=====  MDJ Script/ Top Stories for October 17th  Publish Date:  October 17th      Commercial:   From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.      Today is Friday, October 17th and Happy Birthday to Alan Jackson    I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal  Cobb County Sheriff's Office welcomes newest GED graduates ACT scores increase in Cobb, dip in Marietta KSU student arrested after protesting Charlie Kirk memorial   Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on grass fed beef    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:  Cobb County Sheriff's Office welcomes newest GED graduates  The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office hosted its third GED graduation of the year on Oct. 8, right inside the Adult Detention Center. Seven detainees walked away with diplomas in hand—proof that change is possible, even behind bars.  Since the program launched in March 2024, over 30 detainees have earned their GEDs. The ceremony was heartfelt, with speeches from Chief Deputy Rhonda Anderson, Col. Michael Williams, and Dr. Kim Kranzlin of Cobb Adult Education.  The program isn’t easy—four subjects, a minimum score of 145, and 40+ hours of study. But for these seven, it’s a step toward something better.  STORY 2: ACT scores increase in Cobb, dip in Marietta   ACT scores are in, and Cobb County is celebrating its highest average in four years, while Marietta High saw a slight dip. Cobb’s average jumped to 23.7 (up 0.9 points), while Marietta landed at 22.2 (down 0.5). Both still outpaced state (21.4) and national (19.4) averages.  Wheeler High led Cobb with a stellar 28.5 average, even climbing 2.5 points from last year. Meanwhile, Marietta students continued to outperform state and national peers in every subject, despite the slight drop.  “Success takes time,” said Marietta Superintendent Grant Rivera. “Hard work and curiosity drive our students forward.”  Georgia students, for the ninth year, beat the national average.  STORY 3: KSU student arrested after protesting Charlie Kirk memorial   A protest at Kennesaw State University’s memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk ended in chaos Tuesday night, with one student, Luca Compiani, 18, arrested on charges of battery and obstruction.  According to police, Compiani “intentionally” bumped into KSU Police Capt. Timothy Murphy in a “provoking manner” and fled when confronted. Protesters, however, claim the situation was escalated unnecessarily, calling the arrest “a gross abuse of authority.”  The memorial, hosted by Young Americans for Liberty, drew both supporters and protesters. Some shouted chants, others threw ketchup at a flag. Despite the tension, organizers said the event achieved its goal: promoting free speech—even amid dissent.    We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.   We’ll be right back.    Break: Ingles Markets 10  STORY 4: 1,100+ voters cast ballots on Day 1 of early voting   Nearly 1,200 Cobb County voters turned out Monday for the first day of early voting, with Marietta leading the charge. Of the 1,193 ballots cast, 481 came from the Cobb Elections Main Office, while Mableton saw 221 voters at the South Cobb Community Center.  Michael D’Itri, acting director of Cobb Elections, said turnout usually starts strong, dips mid-period, then surges in the final days.  For Marietta voter Chris Danos, 28, the mayoral race is top of mind. “We need better transportation options,” he said.  Meanwhile, Dan and Vicki Rupnow, who moved from Atlanta, love Marietta’s walkability and lighter traffic. “It’s perfect for us,” they said.  STORY 5:  OUT AND ABOUT: 5 things to do this weekend in Cobb County — Oct. 17 - 19  Marietta HarvestFest Marietta Square is the place to be this Saturday for HarvestFest—think scarecrows, costumes, games, and all the fall vibes. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can wander Glover Park, shop the craft show, or dive into a pie-eating contest (messy, but worth it). Oh, and don’t miss the Big Chicken Cornerback’s Coop—a college football watch party. Bring a lawn chair and settle in.  Smyrna Spooky Festival Market Village gets spooky Saturday night, 6–9 p.m., with trick-or-treating, a live DJ spinning Halloween jams, and a free outdoor showing of Hotel Transylvania. Costumes? Highly encouraged.  Witches & Friends Paddle At Cauble Park in Acworth, Halloween hits the water! Decorate your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and join the fun Saturday at 9 a.m. Registration’s $45, and spectators watch for free.  Powder Springs Trunk-or-Treat Thurman Springs Park transforms into a candy wonderland Saturday at 10 a.m. Trick-or-treat, carve pumpkins, and soak up the fall festivities.  Mableton Pumpkin Chase 5K Costumes, candy, and a spooky 5K? The Mableton Pumpkin Chase 5k starts at 8am Saturday. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre hosts this free event where spotting the “orange pumpkin runner” earns you a sweet treat. Proceeds go to the It Starts With Me 2 Foundation.  And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on grass fed beef       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. about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com  Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Produced by the BG Podcast Network     Show Sponsors:  www.ingles-markets.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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