🌱 Patch AM: Which Monroe-area tragedies and mysteries topped 2025’s most-read stories?

Good morning Monroe! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Which Monroe-area tragedies and mysteries topped 2025’s most-read stories?

Today's riddle: What did one volcano say to the other volcano? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Mostly sunny and beautiful, with a high of 60 and low of 40 degrees.
• Monday: Beautiful with plenty of sun, temps: high: 62, low: 43.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and warm, with a high of 69 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Top 20 stories in Your Local News 2025 again were dominated by tragedies (monroelocal.org) — Monroe and Walton County readers drove millions of page views in 2025, with the most-read stories centering on local tragedies, including deadly crashes involving Monroe residents and a woman injured in an April Monroe shooting. A mysterious loud boom, a winter storm warning, and the controversy over new statues around downtown Monroe also ranked high, showing what most captured local attention last year.
   

📸 Around Monroe

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

📣 Monroe 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

Monday January 5

• Profoam 3 1/2 Day Training Class - Rutledge, GA-$1050 per person
  Profoam Corporation , 145 Newborn Rd , Rutledge
  1:00 pm
• Planning Commission Public Hearing
  Lawrenceville, GA Calendar , 70 S Clayton Street , Lawrenceville
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Basketball @ Sweetwater
  Berkmar High School , 405 Pleasant Hill Rd , Lilburn
  5:30 pm

Friday January 9

• Network Barrow
  Barrow County Chamber of Commerce , #6 Porter St. , Winder
  9:00 am
• Friday Fun Game Night
  Hard Labor Creek State Park , 5 Hard Labor Creek Road , Rutledge
  5:00 pm
• Campfire and Hot Cocoa
  Hard Labor Creek State Park , 5 Hard Labor Creek Road , Rutledge
  6:00 pm
• Community Campfire & S'mores on the House!
  Fort Yargo State Park , 210 South Broad Street , Winder
  7:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Loop Around the Lake
  Fort Yargo State Park , 210 South Broad Street , Winder
  9:00 am

Monday January 12

• Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Meeting
  Lawrenceville, GA Calendar , 70 S Clayton St , Lawrenceville
  5:00 pm

Tuesday January 13

• Lawrenceville Arts Commission (LAC) Meeting
  Lawrenceville, GA Calendar , 70 S Clayton St , Lawrenceville
  6:00 pm

Saturday January 17

• Del Rio Dacula Saturday 7PM w/late entry until 9:30PM
  Del Rio Mexican Grill , 1342 Auburn Rd , Dacula
  7:00 pm

Friday January 23

• 2026 Triple GA Projects Facilitator Training
  Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center , 543 Elliott Trail , Mansfield
  9:00 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 Monroe PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

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

• Hi everyone!
  I just moved in a few short weeks ago from Birmingham. I’m a small town girlie, originally from the Midwest, so community and strong neighborhoods… (Nextdoor Bold Springs)
• Great appliance guy needed.
  5 year old Whirlpool refrig. Freezer/ice maker on bottom. Top gets warm. Freezer keeps working. Have to defrost and a lot of water from ice behind… (Nextdoor Partain Road)

• Tucker Door and Trim posted a job opening for Material Handler / Loader - PM Shift in Monroe. Apply here.
• Dollar Tree Family Dollar - Dollar Tree, Inc. posted a job opening for Customer Service Associate I in Monroe. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Monroe here.

🗞 Nearby News

Social Circle

• Georgia Today: Record blue-collar job losses; Social Circle pushes back against deportation center (gpb.org)

Loganville

• New Loganville City Council takes seat for first meeting of 2026 Monday (monroelocal.org)
• Buddhist monks continue cross-country trek to start New Year (newsnationnow.com)
• Florida State offers blue-chip OL (usatoday.com)

Winder

Ok Monroe! 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 lava you.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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