Expect Good News on Wheeler, Jobs

1. Today should be a prototypical August day in East Cobb, according to the National Weather Service: a lot of sun, a high in the mid-90s and a 30 percent chance of showers popping up in the afternoon. The overnight low will be around 67.

2. over-budget construction bid came through Wednesday’s Cobb County Board of Education meeting unscathed. School board members did not indicate opposition to approving a bid that is . That vote will come Aug. 25. East Cobb Patch will have a full story on the discussion later.

3. Cobb County school bus drivers will be making dry runs Friday in preparation for Monday’s opening day, and kindergartners through second-graders can take that opportunity for a test ride. The kids, along with their parents and siblings, just need to be at their regular bus stop at the regular pickup time for a quick round trip. You can check on your child’s bus schedule here. Meanwhile, the school system is allowing students to bring water bottles onto buses in August and September so the kids can stay hydrated.

4. In even more school news, the Cobb Board of Education endorsed Chairwoman Alison Bartlett’s reapportionment map Wednesday morning and rejected East Cobb member David Banks’ alternative. East Cobb Patch will have a full report today on the board’s shorter-than-normal work session. While the school board was meeting, Gov. Nathan Deal issued a proclamation calling the General Assembly into session Monday at 10 a.m. for a special redistricting session that will cover congressional and legislative districts but not local governments and school districts. Also on the special session’s agenda are the governor’s freeze on the state gas tax and a possible move of next year’s regional transportation SPLOST referendum to November.

5. The governor will visit Marietta for a big economic development announcement at 10 a.m. today. A bioscience company is coming to a site just inside the city limits from East Cobb. The Atlanta Business Chronicle identifies that company as Osmotica Pharmaceutical and says the operation could create nearly 160 jobs in Cobb County. Marietta Patch will be covering the announcement.