🌱 Local Car Dealerships Concerned Over Strike + Cobb Co. Phase 6

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

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny with a thunderstorm. High: 79 Low: 66.

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

1. Metro Atlanta businesses, including local car dealerships and auto repair shops, are concerned about potential long-term disruptions if the United Auto Workers (UAW) go on strike, which were scheduled to begin at 11:59 p.m. last night unless new labor contracts are agreed upon. The impact of the strike wouldn't be limited to the three major U.S. automakers, but would affect smaller businesses as well. Dealerships like Steve Raymond Chevrolet in Smyrna are dependent on the UAW and automakers settling their labor contracts to maintain their supply of vehicles and avoid shortages, especially as they are still recovering from pandemic-related inventory issues. Auto repair shops like Alan Heriford's are worried about running out of parts during a strike, which could affect their ability to serve customers. (11 Alive)
2. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved the final phase of construction for the sixth Police Precinct in Cobb, with a total contract value of $2 million with Batson-Cook Company. The new precinct will improve response times to calls, but the Cobb County Police Department is facing staffing shortages. Once the construction is completed and operational, staff from other precincts will be moved to Precinct 6. (Cobb County Courrier)
3. The City of Smyrna is hosting its third annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Sep. 23 in downtown Smyrna. The event aims to engage the local community and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with family-friendly activities. It will be held at the newly redesigned Village Green Park and is free to attend from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (smyrnaga.gov)

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Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

Friday, September 15

• Friday Flights At Reformation Brewery (All Day)
• Family Fun Glow Night At Smyrna Community Center (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• StillFire Brewing began construction on its new Smyrna location Wednesday! The brewery is set to open in 2024. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
• Interested in participating in next year's Garden Tour? Selections will be made based on a variety of factors including location, diversity of gardens, and accessibility. Click here to apply. (Keep Smyrna Beautiful via Facebook)
• Cobb County's annual Rivers Alive cleanup is swiftly approaching. Help keep your local waterways clean by volunteering on Sep. 23. (Keep Smyrna Beautiful via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Atlanta Police Department Recruitment Event (September 16)
• CHRIS WILLIS - Man in the Mirror - Dance Music of the 80s (October 7)
• Microchip & Vaccination Clinic for Dogs & Cats - Low Cost (October 8)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning 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.