MDJ Script/ Top Stories for October 1st  Publish Date:  October 1st    Commercial:   From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.      Today is Wednesday, October 1st and Happy Birthday to     I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal  KSU biology student gets hands-on experience in Guatemala clinic Macabre Victorian Funeral Experience returns to Root House Museum Graduation rates increase across state, including Cobb, Marietta   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 5  STORY 1:  KSU biology student gets hands-on experience in Guatemala clinic    Like a lot of college students, Kennesaw State junior David Roque spent his summer in the tropics. But beaches and ziplining? Not exactly. Instead, he was back in his hometown of Poptun, Guatemala, working at his dad’s medical clinic—his second summer doing so.  David wore a lot of hats: checking in patients, translating, assisting with surgeries.   Poptun, tucked in Guatemala’s northern Peten region, is remote—thick forests, few medical facilities. Patients travel miles for care, and David’s bilingual skills made him indispensable. Between shifts, he even managed to take a cell biology course remotely.  Medicine runs in his blood. His grandfather was a doctor in Cuba, his dad runs the clinic, his mom’s a nurse, and his sister’s about to graduate med school.   At KSU, David’s passion for medicine expanded into research. Through the First-Year Scholars program, he joined a project on radiation therapy for cancer patients, earning two publications in his first year.   David’s work has taken him to conferences at Georgia Tech, the State Capitol, and even Pennsylvania. He’s now drafting a proposal for his own cancer research project, blending his love for medicine and discovery.  STORY 2: Macabre Victorian Funeral Experience returns to Root House Museum   This October, the William Root House takes a step back in time—into the somber world of a Victorian-era funeral.  In 1856, Hannah and William Root shared their home with family, including Hannah’s father, Leonard Simpson, who passed away on Oct. 11 of that year. To honor his memory, the house is now staged as it would’ve been after his death: curtains drawn, black crepe draped over furniture, and mourning ribbons everywhere.  Visitors can explore artifacts like 19th-century embalming tools, mourning jewelry made from human hair (yes, really), and other eerie relics of Victorian death customs. Daytime tours are included with regular admission.  For those craving something darker, two after-hours events are on the calendar.  Midnight Wake (Oct. 11, 11 p.m.–midnight): A candlelit VIP tour dives into embalming practices of the 1800s, ending with a haunting recital of a death poem written by Leonard Simpson himself. Tickets are $50, limited to 13 guests, and for ages 12+.  Victorian Funeral Flashlight Tours (Oct. 25, 5–9 p.m.): Wander the house at your own pace, flashlight in hand, through dimly lit rooms. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.  Details at RootHouseMuseum.com/Funeral.    STORY 3: Graduation rates increase across state, including Cobb, Marietta   Graduation rates are climbing, and 2025 was a record-breaking year for Marietta, Cobb, and Georgia as a whole.  Marietta High hit 92.2%, its highest since Georgia adopted the adjusted cohort method in 2011. Cobb County wasn’t far behind, with an 89.2% rate—its best ever. Statewide, Georgia’s seniors reached 87.2%, another all-time high.  Cobb’s Superintendent Chris Ragsdale credited a decade of steady growth, with schools like South Cobb making huge leaps (up 9.5 points to 87.9%). Meanwhile, Marietta Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera praised the “shared commitment” of teachers, families, and students.    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 5    STORY 4: UPDATE: Ted’s Montana Grill to fill 'Goldstein Gap' on Marietta Square   After years of sitting empty, the infamous “Goldstein Gap” on Marietta Square is finally getting a new tenant—a Ted’s Montana Grill. The Marietta Historic Board of Review gave the project a unanimous thumbs-up, approving plans for a single-story restaurant designed to blend seamlessly with the Square’s historic charm.  The lot at 77 North Park Square, owned by former Councilman Philip Goldstein’s family, has been vacant since 2010, when the Cuthbertson building was demolished. Past proposals, including a brewery and a five-story building, fizzled out.  The new 4,311-square-foot building will feature a brick façade, mahogany trim, and a design that mimics a two-story structure to match its neighbors. Ted’s Montana Grill, founded by Ted Turner, will bring its signature American and Western-style menu to the space—finally filling a long-standing gap in the Square’s landscape.    STORY 5:    Multiple businesses close after east Cobb shopping center fire  A fire at the Village East Cobb shopping center has left nearly every business there shuttered, at least for now.  Bookmiser, the beloved indie bookstore, is among the hardest hit. Co-owner Annell Gerson said the shop is closed “until further notice” after smoke and soot from Sunday’s early morning fire damaged much of their inventory.   The fire started in the back room of Owl Repair, a phone repair shop next door, likely from a lithium-ion battery, though the cause is still under investigation. Firefighters contained the flames, but smoke spread through the building’s shared attic, leaving damage in every business.  Chop Stix China Bistro owner Lyn Lin said they’ll be closed “at least a week” to deep clean and toss all food.   Bookmiser is working to salvage what they can, but in the meantime, customers can shop online at bookmiser.net.     Break:     STORY 6: Kemp denies Cobb Election Board's request to amend special election date    Gov. Brian Kemp has denied a request from the Cobb Board of Elections to move the special election for former state Sen. Jason Esteves’ seat to Nov. 4, sticking with the original date of Nov. 18.  Esteves, who resigned Sept. 10 to run for governor, left his District 35 seat—covering parts of Cobb and Fulton—vacant. The elections board argued Nov. 4, already a statewide Election Day, would save money and reduce voter confusion. But Kemp disagreed.  “Convenience isn’t the priority,” Kemp wrote, emphasizing the need for voters and candidates to have more time.  Local leaders, however, aren’t thrilled. Cobb Democratic Chair Essence Johnson called the decision “fiscally irresponsible,” while GOP Chair Mary Clarice Hathaway said it could lead to low turnout.  Early voting starts Oct. 27, with registration closing Oct. 20. If a runoff is needed, it’ll happen Dec. 16—just in time for the holiday chaos.  STORY 7: Autumn happenings  Cobb County’s got fall covered—pumpkins, paint, parades, and just the right amount of spooky. Here’s a taste of what’s happening:  Oct. 10, 6–7:30 p.m.: Paint Your Own Pumpkin Candy Dish at Sewell Mill Library. $28 gets you paint, glaze, and a kiln-fired masterpiece. Register online or call 770-509-4989.  Oct. 14, 3–5 p.m.: Pumpkin Painting at Gritters Library. Bring your own pumpkin. All ages welcome (kids under 8 need an adult).  Oct. 14, 4:30–5:30 p.m.: Pumpkin Drop Challenge at Switzer Library. Ages 8–12. Think egg drop, but with pumpkins.  Oct. 17–18, 6:30–9 p.m.: Trick or Treatment Spooky Tour at R.L. Sutton Water Reclamation Facility. Creepy, educational, and after dark. Registration opens Oct. 1.  Oct. 25, 5–10 p.m.: Free Fall Festival of Fun at Jim R. Miller Park.  Oct. 25–31: Haunted House at Jim R. Miller Park. $5 admission. Pre-registration required.  For even more fall fun, visit cobbcounty.gov.  We’ll have closing comments after this.   Break: INGLES  5    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 www.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. 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