Woman Charged with Manslaughter in Death of Six Flags Employee

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for Jan 20th        

Publish Date:  Jan 19th

Commercial: Henssler :15  

From the Henssler Financial Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. 

Today is Saturday, January 20th and Happy 93rd Birthday to astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

***01.20.24 – BIRTHDAY – BUZZ ALDRIN***

I’m Dan Radcliffe and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia. 

Woman Charged with Manslaughter in Death of Six Flags Employee
Acworth Police Name Suspect in Card Theft from Assisted Living Facility
McEachern Basketball Standout JD Palm Has Both Kidneys Removed

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: CU of GA 

STORY 1: Woman Charged with Manslaughter in Death of Six Flags Employee

A 27-year-old Austell woman, Asia Danielle Hendricks, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and six counts of reckless conduct in connection with the October 2023 death of Andrea Crook, a Six Flags employee. Hendricks was allegedly driving a van on the Six Flags Over Georgia grounds with multiple occupants in the rear cargo compartment, including two juveniles, without seatbelts or seats. The van's sliding door was reportedly open. Hendricks is accused of operating the van in a manner that ejected Crook while navigating a left curve, leading to serious head injuries. Crook was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital. Hendricks was released on $27,720 bond.

STORY 2: Acworth Police Name Suspect in Card Theft from Assisted Living Facility

The Acworth Police Department has identified Markinious Katrell Hartfield of New Orleans as the suspect who allegedly used stolen credit and debit cards from an assisted living facility. Hartfield, who presents as female despite being male, is charged with first-degree burglary, credit card forgery, identity theft, and exploiting a disabled or elderly person. He has multiple arrests for similar incidents in other jurisdictions. The stolen cards were used at Walmart, and Hartfield was captured on surveillance cameras. The suspect, not employed by the facility, allegedly entered the business wearing scrubs similar to staff uniforms, checking residents' doors and entering unlocked rooms. Acworth Police suspect additional victims and encourage residents to check financial statements for fraudulent activities.

STORY 3: McEachern Basketball Standout JD Palm Has Both Kidneys Removed

McEachern High School junior center JD Palm is facing a critical situation as he underwent surgery to remove both kidneys due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diagnosed last spring. The 6-foot-10, 210-pound player, once a five-star prospect, urgently needs a kidney donor. Despite the kidney disease diagnosis in 2022, Palm played limited minutes in the 2022-23 season, dealing with constant headaches and high blood pressure. Now in need of a donor, Palm's coach, Tremayne Anchrum Sr., is reaching out for help, emphasizing the urgency of finding a match for the young player. JD Palm aspires to return to school after the surgery.

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We’ll be right back.

Break: ESOG

STORY 4: 'Good and Evil': Ragsdale Plans to Continue Banning Books in Cobb County Schools

Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale has expressed his intention to continue banning books in the district, emphasizing the removal of "sexually explicit, lewd, and pornographic" material. Ragsdale commended Marietta City Schools for their similar efforts. The initial bans were prompted by an email from the right-wing social media group Libs of TikTok. Ragsdale asserted that once sexually explicit content is identified, it is the district's responsibility to protect students and inform parents. The ongoing review aims to identify and remove such materials. Critics argue that the bans disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ content, leading to concerns about the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community. Public commenters, including high school senior Ava Bussey, expressed opposition to the book bans, citing the impact on LGBTQ+ students and urging the district to listen to students' needs for a successful learning environment.

STORY 5: Cobb Leaders Break Ground on Mableton Workforce Development Center

Cobb County is set to establish the Cobb WorkSource Center in Mableton, with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by over 50 people. The $4 million project, funded by $2.8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and grants, aims to become a hub for workforce development, offering training rooms, a computer lab, and business coaching services. The 10,000-square-foot center will replace Cobb Fire Station 1 on Mableton Parkway, addressing the need for workforce development services in the southern part of the county. The initiative aligns with the county's commitment to equity, focusing on areas with high concentrations of low-income and minority communities.

We’ll be back in a moment.

Break: GCPS

STORY 6: Ragsdale Announces Location for $50 Million Event Center

The Cobb County Board of Education plans to build a $50 million, 8,000-seat event building on Glover Street next to the district's headquarters. The facility, approved in a 6-1 vote in March 2023, is intended for hosting events like science fairs, art presentations, and graduation ceremonies. The property, spanning over 10 acres, includes the former A1 Rental facility, the district's police department headquarters, and a demolished building at 440 Glover Street. The new event center aims to fill a void in the northern part of Cobb County, providing a space for various activities. Board member Becky Sayler has expressed concerns about additional costs and lack of clarity regarding the project's expenses. Board Chairman Randy Scamihorn anticipates the new facility's potential and the need for improvements to the police department headquarters, with construction timelines yet to be determined.

STORY 7: 'A Different Mindset': Cobb School Board Talks New Career Center

The Cobb County School Board is considering options to enhance post-secondary education by approving an architect for a new career center in north Cobb. The board plans to engage Atlanta-based Collins Cooper Carusi Architects to design the center, funded by the sixth education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (Ed-SPLOST) at an estimated cost of over $700,000. The center, mandated to be in north Cobb per the SPLOST project list, aims to provide students with alternative pathways to traditional four-year colleges. The district is currently exploring suitable locations for the center, with a central north Cobb location suggested for better accessibility. Additionally, the board discussed the development of a $50 million multi-use facility approved in March 2023, which is expected to host various events such as science fairs, arts presentations, and graduation ceremonies.

BREAK: DRAKE

STORY 8: Major airline fires back at analyst over bankruptcy claims

The airline industry, known for its challenges, faces uncertainties with potential bankruptcies. Warren Buffett's past skepticism resonates, as airlines like JetBlue and Spirit grapple with financial woes. Analysts, including TD Cowen's Helene Becker, express concerns about Spirit Airlines' survival, pointing to its debt and financial constraints. While Spirit denies pursuing Chapter 11, analysts suggest bankruptcy restructuring as a viable option. The airline's future hinges on debtholder cooperation, given its financial vulnerabilities. Fitch Ratings urges a clear liquidity plan. Despite potential disruptions, bankruptcy doesn't guarantee passenger abandonment. Spirit's decision to resist a merger with JetBlue adds complexity to its fate, impacting consumers and the airline industry. Spirit asserts ongoing efforts to fortify its balance sheet and operations.

Break: INGLES 1 – Henssler :60 

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 Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at MDJonline.com.  

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