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City of Decatur and Surrounding Area News

1 killed in Kirkwood shooting, Atlanta police say

By Atlanta News First staff ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — One person was killed in a shooting in Kirkwood on Wednesday evening, Atlanta police said. Police responded to a shooting near the intersection of Hosea L. Williams Drive SE and Howard Street NE. The shooting seems to have happened near Elmyriachi, a Tex-Mex restaurant. Atlanta […]

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Road construction in Decatur to begin soon, ending the Church Street cycle track work

Decatur, GA — Road construction and repaving on Church Street and Commerce Drive in Decatur is expected to begin next week, weather permitting. The work will include Commerce Drive from its intersection with Clairemont Avenue to its intersection with Church Street, as well as Church Street from Commerce Drive to Forkner Drive, according to a city website. […]

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Georgia doctors report an increase in COVID cases

By Abby Kousouris, Atlanta News First BREMEN, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — COVID-19 cases are on the rise here in Georgia and quickly. In the last week, The Centers for Disease Control reports more than 3,804 people tested positive and 309 people were hospitalized because of COVID-19. Dr. Amy Eubanks at Bremen Primary Care said […]

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Georgia State Patrol trooper shoots at driver during car chase in Greater Decatur, GBI says

By Alexandra Parker, Atlanta News First Greater Decatur, GA — A Georgia State Patrol trooper shot at a driver during a car chase, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI said the shooting happened on Wednesday around 9:15 a.m. in Decatur. GSP troopers were helping the Atlanta Police Department find a stolen black […]

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Clarkston’s Director of Police Services turns in badge and gun, won’t be paid by city

Clarkston, GA — Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks said Director of Police Services John Pearson has turned in his badge, gun, and city vehicle as of Aug. 9 and that he won’t be paid by the city after working there for about three weeks. Pearson’s departure comes as the city tries to move forward after parting ways […]

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DeKalb School Board approves paying police whistleblower $1.5 million settlement

DeKalb County, GA — The DeKalb County Board of Education recently approved a $1.5 million settlement payment to a whistleblower in the school district’s police department. Decaturish obtained the settlement via an open records request. The school board approved the settlement on June 12. The district didn’t release it to Decaturish until July 23. The Atlanta […]

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Decatur School Board approves design for Legacy Park track and field

Decatur, GA — The City Schools of Decatur School Board, at its Aug. 8 regular meeting, approved the design for the track and field at Legacy Park. The project is a joint effort between the school district and the city of Decatur. CSD anticipates construction will begin early in 2024 and will be complete next […]

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Avondale Estates City Commission to discuss SPLOST funding

Avondale Estates, GA — The Avondale Estates City Commission will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 5:30 p.m. for a regular meeting, followed by a work session. The city commission meeting will be held at Avondale Estates City Hall, 21 N. Avondale Plaza, and via Zoom. During the work session, the city commission will discuss […]

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Columbia Theological Seminary moves coyote traps in response to community concerns

Decatur, GA — Columbia Theological Seminary has moved coyote traps on its property after a parent said his daughter nearly triggered them. The parent, who asked not to be identified, said his daughter found three traps along Shoal Creek between Kirk Road and McKinnon Drive. The property is owned and controlled by Columbia Theological Seminary. It’s […]

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Clarkston doesn’t have a city manager right now

Clarkston, GA — It’s Wednesday morning. Do you know who Clarkston’s city manager is? Two days after the council parted ways with city manager Shawanna Qawiy, no one is running things at Clarkston city hall, two city councilmembers say. “The council is working on naming an interim,” Councilmember Laura Hopkins says. “I think technically we have […]

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