Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why a “Stranger Things” filming site turned deadly overnight
And on the Decatur Patch calendar - Holidays on Peachtree Street
Hey there, Decatur! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why a “Stranger Things” filming site turned deadly overnight
- What a Decatur drone pilot’s mistake means for your next flight
- How fake workers are holding up Decatur construction crews at gunpoint
Also on today's calendar: Holidays on Peachtree Street and 1 more event.
Find out what's happening in Decatur-Avondale Estatesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Decatur-Avondale Estatesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 58 and low of 36 degrees.
- Sunday: Nice with periods of sun, temps: high: 60, low: 35.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high of 56 and low of 36 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Woman killed in fall from vacant Emory building used as filming location (fox5atlanta.com) — A young woman died early Friday after falling from a vacant, fenced-off building on Emory University’s Briarcliff campus near North Decatur Road, a site well known as a “Stranger Things” filming location. DeKalb County police say she was with a group exploring the abandoned structure when she fell, and investigators are still working to learn why they entered and how the fatal fall occurred. 
2. Feds charge drone pilot after MLB stadium no-fly violation (dronedj.com) — A Decatur man has been sentenced to probation and fined after pleading guilty to flying a drone into restricted airspace over Truist Park during July’s MLB All-Star Game. Federal officials say the case should warn local hobbyists and professionals alike to check flight restrictions, register drones, and follow certification rules before flying anywhere near big events.
3. Thieves pose as workers to rob DeKalb construction crews at gunpoint (wsbtv.com) — Armed thieves posing as laborers have been targeting construction crews in Decatur and southeast Atlanta, entering unattended work vans and in at least two cases pointing guns at workers who confronted them. Decatur police urge victims not to chase suspects, but instead note details about the thieves and their pickup truck and immediately call authorities.
4. Newberry College mourns loss of Hall of Famer Dexter Odom (newberryobserver.com) — Decatur residents may remember Richard “Dexter” Odom, born here in 1951, who went on to become a Newberry College football standout, Hall of Famer, and longtime athletics leader. The 74-year-old former Georgia high school referee and Lake Lanier-area farmer died December 8, and a celebration of life is planned January 3 at Wiles Chapel in Newberry, South Carolina.
5. From Chicago to Decatur, These Cities Are Now One Step Closer to Reparations (theroot.com) — Decatur has launched an 11-member reparations task force to investigate Black property loss and recommend policies to address the long-term economic impact of slavery on local residents. The group, formed after advocacy from the Beacon Hill community, has three years to deliver a final report. The article also compares Decatur’s efforts with similar reparations initiatives in cities nationwide.
📸 Around Decatur
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Decatur
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Holidays on Peachtree Street
The Church at Ponce & Highland, 1085 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta
7:00 pm - 11th Annual Procrastinator's Pop-up
4580 Lakeshore Dr, Pine Lake
11:00 am
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Musical Booking: Holidays with the Edgewood String Quartet
Decatur Library -
6:30 pm - Chamber Office Closed
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce , 125 Clairemont Ave #235 , Decatur
Monday December 22
Wednesday December 24
📣 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
- Gather + Play at Refuge Coffee: Holiday Edition
Refuge Coffee Co. Clarkston , 4170 E Ponce de Leon Ave NE , Clarkston
10:00 am - Family Yoga: Yoga with Your Little Yogi
Decatur Library -
10:00 am - Gingerbread House Decorating Competition
Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library -
11:00 am - Chainmail Jewelry Hybrid Workshop
Clarkston Library , DeKalb County Public Library , Clarkston
11:00 am - Friends Holiday Market
Scott Candler Library, DeKalb County Public Library , 1917 Candler Rd , Decatur
11:00 am - Puzzle Swap
Redan-Trotti Library -
11:00 am - Cookies and Cocoa
Salem-Panola Library -
1:00 pm - The [censored] Memorial Quilt: Honoring Lives, Inspiring Change
Decatur Library -
1:00 pm - Avondale Estates Farmers Market
Avondale Estates, GA Calendar , 64 N. Avondale Rd. Town Green , Avondale Estates
11:00 am - Sunday Public Tours at the Michael C. Carlos Museum
Michael C. Carlos Museum , Rotunda , Druid Hills
2:00 pm
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
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! - Atlanta Expert Appliance Repair — (404) 834-5157
Servicing all brand major appliances - Mindful Learning Services LLC — (786) 554-8437
Intervention Specialist
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Our cat got out sometime Sunday.
We have been searching for her and hope someone has seen her. She had a tan collar with a tag and is chipped. She has an unusually fluffy tail. If… (Nextdoor Briarlake) - Hello Community,
We lost our dog Wednesday morning and haven’t seen her since. She took off through some trees, we live in Decatur by Towers Highschool. If anyone has… (Nextdoor Brookcrest Circle)
- Emory Healthcare posted a job opening for Dining Services Associate in Decatur. Apply here.
- DeKalb County (GA) posted a job opening for Registration & Elections Coordinator - Administration in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.
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 dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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