I am a native of Atlanta who has covered local news for more than 15 years. I discovered my love of journalism while writing for the "Signal," Georgia State University's student newspaper after returning to college as a mother of three. After graduating with a degree in English, I wrote and later  served as editor for the "Community Review" and "The Story" newspapers covering education, politics and local personalities in central DeKalb County.  Some of my first stories were on the athletes and dignitaries of the 1996 Olympics when Decatur hosted Ireland and Avondale Estates hosted Poland. I've reported on topics from the murder of DeKalb County's sheriff to the opening of the county's first dog park. I grew up in Avondale Estates where my grandfather served as mayor and moved to Decatur where my husband Harley and I raised our daughters.