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MDJ Script/ Top Stories for October 22nd
Publish Date: October 22nd
Commercial:
From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.
Today is Wednesday, October 22nd and Happy Birthday to Christopher Llyod
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal
1. State approves Wellstar's application for 230-bed hospital in Acworth
2. Judge denies request to seal settlement involving Cobb school board vice chair
3. Sixth suspect charged in hotel shooting that killed baby
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!
BREAK: INGLES 1
STORY 1: State approves Wellstar's application for 230-bed hospital in Acworth
Well, it’s official—Wellstar’s getting the green light to build a massive new hospital on Cobb Parkway. The Georgia Department of Community Health gave the thumbs-up to their $1 billion plan for a 230-bed facility in Acworth. Big news, right?
Apparently, Wellstar pitched this back in May, saying the area’s bursting at the seams with demand for hospital beds. And yeah, some rival health systems tried to block it—because of course they did—but Wellstar’s exec Matthew O’Connor wasn’t having it. He basically said, “Look, we’re the only ones who can handle this.”
The hospital? Eight stories, 675,000 square feet, emergency bays, operating rooms—the works. It’s supposed to ease the load on their Marietta location, which is practically bursting at 98.5% capacity. Plus, it’ll bring 1,500 jobs to the area.
STORY 2: Judge denies request to seal settlement involving Cobb school board vice chair
So, here’s the deal: a Fulton County judge just said “nope” to sealing the settlement terms in a lawsuit involving Cobb school board VP John Cristadoro. Privacy concerns? Not enough to outweigh the public’s right to know, according to Judge Wesley Tailor. He didn’t mince words—“no reason” to keep it under wraps.
The backstory? Cristadoro and his marketing firm were accused of pocketing $250K meant for advertising at sports games. He denied it, of course, but the case dragged on for over a year before both sides finally settled. They wanted the terms sealed. Parents like Heather Tolley-Bauer? Not having it. “Transparency matters,” she said.
STORY 3: Sixth suspect charged in hotel shooting that killed baby
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A sixth person’s been charged in that awful Cumberland hotel shooting—the one that killed a 9-month-old baby. Nateemah Ware, 32, from Marietta, is accused of hiding two suspects, Jayvian Young and Anthony Smith, in her apartment near the Chattahoochee River. Police say she knew what went down and still helped them. She was arrested on Oct. 6 but got out the same day on an $8,470 bond.
The shooting happened Sept. 23 at the Budgetel Inn. A baby girl—just 9 months old—was hit by gunfire. Her mom was there. Can you even imagine? She didn’t make it.
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We’ll be right back.
Break: COBB FALL FESTIVAL
STORY 4: Cobb begins second week of early voting
So, here’s the scoop: early voting’s kicked off in Cobb County, and so far, just over 6,000 people have cast their ballots. That’s, what, about 3.86% of eligible voters? Not exactly a stampede, but hey, it’s early. Marietta’s leading the charge with more than 2,300 voters showing up at the main office on Roswell Street. Other spots? East Cobb had 1,071, Mableton 950, and so on—Austell brought up the rear with 271.
People are trickling in steadily, no lines, no drama. Hamilton Shelfer, a Tampa transplant, said he’s all about staying informed—property taxes are on his radar. Meanwhile, Kassie Jones called voting her “civic duty,” and Guy Williams? He’s just here for the low-stress vibes of early voting.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, polls are open through Oct. 31 at seven locations. Bring your ID, check your voter page, and don’t wait till the last minute.
STORY 5: Two Hillgrove High School students selected for State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
Big news for Hillgrove High sophomores Adrianne Marriott and Jillian Taylor—they’ve snagged spots on State Superintendent Richard Woods’ 2025-2026 Student Advisory Council. Out of 1,200+ applicants, only 79 made the cut, and these two are in. Pretty impressive, right?
Their job? Sit down with Woods throughout the year, talk about what’s actually happening in classrooms, and give him the real-deal student perspective. They’ll also tackle service projects and act as school ambassadors.
Woods said he’s pumped to hear from students directly—“the ones living it every day.” First meeting’s in November in Atlanta. Exciting stuff ahead!
Break:
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STORY 6: Sheriff’s Office introduces horse therapy work program for jail inmates
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a pretty unique program—jail inmates working with horses. Yep, horses. Low-risk detainees now get to team up with the mounted patrol unit, helping care for the horses and handling barn chores. Sheriff Craig Owens says it’s about more than just mucking stalls—it’s about teaching responsibility, patience, and, honestly, a little humanity.
Three days a week, participants groom, bathe, and feed the horses, all under supervision. And apparently, it works. Studies show programs like this can cut recidivism in half. Therapeutic? Sure. Practical? Absolutely. Sheriff’s office says they’ll keep an eye on the results.
STORY 7: Breast Cancer Awareness: Two Kennesaw Mountain teachers beat cancer at the same time
At Kennesaw Mountain High, 2019 was a year of grit, heartbreak, and unexpected strength for two teachers who refused to let cancer define them. Niki Jaquish, an English teacher, and Sherry Williams, who teaches math, both faced breast cancer head-on—while still showing up for their students.
For Jaquish, it was round two after beating cancer in 2016. Thirty chemo sessions, 72 rounds of radiation—she kept teaching through it all. Williams, new to the fight, found herself leaning on Jaquish, who was just down the hall. They weren’t close before, but cancer has a way of forging bonds you never see coming.
Some days were brutal. Chemo knocked them out, but they kept coming back. Why? Their students.
Their students didn’t just support them—they protected them. They’d warn visitors not to get too close to Jaquish, knowing her immune system was fragile. They noticed when she was struggling and quietly stepped up.
Now cancer-free, both teachers keep reminders of their journey—pink wristbands, thank-you notes—scattered around their classrooms. They’re symbols of survival, yes, but also of the community that carried them through.
We’ll have closing comments after this.
Break: INGLES 1
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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