🌱 Local Man Guilty Of Murder + Cobb County Back-To-School Event

Hi all. Danielle Fallon-O'Leary here with your fresh copy of the Smyrna-Vinings Daily, full of all the things you need to know about what's going on in town.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 90 Low: 69.

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

1. A Cobb County jury has found 24-year-old Elias Bustamente guilty of murder. Earlier this month, Bustamente was convicted of shooting and killing a man at a 2020 Fourth of July party in Smyrna. Prosecutors report that he was drunk when he pulled out and began showing off a gun, then fatally shot Michael Arreola when he told Bustamente to put the gun away. (WSB Atlanta)
2. Cobb County educators, students, and families attended a back-to-school party and giveaway at the Cobb County Safety Village on Saturday. Cobb County Sheriff's officers handed out various school supplies, all of which were supplied by community members. Guests also enjoyed live music courtesy of Greg Street and V103, along with food from Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q. (MDJOnline.com)
3. Monkeypox and COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Georgia, especially in the Atlanta metro. Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) host Leah Fleming recently spoke with GPB's senior health reporter Ellen Elridge to discuss the state of both viruses in Georgia and Atlanta. According to Elridge, monkeypox cases have been disproportionately affecting men who have sex with men, communities of color, and those in and around the Atlanta area. COVID-19, on the other hand, has had high levels of transmissions across communities and statewide — due in part to variants like BA.5. (Reporter Newspapers)

Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

• Pizookahookah, The Patio ATL, & Chicago Pizza Presents: Office Hours At Pizookah Hookah (1:00 PM)
• City Council Meeting At A. Max Bacon City Hall, Council Chambers (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Two 19-year-olds have been identified as the victims of an apparent murder-suicide in Cobb County. The incident claimed the lives of Eduardo Landaverde and Crystal Mendez, both 19-year-old residents of nearby Marietta. (CBS 46 News)
• The Smyrna Education Foundation invites the community to a free open house tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 16) at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more about the SEF and how to get involved can register here to attend. (Smyrna Education Foundation via Facebook)
• On the hunt for a new home in the area? Three properties in Smyrna, plus two others in Atlanta, have just hit the local market. (Smyrna-Vinings Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer 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.