🌱 Quiet Zone Railroad Crossing + Bullet Damage At Cobb County School

Hi all. It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter — here to impart all the most important things happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds and sunshine. High: 78 Low: 59.

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

1. The Cobb Board of Commissioners is set to vote on a proposal to silence train horns in Smyrna starting in June, costing $435,000. The commission is scheduled to vote on a formal notice to the railroad operator and the Georgia Department of Transportation to establish the quiet zone railroad crossing, which has been in the works for a decade. Trains cannot regularly sound their horns in an area considered a quiet zone, though they may still be sounded in emergency situations or to comply with federal rules. (Marietta Daily Journal via Yahoo News)
2. Bullet damage was found at Chalker Elementary in north Cobb County twice in the past week, occurring overnight when no one was on campus. While there is no specific threat to the campus, officials are prioritizing student safety throughout the school day, and additional police officers have been placed at the school. Students, staff, and parents are encouraged to submit any safety concerns to the district’s tip line. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
3. The Trulieve Medical Marijuana Dispensary in nearby Marietta opened its doors on Friday, making it the first medical marijuana dispensary to operate legally in the state. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission approved dispensary licenses to two companies, allowing them to begin distributing medical cannabis oil to the more than 27,000 Georgians currently on the official registry. It was previously legal to use medical cannabis oil in Georgia, but growing it in the state or bringing it across state lines was illegal. (WSBTV)

Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

• Smyrna Author Andrew Diaz Winkelmann Book Signing At The Book House (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• In nearby Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens has announced the continuation of the Summer Youth Employment Program to provide job opportunities to thousands of Atlanta youth during the summer months. The program is open to those aged 14-24 and aims to provide experiences in areas such as film, STEM, financial literacy, and entertainment. (11Alive.com WXIA)
• This weekend (Apr. 29-30), there will be a Spring Jonquil Festival held around Smyrna City Hall with over 150 arts and crafts booths, food booths, an entertainment stage, and a variety of children's activities. Admission is free, and the festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
• The Arthur Bacon City Championship will be held on May 6 and 7 at Fox Creek Golf Club, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. for a 36-hole individual stroke play. Registration costs $80 per person and includes 18 holes, two drink tickets, and one lunch ticket on both days, with a few spots still available. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Smyrna Author Andrew Diaz Winkelmann Book Signing (April 29)
• Aura Reading & Chakra Balancing (April 30)
• Clinton Nature Preserve Exploration Challenge Group Hike (May 13)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! I'll catch up with you soon with your next 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.