Athens-Clarke County

Reporting about Clarke County, Georgia. Some stories will be republished in the Athens Banner-Herald as part of a news-academic partnership with Grady Newsource.

  • A farmers market stall displays wooden baskets filled with fresh greens, radishes, and bok choy on a table with a gray cloth. Signs label the produce as shoppers browse this vibrant market and other nearby booths under tents.

    Athens Farmers Market Prescribes Fresh Food for Community Health

    Saturday mornings in Athens are often synonymous with Bulldogs football, but for many, they are just as much about picking the right berries as they are about picking off the quarterback. From 8 a.m. to noon, shoppers flock to Bishop Park to fill their baskets with all the fruits and…

  • Man plays mandolin at a bluegrass event

    Bluegrass Jam is Sunday Celebration for Music Lovers

    It feels like an old fashioned hootenanny on Sundays at Athentic Brewing in Athens. Musicians young and old, amateur and professional, bring their instruments to the brewery each month for Sunday bluegrass jam sessions. Reporter Kristopher Wilhelm takes us to one recent gathering. Kristopher Wilhelm is a journalism major in…

  • A river through the woods

    Wings of Change: Oconee River Land Trust Supports Biodiversity on Middle Oconee River

    At first glance, the Middle Oconee River winding through Athens might be dismissed as just a murky stretch of water. However, it is a habitat that supports a critical ecosystem, one containing opportunities for discovery and study.  The Oconee River Land Trust (ORLT), a nonprofit organization aiming to conserve land…

  • Art and Sustainability: How One Local Artist Repurposes Materials to Master Her Craft

    As climate change reshapes daily life in Athens, local artist Chloe Yune is pushing back against environmental degradation through creative sustainability.  At just 23, the Indiana native and UGA graduate is making waves with her eco-conscious approach to art. Using discarded clay scraps and repurposed household “junk,” Yune crafts intricate…

  • Bar chart showing the percent of Athens-Clarke County students relying on free or reduced food lunch by school; most schools report rates above 90%, with the lowest at 68.36% (Timothy Elementary) and the highest at 95%.

    Athens Families Face Hunger Crisis as Federal Food Aid Expires

    About 60% of Athens-Clarke County students rely on free or reduced school meals, a vital lifeline that could be at risk as federal food assistance programs face drastic cuts in the new federal budget and the impact of the government shutdown. Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation reducing federal support…

  • How One Man’s Hobby is Helping Reduce Waste in Athens

    It was the combination of frequent trips to resale shops mixed with his tennis burnout that led Athens resident David Ragsdale to his new hobby: cast iron restoration — the process of searching for, stripping down and seasoning decades-old cookware to give it a new life.   “My lady likes Pyrex,…

  • Q&As Provide Look Into Lives of Public Representatives, Servants

    Reporting I students each semester learn more about their beats — a special topic area of focus — by conducting research and interviews with community and student leaders, entrepreneurs, musicians, professors, performers and others. The nearly 80 students in the course conducted an interview on their beat in September. This…

  • Boulevard Neighborhood Bands Together at Historic Athens Porchfest

    Community members in white ringer tees with the words “Save Historic Legion Pool” and kids in costume filled the streets of the historic Boulevard neighborhood on Sunday. The shirts addressed the “Save Legion Pool” initiative to protect the pool on the University of Georgia’s campus and bring attention to the…

  • Growth, Good Weather, Celebration of Community at 7th Annual Historic Athens Porchfest

      The first rain in almost two weeks threatened Historic Athens Porchfest hours before the outdoor festival began, but a light breeze and blue sky dispersed the clouds before Sunday’s event was halfway over.  First-time host Shawn Baker smiled as the sun emerged, although he was prepared for rain with…

  • Historic Clarke County School Cleanup Plans Spark Discussion Over Future Use

      The Clarke County Board of Education unanimously approved spending nearly $143,000 for abatement and trash removal at West Broad Street School during its most recent meeting.  A fire at the historic school on Sept. 8, 2025 partially destroyed the inside of one of its vacant buildings. The fire caused…

Back to top button