🌱 Cobb County Inmate Death Investigation + Hit-And-Run Incident

Hello, Smyrna-Vinings. I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and hot. High: 93 Low: 69.

Here are the top three stories in Smyrna-Vinings today:

1. The Cobb County Sheriff's Office has requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to investigate the death of 60-year-old inmate Raymond Marti at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. Marti appeared to have a seizure on Sunday and was subsequently transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he later passed away. The Cobb County Sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division is actively looking into the incident, and an autopsy by the Cobb County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. (WSB-TV)
2. A Cobb County woman, Kelle Straw, is recovering from a hit-and-run crash while simultaneously searching for her beloved dog, Mia, also known as "Itty Bitty." Mia went missing during a shopping trip at a nearby Kennesaw Home Depot, and Straw sustained injuries in a hit-and-run accident while looking for her. The incident left Straw emotionally devastated as Mia is like a child and a source of strength, especially after losing her parents. Straw's friends have started a GoFundMe campaign to support the search efforts for Itty Bitty, while the hit-and-run case remains under investigation by Kennesaw police. (11 Alive)
3. Following up on last week's story: A sinkhole caused by heavy rain that closed a section of Spring Hill Parkway near Cumberland Boulevard in Smyrna will take longer than originally anticipated to repair. The Georgia Department of Transportation is awaiting results from a hydrology study, which will delay the start of repairs by one week. The sinkhole was caused by the failure of an aging metal pipe system, and it will be replaced with a modern three-pipe system, with the repair process expected to take three to four weeks. (WSB-TV)

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Today in and around Smyrna-Vinings:

Wednesday, September 6

• Infant And Toddler Storytime At Smyrna Public Library (11:30 AM)
• Ray LaMontagne At Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The community is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Downtown Splash Pad/Water Feature in Smyrna at 4:00 p.m. today! Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton and members of the Smyrna City Council will be present for the grand opening of this water feature, located between the new Village Green and the Veterans Memorial, near the intersection of King Street and Bank Street. (City of Smyrna)
• Mark your calendar for the upcoming Battle of the Badges softball game on Saturday, Sep. 9 and a Community Engagement event on Sep. 16. Click the link to learn more. (Smyrna Public Safety Foundation via Facebook)
• Keep Smyrna Beautiful is gearing up for its annual Jonquil Bulb Sale on Oct. 1. Interested plant enthusiasts can sign up here to receive alerts on availability and more. (Keep Smyrna Beautiful via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Tacos and Tequila Marietta Square (September 9)
• The Transition Network - Prospective and New Member Dinner (September 13)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new 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.