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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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…
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After Loss of Bassist, The Original Screw Tops Celebrate His Life at Porchfest
The Original Screw Tops are playing at Sunday’s Historic Athens Porchfest, but things are different this year following the recent death of longtime bassist Jeff Evans. “To be honest, I’m still in shock because he had this heart condition,” vocalist Marcelo Buril said. “It was one of those days…
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Porchfest 2025: Here’s Some Itinerary Suggestions
The annual Historic Athens Porchfest is coming up on Sunday, Oct. 19, and students in Kyser Lough’s First Year Odyssey course on music journalism and Athens have scoured the 200+ Porchfest band lineup to build a few custom, themed itineraries for attendees. We’ll give you the first five shows to…
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Care That Creates Community at Ghost of Athens
At Ghost of Athens, Dave Ranney and Robby Bailey believe a mix of self-care and community is just the comfort people need, and they work to create a safe and quiet third space. Ghost’s community originally began in Clayton, Georgia, but has since relocated to Athens as of June 2025. Ranney…
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Mayor Kelly Girtz Criticizes Loss of Federal Government Grants to Reduce Violence
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz demanded that grants rescinded by the U.S. Department of Justice be restored to the state and local governing bodies. The federal grants, initially calculated as $820 million, were rescinded in April after the Trump administration sought to cut federal spending. Many of the grants were…
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Athens Mayor Notes Crime Drop, Emphasizes Prevention Programs
Aggravated assaults, robberies and motor vehicle thefts have declined in Athens-Clarke County this year, while the community has not recorded a homicide as of Sept. 23. Mayor Kelly Girtz outlined the trends during a Sept. 23 news conference with University of Georgia journalism students, framing public safety as not only…
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Athens-Clarke Hits Public Safety Milestones Amid Ongoing Reforms
Athens-Clarke County has recorded zero murders through September — a first in the county’s history — according to Mayor Kelly Girtz, who announced the milestone Sept. 23 at City Hall. In addition, there has been a significant decrease in major crimes compared to last year. Aggravated assaults dropped to 420,…
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Athens Implements North Thomas Street Crosswalk, Public Safety Measures
Athens-Clarke County will add a pedestrian crossing on North Thomas Street near The Classic Center following two car accidents that resulted in fatalities, Mayor Kelly Girtz said Sept. 23 in a news conference. This project will make the city safer for pedestrians and drivers, Girtz said, while discussing public safety…
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Athens Mayor: No New Developments Regarding Drug-Related Inmate Deaths
There are no new developments in the investigations regarding the deaths of four inmates in the Athens-Clarke County Jail between April and July 2025, Mayor Kelly Girtz said Tuesday. Two of these inmates died of apparent drug overdoses. Before the death of the fourth inmate, Clarke County Sheriff John Williams…
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Elementary School Custodian Named Employee of Month
Sallie Smith, a custodian at Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary, arrived at work in the morning as usual when the Clarke County School District superintendent approached her. “I’m like, she must be here to talk to the kids. Then she called my name,” Smith said. And for good reason: Smith had…