MDJ Script/ Top Stories for August 20th
Publish Date: August 20th
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From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.
Today is Wednesday, August 20th and Happy Birthday to Issac Hayes
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal
1. KMHS drama program wins Disney School of Excellence Award
2. Suspect charged with snatching $5,000 Rolex from Town Center mall jeweler
3. Sheriff’s office recognizes cadets for heroic actions following wreck
All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!
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STORY 1: KMHS drama program wins Disney School of Excellence Award
“Every day, I get to do what I love with some of the most incredible students I could ever ask for,” said Dawn Parker, Kennesaw Mountain High’s Director of Theatre. “Their dedication—on stage and behind the scenes—is unmatched, and any recognition they get is so well-deserved.”
KMHS Drama was just named one of 21 winners in the Disney on Broadway School of Excellence Program, a national honor recognizing creativity, leadership, and student engagement in theatre. Their production of Alice in Wonderland Jr. will showcase not just acting but student-led set design, tech, and choreography.
STORY 2: Suspect charged with snatching $5,000 Rolex from Town Center mall jeweler
Jason Adam Warren, a Lithonia resident, is accused of swiping a $5,000 white gold, diamond-encrusted Rolex DateJust from Shine Jewelers at Town Center mall.
According to the Cobb County Police warrant, Warren walked in on May 22 around 10:40 a.m., chatted with an employee, and asked to see the watch. The moment it was handed over—still in its display box—he bolted. One second he’s admiring it, the next he’s gone, leaving the employee shouting behind the counter, unable to chase him.
Warren faces a robbery snatch charge, though, as of now, he’s not listed in jail records.
STORY 3: Sheriff’s office recognizes cadets for heroic actions following wreck
Two Cobb County public safety cadets didn’t hesitate when they saw a crash unfold on Macland Road on Aug. 2.
Cadet Capt. Aiden Decastro, a Georgia Cyber Academy student, and Field Training Officer Cadet Alexander Rodas, from McEachern High, were heading home from dinner at Marietta Diner when they spotted the wreck.
An infant car seat lay in the middle of the intersection. Decastro called 911, moved people away from an oil spill, and cradled the crying baby. Rodas comforted an injured passenger, helping her stay calm.
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We’ll be right back.
Break: COBB INT. FESTIVAL
STORY 4: Residents clash over fairness, transparency at Cobb elections meeting
Monday’s Cobb Board of Elections meeting was packed—standing room only. The crowd? A mix of praise, frustration, and plenty of opinions about last month’s officer elections and new board appointments.
Here’s the gist: the board elected a new chair and vice chair in a 3-1-1 vote, sparking debate. Debbie Fisher, a GOP appointee, called it “unfair,” while outgoing chair Tori Silas abstained. Jennifer Mosbacher, a Democrat appointee, now leads as chair, with Stacy Efrat as vice chair.
Fisher proposed a bylaw amendment to prevent future mid-transition elections, but the board tabled it—unanimously—for next month. The tension? Palpable.
STORY 5: Cobb jail inmate caught with synthetic drug hidden in book, authorities say
Joseph George Cruz, 30, of Marietta, is facing some serious charges after allegedly sneaking synthetic drugs into the Cobb County Jail. According to a warrant, Cruz had just been transported back from Fulton County Jail on Aug. 27 when officers found the drugs—hidden in a book he brought with him.
Field tests confirmed it was K2, a synthetic drug. Cruz reportedly told authorities the stash was worth $10,000 and that he planned to sell it to inmates in his dorm.
He’s now charged with multiple felonies and remains in custody without bond, with a detainer hold in place.
Break:
STORY 6: Cobb County property tax bills issued, due by Oct. 15
Cobb Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson announced that property tax bills for 2025 are officially out, following approval of the county’s tax digest by the Georgia Department of Revenue. The deadline? Oct. 15. Payments need to be received—or at least postmarked—by then to avoid late fees.
Jackson gave a shoutout to the teams behind the scenes—Tax Assessors, IT, Finance, and more—for pulling it all together. “Their collaboration made this possible,” she said.
This year’s digest includes 271,757 bills totaling over $1.36 billion.
You can pay online, by phone, mail, or in person. Questions? Email tax@cobbtax.gov or call 770-528-8600.
STORY 7: Austell man accused of illegal dumping
Aries Maliah Jordan, from Austell, is accused of tossing more than 10 pounds of household trash onto the property at Premier Apartments on Premier Lane. It happened around 7 p.m. on Aug. 12, according to a Cobb County Police warrant.
The charge? Illegal dumping.
Details are slim—why there, why then?—but the warrant paints a messy picture. As of now, Jordan doesn’t show up in jail records.
We’ll have closing comments after this.
Break: INGLES 3
Signoff-
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com
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