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Community Corner

🌱Divers Visit GA Aquarium, Van Robbed + Ukraine Refugees To ATL

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Atlanta.

Kathy Cioffi, Community Contributor
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(Patch)

Happy Sunday, people of Atlanta! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today.

First, today's weather:

Breezy in the morning; sunny. High: 61 Low: 41.

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Here are the top five stories in Atlanta today:

  1. Chaos Divers, a dive team devoted to helping people find their missing loved ones, now needs help themselves after their equipment was stolen while visiting Atlanta. Friday, the team that travels the country to find missing people underwater stopped downtown to have a little fun by visiting the Georgia Aquarium. After parking their van a few blocks away, in a lot on Marietta Street, someone stole their very valuable equipment, including their computer, containing files from their last three months of work, their cameras, a drone and a gun. The dive team, with a big following on their YouTube channel, has filed a report with Atlanta police. If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. (WSB Atlanta)
  2. After President Biden announced Thursday that the U.S. will welcome 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, local nonprofits that work with refugees said they expect some evacuees to resettle in metro Atlanta. Justin Howell, the executive director for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the largest of four private refugee resettlement agencies in the state, said, "We stand ready to welcome people. On average, we welcome about half of all refugees in the state." The IRC assists by helping refugees find jobs, open businesses, and enroll their kids in school. While the Biden administration did not provide a timeline, resettlement is typically a lengthy process, taking up to 18 months. And not all 100,000 may necessarily arrive this year, according to the Associated Press. (CBS 46 News)
  3. A group of kids believed to be responsible for throwing rocks at passing cars and damaging them near a section of train tracks off Camp Creek Parkway are being sought by Atlanta police and several other agencies. Channel 2 Action News has reported on the rock-throwing incidents over the past few weeks near the Welcome All Road connector, an area that is bordered by train tracks. Atlanta City Council member Marci Collier Overstreet, who represents the affected area, said she hopes other nearby jurisdictions will team up with Atlanta Police to help prevent these scary incidents. "My heart goes out to the people who have dealt with this damage," Overstreet said. "No one should have to have this kind of fear while on the road. We will continue to work with police to stop this from happening." (WSB Atlanta)
  4. Spring has sprung its layer of yellow pollen everywhere, and the news for allergy sufferers isn't good. Thursday, the pollen count, which represents the number of pollen grains per cubic meter of air over the previous 24 hours, was around 987, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma – the highest pollen count so far this year. 11Alive medical expert Dr. Sujatha Reddy said most pollen outbreaks affect eyes, the nose and even the throat, and adds that there are plenty of triggers for an allergic reaction when a lot of pollen is in the air. To keep seasonal allergies under control, check out these tips from the Mayo Clinic. (11Alive.com WXIA)
  5. The Brookwood Hills neighborhood is being terrorized by a barred owl that has attacked people as many as 80 times over a span of months. "I felt something just come down and grab me on the head," said Rich Perkey. "I would like to feel comfortable running around the neighborhood without fear of talons coming into my scalp." The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is assisting with what they agree is a bizarre situation. Kaitlin Goode, Urban Wildlife Program Manager with the DNR, said the organization believes the owl fell out of the nest as a chick and "somebody raised it and it imprinted on a person." Now it's trying to get people's attention to get food from them. Goode said the DNR is attempting to trap and net the owl, which she said isn't easy and could take weeks. But she believes for everyone's safety – including the owl's – relocation is necessary. (CBS 46 News)

Today in Atlanta:

  • Join the Lustgarten Foundation for the 5th annual 5K Run/Walk for Research to inspire the pancreatic cancer community and provide renewed hope at Porsche Experience Center Atlanta. (8:30 AM)
  • Take a Creekwater Alpaca Farm barn tour! Our unique farm in Snellville has been the home of over 50 alpacas since 1993. We offer a safe, close up, hands-on experience unlike any other. Bring the family and enjoy petting the alpacas in their pen, bunnies, goats, miniature horses, and pigs too! Toulouse geese also call Creekwater home, and you can enjoy it all with our public tours! (11:00 AM)
  • An outdoor event will commemorate the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian. We are marking 133 years since the establishment of our community. All are welcome to join us for this celebration! (3:00 PM)
  • Enlighten Collective's Spoken Word & Open Mic Showcase at Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community. (7:00 PM)
  • Join lululemon Howell Mill as we celebrate Women's History Month by coming together in an evening of connection and support for our female-identifying community. We will kick off the evening with our guest speaker and legacy Ambassador, Saidah Jones. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • City of Atlanta Police Department reports that our beloved Officer J. Chester is on his way home to Mississippi, where he will be laid to rest. It is still too surreal for us, but these images force us to accept that Officer Jamaine E. Chester is physically gone. (Facebook)
  • Atlanta Humane Society says we're in for some cooler weather this weekend, but that won't stop us from daydreaming. Just imagine ... you're somewhere warm, soaking up some rays and road tripping with expert co-pilot, Zola! Sounds pretty awesome, right? Zola sure thinks so. To learn more about her, head to: atlantahumane.org/zola (Facebook)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Cliftondale: "Tree pruning - contact Angelo 678-670-9959." (Nextdoor)
  • Marketing Superintendent Dawn Patton-Herkley, Clayton County Board of Commissioners Office of Communications: "Commissioner Dr. Alieka Anderson and Clayton County Parks and Recreation presents the Eggstravaganza Spring Festival Saturday, April 2, from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. at Rex Park, 3499 Rex Road, Rex, GA 30273. For more information, visit claytonparks.com. #Claytonconnected" (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Campbellton Road: "If you are a veteran and still like to serve in the community, come join us. We are a veterans service organization and are looking for more members. We are located at 3011 Campbellton Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30311. You can contact me at rjacobs65@gmail.com." (Nextdoor)

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That's it for today! See you all tomorrow for another update.

— Kathy Cioffi

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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