🌱 Patch AM: 3 GA Inmates Took Lyft To FL In Jail Escape: Sheriff

Good day Decatur! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• DeKalb jail escape prompts security overhaul after Lyft-fueled dash to Miami
• Why are robot “reindeer” patrolling a Decatur apartment complex?
• Why a ‘Stranger Things’ landmark near Decatur is now under guard

Also on today's calendar: Kate Dramis & Julian Barnes - The Odds of You and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Warm with some sun, with a high of 71 and low of 52 degrees.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and warm, temps: high: 70, low: 56.
• Friday: Rather cloudy and warm, with a high of 70 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 3 GA Inmates Took Lyft To FL In Jail Escape: Sheriff (patch.com) — Residents in and around Decatur are learning more about how three inmates escaped the DeKalb County Jail, traveled via Lyft to Miami, and were quickly recaptured. Local and federal officials detailed the serious charges the men face, the brief manhunt, and new security measures and facility upgrades now being pushed to keep the aging Decatur jail secure for staff, inmates, and the community.
   

• Security robots spread holiday cheer at Decatur apartment complex (atlantanewsfirst.com) — Families at Eastlake Gardens apartments in Decatur got a surprise when the complex’s four-legged security robots dressed as reindeer and handed out candy instead of just patrolling. The Undaunted Robotics team says the robots usually focus on deterring crime in the long-troubled East Lake area, but used this holiday event to connect with residents and kids from nearby complexes.
   

• Vigil held for 19-year-old who died at ‘Stranger Things' filming site: 'She was so full of life' (fox5atlanta.com) — A 19-year-old woman died after falling from a fenced-off, abandoned building on Emory’s Briarcliff campus near North Decatur Road, a site famous as Hawkins Lab from “Stranger Things.” DeKalb police and Emory are investigating, boosting security and warning signs, while her family urges local teens and young adults to avoid trespassing in abandoned buildings and has launched a fundraiser for burial costs.
   

📸 Around Decatur

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Decatur

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday December 26

• Game Center Open
  Oakhurst Elementary Decatur, GA 30030
  8:00 am
• The [censored] Memorial Quilt: Honoring Lives, Inspiring Change
  Decatur Library -
  1:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Take & Make Saturdays
  Decatur Library -
• The [censored] Memorial Quilt: Honoring Lives, Inspiring Change
  Decatur Library -
  1:00 pm

Monday December 29

• Take & Make: Paper Plate Winter Wonderland
  Redan-Trotti Library -
• Community Color-In: Winter Edition
  Redan-Trotti Library -

Wednesday December 31

• Noon Year's Eve
  Decatur Library -
  11:15 am

Friday January 2

• Take & Make: Polar Plate String Art
  Redan-Trotti Library -

Tuesday January 6

• Kate Dramis & Julian Barnes - The Odds of You
  Eagle Eye Book Shop , 2076 N Decatur Rd , Decatur
  7:00 pm

📣 Decatur Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 25

• Christmas - City Hall Closed
  Avondale Estates, GA Calendar Avondale Estates, GA 30002
• Christmas Day at CCS
  Charlies Collectible Show Inc , 6009 Memorial Dr Unit 14 , Stone Mountain
  12:00 pm

Friday December 26

• Game Center Open
  Oakhurst Elementary Decatur, GA 30030
  8:00 am
• Anew You Yoga
  Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library -
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Decatur PatchAM possible:

• Epiphany
  Got a Startup With Purpose? Apply for 2026 Epiphany Grant!
• Mindful Learning Services LLC — (786) 554-8437
  Intervention Specialist
• Atlanta Expert Appliance Repair — (404) 834-5157
  Servicing all brand major appliances

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Missing our sweet elderly gray cat, Lindsay.
  we live off Lavista between Pangborn and Oakgrove roads. Please message me if you have seen her. She has white on her paws and chest. (Nextdoor La Vista-Nelms)
• Hi there.
  I’m the good girl you’ve been waiting for. I’m Darla Girl! I’m a 55-pound, spayed lady who’s currently living in a foster home, learning all the… (Nextdoor Greystone Park)

• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Decatur. Apply here.
• Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc posted a job opening for Production Associate in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

🗞 Nearby News

Atlanta

• The Best Places To Eat In GA: 2025 Recap (patch.com)
• 10 Events In GA To Keep Kids Busy During School Break (patch.com)

Tucker

• ❄️ Happy holidays! (roughdraftatlanta.com)
• Maker builds tiny $10 secondary 1.14-inch display using an ESP32 — you could play Crysis on it, if you squint (tomshardware.com)

Stone Mountain

Ok Decatur! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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