Runaway Pig Adopted by Cobb Police Officer

1. Ken the pig has found a home.

On Sunday afternoon, the black pot-bellied pig that eluded police for four days along I-75, was adopted by one of the officers who helped catch him, said Don Bruce, operations manager at the Cobb County animal shelter.

"He has a nice place in the country," Bruce said of the officer whom he wouldn't identify.

The pig, named Ken by animal control staff (Barbie was another pig at the shelter recently), was first spotted during rush hour Jan. 27 along I-75 near Chastain Road. Authorities were afraid the animal would get out in traffic along the busy interstate.

Animal control officers went in search of Ken and set some humane traps. In the following days, Ken was spotted here and there near the first place he was seen.

But each time officers would get close, the 20- to 30-pound animal would run into the woods. But finally on Jan. 30, Ken was spotted and apprehended in a net, Bruce said. It took two police and two animal control officers to catch the spike-haired pig.

Police believed Ken had been somebody’s pet. But nobody came to get him. And after the seven days required at the shelter were up, the officer was able to adopt him.

-- Holly Roberson 

2. -- A 20-year-old man arrested on unrelated charges in Chicago last week has identified and charged by Marietta police in connection with making bomb threats at Marietta High School and Marietta Middle School. He allegedly threatened to blow up the schools after demanding $10 million in ransom money. 

3. -- The Georgia Department of Education has recognized the East Cobb high school, just one of 22 in the state to receive the designation for outstanding student achievement. 

4.  -- A 21-year-old man has been charged with public indecency and child molestation after allegedly exposing himself to customers at a Wal-Mart store.

5. East Cobb Star Athletes Honored -- Mary Hoey, a senior who led the Pope volleyball team to the Georgia Class AAAA state championship, has been named one of 18 winners of the Bobby Bailey Award, which goes to the most outstanding female athletes in Cobb. Also receiving awards during a National Girls and Women in Sports event at Kennesaw State were Walton basketball player Sarah Durdaller and Wheeler basketball and volleyball player Lauren Walcott.