Progress Edition 2010 Part 1 by Otis Brumby III

PROGRESS 2010

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL FEBRUARY 28, 2010

SECTION AA / 1 OF 8

GROWTH

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CENTER FOR FAMILY RESOURCES MAKING DIFFERENCE

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GROWTH & REVITALIZATION

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Roswell Road to be widened By Kim Isaza

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

A new Cobb landmark First Landmark Bank to open Marietta headquarters in May

kisaza@mdjonline.com

By Kathryn Dobies

MARIETTA — State transportation officials have awarded more stimulus-funded road improvement contracts across the state, including one that will widen a portion of State Route 120 (Roswell Road) in Marietta and east Cobb. The 1.8-mile stretch of Roswell Road on the east side of Marietta, between the 120 Loop and Bridgegate Drive, will be widened from five to six lanes. A raised median and sidewalks will be part of the $10 million project, said Crystal Paulk-Buchanan, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation. GDOT will also add video cameras to enhance its Navigator network. “These are not red-light cameras,” Paulk-Buchanan said. “We are just always trying to expand our traffic monitoring services.” Baldwin Paving Co. of Marietta was the low-bid contract recipient. The project must be completed by Dec. 31, 2012, though there is no set start date, Paulk-Buchanan said. Mike Demery, vice president of Baldwin’s road division, said the Roswell Road construction would last about two years. His company will also be putting in retaining walls and widening a large box culvert underneath the roadway. Baldwin Paving also won the contract for a $247,000 stimulusfunded project in Cherokee County. One and a half miles of East Cherokee Drive will be resurfaced and the shoulder reconstructed. That project must be finished by June 30, 2010. C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., based in Marietta, won $4.4 million worth of resurfacing and reconstruction projects in Bartow, Butts, Clayton, Forsyth, Henry and Troup counties under the federal stimulus grants. In August, GDOT awarded $29 million in stimulus funds for roadwork contracts.

COVER STORY

kdobies@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Putting its “landmark” stamp on Marietta, First Landmark Bank’s headquarters is set to open in mid-May at one of the gateways into Marietta. Bank executives hope to have a grand opening ceremony in June for the three-story, 22,000-square-foot building that features a clock tower reminiscent of the old Cobb County Courthouse. Bank president Ron Francis said he is looking forward to the new and larger space, which will allow the bank to grow. “It is going to be a prominent building into Marietta. It will give us the room to expand over the next four or five years,” Francis said. The new bank headquarters, located on North Marietta Parkway at Cole Street, sits on 2.5 acres of land that was purchased from the city and MUST Ministries in 2008. The building, including the purchase of the land, will cost about $5.5 million. The new bank will have parking on the front, sides and back of the building, as well as a drive-through and an ATM, and a night drop box across Cole Street from the building. While First Landmark aims to offer customers a traditional-style banking experience, the bank floor at its new headquarters will feature what bank executives refer to as “concierge-style” banking. As a customer enters the front doors of the bank from the North Marietta Parkway side, they will be greeted by a financial specialist who will discuss the customer’s needs and then escort him or her to the appropriate bank official. “I’ve always thought that people bank with people; they don’t bank with the establishment,” said Francis, who has been a banker in Cobb County for more than 35 years and is a former chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association. Bank executives were also quick to emphasize that the nearly 2,000square-foot banking floor will not have traditional teller lines. Instead, a customer will be escorted to a pri-

Staff/Laura Moon

From left, First Landmark Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Terri Bunten, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Terry DeWitt, chairman of the board John Moore, building committee Chairman David Swales Sr. and President and CEO Ron Francis. vate teller pod to complete their transactions. Terry DeWitt, the bank’s chief financial officer, thinks this more personal setup will appeal to the banks’ current customers as well as its target market of small-to-medium-sized business and working professionals. “There are plenty of people in our market that want that old-fashioned kind of banking that we offer,” DeWitt said. “Where they come in, and the financial specialist can help them with anything they need to have done, and they know them by name.” Bank executives attribute First Landmark’s success to its old-fashioned and personal style. As part of its mission statement, First Landmark boasts, “We are financial advisors and creative problem solvers offering clients unmatched service at a fair market price.” Bank leaders strive to play a consultative role, working with a customer’s attorney and accountant to help them make financial decisions. The idea for the bank came from a conversation Francis had in April 2007 with Marietta attorney John Moore, now the bank’s chairman,

during which they discussed how there were not any banks headquartered in Marietta. Moore is the founder and senior partner of Moore, Ingram, Johnson and Steele, and oversees the law firm’s commercial real estate department. Francis and Moore attracted organizers and raised $21 million in capital, and the bank opened in March 2008 with 13 employees. Since its opening, the bank has been housed in the old firehouse on Atlanta Street, two blocks from the Square. When the bank received its charter in October 2007, the banking industry was headed south, and First Landmark was one of the last banks in Georgia and the nation to receive a charter, its executives said. DeWitt said he and the other executives saw this timeliness as a blessing. “The problems with the recession were known to us when we opened our doors in March of 2008,” he said. “So we’ve tried to steer clear of those problems as best we could.” Francis said the bank executives were able to rework their business plan and not dip into the residential construction and development loans

that are associated with the real estate boom and bust. Francis said most of the bank’s loans are what he calls C&I loans, which are working capital loans to operate businesses, and helping business owners to own their business. Francis also says the bank has a lot of loyal customers. “The reputation that a lot of our staff has, and the fact that many of us have banked in Cobb,” he said. “When you have people that have banked with our staff for years, they are pretty loyal to them and they (the customers) move when they (the bankers) move.” First Landmark now employs 20 people and expects to hire five more after it moves into its new headquarters. As for the future of First Landmark Bank, both the president and its CFO are excited for the opportunity to grow in such a thriving environment as Marietta and Cobb County. “We’re just proud and blessed that the citizens of Marietta have found that a bank like First Landmark can continue to grow and be a strong development for the city,” Francis said.

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50 years of making a difference Center for Family Resources helping families in need become self-sufficient By Kim Isaza kisaza@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — In 1960, Fred Bentley Sr., Howard Ector and Harry Holliday had an idea to combine six emergency assistance groups in the county under one roof, for efficiency and effectiveness, and the Cobb County Emergency Aid Association was born. Fifty years later, the nonprofit organization — now called The Center for Family Resources — is still working with that same idea at the Mansour Center, a nonprofit tenant center where people who need help can find a variety of resources in one building. The CFR owns the center and rents office space to other nonprofits. There is also a conference center in the building. “It’s a unique concept,” said Jeri Barr, who has led the CFR since 1984. “Our special piece is earned income. We have a conference center here that we rent out. We’ve had weddings, bar mitzvahs, trade shows, all-day conferences. We can provide here anything a conference center can offer. If a business is going to pay for training, why not do it here where they are also supporting their community?” Though the agency’s name has changed, its mission has not. “We did emergency aid for a good 20 years,” Barr said. “In the

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

Jeri Barr — standing in an area containing family items — has been the Center for Family Resources CEO since 1984. family. How can we help the kids? If 1980s, we began looking at why you’re not working with both generapeople needed emergency aid. Back tions, you’re probably not making then, we helped folks four times per significant changes.” year, maybe with $100 for rent. But And the assistance is personalized. we realized people were simply “We don’t have a one-size-fits-all. accounting for that aid in their budIt’s ‘What does this family need so get, so we weren’t helping them they can be self-sufficient?’ For change their actions.” example, we have a food pantry. We “Now, we still do emergency aid, do not have a standard food basket but we also give them the skill set to that we give to everyone who walks break that cycle of aid,” she said. through the door. Or, if somebody Case workers realized there were four barriers keeping people from self- hasn’t graduated high school, we can help them with the GED. For those sufficiency. They are lack of affordwith education but no jobs, we have able transportation, childcare and classes and computers to help with housing, and inadequate job training. the job search.” “The way we look at the client The CFR has served more than today is different than in the 1980s,” 400,000 people in its 50 years, she she said. “Back then, we looked at said. It has 60 apartments, and famithe individual. Now we look at the

lies needing help can stay for up to two years. The group offers literacy programs, and classes in life management, business and other topics. “No one likes to ask for help,” she said. “It’s very embarrassing, whether you’re poor or middle class. We require a lot of documentation, including proof of citizenship. Our case workers are wonderful at putting families at ease and helping them.” In 1960, the nonprofit had a budget of $18,511. Today, CFR has 29 employees and its budget is $3.97 million. Most of its funding comes from government grants. The United Way is another major contributor, and the CFR has built strong ties with corporate donors such as Lockheed Martin. Although the budget may sound large, so is the need. “We have very limited resources, and we want to be sure they’re spent well,” Barr said. “So our expectation is that the families we help want to make a change. The family has to be ready, willing and able to do the things they have to do to make the changes. If they don’t, we have to ask them to leave.” Barr, who reports to the 27-member board of directors, said the CFR is a dynamic place to work. “It’s always changing to meet the needs of our clients. Everyday is different, and I love that. It’s a pleasure to change and grow as we have.”

Reverse 911 system calls residents’ alternate numbers By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

Imagine being evacuated from your home for an emergency, but not knowing when you can return because the only phone number people have to reach you is your home number. Cobb County 911 executives know that this could actually be a reality, and have launched a program called CodeRED that they hope will open more lines of communication throughout the county. “It doesn’t do anyone any good to

call their home to tell them everything is OK or that it’s OK to go back to the office or home when the only line we have is one they obviously can’t reach,” said Tammi Conniff, Cobb County senior 911 analyst. “We’ve always had a database with published phone numbers, but needed a way to get any phone numbers that weren’t published or cell phone numbers to be able to reach people in case of an emergency, so we came up with Code RED.” Residents can receive calls from the system encouraging them to regis-

ter their numbers in the reverse 911 system by visiting cobbcounty.org/911 and clicking on the CodeRED Reverse 911 Registration tab. Business owners and residents could add both land line and mobile numbers into the system. Those who have changed phone numbers or addresses within the past year or use cell phones or VoIP phones as their primary source of contact are especially encouraged to register. As residents become aware of the program and informed of its benefits and uses, Conniff said she hopes the

database will continue to grow. “It’s not just for those in unincorporated Cobb; residents in all of the cities are also encouraged to register their numbers,” Conniff said. Conniff said the system had about 227,000 phone numbers recently, and that 3,000 of those alone came in recently. “This will also help with missing children reports, if prisoners have broken loose and are in someone’s area, and especially if we have another disaster like September’s floods,” Conniff said.

FlightWorks heads list for charters From staff reports

FlightWorks Inc. of Kennesaw, is ranked No. 1 among air charter companies Atlanta Area’s Air Charter Companies by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The company, established in Atlanta in 1994, had 38 total Atlanta-based aircraft on FAA air carrier certificate. The company owns no aircraft, but manages 38. Some of the types of aircraft available were Gulfstreams, Citations, Raytheon Hawkers, Falcons and King Airs. The company had 95 full-time Atlanta employees and 49 pilots. The number of passengers carried in 2008 and the total number of charter hours flown in 2008 was not available. Some of the other services offered include worldwide executive charter services, aviation consulting, aircraft sales and aircraft maintenance. The company’s headquarters is in Kennesaw and uses Cobb County Airport (McCollum Field), DeKalb Peachtree Airport and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Tied at No. 8 is Asheville Jet Charter & Management LLC, also of Kennesaw. Asheville Jet Charter & Management, established in Atlanta in 1989, had four total Atlanta-based aircraft on FAA air carrier certificate. The company owns no aircraft, but manages four. Some of the types of aircraft available are Gulfstream III, Gulfstream II SP and Learjet 35. The company had 12 full-time Atlanta employees, three part-time Atlanta employees and 12 pilots.

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

New ARC chair eyes easing traffic congestion By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

At the beginning of the year, Cobb County resident Tad Leithead became the first citizen-member to chair the Atlanta Regional Commission and frankly discussed the region’s two biggest issues: transportation and water. Leithead, 54, has served on the ARC for nine years. The former Cousins Properties executive chairs the Cumberland Community Improvement District, of which he has been a member for 19 years. He also is a member of two other CIDs: Perimeter Center and North Fulton. He and his wife, Sue, live in east Cobb near the Chattahoochee and have two sons. On Transportation: “We’re literally at a fork in the road right now. If we assume that we can identify funding for transportation projects in the region, then 10 years from now, I think we’ll see an HOV system that starts from Akers Mill and continues all the way out from, probably Sixes Road on I-75 and to Chastain Road on I-75. “It’s two HOV lanes in either direction permanently south of Akers Mill. But north of Akers Mill, it will be two lanes south in the morning, reversible, two lanes north in the afternoon. “So you will actually have HOV lanes that are convertible based on the direction traffic is flowing. … The roads that are currently available for drivers, free of charge, would remain. Two HOV lanes reversible in either direction would be added, and that would allow us to preserve right-of-way for a lightrail system. Sam has advocated for years as Cobb Commission chair and ARC chair that there needs to be light rail in that corridor, and he’s turned the tide.” Leithead said the HOV lanes would require three people in a vehicle. “All the studies we’ve done show that two passengers per car doesn’t mitigate the traffic congestion. At three passengers per car, it does. Again, if funding is available I would say in 10 years there will be a light rail system in that corridor with strategic stops probably at Akers Mill, possibly at either the north or south loop, and then at

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

Cobb’s Tad Leithead, who has served nine years on the Atlanta Regional Commission, became the first citizen-member to chair the ARC. Leithead also chairs the Cumberland Community Improvement District. those agencies meet quarterly, Town Center and one at the north it to pay the penny and collect the where they “sit down in a group terminus at 575.” penny. The majority would come and talk to each other about our “If we’re not able to identify from the votes, not the number of mutual interest in solving the contransportation tax in the state of counties.” gestion problems in the state and Georgia, which we failed to get in ARC estimates a 10-year tax 2008 and 2009, then I think we’ll would bring in $7.9 billion, and with region. Just sitting down and talking to each other probably scale the instead of talking project back and ‘If we’re not able to identify transportation tax about each other, that execute the HOV in the state of Georgia, which we failed to get makes a huge differlanes but not add in 2008 and 2009, then I think we’ll probably ence.” the light rail. With Another thing that a funding mechascale the project back and execute the HOV would make a big nism yet to be lanes but not add the light rail.’ difference is turning identified, we will — Tad Leithead the dirt, he said. have that plus a light-rail system.” “(The ARC has) The “funding mechanism” ARC not only the right, but the obligamatching federal funds, could transwould like to see is a one-cent sales tion, to do regional planning and late into $13 billion, he said. Still, tax collected and spent in the Atlanta the ARC’s estimate is that the total enforce regional planning. … need for that period is $106 billion. metro region, he said. “The ARC is We’ve been studying and planning going to be supporting legislation “So you don’t solve the problem; for 10 years. It’s time for us to do this year that creates a regional tax something. As Sam Olens says, it’s you take a step toward solving the that would be collected in the region problem,” he said. “We’re going to time for us to move dirt. (if it’s passed in the legislature then “Between 2000 and 2006, the have to be very careful about priorivoted on by the public), if it’s passed tizing how we invest that money. ARC had $2.6 billion worth of — twice — then it would be with Some of it has to go to transit, some funded and approved projects. Of the provision that 100 percent of the that $2.6 billion, we actually built of it has to go to roads, some of it money that’s collected in the region $600 million. $2 billion were put on has to go to pedestrian facility, stays in the region.” the back-burner. Those $2 billion in some of it has to go to bicycles. “We don’t think it’s politicallyprojects are still in the transportaThere’s a cornicopia of transportasavvy to put it on the ballot in tion improvement program, but tion solutions, all of which are part November 2010. Probably a special now, because of cost increases, they of transportation solution. But $13 election will be in March 2011. The cost $6 billion. So, we’ve been letbillion ain’t $106 billion.” legislature will have to pass it in ting inflation and delay and planLeithead acknowledge that there 2010, then we’ll take it to the voters ning sneak up on us and it’s gotten are many agencies involved, with in March 2011. By that time, the in the way of building stuff that ARC, GDOT, MARTA, GRTA, counties would have agreed on actually fixes traffic. and SRTA (the State Road and “Sam (Olens) has been adamant everything. Say Cobb County votes Tollway Authority), but pointed out during his five years as chair of it down — if the regional majority that most will have new leadership ARC that it’s time to stop talking wins it, Cobb agrees to be bound by in the new year. The heads of all of

State DOT plans reversible lanes to help ease interstate traffic flow By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

Commuting through Cherokee and Cobb counties may become less stressful by 2013. To relieve traffic congestion, the Georgia Department of Transportation plans to add reversible lanes on sections of interstates in both counties. If the lanes become reality, which is expected, construction could start next summer and take three years to complete, said Earl Mahfuz, Public Private Partnership program director for the GDOT. Mahfuz presented Cobb leaders with a fast-track plan to add the reversible lanes to Interstates 75, 575, 285 and 20 during the county government’s annual retreat at Lake Lanier Islands Resort earlier this month. The reversible lanes would mitigate rushhour traffic by changing direction to meet demand. Drivers will be able to merge onto the lanes at limited access points along the interstate. When lanes change directions, access points to enter the lanes in the opposite direction would be barricaded. The lanes would be highoccupancy vehicle/ high-occupancy toll, and riders would be required to place a small scanner in the upper corners of their windshields. Sensors would be set up to track the mileage of the cars riding in the new lanes. Cars with three or more passengers would turn the scanners off and ride in the lanes free of charge. Those with fewer than three would turn the scanners on and be charged a fee per mile, which would be displayed at the access points so drivers can know ahead of time what they will be charged. “This is huge,” Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens said. “There has been talk, but I am confident things will finally happen. The project grew to a $4 billion plan, but has been cut back drastically so it’s feasible, and looks like it’s going

to forward and will happen.” The GDOT is looking at two separate projects. The first, which is expected to cost about $1.1 billion, would create two reversible HOV/HOT lanes in between the existing north and south lanes on I-75 between I-285 and I-575. Once the new lanes reach I-575, they split. One lane is proposed to continue up I-75 to Hickory Grove Road near Acworth and another would continue up I-575 to exit 11 at Sixes Road in Cherokee. Access points are proposed along I75 at Terrell Mill Road, Roswell Road, the Big Shanty Connector and Hickory Grove Road. Points along I575 are proposed at Big Shanty Road, Shallowford Road, Dupree Road and Sixes Road. The second project, expected to cost $900 million, will add lanes along I-

285 and I-20. They are planned to be constructed almost simultaneously with the I-75 and I-575 project. The second project includes two reversible lanes along I-285 between I-75 North and I-20 West and along I-20 West between I285 and Highway 6. Access points are proposed along I285 at Cumberland Boulevard, Mt. Wilkinson Parkway, Orchard Road and south of Bolton Road, while points along I-20 West are proposed at the Chattahoochee River, Factory Shoals Road and Highway 6. “The idea is to connect all the dots,” Mahfuz said. “And to keep the projects within six months of each other in closings. And, once everything is completed, you can start looking at other tier levels for this, possibly for a light rail system to develop within those lanes.”

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and start moving dirt and start building. Let’s identify projects we can build and, by God, build them. We’re going to start building projects because we need them in this region. They’re affecting our economic development.” On water: “Transportation is front and center as far as people’s perspective,” he said, although “water is probably the bigger of the two challenges. … Even though traffic is an issue to us every day, the real challenge to our vitality in the next 10, 20 years is water.” “One, we need to maintain and capture more of the water that falls out of the sky. I’ve heard a statistic that 50 trillion gallons of water falls on Georgia a year. Of that, we only retain one. But it’s very difficult in this environment to get a permit to build a reservoir. You see that in Cobb County and when we do try to build a reservoir, Alabama tries to sue us, right? So one is to capture that water and hold it for our use. “Two is conserve. You can’t conserve your way out of a drought, but we need to have conservation of our precious resource front and center in the minds of people that live in this region. “Three, coming up with a watermanagement plan through the Corps (of Engineers), through the federal government, that allows us to protect the resource when the water does go into Lake Lanier and the other resources, that allows us to maintain that and protect at a reasonable level for our use. All three of those have to be in our strategy for water. “The first order of business is to resolve the judge’s ruling. We’ve got to get out of this lawsuit. … Do I think it’s going to be a walk in the park? No. I can tell you that it’s a necessity for the ongoing growth and quality of life for the people of Atlanta, and we’re going to get it done. … Despite such looming challenges, Leithead looks to the future with optimism. “I’ve lived in Cobb since 1983, and I believe Cobb is one of the best-run counties in our region and in our state. I think Cobb and Atlanta’s best days are in front of us. If I believed that our best days were behind us, I wouldn’t be stepping up to chair the ARC,” he said.

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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‘Slick head and all’ Statue of longtime mayor highlights new Austell park dedication ceremony By Katy Ruth Camp

Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins, left, is kidded by his old friend and former Gov. Roy Barnes at the unveiling ceremony. Barnes became more serious at the podium, calling him ‘best mayor the state of Georgia has ever seen.’

krcamp@mdjonline.com

AUSTELL — The cold air was no match for the warmth Joe Jerkins felt Thursday afternoon when a life-size bronze statue of the Austell mayor was unveiled at city’s new Mayors Memorial Park. Several local and state dignitaries were on hand to celebrate Jerkins and the city’s former mayors at the new park at Veterans Memorial Highway and Love Street. “It looks just like me, slick head and all,” Jerkins said over laughter as the statue of the mayor, dressed casually in a sweater and khakis, was revealed. “I’m just so overwhelmed, and it’s truly been an honor.” The total cost of the park and the statue was about $225,000, and was paid for through the interest accrued from a $5 million settlement with Norfolk Southern Railroad. City Clerk Carolyn Duncan said the mayor did not have a vote on the project, and that the decision came from the City Council and the Austell Area Community Improvement Committee, which administers the funds from the settlement. Past mayors are memorialized on stones surrounding

very best at the lowest price,” Barnes said. “Joe Jerkins is the kind of fellow that will walk in a door and you just know he’s an all right man. You don’t need written contracts with Mayor Jerkins because his word and handshake are as good as gold. How many people, especially politicians, can say that?” Jerkins took the podium and thanked the city’s staff and the people in attendance for working with him through the years. But the first person he thanked was his wife.

“She’s the main part of my life,” Jerkins said, as his voice cracked and tears came to his eyes. “She’s dealt with a lot over the past 20 years, and had to put up with me going out a lot of nights to take care of something, or coming home late because something had to be done. But all of you have been involved with me in some way, so I can’t stand here and take the credit without giving you some. I know my feet are frozen and y’alls’ are too so I’ll just end by saying thank you — so much.”

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

the statue. Park designer and statue sculptor Bob Quinn said it took him about a year to create the statue. He also created the monument dedicated to former mayor C.H. “Fats” James Sr., found inside the gazebo. Former Georgia Gov. and Cobb County lawyer Roy Barnes spoke at the ceremony, along with Cobb County Chairman Sam Olens. Longtime City Councilwoman Beverly Boyd also spoke about the mayor, whom she has worked with for over a decade. “I’m going to do my best not to get serious and emo-

tional, but it’s hard when it’s someone you love,” she said. “He is completing his 20th year of service to the city of Austell this year, and has always acted as both mayor and city manager. For the first 14 years he served, he didn’t receive any salary for either position. His priority has always been the citizens of Austell, and he always will to listen to their opinions. He is not a politician; he is a statesman.” Olens said, “What you see is what you get, and honestly, it’s surprising to see him here in a suit and tie because that’s not the Mayor Jerkins I know. But I guess today you

kind of had to. Mayor Jerkins is the most down-to-Earth, humble public servant you’ll ever meet. During the floods, he was the one directing traffic and getting dirty, not sitting in his office. You would be hard pressed to find a mayor who has done more for his city than Mayor Jerkins, and there is something really special about how he treats folks and his love for this city.” Barnes also spoke kindly of Jerkins, calling him the “best mayor the state of Georgia has ever seen.” “I have never seen someone so dedicated to ensuring that his residents receive the

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More than 100 Cobb hotels unite to form council From staff reports

MARIETTA — A new group has formed to represent the more than 100 hotels in Cobb County. Representatives from 20 Cobb hotels met recently to kick-start the Cobb Hotel Council, a group that will focus on community outreach, sales and marketing, and governmental affairs for local hotels. Area hoteliers have discussed forming such a council over the last few years, said Ron Fennel of Smyrna, the

group’s executive director. Fennel said the group’s formation is not a response to the recent attempt to merge the Cobb County Convention & Visitors Bureau with the Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, a merger opposed by many hoteliers. However, Visitors Bureau Chairman Don Geiger, general manager of the Kennesaw Town Center Residence Inn by Marriott, said the new hotel council will give hoteliers a united voice. “I believe that the potential merger of the CCVB with the Authority helped

demonstrate to those of us in the hotel community the importance of having an avenue for a unified voice with many key issues facing our industry in Cobb County,” Geiger said. Membership dues are based on the number of rooms in the facility. A 100room hotel would charge $3 per room, for a dues fee of $300. The group, which appointed Frank Quallen, general manager of the Atlanta Marriott Northwest, as its chairman, is a chapter of the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association.

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Courthouse construction on schedule By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

Cobb County is on track with its new, $63 million courthouse rising on Haynes Street just off the Marietta Square. The courthouse, which voters agreed to pay for with the county’s 2005 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program, is expected to be completed in December. The county broke ground in May 2009 on the 229,000-square-foot courthouse. The courthouse will have 11 courtrooms, including one oversized for highprofile cases, and a large clock tower. It will be seven stories tall, with the fourth floor an empty shell that can be finished as needed. The building is also seeking LEED® certification, which recognizes environmentally friendly construction projects. The building will house three judicial departments, including the Superior Court, the District Attorney’s office and the Superior Court Clerk. In July, the county board of commissioners approved a $1.7 million contract with Black Creek Integrated Systems Corporation to install a top-notch security system in the courthouse. Security systems have been updated since 2005, when defendant Brian Nichols went on a shooting rampage inside the Fulton County Courthouse, killing four people. Col. Don

Bartlett, administrative division commander for the Cobb Sheriff’s Office, said the county started working on tighter courthouse security even before Nichols, but looked at it even more closely after that. A critical point for the construction of the courthouse is expected to come in April, when the building will be sealed and workers can heat and cool the facility. A certificate of occupancy is expected to be issued in December of 2010, and the courts will be the first to start moving their offices to the new building in January of 2011. County spokesman Robert Quigley said agencies will move into the building in groups, rather than in one mass infusion. “Once the courts are up and running, we will move the next group, then the next group,” he said. Turner Construction Company, the general contractor for the project, also raised $18,000 for MUST Ministries, a faith-based organization that serves people in need in Cobb and Cherokee counties. Turner and the courthouse team presented the check on Dec. 12 at the project’s “Topping Off” party. This ceremony marks the moment when the highest structural point on a construction project has been attained. Turner hoisted the last steel beam into place with an evergreen tree that was placed on the beam to

A rendering of what the new Cobb Superior Courthouse will look like when construction is finished in December.

Cobb’s superior court judges did the groundbreaking honors in May of 2009 on the new $63 million Cobb Superior Courthouse, which is scheduled for completion in December. The courthouse will have 11 courtrooms, including one oversized for high-profile cases.

Staff/Laura Moon

symbolize that the building project proceeded well, without injury, and to stand as a good luck charm for the building’s future occupants. But the project was clouded in controversy in early February when members of the union watchdog group “Jobs for Georgians” told the board of commissioners that the masonry subcontractor, Zebra Construction, was knowingly employing illegal workers at the job site. Chairman Sam Olens has since asked federal immigration officials to investigate whether anyone should be held criminally responsible for how illegal immigrants got work on the project, and insists that the county and its general contractor on the project, Turner Construction,

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followed the law — and could not legally do any more. Zebra, for its part, has claimed innocence and put the blame for the 10 illegal immigrant workers laying blocks on the courthouse on the subcontractor it hired, Victor Candelaria. Zebra questioned Candelaria, who told the company that he was not registered in the federal citizenship verification program, E-verify, and

therefore was not checking his employees under the program. Candelaria and his workers were replaced on Feb. 5. Olens and other county officials have been working on plans for a parking deck near the courthouse, which would provide access to visitors, county workers and city workers, should the city help to pay for a portion of the deck’s construction. The deck is being built

next to the Marietta City Hall on the site of the former Fulton Federal Savings & Loan, and is slated to open in February 2011. Visitors will pay $5 a day to park there. Virgil Moon, the county’s director of support services, said the deck will have 552 spaces, 240 of which are public and 312 are for county employees. The $19 million cost will be financed through fixed rate revenue bonds.

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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The changing face of Cobb Census data shows county has more diversity in race and income By Kathryn Dobies kdobies@mdjonline.com

Cobb County’s demographics have changed rather dramatically in the last decade, according to Census data. Today, Cobb is more diverse racially, but also economically than it was in 2000. The county added at least 80,000 residents since the year 2000. That year, 607,000 people called Cobb home, whereas in 2008, 688,000 did so. 2008 is the latest year for which Census data has been released. In 2008, Cobb’s population was 23 percent black or African American, a group that made up 19 percent in 2000. Cobb County’s second largest minority group, Hispanics or Latinos, has grown by 60 percent from about 47,000 people in 2000 to more than 77,000 in 2008. The county’s median fam-

Staff/Mike Jacoby

Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon says his city has experienced growth in minority residents and median family incomes over the last 20 years. He attributes this growth to the city’s proximity to all the amenities of Atlanta and its small-town feel. ily income rose by almost $14,000, from about $68,000

Staff/Laura Moon

Cobb NAACP President Deane Bonner — here with her husband, Jesse — says Cobb has come a long way with the treatment of minorites in the last decade but she ‘still believes that minorities need to be in more leadership roles throughout the county.’

in 2000 to more than $81,000 in 2008. Mayor A. Max Bacon of Smyrna said his community has seen changes like these not only over the last decade, but really over the last 20 years. Bacon recalled a state of the city speech he gave nearly 20 years ago in which he told the community that if people weren’t ready for change in Smyrna, they should pack their bags. The mayor attributes Smyrna’s growth to its proximity to all the amenities of Atlanta, and its small-town feel. “We still, I believe, have a little hometown atmosphere, and I think that that has really attracted people,” Bacon said. Bacon boasts that Smyrna’s Campbell High School is home to at least 26 different races. “I think it’s been a plus

for our community. And I believe our entire council would echo that,” Bacon said. “It’s really made our community a better place to live.” The mayor said he is proud of how the Smyrna community has embraced its diversity and how long-time residents have welcomed newcomers. The only issue with Smyrna’s diversity, Bacon said, is that community leaders have had a difficult time reaching out to minority business owners and getting them involved in the local business associations. Cobb County commissioner Woody Thompson, who represents southwest Cobb, said the diversity has helped residents better understand other cultures. “It’s even changed the way I’ve run for office,” Thompson said. The commissioner previously ran as a

Republican, but in his last race switched parties in an attempt “to reach out to folks

on all sides,” he said. Running for office, Thompson said, has allowed him to see the changes in Cobb firsthand. Deanne Bonner, Cobb County NAACP president, said she has seen Cobb County come a long way in the last decade, but still believes that minorities need to be established in more leadership roles throughout the county. “I’m not saying all is well, but it has certainly improved,” Bonner said. Bonner hopes that new 2010 Census numbers will show the need for redistricting in Cobb to equally disperse minorities throughout several districts in an unbiased way. “If our kids continue to excel and begin to see that there is an opportunity to be all that you can be in Cobb County, that would be a future that we would hope actually come to fruition,” Bonner said.

Cobb County Snapshot Total Population Male Female Median age

2000 607,751 301,508 (49.6%) 306,243 (50.4%)

2008 688,433 341,419 (49.6%) 347,014 (50.4%)

33.2

35.9

$67,649

$81,630

Race White / Caucasian Black / African-American American Indian, Alaska Native Asian Pacific Islander Other race Two or more races

439,991 (72.4%) 114,233 (18.8%) 1,579 (0.3%) 18,587 (3.1%) 257 (>1%) 21,731 (3.6%) 11,373 (1.9%)

438,745 (63.7%) 157,275 (22.8%) 1,300 (0.2%) 28,720 (4.1%) N/A 54,150 (7.9%) 8,693 (1.3%)

Ethnicity Hispanic (any race) Non-Hispanic

46,964 (7.7%) 560,787 (92.3%)

77,376 (11.2%) 611,057 (88.8%)

Housing units Owner-occupied Renter-occupied

155,055 (68.2%) 72,432 (31.8%)

181,811 (71.8%) 71,336 (28.2%)

Median family income

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Staff / Caroline Brannen

GROWTH & REVITALIZATION

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Park for blighted area to ‘raise quality of life’ By Jon Gillooly jgillooly@mdjonline.com

Staff/Laura Moon

Mountain View Regional Manager Mike Aiken, left, and East Cobb Library Branch Manager Ansie Krige were happy to show off the new 16,800-square-foot East Cobb Library, which is more than twice the size of the 8,000-square-foot Merchant’s Walk Library.

Wired for future New library features Wi-Fi, touch-screen projectors By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Many east Cobb residents may remember the space next to the Kroger at Johnson Ferry and Lower Roswell Roads as an old gym with black walls and no windows. Or as a large Chinese buffet before that. But now, the space at 4880 Lower Roswell Road is Cobb County’s newest and most advanced library, the East Cobb Library. “I think people will be shocked and very, very happy when they walk in here,” Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott said. “It’s a leading-edge library with the most built-in technology out of any of our libraries, and it’s wired for the future with Wi-Fi, touch-screen projectors and ample computers.” The East Cobb Library replaces the Merchant’s Walk Library, which the county sold for $1.6 million. Ott said the county looked at the cost of acquiring land and building a brand new library, but chose to lease the new space and renovate it to save money. A little more than $900,000 is left after the space was gutted, renovated and furnished, and Ott said the county has earmarked that money for a matching grant from the government to expand or replace East Marietta Library. “We started thinking about what the role of a library will be in 10 or 15 years, and with the dominance of Internet and growing technology, we’re not sure what that role will be so we felt doing this was the smartest thing for us to do,” Ott said. The former library officially closed on Jan. 22, so area residents had to find another library to use for 10 days. Ansie Krige, the branch manager for Merchant’s Walk and now East Cobb Library, said all books and staff from Merchant’s Walk have moved to the new library, and that they were all excited about the new space. “Everyone knew we needed something

new, and with the windows and lighting, it’s just so much brighter and bigger and updated to modern needs,” Krige said. The new library features a teen section, which no other library in Cobb has, with caféstyle tables, a flat-screen television with DVD’s and a Wii gaming system available to use, free of charge, and an entire section of young adult novels. The library also features a community room with seating for more than 100 people and touch-screen controls on the walls, which is free for any community non-profit or governmental gathering, such as town hall meetings. There is also a large children’s room with a Hi-Definition projector and BOSE stereo system, which Krige said will be used for storytelling sessions and movies. Construction began in late August. The 16,800-square-foot facility is more than twice the size of the 8,000-square-foot Merchant’s Walk Library, and much of the woodwork done for furniture was completed by the county’s property management team. All of the walls were gutted and new walls were put into place to create other rooms and offices. Windows were also built on the outer walls to bring more light into the facility. Krige said that the Merchant’s Walk Library had an average of 23,000 visitors a month, so she expects that number to continue, if not rise, with the opening of the new library. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Sunday. “Historically, when you open a new library, usage goes up pretty dramatically,” said Helen Poyer, Cobb County Library System Director. “We’re very pleased with how it turned out and hope residents will be just as excited about it as we are. It’s truly been a labor of love, and we’re glad to finally share it with everyone else.”

MARIETTA — The City Council recently voted to purchase what has been described as the shabbiest apartment complex in the most blighted part of town. Council plans to raze the 200-unit Preston Chase apartment complex on Franklin Road near Delk Road and turn the 13.19acre site into a public park. The motion was made by Councilman Jim King, with council voting 6-1 to buy the property from Regions Bank for $2.7 million. Councilman Anthony Coleman cast the dissenting vote without explaining his reason for opposing. City Manager Bill Bruton said the purchase price amounts to $13,500 per apartment unit or $204,700 per acre. The occupancy rate of Preston Chase is about 50 percent. The plan is to use the Marietta Housing Authority to manage the property over the next year or so in helping tenants locate elsewhere before the city can build a park there, Mayor Steve Tumlin said. The city’s purchase is expected to close Feb. 24, pending an environmental analysis, and will be funded by the $25 million parks bond voters approved in November. Among those in attendance at the meeting was Marietta Housing Authority board member Bill Hagemann, who also serves on the city’s citizens parks committee. Hagemann applauded the council’s decision. “The price makes this an excellent real estate deal,” he said. “I think a lot of people have had the goal of taking down apartments in the Franklin Road corridor, and also it’s a great goal to have a park over there. I believe there’s 3,000 units and no parks other than the facilities that are within the complexes, so I think it’s a great move.” In fact, the Marietta Housing Authority was interested in tearing down a couple of the dozen or so Franklin Road apartment complexes on its own when it applied for a $20 million federal stimulus grant last year. But last month, the MHA received word that it didn’t win that award. One of the apartment complexes the MHA intended to raze was Preston Chase. So it was with excitement that Hagemann learned that the city is using parks money to purchase and

demolish that complex. “That’s the worst complex in Franklin Road, too, I believe,” Hagemann said. “That’s going to do so much good for the area. That one there had so much deferred maintenance and the construction was very obsolete, so I feel good about getting those people in better housing as well. I don’t think they can get in worse housing than being in Preston Chase. That was probably the bottom rung on the ladder over there.” Preston Chase is in the ward of Councilman Philip Goldstein. The city’s ultimate goal is to level the dilapidated apartment buildings on Franklin Road to allow space for Economic Development Director Beth Sessoms’ proposal for a “Global GreenTech Corridor” in the 500-acre area, which would establish a mixed-use development. Officials say a motivating factor for eliminating the rundown apartment buildings is that they house a highly transient population that serves as a drain on the Marietta City Schools system. Marietta school board Chairman Randy Weiner said there are 1,143 children who live on Franklin Road who are enrolled in the Marietta school system. Tumlin said he can’t name many apartment buildings, but the few that come to mind are on Franklin Road, seared into his memory from all the code enforcement and crime problems that occur there. Demolishing a problem apartment complex while at the same time giving the children an area to play in is a win for everyone, he said. “We want to raise the quality of life for people out there,” Tumlin said. Another benefit to the property is that it is adjacent to green space the city already owns, and it is along a proposed multi-use trail that would connect Kennesaw Mountain with the Chattahoochee River, Bruton said. Demolishing the 18 two-story apartment buildings in the Preston Chase complex is estimated at a cost of $300,000 to $400,000, Bruton said. The city is buying the apartment complex from Regions Bank, which foreclosed on the property for $7.5 million. Although the Cobb Board of Tax Assessor’s lists the property at a value of $8.2 million, an Oct. 2009 appraisal by Regions Bank lists the value at only $3 million. But even at the bank’s appraised value, the city ends up saving $300,000 by paying the $2.7 million cost.

Staff/file

The City Council plans to raze the 200-unit Preston Chase apartment complex on Franklin Road near Delk Road and turn the 13.19-acre site into a public park.

New program trains children to be leaders of tomorrow From staff reports

We’ve all heard of the Boy and Girl Scouts, and of Boys Inc. and Girls Inc., and other fine organizations designed to provide structure and mentorship to the lives of young people. Now you can add another such organization to that list. It’s called Leadership SOAR, based in Austell. SOAR is an acronym for Service and Opportunity plus Action equal Results. It is a 501(c)3 organization and donations to it are taxdeductible. Its mission is to provide leverage while building strong leadership skills and selfesteem in today’s youth, according to its founder, Cathie Bailey. The program provides for motivating mentors who are committed in uniting our youth’s growth and development in becoming self-sufficient individuals. There are about 90 young people involved in the organization, she said. “We all know somebody who has blessed us by enriching our lives,” she began. “For many years, we have heard that it takes a whole village to raise a child. This fact has been proven time and time again. However, today’s village leaders are not equipping our children with the necessary skills. It is time for change.” Leadership SOAR was

designed for elementary and middle school youth, ages 8 to 14 years, who want to learn and apply leadership principles. The program curriculum consists of parliamentary procedures, character and ethics, skills development and community service projects, she said. Dion Mitchell, the IT coordinator for the Giving Back Foundation, Inc., said: “Our mission is to provide a systematic workflow for the organization by providing a Web site that will work for the organization. The Web site should be a marketing tool explaining its services, benefits and activities for the organization. It should capture vital information about volunteers, students and supporters that we can report out on. The Web site should also work alongside social networking media to spread the word about our efforts. “We also want to implement a technology program for the children to teach basic computing skills such as word processing and PowerPoint presenting, and effective ways to conduct research online. “More schools are requiring children to utilize computers at earlier ages and it is almost assumed that they ALL have the means and resources to complete these tasks. We would like them to be equipped with the necessary skills and resources so they will not be at a disad-

vantaged to others that do.” SOAR is seeking businesses looking to donate computers that could be presented to students as they complete its program with the goal that they would teach someone else in their household what they’ve learned. “This could allow us to help reduce the overall digital divide one household at a time,” Mitchell said. “We feel technology should improve the workflow of life and not hinder it. If it doesn’t, then the problem could be in the process used to complete the task. Our program will ensure that the basic skills are met to help prevent this.” Sentra Hobbs is a parent of young student JaNae’ Jones. “JaNae’ is a good child,” she began. “She is very helpful at home and at school. Leadership SOAR has helped to teach JaNae’ to be a critical thinker, open-minded and a risk-taker. As Ms. Bailey mentioned, she has participated in several service learning projects in our community. “She and I are currently volunteering at Presbyterian Village on a monthly basis during arts and crafts. We enjoy it. She has learned that she can achieve high expectations and sets her goals in accordance with that. We both would like to thank Leadership SOAR for helping JaNae’ make her good — better and her better — best

as a youth leader today.” Participants in the program are known as “ambassadors,” and next up was Hobbs’ daughter, ambassador JaNae’ Jones, who is the current state vice president and was president of the group for the 2008-09 term. “To be a leader of others,

you must first be a leader yourself,” said Miss Jones, who hopes to become a pediatrician. “A leader has courage and self-confidence. ‘Remember to believe in yourself and others will believe in you’ — that’s a lesson I’ve learned through the Leadership SOAR program.

“Through Leadership SOAR, I am able to effectively communicate and address an audience — like now. I’ve learned skills that will motivate me for life.” For more on the organization, visit www.giving backfdn.org or call giving backfdn.org.

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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KNOW COBB COUNTY

Colleges

Acworth

1. Kennesaw State University 2. Southern Polytechnic State University 3. Life University 4. Chattahoochee Technical College (Mountain View Campus) 5. Chattahoochee Technical College (Marietta Campus) 6.Chattahoochee Technical College (South Cobb Campus)

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1. WellStar Kennestone Hospital 677 Church St., Marietta (770) 793-5000 www.wellstar.org

285

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Full-service, acute care hospital with an emergency room, open-heart surgery program, women s center, oncology center and other medical specialties. 633 beds

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2. WellStar Windy Hill Hospital 2540 Windy Hill Road, Marietta (770) 644-1000 www.wellstar.org

Metro Atlanta

Acute care facility with a substance abuse center, sleep study center, outpatient surgery center and other specialized services. 115 beds

3. WellStar Cobb Hospital 3950 Austell Road, Austell (770) 732-4000 www.wellstar.org

Nonprofit, full-service, acute care hospital with children s emergency services, Level III comprehensive oncology programs, wound care center and other medical specialties. 382 beds

Atlanta

Cobb County

4. Emory-Adventist Hospital 3949 S. Cobb Dr., Smyrna (770) 434-0710 www.emoryadventist.org A nonprofit hospital operated by Adventist Health System as a joint venture with Emory Healthcare. 100 beds

‘Remember Forever’ statue to honor vets, first responders From staff reports

Marietta is the final resting place of thousands of dead from the country’s wars of the past 150 years, and the county also is home to a national park that preserves the scene of one of the Civil War’s bloodier battles. Smyrna and Acworth have veterans’ memorials. But Cobb’s uniformed heroes of past and present — as well as their loved ones who have waited, watched and worried — will soon be honored with a singular, central and highly visible memorial. British poet John Milton wrote

that “They also serve who only stand and wait.” His reference was to the wives and families of those who go to war, but his remarks are just as apt about those whose loved ones are serving as police officers, firefighters, EMTs or ambulance drivers. And they — the families of our military, past and present, and those whose family members are “first responders” — are those who will be honored by a memorial statue to be erected next year on Roswell Street by the Marietta

Kiwanis Club. The life-sized bronze statue, to be known as “Forever Remember,” depicts a young woman watchfully waiting — and hoping — with a partially folded flag clutched to her breast. Her dress and hairstyle are somewhat contemporary, but are not meant to depict any particular time or war. “She represents everyone and anyone, from any era and any of the services,” explains Club President Victoria Turney. “She just

‘is,’ and she’s meant to be whoever you want her to be.” The statue’s placement has been approved by the Marietta Council for a triangular-shaped “pocket park” on the triangle of land bounded by Roswell, Anderson and Waddell streets. The city was already planning to create a park on the site as part of the Roswell Street streetscape improvement project, and quickly agreed to the club’s “Forever Remember” statue proposal. The little park will be landscaped in such a way as to complement the statue, which probably

will be oriented toward the nearby Marietta National Cemetery. The statue will be easily visible to passing traffic on Roswell Street, which not coincidentally for the club’s choice of a site, is also the route traveled by the city’s annual July Fourth parade. The statue was sculpted by Dennis V. Smith of Utah, based on consultations with Turney. “The name for the statue — ‘Forever Remember’ — was chosen to embrace and help us to forever remember the who or what in our lives that represents freedom, liberties or patriotism,” Turney said.

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New jail work on time, within budget From staff reports

Ground was broken 31 months ago for the $110 million expansion of the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and the project continues on time and within budget, according to Cobb officials. The housing tower’s skeletal structure is complete and interior walls, elevators, cells and utilities are being installed. The building exterior panels are also being installed. Construction of the Visitor Building was completed last year. Visitation and bonding functions shifted to the Visitor Building at the end of 2009. The Administration Building is scheduled for completion in April and the housing tower by the end of the year. Cobb long has boasted one of the best-run jails its size in the state, if not the country. Reasons for that include strong leadership from Sheriff Neil Warren and his predecessor, Bill Hutson and the willingness of local taxpayers to foot the bill for a secure, modern jail. The latest evidence of that can be seen on County Services Parkway, where the jail’s new visitors’ center opened last year. It cost $2.6 million, all funded via the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, the voluntary 1 percent tax that county residents voted to impose on themselves in 2005 to fund jail expansion, a new courthouse building and local road improvements.

Staff/Laura Moon

Administrative Division Commander Col. Don Bartlett, left, and Sheriff Neil Warren stand outside of the new Visitors’ Center of the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. The new Visitors’ Center is more secure and makes it easier for jailees’ family, friends and others to visit, according to Col. Bartlett. The jail expansion component of that tax has translated into spending $110 million to add 1,152 beds and to update its services, technology and security. When complete the jail will have 3,077 beds, which sounds like a lot, but not when one

considers that the county’s population is well in excess of 600,000 and still growing, and that our presence in a major metropolitan area and proximity to Atlanta itself mean many of its problems tend to spill into Cobb.

The expansion was crucial in terms of maintaining a safe facility, according to the sheriff. “When you have overcrowded conditions, it creates an atmosphere of more attacks, including inmates on inmates and inmates on staff,”

Warren said. “I have to be concerned about the inmates’ and my staff’s safety.” The new visitors’ center at the jail is a stand-alone facility and more secure than the one it replaces. That’s because it is separate from the jail itself and thus requires less security. That also makes it easier for jailees’ family, friends and others to visit, according to sheriff’s Col. Don Bartlett. “We wanted to make this convenient and easy to get in and out of for the public,” Bartlett said. “It was a challenge before to get people in and out for visitations at the jail.” The new center will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and eventually will include a fenced-in yard for children to play in. The Cobb jail formerly was fitted with telephones via which jailees and visitors would talk through a glass partition. The new center has kiosks equipped with cameras, monitored by deputies. There a court viewing room so that visitors can view proceedings in the jail’s courthouse. And kiosks have been installed in the cellblocks as well, so that those jailed can talk to visitors without having to be moved to the visitors’ area. “Anytime you move an inmate from a cell block to visitation, you’re moving that inmate from a secure area. This makes us way ahead of the game from the security standpoint, because there’s less movement,” Sheriff Warren said.

New Safety Village becomes a Cobb showcase facility By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Years ago, safety education for children primarily consisted of warnings to not talk to strangers and stop, drop and roll in the case of a fire. Times have changed. The new state-of-the-art Safety Village — named after county manager David Hankerson — opened last year to hundreds of visitors for the first time during an open house. “There’s been so many compliments. I have heard not one negative comment,” said Cobb Public Safety Director Mickey Lloyd.

“That’s unusual because people will usually say, ‘you didn’t do this or that.’ But I haven’t heard that at all.” The training facility at 1220 Al Bishop Drive in Marietta sits on an 8-acre site. Atlanta-based YLH Construction Company was the contractor of the 27,500square-foot facility. The indoor safety training facility consists of an interactive safety house, four safety education classrooms, two adult safety classrooms, an auditorium, three-bay child passenger safety seat inspection station, a multi-purpose banquet room and staff office space. The interior mimics a downtown streetscape.

The outdoor training village features scaled down buildings purchased by sponsors and constructed to simulate the look of Cobb. It will be equipped with working traffic signals, railroad crossing, pedestrian crossings, a school bus and other interactive safety dis-

plays. “If you prevent fires and prevent accidents, they never happen,” Cobb Fire spokeswoman Denell Boyd said. In addition to the Square, county leaders envision having several districts inside the miniature village including a parkway, a residential district

and an industrial district. About 10 years ago, under Hankerson’s direction, former Cobb Fire Chief Rebecca Denlinger began looking for ways Cobb could be more efficient in meeting state mandates for fire safety education. County officials visited several similar safety vil-

lages in Ontario, Canada. Ground broke in February 2008. Cobb’s village is the first of its kind in Georgia. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities at the Safety Village, contact the Safety Village Foundation’s development officer, Elaine Wilson, at (770) 852-3283.

Come Worship With Us!

Staff/file

Top: Cobb County Manager David Hankerson, left, and Director of Public Safety Mickey Lloyd played major roles during the construction of the Cobb County Safety Village. Above: Cobb County Safety Village board member Don Massaro and his daughter Alex Massaro, 10, visit the scaled-down rendition of Marietta's Glover Park, which includes a working fountain and brick sidewalks.

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Longtime Cobb NAACP leader to step down Marietta City Councilman Rev. Anthony Coleman, former Marietta school board MARIETTA — Described member Pam Flournoy, by Cobb Board of Commisand Bonner’s grandson, Jazsioners Chairman Sam Olens mon Ross. as the “moral conscience of the “The fact of the matter is county,” Deane Bonner, Cobb we have more minorities on NAACP president since 1997, our boards now than ever has announced she will step before, not even a close call, down at the end of the year. many more than ever before, Bonner made the more department heads that are announcement during a banminorities, more folks in manquet given in her agement moving forhonor at Chattaward that are minorihoochee Technical ties, and she should College earlier this have some pride in that month, where she was because she has assistpresented with the first ed the process for us,” annual “Celebrating Olens said. Diversity in Cobb Franklin spoke of County” award, sponwhat a role model Deane sored by the college Bonner is to those in Bonner and Georgia Power. public service and David Connell, community engagement. region manager for Georgia “We know that you are Power, called it a very specommited to making Cobb cial evening for celebrating County and Georgia the best diversity. that it can be. So keep those “This is one of the best e-mails and letters and statecommunities in the state with ments coming. We can’t regards to how we have manafford to lose you in the pubaged to transition over time lic dialogue,” Franklin said. and done so in a successful Bonner, who grew up in fashion. Deane Bonner has West Virginia, is married to been a critical part of our Jesse Bonner, who retired from journey, and going down the Dobbins Air Reserve Base in road of diversity truly is a 1975 as a senior master journey. She is a very special sergeant. The two have two person,” Connell said. children, seven grandchildren, The event, which was and one great grandchild. emceed by TV personality Bonner said she was Flip Spiceland, began with a moved that residents fought video tribute highlightsnow that day to attend. ing Bonner’s life, featuring “To see the people that such movers and shakers as braved this weather to come former Atlanta Mayor Shirley out to this event this evening Franklin and Dr. Betty Siegel, was so rewarding to me as a president emeritus of Kenneperson. The tribute was very saw State University. humbling, and it’s probably Bonner was then asked to one of the most rewarding sit on the stage where she was experiences that I’ve ever had roasted by a lineup including in my life, and I truly appreciCobb Commissioner Tim Lee, ate everyone here,” she said. By Jon Gillooly

jgillooly@mdjonline.com

GROWTH & REVITALIZATION

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

PROGRESS 2010

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL FEBRUARY 28, 2010

SECTION BB / 2 OF 8

BUSINESS

InCommand: Chelsea Brown International’s new worldwide security system Page 2BB

CHAMBER CHAIR HAS GAME PLAN TO CREATE JOBS 5BB INSIDE

COBB TEEN HAS THRIVING BUSINESS BUILT ON FAITH

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BUSINESS

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

InCommand in demand Local firm a pioneer in security with InCommand Worldwide By Kim Isaza kisaza@mdjonline.com

SMYRNA — Brent Brown spent five years as a uniformed police officer in Cobb County and metro Atlanta before founding the private security firm Chesley Brown in 1990. He was 26 at the time. Today, the business, which began by doing commercial security audits and later branched into providing private security guards, has more than 1,000 employees worldwide and multimillon dollar revenues. The newest member of the Chesley Brown family is InCommand Worldwide. With InCommand Worldwide, Brown has built the first remote monitoring systems using customized video analytics. Clients install a series of cameras, closed-circuit tele-

The cover

Staff/Laura Moon

CEO Brent Brown and Chief Operating Officer Victoria Boothe of Chesley Brown International, the parent company of InCommand Worldwide.

vision systems, digital video recorders and any other monitoring equipment needed. The video is monitored offsite via the Internet by people highly trained to detect and respond to threats. The Ches5 proprietary software package allows realtime video monitoring using video analytics in the remote command center elsewhere in the country. “Video analytics can be extremely complex and sophisticated,” Brown said. The software allows the computer to send an alert when unusual activity is detected, so immediate action can be taken. No one is dozing off in front of dozens of screens.” Through a microphones tied into a client’s public address system, InCommand staff can also deter unwanted actions by talking directly to a suspect person or persons seen on the video. “In 90 percent of calls, you just want the perpetrator to leave,” Brown said. “You want to stop the threat. And we can, by saying something like, ‘You in the black hoodie. Leave the premises now.’” Brown said his service is better than what the “polyester guard” companies can provide, because it is much more thorough and continuous. InCommand Worldwide has monitoring sites across the country. “This is better security, and it’s cost-effective,” Brown said. The majority of Chesley Brown’s annual revenues comes from Chesley Brown International, which provides private security guards to places such as the County Club Plaza shopping district in Kansas City, Mo. “InCommand Worldwide is not to the detriment of Chesley Brown Internation-

‘It’s one heck of a value for everything I get. I’m not paying wages to staff the site around the clock, I’m not paying FICA and Social Security taxes. There’s no way I could afford to have an on-site guard here for that amount.’ — Kim Gresh, president of S.A. White Oil Company in Marietta and an InCommand customer

Staff/Laura Moon

Chelsey Brown International CEO Brent Brown — here with Chief Operating Officer Victoria Boothe — says his InCommand system is better than what the ‘polyester guard’ companies can provide because it is much more thorough and continuous. al,” Brown said. “CBI is still growing, and there will always be a need for uniformed security in some situations. But our core philosophy has always been, if there’s a better way, we’ll do it. And this is better.” Kim Gresh, the president of S.A. White Oil Company in Marietta, said she has been a satisfied customer of InCommand for a couple of years now. “After 9/11, all of a sudden we came under the parameters of needing security,” said Gresh, whose company holds a couple hundred thou-

Up-and-coming private companies Five Cobb companies recently were listed among Atlanta’s 50 fastest-growing private companies by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and ranked by the weighted average growth index, a formula that was used to even the playing field among companies of different sizes. Ranked at No. 4 was Cork-Howard Construction Co., located at 2121 New Market Parkway, Suite 118 in Marietta. Factors cited as leading to growth in the company were more than 70-percent repeat customers because of quality delivery of service from employees. The company, which was established in 1995, specializes in large multi-floor tenant construction, tenant build-outs and renovations, and small to mid-size ground-up structures. Ranked at No. 18 was Hospitality Staffing Solutions LLC, located at 1640 Powers Ferry Road, Building 3, Suite 200 in Marietta. Factors cited as leading to growth in the company were great customer service at a fair price and value to customers. The company, which was established in 1999, offers hospitality staffing services and janitorial services. Ranked at No. 26 was Preferred Per-

sonnel Solutions Inc., located at 440 Barrett Parkway, Suite 31 in Kennesaw. Factors cited as leading to growth in the company were maintaining loyal and committed internal staff and current customers while obtaining new business. The company, which was established in 2002, is a full-service employment agency. Ranked at No. 37 was Ryla Inc., located at 2120 Barrett Park Drive in Kennesaw. Factors cited as leading to growth in the company were investment in human resource development and innovative customization to ensure quality service to clients. The company, which was established in 2001, is a provider of global customer contact services for companies and government agencies. Ranked at No. 49 was MFG.com Inc., located at 2700 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 500 in the Atlanta zip-coded portion of Cobb County. Factors cited as leading to growth in the company were improving the customer’s experience and ensuring balance between buyers and suppliers. The company, which was established in 2000, is an Internet-based platform upon which the global manufacturing industry conducts business.

sand gallons of diesel fuel at any one time. “It was a huge problem for us, because we’re right near the railroad tracks. CSX wouldn’t let us build any kind of a wall because it would limit their vision. And that’s when I went to Brent with my challenge.” She didn’t think cameras were a viable option at first, because with trains passing regularly, alarms would be going off all the time. But InCommand staff adjusted for such issues, as well as have eyes on the property 24 hours a day, she said. “First, I feel secure for my

guys who go out late in the afternoon and come back in the early morning. They monitor the gates, and the loading docks, and we can know for sure there’s no one coming through here at all,” she said. “We can see in every nook and cranny.” Gresh said she pays $1,250 per month for the monitoring, which does not include the cost of the equipment. “It’s one heck of a value for everything I get,” she said. “I’m not paying wages to staff the site around the clock, I’m not paying FICA

and Social Security taxes. There’s no way I could afford to have an on-site guard here for that amount.” Brown predicted that InCommand Worldwide “is so innovative that whereas today, CBI is 90 percent of our revenues, in two to five years, InCommand will have that share.” InCommand doesn’t sell any equipment, because plenty of firms do that, but technical staff do oversee installation and get all the components working together. And then the Command Center takes command. Its clients include fuel farms, distribution centers, manufacturing sites, banks and other financial institutions, construction sites, schools, shopping centers, high-tech sites and more, Brown said. Gresh said she reviewed about five other security firms before going with InCommand. “No one else offered all the same pieces from one single source,” she said. “Nobody had all those pieces of the puzzle. It’s got a lot of wonderful features that fit us perfectly.” InCommand’s parent company Chesley Brown is privately held, and financial details are a closely-held secret. But Brown did say that by 1995, the company had seven employees and revenues of about $1 million per year. By 2005, its staffing had jumped to 1,000 employees, where it has remained, while annual revenues were in the multi-millions. By 2015, “I’d say we’ll be a $100 million company,” Brown said. “In the future, security needs are going to be dramatic,” he said. “You have to have a safe environment to operate commerce.”

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

BUSINESS

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Businesses grow, jobs added during tough times By Laura Braddick lbraddick@neighbornewspapers.com

Despite the continued economic downturn of 2009, Cobb County saw nearly 2,000 new jobs and physical expansions of some of its biggest companies. FedEx Ground announced plans to expand its distribution center in August. The initiative will add 85,000 square feet to the facilities and create 270 new jobs. “This has been one of FedEx’s most successful distribution centers. FedEx enjoys access to a world class workforce as well as great infrastructure,” said Michael Hughes, director of Economic Development for Cobb. Atlanta-based Yancey Bros. Company also added to its square footage with a new facility in Kennesaw, which opened in November. The store did not create new jobs but showed the company’s faith in the county. “We are excited about opening this location in Kennesaw to support customers running the smaller equipment,” said store manager Preston Smith.

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

FedEx Ground driver Patrick Callen of Dallas gets a delivery signature from Trisha Stottle, an administrative assistant at BMC Solutions in Kennesaw. FedEx Ground began plans to expand its distribution center last year, a project that would be adding 85,000 square feet to the facilities and creating 270 new jobs. “I think this will be a great location to help customers working in

this area.” The new store sells parts for

earth movers and other equipment. During Kennesaw-based Ryla Teleservices’ employee relaunch in April, the company announced an additional 500 jobs for customer service representatives. The company, which provides call center and business process outsourcing, also hired an additional 1,500 seasonal workers for the winter holiday weeks. “The company is always constantly growing,” said Jacki Parker, a spokesperson for Ryla, which has been in Cobb County since 2001. “It just all depends on what other businesses are coming in.” Small business telephone services provider Cbeyond recently announced plans to add 400 to 500 jobs in Cobb County over the next five years and construct a new call center and training facility at its corporate headquarters in north Atlanta. “Cbeyond has been in Cobb County virtually since its inception in 1999. We selected Cobb (County) and Atlanta for its reputation as a hub of the South with access to the type of talented employees we have been able to attract to Cbe-

‘Cbeyond has been in Cobb County virtually since its inception in 1999. We selected Cobb (County) and Atlanta for its reputation as a hub of the South with access to the type of talented employees we have been able to attract to Cbeyond.’ — Kelly Coffed, Cbeyond spokesperson yond,” said Cbeyond spokesperson Kelly Coffed. These examples of business expansion, Hughes said, demonstrate the constant vitality of the county even in a tough economy. “It certainly is a challenging economic climate,” he said. “But, we’ve managed to secure some substantial employment gains from businesses such as FedEx, Ryla, Glock and Gentiva Health Services.”

Business scholar at KSU teaches art of making a deal By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

KENNESAW — Though the nation’s economy has been in a tailspin for more than a year, mergers and acquistions in the business world continue to be a driving force in the economy, according to a business scholar at Kennesaw State University. As a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, J. Larry Stevens was responsible for mergers and acquisitions before he retired in 2007. Now, he is an executive-in-residence at KSU’s Cole College of Business, where he has created a new elective course to educate MBA candidates in the science and art of making deals. KSU is one of the first business schools to offer

such a class. Even in light of the economy, announced mergers and acquisitions are higher than they’ve been in a decade, Stevens said. Many are out of necessity, while others are the result of a loosening of credit, and some have been brought about by demand given that deal activity was at a low in 2009, he said. Kraft Foods Inc. made a $19.5 billion offer a few months ago to acquire Cadbury. The Hershey Company also made an effort to bid on the British confectionary company, and the acquisition has been the talk of the business world, Stevens said. If approved, the combined Kraft-Cadbury company would be world’s largest chocolate maker. In his art of the deal course, Stevens said he uses such real-

Best places to work Three Cobb companies recently were listed among Atlanta’s best places to work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and ranked by overall survey scores. In the Large Companies category, ranked at No. 1 was Brasfield & Gorrie LLC, located at 1990 Vaughn Road NW, Suite 100 in Kennesaw. This private company, established in 1984, offers construction of commercial, health care, institutional, tenant, office, retail, municipal, treatment, hotel, education and government facilities throughout the Southeast. In the Medium Companies category, ranked at No. 10 was Mount Paran Christian School, located at 1275 Stanley Road in Kennesaw. The not for profit school, established in 1976, is a pre-K through grade 12 private Christian school, offering college prep education. In the Small Companies category, ranked at No. 19 was Project Development Services Inc. (PDSI), located at 2675 Paces Ferry Road, Suite 150, in the Atlanta zipcoded portion of Cobb Coun-

ty. This private company, established in 2001, is a fullservice, third-party project management firm specializing in the development, conversion and renovation of hotels and resorts.

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world mergers and acquisitions to help students. “I’ll throw out (Hershey), Cadbury and Kraft products and I’ll say everybody that’s got a Kraft bar raise your hand. You’re the Kraft team. Everybody that’s got a Hershey product, raise your hand, you’re the Hershey team, and everybody that’s got a Cadbury product — and I say here is the landscape,” said Stevens, 61. “If you’re Hershey, what do you do? How do you deal with that? Because you now have Kraft who is now trying to buy Cadbury, a major competitor, and you’re now overwhelmed by the size of Kraft. So I have the students in their teams figure out what their competitive response ought to be.” Dr. Ken Harmon, who became

Coles College dean in July, told KSU Magazine in its current edition that he wants the business school to be more relevant in today’s world. Dr. Kathryn Epps, interim director of the School of Accountancy, said the art of the deal course meets that challenge by preparing students well for after graduation. “We need students to be prepared with the skill set to go in and negotiate these deals, and to make sure that these corporations end up with win-win situations,” Epps said. “It’s a very unique skill set. Not every school of accountancy is going to prepare its students for the mergers and acquisitions world.” Stevens said many of his students already work in business. About 125 students have taken the

course since it was first offered in 2008. Accounting and law firms are just a couple of places where people who specialize in mergers and acquisitions work. “I looked around and said, ‘Are we preparing our business graduates to go and deal with acquisitions and mergers? Do they understand enough about it?’” Stevens said. “I started looking around the country and there was only one course taught that I could find in the country.” Students who have taken the course said it has been helpful. Peter Kemp, 25, of Atlanta, said he decided to take the class to satisfy accounting requirements for a CPA license. But he said he came to learn the importance that personalities, egos and structure had on deals.

BUSINESS

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Economist says turnaround won’t happen until ’11

Wachovia customer Ciro Covarrubias, owner of Supermercado La Villa in Marietta, uses the newly installed envelope-free ATM machine at the Roswell Street Wachovia branch in Marietta to deposit checks. The bank, which has 29 locations, has launched a line of ATMs that allow customers to deposit checks electronically up to 8 p.m.

By Jon Gillooly jgillooly@mdjonline.com

Staff/file

Rushing to bank? Wait! New Wachovia ATMs allow electronic, late-night deposits By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — The days of rushing to the bank before it closes to deposit a paycheck are over for Wachovia customers. The bank, which has 29 locations in Marietta and is fresh off of its merger with Wells Fargo, has launched a line of Automatic Teller Machines that allow customers to deposit checks electronically up to 8 p.m. Customers insert their debit cards, put in their PINs and insert one or more checks. The ATM scans the check or checks and shows customers the amount to approve. Upon approval, the machine will keep the checks and print out a receipt with miniature copies of each check. The money is posted to the customer’s account upon completion of deposit. “This is cost-saving, more efficient and convenient, and is also very green in that it cuts down on the amount of paper and ink being used,” said Arin Crandall, area business banking manager for Wells Fargo. “The technology is really cutting-edge and gives our customers more choices and more resources.” Ciro Covarrubias of Marietta, who owns two Supermercado La Villa gro-

cery stores in Cobb County, said he frequently uses the ATM to deposit his checks, and that the later cutoff time has been crucial in the past. “I have a lot of checks coming in and out, and if I can’t get to the bank by 4 p.m., that really causes issues,” Covarrubias said. “And the fact that it lets me keep copies of the checks is really great because I can see them as they were, and they are much easier to look over than a stack of receipts.” The ATM will also accept cash deposits. The same process occurs as depositing a check, but the screen will count bills, show you how much is being deposited and will allow customers to choose whether they want a receipt. Stacy Vandiver, district manager for the bank’s central Cobb region, said that the ATMs were developed a few years ago, but began in the western part of the U.S. and have just now migrated to Georgia over the past few months. The bank has also created 10 jobs in recent months in Cobb County, and Vandiver said that she expects up to 40 jobs to be created this year. “The Wells Fargo model has up to 20 percent more employees than typical banks, because it is important to us to have a high level of customer

service and to hire locally to help our local economy,” Vandiver said. One of those new hires is Erol Rodriguez of Marietta, who was hired in July as a teller after being laid off in May from Chase’s Circuit City division. “Knowing that the banking industry was really going down, it was really surprising for me to be hired at another bank, and for the process to happen so quickly,” Rodriguez said. Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens said both the ATMs and the company’s new hires will be beneficial to the county’s struggling economy. “The new ATMs are really a neat technology. They’re much more user friendly, they help to keep you organized and offer so much more than the old technology,” said Olens, whose family and law firm bank with Wachovia. “And the fact that they’re hiring really brings some optimism. We are seeing businesses expanding much more now than we were six months ago, but you’re really going to see a ‘U’ more than a ‘V’ as far as the turnaround in the economy. But employers are really starting to take steps to move forward both with their technology and their effect on the economy, and Wachovia is a good example of that.”

School district Cobb’s top employer Five Cobb companies were named among Atlanta’s Top 25 employers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, ranked by number of full-time employees in Atlanta. Ranked No. 6 was Cobb County School District, located at 514 Glover Street in Marietta. Established in 1885, the number of full-time employees in Atlanta and Georgia as of Dec. 1, 2008, was 15,663 and had a 2.85-percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of employees districtwide was 15,663. Its services or operations in Atlanta is public education K-12. Ranked No. 9 was Publix Super Markets Inc., located at 2600 Delk Road in Marietta. Established in 1992, the number of fulltime employees in Atlanta as of Dec. 1, 2008, was 9,291 and had a -0.82percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of

full-time employees in Georgia as of Dec. 1, 2008 was 11,253 and had a 1.11-percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of employees companywide was 70,156. Its services or operations in Atlanta is retail grocer with about 1,000 stores throughout the Southeast. Ranked No. 10 was The Home Depot, located at 2455 Paces Ferry Road in the Atlanta zipcoded portion of Cobb County. Established in 1978, the number of fulltime employees companywide was 9,000 and had a -1.67-percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of employees in Georgia as of Dec. 1, 2008 was 13,000, and had a -3.73 percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of employees companywide was 300,000. Its services or operations in Atlanta is

home improvement retailer. Ranked No. 12 was WellStar Health System Inc., located at 805 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta. Established in 1993, the number of full-time employees in Atlanta and Georgia as of Dec. 1, 2008, was 8,556 and a -0.34-percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of employees companywide was 8,556. Its services or operations in Atlanta is delivering health care through hospitals, physicians and services. Ranked No. 18 was Lockheed Martin Corp., located at 86 South Cobb Drive in Marietta. Lockheed Martin Corp. includes Lockheed Martin

Aeronautics Co., Lockheed Martin Electronic Systems, Lockheed Martin Enterprise Operations and Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services. Established in 1951, the number of fulltime employees in Atlanta as of Dec. 1, 2008 was 7,171 and had a 3.48-percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of full-time employees in Georgia as of Dec. 1, 2008 was 7,976 and had a 3.81-percent change from Dec. 1, 2007. The number of employees companywide was 130,176. Its services or operations in Atlanta is researches, designs, develops, manufactures, integrates and sustains advanced technology systems, and products and services.

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Don’t expect 2010 to be much better, economist Dr. Albert Niemi Jr. told an audience of 450 during his annual forecast lecture at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre recently. “I think it is probably 2011 before you see a significant uptick in the economy,” Niemi said. The talk marked the 17th year Bank of North Georgia hosted Niemi to deliver an economic forecast over breakfast to bank customers and prospects. Jeri Barr, CEO of the Marietta-based Center for Family Resources, was less than pleased by the forecast. “I was really hoping for a hopeful look for 2010, as all of us are,” Barr said after the lecture. “2009 has been very stressful. We’ve seen a 50 percent increase in the folks who need assistance, but it’s level in the amount of folks who can help, and now I’m hearing from (Niemi) that we’ll have to budget probably for a similar year in 2010. I was hoping to be more hopeful today.” Niemi served as dean of the University of Georgia’s business college from 1982 to 1996 before becoming dean of Southern Methodist University’s business school. In 2009 the gross domestic product in the U.S. fell by 2.4 percent, while in Georgia it fell by 3.8 percent. For 2010, Niemi predicts the U.S economy will grow at a rate of between 2.5 and 2.7 percent, while he believes Georgia will struggle to reach a growth of 2 percent. Anything under 3 percent is fairly inconsequential, he said. “This is the first time in 40 years that Georgia has underperformed the national economy and it’s kind of sad to see,” he said. Georgia’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average. The U.S. unemployment rate, Niemi predicts, will fall to 9.9 percent next year, while Georgia’s will likely still be at 10.5 by the end of next year. The driving force of Georgia’s economy over the last 40 years was low taxes, low cost of labor and land, and good business and weather climates. Georgia became an economic force because of the migration of people from other parts of the U.S. which drove the housing and commercial real estate industries, creating business opportunities. The problem is, there are too many housing units on

Dr. Albert Niemi Jr. the market, he said. Niemi said he often visits his grandchildren, who live by Pope High School in east Cobb. In 2007, he watched a developer in that area advertise new homes in the low $1 million range. Last year, the same homes advertised in the $800,000s. Now they’re in the $600,000s. None have sold, he said. “There’s a tremendous glut of residential, of commercial real estate, and that was the driving force in our growth, but that’s why it’s going to take us a while to come back. And that’s why in 2009 and 2010 (it was) the first two years in the last 40 where Georgia underperformed the national economy,” he said. From 2000 to 2007, Georgia averaged about 110,000 new homes a year. This year, fewer than 18,000 were built, while in 2010 the number is estimated between 32,000 and 33,0000, he said. “You drive around Buckhead and Midtown, as I did, you see these condo projects with these great big signs, ‘make an offer,’” he said. Still, from a national perspective, Niemi said his choices for the three greatest engines of growth in the U.S. economy over the next 20 years are Georgia, Texas and North Carolina. “I think, long term, Georgia’s in a golden situation,” he said. The recovery probably began in August, he said, making it a 20-month recession and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression when measured by GDP. The 2007-09 recession lost 6 percent GDP, compared to the 1980-82 recession, which lost 2 percent, and the Great Depression, which lost 26 percent. “This will become known as the Great Recession because it is the worst recession since the 1930s,” he said.

BUSINESS

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Three-tiered attack

New chamber chair says expand businesses, lure new companies, stimulate tourism to create jobs By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

In an economic downturn, most residents want to know the answer to one question — what is the future of the county’s economic development? According to Cobb Chamber of Commerce Chairman Rob Garcia, there are three initiatives that need to get started in order to bring jobs, funding, growth and accessibility to the county over the next decade. The first of those is to attract more new businesses. “To do that, I think we will need a single point person to carry these potential new businesses from the beginning to the end. We’re working right now to create a mechanism that will allow for that. We also need to make the process of referring sources more streamlined,” Garcia said. The second initiative vital to Cobb’s economy is to ramp up support of current Cobb companies and help them to expand, Garcia said. “We need to make sure we give them all the resources they need to do this,” he said. “Third, we need to beef up our tourism efforts. Cobb is a fabulous destination, being direct neighbors to Atlanta, a host of a number of first-class convention and conference centers, a thriving arts scene and still you get that friendly neighbors atmosphere,” Garcia said. “We have the best in every measurable factor, whether it’s the work force, universities, education systems, taxes, everything we need to compete favorably against any other county.” And Garcia said both large and small businesses are equally important to the county’s future. “We love the large businesses because they have an immediate impact on our economy and the work force, but the bigger creator of long-term jobs and consumer retail tends to be the small businesses. So really, we can’t do without either,” Garcia said. Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens said during the county’s retreat in this month that a light-rail

‘We have the best in every measurable factor, whether it’s the work force, universities, education systems, taxes, everything we need to compete favorably against any other county.’ — Rob Garcia, Chamber of Commerce chairman

Staff/Laura Moon

New Cobb Chamber of Commerce Chairman Rob Garcia says there are three initiatives that need to get started in order to bring new jobs: Funding, growth and accessibility to the county over the next decade. system will be key to attracting large businesses to the county. Olens favors a light-rail system along Highway 41 because of the business and economic development that would occur with a new rail system in the area. He said it would make the biggest impact if it runs from Cumberland Boulevard to Kennesaw State University. “People don’t shop and eat along 75, but they do along 41, and like many older four-lane highways, it really needs some redevelopment,” Olens said. “I’ve had at least three large, Fortune 500 companies who were coming to Georgia and said they wouldn’t even consider Cobb County because there was no rail system. The bus system isn’t an attraction, and I was specifically told that that was the sole reason Cobb wasn’t considered. These are

large companies, where salaries start at $40,000 or $75,000. We have educated people here, and as we’re looking to bring more hightech, expensive companies to our county, that’s never going to happen without a rail system.” Another large transportation project in the works that looks to have a major impact on the economy is a $2 billion Public Private Partnership (P3) interstate construction plan developed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Earl Mahfuz, P3 director for GDOT, presented county commissioners and department leaders with a fast-track plan to add the reversible lanes to Interstates 75, 575, 285 and 20 during the county’s retreat. The reversible lanes, which would be used to mitigate rush-hour

Cobb’s top architectural firms Three Cobb companies recently were named among Atlanta’s Top 25 architectural firms by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, ranked by Atlanta gross architectural revenue. Gross architectural revenue refers to work done from the Atlanta office regardless of where the projects were located. Ranked No. 10 was Facility Group Inc., located at 2233 Lake Park Drive, Suite 500 in Smyrna. The company, established in Atlanta in 1986, had a 2008 Atlanta gross architectural revenue of $17 million and a company-wide revenue of $20 million. Its 2008 construction value of metroAtlanta projects was $125 million. The number of registered architects in Atlanta were 5 and companywide 7, while full-time staff in Atlanta was 60 and company-wide was 63. The Atlanta gross architectural revenue per Atlanta staff member was $283,333. Some of the company’s areas of specialty are food processing, distribution, industrial and education.

Ranked No. 11 was CDH Partners Inc., located at 675 Tower Road in Marietta. The company, established in Atlanta in 1977, had a 2008 Atlanta gross architectural revenue and a company-wide revenue of $16,384,000. Its 2008 construc-

tion value of metro-Atlanta was $218,453,000. The number of registered architects in Atlanta and company-wide were 15, while total full-time staff in Atlanta and company-wide was 83. The Atlanta gross architectural revenue per Atlanta staff member was $197,397. Some of the company’s areas of specialty are medical, educational, religious and assisted living.

Ranked No. 22 was Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio LLC Architecture + Interior Design, located at 300 Galleria Parkway, Suite 740 in the Atlanta zip-coded portion of Cobb County. The company, established in Atlanta in 2005, had a 2008 Atlanta gross architectural revenue and company-wide revenue of $9,442,330. Its 2008 construction value of metro-Atlanta projects was $270 million. The number of registered architects in Atlanta and company-wide were 10, while full-time staff in Atlanta and company-wide were 30. The Atlanta gross architectural revenue per Atlanta staff member was $316,667. Some of the company’s areas of specialty are master planning, site analysis/site planning, schematic design, design development and construction documents.

traffic by changing direction to meet demand, would be the first on interstates in Georgia, said Faye DiMassimo, Cobb’s new transportation director. Olens said motorists will be able to merge onto the lanes at limited access points along the interstate. When lanes change directions, access points in the opposite direction would be barricaded. The lanes would be tolled unless three or more people were in the car, Olens said. Drivers would have a sensor in the corner of their windshields that would track the mileage, and drivers would pay a per-mile fee. The fees would be displayed at the access points so drivers can know ahead of time what they will be charged. “I-20 at 285 is one of the worst bottlenecks in the state, so this

would do wonders for that area especially. The scope of these projects is unprecedented for what they could do for the county,” Olens said. Tad Leithead, a Cobb resident and new chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission, agrees that a better transportation system is key to Cobb’s economic development. But to do that, leaders throughout the county will have to stop planning and start breaking ground. “(The ARC has) not only the right, but the obligation, to do regional planning and enforce regional planning. ... We’ve been studying and planning for 10 years. It’s time for us to do something. As Sam Olens says, it’s time for us to move dirt.” “Between 2000 and 2006, the ARC had $2.6 billion worth of funded and approved projects. Of that $2.6 billion, we actually built $600 million. $2 billion were put on the back burner. Those $2 billion in projects are still in the transportation improvement program, but now, because of cost increases, they cost $6 billion. So, we’ve been letting inflation and delay and planning sneak up on us and it’s gotten in the way of building stuff that actually fixes traffic.” “Sam (Olens) has been adamant during his five years as chair of ARC that it’s time to stop talking and start moving dirt and start building. Let’s identify projects we can build and, by God, build them. We’re going to start building projects because we need them in this region. They’re affecting our economic development.” Despite the challenges the county is facing, however, Leithead said he has pride in the achievements the county has made and looks to the future with optimism. “I’ve lived in Cobb since 1983, and I believe Cobb is one of the best-run counties in our region and in our state. I think Cobb and Atlanta’s best days are in front of us. If I believed that our best days were behind us, I wouldn’t be stepping up to chair the ARC,” he said. After all, “there’s no reason to be captain of a sinking ship.”

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

A business succeeding on

faith

Just a senior in college, Chelsea Eubanks has a thriving online clothing business and is an advisor for Seventeen Magazine By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

Chelsea Eubanks runs a highly successful online clothing business that has grown 68 percent in the past year and a half, donates portions of her profits to charity, has been featured in two books including Chicken Soup for the Soul, and is an

Driven by the loss of family members, including her father, Chelsea Eubanks turned to her faith and stepped up her successful clothing design business.

online money advisor for Seventeen Magazine, where she gives practical financial advice for teens. Oh, and she’s just a senior in college. “I can’t wait to be out so that I can focus on the business,” Eubanks said with exasperation as her college career nears its end in May 2010. “They knew from the beginning that I was going to have to have some flexibility at school as the business was just growing and growing and I would have to be gone a lot more than other students. But when I’m done, things are really going to take off.” Eubanks, a Marietta native, started the clothing company Faithful Fish when she was 17 as a way to grow closer to God and bring others with her. The company offers T-shirts, hats, polos and even infant wear. When she was a junior at Mill Springs Academy, Eubanks’ uncle, grandmother and father all died within a 5-month span. “There was a lot of heartbreak, especially with the loss of my dad,” Eubanks said. “I was driving home from basketball and I don’t know what made me think to do it, but I picked up the phone to call him. He always told me not to talk on the phone and drive, but something just told me I needed to. I was speaking with my grandmother when she went to give him the phone and all of a sudden I heard all of this screaming and crying. He had a massive heart attack and died, and even though the shock of losing my father still hurts,

Staff/Laura Moon

Chelsea Eubanks of Marietta displays some of her Faithful Fish T-shirts and hats that she created when she was a junior in high school. A portion of the sales of the apparel is donated to a different charity every year. Her company is based out of Georgia, but having the store completely online allows her to work from Beacon College in Florida, where she is a senior pursuing her liberal studies degree. I knew God had played a role in letting him know that I was thinking of him just before he died.” She visited her grandmother soon after her father’s death, knowing her grandmother was deeply devastated by the loss of her two sons in such short succession. During her visit, her grandmother also passed away after a massive heart attack. She says she knew then that God had also played a role in her grandmother’s death so that she would not be alone as she passed on. Eubanks said that, although she attended church and believed in God, the deaths of so many people close to her made her realize that her faith was not nearly as strong as it should be. She turned to prayer and the Bible to help her deal with her grief, and found that growing closer to God helped her to grow

beyond her depression. And she decided to spread that message, in her own way. “I figured that clothing is really the best way to express yourself, to share your faith with others in a subtle way. So I started looking around on ebay and Christian bookstores, and just found that there was really nothing fashionable or appealing out there that would help me to share my faith. So I just decided to do it myself,” Eubanks said. Her mother, Linda Siegfried, helped her get the company started, and the 17-year-old soon saw her orders expanding. “My mother was and still is really proud of me for everything, and she’s been so supportive and helpful through it all,” Eubanks said. “I have always dealt with a

few severe learning disabilities when it comes to reading comprehension and math, plus (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), so for me to have found a path that is both successful and is something I enjoy, she’s just thrilled.” Eubanks said the company is based out of Georgia, but having the store completely online allows her to work from Beacon College in Florida, where she is working on her liberal studies degree. After her graduation this spring, the company will expand to include button-down dress shirts, belts and other more high-end items, Eubanks said. “I really want to grow it to just include everything you could want, to bring it to a kind of Ralph Lauren style. I am so excited about that,” Eubanks said.

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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Pumped up after all these years Cobb-based RaceTrac plans to build 35 more gas stations this year gasoline, he said. “We work on making sure that we keep our volume, and our volume has run consistently for the 75 VININGS — Perhaps unknown years basically. The same thing is to many residents, RaceTrac Petrotrue inside the store,” Lenker said. leum Inc. is based in Cobb and is Georgia’s third-largest private com- “We’ve had growth for a long period of time. And we expect both to pany. Over the past 75 years, the continue this year and next year.” family-run business has operated This year, Racehundreds of gas staTrac plans to build tions and convenationwide a total of nience stores across 35 gas stations and the South. 15 RaceWays, its In 2008, RaceTrac independently operatearned $7.5 billion in ed gas station chain, sales and reported said Billy Milam, $1.2 billion in curRaceTrac’s senior rent assets. It owns a vice president for total of 555 gas stareal estate. There are tions in 12 states, 60 RaceTracs and 28 stretching from RaceWays in Geornorthern Virginia ‘We work on makgia alone. down to Miami and Carl Bolch Jr. has as far west as Housing sure that we run the company for ton. Nearly 5,000 keep our volume, 42 years. people work for the and our volume He has been credcompany, including 4,100 convenience has run consistent- ited with expanding the company and store employees and ly for the 75 years being at the forefront 406 workers at its basically. The of the “super-pump” headquarters on concept of multiple Cumberland Boulesame thing is true self-service fuel vard in Vinings. inside the store. pumps at each staRaceTrac’s roots We’ve had growth tion. Today, a typical go back to when its RaceTrac gas station founder, Carl Bolch for a long period has 20 to 24 pumps. Sr., opened a chain of time. And we “When he took of independent gas expect both to over the company, it stations in 1934 was very small and continue this year called Carl Bolch not profitable. Carl Trackside Stations in and next year.’ has basically been the St. Louis. His son, driving force. He has current CEO Carl — Max Lenker, built the company and Bolch Jr., joined the RaceTrac president reinvested all our company in 1967, earnings back into the after graduating from company,” Lenker said. “We had the University of Pennsylvania and some of the first self-serve gasoline Duke Law School. In 1976, the in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.” company moved to the Atlanta In recent years, more focus has area, and in 1979, changed its name been placed on the convenience to RaceTrac. In 2009, Forbes magazine ranked store side of the business, the company reported. The average store RaceTrac as the 50th largest private measures 4,000 square feet and is company in the United States. A philosophy of selling more for filled with variety of foods and fountain drinks. less is behind the company’s sucBob Dumbacher has been with cess, RaceTrac President Max Lenker said. High volume and efficiency accounts for its low price of See RaceTrac, Page 11BB By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

Staff/Laura Moon

Above, from left: RaceTrac executives Chief Financial Officer Bob Dumbacher, President Max Lenker, Senior Vice President Allison Moran and Senior Vice President Bill Milam stand outside one of their newer RaceTrac stores located on Macland Road, which opened late in 2009. Left: Milam visits with store manager Sonya Graham.

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Despite economy, Lockheed scene looking up By Bill Kinney Associated Editor bkinney@mdjonline.com

Aircraft have been rolling out of what’s now the Lockheed Martin Plant in Marietta for 58 years — and the good news is that they’ll soon be rolling out at an accelerated rate and hiring additional employees, despite the lousy economy. General Manager Lee Rhyant emphasized that Lockheed is in Marietta to stay. In years past, Lockheed leaders have feared a lack of work might cause the company to close the plant or move its operations to Fort Worth, Texas, site of corporate headquarters. The biggest chunk of good news concerns the F-35 Lightning II tactical fighter now being tested. It will replace not just the F-16, but the A-10, the F/A-18s and the Harrier jump jets as well. It eventually will deliver more than 3,300 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as the air forces of at least nine allied countries. It’s being developed in three versions. Lee Rhyant The first is a conventional takeoff and landing mode, the second a short takeoff and vertical landing mode and the third a carrier-based version. And the Marietta site will be involved with all of three, Rhyant said. “While we won’t be turning out complete aircraft, we will be building what is called the wing carrythrough structure,” he told members of the Marietta Kiwanis’ Business and Public Affairs Committee during its tour of the plant recently. “This may not sound critical — but without what we will do, you can’t attach the wings to the body.” F-35 production is likely to run over the next three decades, which means the plant will be building a lot of carry-through structures, and at the rate of one completed assembly every couple of days. The Lockheed plant delivered the first

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

Marietta-born Col. Charles Hyde, left, commander of the 314th Airlift Wing of Little Rock Air Force Base that flies the C-130, greets workers on the C-130J production line at Lockheed Martin in Marietta during a tour of the plant. With Hyde are, from left: Jeff Blackburn of McDonough, engine shop supervisor; Gary Byler of Kennesaw, lead mechanic; and Mitch Hendrickson of Acworth, mechanic. three upgraded C-5M Super Galaxy transports to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware last year and its active-duty and Reserve customers spent last summer familiarizing themselves with the new jets. Rhyant noted that last September, a joint Air Force and Lockheed Martin flight crew set 41 world aviation records on a single flight for time-to-climb, altitude, and payload. An Air Force crew later set the 42nd world record by flying a non-stop, unrefueled mission from Dover to the U.S. Air Force base in Incirlik, Turkey, with 90,000 pounds of payload. “These records point out one of the C-5’s real-world capabilities,” he said. “It shows that this big air-

craft is nimble enough to get out of harm’s way quickly with a lot of payload in hot spots like Afghanistan.” Those accomplishments were part of the preparation for the final exam, the operational test and testing, which started in October and ran through January. During that period crews flew 3.8 million pounds of cargo from Dover to Incirlik on just 34 missions. Meanwhile, the plant opened its C-5M production line last summer for installing new avionics in all 111 Air Force C-5s. “Right now, the plan is to bring 52 aircraft up to C-5M standard here in Marietta through 2016,” Rhyant said.

Also, the plant has restarted the P-3 wing line for upgrades to the Orions, which are the world’s standard in maritime patrol operations. “Twenty-one operators in 16 countries fly the Orion, checking on everything from rogue fisherman, to drug smugglers to sea-launched ballistic missiles,” he said. The company delivered the first set of wings to Norway last September and the first set for U.S. Customs and Border Protection last month. It also has orders from the U.S. Navy, Canada, and Taiwan. “We are confident that building new P-3 wings will be a significant business for us for the next decade or so,” Rhyant said. The news about the F-22 Raptor

fighter jet is not as good. Congress agreed with the recommendation of President Barack Obama to kill the program, even though it is the best fighter in the world. Production will end in about two years at 187 aircraft. “We are going to deliver them on time and on budget. And we are going to continue to deliver a quality aircraft to the Air Force,” he said. “I’m very proud to say that we have now delivered nearly 150 Raptors and of that total, more than 25 have been zero defect aircraft. Not even an ‘i’ dotted incorrectly on the paperwork. It has become a point of pride for our people to deliver those aircraft zero-defect. “But, we are even more proud of the capability the Raptor brings to this country’s war fighters. Also, we are not just going to send those aircraft over the fence and forget about them. We will be maintaining, supporting, and upgrading those Raptors for the better part of a generation.” The C-130 Hercules program has been the plant’s bread-andbutter program since the 1950s, and Rhyant noted that it’s going great guns. “Several international countries and the U.S. government are buying enough C-130Js that we are having to ramp up the production rate,” he crowed. “In just a couple of years, we are going to go from building 12 aircraft a year to at least 24 aircraft and possibly as many as 32 aircraft a year.” Some are for old customers such as Canada and the U.S. Special Operations Command, which will get the 200th Super Hercules to be built. There will also be sales to new customers such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and India, which for decades has bought only Russianbuilt aircraft. The backlog for C-130Js has reached 100 aircraft, a milestone for the Super Hercules. “All in all, things are going great on the C-130 program. The Hercules is truly an icon.”

Job boost

Construction under way for Whole Foods Market

Staff/file

Above: A bulldozer razes the site where the new Whole Foods Market will replace the old Merchant’s Walk Library. The library officially closed its doors Jan. 22, and the county opened a new 16,800-square-foot library in the nearby Parkaire Landing Shopping Center on Feb. 1. Top: A rendering of what the new Whole Foods Market will look like. The store has a July opening date set.

New store expected to open in July By Brandon Wilson bwilson@mdjonline.com

EAST COBB — Buildings in the Merchant’s Walk shopping center are being torn down to make way for the construction of a Whole Foods Market, expected to open July 2011, and additional retail establishments. Merchant’s Walk, at Johnson Ferry and Roswell roads in east Cobb, is a well-established shopping center, with rows of large existing stores that will remain, as well as a 12-screen movie theater. However, many of those buildings will undergo façade renovations and there will be landscape improvements, said Tracy Jones, vice president of marketing with developer Edens & Avant. According to the developer’s Facebook page, “The redevelopment will showcase new architectural design, significant landscaping improvements, al fresco dining and pedestrian connectivity. Construction activities began in August.” The Whole Foods will be located where the Media Play store used to sit and new retail buildings will replace the old 8,000square-foot Merchant’s Walk Library,

which the county sold to Columbia, S.C.based Edens & Avant for $1.6 million in spring 2009. The library officially closed its doors Jan. 22, and the county opened a new, 16,800-square-foot library in the nearby Parkaire Landing Shopping Center, at Johnson Ferry and Lower Roswell roads, on Feb. 1. Edens & Avant agreed to lease the old library to the county while it built the new East Cobb Library. When voting to approve the sale of Merchant’s Walk Library to Edens & Avant in March, Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said, “I think this will be a great opportunity for the county. ... The owners of Merchant’s Walk want to redevelop, and the money offered by the developer will assist the county in offering the size library needed.” Jones said Edens & Avant has invested about $27 million in the redevelopment of the 335,000-square-foot Merchant’s Walk shopping center, which does not include the existing retailers’ investments in their spaces. The existing stores, such as Kohl’s, PetSmart, Stein Mart, Old Navy and OfficeMax, will remain open during renovations and construction, Jones said.

Marietta manufacturing company becomes first recipient of City Council’s new $250,000 job growth package filled for 12 months and pay more than minimum wage, Binzer said. The grant committee, which includes such members as Alexis Amaden, owner of the MARIETTA — In an effort to encourage Whitlock Inn, and Mary Karras, a Bank of job growth, the Marietta City Council has North Georgia vice president, recommended awarded a $75,000 grant to Marietta’s Sum- Summit be awarded $75,000 of the $250,000. mit Industries. The remaining $175,000 has yet to be award“The hope from the city and federal goved, Binzer said. ernment is that (businesses) start hiring Summit plans to expand its building, and again,” said Brian the award serves as Binzer, the city’s an incentive for it to ‘The hope from the city and feddevelopment services eral government is that (business- hire more people. director. “Ultimately, The firm had been our goal is to create es) start hiring again. Ultimately, considering renting jobs.” our goal is to create jobs.’ warehouse space in Located on PickAtlanta, Binzer said. ens Industrial Drive — Brian Binzer, Marietta’s The city has also development services director near Interstate 75, looked to the state Summit Industries is a for ways to spur job privately held manufacturing company that growth. moved to Marietta in the 1980s. It manufacIn November, the state approved Mariettures such items as cough syrup and profesta for a tax-credit program that encourages sional skin products. businesses to locate here or existing busiIn October, after the city received nesses to expand. $200,000 in federal grant money to spur job Qualifying businesses must hire at least growth and matched that amount with two employees and receive $3,500 per year $50,000 in city funds, the council appointed a per employee for up to five years. seven-member committee to determine how To learn more about either the federal to award the funding. grant or state opportunity zones, contact Beth Sessoms, the city’s economic development To be eligible, companies must be located manager, at (770) 794-5717. in the city, create three new jobs, keep them By Jon Gillooly

jgillooly@mdjonline.com

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MUST launches fundraiser for new health clinic By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — MUST Ministries has begun a capital campaign to raise money to open a new, stateof-the-art health clinic at its new facility at 1407 Cobb Parkway in Marietta. However, the faith-based organization risks losing a $500,000 grant if it doesn’t raise matching funds by March 31. MUST was awarded the grant in July from the Kresge Foundation, a Michigan-based foundation dedicated to strengthening nonprofits. However, MUST is required to raise the first $6.3 million of its goal of $6.8 million. If that is accomplished, the foundation will

provide the remaining $500,000. To date, MUST has received just a little more than $5.4 million in gifts and pledges. To raise the remaining $868,000 by the deadline, MUST has started a “Help Us Cash This Check” campaign. Through its health clinic, MUST provides free health care for those who can least afford it. About 3,000 patients visit it annually. For the past 15 years, the clinic has been operated out of a small, single-wide trailer. The organization hopes to open the new facility in April. Construction has already begun.When completed, it will have a classroom, an office for a social worker and six treatment

rooms surrounding a nursing station, increasing MUST’s patient treatment capacity. “It’s cold and drafty. There is no place to wait in inclement weather,” MUST Executive Director John Moeller said of the clinic’s current trailer. “There is not enough space to provide patient confidentiality. There is not enough space to provide care for more than one patient at a time.” Moeller said the new clinic will be a model of indigent care once it’s completed, with the Kennesaw State University School of Nursing providing daily management and a WellStar Health System physician serving as medical director. “The new clinic will provide

better space to treat patients,” he said. “It will enable more medical staff to volunteer and give back to the community. It will allow for patient education and for social work to integrate into patient care.” Seth Tuttle, MUST director of major gifts, said going public is the next step in MUST’s fundraising effort. “The leadership from our board and the capital campaign steering committee will continue to help us in meeting individual philanthropists, businesses, corporations and organizations, who believe in what we do. But now is the time to engage and to ask the public at large,” Tuttle said. “The community is as much invested in MUST as

we are in them.” Going online to www.must ministries.org and clicking “Building Campaign” is the easiest way to make a gift, Tuttle said. “But it’s more than just sending a gift,” he said. “We’re asking for individuals to invest in the long term equity of MUST. We can work with individuals who might want to invest other assets such as stock, land or differed giving opportunities - wills and insurance policies are just a few examples.” Those individuals can contact Carol Wisdom, director of development, at (678) 218-4480 or cwisdom@must ministries.org; or Seth Tuttle, director of major gifts, at (770) 427-9862 or stuttle@mustministries.org.

Town Center CID touted as one of ‘most balanced’ in Georgia its 12 years, the CID has invested more than $35 million in the area. “We find ourselves in a unique position KENNESAW — The Town Center Area because we have a source of revenue, no debt, Community Improvement District discussed cash in the bank and projects underway and in the future of the area in the next decade development, even in this tough economy,” recently with several local business people, Zimmerman said. “We all serve in this group politicians and residents gathered to hear the because we’re invested in the area and want to next steps for the special community improve- see it thrive.” ment district. Zimmerman said that several plans “We’re the most balanced and are set for the future of the area, includunique CID in the state, as we’re the ing the beautification of Interstate 75 at only one with access to a national Barrett Parkway and other streetscapes; park, a major airport with McCollum, signage labeling the area as the Town a major university with KSU, a large Center district; stronger relationships with other area CIDs and the state and shopping mall with Town Center and county transportation agencies; and several major state and federal highMason what Zimmerman calls the single ways intersecting. We have millions Zimmerman biggest project the TCA CID has been of square feet to work with, and that’s pretty impressive,” Chairman Mason Zimmer- involved in — the Big Shanty Connector. Dr. Wesley Wicker of Kennesaw State man said. University also spoke at the meeting, detailLike most CIDs, this group, which was ing the progress of one of the nation’s created in 1997, consists of commercial propfastest-growing universities and the school’s erty owners who have chosen to pay more in taxes to advance transportation and infrastruc- ongoing collaboration with the development of the area. ture within their district. They work with fed“The improvements we make here in the eral, state and county departments of transnext few years will have a huge impact on portation and partner with other CIDs on our campus,” said Wicker, vice president for transportation improvements. advancement at the school, as well as execuThe Town Center CID is bound by Cobb tive director of the KSU Foundation. Wicker Parkway to the west, Chastain said the university has a $500 million ecoRoad/McCollum Parkway to the north, Bells nomic impact on the Town Center area each Ferry Road to the east and approximately a year. mile beyond Barrett Parkway to the south. In By Katy Ruth Camp

krcamp@mdjonline.com

Staff/Laura Moon

From left, Dale Cardwell with Sundial Plumbing and owners Mitzi Smith and her father, Jack Smith, at the newly remodeled facility that boasts new eco-friendly fixtures, low-flow toilets and a tankless water heater.

Lady-led Sundial Plumbing shows off remodeled facility By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Traditionally, plumbing hasn’t been considered a woman’s profession. However, Mitzi Smith of Sundial Plumbing has gone far to change that by following in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Smith, who holds a master plumber’s license, established Sundial Plumbing in 1999. The company, headquartered at 1690 Old Highway 41 near Barrett Parkway in Marietta, has grown over the past decade to serve Cobb, Fulton and Cherokee counties. Smith followed the same path as her father and grandfather, who both owned plumbing businesses. She began her career in the plumbing industry more than 25 years ago with her father, Jack Smith, who taught her the trade.

Among the services the company provides are residential and commercial plumbing installation and repairs, drain cleaning excavations, sanitary sewers, gas and water supply systems, kitchen and bath additions, and remodel renovations. In early February, the company conducted a “rebirth celebration” to showcase its newly remodeled facility. Sundial Plumbing completely remodeled the entire facility with new, eco-friendly fixtures, low-flow toilets, a tankless water heater and new products installed to help the business “go green.” The company recycles paper, plastics, brass, copper, mixed steel, aluminum, cell phones, ink cartridges and clothing. “Sundial Plumbing has demonstrated its commitment in this time of financial instability by bucking conventional thinking and heavily investing in the future,” coowner Jack Smith said.

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Careers kick into high gear for young attorneys By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

Jacquelyn Schell, left, and Julia Fenwick worked as special assistants at the Cobb County District Attorney's Office from August through January, paid for by Atlanta law firm Bryan Cave-Powell Goldstein. The two now have gone to work for Bryan Cave.

Jacquelyn Schell and Julia Fenwick joined one of the nation’s top law firms earlier this year. Previously, the two ladies could be found at the Cobb County courthouse, working diligently as special assistant district attorneys. Schell and Fenwick both graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in May, and passed the bar exam soon after they received their diplomas. Their law careers also began in a similar fashion, as both were accepted to and participated in a summer associate program at the law firm of Bryan Cave-Powell Goldstein in Atlanta. During their third year of law school, they were offered positions to join the firm full time upon graduation. “After passing the bar and everything else, they then would have started around October,” said Curtis Romig, Bryan Cave Atlanta recruiting partner and practicing lawyer. But with the struggling economy, another option opened for the young lawyers. The Georgia Supreme Court has

issued rulings that allow government law agencies to accept attorneys who wish to volunteer with the offices at no cost to taxpayers. Upon hearing that Bryan Cave would be deferring the lawyers to work with an agency from January 2010 until January 2011 at a fraction of the salaries they would be receiving once they officially join the law firm, Schell and Fenwick decided to get a head start and had been volunteering at the district attorney’s office since August. Once their deferment began, the lawyers continued to work at the Cobb DA’s office, but were paid by Bryan Cave. “This whole experience has really broadened my horizons and I am so much more comfortable with handling each process you go through as an attorney,” Schell said. “In law school, you study cases and already know the results, but here I have actually worked on cases that I don’t know what the end results will be, which is exciting.” Schell said, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Christopher Timmons, she had even worked on one case from the bot-

tom up, having almost complete control over a motion to suppress. “Most of the cases me and Julia will be working on when we get to Bryan Cave will be different from the DA’s office as Bryan Cave is a white-shoe law firm,” Schell said, meaning that the firm is a large, well-established and often conservative firm that deals mainly with business and financial cases. “So this has really helped to broaden our horizons and see what goes on behind the scenes when a case goes to trial. And I am already so much more comfortable in the courtroom than when I first started with the DA’s office, so I feel much more prepared for when I start with Bryan Cave,” Schell said. Timmons said having two intelligent, hard-working lawyers is invaluable to the county. “This is the first time we’ve done it, and we’re really pleased with the results. We have two lawyers who will be joining a very large, reputable law firm when they leave us, and while we probably won’t ever meet them in a courtroom, it will be great to have that existing relationship with them.”

Church’s job search program proves to be real ‘saint’ By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — St. Joseph is considered the patron of workers in the Catholic Church. And a few members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marietta have modeled themselves after their patron saint by creating the St. Joseph Catholic Church Career Community Network. The network is a program started in May 2009 that helps jobseekers in their employment search. The church arranges meetings with employers, hosts guest speakers and conducts workshops. Father John Walsh approached his parishioners with the idea in light of the high unemployment rate. “He was getting a lot of phone calls from people who were unemployed in the community and saying, ‘What is the church offering?’” said Art Eyzaquirre of Marietta, a St. Joseph parishioner. “Back then, we weren’t offering anything.” Cobb’s jobless rate was at 9.3 percent in December, the latest month for which data is available.

Eyzaquirre, the network’s director, operated a career management business for six years before he lost his job last year. He said he was asked by Walsh to use his experience in starting the network with other church members. He says 80 percent of job searching is about networking, which is key to the program. “It really entails going out and delivering a message about what it is that you have to offer to other companies,” said Eyzaquirre, 48. “We actually use the concept of you’re only six people away from anybody in the world to connect with people to get a job interview.” While the network does post available jobs from employers for participants, a big component of it is simply bringing people together who may share common goals, he said. The network’s job search process involves assessments of participants, resume reviews, interview techniques and networking advice. What makes the St. Joseph network different from similar programs in other areas of the country is that it involves

bringing in company representatives to share tips and ideas with the jobseekers, Eyzaquirre said. The network is also staffed by volunteers who assist with training and mentoring participants. Between a dozen and 60 people typically attend the meetings, which take place at 6:30 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month. Those who come seeking help in finding a job range in background from senior executives and IT workers to construction workers and chemists, said Patrick Brennan, a parishioner who helped establish the network. Eyzaquirre, who now owns a consulting group, said the church doesn’t keep track of how many people have found jobs through the network. He said some participants come only once and others as many as six times. Instead, he said the network sees itself as a “cog” in the cogwheel of jobsearching. “The information we put out there, everybody says is exceptional,” Eyzaquirre said. Brennan, 53, of Kennesaw, lost his job with the nonprofit Georgia Trust in

February 2009. Shortly afterward, he was asked by Walsh to assist in starting the network and ultimately landed a consultant job through it with a food company in May 2009. “Being unemployed is a financial strain and it’s also a strain emotionally on family,” Brennan said. Through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, “We are able to help them with their finances and also to get clothing and food. So, success isn’t always getting a job. Success is comforting people and finding a community for support.” More information on the Staff/Marcus Howard career network can be found by calling the church at (770) Patrick Brennan, left, and Art Eyzaquirre of the St. Joseph Catholic Church Community Network in Marietta. 422-5633 ext. 27.

Wren’s Nest Visitor Special Show Release

Staff/Laura Moon

From left: RaceTrac Chief Financial Officer Bob Dumbacher and President Max Lenker visit with store associate Antoine Bacon at the recently opened store on Macland Road.

RaceTrac Continued from Page 7BB the company since 1983 and is now its chief financial officer. “When I joined the company, we had a smaller inside of the store. It was just a kiosk where one person worked and they could see every part of the store real easily within about 10 feet,” Dumbacher said. Much of the company’s focus is placed on the items it sells inside its stores and the number of gallons it sells at the pumps. In the mold of Wal-Mart, the company said it sells more convenience store items than its competitors — between double to three times the average — and can therefore lower its prices. RaceTrac also prides itself on being a high-volume fuel discounter in the gas station industry. It buys its gasoline from a variety of suppliers, who refine it, and then it sells it under the RaceTrac brand. Exxon is one of RaceTrac’s biggest suppliers. “Any way you can acquire a product, we analyze that every time we buy gas at every store, every day, every grade,” Lenker said. “We’re buying the best-priced product so we can always ensure that it will be at the marketplace at the bottom for our customer.” Company executives say they actually make more money when the per-gallon price of gasoline is lower.

“People always go to our stores and say, ‘Gosh you guys must surely be happy that gas is $4 a gallon.’ No,” Lenker said. “We get killed when the price goes up. So if the price goes from $3 to $4, over like three months, we really have to struggle to make money. But, if the price goes from $4 to $3 over three months, that’s when we make our money. So we like lower prices,” Lenker said. The National Association of Convenience Stores magazine reports in its January issue that hypermarket stores, such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Meijer, that now sell gasoline, are challenging convenience stores like RaceTrac. But Lenker said that competition is limited to specific locations, and that hypermarkets are not driving convenience stores out of business, as some industry experts predict. Being a privately held company allows RaceTrac to make long-term decisions not primarily based on the price of gasoline because there are no shareholders to satisfy, said company executives. Allison Moran is senior vice president of the RaceTrac division. She is also the daughter of Carl Bolch Jr. Her younger brother works in real estate for RaceTrac and two sisters are pursuing their business degrees. Moran said the family has no plans to sell the business. “I can’t imagine my grandfather, who founded the business out of St. Louis, ever envisioned that it would come to grow and be as it is and employ this many folks and serve that number of guests out of our stores,” she said.

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Home sweet home Marietta native, family are comfy in Cobb County “When I grew up they all lived essentially right next door to us, as did two greataunts and uncles, and my grandparents on my father’s side,” Blaine said. “So we were always really close to my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. As a result of that, it never really entered my mind a whole lot about not coming back to the area.” The quality of life in Cobb is also a big attraction for the Clotfelter family. While the county has seen extensive residential growth, it has managed to retain a smalltown atmosphere in some respects, the family said. Staff/Samantha Wilson “We still, no matter what, Above: Foreground to background, Blaine Clotfelter; his wife, Nikki; son Joel, 5; and see people we know,” Nikki said. “You still feel that close daughter Lindsey, 10, look over their deck outside their new Traton home on Sunday afternoon. Below: Lindsey plays piano in the music room of the Clotfelter's new home. sense of community, even though it’s big.” The couple loves going to Marietta Square, particularly the Earl Smith Strand Theatre. The family attends North Metro Church, not far from their neighborhood, and said they enjoy the convenience of shops and restaurants on nearby Dallas Highway, which leads into Paulding County. “You don’t really have to go outside of Cobb County to get what you need,” Blaine said. The Clotfelters were the last family to move into the Paces Farm neighborhood, which has about 80 homes. They live in a two-story home that includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a media room, a basement and three-car garage. A raised backyard deck overlooks an expanse of protected wetland. The couple said they intend to stay put at least through their children’s high school years. “We love the neighborhood,” Nikki said.

By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Blaine and Nikki Clotfelter of Marietta are big fans of their Paces Farm neighborhood, off West Sandtown Road. The couple’s home was built by Traton Homes, a renowned metro Atlanta builder, in 2009. They said the neighborhood’s proximity to good schools was a major factor in relocating there. The family previously lived in a smaller Traton home on Whitlock Avenue near Marietta Square. “When we built this home last year, we had the opportunity to think about whether to remain in Cobb County,” recalled Blaine. Ultimately, the couple said the public school system was a major factor in deciding to continue living in Cobb. Nikki, 39, teaches kindergarten at Hickory Hills Elementary School, a Marietta

The cover

Staff/Laura Moon

Blaine and Nikki Clotfelter stand outside of their Marietta home in the Paces Farm subdivision with their children Lindsey, 10, and Joel, 5.

‘We still, no matter what, see people we know. You still feel that close sense of community, even though (Cobb is) big.’ — Nikki Clotfelter, on living in the county City School, and Blaine, 39, works in consulting in Alpharetta. Their 5-year-old son, Joel, is a kindergartener at Hickory Hills, and their daughter, Lindsey, 10, is a fifth-grader at Cheatham Hill Elementary School. “They are fantastic schools,” Nikki said. “There’s nothing like them.” Blaine and Nikki met in October 1994 through a mutual friend from Marietta, when both performed for a theater company. Blaine had recently graduated from Wake Forest University and Nikki was an education major at Georgia State University. They began dating shortly afterwards and married in March 1996. After their wedding, there was no doubt where the newlyweds would settle. Blaine is a third generation Mariettan. He, his father and grandfather, all attended Marietta High School. His father’s family, which lived on Powder Springs Road, has always been close-knit, he said.

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A helping hand Program rehabs foreclosures, assists residents with costs By Katy Ruth Camp krcamp@mdjonline.com

COBB COUNTY — Many residents may not know that Cobb County has a program that offers eligible residents the opportunity for homeownership at a discounted price. Since May, Cobb has received $6.8 million from the federal Housing and Urban Development department and $1.9 million from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to acquire foreclosed houses. The homes are then refurbished, renovated and marketed for sale. Qualified buyers are eligible for up to $10,000 in down-payment assistance and closing costs, and up to $20,000 in forgivable soft seconds.

The program, also known as Neighborhood Stabilization Program, was authorized by Title lll of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, and its goal is to redevelop foreclosed properties and have them occupied by active workers who will likely stay in Cobb County for several years. “The benefits are twofold,” said NSP Manager Allyson Price. “The community is helped because a foreclosed property is taken off the market and given to someone who will likely stay in the community, and the homeowner is benefited financially and placed in a move-in ready home with all renovation and inspection costs paid for.” Buyers must be U.S. citizens, able to qualify for a mortgage, attend an eight-

hour HUD homeowner’s education class, make the homes their primary residences, and meet income qualifications. To qualify on the program’s income scale, a single homeowner can make no more than $59,800 per year. A family of six cannot have a combined income greater than $99,100. To receive up to $30,000 in forgivable financial assistance, however, homeowners must remain in the homes for 15 years. If they move before their 15 years are up, Price said the assistance given by the program will have to be repaid, but with no interest or penalties. Once the 15-year mark is up, though, the money never has to be returned. While Price is primarily

Staff/file

Above: Deanna Benson, Neighborhood Stabilization Program real estate specialist, walks the grounds of a renovated three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home, which was once a foreclosure in disrepair, now for sale in Powder Springs for $138,000. Below: Benson stands on new carpet in the living room of a renovated home.

in charge of the selling process and working with potential homeowners, the program’s real estate specialist, Deanna Benson, spends most of her time finding homes for the county to purchase and overseeing the renovations. Benson said the average purchase price of a home is about $115,000 and renovation costs are around $18,000 per home. Both Benson and Price said they look for properties that would be fairly easy to sell. So far, the county has purchased 17 homes since receipt of funding, with six of those sold and two in pending contracts. “This isn’t just for firsttime homebuyers, either, as most real estate incentive programs target,” Benson said. “This is for people who are eligible for a loan through another mortgage broker or bank, want to buy in Cobb and would like that extra financial help.” Benson said Cobb Benson, foreground, and Allyson Price, NSP program manager, background, show a County must commit to renovated kitchen in a home, which was once a foreclosure in disrepair, now for sale in spending the $8.7 million in funding within 18 Powder Springs.

months to sustain the program. She said about 30 percent of the funding has been spent so far. When the time is up, any unused money will have to be sent back to HUD. “I can assure you that we and the county are just not going to let that happen,” Price said. Benson said, “We feel the program has been extremely successful by targeting eligible homeowners, getting them into completely up-to-date homes, and getting those homes off the foreclosure

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Home is where the Haus is

Marietta decor shop aims to inspire with faith-themed gifts Glory Haus means “Glory House,” “haus” being the German spelling. “We want the glory of the Gift-giving is one of the Lord to come from our oldest Christmas customs. house to yours,” said Angela The girls at Glory Haus, a Reiss, director of customer faith-based home decor company in Marietta want to relations. The Glory Haus team, bring more than beauty to ranging in ages 24 to 42, the home with their gift also includes Marnie Tanideas. They want to bring ner, creative joy. director; KimStarted two berly Kite, years ago by director of five friends, operations; the goal and Laura behind the Kirkland, company is to artistic direcbring commutor. Each nity transforwith different mation. “In a backgrounds bad economy, ‘’In a bad economy, in marketing, people want interior people want something that design, youth gives them something that ministry, hope, somegives them hope, mathematics thing that something that and fashion makes them makes them feel merchandisfeel better,” better.’ ing, the colsaid Molly — Molly Holm, laborative Holm, presieffort on ideas president of Glory Haus dent of Glory and products Haus. Glory is a winning Haus offers a combination. “Everyone variety of unique gifts such adds a different piece to the as frames, tiles, decorative boards, canvases and Christ- product,” said Holm who initially came up with the mas decorations. Brightly idea for the business with colored with messages of her friend and colleague hope, 60 percent of the colLaura Kirkland. Late one lection is Christian-based and 40 percent inspirational. evening Holm was helping Kirkland, a self-taught artist The retail items are also priced to sell, with most less who had been making pottery since her college days, than $25. with a project in the crawl “In the Christian market, home decor, there’s not a lot space of Kirkland’s home. “There that night we kind of stuff that looks like of birthed the idea that ours,” Holm said. “It’s fun. Laura would do the art and I It’s whimsical.” By Sally Litchfield sallylit@bellsouth.net

Left: Glory Haus is a new Marietta seller of decorative items. From left, Marnie Tanner, creative director; Kimberly Kite, director of operations; Molly Holm, president; and Laura Kirkland, artist, stand amid their warehouse stock. Above: A decorative frame in the Glory Haus warehouse. Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

would figure out how to run the business part,” Holm said. What began as a hobby has boomed into unprecedented success, with goods present in 1,800 stores across the country. “Our target market is us,” said Holm. “We feel like it’s an easy fit for us because we’re really designing for us.” Gifts by Glory Haus can be found in Cobb at Doodlebugz, 15 West Park Square Marietta, (770) 7926734; Ivy and Twine, 800 Whitlock Avenue, Suite 137, Marietta, (770) 425-5990; or the White Rabbit Cottage, 3760 Due West Road Northwest, Marietta, (770) 9191100. Online shopping for wholesalers or retail is at www.gloryhaus.com. Above: Holm moves inventory. Left: A box of decorative crosses sits in the warehouse.

Appraiser: Homeowners could save thousands in taxes mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Most homeowners don’t realize they could be saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on their property taxes, according to Larry Singleton, a long-time property appraiser and real estate broker. Singleton, a former Cherokee County commissioner, said many homeowners become frustrated by the sometimes confusing and time-consuming appeals process and simply continue to pay too much in property taxes. In response, he and his business partner, real estage agent Donna Broadus, founded Woodstock-based My Property Tax Appeal LLC in November to assist Cobb and Cherokee residents in lowering their taxes. Similar companies are springing up around Cobb. “More and more of our existing real estate clientele

began asking us to help them look into possibly lowering their current property taxes due to the recent real estate collapse,” said Broadus, who has worked in real estate since 2003. “The more we started looking into this for our clients, we saw that the difference between the tax valuation and the actual current value was greater than even we anticipated.” The economic downturn has been the catalyst for the growth of tax appeal firms. In addition, Georgia homeowners have seen their property taxes increase slightly after the state eliminated funding for the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant in 2009. The state had previously offered homeowners a credit on $8,000 of their valuations. Broadus said her company performs a study of the property and uses recent, comparable home sales and listings in the area to establish what the property could sell for in

‘The more we started looking into this for our clients, we saw that the difference between the tax valuation and the actual current value was greater than even we anticipated.’ — Donna Broadus, co-founder of My Property Tax Appeal LLC

the current market. The company then files a property tax return with the county on behalf of the homeowner, with supporting documentation and required forms. Broadus and Singleton — who served as a commissioner from 1999 to 2003 — emphasize that My Property Tax Appeal is a no-risk service that begins with a fully refundable $35 service fee. The company serves commercial property as well. It works on contingency, charging 30 percent of firstyear tax savings. For example, a homeowner whose property tax drops from $2,400 a year to $1,800 would pay a one-time fee of $180.

The housing market in Cobb is in a lot better shape compared to surrounding counties, said Jude Rasmus, owner of Rasmus Real Estate Group Inc. in Marietta. She said one doesn’t see a wide difference between the fair market value of a home and what it’s assessed at in Cobb. Around the same time My Property Tax Appeal was formed, Rasmus started a similar company called Real Property Tax Appeals Group LLC in December. Rasmus said banks approached her

By Marcus E. Howard

seeking property tax reassessments on homes they owned. Deutsche Bank has hired her company to help reassess their assets in Georgia and Florida. Rasmus said her company has been “very successful” in their appeals, in part a result of its careful selection of cases and finding a reasonable median between taxpayers and the county appraiser. For example, she said if homes in a neighborhood sell for about $150,000 and a client’s property is valued by the county at $250,000, her company will seek to get it assessed at around $200,000. My Property Tax Appeal reports that it has helped more than 20 homeowners and commercial property owners in Cobb since opening. Broadus said the aver-

age amount saved to date for all the homes it has worked with has been between $200 and $900, with an average of $600 per year. Commercial and land properties can see higher savings, she said. According to the Cobb Assessor’s Office, a taxpayer’s appeal first goes to the county appraiser, which recommends action by the Cobb Board of Tax Assessors. If dissatisfied by the board’s decision, a taxpayer may appeal within 21 days to the Board of Equalization. The next level of appeal would go to Cobb Superior Court. The real property return deadline in Cobb and Cherokee is April 1.

Cobb Association of REALTORS® Marietta, GA • 770-422-3900 • www.cobbrealtor.com

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

REAL ESTATE

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Classic comfort

The Haven at Lost Mountain

Freeman home boasts a stately exterior, ‘livable’ farmhouse interior By Sally Litchfield sallylit@bellsouth.net

After working with an architect drawing up house plans, Debbie and Taylor Freeman knew exactly what they wanted in their new home. At least, that’s what they thought. “We had the itch to build,” Debbie said. “We both enjoy that,” architecture enthusiast Taylor said. Right before they finalized plans to break ground, Taylor happened upon a model home in an upscale west Cobb neighborhood that seemed to have their name on it. Debbie, a real estate agent with Keller Williams, who is used to working with clients with set ideas, found herself in their shoes when she was pleasantly surprised at the unexpected. “We really came in here for some decorating ideas. But it just felt right,” Debbie said. The attractive brick home with a Cedar Shake roof and symmetrical exterior exemplifies the impression of a stately Georgian home. It is similar in look and feel to the home in which Taylor was raised in Louisiana, he said. “Five-4 and a door is what they use to call it.” With its classic exterior, one might expect a formal setting on the inside. But the Freemans didn’t want stuffy. They worked for a “more livable space” that was comfortable. Collaborating with local interior designer Beth Meyer, the Freemans achieved the open and friendly look of a farmhouse. They chose soft colors that seem to express the spirit of the countryside. They also incorporated local artwork and furniture such as a farm table in the dining room to attain a cozy, relaxed decorating style. One of the things that initially attracted the couple to the home was the distressed white finish on the walls giving it a farm-style feel. “It felt homey,” said Deb-

Photo special to the MDJ

The Haven at Lost Mountain is an active adult community with homes ranging from the $195s to $220s.

Seniors can have it all in active adult community By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

POWDER SPRINGS — There is much to come home to when home is at Staff/Laura Moon the Haven at Lost Mountain, at Above: Debbie and Taylor Freeman stand outside of their Kennesaw home. The Dallas Highway and Ward Freemans were ready to begin building a house when they came across a model Farm Drive.home that seemed to have their name on it. Below: The Freemans pose in their It’s the choice for active dining room. A farm table helps create a relaxed, cozy style. Bottom: The farm- adults — age 55-plus — who house theme extends to the study. are ready to enjoy a spacious single-story home while enjoybie, a 24-year Marietta resiing a carefree lifestyle, comdent. plete with a professionally Though the home purmaintained home and lawn. chased nearly four years ago Home pricess in the comis understated, it is quietly munity range from $195s to beautiful. Another attrac$220s. tion was the flat back yard The Haven at Lost Mounwith endless possibilities tain boasts three-bedroom such as the pool they homes with optional bonus installed. room space or an unfinished “We’ve enjoyed just basement. The 20-home combeing able to walk out from munity offers residents maintean entertaining perspective,” nance-free living close to great Taylor said. The home has dining and shopping. a Yankee basement, meanUpon completion, there will ing there’s no daylight, he be a total of 20 homes. explained. “When you walk At the center of the comout on the porch, you walk munity is a small amenity area out onto the back yard, and featuring a professionally you’re not on a high deck maintained outdoor pavilion and we like that,” he said. with fireplace and grill. “It allows for good flow The two floor plans range when entertaining.” With one daughter in colroom upstairs would easily lege and another going next year, the master bedroom on accommodate guests when the girls marry. the main floor makes the By being open-minded, home amenable to main floor living. “It’s great first- the Freemans have found the perfect home for their floor living space when it’s lifestyle. “It’s very differjust the two of us,” Debbie ent than what we were said, but she quickly pointgoing to build, believe it or ed out that the four-bednot,” Debbie said. room home with a bonus

in size from 1,810 to 3,695 square feet. The single-level, stepless ranch homes feature spacious family rooms with a switchoperated gas log fireplace, formal dining rooms with tray ceilings, warmly lit, eat-in kitchens with maple cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The large master bedrooms include tray ceilings and walk-in closets. The master baths include private entry through the master bedroom, large double vanities with full-length mirrors, ceramictiled showers with seating, hook-ups for full-size washer and dryer, an elegant brushednickel interior trim package, efficient gas heating and electric central air with a programmable thermostat. Large outdoor patios are accessible from the master bedroom or living room. And homes have two-car garages and high-performance irrigation systems. From the Marietta Square, go west on Highway 120 about eight miles. The Haven at Lost Mountain will be on the right.

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Paper Chase Farm

Homes offer prestige, value By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

KENNESAW — Paper Chase Farm in Kennesaw is a community of 50 homes tucked away alongside the prestigious Marietta Country Club, with easy access to Interstate 75 and close proximity to great shopping and dining. Homes were previously priced up to $1 million by former builder Williamscraft. Traton is now selling the homes starting in the mid$300,000s. Paper Chase Farm is one of Traton Homes’ latest acquisitions. Traton purchased 32 remaining home sites in the community from a bank. The community will be complete upon the sale and close of those remaining lots. The neighborhood is located close to plenty of dining on Barrett Parkway and shopping at The Avenue West Cobb, and to Kennesaw Mountain Park, Laurel Park and Lost Mountain Park. Eighteen floor plans are offered, featuring four to five bedrooms. Seven of the 18 plans feature the owner’s suite on the main level. All homes feature 9- to 10-feet high ceilings on the first floor and 9-feet high ceilings on the second floor. Square footage ranges between 3,000 and 4,600 square feet. Homes come with three

e Near th

Staff/file

A brick entrance to the Paper Chase Farm neighborhood. Paper Chase Farm is one of Traton Homes’ latest acquisitions. Traton purchased 32 remaining home sites in the community from a bank. The community will be complete upon the sale and close of those remaining lots. sides of brick, cedar shake and/or stone; three-car sideentry garages; 30-year architectural roof shingles; double-paned insulated windows and sodded lawns. Kitchens include granite countertops with undermount stainless steel sink, maple cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. Hardwood floors can be found in the foyer, kitchen, dining room, breakfast area, powder

room, first floor hallways, keeping room and mud room (per plan). Finished media and bonus rooms are also available. To get Paper Chase Farm: Take I-75 north to exit 269, Barrett Parkway. Make a left. Continue about 5 miles and turn right onto Burnt Hickory Road. Travel one-quarter of a mile and turn right on Tarpley Road. The Paper Chase Farm sales and information center will be on the right.

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REAL ESTATE

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Habitat for Humanity dedicates neighborhood Entire community created in three years area right now,” Martin said. “As Commissioner Woody Thompson, who represents this District 4 area, said this is AUSTELL — Residents of the Hillcrest subdivision, one of the few new, finished neighborhoods that have been located off Hillcrest Drive finished in this area recently near Six Flags Over Georor will be finishing up in the gia, have a lot to be thanknear future.” ful for this Thanksgiving. Martin added The entire that Hillcrest community of represents an 51 homes was ‘For me, there $8.2 million constructed over is no other way I investment in three years by the community Habitat for could have had by Cobb County, Humanity of a home except organizations Northwest for Habitat for and private founMetro Atlanta. Humanity. I dations, includThe last three homes were could never have ing the J. Bulow Campbell and completed late afforded to. It’s Home Depot last year and been the most foundations. It’s Hillcrest was wonderful expe- estimated that officially dedirience of my the homeowners cated in a cere— who must mony attended life.’ meet certain by homeowners, — Terry Shelton, financial community leadnew homeowner requirements — ers, house sponwill generate sors and Habitat between $12 volunteers. million and $15 million in Don Martin is the director property taxes and economof development at Habitat for ic activity over the next 25 Humanity Northwest Metro years. Atlanta. Not only does the The 51 one-story homes neighborhood provide homes are Craftsman-style, built for people, he said, but its according to the National larger impact will be as an Association of Home economic stimulus to the surBuilders green model for rounding south Cobb area. homes. They’re considered “Habitat is one of the contina model of the contempoued, thriving builders in the rary neighborhoods that Habitat has begun to build. More than 50 sponsoring groups and thousands of volunteers joined the effort to build Hillcrest. They include the Cobb High School Coalition, made up of several Cobb schools, in addition to Walton High School, said Tamara Wilhite of Habitat. Many churches participated too. East Cobb’s Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church built seven new homes. The Catholic Coalition, a group of Catholic parishes in Cobb, built six homes. Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Kennesaw UMC and Due West UMC, built four houses. And the Smyrna/Cobb Done Ezeugo smiles as Coalition for Habitat — a volunteers of Habitat for coalition of seven churches, Humanity of Northwest two temples and a mosque Metro Atlanta work. — built three houses. By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

Staff/file

Above: The Anderson family, from left, Ayauna, Leonard, Lauryn and April live in the Hillcrest East subdivision built by Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta in Austell. Below: Habitat for Humanity volunteers lift an exterior wall of an Austell home. The Ochoa family has the honor of having the newest house in the community. Their home, like others, was opened for viewing in an open house tour. The public was invited to food, games and music at the dedication. Commissioner Thompson

and state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan (DAustell) were among guests. For homeowners such as Terry Shelton, owning a Habitat home is an opportunity of a lifetime. Shelton, 62, works as a floral specialist in a grocery store

1,320 foreclosures set for March Next month’s auction will be third largest By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Foreclosure notices continue to pile up in Cobb with 1,320 properties set for the March auction sale — the third largest on record. The 1,320 properties that have been advertised for the auction is a 51.5 percent increase over the 871 foreclosures advertised during the same period in 2009. Year-to-date, 2,250 properties have been advertised for foreclosure, compared to the 1,818 foreclosure notices advertised during the same time period in 2009. The county’s foreclosure record was set in October 2009, when up to 1,609 properties hit the auction block. The previous foreclosure record was set in the July 2009 sale, which had about 1,354 properties go the auction block. The auction begins at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month on the steps of the Cobb Superior Courthouse in Marietta. The next sale is March 2. Legal notices must be published for four consecutive Fridays before a property can be sold at auction. Not all properties advertised necessarily end up at auction. The Journal refers to foreclosures in the month of the sale, rather than the month of publication. These are the second foreclosures this year, because the legal notices are published in January. Chase Horner, principal

Staff/file

Tom Best of law firm Shapiro & Swertfeger reads descriptions on foreclosed properties on the courthouse steps in downtown Marietta for a monthly foreclosure auction. broker at Marietta’s Southern Foreclosure — The REO Company LLC, which specializes in foreclosures, said he is not surprised at the record number of foreclosures. Horner said there will likely be even more next year.

The consensus among experts, he said, is that there will be a steady flow of foreclosures for the two or so years, but no gigantic wave. “Defaults are going to rise dramatically and market velocity will continue to

decline as the adjustablerate mortgages /option ARM loans start resetting in record numbers,” he said. Option ARM loans are mortgages that give borrowers payment flexibility. “Banks, lenders, services and others who control inventory are not sitting on anything and they are calculating the release based on what the market is doing,” he said. “As more defaults are hitting the bank books, I don’t see how they can avoid raising capital and start to liquidate properties on the market or sell them off in bulk sales, (which) in turn will liquidate many of them.”

and has suffered from a brain tumor, among other problems. She moved to her new home last December, straight from a 700-squarefeet apartment in what she described as an “unsavory” neighborhood. “For me, there is no other way I could have had

a home except for Habitat for Humanity. I could never have afforded to,” she said. “It’s been the most wonderful experience of my life.” Since 1986, when Habitat was started in Cobb, the organization has built nearly 320 homes in Cobb and Douglas counties.

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REAL ESTATE

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Cobb Association of Realtors Roster A T Morris Realty Group, 3162 Johnson Ferry Road, 260-2, Marietta, 30062. (770) 552-5922. Broker - Ausker Morris. Advantage Atlanta Realty, 885 Woodstock Road, S-430, #153, Roswell, 30075. (770) 722-6733. Broker - Frances Lawrence. Alderman Classic Realty, 15 C. Central Avenue, Moultrie, 31768. (229) 9850177. Broker - Terrie Ann Alderman. All Atlanta Realty, 3225 Shallowford Road, Bldg. 100, Marietta, 30062. (770) 5657505. Broker - Debbie Redford. America’s Realty, 1970 Roswell Road, Marietta, 30062. (770) 993-4663. Broker - Michele Ambio. Anchor Realty Partners, 4937 Cherokee Street, Acworth, 30101. (770) 917-0322. Broker - Malinda Howe. Angelu U Root CPM, 2922 Holly Pointe Ct., Marietta, 30062. (770) 612-8810. Broker - Angela Root. Assist 2 Sell, 1301 Shiloh Road, S130, Kennesaw, 30144. (770) 514-8877. Broker - Mary McCleskey. Atlanta Classic Real Estate, 400 Galleria Parkway #1500, Atlanta, 30339. (770) 955-2212. Broker - Judith Barrett. Bell Realty, 2015 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Kennesaw, 30144. (770) 792-4300. Broker Joan Bell. Brick House Realtors, 3600 Dallas Highway, S-230 #1, Marietta, 30064. (404) 579-6298. Broker - Vanessa Daniels-Lohr. Buckhead Home Realty, 1875 Old Alabama Road, S-230, Roswell, 30067. (404) 419-1004. Broker - Allison Johnston. CCDC Realty, 268 Lawrence Street, S100, Marietta, 30060. (770) 429-4400. Broker - Linda Cole. Cedarcrest Realty Info. Center, 3734 Cedarcrest Road, S-10, Acworth, 30101. (678) 391-6870. Broker - Andrea Jones. CENTURY 21 Heritage Sales, 3289 Powder Springs Road, Powder Springs, 30127. (770) 439-1939. Broker - Mary Ann Boone. CENTURY 21 Professionals, 2282 Old Concord Road, Smyrna, 30082. (770) 384-1400. Broker - Roy Griffin. Chapman Hall Realtors, 6100 Lake Forrest Drive, Atlanta, 30328. (404) 2360043. Broker - Deborah Nagel. Club Realty Associates, 1781 Brookstone Walk, Acworth, 30101. (770) 4274200. Broker - Joseph Sewell. Coldwell Banker, 300 Village Green Circle,Smyrna, 30082. (770) 433-4140. Broker - Charolette Sears. Coldwell Banker, 800 Whitlock Avenue, S-115, Marietta, 30064. (770) 4290600. Broker - Fred Cassidy. Coldwell Banker, 37 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, 30068. (770) 955-0555. Broker - Patricia Nelson. Costigan Real Estate Group, 3225 Shallowford Road, Marietta, 30062. (770) 955-3655. Broker - Michael Costigan. Cousins Real Estate Corp., 191 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, 30303. (404) 407-1000. Broker - Deloris Schmidt. Crye-Leike Realtors, 13190 Highway 92, Woodstock, 30188, (770) 517-2272. Bro-

ker - Jennifer Mansell. Crye-Leike Realtors, 4691 S. Atlanta Road, Smyrna, 30080. (404) 799-3352. Broker - Jackie Estes. Crystal Properties of Greater Atl., 590 Floyd Drive, Smyrna, 30082. (678) 3698400. Broker - Dana Lerner. David C. Vaughn & Company, PMB 154, Marietta, 30064. (770) 984-0000. Broker - David C. Vaughn. Drake Realty of Greater Atlanta, 3535 Roswell Road, Marietta, 30062. (770) 525-2044. Broker - Glenn Drake. Drecksler and Associates, Inc., 444 Manget St., S-400, Marietta, 30060. (770) 916-1075. Broker - Charles Drecksler. Envirian Atlanta Fine Homes, 1008 Walnut Creed Drive, Woodstock, 30188. (770) 551-5686. Broker - Earl Pilcher. ERA Buckhead, 2135 Roswell Road, Marietta, 30062. (770) 977-7909. Broker Kathy Steward. ERA Sunrise Realty, 3900 Legacy Park Blvd., Kennesaw, 30144. (770) 4239494. Broker - David Griffith. ES Johnson Inc., 3405 Dallas Highway, S-720, Marietta, 30064. (770) 8745100. Broker - Edward Johnson. First Option Realty, 406 Collegate Drive, Powder Springs, 30127. (404) 4037545. Broker - Kimsey Hamrick. Global Realty Marketing, 775 Branch Drive, Alpharetta, 30004. (678) 966-7600. Broker - Gale McIntyre. Great Home Realty & Property, 1275 Shiloh Road, S-2940, Kennesaw, 30144. (770) 499-8193. Broker - Missy Gaye Harlow. Harry Norman Realtors, East Cobb, 551 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta,30068. (770) 977-9500. Broker - Shea Zimmerman. Harry Norman Realtors, Marietta, 776 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, 30064. (770) 422-6005. Broker - Jeromy Trask. Hedgewood Realty, 5920 Odell Street, Cumming, 30040. (770) 889-3667. Broker - David Smith. Heritage Real Estate Brokers, 2870 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, 30062. (770) 874-0560. Broker - Susan VanDyke. Hollingsworth Realty Group, 2778 Cumberland Blvd., Smyrna, 30080. (770) 438-2509. Broker - Drena Hollingsworth. Home Buyers Marketing II, Inc., 1484 McAdoo Drive, Marietta, 30067. (770) 4239866. Broker - Roy Clark. J.R. Serrano Real Estate, 2095 Clearvista Drive, Acworth, 30101. (678) 7361438. Broker - John Serrano. Jackson & King, Inc., 840 Roswell Street, Marietta, 30060. (770) 428-3316. Broker - Chris Norris. Jenny Pruitt & Associates, 4651 Olde Towne Parkway, Marietta, 30068. (770) 5093370. Broker - Jeanne Linden. Jewell Wright Realty, 4034 Columns Drive, Marietta, 30067. (770) 955-6573. Broker - Jewell Wright. Jim Bulla Foothills Realty, 2810 Foothill Trail, Marietta, 30066. (770) 5657526. Broker - James Bulla. John Suarez & Associates, 4080 Indi-

an Town, Marietta, 30066. (770) 591-0799. Broker - John Suarez. Keller Williams Realty, 2651 Dallas Highway, Marietta, 30064. (678) 631-1700. Broker - Kimberly Jeans. Keller Williams Realty Across Atlanta, 76 Highland Pavillion Court, Hiram, 30141. (770) 874-5333. Broker - Lorelei Shea. Keller Williams Realty Atlanta North, 3730 Roswell Road, S-150, Marietta, 30062. (770) 509-0700. Broker - Deborah Blue. Keller Williams Realty Cityside, 3350 Atlanta Road, Smyrna, 30080. (770) 8746200. Broker - John Fountain. Keller Williams Realty First Atlanta, 200 Glenridge Point Parkway, Atlanta, 30342. (404) 531-5700. Broker - Shaun Rawls. Keller Williams Realty North, 1010 North Tennessee St., Cartersville, 30120. (770) 607-7400. Broker - Alex Bonds. Keller Williams Realty, Platinum, 220 Heritage Walk, S-101, Woodstock, 30188. (678) 494-0644. Broker - Darla Smith. Legacy Realty Group, 3510 DeKalb Technology Pkwy., Atlanta, 30340. (678) 443-9172. Broker - Jennifer Higbee. Loren Realty, 301 Heritage Walk, S101, Woodstock, 30188. (770) 993-6546. Broker - Carla Ford. Manning Properties, P.O. Box 3393, Marietta, 30061. (770) 422-0408, Broker - H. Aymar Manning. Markcorp Worldwide, Inc., 125 Townpark Drive, S-300-30080, Kennesaw, 30156. (678) 383-4552. Broker - Barry Gazzard. McAfee Properties, PO Box 4296, Marietta, 30061. (770) 428-3699. Broker Leigh McAfee Smith. McCreary Realty Management, Inc., PO Box 6040, Marietta, 30065. (770) 4275711. Broker - Michael McCreary. Metro Brokers GMAC Real Estate, 5775-D Glenridge Drive, Atlanta, 30328. (404) 843-2500. Broker - Kevin Levent. Mike Crabtree Real Estate, 1290 Waterford Green Trail, Marietta, 30068. (678) 361-9024. Broker - Mike Crabtree. Milicki & Associates, 110 Evans mill Drive, S-103, Dallas, 30157. (770) 874-2022. Broker - Anita Young. MLSmart Realty, LLC, 1625 Heritage Trail, Roswell, 30075. (678) 255-6019 . Broker – Theodore Malkasion. New Day Realty, 2617 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, 30066. (770) 405-3040. Broker - Renee Swann. Noved Brokers, Inc., 3104 Creekside Village Dr., S-507, Marietta, 30144. (678) 439-3069. Broker - Brandon Nichols. Paniagua Real Estate, LLC, 2351 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna, 30080. (706) 277-0760. Broker - Rogelio Paniagua. Parke Avenue Realty, 6424 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock, 30189. (678) 2134663. Broker - Verna Parker. Peggy Slappey Properties, 2160 Morningside Dr., S-250, Buford, 30518. (770) 932-3440. Broker - Peggy Slappey. Pelmore Realty, 1060 Trestle Drive, Austell, 30106. (770) 944-8356. Broker -

Joseph Pelmore. Pineapple Properties, Inc., 3129 St. Ives Country Club Parkway, Johns Creek, 30097. (770) 476-7712. Broker - Allen Compton. Pope & Land Enterprises, 3225 Cumberland Blvd. S-400, Atlanta, 30339. (770) 980-0808. Broker - A.J. Land. Prime Properties Atlanta, 4876 Clark Lake Way, Acworth, 30102. (770) 424-3333. Broker - Maxine Willman. Promenade Realty, 2543 Greenes Lane, Powder Springs, 30127. (770) 4391050. Broker - Jeff Hobby. Prudential Ga. Realty, East Cobb, 3775 Roswell Road, S-200, Marietta, 30062. (770) 973-8822. Broker - Lane Jones. Prudential Ga. Realty, North West, 2414 Dallas Highway, Marietta, 30064. (770) 421-8600. Broker - Kathy Murphy. Prudential Georgia Realty, 4648 Woodstock Road, Roswell, 30075. (678) 585-0070. Broker - Scott Simpson. RE/MAX Around Atlanta, 999 Whitlock Avenue, S-17, Marietta, 30064. (770) 425-9996. Broker - Charolette Steed. RE/MAX Around Atlanta, 3375 Dallas Highway, Marietta, 30064. (678) 819-9260. Broker - Charolette Steed. RE/MAX Around Atlanta Partners, 240 Sandy Plains Road, Atlanta, 30328. (404) 252-7500. Broker - Kristen Anclein. RE/MAX Communities, 135 Johnson Ferry Road, S-500, Marietta, 30068. (770) 955-2525. Broker - E.Judson Adamson. RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, 2050 Roswell Road, Marietta, 30062. (770) 9739700. Broker - Ceci Osburn. RE/MAX Integrity, 2500 Cobb Parkway, S-C1, Kennesaw, 30152. (770) 4282875. Broker - Steven George. RE/MAX Leading Edge, 4401 Shallowford Road, Roswell, 30075. (770) 5526501. Broker - Donald Patterson. RE/MAX Platinum, 2590 Atlanta Road, Smyrna, 30080. (770) 951-9990. Broker Sandra Ghai. RE/MAX Professionals, 970 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee, 30024. (770) 932-1600. Broker - David Nix. RE/MAX Realty Group, 1124 N. Tennessee St., Cartersville, 30120. (770) 3871550. Broker - Tony Williams. RE/MAX Town & Country, 14205 Highway 92, S-109, Woodstock, 30188. (770) 928-4966. Broker - Elizabeth Hooper. RE/MAX Unlimited, 5205 Stilesboro Road, Kennesaw, 30152. (770) 419-1986. Broker - Pamela Rogers. RE/MAX Westside, 280 Merchants Square, Dallas, 30132. (770) 443-9696. Broker - Stephen Adams. REALEX Inc., 425 Briarwood Court, Marietta, 30068. (770) 971-6996. Broker Robert Long. Realty Central of Atlanta, 4195 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 30096. (770) 4491011. Broker - Yangsook Ku. Realty Executives of Marietta, 990 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, 30064. (678)

See Realtors, Page 10CC

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MARIETTA

DAILY JOURNAL

REAL ESTATE

PAGE 10CC

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Now is good time to invest in property By Kyle Dominy kdominy@neighbornewspapers.com

With property values continuing to decrease in the stagnant economy, real estate expert say now may be the time to purchase investment property. “Now is the time to buy,” said Databank Inc. CEO Alan Wexler. “But you have to do your due diligence.” Wexler said property values have dropped at least 20 percent over the past year. He said some properties have lost

as much as 50 percent of their value. Wexler offered some tips to first-time buyers looking to purchase a rental house or two. First, he said, make sure you have the financing to make the purchase. “In many cases that can be done so the (desired) rent can be lower than that in the apartment market,” he said. Before buying Wexler said it is important to check the homes value with the county’s tax assessor office to

Realtors

ensure you know the property’s current value. “If you are buying at last year’s value then you are not making a good buy,” he said. “You have to buy right if you plan on making money. Be sure you are pricing that house right.” But good deals can be difficult to come by. Wexler said several sellers are holding on to property until they regain some of their value. Cobb County has been one of the hardest hit in foreclosures

over the past three years. One place to look for a quick deal is the foreclosure market. The number of foreclosure notices served in Cobb has steadily increased over the past decade. According to EquityDepot.net, a Kennesaw-based web company that monitors foreclosures across the metro Atlanta region, there were more than 12,000 foreclosure notices served in Cobb County in 2009. That is the fourth highest num-

ber in the 13 county area covered by EquityDepot.net. The counties with worse foreclosure rates include DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. That figure is up from only 1,675 in 2000. So far this year, more than 2,000 foreclosure notices have been served. More than 1,500 of those have been this month. EquityDepot.net President and CEO Barry Bramlett said only about 30 percent of the homes were actually fore-

closed. Foreclosed homes are auctioned off each month and Bramlett said homes could be bought for as much as half of the mortgage value. “There is only one way to sell and that’s sell it less. There is much more opportunity to buy,” he said. “It’s not uncommon to see a $200,000 loan going for $100,000.” The downside to buying homes at an auction, however, is there no chance to see what is up for sale.

Home-building permits up in 2010

Continue from Page 9CC By Marcus E. Howard 370-9000. Broker - Chris Norris. Realty One, 1322 Concord Road, Smyrna, 30080. (770) 433-2123. Broker - Bobbie Poole. Red Oak Realty, 701 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, 30064. (770) 424-1819. Broker - Colby Henson. River North Realty, Inc., 1860 Battlefield Road, Marietta, 30064. (770) 590-8844. Broker - Carolyn Mills. Robbins Realty, 2513 Shallowford Road, B-200, S210, Marietta, 30066. (770) 971-5660. Broker - Leon Robbins. Simply Sold Real Estate, 5041 Dallas Highway, Bldg. 1, S-G, Powder Springs, 30101. (678) 715-4111. Broker - Karen Warner. Slyman Real Estate, 134 Powers Ferry Road, S100, Marietta, 30067. (770) 405-0100. Broker - Paige Slyman. Solid Source Realty, 10900 Crabapple Road, S2000, Roswell, 30075. (770) 475-1130. Broker - Charlotte Fissette. Sonja Mikes RE, Inc., 2950 Pete Shaw Road, Marietta, 30066. (770) 591-2827. Broker - Sonja Mikes. Southern Prime Realty, LLC, 2315 Arbor Court, Marietta, 30066. (770) 573-2507. Broker - Howard Carter. Sterlingcrest Realty, PO Box 801562, Acworth, 30101. (678) 388-5000. Broker - James Stoker. Street of Dreams Realty, Inc., 1442 Wimbleton Drive, Kennesaw, 30144. (770) 517-7767. Broker - Anna Maddox. Telfair Brokers, Inc., 3085 Paces Mill Road, Atlanta, 30339. (678) 305-9420. Broker - Billy Schultz. The Benchmark Group, Inc., 9100 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 31406. (912) 201-3721. Broker - Michael Kent. The Real Estate Agents Link, 333 Creek Stone Ridge, Woodstock, 30188. (770) 928-1567. Broker - Alan Jennings. The Realty Team, 111 Village Parkway, Marietta, 30067. (770) 579-4060. Broker - Lynn Horner Baker. The Results Realtors, 3978 Devonshire Drive, Marietta, 30066. (770) 926-4016. Broker - Joseph Turner. Tina Fountain, Realtors, 289 Washington Avenue, Marietta, 30060. (404) 842-1555. Broker - Tina Fountain. Traton Homes Realty, 720 Kennesaw Avenue, Marietta, 30060. (770) 427-9064. Broker - Dwayne Hill. Tributary Realty, 3270 Darby Drive, S-100, Douglasville, 30135. (678) 391-0026. Broker - Frank Gilligan. Venture Real Estate, 1580 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, 30067. (770) 955-8300. Broker - Linda Bridges.

mhoward@mdjonline.com

ACWORTH — Although residential home building is still far below the success it enjoyed just a few years ago, the month-to-month figures are slowly showing some improvement. Nevertheless, year to date figures of new housing permits show that the Cobb County’s housing market still has a long way to go. Across Cobb, 64 permits for new homes were issued in January, the most recent period for which data was available for this report. January 2009 saw just 27 permits issued. Unincorporated Cobb County issued 43 permits in January. The city of Smyrna issued nine, Acworth issued eight, Kennesaw issued three and one came from Marietta. None were issued in the cities of Austell or Powder Springs. In 2009, a total of 406 permits were issued. In 2008, there was a total of 707 permits issued across the county and its six cities. By comparison, in 2004 there were 5,720 permits issued. The number of building permits has steadily declined since peaking in 2004. In 2005 there were 5,184 permits, 3,716 were issued in

‘Once unemployment stabilizes and decreases, the housing market will heat up again. Savvy buyers are buying now to take advantage of this market and will do very well on their homes as an investment in the long term.’ — Carey Cox, senior loan officer with Mortgage South Lenders in Marietta 2006, and 1,935 in 2007. However, housing professionals like Carey Cox, senior loan officer with Mortgage South Lenders in Marietta, see glimpses of light in the midst of uncertainty. Cobb has seen an increase in home sales so far in 2010 due to a few factors, he said. “One is the $8,000 tax incentive that runs through April for first-time buyers and $6,500 for all others who wish to purchase a home. This has increased the demand a great deal for new-home sales as well as resale homes,” Cox said. “Another is that resale homes, as well as new homes, are much more affordable in this market. Builders are buying land from banks that have foreclosed on the property for much less than they would have been able to in the past, and this enables them to build homes at a much more affordable price.” Jim Hughes, former Cobb

chapter president of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, said, “There will be some construction of new homes for people who want and can afford custom homes. There will also be a few sales of new homes to people who only want a new home.” The city of Acworth has seen its housing market improve this year, Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood said. Halfway into February, his city had issued seven building permits, he said. In February 2009, the city issued zero. “There is not a lot of activity, but we are issuing permits,” Allegood said. Eric Price, chief operating officer at Marietta’s Traton Homes, told the Journal that the company has purchased nine subdivisions across metro Atlanta, either through short sales from the original developer or through foreclosures. Clif Poston, the company’s executive vice president,

estimated Traton would build 75 to 80 homes in Cobb this year and talked about competing against new homes that have been built, but have yet to sell. A year ago in February 2009, data of Cobb’s housing permit activity indicated that builders in the county remained hesitant to start new residential projects. Only 29 permits for singlefamily homes were issued across the county at this time a year ago. Three of Cobb’s cities, Austell, Kennesaw and Marietta, had yet to issue any housing permits a year ago at this period. Cobb County saw its new housing permits drop dramatically in 2008, following the economic slowdown. As a result, there is very favorable pricing for new homes in west Cobb and the south Cobb/Mableton area. “These factors, along with low and stable interest rates, should keep the housing market on track for a slow but steady recovery,” said Cox, the loan officer. “Once unemployment stabilizes and decreases, the housing market will heat up again. Savvy buyers are buying now to take advantage of this market and will do very well on their homes as an investment in the long term.”

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

REAL ESTATE

PAGE 11CC

The Pointe at Kirk Farms

From left, Clifford Poston poses with sons Bill Poston and Milburn Poston at Traton Homes corporate office on Kennesaw Avenue. At age 91, Clifford Poston continues her work with the company the family founded in 1971.

Luxurious living with great value By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

Staff/file

Family keeps things in perspective Postons’ business has lived through many recessions By Laura Braddick lbraddick@neighbornewspapers.com

At 91, Clifford Poston comes to work every day for her sons Bill and Milburn Poston at Traton Homes. “Bill and I look back to the 1970s to be being the hard times,” Milburn said. “Our mother looks back to the depression. It just puts everything into perspective.” For this Marietta family business, keeping things in perspective has helped it stay afloat while other builders struggled in the crumbling housing market. With commercial real estate backgrounds, Bill and Milburn decided to go into the

residential building business and started Traton Homes in 1971. “We’ve been through a lot of recessions,” Bill said. “In ’73 and ’74 there was an economic downturn, so we went through it right after we got in.” After riding out three recessions which included busted housing markets, the company has learned how to weather the storm and make it out alive. “We’ve been pretty cautious. Over our 39 years, we’ve never been a company that takes a lot of risk,” said Bill. “We’ve tried to keep a certain amount of capital on hand and it’s served us well over the last three years.” With that method, the company has made it work for them. “It’s all about being conser-

‘We’ve been through a lot of recessions. ... We’ve worked hard, but we’re by no means cocky about it.’ — Bill Poston, co-founder of Traton Homes vative. You try to stay in that middle territory,” said COO Eric Price. Approaching the market with this attitude, the company’s adapted business model of buying foreclosed assets from the bank has been fruitful. In November, Traton bought 33 lots valued between $600,000 and $700,000 in the Wakefield Estates subdivision in Smyrna. The company sold all the lots in 10 weeks. “That proves our philosophy that if you come into the good areas with the right values, with a quality home and reputation, you can still sell

houses in this market,” said Eric. “There are still people out there looking to buy homes.” Land costs, Bill contends, are what got out of hand versus building costs, pointing out how 3 percent escalation of costs in the early 2000s increased to 15 percent in 2006. “Because we were being conservative, that helped move us forward,” Price said. Confirming its success over the years, Traton was a finalist for Kennesaw State University’s Family Business of the Year. Bill said the company was proud of its success

over the past year, but humble too. “We’ve worked hard, but we’re by no means cocky about it,” he said. Even though Traton can celebrate with solid achievements and minimal loss from the recession, it has not been easy. “The past three years have been one constant challenge,” said Bill. “Every thing we do on a day to day basis has an effect. Everything has become more difficult.” Millburn said he considers just staying in business during these times is an achievement. But the founders and executives said they’re not worried. Their perspective is it will all turn around eventually. “It’s becoming more and more positive every day,” said Price. “Atlanta is still a very desirable place to live. There’s always going to be business for us.

KENNESAW — The Pointe at Kirk Farms is an intimate neighborhood of 31 homes located near the prestigious Marietta Country Club in west Cobb. The community’s great location offers easy access to Interstate 75, as well as great shopping and dining at nearby Town Center at Cobb mall and The Avenue West Cobb. The homes in the Pointe at Kirk Farms were previously priced from the $600s under builder Williamscraft. After its acquisition, Traton is now selling them from the low$300s. Eighteen floor plans featuring four to five bedrooms are offered. Seven of the 18 plans feature the owner’s suite on the main level. All homes feature 9- or 10-feet high ceilings on the first floor and 9-foot ceilings on the second floor. Square footage ranges from approximately 3,000 to 4,600 square feet. Three sides of brick, cedar shake and/or stone are options for home exteriors. Inside, kitchens feature granite countertops with an undermounted stainless steel sink, maple cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. Hardwood floors are in the foyer, kitchen, dining room, breakfast area, powder room, first floor hallways, keeping room and mud room. Plans also feature iron balusters, exceptional interior trim detail, finished media rooms and bonus rooms.

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REAL ESTATE

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

PROGRESS 2010

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL FEBRUARY 28, 2010

SECTION DD / 4 OF 8

EDUCATION

NEW BOARD MEMBERS BRING LOAD OF ENERGY PAGE 3DD

EXPERT WORDS ON CHARTER SCHOOL MISCONCEPTIONS PAGE 7DD INSIDE

BOOM TIME FOR SOUTHERN POLY U.

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EDUCATION

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Education connection

Former Cobb teacher provides insight to what makes successful educators By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

ACWORTH — Former Cobb School District teacher Kim Bearden, co-founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, has a theory about what makes a happy teacher. The ability to makes connections — on different levels — with students, parents, faculty and their own sense of purpose, separates genuinely happy teachers from the rest, said Bearden. “The main reason we want that joy is that it does spread, so our students are not only happy in school, but also successful in school,” said Bearden. “You could love, love those kids,

but if you’re not connecting them with the curriculum, well then you’re going to have problems, obviously. You could love, love, love your parents and have great relations with them, but if you’re not getting along with the lady in the room next door to you then you’re going to have problems.” Bearden spoke recently to an audience of educators at Chattahoochee Technical College’s North Metro campus in Acworth as part of the college’s Educator’s Day. She shared education tips that the Ron Clark Academy uses with the crowd of mostly Cobb teachers. Bearden also shared her feelings of discouragement with the profession when she began teach-

ing more than 20 years ago, after graduating from the University of Georgia. Once she surrounded herself with positive and excited teachers whose students were academically successful and disciplined, Bearden said she changed her outlook on education. “Guys, if you’re bored teaching, they’re (students) bored,” she told the audience. RCA is a nonprofit, SACS CASI accredited middle school in southeast Atlanta that uses a unique curriculum to teach students in grades 5 through 8 from disadvantaged backgrounds. The private school has garnered national attention since opening in 2007, from students performing at President Barack Obama’s

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

Kim Bearden, left, former Cobb County teacher and co-founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, talks to Dowell Elementary School first-grade teacher Julie Pszczola of Marietta, right, and Dowell first-grade special education teacher Molly Torch of Marietta. Bearden was the keynote speaker at Chattahoochee Technical College’s Educator’s Day at the North Metro Campus recently.

inauguration to appearances by school founder, Ron Clark, on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Clark has appeared on Winfrey’s show twice. The popular TV mogul has also donated at least 1.8 million to the school over the past two years. Tuition at RCA is $18,000 a year. The school relies on individual and corporate funding, from which scholarships are provided to students. Students are admitted through an application process and can only enter as fifth-graders. The average class-size is about 30 students, according to RCA. Former Kennesaw State University president Dr. Betty Siegel sits on the school’s advisory board. Students come from around metro Atlanta. About one-third of them who enroll were already good students academically, another one-third were average, and another one-third struggled in the classroom, said Bearden. Bearden, a former Floyd Middle School teacher, said she met Clark 10 years ago when they were fellow Disney American Teacher Award winners. Both serve as administrators and teachers at RCA. The school focuses on an energetic teaching style that incorporates music to inspire students to learn. It’s not uncommon to find a teacher standing on top of a desk or burst into a rap song about a subject, as well as cheering and clapping from students. That energy, however, is balanced with strict discipline, which is the biggest reason behind RCA’s success, said Bearden. “We are probably the strictest middle school you will ever step foot in and we’re very big on manners and respect,” she said. Bearden said RCA is a private school because she and Clark, who both taught in public schools, believed being private allowed for more freedom in educating students. She advised teachers to record themselves teaching and critically evaluate their performances.

‘The main reason we want that joy is that it does spread, so our students are not only happy in school, but also successful in school. You could love, love those kids, but if you’re not connecting them with the curriculum, well then you’re going to have problems, obviously. You could love, love, love your parents and have great relations with them, but if you’re not getting along with the lady in the room next door to you then you’re going to have problems.’ — Kim Bearden, former Cobb teacher and co-founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta People who seek excellence are usually good at their jobs, said Bearden. Passion and joy is what the RCA attempts to get out of its students and faculty every day, she said. A first it’s difficult getting the students to cheer for and encourage each other, Bearden admitted. But, once they believe other people, besides their teachers, want them to succeed, then it becomes natural for them, she said.

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

EDUCATION

PAGE 3DD

Energy boost 3 new members bring new ideas, teamwork ethic to Marietta School Board By Jon Gillooly jgillooly@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Anyone who attended Marietta school board meetings last year, as opposed to this year, when there are three new members, can see the difference in a board that is more energized than ever to tackle student achievement. “Board members, we are all different, but we get along very well. It’s going to be a great four years. We have high standards for (Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck) and she knows it, and she lives up to it. Bottom line: All of us truly love our system. We all want it to perform the best it can,” school board Chairman Randy Weiner said. The board’s three new members were elected in November. Logan Weber, a graduate of Marietta High School who is a trader with an agricultural holding company specializing in commodities, replaced Scott Allen, who did not seek reelection. Stuart Fleming, a graduate of the Walker School and the Air Force Academy who now works at Coca Cola Enterprises, replaced Jeanie Carter, who retired. Tom Cheater, a global business solutions manager for British Telecom, replaced

The cover

Staff/Laura Moon

Front row, from left, Marietta City Schools Board members are: Chairman Randy Weiner, Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck, Irene Berens and Stuart Fleming. Back row: Tony Fasola, Jill Mutimer, Logan Weber and Tom Cheater. Tom Smith, who did not seek re-election. Fleming said in thinking beyond the difficult economic times and the challenges they pose, he wants to focus on increasing the ability of Marietta graduates to have the skills necessary to support the next phase of their lives, whether that means college and increasing Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate performance or job training for those entering

the work force. Fleming also wants to see the system lead the cause of educational excellence in the Southeast. “This means devising a way to assess teacher performance in a more comprehensive way than we do today, investing in more targeted development for our teachers, increasing the standards that we expect of our student athletes, and considering the necessary changes that our

system requires as the world around us has evolved,” he said. Fleming also looks to devise more creative solutions for increasing student achievement and decreasing student remediation, ensuring all students can read on grade level throughout their educational careers, and increasing graduation rates while maintaining the rigorous standard of instruction and testing. Budget permitting,

Cheater said he wants to see an expansion of the performing arts in the school system. “Student involvement in the performing arts in schools has shown a direct correlation to improved student academic achievement,” Cheater said. “I’d like to look for increased opportunities — especially in the middle and high school grades, for expanded programs for our students. As one example, we have over 150 students participating in our sixth grade orchestra this year, and we want to ensure we have opportunities for these, and other students to optimize their talents as they move into the higher grades,” he said. With two children at West Side Elementary, Weiner, 42, the new chairman of the Marietta school board, has a personal interest in seeing Marietta’s school system thrive. “I want our system to succeed academically and grow academically. It’s important because it’s my community, and my kids are growing up in the school system,” said Weiner, on why he serves on the school board. The school district, Weiner said, is the city’s backbone because of its ability to attract families while maintaining property values. The job of a school board chairman in one of the worst

‘I want our system to succeed academically and grow academically. It’s important because it’s my community, and my kids are growing up in the school system.’ — Randy Weiner, school board chair economic downturns ever is not easy. Last year, the system cut 75 employees. Designing the fiscal year 2010 budget was the most difficult budget Lembeck said she’s ever been a part of. That budget, originally at $80.8 million, is now projected to end at $77.8 million, Weiner said. And his board is eyeing budget cuts of between 8 to 12 percent depending on what the Legislature does this session. If revenues from the third special purpose local option education sales tax don’t come in as projected, the system will pay off less of its debt. SPLOST III See Energy, Page 11DD

Cobb School District receives 5-year SACS accreditation From staff reports

The Cobb County School District received official notice from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement that the school district has been reaccredited for five years, according to SACS in

January. “This report really provides a comprehensive look at our district and schools, and it validates the hard work of our teachers, administrators and support staff to provide the best education possible for Cobb County students,” said school board Chairwoman Lynnda Crowder-Eagle. “I’m very

proud that the Cobb County School District has been reaccredited in such an enthusiastic manner, by an unbiased and professional outside review team. We look forward to addressing the few recommendations, and thank the review team for providing such a thorough evaluation.”

The official notice follows a comprehensive, three-day evaluation by a delegation of SACS representatives in November 2009. The evaluation team consisted of 27 education professionals from

throughout the Southeast. According to the news release: “The final SACS report offered numerous commendations for outstanding practices, and cited several strengths in each of the

areas evaluated. Additionally, the report provided a few key recommendations for improvement. The District already has begun the process of addressing those recommendations.”

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Science of success

Walker teacher in running for highest math/science award Abhijeeth Ramesh

Sydney Haltom

STARs align for top Cobb students Academic excellence saluted at banquet By Kathryn Dobies kdobies@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Cobb County’s brightest gathered recently to be honored for their academic excellence at the Kiwanis Club of Marietta’s 43rd annual Student and Teacher Achievement Recognition banquet at First United Methodist Church in Marietta. Twenty-five Cobb County students, dressed to the nines, and their chosen teachers were featured as their high school’s highest academic achievers from 23 of the Cobb area high schools. In the end, only two were chosen as the county’s top winners — one from the Cobb County School District and the other from Marietta City Schools. The two students with the highest overall scores were Abhijeeth Ramesh from Walton High School and Sydney Haltom from the Walker School. The STAR program was created in 1958 to honor academic excellence. School counselors nominate students, who must have the highest score in one sitting on the three-part Scholastic Aptitude Test and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class. Students are then asked to select a teacher who has helped guide and inspire them throughout their school career. Ramesh chose his sophomore AP English teacher, Kelly Bryan, as his STAR teacher because not only did she help him grasp a fuller understanding of the English language, but she also helped Ramesh outside of the classroom with his future plans. “She is a very intimidating woman,” Ramesh said about Bryan. “More importantly, Ms. Bryan was probably the one teacher that I could go to outside of school and have a discussion about how my life was and how my future was going to be.” Ramesh is still undecided about his college choice, but said he would like to study economics and philosophy — two subjects that he has become passionate about. The senior says he gives all of the credit for his academic achievements to his community, parents and teachers like Bryan. “It really all starts with my parents — them pushing me, them driving me, keeping me motivated and making sure I know what to do,” Ramesh said. “I give a lot of credit to Walton High School, the administrators and definitely my teachers, like Ms. Kelly Bryan, because they truly are the ones who make me the student that I am.” Haltom said the conversations she has had with teachers and students have helped inspire her to achieve as a student. “Discussing interesting things with interesting people, that’s why I’m going to college where I am,” Haltom said. The senior plans to attend Middlebury College, a liberal arts school in Vermont. Although she said she hasn’t decided on a major, she is thinking of either international studies or a foreign language. Haltom got the crowd laughing early on in the night when she introduced her Latin teacher Randy Fields, saying that she has always enjoyed Fields’ class because the discussions they have in the class are “pretty comically incredible.” Both Haltom and Ramesh will be competing in the regional competition on March 17 at Windermere Golf Club in Cumming. The winner of that competition will advance to the state level in April.

that this is important to my life.” In 2006, the National Association of Biology Teachers selected Adams as Georgia’s Biology Teacher of the Year. Adams received a bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in teaching from Emory University. She and her husband, Nick Adams, have a son, Ben. She credits her mother, Sue Krauss of New Mexico, and 93-year-old grandmother, Wanda Gibson of Decatur, as her inspiration. The subject of biology drew her because of its importance to understanding life, Adams said. The best part of teaching, she said, is the connections she builds with students who may have experienced difficulty in initially learning a subject. She said some of her former students who are now in college have credited their interest in studying science to her. “I am incredibly passionate about my job,” Adams said. “I work hard at being a reflective teacher. Really thinking deeply about what I am doing and what impact it has on my students; looking really objectively at what I’ve done and what works and what doesn’t, and not being afraid to change things.” In January, President Barack Obama addressed past PAEMST recipients at the White House. “A good education, provided with the help of great teachers and mentors, is about something more. It’s about instilling in a young person a love of learning and a sense of possibility in their own lives; an understanding of the world around them that will serve them no matter what they do. That’s what we have to do as a nation. That’s what all of you do every day,” Obama said.

By Marcus Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Emily Adams dreamed of becoming a pediatrician before she attended Emory University. However, a science program in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools she participated in as a sophomore changed her life. “It was just this perfect mesh of my love of science and my love of interacting with other people,” Adams recalled of the program. “I was hooked, so I changed my career path because of that.” More than a decade later, that decision has paid off. Adams, 31, a Walker School teacher, was recently selected as one of Georgia’s three finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. The award is the highest recognition that a math or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Adams has taught at Walker for six years and has served as chair of the Upper School’s science department for three years. She teaches biology, genetics and epidemiology. The PAEMST winner from Georgia will be announced this spring. All the winners from each state receive a citation from the president, $10,000, and are invited next year to receptions, workshops and meetings with officials in Washington. The National Science Foundation administers the PAEMST on behalf of the White House. Since 1983, more than 4,000 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to mathematics and science education. To be eligible, teachers must teach math or science as a full-time school employee in the United States, have at least five years of

Staff/Laura Moon

The Walker School’s Emily Adams is one of three Georgia finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. The award is the highest recognition that a math or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the nation. full-time teaching experience and have a bachelor’s degree. Walker physics teacher Sandy Rhoades, who won the award in 1990 for Georgia, nominated Adams, who then submitted letters of recommendation, samples of students’ work, a video of herself teaching and a 20-page essay on her teaching philosophy.

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“My philosophy is that if I can make science relevant to my students’ lives and engage them as human beings who are a part of a learning community with me — so they see me learning too — then they almost always will catch the bug,” Adams said. “They’ll be interested and willing to be challenged and pushed because they see

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EDUCATION

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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SPSU on the move

Expansion projects driven by increasing enrollment

By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

Above: Southern Polytechnic State University President Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher was joined by Barry Compton, vice president of H.J. Russell and Company, the design build contractor, at the ribbon-cutting for the new five-level parking deck on campus last fall. Right: From left, Southern Polytechnic State University resident assistant Anjli Patel, Dr. Rossbacher and student government association president Andy Coen shovel the ceremonial dirt to mark the construction of the new residential village. The village will be able to accommodate 720 students with several houses and a dining facility.

8 new research centers being opened By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Southern Polytechnic State University is opening eight new research centers. Each center will be involved in applied research, consulting, testing or certification services, and professional development or continuing education. “Establishing research centers allows faculty to work together on projects of mutual interest in areas that support the university’s mission and promote interdisciplinary approaches to solving problems that will benefit the citizens and industries in Georgia,” said Dr. Mir Atiqullah, an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Technology department. “Southern Polytechnic Applied Research Center will support these centers in lots of logistical ways, including helping to identify opportuni-

ties, developing proposals and administrating grants and contracts upon award.” Some of the centers will be located in existing academic buildings on campus and others will be in the new Engineering Technology Center building that is under construction, according to SPSU. The Biometrics Recognition Research Center will evaluate and develop facial recognition commercial products and conduct facial recognition research for innovative products. The Center for Information Security Education will develop new information security curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and conduct research and development in information assurance and security. The Center for Nuclear Power Generation will seek to establish SPSU as a leader in nuclear power generation professional education by enabling students and other

participants to be trained and certified in industry regulatory codes and standards. The SPSU eGov Center will conduct research on electronic government processes, services and technology. The Georgia Pavement Research Center is a nationally recognized pavement research program to provide educational and training courses to lab technicians and engineers. The Supply Chain Risk Management Center will blend applied operations research, technology research, education, student involvement and industry participation. The Usability Center is intended to help institutions gain the edge they need to identify how to better design products with a user-centered, task oriented design focus. The Alternative Energy Center will conduct research, engage in educational outreach programs and promote

good practices in energy conversion, storage and delivery. University officials have also proposed three more centers: the Center for Applied Media and Gaming Arts; the Visualization and Simulation Research Center; and the Center for Advanced Materials Research and Education.

MARIETTA — Evidence of Southern Polytechnic State University’s expansion can be seen everywhere — from the number of new degree programs added (13 since 2006) to the $100 million-plus of construction of new academic, housing and dining facilities either recently completed or currently in progress. But what spurred all of the building is the continued increase in enrollment SPSU has seen over the past few years. There has been a record 36 percent enrollment increase between 2005 and 2009. There are 5,021 students currently enrolled for the spring semester. “Multiple factors have contributed to Southern Polytechnic State University’s remarkable growth over the last few years,” said President Lisa Rossbacher. “We have added a number of attractive new programs, including accounting, chemistry, psychology, political science, and evening programs in mechanical, civil, end electrical engineering. We are doing a better job of marketing the majors we already have. We are working harder to support student success, which increases the retention of current students.” New academic buildings under construction will accommodate the many new academic majors, including civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. SPSU has added 863 extra parking spaces to campus, thanks to a brand-new fivelevel parking deck. Last year, the Student Government Association approved a $75 increase to the student transportation fee to help cover the cost of construction. Because the fee is mandatory, students will not incur additional costs to park; however, staff and faculty who wish to park there will be required to pay. The start of the 2009-10 academic year saw enrollment soar above 5,000 for the

‘We have added a number of attractive new programs, including accounting, chemistry, psychology, political science, and evening programs in mechanical, civil, end electrical engineering. We are doing a better job of marketing the majors we already have. We are working harder to support student success, which increases the retention of current students.’ Dr. Lisa Rossbacher, SPSU president first time in SPSU’s history. With that surge came an influx of some of the most talented students in the state. A recent report from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia showed that of the 35 public colleges and universities in the system, SPSU ranked fourth for highest average SAT scores of incoming freshmen and second for largest increase in scores. More than 900 freshmen enrolled at SPSU last fall, bring student totals to 5,177. SAT scores averaged 1131, a 19-point increase from 2008. Last year, the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents approved a plan to construct new suite-style and special interest student housing on campus. The groundbreaking ceremony in midSeptember marked the beginning of construction for the Hornet Residential Village. The new residences, containing approximately 720 beds, will increase the capacity of on-campus housing to 1,883 total beds.

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Booming growth Chattahoochee Tech enrollment rises by 27% Enrollment in online classes has also surged. “More and more students are receivMARIETTA — Enrollment at the ing the same quality, focused instrucnewly merged Chattahoochee Technition via the convenience of online cal College continues to boom under courses that they can take at anytime, the leadership of President Dr. Sanday or night, that best fits in with their ford Chandler. busy lifestyles,” said Dr. Scott Rule, Officials reported in January an vice president of student affairs. Dr. Sanford enrollment of 11,365 for the 2010 Chattahoochee, North Metro and Chandler winter quarter. That is a 27.3 percent Appalachian technical colleges merged increase over winter quarter 2009. During the on July 1, 2009, under the name of Chattasame quarter last year, each campus reported hoochee Technical College. The merger a total of 8,931. makes the college the largest technical college Individual campus enrollment numbers in the state of Georgia. also continue to climb, with the Woodstock Chattahoochee Technical College is and Appalachian campuses experiencing the See Booming, Page 11DD greatest percentage increases. By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

Staff/Thinh D. Nguyen

Marietta Charter School Principal Christy Tureta says charter schools remain less bureaucratic than city schools and have more parent involvement.

changing

MISCONCEPTIONS Marietta principal wants to get word out that charter schools have more autonomy, score high on tests and get parents more involved

By Marcus E. Howard mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA – Christy Tureta loves her job as principal of Marietta Charter School. When she walks down the hallways of the school on Wright Street, just west of Powder Springs Street, students enthusiastically greet her and she, in turn, warmly greets them by their first names. A Maryland native and Kennesaw State University graduate, Tureta spent much of her time in education as a first- and second-grade teacher. Since becoming principal in August 2007, Tureta has worked to change misconceptions about the charter school and improve its publicity. “We started talking with parents about what we expect and hope to improve on, because our math scores, to be honest, weren’t as strong as our reading,” Tureta said. “We have exceeded state district reading scores. We received two state superintendent awards two years ago and the governor’s award this year.” In March 2009, Tureta announced that Marietta Charter School had earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, a division of AdvancED. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s standards, be evaluated by a team of outside professionals, and implement a continuous process of school improvement. Charter schools receive state funding but have more autonomy than mainstream public schools. Established four years ago, Marietta Charter School now enrolls 185 students, from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school’s capacity is around 350 students. All students are required to live in the city of Marietta, and they wear uniforms. There is no tuition. “We offer everything that a public school offers — that is, of course federally and state mandated — it’s just that we have a smaller community feel,” Tureta said. Marietta Charter School receives the majority of its funding from the state. Its annual budget is around $1.8 million, Tureta said. “I’m the principal and CEO of this school, but my teachers get involved when we have to balance the budget and spend money. It’s not just me,” she said. Marietta Charter School is operated by Arlington, Va.based Imagine Schools, a national nonprofit company. Imagine also operates Imagine

‘Parents, I think, still have a stronger voice when they come here because they can be just a little bit more involved on many levels.’ — Christy Tureta, Marietta Charter School principal International Academy of Mableton, Imagine International Academy of Smyrna and Kennesaw Charter School, all of which are in the Cobb County School District. According to Imagine, it operates 74 public charter schools in 12 states and the District of Columbia, serving about 36,000 students. Marietta City Schools were among the first charter districts in Georgia and one of only a handful of other charter districts across the nation. The Georgia Board of Education approved Marietta’s charter-system petition in June 2008. District leaders believed the charter status would give them more flexibility in class sizes and in the number of hours students must spend behind a desk, among other things. Previously, Marietta Charter School and Sawyer Road Elementary were the city’s only charter schools. So what makes a charter school within a charter dis-

trict different? Tureta says Marietta Charter School remains less bureaucratic compared to Marietta City Schools. “We still have what we call local control,” she said. “As a charter district, there is still the superintendent, district offices and all of the hierarchy that goes with a school district. So yes, it’s a charter district, but there’s still all the district offices, people and personnel.” In addition, Tureta said parents have more say at Marietta Charter School in how the school is run. She said parents are encouraged to add their imput in everything from policy matters to charter renewals. “Parents, I think, still have a stronger voice when they come here because they can be just a little bit more involved on many levels,” she said. “We have a few schools in See Charter, Page 11DD

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3 37

29 10

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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Middle and high schools

Elementary schools

Cobb/Marietta elementary schools 1. A.L. Burruss Elementary 325 Manning Road Marietta, 30064 Phone: (770) 429-3144 2. Dunleith Elementary 120 Saine Drive Marietta, 30008 Phone: (770) 429-3190 3. Hickory Hills Elementary 500 Redwood Drive SW Marietta, 30064 Phone: (770) 429-3125 4. Lockheed Elementary 1205 Merritt Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 429-3196

5. .Marietta Center for Advanced Academics 311 Aviation Road Marietta, 30060 (770) 420-0822 6. Park Street Elementary 105 Park Street SE Marietta, 30060 Phone: (770) 429-3180 7. Sawyer Road Elementary 840 Sawyer Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 429-9923

8. West Side Elementary 344 Polk Street NW Marietta, 30064 Phone: (770) 429-3172

12. Argyle Elementary 2420 Spring Road Smyrna, 30080 Phone: (678) 842-6800

9. Marietta Charter School 368 Wright Street Marietta, 30064 Phone: (770) 590-4430

13. Austell Intermediate 5243 Meadows Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (770) 819-2387

10. Acworth Elementary 4220 Cantrell Road Acworth, 30101 Phone (770) 975-6600

14. Austell Primary 5600 Mulberry Street Austell, 30106 Phone: (770) 819-5804

11. Addison Elementary 3055 Ebenezer Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 578-2700

15. Baker Elementary 2361 Baker Road, NW Acworth, 30101 Phone: (770) 975-6629

16. Bells Ferry Elementary 2600 Bells Ferry Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (678) 594-8950

19. Birney Elementary 775 Smyrna-Powder Springs St. Marietta, 30060 Phone: (678) 842-6824

17. Belmont Hills Elementary 605 Glendale Place Smyrna, 30080 Phone: (678) 842-6810

20. Blackwell Elementary 3470 Canton Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (678) 494-7600

18. Big Shanty Elementary 1575 Ben King Road Kennesaw, 30144 Phone: (678) 594-8023

21. Brown Elementary 3265 Brown Road Smyrna, 30080 Phone: (678) 842-6838

Continued on Page 9DD

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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Cobb/Marietta Elementary schools 22. Brumby Elementary 1306 Powers Ferry Road Marietta, 30067 Phone: (770) 916-7070

34. Eastvalley Elementary 2570 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, 30067 Phone: (770) 578-7214

46. Kemp Elementary 865 Corner Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (678) 594-8158

58. Murdock Elementary 2320 Murdock Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 509-5071

23. Bryant Primary and Intermediate 6800 Factory Shoals Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2402

35. Fair Oaks Elementary 407 Barber Road Marietta, 30060 Phone: (678) 594-8080

47. Kennesaw Charter School 1370 Lockhart Drive Kennesaw, 30144 Phone: (678) 290-9628

59. Nicholson Elementary 1599 Shallowford Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 928-5573

48. Kennesaw Elementary 3155 Jiles Road Kennesaw, 30144 Phone: (678) 594-8172

60. Nickajack Elementary 4555 Mavell Road SE Smyrna, 30082 Phone: (678) 842-5814

49. Kincaid Elementary 1410 Kincaid Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 578-7238

61. Norton Park 3041 Gray Road Smyrna, 30082 Phone: (678) 842-5833

50. King Springs Elementary 1041 Reed Road Smyrna, 30082 Phone: (678) 842-6944

62. Pickettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mill Elementary 6400 Old Stilesboro Road Acworth, 30101 Phone: (770) 975-6673

51. LaBelle Elementary 230 Cresson Drive Marietta, 30060 Phone: (678) 842-6955

63. Pitner Elementary 4575 Wade Green Road Acworth, 30101 Phone: (678) 594-8320

52. Lewis Elementary 4179 Jim Owens Road Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (770) 975-6673

64. Powder Springs Elementary 4570 Grady Grier Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (770) 222-3746

53. Mableton Elementary 5220 Church Street Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2513

65. Powers Ferry Elementary 403 Powers Ferry Road Marietta, 30067 Phone: (770) 578-7936

54. McCall Elementary 4496 Dixie Avenue Acworth, 30101 Phone: (770) 975-6775

66. Riverside Intermediate 285 South Gordon Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2553

55. Milford Elementary 2390 Austell Road Marietta, 30008 Phone: (678) 842-6966

67. Riverside Primary 461 South Gordon Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-5851

56. Mount Bethel Elementary 1210 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, 30068 Phone: (770) 578-7248

68. Rocky Mount Elementary 2400 Rocky Mountain Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 591-5050

57. Mountain View Elementary 3448 Sandy Plains Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 578-7265

69. Russell Elementary 3920 South Hurt Road Smyrna, 30082 Phone: (770) 437-5937

24. Bullard Elementary 3656 Old Stilesboro Road Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (678) 594-8720 25. Chalker Elementary 325 North Booth Road Kennesaw, 30144 Phone: (678) 494-7621 26. Cheatham Hill Elementary 1350 John Ward Road SW Marietta, 30064 Phone: (678) 594-8034 27. Clarkdale Elementary 4455 Wesley Drive Austell, 30106 Phone: (770) 819-2422 28. Clay Elementary 730 Boggs Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2430 29. Compton Elementary 3450 New Macland Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (770) 222-3700 30. Davis Elementary 2433 Jamerson Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (678) 494-7636 31. Dowell Elementary 2121 West Sandtown Road Marietta, 30064 Phone: (678) 594-8059

36. Ford Elementary 1345 Mars Hill Road Acworth, 30101 Phone: (678) 594-8092 37. Frey Elementary 2865 Mars Hill Road Acworth, 30101 Phone: (770) 975-6655 38. Garrison Mill Elementary 4111 Wesley Chapel Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 642-5600 39. Green Acres Elementary 2000 Gober Avenue Smyrna, 30080 Phone: (678) 842-6905 40. Harmony Leland Elementary 5891 Dodgen Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2483 41. Hayes Elementary 1501 Kennesaw-Due West Rd. Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (678) 594-8127 42. Hollydale Elementary 2901 Bayberry Drive Marietta, 30008 Phone: (678) 594-8143 43. Imagine International Academy Of Mableton (K-8) 6688 Mableton Parkway Mableton, 30126 678-384-8920

32. Due West Elementary 3900 Due West Road Marietta, 30064 Phone: (678) 594-8071

44. Imagine International Academy Of Smyrna (K-8) 4451 South Atlanta Road, Suite 200 Smyrna, 30080 678-370-0980

33. East Side Elementary 3850 Roswell Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 578-7200

45. Keheley Elementary 1985 Kemp Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (678) 494-7836

70. Sanders Primary and Intermediate 1550 Anderson Mill Road SW Austell, 30106 Phone: (770) 819-2568 71. Sedalia Park Elementary 2230 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, 30067 Phone: (770) 509-5162 72. Shallowford Falls Elementary 3529 Lassiter Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 642-5610 73. Sky View Elementary 5805 Dunn Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2584 74. Sope Creek Elementary 3320 Paper Mill Road Marietta, 30067 Phone: (770) 916-7085 75. Still Elementary 870 Casteel Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (678) 594-8287 76. Teasley Elementary 3640 Spring Hill Road Smyrna, 30080 Phone: (770) 437-5945 77. Timber Ridge Elementary 5000 Timber Ridge Road Marietta, 30068 Phone: (770) 642-5621 78. Tritt Elementary 4435 Post Oak Tritt Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 642-5630 79. Varner Elementary 4761 Gaydon Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (770) 222-3775 80. Vaughan Elementary 5950 Nichols Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (678) 594-8298

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MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Cobb/Marietta middle and high schools 1. Mara Sixth Grade Academy 340 Aviation Road Southeast Marietta, 30060 Phone: (770) 429-3115

12. Floyd Middle School 4803 Floyd Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2453

22. McClure Middle School 3660 Old Stilesboro Road Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (678) 331-8131

33. Kell High School 4770 Lee Waters Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (678) 494-7844

2. Marietta Middle Schooliett 121 Winn Street Northwest Marietta, 30064 Phone: (770) 422-0311

13. Garrett Middle School 5235 Austell-Powder Springs Rd., Austell, 30106 Phone: (770) 819-2466

23. Palmer Middle School 690 North Booth Road Kennesaw, 30144 Phone: (770) 591-5020

34. Kennesaw Mountain High School 1898 Kennesaw-Due West Road Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (678) 594-8190

3. Awtrey Middle School 3601 Nowlin Road Kennesaw, 30144 Phone: (770) 975-6615

14. Griffin Middle School 4010 King Springs Road Smyrna, 30082 Phone: (678) 842-6917

24. Pine Mountain Middle School 2720 Pine Mountain Circle Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (678) 594-8252

35. Lassiter High School 2601 Shallowford Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (678) 494-7863

25. Simpson Middle School 3340 Trickum Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 971-4711

36. McEachern High School 2400 New Macland Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (770) 222-3710

26. Smitha Middle School 2025 Powder Springs Road Marietta, 30064 Phone: (678) 594-8267

37. North Cobb High School 3400 Highway 293 North Kennesaw, 30144 Phone: (770) 975-6685

27. Tapp Middle School 3900 Macedonia Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (770) 222-3758

38. Osborne High School 2451 Favor Road Marietta, 30060 Phone: (770) 437-5900

28. Marietta High School 1171 Whitlock Ave. Marietta, 30064 Phone: (770) 428-2631

39. Pebblebrook High School 991 Old Alabama Road Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2521

29. Allatoona High School 3300 Dallas-Acworth Highway Acworth, 30101 Phone: (770) 529-7743

40. Pope High School 3001 Hembree Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 578-7900

19. Lovinggood Middle School 3825 Luther Ward Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (678) 331-3015

30. Campbell High School 5265 Ward Street Smyrna, 30080 Phone: (678) 842-6850

41. South Cobb High School 1920 Clay Road Austell, 30106 Phone: (770) 819-2611

10. Durham Middle School 2891 Mars Hill Road Northwest Acworth, 30101 Phone: (770) 975-6641

20. Mabry Middle School 2700 Jims Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 928-5546

31. Harrison High School 4500 Due West Road Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (678) 594-8104

42. Sprayberry High School 2525 Sandy Plains Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 578-3200

11. East Cobb Middle School 380 Holt Road Marietta, 30068 Phone: (770) 578-2740

21. McCleskey Middle School 4080 Maybreeze Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (770) 928-5560

32. Hillgrove High School 4165 Luther Ward Road Powder Springs, 30127 Phone: (678) 331-3961

43. Walton High School 1590 Bill Murdock Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 578-3225

4. Barber Middle School 4222 Cantrell Road Acworth, 30101 Phone: (770) 975-6764 5. Campbell Middle School 3295 South Atlanta Road Smyrna, 30080 Phone: (678) 842-6873 6. Cooper Middle School 4605 Ewing Road Austell, 30106 Phone: (770)819-2438 7. Daniell Middle School 2900 Scott Road Marietta, 30066 Phone: (678) 594-8048 8. Dickerson Middle School 855 Woodlawn Drive Marietta, 30068 Phone: (770) 578-2710 9. Dodgen Middle School 1725 Bill Murdock Rd. Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 578-2726

15. Hightower Trail Middle School 3905 Post Oak Tritt Road Marietta, 30062 Phone: (770) 578-7225 16. Lindley Sixth Grade Academy 1550 Pebblebrook Circle Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2496 17. Lindley Middle School 50 Veterans Memorial Highway Mableton, 30126 Phone: (770) 819-2496 18. Lost Mountain Middle School 700 Old Mountain Road Kennesaw, 30152 Phone: (678) 594-8224

44. Wheeler High School 375 Holt Road Marietta, 30068 Phone: (770) 578-3266

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EDUCATION

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

Booming Continued from Page 7DD making history by being the first institution to educate U.S. Army Reserve personnel outside the Corp, according to college officials. CTC has been contracted by the U.S. Army to instruct students in computer networking technologies. The 15-week, 14 course program is comprised of instruction in three technical certificate programs. In addition, students will receive training in network security technology. “Chattahoochee Technical College is pleased to be working with the U.S. Army Reserve in training future Information Specialists,” said Sanford Chandler, president of Chattahoochee Tech. “No other educational institution we know of has been authorized by the Army to conduct training of this program.” The class, which began Feb. 8, is comprised of 20 U.S. Army Reserve personnel. Upon completion, they will receive college credit from CTC for the three technical certificate programs. Since Feb. 1, CTC has officially entered the world of social media. The school now has a presence on Facebook, Twitter and through blogs via WordPress. “This form of communication is another avenue for our students to

Energy Continued from Page 3DD was expected to pay off all but $500,000 of the system’s $34 million debt, he said. “Next year’s going to be a challenge, no doubt about it,” Weiner said. But for this 1985 graduate of Marietta High School, a tough budget time does not mean taking his eyes off academic achievement. The district must continue to make adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind this year as it did last year, even though the bar is being raised in math by 8.1 percent. Increasing the number of students who exceed standards on the Criterion Referenced Competency Test is another goal. Marietta saw across-the-board increases on the math and reading CRCTs in grades

become further connected to our college and to each other,” said Cheryl Forrester, director of print and social media. Recently, CTC received a $20,000 grant to develop curriculum for a student retention and success project funded by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and managed by the American Association of Community Colleges. The year-long grant project, “Make It Personal: College Completion,” addresses the impact of teen and unplanned pregnancy on individuals, families and society. According to the campaign, unplanned pregnancy remains a serious problem for older teens and women in their 20s and is a major reason for high college dropout rates. Dr. Sean Brumfield, instructor of English and humanities and faculty director of service learning, will lead the CTC project with assistance from faculty in English, speech and sociology. Hennepin Technical College in Minnesota and Mesa Community College in Arizona join Chattahoochee Tech as project participants. In 2011, the three grant winners will share materials and teaching strategies with community colleges across the nation. If you happen to stop by for a visit at the CTC’s South Cobb campus in Austell, you’ll notice the surroundings have a medical theme as you tour the classrooms and labs these days.

one to eight last year. Second-grade math scores, for instance, rose from 19 percent of students exceeding standards to 46 percent, he said. “We saw a big increase last year, and we want to continue that,” he said. Another goal is to increase the system’s graduation rate from 83.7 percent to 87 percent. Weiner believes such an increase is achievable, given that the system’s graduation rate six years ago was at 64 percent. The Performance Learning Center, a program for students to recover academic credits, has helped raise the graduation rate. Becoming one of the first charter systems in Georgia in 2008 has made a positive difference for Marietta City Schools, Weiner said. Charter status has increased the system’s flexibility while raising its accountability. Before going to a charter system, Marietta was financially penalized by $122,000 for

PAGE 11DD

The campus has undergone various renovations to the existing space and now provides a home to some of the health science programs. Over 100 South Cobb Campus students are currently enrolled in various medical classes this winter quarter, which kicked off on Jan. 4. Spring classes are scheduled to begin March 31. The associate degree nursing program started its inaugural class of 25 students this winter quarter. The program provides a strong foundation in the practice of nursing and prepares students to function safely within the framework of the registered nurse role. The certified nursing assistant program will begin in the spring quarter, as well as practical nursing and medical assisting starting in the fall. Several years ago, CTC added sports to provide a more comprehensive campus life for students. The cross-country team placed 12th in the country at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s half marathon championships in November. Several runners have moved on to compete at four-year colleges and universities. The college’s men’s basketball was added this year and the team has claimed the regular season title in the Technical College System of Georgia Athletic Association and will be the number one seed in the conference tournament in Chattanooga.

breaking out the Sixth Grade Academy from the rest of Marietta Middle School. Its charter status has allowed it to receive that funding again. Weiner also believes parents have more say over what goes on at a school through the school governance teams. School governance teams set their own dress codes, have input over the school budget, and work on the school’s academic improvement plan. Changing a less than positive community perception of Marietta Sixth Grade Academy and Marietta Middle School is another goal of Weiner’s. “People have a negative perception and it’s starting to change,” he said, attributing it to the age of the students. “Discipline is down at all of our schools. We’re tracking repeat offenders. We have Ombudsman (an alternative education program) for those who can’t deal in regular class-

Charter Continued from Page 7DD the district that are on the smaller end and many that are on the high-end: 700 or 800 (students). Even past 500, that gets a little daunting. You don’t want a child to get lost,” she said. Julie Stanton of Marietta, agreed that parents have a major voice at Marietta Charter School. Her daughter, Amy, is in the fourth grade there. “I can help the classroom, this is my third year on school council, and you just have the opportunity to be so much more involved than you would in a public school,” said Stanton, 48. Beth Taylor, 44, of Marietta, has children in the second and fourth grades at Marietta Charter School. She said the small class sizes and its cluster system drew her to the school. “They have stations in the classrooms. Instead of having a traditional method of the teacher standing in front of the classroom, lecturing to the kids as a whole, they do a variety of things,” Taylor said. “One station might be working as a group with other classmates, one might be one-on-one with the teacher, and one might be (alone) on the computer.” Every successful school must balance achievement in several areas, according to Marietta Charter School. Those areas are shared values, parent choice, academic achievement and positive character development. Sharon Shearod teaches kindergarten at the school, and is the school’s teacher of the year for 2009-10. Shearod said the flexibility in classroom instruction has enabled her to make a difference in her students’ achievements. “If everyone else is using everyday math, but everyday math is not working for my class, I can go do something else,” Shearod said. “I can go out of the box.”

es. There are great things going on at those two schools,” he said. When it comes to when the first day of school should start, Weiner would rather it start in mid-August. In December, the board voted 7-0 to approve a 2010-11 school calendar that begins school on Aug. 12, even though a number of teachers wanted to start on Aug. 2. “If I don’t think students will be well served by starting in early August, I can’t in good conscience start school then,” he said. The new board chairman sends out a newsletter to his constituents and walks the neighborhoods in his Ward 3. Although a number of his constituents don’t have children in the school system, he wants them to be informed of what goes on. Weiner expects the superintendent to be accessible to the community and media and said Lembeck is doing an excellent job. “Anything we ask, she gets back

with us. I think the community loves her. I don’t hear many negative things about her,” he said. Weiner represents the school system by also serving on the city’s Marietta Redevelopment Corporation. He hailed the City Council’s recent decision to purchase the 200unit Preston Chase apartment complex on Franklin Road near Delk Road, in order to bulldoze the complex and create a 13.2-acre public park. Of the 7,800 students in Marietta City Schools, 1,143 live on the dilapidated Franklin Road. Marietta, which employs about 600 teachers, has a student demographic breakdown that is 44.9 percent black, 29.9 percent Hispanic, 19.2 percent white, with the remainder a mix of American Indian, Asian and multiracial. The system holds about $14 million in reserve funds, which equates to about two months of operating expenses.

PAGE 12DD

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

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