🌱 Patch AM: How did a Decatur jail break turn into a Florida kidnapping?

Hey hey Decatur! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How did a Decatur jail break turn into a Florida kidnapping?
• How close did these New Year’s fireworks come to Decatur homes?

Also on today's calendar: Kate Dramis & Julian Barnes - The Odds of You and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: I quit my job as a banker. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Showers late this afternoon, with a high of 60 and low of 50 degrees.
• Saturday: Rain and a thunderstorm, temps: high: 57, low: 41.
• Sunday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 62 and low of 39 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Inmates Escaped Ga. Jail Before Allegedly Kidnapping Rideshare Driver, Forcing Her to Drive Across State Lines (people.com) — Three inmates who escaped from the DeKalb County Jail in Decatur are accused of forcing a Lyft driver to take them to south Florida, allegedly threatening to kill her and using her credit cards. Authorities tracked the vehicle by license plate readers, arrested all three in Florida, and recovered a handgun. DeKalb’s sheriff says she’ll push for security improvements at the jail.
   

• Fireworks ignite front yard of home next to children's clinic in DeKalb County (wsbtv.com) — Fireworks set off near Decatur sparked a garden fire at a woman’s home, one of several dangerous New Year’s incidents across DeKalb County. Neighbors in busy Chamblee also rushed to extinguish flames outside a children’s clinic after fireworks went out of control. Police have not yet said whether they’ll investigate the illegal street fireworks.
   

📸 Around Decatur

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Decatur

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Saturday January 3

• Take & Make Saturdays
  Decatur Library -
• Family Yoga: Yoga with Your Little Yogi
  Decatur Library -
  10:00 am
• Early Readers Storytime
  Redan-Trotti Library -
  11:00 am
• Hoop Group: Family Cross Stitch and Embroidery
  Redan-Trotti Library Meeting Room Redan-Trotti Library -
  2:00 pm
• Anime Bites for Adults
  Redan-Trotti Library -
  2:00 pm

Monday January 5

• Take & Make: Polar Plate String Art
  Redan-Trotti Library -
• Toddler Storytime
  Decatur Library -
  10:00 am
• Preschool Storytime
  Decatur Library -
  11:00 am

Tuesday January 6

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

Tuesday January 13

• Van Jensen & Delilah S. Dawson - Godfall
  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

Friday January 2

• Game Center Open
  Oakhurst Elementary Decatur, GA 30030
  8:00 am
• It's National Puzzle Month
  Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library -
  11:00 am
• The [censored] Memorial Quilt: Honoring Lives, Inspiring Change
  Decatur Library -
  1:00 pm
• Friday Movies
  Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library - Meeting Room
  1:30 pm

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:

• Mindful Learning Services LLC — (786) 554-8437
  Intervention Specialist
• Transit CPR LLC — (678) 856-6115
  Life-Saving CPR Training to Your Team—Any time, Anywhere
• Atlanta Expert Appliance Repair — (404) 834-5157
  Servicing all brand major appliances
• Epiphany
  Got a Startup With Purpose? Apply for 2026 Epiphany Grant!
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Marquel’s Pledge
  Happy New Year, everyone ! As we approach the ending of 2025 and celebrate the arrival of 2026, I encourage everyone to eliminate celebratory… (Nextdoor Belvedere Park)
• If it costs you peace, let it go.
  2026 is about choosing YOU! Your happiness, your growth, your energy. And guess what? You absolutely have permission to do that. (Nextdoor Yorkshire at Dogwood Farm)

• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Team Member in Decatur. Apply here.
• Fortrex posted a job opening for Accounts Receivable Manager in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

🗞 Nearby News

Avondale Estates

• (Sub)urban Smackdown 2025 tournament: Final Four voting starts now! (urbanize.city)

Atlanta

• GA’s Best Hospitals For 2025: See Full List (patch.com)
• Best Places To Live, Work, Play In GA: 2025 Recap (patch.com)
• 15+ Eateries Open, 3 Close In GA: Top Restaurant News 2025 (patch.com)

Tucker

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 just lost interest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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