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Police Reform: 10 steps to start with

mo@wiltshiredefense.com (Mo Wiltshire) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 19:36:22 GMT

Police Reform: Requires us to break some bad habits

Background:

Today, there are currently more than 18,000 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in the United States. These agencies employ over 420,000 law enforcement officers tasked with protecting public safety in our communities. Each year, law enforcement conducts over 10 million arrests, resulting in more than 600,000 incarcerations in state or federal prisons. These activities cost taxpayers over $126 billion each year for federal, state, and local law enforcement. It is beyond essential that we, as a people, ensure that these investments in public safety are focused on maintaining a safe and orderly society where individual liberty and property rights are secure.

There is growing understanding and agreement that we need to reform the way our police and citizens interact with each other in the United States. This awakening comes, in no small part, as a result of very public and very tragic police citizen encounters that have resulted in video recordings that are often shocking and scary.

We have watched over the last several years as cellphone video and body cam footage have revealed the often uncomfortable reality of what happens in police-citizen encounters, especially those involving use of force. Police work is not often pretty and it is not often as entertaining as watching an episode of COPS or LIVE PD.

Law enforcement is difficult and inefficient at the best of times in a free society. It is even harder to do well when it is directed at problems it is ill-designed to address. The inherent difficulties are increased when law enforcement operates without the full support of the public. For many reasons, citizens across all walks of life, and African Americans in particular, are feeling a strong need to improve how law enforcement functions in our society. More and more people are seeing where we are and realizing we need to improve. Citizens are asking questions and seeking reform. The questions now become, which reforms should be attempted first and which reforms should be attempted at all?

As we watch, again, hurting citizens stream into the streets of our urban centers to protest and peaceably assemble to petition government for redress of these grievances. Regrettably, we are also forced to watch other behavior. While Americans march to seek reform some choose not to express themselves not with placards and speeches but rather engage in rampant criminal debauchery with Molotov cocktails and bricks.

Sadly, none of this is new. If we are old enough, none of us can ever forget the video of the Rodney King beating. We recall the trials and the awful riots that followed as King himself asked "can't we all just get along?".

In 2015 we watched as Baltimore exploded and a few days into the crisis we heard words no one can quibble with or dispute from President Obama.

"This has been a slow-rolling crisis," he said. "This is not new... "I think there are police departments that have to do some soul-searching. I think there are some communities that have to do some soul-searching....But I think we as a country have to do some soul-searching.""

"When individuals get crowbars and start prying open doors to loot, they're not protesting. They're not making a statement. They're stealing. When they burn down a building, they're committing arson. And they're destroying and undermining businesses and opportunities in their own communities. That robs jobs and opportunity from people in that area."

-President Obama, April 2015 speaking on the Baltimore Riots

Our Path Forward:

My practice of law as a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney has spanned the last 25 years and over the course of that time I have represented people, black, white and otherwise in Athens and all over the State of Georgia. As I have helped the citizens of Georgia, I have witnessed firsthand the actions of police officers and observed law enforcement cultures from Dalton in the Northwestern corner of our state down to Savannah in the South Eastern corner. From Columbus, to Atlanta, to Milledgeville, to Statesboro and so on. Like the song made famous by the great Johnny Cash, "I been everywhere".

In all I have appeared in court and reviewed police reports and videos in thousands of cases. I do not pretend to have all the answers but I have what I hope is a valuable perspective on the criminal justice system as an insider.

My perspective of over 25 years as a prosecutor and defense attorney leads me to conclude that Policing in America needs reform and we have to break ourselves of some bad habits to see it done. We cannot #defundthepolice that is not a workable response to the problem.

If we really want to fix the problem we have to change the way we police and what police are asked to do. We cannot send people with badges and guns out into the world to solve every societal ill with the force of law. We need to alter our expectations of what police can do and we need to face some hard realities and make some hard choices in what we should be asking them to do.

There is simply way too much authoritarian policing today. Not too many years ago in this country it was much more difficult to have an encounter with the police than it is today in most areas. There are simply too many police-citizen non consensual encounters. Nobody sees problems with anyone saying hello and having a visit with the local officer...that is not the issue. The issues occur when citizens are stopped and detained. The more forced police-citizen contacts the more chances for negative outcomes.

Every time there is a traffic stop or a non consensual interaction where the citizen is not abundantly and clearly free to leave the encounter there is potential for conflict. Some situations are worth the risk of conflict and also worth actual conflict including the use of deadly force but many are simply not.

Here are 10 steps we can take to make the situation much better.

1) Stop the systematic enforcement of ticky-tack violations, tag lights not illuminated, window tint violations, bald tires, seat belts, etc. I have seen about everything in the book used to justify police stops. End this method of policing.

I regularly practice in jurisdictions where this is the go-to method of policing especially on interstates and highways and I also practice in places where it is not in use. Invariably, the citizens in the non ticky-tack enforcement jurisdictions from the most humble to the wealthy have a more favorable opinion of law enforcement. This is true regardless of religious, racial and financial differences.

Those jurisdictions with aggressive enforcement of minor or regulatory type violations have more problems with both perception and trust. People know when they are being hassled and they know when their neighbors are being given the business. Every single traffic stop holds the potential for things to go wrong. Every stop for jaywalking or an open container violation is also a chance for things to go bad.

We need to rethink what we want from our police and adjust everyone's expectations and actions accordingly. If police make a stop it needs to be because a stop was required...not because it was permissible under some ticky-tack regulation or rule. Situations that pose no risk or only slight risk of harm to the community should cease to be the basis for law enforcement stops. About anything can be justified by claims of safety and we have justified and encouraged way too much in the holy name of safety.

2) End all non-emergency roadblocks and safety checkpoints as they do more harm than good. Our roadways are very safe on the whole and roadblocks are simply not consistent with American ideals. Restriction of the free movement of citizens is not something the State should lightly engage in. Again every stop is potentially the one that leads to a use of force situation and we simply do not need them. Our yearning for safety has got be tempered with a commitment to good government and we are failing in the area of law enforcement. How about we try something less ominous feeling? After all, "your papers are not in order" should never be a thing in the USA.

3) Decriminalize drug possession - start with marijuana and see how it goes. We have much to gain and really very little to lose at this point as prohibition has not prevented drug use.

4) Reform or remove unions for police and prosecutors that make getting rid of "bad cops" difficult (a real problem in some large urbanized areas). No matter how much good has been accomplished by Unions in this country, especially in the past, unionization for public sector employees is fraught with problems.

Since about 2006, not less than 1,881 police officers have been fired from 37 of the largest police departments in the USA for misconduct of various types. But they did not all stay fired, in nearly 25% (451) of those cases, police departments were forced to reinstate the fired officers after an appeal process required by union contracts. Often these officers were able to avoid any type of punishment financial or otherwise even though internal affairs "made a case" on them. Those that were ousted where often allowed to settle the cases against them with early retirement or were able to hire on at another agency regardless of their history, due to union efforts.

In many large U.S. cities, police unions have enormous political clout, just like private sector unions. These police unions contribute to the very politicians that they negotiate their contracts with. Even as we watch mayors and governors making extravagant promises to constituents in the wake of high profile brutality cases such as the death of George Floyd, little can actually be done without police union reform. Until and unless we are willing to address the contracts of the very police unions that in many cases contribute to big city political campaigns, we are stuck. The reform that people, especially those in urban areas are protesting for will likely not be coming.

5) Stop fighting the failed drug war - just stop already we are not winning. No-knock warrants, etc. are endangering safety every day. Is there any real argument over the efficacy of the drug war? Since the 1970's the USA has been engage in an ongoing battle to combat illicit drug use. Maybe a different approach will do no better but at this point why not try something else.

In addition to all the wasted tax dollars we have squandered many of the protections afforded by the 4th, 5th, 6th and other amendments or sacrificed them in the holy name of safety.

Civil asset forfeiture and no-knock warrants for drug raids are two areas that perfectly illustrate the growth of government power and the usurpation of liberty over the course of the drug war. Forfeiture was begun in an effort to go after the assets of drug kingpins who where difficult to criminally prosecute. Over time, it has expanded to the point where, in my law practice, I am regularly dealing with kids who got mom, or dad or grandma's car seized after a traffic stop and drug arrest. We have to prove to the arresting agency seeking forfeiture that the owner is an "innocent owner".

To seize your car, your money, even your house, the police do not need a conviction. Government can and does seek forfeiture of someone's property without waiting for a criminal conviction or often times without even seeming to care very much about a conviction. Law enforcement and prosecutors then take a share of the proceeds of the forfeitures in a process that provides them with direct, financial incentive to find reasons to seize more property.

No-knock warrants have become a travesty at this point. A no-knock warrant is a search warrant authorizing police officers to enter certain premises without first knocking and announcing their presence or purpose prior to entering the premises. They were conceived as a means to allow police to stop drug suspects from destroying evidence as the police arrived and before they could gain entry or for situations where the danger of executing the warrant was so pronounced that knocking and announcing would subject police to a risk of gunfire and other violence from hardened criminals. But, over time, they have become routine for drug war raids.

Breonna Taylor, 26, and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were in bed when they heard the officers enter at around 12:40 a.m. on March 13 of this year. According to the search warrant, police believed a suspected drug dealer was keeping drugs or money at her house.

Walker, thinking the plain-clothes officers were intruders, called 911. He then pulled out his gun and fired a shot striking one officer’s leg. The raiding officers responded with more than 20 rounds that sailed through the kitchen and living room, fatally striking Taylor eight times. Rounds also penetrated the drywall and exterior and into an adjacent home, where a pregnant woman and a five-year-old child slept. The officers found no drugs on the premises.

Walker was a legal gun owner, and Kentucky law allows people to use deadly force against intruders at home. But the law doesn’t apply when the intruders are police officers who identifies themselves as such. The Louisville officers claim that even with their no-knock warrant, they knocked and announced themselves before forcibly entering Taylor’s home. Walker was charged with felony murder and other charges for firing at the intruders and he says he had no idea those intruders were police. According to lawyers for Taylor's family, neighbors say they heard no knock.

This type of situation is far from rare, usually people avoid getting shot but no-knock raids are all too common and again are justified in the name of safety and fighting the drug war.

You likely recall a tragedy in North Georgia that involved the drug war and no-knock raids. Bounkham “Bou Bou” Phonesavanh was 19 months old during the May 2014 no-knock raid at his family’s Habersham County home. Members of a drug task force were seeking the child’s uncle, who allegedly sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer a day prior, when they burst into the home. A flash-bang grenade was thrown into Bou Bou’s crib, burning his throat and face and landing him in the intensive care unit. The uncle, Wanis Thonetheva, was not at the home during the raid. He was later arrested elsewhere. Over $3.5 million in settlement money was eventual paid for the horrible injuries suffered by the toddler.

Every no-knock warrant carries with it the potential for tragedy and they should be used only as a last resort but instead, the no-knock provisions are pre-printed on the search warrant forms. No knocks and raids are all to often the norm not the exception and this is all down to fighting the drug war.

Enough ought to be enough. Americans still use illicit drugs and all illicit drug prohibition has yielded is corruption, organized crime and misery.

6) Rethink the mandatory arrest policy of the various domestic violence protocols that require the "primary aggressor" to be arrested even when nobody wants an arrest and no one is injured, threatened, or abused.

Recently, studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that as victim support for mandatory arrest increases, the odds of law enforcement notification of the abuse also increases. This seems good. However, studies and anecdotal evidence also understandably reveal that mandatory arrest may also be reducing the probability of reporting domestic among those who do not support the policy. Worse, the data on mandatory arrest policies reveals that mandatory arrest polices result in higher arrest rates of battered women. We do not want to arrest victims of abuse. This outcome will both deprive them of the support they need to escape their situations and of course subject them to jail and the entire criminal legal process as defendants rather than victims. Doing the wrong thing is often worse than doing nothing in the first place and that is especially true in the area of arresting people.

I see these domestic violence cases in my practice where the noble goal of mandatory arrest policies leads to people, including women, being subjected to arrest when they simply do not deserve it. The justice system is supposed to be a system that helps us obtain justice.

Like any situation where a "zero tolerance policy" is supposed to be in place, abuses, injustices and ridiculous outcomes are not nearly rare enough. Everyone of these bad outcomes is directly attributable to the policy designed to help that makes a domestic violence call result in a pervasive "somebody is going to jail" if we come out there approach.

Domestic violence victims need and deserve our support but we need to rethink this factor of our approach to make sure we are not doing harm that can be avoided.

7) R eform qualified immunity for government actors and agents. According to the Supreme Court, “The doctrine of qualified immunity gives government officials breathing room to make reasonable but mistaken judgments about open legal questions.” Critics, including Supreme Court Justices, will claim that the doctrine “sends an alarming signal to law enforcement officers and the public. It tells officers that they can shoot first and think later, and it tells the public that palpably unreasonable conduct will go unpunished.”

Justice Sotomayor and Justice Thomas of the Supreme Court have expressed concerns and criticisms of qualified immunity and how it is currently applied. Advocates of reforming qualified immunity on the political right tend to emphasize values of law enforcement “accountability” and defense of private property, while the arguments from the left focus on racial justice and broader police reform efforts. The good news is that there is considerable overlap.

Recently, a self-described “cross-ideological” group of organizations filed multiple petitions urging the Supreme Court to take up the issue of qualified immunity. It seems the time has come to reconsider what we want qualified immunity to accomplish and how we want it to function.

8) Stop expecting and structuring police agencies as our catch-all and cure-all for society. Police are to be engaged in law enforcement, not social work, I'm sorry but that is a simple truth. They need empathy but they exist to apply government force to situations where it is the only viable solution...not to do social work. No number of diversity workshops, body cameras and community policing initiatives will change that.

Being arrested, whatever the outcome, can jeopardize a person’s employment, housing, physical and mental health and parental rights. It doesn't matter whether the charges are eventually dismissed or dropped the harm has been done. When we send police to solve problems we will cause people to be arrested. If they resist arrest they will be forcibly arrested and some of them will be hurt....this remains true even when everything goes exactly right and the police behave perfectly.

Asking police officers to strengthen community relationships by means such as playing football with children or handing out ice cream does not reduce their power to harm people or the nature of their job. It says protect and serve on the side of the cars and police protect us from someone else...some other person or group, what else and who else would they protect us from?

We need to recognize and accept the fact that the police are here to exercise force on behalf of the government. That is their role, to enforce laws...hence we know them as Law Enforcement. They are not guidance counselors or pastors or therapists.

9) Work to avoid and reduce a culture of us versus them in police departments. There should be no frame of reference that police are somehow different from "civilians"...police are civilians so stop it with that stuff. This cuts both ways and we must accept that police are no better at putting up with abuse, obnoxious treatment, etc. just because they put on a uniform. We want them to be us and to be reflective of our shared values and we need to treat them as such.

It is law enforcement’s idealized role to guard the public against criminal wrongdoers and keep law and order, but officers should avoid the use of excessive force, ensure individual due process protections, and respect the moral dignity of every person. Their dignity as persons should be respected as well. Police have a difficult job and it helps when the public really understand just how difficult.

In recent years, law enforcement agencies across the country have increasingly adopted tactics, equipment, and embraced a culture that is more akin to those seen in the military. This trend has helped to cause a decrease in the perception of legitimacy required to effectively serve our citizens.

Everything that harms trust between communities and law enforcement needs to be scrutinized closely. When a community lacks any real trust in the judgment and basic fairness of the those tasked with protecting their public safety, this negatively impacts law enforcement’s ability to function effectively. Also, when the police are dealing with folks and situations they have little respect for it hurts their ability. Police are people too and they cannot have much empathy for citizens that actively harass and abuse them.

The Golden Rule definitely has a prominent place in public safety.

10) Stop it with the nanny state stuff already. Learn to love liberty as a culture. Way too many Americans love it when police powers are used on their fellow citizens in ways they would not want to see applied to them. This goes back to the idea that we are failing to understand what the police do and what they are capable of ...also known as "never invite the man into your life". Criminal law and the enforcement of criminal law is a bludgeon, never a scalpel. It should be understood and accepted that it is not the tool of choice but rather is an option of last resort.

"And then we have the audacity and the nerve to get upset with law enforcement when we take action. There is no way in the world that we, as a community, should be calling the police for kids playing ball in the street. No way in the world that we should be calling the police because my neighbor's music is up too loud, because his dog came over to my yard and did a number two; there's no way we should be calling the police. But we have surrendered so much of our responsibility.

Listen, when I was a little boy coming up in Baltimore — and listen, we played rough in the street — I ain't never see the police come and break us up. You know who came? It was the elders. It was the parental figures in the community. It was those guardians, it was that village mentality. They came and said, "Stop that!" and "Do this." and "Stop that." We had mentors throughout all of the community."

-Baltimore Police Lt. Colonel Melvin Russell

Hopefully some of these ideas can spur us forward as we examine what is going wrong with our law enforcement system and how to make helpful changes. We should think critically if whether doubling down on what we have been doing is likely to lead to the results we need. Is continuing to slug it out in the drug war wise? Is yet another round of sensitivity training going to help when police are being cursed and abused? Maybe community outreach from police needs be directed toward not more involvement in citizens day to day lives but less?

There are many challenges ahead. We need to propose and consider answers that offer the possibility of actual changes for the better...more of the same will not get us where we need to be as a society.

Cordon Sanitaire in Athens

mo@wiltshiredefense.com (Mo Wiltshire) — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:32:26 GMT

Shelter in place = Cordon Sanitaire for Athens

This is a bridge too far. Local government please reconsider your house arrest scheme.

When you read this proposed order granting new and expanded "emergency powers" to the government pay particular attention to this patently false statement at the bottom of Article 2 Section 1.

"FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDER CONSTITUTES AN IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH."

This is simply untrue. There is no way anyone can be an "imminent threat" to public health if they are not infected with the virus causing so much fear and hysteria. The County Government is attempting to impose the full force of drastic quarantine procedures and form a cordon sanitaire around each citizens home. These draconian measures have been restricted and limited throughout our modern history as a nation to cases of Tuberculosis, Ebola and Bubonic Plague. The power to imprison persons is reserved to those cases where the infected persons will not comply with limited, specific and minimally restrictive quarantine procedures. It must be applied to individual infected people and never to every person who may at some point possibly become infected.

Civil confinement of citizens who have not committed an offense is a massive deprivation of liberty. It requires a clear justification beyond public fear, concern in the medical community and cries from people saying we need to "do something". The law requires sound scientific evidence of significant individualized risk presented by the infected or sick person, reflecting a delicate balance between public health and civil liberties.

The Supreme Court of the United States has established three key requirements for civil commitment. First, the civil commitment must be based on an individualized risk assessment, requiring scientific evidence. Second, the civil commitment must be the least restrictive means available to advance the state interests. Third, the state must provide individuals subject to quarantine procedural due process rights, including a hearing.

This ordinance makes no effort to comply with these legal precepts and instead invokes a cordon sanitaire around each persons home....except for the homeless who will not be covered by this mandatory order, not detained, not restricted in any way by the force of this ill advised and over reaching government mass arrest order.

https://www.accgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/67248/03-Ordinance-for-the-Second-Declaration-of-a-Local-State-of-Emergency-Related-to-COVID-19

Safety is always the favorite government excuse

mo@wiltshiredefense.com (Mo Wiltshire) — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 20:59:46 GMT

Curfews should not be mandatory in the Covid-19 panic.
Safety is always the government rationale to abridge our liberty. Good intentions are cited and the ends are said to justify the means whenever some danger threatens.

Athens-Clarke County Commissioners wrestled this week with a scheme to force citizens remain in their homes and "shelter in place" (a euphemism for house arrest) in order to forestall the spread of the Covid 19 virus. As of this posting, the commission has thus far avoided their strong temptation to order a mandatory house arrest curfew and have instead requested all citizens to confine themselves within their homes.

Requesting compliance with such a goal is one thing and something that is within the lawful authority of the elected government of Athens, Georgia. Banning folks from leaving there homes in the form of a curfew is another matter entirely and is simply a bridge too far. Confinement of persons in their homes is still confinement and it is an unreasonable restrictions on personal liberty that should not be attempted by our local government.

Safety is always the excuse to justify abridgment of liberty but Jefferson and Franklin, among others, had it right. Liberty is to be vastly preferred over safety. Always and all the time.

Liberty over safety is as American as baseball, apple pie and the 4th of July.

LIBERTY

--------------------------

SAFETY

We have been down this road many times before and the most well known and widely lamented example is the forced interment of U.S. Citizens of Japanese descent in WWII. We all recall the f orcible arrest, detention and interment in camps as a result of a declared emergency. In Executive Order 9066 President Franklin Roosevelt, no doubt motivated by real and genuine concern for the safety of persons and property authorized the widespread abuse of the liberty of United States Citizens. This was another day that will live in infamy and it was two weeks after Pearl Harbor.

We knew and should have known it was wrong but we did it anyway and all in the name of safety. Politicians and government officials believed themselves to be fully justified by the emergency circumstances and claimed they were acting in the public interest.

“Neither the Army or the War Relocation Authority relished the idea of taking men, women and children from their homes, their shops and their farms, so the military and civilian agencies alike determined to do the job as a democracy should: with real consideration for the people involved." - Milton S. Eisenhower, Director of War Relocation Authority (1943)

“It is my sincere belief that the Pacific coast should be declared a military area which will give authority to treat residents, either alien or citizens, as camp followers....permitting their removal, regardless of their citizenship rights, to less dangerous areas." - Senator Harley M. Kilgore of West Virginia, February 1942

The courts provided no recourse and in one of it's most most widely condemned decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the exclusion orders in Korematsu v. United States. Justice Hugo Black argued for a 6-3 majority that the exclusion orders were a necessary outgrowth of the president’s war powers and justified by the situation at hand. “Compulsory exclusion of large groups of citizens from their homes, except under circumstances of direst emergency and peril, is inconsistent with our basic governmental institutions," he wrote in his opinion for the Court. “But when, under conditions of modern warfare, our shores are threatened by hostile forces, the power to protect must be commensurate with the threatened danger.”

It was wrong to remove people from their homes and lock them up and we now we must also recognize it as wrong to lock people in their homes by fiat no matter how well intended or well meaning the excuse or compelling the claimed justification.

In 1971 Congress passed the Non-Detention Act , which unequivocally states, “No citizen shall be imprisoned or otherwise detained by the United States except pursuant to an Act of Congress,” to prevent future presidents from attempting to inter American Citizens ever again. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 paid reparations to Japanese-Americans who lost their property and personal belongings during the war.

There is no place in our country for mass interment camps whether they be in the deserts of Utah where citizens of Japanese ancestry can be kept for their own good and for public safety or in our very own homes in Athens, Georgia.

Teen Missing from Oconee County

mo@wiltshiredefense.com (Mo Wiltshire) — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 20:09:21 GMT

An Oconee County teen girl is missing- please help locate her.

There is a $7,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of 17-year-old Julia Mann who disappeared from her home in Oconee County, GA on the night of February 20, 2020.

While it appears she left her home alone and of her own accord, her current whereabouts are unknown. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Julia Mann, please contact the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office at 706-769-3945.

You can also pass along any relevant information to Investigator Golden Sanders by email gsanders@oconeesheriff.org although there is no suspicion of foul play this teen going missing is traumatic to her family, friends and the entire Oconee County Community. Please help Julia get home safe and please pray for her safe return.

Athens Police Seize THC Vape Cartridges

mo@wiltshiredefense.com (Mo Wiltshire) — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 19:05:59 GMT

Police in Athens have reportedly seized THC laden Vape cartridges.

As reported in a story by Classic City News reporter Joe Johnson, The Athens-Clarke County Police Department investigators executed a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of approximately 2,370 fake THC vape cartridges.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is advising the Athens Community to be on the lookout for illegal or tainted vape cartridges that contain or may contain THC and other chemicals.

The warning comes on the heels of reports issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies claiming pronounced health-hazards of vaping. It is even being claimed that vaping brings health risk "worse" than smoking.

Joe Johnson reports that ACCPD claims “These homemade vape cartridges are identical to those produced by a California company where THC is legal,”and “When the offender was assembling the homemade cartridges, several other chemicals were added which carry additional health concerns.”

THC is the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana that produces the “high” users of marijuana typically experience upon ingesting, inhaling or smoking marijuana.

Athens police recently made a large drug seizure that included 275 THC vape cartridges apparently someone had constructed the vape cartridges to resemble commercially available cartridges and attempted to disguise the fact that they contained THC.

Judge Lawton Stephen Honored by Area Boy Scouts

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 19:59:21 GMT

Congratulation to Judge Stephens on this accomplishment

The Honorable Lawton Stephens recently received the Silver Beaver Award from the Northeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America. This award was presented to recognize his outstanding service to the Boy Scouts, to Scouting and to the community.

As reported a recent note in the Athens Banner Herald, https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20190826/judge-stephens-honored-by-boy-scouts

The Silver Beaver Award is the highest honor the Boy Scout Council can bestow on an adult volunteer with the scouts.

Judge Stephens serves in many capacities in the community including as the President of the Western Circuit Bar Association.

Athens Gun Club Robbed in a brazen smash-n-grab

Fri, 03 May 2019 14:27:00 GMT

In the dark hours of the early morning a group of determined smash and grab robbers attacked a local business and got away with a number a weapons. Athens Gun Club a local indoor shooting range with firearms pro shop and a federally licensed firearms merchant was the victim of a smash and grab burglary. […]

According to reporting in the Athens-Banner Herald, athens-gun-club-rammed-with-jeep-guns-stolen, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Sunday burglars crashed a stolen vehicle through the front door of the Athens Gun Club smashing a hole for allowing the group of outlaws to rob the gun club of multiple firearms.

The outlaws wore masks, gloves, and hoods to conceal their identities while they carried out their smash-n-grab plan. The Athens Gun Club had surveillance cameras that were able to record the robbery and one member of the team of bandits was photographed without a mask.

The robbery netted an unknown numbers of firearms but the burglars can been seen collecting and carrying several while they hastened about their crime. The total time they were busily robbing the place appears to be about 45 seconds. They smashed there way in using a stolen Jeep as a ram, grabbed some guns and fled before Athens law enforcement could arrive.

The group of five burglars made their getaway in a newer model white Audi. Surveillance pictures and video show the thieves inside the shop as well as the car they used to make their escape.

Athens-Clarke County Police are seeking the public’s help asking that anyone with information about the burglary to contact Detective Frederick Davidson at (706) 353-4218, ext 138. In addition, a reward of $1,000 is being offered by Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of this burglary. The Crime Stoppers Tip line phone number here in Athens, Georgia is (706) 705-4775.

“Any time offenders would break into a gun store and steal weapons is very concerning to us because the nature of this… these are weapons. They can be used for other crimes and so we are concerned. We hope to locate them as soon as possible,” said Geoffrey Gilland, public information officer of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

“Detectives believe the Jeep was stolen from an apartment complex on Epps Bridge Parkway,” here in the Athens area, Gilland stated.

Athens authorities are still working with the Athens Gun Club to determine the exact number of guns stolen and their value.

Even in Athens, Georgia we are not immune to organized and predatory banditry.

In a first for Georgia, the Athens Police Department and Uber team up.

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 01:33:00 GMT

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is partnering with UBER to utilize location monitoring technology to help 911 function. The Athens Police are the first law enforcement agency in the state of Georgia to have an Uber integration system with the 911 service in their jurisdiction. As related by WUGA https://www.wuga.org/, Captain Keith Kelley is the […]

As related by WUGA https://www.wuga.org/, Captain Keith Kelley is the head Central Communications Bureau for ACCPD. He credits this new program with improved 911 response. The way the system is designed to work, if a rider or a operator uses Uber’s in-app emergency button to get into contact with 911 operators, key trip details can be transmitted in an emergency essentially automatically so that 911 dispatchers in Athens-Clarke County can relay this information to responding officers in real time.

Captain Kelly says, “If you’re in an Uber vehicle and you press the emergency button on your Uber App, it will dial 911 and through RapidSOS it will give us your location,”. He claims the technology also provides authorities with “…..the vehicle make, model and tag number that you’re riding in.”

Everybody that rides in an Uber needs to keep the app open so they can access that emergency button to call 911 and transmit their location and ride data instantaneously.

“Especially with people that are riding in Uber vehicles or any kind of rideshare vehicles, they may not be familiar with their exact location,” said Capt. Keith Kelley with ACC Police. “And they may not be familiar with the vehicle description, the full vehicle description that they’re riding in.”

“Every second counts in an emergency, and we want to make sure Uber users have important information to get help quickly if faced with an emergency situation,” Krishnaja Gutta, Uber Product Safety Manager said.

11 Alive TV in Atlanta reported on this development. You can view their story via the link here > 11alive.com/athens/uber-riders-can-now-call-911-through-app

The Uber integration with the ACCPD 911 system relies on another partnership the ACCPD has with RapidSOS. RapidSOS is an emergency communications technology company.

“Through RapidSOS, Central Communications has access to the NG911 Clearinghouse which receives data from the Internet of Things (smartphones, connected cars, wearables, and connected homes) and securely sends the relevant data to 911 and first responders,” an ACCPD official statement claims.

This feature is already available in more than 60 cities, Krishnaja Gutta, Uber Product Safety Manager, said. She also added that Uber believes technology can and help overall road safety for motorists and their customers.

“Location is key, location is everything to us, we may know what’s occurring, but without the location we wouldn’t know where to send resources”, according to Captain Kelly.

This new technology offers real promise to add and extra level of detail to assist rescue personnel including police in the event of an emergency. It is good to see ACCPD work together with Uber to make this improvement. More safety features are a welcome addition to Uber’s ride share service.

Wiltshire Defense is proud to support The Mingle 2019 and Racheal’s Rest for survivors of sexual abuse.

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 13:06:00 GMT

As the father of three daughters and as an advocate for the right of self-defense in Georgia and Second Amendment rights I am thrilled to sponsor and support “The Mingle 2019”. Second Amendment rights are essential Women’s Rights. -Mo Wiltshire Our friends at the Complete Combatant, are again hosting an event to support female leaders […]

Our friends at the Complete Combatant , are again hosting an event to support female leaders in the the second amendment community and raise money to support victims of sexual and domestic violence. The Mingle and its associated nationwide training raffle offer unique opportunities for women leaders in the firearms, training and second amendment community to gather for a conference, train, advocate, and yes mingle while raising money to support Racheal’s Rest .

Racheal’s Rest was established in 2012 and is a nonprofit organization that offers counseling, mobile family workshops and 5 day retreats to help women and children who experienced sexual abuse or acts of violence find their balance in life.

“The Mingle” is a sponsored event for women in the firearms/self defense industry. It is a weekend sponsored event (Saturday 12 – 4pm and Sunday we are on the range all day (8:30-5:30) with 2 hour “training blocks” with guest instructors, speakers, live fire sessions, and door prizes! Invited guests can look forward to great food, and fun event locations.

The Complete Combatant is hosting this event so ladies in the firearms industry have opportunities and choices. We hope to have “all walks of life” come together to support The Mingle and our featured charity.

Wiltshire Defense is very pleased to be among the sponsors lending a hand in helping women in the firearms industry gain knowledge and meet other ladies in the second amendment community. Self-Defense in Georgia is a respected and established right but we cannot rest on our laurels and assume it will always be protected. Liberty demands vigilance. One of the best ways to protect our rights is to foster the expansion of the rights of others across our region and the nation. The leaders who will attend The Mingle are in a position to accomplish this goal.

With the help of sponsors, The Complete Combatant offers The Mingle as a weekend for women to meet like minded ladies, continue their self defense education, and build relationships to support business, network to expand contacts and to explore personal growth in business, tactics, self-defense, marksmanship, second amendment advocacy and more.

Wiltshire Defense is a 2nd Amendment supporter, we want to help ladies build individual knowledge and skill and we support female leadership in the 2nd Amendment Community. Wiltshire Defense is pleased to support Racheal’s Rest in their efforts to help survivors of sexual abuse and acts of violence. A sponsorship for The Mingle allows the opportunity to do both. The Complete Combatant is hosting this event so ladies in the firearms industry have opportunities and choices. We are proud to sponsor this event and the leaders who will attend as they advocate, support, and fight for self defense rights and especially as those rights pertain to women. Second Amendment rights are Women’s Rights!

More information about The Mingle 2019 can be found here http://www.thecompletecombatant.com/the-mingle.html

Designated Dawgs is a student charity busy helping UGA and Athens stay safe

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 03:29:00 GMT

Designated Dawgs is a nonprofit organization operated by students of the University of Georgia. The organization offers no cost, non-judgmental and safe rides back home from the downtown Athens area on selected, usually high traffic, Thursday and Friday nights during the fall and spring semesters of each college year. Designated Dawgs operates by means of […]

The story of the history of Designated Dawgs at UGA goes back several years. It was developed at the University of Georgia by former student, Tim McNary. In an effort to address and help solve the difficulties college students in Athens face in getting home safely after a night out, socializing in downtown Athens. In the days before Uber and Lyft reports of assaults, muggings, and drunk driving incidents, motivated Tim to do something to help the community and his fellow UGA students.

Designated Dawgs is based upon a similar program at Texas A&M University called CARPOOL. It was at A&M that CARPOOL became the first collegiate safe ride program run solely by student volunteers. Texas A&M alum, Jeff Schiefelbein, developed the concept of CARPOOL after he was convicted of a DUI offense in the late 1990’s, He was profoundly effected by a Mothers Against Drunk Driving victim impact panel, at which he heard the story of a deaths as a result of drunk driving. His experienced inspired him to create a safe ride home for college students to address the issue of DUI prevention. https://ugadesignateddawgs.com/history/

As reported in a story recently in the Red and Black, there were 368 alcohol-impaired fatalities in Georgia in 2016, according to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, and Athens-Clarke County was among the top counties in per capita DUI incidents according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s 2016 annual report.

Designated Dawgs is helping to address safe rides and related issue through volunteer student efforts. Current UGA student Embyrlee Sago, a junior from Kennesaw, Georgia, said Designated Dawgs is a way to ensure students use their resources to get home, as drunk driving is such an issue. https://www.redandblack.com/

“We just want to make sure that you get home safely and that you feel comfortable enough to get that ride home,” Sago said.

Ms. Sago got involved in Designated Dawgs as a volunteer and will serve as and excutive with the charity acting as vice president of finance in the upcoming semester. According to the Red & Black, Ms. Sago was motivated to move up to an executive position in Designated Dawgs after a close friend died after being involved in a drunk driving accident in January.

Designated Dawgs bases operations right outside of the Wells Fargo Building on College Avenue. Rides are offered roughly from 11 p.m. to 2:15 a.m This group is familiar with the reality that there can be many factors in whether a student may need help with a safe ride home after an evenings festivities in Downtown Athens, Georgia.

Sago said reasons students may need a lift can vary from not being able to afford an Uber to not being sure they can safely find the way home. Designated Dawgs is not interested in the age of its riders and doesn’t check its riders’ identification they just want students to get safely home.

Designated Dawgs has consitently been recognized for outstanding achievement by the University of Georgia. Designated Dawgs has received the following awards from the Student Organization Achievement and Recognition Awards:

2016-2017: Outstanding Service to the Community

2015-2016: Outstanding Service to the Community

2010-2011: Outstanding Service to the Community

2009-2010: Outstanding Service to the Community

Designated Dawgs operates on select evenings and the schedule for the nights they will be able to offer rides can be found on their website. https://ugadesignateddawgs.com/

Georgia Legalizes Needle Exchanges to fight HIV

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 12:49:00 GMT

Georgia officially joins the states allowing legal and safe needle exchanges to help stop the spread of HIV, Hepatitis and other diseases among IV drug abusers. As was recently reported in the Athens Banner Herald, https://www.onlineathens.com/ at least 320 needle exchanges currently exist across the U.S. and are now legal in 28 states and in […]

While the number of clinics has been steadily rising since the ’90s, there has been a recent surge around the country: About 100 additional clinics opened after a 2015 outbreak in a Southern Indiana county where more than 200 people tested positive for HIV.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the estimated lifetime cost of treating one HIV patient is more than $400,000 and that people who inject drugs are five times as likely to enter substance abuse treatment if they use a needle exchange.

Injection drug users become infected and transmit viruses to others through the sharing of contaminated syringes and other injection equipment. Syringe distribution services aim to prevent this dangerous sharing.

The idea of giving clean syringes to people who inject drugs has had its critics, who see it as subtly encouraging destructive behavior. But medical experts say it’s a very effective tactic against the spread of disease.

In recent years, increasing numbers of conservative politicians have endorsed the idea of needle exchanges as a practical tactic in promoting public health. Georgia Health News has reported that the availability of syringe services has been associated with a nearly 60 percent reduction in HIV transmission in a variety of international settings, and in one study , clients of a syringe exchange program were five times as likely as non-clients to enter substance abuse treatment. And availability of syringe services has not been found to be associated with increases in injection drug use. http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/

IV drug use and abuse continues to be a problem in Georgia with as much as a 40% increase in deaths due to overdose claimed in the past five years in the Atlanta area alone. The sharpest rise (on a percentage basis) in overdose deaths appears to be occurring outside metro areas in more suburban and rural settings. Intravenous drug abuse was not as common outside of urban centers and until recently explosive growth in the problem was more rare in rural areas.

In line with a nationwide trend, intravenous drug injection in Georgia is increasingly common among white people younger than 36, not just urban blacks. The CDC recently reported that even though roughly half of the people who use illegal IV drugs live outside urban areas, the vast majority of needle exchange programs are in cities.

The sponsor of Georgia’s new bill, Rep. Houston Gaines of Athens, said he appreciated Kemp’s support. The law will “save lives and money,” he said.

“On Tuesday before we adjourned Sine Die, Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 217, which will enable syringe services programs in Georgia, will help us chip away at the opioid crisis, reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C, protect our first responders from needlestick injuries, and save all Georgians health care costs.” Rep. Gaines elaborated.

“HB 217 is one of the most important measures we passed this year – it’s a commonsense solution that will save lives and money. I’m grateful for Gov. Kemp’s shared commitment to improving public health and appreciate his efforts to expand access and lower the cost of health care.” said Athens State Rep. Gaines.

Congratulations to Representative Houston Gaines of Athens, Georgia on this successful enactment of forward thinking legislation.

ATHENS COMMISSIONERS CONTEMPLATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 01:49:00 GMT

The Athens Clarke County Commission addressed criminal justice reform again at a work session on the 20th of March. In this session, the Commission considered recommendations presented by Athens Municipal Court Judge Ryan Hope. These proposals include issuing citation or tickets rather than arresting people, seeking to expand pretrial services as well as improving and […]

In 2018, the Georgia state legislature passed a new law directing judges to take into consideration the financial situation of defendant when setting bail bonds.

The new law allows judges to release people accused of most misdemeanors and local ordinance violations on an O.R. basis in other words on their own recognizance if they sign a document promising to show up for their court date. No longer are cash bonds required in a wide range of criminal offenses.

“It was a good first step,” according to Judge Hope. However, the bill didn’t go as far as reform many advocates want to push it. Judge Hope suggested revising the current bond schedule to include more OR, or own recognizance, bonds.

Another new change coming in from action at the State Legislature is to reduce the number of arrests by issuing misdemeanor citations.

Essentially, individuals who are suspected of misdemeanor crimes such as shoplifting or possession of marijuana would not be arrested on the scene at all, but rather cited and released instead.

According to reporting in Flagpole https://flagpole.com/news/city-dope/2019/03/27/commission-tackles-criminal-justice-reform ticket and release reform was set to go into effect earlier; however, local law enforcement stated they felt the new reform was “dropped on them,” since it required those arrested to be fingerprinted when they received a citation and for police officers to run background checks on those individuals they planned to release with citations instead of arresting.

Judge Hope said Athens-Clarke County and UGA police lack the equipment to fingerprint on the scene. Another bill is likely to pass the legislature this year that will give law enforcement other means to identify suspects on the scene according to Judge Hope. This new, expanded cite-and-release policy is now scheduled to go into effect July 1st 2019.

Just because people may be cited instead of arrested or allowed to bond out on their own recognizance that will not mean there are no longer legal ramifications to be faced in criminal court. Criminal Defense Lawyers in Athens worry that this new lack of early on consequences will not be matched the outcomes in court and whether people realize this or not is yet to be determined.

Police may decide to issue a ticket instead of make an arrest but citizens can still end up on probation or with a criminal record if they fail to take the appropriate steps to protect themselves.

There is no forecast shortage in laws declaring things illegal, imposing sentences and causing lasting problems. It still behooves folks to seek excellent representation from a skilled Athens Defense Attorney whether they only receive a ticket instead of an initial ride to the grey bar motel.

Georgia House Bill 471: to address DUI Implied Consent

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 04:12:00 GMT

As reported in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, legislators scrambled to fix Georgia’s DUI law after the state’s highest court ruled last month that refusing to take a breathalyzer test can’t be used in court against motorists suspected of driving drunk. In the Elliot decision a unanimous Georgia Supreme Court upheld citizens right to be free […]

As reported in the Atlanta Journal Constitution , legislators scrambled to fix Georgia’s DUI law after the state’s highest court ruled last month that refusing to take a breathalyzer test can’t be used in court against motorists suspected of driving drunk. In the Elliot decision a unanimous Georgia Supreme Court upheld citizens right to be free from a state compulsion to give breath test evidence against themselves or have that right to refuse used as evidence against them in criminal court. Contrary to some claims from politicians, the sky is not falling. DUI laws are still being enforced.

According to State Representative Steve Sainz, absent this new bill, drunken drivers could say police coerced them into handing over evidence against themselves. Rep Sainz, the sponsor of House Bill 471 claims police can still ask drivers to voluntarily take breathalyzer tests, and they can require blood and urine tests. House Bill 471 up for a final vote in the state Senate doesn’t reinstate mandatory roadside breath tests.

https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/forced-dui-breath

It would take an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to override the Georgia Supreme Court’s opinion that requiring breathalyzer tests is a violation of protections against self-incrimination.

“We all understand we need a fix now and then look at what we’re really going to do to ensure DUI compliance,” said Sainz, a Republican from Woodbine. “Anyone who’s in a car in Georgia deserves to know that we’re prosecuting DUIs effectively, efficiently and legally, and that folks aren’t getting off on an unnecessary technicality.”

Politicians love to call any successful limitation of state power a “unnecessary technicality”. In this case it would require constitutional protections that have shielded Georgians for decades be discarded and the constitution itself amended to overcome the so-called “technicality”.

Nothing in the recent decision upholding the constitution or the new law effects the civil penalties already in place for drivers who refuse a request for a breath test. While refusing to take a breathalyzer test can’t be used against defendants as evidence in a criminal case, their unwillingness could still result in an automatic one-year suspension of their driver’s licenses. License suspensions are considered an administrative penalty rather than a criminal punishment.

“So what this bill does is it updates the Georgia statute to correctly reflect the state of the law as to implied consent in DUI investigations,”
Chairman of the House Judiciary Non-Civil committee Representative Chuck Efstration said.

The Implied Consent Notice under the current law says, ‘refusal to submit to required testing may be offered into evidence against you at trial.’

Since refusal of a breath test being used against you in court was ruled unconstitutional, legislators want to adjust the consent wording to read, ‘your refusal to submit to blood or urine testing may be offered into evidence against you at trial.” This removes the word breath to comply with the State Supreme Court.

“So by no means does this opinion allow individuals to drive under the influence,” Rep. Efstration said. “To the contrary officers still have tools to investigate and prosecute DUI.” https://www.cbs46.com/news/capitol-report-can-you-refuse-a-dui-breathalyzer/

Police can still seek and obtain warrants for blood samples which are still admissible in criminal court.

Jackson County Government Capitulates to Ransomware Criminals: Forks over $400k

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:53:00 GMT

Jackson County Georgia made national news last week but not for a good reason. A group of criminals, suspected of being some Eastern European Crime Syndicate, locked Jackson County out of the county computer systems last week. Currently as reported in the Jackson County Herald, county officials expect to be pretty much back to normal operations later this week after succumbing to the demand to make a ransom payment of $400,000.00. http://www.jacksonheraldtoday.com/archives/15668-County-still-recovering-from-recent-ransomware-attack.html

“They totally crippled us” said county officials of the ransomware hack.
“They demanded ransom,….we had to make a determination on whether to pay. We could have literally been down months and months and spent as much or more money trying to get our system rebuilt.” according to Jackson County Manager Kevin Poe. https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20190308/cyber-attack-forces-jackson-county-to-pay-400k-ransom

Evidently, the county either had no back up system for crucial information technology or that back up system proved inadequate. The county paid hackers $400,000 in bitcoin to get back into their systems locked down by the ransomware attack. The ransomware attack locked agencies out of almost all of their systems, including the sheriff’s office, causing the county to try to do business the old-fashioned way—using paper.

Mr. Poe, the County Manager, stated that rebuilding the computer networks from scratch would be a long and costly endeavor. Officials said they were facing closure of operations for many months, paying the ransom was an easier option…so they simply capitulated. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/jackson-county-georgia-pays-hackers-400000-after-ransomware-attack

This situation posed an interesting moral dilemma. All across the globe, official advice is that ransoms should not be paid. The argument is that only if criminals cease to make money will they cease their attacks. But at what point is the moral obligation to protect taxpayer money more important than the moral requirement to fight criminals on a larger scale? There is no easy answer to these questions. The message to local governments everywhere is a resounding warning to have backup IT systems in place and to check frequently to ensure your emergency back up systems are actually up to the task.

ACC agrees to pay $250,000 to settle the lawsuit brought by a former police officer.

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 21:01:00 GMT

Former ACCPD police chief Scott Freeman’s decision to fire officer Terry Saulters spawned a lawsuit which the county just settled. Freeman’s actions in firing Saulters, without waiting for the results of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the officer’s pursuit of a fleeing suspect, has resulted in a $250,000 hit for Athens taxpayers. As reported […]

As reported in the AJC, Officer Saulters was cleared of both criminal wrongdoing and excessive use of force in an investigation conducted by the Georgia State Patrol SCRT (Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team) and by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia. https://www.ajc.com/news/crime–law/just-athens-police-chief-asked-resign-county-manager/iCwvZ3MT9weGBVC38CTphI/

The commission voted 5-2 to approve settlement of the lawsuit brought by Saulters for the sum of $250,000.

In an official statement, County Attorney Bill Berryman laid out the facts supporting the decision to settle the case. His statement made these salient points,

(1) following an investigation by the Georgia State Patrol …found that former Officer Saulters was not at fault;

(2) following an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Georgia Prosecuting Attorney’s Council, which would have been responsible for prosecuting any criminal violations arising out of the incident on June 1, concluded that no criminal prosecution of Mr. Saulters was warranted and, further, that Mr. Saulters’ actions constituted a reasonable use of force;

(3) the ACCPD internal investigation issued two days following the incident, was not consistent with the department’s typical timing or procedure for such reports and did not have the benefit of the later investigations by the Georgia State Patrol and the GBI and Prosecuting Attorneys Council.

https://www.accgov.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2756&fbclid=IwAR1dcmaY4rONdmWyA83Hphb3IOQfKN7W1C6WcK6ouLKPmDG3Hntgnlw7v-M

Former ACCPD Police Chief Scott Freeman, who was recently “mutually resigned” as a result of his allowing an “erosion of confidence” in the ACCPD, made the decision to fire Officer Saulters without waiting for “the benefit” of investigations conducted by the GSP, the GBI, and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council.

As I said in a Facebook comment about this situation and how it was handled, when you reach conclusions, announce them, make personnel decisions based on them all before you complete the investigation you end up with this type of outcome.

It is bad enough to reach conclusions before investigating but to take the extra, ill-advised step of publicly running with those conclusions is scandalously bad…..it will go a long way toward helping to get you fired and it will cost your organization (and in this case taxpayers).

Having spent the last 20+ years as a prosecutor and defense attorney, I have seen what happens when law enforcement reaches conclusions without waiting to conduct a proper investigation. It is rarely a correct result and never the correct process.

-Mo Wiltshire

Force Readiness with The Complete Combatant is worthwhile self-defense training.

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 19:12:00 GMT

A few weekends ago I had an opportunity to travel to Kennesaw and take a course with Brian Hill and The Complete Combatant at their training facility Fusion Mixed Martial Arts. They call this one and a one-half day training course Force Readiness. We covered a lot of topics in the Friday afternoon and evening and all […]

We covered a lot of topics in the Friday afternoon and evening and all day Saturday sessions. There was a tremendous amount of ground covered both literally and figuratively. We dealt with everything from empty handed techniques as simple as how to protect yourself from impacts to the head to leverage positions using some Greco-Roman wrestling principles that can and should be used in training for an entangled gunfight.

An amazing breadth of material is presented in this course concerning weapon retention and up close entangled hands-on situations. This course deals with what happens when you get knocked down, how to protect yourself while you regain your feet, how to secure and retain your sidearm during such a struggle with one or more opponents. Amazingly these topics are all covered in such an effective manner the student’s retention is maximized and the material readily builds on itself as the training progresses.

I cannot say enough good things about Brian’s willingness and ability to distill his decades of experience into knowledge suitable for his students to understand, absorb, and apply. He does this without affectation, bravado or useless posturing. Brian is serious, skilled and down-to-earth … simply a fantastic instructor.

A key component of this training is the scenario based problem the students face as part of the “final exam”. These scenarios were extremely effective at putting people in stressful self-defense situations and then allowing them to process the situation. The student must deal with the threats that they were facing and also conduct a review in the aftermath with the focus on self-defense survival and also legal survival.

Legal survival includes how to ask for a chance to consult with your criminal defense or self-defense attorney if and when the police start to want to ask you questions. In Georgia, you have the right to the advice of your defense lawyer before you decide whether to make statements to law enforcement. The decision of whether, when and how to speak with law enforcement will be a key decision in the aftermath of a self defense incidentand getting it wrong can cause you no end of trouble.

The entire effect of the course is really one of seamless immersion in the subject matter. I’ve been a prosecutor and an Athens, Georgia criminal defense lawyer for over 20 years and a serious student of self-defense arts for many years as well and I wholeheartedly endorse this course, Brian Hill and The Complete Combatant. http://www.thecompletecombatant.com/

-Mo Wiltshire

New Athens Police Chief Focuses on Community Engagement at AADM Town Hall

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 15:49:00 GMT

Since taking on his position as Chief of Police, Cleveland Lee Spruill Sr. has visited seven different barbershops, hairdressers and other area businesses and has found them to be some of the most important actions since he started. As reported in The Red & Black, Spruill attended the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s town hall on policing […]

As reported in The Red & Black , Spruill attended the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s town hall on policing last Thursday. He emphasized his desire to listen and engage with community members, and visiting businesses with community leaders and customers is a way to build relationships.

“By him being in the community and being active, that’s a plus to me because a lot of people sit behind a desk and don’t get up,” said Mykeisha Ross, Athens community member, in reference to Spruill’s actions so far.

Spruill, who replaced former Chief of Police Scott Freeman, described his vision for the ACCPD as a “modern, enlightened, 21st-century” department, which includes a diverse organization, a building of trust and highly trained officers.

Mokah-Jasmine Johnson, president of Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, said AADM and the police department must figure out how to work together since race relations and police brutality are major reasons why AADM exists.

“We have to figure out how to build a relationship with the police, even though there’s lack of trust,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she is concerned about transparency and accountability within ACCPD, especially after Freeman’s unexpected departure and incidents of police violence.

Growing up, Spruill said he experienced crime, violence, and fear of the police in New York and Virginia, which gave him many perspectives on law enforcement.

“When I come as a police chief, I’m coming also having known what it feels like to be a kid who

is afraid to go outside to play because there’s a gangbang on every corner and there’s drug dealers on every park,” Spruill said.

Those in attendance seemed to agree with Spruill on topics including how drug addicts or those dealing with mental health issues should receive help instead of being imprisoned.

Regarding ACCPD as an entity, Spruill said the department should find opportunities to avoid using force when it doesn’t jeopardize the safety of the officers.

“Just because you can use force doesn’t mean you should use force,” Spruill said.

In his new position, Spruill said he wants to help youth by implementing “youth programs,” discussing the value of education, mentoring and a sharing of ideas with young people in the community.

Beto Mendoza, coordinator of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition, later led the conversation to immigration law and deportation, asking how AACPD would handle illegal immigrants in the community.

Spruill said that the ACCPD isn’t U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and it won’t be enforcing the 287(g) program of immigration authority, a partnership between ICE, state and local law enforcement that allows ICE to enforce federal immigration laws independently of local laws as part of its homeland security mission.

Erin Stacer, who works for AADM and local progressive group Athens for Everyone, was part of a group of people who demanded that Williams include diversity as a factor in his consideration of a new police chief.

“I am happy to see a black police chief. That’s great,” Stacer said. “I’m more concerned about him treating the larger population here in Athens.”

Stacer said she wants the new police chief’s vision to be in line with positive actions AADM has been working on, and she doesn’t want any wrongdoings from ACCPD.

Hundreds of Athens Cases to be Affected by State Court’s DUI Ruling

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 16:52:00 GMT

A ruling was made earlier this week by the Georgia Supreme Court that an alleged drunken driver’s refusal to provide a breath test cannot be used as evidence in court may affect over a dozen pending DUI cases in Athens. Read more: DUI Lawyer in Athens, GA As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald, the high […]

Milledgeville Residents Gather in Prayer over Recent Unfortunate Events

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 17:58:00 GMT

Devastating wouldn’t even begin to describe what the last few weeks have been like for the community of Milledgeville. In response to the unfortunate events that have struck the small city that is northeast of Macon, residents of Milledgeville came together on Monday to pray for each other, as reported by Fox 24 WGXA. Read […]

Devastating wouldn’t even begin to describe what the last few weeks have been like for the community of Milledgeville.

In response to the unfortunate events that have struck the small city that is northeast of Macon, residents of Milledgeville came together on Monday to pray for each other, as reported by Fox 24 WGXA .

Earlier in the month, on February 4, Georgia Military College student Logan Jones died after being hit by a Georgia College bus. Not even two days after that, GC’s dining facilities shut down after a reported stomach illness outbreak among the students.

Then this past Sunday, Feb. 10, a fire engulfed a Georgia College fraternity house. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries to any of the 10 students who were inside when the fire broke out.

Stephen Wilson, the college’s director of counseling services, said that he’s never seen students experience so much in such a short amount of time in the 10 years he’s been there. Wilson also said he’s seen a large number of students seeking help.

The prayer event on Monday night brought about all kinds of emotions, but what was mostly demonstrated was a strong sense of community.

Georgia College student Carrie Grace said she was directly affected by the stomach illness outbreak. She also said that everyone can feel the tension on campus.

“There’s just a moment of silence anytime someone walks through that intersection,” Grace said, referring to the corner of Hancock and Clarke streets where Jones was hit and killed.

More than 100 students gathered inside Centennial Center to pray, worship and comfort each other.

Athens Police Try to Find Motive for Recent Homicide

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 17:00:00 GMT

On Monday, Athens-Clarke County police continued seeking possible motives for the shooting death of 24-year-old Ramonte Harris at Regency Park Apartments over the weekend. As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald, Harris was shot and killed at around 5 p.m. on Saturday at his Sycamore Drive residence by 21-year-old Darrall Christopher Early, according to police. Read […]

On Monday, Athens-Clarke County police continued seeking possible motives for the shooting death of 24-year-old Ramonte Harris at Regency Park Apartments over the weekend.

As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald , Harris was shot and killed at around 5 p.m. on Saturday at his Sycamore Drive residence by 21-year-old Darrall Christopher Early, according to police.

Authorities said they charged Early with murder following their interrogation.

Police said they learned that an argument took place before the shooting, but did not know what the argument was about.

Police Capt. Jerry Saulters of the Criminal Investigations Division said detectives were trying to find out if the shooting was gang related since Harris was a member of local street gang, NBA. However, it was unknown if Early had gang affiliations.

“That is something we will look into also,” Saulters said.

Harris’ death occurred a week after Athens recorded its first homicide this year.

On Jan. 26, Latisha Gresham, 36, was fatally shot by her boyfriend during an altercation at their Moreland Avenue residence.

The boyfriend, 40-year-old Marion Adkins Jr., was still at the scene and confessed to shooting Gresham, according to police who charged him with murder.

Police ask that anyone with information about the Sycamore Drive homicide contact Detective Kim Johnson at (706) 613-3330 or kimberly.johnson@accgov.com .

Georgia man detained for driving stolen car to bond out girlfriend who was arrested for driving stolen car

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 16:25:00 GMT

There are possibly hundreds of stories of criminals getting caught due to a poorly-executed robbery or theft that would ultimately make it in a video compilation of “America’s Dumbest Criminals.” Read more: Criminal Defense Lawyer in Athens, GA The latest example of this involves a Georgia man who drove a stolen car to jail to […]

The latest example of this involves a Georgia man who drove a stolen car to jail to bail out someone who had been arrested for having driven a stolen car.

As recently reported in The Red & Black , Duluth resident Derrick Taylor-Canty, 26, went to Gwinnett County Jail to bond out his girlfriend, Akhria Cooper, 24, also from Duluth, after she was arrested for driving a different stolen vehicle, police said.

The couple are now both behind bars after being charged with felony and misdemeanor theft by receiving stolen property, altering serial numbers and several other charges for having four stolen cars in their possession, police said.

Just a few days ago, those four vehicles were discovered after a Gwinnett County Police Department officer stopped Cooper for speeding on Ga. Highway 316, according to Cpl. Michele Pihera, spokeswoman for the Gwinnett County Police Department.

“After making contact with the driver, the officer discovered that the license plate displayed on the back of the Jeep was stolen,” Pihera said. “The driver told the officer that she purchased the vehicle through an ad on a buy/sell/trade website. After the driver was arrested and placed in the backseat of a patrol car, the officers found that the VIN plate displayed in the windshield was fraudulent. The true VIN was found. The vehicle was reported stolen from Thrifty Rental in Tennessee when someone rented the vehicle with fraudulent information.”

Upon taking Cooper to the Gwinnett County Jail, Motor Vehicle Theft Unit investigators called Taylor-Canty to inform him that she was in jail, Pihera said.

That’s when things took a turn for the worst for Taylor-Canty.

“Derrick traveled to the jail to bond out Akhria. While in the parking lot, he called the investigator to inquire about his girlfriend,” Pihera said. “Suspecting that Derrick could also be in a stolen vehicle, the investigators confronted Derrick in the parking lot. The 2019 Infiniti that he was driving also had a fraudulent VIN. The true VIN was found, and investigators learned that the vehicle was reported stolen from Enterprise Rental in Kentucky. He was placed under arrest.”

Police not only discovered that Taylor-Canty was driving a stolen vehicle, but they also found two other sets of keys on him, which came from two other stolen vehicles. One of those vehicles was parked at Cooper’s house.

The other vehicle, Pihera said, was sold to a buyer in Milton by Taylor-Canty using the title of a different vehicle. The owner of the stolen vehicle, however, had been involved in a car accident and had to leave the car on the side of Interstate 85. Police were able to recover it.

On top of the charges for theft and altering serial numbers, Cooper was charged with speeding, driving without a license, altering a vehicle to conceal its identity, improper window tint and having no insurance.

Taylor-Canty was also charged with theft by deception and operating a chop shop.

Last Friday, Pihera said that the investigation is still active even though Cooper and Taylor-Canty have been charged.

“There is a possibility that these two suspects may have victimized others,” she said. “If anyone purchased a vehicle from either Akhria or Derrick, please call Investigator O’Brien at 770-513-5285.”

I worked with an investigator back in my prosecutor days who used to like to say, “Being a petty criminal is a hard row to hoe and it gets even tougher if you are stupid.” This is clearly a case of Aggravated Criminal Stupidity. -Mo Wiltshire

Former Georgia RBs Todd Gurley and Sony Michel go head to head in this year’s Super Bowl

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 13:45:00 GMT

Last Sunday, Georgia’s NFL alumni once again participated in one of the football league’s biggest stages in the NFC and AFC title games. As reported in The Red & Black, more than one former Bulldog represented each of the four teams that were left, and one Feb. 3 in Atlanta, two of those former Georgia […]

Last Sunday, Georgia’s NFL alumni once again participated in one of the football league’s biggest stages in the NFC and AFC title games. As reported in The Red & Black , more than one former Bulldog represented each of the four teams that were left, and one Feb. 3 in Atlanta, two of those former Georgia running backs will face each other in Super Bowl LIII.

Sony Michel (Running Back, New England Patriots)

Michel fought hard in New England’s 37-31 overtime victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. The first-year back rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries as part of an incredible Patriots’ offense that has relied on the running game for the entire postseason.

Michel scored a crucial touchdown with 3:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. Michel and the Patriots are heading to their ninth Super Bowl against the same team they did back in Super Bowl XXXVI: the Los Angeles Rams.

Todd Gurley (Running Back, Los Angeles Rams)

The 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year was quiet in Los Angeles’ 26-23 close win against the New Orleans Saints in overtime. Gurley rushed four times for 10 yards, which wasn’t fantastic, but he did record a game-changing touchdown at the end of the first half to get the Rams back within a field goal after being behind 13-0.

However, Rams Head Coach Sean McVay said in his postgame press conference that he intended to have backup C.J. Anderson play predominantly over Gurley, because his star running back would play a big role in Super Bowl LIII. The Rams aim to win their first-ever championship in Los Angeles, with the franchise’s only previous Super Bowl win coming in St. Louis.

David Andrews (Center, New England Patriots)

Andrews was a dominant player offensively against the Chiefs.

The New England offensive line did not allow a sack or tackle for loss for the whole game, while helping the team rush for a combined 176 yards and four touchdowns. Although they effectively neutralized the threat of pass rushers Dee Ford and Justin Houston, the Patriots’ interior line will face quite the challenge in a little over a week against the Rams.

Los Angeles’ interior defensive line is one of the league’s best, with NFL sack leader and Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and five-time Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh.

Other Georgia playoff performances

Justin Houston (Outside Linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs): Recorded two solo tackles in KC’s 31-37 loss.

Ramik Wilson (Inside Linebacker, Los Angeles Rams): Wilson appeared on special teams for the Rams but did not record any tackles.

Ben Watson (Tight End, New Orleans Saints): The primary Saints pass-catching tight end was not able to play due to appendicitis.

Chris Conley (Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs): Conley targeted once but did not record a catch.

Athens-Clarke County Officials Recently Announced New Police Chief

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 15:56:00 GMT

After an extensive search, former police chief Scott Freeman’s replacement has been chosen. Cleveland Spruill, who was most recently chief of the Huntersville Police Department in North Carolina, will begin his duty as the new chief on Feb. 4. Read more: Business Representation Lawyer in Athens, GA As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, Spruill, a […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Spruill, a law enforcement veteran for over 30 years, was selected after a national search that utilized criteria highly solicited by Athens residents, said County Manager Blaine Williams.

“After careful consideration and based on extensive feedback from the citizens and officers about what they want to see in our new police chief, I believe that Chief Spruill will be an exceptional fit for Athens-Clarke County,” Williams said in a news release. “He stood out among an extremely well-qualified group of candidates as the right person to lead our police department, uphold our community-oriented policing philosophy, and serve as an ambassador to the community.”

Williams mentioned that Athens is a “unique community” and hiring an outsider was “a gamble,” but said he Spruill stood out because his diverse law enforcement experience “brings added value.”

Williams also said his small list of candidates included Athens officers, but after he traveled to Huntersville over the holidays to engage with the city’s residents and police officers, their praises over Spruill confirmed his decision.

“I was extremely encouraged from what I heard,” Williams said.

A factor that contributed in the hiring of Spruill was that “community policing is part of who he is,” Williams said.

“I look forward to leading the talented and capable men and women of the department and pledge my best effort to train them and enrich their careers,” Spruill said in prepared remarks.

“Together we will strive to build on organizational successes and enhance trust and relationships with the community to make Athens-Clarke County among the safest places in Georgia to live, learn, work and visit.”

Before his position in Huntersville, Spruill served the Alexandria Police Department in Virginia for almost 27 years. There he had more than 17 years of command-level experience with assignments in each of the major bureaus.

“Throughout his 31-year police career, Chief Spruill has established a reputation as a reformer and change agent,” Williams said. “He has shown that he can support his officers effectively in reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life, while at the same time building trust and strengthening community relationships with law enforcement.”

Born in Queens, New York, in 1964, Spruill relocated with his family to Richmond, Virginia, in 1978. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Battalion at Ft. Myer, Virginia. A year after being honorably discharged in 1986, Spruill joined the Alexandria Police Department.

We are hopeful that the new Chief of Police will be able to help bring to an end the difficulties that have plagued the ACCPD in recent months. Athens needs and deserves an effective, diligent and courteous police force so she can continue to be the best place to live and work in the State.

Two Locals Who Disappeared in December Still Missing; Body of a Third Man Missing Just Found

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 19:00:00 GMT

Since last Thursday, Athens-Clarke County police have continued to search for missing Athens residents Joshua Lee Jackson and Derrick Davion Ruff, who were last seen by anyone more than two weeks ago. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the men, both 25, were last spotted together the night of Dec. 18 on Habersham Drive in […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the men, both 25, were last spotted together the night of Dec. 18 on Habersham Drive in an SUV belonging to Ruff’s girlfriend, police said. Three days later, the vehicle was found in an undeveloped area of a neighborhood in Lawrenceville, according to Athens-Clarke County police Lt. Derek Scott.

Gwinnett County investigators processed the vehicle, according to Scott, who said that “ACCPD detectives are awaiting the final report, nothing that raised suspicion was noted about the vehicle.”

Even though there was no evidence of possible foul play, Scott said concern for Jackson’s and Ruff’s well-being was mounting as time passes.

“According to family and friends, it is unusual for either man to be out of contact with them for this amount of time,” said Scott, who oversees missing person cases in Athens.

Although not connected, the disappearance of William Kristopher ‘Kris” Avera, 39, also remained a mystery until now. It has been three weeks since the Madison County man was last seen leaving his home off Jot Em Down Road at around noon.

“We’ve discussed the entirety of the case with the family and followed up on any information,” Madison County sheriff’s Investigator Scott Rice said recently.

The investigator had visited Clermont in Hall County to check on a reported sighting at a business.

“I got a video from the store and took still shots from that. I showed the family and they said it wasn’t him,” Rice said.

Avera, who went missing Dec. 11, had a cell phone, but there has been no recent activity, Rice said.

Aside from that, a helicopter flew over the wooded area around Jot Em Down Road, located north of Danielsville, but nothing was found, according to Rice.

According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, the Sheriff reported that Avera’s body was found in a wooded area near Jot Em Down Road on Tuesday evening at around 5:30 p.m. The cause of death is still unknown, but no foul play is suspected. However, the body has been sent to the State Crime Lab for an autopsy.

Court Documents Reveal Important Details Surrounding Athens Gang Killing

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 21:09:00 GMT

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, recently filed Clarke County Superior Court documents offer a look into the internal workings of a street gang. Last summer an Athens man shot and killed a fellow gang member after he was about to be punished for bringing shame to the gang. Read more: Criminal Defense Lawyer in […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , recently filed Clarke County Superior Court documents offer a look into the internal workings of a street gang. Last summer an Athens man shot and killed a fellow gang member after he was about to be punished for bringing shame to the gang.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, the deadly shooting took place July 17, after 19-year-old Zaria Alexis Powell was told by her fellow gang members to pick up Randy Junior Leverette and take him to Perry’s Convenience Store on Cedar Shoals Drive.

Athens-Clarke County police said Powell and Leverette were connected with Piru, which is a gang affiliated with the Bloods street gang.

The detective’s affidavit indicated that Powell, a 19-year-old Highland Park Drive resident, was told by David Deshun Cooper and William Tremaine “Hunxho” Worley to drive Leverette to an “emergency meeting” because Leverette had violated “certain rules and protocols” of the gang.

The 25-year-old Baxter Drive resident “brought shame upon his gang” because he got beat up by a rival gang member and didn’t retaliate, according to the affidavit.

Worley later told police that Leverette “would have to suffer some sort of monetary or physical punishment for this,” according to the affidavit.

Worley reportedly told a detective that he and Cooper planned to keep Leverette at the convenience store so they could call other gang members for a meeting to figure out how to punish Leverette.

Following Powell’s arrival at Perry’s she went inside to pay for gas while Leverette stayed in her car. Worley and Cooper then approached Leverette, according to the affidavit. Worley told the detective that after they saw Leverette take out a pistol and chamber a round, he ran off one way but Cooper was shot by Leverette as he ran another way.

Police said Cooper, 24, of Bethel Midtown Village, was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

According to police and court records, Leverette was arrested the same day Cooper was killed. Powell was arrested Oct. 26 and Worley was arrested in South Carolina on Nov. 25. Initially all were charged for Cooper’s death.

Leverette’s case was presented separately on July 17 to a grand jury that did not indict him for murder, but instead charged him with possession of firearm during the commission of a crime, according to an indictment filed in Clarke County Superior Court.

Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ken Mauldin suggested that grand jurors may have concluded that Leverette was justified in the shooting as he was defending himself from possible imminent harm.

On Oct. 23 a case against Worley and Powell was presented to the grand jury at which time an indictment was returned charging each with felony murder, violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism Prevention Act, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit robbery.

At a Dec. 12 arraignment both suspects plead not guilty to all charges. They were denied bond and are being held at the Clarke County Jail pending trial.

Athens Tattoo Parlor Offers Free Cover-ups for Sex Trafficking Survivors

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 20:14:00 GMT

One thing customers may notice as they step inside 3 Ravens Tattoo and Piercing is how well-lit and open the space is. What they may not know right away is that Jim and Devon Mellor, a married tattoo artist duo at 3 Ravens, have recently added another bright light to their space by offering […]

One thing customers may notice as they step inside 3 Ravens Tattoo and Piercing is how well-lit and open the space is.

What they may not know right away is that Jim and Devon Mellor, a married tattoo artist duo at 3 Ravens, have recently added another bright light to their space by offering a free service of covering the tattoos or brandings of survivors of sex trafficking.

As reported in The Red & Black , these Athens tattoo artists feel that covering the tattoos sex trafficking survivors forcefully received while being trafficked helps survivors move forward.

According to the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Partners for Vulnerable Youth, sex trafficking victims are forced to get a tattoo that shows they belong to a certain pimp.

“These marks carry through long after someone is lucky enough to be liberated from that life,” Devon said. “It’s the last thing that someone who’s struggling to go from being trafficked to get on their feet is going to have money for or put money toward.”

The most common tattoos are crowns, roses, names and even barcodes, Jim said. The tattoos typically can be found on victims’ wrists or necks.

Men and women have gone to the Mellors to cover tattoos which is when they tell their story to the artists.

“They were not forthcoming with it until you have them in the chair and kind of talk with them for a while, and then it comes out what [the tattoo] really is,” Devon said.

For Devon, providing free cover-up tattoos is her way of supporting survivors through their process of moving on from this part of their lives.

“It’s like therapy,” Devon said. “It’s a physical expression of a lot of the emotional stuff that’s going on inside their head that can’t get out. It’s a very physical, visual transformation.”

Jim has seen this as a life-changing experience for some clients.

“[The mark] takes away someone’s self-value … and when you take the tag away, everything changes,” Jim said.

Covering up the marks is usually finished in one setting, Devon said. This way survivors only have to go through the experience once, which makes a tattoo cover-up more appealing than a tattoo removal.

Jennifer Davidson, an Athens resident and employee at Horton’s Drug Store, approached Jim and Devon after reading a journal article about the marks sex trafficking survivors receive.

With her background in forensic interviewing, Davidson now steers those looking for tattoo cover-ups toward 3 Ravens.

Davidson plans on reaching out to the police department, local sexual assault center The Cottage and area homeless shelters to let them know about 3 Ravens’ service.

“It’s very dark and disheartening to think that these things happen around us. But it’s important for us to know as a community that they do happen around us,” Davidson said.

4th Annual Shop with a Cop Benefits More than 50 Athens Children

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 14:56:00 GMT

In the spirit of Christmas, the Athens-Clarke Police Department and Clarke County Sheriff’s Office hosted the fourth annual Shop With a Cop event with several children from the community. Read more: Business Representation Lawyer in Athens, GA As recently reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, more than 50 Athens area law enforcement officers paired with 60 […]

In the spirit of Christmas, the Athens-Clarke Police Department and Clarke County Sheriff’s Office hosted the fourth annual Shop With a Cop event with several children from the community.

As recently reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , more than 50 Athens area law enforcement officers paired with 60 children from seven Athens elementary schools last Saturday at The Classic Center. Before the shopping began, the kids were treated to a Chick-Fil-A-catered breakfast.

The pairs headed over to Target for a couple of hours of shopping.

Each child was given $100 to spend on a Christmas gifts, which the kids, officers and volunteers wrapped together after returning from the store.

“To see the kids happy, that speaks magnitudes,” said Tommy Dorsey, an Athens-Clarke police officer. “Being from the community in Athens, Georgia, anything I can do to help, I’m all for it. All hands in.”

Supported through donations from several area businesses and individuals, Shop With a Cop is intended to foster positive relationships between youth and police officers, and show children another side to the police department.

“At first, you may have some kids who are a little bit hesitant,” said Julita Sanders, a neighborhood service officer with the ACCPD’s community outreach division. “Once they get to talk to the officer, and realize they’re human also, everything eases up.”

Former police chief Scott Freeman came up with this idea and asked Sanders to oversee the planning of the event. Since its inception in 2015, Sanders is still involved in planning for Shop with a Cop, and says the organizers, officers and youth involved all enjoy it.

“Every single officer that started four years ago is here today,” Sanders said. “They love to participate every year. Sometimes they even call prior and say, ‘Hey, are you guys still doing Shop With a Cop?’”

The kids were hand-selected by principals and social workers in their elementary schools as students “in need” or who displayed leadership skills in school.

Even though the goal is to give kids a nice Christmas, many of the kids also bought gifts for their family members.

Athens cop not negligent in pedestrian patrol car crash

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 19:05:00 GMT

Following the recent incident in which an Athens-Clarke County police officer struck a pedestrian with his patrol car, Georgia authorities decided not to file charges. Read more: Lawyers in Athens, Georgia As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald, last Friday at about 6:35 a.m., Cpl. Len Thomas was driving his patrol car to work when he […]

Athens own Lewis Shropshire was dedicated to his community

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 20:01:00 GMT

Last Friday, Shropshire, who was on the Athens City Council while living in Athens, succumbed to injuries that he received after being hit by a car close to his home while he was walking across Riverbend Parkway on Nov. 15. Read more: DUI Lawyer in Athens, GA As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the accident […]

More than a dozen UGA Fullbright Scholars head abroad

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 17:29:00 GMT

This year, fifteen University of Georgia students were selected as recipients of the 2018 U.S Fulbright Scholars program. With this national scholarship, students have ventured to Spain, England and other countries to conduct research. Read more: UGA Student Defense Lawyer in Athens, GA As the largest exchange program offered to students within the country, there is […]

As the largest exchange program offered to students within the country, there is a major opportunity for students and young professionals to engage in “international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide.”

As reported recently in The Red & Black , students usually apply to the program during the fall semester of their senior year. If chosen, students begin the program after completing their undergraduate degree.

Maria de Rocher, the Fulbright adviser at UGA, spreads the word to students about the Fulbright program and helps students prepare for the process which includes a campus stage and a national stage, and then the host country becomes involved.

Chosen by the national committee, finalists are picked at the end of January. The host country will make the final decision and applicants will find out the final decision between March-May.

Most of the UGA Fulbright Scholars have already embarked to their host countries. Out of 140 countries that participate in the program, the UGA Fulbright Scholars will study in Vietnam, Spain, Norway, South Korea, Malaysia, Brazil, Finland, Hungary, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Scholars can spend one academic year working on engineering, English teaching, geography, linguistics, ecology, creative writing and education.

Elizabeth Jennings, one of the UGA Fulbright Scholars who is living in Logroño with two girls from Spain, works in two Spanish high schools with 10 different teachers and more than 300 students of varying ages. There she assists English teachers and shares the English language and culture with her Spanish students.

“I feel so fortunate to collaborate with and learn from many teachers and experience what it is like to teach students from seventh grade all the way to technical school,” Jennings said.

Jennings, who graduated with a degree in Spanish and World Language Education from UGA, said her world language education prepared her with “the pedagogical tools and student teaching experience needed to be an effective teacher.”

“I am thankful for all the preparation from student teaching and the College of Education as it will influence my future teaching experience here in Spain and beyond,” Jennings said.

Jennings said that living in a new environment outside the U.S. is rewarding and challenging.

“Being sure of who you are will help you in your cultural adjustment to a new environment while you learn to respect and understand the values, perspectives and customs of others,” Jennings said.

Athens Law Enforcement Crack Down on Shoplifting Ring

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 17:21:00 GMT

This year for a period of four months, the Walmart on Lexington Road has had thousands of dollars worth of DVD and Blu-ray movie discs stolen from the store. Athens-Clarke County police believe they have identified three suspects who are responsible. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, following the thefts that were reported in July, […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , following the thefts that were reported in July, Athens-Clarke County police Detective Nathaniel Franco said he found that similar thefts had been reported at a few other north Georgia Walmart stores.

Working in teams of three, Franco said that one suspect acted as a lookout while another removed a large item from its box and later filled the box with DVDs and Blu-ray discs.Then the third suspect came into the store, located the box full of discs and purchased it.

In each of the thefts the suspects took out a crock pot from its box and filled that box with discs, only paying for the cost of the crock pot.

According to Walmart’s website, a crock pot sells for as little as $15.99, but the box can hold dozens of DVDs and Blu-rays that can cost up to $25 per disc.

During the most recent shoplifting incident on Nov. 2, the thieves had gotten away with 73 discs with a total value of $1,788 and just a month prior a similar theft had occured, police said.

“This type of shoplifting is organized retail crime.” Franco said. ”… This group is very organized and they can hit multiple stores in a single day, stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise.”

Franco believes the suspects take the stolen items to an intermediary who either sells them to a pawn shop or at a flea-market. There is an investigation to determine if the three Athens suspects are part of a larger organization.

Following the most recent shoplifting incident, Franco contacted law enforcement agencies in Atlanta and northeast Georgia. He discovered that the same group of thieves hit several Walmarts in Milton, Cleveland, Toccoa, Clayton, the Atlanta metro area and possibly Oconee County.

Shoplifting becomes a felony if the value of the stolen items is over $500 or if the offender had at least three previous misdemeanor shoplifting convictions.

With the suspects’ identities confirmed from Walmart surveillance camera footage and with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, Franco said he is hoping to obtain felony warrants soon.

Police identified the suspects as Damarann Washington, 24; Markez Heard, 23; and Irja Jones, 24.

Although police did not have current addresses for the suspects, they believe the suspects targeted Walmarts away from where they resided.

“The suspects could be targeting other states, but our investigation is focusing on Georgia,” Athens-Clarke police spokesman Geof Gilland said.

Kemp’s campaign declares victory as Georgia’s new Governor

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 16:32:00 GMT

It’s all anyone in Georgia and across the country can talk about since Tuesday’s Election night. Republican Brian Kemp received a little over 50 percent of the votes, but Democrat Stacey Abrams does not want to concede. Read more: Fake ID Arrest Attorney in Athens, GA Even though Abrams is insisting enough ballots remain to […]

Even though Abrams is insisting enough ballots remain to open up the possibility for a runoff in December, on Wednesday Kemp’s campaign declared victory in the Georgia governor’s race.

As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald , the Associated Press has not called the contest.

In a conference call, top Kemp campaign adviser Ryan Mahoney told reporters that the numbers indicate that Abrams can’t win and a runoff won’t happen.

“We are declaring victory,” Mahoney said. Another campaign official, Austin Chambers, added: “The message here is pretty simple: This election is over, and the results are clear.”

Abrams’ campaign spent the day following the election pushing for the continuation of counting of absentee, mail-in and provisional ballots and bringing up its concerns over Kemp remaining the chief elections officer supervising his own election.

With votes reported as being over 3.9 million, Kemp has a little more than 50 percent of those votes.

“We are leaving all of our options on the table,” including litigation, Abrams’ campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo said. She figured that about 15,000 votes separate Kemp from a runoff.

Candice Broce, Kemp’s spokeswoman in the secretary of state’s office, said that by Wednesday afternoon the number of uncounted absentee and mail-in ballots was under 2,000.

Broce said about 22,000 provisional ballots have yet to be processed and Mahoney said that those numbers make it impossible for Abrams to get enough votes to deny Kemp a victory.

Kemp’s office has not yet released a county-by-county breakdown of provisional ballots, but Abrams’ campaign believes they are mostly in metro Atlanta counties where Abrams won a large chunk of the vote.

If a runoff is necessary, it would take place Dec. 4.

State law allows counties to complete vote counts and certify results to state elections officials by next Tuesday. The statewide certification must follow by Nov. 20.

Downtown Athens Chick-fil-A Making its Debut Monday

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 16:09:00 GMT

For many who frequent the busy corner of College Avenue and East Broad Street across from the University of Georgia’s Arch, the countdown to Chick-fil-A’s opening began as soon as word got out that it would be taking over the space once occupied by Five Guys. Read more: Business Formation Lawyer in Athens, GA As […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the popular fast-food restaurant will officially open its newest restaurant in downtown Athens on Monday.

Similar to locations where there is a lot of foot traffic, the 2,000-square-foot restaurant features amenities including a pedestrian friendly “grab-and-go” walk-up windows for easy ordering and pick-up; a Chick-fil-A app mobile ordering designated pickup entrance and counter inside; and a menu modified with several healthy and dietary options.

Franchise owner Shane Todd said opening a new Chick-fil-A in such a heavy pedestrian area was a simple decision.

“We’ve been looking at downtown for a few years,” Todd told the newspaper. ”… So many people live downtown now and we were looking for what we thought was a great spot. It doesn’t get any better than 101 College Ave.”

Todd is hosting a community celebration Friday to feature Chick-fil-A’s First 100 Scavenger Hunt experience.

Registration for the First 100 Scavenger Hunt starts at 6 a.m. Friday at the restaurant and will continue until 100 eligible participants are registered. Participants will need to complete the scavenger hunt as designated by the rules with speed not being necessary, and will end at the final stop at 3 p.m.

Eligible participants who follow the rules and complete all the required tasks will win a digital offer card loaded with a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A Meals (52 meals with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, medium waffle fries and a medium beverage). More information about the contest, visit thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/News/Future-Openings .

The event also includes a children’s book drive benefiting the Head Start Program of Clarke County School District.

The restaurant will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday and Friday.

Athens Public Information Officer Recently Terminated

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 14:33:00 GMT

The terminations continue at the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. The most recent of these is of the department’s former public information officer. Read more: Self Defense Attorney in Athens, GA As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, Epifanio Rodriguez was the police department’s first public information officer. Hired by former chief Scott Freeman, Rodriguez was […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Epifanio Rodriguez was the police department’s first public information officer. Hired by former chief Scott Freeman, Rodriguez was fired last week, which is a little less than a month after Freeman was forced to resign.

″(Rodriguez) was served with the dismissal on Oct. 10,” interim police Chief Mike Hunsinger said. “Beyond that, I won’t make any statement.”

Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams said that it was Hunsinger’s decision to terminate Rodriguez as the acting chief.

It appeared as though the firing may be connected to Freeman’s departure, which was due to poor management that led to discord within the police department and high officer turnover.

According to county personnel records obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald, one of the concerns about Freeman was how he went about hiring Rodriguez to be the department’s spokesman.

Freeman reportedly put the pressure on a former lieutenant who commanded the Office of Professional Standards to take back his “not recommended” decision regarding Rodriguez after discovering a few indiscretions in his past during his polygraph examination, noted the personnel documents.

Following Freeman’s resignation, Rodriguez was put on paid administrative leave while his hiring was being investigated.

In a Sept. 23 interview, Rodriguez said he admitted during the polygraph exam that he stole change from a car to buy food when he was a poor teenager and that he once spanked his young child in public when the child tried to punch his wife.

“It was an authorized use of corporal punishment,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said that during the hiring process he confessed to lying when he was a Forsyth County sheriff’s deputy because “once or twice I didn’t feel like working and so I called in sick.”

The missing piece of the discussion surrounding the future of Athens Policing

Thu, 18 Oct 2018 14:23:00 GMT

The termination of Chief Scott Freeman and the high turnover of police officers led to many things, including a recent town hall meeting about the future of Athens policing. The discussion panel was comprised of two newly-elected commissioners, Mariah Parker and Tim Denson, former Athens Mayor Gwen O’Looney, University of Georgia law professor Russell Gabriel, […]

As reported in an opinion piece in the Athens Banner-Herald by David Ian, a former Athens-Clarke County police officer, he said most of the conversation included comments such as, “We don’t trust the police. We need more community policing. We need more transparency.”

For the duration of the event, the discussion primarily focused on what the police did to create and maintain distrust with the community, and how they should resolve it. What was left out was what the community itself can do to better this torn police-community relationship.

At one point, Parker said that the next chief must fix these issues with more extensive training on trauma-informed community engagement, implying officers were not well-trained on this. Hunsinger noted that this is already covered under mandatory training for new officers, but Parker replied, “I said extensive.”

In another instance, Gabriel said that officers need more training on de-escalating situations, while Denson described the need for more officers in the mental health unit.

As a former Athens-Clarke officer, Ian agreed that a few of the community policing strategies that were recommended are important toward building better trust with the community. But he said it wasn’t anything new to him as he learned this while with the department.

Hunsinger further explained that this training is known throughout the Georgia law-enforcement community as producing some of the most well-trained officers on these issues, which Ian can attest to. As a new officer, Ian was trained on community policing, implicit bias, emotional intelligence, de-escalation tactics, and spent the 15-week training phase focused on a community-engagement project. To be promoted, more training and completing another community-engagement project was a requirement.

Ian said the other half of the dialogue is missing such as a community that desires to make its police officers feel valued and respected.

“We want officers who are willing to get out of their cars and engage the community, “ Ian wrote. “But what if the community won’t engage these officers? How can these officers engage a community that’s more interested in putting the blame on them for the community’s problems.”

Currently a law student at UGA, Ian suggests that the county commissioners and citizens of Athens-Clarke County begin having the rest of this conversation.

He also said that it is easy to point to an institution as a scapegoat for a community’s problems, but it is more difficult for a community to realize its own obligations and faults.

“We must begin discussing what the community can do to fix this distrust. If we don’t, expect the mass exodus of officers to continue,” concluded Ian.

Athens career criminal caught by police with his father’s help

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:39:00 GMT

Athens-Clarke County police recently apprehended a career criminal on burglary warrants with the help of the suspect’s father. It all went down after his father notified police that he was trespassing at his Reese Street residence. Read more: UGA Student Defense Attorney in Athens, GA As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald, Demarkio Wise, 31, of […]

As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald , Demarkio Wise, 31, of Fairview Street tried to flee the scene when law enforcement officials arrived. He broke into a residence on North Billups Street, where he barricaded himself in a bedroom before he was quickly taken into custody, according to police.

Transported to the Clarke County Jail, Wise got served with warrants on file charging him with four counts of second-degree burglary. He was also charged with obstruction for attempting to evade arrest.

Police said they also took photos of Wise’s tattoos to connect him to other burglaries he was a suspect for.

A police incident report indicated that Wise had recent healing injuries on his hands and arms that were “indicative of the time frame of the burglaries that Wise was linked to.”

According to Clarke County Superior Court records, Wise has been in and out of jail in Athens for nearly two decades.

Since 1999, he has had four state prison terms for robbery, theft, and burglary convictions in Madison and Clarke counties, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Wise was already on probation for a shoplifting conviction from two months ago in Athens before he was arrested last Thursday, according to court records. As of Friday, he was being held without bail at the Clarke County Jail.

More Details Emerge over Athens Police Chief Firing

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:39:00 GMT

Former police chief Scott Freeman left behind a tense department after resigning involuntarily last month. While some favored his transparent and community-driven type of policing, the combination of jaded recruiting and poor management skills led to high turnover and some officers worried they would be let go, as reported in the Flagpole, which obtained records […]

“Attrition rates of both experienced and new personnel have reached critical levels that if continued, will present unacceptable risk to public safety and officer safety,” ACC Manager Blaine Williams wrote in a Sept. 13 memo requesting Freeman’s resignation. “Such attrition has grown increasingly over time as a result of a now pervasive loss of ACCPD personnel trust and confidence in the leadership of the ACCPD.”

There were 29 out of 318 officers and civilian employees who either quit or were fired in the first seven months of 2018 as compared to 32 in 2017.

At least four new recruits still in their probationary periods were terminated. The low quality of recent recruits was one of the factors that several officers mentioned in exit interviews and interviews with human resources personnel.

While three officers were fired for accusations of untruthfulness, according to documents from the ACCPD, the most talked about firing was that of Taylor Saulters who used his patrol car to hit and stop a suspect on a felony warant from fleeing as he “did not have any information that would justify using a patrol vehicle to affect an arrest.”

“As expected, the morale hit on that squad has been significant,” one sergeant texted to Freeman, asking him to address the squad on the day after he fired Saulters.

The divide in the community was obvious from the thousands of comments on the department’s Facebook posts about the Saulters incident. “One side thinks [Saulters] was [doing] his job and I should be the one fired… and the other side thinks I didn’t go far enough,” Freeman texted to Public Information Officer Epifanio Rodriguez as they watched the comments roll in. “I’m at peace with my decision and that’s that.”

Still, according to dates on county officials’ notes, HR began interviewing police employees about Freeman’s performance including a captain, two lieutenants, a senior officer and two civilians.

The documents released also include a three-page email from Capt. Mark Sizemore to ACC HR Director Jeff Hale dated Feb. 2, in which Sizemore describes how Freeman angrily accused Sizemore of talking behind Freeman’s back twice, in reference to a conversation Sizemore had had with then-UGA police chief Jimmy Williamson about high-speed chases the previous fall. Because he had also been demoted and transferred to a position where he had no one working for him, Sizemore wrote that he believed Freeman was trying to run him off.

Sizemore was one of four majors Freeman demoted to captain when he reorganized the department and eliminated the rank not long after being hired in 2015.

One of the ex-majors, Charles Newsome, immediately retired, and Carter Greene, the interim chief between Lumpkin and Freeman, followed suit.

Other complaints included 10-hour shifts and the removal of traffic patrols and criminal investigation and not being allowed to take patrol cars home was another frequent complaint.

Some officers were also bothered over the firing of Brad Collinsworth, a respected sergeant with a clean record who admitted to using a cellphone to cheat on a test.

“There are a variety of contributing factors to the attrition, not all of which are due to the Chief or even under his control,” Hale continued. “Over the last three months to a year, the Manager has done a great deal of careful, thoughtful analysis of these circumstances. The Manager has determined that for wholly valid reasons or not, Chief Freeman does not have the full confidence of a majority of Department personnel. Further, given Chief Freeman’s considerable talent, technical skills and leadership ability, the Manager believes he might have regained the full confidence of the Department if given sufficient time.”

“However, given the ongoing and growing attrition and looming logistical challenges and safety concerns, we do not have the luxury of time. As a result, the Manager and the Chief mutually agreed that it was time for a change in leadership to stabilize the workforce.”

Athens Deputy Police Chief Resigns Following Police Chief’s Recent Firing; New Details Emerge

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:41:00 GMT

Like that plot twist in a movie that nobody sees coming, so too is the news of the Athens Deputy Police Chief’s resignation. Last week we reported on Athens-Clarke County’s firing of chief of police Scott Freeman. This week we are following up with a story reported by The Red & Black about Deputy Chief […]

Like that plot twist in a movie that nobody sees coming, so too is the news of the Athens Deputy Police Chief’s resignation.

Last week we reported on Athens-Clarke County’s firing of chief of police Scott Freeman. This week we are following up with a story reported by The Red & Black about Deputy Chief Justin Gregory’s decision to resign just a little over a week after Freeman was terminated.

Athens Police Chief Recently Terminated

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:56:00 GMT

Last Thursday Athens-Clarke County decided to fire its chief of police after only three years of serving in that position. Athens Mayor Nancy Denson confirmed the news of Scott Freeman having been let go early in the day by County Manager Blaine Williams. However, she did not know all of the details behind their decision. […]

Last Thursday Athens-Clarke County decided to fire its chief of police after only three years of serving in that position.

Athens Mayor Nancy Denson confirmed the news of Scott Freeman having been let go early in the day by County Manager Blaine Williams. However, she did not know all of the details behind their decision.

Athens gets ready for Hurricane Florence after statewide emergency is declared

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 15:22:00 GMT

It’s all anyone can talk about. Since the weekend, Georgia residents and those in the Carolinas have been following Hurricane Florence closely, even urging family, friends and friends of friends to evacuate to their homes, which are closer inland. The hurricane, which was demoted from a Category 4 to a Category 2 just recently, has […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , a statewide emergency declaration has called Athens area hospitals and emergency service agencies to prepare for what could be the most disastrous hurricane to hit the mid-Atlantic coast in decades.

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

Beth Burgess, director of Emergency Management for Athens-Clarke County, said her biggest concern was for the safety and well-being of residents. However, her agency is prepared to help neighboring South Carolina and North Carolina, which are in the landfall area for Hurricane Florence, according to some computer models.

But a few models showed that the strong storm may take a southern track before hitting land and remain offshore from now through the weekend with the potential of leaving 6 inches of rain, accompanied by 30-mph winds, on northeast Georgia, according to Sid King, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.

An emergency declaration for all 159 Georgia counties was issued by Gov. Nathan Deal yesterday based on a recommendation by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.

“The state is mobilizing all available resources to ensure public safety ahead of Hurricane Florence,” Deal said in a news release.

Birds electric scooters are officially perched in Athens

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 13:50:00 GMT

It’s a Bird! That’s right. With the issue of limited parking, as The University of Georgia is a hub for bus and bike riders, drivers and pedestrians, there is a new type of commuter in the mix. On Aug. 16, Birds made their debut in Athens. While they can’t fly, not even a little bit, […]

That’s right. With the issue of limited parking, as The University of Georgia is a hub for bus and bike riders, drivers and pedestrians, there is a new type of commuter in the mix. On Aug. 16, Birds made their debut in Athens.

While they can’t fly, not even a little bit, they are the electric motorized version of scooters. These curious forms of transit are available to rent to licensed people who are at least 18 years old and who have a smartphone and a credit card.

As reported on EMobility’s website , the scooters, with a maximum speed of 15 mph, can be found using an in-app map, and then “unlocked” for $1 by scanning a QR code. Once unlocked for use, Bird charges 20 cents per minute to ride a scooter.

Jeff Montgomery, Athens-Clarke County public information officer, expressed that Bird riders may put themselves at risk for breaking the law. State law prohibits the scooters from being driven on the sidewalk, and a local ordinance said they are not to be parked on sidewalks or “places other than in parking spaces or on private property.”

“Anyone doing either of these would be potentially subject to a citation,” Montgomery stated in an email.

Montgomery also said county officials from various departments have been discussing public safety issues that may surface from the scooters’ introduction to the city, and the Legislative Review Committee has also been planning to consider explicitly permitting or banning “non-traditional two-wheeled vehicles.”

Bird also announced its “University Pop-Up Tour” in a press release on the same day the scooters arrived to town. Although the plan is for the scooters to make their debuts in 150 colleges across the country, it’s still unclear whether the tour is a trial run or if the scooters are to stay permanently.

“The Bird University Pop-Up Tour will visit a range of large public universities and smaller private colleges,” the press release said.

In the release, Bird described itself as “a last-mile electric vehicle sharing company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solutions to communities across the world.”

The California-based company was formed in 2017 by Travis VanderZanden, a former Uber and Lyft executive.

The scooters had already been introduced in Atlanta, along with 33 other U.S. cities before coming to the Classic City.

Bird encourages riders to wear helmets, to avoid pedestrians on sidewalks, not block public pathways and to park near bike racks, if possible.

The scooters are then collected and charged overnight by gig workers who then return them to the streets in the morning. They are made available for use no later than 7 a.m., and can be ridden until 9 p.m. A fully charged scooter only lasts 15 miles.

The ACC Government did not know the Birds were coming just like no one else in town.

Former Prior, Daniel & Wiltshire Associate Stan Baker Confirmed to U.S District Court

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:51:00 GMT

As reported on Georgiapol.com, Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue recently issued a press release congratulating the confirmation of Judge R. Stan Baker to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. “Judge Stan Baker is a great and talented Georgian who is well-qualified for this position. His work as a litigator and […]

“Judge Stan Baker is a great and talented Georgian who is well-qualified for this position. His work as a litigator and his service on the bench have provided him with a deep grasp of legal procedure, and his record of distinguished service to our state gives me confidence that he will continue to serve us well,” Senator Isakson said. “At his Senate hearing, Judge Baker confirmed what people in South Georgia already knew: He will bring to this role the same open-mindedness and fairness in his decision-making on the bench that he has delivered throughout his career.”

Senator Purdue also echoed Senator Isakson’s sentiments.

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

“Judge Stan Baker has an exceptional legal background, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will continue to serve his state and country with integrity as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Georgia,” Senator Purdue said. “I congratulate Judge Baker on his confirmation and applaud President Trump for selecting such an impressive Georgian to fill this seat on the federal bench.”

A St. Simons Island native, Baker has served as an U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Georgia since 2015 and was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2017.

Baker began his law career at our firm Prior, Daniel, & Wiltshire, LLC, in Athens, Ga in 2006 before moving onto The Jordan Firm, LLC, in his hometown.

“We could not be more elated for our former associate Stan Baker having just been confirmed by the United States Senate as a federal judge,” Mo Wiltshire said. “This doesn’t happen every day and is certainly wonderful news. We wish him the best in his new endeavor.”

Aside from having litigated a wide range of civil, commercial, and criminal matters in state and federal courts, Baker also clerked for Judge William T. Moore, Jr., on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. Baker graduated from law school magna cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law.

A Guide for the Surviving Spouse

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 14:00:00 GMT

The National Mental Health Association recognizes what we intuitively know: “the loss of a loved one is life’s most stressful event.” Grief and loss are compounded by the need to deal with the immediate aftermath of death including funeral arrangements, probating the Will, applying for benefits, retitling assets, determining financial needs, and generally getting affairs […]

Pre-Death Planning. The very best planning either spouse can do is an orderly and thoughtful plan before death. In the absence of pre-death planning, the surviving spouse will have more issues to deal with and the costs involved will be substantially higher. The most difficult situations are those when the surviving spouse has no idea what assets are owned, how to pay the bills, and what the deceased spouse wanted. Careful planning and conversations about these matters while both spouses are living can lead to an orderly and relatively stress-free transition after death.

Assets and Liabilities. The surviving spouse will need to put together a comprehensive list of assets owned by the deceased spouse. How those assets are titled at death will impact the steps necessary to re-title assets after death. Debts of the deceased spouse must also be determined. Arrangements need to be made to continue to pay these debts, although there are some which may have lower priority than others if there aren’t sufficient assets to cover them.

Appraisals. Determining the value of all assets on the date-of-death is also an important component of post-death planning. For investment accounts, it is relatively easy; the daily value of stocks, bonds and other investment vehicles is readily determined. Real estate investments, however, typically require an appraisal. Date-of-death valuations are important to determine the stepped-up tax basis of the assets. The new tax basis will determine the amount of capital gain (or loss) that will be realized when assets are later sold.

Probate. If assets were titled in the deceased spouse’s name, then a probate of the Will may be necessary to be able to sell those assets or re-title the assets as instructed in the Will. This process typically involves an attorney and the simplest ones take at least six months to complete. More complex estates may take several years to complete administration. A surviving spouse and minor children may also be entitled to a “year’s support” from the deceased spouse’s estate. This is designed to set aside assets for the spouse and minor children that have priority over all other debts of the estate.

Benefits. The surviving spouse will need to apply for survivor benefits with the Social Security Administration, if eligible. If the deceased spouse owned life insurance policies, the surviving spouse will need to make a claim for benefits on forms provided by the company. Pension benefits may also be available to the surviving spouse and these have to be applied for with the deceased spouse’s employer.

Retirement Plans. The surviving spouse will need to make decisions regarding the deceased spouse’s 401(k)’s, IRAs, or other retirement plans. If the surviving spouse is the primary beneficiary, then generally they can elect to make the deceased spouse’s plan their own IRA (known as a “spousal IRA”) or treat the plan like an “inherited IRA.” An inherited IRA allows the surviving spouse to take distributions without penalty before reaching the age of 59 ½.

Income Needs. One of the most important steps is determining income needs of the surviving spouse and how to generate that income. This typically involves carefully budgeting for all expenses and consulting with a financial advisor to invest assets to generate the income needed to cover those expenses.

Taxes. Death does not end the obligation to pay taxes. Income tax returns for the year of death must still be filed and taxes paid. The estate must pay taxes on income generated while the estate remains open. For large estates, estate taxes may also be owed within nine months of the date of death.

The chaos and upheaval caused by the death of a spouse can be made more orderly by implementing a plan to deal with post-death issues. Consult with your estate planning attorney for assistance.

Mo Wiltshire Endorsed by Georgia Self Defense Instructors

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Highly-regarded criminal defense attorney Morris “Mo” Wiltshire of Prior, Daniel & Wiltshire was recently endorsed as the Attorney for Self Defense issues in Georgia by Brian and Shelley Hill of Woodstock, Georgia. The duo owns and manages Fusion Fitness and Mixed Martial Arts as well as The Complete Combatant in Marietta, Georgia, where they offer instruction on […]

“Brian and I had the pleasure of meeting Mo through Chief Deputy Lee Weems (First Person Safety) a couple years ago and we have come to know Mo’s character, we trust his judgement, and appreciate what a truly honest and upfront man he is, “ said Shelley Hill, who is also a founder of Racheal’s Rest, a nonprofit organization offering counseling and retreats to victims of sexual abuse and violence. “Mo is an elite; experienced and successful GA self defense attorney and he is our personal “go to guy!”

We highly recommend you make decisions in advance and consider some sort of legal self-defense membership/insurance program and to put Mo’s number in your phone and wallet, she said.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by The Complete Combatant as the go to attorney for self-defense law. Brian and Shelley are doing amazing things to help Georgia residents develop their self-defense capabilities both with and without firearms. It means a lot to be endorsed by folks who help others garner and hone the skills to defend themselves and their families,” Wiltshire said.

“Brian’s history in MMA and the Firearms Training Industry as well as his pedigree as a self-defense trainer and practitioner speaks for itself. Among many other distinctions, he is a Rangemaster Certified Firearms Instructor….no small feat. Check out his web page, read his bio and prepare to be impressed for yourself.” Wiltshire stated.

Mo Wiltshire went on to say, “When I train for self-defense I train with the best people available. I have trained with Brian and will continue to train with him and I recommend him to everyone. Perhaps the very best way to avoid needing a defense attorney is to get competent self-defense training from an instructor as distinguished as Brian Hill. If you are ever faced with a situation where you need a self defense attorney, you will want to have someone on your side that people in the know rely upon. Why would you not? I hope you never face that challenge but if you do choose your lawyer wisely!”

Former inmate is suing Athens Clarke County

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 13:58:00 GMT

Back in early June, an Athens Clarke County police officer was terminated shortly after arresting an Athens man near the Nellie B. neighborhood for allegedly using excessive force. As reported in the Red & Black, Timmy Patmon, 24, had a hearing in which he was cleared from violations related to his probation and was then […]

As reported in the Red & Black , Timmy Patmon, 24, had a hearing in which he was cleared from violations related to his probation and was then released from custody on July 17, according to his attorney Al Fargione.

Patmon was being held in the Athens Clarke County Jail following his arrest by former ACCPD officer Taylor Saulters on June 3.

Patmon, who is still on probation, is filing a civil liability lawsuit against the county with the help of his attorney.

Aside from medical bills as well as pain and suffering, Fargione is also factoring in monetary compensation for civil rights violations against his client.

According to the police report and the body cam footage of the incident, Saulters hit Patmon with his police vehicle during a chase after identifying the suspect as having an outstanding warrant for a probation violation for a drug charge.

Saulters and Officer Hunter Blackmon arrested Patmon before the arrival of other officers at the scene by Nellie B. Avenue and Vine Street.

As stated in the police report, Patmon was transported to Athens Regional Hospital for further evaluation. In a Facebook post, ACCPD stated Patmon came away with only “scrapes and bruises.”

“Those were the external injuries, but Mr. Patmon has complained continuously since that day of back and neck pain from being struck by the vehicle,” Fargione said.

ACC Police Chief Scott Freeman put Saulters on administrative leave and began an internal affairs investigation into Saulters’ alleged use of force before he officially terminated the officer, according to an ACCPD press release.

The investigation found Saulters used “poor judgement” when hitting the suspect with his patrol car.

Sheriff David Gabriel of the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Department welcomed Saulters on their police force the day after he was let go by ACCPD.

“I have no reservations about Dep. Saulters serving this community,” Sheriff Gabriel said in a Facebook post on June 4. “As a citizen of Oglethorpe County you will find the wisdom of this decision in getting a deputy of this caliber.”

Saulters was terminated before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Georgia State Patrol could investigate the incident. The GBI has now completed its investigation and has passed it on to the Prosecuting Attorney Council of Georgia, according to Director of Public Affairs Nelly Miles.

Gabriel continues to defend Saulters’s actions, saying the use of a vehicle with the intent of blocking is a technique that has been “practiced for decades.”

It is no surprise that the Athens Government will face litigation over this issue however, it is far from decided whether the use of the vehicle to block the suspect was a violation of law that will result in a successful claim in the courts. It is quite true that vehicles are used to stop suspects fleeing from law enforcement and the practice is not prohibited by law.

Absent a finding that a policy or systemic practice instituted by the ACCPD caused any of the alleged injuries the doctrine of sovereign immunity will likely shield the County from liability. This immunity and efforts to circumvent the effect it has is a likely explanation why the claimant will seek to couch this matter in terms of a violation of civil rights.

Athens man charged for assaulting ex now indicted for burning her clothes

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 15:31:00 GMT

This past April an Athens man was indicted for allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend as well as unlawfully entering a residence in May to burn all her clothes. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, David James Taylor, 38, was convicted for family violence battery, kidnapping and third-degree cruelty to children for the first incident and first-degree […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , David James Taylor, 38, was convicted for family violence battery, kidnapping and third-degree cruelty to children for the first incident and first-degree burglary and first-degree arson for the other incident, according to the indictment filed recently in Clarke County Superior Court.

The domestic violence incident took place at a location that was missing from the indictment. During an argument, Taylor “did intentionally cause substantial physical harm” to the victim by hitting her and causing swelling and bruising,” the indictment noted. The kidnapping charge was given for allegedly holding the victim against her will during the altercation, which their juvenile child witnessed, according to the indictment.

The following month Taylor allegedly entered unlawfully inside the apartment of his ex-girlfriend’s sister at the Nellie B Homes housing complex, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.

When the sister was coming home at around 4:25 a.m. she noticed smoke coming from the front door and after opening the door saw flames inside and called 911 immediately, police said.

After the fire was put out, the woman identified the items burned as her sister’s articles of clothing, according to police.

The fire damaged part of the apartment as well.

The woman told police she suspected Taylor was the culprit because he had been stalking her sister all day and threatening her and her family, according to police.

Taylor was later found and arrested at a current girlfriend’s house at Bethel Midtown Village.

Police said the person who broke into the apartment and set the fire had gone through a window by standing on a trash can, leaving a traceable shoe print on the can’s lid. Police were able to match the print to the shoes Taylor was wearing.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting www.project-safe.org.

Frontier to Fortify Community Partnership with Cat Zip Alliance

Sat, 23 Jun 2018 15:16:00 GMT

For 19 of the 29 years Frontier has been open, a stray cat named Raffia made herself at home when she strolled into the downtown gift shop one day. Then in 2009, another stray would lead to a chance meeting between store owner Devin Clower and Campus Cats/Cat Zip Alliance coordinator Kelly Bettinger. “My friend […]

Then in 2009, another stray would lead to a chance meeting between store owner Devin Clower and Campus Cats/Cat Zip Alliance coordinator Kelly Bettinger.

“My friend found this tiny orange kitten on north campus during a tailgate for the UGA vs. Arizona State game and Campus Cats paid for his vet care so I could adopt him,” said Devin Clower, who graduated from UGA in 2008. “Then we started talking about how I could help her with her organization.”

In early 2010, Frontier began to sell Kelly’s handmade catnip cat toys as a fundraiser for Cat Zip Alliance.

“We’ve felt a kinship with Frontier ever since helping her adopt Henry and meeting the original shop kitty, Raffia, many years ago,” said Bettinger, who is also a UGA employee. “So, we are excited to partner with them on some new projects so that we can continue to advance our mission of helping community cats in Athens.”

Bettinger says there are two ways to help further Campus Cat’s mission in the Athens community.

“We always need help with cat food to keep our campus cats’ fat and happy, as well as with funds to cover spay/neuter and other vet care for community cats,” said Bettinger. “We also need residents to commit to spaying and neutering the community cats in your own back yard or neighborhood or help a friend or family member to do so.”

Campus Cats will provide residents with the traps, training, and all the information and resources needed to get it done.

As part of supporting these initiatives, Frontier will have on display a Campus Cats quilt that was started by Kelly and recently completed by her family and friends. Those interested in purchasing quilt raffle chances can inquire about it at the store and visit the Campus Cats website to donate. The drawing for the quilt ends October 30, 2018 and the winner will be announced on October 31.

Frontier also helped organize a Paint your Pet fundraiser event at ARTini’s Art Lounge, which takes place tonight. Kate Cook, owner of the art studio, hosted Campus Cats for the first time last year.

Frontier and Campus Cats/Cat Zip Alliance plan on having more creative fundraisers in the future.

AthFest annual music and arts festival to keep downtown Athens busy over weekend

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 14:49:00 GMT

Following spring graduation things slow down around town significantly. There are less events going on and less people in the Classic City. That is until this weekend with AthFest, the highly-anticipated annual music and arts festival, here to help give downtown businesses a boost during its summer slump. One person gearing up for the potential […]

One person gearing up for the potential rush of business is Spencer Denton, manager of Trappeze Pub and Highwire Lounge.

Denton has been preparing his employees the past couple of weeks for what is sure to be a very busy weekend with hundreds of festival goers coming through.

“We expect a big influx of people,” Denton told The Red & Black . “The main stage is right here on Washington Street so we’re gearing up, letting our employees know to arrive early to find parking and to get coffee or a Red Bull or whatever they need to come prepared.”

Unlike other weekends over the summer months, AthFest weekend brings in about 60,000 local residents and visitors to party within a couple blocks of downtown Athens. The foot traffic is much like what one would see during a University of Georgia home-game football weekend.

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

For Wuxtry Records, the weekend is not just great for sales.

“People are here for a concert experience,” Nathan Mitchell, manager at Wuxtry Records, said. “The record shopping trip is just something that happens, it’s about the music.”

During AthFest customers tend to purchase music from bands they used to listen to when they were in school.

“AthFest is a time when we sell tried and true artists, people that are well known and established,” Mitchell said. “People tend to remember bands they knew when they were in college and they come back and look for them.”

Local bands that perform at AthFest also see more sales at the music store over the festival weekend.

Over on Prince Avenue, Hendershot’s Coffee’s owner Seth Hendershot is gearing up for their eighth year of AthFest.

“We participate [in AthFest] every year since we’ve opened,” Hendershot said. “It’s always great. AthFest brings a lot of people into town in a time when there wouldn’t be. It’s a huge benefit to the town.”

Hendershot said the slow months of summer are like a “natural exodus and then re-entrance” of customers, with AthFest solely responsible for the business boost.

“June is hit or miss. We’ll have some really good nights, we’ll have some slow ones,” Hendershot said. “July is abysmal, it’s just dead.”

Like the coffee shop, several restaurants and bars should have plenty of customers this weekend, since they would also act as concert venues.

“Every bar becomes a venue during AthFest,” Denton said.

Even retail businesses are expecting heavier sales.

American Threads, a local boutique, hopes customers come in from the heat to try on many clothing options.

“I think people are more likely to buy clothing at this time because so many of the boutiques are right in the middle of all the action from the festival,” said Mona Haddad, a marketing employee for American Threads.

No matter whether there are special sales or not, downtown businesses will see a major influx of customers from the AthFest attendees.

“They’re here for music, and we’re part of the whole spectacle,” Mitchell said.

2nd arrest made in homicide at Nellie B Homes

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 14:08:00 GMT

Earlier this month, David Rojas Garcia, of Hull, was arrested for the June 4 shooting death of Saheed Snow at Nellie B Homes. Garcia, who was the alleged shooter, was found the following day at a residence in Tallassee Villas on Athens’ west side, according to the Athens-Clarke County police. There was a second suspect […]

There was a second suspect at-large up until this week.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Martin Borja Garcia, of Danielsville, turned himself in to authorities at the Clarke County Jail on Tuesday, according to law enforcement officials.

The two suspects have multiple charges including malice, felony and second-degree murder, according to public records.

Robbery was the motive behind the fatal shooting, according to police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez.

Although the suspects are relatives, police were not certain if they were brothers or cousins, Rodriguez said.

Immediately after the shooting, which was reported at approximately 8 p.m. on the evening of June 4, officers discovered Snow, 21, lying in a parking lot at the eastside housing complex with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Eyewitnesses told police that Snow got into a vehicle occupied by what they believed to be two Latino males. They heard the gunshots which happened inside of the car. One of the men pulled him out and left him in the parking lot, according to police.

Police said that David Garcia fled on foot while Martin Garcia drove off.

UGA School of Law to open clinic for local vets this month

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:23:00 GMT

As reported in the Red & Black, veterans in the Athens area will be able to receive legal assistance from the Veterans Legal Clinic run by the University of Georgia School of Law. The clinic is slated to open later this month. According to a UGA Today press release, veterans seeking benefits and services from […]

According to a UGA Today press release, veterans seeking benefits and services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be helped by law students to settle their claims.

Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge, dean of the UGA law school, said the clinic will offer veterans with requested assistance while giving students a chance to gain legal experience.

“We are excited about the positive impact we believe this clinic will have on those who have served our nation and their families as well as the opportunity it will provide our students to receive real world experience that will prepare them for future careers,” Rutledge said in the press release.

Police are investigating fatal shooting of local social worker

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 13:33:00 GMT

Athens-Clarke County police are currently investigating the shooting death of an Athens area woman that occurred on Sunday. As recently reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, Natania Jarrad, 30, was fatally shot early Sunday inside of her home off of Airport Road, police said. Police officers were dispatched to the residence at approximately 3 a.m., when […]

As recently reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Natania Jarrad, 30, was fatally shot early Sunday inside of her home off of Airport Road, police said.

Police officers were dispatched to the residence at approximately 3 a.m., when the woman’s fiancé had called 911 to report the shooting.

Following their arrival, police discovered Jarrad with a gunshot wound to her head, according to police. She was then transported to a local hospital, where she was immediately pronounced dead.

Jarrad and her fiancé were living together, police said.

Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting, police said. As of Monday, no charges had been filed.

Jarrad’s body was transferred over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s State Crime Lab for an autopsy to be performed.

Jarrad was a social worker who was employed by Athens-based Advantage Behavioral Health Systems, where she was in charge of the agency’s Assertive Community Treatment Team, according to Jarrad’s LinkedIn profile.

On Monday, Advantage’s CEO Oliver J. Booker said that Jarrad’s death was a devastating loss.

“Natania was intelligent, authentic and compassionate, down to earth, honest and industrious,“ Booker said.

“Her focus was on caring for our clients and caring for her team,” he said. “We certainly mourn the loss of such a great leader and competent, loving staff member.”

OnlineAthens will be updating this story as additional information is made available.

Marijuana and bail reform in works for Athens

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:49:00 GMT

The decriminalization of marijuana and the end to cash bail for minor offenses appear to be probable for Athens after a meeting last week. Organized by the nonpartisan Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and the Georgia ACLU, the session had nearly 50 participants for a meeting in the Athens-Clarke County Library on Thursday night. As reported in […]

Organized by the nonpartisan Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and the Georgia ACLU, the session had nearly 50 participants for a meeting in the Athens-Clarke County Library on Thursday night.

As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald , most attendees were public officials such as Superior Court Judges Eric Norris and Patrick Haggard, Athens-Clarke Commissioner Mariah Parker, Democratic state representatives Deborah Gonzalez and Jonathan Wallace as well as Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Scott Freeman.

The group also included many people who will take seats on the Clarke County Board of Education or the Athens-Clarke County Commission after winning on progressive platforms that included decriminalization of marijuana and halting the practice of requiring cash bonds for people charged with minor misdemeanor offenses like petty theft or shoplifting.

The changes would be part of an ongoing effort by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM) to decrease mass incarceration, said AADM’s Mokah-Jasmine Johnson.

The measures are also a part of a longer criminal justice reform movement in Georgia supported by outgoing Gov. Nathan Deal, pointed out the ACLU’s Rob Wood.

“I am really proud of our outgoing governor, Nathan Deal,” Wood said.

When Deal took office almost eight years ago, the costs of keeping people in jail and prison were soaring in Georgia as the state’s judges sentenced many more offenders to longer sentences.

While the United States leads all other countries in incarceration rates, Georgia is a national leader in the percent of its population under “correctional control” — including those behind bars and those who have to meet the conditions of probation, according to Christopher Bruce, a University of Georgia Law School graduate who is policy counsel for the Georgia ACLU.

Not long after Deal became governor, he formed a criminal justice reform council with the intent of discovering ways to reduce Georgia’s nation-leading jail and prison populations — especially for juveniles — while not sabotaging public safety.

During the past several years, the legislature has approved many pieces of legislation recommended by Deal and the reform council. As a result, incarceration rates have gone down, especially for African Americans who are disproportionately arrested and imprisoned. The rate of violent crime in the state has also continued to decrease.

But incarceration rates are still much higher than is needed, said Bruce.

Poor people who can’t afford bonds aren’t flight risks, he said. When poor people jailed on minor nonviolent offenses can’t afford bail, they remain in jail for weeks, resulting in two types of costs: the human costs of lost jobs, broken families and poverty, and high costs to taxpayers for keeping about 100,000 people locked up at any given time.

New Athens-Clarke County ordinances on bonds and marijuana wouldn’t entirely eliminate the possibility of pretrial detention. Local ordinances don’t govern what University of Georgia police or State Patrol officers do, who could still charge defendants under harsher state laws.

“I feel like if we can have reform here in Athens, we can have reform on a national championship level,” Bruce said.

Clayton Street renovations in downtown Athens will begin June 18

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Clayton Street renovations in downtown Athens will begin Monday, June 18 but will work around football season and holidays, much to the relief of area business owners. As reported in The Red & Black, from June until November, the pre-digging phase will take place. This includes identifying underground conflicts that could affect the installation of […]

As reported in The Red & Black , from June until November, the pre-digging phase will take place. This includes identifying underground conflicts that could affect the installation of the stormwater system down the line.

The work will be done block by block, beginning with North Lumpkin Street and moving to Thomas Street, according to a press release.

Work will occur from 6 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Lane closures and parking space closures of 10-15 spaces at a time will be required.

After the pre-digging phase is completed, the stormwater system will be installed from January 2019 to March 2020 with a short break from August 2019 to January 2020 to avoid coinciding with football season, which is a high-revenue time of year for businesses downtown. More details regarding what areas will be closed is available on the Athens-Clarke County website.

The plan comes following a petition, presented to the mayor and commission at a meeting on Feb. 6. With 37 signatures, most of them downtown business owners, the petition lobbied for Athens-Clarke County officials to split up the construction timelines.

“We’re excited about the project, but we just want it to be done at a strategic time,” Agora business owner and District 7 commissioner-elect Russell Edwards said in a February article for The Red & Black.

Devin Clower, owner of the Frontier gift shop, was also concerned with construction happening during football season and the holidays. Clower was a major force behind the petition and subsequent scheduling changes.

The decision to include breaks in the renovation schedule was made as a result of the petition. The plans that outline the renovation schedule were approved at the June 5 Mayor and Commission meeting with District 2 Commissioner Mariah Parker and District 3 Commissioner Melissa Link being the only two to vote against the plans.

“What we’ve done here is we’ve broken it apart so that the businesses, the people that are going to be impacted the most, will still be able to serve their customers, and we can still do the construction in a reasonable amount of time,” said District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby at the June 5 meeting.

Businesses such as fab’rik, Onward Reserve and Heery’s Clothes Closet which will be affected by the first phase of digging will be visited by ACC Transportation & Public Works Department staff to give detailed maps and answer questions before the digging begins in January.

Public input opportunities will be discussed soon regarding input of the streetscape portion of the work. Streets, benches, sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, landscape and pedestrian gathering areas will be voted on in a survey, the press release said.

The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission will also request public input on the public art used on Clayton Street for the above ground area of the stormwater system.

Elderly Athens man has been missing since Tuesday

Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:05:00 GMT

Athens-Clarke County police are asking for the public’s assistance in trying to locate a man who went missing from his home off of West Broad Street since Tuesday. Read more: Attorney Athens, Georgia As recently reported in the Athens Banner Herald, James Johnson Jr., 73, is considered by law enforcement to be at risk because […]

Tesla car charging station recently opens at Epps Bridge Centre

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 13:53:00 GMT

A new Tesla electric car charging station went live recently at the Epps Bridge Centre off Epps Bridge Parkway. The Tesla is an electric vehicle, but any electric vehicle can use the station, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. The stations are part of Tesla’s nationwide network of over 1,230 charging stations with 9,633 individual […]

The Tesla is an electric vehicle, but any electric vehicle can use the station, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

The stations are part of Tesla’s nationwide network of over 1,230 charging stations with 9,633 individual charging units, according to a news release from The Bishop Company, which manages the shopping center.

Creature Comforts celebrates new location at recent ribbon cutting

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 14:27:00 GMT

As reported in the Athens Banner Herald, the new production facility is in the historic Southern Mill complex on North Chase Street and is inside a building that was originally constructed in 1900. The company purchased this location in January 2017 and broke ground April. The facility started producing beer two months ago, but Monday […]

The facility started producing beer two months ago, but Monday marked the site’s official opening.

When Creature Comforts decided to open a new location, the major focus was to give back to the community.

“This has always been an Athens project,” said Chris Herron, CEO and co-founder of the brewery.

Throughout renovations, the company made it a priority to contract local service providers.

The production facility is designed to be the permanent site of Creature Comfort’s large-scale production needs.

Adam Beauchamp, Creature Comforts’ brewmaster and co-founder, said that their new German-made brewhouse is three times bigger than what they had before and one of only six or seven systems like it in the nation.

Creature Comforts will also include a tasting room at the Southern Mill location soon.

When the project was announced last year, Creature Comforts said the expansion would add at least 25 full-time jobs in the next five years, and the company has already filled over half of those positions.

The original Creature Comforts location is on West Hancock Avenue and began production in April 2014.

Community opinions about MLK Greenway Extension welcomed by Athens government

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 15:28:00 GMT

The 2018 TSPLOST initiative that passed last November is now beginning to take shape with more than just the increased sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent throughout the county. As reported in The Red & Black, the MLK Greenway Extension, a paved path between the intersections of Dr. Martin Luther King Parkway with […]

As reported in The Red & Black , the MLK Greenway Extension, a paved path between the intersections of Dr. Martin Luther King Parkway with College Avenue and North Avenue, is slated to be finished following a period of input from the community. The path will be close to the North Oconee River.

For this community discussion, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government is holding an open house at the Planning Department at 120 West Dougherty Street on Thursday, June 14, from 6-8 p.m.

From June 15 through June 28, a public comment form will also be available online.

Building the path, which is set to cost about $362,000, will be funded from the TSPLOST initiative passed in 2017 as well as the SPLOST initiative passed in 2011.

The TSPLOST initiative from 2017 specifically outlines many renovations to improve public transportation, bike lanes and pedestrian safety throughout the city.

This project, which is included in the TSPLOST 2018 final project list, was approved previously by Mayor Nancy Denson and the commissioners as part of the 2016 Greenway Network Plan.

Comments from the public will be accepted and considered until the end of this month.

The extension will also be discussed at the next mayor and commission meeting, which you can find out about on the government website.

Athens to receive thousands in town to attend North Georgia Methodist event

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 14:47:00 GMT

The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church’s annual meeting returns to downtown’s Classic Center today through Thursday, bringing about 2,500 visitors to Athens. As reported in the Athens Banner Herald, the conference, which is the nation’s largest with over 800 churches and 360,000 lay members, has held its annual meeting in Athens 19 […]

As reported in the Athens Banner Herald , the conference, which is the nation’s largest with over 800 churches and 360,000 lay members, has held its annual meeting in Athens 19 of the past 21 years, and is scheduled to continue through 2021.

Areas of The Classic Center were already busy on Monday as volunteers and other groups met, and vendors, church-affiliated organizations and others set up tables in The Classic Center’s Foundry Street Warehouse rooms.

Cokesbury, the retailer for the United Methodist Publishing House, set up a room with best-selling, new titles and other items.

The United Methodist Church, the United States’ third largest denomination, dates back to the 18th-century revival movement of John Wesley and brother Charles Wesley.

Elsewhere in the Foundry Street building on Monday, people were setting up where visitors could get more information about Asbury Theological Seminary, Young Harris College, the United Methodist Children’s Home, the United Methodist Connectional Federal Credit Union and other organizations.

Former Athens City Clerk Johnny Fowler of Athens’ Chapelwood UMC made an appearance Monday. For many years he was a co-chair of the local Methodist churches’ hospitality committee, which recruited about 100 volunteers this year to help their fellow Methodists find their way around The Classic Center and Athens. Fowler, who turned 90 in May, no longer chairs that committee, but comes to help.

After several meetings of laity and clergy on Tuesday morning, the opening worship service is scheduled for 2 p.m. in The Classic Center’s Grand Hall. The preacher will be North Georgia Conference Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson.

“Moving toward Perfection in Love” is the theme for this year’s conference.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is Methodist, will be the speaker at a laity dinner at 5:15 p.m.

On Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. in The Classic Center Theater, the conference holds its annual Service of Ordination, Commissioning and Licensure, followed by a reception honoring the men and women ordained and commissioned.

The conference is scheduled to end at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Athens on list of cities with the most student debt

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 13:22:00 GMT

Athens actually ranks quite poorly for student loan debt, according to recent reports from the personal-finance website WalletHub. As reported in the Athens Banner Herald, analyst Jill Gonzalez says that small college towns like Athens typically experience several issues with debt. “Athens is in the 99th percentile when it comes to student debt, so it […]

As reported in the Athens Banner Herald , analyst Jill Gonzalez says that small college towns like Athens typically experience several issues with debt.

“Athens is in the 99th percentile when it comes to student debt, so it really can’t get any worse here,” said Gonzalez. “That’s no outlier; there are mostly smaller college towns or cities that are in that 99th percentile because there’s more student debt there and people are earning less there.”

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

One of the biggest issues in Athens is the debt-to-earnings ratio.

“The median student debt is just over $25,000 for graduates, and the median earnings of a bachelor’s degree holder out of college is around $32,000,” said Gonzalez. “So, when your debt is pretty much matching your income, that is not a good thing.”

Gonzalez says that using tools like a student loan calculator and trying personal budgeting can really help reduce one’s debt.

“A lot of student debt, or at least student loans, sometimes are going toward ritzier housing options or new clothes, things that are not your actual study,” she said. “Hopefully looking at this [report] and putting everything in perspective will help students take on less debt now, rather than have more to pay later.”

For more information on managing and bringing down student debt, visit wallethub.com/student-loan-calculator/.

UGA animal experiments target of animal welfare group

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 13:49:00 GMT

An animal rights group called on University of Georgia President Jere Morehead to authorize an investigation of UGA’s animal experimentation programs and to discharge employees responsible for what the group referred to as a “multi-year pattern of carelessness and negligence.” As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the Ohio-based group Stop Animal Exploitation Now, or SAEN, […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the Ohio-based group Stop Animal Exploitation Now, or SAEN, was founded by Michael Budkie, now a well-known animal rights activist, in 1996.

The group has shed light on animal welfare abuses at several American universities since then, including recently at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Iowa and the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Budkie secured records of correspondence from a two-year period between UGA officials and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors detailing the deaths of over 100 animals — mice and rats — and citing unsanitary conditions for some other UGA-owned animals, including monkeys, pigs and deer.

The correspondence showed “laboratory staff negligence caused the deaths and abuse — including 114 animals killed because of starvation and/or dehydration, four drowning deaths, three surgical/neglect deaths, and four living animals dumped into a carcass freezer,” according to SAEN.

UGA “adheres to federal laws and generally accepted policies on the treatment and care of lab animals” and takes those regulations seriously, but sometimes things go wrong, according to a statement from UGA spokesman Greg Trevor.

“Despite the best efforts of researchers and animal care staff, human error or facility failure can infrequently and regrettably lead to the loss of an animal,” his statement reads in part. “We investigate these incidents thoroughly and take steps to reduce the risk of them happening again. The corrective action also includes personnel actions including suspension and termination where appropriate. In addition, UGA reports the loss and the corrective action to federal oversight agencies and third-party accrediting agencies.”

This is not the first time UGA has been on the radar of animal-rights activists. In 2015, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals condemned a UGA field medicine training program in which the dogs were euthanized after being used to train National Guard medics in emergency field surgery techniques.

The SAEN letter to Morehead and supporting documents can be viewed online at www.saenonline.org/news-media-news-2018/University-of-Georgia-President-Letter-6-4-18.pdf.

Athens man indicted for kidnapping ex-girlfriend

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 12:12:00 GMT

A Clarke County grand jury indicted recently an Athens man who allegedly kidnapped a former girlfriend and threatened to murder her last month. As reported in The Athens Banner Herald, Errick Schiman Dunlap, 39, was charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, entering an automobile with intent to commit a crime, possession of a knife during the […]

As reported in The Athens Banner Herald , Errick Schiman Dunlap, 39, was charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, entering an automobile with intent to commit a crime, possession of a knife during the commission of a crime and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, according to the indictment filed in Clarke County Superior Court this week.

May 3 is when the incident occurred in which Dunlap allegedly waited in a wooded area close to the victim’s car on Baxter Drive. He jumped out at her as she tried to leave for work, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

Dunlap allegedly pinned the victim against her car while holding a steak knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she screamed, police said.

Dunlap had bond conditions from a prior arrest which did not permit him to have any contact with the victim, but she told police Dunlap had stalked and harassed her repeatedly despite the bond.

After forcing the woman into the car, Dunlap entered the back seat and allegedly told her to drive. He demanded to get his belongings back while threatening her during the drive, said police.

Eventually he got out of the car and walked away on Magnolia Street. He was arrested a week later and continues to be held without bail at the Clarke County Jail.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org.

Athens woman allegedly bites boyfriend on the stomach

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:40:00 GMT

A 38-year-old female resident of Westwood Drive was arrested on Tuesday night after being involved in a domestic dispute in which she bit her boyfriend’s stomach, Athens-Clarke County police said. As reported recently in the Athens Banner-Herald, the 25-year-old victim told police that he and his girlfriend had been arguing over her allegations that he […]

As reported recently in the Athens Banner-Herald , the 25-year-old victim told police that he and his girlfriend had been arguing over her allegations that he had been cheating on her, according to police.

As the couple were sitting on the steps of the home’s front porch the woman wrapped her arms around the man and then bit him on the stomach, police said.

After both of them headed back inside the residence the woman would not let the man leave a room, so he decided to jump out of a window to get away from her, police said.

The woman then followed him out of the window and grabbed him by the legs and threw water on him that had been used to extinguish cigarettes, police said.

A neighbor then called 911 after witnessing the couple fighting in the front yard, police said.

Police said that the victim had multiple bite marks on his stomach.

The woman was subsequently charged under the state Family Violence Act with battery and false imprisonment, police said.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship or knows someone who is, can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org .

Man detained in Athens murder, another man sought

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 15:02:00 GMT

On Tuesday afternoon one of the two suspects in the fatal shooting of an Athens man this week was arrested, Athens-Clarke County police said. As reported in the Athens Banner Herald, David Rojas Garcia, 22, of Hull was charged with murder when found at a residence off Hanover Place in west Athens, police said. He […]

As reported in the Athens Banner Herald , David Rojas Garcia, 22, of Hull was charged with murder when found at a residence off Hanover Place in west Athens, police said.

He was being sought in connection with the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Saheed Snow of Chalfont Place at around 8 p.m. Monday at the Nellie B Homes housing complex, according to police.

When police arrived at the scene they found Snow lying in a parking lot near Apartment 577 with multiple gunshot wounds. Snow was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Several witnesses told police that the victim entered a vehicle occupied by what appeared to be two Hispanic males. Snow was shot inside the car and one of the occupants pulled him out and left him in the parking lot, according to police.

One of the suspects fled on foot while the other drove off in what was described as a 2008 Chevy Cobalt or Malibu, police said.

During the investigation, detectives identified Garcia as one of the suspects and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Detectives are trying to identify the second person in the vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked by police to contact Detective Kim Johnson at (706) 613-3340, ext. 331, or Detective Paul Johnson at ext. 522. Anonymous calls can be made using the Crime Stoppers confidential tip line at (706) 705-4665.

A Crime Stoppers reward is available to anyone who provides credible information in this case.

Fake Uber driver receives indictment for alleged rape in Athens

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:10:00 GMT

A Clarke County grand jury recently indicted a Greene County man who was posing as an Uber driver to sexually assault two University of Georgia students, according to local authorities. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, Emerson Redd, 56, of Greensboro was detained in April for allegedly assaulting the Georgia students after picking them up […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Emerson Redd, 56, of Greensboro was detained in April for allegedly assaulting the Georgia students after picking them up in downtown Athens.

The suspect was charged with rape, criminal attempt to commit rape and two counts of sexual battery, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court.

Athens-Clarke County police said both assaults occurred on April 20.

The first victim to report the assault was a 21-year-old UGA student who said she was standing in front of a bar on East Washington Street when Redd’s minivan approached her. She climbed inside the vehicle thinking Redd was the Uber driver she had been waiting on, according to police.

The student felt something was wrong when she noticed the car did not have a GPS device and other common identifiers of ride-share vehicles, according to police. When Redd allegedly touched her inappropriately, she demanded to be let out and he let her go, police said.

Nearly an hour later, a 25-year-old UGA student got into Redd’s van downtown under similar circumstances, but when she realized he wasn’t an Uber driver and asked to be let out Redd allegedly drove her somewhere and raped her, according to police.

Redd was arrested April 21 and was charged with rape, according to police.

On May 30 a possible third victim came forward with accusations that Redd inappropriately touched her two weeks prior to the alleged rape, according to police.

The college-age victim told police she recognized Redd when seeing his photograph in news reports about the two assaults.

Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ken Mauldin said his office had yet to decide on whether to prosecute Redd for that alleged incident.

3rd day of search for two teens in Oconee County creek

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMT

On Sunday rescue units from over a dozen agencies met at the dam site where two teenagers are believed to have drowned Friday afternoon in a flooded creek in Oconee County. “This is a difficult place to search,” Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry told Athens Banner Herald Sunday afternoon. “The water is down significantly, but […]

“This is a difficult place to search,” Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry told Athens Banner Herald Sunday afternoon. “The water is down significantly, but the problem is we still have a lot of water coming over the dam and it is requiring specialized equipment to search.”

Rescue workers are trying to find the bodies of Cameron Smith, 18, of Comer and Robert Bryant Wade, 18, of Oconee County.

Witnesses told authorities that Wade was walking on the dam when he fell into the waters and that Smith jumped into the creek to try to save him. The two young men, both recent high school graduates, did not know each other.

Families and friends of the teens have been at the site for three days awaiting any news on the recovery effort.

Known as Redneck Beach, this spot is popular for teens and college students and can be found at the convergence of Barber Creek and McNutt Creek on the old Puritan Rope property. The dam flows into the Oconee River.

A Falls of Oconee shopping center security guard also attempted a rescue, but she was stranded in the heavy current and was rescued by Sheriff Berry and his deputies.

On the third day of the search, rescue teams responded from Augusta to Macon, and outlying counties from Madison to Stephens and Elbert counties. Units from North Carolina and South Carolina also came.

Berry said the team from Oconee County, S.C., is experienced in dealing with dangerous water conditions and have specialized gear for this type of rescue.

Besides the dam area, Berry said searchers on kayaks continue to patrol the creek, which runs into the Oconee River and foot patrols are being made along the banks.

Clay County, N.C., rescue worker Henry Angelopulous, who arrived with fellow team member Daniel Anderson said swift water rescue requires specialized training.

“Outside from the turbulence, there are problems with visibility and debris in the water,” he said, adding that a dam such as the one here will usually trap debris such as limbs and trees.

“We don’t know where they are,” Berry said, “but we honestly believe they are at the dam.”

While the water is down from Friday, the pool below the dam is nearly 10 feet deep and beneath this the water can actually spin, he said.

K-9 units, helicopters and even a drone are also being used in the search.

Oconee County Emergency Management Director C.J. Worden said Sunday he has helped secure some of the rescue teams responding to the area.

Teams are searching the river, but much effort is still focused on the area of the dam, Worden said.

Locals wear orange to honor victims and survivors on National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMT

This past Saturday several families gathered at Bishop Park wearing orange attire in honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. As reported in The Red & Black, the event, hosted by Athens Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Everytown for Gun Safety and Students Demand Action, brought together families to honor victims and […]

As reported in The Red & Black , the event, hosted by Athens Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Everytown for Gun Safety and Students Demand Action, brought together families to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and to discuss potential gun legislation changes.

The friends of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago high school student who was shot and killed in 2013 are the ones who came up with the color associated with this particular day. Orange, which is the “see me” color hunters wear in the woods, is intended to attract attention to the numerous lives taken each day through the use of a firearm in the United States, the event flier said.

“I think most people agree that we need common sense gun measures,” said Shannon Lawhon, a local member and spokesperson for Moms Demand Action.

Lawhon said this event, which they have held for two consecutive years in Athens, is one way she hopes to make locals aware of their program and beliefs. One aspect of their organization, their Be Smart campaign, was a popular discussion topic at the event.

“The premise [of the campaign] is that is everyone stores firearms securely, then kids 17 and under can’t get a hold of them and accidentally or purposely injure themselves or someone else,” Lawhon said. “Something anyone can do is make sure their firearms are stored at home properly.”

Jefferson resident Christina Thompson said she attended the event because she is concerned about the state of gun legislation now, especially for her child.

“I have a daughter and I want the schools to be a better place for her, a safer place for her,” Thompson said.

Mayor-elect Kelly Girtz and District 117 House representative Deborah Gonzalez were among the many elected officials who came to the event to show their support.

“Anybody can call elected officials and tell them how they feel about common sense gun measures,” Lawhon said. “It’s important that we also ask our elected officials their thoughts on common sense gun measures so we can get an idea of where they stand.”

The Wear Orange events are expected to continue throughout the month in the U.S., with many cities expecting large buildings to be lit up in orange in honor of the victims and survivors.

Athens cop terminated for excessive use of force

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 14:13:00 GMT

An Athens-Clarke County police officer has been fired for using excessive force against a fugitive on last Friday, according to the ACC Police Department. As reported in The Red & Black, officers Hunter Blackmon and Taylor Saulters were conducting a routine patrol by Vine Street and Nellie B Avenue when they saw Timmy Patmon, a […]

As reported in The Red & Black , officers Hunter Blackmon and Taylor Saulters were conducting a routine patrol by Vine Street and Nellie B Avenue when they saw Timmy Patmon, a 24-year-old black male who Saulters and Blackmon knew had an outstanding felony probation warrant.

Patmon was previously charged with methamphetamine and marijuana possession, according to Epifanio Rodriguez, ACC Police Department public information officer.

Blackmon chased the suspect on foot while Saulters, the officer who was eventually terminated, chased him in his patrol car.

While trying to block Patmon’s way with his patrol car, Saulters hit the suspect from behind, which was caught on the body cam video footage.

Local residents witnessed the incident and yelled at the officers as Patmon was being arrested, telling the officers they shouldn’t have hit Patmon.

While both officers are trying to handcuff Patmon, he can be seen in the video refusing to put his hands behind his back as he was lying on the pavement.

“Put your hands behind your back, or you’re going to be tased. Do you understand? Make a good decision,” Saulters said and can be heard in the body cam video footage while apprehending Patmon.

One of the officers asked Patmon to get up and get in the police car. Patmon said he didn’t want to get in the car.

After a few minutes, Patmon got in the vehicle and was later taken to a hospital for evaluation.

“The extent of Patmon’s injuries were scrapes and bruises,” the police report said.

According to the report, Saulters was “slamming on brakes” when he collided with Patmon.

Patmon is being charged with violation of probation and obstruction of law enforcement.

Saulters was placed on administrative leave, but after an internal affairs investigation and consideration of camera footage, he was terminated for “violation of policy and excessive use of force,” Rodriguez said.

Chief of Police Scott Freeman determined termination to be “the only answer,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said Freeman spent all day Saturday speaking to the community about the incident and his decision to terminate Saulters.

“We have kept an open line of communication with the media and upheld our promise of transparency,” Rodriguez said.

Athens commissioners look to UGA for assistance with fighting poverty, racism

Sat, 02 Jun 2018 12:04:00 GMT

During Wednesday’s meeting, three recently elected Athens-Clarke County commissioners stated that University of Georgia must do more to fight poverty and racism. Sponsored by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, the event was actually a post-election party celebrating the new mayor and six commissioners who had progressive campaigns. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, three of those […]

Sponsored by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, the event was actually a post-election party celebrating the new mayor and six commissioners who had progressive campaigns.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , three of those progressive commissioners-elect that also participated in a panel were Russell Edwards, Melissa Link and Mariah Parker.

“There’s a lot that I feel UGA needs to step up to,” said Link, re-elected for a second four-year term in District 3.

“UGA extracts a lot of benefits from this community without giving back,” Parker said.

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Athens has a long history of racial discrimination, said Edwards, mentioning UGA’s slavery history and how it should acknowledge that history — controversial topics on campus and in Athens lately.

“Slaves built the University of Georgia,” said Edwards, who will replace District 7 Commissioner Diane Bell in January.

Black students and Athens residents have claimed being barred from a few downtown establishments.

“Athens can’t become known as a place that’s unwelcoming to racial minorities,” said Edwards.

“The racists have all the money, still,” Parker said, suggesting the city needs to adopt ordinances “so that it is economically disadvantageous to be racist.”

Parker replaces longtime Commissioner Harry Sims in District 2 and will serve the last two years of Sims’ term on the commission.

Parker also said UGA’s low wages for many workers helps keep Athens poor, and blamed the criminal justice system too. If the number of people held in the Clarke County Jail could be reduced, it would release money for initiatives to help low-income Athenians, she said.

Mother and daughter charged for stealing from downtown stores

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 13:51:00 GMT

A woman and her 16-year-old daughter were arrested earlier this week for felony shoplifting, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report. As reported in The Red & Black, officers said that they were made aware of a potential shoplifting incident when the manager of Empire South in downtown Athens called to say that he witnessed […]

As reported in The Red & Black , officers said that they were made aware of a potential shoplifting incident when the manager of Empire South in downtown Athens called to say that he witnessed that a group of women, all of which had been caught shoplifting at his store just a week earlier, were going into Onward Reserve.

Several officers were “staged close by to observe,” the report said, when a woman matching the manager’s description walked out of Onward Reserve with her daughter and with a large purse “bulging with items that fit the profile of Yetti brand tumblers.” The younger woman was also reportedly carrying a Yetti brand cooler.

Police approached the women and escorted them back to confront the Onward Reserve manager about the merchandise.

According to the report, Onward Reserve employees told police that they had not sold any Yeti merchandise at all that day. They “seemed shocked” to find that the women had left their store with five Yetti tumblers, and two Yetti coolers. The stolen items were worth more than $750.

Officers searched the mother’s car for more stolen merchandise and found “a large bag with numerous Patagonia shirts that still had the tags, two pairs of Victoria Secret flip flops and multiple bottles of Victoria Secret lotion, all with tags,” the report said.

Police then arrested both women for felony shoplifting due to the “dollar amount” of merchandise, the report said. The mother was also charged with her involvement in the delinquency of a minor.

Bridge near Stanford Stadium to be closed over the summer

Thu, 31 May 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Students will not be able to walk past or look in the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium during the summer. As reported in The Red & Black, the road students would usually walk or ride on to get from the Dean William Tate Student Center to areas on the southern part of campus will be […]

As reported in The Red & Black , the road students would usually walk or ride on to get from the Dean William Tate Student Center to areas on the southern part of campus will be closed to all traffic until August 7.

The Gillis Bridge on Sanford Drive, which will be undergoing maintenance, closed May 7 and will not be accessible for three months.

Chicago Bears thank Athens police for recovering Roquan Smith’s UGA memorabilia

Wed, 30 May 2018 13:26:00 GMT

According to the Athens Banner Herald, just recently, the Athens-Clarke County PD received a letter from the Chicago Bears thanking them for helping recover memorabilia that was stolen from Roquan Smith, the all-American linebacker from the University of Georgia who was the first-round draft pick for the Bears this year. The memorabilia from Smith’s time […]

The memorabilia from Smith’s time as a football player for the UGA Bulldogs included his helmet and the jerseys he wore in the Rose Bowl, the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl and the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

These items were stolen from Smith’s car at The Mark apartment complex on Oconee Street on May 5. Police valued the jerseys as worth up to $40,000 each “due to Mr. Smith’s clout at UGA and soon in the NFL,” according to the police theft report. Smith “stated that those belongings are priceless to him,” according to the report.

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The Bears’ thank you letter mentioned Officer Marcus McQuien, who lifted fingerprints from Smith’s car which led to the identification and arrest of the alleged thief, who police identified as Landyn Shane Durham, a 20-year-old UGA student.

Police matched the fingerprints to Durham because his prints were on file in another jurisdiction, according to Epifanio Rodriguez, public information officer for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

Some of the items were recovered from the suspect’s Athens apartment while the others from a relative’s home in Chattooga County, police said.

Arrest warrants that charged Durham with two felony counts of entering an automobile with the intent to commit a crime were issued. Durham surrendered on May 10 at the Clarke County Jail and was released upon posting a bond of $22,200.

The handwritten letter from the Bears was signed by the team’s director of security, John Tarpey.

It read: “Ofc. McQuien and Dept., on behalf of the Bears,

“Thank you all for helping Roquan recover his stolen items. They would have been irreplaceable.

“We have you covered in Chicago!! You all are the best!!!”

Rodriguez, the police spokesman, said his department receives thank you letters from victims often, not just in high-profile cases.

“Our officers receive thank yous from the community on a regular basis, and they are a daily reminder on why we continue to do the work we do,” Rodriguez said.

Georgia Bulldogs to Host Baseball Regional

Tue, 29 May 2018 13:39:00 GMT

On Sunday evening, the University of Georgia was selected to be one of 16 hosts for an NCAA Regional. The last time the Bulldogs hosted a regional was 2008, when the program made the College World Series finals. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the winner of the Athens regional will move on to a […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the winner of the Athens regional will move on to a super-regional, with the winner of that advancing to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. The host cities of super regionals are determined based on regional results, but top eight seeds, which were determined Monday, will host super regional should they advance out of their regional.

Hosting a regional or super regional gives a college baseball team nearly a 70 percent chance of advancing, according to the NCAA. For the past 10 years, 37 percent of teams that hosted a regional advanced to the College World Series.

Many Georgia primary contestants heading to July runoff

Mon, 28 May 2018 14:28:00 GMT

A few of Georgia’s top Republican primary contests are still undecided after last week’s primaries and will head to a runoff on July 24, as reported by the Associated Press and published in the Athens Banner-Herald. No GOP candidate for governor, lieutenant governor or secretary of state was able to get more than 50 percent […]

No GOP candidate for governor, lieutenant governor or secretary of state was able to get more than 50 percent of the vote, triggering runoffs between the top two in each race.

The Democratic contest to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Karen Handel for her Atlanta-area seat in Georgia’s 6th District is also going to a runoff. Last June, Handel won the seat in a close special election runoff against Democrat Jon Ossoff in what became the costliest U.S. House race in history.

Some of the major primary races in Georgia that will be decided by runoff include:

For Governor – Democrat Stacey Abrams made history after becoming the first female candidate nominated by either major party for Georgia governor. All the while Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp are rallying conservative voters to their campaigns.

Cagle, who received nearly 39 percent of Republican votes Tuesday, and Kemp, who received about 26 percent, beat three GOP rivals in a race campaigning for strong support for gun rights and immigration.

Cagle gained national attention in February when he killed a tax break benefiting Delta Air Lines, one of Georgia’s largest employers, for getting rid of a discount program for National Rifle Association members.

Kemp garnered strong criticism and national headlines with campaign ads including one where he says he has a big truck, “Just in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take ’em home myself.”

Cagle, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2007 and in the state Senate since 1995, has positioned himself as a business-friendly tactician who can continue current Gov. Nathan Deal’s legacy of economic growth.

Kemp, who has served as Secretary of State since 2010 and before that in the state Senate starting in 2003, has said he is a “politically incorrect” outsider challenging the establishment.

For LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Sarah Riggs Amico secured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, an open position vacated by Cagle, while David Shafer of Duluth and Geoff Duncan of Cumming will head to a runoff for Republicans.

Shafer received under 49 percent of GOP votes while Duncan got nearly 27 percent, beating out former state Sen. Rick Jeffares in the three-way contest.

Shafer has served in the state Senate since 2002 and prior to that served as the executive director of the Georgia Republican Party.

Duncan, a former Georgia Tech star pitcher who played minor league baseball with the Florida Marlins for six seasons, served in the state House between 2013 and 2017.

The lieutenant governor serves as president of the state Senate, overseeing debate and legislative maneuvers in the chamber.

For SECRETARY OF STATE

John Barrow beat out two opponents for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State, an open position Kemp left.

For Republicans, state Rep. Brad Raffensperger of Johns Creek and former Alpharetta mayor David Belle Isle head to a runoff after coming out on top in the four-way race. Raffensperger got about 35 percent of GOP votes, while Belle Isle received almost 29 percent.

The office oversees elections in Georgia as well as corporate filings and professional licensing.

For U.S. HOUSE – DISTRICT 6

Handel ran unopposed among Republicans in the primary for her U.S. House seat in Georgia’s 6th District, while Ossoff announced he would not join the race again among Democrats.

Lucy McBath, who got 36 percent of votes, and Kevin Abel, who brought in just under 31 percent, head to a runoff for the Democratic nomination after beating out two others.

McBath of Marietta is a gun control activist whose teenage son was fatally shot in Florida in 2012.

Abel, who emigrated to the U.S. from South Africa as a teen, is a businessman from Sandy Springs.

Update on Kirby’s multimillion-dollar contract extension

Sun, 27 May 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Earlier this month Georgia head coach Kirby Smart signed a 7-year contract extension for $49 million and The Red & Black was able to receive details about it through an open records request. According to the contract amendment, Smart is set to receive a total of $6.6 million for the 2018 season, almost a $3 […]

According to the contract amendment, Smart is set to receive a total of $6.6 million for the 2018 season, almost a $3 million jump from the $3.75 million he received last football season. Smart’s compensation will go up each year of the 7-year contract, maxing out at $7.4 million in 2024.

The amendment also states Smart will have a range of performance bonuses depending on Georgia’s level of success. Smart will receive an extra $700,000 if the Bulldogs win the national championship, and $500,000 if Georgia makes a return to the national title game.

Smart could even earn a bonus of $225,000 for winning the SEC title, as the Bulldogs did in 2017, and $175,000 if Georgia is selected to play in any of the New Year’s bowl games.

There is a maximum of $925,000 in performance bonuses allowed in a year. If Smart won the SEC title and the national title in 2024, his full compensation for the year would be $8.325 million.

Smart also has access to a private jet, acquired by the athletic association, for up to 25 personal hours of use each calendar year.

If Smart is terminated before the contract’s expiration at the end of 2024, then the athletic association will pay him 65 percent of his remaining unpaid salary, 20 percent of which will come within 60 days of the termination.

Memorial Day activities for families this year

Sat, 26 May 2018 13:43:00 GMT

Despite the rainy weather, Memorial Day activities are still in full swing. The holiday, which is about the remembrance of those who died while serving our country, is also the start of the summer, with school being out. Since most Americans get to observe Monday, there are several things one can do in Athens, as […]

Attend veteran ceremonies

Memorial ceremonies for fallen soldiers will be held over the weekend for the public. Today at the East Lawn Cemetery, flags will be placed on veterans’ graves beginning at 3 p.m., followed by refreshments being served by The Veterans of Foreign Wars. On Sunday, there will be a wreath ceremony at the Evergreen Memorial Park at 5 p.m.

Walk around the gardens

With the long weekend, there is a chance to visit the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, which is 313-acres used for educational and recreational purposes. It has multiple gardens, a greenhouse and miles of trails.

Grill out

For those planning on hosting a BBQ, Sandy Creek Park near Lake Chapman has picnic areas available on a first-come-first-serve basis. For large groups, there are shelters and pavilions that can be reserved. A dog park, beach, and playground are all located on the park grounds. Grab a grill or pack a picnic and don’t forget to bring a bathing suit just in case it stops raining.

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Check out the farmer’s market

The Athens Land Trust will host a farmer’s market at Terrapin Brewery on Sunday where there will be plenty of local produce. Aside from food vendors and produce provided by local farms, blues musicians Max Hightower and Shane Pruitt will perform live.

As usual, there will be farmer’s markets at Bishop Park and the West Broad School this morning.

Catch a movie

In case the rain doesn’t stop, Ciné will be breaking from arthouse tradition by showing “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” in which Solo tries to tell the origin of Star Wars’ infamous Han Solo. Ciné will also screen “RBG,” Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s biography.

Visit local art museums

As a final Memorial Day option is a visit local art museums including the Georgia Museum of Art, which has three exhibitions in addition to their permanent collection. A Legacy of Giving and Bloom Where You’re planted feature American and French collections of paintings, furniture and beyond.

Athens to experience a rainy week ahead

Fri, 25 May 2018 14:07:00 GMT

Forecasters predict that Athens will continue to be rainy for the next few days, including the Memorial Day weekend. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s latest seven-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast “indicates that the current rainy pattern is likely to continue for at least the next week, with rainfall […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s latest seven-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast “indicates that the current rainy pattern is likely to continue for at least the next week, with rainfall amounts of up to several inches of rain in isolated locations likely to occur as scattered showers and thunderstorms continue to move through the region,” University of Georgia climatologist Pam Knox wrote in her blog.

Incumbent Jody Hice and Democrat Tabitha Johnson-Green to face off in general election

Thu, 24 May 2018 14:05:00 GMT

This November, Democratic candidate Tabitha Johnson-Green will be up against Republican candidate Jody Hice in the general election for the District 10 U.S. Representative seat. As reported in The Red & Black, Hice, the incumbent for the seat, received more than 42,000 votes in the May 22 primary election while his opponents Bradley Griffin and […]

As reported in The Red & Black , Hice, the incumbent for the seat, received more than 42,000 votes in the May 22 primary election while his opponents Bradley Griffin and Joe Hunt received a little over 5,500 each.

As of 2015 when he took office, Hice has served on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.

During his term, he served as vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations for the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

As for his Democratic opponent for the future general election, Tabitha A. Johnson-Green received more than 16,000 votes. Her opponents, Chalis Montgomery and Richard Dien Winfield received about 9,000 and 8,000 votes respectively.

Tabitha Johnson-Green, a registered nurse in Washington County, said her desire is to represent the typical “lifestyle and struggles of the everyday citizen” of the people in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District.

Being in the medical field, Johnson-Green said she has seen the structural problems of the healthcare system every day, such as seeing patients, who are living in poverty, barely able to make co-pays to rural hospitals closing their doors at “alarming rates.”

In addition, she wants to address education reform. She also hopes both political parties will be able to work together to enact these changes.

Athens man dies after high speed chase

Wed, 23 May 2018 13:49:00 GMT

An Athens man died over the weekend when the vehicle he was a passenger in rolled over and crashed following a high-speed chase that began in Barrow County and ended in Oconee County. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, Levi Cortez Weems, 27, died at the scene of the crash while a man that authorities […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Levi Cortez Weems, 27, died at the scene of the crash while a man that authorities believe was the driver fled on foot and escaped, Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Tim Meyer said.

Investigators have not been able to identify the driver, but they may have a surveillance video of him inside the Racetrack gas station located at Mars Hill Road and Highway 78, according to Meyer.

Read more: Wron gful Death Attorney Athens, GA

“He was bleeding at the time so we think we have blood evidence,” Meyer said. “But we don’t have a camera angle which showed what car he may have left in.”

The pursuit began at about 11:25 p.m. when a Barrow County sheriff’s deputy tried to stop the vehicle for a traffic infraction west of Winder, according to Meyer.

The pursuit headed towards Statham and continued east into Oconee County, where the trooper caught up with the vehicle on Georgia Highway 316 near McNutt Creek Drive, according to Meyer.

The trooper ended the pursuit and caused the vehicle to overturn, Meyer said. Weems was ejected as the vehicle was rolling over, he said.

“Barrow County informed us yesterday they may have been involved in a shoplifting at the Walmart (in Winder) just prior to the pursuit and that may be why they fled when the officer tried to stop them,” Meyer said.

The GSP is now investigating the crash and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the investigation of the man still on the loose.

A helicopter and a K-9 unit were used to assist in the ground search for the man who fled, authorities said.

Homeless camp in Athens cleared out by highway crews

Tue, 22 May 2018 14:01:00 GMT

The Georgia Department of Transportation recently hired a forestry crew to remove trees and underbrush to help reduce shadows on the road during times when ice or snow accumulate, and to push the tree line back so trees can’t fall across the perimeter when storms come through like last year’s Irma. But as they took […]

But as they took down the big trees, they also destroyed a few of the small camps that served as refuges for the homeless.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , some of those camps are in a Georgia Department of Transportation right-of-way.

A few weeks ago it was small forest glades near the intersection of the Athens Perimeter and Lexington Road and now it is a slope covered in a layer of mud and fragments of wood.

“They chewed it up like toothpicks,” said Mike Dunaway, 60, as he reached the three small shacks that had been his home for nearly 15 years.

One of the little buildings was toppled over by a tree and the some of the roofs were taken off partially.

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Some items were scattered in the mud including a big oven cooking pot and small pieces of furniture.

“I can’t even find my I.D. I found my Social Security card, though,” he said. “Time to pick up the pieces and carry on.”

In March, his younger sister was killed as she tried crossing Commerce Road at night, struck by a hit-and-run driver.

“I’m pretty devastated,” he said. “I’ll never forget this, or my sister.”

In one building that is lying on its side, he kept socks, clothing, tents and sleeping bags for people who came to the camp and needed them, said Dunaway, the unofficial mayor of the place.

“God will bless us. Keep the faith,” he said. “I don’t hurt nobody. I try to help everybody I meet.”

The homeless population was once estimated at over 100 in what was called Tent City. But a few years ago it decreased and only five people were living there when the highway crew came through, he said.

“Ain’t nobody going to live here anymore,” he said.

Those without homes in Athens tend to be dispersed; the small camps are often near the Athens Perimeter and at places near to services and needs such as water and medical clinics, said Andrew Wilkin, executive director of the Bigger Vision homeless shelter.

In the winter, most find their way to one of the Athens’ shelters, according to homeless counts, but as the weather warms up, more head to camps.

Nobody was in the camp at Lexington Road when the trees came down. Athens-Clarke police had come by with a courtesy notice before the crews came, Dunaway said. Only DOT work crews are authorized to be in the right of way, and all else could face criminal prosecution and civil liability, according to the notice, which Dunaway has.

Breakdown of local candidates’ campaign donations

Mon, 21 May 2018 13:56:00 GMT

More often than not, campaign contributions are make or break for candidates. Traditionally, the more funds that are raised, the more likely the candidate will win. However, this isn’t always the case. “Campaigning is an expensive enterprise. Especially for high profile races like the gubernatorial contest we have here in Georgia this year,” Jeffrey Glas, […]

“Campaigning is an expensive enterprise. Especially for high profile races like the gubernatorial contest we have here in Georgia this year,” Jeffrey Glas, a University of Georgia political science lecturer, told The Red & Black . “That money has to come from somewhere and the traditional means for raising it is to reach out to people and groups for campaign contributions.”

Campaign expenses include print material, digital advertising, mail, campaign signs, T-shirts, pamphlets, and access to voter lists.

“There’s a lot of pressure to raise money … when I talk to other consultants and other politicians, that’s one of the first things I ask: ‘how much money have you raised?’” said Jeff Snowden, campaign spokesperson and senior advisor of communications and strategy of mayoral candidate Harry Sims’ campaign. “It’s pretty emblematic of the situations that campaigns face is that money equals share of the conversation.”

The amount the mayoral candidates in this election raised differs by thousands of dollars.

As of the March 31 campaign contributions disclosure report, Kelly Girtz’s total cash contributions is an estimated $46,000, compared to Richie Knight’s $30,000 and Harry Sims’ $10,500.

All three are much less than the $53,000 current mayor Nancy Denson raised in 2010 and the $103,000 for her 2014 reelection.

Although this is a local election, there were donors from outside Athens and Georgia.

Knight received one donation from California, Girtz received donations from Virginia, Texas, Florida, Illinois, California and Louisiana and some of Sims’ donations were from Lithonia, Georgia.

Special events, direct phone calls and social media were fundraising methods that Girtz and Sims used.

Although there are no polls to reveal who is expected to win the mayoral race, if money is a factor then Girtz would be in the lead.

Although Sims did not raise “a tremendous amount of money,” Snowden said, he has still been able to reach voters.

Sims is well known in Athens, Snowden said, because he’s been in government for over 20 years.

“For a variety of reasons, I think we were less vulnerable of needing as much funds,” Snowden said. “I’m glad to say that … we’ve never panicked over money.”

Sims’ initial goal for fundraising was $30,000 to $40,000, but after “we realized we could do a lot of things in house ourselves,” Snowden said, they scaled back to $15,000 to $20,000.

To help with the “in house” costs, Sims distributed campaign signs himself instead of paying someone to do it.

Knight did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.

Sims and Girtz raised more than they did as commissioners.

In 2010, Girtz raised $800 for his commissioner position, and in 2014, he raised $250.

For Sims, he raised $320 in both 2009 and 2010.

The election results will be on May 22.

Clarke Central High School’s old gymnasium’s east side wall is a reminder of the school’s football history, with its three state championships and five runner-up finishes

Sun, 20 May 2018 14:41:00 GMT

After the passing of legendary coach Billy Henderson in February, a group of former Clarke Central and Athens High players and coaches decided to boost the program back to what was represented on that wall. With Henderson’s son-in-law and former Clarke Central coach Steve Brooks, who took over for Henderson in 1996 after he had […]

With Henderson’s son-in-law and former Clarke Central coach Steve Brooks, who took over for Henderson in 1996 after he had coached the Gladiators for 23 years, Clarke Central athletic director Jon Ward, and Athens businessman, Clarke Central and UGA alum David Dukes at the helm, the “It Can Be Done” Foundation was created with a fundraising goal of $200,000 that will mostly go toward renovations that will feature the Coach Billy Henderson Strength and Conditioning Center.

That total also includes paying for five boys and girls each year to attend a 10-week summer camp at the YMCA, a place that held a special place in the heart of Henderson, Brooks told the Athens Banner-Herald .

A total of $65,000 was raised before a recent $10,000 donation by Daniel Epting, a 1997 graduate of Clarke Central, of Epting Events and Athens Cotton Press.

Over $52,000 of improvements have gone into the strength and conditioning center, where a rubber floor, center-gym turf area, wooden platforms, and 10 weight racks and benches have been installed in the last week.

The “It Can Be Done” Foundation, which donated $30,000 to begin the project, had a total goal of $130,000 to complete the strength and conditioning center, and an additional $20,000 it needs to add SPARQ (speed, power, agility, reaction/resistance, and quickness) equipment that it believes will give the Gladiators an edge.

“Our whole team is humbled and appreciative of what’s coming down,” Perno said prior to the check presentation. “I think they care about each other, they care about this program and they care about this school.”

The remaining $50,000 will go toward the Athens YMCA as the foundation wants to be able to host children for summer camps yearly.

“I called you guys because you loved coach Henderson, you loved Clarke Central and you love Gladiator Nation,” Brooks told the assembled crowd. “I think coach Henderson’s gift was bringing kids together. In 50 years, when I’m not here, this will be here to still service the kids at Clarke Central.”

Brooks said the “It Can Be Done” foundation will conclude fundraising on Dec. 31 as it hopes businesses can use their donation as a tax write off, but it hopes to surpass its goal, so any extra donations will be reissued back into the community.

The main objective of the project, however, is to honor Henderson by making Clarke Central a state power again.

“You know I’ll do my part to support this cause any way I can,” Perno said, “because this is a game changer.”

Clarke County student recently treated for bacterial meningitis

Sat, 19 May 2018 12:00:00 GMT

A student at Gaines Elementary School contracted bacterial meningitis, the Clarke County school district announced on Thursday. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the pre-kindergartner was taken to the hospital with meningitis symptoms on May12, according to the district’s news release. School staff were told of the child’s hospitalization and possible diagnosis Monday, and Amy […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the pre-kindergartner was taken to the hospital with meningitis symptoms on May12, according to the district’s news release.

School staff were told of the child’s hospitalization and possible diagnosis Monday, and Amy Roark, the district’s director of nursing, notified officials at the state Department of Public Health of a potential meningitis case.

Instead of waiting for an official confirmation of the meningitis diagnosis, school administrators had the child’s classroom “deep sanitized,” and on Tuesday, a state Department of Public Health epidemiologist notified Clarke officials that a culture taken from the student had not grown and it was “unlikely” the student had bacterial meningitis.

On Thursday, however, the Department of Public Health notified school officials that the child had tested positive for bacterial meningitis.

The girl is currently hospitalized, but “word has been received that she is recovering well and will be returning home soon,” the district announced.

“Currently the administration of Gaines School Elementary is working closely with CCSD officials and the Department of Public Health to ensure that pre-K students and staff all receive preventative medication,” according to the news release.

Meningitis is an inflammation of membranes called meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord.

It can be caused by viruses, many kinds of bacteria or, rarely, by a fungus, and is usually contagious.

Bacterial meningitis can be fatal without treatment, and delayed treatment increases the risk of both death and brain damage.

A vaccine is available to protect against certain kinds of bacterial meningitis.

Early symptoms closely resemble those of the flu.

Protestors and supporters gather at Williams planned ‘deportation bus tour’ stop at Athens Cracker Barrel

Fri, 18 May 2018 14:14:00 GMT

As reported recently in The Red & Black, Michael Williams, a Republican Georgia state senator, announced on Tuesday a “deportation bus tour” that would visit “sanctuary cities” statewide. On the first day of the tour this past Wednesday, about 50 protesters stood on the sidewalk near Cracker Barrel facing Epps Bridge Parkway in Oconee County […]

The words “fill this bus with illegals” are written across the windows of a gray school bus that Williams plans to ride to many Georgia cities.

Athens was on his list of “sanctuary cities” that also includes Gainesville, Clarkston and Decatur. Athens is not considered a sanctuary city, according to Athens-Clarke County Sheriff Ira Edwards.

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The tour was supposed to conclude in Athens, but Williams never showed up at 4 p.m. as planned. Athens residents protested for two hours.

Williams reportedly chose this location as his stopping point without permission from Cracker Barrel.

“We didn’t know anything about it until concerned guests started calling the store saying, ‘I can’t believe you guys are supporting this,’” said Janella Escobar, head of corporate communications for Cracker Barrel.

Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry and other officers stayed as long as the protesters did to make sure that they remained on the sidewalk. Cracker Barrel and the nearby Walmart are private property, both of which prohibit all political activity.

“We are an establishment that welcomes the public,” Escobar said. “However, we have a corporate policy in all 45 states that we operate in … which is to not allow our stores or our property to become a venue or a platform for campaigning on behalf of any politician or any issue.”

But the deterrence by Cracker Barrel did not keep local protesters from speaking out about the bus tour.

“Hey hey, ho ho, Williams has to go,” protesters chanted.

“We ask people to show love … Our message is love,” said Beto Cacao, member of Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition. “We want to show that Athens does not tolerate hate speech, and we are here to support the migrant community. It’s brave what we are doing here.”

After the protest ended, Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens created a petition to “ban racist politicians” and to “support Georgia’s immigrant community.”

There were also a few people with campaign signs to support Williams.

Jeff Morley, Athens resident, supports Williams based on his education reform plans, Second Amendment views, voting record and deportation plans.

“If you look at his plan, he’s saying criminal illegals. He’s not after brown people running all over the state of Georgia. If they come here and get arrested, then they need to be deported,” Morley said. “This isn’t a campaign against every illegal, in my opinion.”

The “deportation bus” reads: “DANGER! Murderers, rapists, kidnappers, child molestors [sic] and other criminals on board.”

Williams will continue his bus tour through May 21, ending in Valdosta.

He did not respond for requests to comment before publication.

Some potential flooding in Athens with continuously rainy days

Thu, 17 May 2018 13:57:00 GMT

Athens has not been under any flood or flash-flood warnings yet, but that could change as a tropical weather pattern brings heavy rain across north Georgia. The National Weather Service’s Peachtree City weather station just issued a flash-flood warning for parts of Atlanta. Toccoa, an hour north of Athens, was also under a flood watch […]

The National Weather Service’s Peachtree City weather station just issued a flash-flood warning for parts of Atlanta. Toccoa, an hour north of Athens, was also under a flood watch as well as with nearby areas of North Carolina and South Carolina.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Athens could also experience localized flooding.

Forecasters predict at least an inch or two of rain in the Athens area Thursday and Friday, but that could vary from area to area and day to day.

Rain is forecast every day at least until next Tuesday.

Yesterday some areas in northwest Clarke County had gotten about 1.25 inches of rain, while in the southeast at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, rainfall was less than an inch, and at Winterville nearly an inch.

“We could quickly get two to four inches just within a four-hour period” at some locations, said National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Baker. “We’re seeing all these little waves coming across the main trough.”

The pattern is not typical for this time of year — a tropical air mass yielding constant rain.

It’s something more usual over Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, where such patterns can persist through much of a summer, Baker said.

Damaging winds from isolated thunderstorms are also possible. One warning sign is when there’s a break in the clouds that can allow the ground to absorb sun energy that can later fuel storms, Baker said.

Motorists should avoid crossing flooded streets, Knox and Baker warned.

“Turn around, don’t drown,” Baker said, quoting a motto that meteorologists use in explaining the dangers of floods.

Water 18 to 24 inches deep can sweep a car away, and a pedestrian may be carried off by a current just six inches deep, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Athens Clarke commissioners to increase parking fines

Wed, 16 May 2018 14:51:00 GMT

Next year you’ll want to think twice before letting your parking meter expire. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, a part of Athens-Clarke County’s proposed 2019 fiscal year budget is a proposal to increase parking fines. The penalty for an expired meter would double, from $10 to $20. For parking beyond the maximum time you […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , a part of Athens-Clarke County’s proposed 2019 fiscal year budget is a proposal to increase parking fines.

The penalty for an expired meter would double, from $10 to $20. For parking beyond the maximum time you can leave a vehicle in a parking space would also increase from $15 to $25.

These new fines would raise an extra $30,000 for the general fund, and help fund raises for Athens-Clarke employees and a small increase in retiree benefits. In a recent study, consultants discovered that county employees were paid 4 percent to 6 percent less than employees in comparable Georgia cities.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

At Monday’s budget review meeting, commissioners seemed favorable to the new fines while some wondered if the fines could actually be higher.

A future streetscape project on Clayton Street will lower the supply of parking spaces, though the government has added metered spaces on Dougherty Street on the edge of downtown Athens.

“With the loss of parking spaces on Clayton, turnover is even more important,” said Commissioner Mike Hamby.

Commissioner Melissa Link wondered if there could be special rates for special events like football weekends. Some football fans park in metered spaces downtown, being aware that they’ll get parking tickets, but also figuring that’s cheaper than buying an expensive slot in a commercial parking lot.

Commissioners had investigated and turned down that idea in the past after lawyers said it wouldn’t stand up, however.

Former high school track coach gets 15 years for sex crimes

Tue, 15 May 2018 14:00:00 GMT

A former Athens high school track coach and substitute teacher recently was given a 15-year sentence after he pled guilty to sex crimes against a juvenile underage male student. As reported recently in the Athens Banner-Herald, Michael Henry Scott, 30, will have to spend the first three years of the sentence in prison and the […]

As reported recently in the Athens Banner-Herald , Michael Henry Scott, 30, will have to spend the first three years of the sentence in prison and the remainder of his long sentence on probation, according to the sentencing document that was filed last Friday in Clarke County Superior Court.

He will need to register as a sex offender and will be forbidden from reaching out to the victim and witnesses upon his release from prison, according to the sentencing document.

Witnesses were set to testify when they were 14 in 2007, which is when Scott took them to his home and acted inappropriately while showing them pornographic videos, according to court filings.

Those allegations were investigated by Athens-Clarke County police, but the parents of the alleged victims did not want to pursue criminal charges.

Scott was arrested and indicted after a similar allegation was made by another juvenile male student in June 2017.

At the time the allegations were made, Scott coached track at both Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals high schools.

As part of a May 2 negotiated agreement with the prosecutors, Scott pleaded guilty to one count each of child molestation, of electronically furnishing obscene materials to underage students as well as enticing a minor for indecent purposes.

The Hands-Free Act for distracted driving set for Georgia this summer

Mon, 14 May 2018 13:34:00 GMT

Beginning July 1, it will be illegal for drivers to hold their cellphone, send or read text messages, or record and broadcast video while driving their vehicles through the Georgia Hands-Free Act, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. If Georgia residents would like to keep using their phones while driving, they will have to invest […]

If Georgia residents would like to keep using their phones while driving, they will have to invest in Bluetooth technology, such as wireless headphones or other hands-free devices.

The intent of the law is to save lives, said Katie Fallon, public information officer for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. She said 89 drivers were killed in Georgia due to distracted driving in 2016 and 2017.

“Keep in mind those numbers are just for distracted drivers who died,” Fallon said. “That does not include other motorists, passengers or pedestrians who may have died because of a distracted driver.”

Authorities say accidents in Athens due to distracted driving happens often, but statistics from police weren’t readily available.

“We hope the new law will reduce the number of crashes that occur,” said Epifanio Rodriguez, public information officer for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

“However, that will only be determined by what we see after the law is able to be enforced,” Rodriguez said.

The new law not only bans holding phones and other devices, but will also bans people from supporting them with any part of the body, such as having a phone between the ear and shoulder.

Voice-based communications that are converted to a text message or the use of the device for navigation won’t be banned under the law.

Cellphones can be used when driving to report a traffic accident, medical emergency, fire, potential criminal act, or hazardous road conditions that pose an immediate safety threat.

Law enforcement officers and other first responders, as well as public utility employees will still be allowed to use devices when responding to an emergency.

Drivers who need to make or receive a call should pull into a parking lot or find a place to legally park, according to police.

Currently, distracted driving infractions impose a fine of $150 for the first offense and one point on your license. Under the new law, fines will more than double with the first offense incurring a fine from $300 to $450. Also, a first offense will add three points to a driver’s license.

Oconee County High School Students awarded Presidential Scholars

Sun, 13 May 2018 15:30:00 GMT

Not one but two Oconee County High School students were awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars by the U.S. Department of Education, according to an article posted in Online Athens. Both seniors Keaton Coletti, of North Oconee High School, and Mina Yu, of Oconee County High School, were given this national-level recognition. The award is only given to 161 […]

Both seniors Keaton Coletti, of North Oconee High School, and Mina Yu, of Oconee County High School, were given this national-level recognition.

The award is only given to 161 high school graduates, and only three were given out in the state of Georgia.

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

“On behalf of Oconee County Schools and the Board of Education, I want to offer our sincere congratulations to Mina and Keaton for this highly prestigious recognition as U.S. Presidential Scholars,” Superintendent Jason Branch told the Athens Banner Herald. “These students have accomplished a great deal as academic and community leaders in Oconee County and we know that they will continue to make us proud in the future.”

The North Oconee senior, Coletti had a busy high school life with his extracurricular activities including marching, concert, and jazz band, as well as math team, robotics, and swimming. He was this year’s STAR Student for North Oconee High School, and he plans to attend the University of Georgia as a Foundation Fellow. He plans on majoring in aeronautical engineering. HIs parents are Kelli and Norman Coletti.

The daughter of Sarah Cho and Seokhu Yu, the Oconee County High School standout plans to attend Princeton University and major in biochemistry/molecular biology and English. She was also recognized as a STAR Student for Oconee County High School and System STAR Student (all public and private schools in Oconee County), where she tied for the award. Mina also had a busy high school schedule with involvements in the Athens Youth Symphony, JV cross country, and Mock Trial.

“I want to congratulate this year’s class of Presidential Scholars on their achievement and also thank their parents, teachers, and other academic advisors who have helped guide them along the way,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “These students have pushed themselves to be the best they can be, and I am certain that devotion will serve them well as they continue their individual learning journeys.”

The 2018 ceremony will be held June 24, when each honoree will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.

Deal vetoes nearly two dozen bills and signs more

Sat, 12 May 2018 15:31:00 GMT

Recently Nathan Deal vetoed 21 bills and signed more into law, including a controversial bill that could split the city of Stockbridge in two. An AP article reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the term-limited Republican governor’s deadline to veto or sign any remaining bills into law was last Tuesday. The governor also had the option […]

An AP article reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the term-limited Republican governor’s deadline to veto or sign any remaining bills into law was last Tuesday. The governor also had the option to decline to do either and allow a bill to automatically become law without his name on it.

Deal had already signed major legislation for the state budget, a transit expansion plan and a measure that bans drivers from holding their cellphone.

Some of the bills vetoed were a proposal to cap fees a homeowners association could charge homeowners for information and another to make contracts between local governments and private consultants more transparent.

Deal also signed into law something that would allow victims of domestic abuse who received a court order to break a residential lease with zero penalty. He even signed a bill allowing lottery winners with prizes over $250,000 to remain anonymous if requested.

Deal also signed one of the most controversial types of legislation – a set of bills that could split the city of Stockbridge in two by creating the city of Eagles Landing.

Two proposals signed by Deal allow the new city of Eagles Landing to incorporate and revise the boundaries of Stockbridge to split the wealthy area from its borders.

Voters in the area that would become Eagles Landing must approve the idea before the new city is formed.

Residents asking for the new city say they are seeking to get better city services and increase property values.

Opponents say the move is racially motivated and could hurt Stockbridge financially.

Stockbridge, about 75 miles west of Athens, is predominantly black, while Eagles Landing would have a greater proportion of white residents.

Police believe drugs may be behind Athens Shooting

Fri, 11 May 2018 14:43:00 GMT

Athens police believe that last week’s shooting of a South Carolina man at a student housing complex involved drugs. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, police said they discovered a bloody bag that contained drugs near the Park at Athens Lakeside complex entrance, where the 33-year-old victim said he was shot Thursday night while sitting […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , police said they discovered a bloody bag that contained drugs near the Park at Athens Lakeside complex entrance, where the 33-year-old victim said he was shot Thursday night while sitting in his vehicle.

Authorities said a trail of broken glass led them from the victim’s shot-out car window to a building in the complex, where they found a large amount of shattered window glass and a partially smoked marijuana cigarette.

While surveying the area of the shooting, police said they were approached by a man who said he witnessed the incident and “wanted to clear his chest.” Authorities did not disclose what he told them, but said they believe the victim was involved in a drug deal gone bad.

The witness was then interviewed by a detective, but as of Tuesday morning police had not identified any possible suspects, according to Epifanio Rodriguez, public information officer for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Police also had not filed any charges against the victim.

After the shooting, police said the man drove himself to the intersection of South Milledge Avenue and Riverbend Road, where he asked for a passerby’s help.

While receiving treatment, the victim allegedly told police a black male wearing a mask shot him.

The victim is still in critical condition at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, said police.

Police asked for anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Scott Black at (706) 613-3330, ext. 798, or scott.black@accgov.com. Anonymous calls can be made to the Crime Stoppers confidential tip line at (706) 705-4665.

A Crime Stoppers reward is also available for anyone who can provide credible information in this case, police said.

Fifth graders get tour of nearly completed Oglethorpe Elementary

Thu, 10 May 2018 13:56:00 GMT

Earlier this week, Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School’s fifth-graders got a tour of their new school. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, a new Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary is being constructed where the old Oglethorpe Avenue used to be. Since December 2016, students have been attending classes at the old Gaines Elementary School. Construction crews are on […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , a new Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary is being constructed where the old Oglethorpe Avenue used to be. Since December 2016, students have been attending classes at the old Gaines Elementary School.

Construction crews are on schedule to have the new building completed before the next school year. Clarke students begin classes on Aug. 7, and the students currently in the old Gaines Elementary building (plus 10 portable classrooms) will move into the new building — except the fifth graders, who will be heading to Clarke Middle or Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle schools.

“Because they weren’t going to be able to attend school here, it’s my way of giving them a gift,” said Principal Scarlett Dunne. Most have attended Oglethorpe since beginning school, she said.

John Gilbreath, the school district’s interim executive director for district services, was the tour guide, taking them through the building in hard hats donated by Hanson Aggregates.

Teachers and a few parents were also there as Gilbreath explained some things about the new Oglethorpe facility.

At 114,000 square feet, it’s almost twice as large as the old Oglethorpe, which was demolished and hauled off so workers could put the new building on the same site. It will have 43 classrooms and other instructional spaces, compared to 35 in the old one, and it can take an enrollment of about 675 students, Gilbreath said. The old school was designed for an enrollment of about 500.

This year enrollment is around 590, and Dunne expects it to grow when the school moves into its new building.

As for Gaines, the school district’s next big project is a renovation of Hilsman Middle School and while that construction is going on, Hilsman will move into the old Gaines Elementary.

Hilsman is a fairly larger school — about 685 students, according to the Georgia Department of Education — which means more portable classrooms on top of to the 10 already placed there for Oglethorpe’s occupation.

Gaines has been the temporary home for several elementary schools while their home schools underwent extensive renovation, or demolition and replacement, including Oglethorpe two times. The school was the first to occupy the building, during a previous renovation.

Conference offers educational resources for students affected by foster care and homelessness

Wed, 09 May 2018 15:09:00 GMT

The Georgia program that supports children, who have been in foster care or homeless, pursue their postsecondary educational objectives will have its second annual conference at the University of Georgia Tate Student Center on May 16 and 17. Hosted by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, the Embark Georgia Leadership Conference focuses on offering […]

Hosted by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, the Embark Georgia Leadership Conference focuses on offering resources and support to children from these environments.

As reported in The Red & Black , at this event there are networking opportunities for those who are interested in seeking a postsecondary educational institution in Georgia.

This year, the conference plans to have new simulation activities, breakout sessions and extra networking opportunities, according to a J.W. Fanning press release.

Clare Cady, a higher education and human services scholar-practitioner, is the keynote speaker at the conference.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

Cady began programs that address basic needs of college students including emergency aid funds, resource centers, campus pantries and housing interventions. She also co-founded and directs the College and College and University Food Bank Alliance, an organization focused on lessening student hunger, according to the release.

According to a 2013 study conducted by the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education, 84 percent of youth with foster care experience expressed an interest in pursuing a postsecondary education, but only 20 percent enrolled in college.

Just 2-9 percent of these individuals actually earned their bachelor’s degree, according to the study.

Students who come from these backgrounds experience lack of access to financial resources, instability during their high school career and the absence of relationships with mentors, according to the Embark website.

Embark Georgia’s vision is that “any person who has experienced foster care or homelessness will have ample academic, financial, social and emotional supports to access, navigate and complete a post-secondary education.”

Athens man recently indicted for pistol-whipping and armed robbery

Tue, 08 May 2018 13:51:00 GMT

An Athens man was just indicted on several felony charges after being involved in an incident last month in which he allegedly pistol-whipped a man and committed armed robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, Jamarious Iquan Foster, 22, of Maple Forge Drive was said to have been “emotional and drunk” […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Jamarious Iquan Foster, 22, of Maple Forge Drive was said to have been “emotional and drunk” as it was the one-year anniversary of his father’s death, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

Last week a Clarke County grand jury indicted him for armed robbery, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, two counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault, and single counts of possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the indictment that was filed in Clarke County Superior Court.

The incident for which Foster was indicted happened March 13 when he was a passenger in a car with a driver and another passenger, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

Tommy Lee Morris allegedly used an assault rifle to shoot Tony Curtis “Showtime” Foster in March 2017 outside the Blue Moon Club on Danielsville Road, where Morris witnessed his ex-wife having drinks with Tony Foster, according to police.

One of the victims who was allegedly assaulted by the murdered man’s son reportedly told police that he had been with Jamarious Foster all day and that Foster was firing his gun in the air and tried to run a family member off the road.

After that victim and Foster jumped into the car driven by another man, Foster allegedly “went crazy” and pistol-whipped the driver in the head four or five times, according to police.

Foster allegedly told the other passenger to drive the injured driver to the hospital, but as they got close to the hospital, Foster changed his mind, “afraid the other two would snitch on him,” according to police.

Foster then allegedly jumped out of the car and held the people in the car at gunpoint and demanded money, which he stole from one of them. One of the occupants reportedly asked Foster, “You really going to point that at your own family?” police said.

When the gunman looked away, the man who asked the question fled and hid behind a nearby building, according to police.

The victim of the pistol-whipping apparently drove off and crashed into a brick wall on South Jackson Street, where the car traveled down the sidewalk and came to a stop in some bushes. The driver was ejected through the driver’s side window and suffered serious injuries.

The FBI arrested Foster on April 3 at The Summit of Athens apartment complex and turned him over to the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office.

Foster continues to be held without bail at the Clarke County Jail.

UGA Class of 2018 Passed Through the Arch Over Weekend

Mon, 07 May 2018 14:28:00 GMT

This past weekend 5,834 University of Georgia students received their diplomas and officially walked under the Arch as Bulldog graduates. “To be a Bulldog means you’ve got to cheer loud on Saturdays,” communication studies graduate Carley Kleban told The Red & Black. “It means you’ve got to love Athens, you’ve got to work hard, you’ve […]

“To be a Bulldog means you’ve got to cheer loud on Saturdays,” communication studies graduate Carley Kleban told The Red & Black . “It means you’ve got to love Athens, you’ve got to work hard, you’ve got to do as much as you can to keep the tradition alive of what it means to be a bulldog.”

This year, 4,576 undergraduates and 1,258 graduate students made up the graduating class. The undergraduate commencement speakers were UGA alumni Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, who are members of the multi-platinum country music trio Lady Antebellum.

At 7 p.m., the ceremony began with students walking down the aisle with banners representing the different schools within UGA.

UGA President Jere Morehead congratulated the graduating Class of 2018 and welcomed their families and friends.

Following the University of Georgia Army and Airforce ROTC Cadets presentation of the colors, Keyera Grant, a music performance major from Atlanta, sang the National Anthem.

“Commencements at the University of Georgia are truly something special,” Morehead said. “These transitions bind us together as alumni. We are loyal, we are proud and we make a positive difference in the world around us.”

For some students, earning this degree from UGA is a continuation of the bulldog legacy while for others graduating from UGA means being the first in their family to earn a college degree.

“I feel very accomplished just coming from a family that didn’t go to college,” said political science and communication studies double major Bradford Porter. “Having that push to come here and feeling like, ‘I did this,’ and seeing the value of it and seeing all of that hard work, it is just so amazing.”

Though this class is moving on to a new chapter in their lives, the graduates have established their home here in Athens and at UGA.

“It just runs so deep,” finance major Leigh Peters said. ”All of the little moments, the community that you have, not just these four years, but forever.”

The community is what Peters loves the most about her time here, mentioning the mentors she has had while working toward graduating. Her younger sister will be a freshman in fall of 2019 and she looks forward to keeping the Bulldog tradition going strong in her family.

A shooting at the Lakeside Park Apartments, leaves one man seriously injured

Sun, 06 May 2018 14:00:00 GMT

While many University of Georgia Students were getting ready to head back home for the summer, after completing their last Spring finals, one man lays in his hospital bed fighting for his life. During the early morning hours of Friday, May 4, a South Carolina man was shot one time in the torso at the […]

During the early morning hours of Friday, May 4, a South Carolina man was shot one time in the torso at the the Park apartments at Athens Lakeside.

The 34-year-old victim suffered a lone gunshot wound to the torso. As reported in Online Athens , according to the Athens Clarke law enforcement, after the incident the victim, by his own power, got behind the wheel of his vehicle and attempted to drive himself to the hospital.

He made it only a few blocks before pulling over at the intersection of South Milledge Avenue and Riverbend Road, where he encountered a passerby and asked for help at around 7:30 p.m, police said.

The person then contacted 911 and made them aware of the situation. At the scene police found the victim sitting in the driver’s side of his vehicle, where he was passing in and out of consciousness.

So far, law enforcement officials are not aware of any motive behind the shooting. The only pieces of information that they were given from the victim is that the shooter was a black male wearing a mask.

As of Friday night, the victim, according to public information officer for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Epifanio Rodriguez, is suffering from life-threatening injuries, and was in a medically-induced coma.

Police did not release the victim’s name because they were having difficulty tracking down next of kin due to the victim residing out of state, Rodriguez said. Police asked that anyone with information about this case to contact detective Scott Black at (706) 613-3330, ext. 798, or scott.black@accgov.com .

West Broad Farmers Market Debuts Today and Has Much Planned

Sat, 05 May 2018 12:00:00 GMT

This weekend will mark the West Broad Farmers Market’s sixth season since it launched. As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald, the market is set to host more than two dozen vendors. Many are new small businesses that grew out of a recent Athens Land Trust course on how to create a business, or from the […]

As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald , the market is set to host more than two dozen vendors.

Many are new small businesses that grew out of a recent Athens Land Trust course on how to create a business, or from the Land Trust-sponsored Young Urban Farmers program, said land trust Executive Director Heather Benham.

At last week’s block party to celebrate the return of the market, many neighboring families gathered outside the historic school building.

There were barbecue and Jamaican food vendors, sellers of homemade products, community agencies including the Cooperative Extension which handed out tomato plants to young gardeners as well as Women from Girls Rock Athens, a decade old nonprofit “dedicated to empowering girls and women of all backgrounds and abilities through music education, creation and performance,” invited both boys and girls to try out the guitars and other instruments the group had at its booth.

But the market and garden’s future is unknown as the Clarke County School District tries to figure out what to do with the historic school building and grounds.

The school district owns the property and has allowed the market and garden to remain there. The Athens Land Trust started a community garden there in 2012, and then the market in 2013 — at first once a month and then every Saturday.

Area historic preservationists and African American leaders in Athens believe preserving the old school as a top community priority. Built in the 1950s as a school for black children, West Broad became Rutland Academy, a multicounty school for children with disabilities, after legal school segregation ended and Athens’ black and white school systems merged.

The land trust, market vendors and others are promoting a plan for the building to be renovated into space for community organizations, which would keep the market and garden where it is.

A few school board members believe the district should find a school use for the property and move the garden and market to a new site.

The West Broad Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until December, with monthly special events such as this Saturday’s May Day and Alumni event. It’s one day after a local holiday called the Day of Remembrance: May 4, the anniversary of the day in 1865 when Union soldiers freed the slaves of Athens.

Comprehensive Plan can stall development

Fri, 04 May 2018 14:36:00 GMT

Last Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners approved the Oconee County Comprehensive Plan and rejected the “country crossroads” portion, which would potentially opened opportunities for small businesses in south Oconee. “Administratively, I see very little value to the character area,” said County Administrator Justin Kirouac. As reported recently in The Oconee Enterprise, the 82-page document can […]

“Administratively, I see very little value to the character area,” said County Administrator Justin Kirouac.

As reported recently in The Oconee Enterprise , the 82-page document can be found on the county’s website, oconeecounty.com, and includes the corresponding 2040 Character Area Map.

The Comprehensive Plan should go into effect after it is approved by the Department of Community Affairs in a few months.

The plan, which mostly serves as a guide for zoning requests, retains the rural character area of south Oconee and the center of the county along Cliff Dawson Road. The United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Georgia’s undeveloped land along that road will go from “civic center” to “rural places.”

The Comprehensive Plan also protects the residential area between Briar Lakes Road and Malcom Bridge Road by making Mars Hill Road the southern boundary of a character area called “regional center.” Citizens against placing an auto dealership on Virgil Langford Road want Ga. 316 to act as cut-off to high-intensity development.

The U.S. 78 corridor, where it intersects with Hog Mountain Road, will be designated a “civic center,” allowing a major grocery store, drug store or medical office there. The character area includes a mix of high-intensity development, such as retail, office, recreational complexes and a college campus.

Citizens who completed a survey by the advisory group reiterated that Oconee County should try not to turn into Gwinnett County, which has had a population increase of nearly 820,000 over the last 50 years.

Georgia gubernatorial candidate Marc Urbach steps down from running

Thu, 03 May 2018 14:12:00 GMT

Just three weeks before the primary election, Marc Urbach of Dunwoody withdrew from his gubernatorial campaign on Tuesday after campaigning for nine months. Having been his first time running for political office, the author and former business owner said he faced many challenges during his campaign as a Republican candidate for Georgia governor. Read more: Government […]

Having been his first time running for political office, the author and former business owner said he faced many challenges during his campaign as a Republican candidate for Georgia governor.

“So many individuals within the system have done things to me … to negate my campaign,” Urbach said. “There’s no way I can win, and with only three weeks left, I decided I was going to pull out and try to get my [money back].”

As reported in The Red & Black , he paid about $4,000 to qualify as a candidate and largely self-funded his campaign.

“No one gives money to someone unless they think they can win, and since I haven’t held political office before, [my Christian friends] just haven’t written me a check,” Urbach said.

For the first eight months, he didn’t ask for donations.

“That was a mistake. I should’ve asked for money the first eight months, but I didn’t because I’ve never liked asking for money,” Urbach said.

Urbach’s desire to run was because of his passion to help all Georgia residents.

“I ran because I love Georgians. I love my daughter and other people’s children, and I felt compelled to put my hand in the ring,” Urbach said. “The government is so corrupt. I said to myself I’m a lot more qualified than these politicians in the gold dome. They lie, they deceive … so I said I’m gonna work, I’m gonna make a difference.”

Urbach plans to run for an office position in the future as an Independent after being inspired by George Washington’s Farewell Address, which warns of the dangers of political parties.

“Republicans drop your R and put an A. Democrats drop your D and put an A. We are all Americans,” Urbach said.

Straying away from political parties is a main theme of Urbach’s book “Believe: Do We Need a Third Great Awakening?”

If he had continued his campaign, Urbach’s top priorities as governor would have been improving and encouraging education, holding the government accountable for the people of Georgia and addressing the traffic problems in Atlanta.

Without Urbach in the race, Republicans have six candidates in the primaries.

Great Catsby gala kicks off Athens Area Humane Society fundraiser

Wed, 02 May 2018 14:32:00 GMT

Last Friday the Athens Area Humane Society kicked off their building fundraiser with a 1920’s “Great Catsby” themed event at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at UGA. The event was planned to raise money to go toward buying a new building, as reported in The Red & Black. The society’s executive director Jane Stewart […]

The society’s executive director Jane Stewart said their organization has become too large for their Mars Hill Road building.

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“We have outgrown the building,” Stewart said. “We could save so many more lives if we had more space.”

The $50 ticket fees and several donated gift baskets for a silent auction went toward the funding.

Alyssa Haley, the adoption counselor at AAHS, said the funds are vital since their small building has become a problem in terms of spreading illnesses between the animals.

“We just need more space to house the sick [cats and dogs] so we’re not transferring the disease,” Haley said. “Right now, we have kennel cough and that’s really easy to be transferred. We have [the sick dogs] in a separate room but they’re still in a close vicinity.”

Though Stewart said she was happy with the event turnout, she knows this fundraiser may be the first of many before they are able to reach their goal.

“We do the best we can but we could be doing a lot more,” Haley said. “We can probably only keep about 40 animals there but that’s why it’s so important to foster.”

“I think I’m the only person in the world who sends a ‘thank-you’ note for a $1 donation, but we truly appreciate everything anybody gives to us,” Stewart said.

Former UGA student receives indictment for hacking into UGA professor’s computer

Tue, 01 May 2018 14:22:00 GMT

A former University of Georgia student was recently indicted by a Clarke County grand jury for allegedly hacking into a UGA professor’s computer to change his grades. In February, Michael Lamon Williams, 21, was taken into custody on nine counts of computer trespass and 71 counts of computer forgery. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, […]

In February, Michael Lamon Williams, 21, was taken into custody on nine counts of computer trespass and 71 counts of computer forgery.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , last week the grand jury returned an indictment charging Williams with seven counts of computer forgery, according to documents filed in Clarke County Superior Court.

Williams, formerly a UGA Terry College of Business student, was working at UGA’s Enterprise Information Technology Services when he “abused his privileges as an employee and changed grades to benefit himself,” said Greg Trevor, the university’s executive director for media communications.

The hacking was discovered in January when an assistant professor in the university’s Department of Management Information Systems reported it, according to a UGA police report. The instructor informed police that he’d been locked out of his UGA email account when he tried to login two days earlier. He then discovered his password had been changed, according to the report.

After the assistant professor notified officials about his computer problem he was told that it was due to “a targeted and deliberate attack against his account and that his password had been changed on 12/17/17 through a VPN service,” the police report noted.

Williams was subsequently fired by EITS and withdrew as a student from the university.

Trevor said the former student’s hack prompted a “comprehensive review of its practices to make the necessary improvements to prevent this from reoccurring.”

Owner of landmark Athens restaurant loses battle with cancer

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 14:04:00 GMT

Mike Williams, the beloved owner of Charlie Williams Pinecrest Lodge in Athens, died last Thursday, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. Williams, 72, ran the restaurant for over 40 years on the eastside off Whitehall Road. The restaurant was closed in 2004 after Williams sold the property. Established in 1929, the restaurant was known for […]

Williams, 72, ran the restaurant for over 40 years on the eastside off Whitehall Road. The restaurant was closed in 2004 after Williams sold the property.

Established in 1929, the restaurant was known for its buffet of barbecue, seafood and vegetables, in its rustic setting.

His son Michael Williams said he died of pancreatic cancer, which he was diagnosed with on Feb. 26.

“He had a strong work ethic. When he was going to do a job, you knew it would be done exactly right, but he demanded a lot of himself,” Michael Williams said.

“He had a relentless drive for getting it right, like a perfectionist,” said his brother-in-law Bobby Poss. “Employees loved him and customers appreciated him. He worked hard all his life. Nothing was handed down to him.”

Mike Cavan, former college football coach who currently works in UGA’s athletic department, became friends with Williams nearly 50 years ago when he attended UGA and Williams was working at the time with the Poss restaurants.

For many years Williams hosted football players since the Coach Vince Dooley days, according to Cavan, who also raved about Williams’ work ethic.

“If he did something you better believe it was done right. He was a perfectionist,” Cavan said.

Following his departure from the restaurant business, Cavan began working with Ricky Chastain and his enterprises.

“Nobody could outwork him. He’d roll up his sleeves and get in the middle of things. He didn’t just bark orders,” “Chastain said. “He was honest and lots of fun.”

Athens businessman John Elliott said Williams helped several civic projects in the community.

“Mike was pretty big-hearted,” Elliott said.

A memorial service for Williams will be held this morning at 11 a.m. at Athens First United Methodist Church.

UGA Candlelight Vigil Held for Community Members Who Died this Year

Sun, 29 Apr 2018 12:03:00 GMT

University of Georgia student Jordan Purdy was one of many in attendance at the Chapel recently for Katelyn Chandler, her cousin and fellow UGA student who died last June. The UGA community honored Chandler and other students, faculty and staff who died this past school year, as reported in The Red & Black. “It was […]

The UGA community honored Chandler and other students, faculty and staff who died this past school year, as reported in The Red & Black .

“It was very calm, very serene,” Purdy said. “I thought the university did a really nice job. I especially thought the ringing of the chapel bell was a great touch.”

Leading the ceremony with interfaith prayers was UGA President Jere Morehead.

“Your presence here this evening demonstrates a deep compassion for these beloved members of the university community,” Morehead said.

Following Morehead’s opening remarks, members of the Arch Society lined up in the front of the Chapel with unlit candles, as Paula Frances Price, a Campus Staff Minister at the Greek InterVarsity ministry, led opening prayer.

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“Help us God to remember how those we loved shaped the world around them with their laughter, their gifts, and their tears,” Price said.

UGA student Caitlin Dopheite, who came with Purdy, praised how inclusive the ceremony was.

“I love that they recognize even the staff and the faculty members,” Dopheite said. “They even recognized someone that was a mechanic, and I thought that was really special that everyone mattered in the ceremony.”

Morehead said the university community should continue to honor those who passed.

“In the midst of our collective mourning, we allow this university community to unite, to find hope and be reminded that we can honor the departed by the way we continue to live our lives each and every day from this point forward,” Morehead said.

SGA President Ammishaddai Grand-Jean, chair of the Staff Council Michael Lewis and chair of the Executive Committee Scott Pegan alternated reading the names of the deceased. After each name was read, the UGA Army ROTC members rang the Chapel Bell and a candle was lit in their honor.

Mara Price from Hillel UGA then did the closing prayer. While the Southern Wind Quintet performed, attendees then walked outside where they lit candles of their own and Grand-Jean said one final prayer before the ceremony ended.

Twilight Criterium has plenty of events for large crowd this year

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 13:06:00 GMT

Today is the Twilight Criterium, one of downtown Athens’ most anticipated annual events. As usual, hundreds of onlookers are expected and there is a full day of activities ahead. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, cyclists from all over the world come to Athens to race through its downtown. The course start-finish line is on […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , cyclists from all over the world come to Athens to race through its downtown.

The course start-finish line is on Clayton Street at College Avenue while the 1K course runs clockwise on Clayton Street, Lumpkin Street, Washington Street and Thomas Street.

The women’s race begins at 7:15 p.m. in which they must complete 40 laps. Male racers must double that number of laps when they start at 8:30 p.m.

Over the almost 40 years of the Criterium, the event has expanded to include more than the evening races. During the day there are amateur races, a 5K run, and many child-friendly events.

Races will take place throughout the day with starting times varying depending on riders’ ages and race categories. These races include the Twilight Men’s and Women’s Pro Twilight Criterium, CLIF Bar Amateur Cycling Races and Kids Criterium Victory Lap.

In addition to the races, there will also be Keith King BMX Stunt Shows and Kids Criterium.

Children’s events also include a bike race, fun run, a pump track and bouncy houses.

Those unable to attend the evening races can watch a live stream starting at 5 p.m. by visiting https://usacrits.tv/ref/athens.

Nude man on Athens courthouse parking awning facing charges for multiple offenses

Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:30:00 GMT

Last Sunday a man performed several strange and lewd acts downtown, ending in a naked display on top of an awning at the parking deck of the Athens-Clarke County courthouse. As reported in The Red & Black, the incident started at the Multimodal Transportation Center downtown, where Demetrious Faust reportedly ran into the restroom threatening […]

As reported in The Red & Black , the incident started at the Multimodal Transportation Center downtown, where Demetrious Faust reportedly ran into the restroom threatening to kill himself, and later wrapped tape around his arm for reasons that are unknown.

Police made contact with Faust as he crossed Hancock Avenue by the Clarke County courthouse.

Police also got reports about Faust banging on courthouse windows. He reportedly tied the courthouse doors shut, preventing a judge from trying to exit the building.

An officer approached the man and threatened to tase him if he did not cooperate. Faust agreed briefly but then began to climb on top of a cement barricade by the courthouse parking deck.

Faust then climbed on top of a blue awning over the attendant station, police said.

Hen then yelled expletives at the police and removed his pants and underwear, displaying his genitals.

The man repeatedly threatened to kill police officers, according to ACCPD.

After the Athens-Clarke County fire department arrived with a ladder to apply to the awning, Faust reportedly tried to push off. An officer talked him down before he was handcuffed, taken to the hospital and checked for injuries. While at the hospital, he reportedly kicked an officer.

After being released from the hospital, Faust was transported to Clarke County Jail where he was charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer, public indecency, simple battery of a law officer, terroristic threats and acts, interference with government property and two counts of disorderly conduct.

Craig “Sky” Hertwig’s legacy continues in Athens

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:50:00 GMT

Craig “Sky” Hertwig. The former larger than life Georgia All-American offensive lineman stood at 6-foot-8 and more than 250 pounds after a short career in the NFL. After his playing career, he was a major presence around Athens and at the bars he opened in town, including Nowhere Bar which he opened in 1994, as […]

After his playing career, he was a major presence around Athens and at the bars he opened in town, including Nowhere Bar which he opened in 1994, as reported in the Athens Banner Herald .

Sky’s death in 2012 due to heart failure left a huge void in the community.

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“He had a kind of bigger than life aura about him,” said former Georgia football player and employee of Sky’s Bob Kelly.

Sky never intended to be a football player as he was set on playing basketball for the Bulldogs, but Georgia football coach Vince Dooley made sure he stuck with football as an offensive lineman.

By his senior season in 1974, Sky developed into an AP All-American lineman. Drafted in the fourth round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Sky played in the NFL just until 1978.

After his return to Athens from the NFL, Sky became friends with the band Widespread Panic due to their former office being next door to Nowhere Bar, but the group’s percussionist, Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz, said he didn’t know about Sky’s football career for several years.

Sky didn’t want the notoriety that came with being a former Georgia and NFL football player and just desired to be treated like anyone else.

“He was just a guy,” said Xander Hannon, former owner of Georgia Bar. “He hung out downtown. He happened to be big, played football at Georgia.”

He had a dry sense of humor that helped make him approachable to any customers he came across. Nowhere Bar general manager George Massey said Sky didn’t like you unless he could “talk crap” with you.

Jamshad “Jaamy” Zarnegar, co-owner of Last Resort Grill since 1999, said Nowhere Bar was a constant hangout spot after work for owners in downtown Athens.

Seeing his management friends after work wasn’t enough for Sky. He was known for making his rounds around the downtown area, visiting with local business owners often.

“If it was up to me, I would draw his picture on the back of Morton Theatre and do the old World War II where you’re pointing at someone saying, ‘Sky needs you in downtown Athens,’” Zarnegar said. “I think something like that would be awesome in his honor and memory.”

Buried in Oconee Hill Cemetery, Sky is remembered for his exploits on the gridiron and as an icon of downtown Athens that enjoyed being around people and interacting with everyone he met.

Athens community on the fight against opioids epidemic

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:25:00 GMT

Recently at The Classic Center, legislators, medical professionals, academics and substance abuse survivors gathered for the 2018 Athens Opioid Summit. Individuals discussed what is working, what their obstacles are and how they can move forward to beat addiction. “We brought this event to Athens because, even though the opioid epidemic isn’t here yet, there is […]

Individuals discussed what is working, what their obstacles are and how they can move forward to beat addiction.

“We brought this event to Athens because, even though the opioid epidemic isn’t here yet, there is evidence that it’s coming,” Catherine Clayton Mills, program manager at Advantage Behavioral Health’s PROUD peer mentoring program told the Athens Banner-Herald . “If we can figure out how to work as a community, if we can figure out how to collaborate, it doesn’t matter what drug it is, we can beat it.”

Georgia state Sen. Renee Unterman (R – Buford), one of the collaborators of the summit and Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, provided a roundup of state legislation related to the fight against opioid abuse.

One of the successes mentioned was the Jeffrey Dallas Gay Jr. Act, a bill that removed Naloxone, an overdose reversal drug, from the state’s dangerous drugs list.

Unterman also noted the strengthening of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and of regulations around drug abuse treatment as steps forward in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

However, there were some opioid related bills in Georgia that didn’t become law.

“This is where we have to build our grassroots support,” she said. “The people who take care of those with substance addictions see the problem, but they work on individuals. What we need is societal change.”

Cassandra Price, executive director of the Division of Addictive Diseases at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, reiterated the fact that community partnerships are vital to beating opioid addiction.

“These partnerships in our community are what make it happen,” she said. “We wouldn’t have a chance without these people working tirelessly to help people get better and find that path to recovery.”

Price informed attendees about another component in the fight against opioid addiction in Georgia, a nearly $12 million State Targeted Response Grant.

The grant, Price said, will go in part toward providing medication-assisted addiction treatment for the uninsured, building recovery support systems and running addiction prevention campaigns in the state.

“We’re filling in the gaps in areas we haven’t been able to address,” Price said.

For Unterman, these are positive results.

“I’m optimistic about our success because of the investment the state has made into the fight against the opioid epidemic,” the senator said. “We’re laying the foundation for the federal money. We know we’re just at the beginning of this fight, but I think we’re ahead of the curve.”

Rapist of UGA student possibly posed as an Uber driver

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:57:00 GMT

Athens-Clarke County police recently charged a Greene County man for allegedly raping a University of Georgia student. Emerson Redd, 56, posed as an Uber driver and lured his victim into his van early Friday, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. “Our concern early on was he would strike again so we worked this case hard,” […]

Emerson Redd, 56, posed as an Uber driver and lured his victim into his van early Friday, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

“Our concern early on was he would strike again so we worked this case hard,” said Capt. Jerry Saulters, commanding officer of the Athens-Clarke County Police Criminal Investigations Division. “We had detectives who worked this case for 24 to 30 hours straight.”

At about 1:15 a.m. Redd pulled his van in front of Uptown Lounge on East Washington Street, where a 21-year-old student got in his vehicle thinking he was the Uber driver she was waiting on, police said.

The student sensed something was wrong after noticing the car did not have a GPS device and other identifiers usually seen in ride-share vehicles, according to police. The student took several photos of the driver, and when he touched her crotch the student demanded to be let out which he did, police said.

Nearly an hour later Redd allegedly picked up a 25-year-old UGA student near the area he picked up the first student.

After getting into the minivan the student determined that the vehicle was not an Uber, according to police. She asked the driver to let her out, but the driver allegedly raped her before releasing her.

At about 6 p.m. Saturday, the first victim called police to report that she heard about the rape and that she had possibly been victimized by the same man.

Saulters said detectives were able to determine the vehicle was a Chrysler Pacifica minivan after hours of reviewing images.

When the driver’s photo was shared throughout the police department, officer Latisha Guinn recognized the suspect as a person who on the same night as the sexual assaults she told to move upon noticing he was illegally parked, Saulters said.

At about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the same officer noticed the suspect’s minivan in the downtown area and conducted a traffic stop.

The suspect was charged with rape for the assault on the second student and will be charged with sexual battery for the assault on the first student.

Police warned Uber riders to check license plates to make sure it matches the vehicles they are expecting before entering the vehicle.

Police asked for anyone who might have had contact with Redd to contact Detective Michael Poole at (706) 613-3888, ext. 794.

Polls show most Americans agree on stricter gun control

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:13:00 GMT

Mallory Harris, a senior math major at the University of Georgia and an organizer of the Athens March for Our Lives Rally, who believes gun owners are allies and favors the term gun safety to gun control, first became active in the gun debate in 2016 when the Georgia General Assembly tried to pass a […]

“In the media [gun control] gets portrayed as this really divisive issue, but then what I’ll do is set up a table outside the [Miller Learning Center] and talk to anyone who walks by … the people who I most enjoy speaking with are the gun owners,” Harris told The Red & Black . “A lot of times, they’ll walk away and they’re like, ‘A lot of this I agree with.’”

Harris isn’t the only one who finds common ground on this heated issue. The latest polls show that most Americans agree on changes to gun control regulations.

Polls released by Gallup last month said 67 percent of Americans would like stricter gun control laws while only 4 percent said they would like more lenient laws on guns. This is the highest percentage of Americans in agreement over the gun control issue since 1993.

As for policy solutions, 95 percent of Americans polled said they support better training for officers who respond to active shootings, 92 percent support background checks for all gun sales and 68 percent would like to increase the age to buy any gun from 18 to 21, according to Gallup.

In the U.S. Capitol, Georgia U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, like Harris, said he believes the media has much to do with the divisiveness over the gun control debate.

“I don’t think the media reflects America at all,” Isakson said. “[Americans] should take their cues from facts and knowing what they’re talking about and not be influenced by a media that’s too often too partisan.”

Isakson, despite being a Republican with an A rating from the NRA, was actually against the campus carry bill that was passed in Georgia last year.

After the Parkland, Florida shooting, Isakson called for increased enforcement of current and better mental health services. Despite Isakson and other politicians’ support, including President Donald Trump, no legislation on mental health services has passed in Congress since the recent shooting.

Isakson said politicians on both sides of the political spectrum have hardened their positions on gun control and become rooted in their own beliefs, despite Gallup polls showing general support for stricter gun control policies.

Growing partisanship is happening all over the country. According to The Lugar Center, a nonprofit which scores states on its bipartisanship index, Georgia is ranked 42 out of 50 for reaching across the political aisle.

Project Safe’s Dancing with the Athens Stars raises over $100,000

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 16:20:00 GMT

Saturday night in downtown Athens could not be more eventful. While G-day was winding down, the crowds around downtown were not. In The Classic Center, there were young gymnasts and their moms preparing for a competition and teen girls in sparkly long dresses walking arm in arm with their senior prom dates before getting to […]

Since last December, 10 well-known local business and community leaders along with their dance instructors have been practicing and hosting events to raise money for their teams, which would go directly to Project Safe.

Savie Arnold, owner of Sweetie Pie by Savie, partnered up with a few local businesses she works with or has worked with in the past including White Tiger Gourmet, Cali & Tito’s, Southern Brewing Co. and South Kitchen & Bar. All but South Kitchen & Bar involved salsa dancing.

“Besides baking, I love to Latin dancing so this was a perfect opportunity to do that and I’m so happy so many people were on board to help us raise money,” said Arnold. “I also sold baked goods where all funds would go to Project Safe and I just wanted to make sure they would get as much funding as possible.”

In it’s 11 ^th year, the non-profit organization which helps women and children who have been victims of domestic violence, had a few domestic violence survivors address the audience including one of their emcees who survived the shooting that left her in a wheelchair. She was celebrating her 4 ^th “lifeversary,” she said.

Winners of the evening included community favorites Savie Arnold and Fuad Elhage, Audience Favorites Dr. Phil Durden and Natalie Cox and Judges Favorites Heidi Hensley and Kathryn Reinhardt Butcher and Beau Shell and Gabrielle Pierre.

The teams with the help of the community raised more than $101,000 for Project Safe.

Things to know about for G-Day

Sat, 21 Apr 2018 12:07:00 GMT

With today being G-Day, there are a few things Georgia fans should know ahead of the arrival of UGA football season, as reported in The Red & Black. Before attending the always anticipated scrimmage, remember that there is a new kickoff rule. The NCAA recently approved a new kickoff rule where the ball does not […]

Then there is our new five-star quarterback recruit, Justin Fields. The incoming freshman from Kennesaw will make his debut on G-Day. It is based on his high school performance, that he was considered a five-star athlete by 247Sports Composite. He can run the ball and has a stellar throw, giving him a major leg up in competition. There is speculation that he is going to take Fromm’s place as quarterback but for now he may just be the player to surprise Bulldog fans.

Also worth noting is that Georgia’s linebackers have all graduated. With Roquan Smith, Davin Bellamy, Reggie Carter and Lorenzo Carter gone, senior D’Andre Walker and sophomore Walter Grant are outside linebackers looking for that starting position. At inside linebacker, senior Juwan Taylor and sophomore Monty Rice are ready to step up too.

Speaking of having graduated, with Sony Michel and Nick Chubb also gone, the question is who will be running the ball now? Some up-and-coming players ready to make their mark include junior Elijah Holyfield and sophomore D’Andre Swift (once he recovers from an injury).

Finally, there is Rodrigo, UGA’s latest rapper who is returning to Sanford Stadium to remind us to #RespectTheSpecs. It was last season that Hot Rod kicked his career-longest field goal for 55 yards during the 2017 Rose Bowl against Oklahoma. Even with the new kickoff rule, you can expect this kicker to show up and show out with some great kickoffs, extra points and field goals on G-Day.

Clarke County students are walking out to protest gun violence today

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 14:11:00 GMT

Clarke County school students will join thousands of students nationwide in anti-gun violence protests today, as recently reported in The Athens Banner Herald. Launched by a Connecticut high school sophomore, the “National School Walkout” against gun violence will be on the 19th anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting in Colorado, when two […]

Launched by a Connecticut high school sophomore, the “National School Walkout” against gun violence will be on the 19th anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting in Colorado, when two gunmen killed 12 students and a teacher.

There have been several school shootings since, including massacres at Virginia Tech, where 33 died in a gunman’s 2007 rampage; at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where a gunman killed 28 children and adults in 2012, and earlier this year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, Fla., where a shooter killed 17.

Athens-Clarke County officials figure out how to reduce broken glass in downtown

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:12:00 GMT

Under a proposal that Athens-Clarke Solid Waste Department officials revealed in public meetings recently, bars in downtown Athens’ Central Business District could see reductions in the fees they pay for an annual beer license if they start using aluminum cans or draft beer for the five highest-volume domestic brands of bottled beer — Bud Light, […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the bagged glass bottles outside bars and restaurants pose a hazard during emergency exits, and to pedestrians at other times, said Joe Dunlop, waste reduction administrator in the department’s recycling division.

The Athens-Clarke fire and police chiefs have confirmed broken bottles pose a problem, he said, as they could cause firefighters a hard time entering an establishment and could also be used as weapons.

The last two work-related injuries in the Solid Waste Department were due to broken bottles, Athens-Clarke Solid Waste Director Suki Janssen said.

Broken glass also poses a hazard to pets and can spill foul-smelling stale beer on sidewalks when bags are torn.

Replacing glass with aluminum could also help the department’s bottom line, Janssen explained. Glass has less value to recyclers than aluminum.

Under the proposal, bars that can show a 100 percent conversion from glass to aluminum in those high-volume beers would get a 50 percent reduction in the next year’s license fee, which is $500 off the $1,000 fee.

Those who can show a reduction of between 50 percent and 99 percent could get a 25 percent reduction, or $250.

The glass-reduction campaign is not the only change possibly coming to downtown.

Under a separate program, the Solid Waste Department would install a network of small “eco-stations” where workers would deposit recyclable boxes, bottles, and aluminum out of sight until picked up to be recycled. the stations could also be fitted with receptacles for compostable material, which makes up a large part of the waste that ends up in the Athens-Clarke County landfill.

National Counterterrorism Center Analyst discusses modern terrorism tactics

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Domestic and international terrorism is a threat, and technology advancements have made it harder for U.S. National Security entities to track terrorist groups and attacks, said a speaker at the University of Georgia. On Monday, an analyst from the National Counterterrorism Center, who requested not to be named, addressed an audience at the Tate Center […]

On Monday, an analyst from the National Counterterrorism Center, who requested not to be named, addressed an audience at the Tate Center about the changes that civilians and security officials should make to stay prepared in the face of terrorist tactics, as reported in The Red & Black .

The lecture, titled “Terrorism and Change: How Terrorists Have Adapted and Changed Their Methods,” was organized by John Newton, emergency operations manager for the UGA Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

The presentation focused on ISIS and Al Qaeda and the ways these groups recruit members and share information via social media and propaganda.

The “bad guys,” as the speaker called them, attempt to establish “homegrown violent extremism” so that terrorism can become more localized.

“If they can find someone who’s already in [the United States] and they can recruit them, then that’s more bang for their buck,” the speaker said.

Another form of technology used by these terrorists is the dark web – internet content that is just accessed through specific softwares and secret virtual pathways. This is where illegal weapons can be bought and groups or individuals can communicate.

Terrorist tactics include examples like drone strikes and armed attacks. But some of the most dangerous were said to be the easiest: using cars to injure large amounts of people or constructing homemade bombs.

Gustavo Cervantes, sophomore public relations major, believes that terrorism affects European countries more often. However, he acknowledged the relevancy of terrorism in the United States.

“Clearly there is a lot of domestic terrorism going on,” Cervantes said. “We should be informed about what’s going on around is. Particularly how it gets dealt with at the federal and state level.”

The speaker mentioned the Boston Marathon bombing, the Pulse Nightclub shooting and the Las Vegas shooting as examples of terrorist tactics.

The FBI agent noted the importance of civilian awareness, stating communication with security officials if you notice any signs of a possible attack is crucial.

Taylor Harris, sophomore journalism major, thinks “situational awareness” is something students should be thinking about more often because of the high-risk universities and schools face when it comes to terrorist attacks.

“I think it was really relevant to us as a campus because we haven’t experienced anything but it is very likely that we could,” Harris said.

Over $4,000 worth of stuff stolen from residents of Creswell Hall

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:03:00 GMT

More than $4,000 worth of belongings from residents of Creswell Hall were stolen recently, resulting in the University of Georgia Police Department sending out a warning to all students last Monday. As reported in The Red & Black, all seven incidents occurred on the second floor of Creswell Hall without any signs of forced entry. […]

As reported in The Red & Black , all seven incidents occurred on the second floor of Creswell Hall without any signs of forced entry. The rooms in which the burglaries happened were all unlocked.

Items stolen included brand name shoes, such as Adidas, Nike Free Runs and Birkenstock sandals.

The loss totaled was $340. She later reported a loss of $180 more after realizing several belts and jewelry were missing.

Her roommate’s stolen items included a Tory Burch belt and miscellaneous necklaces worth a total of $320.

Police were at Creswell Hall when four more incidents were reported later that evening.

A purse, $40 cash, assorted gift cards, a room key, necklaces and Birkenstock sandals were stolen from another room, with a total loss valued at $680.

A $50 purse and an iPhone 6 with a Spec case valued at $100 were stolen from another room.

Ray-Ban sunglasses, a Hermes belt, shoes and Louis Vuitton purse were stolen from another room, totaling $1,155.

The next incident was reported at 6:54 p.m.

Stolen items included makeup, necklaces and a Tory Burch purse, with a total value loss of $465.

The final incident reported at 8:41 p.m.

The victims, who are roommates, reported Urban Decay and Kylie Jenner Cosmetics makeup, purses, necklaces and other brands of makeup stolen from their room. The total value lost was $1,025.

Police met with the UGA housing security officer to obtain recordings of Creswell Hall associated with the incident. The total combined loss is $4,485 worth of merchandise.

Following the reported incidents, police sent out a mass email to warn students.

“No information currently exists that indicates any threat to the safety of members of the community,” the email said. “Everyone is urged to lock their doors at all times to minimize the potential exposure to this type of incident.”

UGA Celebrates Honors Week by showing gratitude to students, faculty, staff and alumni

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:10:00 GMT

The University of Georgia is celebrating Honors Week every day this week as a way to recognize the accomplishments of its students, faculty, staff and alumni. As reported in The Red & Black, Honors Week events include the Public Service and Outreaching Meeting and Awards Luncheon and the 2018 Alumni Awards Luncheon. UGA will also […]

As reported in The Red & Black , Honors Week events include the Public Service and Outreaching Meeting and Awards Luncheon and the 2018 Alumni Awards Luncheon. UGA will also host several invitation-only events.

The tradition goes as far back as the 1930s, which is when Chancellor S.V. Sanford dedicated a day to recognize outstanding students. In 2011, the event was extended to a full week to include the recognition of faculty, staff, and alumni.

G-day to Raise Funds for Devon Gales

Sun, 15 Apr 2018 16:04:00 GMT

In 2015, Devon Gales of Southern University severely injured his spine in a collision with Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan following a kickoff in the fourth game of the 2015 season. After funding by a foundation that was going to work with the Gales family to build a handicap accessible home fell through, Dana Morgan-Murphy, Marshall’s […]

After funding by a foundation that was going to work with the Gales family to build a handicap accessible home fell through, Dana Morgan-Murphy, Marshall’s mother, decided she would use Saturday’s G-Day football game to try and raise the $300,000 needed to build the family the house they were promised two years ago.

“They’ve really become our family,” Morgan-Murphy told The Athens Banner Herald . “Our family really just loves Devon and his family, and we really just want to see him get the help that they need.”

The Morgans will be hosting a tailgate Saturday behind the Baptist Student Union on Lumpkin Street from 1 to 3 p.m., with Marshall and Devon in attendance.

Food will be provided with a $5 minimum cash donation being requested.

The Morgans are also asking that people visit www.buildfordevon.com to donate to the cause. Everyone who donates at least $10 will be entered into a raffle with prizes ranging from a handmade Georgia quilt to a signed basketball from the Inside the NBA crew. To enter the raffle, you must email your name and amount donated to gdaytailgatefordevon@gmail.com .

UGA’s athletic department will feature the website on the new scoreboard in Sanford Stadium’s west end zone.

For the tailgate, individuals and companies have donated food and supplies.

The Office and Chick-Fil-A are two restaurants that are donating food while an anonymous individual is providing two hogs that will be smoked on location for barbecue.

Fresh Beginnings, a bakeshop in Valdosta, will also be donating 250 cookies to the tailgate. Before July 31, people can visit their website and enter ‘buildfordevon’ at checkout and Fresh Beginnings will donate 20 percent of the proceeds to buildfordevon.com.

“We said we’d love to do it,” Fresh Beginnings director of operations Debbie Tubbs said. “Anything that’s connected with Georgia; and our company has always been about doing things in our community … When this came up, our connection to Athens obviously brought a soft spot to us.”

The tailgate is open to everyone, Morgan-Murphy says, and she encourages anyone attending the G-Day game to stop by and meet Devon and Marshall.

Since the Gales aren’t ones to project their issues out to the public, the Morgans have taken on the responsibility. With fans’ help, they believe they can get their new best friends the house they deserve.

“I want to see it get done on G-Day,” Morgan-Murphy said. “I don’t want to see people have to give $800 here, $1,000 here, I want to just finish the drill. Let’s just get it done. There’s thousands and thousands of people, if everybody just did a little bit we’d have it done.”

Clarke County Sheriff will no longer enforce 48-hour ICE detainer for inmates

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 15:03:00 GMT

On Friday, Clarke County Sheriff Ira Edwards made an announcement about how the Sheriff’s office will no longer be honoring detainers that were put in place by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As reported recently in The Red & Black, the detainer protocol that the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department has been following […]

As reported recently in The Red & Black , the detainer protocol that the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department has been following involved holding inmates suspected by ICE of entering the country illegally for 48 hours after their criminal charges had been processed.

Major turnover due to low pay for Athens-Clarke County workers

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 14:56:00 GMT

The pay for Athens-Clarke County Unified Government workers does not seem to be competitive in certain areas, according to preliminary results from a study a consulting firm is conducting for the county. An analysis of pay for the county’s workers shows their pay is being affected by a phenomenon called “salary compression,” and that worker […]

An analysis of pay for the county’s workers shows their pay is being affected by a phenomenon called “salary compression,” and that worker turnover has been rising, said Tom Quist, the government’s compensation and payroll administrator.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Quist presented the Athens-Clarke County Commission the results of that study this week.

The commission is set to hear the full study at a meeting next month, so commissioners and Mayor Nancy Denson will have the information as they work on next year’s budget.

Under Athens-Clarke’s compensation system, workers mostly get increased pay through “merit” raises as they improve at their jobs with more experience.

But as the recession set in and lingered 10 years ago, county revenues dipped, along with funds for raises; for many years, workers didn’t get any raises. As the recession calmed down, the commission allocated money for some merit raises and “market” raises, but those adjustments haven’t diminished the effects of the years of no raises, according to the study.

“The major issue we’ve identified is that there is a significant degree of salary compression,” Quist said, when experienced employees are receiving the same pay as new hires, or not much more.

The county has also seen a steady increase in turnover over the past decade, according to data Quist shared with commissioners Tuesday. In 2008, the Athens-Clarke government’s worker turnover rate was 6.5 percent. In 2017, it was 11.8 percent, and if the trend of early 2018 continues, it may be close to 13 percent this year.

Turnover was especially high in the transit department last year at 18.6 percent. Turnover among Athens-Clarke police and the sheriff’s office was about 10 percent, according to Athens-Clarke data.

“Our goal with the pay study is to do our best to pay our employees fairly and equitably,” Quist said.

While preliminary results from the pay study suggest Athens-Clarke workers should get higher pay rates next year, they may also have more taken out of their paychecks for health insurance since the county’s health insurance program is self-funded.

Due to those rising health care costs, employees could see increases in what they pay for health insurance of about 9 to 10 percent, and even 25 percent for the lowest-priced plan. The government pays most of the cost of employee health insurance coverage, but workers still pay a portion.

UGA number one in the country in graduating black Ph.D. students

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:31:00 GMT

Over the past five years, the University of Georgia has awarded more Ph.D.s to African American students than any other university in the country — 143, according to the National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates, as reported in Athens Banner Herald. This put UGA ahead of other large universities such as Georgia State University, […]

This put UGA ahead of other large universities such as Georgia State University, Texas A&M and the University of Florida, UGA Provost Pamela Whitten said Wednesday in a UGA Cabinet meeting, which includes the university’s top administrators.

According to the UGA Fact Book, 2,439 students received Ph.D.s during the last five years; the 143 African American Ph.D.s were nearly 6 percent of that total.

UGA has increased its overall Ph.D. production in recent years, and in the most recent year — 2017 — ranked 32nd in the overall number of Ph.D.s produced, up from 36th a year prior.

In the 2012-13 academic year, 440 students received Ph.D.s. In 2016-17, 543 did — an increase of 26 percent.

“In recent years we have seen increases in both the quantity and quality of students in our graduate programs,” said UGA Graduate School Dean Suzanne Barbour in a news release.

That growth should give the university an opportunity to recruit “even stronger graduate students in the future,” she said.

A breakdown of which fields UGA’s African American doctoral students are graduating in was not immediately available.

Almost a third of UGA’s Ph.D.s in 2017 were from the College of Education — 173 of the overall 543. The largest area was arts and sciences, which covers many fields, including physics, anthropology, history and English.

Only Columbia University Teachers College awards more doctoral degrees in education than UGA, according to the university.

Nationwide, about 55,000 students were awarded Ph.D. degrees in 2016, including about 2,400 to African Americans (4.4 percent), according to National Science Foundation statistics. The most popular Ph.D. field for African Americans in the U.S. is education, about 15 percent.

Clarke County Board of Education candidates guide

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 14:00:00 GMT

There are five positions up in the Clarke County Board of Education spring election. Board of education members work towards improving student achievement in public schools through policy making, approving the budget and evaluating the superintendent. Board meetings are held the second Thursday each month at 6 p.m. in the Athens Community Career Center. As […]

Board meetings are held the second Thursday each month at 6 p.m. in the Athens Community Career Center.

As reported in The Red & Black , the election is on May 22 with early voting on April 30 until May 18.

For District I, Greg Davis is the incumbent and is running unopposed.

Davis is a licensed professional counselor after retiring in 2011 from the Clarke County School District where he spent 12 years as a high school social studies teacher and seven years as a middle school counselor in Augusta. He serves as the Government Relations Committee and the Evaluation of the Superintendent Committee.

For District 3, Linda Davis is the incumbent and is running unopposed.

After earning her bachelor’s in business administration from Shorter College and her master’s degree from Kennesaw State University, Davis returned to Athens in 2006 to serve the youth including civic and community efforts such as the Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation, Envision Athens Steering Committee and the West Broad Feasibility Study Initiative. She is also serving on the Evaluation of the Superintendent Committee and she is the vice chair of the the Finance Committee and Policy Committee.

For District 5, Imani Scott-Blackwell is a University of Georgia student who wants to integrate classrooms through fighting to end racial inequalities in opportunities offered to low-income, minority students. She also wants to redraw school attendance zones so that students of socioeconomic statuses are spread across the district and create a pathway between Clarke County Schools and UGA to secure a teaching position with the completion of the UGA education program.

Also for District 5 is Dr. Dyckman, a University of Georgia graduate who received her Ph.D. in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology in 2007. Since 2012, she has been a full-time lecturer in the psychology department. As a school board member, she plans to bring research and data forward to study ways to improve academic performance, to reduce the number of disciplinary incidents in schools and to make changes to benefit student performance.

Carol Williams is the incumbent for District 7. She serves on the Evaluation of the Superintendent Committee, the Policy Committee and the Government Relations Committee.

LaKeisha Gantt is also running for District 7. A native of Athens, Dr. Gantt is a former behavior specialist with the Clarke County School District and has worked with multiple stakeholders on ways to improve school climate. She believes intentional leadership development, increased teacher support, and effect discipline practices are critical in developing healthy school climates.

For District 9, Dr. Tawana Mattox has spent her life working for advocacy, supporting literacy in grade school and helping high school students prepare for college and life. A native to Athens, she has served over 27 years in both adult education and higher education. According to her platform, fostering an equitable, supportive community that enables the success of all students and parents is her key priority.

UGA Undergraduates present research projects at CURO Symposium

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 14:47:00 GMT

University of Georgia undergraduates displayed their research project yesterday at the university’s annual CURO Symposium in the Classic Center. Working under faculty mentors of varied disciplines, hundreds of UGA students participate in the program each year, learning the research methods in their respective fields, and utilizing them to work on problems that usually have real-world […]

Working under faculty mentors of varied disciplines, hundreds of UGA students participate in the program each year, learning the research methods in their respective fields, and utilizing them to work on problems that usually have real-world consequences, as reported in The Athens Banner-Herald .

CURO — for “Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities” — began almost 20 years ago as a program for only a handful of students in the UGA Honors Program, said UGA President Jere Morehead, who was director of the Honors Program back then.

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It once was just a way of supporting Honors Program students, but it has since grown into more, he said — a national model for getting undergraduates involved in real university research.

In 2010, UGA opened it up to undergraduates not in the Honors Program, and five years ago, it had grown to over 200 students. This year, 57 percent of the students are non-Honors students, said David Williams, director of the UGA Honors Program.

This year’s symposium hosted a record 575 students, in 103 majors, working with 330 faculty members from 78 UGA departments.

Some of the presentations at the Classic Center included that of Haylea Marie Mannebach who found that rats exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals recovered more slowly from traumatic brain injuries and Meredith Herbst who investigated access to food assistance in Northeast Georgia.

These students are learning critical thinking skills and problem-solving, said UGA Vice President for Instruction Rahul Shrivastav.

CURO participation also gives them a leg up on other students when it comes to applying for graduate school or seeking employment after graduation, Morehead said.

“They can go into depth with what they are passionate about,” said Honors Program Associate Director Maria Navarro.

Rebecca Gardner, a UGA third-year student, described another benefit.

“I’ve been in CURO five semester. I’ve learned a lot about industrial microbiology,” said Gardner, who’s likely to move into a career as a health sciences practitioner rather than as a researcher.

But she’s kept going at the research because of her relationships with her faculty mentor and others in her lab, and because of one of the basic motivations for research. She wants to find the answers to her questions, said Gardner, whose research poster title was “Characterization of Pectate Lyases from Paenibacillus amylolyticus.”

Jury convicts man of double attempted murder

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:07:00 GMT

Last week a Clarke County jury convicted an Athens man of attempting to murder his girlfriend and another woman two years ago. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, after a three-day trial, Dexter Cardera Williams was convicted of two counts each of criminal attempt to commit murder and aggravated assault, four counts of possession of […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , after a three-day trial, Dexter Cardera Williams was convicted of two counts each of criminal attempt to commit murder and aggravated assault, four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the sentencing document.

Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard sentenced the 31-year-old defendant to 45 years in prison and 15 years on probation.

According to Athens-Clarke County police, Williams shot his girlfriend in the chest at point-blank range and reportedly tried to shoot the woman’s friend, but the gun jammed or misfired.

The incident took place after the 23-year-old shooting victim ended her relationship with Williams, who an Athens-Clarke County police official said “was refusing to let the relationship go.”

The woman was fortunate to be alive after the bullet entered and then exited her body, but missed striking major organs and arteries, said the official, who was commander of the Criminal Investigations Division’s Robbery Homicide Unit.

According to police, the woman was shot early the morning of July 24, 2016. Police said she and Williams met up late the night before when Williams needed a ride from east Athens, where he was involved in a dispute. After picking up Williams, the woman and a female friend she was with were making plans to go to a nightclub when Williams became upset, police said.

The woman reportedly stopped the car on Conrad Drive and got out after Williams began throwing objects inside the vehicle, police said. Williams allegedly got out of the car and shot the woman while standing just a few feet away, according to police.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331.

Motorist dead after collision with 18-wheeler in East Athens; citizens come to the rescue

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 15:02:00 GMT

Friday morning a 41-year-old Athens man died after his SUV collided head-on with a tractor-trailer on Lexington Road, Athens-Clarke County police said. As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald, the crash occurred in the area of Mimosa Drive, slightly east of the east police precinct, police said. The accident was reported to police at 9:54 a.m. […]

As reported in The Athens Banner-Herald , the crash occurred in the area of Mimosa Drive, slightly east of the east police precinct, police said.

The accident was reported to police at 9:54 a.m. by an off-duty Georgia State Patrol trooper, said Epifanio Rodriguez, public information officer for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. The trooper notified local police that the SUV’s driver was deceased.

An investigation determined that William Melendez’s’ vehicle was traveling west on Lexington Road when “for no apparent reason” it crossed over to the opposite lanes of travel and struck the 18-wheeler head-on,” Rodriguez said.

All the lanes at the crash site were closed off to traffic as police conducted an investigation. The roadway was reopened over four hours after the collision.

In another recent accident, three Athens-Clarke County citizens were recognized recently by the mayor and commission for their heroic actions in response to another car crash on Lexington Road.

According to Fire and Emergency Services Chief Jeff Scarbrough, the actions of Vicki Bishop, Michael Derricotte and Emma Strong “saved lives and deserve to be recognized.”

The accident was a two-vehicle, head-on collision that left several occupants trapped in the vehicles, one vehicle catching fire and a child not breathing. It could have been worse, however, if not for the three bystanders who sprung to action, Scarbrough said.

“Our community’s emergency medical system is much more than just the 911 center and our first responders,” he said. “It is also members of our community who are the first ones at the scene of an emergency, such as these three citizens.”

Class sizes to be cut in Clarke County using state funding

Sat, 07 Apr 2018 14:01:00 GMT

This year Clarke County plans to use additional state funding to reduce class sizes, Clarke County School Superintendent Demond Means told board of education members Thursday. The school system will also invest in training teachers in a new teaching method, using federal grants to send about 200 teachers to summer institutes for training, as reported […]

The school system will also invest in training teachers in a new teaching method, using federal grants to send about 200 teachers to summer institutes for training, as reported in The Athens Banner-Herald .

Although teachers did not receive a pay raise this year, “step” pay increases awarded on the basis of longevity will be funded with $1.5 million.

Means and Larry Hammel, the school district’s chief financial officer, revealed a proposed $149.6 million budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year at a board work session Monday.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced last week that schools would get full funding under the state’s “Quality Based Education” formula for the first time since 2002.

The school board actually approved a series of budgets in which expenditures exceeded revenues, with the difference coming from reserves. But the deficits have been smaller than anticipated because of less-than-projected expenditures and greater revenues than estimated.

The additional state funding will raise the state’s contribution to financing Clarke schools to about $69.2 million. In addition, the Athens-Clarke County Tax Assessor’s Office is estimating a 4.59 percent increase in the tax digest, which is a compilation of taxable property, this year. With a tax rate of 20 mills, that will yield about $77.34 million for Clarke public schools.

A large driver of the budget increase this year is in the required employer contribution to the Teacher Retirement System having gone up from 16.81 percent to 20.9 percent. The employer contribution rate to the TRS has doubled in six years.

The system’s proposed operational budget will be down 5 percent, or about $1.6 million, Means said. About 87 percent of the school district’s budget is personnel.

The board is scheduled to officially adopt its budget for the upcoming fiscal year in June.

Before that adoption, there will be three public hearings on the budget, on May 8, 15 and 23.

Charges pending after UGA faculty member struck and killed on bike

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 13:50:00 GMT

A University of Georgia faculty member died Tuesday evening when her bicycle was hit by a pickup truck in Bishop. Karen Tinsley, 45, of Watkinsville was pronounced dead at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, where she was transported following the crash, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Read more: Wrongful Death Attorney, Athens GA According […]

Karen Tinsley, 45, of Watkinsville was pronounced dead at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, where she was transported following the crash, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

According to Online Athens ,The collision was reported at 6:57 p.m. and occurred on Astondale Road almost 300 yards west of Railroad Street, a patrol spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Tinsley and Richard Poulnott, 55, of Watkinsville were both traveling west. The patrol said Poulnott, driving a 2003 Ford F-150 pickup, was following too close to the bicycle.

The truck hit the bike from behind and the impact tossed the bike and rider onto the north shoulder of the road, the patrol said.

Charges are still pending, according to the patrol.

Tinsley was a highly regarded member of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at UGA, where she was recently promoted to senior public service associate in the department of financial planning, housing and consumer economics, according to UGA.

“We are deeply saddened by this news,” the college’s department head, Sheri Worthy, said. “Karen was an invaluable member of our college and was admired across the state for her tireless efforts toward improving housing conditions in Georgia. Her impact was felt by countless communities in Georgia as well as by our students, and she was a model representative of our college’s mission of improving the lives of people in our state.”

Tinsley was born in Augusta but raised in Syracuse, N.Y. where she received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University. She attained her master’s and doctorate degrees from UGA and started working there in 2002.

Outside the university, she had several friends in the cycling community and was one of the early members of the Nitty Gritty Bike Band, a longtime cycling club in Athens.

“She was a lifetime rider. Everybody knew her and loved her,” said Steve Shiver, a local cyclist. “She was a likable, sweet young lady.”

In 2017, Tinsley received the Housing Impact Award from the state Housing Education and Research Association.

“Karen was a dear friend and colleague,” Steve Dempsey, associate vice president for the UGA Office of Public Service and Outreach, said in a statement from UGA. “Although she never enjoyed the attention and stayed behind the scenes, she was the champion for housing at FACS and UGA.”

Athens vigil held honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 50th anniversary of his assassination

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 15:24:00 GMT

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 50th anniversary of his death, the Athens community gave a tribute to him at a vigil hosted by Flanigan’s Portrait Studio yesterday. The event commemorated King’s life in the form of flowers, conversation and dancing. Broderick Flanigan, a local artist and community activist, hosted the event to give Athenians […]

Broderick Flanigan, a local artist and community activist, hosted the event to give Athenians a space to celebrate King together, as reported in The Red & Black .

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The vigil was held at Triangle Plaza, which is near the Nellie B. Community Garden on the east side of Athens. The mural of King and Malcolm X, which was painted by Flanigan in 2016 with help from youth in the community, was the backdrop of the event.

“I thought it would be special to have some type of event to use that space, not only to honor [King’s] legacy, but to help build community and start to build that comradery and fellowship around that space,” Flanigan said.

King, an Atlanta native, became an important face of the 1960s civil rights movement through his leadership and activism. He is remembered for his non-violent approach in demonstrations and protests.

King headed demonstrations for civil rights in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, which was the location of his “I Have a Dream” speech, and the Selma to Montgomery March.

With the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, people across the country continue to call for equal opportunities, representation and justice.

Those in attendance included Athens residents, students, visitors and community activists.

Gregory Roseboro, an executive director of admissions for UGA Law Associations, asked attendees to join him in prayer and salute for King’s sacrifices.

“He was a drum major for justice,” Roseboro said. “He was a humanitarian. He was a dreamer.”

Flanigan said though he hoped for a larger crowd, he was pleased with the way people interacted and participated with others in their own way.

Longtime businessman Ed Benson remembered for his impact on the community

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:42:00 GMT

Many people from Athens may have heard of Howard Edsel “Ed” Benson, a successful businessman who had a building named for him and his father, Howard Benson, when his family made a large contribution to the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business’s Business Learning Community in 2017. People closest to him, however, remembered his […]

People closest to him, however, remembered his mentoring and his passion for his community.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Benson died last Saturday at the age of 96 after suffering a concussion.

A 1942 UGA graduate with a degree in business, Benson worked in the family bakery in 1945 after serving as an Army Air Corps officer during World War II in England, North Africa and Italy.

Through the years, he grew the family bakery, which was founded 100 years ago in 1918, into one that now distributes its cake products to retailers nationwide, and in 1970 he launched a hospitality division that currently operates four hotels in the Athens area, with another on the way.

He eventually became district governor; vice chair and treasurer of the University of Georgia Foundation. He received several honors, including last year’s designation, with son Larry, as UGA’s “Alumni Association Family of the Year.”

“It took just a brief conversation with Ed to understand why he was so successful and appreciate the passion he had for serving — he was one of the pillars of the Athens community. Ed loved the University of Georgia and served this institution honorably, and through his philanthropy helped to ensure the students of the Terry College of Business are educated in facilities that are second to none and can follow his example of leading with integrity,” said Benjamin Ayers, dean of UGA’s Terry College of Business.

Aside from volunteering with the Meals on Wheels program when he was 80 up until he was 94, he also became a founder of the Athens-Clarke County Mentor Program, said Sarah McKinney, president and CEO of the Athens Area Community Foundation.

“If you know him, you know his ethics,” McKinney wrote in a Facebook post. “If you have walked with him, you felt proud. If you listened to him, you have heard him call everyone by name, addressing them personally, professionally, and most importantly, sincerely. If you learned with him, you understood objectives. If you opened your mind to him, you understood planning. If you met with him, you understood time. If you worked with him, you understood respect. If you made a promise to him, you understood delivery. If you were his friend, you understood privacy. If you love him, you know why. Above all, if you watched him, you understood servant leadership.”

Athens native Michael Thurmond is one of many others who were influenced by Benson. The newly elected CEO of DeKalb County had just become the first black person since Reconstruction elected to the state legislature from Athens when he met Benson in 1986.

The young representative-elect was at a Chamber of Commerce meeting when he met Benson who invited him to be part of a group called “Listen, Learn and Lead,” which includes black and white leaders that met regularly for honest discussions and to work toward solutions to community issues, Thurmond said.

“He was such a humble spirit, considering he was so successful. He had a deep, sincere concern for the community,” Thurmond said. “He was a close friend and a phenomenal servant who had a tremendous impact on my life, both personally and as a public servant.”

Thurmond, a Democrat, and Benson didn’t always agree politically, but Benson supported him in his political career, Thurmond said. And they also made an agreement — that one would speak at the other’s funeral, depending on who died first.

Recent shootings in Athens possibly gang-related

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Four people have been detained in relation to several shooting incidents in the Athens area, which Athens-Clarke County police believe could be linked to gang activity, according to a press release. Last Friday at about 1 p.m., police responded to a shooting at Spring Valley Mobile Home Park where “multiple rounds were located on scene,” […]

Last Friday at about 1 p.m., police responded to a shooting at Spring Valley Mobile Home Park where “multiple rounds were located on scene,” the report said. Nobody was hurt and there was no property damage, as reported in The Red & Black .

Witnesses at the crime scene told authorities the suspect’s vehicle was a white Pontiac Grand Prix.

Police found the vehicle later that day and conducted a traffic stop. Four firearms were found inside and 18-year-olds Ladaryn Thrasher and Jarvis Clarke were both arrested as part of the shooting investigation.

According to the report, these arrests were made in relation to a shooting that occurred around 5 p.m. at Goodwill on Lexington Road.

When officer responded to this incident, many bystanders told police they saw several individuals “running from the scene holding pistols with extended clips.”

Five vehicles were reportedly damaged by the gunfire but no one was injured.

After police investigated the situation, they obtained a search warrant for an apartment in building 205 of The Oaks Apartments on Gaines School Road, the report said.

Officers made contact with five males in the apartment and located three handguns. Following interviews about the Goodwill incident, Damari Jones and Mortavius Crew were arrested for aggravated assault and gun charges.

Police said in the report the Goodwill incident is linked to a string of recent shootings in Athens that appear to be “gang related.” Two other people have active warrants out for their arrest.

Healthcare coverage for UGA, Athens employees at risk at Piedmont, Blue Cross Blue Shield negotiations

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:30:00 GMT

University of Georgia employees are given the option to sign up for health insurance through the university with BlueCross BlueShield health insurance, which has a partnership with Piedmont healthcare. With the contract between BCBS and Piedmont having expired April 1, this change will leave most UGA employees worrying about what their next step in coverage […]

With the contract between BCBS and Piedmont having expired April 1, this change will leave most UGA employees worrying about what their next step in coverage will be, as reported in The Red & Black .

Contracts expiring is a “normal and routine part of business,” according to Piedmont, but at this moment, renewal may not be an option.

Piedmont’s website states that their organization “will not agree to anything with Anthem Blue Cross that does not fairly compensate and recognize how integral physicians are to [their] mission.”

“I think it’s disastrous for all employees who hold that insurance in the state of Georgia,” said Annelie Klein, student affairs professional II in the College of Pharmacy. “Personally, I have doctors that I’ve been to for 35, 40 years that would be out of network.”

BCBS sent a letter to its clients that read: “Our consumers are our number one priority, which is why we are continuing to work toward a new agreement with Piedmont so that you will be able to access their care providers and facilities without any change in coverage or disruption.”

According to Piedmont’s website, discussions about renegotiating the partnership began last September.

However, if both parties can’t come to an agreement, those who have health insurance through BCBS will no longer be covered in Piedmont healthcare facilities. Their insurance will not be accepted and they will have to pay out of pocket for services. Those affected by this will, however, be able to find a new healthcare provider that accepts BCBS and is not affiliated with Piedmont.

“If this happens, are we going to be provided with another option?” said Klein, a steering committee member for the UGA employee union, United Campus Workers of Georgia. “Are they going to allow us to choose another company that will be in network for us? I think it would’ve been nice if our university administrators would have said, ‘Here’s what you can do.’”

Piedmont owns a hospital in Athens, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, and an urgent care, Piedmont Urgent Care Athens. Most of the doctors in Athens operate under Piedmont. St. Mary’s Healthcare System, also a hospital in Athens, doesn’t operate under Piedmont.

“The stakes are really high here,” said Eric Rose, a main library associate and steering committee member for UCWGA, about the consequences of the agreement possibly expiring.

Gov. Nathan Deal has threatened intervention if the two can’t reach an agreement.

UCWGA posted to Facebook, urging people to contact the governor and UGA President Jere Morehead to raise their concerns.

“What [UGA employees] can do is raise their voice,” Klein said.

“These companies are holding people and their care providers hostage for their own bottom line,” Klein said. “It is for the glory of the dollar rather than the glory to provide protection and coverage for the people.

Athens ‘pork skins’ murder conviction reversed by Georgia Supreme Court

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 16:30:00 GMT

Recently the Georgia Supreme Court reversed the murder conviction of an Athens man who fatally shot another man during an argument that started over pork skins during a 2014 Super Bowl party. Melvin Lewis Brown Jr., then 27, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for shooting 24-year- old Javious Cordez […]

Melvin Lewis Brown Jr., then 27, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for shooting 24-year- old Javious Cordez Tucker, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

During the trial, Brown claimed he shot Tucker in self-defense because the victim wielded a tire iron in a threatening manner and follow Brown with it as Brown walked away, the opinion states.In a unanimous decision dated Feb. 5 which was filed last month Clarke County Superior Court, the Supreme Court justices ruled that the trial judge should not have allowed evidence of Brown’s prior convictions in aggravated assault cases since it could have prejudiced the jury.

“In light of Brown’s self-defense claim the probative value of other acts evidence was extremely low at best,” the opinion states.

The fatal shooting occurred on the afternoon of Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, on Lombardy Circle where Brown’s aunt lived.

Brown went to the house where Tucker and others had gathered to watch the football game, and a verbal altercation happened when Brown refused to share his pork skins with Tucker.

The argument turned physical and was broken up by others.

As Brown walked down the street to go to another house, Tucker followed in his car and engaged Brown in the argument again. Tucker then got a tire iron from the vehicle’s trunk and waved it “in a menacing manner,” according to the opinion.
Brown retrieved a pistol from his car and as Tucker’s vehicle approached, Brown shot into Tucker’s car nine times, striking the victim seven times, killing him at the scene and injuring a second occupant, the opinion states.

Brown fled the scene, but was arrested two days later in Gwinnett County after a tipster told Athens-Clarke County police that he was going to an apartment complex there.

When the case went to trial, the jury found Brown guilty of malice murder and felony murder, aggravated assault, use of a firearm by a convicted felon during the commission of a crime and related offenses.

Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard sentenced Brown to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Thursday night, Brown was transferred from Ware State Prison to the Clarke County Jail as the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office prepares to retry Brown’s case.

UGA Institute for Women’s Studies Celebrates 30 Year Anniversary

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 15:16:00 GMT

The University of Georgia didn’t always have a women’s studies program. Women weren’t able to attend UGA until 1918, 70 years before the women’s studies department was created in 1988. 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the revitalization of the Institute for Women’s Studies at UGA, as reported in The Red & Black. Patricia del […]

Women weren’t able to attend UGA until 1918, 70 years before the women’s studies department was created in 1988.

2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the revitalization of the Institute for Women’s Studies at UGA, as reported in The Red & Black .

Patricia del Rey, former women’s studies professor at UGA and current professor at Emory University, founded the Institute for Women’s Studies when she saw change that was needed in how universities taught in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.

In 1977, del Rey came to UGA and contacted then-coordinator of the women’s studies certificate program, Maija Blaubergs.

She went to the dean of UGA at the time, who echoed what the dean of Queens College said about the impossibility of it.

Despite the pushback, del Rey made a breakthrough in revitalizing a women’s studies program.

Del Rey became chair of a committee that helped boost the program and worked with the provost for a budget.

“The single story is never accurate, so let’s get everybody’s ideas,” said del Rey about when she was founding the program. “We were providing a unique academic program.”

Even though the revitalization of the department occurred in the ‘70s, it wasn’t until 2000 that the A.B. degree in women’s studies was approved. Spring 2002 was the first time students were able to graduate with that degree.

“Since 2002, 120 students have graduated with an A.B. degree in women’s studies, over 200 students have completed the minor and graduate certificate and over 6,000 students have taken women’s studies courses at the University of Georgia,” the website for women’s studies stated.

In 2016, the department dedicated the Patricia Del Rey Seminar Room to del Rey to honor her as the founding director.

Free Art Movement Easter egg hunt this weekend in Athens

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 14:48:00 GMT

If you’ll be staying in Athens during Easter weekend, you’re going to want to be on Instagram. Easter eggs decorated by artists and members of the Athens and Atlanta communities will be hidden all throughout Athens this weekend, from today until Sunday, April 1. Athulhu, an Athens-based artist, is a member of the Free Art […]

Athulhu, an Athens-based artist, is a member of the Free Art Movement, which is a group of artists from all over the world who leave art in public for people to take. The Athens Free Art community is known as Free Art Friday Athens and uses the hashtag #FAFATH when leaving art. Athulhu is one of the people running the organization of the second annual Free Art Friday Athens Easter Egg Hunt, one of the largest events that the Athens free art community has held thus far.

“We’re trying to get a lot of people interested in contributing to the Free Art Movement, and here’s a perfect excuse to do some neat stuff,” Athulhu said.

Decorated eggs will be hidden all over Athens with clues being posted to Instagram by the artists with the hashtag #FAFATH. Each person that finds the art gets it, and can claim it by commenting on the Instagram post, as reported in the Red&Black .

There are more than 30 artists participating in the hunt from both Athens and Atlanta. Athulhu said that anyone who is interested in decorating an Easter egg and hiding it is welcome, and encouraged, to do so – regardless of whether they believe they’re artistic or not.

“I think there’s a lot of art in just the act of making something like that, especially giving it away,” he said. “It’s a very selfless kind of act – I really like that.”

That sentiment is what drives the Free Art Movement. While an artist might put their art into the public and not think it’s any good, the person who picks up the art may appreciate it more than that artist.

“I can guarantee you there are going to be tons of people out there looking for this art, so you’ve got a pretty good chance that someone is going to find it,” Athulhu said.

Even though the Athens Free Art Fridays community isn’t as large or prolific as Atlanta’s, Athulhu thinks that Athens is of the best cities for the Free Art Movement.

“Athens is a really special place. It’s got that sort of creative spark, and something like the Free Art Movement – we just want to give that spark somewhere to land and start to [spread],” Athulhu said. “We just want to fan that flame a little bit.”

Get in on the fun and follow the #FAFATH hashtag on Instagram from March 30 to April 1.

Dispute between mayoral candidate Richie Knight and former employees detailed in report

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 14:43:00 GMT

When questions about living wages were presented at the Athens candidate forum on March 26, one audience member asked a tough question to Athens mayoral candidate Richie Knight, as reported in The Red & Black. “Richie, you run a business campaign. You’re a businessman. You mentioned living wages,” Emily Dardaman said. “How many employees are […]

“Richie, you run a business campaign. You’re a businessman. You mentioned living wages,” Emily Dardaman said. “How many employees are currently suing you to get wages that they should’ve had? Where is the money?”

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

Dardaman, the wife of Eric Daniel, a former employee of HW Creative Marketing owned by Knight, mentioned concerns that HW Creative Marketing failed to pay employees sometimes.

Knight said he is “taking care of anyone that had missing wages,” and that claims which were not resolved yet have been turned over to an attorney.

Knight said all cases except Daniel’s and one other case have been settled.

“All of the past situations have been settled except for two, and those were just deemed to be more appropriate for an attorney to handle,” Knight said in an interview with The Red & Black. “I don’t have any ill will or thoughts toward anyone.”

Since December 2017, at least five former employees, including Daniel, have filed claims for bad or missing paychecks against Knight, his business partner Nicole Batten and HW Creative Marketing, according to documents The Red & Black obtained from the Clarke County Magistrate Court.

The questions surrounding Knight’s business practices surfaced on March 14 when Loran Posey, a former HW employee and Knight’s former mayoral campaign manager, published a Facebook post which said that Knight failed to pay employees, along with other claims.

Knight later sued for libel and demanded a retraction from Posey, according to the case filing in the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court.

The Facebook post in question mentioned what was described in court documents as “fraudulent checks.” Posey’s post also claimed that Knight “lost every single one of his full-time employees” because he did not pay them, according to documents filed in Knight’s libel case.

In the court documents, Knight had not contested the claims about employee paychecks. But he did contest the reported statement that his entire staff quit.

On March 22 a judge issued a temporary restraining order and interlocutory injunction at Knight’s request, according to the court order. As a result, Posey was ordered by the court to remove his entire Facebook post and cease from publishing “defamatory content in reference to Richie Knight,” according to ACC Superior Court records.

Clarke County Magistrate Court records indicate that in January, Posey filed a claim alleging he never received his final $2,153.84 paycheck. Posey dismissed the case last month after accepting partial payment of the money he was owed, according to the court records.

Also last month, Daniel filed a claim against HW Creative Marketing alleging he had not received $958.21 for his final paycheck before leaving the company in January, according to court records.

During the forum, Knight said issues with some HW clients paying late last year caused the lapse in pay.

“I don’t think that we were at all prepared – emotionally, financially, in any way – for what ended up happening,” she said in an interview with The Red & Black. “It was a complete bait and switch.”

Every time he received a paycheck, “it was a race to the bank,” Daniel said, as he and his coworkers feared there would be insufficient funds for some of the employees.

Kelsey Reidle, a former HW employee, said voters need to know Knight’s business practices.

“I think if you’re running for the office of mayor in a city that so desperately needs better paying jobs for young people, I think you better be sure you’re paying your employees,” Reidle said.

Despite what has transpired, Knight said his company is doing fine, although it is now “down a few positions.”

Knight also said he wants to move on from these events.

A second UGA student was identified as a victim of former UGA equipment manager’s illegal surveillance video

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 13:53:00 GMT

This past Tuesday, March 27, the Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Court, through its warrant, identified a UGA student who was videoed by Georgia’s football associate equipment manager. According to the University of Georgia police, the former equipment manager captured images of the victim after installing wireless cameras in the men’s shower of the Butts-Mehre building. Read […]

According to the University of Georgia police, the former equipment manager captured images of the victim after installing wireless cameras in the men’s shower of the Butts-Mehre building.

As reported in Online Athens , the suspect, Kevin Purvis, is currently being charged with three felonies for the illegal surveillance that took place during the month of Feb. on the 22, 23 and 26.

The names of the two victims haven’t been released. Both male victims are associated with the football program. One is a football staff member, while the other is a student who works with the football program.

The university took action as soon as the allegations came out. Purvis was terminated from his position on the team. He’d been with the program since 2006.

According to the warrant, Purvis “knowingly placed wireless cameras,” in the shower “in order to video the victim.”

One of the victims, the male staff member, informed the school’s human resources office on Feb. 27, after he discovered two wireless cameras in the shower. The school then contacted UGA law enforcement.

Once the police searched Purvis’ home he was placed under arrest after they discovered he possessed a scheduled II controlled substance (fentanyl patches) and a misdemeanor possession of marijuana of less than an ounce.

He was taken and booked into the Clarke County Jail on Friday night and released on $8,500 worth of bonds on Saturday afternoon.

Two suspects, one in custody and the other eludes police after shooting two weeks ago

Tue, 27 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Two teens were injured after a shooting occurred this past month at Bethel Midtown Village. According to Athens-Clarke County law enforcement, arrest warrants were issued for two suspects in connection with a March 18 shooting. Read more: Criminal Defense Attorney, Athens GA As reported in the Athens Banner Herald, 24-year old Jamir O. James was […]

According to Athens-Clarke County law enforcement, arrest warrants were issued for two suspects in connection with a March 18 shooting.

As reported in the Athens Banner Herald , 24-year old Jamir O. James was apprehended sometime this past Saturday night by Clarke County sheriff’s deputies. The Sunny Hills Drive resident has been charged with aggravated assault.

The other suspect, 18-year old Miquan Pittard of Bailey Street, was still at large. As of Monday night, Pittard hasn’t been detained. Currently there is a $1,000 reward for any information leading to his capture.

The shooting took place almost two weeks ago when police received calls about people hearing gunfire around 3:30 a.m. close to downtown Athens.

At the scene, law enforcement officials were made aware that two teens were being treated at the local hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The two victims, one 15 and the other 19 years of age suffered gunshot wounds.

According to Athens police, one of the victims shares a similar address with Pittard. The two have an address on Bailey Street.

After a long night of investigating, the police managed to recover multiple shell casings in the breezeways of apartment buildings.

For now, it is unknown what the motive was for the shooting. Also, Police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez added that there was no evidence that the suspects and victims had engaged in a shootout.

Police ask for anyone with information about Pittard’s whereabouts to contact Detective Michael McCauley at (706) 613-3330, ext. 312. Anonymous calls can be made to the Crime Stoppers confidential tip line at (706) 705-4665.

Athens Farmers Market Celebrated Its Return Over the Weekend

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:00:00 GMT

The Athens Farmers Market celebrated its opening day on March 24, just a few days after it the spring season began. At its usual space in Bishop Park, there was many purchasable items from several vendors. Starting at 8 a.m., the market featured local and sustainable fresh produce including braising greens and kohlrabi, and food […]

Starting at 8 a.m., the market featured local and sustainable fresh produce including braising greens and kohlrabi, and food such as honey popsicles, breads and preserves. Also sold were various meats, like grass-fed beef and pork, as well as fresh eggs. Food trucks including Holy Crepe were also at the event.

Aside from food, there was clothing, jewelry, and soap products sold by different vendors.

A few locals and University of Georgia students came to the market for the first time like Rachel Flowers, a sophomore biology major from Norcross.

“It’s very nice. There’s a lot more here than just fruit and kale,” she told the Red & Black . “I would come again. I [have] to get a shirt.”

Andy Austin, a sophomore genetics major from Douglasville, has checked out many different farmers markets and enjoys the experience.

“I’ve been to a lot of farmers markets. I’ve been to one in Atlanta, one back home, and a bunch of others,” he said. “I like going to them in the summer when they have other stuff other than cold weather crops, really just to get nice tomatoes or something.”

For those who missed opening day, the Athens Farmers Market will be open next Saturday, March 31 at 8 a.m.

UGA football associate equipment manager charged for unlawful surveillance and drug possession

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Georgia fired a football support employee soon after his arrest Friday night on felony charges of eavesdropping or surveillance and possession of a controlled substance. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, associate equipment manager Kevin Purvis was released from the Clarke County Jail Saturday on an $8,500 bond, according to the jail’s online booking report. […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , associate equipment manager Kevin Purvis was released from the Clarke County Jail Saturday on an $8,500 bond, according to the jail’s online booking report.

Purvis has three felony charges of eavesdropping or surveillance, a felony charge of possession of a schedule II controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana of less than an ounce.

He has been terminated by the school, athletic department spokesman Claude Felton said in a statement.

“As soon as it learned of the incident, the Athletic Association notified the University of Georgia Police Department, who began their investigation,” the statement said. “The University took immediate action, and the employee was terminated early in the investigation. Based on the findings of the police investigation, no student-athletes were victims in this incident.”

Athletic director Greg McGarity declined to comment beyond what was expressed in the statement. No police incident reports were immediately available.

After Saturday’s practice Coach Kirby Smart said he was “disappointed, upset,” by Purvis’s alleged actions, “but very pleased that it didn’t involve any of our student-athletes. That’s the key.”

In Georgia law, eavesdropping or surveillance is considered: “any person, through the use of any device, without the consent of all persons observed, to observe, photograph, or record the activities of another which occur in any private place and out of public view; provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful.”

Purvis, 37, joined the Georgia staff in August of 2006 after serving as equipment manager at Valdosta State from 2001-06, according to his online bio.

UGA welcomes talk by former acting U.S. Attorney General

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 13:00:00 GMT

This past Friday, March 23, former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates visited the UGA campus where she gave a talk at the annual Edith House Lecture, according to OnlineAthens. The lecture, moderated by law school Associate Dean Usha Rodrigues and Gracie Shepherd, vice president of the Women’s Law Student Association and Edith House chair, turned […]

The lecture, moderated by law school Associate Dean Usha Rodrigues and Gracie Shepherd, vice president of the Women’s Law Student Association and Edith House chair, turned out to be more of a question and answer event for the 1986 UGA law school graduate.

Throughout the lecture, Yates fielded a number of questions including one about the travel ban President Trump imposed, which she deemed unconstitutional and in turn told Justice Department not to defend it.

She admitted that the proposed travel ban caught her by surprise. Her decision to go against President Trump’s agenda ultimately got her fired.

“I was not satisfied that the travel ban was lawful,” she said. Furthermore she believed the president’s reasoning for it was not grounded in truth.

Yates wasn’t at the forefront of the travel ban proposal. According to her, she actually learned about the ban as she traveled back home to Atlanta on a Friday. She admitted to spending the entire weekend studying the law and asking herself, ‘who does it apply to, and what is our defense?’”

Her eventually discourse with President Trump led to her eventual dismissal.

“We ought to be able to debate policy issues,” she said later. But “ascribing bad motives” is not honest debate, but playing on people’s darkest instincts, Yates said.

The former acting US attorney general explained that it is common place that the attorney general of the old administration resign when a new administration takes office. The new President always names a new attorney general. During the transition period, according to Yates, big initiatives usually don’t take place.

“Nothing is supposed to really happen in that time,” Yates said.

Yates said she debated whether to lead the Department of Justice toward not defending the ban, or simply resign. Resigning would protect her personal integrity, but not the the Department of Justice’s integrity, she said.

Aldi celebrates grand opening on the Eastside with huge crowd

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:13:00 GMT

As soon as word got out last October that an Aldi would be taking over the space that formerly housed the Omni Club on Gaines School Road, the countdown began for the residents of the Eastside. “I first found out about Aldi 10 years ago when I visited St. Louis, Missouri so I was so […]

As soon as word got out last October that an Aldi would be taking over the space that formerly housed the Omni Club on Gaines School Road, the countdown began for the residents of the Eastside.

“I first found out about Aldi 10 years ago when I visited St. Louis, Missouri so I was so happy when Aldi came to Athens several years ago,” said Lorraine McGough, a longtime resident of the Green Acres community. “Now I am absolutely delighted to have Aldi so close to my house – it’s so convenient.”

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

The popular German discount grocery store chain advertised specials, samples, coupons and giveaways including Aldi reusable grocery bags and gift cards for it’s official grand opening on March 22. Since the drawing for the gift card giveaway would be limited to the first 100 people, early birds were already lined up outside the store well before 8:30 a.m. despite the cold temperatures.

“I actually joked with my friend that it was so fun to see this new Aldi bringing the community together and I’m really happy to see how the Eastside is growing with more stores because there’s so much potential here,” said Marilena Fillingim, a resident of Timber Creek who won a $100 gift card during the store’s grand opening.

With 21,000 square feet of space, the store’s layout would be very different from the Atlanta Highway location.

“The upgrades that have been made such as wider aisles, attractive displays and more selection are a welcome treat,” said Fillingim who was among over 100 shoppers at the store opening.

McDough said she just needs to become more familiar with the new store’s layout but knows it won’t be long before she knows exactly where everything is.

Seventh Annual Firefly Trail expected to be biggest ever

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Slated for Saturday, the mass-participation biking event that follows the path of the old Georgia Railroad from Athens to Union Point (by way of Winterville) seeks to raise funds and share information about the development of the 34-mile Firefly Trail, as reported in the Athens Banner Herald. “It’s to raise money for the organization to […]

“It’s to raise money for the organization to help us get the trail built and it’s also to raise awareness about what the trail is and how gorgeous the path will be when it’s done,” said Firefly Trail president Mark Ralston.

The 87-mile loop will have starting points in Athens, Winterville and Union Point (new this year), which is one of the reasons Ralston thinks there will be more participants this year compared to previous Ticket to Ride outings.

“I think it will be the biggest. The signs are all lining up,” he said. “If the weather’s good, we will have a lot of riders. Last year, we had about 250. The first year out we had about 100 and that’s been growing steadily every year.”

According to a release from the nonprofit organization, the trail is a proposed 39-mile multi-purpose path for walking, running, and cycling that will be built on or in the vicinity of the Athens branch of the state’s first chartered railroad.

The trail connects Athens, Union Point, Maxeys, Crawford, Arnoldsville and Winterville, and construction on nearly a mile of the trail (from East Broad Street to Dudley Park in Athens) has been completed. Model miles are in the planning stages in Maxeys and Union Point and some 7 miles of the trail in Athens-Clarke County and Winterville will be funded for through about $16 million in TSPLOST revenues.

The Ticket to Ride could raise about $10,000. Ralston assents that the funds realized from Ticket to Ride won’t go far or last long, but it does show a community engagement that some might want to invest in.

“That’s not putting much trail on the ground,” “said Ralston, “but it’s helping us get the message out and match other funds and demonstrate to grantors and grant organizations that we’re active and the community is engaged.”

Riders in Athens will get started at Jittery Joe’s Roaster on Barber Street, Pittard Park in Winterville and the Union Point Ballfields. Riders that reach the end of their trail in Athens and Union Point will be treated to a free beer pour (Terrapin in Athens and Oconee Brewery in Union Point) and in addition to brews there will be food available at both stops.

“Union Point has really gotten excited about this and wants to do a little more than just a SAG stop – they said, ‘Let’s have a festival.’ They’ve got local entertainers coming in and the beer and BKs Smokehouse Barbecue will be there with barbecue and wings and other things.’

Tickets for the event are $40 adults, $30 for students and Ralston says if a group of five or more registers as a team, it’s $35 per person. Day-of registration is $45 and can be accomplished in Athens, Winterville and Union Point.

For more information, visit www.fireflytrail.com .

Sixth Annual TEDxUGA event to include UGA students and alumni

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:00:00 GMT

The University of Georgia and the TED organization will host the sixth annual TEDxUGA event at the Classic Center tomorrow, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. Intended as a community-building organization, TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global platform people are able to use to share their ideas with others. Best known for viral videos […]

Intended as a community-building organization, TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global platform people are able to use to share their ideas with others.

Best known for viral videos known as TED Talks, the brand combines TED videos with live speakers through its TEDx initiative and this event is planned to give independent organizations the chance to share the TED talk experience with a larger audience, according to the TEDxUGA website.

Once just an idea, TEDxUGA has become a highly anticipated annual event, an active community partner, a part of the UGA curriculum and a campus movement, according to the website.

For this event, TEDxUGA carefully picks a group of faculty, alumni, and students to present on stage and create discussion among those interested.

The TEDxUGA 2018 theme is “Connect,” which will focus on how unexpected connections people make can affect how they live their lives.

Eight presenters will speak to an audience of more than 1,400, according to TEDxUGA.

Janet Geddis, owner of Avid Bookshop, and Godfrey O. Powell, Jr, Head of Product Strategy for Facebook’s Building 8, are both UGA alumni who will be speaking at the event.

Other speakers will include geography professor Dr. Marshall Shepherd, communication sciences and special education assistant professor Dr. Katy O’Brien and environmental education professor Dr. Nick Fuhrman.

Senior undergraduate students Faiz Saulat and Elizabeth Hardister will also be speaking at the event.

TEDxUGA student presenters are selected each year through the TEDxUGA student idea showcase. The students who were not selected are highlighted on the TEDxUGA website for their “outstanding qualities,” according to TEDxUGA’s website.

Admission for the event is $15 for UGA students and $20 for non-students. Presentations will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Concessions will also be available for purchase.

2 Athens-area men arrested for involvement in multi-state child pornography sting

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:31:00 GMT

Two Athens-area men were arrested recently as a result of a multi-state law enforcement operation that targeted offenders who sexually exploited children online. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, “Operation Southern Impact II,” a two-month, multi-jurisdictional investigation resulted in 76 arrests across eight states with 13 children rescued or identified as victims last week. The […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , “Operation Southern Impact II,” a two-month, multi-jurisdictional investigation resulted in 76 arrests across eight states with 13 children rescued or identified as victims last week. The states included Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In Georgia, there were thirty-four alleged offenders arrested.

According to the GBI, among the alleged offenders were a daycare administrator, business professionals, a postal worker and a pastor.

The two men detained in the Athens area were identified as Jason R. Cash, 34, of Monroe and John Clark Miller, 57, of Winder.

Miller was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography and was being held at the Barrow County Detention Center without bail Monday, according to the county sheriff’s website.

Information on Cash from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office was not available Monday.

Several arrests were made that were not directly related to child pornography but involved offenders who were noncompliant with the terms of past criminal sentences. Devices and other evidence removed from offenders’ homes could lead to more charges and arrests.

Athens-Clarke County investigators who were proficient in using computer software to detect internet child pornography offenses and identify offenders participated, said Debbie Price, commander of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

The operation was coordinated by 10 ICAC task forces in the eight states. A total of 222 law enforcement and prosecuting agencies reportedly participated in the operation.

The operation planning began about four months ago and concluded with the arrests March 15 and 16, according to Price. She said Operation Southern Impact II was the first multi-state operation her task force participated in, though it has been operating within the state for many years.

Although some people may view possessing and viewing child pornography as a victimless crime, Price said that more children will continue to be victimized so long as there is a demand for images of children being sexually exploited.

“And these children continue to be victimized when their images are traded or shared over the internet so that others can view them,” Price said.

Price said studies have shown that collectors of child pornography are more likely to become “hands-on” offenders with child victims.

UGA featured at Second Annual Women in STEM Leadership Summit

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 13:51:00 GMT

As reported in The Red & Black, today and on Tuesday, March 20, the second annual Women in STEM Leadership Summit will be held in Atlanta. The event features several participants from the University of Georgia. “Our goal is to give women in STEM access to powerful tools, strategies and networks to help them realize […]

“Our goal is to give women in STEM access to powerful tools, strategies and networks to help them realize their full potential and shatter the glass ceiling in traditionally male dominated fields,” said UGA engineering professor Dr. Takoi Hamrita, founder and chair of the 2018 summit.

More than 60 speakers from organizations including Coca-Cola, Southern Company and universities such as Columbia University and Georgia Tech will discuss a variety of topics about women in STEM, including career advancement, financial health, STEM advocacy and others, according to the press release.

“Promoting the increased representation of women in STEM fields is essential for the ability of our state and nation to remain competitive in the global economy,” said UGA Provost Pamela Whitten in the release.

Whitten will moderate a panel on leadership in higher education with vice provost for diversity and inclusion Michelle Garfield Cook, Sarah Covert, associate provost for faculty affairs Sarah Covert and veterinary medicine dean Lisa Nolan.

“Dr. Hamrita has organized an extraordinary leadership development event that will inform and inspire individuals while addressing an issue of urgent importance, and I am delighted that so many UGA faculty members are participating,” said Whitten in the release.

UGA alumni receive a 10 percent discount on the registration fee.

Candidate forums to be hosted by Athens Community Agenda

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 16:27:00 GMT

The Athens Community Agenda will be hosting two forums to provide a space for the Athens community to get to know the candidates running for local, state and national offices. As reported in The Red & Black, the first forum which will be hosted on Monday, March 19, features the mayoral and commission candidates. The […]

As reported in The Red & Black , the first forum which will be hosted on Monday, March 19, features the mayoral and commission candidates. The candidates will have the chance to introduce themselves and answer a few questions delivered by a moderator. After that the floor will get to ask their own questions.

UGA event matches students to postgraduate education

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 13:40:00 GMT

Many medical students from Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership gathered at the George Hall on the UGA Health Sciences Campus for what is know as Match Day. The March 16, occasion revealed to the future doctors where they are headed to for their next step in their medical careers, according to the Athens Banner Herald. Read more […]

The March 16, occasion revealed to the future doctors where they are headed to for their next step in their medical careers, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

Around noon on the day of the event, each potential medical professional of the class of 2018 received a sealed envelope, which revealed where each person will continue their medical training.

“This is the fifth successful match in Athens at the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership,” campus dean Shelley Nuss told the Athens Banner Herald. “The accomplishments of the 34 MCG students that spent the majority of their time learning medicine at the Partnership have landed them at top-tier residency programs across the US. The students will be going to 17 different states in 14 different specialties with 53 percent staying in the southeastern United States and 59 percent joining primary care programs. Thank you to the faculty, administrators, staff and mentors in our community who have devoted their time to educating our future physicians.”

Before the event takes place students in the program participate in a number of interviews and visits to different residency programs offered throughout the state of Georgia and other parts of the country.

Each applicant first ranked the residency program where they prefer to complete their training. In turn the residency programs ranked the student applicants.

The final steps took place when the National Resident Matching Program, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C, received the list and then used an algorithm that aligns the choices of the applicants with those of the residency programs.

Grassroots Annual event features roots music

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT

The Oconee River Belles concert will see a number of bands performing at their annual event including a Grammy-winning artist. This coming Thursday, March 22, the Grammy award-winning artist Alison Brown joins a number of other musicians at the Oconee River Belles concert benefiting the Oconee River Land Trust, according to an article in Online Athens. […]

This coming Thursday, March 22, the Grammy award-winning artist Alison Brown joins a number of other musicians at the Oconee River Belles concert benefiting the Oconee River Land Trust, according to an article in Online Athens .

Alongside the accomplished singer, which is hosted by The Foundry, will be newlywed duo Sierra Hull and Justin Moses, and the music of duo Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, who are also Grammy-nominated musicians. Opening the concert will be local performers Cicada Rhythm.

“The Oconee River Belles Benefit Concert provides an unparalleled combination of roots music and grassroots fundraising for the rivers, forests and farms that inspire it,” Brown said of her decision to headline the event for a second year. “It’s also a one-of-a-kind opportunity for listeners that brings together performers who care about the land and want to protect it.”

Two years ago this October saw the annual concert raise more than $25,000, according to Carla Francis, ORLT development director.

All the proceeds raised by the music event benefits the Oconee River Land Trust. It is a statewide nonprofit organization that dedicates its effort in protecting land in Georgia. This includes river corridors, forests, sustainable farms, coastal marshes, rare pitcher plant bogs, and other important natural areas.

“While the concert lasts only a few hours, the money raised supports land conservation year-round,” Francis said.

Those in attendance will be privy to not only music but a variety show format that will include duets and trios and full band performances.

Fans looking to attend can purchase tickets prior to the concert for $30 or buy them at the door for $35. They are on sale through The Foundry website — thefoundryathens.com .

Tobacco free generation ordinance is a no go in Winterville

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT

According to the Athens Banner Herald, a possible Tobacco Free Generation Ordinance in Winterville won’t see the light of day after the town’s city council rejected the ordinance 3-1 on March 13. The lone advocate for the ordinance was the council member who proposed it in the first place, Mark Farmer. Read more: Probate Litigation Attorney […]

The lone advocate for the ordinance was the council member who proposed it in the first place, Mark Farmer.

If it would have passed it would mark the first time that a US city would’ve enacted a “Tobacco Free Generation Ordinance.”

The reason for the ordinance was to possibly create a generation of non-smokers since the idea would have banned anyone born after Jan. 1, 2000, from buying tobacco.

In it’s inception the ordinance would not have punished current smokers or anyone addicted to tobacco products but a decade later the legal age to buy any tobacco substance would’ve jumped to 28. By 2038 you’d have to have been 38 to purchase any tobacco, according to Farmer.

However, after a public hearing was scheduled, Winterville residents made their voices heard. Many spoke out against the ordinance stating that smoking or using tobacco products was a personal choice despite how addictive it is.

Additionally, council members heard from the town’s lawyer who informed them that the ordinance could conflict with state law and could possibly be overturned in court.

But Winterville council members also heard from the town’s lawyer that the ordinance could be in conflict with state law, and might be overturned if someone or some organization challenged it in court.

Council member Farmer had spoken to some attorneys before he proposed the idea and they felt the city could prevail in a legal challenge.

“I thought it was a principle worth testing and worth fighting for,” Farmer said.

Four individuals honored at annual awards dinner

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 13:01:00 GMT

As recently reported in the Athens Banner Herald, honors are all around for four individuals who have given up their time and made themselves available to help the children of the Athens community. “These leaders are great models for us all,” Tim Johnson, executive director of Family Connection-Communities in Schools, told the paper. “They demonstrate […]

“These leaders are great models for us all,” Tim Johnson, executive director of Family Connection-Communities in Schools, told the paper. “They demonstrate that even the busiest of people can and do make time to make extraordinary contributions to better outcomes for children and youth in Athens.”

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At their annual Changing the Picture for Athens Children awards dinner, the Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens took the time to recognize Buddy and Lucy Allen, Dexter Fisher, and Christy Terrell.

The four recipients scheduled time out of their busy schedule and made significant contributions that in turn positively impacted the lives of the children and families that live in Athens, Ga.

Secondarily, the Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens took a little time to say thanks to this year’s presenting partner, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.

“As a community hospital, Piedmont Athens Regional aims to ensure the well-being of the people in Athens and its surrounding communities that it serves,” according to Charles Peck, president and CEO of Piedmont Athens Regional, said. “We’re happy to support and partner with organizations in the area, like sponsoring Changing the Picture for Athens Children, who share the same goals of making a difference in the lives of the people that we touch.”

For more information or to make a donation to the Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens, visit fc-cis.org .

Police look into weekend shootings in Athens

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 13:14:00 GMT

Athens law enforcement are looking into two separate shootings that occurred two hours apart this past weekend. According to the Athens Banner Herald, the incidents took place on the eastside of town and so far police said no one was injured. Police also commented that at this time they haven’t found any motives associated with […]

Police also commented that at this time they haven’t found any motives associated with the gun shots nor are the two shootings related.

The first shooting occurred at about 9 p.m. Saturday on Johnson Drive. The second happened about two miles aways at around 11 p.m. close to Coleridge Ct., at the Athens Gardens apartment complex,.

“It’s too early to tell, we don’t have much information on the Coleridge Court shooting to tie it back to anything else,” Epifanio Rodriguez, public information officer for the Athens-Clarke County police, told the Athens Banner Herald .

After the first shooting law enforcement arrived at the scene and found that a car’s back window had been shot at.

They spoke to the victim who informed authorities that after turning onto Indiana Avenue and Johnson Drive he heard gun shots and then his back window shatter.

After thoroughly examining the vehicle the officers also discovered a bullet hole on the lift gate. The victim explained that he thought the gun shots came from a black Honda, that was driving behind him on Johnson Drive.

The second shooting was believed to have been committed by teenagers.

At the Athens Gardens apartment complex law enforcement said they noticed several young males leaving the complex in a white Ford Mustang convertible with the top down. After the police made a routine traffic stop one of the males jumped out and fled on foot.

Police ask that anyone with information on the first incident please contact Sgt. David Norris at (706) 613-3330, ext. 556. For the second shooting people should contact Detective Timothy Conner at (706) 613-3888, ext. 337.

New business consultant helping black owned businesses grow

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 13:51:00 GMT

Broderick Flanigan started a consulting business, Enlightened Media Productions, to help black businesses build their brand in the community after noticing some of the challenges they faced starting their businesses. Through his consulting business, Flanigan, who owns Flanigan’s Portrait Studio, said he will be partnering with minority businesses to assist with the initial challenges that […]

Through his consulting business, Flanigan, who owns Flanigan’s Portrait Studio, said he will be partnering with minority businesses to assist with the initial challenges that come with starting a business.

“A lot of minority businesses aren’t able to carry a marketing budget or anything like that and have to do it themselves so they end up just stumbling along and learning as they go,” Flanigan told The Red & Black . “So I would be able to help them through that process and with some of those responsibilities.”

Flanigan said it’s important to connect new black businesses to the community because those business owners usually don’t have time to network.

“I’m really just filling a void I saw when I went to a lot of public meetings about economic development and small business development,” Flanigan said. “A lot of minority businesses just don’t have the time to do all the networking because they’re doing all the work themselves.”

Although Flanigan just started the company last October, he said he feels confident in the work he is putting into creating a referral network for black owned businesses.

“I’ve been able to connect businesses to certain vendors like First Fridays because the university provides funding to have those events catered,” Flanigan said. “So I make it a point to share those resources because when you have access to those funds, it’s always good to spread it around.”

Rashe’s Cuisine, a Jamaican-style restaurant owned by Rashe Malcolm, is one of the businesses Flanigan said he often recommends to people.

Recently having to close its physical location due to water damage, Malcolm said that didn’t stop her from doing delivery orders and catering events.

“Losing a business and starting over again is devastating,” Malcolm said. “In this situation, though, it may just work out for me. It’s allowing me to work again, to reinvent myself and kind of face those challenges I’ve had.”

For Homer Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Styling Shop in downtown, one of the most exciting yet challenging things about running his business is keeping up with evolving trends.

“Athens has changed because everything changes,” Wilson said. “The styles change, types of hair cut styles change, the name changes. You just got to go with the style.”

Wilson’s shop is located in the African American historical business district, also known as Hot Corner. Hot Corner is at the intersection of Hull and Washington streets, and Wilson’s shop has been there since the mid-1950s.

Wilson said one of the best things about his shop is that it’s in downtown Athens.

“Well, I love downtown,” Wilson said. “We have another shop down in Florida, my brother went there. I chose to stay downtown because I just like being downtown.”

However, minority-owned businesses such as Wilson’s Barber Shop are rarely downtown, a trend Flanigan is working to change through his business.

“I’ve been trying to promote days where people go and support their local black businesses, I tried to promote a New Black Friday, just so we can try to redirect peoples’ energy toward minority businesses,” Flanigan said.

Flanigan said while he knows building up the black-owned business community isn’t the only solution to income inequality in Athens, he believes it will be a step in the right direction.

“With any group in the community, you can kind of tell how they’re doing based on their businesses, and right now the black business community isn’t doing too well,” Flanigan said. “Fixing that alone won’t end that income inequality, but it’s one thing that could help to a certain degree.”

Gun discovered at UGA Myers Quad bus stop

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 13:28:00 GMT

Last Sunday, March 3 at 2:40 a.m., University of Georgia police were called to Myers Quad bus stop on Sanford Drive about an abandoned handgun that was found there. As reported in The Red & Black, as UGAPD arrived on the scene, the student who reported the handgun said he immediately noticed a handgun lying […]

As reported in The Red & Black , as UGAPD arrived on the scene, the student who reported the handgun said he immediately noticed a handgun lying in the brick planter near the stop as he arrived to the bus stop.

It was a Glock 43 9mm handgun, according to the police report. In the report the student said there were others in the area, but none had attempted to collect the gun.

After taking photos of the gun, UGAPD “cleared the weapon and made it safe,” the report said. There was no ammunition in the chamber while there were six 9mm hollow-point bullets loaded in the magazine, according to the report.

“The gun was discovered in a location that was inevitably going to be found and, in a manner, no reasonable person would leave it,” the police report said. “Leaving the gun where it was discovered, either intentionally or unintentionally, recklessly endangered the safety of anyone who would come across it.”

The gun’s owner is therefore in violation of the Reckless Conduct statute. Because the gun was found on UGA campus, the owner of this gun is also violating the Carrying Weapon in School Safety Zone statute, according to the report.

If the owner of this weapon does not have a valid weapons’ carry license, the possession of the weapon would also be in violation of this statute.

UGAPD is currently investigating the ownership of this weapon and how it ended up at the Myers Quad bus stop. The gun, magazine and bullets are secured as evidence at UGAPD.

Athens mayoral ballot to include Girtz, Sims, and Knight

Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:00:00 GMT

The mayor race this year will have a trio of candidates vying for the seat. Three names will appear on the Athens mayoral ballot in May. According to the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections, District 9 commissioner Kelly Girtz, former District 2 commissioner Harry Sims and local businessman Richie Knight have qualified for the May […]

According to the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections, District 9 commissioner Kelly Girtz, former District 2 commissioner Harry Sims and local businessman Richie Knight have qualified for the May 22 mayoral election.

Protestors show their disagreement with Clarke County sheriff’s office

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 14:30:00 GMT

Downtown Athens was a little busier than usual this past Thursday as demonstrators marched on the streets showing their disagreement over Clarke County sheriff’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The March 8 protest began from the Arch of the University of Georgia and all the way to the Clarke County Courthouse located on Washington street and […]

The March 8 protest began from the Arch of the University of Georgia and all the way to the Clarke County Courthouse located on Washington street and third.

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About 50 Latino UGA and high school students were the ones in attendance showing their support for illegal immigrants. Together they could be heard, according to Athens Banner Herald , chanting “What do we want? ICE out of Athens,” while holding signs that read “Families Belong Together” and “ICE deported 81,603 people in a year, and your sheriff wants to help.”

UGA students like Stephanie Flores told the paper that the Clarke County Sheriff detains certain prisoners longer than legally required in order to allow more time for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (I.C.E) to investigate the person’s immigration status.

The protestors also made their voices heard for the undocumented students who aren’t allowed to attend UGA due to current policy from the Board of Regents.

When the crowd eventually made it to the courthouse they took turns on the microphone. Some engaged the crowd in songs, some made their opinions known while others like Flores, who is a citizen, shared their personal feelings. She fears for her family and she fears for her mom, she told the crowd.

After sometime Flores entered the courthouse in an attempt to have Clarke County Sheriff Ira Edwards go outside so he can listen to demonstrators tell him their stories.

Unfortunately for Flores and the demonstrators, the sheriff was out of town and he is the only person who is able to speak for the department.

Home in Athens used as a front for illegal drug store

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:20:00 GMT

An east side Athens home that sold candy and soda to children was recently raided and closed by Clarke County law enforcement after, according to police, they discovered the residents were selling illegal drugs to addicts. The business, which was deemed illegal, allowed a number of illegal activities to take place in or at the […]

The business, which was deemed illegal, allowed a number of illegal activities to take place in or at the home. In many instances it sold alcohol, crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia to older customers, according to Online Athens .

Synovus brand to rename Athens First Bank & Trust

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT

A long time banking institution in Athens and Oconee counties will be rebranded and given a “facelift” by a banking giant. According to Online Athens, Athens First Bank & Trust, which sports a total of seven branches throughout Clarke and Oconee county will soon be under the Synovus brand. Read more: Business Litigation Lawyer in Athens […]

A long time banking institution in Athens and Oconee counties will be rebranded and given a “facelift” by a banking giant.

According to Online Athens , Athens First Bank & Trust, which sports a total of seven branches throughout Clarke and Oconee county will soon be under the Synovus brand.

The change will take place sometime this month with some branches like the location on Barnett Shoals on the east side already displaying a new sign. However loyal customers of the banking branches need not worry much since the staff and services offered at each of the branches will not be changing.

These seven locations are part of the ever increasing number, 29 at the moment, in the company family that are changing their names to Synovus.

“We’ve been part of Synovus since 1991, and we’re proud of the reputation we’ve built as a community-based and customer-focused bank in Athens, Oconee, and everywhere we operate,” Bill Douglas, Synovus division CEO for Northeast Georgia, told Online Athens. “Adopting the Synovus name while maintaining our local, relationship-centered delivery model will increase awareness of our regional presence, our financial capabilities, and our ability to meet the needs of customers and prospects.”

Besides the fact as Douglas stated, that customers will now have an easier time recognizing their bank, they won’t even notice any changes.

“People can literally go from one county to the next and they’ll find two different brands of the same bank,” he said. “This consolidation will really help our customers recognize our brand and know where they can do their banking.”

The CEO is confident that since his branch operates over 250 locations that this move to the Synovus name will definitely make the brand’s reach clear.

“We’re at the point where it makes sense, from a regional viewpoint, that we all convert to one common name,” Douglas said. “We’re still committed to our communities, we’re still committed to the relationships we’ve built, and we’re still committed to providing excellent service. We just have a new name now.”

High speed pursuit end in Athens man arrest

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:00:00 GMT

This past weekend according to the Athens Banner Herald, Benjamin Wayne Malanoski of Danielsville Road led police officials on a high speed chase that commenced in Madison County and came to an end in Clarke County. The 28-year-old Malanoski, who is known around the police community for executing such attempts, was put in handcuffs on […]

The 28-year-old Malanoski, who is known around the police community for executing such attempts, was put in handcuffs on Sunday night March 4. He’s being charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, attempting to elude, false imprisonment and driving with a suspended license. In addition he was served with an outstanding felony probation violation warrant.

In the Madison County sheriff’s report, the incident began Sunday night around 9:15 p.m. when Malanoski was spotted by a deputy driving a pickup truck with a missing license plate. He was near Old Danielsville Road heading north on U.S. Highway 29.

The high speed chase ensued the minute the deputy turned on his vehicle lights. As the deputy stayed close behind he noticed the pickup’s passenger placing their hands on the back of their head and then saw a package, which was later retrieved, being tossed out the window. The package contained meth and a digital scale.

The truck eventually stopped at the intersection of Smokey Road and Danielsville Road where the passenger exited the vehicle. According to reports, the passenger is a male from Colbert who was taken into custody but currently hasn’t been charged in connection with the pursuit.

Malanoski was finally apprehended and arrested when he stopped on Danielsville Road at Martha’s Cabins. This was not the first pursuit involving Malanoski, according to law enforcement reports.

According to reports, four years ago this April, Malanoski led Athens-Clarke law enforcement on another high speed pursuit. In that incident he managed to escape on foot after exiting his vehicle near the Athens Perimeter. He was captured the following day.

He was at it again on July 2016, when a police chase on Georgia Highway 106 ended after Malanoski’s car crashed at Norwood Road, in a report filed by Madison County police.

Prince Avenue Christian School Student named PACS STAR Student

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:33:00 GMT

According to an article in Online Athens, Emily Weaver, a senior form Prince Avenue Christina School was named the PACS STAR Student for the 2017-2018 school year after her SAT score was the highest score this year. This is Weaver’s seventh year at the school where for the past six straight years she earned the […]

This is Weaver’s seventh year at the school where for the past six straight years she earned the honor of being the top of her class, a National Merit semifinalist, received the Georgia Certificate of Merit, and was named the Rotary Club Student of the Semester.

″[Emily] is supremely intelligent and hard-working, but more important is her obvious faith and character,” said Dale Autry, who Weaver selected as her STAR Teacher. “The best thing about having Emily in class is her selfless attitude, which seems to compel her to constantly help and encourage everyone around her.”

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Weaver’s other notable accomplishments and club memberships is being a member of the PACS concert and jazz bands while also being active on her school’s Academic Team. She also makes time for the National Honor’s Society, Beta Club and Interact Club.

The young honoree attributed both her academic accomplishments and her spirituality plus social life to her time at PACS.

“Prince Avenue has helped me to grow spiritually and has challenged me academically, but I’ve also had a lot of fun and made some great friends. I’ve also enjoyed all of my extracurricular activities,” she said.

After graduation, Weaver plans to attend Clemson University and major in Engineering. She is the daughter of Chris and Tracey Weaver.

Athens: Police standoff ends in teen’s arrest

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 16:00:00 GMT

On Friday, March, 2 outside an Athens apartment building was the scene of a 2-hour standoff between police and a 16-year old teen, according to Online Athens. after a gunshot was heard at the complex. The situation arose when an Athens-Clarke County police officer heard a gunshot around Coleridge Court off Lexington Road and soon after […]

after a gunshot was heard at the complex.

The situation arose when an Athens-Clarke County police officer heard a gunshot around Coleridge Court off Lexington Road and soon after witnessed three teens run away from the office, one of them being the 16-year old, said police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez.

“We don’t believe he was shooting at the officer,” Rodriguez said. “We believe he accidentally fired the gun.”

Soon after the gunshot was fired, the officer headed toward the apartment complex where he proceeded to ask the shooter to surrender, according to Rodriguez. The officer then called for backup when he didn’t receive a respond.

The standoff then ensued for approximately 60 minutes that included waiting for a search warrant to arrive before law enforcement are able to enter the complex and detain the teen.

As of Saturday, there still wasn’t yet any details surrounding how the arrest took place. Rodriguez still isn’t quite caught up with the full disclosure on if the teen resisted arrest or even lived where the standoff took place,

Currently the teen has been charged with a misdemeanor, reckless conduct, but more charges may be pending, said Rodriguez.

Police officers did not chase the other teens that were seen running. The standoff occurred solely on the gunshot being fired and the officer responding to it. No one was injured during the incident.

Students of Clarke Middle School organize protest

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 13:00:00 GMT

According to the Athens Banner Herald, on March 2, students from Clarke Middle School organized a one hour peaceful protest. in a statement released by the school district, there were two causes that were being protested on Friday. A number of students showed their support for the Black Lives matter movement. Others stood united to […]

in a statement released by the school district, there were two causes that were being protested on Friday. A number of students showed their support for the Black Lives matter movement. Others stood united to honor last month’s Florida shooting victims from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The protest, according to the statement, was not authorized by the school, however the school’s administrators allowed the protest to continue at a specified safe space so the students could exercise their rights.

Included in the protest were speeches from a number of students. After an hour school officials escorted the students back to class with the majority acquiescing, but three students refused to listen. Those three were given some administrative discipline, said Clarke County schools Superintendent Demond Means said.

Back in their classroom setting a small conflict arose after one student made a comment “insensitive to the movement,” according to the school district statement. Means noted that the conflict stopped short of actual fighting.

“I think the young people showed a lot of restraint,” he said.

“Faculty members worked closely with students to address their concerns, provide emotional support and help them transition back to class,” according to the school district statement.

After the protest an email by Clarke Middle Principal Tad MacMillan assured the parents that the protest was well organized and no violent incident occurred. The students remained safe for the duration of the protest and returned to class unharmed.

Coincidentally, the protest came on the same day that a district meeting was in the books in order ““to develop protocols which support the students in exercising their rights to assemble and protest in a safe manner,” according to the school district statement. “As educators, we treat opportunities such as this as a means of educating our students about civics and the privileges of living in a democratic society.”

Winterville: Georgia city seeking to enact tobacco ordinance

Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:08:00 GMT

A new proposed ban is being passed around in Winterville. The ban, if passed, over time would phase out the sale of tobacco products in the city. The proposed initiative referred to as “City of Winterville Tobacco Free Generation Ordinance,” is scheduled to be heard at a public hearing this coming Tuesday, March, 6 at […]

The overall arching thought with the ordinance is to help prevent the younger generation from getting addicted to tobacco products while keeping from punishing people who are already addicted, Farmer said.

Atlanta law enforcement make new arrests in wine bar homicide

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT

New arrests made in the November murder of Barcelona Wine Bar manager, Chelsea Beller, per the Atlanta Patch. This past Wednesday, February 28, Atlanta police officers arrested 19-year-old Ira Troy Williams around 2 p.m. at his home located on Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain. Williams is currently being held at the Fulton County Jail. […]

This past Wednesday, February 28, Atlanta police officers arrested 19-year-old Ira Troy Williams around 2 p.m. at his home located on Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain. Williams is currently being held at the Fulton County Jail.

The second arrest took place early that same day at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport where law enforcement officials detained Terry Jones, 19, as he arrived at the gate, according to Atlanta Police Department spokesman Officer Donald Hannah. Jones is currently at the Fulton County Jail after being charged with felony murder.

The two new arrests brings the total number of suspects to four and Atlanta P.D. believes that everyone involved has now been captured.

It’s been a little over three months since 29-year-old Beller was shot and killed during a Nov. 19 robbery. Three men entered the wine bar around 2:30 a.m., they restrained three employees and shot the manager as she was opening the safe.

Beller was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

According to police, the first arrest in the case occurred back in December when Atlanta department apprehended 21-year-old Samuel Ott after his DNA matched evidence from the crime scene.

A month later law enforcement issued warrants for 20-year-old Carlos Bailey. He was already in custody at the Dekalb County Jail because of a May 25 incident for a robbery at the Pinewood on West de Leon Avenue in Decatur.

A fundraiser to help support Beller’s family has raised more than $27,000.

Interim president named for Athens Chamber of Commerce

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 15:00:00 GMT

According to an article in the Athens Banner Herald, the Athens Chamber of Commerce has named an interim president to hold down the fort while they continue an extensive search for their new president. This past Tuesday, Feb. 27, the chamber appointed Lenn Chandler as the new interim president and CEO. He stepped in for […]

This past Tuesday, Feb. 27, the chamber appointed Lenn Chandler as the new interim president and CEO. He stepped in for current president Doc Elridge who announced that he will be resigning effective this coming Thursday.

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Chandler is no stranger to high position roles. He once served as Georgia Power’s vice president for their northeast region and is excited to be helping the chamber.

“I am honored to serve the chamber during this important time of transition,” Chandler said in a prepared statement.

For over three decades, starting in 1985, Chandler moved up the Georgia Power ladder where he worked in several departments and held several positions before being named vice president.

“We are confident that under his leadership this will be a smooth transition for the organization,” chamber board chair Shannon Wilder said.

Chandler has made it clear to the Athens chamber and those close to him that he does not intend to seek a full time role as president. Currently the chamber is not considering him for the position but

the newly appointed interim president is familiar with the workings of the chamber as he is a former member of its board of directors.

He is also serving as the chairman of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Board and has served on a number of other civic organizations.

The chamber’s search begins with its first of three phases that consists of feedback from its members and others on the type of executive desired for Athens.

In their second phase, beginning in March, the chamber will conduct a nationwide search that will lead to the third phase where they interview the most qualified candidates.

It is estimated that the process for all three phases can take up to 120 days.

One man shot at Athens concert: Gunman still on the loose

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 15:30:00 GMT

Athens-Clarke County police are trying to identify the person who gunned down an Athens man during an early Sunday morning music concert at the Athens Arena off Commerce Boulevard. The shooting, which happened shortly after 1 a.m., left the 27-year-old victim with a gunshot wound in the stomach, according to police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez. Read […]

The shooting, which happened shortly after 1 a.m., left the 27-year-old victim with a gunshot wound in the stomach, according to police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez.

As reported in the Athens-Banner Herald, police said that the man was treated and released hours later at an Athens hospital.

“We have nothing on the suspect, no identification,” Rodriguez said Monday morning.

No motive has been determined for the fight that erupted on the dance floor that led to the shooting during the concert, according to Rodriguez.

Police said three others received “trampling injuries” while running from the west Athens building, which is used to host such events as private parties, and boxing and martial arts competitions.

Officers working off-duty jobs at the rap concert were outside when the shooting occurred, according to the police report.

The officers heard the shot, then the music stopped and they saw a large number of people running from the building, Rodriguez said.

Police entered the building to locate the shooter and found the victim, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police Sgt. David Norris at (706) 613-3330, ext 556.

Georgia’s “stocking strangler,” receives new execution date

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:19:00 GMT

For over 30 years Carlton Gary, also known as the “stocking strangler,” has been sitting in a Georgia prison cell awaiting his execution date. Next month on March, 15, the convicted felon will be Georgia’s first execution of the new year, according to an article in OnlineAthens. His execution is a result of the strings […]

His execution is a result of the strings of strangulations, three, he committed four decades ago in 1977. Police believed Gary is responsible for at least six other slayings.

In 1984 he was arrested and then convicted for the murders of 89-year-old Florence Scheible, 69-year-old Martha Thurmond and 74-year-old Kathleen Woodruff. His execution is set to take place at the Jackson state prison according to a news release by Attorney General Chris Carr.

In a span of eight months starting at the end of Sept. 1977 to April 1978, the residents of Columbus, Ga. saw or heard the news of women ranging from ages 59 to 89 being beaten, raped and choked, often with their own stockings. Seven died and two were injured in the attacks.

Defense attorneys for Gary claim that he is innocent of the killings. However, for a number of years both the state and federal courts have rejected that claim.

When he was arrested back in May of 1984, after a stolen gun from one of the victim’s home was traced to him, Gary admitted to law enforcement that he took part in the robberies but that it was someone else who committed the violent acts.

Two years later in August, a jury convicted Gary on three counts of malice, rape, and burglary. He was sentenced to die back in December 2009, until the Georgia Supreme Court granted him a stay of execution after the courts asked a lower court to consider DNA testing.

The newly found evidence included semen that was discovered on a surviving victim’s sleeping gown, which did not match Gary’s. His lawyers argued the significance of that finding since during the trial that victim identified him as her attacker. Gary was not charged in her attack.

However state attorneys disputed those claims, on the basis that Gary’s case has been repeatedly reviewed by the courts, which have rejected his claims.

Also the lawyers noted in a filing with the high court that the state now has even more evidence that proves Gary’s guilt and that the judge who denied him a new trial found that none of the evidence Gary’s lawyers cited would likely have changed the verdict.

President of the Northeast Georgia United Way steps down

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 14:30:00 GMT

After over two years Matthew Purkey, United Way of Northeast Georgia President and CEO, has stepped down and resigned from his position with the organization. “After a lot of prayer and considerations, my wife and I have decided that there are family obligations that need to be looked after,” Purkey told Online Athens . “I […]

“After a lot of prayer and considerations, my wife and I have decided that there are family obligations that need to be looked after,” Purkey told Online Athens . “I never thought I would leave the United Way, an organization that has … given us great opportunities.”

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

The CEO announced his resignation this past Friday, July 23, and soon will be headed back home to Dayton, Ohio where he said his children will be able to play with cousins their own age and his wife will be closer to her parents.

“There is no replacing family,” he said.

It wasn’t long ago that officials form the organization sifted through 168 potential applicants and made their decision to hire Purkey back in 2015.

During his time at the helm, the Northeast Georgia president made some significant strides including merging with Community Connection of Northeast Georgia, another nonprofit organization.

He also helped develop what is now the United Way Community Celebration. The event is referred to as “reimagine,” a fundraising campaign featuring food and entertainment where nearly 50 area nonprofits set up booths to highlight their work.

“Service was ingrained in me. I learned very quickly that not only do we have wars throughout the world, but every community has its own war,” he said. “I go to war everyday, but the enemy is different. The enemy is poverty, the enemy is child illiteracy and the issues that plague our communities.”

Possible universal flu vaccine hits halfway mark

Sat, 24 Feb 2018 14:34:00 GMT

For over a decade, since 2017, a team of researchers from the University of Georgia have worked on creating a flu vaccine. Researchers like UGA infectious disease professor Dr. Ted Ross, told the Red&Black that the team is halfway from developing a universal flu vaccination and are hopeful that flu victims10 years from now won’t have the […]

Researchers like UGA infectious disease professor Dr. Ted Ross, told the Red&Black that the team is halfway from developing a universal flu vaccination and are hopeful that flu victims10 years from now won’t have the same experience flu victims had back in 2007.

According to Ross, the vaccination would protect from all flu strains.

“We’re trying to develop what we call a broadly protective, often times referred to as a universal, influenza vaccine,” Ross said. “In doing so, we are developing a vaccine that will protect individuals against all of the variants of influenza that circulate in a given season.”

Currently the researchers are transitioning into more human trials after their successful trial runs where they used mice and ferrets. The human trials are set to begin sometime in 2019 with sites in Athens and other cities across the United States.

“Now we’re ready to make human-grade material and get it into people and see how well it works in people,” Ross told the Red&Black. .

The team is looking into conducting the human trials for a period of five to 10 years.

“Usually it takes about 20 years for a vaccine to go from a concept to all the way through human trials and then be marketed,” Ross said.

The news comes at a great time since this flu season has been said to be the roughest one with the University Health Center seeing an increased number of prescriptions for Tamiflu, according to UHC pharmacist Bradford Upchurch.

“It seems that we’re seeing more prescriptions for Tamiflu compared to last year’s flu season and that kind of … increased numbers of the flu and the severity. It’s making people a lot more sicker than normal,” Upchurch said.

This new vaccine will contain a majority of the strains from the dominant variants of a season’s flu virus. A person will then develop antibodies against all strains, making it unimportant whichever strain a person contracted.

Driver arrested for possible DUI that lead to crash

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:24:00 GMT

In the early hours of Sunday morning a 23-year old found herself on the side of the road after crashing her car on the Athens Perimeter on Feb. 18. The Jackson County woman was then taking into custody by law enforcement and was allegedly booked on drunk driving charges as well as distracted driving after […]

In the early hours of Sunday morning a 23-year old found herself on the side of the road after crashing her car on the Athens Perimeter on Feb. 18.

The Jackson County woman was then taking into custody by law enforcement and was allegedly booked on drunk driving charges as well as distracted driving after authorities discovered she may have been looking at her cellphone at the time of the incident, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

Around 1:57 a.m. the woman, according to the Online Athens, crashed her car by the North Chase Street exit on the inner loop after she lost control of her vehicle that led to her car striking the exit sign, striking a pole and then eventually traveling down an embankment. The car ended up on its side, Police told the media.

Thousands of gun control advocates voice displeasure at Georgia Capitol after Florida shooting

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 14:56:00 GMT

Emotions were high outside the Georgia State on Wednesday, Feb. 21, as thousands of gun control advocates voiced their displeasure with current gun laws and called for stricter state gun laws, according to the Red&Black. The rally over current gun laws followed the Feb. 14 deadly mass shooting that took the lives of 17 people […]

The rally over current gun laws followed the Feb. 14 deadly mass shooting that took the lives of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fl.

At the Liberty Plaza located across the street from the state Capitol, the groups, a good number from women of the Moms Demand Action group, spoke to the crowd along with an estimated 100 students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“Every day, 96 families join a club that no one ever wants to be a part of,” one speaker told the crowd. Chants of “Not One More” and “Vote Them Out” echoed through the crowd.

Eventually a large majority of advocates divided themselves into various groups and swarmed the Capitol building to speak directly to legislators’ offices and senators about House Bill 651.

The proposed bill bans the use of bump stocks in Georgia. The use of bump stocks allows a semi-automatic weapon to work as fast as a fully-automatic machine gun. The group also set out to protest weapons carry laws that they felt need to be legislated harshly.

Athens representatives were divided on their reaction to the rally as a couple of democratic representatives, Deborah Gonzalez and Jonathan Wallace joined protestors. The two took to Twitter to post about the event.

Athens community blasts Bulldog 93.3 for refusing to advertise UGA union

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 14:54:00 GMT

The Athens community has made their displeasure known this past week when they voiced criticism against Bulldog 93.3 FM when the radio station refused to allow advertising in favor of a newly created labor union at UGA, the United Campus Workers of Georgia. A UCW-GA member, Eric Rose who is on the union’s steering committee, […]

A UCW-GA member, Eric Rose who is on the union’s steering committee, contacted through email on Feb. 9 both stations Bulldog 93.3 and WXAG 92.7 FM and 1470 AM and asked if they could run information about the union through a public service announcement, according to the Red&Black .

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

While the latter agreed to run the advertising, Rose admitted the response from Bulldog 93.3 FM was not cooperative.

Rather than sending a media kit or refusing to air the spot the station’s founder and general manager Paul Francis responded with his own thoughts on the union’s objectives.

According to the Red&Black, Francis responded, “If a University of Georgia employee feels that he (or she) is not earning just compensation, then he can search for employment in the free market,” Francis states in the email. “If he is unsuccessful earning the level of compensation he hoped to earn — by providing value to others, then he was not worth what he imagined. Fortunately, though, he can always dust himself off and keep trying. Protesting this solves nothing. Smart, hard work and dedication to bettering oneself does.”

Rose felt that the station’s founder and general manager went outside of his limits and felt all Bulldog 93.3 FM needed to do was just to deny the request rather than send their own personal view.

“I thought his [response] was gatekeeping. He doesn’t want to compete with us in a free market of ideas. If his station was truly a free market, he would have sold us the advertisement spot,” Rose said. “A simple no would have sufficed.”

In his refusing to air the advertising, Francis did not violate Federal Communication or Federal Trade Commission laws since broadcast stations are not required to sell or give a fixed amount of time to organizations or individuals unless the individual is a political candidate.

$1M raised for children’s hospital in dance marathon

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 15:16:00 GMT

Year number 23 of the UGA Miracle’s 24-hour Dance Marathon raised more than $1 million after students gathered at the Tate Student Center last Saturday and Sunday, according to OnlineAthens.com A little over 3,000 students, who represented dozens of different student organizations, danced the day and night away gathered in the Grand Hall from Feb. […]

A little over 3,000 students, who represented dozens of different student organizations, danced the day and night away gathered in the Grand Hall from Feb. 17-18, for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

For the third year in a row the participants ranging from students, faculty and staff managed to break the million barrier mark that began at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Joining the charity event were around 50 “Miracle children,” the Children’s Healthcare patients who interact with UGA Miracle’s student members during the year, and their families. Some of the members took to the stage and shared their personal testimonies.

The money raised is used to fund state of the art equipment and facilities that in turns supports the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Children’s Healthcare. In addition every amount raised above the one million mark is donated to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center to fund groundbreaking pediatric research.

“I have come across some of the most selfless, inspiring people,” UGA Miracle’s internal directorJohn Caras said. “Seeing these students fight for those who can’t fight for themselves makes me proud to be a part of UGA Miracle and to be a student of the University of Georgia.”

The all day and night fundraiser symbolizes the passion and dedication that those in attendance displayed in their support of the children who continue to combat illness in hospitals. Miracle has raised more than $8 million for Children’s Healthcare since their first event.

“There is never a day where I do not feel connected to this cause and this organization,” said Davis Haines, UGA Miracle’s communications director who lost his brother to cancer. “I am certain that this organization hosts the most hardworking, impressive and loving people on this campus.”

Bulldogs bury # 18 Volunteers at Stegeman Coliseum

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 13:55:00 GMT

It was a celebratory Saturday night for the University of Georgia’s men’s basketball team who took down the No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers (19-7, 9-5), 73-62 in a South Eastern Conference Showdown in Athens, Ga. The Feb. 18 matchup saw the Bulldogs(15-11, 6-8) Yante Maten score 19 points on 5-for-14 shooting from the floor including converting 1-of-2 […]

The Feb. 18 matchup saw the Bulldogs(15-11, 6-8) Yante Maten score 19 points on 5-for-14 shooting from the floor including converting 1-of-2 from beyond the arc and 8-for-12 from the free throw line.

The quartet of Derek Ogbeide, Tyree Crump, William Jackson II, and Juwan Parker combined for 47 of the Dawgs other 54 points. Ogbeide finished with 16, Crump 11, with Jackson and Parker each adding 10 points.

The two rivals exchanged baskets throughout the first half with the home team finally separating themselves with a nine point lead at 21-12 with a little less than five minutes remaining before the half.

Their lead didn’t last too long when the visiting team mounted a 14-7 run, which trimmed the Dawgs lead to just two, 28-26 right before the half.

After the half the Dawgs held the Vols at bay with multiple runs that saw them up by again by nine points early into the period. It became a little hairy when the road team got within five points with over a minute left.

It would be the closest they would get as the home team closed out the game on a 10-2 run.

“It was a hard fought game,” Georgia’s head coach Mark Fox told reporters after the game. “I have a great deal of respect for Tennessee and the quality of team they have this year. The win today is great for our team.”

Up next the Dawgs travel to Columbia, SC for a SEC battle against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Feb. Wednesday, Feb. 21.

Tragic lake accident involving an Athens teen

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 17:24:00 GMT

Late last Friday a 16-year-old Athens girl died after an off-road vehicle she was riding in with four other teens crashed into a lake in Oconee County, according to Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry. Kate Jones of Chapman Place became submerged underwater when the UTV she was riding in rolled into the lake due to […]

Kate Jones of Chapman Place became submerged underwater when the UTV she was riding in rolled into the lake due to the crash that occurred at around midnight. The location of the serious accident was on private property off of High Shoals Road in the town of Bishop, Berry said.

First African American to attend UGA Charlayne Hunter-Gault returns for lecture series

Sat, 17 Feb 2018 17:08:00 GMT

Much has changed since the last time University of Georgia alumna Charlayne Hunter-Gault was on campus in 1961. Now an award-winning journalist, Hunter-Gault had a very different experience during her recent visit on Feb. 14, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. Back then, she was 19 years old and a victim of hate crimes, including […]

Now an award-winning journalist, Hunter-Gault had a very different experience during her recent visit on Feb. 14, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

Back then, she was 19 years old and a victim of hate crimes, including the time a mob threw rocks through her window.

Hunter-Gault, along with classmate Hamilton Holmes, was one of the first African American students to attend UGA. They dealt with several challenges during their first days on campus.

“I didn’t think anything was going to happen, so I was unpacking and all the sudden a rock went through my window,” Hunter-Gault said. “I was 19, and I loved my clothes. The first thing I thought of was there was glass all over my suitcase and dresses.”

The mob incident resulted in Hunter-Gault having to be suspended for her own safety, as the police had to control the crowd.

Despite that experience, Hunter-Gault said she knew UGA was where she belonged.

Two years before Hunter-Gault became a UGA student, she enrolled at Wayne State University because the school had a journalism department.

After two years of legal action, in 1961 U.S. District Court Judge William Bootle ruled that the “plaintiffs are qualified for and entitled to immediate enrollment at the University of Georgia.”

Hunter-Gault said she heard the ruling once she returned to her Wayne State and that her sorority sisters were happy for her yet worried for her safety.

Some of the fears were validated after the first few days of her being at UGA.

The first time Hunter-Gault had to be escorted out of her dorm by police because of the mob, she said she went back to something else her grandmother had taught her.

“As I walked out into that darkness, I often think of the lessons, or what I call the armor I was fitted with as a child,” Hunter-Gault said. “One of the layers of armor was from my grandmother who use to teach me Bible verses. I didn’t want to learn them, but she made me learn them. And then, I was grateful.”

This “armor” was the focus of her lecture, titled “Giving Voice to the Voiceless.”

“Nowadays we have a very toxic atmosphere and a divided country, but it’s happened before, and people have gotten through it. Even today, I find myself feeling very optimistic even though there’s a lot of poison and toxicity in the air,” she said.

This year’s lecture, which is part of the annual Hunter-Holmes series, is focused on the importance of history.

“There is so much that is going on that is positive, but it doesn’t get the coverage because what gets the coverage is the loudest stuff,” she said. “I keep telling people to pay attention to what’s going on rather than just the breaking news.”

During her recent visit to campus, Hunter-Gault said she noticed the many improvements since she graduated the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1963.

“I would like to see more color in the university population, but the color I do see is comfortable and that makes me feel good,” Hunter-Gault said.

She said she appreciates UGA President Jere Morehead’s current initiatives to increase diversity on campus.

“I see young African Americans walking on this campus totally at home,” she said. “I see the football team, white kids, black kids, playing together and being friends. I think Georgia is on the right track … has more work to do, but on the right path.”

Two men arrested after Athens-Clarke Police discovered they were stealing government money

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:00:00 GMT

Two Athens men were arrested this past Wednesday, Feb. 14, for stealing as much as $100,000 of taxpayer money. Investigators believe the two men, Jamison Goolsby and Bobby Wright, hatched a scheme about five years ago that resulted in the theft. Read more: Criminal Defense Attorney in Athens, GA According to Fox 5 in Atlanta, […]

Investigators believe the two men, Jamison Goolsby and Bobby Wright, hatched a scheme about five years ago that resulted in the theft.

According to Fox 5 in Atlanta , the Athens-Clarke County Police Department had been investigating the suspects for over a month before arresting Goolsby and Wright.

For about five years Goolsby worked as a plant supervisor for Athens-Clarke County North Oconee Water Reclamation Facility. His accomplice Wright, owns the company Wright and Wright Janitorial, Inc., and has served as the county’s vendor since 2012.

“Mr. Goolsby was submitting an invoice to finance for a product that the government was not receiving, that was made out to the Wright and Wright Janitorial,” Capt. Jerry Saulters with the police department’s Criminal Investigations Division told Fox 5.

This eventually alerted county officials who last month reached out to the Athens-Clarke Police department and asked the police to look into the matter.

“I would say that Athens-Clarke County does a really good job of checks and balances, but the way this was done and kept at that dollar amount is how it continued and stayed under the radar for a long time,” said Capt. Saulters.

So far the two men have been charged with a felony theft by deception, but per the investigators more counts could be added if the county decides to hire an auditor to investigate other possible fraudulent transactions. Currently the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to assist them.

Houston Gaines is running for District 117 in 2018

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 15:19:00 GMT

Houston Gaines recently announced he would be running as a candidate for the Georgia House District 117 seat this year. On his website, the UGA graduate and former Student Government Association president said he put in his candidacy for 2018 and named his leadership committee with representation from Clarke, Oconee, Barrow and Jackson counties, as […]

On his website, the UGA graduate and former Student Government Association president said he put in his candidacy for 2018 and named his leadership committee with representation from Clarke, Oconee, Barrow and Jackson counties, as reported in The Red & Black .

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

“This district wants and deserves conservative leadership at the state Capitol – and that’s not what it’s getting now,” Gaines said in his statement. “I’m going to provide our district a conservative alternative to the out-of-touch representation we have today.”

District 117 includes parts of Athens and Clarke County, and parts of Oconee, Barrow and Jackson counties.

Gaines, a Republican who recently graduated from the University of Georgia, lost the district in a special election last November in an unexpected upset to Democrat Deborah Gonzalez, following former representative Regina Quick’s resignation to become a judge.

In his statement, Gaines addressed his loss and the “narrow 450-margin” between he and Gonzalez.

“Special elections are – as evidenced by their name – unique,” he said in the statement. “The dynamics in 2018 will be inherently different, as will our campaign. That’s why we are announcing today, in early February, almost nine months from Election Day.”

Backed by Atlanta GOP members, Gaines had a few political gaffes during the election last year. Mayor Nancy Denson, a Democrat, also received major backlash after supporting Gaines, her former campaign manager. A transportation SPLOST vote in Clarke County may have contributed to attracting more to the polls than usual.

While promoting his campaign’s stance, Gaines pointed to Gonzalez, calling out her “committed to the far-left ideologies that mirror the most radical wing of the Democrat Party” and objecting to her “inflammatory and divisive statements attacking law enforcement” and her support for sanctuary cities.

“Those aren’t the values of District 117, and those left-wing policies do not represent the heart of District 117,” he said in the statement.

Gaines raised nearly $200,000 during his special election run, and still has almost $100,000 in unspent funds, according to Flagpole Magazine.

Members of his leadership committee include local area commissioners and school board representatives, Jackson County Sheriff Janis Magnum and leaders of the Jackson County GOP, Tammy Gilland, vice president of the Athens Regional Foundation and former UGA football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley and his wife Barbara.

Goodwill and Georgia Square Mall Hosting Job Fair

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 15:03:00 GMT

Goodwill of North Georgia and Georgia Square Mall are co-hosting a job fair today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the former Maurice store inside the Georgia Square Mall. This fair gives individuals an opportunity to connect with more than 10 local employers, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. Read more: Employment Law Attorneys, […]

This fair gives individuals an opportunity to connect with more than 10 local employers, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

This is the fifth event that Goodwill has partnered with Georgia Square Mall to host.

According to Summer Dunham, the director of public relations for Goodwill of North Georgia, Goodwill works to provide opportunities for those who need jobs, and this job fair is one of the initiatives to accomplish that.

“It’s important to us that we connect jobseekers with available jobs in their community, so we host events all throughout North Georgia,” Dunham said.

The Hyatt, Hitachi Manufacturing, Hope Haven, H&R Block, and Benson’s Hospitality Group are among some of the companies that will be on site.

These companies will be accepting applications and resumes for positions including administrative positions, hospitality professionals, warehouse and industrial positions and accountants, among others.

“We’re excited to partner with Georgia Square Mall for this event,” Dunham said. “Goodwill’s mission is to put people to work and collaborating with the mall will help us do that.”

Those who attend this job fair can pre-register for this event by creating a profile on the CareerConnector website. It is also encouraged for job seekers to dress professionally, come with resumes to distribute and have a pen on hand for the event.

Oglethorpe man disappearance still a mystery

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 15:21:00 GMT

The disappearance of an Oglethorpe County man three months ago is still baffling his family and law enforcement. Jimmy Anglin’s brother is convinced of foul play even though there is still no evidence, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. Read more: Criminal Defense Attorney, Athens GA “Foul play was involved. We know that,” Randy Anglin […]

The disappearance of an Oglethorpe County man three months ago is still baffling his family and law enforcement.

Jimmy Anglin’s brother is convinced of foul play even though there is still no evidence, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

“Foul play was involved. We know that,” Randy Anglin said recently of his brother, who went missing on Nov. 3.

“He wouldn’t go this long without calling me,” the brother said. “My mama is having a bad time and I’d like to find him and do whatever we have to do.”

Jimmy Anglin, 27, was last seen on Comer Road in Oglethorpe County. Authorities questioned a man, who was at the location during the time frame of the disappearance, but deputies are not disclosing what the man said.

Oglethorpe County sheriff’s Capt. Mike Tyndell said he could not confirm foul play at this time.

“We can’t say that,” Tyndell said. “Without a doubt, it’s been an unusually long time. We suspect something has happened, but we can’t say there is foul play.”

Tyndell said a Georgia State Patrol helicopter was in the county and it was used several days ago to scout the area where the disappearance may have occurred.

“We didn’t have any leads. We just used the opportunity to fly over that area along Highway 22,” Tyndell said.

Jessica Morgan, Anglin’s girlfriend, said she last saw him on the day of his disappearance.

“I had to go to the doctor because I was having problems with my heart,” she said. As they traveled to the doctor in Crawford in a car that belonged to Anglin’s parents, she said Jimmy received a telephone call.

The man asked Jimmy Anglin to ride with him into Athens to get some money from someone because he didn’t want to go by himself, Morgan recalled.

“I begged Jimmy not to go,” she said, but the man, whom she knows, arrived at the doctor’s office and they left together in the man’s vehicle.

“I told him to leave his phone on because I had a bad feeling,” Morgan said.

But when she called him at around 6:30 p.m. from where they lived at his parents’ home, his phone was dead, she said.

“I never heard another word from him,” Morgan said.

Missing person flyers have been posted in the area and on social media, but Tyndell said no evidence has surfaced.

“It’s been a tough case and we’re working hand in hand with the (Georgia Bureau of Investigation,” he said.

Randy Anglin said he is offering anyone a $500 reward for information that will result in finding his brother.

“I’ve told people on Facebook and stuff they don’t have to tell me their name,” he said. “They can call me or text me, and if they can tell me where he is at, I’ll give them the $500.”

Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties are suing opioid companies

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:50:00 GMT

Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties are among a growing number of governments and hospital authorities across the nation in a multi-state federal lawsuit against the makers and distributors of opioid drugs. The Athens law firm Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley filed a complaint in the United States District Court’s Middle District of Georgia last Wednesday and […]

The Athens law firm Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley filed a complaint in the United States District Court’s Middle District of Georgia last Wednesday and followed up with a similar complaint on behalf of Oconee County, said James Matthews, a Blasingame Burch partner, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

Earlier the law firm filed lawsuits against major opioid manufacturers and distributors on behalf of Candler County and the Candler County Hospital Authority.

Matthews said the firm is expected to file more than 25 complaints against the opioid manufacturers and distributors for other Georgia governments and agencies.

The 20-plus named defendants in the 176-page complaint Athens-Clarke County filed on Wednesday include Cardinal Health Inc., Cephalon Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Ortho-McNeil Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, Allergan PLC, and Watson Pharma Inc., among others.

“Plaintiff brings this civil action to eliminate the hazard to publish health and safety caused by the opioid epidemic; to abate the nuisance caused thereby, and to recoup monies that have been spent, or will be spent, because of Defendants’ false, deceptive and unfair marketing and/or unlawful diversion of prescription opioids,” according to the complaint.

Those costs include money for medical care, costs for rehabilitation and related services, and “costs associated with law enforcement and public safety” relating to the opioid epidemic, according to the Athens-Clarke complaint.

One rural South Georgia county needed to establish a drug court mostly because of opioid-related cases at a cost of $400,000 a year, he said.

The Georgia complaints will be combined with dozens of similar lawsuits across the United States in a process called multi-district litigation.

Fulton and DeKalb counties also sued companies over the costs of dealing with opioid addiction and overdoses, but those cases were filed in Georgia state courts, Matthews said.

Ohio District Court Judge Dan Polster has appointed a lead counsel for the opioid litigation, according to the Fulton County Daily Report, an Atlanta legal newspaper.

The litigation could take years to be resolved, and the judge has told lawyers he wants the first year spent on trying to settle the cases, Matthews said.

A settlement or judgment may help pay for future anti-opioid measures working their way through Georgia and other state legislatures, said University of Georgia law professor Elizabeth Weeks Leonard.

Multi-district cases can also be helpful for the defense side, Leonard said. Like the plaintiffs, the defense lawyers don’t have to defend what is essentially the same case in multiple courtrooms.

The opioid crisis means more work for law enforcement, agreed Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel.

“It’s definitely a problem,” he said. “I think you’re seeing it everywhere.”

Victims of the drug often start off with a legitimate need for the pain-killers, but become addicted, he said.

“The biggest issue is that opioids are a route to people getting on heroin,” he said. Oglethorpe county had one death last year attributed to heroin, he said.

Opioid pills are expensive, so those who become addicted may turn to heroin as a cheaper alternative, and to crime to pay for drugs, he said.

Athens man recently sentenced for knife attack at local strip club

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 17:33:00 GMT

An Athens man was recently sentenced to 10 years for attacking employees with a knife at a strip club downtown. Jedediah Tayt Sackash, 40, is expected to serve the first three years of his sentence in confinement and the balance on probation, according to the sentencing document filed in Clarke County Superior Court last week, […]

Jedediah Tayt Sackash, 40, is expected to serve the first three years of his sentence in confinement and the balance on probation, according to the sentencing document filed in Clarke County Superior Court last week, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

As reported by Athens Clarke police, the incident took place early Oct. 26, 2016, after a bartender at Toppers International Showbar on North Jackson Street refused Sackash service due to his drunken state.

Sackash reportedly “bucked up” on a bouncer who tried to escort him out of the club, but a manager intervened and convinced him to leave. The manager told police he knew Sackash from having worked with him at a local Publix.

Not long after leaving Toppers, police said Sackash bolted back into the club and slammed a knife onto the front desk several times. He then ran around the desk and attacked an employee who was stationed there by grabbing her neck and pushing her to the floor, according to police. While holding down the 24-year-old woman by the neck with one hand, Sackash raised the knife with the other hand.

As he allegedly tried to stab the woman, the manager and a bouncer tackled him. During the struggle, the bouncer was cut by the knife before Sackash was disarmed, according to police. Sackash regained control of the knife until a third employee came in and stomped on his hand and took the knife away, police said.

Employees kept the suspect pinned to the floor until police arrived at the scene.

A Clarke County grand jury indicted Sackash on three counts each of aggravated assault, possession of a knife during the commission of a crime and one count of second-degree burglary.

According to court documents, Sackash pled guilty as part of the negotiated agreement to all charges except for one count of possession of a knife during the commission of a crime and second-degree burglary, according to court records.

Once released from prison he must immediately enter a residential substance abuse treatment program, as stated in the sentencing document.

Popular Parks in Athens Looking to Expand

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 16:37:00 GMT

There are two popular Athens parks that were recently approved for expansion. Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Director Kent Kilpatrick said the expansions at Boulevard Woods Park and Southeast Clarke Park are due to increased community interest in those areas. Read more: Attorneys in Georgia “These expansions are not coming just on a whim from staff,” […]

Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Director Kent Kilpatrick said the expansions at Boulevard Woods Park and Southeast Clarke Park are due to increased community interest in those areas.

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

“These expansions are not coming just on a whim from staff,” Kilpatrick told the Athens Banner-Herald . “They’re coming from citizen groups that are growing in numbers and are asking for us to help step up and meet some of the demand.”

The proposed plan for Boulevard Woods Park includes a natural play area, wooded trails and an outdoor amphitheater.

The play area would include boulders for climbing, a hillside slide, balance logs and a geodesic dome.

“We’re not looking at putting in traditional playground equipment; we’re trying to keep it a very natural space,” Kilpatrick said.

The expansion will be funded by a $50,000 grant from the Riverview Foundation. An extra $9,000 that the Boulevard Woods Neighborhood Association saved during the park’s initial construction will also be used for the expansion.

“This is truly an example of the community coming together to improve this park,” Kilpatrick said.

At Southeast Clarke Park, the proposed expansions are because of increased interest in activities such as track and field, skateboarding and pickleball, a paddle sport that is a hybrid of badminton and table tennis.

The masterplan now includes 12 additional pickleball courts, a regulation 400 meter running track and more street elements at the skate park.

“The initial plan for Southeast Clarke Park was developed in 1999,” Kilpatrick said. “Since then, some of the community needs have changed, so we went back and reevaluated our plan.”

According to Kilpatrick, there are more than 300 pickleball players in Athens, and that number is growing every day.

“There are so many players, we can’t accommodate all of their needs right now,” he said.

More courts would triple the park’s current pickleball capacity and would also provide lighted courts for nighttime play.

“Pickleball is growing across the country,” Kilpatrick said. “We’re trying to recognize that growth here in Athens and step up and meet the need.”

The proposed skate park expansion was part of a campaign from the park’s users. The group raised $16,000 for the expansion.

Kilpatrick said that the funds raised, along with the number of skaters coming forward and showing interest in the project, are proof that the skaters want the park to grow.

Kilpatrick said the third addition is the result of a partnership with a growing youth track program which has more than 100 members.

“We really don’t have an adequate track facility, so we’re looking at designing one so we can really grow this track program in Athens,” Kilpatrick said.

Other updates to the Southeast Clarke Park plan include more parking and the relocation of two basketball courts.

The next step in the park expansions is finding funding for the projects. While the Boulevard Woods Park is benefiting from a $50,000 grant, Southeast Clarke Park’s funding would come from capital budget dollars, upcoming SPLOST project dollars, sponsors or donors.

“The parks are already popular,” Kilpatrick said. “And these additions serve to make them even better for the park users.”

The flu and cold weather stalls Red Cross donations

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 14:39:00 GMT

The widespread flu and other weather-related illnesses have affected donations and collection of blood and platelets. The Red Cross recently released an article that stated that so far this year the severe winter weather has forced almost 600 blood drives to cancel, “resulting in more than 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations.” Read more: Health […]

The Red Cross recently released an article that stated that so far this year the severe winter weather has forced almost 600 blood drives to cancel, “resulting in more than 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations.”

The flu outbreak has also led to lower turnouts at blood drives worldwide. To combat the shortage, Red Cross is scheduled to host several blood drives throughout Athens and surrounding areas in the next few weeks, as reported in The Red & Black .

From Feb. 16 – 27, the Athens Blood Donation Center off Atlanta Highway, will be providing blood donation opportunities for Red Cross.

The First Presbyterian Church of Athens will also hold a blood drive on Feb. 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The University of Georgia Christian Campus Fellowship, located off South Milledge Avenue, will be hosting a drive Feb. 21 and the UGA Main Library will have a drive for all students on Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In a press release the Red Cross said that “all blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.”

Blood donors must be 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.

Those interested in donating blood should visit the Red Cross website to schedule an appointment. A blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification must be provided at check in.

Kristen Stancil, the Red Cross external communications manager, said it is important for healthy donors to consider giving blood, considering many regular donors are unable to due to the weather.

Further information about donating blood is available at the organization’s website or via the Red Cross blood donor app.

Murder suspect denied bond second time

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 14:09:00 GMT

Recently a Clarke County Superior Court judge denied a murder suspect’s second request for bond since he was arrested five months ago. On Sept. 14, Rico Tayaassa Mitts killed 37-year-old Albert Darnell Brown by stabbing him during a drunken argument at Mitts’ Merlin Drive residence, authorities said. Read more: Criminal Defense Lawyer, Athens GA Athens-Clarke […]

On Sept. 14, Rico Tayaassa Mitts killed 37-year-old Albert Darnell Brown by stabbing him during a drunken argument at Mitts’ Merlin Drive residence, authorities said.

Athens-Clarke County police said excessive alcohol consumption fueled the argument to turn into the deadly assault, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

After leaving the scene, Mitts was found hiding under a bed at a friend’s home, according to court documents.

A Clarke County grand jury later arrested Mitts for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime, according to an indictment filed on Dec. 5 in Clarke Count Superior Court.

Judge David Sweat denied Mitts’ request for bond on Oct. 12, considering the defendant a flight risk with no significant ties to Athens, according to court records.

Mitts filed another bond request with Judge Regina Quick, Sweat’s successor following his retirement.

Upon hearing arguments during a Jan. 26 hearing, Quick denied the bond request. Mitts “does not have a reputation for reliability,” Quick said in an order that was dated Feb. 1.

Another reason the judge denied bond was Mitts’ criminal history which included 21 arrests and seven convictions for different crimes, his failure to appear in court for some pretrial proceedings, and his attempt to flee and elude police the evening he allegedly killed Brown.

Alleged prostitute in Athens charged for kidnapping and robbery

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:27:00 GMT

This week the Clarke County grand jury indicted an alleged prostitute who set up customers for armed robberies at several motels in Athens. One of the alleged victims was kidnapped and left in his car’s trunk, authorities said. Nicole Jolita Reeves, 26, met her customers at area motels, where she allegedly set them up for […]

Nicole Jolita Reeves, 26, met her customers at area motels, where she allegedly set them up for robberies by two males, who have yet to be identified by police, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

Following her 2016 arrest, Reeves was indicted on two counts of armed robbery and one count each of false imprisonment, kidnapping, battery, and entering a vehicle.

According to Western Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant District Attorney, Reeves’ case was presented last week to a different grand jury because “Reeves had determined that she wished to proceed to trial.”

Based on more evidence, Fogal said the grand jury came back with a new indictment charging Reeves with two counts of armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of entering an automobile and one count each of kidnapping with bodily injury and false imprisonment.

On Feb. 14, 2016, a 19-year-old Arnoldsville man managed to escape from the trunk of his car, where he had been bound and gagged all night, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

The victim told police he met Reeves through classifieds website backpage.com. They had a rendezvous at the Travel Inn motel on West Broad Street. After they had sex, police said, Reeves’ two male accomplices came out of the bathroom and assaulted the victim.

“He advised that they put him on the floor and zip-tied his wrists and duct-taped his mouth, then beat him some more,” according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.

Police said one of the men demanded the personal identification number for a debit card he found in the victim’s wallet and then went to an ATM, where he made a withdrawal from the victim’s account. Upon returning, he and the other male threw the victim into the trunk of his own car and left him at the motel parking lot all night, police said.

Police said the suspects drove the victim’s car to North Billups Street the next morning where they opened the trunk before driving away in another vehicle. The victim, his face badly bruised with one eye swollen shut, went to a nearby home seeking help.

Two days later, a 47-year-old Crawford man came forward to report he had been robbed in a similar way by Reeves. The man did not intend to report the incident, but police said he changed his mind after reading an OnlineAthens.com report about the Travel Inn robbery and kidnapping.

Georgia Supreme Court reverses murder conviction of Athens man

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 15:06:00 GMT

The Georgia Supreme Court recently overturned the murder conviction of an Athens man who killed another man four years ago at a Super Bowl party, according to a document released by the court Monday. Marvin Lewis Brown Jr., who was 29 at the time, fatally shot 24-year-old Javious Cordez Tucker on Feb. 2, 2014, during […]

Marvin Lewis Brown Jr., who was 29 at the time, fatally shot 24-year-old Javious Cordez Tucker on Feb. 2, 2014, during an argument that began over Brown’s refusal to share a bag of pork skins with the victim, Athens-Clarke County police said.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Brown was tried and convicted of murdering Tucker and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The reason for the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Brown’s conviction was because it had determined the trial judge wrongfully allowed the jury to hear about two unrelated shooting incidents from 2005 in which Brown was convicted of aggravated assault.

The 2014 incident took place on the afternoon of Super Bowl Sunday. Brown was among a few other attendees who gathered to watch the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks duke it out at a home on Lombardy Circle.

According to reports, Tucker passed by to borrow an air pump. When he saw Brown outside of the residence, he asked him if he could have some pork skins, but Brown told Tucker there wasn’t enough to share.

A physical argument ensued but was broken up, noted reports. Tucker drove off when told to leave but saw Brown down the street with some friends later.

When another altercation occurred, Tucker opened the trunk of his car and took out a tire iron but got back in the car and began to drive away.

Brown grabbed a gun from his car and ran after Tucker, firing nine shots into the victim’s car, seven of which struck the victim, according to police. Tucker died at the scene.

Brown fled after the shooting but was found and arrested in Gwinnett County two days later after a tipster informed Athens-Clarke County police with his whereabouts.

Gwinnett County police detained the suspect during a traffic stop in a vehicle he was in as it approached an apartment complex.

The jury found Brown guilty of malice murder and felony murder, aggravated assault, use of a firearm by a convicted felon during the commission of a crime and related offenses.

In April 2014 a Clarke County grand jury indicted Brown for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, terroristic acts, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime.

Prior to trial, prosecutors filed a notice of intent to introduce “other acts evidence,” and a hearing was held on the matter.

The other acts of evidence were Brown’s guilty pleas to being the gunman in two separate shootings in late 2005.

The previous shooting convictions should not have been allowed as evidence in the murder trial, according to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“The fact that [Brown] had committed an assault on another person … [nine] years earlier had nothing to do with his reason for … shooting the victim” and “really has no purpose other than to show [Brown’s] propensity toward violence,” according to the ruling. In fact, “the State had other admissible evidence available to rebut Brown’s self-defense claim without the introduction of the prior aggravated assaults.”

The evidence underlying Brown’s guilt “is not overwhelming,” the opinion says. There were no eyewitnesses to the shooting other than Brown, and “while the forensic evidence indicates Brown took steps toward and shot into the car multiple times, there is ample conflicting evidence concerning whether he acted in self-defense. … In light of the entirety of the evidence presented at trial, we cannot say that it is highly probable that the error did not contribute to the verdict. Accordingly, we must reverse Brown’s convictions.”

In their unanimous ruling, the high court justices said that there was nothing in the ruling that prevents the state from retrying Brown.

Madison County names Michael Williams new superintendent

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 16:10:00 GMT

The Madison County Board of Education recently chose Madison County Schools Assistant Superintendent Michael Williams to become the school system’s new superintendent. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the board named Williams for the position at a meeting last Thursday. Read more: Estate Planning Madison GA Under state law, Williams’ appointment is not official until […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the board named Williams for the position at a meeting last Thursday.

Secretary of State candidates debate issues of electoral process and integrity

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 13:39:00 GMT

Last Wednesday the University of Georgia College Republicans hosted a debate featuring the four Republican candidates running for Secretary of State. The candidates are Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, State Rep. Buzz Brockway, State Sen. Josh McKoon, and State Rep. Brad Raffensperger. Read more: DUI Attorney in Georgia Issues discussed included election security, voter fraud […]

The candidates are Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, State Rep. Buzz Brockway, State Sen. Josh McKoon, and State Rep. Brad Raffensperger.

Athens man charged for alleged drug trafficking

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 15:00:00 GMT

Recently a Clarke County grand jury indicted an Athens man on alleged drug trafficking charges. Alvin Bernard Evans, 61, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in heroin, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance, according to the indictment that was filed in Clarke County […]

Alvin Bernard Evans, 61, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in heroin, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance, according to the indictment that was filed in Clarke County Superior Court this week.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , Evans was detained on Dec. 6 when members of the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force searched his residence on Sherwood Court, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.

The indictment states that the task force found Evans in possession of more than 20 grams of coke, more than 4 grams of heroin, and unspecified amounts of marijuana and hydromorphone, which is a form of morphine.

The arrest came after a search of Evans’ home two months ago.

He had in the past been indicted on drug charges in connection with a 2008 drug task force search of his home on Danielsville Road, according to police and court documents.

The indictment, which charged Evans with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of morphine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, was later dismissed after a judge granted a defense motion to suppress evidence, according to court records.

Evans has been held without bail at the Clarke County Jail since being arrested in December, according to the Clarke County Jail’s website.

UGA School of Law honors Peter Appel and his effect on the community and his students

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 14:49:00 GMT

Something that made Peter Appel stand out among other law professors was how he seamlessly added humor to topics such as property law. “I used to always joke that I thought he had really always wanted to be a comedian, but in an effort to appease his parents he had studied law instead,” Greyson Ruback, […]

“I used to always joke that I thought he had really always wanted to be a comedian, but in an effort to appease his parents he had studied law instead,” Greyson Ruback, University of Georgia alumnus, told The Red & Black . “I’m pretty sure he would have made them proud if he had gone the comic route too though, given how well he was able to work with the limited material he had.”

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

For more than 20 years as a UGA professor of law, Appel’s students held many memories of Appel’s comedy and real-world experience.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations with classmates over the last couple days, sharing our memories and experiences, and just about every one of them mentioned how their respect for Appel and appreciation for his style has grown as they’ve been practicing law in the real world,” Ruback said.

Appel passed away over the weekend of Jan. 27, leaving behind a legacy of law publications and far-reaching influences in the UGA law community.

“Peter Appel never cultivated an image, he was always genuine, and what you saw is what you got at all times,” Ruback said.

Appel’s primary focus was on his research on sustainable commerce, wilderness preservation and environmental and natural resources law.

“Professor Appel was a beloved colleague and friend who deeply cared about our law school community, and his loss will be felt by many,” said School of Law Dean Peter “Bo” Rutledge. “At this time, we are keeping his family at the forefront of our thoughts.”

Two years after joining the UGA School of Law faculty, Appel became a Lilly Teaching Fellow, which is a program that recognizes new tenure-track professors who demonstrate strengths in instructional skills, until 2001.

In 2011, Appel was named the inaugural holder of the Alex W. Smith Professorship in Law, an honor endowed by the UGA Foundation.

Jamie Roskie, a UGA School of Law alumna and former faculty member, posted about Appel on the Law Professor Blogs Network, describing him as a friend and a mentor.

“He loved teaching and he tried, though goofy jokes, songs, and a general love of the subject matter, to make learning the law joyful,” Roskie wrote.

While at UGA, he published articles and encyclopedia entries regarding natural resource issues and his other areas of emphasis. His articles were featured in the Harvard Environmental Law Review, the Stanford Environmental Law Journal, the Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court of the United States and other law journals.

He also trained wildness managers at the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center and taught environmental law to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Appel spent six years as an attorney with the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and was also the judicial clerk for Chief Judge Gilbert S. Merritt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit before he started at UGA.

Appel received his bachelor’s and law degrees from Yale University and was a member of the Yale Law and Policy Review.

“I don’t think I ever adequately conveyed to Peter my appreciation for all the knowledge and kindness he provided me through the years,” Roskie wrote.

Journalist and Lawyers Helped Expose USA Gymnastic doctor Nassar’s Sexual Abuse

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 13:58:00 GMT

At a recent event at the University of Georgia, a journalist and team of lawyers who worked together to expose sexual abuse by USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar explained how they brought those abuses to light. About two years ago the USA Gymnastics investigation began in Indiana where reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski and other Indianapolis Star […]

About two years ago the USA Gymnastics investigation began in Indiana where reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski and other Indianapolis Star journalists were investigating reports of cover-ups of sexual abuse complaints by USA Gymnastics against coaches.

Several victims decided to contact the newspaper and lawyers with their abuse stories when they head about the civil lawsuit trial slated for April and of the Indianapolis newspaper’s still incomplete battle to attain important records.

On Saturday Kwiatkowski addressed the audience at a conference in Athens sponsored by the UGA School of Law’s Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic. Savannah lawyer Brian Cornwell, who represents the plaintiff in an Effingham County lawsuit against UGA Gymnastics and a now-jailed gymnastics coach who worked at a Savannah gym; Atlanta lawyer Derek Bauer, who represented the Indianapolis Star as it sought records from the Effingham County case, and Courtney Kiehl, a former gymnast who had been a victim of sex abuse, joined her on the panel.

Atlanta lawyer Darren Penn, who earlier this year filed a lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America and other defendants on behalf of men who were allegedly sexually abused as children by an Athens Scoutmaster, was the panel’s moderator.

Nassar was not initially the focus of the Indianapolis newspaper’s investigation, but when the Star reported it would be working toward obtaining the Georgia records, victims started contacting the reporters and editors on the investigation.

“I came forward as soon as I found out there were other girls,” Kiehl told The Athens Banner-Herald .

Last week a Michigan judge sentenced Nassar to 175 years in prison after hearing from about 156 victims who testified how Nassar, a former U.S. Olympic team doctor, abused them. The board of USA Gymnastics resigned, and Michigan’s attorney general announced an investigation into Michigan State University administrators handling of sexual violence reports, including reports of gang rapes by Michigan State athletes. Michigan State’s president and athletic director also resigned following those reports.

More than 100 related civil lawsuits have been filed nationwide, Kwiatkowski said.

When the Effingham County judge ordered the files to be released, USA Gymnastics twice appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court. USA Gymnastics lawyers argue that the public have no interest in those records while calling the newspaper’s fight to obtain access “a witch hunt.”

When the records were made public, they had been redacted with one cause having 175 pages of total redaction, Bauer said. Other records remain under seal.

Bauer and Cornwell explained to their audience in UGA’s Rusk Hall why it’s difficult for victims to sue, and how Georgia law adds to that challenge.

Georgia law requires sexual abuse to be reported, but there is no civil penalty for failure to do so, Cornwell said.

There’s an effort in the state to make failure to report a felony.

“But it gives the victim absolutely nothing,” he said. “This is a systemic problem. This is an epidemic problem. The only way it can change is to hit people in the pocketbook.”

Georgia law allows a childhood victim to sue up until age 23, or the discovery of the abuse and resulting harm, according to the Wilbanks Center’s website. That means many will never be able to sue, the lawyers said.

“Not every survivor wants or needs to be public,” Kwiatkowski said.

But any time someone shares his or her story, it helps others be able to come forward, she said.

Kwiatkowski and her colleagues are currently looking at where “systems have broken” down and failed to protect victims, she said.

“You’re going to see a lot more about entities being held responsible,” she said.

Athens-Clarke County presented with Live, Work, Play City Award

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 14:28:00 GMT

Athens-Clarke County is one of nine cities throughout Georgia to have been bestowed with the 2018 Live, Work, Play City Award. Mayor Nancy Denson recently accepted the award from the Georgia Municipal Association at the association’s annual Mayors’ Day conference in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Georgia Municipal Association along with Georgia Trend Magazine coordinated the […]

Mayor Nancy Denson recently accepted the award from the Georgia Municipal Association at the association’s annual Mayors’ Day conference in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Georgia Municipal Association along with Georgia Trend Magazine coordinated the award, as reported in The Red & Black .

The annual award’s recipients are recognized for their efforts in creating jobs, opening the housing market and implementing recreational opportunities for the community. Cities throughout the state were surveyed based on their population size to determine the three categories for the winners.

Athens-Clarke County, along with Columbus and LaGrange, won the award for the “large cities in Georgia” category and as such will be featured in Georgia Trend magazine’s February 2018 issue.

Larry Hanson, executive director for the Georgia Municipal Association, said in a press release that each of the nine cities chosen “truly embody well-rounded communities that benefit residents and businesses alike.”

“They also serve as examples for local governments across Georgia,” he said. “Officials in these cities have demonstrated advanced problem-solving, exceptional management and teamwork to increase the overall quality of life for all residents.”

Denson said she felt “honored” that Athens-Clarke County had been chose to receive this award.

“It is gratifying to be recognized for the many things that help make this community such a special place to live, work, and play,” Denson said.

College of Journalism names new associate dean of academic affairs

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 14:26:00 GMT

Dean Charles N. Davis of Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication has appointed Maria Len-Ríos as the college’s new associate dean of academic affairs. The position opened up in preparation for the retirement of current Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Alison Alexander in June. Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA “I am delighted to […]

The position opened up in preparation for the retirement of current Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Alison Alexander in June.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

“I am delighted to have appointed Dr. Len-Ríos to the role of associate dean,” Davis told The Red & Black . “She’s a natural leader, and I’m heartened by her willingness to step up and serve.”

Under this position, Len-Ríos will assist the college’s departments build curriculum, collaborate with new partners and industries and find new opportunities for the college and the students.

“It’s a great honor and an opportunity to be able to work with the faculty, the students and the alumni at Grady,” Len-Ríos said.

Prior to Len-Ríos joining Grady in 2014, she taught public relations, health communication and cross-cultural journalism at Missouri School of Journalism, University of Kansas and Georgia Southern University.

She also co-edited “Cross-Cultural Journalism: Communicating Strategically About Diversity” and served as interim chair of the Grady College Diversity Committee in 2017. She is also a 2017-18 UGA Women’s Leadership Fellow.

Len-Rios has earned over nine top research awards in national and international academic conferences, according to UGA Today.

Len-Rios said incorporating diversity in this position will benefit communicating with audiences too.

“When I think of diversity, I think of serving communities where our audiences live, so I think it’s important … that when we develop stories and when we communicate with our audiences, we [do so] in authentic ways,” Len-Ríos said.

Former UGA employee charged for alleged theft

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 13:41:00 GMT

A former employee of the University of Georgia was arrested last week on 30 counts of felony theft for allegedly stealing from the business office at the university. Following an investigation being conducted by the UGA Police Department, thirty-three-year-old Jasmine Leroyna Burch was charged with 30 counts of theft by taking, according to a police […]

Following an investigation being conducted by the UGA Police Department, thirty-three-year-old Jasmine Leroyna Burch was charged with 30 counts of theft by taking, according to a police report attained by the Athens-Banner-Herald and OnlineAthens .

The investigation officially began on Jan. 11 after the director of UGA’s Internal Auditing Division reported that a thorough review of the university’s business office, which is located on campus in the Tate Student Learning Center, determined that there were funds that were missing, according to the report.

Officials of the university did not yet respond to questions in regard to the thefts, or the amount of stolen funds was not provided in the police report.

Burch was listed as a senior accounting technician on an organizational chart for the Office of the Dean of Students that was dated September of 2017.

There were arrest warrants that were signed by an Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Court judge last Wednesday and police also were able to notify the female suspect about those warrants on that day as well, according to the police report.

Burch was taken to the Clarke County Jail Wednesday afternoon where she was booked and then released the following day after posting a total bond of $31,200, according to the Clarke County Jail’s website.

Dawgs Suit Up event returns to Georgia Square Mall

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 13:35:00 GMT

Just last week the university’s alumni association hosted events for students to order their cap and gowns as well as class rings. On Sunday, Ja. 28, students will have the opportunity to shop for business attire to wear to their graduation ceremony and future job interviews. To make it easier for graduating seniors, JCPenney partnered […]

To make it easier for graduating seniors, JCPenney partnered with the University of Georgia Career Center to host an event that will allow students to shop for business outfits at a discounted rate, as reported in The Red & Black .

Dawgs Suit Up will be set up at JCPenney in Georgia Square Mall today from 5:30-9 p.m. The store will be closed to the public during that time, allowing students exclusive access to a wide selection of professional attire at 40 percent off with a valid student ID.

UGA faculty, staff and alumni will be at the event to answer any questions students may have about their wardrobe choices for interviews.

JCPenney team members will also be available to assist students with finding appropriate sizes, offering “insights into the latest career fashion trends,” and discussing “how a suit should fit, how to tie a tie and more,” the press release said.

Students attending the event will also have a chance to win a free mini makeover at the Sephora inside JCPenney. Free salon consultations and express bar hair touch ups will also be available for students.

With the discount, the press release said men can “easily purchase a Stafford suit jacket and pants, shirts, ties, belts and shoes” all for under $200. Women will be able to “buy a Worthington suit jacket, skirt, shirt and shoes for under $100.”

The last time the event occurred was in September.

Guilty plea from man who threatened Rep. John Lewis’ staff

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 14:36:00 GMT

From the Associated Press as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, on Friday a man accused of threatening U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ staff plead guilty in federal court. Dante Antione Rosser, 43, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening a federal official. His plea agreement calls for an 18-month prison sentence, followed by three years of […]

Dante Antione Rosser, 43, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening a federal official. His plea agreement calls for an 18-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, prosecutor Phyllis Clerk said in court.

Clerk said Rosser made threatening calls, with some sexual in nature, to Lewis’ Atlanta and Washington offices from March 2016 through February 2017.

Court records say the Democratic congressman’s Atlanta-based staff members expressed “grave concerns” for their safety after Rosser went to their office and made several phone calls.

Rosser made 46 calls within a two-day period in February and demanded the congressman’s staff seek “financial reparations” for his family, according to a sworn statement from a U.S. Capitol Police special agent. The statement says Rosser threatened to “splatter their heads all over the ground.”

After the media attention the case received, the staff at an apartment complex close to Atlanta where Rosser had previously resided reached out to the FBI to say that he had harassed them for nearly two years, Clerk told a magistrate judge in July. The threats and harassment increased, and Rosser even went to the leasing office where he shouted at the employees, Clerk said.

The recommendation of 18 months in prison is binding if U.S. District Judge Steve Jones accepts the plea agreement. Jones said he wanted to review a presentence report to be completed by a probation officer before accepting the agreement. Sentencing is scheduled for April 23.

Students and health professionals share warning signs and symptoms of prevalent flu

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:14:00 GMT

The frigid cold weather was not the thing to blame for keeping students out of class this month. Flu season, which peaks annually across the country between December and February, is affecting more people than in the last few years, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more: Healthcare Attorneys, […]

Flu season, which peaks annually across the country between December and February, is affecting more people than in the last few years, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Amalie Gee, a senior public relations major from Buford, said she was “trapped in [her] room for five days” after getting the flu. She called it “one of the worst times for her health in [her] life.”

“People don’t stay home when they’re sick,” Gee told The Red & Black . “We’re around so many people during the day that getting sick is inevitable. It’s just a matter of time until it’s the flu instead of the usual cold.”

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s recent influenza report, there was “high influenza-like illness intensity with widespread occurrences throughout Georgia.”

As of Jan. 19, there have been 12 flu-related deaths in the state and as of Jan. 13, there have been 404 hospitalizations in Georgia, according to the report.

During a Student Health Advisory Committee meeting at the University of Georgia Health Center, members discussed how severe this flu season has been.

“Something we just talked about at our last meeting was that this is one of the biggest flu seasons in probably ten years,” said Daniel Couper, a senior exercise science major from Johns Creek and member of the committee.

Couper wrote a blog post for the health center’s website that tests one’s “Flu I.Q.” The post includes a comparison between the common cold and the flu as well as ways to try to prevent catching the flu.

“[My goal was] to try and educate the student body about the flu, how to prevent it, how to know if you have it or not,” Couper said.

In his post, Couper recommended getting the flu shot, which the CDC also recommends in order to stay healthy during the flu season. However, finding this vaccine has been difficult for some students.

As of Jan. 24, the downtown CVS is out of the flu vaccine due to a “manufacturer backorder issue,” pharmacist Lance Miller said.

Tamiflu, the antiviral prevention medicine, has also been hard to locate.

Cameron Sowers, a junior social work major from Savannah, said she took on the role of caretaker when her boyfriend recently contracted the flu. Even though she visited several pharmacies in town, she said she could not find Tamiflu anywhere.

“It was just really stressful because I was afraid that I was going to catch it too, and I couldn’t afford to [catch the flu] because I had school,” she said.

Lorraine Abazeri, a senior political science major from Marietta, was vaccinated before school started, but she got the flu five days before Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“I have slight asthma, so it’s been the hardest on my lungs. It’s hard to get enough air without my lungs hurting or crackling. My entire body hurts like I’ve been hit by a truck,” Abazeri said.

Kristen Stancil, Red Cross external communications manager, said the flu has “contributed to a spike in canceled donations.”

“Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in,” Stancil said.

UGA predicts that Athens’ job growth will surpass the nation’s

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:38:00 GMT

Athens’ economy is projected to flourish more than the overall national average, according to the University of Georgia’s annual economic forecast. Benjamin Ayers, dean of UGA’s Terry College of Business, said the economic expansion of the last decade may have peaked, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. That next recession is not looming, but “it’s […]

Benjamin Ayers, dean of UGA’s Terry College of Business, said the economic expansion of the last decade may have peaked, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

That next recession is not looming, but “it’s time to prepare for the next recession,” he said.

Employment will be up by nearly 2 percent in 2018 — down from last year’s 2.5 percent growth, but higher than the predicted U.S. job growth of 1.1 percent, Ayers told about 400 people in Athens’ Classic Center on Wednesday. Athens’ job growth will be nearly 1.5 percent, he said.

Each year the college’s Selig Center for Economic Growth develops a forecast for the state and its major cities, regions and economic sectors. Ayers and Jeff Humphreys, director of the Selig Center, present their forecasts in Atlanta, Savannah, among other cities, offering business leaders a look ahead regarding economic conditions in their area as well as the state and national trends.

Some sectors will experience strong growth, such as construction, while others will slow down, such as utilities and government, he said.

Biotech will remain stable, although there are possibilities for growth in Athens for new companies as well as expansion, according to the forecast.

“The outlook for consultants is good due to higher corporate profits that we’re seeing,” Ayers said.

Single-family housing prices have recovered to pre-recession levels in Georgia, in some areas more than others, Ayers said.

A weaker dollar will help boost exports, which would bring forth thousands of jobs in logistics, transportation and related areas, he said.

One factor that will boost the economy is more people; Georgia will see population growth of about 1.5 percent this year, Ayers said.

“We’re not yet at the point of population growth in the early 2000s, but we’re headed in that direction,” he said.

Ayers also mentioned the state’s booming film and television industry, now among the world’s largest.

Home prices in Athens are about 7 percent above their pre-recession peak while Atlanta’s prices have gotten even higher.

House prices fell by nearly a fifth during the recession.

Permits to build new homes will be up by about 16 percent this year, he said.

Areas that will have the strongest growth include Atlanta, Warner Robins, Athens and Savannah.

In Athens, new hotels and renovations to UGA’s Georgia Center for Continuing Education are among the factors that will help Athens attract more convention and tourist business, which would add jobs, Humphreys said. Caterpillar should fare well in 2018, Humphreys said. The Zaxby’s restaurant chain plans a corporate campus in Oconee County that will add 750 to 1,000 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years, he said.

“The structure of our economy does make Athens a very comfortable place to live,” he said.

As with any economic forecast, there are headwinds that may slow economic growth as well as wild cards which could lead to abrupt changes for good or for ill, the forecasters said.

More aggressive deregulation, a big federal infrastructure spending package, and immigration reform that increases the proportion of highly skilled and educated workers could help growth.

Growth could be threatened by Athens’ diminishing role as a regional retail hub as a result of competition from neighbors as well as the continuing shift of retail sales to the Internet, he said.

Athens is very dependent on state government jobs, and over the long term, cuts in state government could slow growth in Athens, Humphreys said.

A major plus for Athens is that several economic development projects are unfolding in and around the city, even though it typically takes years for these projects to build out.

UGA’s Law School to Foster Diversity through Benham Scholars Program

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:30:00 GMT

The University of Georgia School of Law recently announced the creation of the Benham Scholars Program, a program intended to promote diversity in the practice of law throughout the state of Georgia. The program, named after Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham, is funded as part of UGA President Jere Morehead’s New Approaches in Diversity […]

The program, named after Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham, is funded as part of UGA President Jere Morehead’s New Approaches in Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, as reported in The Red & Black .

Benham, the second black UGA School of Law graduate, said he’s proud to help young people with this scholarship.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

“If this program can help even a fraction of them attend law school and have the chance for a successful legal career, we will have made an impact. I am of course honored by this incredible recognition and look forward to watching this new program change young lives,” said Benham in the release.

During the Jan. 12 Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast, President Morehead said the new program was one of UGA’s recent initiatives formed to promote diversity.

“The mission of the Benham Scholars will be to address legally underserved communities across the state of Georgia,” said Morehead at the event. “I am very proud of these latest efforts, but I am also proud of ongoing efforts.”

According to the release, private donations from the Office of the President will be matched by private law school donations. The program will focus on recruitment, law school preparation, academic support and career planning.

Its first scholars will be admitted for the 2018-2019 school year.

“One of our goals as an institution of legal education is to ensure our student body, and ultimately the new lawyers who enter the profession, is reflective of today’s society,” said UGA School of Law Dean Peter B. Rutledge in the release. “Through the Benham Scholars Program, we hope to give these young men and women the opportunity to thrive both in law school and in their careers.”

Athens woman to begin long sentence for $300K embezzlement

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 15:48:00 GMT

On Monday an Athens woman began serving a four-year prison sentence for stealing over $300,000 from a local medical office where she was the office manager. According to authorities, 65-year-old Judy Reeves Flanagan embezzled the money to cover her plastic surgery “addiction.” Read more: Georgia Tax Litigation Attorney, Athens GA In 2016, Flanagan was indicted […]

On Monday an Athens woman began serving a four-year prison sentence for stealing over $300,000 from a local medical office where she was the office manager.

According to authorities, 65-year-old Judy Reeves Flanagan embezzled the money to cover her plastic surgery “addiction.”

In 2016, Flanagan was indicted on 10 counts of theft for taking funds from the Oglethorpe Avenue dermatologist who employed her, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

In accordance with a plea deal, Flanagan was sentenced on Nov. 30 to four years in prison and 26 years on probation. A Clarke County Superior Court judge also ordered Flanagan to make restitution in the amount of $331,598.22 to her former employer and also barred her from any future employment in positions where handling money is involved, according to the sentencing document.

The judge allowed Flanagan to remain on house arrest until last month, when she officially turned herself in at the Clarke County Jail. On Monday she was transported to Arrendale State Prison, according to a jail supervisor.

According to Athens-Clarke County police, Flanagan stole the funds from her employer throughout a period of eight years. She kept cash payments made by patients for herself as well as from her employer’s checking account, police said.

In February 2016, Flanagan was fired immediately after the funds were discovered missing, and an investigation was then conducted by the police department’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit.

A unit detective told the newspaper that police attained information that embezzled funds paid for a plastic surgery “addiction” Flanagan supposedly had, but there was no paper trail of transactions to substantiate that claim.

“I believe those transactions were in cash,” the investigator said.

UGA Founders Week to host lecture and other events

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 14:35:00 GMT

This week the University of Georgia will observe its anniversary as the nation’s birthplace of public higher education. The UGA Alumni Association is slated to host a week-long series of events, including the 16th annual Founders Day Lecture today in the Chapel, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. Read more: Employment Law Attorney, Athens GA Marshall […]

The UGA Alumni Association is slated to host a week-long series of events, including the 16th annual Founders Day Lecture today in the Chapel, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

Marshall Shepherd, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences, will present the lecture, “Partly Sunny or Partly Cloudy? The Challenges of Communicating Science to Non-Scientists.”

Shepherd, who is the director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program as well as full professor and associate department head for the department of geography, chairs the NASA Earth Sciences Advisory Committee and is a former member of its Earth Science Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council. He was honored by former President George W. Bush at the White House in 2004 with the Presidential Early Career Award for pioneering scientific research in weather and climate science. He is also the host of The Weather Channel’s award-winning Sunday talk show “Weather Geeks.”

With a passion for science education, Shepherd co-authored a children’s book about weather and weather instruments, “Dr. Fred’s Weather Watch” and co-founded the Alcova Elementary weather science chat series.

Established on Jan. 27, 1785, the Georgia General Assembly adopted a charter dubbing UGA as the first institution of public higher education in the country.

The lecture is sponsored by the Office of the President, UGA Alumni Association and the Emeriti Scholars, a group of retired faculty members who continue to enhance the university’s academic endeavors through part-time teaching, research and service assignments.

Along with the lecture, the Office of the President will host an invitation-only luncheon where Mary Frances Early and Del Dunn will be presented with the President’s Medal for their astonishing support of students and academic programs as well as advanced research.

The Student Alumni Council will sponsor a series of events for students throughout the week, which include:

Monday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Founders Week T-shirt giveaway on Tate north lawn;

Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tradition Tuesday at the statue of Abraham Baldwin;

Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 100 Days ‘Til Graduation Celebration in Memorial Hall Ballroom;

Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., State of the University Address in the Chapel;

Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Founders Week banner contest;

Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Founders Day Celebration in Tate Plaza.

More activities could be planned and will be posted online.

“Founders Week is the university community’s opportunity to reflect on our shared history and recognize the growth that has taken place on campus through the decades,” said Meredith Gurley Johnson, executive director of alumni relations. “I hope that alumni and friends will take this time to come back to campus for the lecture and see how UGA is leading innovation.”

Ex-custodian at Oconee High Confesses to A Dozen Secret Videos

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 13:00:00 GMT

The former custodian who was charged with secretly videotaping girls in a locker room at Oconee County High School confessed that he did it over a dozen times, but authorities are still examining videos in his electronic devices before filing additional charges. Timothy Brian Burnette made the admission immediately after it was determined that his […]

Timothy Brian Burnette made the admission immediately after it was determined that his cell phone camera was in the locker room, according to an Oconee County sheriff’s report. He has been in jail since Jan. 10 without bond on a charge of unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance.

We anticipate one additional charge (soon),” Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry told the Athens Banner-Herald on Friday. “We don’t have the results back from the other devices. And I don’t know when that will be, but we’ve asked them to hurry.”

The sheriff said he expects that the evidence will bring about additional charges.

The 41-year-old suspect from Oglethorpe County worked for the school system for less than six months before he was fired once the allegations surfaced.

Two students found the cellphone and took it to school administrators, who determined it belonged to Burnette, according to deputies.

School officials then reached the parents of the girls following Burnette’s job termination and arrest.

The sheriff’s office is investigating the crime, but investigators also notified the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. The GBI’s agents were sent to conduct a search of Burnette’s home on Watson Springs Road in Union Point.

“We’ve definitely run into it before where people are hiding cameras in residential bathrooms and children’s bedrooms, and it has happened before in schools,” said Debbie Garner, director of the GBI Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. “Hiding cameras in places has gone on for years.”

In the Burnette investigation, Garner said the GBI is conducting digital forensics on the evidence that agents seized at the suspect’s home.

Off campus bookstores close next month

Sat, 20 Jan 2018 13:53:00 GMT

At one time University of Georgia students wanting to save money on textbooks would head to Baxter Street and into one of the off-campus bookstores with enough money to hopefully have enough left over eat out with friends. But now students order their books on Amazon, which is something that has become common among students […]

But now students order their books on Amazon, which is something that has become common among students but has hurt the business of two off-campus bookstores that were once busy, as reported in The Red & Black .

“The market’s getting a little bit more complicated. Amazon has played a role in it,” said Beat the Bookstore owner David Conley.

As a result of this and other personal reasons, Conley and the other owners will be closing shop at the beginning of February.

Baxter Street Bookstore, formerly known as Off-Campus Bookstore, will also be closing its doors at the end of January, causing a void in off-campus textbook options in town.

Baxter Street Bookstore and Beat the Bookstore are planning to close after 30 years and 13 years in business, respectively.

Currently, students have new-and-used rental and buying options at both stores, both of which advertise less expensive prices for textbooks than the official University of Georgia Bookstore.

James Carroll, a horticulture major from Chickamauga, said he will miss the potential for finding an off-campus deal on a textbook instead of having to go to UGA’s bookstore.

“I feel like Athens and UGA need these independent bookstores … to provide college students a cheaper alternative than the overpriced textbooks available at the UGA bookstore,” Carroll said.

Conley said he and the other owners at Beat the Bookstore have other businesses they’ll concentrate on, including other bookstores in Georgia and Tennessee. They also want to have more time to spend with their families.

“The owners are getting older, so we had a good run, and we’ve been here for 13 years,” Conley said.

He recognizes students will be affected in that they will have fewer choices of who and where to buy from, but “they will adapt,” Conley said.

Thomas Hogan, a junior biology major, said he’s come to terms with looking for deals on textbooks elsewhere.

“If I want to get a cheaper book, I’ll probably go to Amazon,” Hogan said.

Unsold books at Beat the Bookstore will go to wholesalers or other colleges. Conley said they are offering “great deals” on titles that can save students up to $100 up until they close.

Baxter Street Bookstore is also offering 30 percent off UGA apparel and merchandise.

Symposium’s emphasis is on achieving social justice

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 14:27:00 GMT

There will be a day-long symposium on Saturday for people in the community who are interested in achieving social justice and improving the quality of life for everyone in Athens-Clarke County by learning how to work toward those goals. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at the Unitarian Universalist […]

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 780 Timothy Rd. in Athens from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as reported in The Red & Black .

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

Organized by graduate students from the University of Georgia School of Social Work, the symposium’s workshops and panel discussions will including topics such as access to credit, public transportation, affordable housing, mental health services, employment, urban resilience planning, immigration reform and other issues.

Kristen Daniel, CEO and founder of Pentorship, an Atlanta nonprofit that teaches people in prison business skills helpful for when they are released, will give a keynote address. Daniel will talk about the methods her group uses to try to prevent recidivism and unemployment among people leaving the prison system.

Before she addresses the crowd at 1:30 p.m., Athens community activist Humberto “Beto” Mendoza will be receiving the June Gary Hopps Bridge Award, which was established at last year’s inaugural symposium to recognize people who have worked to advance human rights.

Mendoza is a leader in the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition and Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens. He also produces the annual LatinxFest in Athens.

“We want this event to be a safe forum for people to discuss what the Athens community is facing and to begin or continue working toward transformation,” said UGA social work graduate student Jessica Smith in a news release.

“We want all stakeholders in our community, including those from marginalized populations, to feel welcome (and) to have their voices heard,” said Smith, who helped plan the event.

Jack Frost comes to Athens GA

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:12:00 GMT

Treacherous winter weather spread across the South, including Athens where snowfall and icy roads caused several schools, government offices and some businesses to shut down Wednesday. Parts of main roads were closed because of several car wrecks. The University of Georgia, Athens Tech, University of North Georgia and Piedmont College were closed Wednesday, according to […]

The University of Georgia, Athens Tech, University of North Georgia and Piedmont College were closed Wednesday, according to Online Athens .

Public schools in Clarke, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Barrow Jackson and Elbert counties also closed Wednesday and Thursday. Area private schools including Athens Christian, St. Joseph Catholic Parish School and Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School are also closed.

Clarke county and Oconee county government offices were closed due to the weather.

The ramp from the Athens Perimeter to Highway 441 South was closed yesterday morning due to multiple accidents including an overturned vehicle, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities in Athens asked motorists to avoid the intersection of Beaverdam Road and Weatherly Woods Drive due to icy conditions. They also shut down Research Road and parts of Timothy Road were closed to motorists Wednesday afternoon. But there were other dangerous areas as well.

“We have very icy conditions throughout the county,” said Epifanio Rodriguez, spokesman for the Athens-Clarke County police. “Main roads, back roads – you name it, it’s all over the place.”

Despite hazardous driving conditions, Rodriguez said police received few reports of significant weather-related vehicle wrecks for exception of one overturned vehicle of which the driver did not suffer any serious injuries.

Most traffic incidents involved single-vehicle wrecks, mostly spinouts and vehicles sliding off roadways, said Rodriquez.

“Except for emergency personnel, the county government is shut down, so people should not drive unless they absolutely have to,” he said.

Though the snowfall had stopped by almost 9:30 a.m., Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry was asking people to stay off the roads.

“If you don’t have to be out, stay home,” Berry said. “If you are out, you have to take your time and be careful.”

Several cars were already in ditches along VFW Drive, which becomes troublesome whenever it snows, according to Watkinsville Police Chief Lee O’Dillon.

Gov. Nathan Deal issued a state of emergency for 83 counties, spanning much of central and north Georgia. This line extends from Columbus to Macon to Augusta and northward. State government officers will remain closed until Thursday in the impacted areas for non-essential personnel.

Forecasters said travel could be difficult in north Georgia because of below-zero wind chills.

The same slippery conditions and dangerous wind chills swept across many southern states, shutting down interstates, causing highway crashes, closing airport runways and prompting widespread school closings. Snow fell in a wide band that stretched from southeastern Texas all the way to western Massachusetts.

Athens police are looking for suspects in attempted rape incident

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 13:00:00 GMT

As of late Sunday afternoon, the Athens-Clarke County police are working on locating two male suspects in an attempted rape incident of a woman at an apartment complex on the westside of town. The woman who was assaulted was walking home from the Golden Pantry convenience store, which was fairly close to her home at […]

The woman who was assaulted was walking home from the Golden Pantry convenience store, which was fairly close to her home at the University Oaks apartments off West Broad Street, at about 5:00 p.m. On her way home she came across two males in the parking lot of the Hilltop Grille restaurant, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

Police said that they followed the 44-year-old woman to University Oaks, where they attacked her behind her complex.

After throwing the woman to the ground, police said the suspects hit her in the face and proceeded to take off her clothes. They reportedly ran off when the woman began screaming for her husband.

The victim suffered visible injuries to her face and chest from the assault, police said.

The victim described her attackers as light-skinned black males, one of whom was about 5-foot-6 and wearing black sweatpants and white boxer shorts. He was also wearing a beanie and a dark hoodie, police said.

She said that the other male suspect was about 6-foot tall, but was not able to provide a clothing description, according to police.

Anyone with information concerning the assault is urged to contact the investigator on the case, Detective Chuck Ivey at (706) 613-3330, ext. 789, or email charles.ivey@athensclarkecounty.com.

UGA’s Roquan Smith and Deandre Baker take different paths for 2018 season

Tue, 16 Jan 2018 14:20:00 GMT

Roquan Smith recently made his decision regarding the 2018 NFL Draft, as reported in The Red & Black. On Monday the linebacker announced he would be waiving his senior season to move on to the professional ranks, according to a release. Read more: Personal Injury Attorney, Athens GA “I’m so grateful for my teammates who […]

On Monday the linebacker announced he would be waiving his senior season to move on to the professional ranks, according to a release.

“I’m so grateful for my teammates who have always supported me every step of the way,” Smith said. “And no thanks are enough for the coaches and staff who have provided the leadership, inspiration, and tireless hours in helping me develop as a player but also as a man. What we accomplished this year is only the beginning of what’s to come for this program.”

In the 2017 season, Smith led the team with 137 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six and a half sacks. His performance this past season earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and he also received the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s top linebacker. He was also named a first-team All-American by a few organizations including the Associated Press.

Smith, from Montezuma, Georgia, joins defensive lineman Trenton Thompson as other Bulldogs to leave early for the NFL Draft so far.

The loss of Smith is much greater than that of Thompson and the Bulldogs will need to replace many core pieces after losing him, along with seniors Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Lorenzo Carter, Isaiah Wynn and Dominick Sanders.

“The decision to leave is not easy but I know it is the right one,” Smith said. “Georgia will always be my school and my home and I sincerely wish all the best to the coaches, staff, and players as they continue to reach higher goals in the years to come.”

On the same day that Smith made his announcement, cornerback Deandre Baker declared to do the opposite.

Baker announced through his social media accounts that he would be coming back for his senior season at Georgia.

During 15 games this season, Baker led the team with nine pass breakups and was second on the team with three interceptions. The Miami native also secured 44 total tackles.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback played in 12 games as a sophomore in 2016 and had two interceptions.

Baker’s return adds some stability to a position that loses outgoing seniors Malkom Parrish and Aaron Davis.

Board of education urges state to provide more funding for education

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 14:30:00 GMT

The Clarke County Board of Education is asking the state to invest more funding in education as the legislature meets in Atlanta, including teacher pay raises and more money for pre-K programs. Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year leaves out raises for teachers and state employees. Read more: Lawyers in Athens […]

Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year leaves out raises for teachers and state employees.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

In a resolution that listed seven legislative priorities the board adopted in last week’s meeting, the board also called on legislators to “strive to return the HOPE Scholarship to its original mission of supporting historically marginalized students in college.”

When HOPE was first created and approved, the scholarship had an income limit, with the aim that students from low income homes who couldn’t afford college costs without it would be eligible for the lottery-funded scholarship, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

Board members said that legislators should also take measures to ensure that every child has access to pre-kindergarten education and that pre-K staff should be paid more than they are being paid.

The board asked Clarke County School Superintendent Demond Means to have the list posted on the school district’s website.

The school district faced budget deficits in recent years, dipping into reserves “because the state hasn’t been doing its job,” Means said.

Federal legislators are also being encouraged to maintain Title I, a federal program that gives additional funding to improve students’ academic prospects in high-poverty school districts such as Clarke County.

Board members approved the resolution, which also calls to removed barriers for immigrant children who want to enroll in college or technical school.

The major priority is the recruitment and retention of teachers, said board member Greg Davis.

Athens’ annual Day of Service in honor of MLK expects to see hundreds of volunteers

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 16:21:00 GMT

Hundreds of residents are expected to get involved in Athens’ annual Day of Service which takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to honor the late civil rights leader’s birth. As of Thursday, nearly 500 had registered to help, said Kai Wilmsen, volunteer coordinator for the Athens Land Trust and for Monday’s Day of […]

As of Thursday, nearly 500 had registered to help, said Kai Wilmsen, volunteer coordinator for the Athens Land Trust and for Monday’s Day of Service event.

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

People can also come and register the day of at an 8:30 a.m. breakfast and orientation at the Clarke Central High School gymnasium. Historically, that’s what hundreds more volunteers do every year, as reported in The Athens Banner-Herald .

Last year almost 1,000 people participated in last year’s Day of Service in Athens, including those who did not preregister, Wilmsen said.

After the breakfast and a program of speakers and music, a small group will fan out from the high school to put in some hours of work at sites such as the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, a nature trail at Howard B. Stroud Elementary School, the Brooklyn Cemetery and other sites nominated by community agencies.

Volunteers include many University of Georgia students and workers, and one UGA college may send over 100 to this year’s celebration.

UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences is using the MLK Day of Service as a kickoff event for the college’s centennial celebration. The college’s goal is for at least 100 faculty, alumni and students to take part in the event.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Wilmsen said.

Creature Comforts Brewing Company launches fourth “Get Comfortable” campaign, now year-long

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 14:56:00 GMT

Creature Comforts Brewing Company recently launched its fourth series of their “Get Comfortable” campaign. Although it usually is a five-month initiative, this year it will run for 12 months. As stated in the “Get Comfortable” mission statement, Creature Comforts strives to “become a unifying anchor” in the Athens community and “increase engagement and provide support […]

As stated in the “Get Comfortable” mission statement, Creature Comforts strives to “become a unifying anchor” in the Athens community and “increase engagement and provide support for non-profits combating the Athens community’s greatest needs.”

The brewery’s Director of Community and Culture, Matt Stevens, took the role last September after having led the Athens Church’s “Be Rich” campaign for four years, as reported in The Red & Black .

The six non-profits chosen as partners in Creature Comforts’ “Get Comfortable” campaign include Advantage Behavioral Health, Athens Area Homeless Shelter, Athens Community Council on Aging, The Ark, Chosen For Life, and Mercy Health Center.

“The non-profit partners were selected through a rigorous vetting process which included a proper Request For Proposal (RFP) that was distributed and reviewed last fall,” Stevens wrote in an email. “We made the always difficult decision of which agencies to sync up with this year.”

Creature Comforts is happy with its selections, as expressed by Stevens.

“We think this is an interrelated but also a well-rounded group, addressing everything from foster care and adoption, to emotional and physical health, to financial relief and elder care,” he said in an email. “All of them engage in programming related to hunger, homelessness and poverty.”

The brewery will sell “Get Comfortable” merchandise to further support and raise funds for the campaign and increase awareness. Items will include t-shirts, socks and branded glassware. All merchandise can be seen on their website, GetCurious.com.

Though the campaign will be a year-round program, the brewery will have a “season of emphasis” from Jan. 10 to Apr. 4 during which the brewery will donate “100% of its Wednesday ‘community day’ profits” towards “Get Comfortable,” according to a press release.

Athens man and Elberton woman charged with murder of her grandfather

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 14:52:00 GMT

On Wednesday, Jan. 10, an Athens man and an Elberton woman were charged with murdering the woman’s grandfather before sinking his body in a pond, according to the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office. William David Peterson, 19, of Athens and Savanna Marie Jennings, 19, of Elberton are each facing charges for murder, felony murder, malice murder, […]

William David Peterson, 19, of Athens and Savanna Marie Jennings, 19, of Elberton are each facing charges for murder, felony murder, malice murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, aggravated assault and concealing a death, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

Peterson has also been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Dakota Scott Street, 18, of Elbert County is a third suspect who is being charged with concealing the death.

Sheriff’s deputies said Jennings’ grandfather, 86-year-old Otha Perrin of Pearl Mill Road, died from multiple gunshot wounds.

On Sunday morning Jennings reported her missing grandfather to authorities at the sheriff’s detention center in Elberton, according to a sheriff’s report. The following day one of her family members arrived at the sheriff’s office and said, “something isn’t right” about Perrin’s disappearance.

As the investigation was underway, deputies said, “Jennings eventually broke down and admitted she had been deceitful.”

Investigators would not release a motive behind the killing.

The victim’s body was recovered from a pond off Wahatchee Creek Road south of Elberton near Pearl Mill Road on Monday. Investigators also were able to recover a .22-caliber rifle on the same property, according to the report.

Elbert County Sheriff Melvin Andrews said the investigation was assisted by the coroner’s office and the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

The Elbert County Emergency Management Agency and its dive team, the Athens-Clarke Police Department and the State Probation Office also assisted, Andrews said.

Chick – fil – A to take over former Five Guys space downtown

Thu, 11 Jan 2018 15:52:00 GMT

One is sure to find any of the three Chick – fil – A locations inside the Athens perimeter and the one on campus with a constant influx of people. Soon the popular fast food chain will make its debut on broad street in downtown Athens, as reported in The Red & Black. Read more: […]

Soon the popular fast food chain will make its debut on broad street in downtown Athens, as reported in The Red & Black .

After the news broke that Chick-fil-A would be coming downtown, UGA students and Athens locals expressed mixed feelings about the replacement of Five Guys.

Gabby Mansour, a sophomore communications major from Carrollton, said she thinks Chick-fil-A will be a nice addition downtown because of its local popularity and her budget.

“Five Guys is great, but not so much when you’re on a college student budget,” Mansour said. “If I wanted to spend more money I wouldn’t want it to be on a burger. I think Chick-fil-A is more affordable, and it will have a lot more business because of it.”

But there are others who believe downtown is not the best location for the new Chick-fil-A.

“I really hope that it doesn’t begin a trend of large chain restaurants moving into downtown,” said Alex Drag, a fifth-year English major from Snellville. “I love the small, local feel that some of the Athens-exclusive restaurants bring, and I think adding a big Chick-fil-A might throw that vibe off a little.”

With the building being within Athens’ historic district, Chick-fil-A has applied to renovate the building’s storefront through the Historic Preservation Commission.

According to their application, the renovations will include “historically appropriate dark brown wood-framed operable storefront and glazing,” new indoor/outdoor floor finish and ornamental metal lighting on the exterior.

The Historic Preservation Commission will be voting on Chick-fil-A’s request on Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dougherty Street Governmental Building.

Armed robber detained after wrecking car in Jackson County

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 15:42:00 GMT

Last Sunday there was an armed robbery at an Athens convenience store. The armed robber demanded $60 from the convenience store clerk, a very specific amount, and was later arrested after he got into a car wreck in Jackson County, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald. Deputies found Thomas Ringwood, 59, of West Hancock Avenue, […]

Deputies found Thomas Ringwood, 59, of West Hancock Avenue, walking away from the accident scene, according to Jackson County sheriff’s Capt. Jim Askey. After resisting arrest, deputies had to use a stun gun to subdue the man before arresting him.

The robbery took place at around 8 p.m. at the Chevron Food Mart on Commerce Road, Athens-Clarke County police said.

The suspect acted like he had a gun, although he never took the weapon out as he demanded the clerk hand over $60, according to police.

Ringwood reportedly drove off in a black Audi sedan, which a University of Georgia police officer spotted traveling on Prince Avenue, police said. The UGA officer then proceeded to follow the vehicle to the Jackson County line, but halted his pursuit when the suspect’s Audi sped up and started to flee, said Epifanio Rodriguez, spokesman for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

According to Askey, the suspect lost control of the vehicle on U.S Highway 129 and crashed into a ditch close to Potters House Road.

Deputies found Ringwood walking south on Highway 129 toward Athens after police had searched the crash site area for almost an hour.

Ringwood was charged with felony obstruction and is being held at the Jackson County Jail.

Athens-Clarke County police obtained warrants for armed robbery, Rodriguez said.

Georgia seniors leave winning legacy despite losing national championship

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:32:00 GMT

Bulldogs’ outside linebacker Davin Bellamy said this season felt almost like destiny, as reported in The Red & Black. The team’s seniors who stayed for one more season were very close to a national championship win. But then Tua Tagovailoa, the Alabama freshman quarterback, made a 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to seal the 26-23 […]

Photo submitted by UGA Fan Matthew Martin

Bulldogs’ outside linebacker Davin Bellamy said this season felt almost like destiny, as reported in The Red & Black .

The team’s seniors who stayed for one more season were very close to a national championship win.

But then Tua Tagovailoa, the Alabama freshman quarterback, made a 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to seal the 26-23 win for the Crimson Tide that would ultimately snatch the national title away from Georgia.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

Even without a national championship under their belt, the seniors still feel they left their mark on the program during the last four years.

“It definitely changes the standard around here,” Bellamy said. “A 10-win season is not good enough any more. It’s either championship or bust now, man.”

In 2013, the redshirt seniors had an 8-5 season and two years later all of the seniors dealt with coaching changes.

“We stuck together, we fought for each other,” running back Sony Michel said. “We made great memories.”

This class leaves with 41 wins and an SEC championship, which is Georgia’s first since 2005.

“It gives them guys something to build off of next year,” defensive linemen John Atkins said. “It’s just on them if they want to keep doing it. They know what it takes now.”

The younger players have watched their older teammates succeed on the field and have learned technique and the playbook throughout the season.

The biggest mark the seniors have made was in how they approach things outside of gameday.

“The leadership role they’ve had this year has been incredible,” freshman quarterback Jake Fromm said. “They come into work with enthusiasm, and just their work ethic is unbelievable. I’ve just taken so much from them and trying to learn just every day from them.”

These seniors have played their last game for Georgia. Though they came up a little short on the main stage, the senior class of 2017 left a major impact on Georgia football.

“This place is going to be great for years to come,” linebacker Reggie Carter said. “We laid down the foundation for this program. It’s just going to build. It’s only going to build and grow.”

Experts predict 2018 to be year for a booming economy throughout the state

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:40:00 GMT

During UGA’s 35th annual Georgia Economic Outlook, University of Georgia Terry College of Business experts said they expect Georgia’s economy will compare to last year’s excellent performance due to economic development projects, housing recovery and steady population growth. According to a UGA Today press release, Terry College Dean Benjamin C. Ayers presented Georgia’s economic forecast, […]

According to a UGA Today press release, Terry College Dean Benjamin C. Ayers presented Georgia’s economic forecast, prepared by the college’s Selig Center for Economic Growth, to nearly 600 business leaders, government officials and chamber delegates at downtown Atlanta’s Marriott Marquis.

He said that Georgia’s growth rate will outperform the national average in 2018. The state’s employment will rise by 2 percent, almost twice the 1.1 percent gain predicted for the country, and the personal incomes of Georgia residents will grow by 5.8 percent, which is higher than the national average of 5.5 percent, as reported in The Red & Black .

Ayers also said that Georgia’s unemployment rate will fall below 5 percent, slightly higher than the U.S jobless rate of 4.1 percent. Every metro area in the state is expected to add jobs as well.

“The fastest job growth will occur in construction, followed by professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and wholesale trade,” he said. “Positive, but slow job growth will occur in utilities, information, and government.”

The nation’s economy is expected to grow significantly this year according to Jeffrey M. Humphreys, author of the Economic Outlook report and director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth.

“In 2018, consumer spending, gross private domestic investment, and industrial production will contribute to U.S. GDP growth,” said Humphreys in the press release. “In addition, government spending will be a positive factor in terms of GDP growth … the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance will switch from stimulating to essentially neutral.”

Terry’s Georgia Economic Outlook annual series shares its knowledge of the state’s economic trends to nine cities to provide a helpful look into Georgia’s economic future.

Athens longtime retail staple to close its doors one last time

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 13:53:00 GMT

Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother, a local store with quirky gifts and oddities, will close for good after serving the community for more than three decades. A going-out-of-business sale is planned before the final closing. “The customers have been amazing. People come in here to have fun and for entertainment and I love that,” owner Mark Gavron […]

“The customers have been amazing. People come in here to have fun and for entertainment and I love that,” owner Mark Gavron told The Red & Black . “I love that people come in and enjoy themselves in here. It is just as much entertainment as it is a store.”

Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother, which is related to the original Junkman’s Daughter in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta, originally opened after the owner noticed that Athens was missing a store that attracted the student population.

The Atlanta store was actually mentioned in George Whalin’s “Retail Superstars” book as one of the “25 best independent store in America” for these unusual novelties.

When the Athens location first opened, Jackman’s Daughter’s Brother moved around Athens from various locations before staying put on West Broad Street in 2015. Prior to this location, it was located off East Clayton Street and known for its massive size and anticipates closing by late February of 2018.

Gavron said he’s closing because of a sudden rent increase. He has been paying $4500 a month since he moved into this location, but the landlords recently raised the rent to $7000 a month unexpectedly.

The owner will be selling merchandise at a discounted price before shutting down permanently. Beginning with a sale for 10 percent off all items and followed by steeper discounts as time goes on, he expects the sale to continue for four to six weeks until most of the merchandise is gone.

“I expect the place will be pretty empty by Valentine’s Day and that will be it for us,” said Gavron.

Ethan Suda, a 20-year-old finance major at UGA, is excited for the discounts and is planning to come back within the week and take advantage of the sales as they increase.

“This is my first time, we are all just messing around right now. One of my buddies said that he came over here and it was a cool store and I wanted to come over and check it out,” Suda said.

Even though the closing is happening a year before anticipated, Gavron said he was planning to retire soon anyway. With his son about to graduate high school, he looks forward to the leisure that he will have once he retires. He plans to travel to places like New Zealand, Machu Picchu, spend a summer in Alaska or spend time hiking and fishing at his home in Montana.

Clayton street project approved by officials

Sat, 06 Jan 2018 14:25:00 GMT

This week Athens-Clarke County commissioners approved the start of a streetscape project for a three-block section of Clayton Street that may include removing a center lane and widening sidewalks running parallel to the downtown avenue. According to county documents, commissioners authorized the commencement of “construction phase elements” for stormwater infrastructure improvements. Read more: Estate Planning […]

According to county documents, commissioners authorized the commencement of “construction phase elements” for stormwater infrastructure improvements.

All commissioners present voted for the project except Melissa Link, who wished to postpone the vote to allow for more public input, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

“There’s a great deal of consternation among Clayton Street business owners who feel like they’ve not been included in the process of this initial phase of … streetscaping,” she said.

Several representatives of shops on Clayton Street objected the streetscape project at a commission meeting last month because of a lack of public input.

Commissioner Mike Hamby replied by saying changes to Clayton Street have been publicly discussed since 2005, and were part of a downtown master plan “that received plenty of public comment.”

During Tuesday’s meeting only a representative for Native America Gallery, a shop at 195 E. Clayton St., was against the project. He focused on the center lane of the wide street, which is often used for parking by delivery vehicles dropping off goods to nearby businesses.

“If you want to stop unloading, don’t allow it,” he said. “You don’t have to get rid of the center lane.”

Still, commissioners including Sharyn Dickerson stated time as a primary factor for moving forth with the project.

Unless work on the Clayton Street improvements start soon, construction might extend across two football and holiday seasons, she said.

Nearly $13.6 million in special local option sales tax dollars is earmarked for Clayton Street improvements, according to county documents. About half the funds are coming from the 2005 SPLOST and the rest from the 2018 TSPLOST.

President Donald Trump to attend national championship

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 16:02:00 GMT

President Donald Trump is planning to attend the national college football championship game between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama Monday, Jan. 8, at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as reported in The Red & Black. At the Jan. 2 White House press briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders said the SEC teams are “two […]

At the Jan. 2 White House press briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders said the SEC teams are “two great teams from two great states, both in the heart of Trump country … which I’m sure that most of you will all agree, even those that don’t live in one of those lucky states.”

Athens teacher hinders home invasion

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 14:08:00 GMT

A Clarke Central High School teacher was able to stop an attempted home invasion robbery on Monday night by standing up to an armed intruder at her Whitehead Road residence, Athens-Clarke County police said. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the 52-year-old woman told police she was alone watching football on TV in her kitchen […]

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald , the 52-year-old woman told police she was alone watching football on TV in her kitchen sometime after 7 p.m. when a young black man appeared in the kitchen. She had left her front door open because she had just returned home, police said.

The suspect had a knife and asked her for money, police said.

The woman reportedly stood up and told the intruder “no,” then proceeded to open her purse and said she did not have money because she only used debit cards, according to police.

When the suspect asked for her wallet, she replied that she did not own a wallet, police said.

The woman then started to push a chair between them while telling the suspect to get out, which is when he put the knife away in his pocket and left.

The woman told police that the intruder told her multiple times during the encounter that he had no intention of hurting her.

The suspect was described as thin, about 5-feet 6, with an Afro haircut wearing blue pants and a darker blue zippered hooded sweatshirt with the hood on, police said.

The woman said he seemed too young to drive and she did not hear a vehicle leaving the scene, according to police.

The woman told police she had lived in her Whitehead Road home for 15 years and did not recognize the suspect.

Man acting suspiciously at Ben Epps Airport to be banned from Athens

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:19:00 GMT

An Athens man, who was on a Transportation Security Administration watchlist, is being banned from from Athens-Clarke County if released from the county jail after being detained last week for suspicious behavior at the Athens Ben Epps Airport, officials said. Ahmed Olasunkanmi Salau, 33, who reported a Highland Park Drive address when taken to jail, told […]

Ahmed Olasunkanmi Salau, 33, who reported a Highland Park Drive address when taken to jail, told the court on Friday that he lived in Arlington Heights, a suburb of Chicago, according to Athens-Clarke County Solicitor General C.R.Chisholm.

As part of the condition of his $5,000 bond, Salau must wear an ankle monitor and remain in Arlington Heights, as reported in the Athens Banner-Herald .

The Highland Park Drive address Salau gave to police was actually from when he was a student at the University of Georgia many years ago, prosecutors said.

Since October 2016, Salau has been monitored by federal authorities after he was found on a commercial flight in Houston using a fake name and date of birth, and a fraudulent photo ID, according to a TSA BOLO.

The federal BOLO was issued in July after his arrest at the Ronald Reagan National Airport and at Washington Dulles International Airport, where he attempted to board private aircraft several times without “associated paperwork,” according to the TSA.

In October, the BOLO was updated after Salau tried to “gain unauthorized access to aircraft and airport facilities” nearly 20 times at airports nationwide.

In September, he reportedly posed as a Delta Air Lines pilot at a Maryland airport where he approached a flight instructor asking about flight times, according to TSA.

Suspicious incidents involving Salau have mostly occurred at fixed based operators, or FBOS, according to the TSA.

An FBO is a private company that is given the right by an airport to operate there to provide such aeronautical services as fueling, aircraft rental and maintenance and flight instruction.

Salau “has a working knowledge of FBO operations and initially sounds credible,” the TSA BOLO noted. “If encountered, FBOs should ensure he is prevented from entering restricted areas.”

On the afternoon of Dec. 26, police responded on a report of a suspicious person at the Athens Ben Epps Airport. When they arrived, they discovered that Salau had been speaking with a Seaport Airlines pilot “and trying to learn how to navigate and flight patterns,” according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.

When asked if he had identification, the man said he didn’t, but then told police he had a driver’s license number, the police report showed.

Airport staff told police they wanted Salau barred from the airport, but the man refused to sign the barring paperwork and left, police said.

A police officer attained an arrest warrant against Salau on charges of loitering and prowling. A Magistrate Court judge signed the warrant on Thursday, and Salau was arrested later that day by Gwinnett County police, who responded to a complaint that Salau was acting suspiciously at the Gwinnett County Airport.

Salau was arrested on the Athens warrant and later turned over to Athens-Clarke County police.

The FBI placed a hold on Salau’s release from the Clarke County Jail, and there’s a possibility he may be questioned by TSA investigators.

“The TSA doesn’t discuss active investigations, but federal charges are of course possible,” TSA spokesperson Sari Koshetz said Tuesday.

Michel’s four scores leads Bulldogs into the national championship game

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:20:00 GMT

The University of Georgia’s football team is headed to the national championship game after they pulled out a close 54-48 double overtime victory over the Big 12 Champions, Oklahoma Sooners (12-2) in this season’s Rose Bowl. In Pasadena, Calif., the Bulldogs (13-1), led by senior tailback Sony Michel’s four touchdown night including his eventual game […]

In Pasadena, Calif., the Bulldogs (13-1), led by senior tailback Sony Michel’s four touchdown night including his eventual game winning score, saw themselves playing catch up throughout the majority of the ball game with the ground game leading the charge.

Read more: Attorneys in Georgia

Michel finished the contest with 181 yards on the ground on 11 carries and three scores. He also caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. Fellow tailback senior Nick Chubb kept pace with 145 yards on 14 attempts and two scores.

“We always come in here prepared to run the ball—me and Sony and also the other guys,” Chubb told Online Athens after the game. “This is a regular day for us. Things started opening up a little more and that’s what we hope for every game.”

It was fitting for Michel to end his night with the game winning score. Earlier in the contest around the five minute mark in the fourth with the score tied at 31, the senior fumbled the ball and was scooped up by Sooner’s Steven Parker who scampered 46 yards for a score and a 38-31 lead.

Michel, who was visibly upset on the sidelines, did what any competitor does, go back in there and redeem himself.

After the two teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime, the Dawgs’ defense blocked a field goal attempt in the second OT which set the stage for the offense and Michel to punch their ticket to the championship game.

On second and 12 with the Dawgs only 27 yards away, head coach Kirby Smart called for Michel to handle the direct snap. The senior broke left and hit pay dirt for the night’s final six points.

“Once I broke through the line, there was really nobody in the secondary, it was time to put it in the end zone,” Michel told reporters .

The Bulldogs head to Atlanta, Ga on Monday, Jan. 8th for a championship showdown versus SEC rivals the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Beyond Rose Bowl Kirby Smart Has High Hopes for Jake Fromm’s Football Future

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:47:00 GMT

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm may not have been in college over a year ago, but he’s come a long way since starting at Georgia. As it relates to the quarterbacks who will hit the field when No. 2 Oklahoma faces off against No. 3 Georgia in the Rose Bowl, the Sooners appear to have the […]

As it relates to the quarterbacks who will hit the field when No. 2 Oklahoma faces off against No. 3 Georgia in the Rose Bowl, the Sooners appear to have the upper hand in terms of experience. Mayfield is a senior and Fromm a true freshman. Mayfield has played in back-to-back New Year’s Six bowl games but Fromm is still experiencing his first year as a college signal caller.

Read more: Lawyers in Athens GA

To Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, the experience gap between the two quarterbacks is barely relevant to today’s game, as reported in The Red & Black .

“The good thing for [Fromm] is he’s not playing against Baker [Mayfield],” Smart said at Sunday’s press conference.

Fromm’s freshman status and lack of experience playing in big-time bowl games, or any bowl games for that matter, is mitigated, Smart said, by Fromm’s teammates and his play throughout the season.

“He has done a good job using the people around him to help him,” Smart said. “Also, he’s played in some really big games this year for us, so he’s got some experience.”

During one point this season, Smart said he was worried about Fromm’s ability to handle adversity on a major stage. It was after Fromm stood in for injured starter Jacob Eason and led the Bulldogs to a season-opening win over Appalachian State that he was asked to quarterback his team against Notre Dame.

The freshman threw for 141 yards, a touchdown and an interception as the Bulldogs managed a 20-19 victory over the Fighting Irish. From then on Fromm started every game for Georgia, including the team’s 28-7 win over No. 2 Auburn in the Dec. 2 SEC title game.

Fromm threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions during the Auburn game.

Following those performances, Smart said he is not worried with how Fromm will respond to any potential adversity in the Rose Bowl.

“Having seen him play throughout the year and play in our conference, play in the SEC championship game, I think he’ll have the confidence to respond the right way,” Smart said.

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