Email: Ralph.ellis@patch.com
Phone: 404-234-8734
Hometown: Waynesville, N.C.
Birthday: July 31
Bio: Ralph Ellis is a veteran journalist who has lived in Decatur since 2007. He serves on the homeowner’s association board for the 335 West Ponce condo building in downtown Decatur.
Ralph has extensive experience as a writer and editor for newspapers in the Southeast. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1990. He reported on a variety of subjects, such as a couple coming to grips with their son’s homosexuality, the high cost of local elections in North Fulton County, and a man who started a Kenyan orphanage for children with AIDS in honor of his late wife.
Ralph is married to Susan Puckett, the former food editor at the AJC.
He has three grown children, Robert, David and Julia.
When he’s not working, Ralph likes to walk, swim, read, and play with his greyhound, Laney. Ralph belongs to the Atlanta Writers Club and has written a mystery novel (unpublished) and is working on a second novel.
Ralph's Beliefs At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
I have moderate Democratic leanings, but I’ve voted for some Republicans.
Religion
I was raised a Methodist and am now a member of Kairos Church in Grant Park, which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.
Local Hot-Button Issues
People in Decatur and Avondale Estates care deeply about quality of life issues, and that starts with the local school systems. Both towns have become magnets in recent years for couples with young children, so the emphasis on education will only increase.
Other issues people care about: Dogs, backyard farming, food and drink.
You can take in a history of the arts festival, hear the music of Shawn Mullins, talk with two writers about the Mississippi Delta, laugh with comedians and stroll through town for ArtWalk.
Other openings in and around Virginia Highland and Druid Hills: Drycleaning employee, merchandiser and dog walker.
Other openings: Transportation director for Decatur Schools; public information officer, HR intern and equipment operator for the City of Decatur; and police officer and counseling director for Agnes Scott College.
As we head into Memorial Day, there's plenty to do this week in and around Virginia Highland and Druid Hills.
Here are five things happening this week in Decatur and Avondale Estates besides the Decatur Arts Festival.
Readers of Virginia Highland/Druid Hills Patch also looked at stories about a gun incident at Inman Park MIddle School, a stolen iPad and cheap eats.
Readers of Decatur/Avondale Estates Patch also clicked on stories about cheap eats, a new job created by the City of Decatur and House Hunt.
The city is encouraging pop-up art performances during April, May and June.
The city staff will present the 2013-14 budget to the Decatur City Commission on Monday. After that, several public hearings will be held.
This is an event only for Virginia Highland residents the day before the festival starts.
Joe Bennett of Avondale Estates, a member of the American Bass Anglers, talks about what kind of fish can be found in Lake Avondale.
Other stuff to do this weekend in and around Virginia Highland and Druid Hills: Live music at several clubs, a pub crawl to fight cancer, Dog Daze at Diesel and a crash course in quail-keeping.
Other stuff to do in Decatur and Avondale Estates: SpringFest at Twain's, Avondale Pizza birthday party, fishing derby and a silent auction.
The Bulldogs lost 6-5 to Westminster in the semifinals of the state tournament.
The thieves are targeting Honda SUVs, Decatur police say.
Neither incident involved a weapon. A woman said a man stole $10 from her purse inside a vacant house and a Renfroe Middle School student said a youth snatched her iPhone.
The Decatur School Board dropped the idea of building a whole new middle school.
The former member of the Drive-By Truckers will play at 6:45 p.m. June 1. The festival recently released the lineup of musicians.
The board will discuss a building/renovation plan for those two schools when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Westchester Center on Scott Boulevard.
The Decatur Zoning Board of Appeals found city Planning Director Amanda Thompson made no procedural errors in processing the massive 315 West Ponce project.
