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.
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Rise of Build-to-Rent Communities Alter Local Real Estate Market
Buying a home is becoming more expensive, even in small towns in Northeast Georgia. Housing prices in the area experienced three-year highs toward the end of last year, as low mortgage rates prompted the demand for single-family homes to outweigh the available supply. This creates a phenomenon called a “seller’s…
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Valerie Boyd Recognized For Her Impact on Writing Community by Georgia Writers Hall of Fame
On April 12, the personal journals of Alice Walker — Georgia native, literary revolutionist and the first-ever Black woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize in fiction — will be released to the public. Walker chose a University of Georgia professor to work with her to publish “Gathering Blossoms Under Fire:…
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Athena Studios Bringing Film Industry, New Opportunities to Athens
Compared to Atlanta, there has never been much of a film industry presence in Athens, but the introduction of a new soundstage development could change that. According to a press release from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, there are currently 2.1 million square feet in purpose-built stage space…
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Athens-Clarke County Commission Districts Face Change in 2023
Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 890 which changes the commission districts in Athens-Clarke County, effectively reapportioning voter precincts for the upcoming year. The new district map is a drastic change compared to what currently stands. Districts 3, 5 and 7 are the districts experiencing the biggest changes. Commissioners Melissa…
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Athens’ FarmRX Program is Redefining Prescriptions
Marcia Singson is switching the trip to the pharmacy with a trip to the farmer’s market. She participates in the Food As Real Medicine Prescription Program, or Farm RX, a program on a mission to combat both food insecurity and growing health concerns among Athens’ low-income residents. The six-month program…
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Runners Find Safety In Numbers — And Community In Athens
In 2003, Christina Proctor was running on a dirt road in her hometown in Madison County. A man jumped out of a Honda Civic that had three other men in it, and grabbed her from behind. She picked up a log and swung at the attacker, escaped, then sprinted home.…
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Athens Retailers Share Experiences of Working Through Pandemic
Dynamite Clothing owner Loretta Paluck knows firsthand what it was like to operate a clothing business amidst a global pandemic. The hardest part was the feeling of the unknown. Dynamite closed its doors for around three months and shifted to online sales as a way of staying afloat. With case…
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A New Era: Number of Female Politicians Grows in Athens
In 2021, women across the country have changed history by winning seats in elected office on various levels for the first time in history. A progressive pocket in Northeast Georgia, Clarke County, has been leading this charge for the last several years and continues to do so. Currently, the county…
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Athens Chaplain Cultivates Conversations Beyond Place, Faiths and Generations
The Rev. Chester “Craig” Topple gathered under a blue umbrella with three residents of St. Mary’s Highland Hills Village, an age-in-place community in Athens where he serves as chaplain. With gentle yet direct questioning, Topple encouraged reflection from the women — What was your first memory of a deep connection…
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Justin Bray Brings Bright Things to Books for Keeps
Walking into the Books for Keeps warehouse, you are immediately surrounded by books and more books. Justin Bray, who recently took over as executive director in August, battles with troubling technology to get music started for his volunteers as they sort through the many piles of books laid across tables.…