Cobb aquatic centers offer lifeguard training

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015, 1:10pm

Cobb aquatic centers offer lifeguard training

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Cobb County is offering discounted lifeguard training programs, just in time for summer.

The usual $200 price tag has been reduced to $100. A $65 fee is due at registration, while the additional $35 must be paid directly to the American Red Cross.

The course will train participants in how to be effective lifeguards. It includes two years' certification in lifeguarding, first aid, and CPR/AED.

Classes will be offered at each of Cobb County's four aquatic centers.

Central Aquatic Center (520 Fairground Street, Marietta)

Apr. 13 to May 1
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

May 4 to May 22
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Mountain View Aquatic Center (2650 Gordy Parkway, Marietta)

Apr. 13 to May 6
Monday/Wednesday
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

South Cobb Aquatic Center (875 6 Flags Drive, Austell)

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015, 7:15am

T.MAC raises money for Christopher Sparkman

(WXIA) -- All 22 Atlanta-area T.MAC restaurants will raise money for Christopher Sparkman this week.

Sparkman was working as a security guard at a Kennesaw FedEx facility last April when he was shot in the abdomen. Since the shooting, Sparkman has undergone more than 30 surgeries. His wife Jamie Lynn quit her job to help take care of him.

The Sparkman family faces enormous medical bills; Jamie Lynn has spoken publicly about the need for financial assistance.

T.MAC customers who want to help Sparkman pay for his treatment can do so on Thursday, Apr. 2. Diners can drop their receipts in designated collection boxes; 10 percent of their bills will be donated to the Sparkman family.

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Submitted by 11Alive News Staff

Tuesday, March 31st, 2015, 9:46pm

KENNESAW, Ga. – A giant crane toppled over onto a carport in Kennesaw on Tuesday.

Crews were trying to remove a large part of a tree on Wooten Lake Road when the crane fell over.

No one was injured.

While the official cause has not yet been determined, one heavy equipment operator of 35 years blamed the weather.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, March 31st, 2015, 12:20pm

Piedmont Heart Institute partners with Cleveland Clinic

ATLANTA -- Piedmont Heart Institute has formed an alliance with the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute at the renowned Cleveland Clinic.

The partnership will allow both organizations to raise their standards of cardiovascular care by sharing clinical policies, treatment protocols and research opportunities, according to a Piedmont Healthcare spokesperson.

"Teamwork is the next phase of American medicine. We're finding new ways to combine our strengths for better patient care," Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute chairman Dr. Lars Svensson said in a release. "This alliance will allow us to accelerate advancements in cardiac care."

Piedmont Heart operates 26 clinics across metro Atlanta. Visit piedmont.org for more information.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, March 26th, 2015, 12:01pm

Metro Atlanta unemployment drops to 6.1 percent

(WXIA) -- The Atlanta area's unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in February, down from January's 6.2 percent. It was also down a full point from the rate of 7.1 percent in February 2014.

Cobb County's unemployment rate was 5.4 percent last month.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the drop was due to fewer layoffs and more new jobs. Many of the gains came in business, construction, education, government, and leisure and hospitality.

Nearly 39 percent fewer new claims for unemployment insurance were filed in February as well.

Metro Gainesville had Georgia's lowest February unemployment rate, at 5.1 percent. The Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest, at 8.1 percent.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015, 8:06am

(WXIA) -- A new report offers detailed health statistics for each of Georgia's counties.

The findings, which are posted at countyhealthrankings.org, determined that Forsyth is Georgia's healthiest county. Early is the least healthy.

Cobb is Georgia's 4th healthiest county, according to the data. It ranks 8th for quality of life, 3rd for health behaviors (such as smoking and obesity), 21st for clinical care, 10th for social and economic factors (like graduation rates and violent crimes), and 124th for physical environment.

Here are some interesting takeaways about Cobb County:

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Vote on Cobb Bus Rapid Transit system could be delayed

Submitted by Atlanta Busines... on Monday, March 23rd, 8:57 am

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee -- long a proponent of creating a Bus Rapid Transit system in Cobb -- says his plan to bring Bus Rapid Transit up for a vote in 2016 might not happen.

Lee says he won't move forward on his proposal to create the system without support from commissioners.

County commissioners have had mixed feelings on the bus system.

The system was proposed in 2012 after a study recommended a bus line to run north and south along Cobb Parkway and connect Kennesaw State University and Midtown Atlanta. Lee said earlier this year the proposed bus line could be expanded to include east/west routes.

The expanded version of the BRT is estimated to cost $700 million, up from the original proposal's projected $500 million cost.

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