No more cars up Kennesaw Mountain, starting January | Paychex founder makes historic $50 million gift to Wellstar | Meet Aloka, the peace dog winning hearts nationwide during Walk for Peace

  =====  MDJ Script/ Top Stories for January 2nd 

Publish Date:  January 2nd 

 

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From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.  

  

Today is Friday, January 2nd and Happy Birthday to Cuba Gooding Jr. 

 

I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal 

1. No more cars up Kennesaw Mountain, starting January
2. Paychex founder makes historic $50 million gift to Wellstar
3. Meet Aloka, the peace dog winning hearts nationwide during Walk for Peace

 

Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads 

 

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 2 

STORY 1:  No more cars up Kennesaw Mountain, starting January 

 Starting this month, private cars will no longer be allowed up Kennesaw Mountain. The park’s steep, winding Mountain Road—famous for its blind curves and 12% grade—has become a safety headache, with too many close calls between cars, cyclists, and hikers. 

Instead, visitors can reach the summit by shuttle, bike, or on foot. A new pedestrian lane will make the 1.5-mile trek safer for walkers, while the unpaved hiking trail remains untouched. 

Acting Superintendent Beth Wheeler said the changes address “growing safety concerns” and aim to protect the park’s natural and historic beauty. 

Road striping starts Jan. 6, with closures lasting through March. 

STORY 2:  Paychex founder makes historic $50 million gift to Wellstar 

Philanthropist and Paychex founder Tom Golisano just made history with a $50 million gift to Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia (WCHOG), the largest donation in Wellstar’s history. In recognition, the hospital will now be called the Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia. 

This isn’t just a check—it’s a game-changer. The hospital is joining the Golisano Children’s Alliance, a network of 12 children’s hospitals across the U.S., opening doors to collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise. It’s the only hospital in the alliance representing Georgia and its neighboring states. 

The donation will fund projects like a cutting-edge pediatric cardiac ICU, further cementing Wellstar’s reputation for top-tier pediatric care. 

Other hospitals in the alliance include institutions in Buffalo, Fort Myers, and Hershey, Pa.—all part of Golisano’s mission to improve children’s health nationwide. 

STORY 3: Meet Aloka, the peace dog winning hearts nationwide during Walk for Peace 

If you’ve ever seen a serene dog strolling alongside Buddhist monks—sometimes dressed better than the humans—you’ve probably met Aloka, the Peace Dog. 

Aloka isn’t flashy. He doesn’t bark for attention or demand the spotlight. But somehow, he’s become the quiet soul of the Walk for Peace, embodying everything it stands for. He walks when he can, rides when h