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City of Decatur and Surrounding Area News

Decatur, DeKalb County opening cooling centers Aug. 12-14

DeKalb County, GA — The city of Decatur will open the Decatur Recreation Center, located at 231 Sycamore Street, as a cooling center on Sunday, Aug. 13, and Monday, Aug. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. die to a heat advisory. DeKalb County is also making recreation centers and libraries throughout the county available […]

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New 241-room hotel proposed for Swanton Way in downtown Decatur

Decatur, GA — A new 241-room hotel could be coming to downtown Decatur. The Decatur Downtown Development Authority approved a resolution of support for a proposed hotel at 213 Swanton Way during its meeting on Aug. 11. The developer has requested special exceptions related to building height and parking. The exceptions still have to go […]

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Clarkston appoints finance director as acting city manager

Clarkston, GA — After a brief executive session, the Clarkston city council voted unanimously to appoint the city’s finance director Dan Defnall as acting city manager. This follows the city parting ways with former city manager Shawanna Qawiy after accusations that she created a toxic work environment and signed contracts for the city without council […]

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DeKalb city officials talk workforce development, transportation during city summit

Decatur, GA — The DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce held its second city summit on Wednesday, Aug. 9, with several local mayors and city officials present to discuss topics such as workforce development, transportation, and affordable housing. The event featured a keynote address from Jay Gipson, managing partner of the Gipson Company, which is developing […]

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DeKalb School Board discusses costs of inflation, construction delays

DeKalb County, GA — At the DeKalb Board of Education’s Audit Committee meeting on Aug. 9, five of the seven board members were in attendance, and the discussion ranged from the audit and compliance department itself and the status of ongoing audits to how both inflation and delays have cost the district money. Director of […]

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Decatur High athletes ready to compete this fall

By David McFarland, contributor  Decatur, GA — A new school year has arrived, and that means it’s time for Decatur High School’s fall sports to kick off another season. The Bulldogs will be in action everywhere, from the football field to the volleyball court, and then some. Girls + Boys Cross Country  The Girls’ Cross […]

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Kensington Station plans include 525 apartments, 104 townhomes and retail space

Avondale Estates, GA — The Avondale Estates City Commission had a chance to discuss plans for the Kensington MARTA Station with a representative from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority during its work session on Aug. 9. The redevelopment project will bring hundreds of housing units and thousands of square feet of retail space. MARTA […]

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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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