‘She Literally Danced Her Way Through The Day’: Waukesha Victim

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s Thursday, Nov. 25. Whatever you’re doing today, take some time to focus on gratitude and thankfulness. One thing you may be thankful for is the return of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade after a one-year, pandemic imposed hiatus. Here are some of the stories we’re following:

• Three white men in Georgia were convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, as he jogged through his neighborhood.
• Waukesha, Wisconsin, remains a city in grief as the Thanksgiving weekend begins.
• A wave of violent smash-and-grab robberies has retailers nervous as the busy holiday shopping weekend is about to begin.
• And internet sleuths, we have a mystery we need your help in solving.

‘The Jury System Works’

Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski, who led the team that secured an array of convictions against the three white men in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, told a crowd outside the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia, on Wednesday the jury reached its verdict based on facts and evidence.

“That was our goal, to bring that to the jury, so they can do the right thing,” Dunikoski said. “The jury system works in this country."

Attorneys for the three — father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael and their neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. — plan to appeal.

“Honestly, with my whole heart, I've lived with these men day in and day out since the last year and a half," defense attorney Jason Sheffield said . "I can tell you honestly they are sorry about what happened with Ahmaud Arbery. It was a choice they made to go out there and try to stop him."

They still face federal charges after a federal grand jury in April indicted the men on hate crimes charges. The federal indictment says the men targeted Arbery because he was Black. It's an entirely separate case that's not affected by the state trial's outcome. » 3 White Men Convicted Of Murdering Ahmaud Arbery, A Black Man, As He Jogged Through His Neighborhood, via Atlanta Patch

Waukesha: A City In Grief

Waukesha, Wisconsin, enters the holiday weekend as a city in grief. Six people are now dead after an SUV crashed through barricades and barreled through the annual Christmas parade and injured dozens of others Sunday. Three days later, 13 of the 16 children who were seriously injured remained at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Six are in critical condition, and one child, an 8-year-old, died of his injuries.

From NFL teams to chocolatiers in a neighboring town, offers to help are pouring in. You can help, too. Here’s a list of verified GoFundMe campaigns.

Many are determined not to be defined by the tragedy. The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, the grande dames of the Wisconsin parade circuit who lost three members of their troupe, plan to march in a Christmas parade early next month and continue their mission to create joy.

“She was that kind of person who captured your attention as soon as she walked into the room,” David Durand, whose wife, Tamara, was among the “Grannies” killed, told reporters Monday. “She literally danced her way through the day.” » Read All The Waukesha Christmas Parade Coverage, via Waukesha, Wisconsin Patch.

Smash-And-Grab Thefts Trending

Retailers from luxury stores such as Louis Vuitton to big box stores like Best Buy are putting on extra security to keep workers and customers safe amid a wave of violent smash-and-grab robberies as the holiday shopping season gets into full swing. Authorities say organized crime is behind the robberies, in which mobs use sledgehammers and crowbars to break into stores and quickly clear out expensive merchandise before fleeing in waiting vehicles. » Brazen Smash-And-Grab Robberies Add To Holiday Shopping Stress, via Across America Patch

Whose Hair Is This, Internet Sleuths?

Internet sleuths, help us out. Here’s a story about a woman who found a 1918 baby book filled with photos and treasures, including a lock of hair, in a box of book she bought at an auction. She says she’s grateful for any help Patch readers can give to help find the descendants of the little girl in the baby book. » A Baby Book, A Lock Of Hair And A Mystery: Finding Gratitude, via Across America Patch

Around ‘The Patch’

A Juxtaposition: A Broadway actor who played Judas in the national tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” joined the Oath Keepers to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, according to court documents, via Orlando, Florida, Patch.

Turkey Talk: Between supply chain backlogs that have limited the delivery of turkeys to grocery stores and an increased demand in organic, free-range meats, it's been a banner Thanksgiving for a Florida farmer, via Temple Terrace, Florida, Patch.

The Great Escape: If the relatives are too much, plan your escape to the movie theater. Here’s your Thanksgiving Weekend Movie Guide, via Hollywood, California, Patch.

(P)awful, Just (P)awful: A newlywed couple had to cancel their honeymoon to Tahiti after their pet sitter lost their dog, via Hoboken, New Jersey Patch.

Odd Ones Of The Day

‘What To Do With The Body’: A Newark police officer fatally struck a nurse with his car, then took the body home to his mother to discuss what he should do with it, according to prosecutors, via Newark, New Jersey, Patch.

More Elf On The Shelf Drama: A Georgia judge is dripping sarcasm again with his latest ruling on the Elf on the Shelf, via Marietta, Georgia, Patch.

High Crimes And Misdemeanors: A cache of 4,000 glass bongs worth $56,000 and $23,000 in cash was seized at Washington Dulles International Airport, via Herndon, Virginia, Patch.

National News

Sign up for Across America Patch to keep up with national news. Here are a few headlines:

• Kyle Rittenhouse And Donald Trump Got Chummy, via Miami Patch
• On The Road Again: Americans Reclaim A Thanksgiving Tradition, via Across America Patch
• NASA Launches Spacecraft To Deliberately Hit Asteroids, via Across America Patch

Today In History

On Nov. 25, 1950, the so-called “storm of the century” — or, alternately, the “Appalachian Storm” — killed hundreds and caused millions of dollars in damage after it dumped record amounts of snow on parts of the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, via History.com.

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