Top News: Trump Pardon, Church Attack, Voter Guides, Nasty Sting

GEORGIA — Top news stories in the past week included voter guides, a first look at fall foliage colors, sex offender lists by town, a fuzzy caterpillar that packs a venomous sting, how likely Georgia drivers are to strike a deer, best cities to live and retire in, and businesses can share their news with Patch readers.

Plus, President Trump commutes a former Atlanta teacher's prison sentence, medical experts offer advice on Thanksgiving gatherings, what to know about poll watchers and armed militias, a sketch is released of a kidnapper and robber, a teen apologizes for planning a church attack, and more in our roundup of top news stories from Georgia's Patch sites this week.

Share your local news, events and pics by clicking "+" at the top of any page.

Here are some of this week's top headlines:

• GA Patch Local Business Information Center: A Community Resource
• Fuzzy Caterpillars With Venomous Sting Found In Georgia
• 2020 Fall Foliage Peak: Where Colors Are Emerging In Georgia
• Trump Commutes Former Atlanta Teacher's Prison Sentence
• Thanksgiving 2020 In GA: Advice On Gatherings, Travel Quarantines
• How Likely Are Car Vs. Deer Collisions In Georgia?
• Over 1K Signatures For Rayshard Brooks Peace Center In Atlanta
• Armed Militias And Poll Watchers: Know The Laws In Georgia
• GA Teen Accused Of Planning Church Attack: 'I'm Sorry'
• Bartow Jail Quarantined After More Than 30 Inmates Get COVID-19
• 3 GA Cities Among Best Places To Live, Retire In 2020: U.S. News

Voter Guides, Ballot Drop Box Sites

• Early Voting, Drop Box Locations In Marietta
• Early Voting, Drop Box Locations In Smyrna
• Early Voting, Drop Box Locations In Decatur
• Early Voting, Drop Box Locations In Brookhaven
• Early Voting, Drop Box Locations In Atlanta
• Early Voting, Drop Box Locations In Buckhead
• Early Voting, Drop Box Locations In Midtown
• Alpharetta/Milton Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Johns Creek Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Roswell Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Sandy Springs Voter Guide 2020: Deadline, Candidates, How To Vote
• Forsyth Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Canton Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Woodstock Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Dacula Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Loganville-Grayson Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, How To Vote
• Atlanta Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Buckhead Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Midtown Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Decatur Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Smyrna Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote
• Marietta Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote

Sex Offenders On GA Registry; Search Your Town

• 1,180 Sex Offenders In Atlanta In 2020
• 400 Sex Offenders In Decatur In 2020
• 30 Sex Offenders In Smyrna: 2020 Safety Map
• 18 Sex Offenders In Alpharetta/Milton: 2020 Safety Map
• 3 Sex Offenders In Johns Creek: 2020 Safety Map
• 30 Sex Offenders In Roswell: 2020 Safety Map
• 18 Sex Offenders In Sandy Springs: 2020 Safety Map
• 84 Sex Offenders In Canton: 2020 Safety Map
• 64 Sex Offenders In Woodstock: 2020 Safety Map
• More Than 100 Sex Offenders In Forsyth County: 2020 Safety Map
• 210 Registered Sex Offenders In Marietta In 2020
• 6 Registered Sex Offenders In Brookhaven: 2020 Safety Map
• Sex Offenders In Midtown In 2020
• Sex Offenders In Buckhead In 2020

Other top news of the week:

• Family Of 8 Year Old Secoriea Turner Will Sue The City Of Atlanta
• Woodstock Community Rallies To Get Service Dog For Autistic Boy
• 14-Year-Old Opens Restaurant Super Dogs In DeKalb
• Gwinnett Early Voting Sets First-Week Record
• GA Coronavirus: State Posts Highest Positive Numbers In A Month
• Arson Blamed For Roswell Apartment Complex Fire, Suspect Wanted
• Georgia's 35 Best School Districts 2021: New Rankings Released
• Third Kidnapping And Robbery, Atlanta Police Release Sketch

Plus, you can recognize a local hero:

• Georgia Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference

Thanks for reading Patch!