🌱 Public Hearings On County Budget + Sheriff's Dept. Hiring Event

Hello, friends! It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter — here to impart all the most important things happening in our community.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Hot and humid; a p.m. thunderstorm. High: 94 Low: 71.
• Sunday: A shower and thunderstorm; humid. High: 92 Low: 72.

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

1. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners has revealed plans to hike property taxes by 18.02 percent for the County Maintenance & Operations Fund, attributing the increase to the steady recovery of the local real estate market. As mandated by Georgia law, three public hearings have been scheduled for Jul. 11, 18, and 25 to allow residents to voice their opinions on the proposed millage rates before they are finalized. The board will officially adopt the 2023 Property Tax Millage Rates for its five tax districts, including the General, Fire, and Debt Service, at the conclusion of the third hearing on Jul. 25. (Cobb County Georgia)
2. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office is combining recruitment with family entertainment by hosting a unique hiring event on Jul. 8 at the Cobb County Safety Village in Marietta, which features physical agility tests for applicants and festivities for their families. The event, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include food trucks, a live DJ, bouncy houses, face painting, backpack giveaways, and displays of advanced equipment, with special appearances by members of S.W.A.T., mounted patrol, and K-9 units. Additionally, a Q&A session for the families of applicants will be held at 9 a.m., as the Sheriff’s Office aims to involve applicants' families in the hiring process from start to finish. (Marietta Daily Journal)
3. In a peculiar crime wave in Marietta, a man identified as Daniel Coicou has been accused of wreaking havoc on over a dozen local businesses by hurling rocks through their windows, causing in excess of $6,000 in damages. Among the establishments affected were Taper Barbershop and a Mazda dealership, with the latter also reporting smashed car windows. Footage from a security camera captures Coicou, seemingly armed with a bag of rocks, launching one through the door of Taper Barbershop. (WSB-TV)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Smyrna-Vinings:

Saturday, July 1

• Ride For The Fallen 2023 Starting At Adventure Outdoors (9:00 AM)
• ATL Whiskey And Cigar Experience At The Patio Social Club (7:00 PM)

Sunday, July 2

• Bar Bingo At Varner's Tavern (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• As a reminder, the City of Smyrna's offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jul. 4, in observance of Independence Day. Tuesday curbside pickup routes will be moved to Monday, Jul. 3. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
• Smyrna Library is hosting 'Escape the Library' on Jul. 14, 15, and 17, a summer reading event where groups of children aged 5 and up and adults solve clues to find a hidden surprise within 30 minutes. (Smyrna Library Kids via Facebook)
• The Smyrna Seahawks Youth Football and Cheerleading organization is actively recruiting players aged 5 to 11 for all teams, with registration still open. Interested parties are encouraged to register via the organization's website before Jul. 1 to avoid a price increase. (Smyrna Seahawks Youth Football and Cheerleading via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right. I'll see you around!

— 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.