🌱 Former Mayoral Candidate Arrested + Man Sentenced To 18 Years

Hey, everybody! It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

A stray afternoon t-storm. High: 68 Low: 54.

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Here are the top 4 stories in Smyrna-Vinings today:

1. Zephaniah Dwayne Baker, a former mayoral candidate and community activist, was arrested out of Cobb County on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a crime, and cruelty to children. Court documents reveal that Baker and the victim knew each other, and he allegedly dragged and punched her before forcing her and her child into a truck. After a collaborative investigation by the FBI, Cobb County Sheriff's Office, Cobb County Police Department, Russell County Sheriff's Office, and Phenix City Police Department, a warrant was issued. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
2. Jamari Christmas, a 21-year-old man, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing his former friend, Majik Broussard, in a shooting in nearby Kennesaw on Dec. 22, 2021. Christmas pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. According to the Cobb County district attorney, the two had a falling out, but still lived near one another and Christmas believed that the victim wanted to fight again. (11Alive.com WXIA)
3. Over the weekend, a driver lost control of his car and hit several trees in Cobb County, killing a 12-year-old passenger and injuring another passenger. The driver, Gregory Sagnan, was also injured and taken to the hospital. As of Tuesday, the crash remains under investigation and it is unclear whether Sagnan will face any charges. (WSBTV)
4. Down the road in Buckhead, police have recovered a group of exotic birds that were stolen from the R. Thomas Deluxe Grill. The thief cut the padlocks off the birds' cages and covered up security cameras before making off with them in a truck and trailer. Police later arrested and charged Adam Deck, 48, who was found at a home in southwest Atlanta, and the birds were reunited with the restaurant owners. (WSB Atlanta)

Today around Smyrna-Vinings:

• Word Play Wednesdays at Euro Atlanta, Marietta (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The book sorting event scheduled for Apr. 26 by Friends of Smyrna Library has been postponed due to the volunteer coordinator's strained back. A new date and time for the event will be announced in the near future. (Friends of Smyrna Library via Facebook)
• Giving Kitchen is auctioning passes for Taylor Swift's sold-out shows at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for a premium price, with one non-profit auctioning two floor seats for Saturday at an asking price of $6,200 as of Tuesday. The auction will conclude on Apr. 26 at 5 pm. ( The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• The Bill Lowe Gallery in Atlanta has been renamed the Johnson Lowe Gallery following the passing of its owner and president, Bill Lowe, in December 2021. Donovan Johnson has been appointed executive director and has curated the gallery's first exhibition under its new name, "The Alchemists," which runs until Apr. 29. (WABE)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll see you soon.

— 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.