🌱 Cobb County Board Opposes HB-189 Bill + Blue Flame Lounge Shooting

Welcome back, Marietta! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 70 Low: 58.

🏠 If you're a real estate agent in Marietta, of course you're looking for a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. We can help you do that with an exclusive sponsorship in the Marietta Patch newsletter. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in and around Marietta today:

1. In a unanimous vote at its Feb. 14 meeting, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution opposing a bill that would increase the weight allowed for trucks and their loads by 10,000 pounds. HB-189, submitted by Republican Representative Steven Meeks (HD 178), would increase the allowable weight from 80,000 to 90,000 pounds, and allow for even heavier weights “when the tractor and trailer of the vehicle is certified to meet or exceed the weight allowable by such variance.” Cobb County contends that the increased weight would result in damage to roads and bridges and increase maintenance costs to city and county taxpayers. (Cobb County Courier)
2. Cobb County neighbors near the controversial Sterigenics plant say they will not give up their fight to shut the plant down, even after a judge’s ruling last week allows the plant to stay open. The plant is accused of emitting a chemical that EPA says causes cancer. Sterigenics has long denied the allegations, but voluntarily closed the plant temporarily in 2019 to install emissions controls. Soon after that, the county has tried to force them to suspend operations. (WSB Atlanta)
3. Employees at the nearby Blue Flame Lounge and Atlanta neighbors are sharing concerns after the second shooting at an Atlanta club this month. Officers arrested Jonathan Parham midnight Friday after they say he shot a man in the parking lot of the nightclub. Trevor Young, Blue Flame Lounge’s security manager, said two men showed up together in the parking lot, and one shot the other before they entered the club. Records show there have been at least four shootings with a total of five victims near the Blue Flame Lounge on Harwell Road since 2018. (WSB Atlanta)

Today in and around Marietta:

• Open Mic Night At Laughing Skull Lounge, Atlanta (8:00 PM)
• Cracking' You Up Comedy! Show At Johnnie MacCracken's Celtic Firehouse Pub (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Marietta City Schools wishes students a safe and happy mid-winter break! As a reminder, classes are set to resume on Monday, Feb. 27. (Marietta City Schools via Facebook)
• The Marietta Police Department shared a post raising awareness on elder abuse and encourage residents to visit the Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for older adults. More information can be found at the link. (Marietta, Georgia Police Department via Facebook)
• On the hunt for a new home nearby? Check out the latest homes for sale in Marietta, including a four-bed, four-bath home for $615,000. (Marietta Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• BJ's Wholesale Club Pre-opening Limited-time Offer (February 23)
• Presented by the Before Slavery Museum + the PG Network: A Musical Journey Through Black History (February 26)
• Add your event

Other featured classifieds:

• Looking to Rent A Warehouse for March in Atlanta (Details)
• Add your classified

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.