Private fireworks can be an enjoyable, but risky, entertainment. If you choose to set them off on your property, be aware of state and county laws regarding their use -- as well as the safety precautions you need to follow. Cobb County allows fireworks to be discharged until midnight July 3 and July 4.
At the same time, fireworks and other pyrotechnics are prohibited at all county parks. This includes historic sites, recreational areas or state property. It is illegal to use them within 100 yards of an electric plant, water or wastewater treatment plant, gas station, refinery, electric substation, jail, helipad, hospital, nursing home or other health care facility.
You must be 18 or older to purchase or ignite fireworks. It is illegal to let young children play with them.
Other safety tips:
Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishaps.
Keep pets indoors, close the curtains and play music to drown out the noise. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and tag and is microchipped in case it bolts and becomes lost.
Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
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.
Love to fish? Can you bait a hook? PARKS' four Fishing Rodeos are coming up and we're looking for 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 will be awarded for the biggest fish caught. 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
The first rodeo, July 8 at Hyde Farm will also include free Family Day hosted by District 2 Commissioner Jerica Richardson. From 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. enjoy a scavenger hunt, a "Touch a Truck" with Cobb Fire and Police, cooking demonstrations from the UGA Extension Office, a "Story Walk" with Cobb Public Library System, a Hyde Farm tour and garden volunteer opportunities.
Please select a Fishing Rodeo near you and sign up to help. To volunteer email Anne.Norton@cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-8819.
Experience An Evening of Soul this Saturday, July 8, at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton. Famed artists Stephanie Mills, Atlantic Starr, Miki Howard and Glenn Jones will perform. The concert starts 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.
Autonomous vehicles might soon appear in Cumberland
Cobb DOT has been working with the Cumberland CID to identify multimodal paths designed for walking, biking, and an autonomous vehicle (AV) in the area. DOT is working with the CID and its "Cumberland Sweep" project on an eight-month pilot project to ferry passengers across the I-285 pedestrian bridge on small AV vans.
The pilot program will use the small AVs to connect people between the Galleria and Battery Atlanta. Cobb County government will not pay anything for the pilot, but because DOT operates the bridge they will oversee this groundbreaking project.
A recruitment event for the whole family
The Cobb County Sheriff's Office will host a Family Fun and Hiring Event 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Safety Village in Marietta. There will be food trucks, a live DJ, bouncy houses, face painting, a backpack giveaway, mounted unit, K-9 unit, SWAT team and an employee family question and answer session. The Safety Village is located at 1220 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta.
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.
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Cobb's Chief Appraiser answers residents' frequently asked questions concerning this year's property assessments and how they come to the numbers they send you.
Go along with our future firefighters as they learn about firefighting techniques, get hands-on with the equipment, and learn whether firefighting might be the career for them!
Upcoming public meetings