===== MDJ Script/ Top Stories for August 8th
Publish Date: August 8th
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From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.
Today is Friday, August 8th and Happy Birthday to Roger Federer
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal
Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on peaches
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!
BREAK: Ingles Markets 10
STORY 1: Charges dropped against man accused in Cobb Walmart kidnapping case
After months of stress, accusations, and uncertainty, Mahendra Patel is finally free. On Wednesday, prosecutors dropped all charges against the Cobb County man, who had been accused of attempting to kidnap a toddler at a north Cobb Walmart back in March.
Patel, who spent 45 days in jail and lost 17 pounds surviving on bread and peanut butter, called the ordeal “a punishment in itself.” His mugshot? Still everywhere. His reputation? Shattered. But now, at least, he can breathe.
Surveillance footage, which Patel’s attorney Ashleigh Merchant said was key to clearing his name, showed Patel briefly interacting with the child’s mother, Caroline Miller, while searching for Tylenol. What prosecutors initially called an attempted kidnapping was, in Patel’s words, “a misunderstanding blown out of proportion.”
A Change.org petition supporting Patel gathered over 92,000 signatures, and even inmates who once threatened him apologized after reading about his case.
STORY 2: Cobb hosts annual night of unity between residents and public safety officials
Badges, block parties, and a whole lot of community spirit filled Jim Miller Park for Cobb County’s National Night Out.
Since 1984, this nationwide event has been all about building bridges between public safety officers and the people they serve. And on Tuesday night? It was all smiles, dunk tanks, and even axe throwing.
Families wandered through booths from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, 911 dispatchers, and more. Kids laughed, parents asked questions, and stuffed K-9 toys were sold to support the real-life furry officers.
For Zanetia Henry, the night was personal. After losing her son Dre to gun violence in 2019, she’s dedicated herself to uniting communities through her nonprofit, Operation Recovery. “Unity takes everyone,” she said, presenting awards to officers who’ve gone above and beyond.
Cobb Police Capt. Jason Best, reflecting on his 28 years of service, said it best: “We usually see people at their worst. Tonight, we get to just talk—no tickets, no arrests. Just people connecting.”
STORY 3: Traffic stop in Austell leads to meth trafficking charges
Jack Randall Roberts, 68, and Justin Daniell Roberts, 30, both from Gay, Georgia, were arrested on July 31 after police allegedly found them with about a kilogram of methamphetamine.
It all went down around 4 p.m. at the intersection of Garrett Road and C.H. James Parkway in Austell. Jack, driving a 2008 Ford Focus, reportedly stopped too far past the stop line—an innocent enough mistake, right? Except during the traffic stop, officers discovered the drugs, according to the warrant.
Both men were booked into the Cobb County jail that evening. No bond. No release. Just a whole lot of trouble.
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Break: COBB INT. FESITVAL
STORY 4: Expect lane closures as Atlanta Gas Light begins major pipeline work
Atlanta Gas Light is gearing up to kick off the Wade Green Road Phase II Pressure Improvement Project this month—a big deal for Cobb and Cherokee counties. The plan? Lay down 5.5 miles of new natural gas pipeline.
Construction crews will be working near Moon Station Road, Baker Road, Woodstock Road, and Highway 92, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Heads up: expect lane closures and some traffic headaches through late 2025, with cleanup stretching into spring 2026.
The city says the project will boost system reliability during high demand and create jobs. Got questions? Check out atlantagaslight.com or email wadegreen@southernco.com.
STORY 5: Community Colleges of Appalachia sign transfer agreement with WGU
Leaders from Community Colleges of Appalachia (CCA) and Western Governors University (WGU) just inked a deal that could be a game-changer for Appalachian students. The agreement lets residents earn WGU’s accredited online degrees and certificates without leaving their hometowns—no uprooting, no long commutes.
CCA, with 85 member colleges from Mississippi to New York (including five in Georgia), is all about serving local communities. This partnership? It’s about making higher education more accessible. Graduates and employees of CCA schools can transfer credits to WGU, skip redundant coursework, and even apply for $3,000 Learn Where You Live Scholarships.
WGU’s flexible, competency-based programs—spanning business, tech, healthcare, and education—are designed for busy lives. Tuition? About $4,000 per six-month term, and students can tackle as many courses as they’re ready for.
For details, check out ccofapp.org or wgu.edu.
And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on peaches
We’ll have closing comments after this.
Break: Ingles Markets 10
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 mdjonline.com
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