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Cobb County News - FEBRUARY 28, 2011
• Traffic Relief on the Way with Windy Hill Connector: A $51 million limited access connector designed to help alleviate traffic congestion in west Cobb is set to open at the end of August. The Windy Hill Road-Macland Road Connector is a bit different than most road projects. Instead of being crowded it with crossings and traffic lights, the road is designed to limit these entanglements. In fact, the existing Callaway Road was placed on a newly-created bridge to deliberately avoid an intersection, said Cobb County Department of Transportation District One Engineer Mike Wright. “Typically the only things that are limited access are major highways,” Wright said. “This will be a thoroughfare to move people from point A to point B. No points in between.” West Cobb residents who drive to Interstate 75 and U.S. Route 41 will then have a faster and more direct route to get where they are going, he added. Meanwhile, the new road will help draw traffic away from area thoroughfares such as Powder Springs Road and Austell Road. The 2.1-mile connector—which will run from Macland Road at Powder Springs Road to Windy Hill Road—is one of the many projects funded through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax passed by voters in 2005. It brings with it other unusual aspects, including bridgelike structures constructed at Jim R. Miller Park so the road would not cut apart the public facility and decrease the number of parking places there. Wright notes with reduced intersections, the capacity of the connector goes up while the travel time will be reduced for those who take advantage of the new roadway. “I think it’s going to be a great benefit,” he said. SPLOST information, including details of ongoing projects funded by the program, is updated monthly and available at cobbcip.org.
• Chubby Checker, one of the most notable performers of the 60s, will twist his way into the Anderson Theatre on March 5. Checker has had a long career and released more than 20 hit songs that appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. “The Twist” recently topped the list of most popular singles to have appeared in the Hot 100 since 1958. Lorrie Morgan is an American country music star will perform on March 19th. She has charted more than 25 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, with three number one hits. She has recorded more than 15 studio albums. Morgan made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry at age 13. Brenda Lee will come to Jennie T. Anderson Theatre on April 2. She’s had 37 hit songs since the 1960s and is best known for the hit songs “I’m Sorry” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers are scheduled to appear on April 16. Together, they were one of the most successful country music acts of the 70s and 80s. Their biggest hits together included, “All the Gold in California,” “Broken Lady” and “She Used to Be Somebody’s Baby.” The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in located at 548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 770-528-8490 or visit ticketmaster.com.
• Special Sales Tax Referendum in March: Cobb County residents will decide on March 15 whether to approve continuing a Special Local Option Sales Tax designed to raise more than $492 million in public improvements throughout Cobb County. The one-cent sales tax would provide for the immediate needs of parks and recreation, transportation, county facilities, public safety and municipal improvements. If voters agree, the new SPLOST will focus on revitalizing and preserving the county’s infrastructure, including existing parks, roads, bridges, school zones, libraries, senior facilities and other essential public features. Officials plan to leverage any SPLOST funds, which would begin collection in January 2012, with other sources, including federal, state and Community Improvement Districts. The current one-cent SPLOST expires on Dec. 31. For more information, go to cobbsplost2011.org.
Public meeting to be held
CobbLine Staff
• County Book Sale Set For Next Month: The next Cobb County Library System Book Sale is the weekend of March 4-6 at Jim R. Miller Park. Hours for the sale are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, then 1-5 p.m. Sunday.  Sale items include both hardbound and paperback books for children, young adults and adults; audio-visuals including books on tape and compact disc, videocassettes, compact discs, and records; magazines and some comic books. Jim R. Miller Park is located at 2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta. For more information, or to volunteer, call 770-528-2342.
• Homestead Exemptions Due by April 1st: Homeowners have until April 1 to apply for Homestead Exemptions for this tax year. Applications not received by the deadline will be processed and applied the following year. The applicant must occupy the property and his or her name must appear on the deed in order to qualify. Homeowners must apply for all exemptions for which they are eligible; exemptions are automatically renewed thereafter unless there is a change in ownership or eligibility. Homeowners must notify the Tax Commissioner’s Office if they are no longer eligible for an exemption. It is not necessary to reapply if the home has been refinanced. Most new property owners will be mailed a tax exemption brochure after the first of the year. Tax bills are mailed on Aug. 15 and payment is due within 60 days to avoid late charges. Applications and payments must be received or U.S. Postmarked (metered postmark not accepted as proof of timely mailing) by the filing or payment deadline to be considered timely. Applications, detailed information, tax bills and year round on-line bill pay are available at cobbtax.org or by calling 770-528-8600.
• County residents can still take advantage of a prescription drug discount program offered for free through the National Asso-ciation of Counties. The program was launched to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county is making the free prescription drug discount cards available under a program that offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. Cards are available at the following locations: any Cobb County public library; East Cobb Government Service Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta; South Cobb Government Service Center, 4700 Austell Road in Austell; Cobb County Tag Office, 700 South Cobb Drive in Marietta; Cobb Tax Commissioner’s Office, 736 Whitlock Avenue; all Senior Services locations. There is no cost to county taxpayers for the program. Residents can call toll free 877-321-2652 or visit the Web site caremark.com/naco for assistance with the program.
All Cobb County News Articles by CobbLine Staff.

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Keep Cobb Beautiful News

POWDER SPRINGS, GA SCHOOLS: KCB Cobb Schools Mini Grant Program: Purpose: The purpose of the mini-grant project is to increase awareness about the environment through hands-on learning activities to improve and beautify the outdoor environment and increase recycling in Cobb County.
Objectives:
1. Use natural settings as the context for learning and instruction.
2. Increase engagement and enthusiasm for learning.
3. Provide opportunities for community-based investigations that incorporate hands-on service/learning activities through an integrated, interdisciplinary instruction and collaborative teaching methods.
4. Implement or enhance waste reduction and recycling.
Funds: A maximum of $200 per organization will be awarded. If an organization is selected, funds will be reimbursed to the organization for eligible expenses incurred. No money will be given for pre-award projects, non-allowable expenses or for future expenses.
Eligible Projects: Funds may be used for outdoor environmental improvement projects including:
1. Outdoor classrooms
2. Discovery trails
3. National Wildlife Federation habitat certification
4. Sensory or educational gardens
5. Beautification projects
6. Recycling/Waste Reduction programs
7. The grant application may include multiple projects.
8. Next Application Deadline: Friday, February 4, 2011
9. Report Deadline: End of business Friday, April 8, 2011
Powder springs, ga schools: To obtain an application and the grant guidelines go to: kcb.cobbcountyga.gov/schoolprograms.htm
• Simple Steps To A Healthy Home: Bathroom And Laundry Faucet - Saving Water Not Only Conserves Resources, It Also Saves You Money. A leaky faucet that drips once each second can waste more than 8 gallons of water per day and more than 3,000 gallons per year. Got a Morning? Fix your leaky faucets or replace old faucets with new water-saving designs. You can also simply fit your current faucet with a low-flow aerator. Any of these steps will save water - and energy - by reducing the amount of wasted water down the drain.
Mark Your Calendars...
Feb. 12 - Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club Workday
Feb. 18 - GA Arbor Day
Mar. 1 - Great American Cleanup Kick-off Coming Clean in Cobb Challenge
Mar. 26 - Medical Disposal Day
Apr. 16 - Earth Day Project - Fair Oaks Park
Apr. 16 - Adopt a Mile Cleanup
Apr. 22 - Earth Day
Apr. 30 - Document Shredding Day
May 21 - Electronics Recycling Day
For more information about any of these projects go to: www.cobbcounty.org

Cobb County, Georgia News

Articles by Cobbline Staff

 

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ARCHIVED NEWS BELOW

 Cobb honored with ARC's first environmental award: Cobb County recently became the first community in the region to qual-ify for a Silver Level Green Communities Certification from the Atlanta Regional Commission. Cobb earned this distinction by imple-menting environmentally-friendly practices and policies in 10 categories, ranging from energy efficiency and green building to transpor-tation and water efficiency. The City of Alpharetta and the City of Decatur also received Bronze Level certification. Green Communities set an example by conserving energy, investing in renewable energy, conserving water, conserving fuel, re-ducing waste and protecting the community's natural resources. Cobb achieved this by forming a Green Team that includes representa-tives from each department and adopting the Cobb County Sustainable Practices Policy in February. The county replaced all of its traffic signals and many school flashers and pedestrian signals with LED lamps, saving an estimated 3.6 million kwh of energy, 2,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and $271,000 in utility costs. The county also adopted organic and drought-tolerant landscape practices for government facilities and accepts concrete and asphalt demolition debris to recycle into a reus-able construction material available to businesses. The new Public Safety Village's main building has an Energy Star-rated cool roof and educational materials are posted throughout to inform visitors of the roof and its benefits. For more information on the program, visit atlantaregional.com/greencommunities.

 Catch county and fire department on YouTube: Cobb is using many social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, to keep the community actively involved. The county also made accessing vital information even easier by creating a page on YouTube. Many videos can be found on the site, including details on becoming a emergency-911 operator, pets available for adoption and how to stay safe while using a recreational trail. Videos from the Emergency Management Agency help you protect your family by providing a wealth of information on topics ranging from sheltering in place and first aid kits to reporting suspicious activity and how to join the Community Emergency Response Team program. To view informative county videos, visit youtube.com/cobbcountytv23.
Cobb Fire and Emergency Services also has an official YouTube page to provide fire and life safety information to the public. Videos featured include episodes of 3rd Alarm, which takes a closer look at the fire department and explores the field of fire fighting. The show is written and produced by career firefighters. Other videos include information on how to become a firefighter and how to check your smoke detector. For more information, visit youtube.com/cobbfirevideos.

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VOLUME 16 ISSUE #2 - FEBRUARY 2009 ISSUE

Cobb County News
 New Transit Program Makes Travel Easier for Seniors: One of the biggest obstacles for seniors in metro Atlanta is lack of transportation and a new Cobb County program aims to provide it for them. The “Cobb Freedom” voucher program, sponsored by the county Department of Transportation and Senior Services, is aimed at seniors who live in areas that do not have regular paratransit service. “Patrons will be able to reach destinations beyond the limits of the current Cobb Community Transit system and what Cobb Senior Services can provide,” DOT Planning Manager Laraine A. Vance said.
In the program, eligible seniors are provided with vouchers to purchase transportation which best meets their needs. Transportation service pro-viders must be preregistered vendors with Cobb County and can consist of public, private or nonprofit organizations. Residents eligible for the program are seniors aged 60 and older who qualify for CCT Paratransit services, but live outside the service area and are not currently served by Cobb Senior Services transportation. More than 200 seniors are expected to participate the first year, allowing them to travel independently to their doctor, grocery store, church and other destinations using pre-approved vendors, officials said. “Having available transportation will encourage disabled seniors to continue to be active,” Vance said. “The program will encourage disabled seniors to rely on public transit as an alternative mode of transportation when they can no longer drive themselves.” The program also has the added benefit of costing less than it would to expand the regular transit services to all areas, while still providing the service, Vance noted. The program is being paid for through a federal grant aimed at increasing transportation options for disabled people. Cobb Senior Services, DOT, and CCT developed the program following the results of a Senior Adult Transportation study com-pleted in 2007. Cobb Senior Services has successfully used vouchers since 2004 for various programs, including caregivers of those with dementia. For more information, please call 770-528-5364 or go to the Web site cobbseniors.org.

 Homestead Exemptions due by April 1: Homeowners have until April 1 to apply for a homestead exemption for this tax year. Homeowners must apply for all exemptions for which they are eligible; thereafter, exemptions are automatically renewed unless there is a change in ownership or eligibility requirements are no longer met. Homeowners must notify the Tax Commissioner’s office if no longer eligible for exemption. It is not neces-sary to reapply if the home has been refinanced. The applicant’s name must appear on the deed and the applicant must occupy the property in order to qualify. Most new property owners will receive an application by mail after the first of the year. Tax bills are mailed Aug. 15 and payment is due by Oct. 15 to avoid late charges. Applications and payments must be received or U.S. Postmarked (metered postmark not accepted as proof of timely mailing) by the deadline. Tax bills, application forms and detailed information are available at cobbtax.org.
 Female Leaders Head Panel: The League of Women Voters Marietta-Cobb and the YWCA of Northwest Georgia will host the first “Celebrating History Through Her Story.” The event will be held at the Workforce Development and Conference Center at Chattahoochee Tech 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 14. This year’s focus will be on first elected women officials in Cobb with a panel including Victoria Chastain, the first female Mayor of the City of Marietta; The Honorable Dorothy Robinson, the first female elected Superior Court Judge of Cobb County Judicial Circuit; Lynda Coker, first female state representative from Cobb; Barbara Williams, the first female Cobb County Commissioner; and Alisha Thomas Morgan, the first African Ameri-can female state representative from Cobb. The event will be a highlight of Women’s History Month and there will be no charge to attend. If you would like more information or to reserve your seat as space is limited, please contact Holly Comer, CEO and executive director of the YWCA of Northwest Georgia, at 770-423-3562 or e-mail her at hcomer@ywcanwga.com.

 Prescription Discount Cards Available: Cobb launched a discount program last year to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county makes free prescription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties that offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. There is no cost to county taxpayers to make these money saving cards available to residents. Cards are available at county libraries, government service centers, the Tax Commissioner’s Office, Senior Services and Board of Commissioners administrative offices. Residents can call toll free 877-321-2652 or visit www.caremark.com/naco  for assistance with the program.
 Review Cobb’s Progress During Year 2008: Cobb County’s 2008 Annual Report is now available online at cobbcounty.org/annual-report/. The publication describes many projects completed and progress made by the county during the past year.

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VOLUME 16 ISSUE #1 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

Cobb County News

By Tiffany A. Lewis, CobbLine staff

Winter Tips to Help Safely and Efficiently Heat your Home

During these cold months, many Cobb residents will turn to alternative heating sources, such as portable space heat-ers, stoves, ovens and fireplaces, to help reduce their energy bills. The American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released a survey showing about half of U.S. households will use an alternative heating source this winter. However, when used improperly, these heating sources can cause fires. Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths and almost half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January and February.
NFPA offers the following safety tips to help you protect your home.
 Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
 Only use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory, such as UL.
 Never use your oven for heating.
 Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
 Maintain equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected yearly by a qualified professional.
 Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
 For fuel burning space heaters, always use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer.
 Make sure fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room and burn only dry, seasoned wood. Allow ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container kept a safe distance from the home.
 Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
 Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to avoid the risk of poisoning.
 If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not attempt to light the appliance. Turn off all the controls and open doors and windows. Call a gas service professional.
 Test smoke alarms at least monthly.
NFPA also provides tips to safely reduce home energy costs this winter.
Heating systems:
 Set thermostats at 68°F (20°C) when the house is occupied during the day and then turn it down at night or when you’re not home (60°F (15°C) is recommended). There are programmable thermostats you can buy from local hardware and lumber stores that do this automatically and easily. They are inexpensive, reliable and easy to install. This would not be recommended for “heat pump” systems if it would cause auxiliary heating to come on.
 Make sure supply and return vents, radiators and baseboard heating units are not obstructed by furniture, appli-ances or other objects and that air can flow freely to and from them.
 Clean or change furnace filters in forced hot air systems once a month or as needed.
 Have heating system maintained and serviced according to manufacturer’s instructions (usually once a year).
 Check heating ducts for air leaks from joints and holes. Check with your local hardware store for the proper mastic or tape to use for the particular job.
 Insulate hot water tank with an insulating jacket according to manufacturer recommendations.
 Turn down the thermostat in rooms that have all of the following: are unoccupied; can be closed off from the rest of the house and have their own heating zone. Do not do this if it could lead to freezing water pipes.
Windows and doors:
 Install caulking, weather stripping or use spray-in foams around exterior windows and doors or those between heated and unheated spaces (garages, basements, crawl spaces, attics).
 Keep draperies and shades open during the day on your southern facing walls to allow sunlight to enter. Keep them closed at night to reduce heat loss and the chill or “draft” you may feel from cold windows.
Exhaust fans:
 A kitchen or bathroom fan can pull out a houseful of heated air in just one hour so turn off all fans as soon as they have done their job. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org.

Purchase Plants to Help Beautify Your New Year’s Garden

By Louise Weyer, Cobb County Extension Service

The Cobb County 4-H Club is having its annual plant sale. This year’s assortment includes blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, crape myrtles, edgeworthia, helleborous, heuchera and Spring Bouquet Viburnum. Prepaid orders will be accepted until Wednesday, March 11. The order form is available at cobbextension.com or by calling 770-528-4076. Plants may be picked up at Jim Miller Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 21, (one day only).
Since the plants have different cultural requirements, the following guidelines will help you make a selection and transplant them successfully.
Blackberries: Blackberries require plenty of sunlight, neutral soil (pH 6.0 – 6.5) and adequate water. Do not plant them in low areas where water stands after a heavy rain. The standard spacing is two feet between plants and 12 feet between rows. Fifteen plants, properly cared for, can supply berries for the average family.
Work the soil ahead of time so a drenching rain can firm it. Plant with the roots two inches below the soil line. Do not fertilize at planting time. In April of the first year scatter one pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 18 feet of row. In June scatter one pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 36 feet of row. Spread the fertilizer evenly over the row in a band two feet wide.
Blueberries: Blueberries prefer sun, acid soil (pH 4.5 – 5.2) and adequate water. The standard spacing is four-five feet between bushes and 10-12 feet between rows. Plant more than one variety for required cross-pollination.
Mix one-fourth to one-half bushel of moist organic amendment with the soil in each planting hole. Do not add lime. Transplant to the same depth as the plant grew in the pot. Water with three-five gallons per bush.
Cut the plant back one-third at planting and remove flower buds the first year. Mulch with pine straw, chopped pine bark or similar material, keeping it away from the trunk. After new growth begins, spread one ounce of 12-4-8 or 10-10-10 fertilizer in a circle six inches from the trunk. Make another application in June.
Raspberries: Heritage is a self-pollinating variety, can produce berries on old canes in early summer and berries on new cane August until frost. Plant bushes three feet apart in rows six feet apart. Raspberries require full sun to light shade, well drained soil and a pH of 5.0 – 6.5. It is a shallow rooted bush, requiring one to one-and-a-half inches of water per week.
Crape Myrtles: Crape myrtle, admired for the beautiful blooms, exfoliating bark and fall leaf color, may be grown as a bush or shaped to a tree type. These powdery mildew resistant varieties do best in full sun, and once established, withstand drought.
Dig a hole at least two times wider than the root ball. Set the plant in the hole no deeper than it grew originally. Backfill with the soil removed from the hole. Water thoroughly and mulch with three-five inches of pine straw, pine bark or slightly decomposed leaves. Keep mulch away from the trunk.
The plants should be watered thoroughly at planting time and once a week for the first two months. Apply one tea-spoon of 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 fertilizer monthly from March through August to newly planted one gallon plants. Plant height ranges: Arapaho 20 feet, Catawba 10-20 feet, Natchez 20 plus feet, Pink Velour 10 feet and Tuscarora 15 – 25 feet.
Edgeworthia: Commonly known as Paper Bush, this winter flowering shrub (six feet by six feet) does well in light shade. Its three-four inch long, narrow dark blue-green leaves are clustered at branch tips. Flower buds covered with silky white hairs appear in late summer after leaf fall and look like white blossoms, and the lightly fragrant, pale yellow blossoms appear in late winter. Edgeworthia is pest-free. It prefers moist, well-drained soil containing plenty of organic matter. Pliable, bare stems produced freely from the base, with leaves clustered at the tips impart a tropi-cal look. Use as a woodland plant or specimen.
Helleborous: The attractive foliage and blossoms during winter and spring of this perennial is a wonderful addition to a shady garden. Mass under high-branching trees, on north or east side of walls. If established plants are dis-turbed, it may take two years to reestablish. Plant in well-drained soil amended with plenty of organic matter. Feed once or twice a year. Plant forms tight clumps of many growing points. Plants may self-sow and seedlings may be transplanted in early spring. This plant is not damaged by deer or rodents.
Heuchera: This 12-18 inch high herbaceous perennial, also known as coral bells, is an attractive border plant. It does well in light shade to shade in moist well drained, humus rich soil. Snow Angel has green and cream mottled leaves with vivid pink blossoms in May-June. Crimson Curl has burgundy foliage with pink blossoms.
Viburnum: Spring Bouquet is an evergreen shrub with small, leathery, dark green leaves. Its upright-rounded form, about five to six feet tall and wide, makes it a good choice for small hedges, screens or foundation plantings. Fra-grant white to pink flowers appear in the spring, and blue black berries in the fall. Plant in full sun and water regu-larly.
A free seminar on growing and caring for blueberries and blackberries will be conducted by Steve Brady, Cobb County Extension agent, 7-8:30 p.m., Monday, March 9, at the Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive, Marietta. Call the Extension Office at 770-528-4070 for free brochures describing the care of these plants.

Share Opinion on Keeping Cobb Beautiful

Keep Cobb Beautiful needs public input on important environmental issues. Whether it’s recycling, greenspace, litter prevention or something else, KCB is seeking your thoughts and ideas. A quick online survey will help the organization serve the needs of Cobb’s residents better. The survey will be available until the end of February. To participate, visit www.kcb.cobbcountyga.gov.

Homestead Exemptions Due by April 1

Homeowners have until April 1 to apply for a homestead exemption for this tax year. Applications must be received or U.S. postmarked (a metered postmark is not accepted as proof of timely mailing) by April 1 to receive the benefit of the exemption for that year. Homeowners must apply for all exemptions for which they are eligible; thereafter, exemptions are automatically renewed each year unless there is a change in ownership or eligibility requirements are no longer met. It is not necessary to reapply if the home has been refinanced. The applicant’s name must appear on the deed and the applicant must occupy the property in order to qualify. Homeowners may apply for homestead ex-emptions by mail. Most new property owners will receive an application by mail at the first of the year. Application forms and information are available at www.cobbtax.org or can be requested by calling 770-528-8600

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VOLUME 15 ISSUE #15 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

False Burglar Alarms waste Police Time and Taxpayers Money

False Alarms by Tiffany A. Lewis, CobbLine staff - All other articles by CobbLine Staff

Cobb County has a nationally accredited police department, which demonstrates its commitment in providing outstanding law enforcement services to our community. But the ongoing problem of false burglar alarms is hampering police officers by wasting time and money. This led to the devel-opment of Cobb County’s new alarm ordinance, which goes into effect Jan. 1. There will be tiered fines for unregistered burglar alarms and excessive false alarms. Last year, the most common call for service was to alarms and there were almost double as many calls as for the number two call for service, traffic accidents. Of the about 43,000 alarm calls, almost 99 percent were false. “We want our highly-trained officers to be able to spend their time patrolling and preventing crime instead of spending 10-20 percent of their days checking erroneous burglar alarm calls,” Mickey Lloyd, Public Safety Director, said. An officer spends an average of 20 minutes on a burglar alarm call, so false alarms wasted approximately 15,840 man hours in 2007. That’s an estimated $368,000 of taxpayer money that could have been used to better serve and protect residents. “The goal of the ordinance is to reduce wasted man hours spent responding to false alarms,” Lloyd said. “We hope to cut the number of false alarms by 50 percent over the next five years.” All residents in unincorporated Cobb who have burglar alarms in their homes or businesses are required to register the system with the county. Registering alarms has many benefits to home and business owners. It provides police with contact information in case of a suspected break-in. Police usually contact owners to see how they want the property secured. Registration begins Oct. 1 and all alarms must be registered by Dec. 31. Motor vehicle or boat alarms, fire alarms and alarms designed to elicit a medical response do not have to be registered.
“Registering burglar alarms with Cobb County is free, fairly simple and does not take a lot of time,” Sgt. Brody Staud of the False Alarm Reduction Unit, said. “We made the process as easy as possible and residents can register online or by mail. We are encouraging all residents to register their burglar alarms now.” To view the entire false alarm ordinance, visit  www.cobbcounty.org/downloads/alarm-ordinance.pdf  For more information, call the False Alarm Reduction Unit at 770-528-3819. To register online, visit  www.cobbpolice.com 
Prepare for Emergencies by making a Ready Kit
This article is the second part of a four-month series promoting emergency preparedness to help you protect your family and possessions. In October, Cobb County Emergency Management Agency encourages all residents to prepare a Ready Kit. A Ready Kit should sustain the family for at least three days in case of a natural or man-made disaster. The kit should contain copies of all vital documents, equipment such as a flashlight and extra batteries and a first aid kit. Ready Kits should also contain enough water and non-perishable food to sustain each family member for three days, but you will plan for these items in November. Below is a checklist of items to be included in a Ready Kit and some additional items that might be considered.
Recommended items to include in a basic Ready Kit:
 Can opener for food, if kit contains canned food
 Radio battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
 Flashlight and extra batteries
 First aid kit
 Whistle to signal for help
 Face mask to help filter contaminated air; plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
 Moist towels, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
 Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
 Local maps
Additional items to consider adding to a Ready Kit:
 Prescription medications and glasses
 Infant formula and diapers
 Pet food and extra water for your pet.
 Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
 Cash or traveler’s checks and change
 Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.Ready.gov
 Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider adding bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate
 Complete change of clothing including long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider adding clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate
 Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper
 Fire extinguisher
 Matches in a waterproof container
 Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
 Mess kits, paper cups, plates, plastic utensils and paper towels
 Paper and pencil
 Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
First Aid Kit:
 20 adhesive bandages, various sizes
 one 5”x9” sterile dressing
 one conforming roller gauze bandage
 two triangular bandages
 two 3”x3” sterile gauze pads
 two 4”x4” sterile gauze pads
 one roll 3” cohesive bandage
 two germicidal hand wipes or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer
 six antiseptic wipes
 two pair large medical grade non-latex gloves
 Adhesive tape, 2” width
 Anti-bacterial ointment
 Cold pack
 Scissors (small, personal)
 Tweezers
 CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield
For more information, visit www.ema.cobbcountyga.gov or call 770-499-4567. 
Volunteers Needed during Emergencies
During Hurricane Katrina, many evacuees took shelter in Cobb County and volunteers played many crucial roles. During disaster recovery efforts, volunteers provide crucial assistance that allows first responders to focus on other important tasks. Volunteers of all skill levels and backgrounds are needed during emergency response. The most effective way to become a volunteer is by registering with a statewide program such as the Medi-cal Reserve Corps or the Georgia Nurse Alert system through SERVGA by visiting  www.servga.gov The online registration form allows volun-teers to include licenses and certifications, language skills and types of jobs or tasks they can contribute to disaster recovery efforts. SERVGA inte-grates local, regional and statewide volunteer programs to assist emergency response and public safety organizations during a disaster. Cobb County Medical Reserve Corps is managed through Cobb EMA and can be reached at 770-499-4567. 
Spread Holiday Cheer as ‘Senior Santa’
Cobb Senior Services is looking for those who want to provide Christmas cheer for a senior adult who may otherwise spend the holidays alone. A $25 donation will provide door-to-door van transportation to the Senior Santa Christmas party featuring dinner, songs, decorations, games, party favors, a visit from Santa Claus, a gift bag filled with shelf stable food, a holiday card, personal items and a personal gift. Seniors who are unable to attend the party will receive an in-home visit from staff, a special meal and a gift bag. Those donating will receive a certificate with the name and picture (if available) of the senior(s) supported. Please share this holiday spirit with your office, church, neighborhood or organization. For more information, contact LaTronda Perry at 770-528-5364. 
Donations Needed to help feed Cobb’s Needy Families on Thanksgiving
As we prepare for a holiday with loved ones around a feast, many of our neighbors must stretch their budgets, making it hard to afford a Thanks-giving meal for their families. The Center for Family Resources, in partnership with the Cobb County Department of Family and Children Services, has provided Thanksgiving baskets to families in need in Cobb County for more than 20 years. Last year, CFR provided Thanksgiving baskets to 1,000 families. The center saw a significant increase in need during the first half of 2008 and has set a goal to provide baskets to 1,450 families. You can sponsor the Thanks for Giving 2008 program or host a food drive at your company, school, congregation or organization. If you are inter-ested in sponsoring a food drive, here’s a list of items needed to fill baskets for families: $15 gift certificate from a local grocer for a turkey, dress-ing mix, cranberry sauce, canned or instant potatoes (sweet or white), canned green vegetables, canned yellow vegetables, non-refrigerated pie shell and pumpkin pie mix, dried or canned milk and roasting pans. In addition to these items, the center also welcomes the following: dried beans, pea-nut butter, canned meat, tuna, or ham, rice, pasta, cereal, soup, bread, rolls and canned fruit. The center cannot accept items that require refrigeration (i.e. turkeys, milk, etc.) For more information on sponsorships, volunteering or food drives, contact Jennifer Cain at 770-428-2601 or at  jennifercain@theCFR.org   

 Improper Parking a Common Problem
Cobb code enforcement officers often encounter violations of the county code in residential neighborhoods. For the next several months, some common offenses will be highlighted.
Parking
Vehicles must be parked along the curb, facing in the direction of traffic flow, have a valid tag and be operational. Vehicles may not be parked in designated No Parking areas, where they block access to private driveways or where they restrict the safe flow of traffic. There are no county re-strictions on the length of time a vehicle may be parked on a residential street. This is enforced only by police. Vehicles may not be parked in the grass or unimproved surface between the roadway and the home’s front setback. In the R-30, R-20, R-15, R-12, RD, RA-4 and RA-6 districts, only one vehicle, one boat and one recreational vehicle (or any combination of such totaling three) may be parked in the rear and side yard areas and on a hardened surface. In the R-40, R-80 and RR districts, any combination of boats and recreational vehicles ex-ceeding three must be screened from public roadways by a fence or buffer approved by the Cobb landscape architect. No materials, equipment or business vehicles may be stored or parked on the premises, except for one business vehicle, used exclusively by the resident. A business vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross weight greater than 12,500 pounds is not allowed to be parked on residential property. More detailed information is available in the county code, on the county clerk’s Web page at www.cobbcounty.org or by calling Code Enforcement at 770-528-2180. 
Discount Prescription Cards Available
Cobb launched a free prescription drug discount program last year to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county makes discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties that offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. There is no cost to county taxpayers to make these money saving cards available to residents. Cards are available at county libraries, government service centers, the Tax Commissioner’s Office, Senior Services and Board of Commissioners adminis-trative offices. County residents can call toll free 877-321-2652 or visit   www.caremark.com/naco for assistance with the program. 

 Save the Date this Month for Historic Event: Cobb County, in cooperation with local partners, is planning a workshop for those interested in historic properties on Saturday, March 14 at Kennesaw State University. Local partners include Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society, City of Acworth, City of Kennesaw and the City of Marietta. The workshop will educate attendees on ways of preserving and maintaining Cobb’s historic buildings. Topics include the National Register, local historic designation, tax benefits and other relevant subjects. This workshop is being funded in part with federal funds from the National Park Service through Georgia’s Historic Preservation Division. More information will be forthcoming.

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Volume 15 Issue #14 - October/November 2008

Protect Your Family by Developing an Emergency Plan
Tornadoes, hail, straight line winds, severe thunderstorms, floods and winter storms are just a few of the natural disasters that could strike Cobb County.
For the next four months, Cobb EMA will provide specific information to help you protect your most valuable possessions — your family and future. September’s topic is planning, October’s is preparing, November’s is collecting and December’s is sharing.
Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios may be purchased at most re-tailers and are the primary tool for alerting people of weather and other emergencies. In conjunction with federal, state and local emergency managers and other public officials, the National Weather Service (NWS) also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards. This in-cludes natural (such as tornadoes or hurricanes) and environmental (such as chemical releases) events. NOAA weather radios will sound an alarm when the NWS issues an emergency alert, followed by a broadcast with details about the emergency. Some models can even be programmed for specific geographical areas, allowing you to determine the areas covered for which you receive alerts. Visit www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr for more information.
Develop a Preparedness Plan
 Make copies of important documents, such as birth certificates, insurance policies (personal, car, home, etc.), passports, driver licenses, lists of bank/investment accounts, etc. Place them in a zip lock bag and add them to your disaster kit next month.
 Pick two places to meet: one right outside your home in case of sudden emergency, like a fire; one outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
 Choose an emergency out-of-state contact. Assure that all family members know your contact’s number. After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance.
 Learn about Cobb’s outdoor warning system and what you should do if these sirens are activated, including seeking shelter in an interior room preferably with no windows on the lowest floor in a building.
 Locate the main electric box, water service main and natural gas main. Learn how and when to turn off these utilities. Teach all responsible family members.
 Store necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves. Contact your local gas or water department for instructions on how to turn these off if necessary during a crisis. Remember to only turn off the utilities if you suspect the lines are damaged or if you are instructed to do so. If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on.
 If you have special health needs, register on the Special Needs/Populations at Risk data base ema.cobbcountyga.gov/preparedness.htm
 Learn more about planning for pets at www.fda.gov/cvm/disaster.htm.
For more information, visit: www.ema.cobbcountyga.gov or call 770-499-4567.
 Construction Continues on Jail
Jail Expansion Project, Funded by SPLOST.
Cobb voters approved the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to fund important transportation and public safety projects in 2005. Since then, significant progress has been made in many areas, including the jail expansion, public safety radio system upgrade and new courthouse project.
County officials broke ground a little more than a year ago on the $110 million expansion of the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on County Services Parkway. The project is well underway, within budget and should be completed on the scheduled timeline. The parking area is complete and all sub-contract packages have been awarded. All earthwork, underground utilities and foundations for the new housing tower, administration, visitor’s center and central plant/maintenance buildings have been completed. Steel panels that will comprise the actual cells have been manufactured off-site and are being stored in a bonded warehouse.
The first building to be completed will be a new visitor center, which will have video visitation. The building is about 55 percent complete and will be done the first part of next year. The kitchen expansion and administration building should be complete by March and the new inmate housing tower will open late next year. Other major work include kitchen, laundry and medical area expansions. When completed, the project will add more than 320,000 square feet and 1,152 beds to the facility, bringing its capacity to 3,077 prisoners.
$27 million in SPLOST funds was allocated to help pay for an upgraded public safety radio system for the county and the cities it supports, pro-viding modern mobile data services and enhancing communication with surrounding agencies. The project is near completion with the 800 MHz radio system infrastructure installed and all radios either installed or ordered.
SPLOST funds of $55 million will enable the building of a new courthouse that will combine all of the county’s court services on one campus. The new building will also provide a larger jury assembly room to house jurors and upgraded security measures. Construction bids are due Sept. 11 and the bid opening will be at 2 p.m. The selection review will be Sept. 16 and interviews will be held Sept. 23, both at Cobb County’s Property Manage-ment Department. The Cobb Board of Commissioners will vote on approval of the bid at its October meeting.
For more information on SPLOST projects, visit: www.cobbcip.org.

 Cobb Helps you Save Money While Preserving Water
Cobb Water System offers customers rebates on select water efficient toilets and toilet valves. For more information, visit: www.cobbwater.org/efficiency.htm
The toilet is the biggest water user in the home because more than 45 percent of indoor water used is flushed down the drain every day. Last Oc-tober, Cobb Water System introduced a toilet rebate program to assist customers in homes built prior to 1993 with retrofitting older hi-flow toilets with new low-flow technology.
The program has two rebate options. The first is a $50 rebate for the purchase of a 1.6 gallon per flush toilet on the approved list, which is avail-able at cobbwater.org/efficiency.htm. The second option is a $100 rebate for high efficiency toilets, which use 1.28 gallons per flush and have earned the WaterSense label. WaterSense is the Environmental Protection Agency’s marking for water efficiency. Customers are eligible to receive rebates for up to three toilets per home.
The rebate appears as a credit on the water bill. Customers purchase a toilet from the approved list, submit the completed application and original receipt to the water efficiency office, and, after verifying the eligibility of the toilet and the age of the home, a credit will be issued on the bill.
Up to 200 gallons of water a day can be lost to toilet leaks and many of the leaks are silent. More than a gallon of water can be wasted every flush waiting for the tank to refill. In an effort to target wasted water and assist multi-unit customers, Cobb Water System has also developed a toilet valve rebate program for management of communities served by master meter, including apartments, townhouses, condominiums and detached residential units. Single family residential customers are not eligible for the toilet valve program.
Taking advantage of this program is easy. The management of the property purchases the valves and has them installed. Once the completed ap-plication and original receipt is received, Cobb County will credit 50 percent of the purchase price to the water bill. A community may purchase half of the needed valves and after six months purchase the other half, however, purchasing in bulk is the most cost-effective method.
The HydroClean 660 valve by MJSI, Inc. has been approved because it is adjustable and can be calibrated to save water lost through the overflow tube after the bowl has refilled. The valve also has jets that send an auditory signal any time the toilet is leaking or the flapper is unseated. This alerts customers to a leaking toilet, resulting in prompt repairs and less wasted water.
For more information, visit: www.cobbwater.org/efficiency.htm 

Cobb Office Helps Keep you Healthy

By Patricia Simmons Stuckey, UGA Cobb Extension
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in Cobb County’s mission is to provide educational outreach on local issues, such as health and wellness. Cooperative Extension provides the educational component, often working with agencies that have regulatory responsibilities. One such col-laborative effort is with Cobb and Douglas Public Health.
New food regulations were recently implemented across the state. The grading system now includes both a letter and numerical grade. Food es-tablishments also receive risk-based inspections with an emphasis on several factors that contribute to the spread of foodborne illness. Operators must demonstrate knowledge in food safety and sanitation. All establishments permitted since Dec. 1 are required to have at least one person in the restaurant certified as a food safety manager. Establishments permitted prior to that date have a grace period until December 2009 to meet the requirement.
UGA Cobb Extension and the Center for Environmental Health provide the required training through ServSafe Manager Certification, developed by the National Restaurant Association. The two-day course ends with a standardized test. The next training will be Oct. 22-23. For details, call 770-528-4090, 770-435-7815 or visit www.cobbextension.com
Cobb Extension also collaborates to help educate women about wellness and health screenings. Extension, BreasTest & More, American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute will conduct the seminar “Cooking for a Lifetime of Women’s Wellness” 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, at St. Philip United Methodist Church, 2400 Favor Road, Marietta.
Women will learn important information about breast and cervical cancer screenings, as well as nutritious food preparation. Participants will re-ceive and sample food recipes. Coupons for low/no cost cancer screenings will be distributed to eligible women ages 40-64 who are without medical insurance. Registration is required. Call 770-528-4090 or visit www.cobbextension.com for brochure. 

 Centers Make Services More Accessible
Cobb has two government service centers for residents’ convenience in paying water bills, purchasing vehicle tags, filing homestead exemptions, obtaining or renewing a business license, paying property taxes or receiving information about other county services. Each service center also has a meeting room that may be reserved for club or civic meetings and activities.
 East Cobb Government Service Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068, 770-499-4444
 South Cobb Government Service Center, 4700 Austell Road, Austell, GA 30106, 770-499-4494
All Articles by CobbLine Staff

Cobb County Volunteer Programs
Adopt-A-Mile Program
TRASH: It's not a pretty sight, especially when dumped along our roadways. What's more your tax dollars are spent each year to clean up the mess.
SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO? Your club, civic group or business can keep Cobb beautiful by joining Keep Cobb Beautiful and Cobb Dept. of Transportation's Adopt-A-Mile Program. As part of Adopt-A-Mile, your organization agrees to periodically remove trash from a single, mile-long stretch of road.
SO HOW DO YOU JOIN?
Select someone 21 or older to be your coordinator.
Identify the one mile section you want to adopt.
Call (770) 528-1135 to receive an application.
SEE? NO SWEAT (well maybe a little…)
In joining Adopt-A-Mile, you agree to:
Organize four clean-ups within a 12-month period.
Attend DOT safety training before initial clean-up.
Submit releases of liability, parental consent forms, organization roster and other paperwork.
Participants should be 11 or older.
AND WHAT DOES THE COUNTY DO? In return, Cobb DOT provides: clean-up supplies, signs, trash removal, and a safety training session.
TRAINING? TO PICK UP TRASH? Your safety is important to us. That's why we require all participants be trained to safely work along busy roadways.
BAGGING RIGHTS: After the first cleanup, Cobb DOT will post signs at either end of "your" mile. That way, passing motorists will know who to thank!
THE BEST PART? A sense of pride and satisfaction from keeping Cobb clean and beautiful. Cobb County has a reputation as one of the South-east's most attractive communities… Let's keep it that way!
For more information contact Gwen Baldwin, Keep Cobb Beautiful, 1897 County Services Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30008, (770) 528-1135 or E-mail: gwen.baldwin@cobbcounty.org
Probation Program Seeks Volunteer Officers: Superior Court's Volunteer Probation Officer program needs help relieving the State probation caseload. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a high school diploma and no criminal history. Those selected will attend a formal training class provided by officials from Cobb Superior Court, State Department of Corrections and Kennesaw State University. For more information, call (770) 528-7986.
Seniors 'Most Wanted' to Help Sheriff: Cobb Sheriff Bill Hustson's three year old Volunteers In Partnership program is looking for residents 55 and older to assist deputies and other staff in sheriff's office operations.
Volunteer functions include checking in visitors at the adult detention facility, making follow-up phone calls for the investigative unit and general clerical duties. Interested seniors must submit to a criminal background check and commit to a minimum of six hours a week for at least 26 weeks. For more information, call (770) 499-4619.
Cobb County Juvenile Court's Court Appointed Special Advocate: A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained community vol-unteer appointed by a Juvenile Court Judge to speak up for the best interest of an abused or neglected child involved in a juvenile court proceeding.
Cobb County Juvenile Court CASA is currently seeking volunteers for future training classes.
For more information, call Carlene Redmond at (770) 528-2285.
Cobb County Juvenile Court Judicial - Citizen Panel Review: The Cobb County Juvenile Court's Judicial Citizen Panel Review Program is a dynamic, volunteer supported program, that is tasked with reviewing foster care cases. If you have a desire to extend a helping hand to Cobb County's desperate, maltreated children, can think analytically and enjoy working with a cohort of other volunteers, then you may be an ideal can-didate.
For more information, call Lina L. Maxwell at (770) 528-2284.
Cobb County Juvenile Court Youth Diversion Program Youth Diversion is a program for first offenders that have committed minor offenses. After being screened by the coordinator, these juveniles are given the opportunity to appear before a panel of community volunteers instead of a judge to receive consequences for their actions.
Youth Diversion is always interested in having new volunteers come into the program to serve as panel members. Training is provided and re-quired.
For more information, call Susan Argo at (770) 528-2243.
Meals On Wheels: Over 100,000 meals are served each year at our Cobb Senior Nutrition Centers and for the home delivered program, Meals on Wheels.
Through the meals on wheels program, an average of 200 meals are delivered each day (5 days per week) by approximately 40 volunteers. 375 volunteers make up the total meals on wheels delivery team.
An applicant for home delivered meals must be assessed by a Senior Service caseworker to determine need. They must be 60 or older, homebound by reason of illness or incapacitating disability.
The meals, which must meet FDA requirements, are prepared by one vendor under contract with Cobb County. They are delivered to the central kitchen at 32 Fairground Street, Marietta, GA. At this kitchen the meals are heated, put in insulated containers and then delivered to designated sites. From these sites volunteers take the meals to the homebound client. This could be the only hot meal the client has that day.
Supportive services are provided by the volunteers. Volunteers are a link of information between the client and the caseworker. Through this con-tact the volunteers bring back client problems, concerns or needs for further services. The daily volunteer visit also provides personal contact with the client. There are times when the client has fallen or became ill and the Meals on Wheels volunteer was the first to call for medical assistance. The social aspects of the Meals on Wheels program is often overlooked and in many cases is paramount for the mental health of the client.
To support the Meals on Wheels Program, a Resource Campaign is ongoing. The community contributions are used for educational and instruc-tional materials, disposable supplies and the purchase of equipment needed specifically for the proper transportation and delivery of meals.
For volunteer information call: Shelia Perkins, Volunteer & Advocacy Coordinator 770-528-5381.
SafePath Children's Advocacy Center, Inc: SafePath is a private, non-profit organization that offers a new way of serving abused and neglected children through a comprehensive approach to services for victims and their families.
SafePath is currently looking for individuals to assist with various volunteer opportunities. Training provided.
For further information, please call: Leigh Kelley at (770) 801-3465.

 Town Center Mall now features upgraded design and amenities: Town Center at Cobb has officially completed its extensive interior and exterior renovation. A shopping staple in the Cobb County community since it opened in 1986, Town Center at Cobb fea-tures a new look and design with upgraded amenities to better suit shoppers needs. TV23's cameras were there at the recent unveiling.

 Sign up for PENS alerts to receive crime prevention information: Through an innovative program called Police Email Notifica-tion System, or PENS, many Cobb residents and business owners have worked with the police department to better their communities and prevent crime. The program began in the east Cobb precinct and has been expanded to all five Cobb police precincts. Each has its own Web site containing information specific to the area. Some also have community meetings. The program focuses on informing and educating residents of actual crimes occurring and prevention techniques. PENS also helps people communicate openly with police. Residents have helped police solve crimes and locate wanted individuals. To sign-up for PENS Bulletins and Alerts, visit cobbcounty.org/police, click on the link for Police Email Notification System and click "sign up for PENS Alerts."

 First safety village in the state opened to the public: Hundreds of people came out to see the state-of-the-art Cobb County Safety Village Friday and Saturday, crowding the new educational facility with adults and children alike for its public unveiling. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners suprised County Manager David Hankerson during the Friday ribboncutting by announcing they were naming the main education building in his honor. The village, located at 1220 Al Bishop Dr., Marietta, is the first of its kind in Georgia. The nearly eight-acre site features a 27,500-square-foot safety education building with an interactive safety house, classrooms, an audito-rium, a multi-purpose banquet room and a three-bay child seat inspection station. The rest of the village will hold scaled down buildings, working traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, a school bus, railroad crossings and other interactive safety displays. Cobb County school students and home-educated children will use the facility to learn to help protect themselves from accidents and hazards. Businesses can help add to the village by sponsoring the construction of buildings or other features. For further information, call 770-852-3270.

 Water System awarded highest bond ratings by major agencies: For the eighth consecutive year, Cobb's water and sewer sys-tem has maintained its superior credit rating of AAA from all three major rating agencies - Standard & Poor's, Fitch Rating and Moody's Investment Service. "In this current economic climate it is fantastic that our water system has maintained its Triple AAA status," Chair-man Sam Olens said. The high bond ratings means when the county goes to the bond market, it will get the lowest rate possible, thereby significantly saving taxpayers' money on interest. Only three water and sewer systems in the country that are self-funded, or not sup-ported by taxes, have the Triple AAA rating. Along with Cobb County, the other two are Palm Beach, Fla. and Chesterfield, Va. Cobb County also has a Triple AAA rating for its general obligation bonds. That rating has been maintained for 12 years.

 Public safety building to be named in honor of first director: The Cobb Board of Commissioners recently announced the re-naming police headquarters in honor of Robert Hightower, the county's first director of public safety. Hightower came to Cobb as police chief and served as public safety director from 1972 to 1999. "This is a unique opportunity," Chairman Sam Olens said. "We very rarely name buildings after people but he did so much for the county and the public safety department, this was the perfect situation to honor a person who served Cobb County diligently for so many years." Hightower emphasized advanced training and new policies and proce-dures. The department grew from about 140 officers in 1972 to 490 in 1999. During his 27-year tenure with the county, many specialized units were established, including the bomb squad, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, SWAT, Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Drug Squad and the Canine Unit. He was instrumental in implementing standards for fitness and the internal affairs department. He also established the public safety training academy, which conducts initial and advanced training for Cobb Police and Fire and is used by many other law enforcement agencies for training. Hightower has 47 years of law enforcement experience, including time with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, serving as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, commander of Georgia State Patrol and the state's first director of Homeland Security Task Force. Hightower has also served as a U.S. Navy Seal and a member of the underwater demoli-tion team.

 Board of Commissioners rename combined park land: The Board of Commissioners recently combined 137.5 acres of land in southwest Cobb purchased with 2006 park bond funds with the existing adjacent 81-acre park and renamed the entire property the "Vio-let Fowler Stout Park." The combined property runs along Sweetwater Creek and extends west crossing Brownsville Road. The now 218.5 acre park offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities for the residents of Cobb. In 1990, the Board of Commissioners ac-cepted a donation from Richard A. Stout of about 81 acres of land, his home and other personal property as a part of his will. When Stout passed away in 2001, the property was transferred to the county and per Stout's request, the property was used to create the Violet Fowler Stout Park, in memory of his wife of 43 years. Stout's bequest also included annual funds dedicated to develop and maintain the park and facilities.

Road Closure Alerts: For detour information and to find out what roads are closed, visit the "Road Reports" section at cobbcounty.org/dot.

Cobb County Parks and Recreation News

 The Front Row Fall Edition is Now Available: The 2009 Fall issue of 'The Front Row' magazine is available now online and soon will be available at all park facilities. This issue includes fall class and program registration information, special events, concerts, and theatre performances. 'The Front Row' is your resource for all program and facility information for Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. You may pick one up at your closest facility or you may download the information from the parks web site. Click here to go to the downloads page on the parks web site. Registration for many fall programs begins in August. See the registration in-formation below for details. Don't be left out this fall - be sure to register early for your programs!

 Join the Theatre Project's Footlights Fall Production of Disney's Aladdin Jr:  We welcome you to Agrabah, City of Enchant-ment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! All of your favorite characters are here in this stage adaptation of the Disney hit, including Aladdin, Jasmine, and of course, the Genie. Filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet rides, audiences' spirits will soar with excitement. Most of all, the tuneful, Academy award-winning score with songs including "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me" will certainly make this musical a favorite for many years to come! Registration has begun for the Theatre Project's Disney's Aladdin, Jr., a theatre experience for ages 9-18. Cost is $150 plus refundable $50 attendance fee. Auditions begin August 18th and 23rd. All students will get a part in the play. Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays 6:00-8:00pm and Sundays from 2:00-5:00pm. Performances will be November 6th and 7th at 7:00pm and the 8th at 3:00pm. Casting for the production will begin soon. We are currently registering, so call us today at (770) 819-3285.

 Kennesaw Archery Club Member Hitting His Targets During National Archery Championships: Christopher Luman of the Kennesaw Archery Club recently had a third place finish in the Cadet division (ages 14-16) at the National Junior Olympic Archery Development Championships in Downingtown, PA. Chris shot at targets from as far as 70 meters while battling winds of 20-25 mph. His placement in this competition and points earned earlier this year has propelled him to a #2 national ranking for his division. Chris will be traveling to Mason, OH in August for the USA Archery National Championships representing Cobb, Georgia and the Kennesaw Archery Club. Chris credits his success to the JOAD program at the Kennesaw Archery Club located in Pitner Road Park in West Cobb County. "Without this program, I would be nowhere near the level I am today. Thanks, Cobb County for providing a place to learn." His goal is to make the US Olympic Team in 2012 or 2016. For more information about the Kennesaw Archery Club, please visit their website at www.kennesawarchery.org

Upcoming Events
 Mable House Arts Center - For more information about upcoming events at The Mable House visit www.mablehouse.org

 Program Registrations: Get PINned - Conveniently register for parks programs from your home or office with EZ-Reg. A Per-sonal Identification Number (PIN) and Internet Log-in number are required to register using EZ-Reg. To get PINned, visit any Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs facility during normal operating hours and complete a Family Account Registration Form. You must show proof of residency. Tip: Do not wait until the day of registration to get your numbers - you may get shut out from your course. Be sure to get PINned in advance to take advantage of EZ-Reg online registration.

end of update August 27, 2009