🌱 Cobb County Judge Supports Exit Of UMC Affiliates + Zoning Concerns

Hello, everybody! I'm back with your fresh copy of the East Cobb Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: A p.m. t-storm or two. High: 68 Low: 58.
• Friday: Clouds and sun; pleasant. High: 73 Low: 61.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

Attention music lovers! Don't miss out on The Roswell Music Festival, a one-day, ticketed event on Saturday May 20th. This exciting festival will take place in Historic Downtown Roswell, featuring six amazing bands, tent vendors, and local businesses serving up delicious food and drinks. You won’t want to miss original and tribute bands covering classic rock, soul, funk, country and blues music — including the incredible talents of Southern Avenue (Blues), End of the Line (Allman Brothers), Funk You (Funk, Dance), Frankly Scarlet (Grateful Dead), The Highwaymen Show (Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash), and TROY (Soul, Pop). Tickets are on sale now!

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Here are the top three stories in East Cobb today:

1. A Cobb County judge has ruled that 185 congregations in the United Methodist Church (UMC) should be allowed to vote on whether to leave the denomination, overturning an attempt to block church disaffiliation. The ruling stated that the congregations have the right to seek dismissal from the UMC and that the regional body has a duty to assist them in holding a vote within the boundaries of the UMC Book of Discipline. The UMC has experienced divisions over its stance on sexual ethics, leading to the departure of numerous congregations. (Christian Post)
2. Cobb County has released a Five-Year Strategic Plan outlining future policies and goals till the year 2028. Most recommendations have remained uncontroversial; however, concerns have appeared over land use policies to address exclusionary zoning. Communities throughout the country have expressed concern over exclusionary zoning and how it will affect the quantity and availability of housing options. (East Cobb News)
3. A 60-year-old resident of East Cobb, Donald Terry Welborn Jr., has received an 18-year prison sentence for his guilty plea in a shooting involving police officers and neighbors. Intoxicated at the time, Welborn held a standoff with the SWAT team after firing shots from inside his home. Several bullets struck nearby houses, causing a family to take shelter in a closet for hours. Welborn admitted to multiple charges, including aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm. (Yahoo)

Today and tomorrow in and around East Cobb:

Thursday, May 18:

• Mommy And Me At The Southern Museum, Kennesaw (9:30 AM)

Friday, May 19:

• Marietta Greek Festival At Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Discover your next read or listen with Book Match, a service provided by Cobb County Public Libraries. Answer a quick questionnaire and they will handpick titles that match your interests. Items can conveniently be picked up at West Cobb Library, North Cobb Library, or Kemp Library. (Cobb County Public Library via Facebook)
• The Vinings Library is providing free tutoring services to support students in their studies. Tutoring is available for K-12 Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies, as well as Spanish and Italian. Registration is necessary for all tutoring sessions. (Cobb County Public Library via Facebook)
• The Cobb County Police Department has launched the Connect Cobb camera registry program to enhance community safety. Residents can voluntarily share the locations of their security cameras with the police department, which will contact them if a crime occurs in their neighborhood while ensuring the confidentiality of the information shared. (Patch)

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Featured events:

• Maya Eventov Artist Show : Textures of Nature (May 20)
• Microchip & Vaccination Clinic for Dogs & Cats - Low Cost (May 21)
• Tara Winds Community Band Concert (May 21)
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Featured gigs & services:

• Masonry work (Details)
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You're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.