MDJ Script/ Top Stories for January 28th 

Publish Date:  January 28th 

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From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.  

Today is Wednesday, January 28th and Happy Birthday to Jermaine Dye 

I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal 

1. Local student Mathletes to compete in Cobb County Math Contest
2. Support Cobb law enforcement and get a state tax credit
3. Lawmakers push transparency in school board public comments

All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  

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STORY 1: Local student Mathletes to compete in Cobb County Math Contest 

  Cobb County’s middle school math whizzes are gearing up for the local MATHCOUNTS competition on Feb. 28 at Marietta High School. Organized by the Cobb County Chapter of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, the event will feature teams from Dickerson, Dodgen, and Hightower Trail middle schools. 

These students have been prepping since fall—hours of practice, problem-solving, and probably a few late-night algebra sessions. The competition includes both individual and team rounds, with topics like geometry, probability, and statistics. Oh, and there’s a fast-paced oral round too—no pressure, right? 

Winners will snag prizes and move on to the state finals on March 9 in Buford. 

MATHCOUNTS, a national program, aims to spark a love for math in middle schoolers—because let’s face it, this is the age where kids either embrace math or start running from it. With 50,000 students competing nationwide this year, it’s a big deal. 

For details, check out www.mathcounts.org. 

STORY 2: Support Cobb law enforcement and get a state tax credit 

Tax season is here, and if you live in Cobb County, there’s a way to support local law enforcement and get a state income tax credit. Thanks to the 2022 LESS Crime Act (short for Law Enforcement Strategic Support Act), Georgia taxpayers can donate to approved public safety foundations and get a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes. 

Here’s the deal: individuals can donate up to $5,000, couples filing jointly can give $10,000, and corporations can contribute up to 75% of their state tax liability. Statewide, there’s a $75 million cap, and each foundation can accept up to $5 million annually. 

The process? Register with the Georgia Tax Center, wait for approval, and send your donation within 60 days. Funds go toward training, equipment, officer wellness, and community programs. 

In Cobb, you can donate to: 

• Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation 

• Acworth Police Community Foundation 

• Cobb County Public Safety Foundation 

• Kennesaw Public Safety Foundation 

• Marietta Police Foundation 

For links and details, visit their websites. 

STORY 3: Lawmakers push transparency in school board public comments 

 Cobb County lawmakers are pushing for more transparency in school board meetings with House Bill 989, which would require public comments to be broadcast or recorded if the rest of the meeting is aired. Rep. David Wilkerson said it’s about consistency: “If you’re showing the meeting, show all of it. Don’t cut out the tough parts.” 

The bill comes after Cobb’s school board stopped broadcasting public comments last year, sparking backlash from parents and lawmakers. Critics called it censorship; the board cited liability concerns. 

Rep. Solomon Adesanya said public comments are crucial for oversight: “If you only hear one side, you control the narrative.” 

The bill has bipartisan support, with Rep. Jordan Ridley also signing on. “Transparency matters,” he said. “If you’re broadcasting, show the good, bad, and everything in between.” 

Meanwhile, Ridley floated the idea of an independent audit for Cobb schools, similar to one he championed in Cherokee County.  

Cobb school board Chair Randy Scamihorn defended the district, saying claims of a lack of transparency are “absolutely false.” Still, he invited lawmakers to review their processes, adding, “No organization is perfect.” 

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We’ll be right back. 

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STORY 4: Cobb opens $24M joint police, sheriff firing range 

 Cobb County just unveiled its shiny new $24 million firing range, and let’s just say—it’s a game-changer. Sheriff Craig Owens and Police Chief Dan Ferrell cut the ribbon Friday morning, joined by the Board of Commissioners, a crowd of officers, and deputies. 

The 65,000-square-foot facility, located next to the Public Safety Training Academy in Austell, replaces the old outdoor range that had been around for over 30 years. That one? It had a strict 8 p.m. curfew because of nearby neighborhoods. Now? Training can happen 24/7. 

The range features three separate areas, including a 100-yard precision range, and a high-tech 360-degree targeting system for realistic drills. Officers can train in low-light, no-light, and even less-lethal scenarios. 

Paid for with SPLOST funds, the range is a long-term investment in public safety—and a big win for Cobb County. 

STORY 5:  Northwest Georgia voters to head to polls March 10 for federal and, now, state election 

Northwest Georgia voters are in for a political doubleheader on March 10. Not only will they pick a new state senator, but they’ll also decide if the former holder of that Senate seat, Colton Moore, should head to Congress. 

Here’s the backstory: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January with a year left in her U.S. House term, triggering a special election for District 14. Moore, who represented Senate District 53 (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and part of Floyd counties), stepped down mid-January to join the crowded race for Greene’s seat—22 candidates, to be exact. 

Qualifying for Moore’s old Senate seat runs Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. Voter registration closes Feb. 9, with early voting starting Feb. 16. If no one wins outright, expect a runoff on April 7. Buckle up, northwest Georgia—it’s going to be a busy ballot. 

Break:  

STORY 6: Chris Carr talks public safety in Cobb 

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr didn’t hold back when he spoke to the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club on Friday. Public safety, he said, isn’t just about stopping crime—it’s about supporting law enforcement, tackling mental health, and improving education. And now, as a candidate for governor, he’s making his case. 

Carr highlighted his record: creating units to fight human trafficking, gangs, opioids, and organized retail crime. “Keeping people safe is the most basic job of government,” he said. “If families don’t feel safe, we’ve failed.” 

He shared staggering numbers—over 200 children rescued from trafficking, 115 gang members convicted—and warned about the fentanyl crisis, calling it a “war” fueled by Mexican cartels. His office recently seized 15 pounds of the drug, enough to kill millions. 

On education, he stressed the importance of literacy by third grade and slammed “woke progressivism” in schools. “Our kids aren’t social experiments,” he said. “Schools should teach reading, writing, and math—not radical ideology.” 

Mental health? Another priority. Carr called for more facilities statewide, saying jails shouldn’t double as treatment centers. He also floated limiting phones in high schools, blaming social media for worsening students’ mental health. 

When asked about gambling, Carr stood firm against casino betting, citing addiction concerns. On minors accessing pornography, he tied it to human trafficking and expressed fears about AI being used to exploit kids. 

Former Cobb GOP Chair Rose Wing praised Carr’s tough stance on drug cartels and said she believes he’d make a “great governor.” 

STORY 7: Woodstock native Bolt named assistant golf coach at KSU 

 Abigail Bolt, a former Woodstock High School star, is heading back to familiar turf—this time as the new assistant women’s golf coach at Kennesaw State. Owls head coach Ket Vanderpool, who worked with Bolt for three seasons at Georgia State, made the announcement Friday. 

Bolt, who played collegiate golf at Appalachian State from 2017-21, brings a mix of coaching chops and on-course expertise. At Georgia State, she helped lead the team to nine top-five finishes and four tournament wins. Before that? She honed her skills at Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, running junior clinics and managing tournaments. 

As a player, Bolt was a standout at Appalachian State, earning MVP honors her senior year and finishing with a 77.81 stroke average. Since graduating in 2021, she’s stayed active in the game, competing in amateur events and continuing to build her career in golf. 

We’ll have closing comments after this. 

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Signoff-   

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com 

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