DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in (with pics!)…

More than twenty five DHS students from the 9th grade and the Close Up Club participated in the City of Decatur MLK service day. I was a little concerned that only four students had arrived by 8:20 but we had a full team by 8:45. Close Up parents Stan and Laura Metz not only acted as chaperons but worked as hard as the students. We worked for Ms. A.J. on Olympia Place. The students worked very hard from 9:30 to 12:30. We were able to clean the entire property- front, both sides, and back yard. I think the students made a difference in the life of Ms. A.J. When we were finished, she spoke from the heart about how thankful she was that students would give up their holiday for her. I am very proud of all the DHS students who participated in today’s effort. I still find it hard to believe that so much stuff was moved to the curb.

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I guess its a “power of words” sorta day.

In yet another documented instance of Atlanta news orgs referring to incorporated DeKalb as “Decatur”, thanks to a Decatur mailing address, the AJC first reported this DeKalb motel shooting as “Decatur motel shooting victim now in critical condition”, according to Andisheh.

Not the first time this has happened.

The location was reported as Decatur. An hour later, it’s changed to DeKalb without any note.

As we’ve noted before, it might not matter to most, but countless shootings and other illicit acts reported as “Decatur” but really in DeKalb, aren’t all that great for the city’s image.

Maybe a specialized “Decatur: We’re incorporated!” ad campaign would help.

When they broke into Boogaloos and pepper-sprayed an employee at Kalidescope, we were still referring to them as if they were cartoon villains on par with Yosemite Sam.

I’m happy to report (um…observe?) that not only do Atlanta Police finally seem to have the number of local gang members with a penchant for stealing blue jeans and flat-screens – 9 more were arrested yesterday after an early morning jean heist in downtown Atlanta – but because the APD and journos have pieced the story of the “30 Deep” gang together, we’re no longer hearing these organized criminals referred to as “blue jean bandits”.

Thank goodness.