🌱 Patch AM: How Kennesaw’s 2026 plans could reshape safety, downtown, and jobs

Greetings Kennesaw! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Kennesaw’s 2026 plans could reshape safety, downtown, and jobs
• How surveillance video unraveled the alleged Kennesaw Walmart kidnapping case
• Why Kennesaw State’s loss to Alabama still showed promise

Also on today's calendar: Warehouse Liquidation FINAL Sale! 50% OFF!.

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Sydney B.!

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Sunny and not as cool, with a high of 59 and low of 38 degrees.
• Friday: A couple of afternoon showers, temps: high: 59, low: 51.
• Saturday: Periods of rain, with a high of 57 and low of 39 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Cobb County: Knocking It Out of the Park (georgiatrend.com) — Kennesaw leaders are prioritizing public safety, quality of life, and a more vibrant downtown in 2026, including a new 25,000-square-foot public safety facility and expanded mobility planning. Kennesaw State University is adding cutting-edge academic centers and an aerospace engineering degree, while its Fifth Third Stadium will host a World Cup base camp, tying the city into Cobb County’s broader economic and tourism boom.
   

2. No. 3: Charges dropped in Cobb Walmart kidnapping case (mdjonline.com) — Charges were dropped against a Cobb County man once accused of trying to kidnap a toddler at a Kennesaw Walmart, after surveillance video helped clear his name. He is now pursuing damages from the city of Acworth, saying his arrest, jail conditions, and prosecution left him traumatized and violated his constitutional rights.
   

3. Bama kicks Kennesaw State in Rocket City Classic (themadisonrecord.com) — Kennesaw State’s men’s basketball team wrapped up non-conference play with a 92–81 loss to No. 16 Alabama in the Rocket City Classic, despite winning the rebounding battle. The Owls struggled early but outscored Alabama in the second half, and they’re expected to return to Huntsville in March for the Conference USA Tournament, giving local fans more chances to follow the team.
   

4. Phyllis Mae Dahl Keenan (timesbulletin.com) — Kennesaw readers may remember Phyllis Mae Dahl Keenan, who once worked at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church after moving here with her husband during his Continental Can Co. career. She later relocated to Los Angeles, where she passed away peacefully on her 91st birthday, leaving behind three children, several grandchildren, and many friends who cherished her kindness and love.
   

📸 Around Kennesaw

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Kennesaw

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Tuesday January 6

• BASKETBALL (ALL) v PEBBLEBROOK
  Hoya Center Kennesaw, GA 30152
  4:30 pm

Friday January 9

• Warehouse Liquidation FINAL Sale! 50% OFF!
  Classic Staging LLC , 1349 Old 41 Hwy NW , Marietta
  9:30 am
• BASKETBALL (ALL) v HILLGROVE
  Hoya Center Kennesaw, GA 30152
  4:30 pm

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday January 1

• Over hills and dales we'll make our way, a Ranger-led Hike on this First Day
  Pickett's Mill Battlefield Historic Site , 4432 Mount Tabor Church Road , Dallas
  9:30 am

Friday January 2

• No-Cost Vein Screenings
  Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce , 636 E Main St. , Cartersville
  8:00 am
• Veteran's Coffee Hour
  Cartersville Library Classroom , 429 West Main St. , Cartersville
  9:30 am
• Latch & Lattes- Breastfeeding Support Group
  Cultivate Health , 1130 N. Tennessee St. Suite C , Cartersville
  10:00 am
• FairyTale Village– Winter Event
  North Point Mall , 1000 North Point Cir , Alpharetta
  3:30 pm
• She Got Game Classic - Atlanta, GA
  LakePoint Sports , 261 Stars Way , Cartersville
  4:00 pm
• Marietta Tree Keepers Board Meeting
  Marietta, GA Calendar , 205 Lawrence Street , Marietta
  4:00 pm
• Allatoona Sled Dog Dryland Challenge 2026
  5690 Old Stilesboro Rd NW , Acworth
  10:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Compassion Center Mobile Medical Free Clinic
  Allatoona Resource Center , 6503 Glade Rd SE , Acworth
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Kennesaw PatchAM possible:

• Studio 1 Events — (770) 435-5888
  DJ, Karaoke & Party Services Across Metro Atlanta
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Buffalo Luke's — (470) 872-3452
  Legendary Wings & More...

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Found Cat
  Please contact me here in the comments, by private message, or by calling our clinic at Kennesaw Mountain Animal Hospital 770-419-0362 Found in… (Nextdoor Murray Arts Park)
• Tonight, I found myself in a bind—literally.
  I needed to strap an entire mountain of materials onto my truck. I decided to ask the Internet for the best way to do it. The responses ranged from … (Nextdoor Subdivisions Off Due West)

• Whataburger posted a job opening for Restaurant Porter - Unit 1486 in Kennesaw. Apply here.
• Airgas, Inc. posted a job opening for Customer Experience Accounts Receivable Supervisor in Kennesaw. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kennesaw here.

Ok Kennesaw! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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