🌱 Patch AM: How Marietta’s phone ban is shaping Georgia’s next school rules

Hello Marietta! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Marietta’s phone ban is shaping Georgia’s next school rules
• Will new federal rules disrupt child care help for Marietta families?

Also on today's calendar: Family Farm to Forest Tour and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Heavy rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 69 and low of 38 degrees.
• Sunday: Turning sunny; windy, cooler, temps: high: 47, low: 27.
• Monday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 50 and low of 31 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Georgia lawmakers to weigh expanding cellphone ban to high school classes (wsbtv.com) — Marietta families should know that state lawmakers are considering extending Georgia’s classroom cellphone ban to high schools, building on rules already in place for K-8. Marietta Superintendent Grant Rivera recently shared data from the city’s own earlier ban, which helped inspire the push for a broader statewide policy.
   

• Georgia navigates new federal hurdles for child care funding (11alive.com) — Families and child care providers in Marietta and across Georgia are facing uncertainty as new federal rules slow the release of 2026 child care funds, though CAPS subsidies will still be paid this week using state dollars. Local providers are worried about potential disruptions for working parents and staff as Georgia navigates tougher federal “Defend the Spend” requirements and waits for clearer guidance.
   

📸 Around Marietta

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Marietta

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 24

• Family Farm to Forest Tour
  High Meadows School, 1055 Willeo Rd, Roswell
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday January 12

• BLW Audit Committee meeting
  Marietta, GA Calendar , 205 Lawrence Street , Marietta
  11:00 am
• BLW Board Pre-Meeting Lunch
  Marietta, GA Calendar , Fire Conference Room B/C Lawrence Street , Marietta
  11:30 am
• BLW Board Meeting
  Marietta, GA Calendar , 205 Lawrence Street , Marietta
  12:00 pm
• Agenda Work Session
  Marietta, GA Calendar Marietta, GA 30060
  5:15 pm

Tuesday January 13

• Marietta Visitors Bureau Board of Directors Meeting
  Marietta, GA Calendar Marietta, GA 30060
  5:30 pm

Wednesday January 14

• Municipal Court in session
  Marietta, GA Calendar , 240 Lemon Street , Marietta
  8:30 am
• Powder Springs Road Annexation Arbitration
  Marietta, GA Calendar
  1:00 pm
• Agenda Review Session
  Marietta, GA Calendar Marietta, GA 30060
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 15

• Back to the 90s Trivia
  Schoolhouse Brewing , 840 Franklin Ct , Marietta
  8:00 pm

Friday January 16

• Drag Bingo
  Schoolhouse Brewing , 840 Franklin Ct , Marietta
  8:00 pm

📣 Marietta Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday January 10

• Atlanta Boat Show
  Georgia World Congress Center , 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW , Atlanta
  10:00 am
• Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Kennesaw State Owls Basketball
  KSU Convocation Center , Convocation Center , 590 Cobb Ave , Kennesaw
  5:00 pm
• Troy Bond at The Punchline
  The Punchline Comedy Club , 3652 Roswell Rd , Atlanta
  6:00 pm
• Goosefest 2026
  75 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW , Atlanta
  6:00 pm

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 Marietta PatchAM possible:

• A Plus Priority Plumbing — (678) 822-8663
  Free service call with any completed job for the Holiday's!
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

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

• GRATITUDE!
  Good morning DKW FRIENDS . Gratitude. Waking up every morning is the first thing I’m grateful for. I realize that’s the gift I open every day. … (Nextdoor Shallowford/Sandy Plains)
• Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
  FOUND on December 30, 2025 in Marietta, GA 30067 near NorthChase Parkway Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Stratford)

• Tailored Brands posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate Part Time in Marietta. Apply here.
• Mathnasium posted a job opening for Math Instructor / Tutor in Marietta. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Marietta here.

🗞 Nearby News

Smyrna

• Metro Atlanta dog to represent the Peach state in the Puppy Bowl (11alive.com)
• Bright Side News for January 9, 2026 (brightsidecobb.com)

Kennesaw

• Woman with dementia missing after hike at Kennesaw Mountain (fox5atlanta.com)
• Beloved Mount Paran teacher dies from flu complications (wsbtv.com)
• ORCAs in Action Webinar from Strategy to Streets: Collaboration That's Driving Impact on ORC (losspreventionmedia.com)

Ok Marietta! 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 sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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