🌱 Hazardous Material Transport + Smyrna Rod Building Contest Finalist

Hey, neighbors! It's Tuesday in Smyrna-Vinings and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 51 Low: 29.

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

1. Following the recent train derailment in Ohio, concerns have been raised regarding the transportation of hazardous materials. A news viewer inquired whether trains are prohibited from carrying toxic chemicals through metro Atlanta, to which it was found that there are no such federal laws prohibiting the transportation of hazardous materials via trains through Atlanta. However, rail carriers are mandated by federal law to utilize the least risky routes when transporting such materials. (11Alive.com WXIA)
2. The International Rod Building Challenge is a global competition for rod
   builders, showcased at an expo that boasts 50,000 square feet of rod-building supplies, 65 booths, and over 3,000 custom rod builders. A resident of Smyrna, Kyle Watson, made it to the top 10 finalists in the competition. (Subscription: (MDJOnline.com)
3. The Georgia Department of Public Health has released the scores for food
   service facilities in Cobb County for the past week. Bowl Lab, Cafe Comma, Ray's Donuts, Mcalister's Deli, and Moon Wings & Hibachi received a perfect score of 100, while Evofit Spa scored the lowest at 66. A full list of scores can be found at the link. (Cobb County Courier)
4. The family of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, an environmental activist who was fatally shot by state patrol troopers during a clearing operation on the site of a proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, has released the results of a private autopsy. The autopsy found that Terán was shot 14 times and was likely in a cross-legged position when he was killed. The family disputes the claim that the shooting was in self-defense and has filed a lawsuit to access information about the incident under the Georgia Open Records Act, while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains that Terán was killed in self-defense after he shot a state trooper. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

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Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

• Chapel + Chat: Families of Prospective Rising 3rd Graders at St Benedict's Episcopal School (8:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• The recent hard freeze damaged the fountain in the Market Village. It will be renewed this spring, according to the official City of Smyrna Facebook page. (City of Smyrna via Facebook)
• Drake has announced his "It's All a Blur" tour. The Canadian rapper will be joined by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage on the tour, which marks Drake's first since 2018. The tour includes two stops in Atlanta's State Farm Arena on Jul. 1 and Jul. 2. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
• A freeze warning will be in effect across metro Atlanta and north Georgia until 11 a.m. today, with temperatures expected to drop to as low as 27 degrees. (Patch)

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Featured events:

• Aura Reading & Chakra Balancing (March 16)
• Homebuyer Blueprint Live Webinar (March 16)
• Rugby ATL's Bark In The Park (March 18)
• Music from Seven Continents (March 18)
• Gent's Lunch - A Benefit for the High Museum Wine Auction (March 22)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! 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.