🌱 Gov. Kemp Coming To Cobb Chamber + School Voucher Bill Voted Down

Good morning, friends! I'm back with your new copy of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Let's get this Friday started off right, with a quick dive into the most important things happening these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

Some brightening. High: 74 Low: 62.

Business owners and marketers in Smyrna-Vinings: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

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

1. Governor Brian Kemp will be in Cobb County on Apr. 11 to speak at an event hosted by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Governor Kemp will discuss efforts to bring new jobs and investment to the state, as well as updates on the 2023 legislative session. Click here for tickets and registration. (Cobb County Courier)
2. Sign-ups are now open for Smyrna's Jonquil City Jog. The event will take place on Saturday, Apr. 15, and includes a 5K route, a one-mile fun run, and a "tot trot." The race is flat and family-friendly, taking runners through downtown Smyrna. For more information and registration, click here. (City of Smyrna, GA via Facebook)
3. A bill designed to create school vouchers failed in the Georgia House of Representatives on Wednesday night. The bill, called "The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act," would have given students $6,500 each year to apply towards private school or homeschooling expenses. These vouchers would only have been available for students attending a public school ranked in the state's lowest 25 percent. Opponents argued that the bill would reduce funding for public schools. The legislation was narrowly defeated in a vote of 89 to 85. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
4. Up the road in Marietta, a real estate developer has submitted plans to the city for the construction of a new apartment building just off the Marietta square. The proposed building would be 84 feet tall and would include 135 apartment units. City Council members voiced concerns about the proposal, but it's unclear if the council can stop the proposed construction due to the property's location within the central business district zoning area. (Marietta Daily Journal)

Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

• Paper Arts Workshop Series - Smyrna Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Laugh & Hip Hop - Monticello Sports Bar (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• At the nearby Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, sophomore Jewel Jones has been elected to serve as a student officer for SkillsUSA, a nonprofit organization that helps prepare students for careers in trades, technical, and skilled service occupations. Jones previously survived a near-fatal shooting and is now pursuing an electrical certification at CITA. Read more about her accomplishments here. (Cobb County Schools via Facebook)
• This Sunday, Apr. 2, the Friends of the Smyrna Library are holding their annual meeting at the Smyrna Library meeting room from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Immediately following, the Friends are hosting a lecture, "The Georgia Gold Rush of 1829 - 42 and Its Myriad Consequences." (Friends of Smyrna Library via Facebook)
• In nearby Mableton, there will be a virtual forum for voters to hear from the run-off candidates for Mableton Mayor and City Council districts two, three, four, and five. The forum will take place on Apr. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registration is available at this link. (Mableton Improvement Coalition via Facebook)

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That's it for today! I'll be back in your inbox 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.