MDJ Script/ Top Stories for November 5th
Publish Date: November 5th
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From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.
Today is Wednesday, November 5th and Happy Birthday to Brian Adams
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal
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: Marietta receives Statewide Award for M2R Trail Activation Study
Big news for Marietta—its Mountain to River Trail Activation Study just snagged the 2025 Outstanding Planning Document Award from the Georgia Planning Association. Pretty cool, right?
This wasn’t just another dry, cookie-cutter plan. Nope. It stood out for its creativity—think bold graphics, thoughtful storytelling, and a planning process that actually felt, well, human.
Back in 2023, Marietta teamed up with the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Conservancy to figure out how to breathe new life into the 3.5-mile stretch of the M2R Trail. Placemaking, wayfinding, connecting neighborhoods—it’s all in there.
The award? Accepted Oct. 9. The study? Worth a read.
STORY 2: 'Dire need': Cobb nonprofits under strain as uncertainty over food stamps continues
The ripple effects of the government shutdown are hitting hard, and local nonprofits are feeling the strain. SNAP benefits? Still in limbo. Sure, judges ordered the program to keep running, but “partial funding” doesn’t mean much when no one knows how much or when.
Melanie Kagan, CEO of The Center for Family Resources, is bracing for impact. “No real clarity,” she said. Calls for food and rent help are already flooding in—1,400 a month, and climbing.
Over at Sweetwater Mission, Pastor Tracy Carter is seeing lines like never before. “Cars wrapped around the block,” he said. They’ve had to cut food portions just to stretch supplies.
And with the holidays looming? It’s bleak.
MUST Ministries is also overwhelmed—five times the usual number of people seeking help last week. “Even if the shutdown ends tomorrow, the damage is done,” said Katy Ruth Camp.
Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid urged compassion, recalling her own struggles during the 2009 recession. “So many are living paycheck to paycheck,” she said.
The message is clear: nonprofits need help—donations, volunteers, anything. It’s all hands on deck.
STORY 3: Braves Bench coach, former player Walt Weiss promoted as new manager
The Atlanta Braves have handed the reins to Walt Weiss, naming him their new manager after eight years as the team’s bench coach.
Weiss isn’t new to the spotlight—or the hardware. He’s got two World Series rings: one from his playing days with the 1989 Oakland A’s and another from the Braves’ 2021 championship run.
At 61, Weiss has been part of the Braves family for over a decade, first as a player and then as a coach. Since 2018, he’s helped guide the team to six division titles, seven playoff runs, and that unforgettable 2021 title.
Before Atlanta, Weiss managed the Rockies from 2013-2016 and spent years as a special assistant in their front office. Drafted 11th overall in 1985 by the A’s, he played 14 seasons in the majors, earning Rookie of the Year in ’88.
Now? He’s back at the helm, ready to write the next chapter.
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We’ll be right back.
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STORY 4: Then and now: Marietta High School's yearbook unites generations
For Lucy Greene, flipping through the Marietta High School Olympian yearbook today feels like stepping into another world. Back in 1953, when she was editor—and, oh yeah, Miss MHS—things were... different.
“Y’all have computers everywhere,” she laughed, standing in front of the current yearbook staff on Monday. “I’m still analog. We were scissors-and-glue people. Literally. We cut, pasted, and prayed it looked right.”
She described hauling pages to a photo lab in Atlanta, waiting for proofs, and triple-checking everything with rulers and pencils.
For seniors Rebecca Moseley and Mary Caroline Murrell, today’s editors, Greene’s visit was a reminder of how much tradition matters. “It’s so special,” Murrell said. “Even 50 years later, she’s still looking back at her yearbook. That’s what we’re creating—something that lasts forever.”
Greene shared her favorite memories: sock hops after basketball games, yearbook contests, and the thrill of seeing your face in print.
When she graduated in 1953, Greene’s class was the first at MHS to hit 100 students. This year? Over 500.
Before leaving, she offered the staff a bit of wisdom: “You can’t have too many friends in this world. And when you finish something like this, it sticks with you. It really does.”
STORY 5: AROUND TOWN: Cobb GOP activist Pam Reardon dies
Pam Reardon, a fierce and passionate voice in East Cobb’s Republican community, has passed away. A retired real estate agent and longtime activist, Pam had been battling cancer.
Her death was announced by Salleigh Grubbs, former Cobb GOP chair, who described her as “fearless, principled, and full of life.” Grubbs wrote, “Pamela Reardon was a shining star. Her dedication to her values and her love for others were unmatched. She was my beloved Pammy.”
Born in Calgary, Canada, Pam moved to the U.S. in the late ’80s. For over 25 years, she and her husband Tom built a life in East Cobb, raising six children and doting on their grandchildren.
Josh McKoon, Georgia GOP chair, also paid tribute, calling her “a pillar of our community” and “a testament to service and leadership.”
Pam’s impact extended beyond politics. She served on the board of the Family Life Resource Center and as Women’s Council secretary at St. Ann’s Church.
Her loss leaves a void, but her legacy of courage, compassion, and conviction will continue to inspire.
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STORY 6: Cobb commissioners discuss proposed new stormwater fee
Cobb County’s stormwater system is, well, a mess. Aging pipes, sinkholes, overgrown detention ponds—it’s all piling up. And now, county leaders are floating a new fee to tackle it.
Here’s the pitch: homeowners in unincorporated Cobb and Mableton would pay $4.75 a month. Businesses, schools, and churches? They’d pay based on how much impervious surface (think parking lots, roofs) they have. The goal? Double the stormwater budget and finally start catching up on repairs.
The fee would also fund proactive services—like maintaining detention ponds and hiring crews to handle smaller fixes.
But not everyone’s sold. Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, a longtime critic of transferring water revenue to the general fund, isn’t convinced. “I’ve been fighting this for 15 years,” she said.
Public hearings are set for Nov. 12 and Nov. 20, with a vote scheduled after.
STORY 7: Police investigating fatal Austell car crash
Cobb County Police are investigating a deadly crash that happened early Sunday morning on Joe Jerkins Boulevard.
It was just after 3 a.m. when Erik Attaway, 45, of Austell, lost control of his gray 2019 Nissan Rogue. Heading north, he hit a curve, veered into the southbound lanes, and then off the road entirely—slamming into an embankment and a tree.
Attaway didn’t survive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are still piecing together what happened. If you know anything, they’re asking you to call 770-499-3987.
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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