Cobb County Government offices will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day. Information and numerous county services remain available 24 hours a day at cobbcounty.org.
Events around Cobb will provide patriotic parades, carnivals, fairs, fireworks and more to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by America's 13 colonies.
A protest by a neo-Nazi group and the distribution of antisemitic flyers in several local neighborhoods prompted Cobb government officials to respond.
The Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution on Tuesday condemning the incidents, and the police chief explained the delicate balance his officers dealt with during the tense protest.
Cobb and Douglas Public Health will offer free HIV testing noon - 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, in Austell. The event, held at the Walgreens, 4120 Austell Road, is in honor of HIV Testing Day.
The department will continue to offer free HIV testing at the Marietta, Smyrna, Acworth-Kennesaw and Douglas Public Health Centers, Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Services have expanded to include free OraQuick HIV self-test kits. These are available for pick up or delivery.
HIV testing, especially self-testing, helps people to make healthy decisions, regardless of their test result. People who test negative can take advantage of HIV prevention tools, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and condoms. People who test positive can rapidly start HIV treatment such as antiretroviral therapy to stay healthy and reduce transmission.
Eight July dates have been added to the Vision To Learn summer break calendar of on-site mobile clinics at Cobb County Public Library locations.
Vision To Learn provides eye exams and prescription glasses free of charge to children and their families for students ages 5 to 18. The sixth summer of VTL at Cobb libraries is reaching significantly more children than last year’s record of almost 400 exams that resulted in more than 250 students receiving prescription glasses.
Even with the added capacity for Vision To Learn appointment slots, officials say it is a popular program with registration required and space limited. The registration form for July is at forms.gle/jwQnrSMG5S3AZza36.
Summer enjoyment continues with a second Family Fun Safety Day 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at the Cobb County Safety Village.Kids of all ages can learn about safety, tour Sparky's House, play safety games, see emergency vehicles up-close and more.
The Cobb County Safety Village is located at 1220 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta. Admission is $5 per person, with a maximum cost of $20 per family. For group rates of 20 or more, call 770-852-3270. The next event date is Tuesday, July 18.
Volunteers needed for summer fishing rodeos
Love to fish? Can you bait a hook? PARKS' four Fishing Rodeos are coming up and we're looking for fantastic volunteers to assist and teach kids fishing basics including how to bait a hook, cast a line and remove fish from a hook. Other volunteers will help with weighing and measuring fish and other non-fishing tasks. The fishing rodeos are open to children ages 3-16 years old. Trophies awarded. The entry fee for participants is $5.
Dates and locations of the Fishing Rodeos:
Hyde Farm - July 8
Lost Mountain Park - July 15
Ebenezer Downs Park - July 22
Furr Family Park - July 29
Please select a Fishing Rodeo near you and sign up to help. To volunteer email Anne.Norton@cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-8819.
Public Services Director Dr. Jatunn Gibson and Commissioner Keli Gambrill are gearing up to compete in Cobb’s first ever Pickleball Challenge between Cobb County Government directors and officials Friday, Aug. 4. They’re playing for the charity Meals on Wheels and for bragging rights. You can play too by backing your favorite player. Your votes will go towards helping Meals on Wheels. May the best team win!
Cobb County PARKS is seeking food, arts and culture vendors for the 2023 International Festival. The Cobb County International Festival is a celebration of the best traditional food, music and art from around the world in our community. This year’s festival will be held 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Jim R Miller Park Event Center. Vendor applications are due by July 14.
The 50 Year Celebration of Hip-Hop continues this weekend, July 1 - 2, at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton. The Saturday concert will feature KRS One, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Kool Moe Dee, Brand Nubian and Nice & Smooth. The Sunday event features KRS One, Big Daddy Kane and EPMD. Both concerts start at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. VIP tables are available. The Mable House Complex is located at 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. Call 770-819-7765 for more information.
Cobb's Board of Commissioners will hold another public hearing 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, on a 2023 Code Amendment package being presented due to a change in state law.
The effect of House Bill 1405 revised provisions of the Zoning Procedures Law. Some of the new provisions required that certain items be included in the local government’s code. The proposed revisions to the county code are to bring Cobb’s code into compliance with state law as required by July 1, 2023.
The Cobb County Community Development Block Grant Program Office in Marietta will host a public meeting 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 28, to receive comments on the appropriation of interest income from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2020.
Cobb County’s 2020 JAG program has accumulated a total of $989.45 in interest income. The county is recommending interest reallocation to liveSAFE Resources, Inc. JAG funds and any subsequent interest earned are considered program income and can only be allocated to subrecipients funded during the 2020 grant year. Per JAG requirements, all 2020 grant funds and interest income must be expended by Sept. 30, 2023, to close out the grant.
A 30-day public comment period will conclude on Monday, July 17.
All comments regarding this public notice should be directed to the Cobb County CDBG Program Office at 770-528-1455 or via email at publiccomments@cobbcountycdbg.com. The proposed funding recommendation will be included on the Tuesday, Aug. 8, Board of Commissioners' agenda. The Cobb County CDBG Program Office is located at 192 Anderson Street, Suite 150, Marietta.
District 1 Commissioner Keli Gambrill will continue conversations with the public during her next "Walk and Talk" meet-up 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 28, at Allatoona Creek Park. The monthly event is designed to promote community engagement and support healthy living. Allatoona Creek Park is located at 5510 Old Stilesboro Road, Acworth.
Gritters patrons now served by Mountain View branch
Gritters Library in Shaw Park off Canton Road has closed so a replacement library and community center can be constructed. The new facility will include space for the county PARKS department, CobbWorks workforce development programs, and community meetings.
During the rebuild, the Mountain View Regional Library located at 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, will serve as the go-to location for Gritters patrons.
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Cobb's departments came out to help recognize the Juneteenth holiday at events across Cobb. Watch this video to see some of our participants.