The Annual Comparative Crime Analysis report for 2008-2007 just came out and it shows that the total number of crimes is up 20% (1,105 vs. 918), but violent crime (murder [1 vs. 2], rape [2 vs. 3], robbery [25 vs. 31], and assault [26 vs. 42]) was actually down.

However, burglary was the big gainer, up 62% (202 vs. 125), while theft grew 32% (443 vs. 335).   Auto entrys also increased substantially, up 12% (304 vs. 271), while battery dropped slightly (100 vs. 105).

Here’s a round up of recent offers, events, and specials that I’ve gathered up recently…

• The latest’s Sawicki’s newsletter announces that Lyn is now carrying local Johnson Family Farms whole milk for only $3.65 a half-gallon. (From my own observations, that’s cheaper than organic from the grocery store) and selling eggs from her own backyard chickens for 40 cents each.  Also Sawicki’s is doing a poll on perishables over at its website.  Head over and give a little quick feedback.
• Tastings will host an Inauguration Party next Tuesday from 6p-whenever.  There will be Inauguration-themed trivia, beer specials, buckets of beer, 1/2 off Pilsner Urquell, food specials, ½ off sandwiches, ½ off house wines and themed cocktail.
• Decatur EdTV is now offering a new monthly newsletter (pdf) to help residents stay up to date with the charter school process.  Andrea says hardcopies might also soon be available around town.
• Whit’s End is in the midst of a Winter Clearance Sale.
• Poetry Atlanta comes back to Wordsmiths’ stage this Saturday at 2pm.

Business owners – if you have any other upcoming events/sales/new offerings, send them along and I’ll add ‘em to the list.

Denessa alerts us that Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool will be holding enrollment sessions for the 2009-2010 calendar year at the end of this month.

More specifically – Jan 24, 9:00am – 12n/Jan 29, 7:00p-9:00p/Jan 31, 9:00a – 12n

Applications, tuition pricing, and additional info on the admissions process can be found over on the co-op’s website.

Creative Loafing’s Scott Henry tries to get clarification from the commander of the Atlanta Police Department homicide unit, Lt. Keith Meadows, about why the police and press incorrectly reported that the Standard’s John Henderson was shot “execution-style” and other unsettling, inaccurate facts.

Ultimately, Henry concludes the rampant misinformation “was brought about by a combination of vague, inconclusive information offered by the police and a competitive news environment in which reporters race to make their stories as definitive as possible – often before all the facts are nailed down.”

Henry goes into much greater detail with Meadows in the piece, but be forewarned its pretty graphic.

Though the police and press are certainly to blame in in this misinformation fiasco, it seems like the unlikelihood of the actual event  – Henderson being shot inadvertently by a stray bullet as the suspects departed – is also key to the quick spread of the inaccurate, easier to believe story about “execution”.

In light of all of our recent conversations about the safety and security aspects of owning/carrying a gun after the death of the Standard’s John Henderson, this new report about a potential victim killing his assailant across from the Graveyard Tavern in East Atlanta is frighteningly timely.