From Deputy Chief Keith Lee…

The Decatur Police Department will host its “JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY” during the week of July 16 – 20, 2012. The program is designed to educate and enlighten young people about the functions and duties of their police department. Participants will participate in fun and educational exercises designed to simulate real law enforcement activities. Lunch and refreshments will be provided to participants each day and participants who successfully complete the academy will receive certificates of completion and a class t-shirt.

The class will be limited to 12 participants and further is limited to City of Decatur residents who have completed the 7th or 8th grade during the 2011-2012 school year. Applications can be obtained at the Decatur Police Department. Applications must be submitted to the Decatur Police Department no later than June 29, 2012 at 5:00 pm. For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Deputy Chief Keith Lee at 678 553-6620.

Based on an article in the AJC late last week reporting on the gaining popularity of government smoking bans around metro Atlanta, I inquired to City Manager Peggy Merriss about Decatur’s current smoking ordinance as it applies to city-owned open spaces.  Here is her reply…

Smoking is banned at all built City facilities. We have not amended the ordinance or issued administrative regulations to have it apply to open spaces such as City parks but it is likely we will be reviewing that issue this year. In January, 2013 outdoor dining areas associated with restaurants that have an alcoholic beverage license will have to be smoke free. There have also been some very preliminary discussions about designating other open public areas, such as the Square and MARTA Plaza as smoke free.

Should be an interesting conversation.

• Decatur Beer Fest logo contest deadline June 14th [Decatur Minute]
• Company offering Atlanta movie tours [Patch]
• Rehabbed Decatur Starbucks has largest cafe in Atlanta [Twitter]
• Billy Allin’s Williams-Sonoma page [WS]
• Tucker company awarded $7.7 million DeKalb watershed project [Champion]
• NASA asks future moon visitors to respect its stuff [Arstechnica]