🌱 Deliberations In Cobb Teacher Hearing + Upcoming Smyrna Elections

Hello all! I'm here with your Tuesday edition of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter, full of all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.. High: 86 Low: 64.

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

1. Deliberations by a termination tribunal began today for a case over a Cobb County teacher at the center of book reading controversy. Teacher Katie Rinderle is accused of violating state law and district policy for reading a book to her class — parents complained to administrators when she read a book about gender norms to her fifth-grade class. Currently, Rinderle faces charges of insubordination and willful neglect of duties, and if she is fired, she would be the first public school teacher to be let go under the state’s divisive concepts law. (WSB Radio)
2. Next year is a municipal election year for the City of Smyrna. Residents who are interested in qualifying for office may do so from Aug. 22-24 at A. Max Bacon City Hall in Smyrna. To qualify, potential candidates must be at least 21 years old and registered to vote in the city of Smyrna. Candidates must also have been a resident of Smyrna for at least one year, and council candidates must reside in the ward for which they are running. Click here to learn more.(City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
3. Yesterday, an Atlanta-area man was indicted on federal charges of money laundering and wire fraud as he fraudulently obtained funds through a COVID-19 relief program. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the IRS, the FBI, the federal Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Service. (Capitol Beat)

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Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

Tuesday, August 15

• Food Truck Tuesdays At Taylor-Brawner Park (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is coming up on Aug. 18 and 19. Smyrna residents can participate by signing up to count and observe insects, then logging your results into an online portal. (Keep Smyrna Beautiful via Facebook)
• Calling all plant-based foodies: the popular Black-owned, vegan Haitian-Caribbean pop-up restaurant Plant Based Zo is finally getting a permanent location. Click the link to learn more. (What Now Atlanta)
• Emory University environmental science students have been getting their hands dirty this summer to study the effects of soil in the battle against climate change. Click the link to find out more about their groundbreaking research. (Saporta Report)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (August 16)
• Infinite Inspiration at Vinings Gallery - with INAM (August 18)
• Schoolhouse Laughs Free Comedy Show (August 18)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next 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.