Tim Lee has served on the board of MUST
Ministries. He is also currently on the board of the
Cobb Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, Lee was
appointed as the District 13 citizen member to
the board of the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Say hello to Cobb County’s new chairman

CobbLine Staff

Tim Lee was elected chairman of the Board of Commissioners in July. He previously served the residents of northeast Cobb as District 3 Commissioner from November 2002 through April 2010.

During Lee’s swearing-in ceremony he noted that he looks forward to working with all the commissioners as well as the county manager. He went on to say, “I will do the best of my ability to fulfill the duties of this position to your level of expectations. Nothing short of giving you my all.”

Lee has said that some of his first orders of business as the new chairman will be developing a balanced budget that continues to ensure public safety remains a priority as well as economic development.

Lee was selected in May 2009 as one of 25 commissioners from across the nation to participate in the County Leadership Institute Program offered by the National Association of Counties and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in New York. He has completed advanced training offered by the University of Georgia and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.

John Houser stands alongside his family with the
Board of Commissioners, commission chairman and
county manager after addressing the audience
at the BOC meeting on Aug. 10.

Bailey Humphries
CobbLine Staff

The Board of Commissioners have selected Deputy Chief John Houser to lead the Cobb County Police Department after County Manager David Hankerson’s recommendation.

According to the speech he gave at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 10, the Cobb County Police Department was the only place that Houser wanted to work after he graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1981.

Houser said that during the summer between his junior and senior year at college, he interned with Cobb Police. He went on to say, “As soon as I graduated, I filled out an application and began my career with the Cobb County Police Department.”

Houser stated that he looks forward to working with other sectors of the public safety department, different department heads, local businesses and community groups.

“I have enjoyed my career immensely,” Houser said.

For more information about Cobb County Police, visit its Web site cobbcounty.org/police. The Web site features a wealth of information about Cobb’s finest.

CobbLine Staff

Tornadoes, hail, straight line winds, severe thunderstorms, floods and winter storms are just a few of the natural disasters that could strike Cobb County.

September is National Preparedness Month and Cobb Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all residents to properly prepare for crises.

Immediately after an emergency, essential services may be cut off, and local disaster relief and government responders may not be able to reach you right away. Knowing what to do to protect yourself and your household is essential.

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.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios may be purchased at most retailers 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 includes natural (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.

In the event of an emergency, you should tune into your local news, Cobb Government Access Channel TV23 or the NOAA Weather Service Radio. You can also aid your neighborhood prior to a crisis by enrolling in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, which teaches private residents the basic skills they could need during an emergency. Free CERT classes are held throughout the year. To reserve a place in a future class or get more information, call 770-499-4567.

Pieces of a Dream will be featured during the
2010 Jazz Grooves Atlanta Smooth Music
Festival. They have recorded 15 albums
since the group was founded in 1976.

CobbLine Staff

Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre’s concert season is coming to an end but there is still time for one last bit of fun before autumn.

The 2010 Jazz Grooves Atlanta Smooth Music Festival will feature some of the top names in the smooth jazz genre and there will be plenty of vendors on hand with many products to offer. This is a two-day event beginning on Friday, Sept. 17, and running through Saturday.

For more concert times and show dates for Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, visit ticketmaster.com or mablehouse.org.

The Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre is at 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com as well as any Ticketmaster outlet or by calling 800-745-3000. Also, tickets can be purchased at the box office of the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre. Please call 770-819-7765 for box office hours.

This picture was taken in Cobb County near
Austell. Flood waters can rise very quickly,
trapping people or forcing them to move
to higher ground.

CobbLine Staff

Last September, Georgia experienced a series of floods that greatly affected the state. Nearly 20,000 homes and businesses received major damage and 17 counties were officially declared a federal disaster.

The FEMA floodplain maps for Cobb County are currently being updated. The most recent flood maps are available on the FEMA Web site at fema.gov. They can be accessed by clicking on the “Flood Maps” link listed under “Quick Links.” You can enter your exact address and find information according to where you are located.

Google Earth has recently linked their aerial imagery maps (including the FEMA maps for Cobb) to the msc.fema.gov store. These maps have a high degree of resolution and even some 3-D capabilities.

CobbLine Staff

If a disaster happens, you and your family need a plan so you are best prepared. Here are some helpful tips:

• 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.
• Pick two places to meet: one right outside your home in case of a 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 database (ema.cobbcountyga.gov/preparedness.htm).
• Learn more about planning for pets at www.fda.gov/cvm/disaster.htm.

For more information, visit ema.cobbcountyga.gov or call 770-499-4567.

Staff Reports

Don’t flush your unused medication down the drain. The largest source of pharmaceutical byproducts in our wastewater, source water and drinking water comes from the improper disposal of unused and outdated pharmaceuticals. They need to be properly disposed of at designated locations. Keep Cobb Beautiful wants to help.

Keep Cobb Beautiful, in partnership with Cobb Public Safety, Cobb Water, Cobb Senior Services and Kaiser Permanente, will offer a free Medication Disposal Day. This will provide an opportunity for residents of Cobb to safely dispose of outdated or unused over-the-counter and prescription medications. Acceptable items will include: liquid and pill-form medications, sharps, diabetes materials, catheters, tubing and more. Although, no durable medical equipment will be accepted.

The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Powder Springs Station, 1150 Powder Springs Road, Marietta.

Nothing will be accepted at this address or by any Cobb County staff person before or after the scheduled drop off day.

For more information, please call Keep Cobb Beautiful at 770-528-1135 or visit kcb.cobbcountyga.gov.

Staff Reports

The 7th annual Cobb Public Safety Charity Golf Classic benefiting Safe Kids Cobb County will take place Monday, Oct. 11, at Brookstone Country Club.

Registration begins at 10 a.m., shotgun start at noon (after lunch). The event is a four-person Ft. Lauderdale scramble golf tournament. The fees are $150 for individual players and $600 for a foursome. All proceeds of the tournament benefit Safe Kids Cobb County; for more than 15 years, Safe Kids has been dedicated to fighting accidental injury, the number one killer of Cobb County's children.

Brookstone Golf & Country Club is located at 5705 Brookstone Drive, Acworth, 30101. For more information, please contact Lisa Crossman by phone 770.514.2323 or by email: lcrossma@dhr.state.ga.us.

Staff Reports

The Cobb County Library Book Sale will take place during the weekend of Oct. 15 - 17 at Jim R. Miller Park. The semiannual event will include hardbacks, paperbacks, DVDs, CDs, reference books and magazines. The sale will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m., Sunday.

Proceeds from the sale will go towards purchasing new materials for the Cobb County Library System. For more information or to volunteer to assist with setting up the sale, call 770-528-2342.

Staff Reports

From Sept. 23 to Oct. 3 Cobb County will host the annual North Georgia State Fair at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. Admission is $5 for adults; $2 for students ages 7-18 and children 6 and under can attend for free. Parking is $3. Come on out and enjoy the North Georgia State Fair.

For more information, please call 770-423-1330 or visit the Web site at northgeorgiastatefair.com.

Staff Reports

The public is invited to attend an upcoming town hall meeting and receive news about projects and progress in the county.

District One Commissioner Helen Goreham will host a town hall meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at North Cobb Senior Center, 4100 Highway 293/Old 41 Highway, Acworth.

For more information, call 770-528-3313.

Staff Reports

The eighth annual Marietta/Cobb Career Expo will be held Thursday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta. At least 50 businesses, colleges and universities and service organizations will be on hand to recruit during this free event. Sponsors include City of Marietta, Cobb County Government, CobbWorks and the Georgia Department of Labor. For more information, call 770-528-8800.

Staff Reports

The Cirque D'or show scheduled for Friday, July 9 at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre was canceled due to a power outage caused by a severe thunderstorm. The acrobatic troop will return on Friday, Oct. 15. Patrons may keep their original Cirque D'or tickets and present them on Oct. 15 to be seated in the same location as printed on the tickets. Refunds are available at the original purchase location. Patrons must present the actual ticket to receive a refund. Exchanges can be made at the amphitheatre box office.

The Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre is located at 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. For more information, please call 770-819-7765.

Staff Reports

The 10th Annual Cobb County 5K to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® Georgia and Alabama Chapter, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 9. Race registration begins at 7 a.m. and the 5K starts at 8 a.m. The course begins and ends at the Marietta Square and will be Peachtree Road Race qualified.

This year, runners have the option of electronic timed or untimed registration. Fees are $25 timed and $20 untimed before Oct. 1. After this date, fees are $35 timed and $25 untimed. Fees for children 12 and under are $10 with kids under five being free (no t-shirt). Groups of 10 or more are $20 timed and $15 untimed. Registration closes on Oct. 1. All participants will receive a commemorative long sleeve t-shirt.

For more information, call 770-528-2620 or visit the Web site at www.cobbmakeawish5k.com.

The Annual Report is now available online at cobbcounty.org/annual-report/.


<< back to top