🌱 Marietta Teacher Faces Hearing For Book + Cobb Deputy Training

Hello and happy Thursday! I'm back in your inbox this morning with the most important things happening in Marietta.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Showers, heavy t-storms. High: 84 Low: 71.
• Friday: Humid with a stray t-storm. High: 88 Low: 69.

Here are the top three stories in Marietta today:

1. A Marietta elementary school teacher is facing a hearing today after being put on leave for reading "My Shadow is Purple" to her students. Katie Rinderle, a fifth-grade teacher at Due West Elementary School, read the book - which covers topics of gender identity - to her students, resulting in her being accused by the school district of willful neglect of her duties and insubordination. The public hearing will begin today at 9:00 a.m. at the school district office on Glover Street and is expected to conclude tomorrow. (Subscription: Atlanta-Journal Constitution)
2. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners has approved funding for Cobb County sheriff's deputies to train at the North Georgia Law Enforcement Academy. This decision comes just two weeks after the board finalized 2023-2024 budget. Several commissioners voiced concerns over the $500,000 expenditure, however the funds are being made available on an as-needed basis, and any unused funds will be returned to the county. Commissioner Keli Gambrill explained that the funding is needed for the training academy to continue its operations, but also said that Cobb County will struggle to offer competitive pay for deputies if it continues to subsidize the training academy's costs. (Cobb County Courier)
3. Some Marietta residents are working to support children overseas by collecting school supplies for the Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Through the program, volunteers fill shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, and personal care items which are distributed to children in more than 100 countries around the world. To learn more about this program or different ways to donate, click here. (MDJ Online)

🏠 Want to see your real estate business featured in front of a growing audience of local buyers and sellers in Marietta? See how you can access our targeted and engaged audience through our exclusive newsletter sponsorships. Click here to learn more.

Today and tomorrow in Marietta:

Thursday, August 10

• Nashville Nights Songwriters Show At Boxwood Social Hall (7:00 PM)
• Karaoke R&B Thursday At Smoke 706 Hookah Lounge (7:00 PM)

Friday, August 11

• Giggles & Grown Folks Comedy Show At Monticello ATL (5:00 PM)
• Live Music - Yellow: A Coldplay Tribute At Glover Park Brewery (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Marietta High School junior Trina Whitaker has been recognized as the 2023 Harvard Debate Champion! Whitaker attended a two-week intensive program at Harvard where she competed against students from around the world in 10 debate rounds. Congratulations Trina! (Marietta City Schools via Facebook)
• This weekend, "Jukebox Giants: Motown and More" opens at the Strand Theatre. Click here to find tickets for this musical production. (Strand Marietta via Facebook)
• The Marietta Cobb Museum of Art is holding an Open Draw session in its galleries this Saturday, Aug. 12 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Artists can reserve a space to practice their drawing skills by sketching a live model. (Marietta Cobb Museum of Art via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (August 16)
• Add your event

Featured gigs & services:

• Masonry work (Details)
• Add your gig or service

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll catch up with you soon with another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.