Smyrna-Vining's Housing Correction & A $5k Homicide Reward (Issue #28)

Good morning Stewards,

Hope you had a great weekend and were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather.

While we've been lucky lately, the nights are getting colder now and the forecast is calling for rain this week.

It feels like fall is settling in for good! But don't worry, we've still got plenty of stories and events lined up to keep your week bright and help you stay informed.

— Your Voice for Local Prosperity

In Today's Edition

• 🛡️ Stewards Watch: $5,000 reward offered in Smyrna homicide investigation

• 🏢 Business Beat: Atlanta housing market correction hits home—46% of listings slash prices

• 🍴 Flavor Focus: Community solves viral ice cream hunt; breakfast burrito intel

• 💼 Job Board: Fall job fair brings employers to Smyrna Career Center

• 🎨 Event Horizon: Senior fair day, document shredding, paint & sip this week

• 🔎 Public Pulse: September restaurant inspection scores revealed

STEWARDS WATCH
🛡️ $5,000 Reward: Your Information Could Solve This Case

If you were here last week, you should remember that Smyrna Police need your help solving the murder of Mary Olivia Matthews—and they're now offering serious money for information leading to an arrest.

Case Update:

• Victim: Mary Olivia Matthews, 32, lived alone at 810 Windy Hill Road SE

• Crime: Homicide followed by arson on September 3rd, 4:00 AM

• Reward: Up to $5,000 through Crime Stoppers

How to Help:

• Anonymous Tips: 404-577-TIPS (8477)

• Text: CSGA to 738477

• Online: crimestoppersatlanta.org

• Direct Contact: Detective Wachowiak, 678-631-5264

Your Action: Check your security cameras from September 3rd around 4:00 AM. Even normal activity helps establish timeline patterns for investigators.

BUSINESS BEAT
🏢 Housing Market Correction Arrives: Time to Negotiate

The Atlanta housing market correction is no longer theoretical—it's happening now, creating opportunities for informed buyers and reality checks for sellers.

Key Numbers to Watch:

• 46.8% of Metro Atlanta listings have cut prices (average reduction: 6.1%)

• 21,941 active listings—the highest since 2012

• 5.6:1 ratio of listings to closings signals a clear buyer's market

• Cobb County remains a strong holdout with only 2.8 months of inventory and +0.5% price appreciation

Where Price Reductions Are Hitting Hardest:

• DeKalb County: 50%+ of listings reduced, with an average of 8.1% cuts

• Fulton County: 6.8% average reduction

• Lower-priced homes: Taking the biggest hits (11.8% average for the $100K-200K range)

What This Means for You:

• For Buyers: 63% of Atlanta homes sold below asking price in July. This is a great time to negotiate aggressively.

• For Sellers: Properties are averaging 54 days on the market. Price your home realistically to move it quickly.

• For Investors: Watch for distressed listings, especially in the lower-priced segments.

Local Advantage: Cobb County's stability amid a regional correction demonstrates why location matters. Our school districts and infrastructure are maintaining strong demand even as outer counties see price drops.

FLAVOR FOCUS
🍴 Community Food Intelligence: Ice Cream Hunt & Breakfast Burritos

Our resident food network solved viral ice cream mysteries and shared breakfast burrito intelligence this week.

Viral Fruit Ice Cream Found:

• Nam Dae Mun (Spring Road): Confirmed in stock

Breakfast Burrito Champions:

• Taco T's (Windy Hill): Community favorite

• Salazar's Bakery (Atlanta Road): Gets packed, but worth the wait

• J's Snackland (Spring Road): A hidden gem inside a laundromat

Why This Matters: Resident-tested recommendations beat corporate marketing every time. When neighbors share actual experiences, everyone benefits from authentic local intelligence.

EVENT HORIZON
🎨 This Week's Community Connections

• 🚚 Food Truck Tuesday: Savor gourmet bites, sweets, and music every Tuesday night. 📍 Taylor-Brawner Park | 🗓 Tuesday, Sep 16th | ⏰ 5–9 PM

• 🎡 Senior Day at North Georgia State Fair: Free entry for ages 55+ to enjoy the fair. 📍 Jim R. Miller Park, Marietta | 🗓 Friday, Sep 20th | ⏰ 8 AM–1 PM

• 📄 Document Shredding: Securely shred your paper documents (5 box limit). 📍 Aline Wolfe Adult Recreation Center, 884 Church Street SE | 🗓 Friday, Sep 20th | ⏰ 9 AM–12 PM

• 🎨 CreativiTEA on Canvas: Bubble tea paint & sip for all ages. 📍 FruiTea Bubbles Café, 2750 Atlanta Road SE #112 | 🗓 Friday, Sep 20th | ⏰ 6-8 PM, (doors at 5:45, tickets required)

• 🛍️ Smyrna Market: Shop 40+ vendors with food, crafts, local goods, and fresh finds. 📍 City Hall, 2800 King Street | 🗓 Sunday, Sep 21st | ⏰ 10 AM–2 PM

• 🏃 Monday Night Run Club - Run Smyrna: Meet fellow runners for a relaxed 3–5 mile run📍Smyrna Beer Market (by Stout Brothers, SW of the fountain). 🗓 Monday, Sep 22nd | ⏰ Meet at 6:30 PM, run starts shortly after (Run at your own pace, and your own risk.)

PUBLIC PULSE
🔎 September Restaurant Inspections: Know Before You Go

Excellent Scores (95+):

• King Springs Elementary: 100 (Sept 9)

• Teasley Elementary: 100 (Sept 3)

• Luna Maya Mexican: 100 (Sept 3)

• Senor Tequila Grill & Bar 2: 97 (Sept 3)

• Mariscos Las Islitas: 96 (Sept 10)

• Del Taco: 96 (Sept 3)

Solid Scores (80-94):

• Monterrey Mexican Restaurant: 92 (Sept 9)

• Yakitori Jinbei: 90 (Sept 11)

• Smyrna Coffee: 86 (Sept 8)

• VN Sandwich: 86 (Sept 11)

• Mint Leaf Indian Cuisine: 85 (Sept 4)

• Michiru Chinese & Japanese Restaurant: 85 (Sept 3)

• Monterrey Mexican Restaurant #21: 80 (Sept 11)

• Pho Dakao Restaurant: 80 (Sept 10)

Needs Attention (Below 80):

• Bad Daddy's Burger Bar: 71 (Sept 10)

• The Pirate's Boil: 71 (Sept 10)

• Chow King Grill & Buffet: 66 (Sept 8)

Why This Matters: Food safety scores reflect establishment management and staff training. Scores below 75 indicate significant violations that could affect your health.

I get asked a lot how I manage to pull all this together on my own every week. The truth is, I don't. The real brains behind this operation is my assistant, a half Black and Tan Coonhound, half German Shepherd named Rinnah.

Her origin story is one of true grit. She was the runt of a litter being bred for championship raccoon hunting down in Alabama, but since she was both the runt and a female, the farm didn't think they could profit from her and gave her away.

Now, she's here, providing the keen nose for sniffing out local intel and the stubborn resolve to see every story through. She's a good dog.

👋 Until Next Tuesday

This week demonstrated how community intelligence creates competitive advantages for residents who pay attention.

Understanding housing market shifts helps you time major purchases. Sharing investigation information protects neighborhood safety. Knowing which restaurants maintain food safety standards protects your family's health.

From viral ice cream discoveries to job fair opportunities, informed communities make better decisions that benefit everyone's quality of life.

Your participation in this intelligence network—whether providing tips, sharing local discoveries, or supporting accountable businesses—creates the social capital that makes neighborhoods thrive.

💌 Share the intelligence: Forward this to someone whose always asking you whats going on in town

🧭 Support our local businesses! Show them the same enthusiasm they show our community in Smyrna & Vinings
📣 Got a local gem or listing? Send it our way

🧭 Stewardship Challenge: Be Your Community's Intelligence Network

Check, Share, Support

This week, become an active participant in community intelligence:

• Check your security footage from September 3rd if you haven't already

• Share one local food discovery with neighbors who'd appreciate it

• Support restaurants maintaining high safety standards with your business

• Research housing market conditions if you're considering buying or selling

Community strength emerges when residents share information that helps everyone make better decisions.

📬 Stay in the loop: Sign up for Smyrna-Vinings news delivered right to your inbox every Tuesday @ 8 AM

Thank you for helping us building an informed community, one Tuesday at a time.
— The Stewardship Group

P.S. When you see something, say something. Your single observation has the power to protect a neighbor, solve a mystery, or spark a new opportunity for us all.