Lt. Governor Cagle to Host Final Health Care Reform Task Force Meeting of 2017
ROME, GA. Oct. 25, 2017 - Lt. Governor Casey Cagle - along with Sens. Hufstetler, Unterman, Burke, Hill, Kirkpatrick,
Rhett and Watson - will hold a meeting of Georgia's Health Care Reform Task Force at
Berry College onMONDAY, Oct. 30 at 10:00 a.m. The Task Force will hear from local, state, and national experts, who will give presentations on primary and preventative care, improving the overall health of Georgians, workforce development, and addressing challenges faced by both physicians and nurses in delivering quality care to patients.
This will be the final public meeting of the Task Force before members reconvene in January 2018.
Who: Lt. Governor Casey Cagle
What: Georgia's Health Care Reform Task Force Meeting
When: Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 at
10:00 a.m.
Where: Berry College
Krannert Center, Spruill Ballroom
2277 Martha Berry Boulevard
Mount Berry, GA 30149
New Rotary Club Members: South Cobb
Good Times, food, fun, elected legislative officials.............
Alison Feliciano is no longer on the ballot in Powder Springs!
Cobb School steward, state rep feud over
failing grade!
MDJ News
COBB SCHOOL BOARD member David Morgan has riled state Rep. David Wilkerson, D-Powder Springs, by sending out mailers giving Wilkerson an F on school choice for this year's legislative session. Morgan, who is also a Democrat, has lobbied since 2008 Morgan, who is also a Democrat, has lobbied since 2008 for American Federation for Children, a 501(c)(4) school choice group formerly chaired by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
Pictured on the mailer next to Wilkerson's headshot and grade is that of state Sen. Michael Rhett, D-Marietta, who also received an F. According to the mailer, one reason for the failing grade was voting against HB 217, a scholarship tax credit bill that didn't pass this year. Wilkerson says that bill would have increased the amount of money for student scholarship funds for private schools. "These scholarship funds, they're taking money from the public schools, which still are furloughing teachers, and they're going to private schools with no accountability," Wilkerson said.
Morgan's response to that description?
"Ask David if he can do anything other than a talking point," Morgan said. "Ask him if the program's so bad, how did we have almost double digit Democrats voting for it in the House?"
A second reason for the failing grade, according to the mailer, was voting against HB 430, which dealt with school facilities, a bill that passed this year. "So basically if the Cobb County School District had an empty building that they weren't using for a certain period of time, they could be forced to give that to a charter school," Wilkerson said, describing the bill. "I don't think we should force our local systems to have to give up buildings just because they aren't being used for a certain period of time."
His answer provoked a laugh from Morgan. "So if you're not using them, don't let another school use them? That's his logic?" Morgan asked.
Wilkerson believes Morgan obtains addresses for his mailers by attending fall festivals, area churches and the like, bringing an ice cream truck in tow, and asking unsuspecting residents for their addresses in exchange for ice cream. Morgan said he's simply doing grassroots activism and wanted to know what was wrong with that.
What's wrong, Wilkerson argues, is that the lines between Morgan's duties as an elected member of the Cobb Board of Education and a lobbyist are blurred.
"Unfortunately, he's still able to work from the inside to take money away from public schools that he's supposed to be protecting," Wilkerson said. "It's similar to what you see in D.C., where you see Betsy DeVos being in charge of public education and supporting taking money away from public schools. The same thing you're seeing in D.C., you're seeing here. David just happened to be doing it first. But it's not illegal. That's the problem. That's what I think confuses everyone. While it might be wrong and a conflict of interest, it's not illegal what he's doing.
For his part, Morgan challenged Wilkerson to produce "any shred of evidence or documentation where I've taken money from public schools."
Moreover, he wanted to know if Wilkerson was aware of 1) the $1,000 bonus every Cobb County Teacher of the Year receives 2) the more than $500,000 for the summer bridge program for Cobb students placed in the budget and 3) the early kindergarten program for under-served children - all efforts Morgan said he's spearheaded on the school board.
"Ask him if he's aware of that. Now see, the difference between David Wilkerson and me is that what I'm telling you is factual. What he's doing is talking points. Because the Democrat Party, and I'm a proud Democrat, but if I feel my party is wrong, I'm going to call them out. Period," Morgan said.
Wilkerson, who is up for re-election next year, said the last time
Morgan went after him was in the 2014 election when he spent about$20,000 targeting him.
"I felt special," Wilkerson said.
Morgan said there's no need for Wilkerson to feel special.
American Federation for Children issued grades on all Georgia lawmakers.
Georgia Supreme Court sides with Marietta property owner in eminent domain case
MDJ News
MARIETTA - The Georgia Supreme Court has sided with the landlord of a local grocery in a yearslong eminent domain case over property the city hopes to use to expand a park.
In an opinion handed down Monday morning, the state Supreme Court found the city of Marietta violated the Landowner's Bill of Rights laid out in a 2006 Georgia statute when it moved to condemn a grocery store without first providing a copy of its appraisal.
Monday's decision upheld a Court of Appeals ruling in favor of Ray Summerour, who owns the property at the corner of Allgood Road and North Marietta Parkway, saying the city acted outside its authority by condemning the man's property. The ruling dismisses Marietta's condemnation petition.
In June 2014, Summerour received a letter informing him the city was moving to acquire his property through eminent domain to build the park. His shop was condemned and the grocer was awarded $225,000, prompting a legal battle that lasted more than three years.
The cheerleaders joined a national protest over inequality and police brutality.
"People kept pulling out their phones like hey that's Scrappy. Oh my God Scrappy is with the protest," Sturkey said.
Sturkey says he saw nothing wrong with his activism.
"This is about first amendment rights. This is freedom of expression. And that's all this is. This is a peaceful protest," he told Channel 2's Tom Jones.
Some students felt Sturkey shouldn't have used the mascot to promote his own personal cause.
"I would say he wouldn't have the right to do that because it represents the school,"
Others said it was no big deal.
"I mean if he wants to do that he can. If Kennesaw thinks something's wrong with it they act on it,"
The school may punish Sturkey for taking a knee while dressed as Scrappy.
Sturkey said that's their right but he said believes that would send the wrong message.
"If there''s a form of punishment coming from just standing out and giving the students a voice at a peaceful protest then I feel like the problem doesn't lie with us.
Sturkey said he felt compelled to use his voice and his position to speak up for what he believed in.
Jones asked the school if he will be disciplined. A spokesperson told him she hoped to have that response by the end of the day Tuesday.
Luncheon launches initiative bringing together cops, religious leaders
MDJ News
MARIETTA - Leaders of Cobb County law enforcement agencies voiced their support Wednesday for an initiative that aims to bring their departments closer to the religious institutions in the communities they serve.
Nearly 300 representatives of the Cobb's county and city police departments, the Cobb Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's office dined with religious leaders in the Cobb Civic Center at a luncheon to roll out "One Congregation One Precinct," or abbreviated as "OneCOP."
The initiative is spearheaded by Movement Forward Inc., an Atlanta-based "inclusive, intergenerational and multiracial
"We all want every police officer and sheriff's deputy to go home to their children and their families every night. We all want every child to go home to his or her family every night without regard to his or her color or race or class or gender or orientation. That's what this One Congregation One Precinct initiative is about," said the Rev. Markel Hutchins, who serves as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Movement Forward.
The initiative encourages houses of worship to select a congregational coordinator to serve as a primary liaison to OneCOP and with local law enforcement, with OneCop staff helping religious institutions to identify the precincts or law enforcement service areas in which they are located. In addition to developing a rapport, the initiative encourages participants to exchange information and concerns, and participate in one another's events, such as officers attending church events or smaller gatherings at the house of worship, and congregation coordinators taking part in ride-alongs with their partnered officers.
Jessie & Deane Bonner State Senator Doc Rhett & Congressman David Scott
Cobb NAACP President Deane Bonner brought her friends together for a combination birthday party and 20th anniversary as president Sunday night. It turns out the party was also a retirement party. Bonner told the MDJ after the celebration that she will step down from her position and serve as executive director for a year.
2018 is an election year for the Cobb NAACP, and Marietta school board member and Bonner's daughter, Jeriene Grimes, currently the first vice-president of the branch, will serve out the remainder of Bonner's term. Maddie Smalls, who is the second vice-president, will take Grimes' role.
Bonner said the Cobb NAACP has been grooming young people to become leaders during her long tenure.
People need to be ready," Bonner said. "The younger folks, we're giving them the opportunity to put that all together... What I don't want to lose is what we have, the relationships that we have. So I'll be there during that gap to make sure our relationships stay how they are."
Many of Cobb's elected, religious and civic leaders came to the celebration with plenty of kind words testifying to the strength of those connections. Folks lined up inside the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre and took turns at the mic, praising Bonner for her leadership and friendship before she revealed her planned retirement.
Have You Voted Yet?
If you live within the city limits in Akworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs or Smyrna (limited), the polls are open for you to vote in the very important elections taking place now.
If you live in parts of Smyrna, Vinings, Cumberland area, you will have the opportunity to cast your vote for the Georgia State Senate District 6 election. The Democrats have three candidates in this election.
Jaha Howard
Website: http://www.jahahoward.com/
Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Jaha_Howard
Jen Jordan
Website: https://www.jen4ga.com/
Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Jen_Jordan
Taos Wynn
Website: www.taoswynn.com
Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Taos_Wynn
Early results are not very positive as voting numbers across the county are very low. However, you can change that!
Click here to see if there are elections going on in your area and to see your customized sample ballot. If you do not live in an area with elections this fall, please make sure your family, friends, and neighbors that may live in one of these areas are aware that elections are going on and encourage them to vote!
OCTOBER 30 through NOVEMBER 3rd at these four (4) locations :
AUSTELL
Austell City Hall
2716 Broad St. SW, Austell, GA 30106-3206
Mon - Fri 9am-5pm
KENNESAW
Ben Robertson Community Center
2753 Watts Dr., Kennesaw, GA 30144-2720
Mon - Fri 9am-5pm
POWDER SPRINGS
Community Development Building
4488 Pineview Dr., Powder Springs, GA 30127-2235
Mon - Fri 9am-5pm
SMYRNA
Smyrna Community Center
200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, GA 30080-3479
Mon - Fri 9am-5pm
NO VOTING On Monday, Nov. 6th
LOCATION
Smyrna Community Center
200 Village Green Circle Southeast
Smyrna, GA 30080
Imagine having to leave school...leave your job...leave your life..
...all so you can be deported back to a country
you have never known.
That is the fate that may await thousands of Georgians who were brought here as children and have been living here under DACA - the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. These young people are called Dreamers, but their dreams may soon be shattered.
Join Cobb Democratic Women as we examine DACA
and the Congressional deadline that looms over the lives of so many.
Federal Judge: Jessica Colotl's DACA status maintained
MDJ News
For the second time in six months, a federal judge in Atlanta has issued an order preserving the immigration status of Jessica Colotl, the Kennesaw State University graduate whose 2010 arrest sparked a national debate over undocumented immigrants attending public college.
Colotl, a Mexican national who was brought to the United States as an 11-year-old, was arrested for driving without a license while studying at KSU. Her charges spurred deportation proceedings against her.
In June 2012, the Obama administration introduced a new federal immigration policy dubbed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which sought to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, like Colotl, from deportation. The program offers undocumented immigrants a renewable two-year period of deferment from deportation while allowing them to continue working legally.
"Protecting Your Wealth & Health" Workshop -A Conversation Between the Ages-
Saturday, November 11, 2017 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Check-In begins at 9:30 am
Turner Chapel AME Church 492 North Marietta Parkway Marietta, GA 30060
COST: FREE
Construction Ready at Build Cobb is a four-week, boot camp style training program designed for residents of Cobb County.
Interested in enrolling in this program? Learn more
here.
While enrollment is limited to residents of Cobb County, employer participation is open. To date, more than 70 construction companies from across metro Atlanta have hired Construction Ready graduates.
Employers may learn more about our Lunch & Learns and our Hiring Fairs
here.
"As a representative of McKenney's working with Construction Ready for two years now we have had the opportunity to hire six full time employees; we have retained five of them. McKenney's has not only gained these very valuable employees but we have recognized the dedication and innovation that the Construction Ready Program has offered to the industry. To have a single source supplier of employees who have a basic level of construction understanding is almost unheard of in the current market." Dave Tzimenatos Field Operations Supervisor McKenney's
In two years, the Construction Ready Program has placed more than 300 graduates into full-time, living wage careers with construction companies throughout metro Atlanta. Our graduation and placement rates consistently exceed 90%. Our retention rate at 90 days is 89% and our retention rate at one year is 70%.
You are cordially invited to attend the First Annual Purple Purse Tea hosted by Mrs. Cathelean Steele, Founder and Director of Justice for Girls.
Justice for Girls is an initiative of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) developed as an educational awareness project aimed at highlighting the alarming growth of sex trafficking in our communities.
The Purple Purse Tea will be a special time of fellowship and empowerment. Please plan to join us and enjoy a delicious tea menu.
Click the link below to confirm your attendance.
We look forward to seeing you!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cathelean Steele
Southern Christian Leadership Conference | Justice for Girls
When Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 12:45 PM to 2:30 PM EDT
Where
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Fairburn Branch 60 Valley View Dr. Fairburn, GA 30213
Driving Directions
Faith Forum with police chief to discuss teen violence and gangs
As an effort to continue building relationships within our community, Cobb Police Chief Michael Register is hosting the second Faith Forum 9:30-11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 13. All pastors from institutions of faith are again invited to attend. The topic will be "teen violence and gangs in the community." Some of the forum's goals are:
Develop results-oriented relationships with institutions of faith
Have candid discussion concerning community issues
Partner to find solutions for community issues and needs
Be a catalyst for an improved future for all
The forum will be held at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. Please RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 8, to Darcy Sibilsky at
Turning Point Enterprises Inc. is sponsoring a fun trip to Harrah's Casino, located in Cherokee, North Carolina, on Saturday, November 11th, 2017!
Transportation Cost 1-Day Trip: $50.00 $20.00 reimbursed November 11, 2017
(Tentative Itinerary)
· Board bus 9:00 a.m. at Mansour Center 995 Roswell Street Marietta GA 30060
· Arrive at Harrah's Casino around Noon.
· Leave Harrah's Casino at 7:00 p.m.
· Return 10:00 p.m. to Mansour Center A final itinerary will be provided to you! Payment Methods and Deadlines Payment made by check or cash to: Turning Point Enterprises Inc. Mansour Center, 995 Roswell Street Suite 100 Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 528-6262
Payment due by October 10, 2017. No checks accepted after 10/ 10/17, cash only. (Payments are non- refundable) *All passengers must be 21 or over and present a valid (unexpired) government issued photo ID
Contact Turning Point Enterprises Inc. to reserve your seat on the bus!
Volunteers are needed to help us turn out the #GALatinoVote in local elections in Gwinnett & Hall Counties!
Please join our efforts to turn out the #GALatinoVote for local elections. Latino voters can have a significant impact if we turn out to vote.
All of Gwinnett County municipalities with elections are required by law to provide assistance in Spanish and ALL information in Spanish for voting this election cycle.
El condado de Gwinnett tiene que dar asistencia y tener toda la informacion para votar el dos idoamas: ingles y espanol. If you experience problems voting, please let us know at 1-888-54GALEO.
Si tiene problemas o preguntas, llamenos a 1-888-544-2536.
If you are not registered to vote, you can register to vote online at
We will have four officials from the Cobb County Department of Public Safety: Major Stuart VanHoozer, commander of Precinct 2, which includes Mableton; Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Gross and District Fire Chief Scott White; and Detective S.A. Hammond from Animal Control. Major VanHoozer will speak on local crime trends. Deputy Chief Gross and District Chief White will cover about outdoor burning and safety with turkey fryers around the holidays. Detective Hammond will talk about the new tethering ordinance and operations in Cobb County. All of them will have a Q & A period for the audience, so please come prepared!
Please put this date down in your calendar and make plans to attend what will surely be a very informative meeting.
We want you to be involved! Click on the links in this newsletter, or give me a call or send me an email. I'm always ready to talk about Mableton!
Stay in front of your local customers!! Renew or sign up now for 2018 MIC Sponsorship. The fee is only $100 for the 2018 calendar year. Our sponsorship invitation period ends on December 31, 2017, or when the sponsorship slots are filled, whichever is sooner.
Click on the 'Buy Now' button to join or renew via our
website or by mail.
For mailing, send your check, made payable to Mableton Improvement Coalition, to PO Box 491, Mableton, GA 30126.
All of us at MIC consider local businesses to be key partners in the work we are doing to improve Mableton. We are working on many projects, including economic development, a community improvement district, HOA network, and design guidelines for Veterans Memorial Highway and Mableton Parkway. MIC provides many ways to promote your business to our membership and the community through our e-newsletter, website, and frequent mentions at our public meetings.
Renew or join for the first time today!
Contact Ray Thomas with any questions you might have. Thank you!
MIC Adopt A Mile Rescheduled for Saturday, November 4th
We were rained out last weekend, so ark your calendars for our rescheduled Adopt-a-Mile cleanup, this Saturday, November 4th, starting promptly at 9am. We will meet in the Kroger Shopping Center parking lot area adjacent to the Autobell Car Wash on Floyd Road.
With your help, it takes only about an hour for MIC volunteers to pick up the accumulated trash and your help will be greatly appreciated. Floyd Road will look a whole lot better when we are done. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring gloves if you like. We provide safety vests, latex gloves, trash bags, bottled water -- and a cheerful welcome.
Participants must be at least 13 years of age and those under 18 must have a signed parental consent and release of liability. We have the form if needed.
Please contact
Dave McDaniel if you plan to participate or if you have any questions/concerns. If we know you're coming, we'll keep you posted in case of inclement weather.
