🌱 Patch AM: How a Decatur trafficking case led to a 10-year sentence

Good morning to you Decatur! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Decatur trafficking case led to a 10-year sentence
• What will DeKalb decide on the controversial Ellenwood data center?
• Why a Decatur man is tied to pills hidden in candy.

Also on today's calendar: Holidays on Peachtree Street and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Breezy and much colder, with a high of 42 and low of 16 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Plenty of sun, but cold, temps: high: 40, low: 24.
• Tuesday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 57 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Man Convicted in Federal Court for Trafficking Two Minors After Joint GBI–HSI Investigation (einpresswire.com) — A Decatur man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking two minors, including incidents at hotels in and around Decatur. State and federal investigators say a 2023 tip about a missing runaway led them to uncover a broader pattern of exploitation, and they’re urging anyone with information on human trafficking in Georgia to call the statewide hotline.
   

• South DeKalb residents protest proposed Ellenwood data center ahead of vote (atlantanewsfirst.com) — Residents gathered near Decatur this weekend to protest a proposed one‑million‑square‑foot data center campus in Ellenwood, warning it could bring health, noise, and environmental problems to south DeKalb neighborhoods. County commissioners, who meet in Decatur, will vote December 16 on new rules that would govern data centers, including stricter standards for lighting, noise, and sustainability.
   

• Drugs found hidden inside candy bag during traffic stop on I-75 (wsbtv.com) — A Decatur man is among two metro Atlanta residents charged after Monroe County deputies say they found hundreds of oxycodone pills hidden in a candy bag during an I-75 traffic stop. While the incident happened outside the city, Decatur readers may want to know a local resident now faces serious trafficking charges and remains jailed without bond.
   

📸 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!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Holidays on Peachtree Street
  The Church at Ponce & Highland, 1085 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 14

• Avondale Estates Christmas Tour of Homes & Holiday Market
  Avondale Community Club Inc , 59 Lakeshore Dr , Avondale Estates
  3:00 pm

Monday December 15

• New Atlanta Campus of Tulsa Welding School Hosting Hiring & Career Fair
  Tulsa Welding School 1287 Columbia Drive Decatur, Georgia 30032
  12:00 pm
• Handmade Gift Workshop
  Decatur Library -
  4:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Golden Classics
  Decatur Library -
  2:30 pm
• Read the Rainbow Book Club
  Decatur Library -
  5:00 pm
• Adultish Sewing Club
  Decatur Library -
  5:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Holiday Jingle Jam with Seniors
  2711 Lawrenceville Hwy , Decatur
  10:00 am
• DeKalb Public Health Outreach
  Decatur Library -
  10:00 am
• BSSG: Morning Mastermind: Let's Get New Ideas Brewing
  Quality Coaching Company , 2310 Parklake Dr. NE , Atlanta
  10:00 am
• Ribbon Cutting at L&L Crafty Finds
  DeKalb Chamber of Commerce , 4421 Glenwood Rd Suite 600 , Decatur
  1:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• 11th Annual Procrastinator's Pop-up
  4580 Lakeshore Dr , Pine Lake
  11:00 am

📣 Decatur Shout Outs!

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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:

• Atlanta Expert Appliance Repair — (404) 834-5157
  Servicing all brand major appliances
• Epiphany
  Got a Startup With Purpose? Apply for 2026 Epiphany Grant!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• WANDERING WISP - 'Wisp' is a 1 year old cutie that now beats Chili for first place as my EASIEST foster dog.
  This adorable little guy was found as a stray (WANDERING) and is so chill and well-behaved that sometimes you forget he's there (WISP). But make no… (Nextdoor Lindmoor Woods)
• DEKALB COUNTY IS HIRING!
  Equipment Operator, Senior Refuse Driver Collector Building Inspector, Senior Refuse Collector Firefighter (Pre-Qualified) Building & Fire Plan… (Nextdoor Brook Glen)

• PruittHealth posted a job opening for Housekeeper HCC in Decatur. Apply here.
• Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. posted a job opening for Team Member in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

🗞 Nearby News

Atlanta

• 2 Dead In Fiery Crash On Interstate 75 In Atlanta (patch.com)

Tucker

• Spread the joy: 6 ways to give back in Tucker this holiday season (roughdraftatlanta.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 didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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