🌱 Dozens Of Animals Saved From Home + Low Temps In North Atlanta

Morning, everybody! It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Atlanta Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Today's briefing includes news about:

• Dozens of animals confiscated from Fulton County home
• More information on the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy
• Atlanta residents experience rainfall and low temperatures

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and warmer. High: 64 Low: 38.

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Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

1. Fulton County's SWAT confiscated more than 60 animals from a home in Milton and now their owner faces multiple felony animal cruelty charges. The animals confiscated were in poor physical and medical shape due to abuse and neglect. The homeowner, Deborah Blatchley, the founder of a poodle rescue group, was arrested. Authorities said 56 dogs were confiscated from the property, along with two cats, two horses, and five chickens. (WSB Atlanta)
2. Investigators shared new photos on Thursday taken from surveillance footage at Cascade Skating Rink where 13-year-old Deshon DuBose was shot and killed. The photos depict young boys whom police say may have more information about the cause of Dubose's death. Dubose's family maintains that he was merely a bystander in gun violence. (MSN.com)
3. Let's Ride Atlanta is now offering free e-shuttle rides to Downtown Decatur residents. Shirley Baylis, the business development manager for the City of Decatur, states that this is a way for city officials to help the community and also be more friendly to the environment. This e-shuttle program is a component of Decatur’s strategic plan to promote different modes of transportation and connect residents with local businesses. (WABE 90.1 FM)
4. Metro Atlanta leaders are saying that an overdose reversal drug could make a profound difference in saving lives in light of the extreme opioid epidemic. Cobb County health officials said more than 120 people died from opioids in 2021, and 97 of those were from Fentanyl.
   Advocates and public health professionals are pushing to get the drug Naloxone into the hands of community members to help save anyone who may overdose. (Atlanta News First)
5. North Georgia experienced overnight storms on Sunday and temperatures that fell into the low 40s. The storm also made power lines and trees fall, causing power outages. Wind gusts persisted throughout the day on Saturday and reached as high as 47 mph in Atlanta. The metro Atlanta area also received rainfall, strong winds, and saturated soil that could cause more trees to fall, according to Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz. (WSB Atlanta)

Today in Atlanta:

• College And Career Motivation Week Speaker Day At Daniel Mclaughlin Therrell High School (All Day)
• Art Exhibit At Dunwoody Library (10:00 AM)
• PRSSA Member And Interest Meeting At Conant Performing Arts Center (1:00 PM)
• Manga & Graphic Novel Book Club At DeKalb County Public Library (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department honors Black History Month by sharing an image of the first 16 men of color to join the Atlanta Fire Department. These men were all assigned to Fire Station 16, making it the first all-Black fire station in the city. (City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department via Facebook)
• Mayor Andre Dickens greeted members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta West End during their weekly meeting. Mayor Dickens highlighted the theme “Service Over Self.”(City of Atlanta Government via Facebook)
• More breezy conditions and rain are ahead for Atlanta Residents. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s to low 40s. (Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you around.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. She is a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.