volunteer time for the event. Residents and workers alike broke bread together in the neighborhood’s pocket park. In the future, Chandler would like to host the event seasonally so the community workers can be celebrated four times a year, as opposed to once during the holidays.
Attendees included school board members, City Council members and more, according to Chandler. Leftover food was donated to The Zone, a local nonprofit that aids people in recovery from opioid addiction.
Rows of shiny new bikes — 100 in all — filled the Green Acres Elementary School gym waiting to be claimed by the students who had earned the new wheels.
When the honored Green Acres students walked into the gym, sat down on the floor and gazed up at the sparkling new bikes, they did not know they would soon be taking one of the bikes home.
Green Acres Principal Ashley Mize stood amid the 100 bikes when she surprised the students with the announcement that they earned one of the new 20-inch bikes because of their commitment to positive character traits through the Grand Slam incentive. Teachers selected the 1-3 grade students based on their positive attendance record, classroom work habits, excellent behavior and citizenship, which included showing a positive attitude, empathy, best effort, being a team player and respectful. Academy Sports provided the bikes through their partnership with the Atlanta Braves. The bike giveaway was the finale to the Atlanta Braves Season of Giving campaign at Green Acres, which brought more than 40 volunteers to the school, plus the National League’s Rookie of the Year, Michael Harris II.
Volunteers helped the Green Acre students write their names on the bike of their choice. Some students could not resist trying out their ride and the accompanying Academy Sports helmet or hat.
The Green Acres Grand Slam students were not the only ones surprised during the gifting finale. One of Principal Mize’s favorite memories of the Season of Giving day was surprising a teacher with a two-night stay in a luxury suite at an Omni hotel. A representative from Omni Hotels surprised fourth-grade teacher Monica Brooks with the news that she won a relaxing couple of days inside a luxury suite. The Omni representative had one more surprise for Green Acres. After all of Principal Mize’s work to surprise students and staff and coordinate the volunteer activities that benefited the school, Omni had a surprise for the Green Acres principal. Like Brooks, Principal Mize also won a two-night stay at the Omni Hotel.
Nicholas Bos of Marietta, a member of Boy Scout Troop #675, recently earned the honor of Eagle Scout, the highest rank that the Boy Scouts offers.
Only 4% of Boy Scout members ever attain this prestigious honor.
Bos, 17, a student in Wheeler High School’s Magnet Program in the Center for Advanced Studies, achieved the 21 merit badges required to receive the Eagle Scout award. He earned 15 additional merit badges, for which he was awarded three palms: Bronze, Gold and Silver.
For his final project, Bos served the Marietta community by replacing an unsafe pedestrian bridge with an entirely new bridge, thereby reopening a community walking trail in a protected nature area off John Ward Road. A ceremony honoring Bos took place on Dec. 17 at North Metro Church. Family and friends attended the ceremony. Grandparent, parent and mentor pins were also awarded during the ceremony, recognizing the efforts of the people who played an important role in Bos' achievement.
McDonald’s owners and operators in Atlanta selected 30 deserving educators and individuals who represent programs and organizations that fuel the imagination, education and growth of students, as recipients of a Golden Grant.
Allocated to various teachers and organizations was $40,000 to positively impact the lives of thousands of students.
Locally, Clarkdale Elementary School's Afterschool Science Olympiad Program received $10,000 and Campbell Middle School's Technology Student Association Campbell Middle
School Chapter received $1,000.
Activities that qualified for a Golden Grant include arts and crafts programs, education initiatives, mentorship and empowerment programs, after-school programs, community service outreach, sporting programs, technology and COVID-19 relief efforts. Winners were recognized during check presentations from Dec. 12-16 by local owners and operators.
#CobbCounty #Georgia #LocalNews
-
-
-
-
-
The Marietta Daily Journal Podcast is local news for Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, and all of Cobb County.
Subscribe today, so you don't miss an episode! MDJOnline
Register Here for your essential digital news.
https://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/
Find additional episodes of the MDJ Podcast here.
This Podcast was produced and published for the Marietta Daily Journal and MDJ Online by BG Ad Group
For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
