oconee county
-
Athens-Clarke County
24 Years After Death of Edward Wright, What Does Public Think of Police Now?
Nearly a quarter century ago, Edward Wright, a 20-year-old unarmed black man, was shot and killed by police in Athens-Clarke County. His crime? Indecent exposure. Police officials were called after Wright was seen nude around Martin Circle in East Athens, which then led to a brawl and ultimately six shots…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Can Foster Homes Keep up with the Increase of Children Entering the Foster Care System?
Dr. John DeGarmo lost his first child 23 years ago. This loss fueled a passion in Dr. DeGarmo to help children who are suffering. He and his wife Dr. Kelly DeGarmo opened their doors to more than 60 foster children. Nationwide the increase in the number of children in need…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Reviewing the Immense Power of Prosecutors
The official who holds the most power in the criminal justice system may not be the judge or the jury, but the prosecuting attorney who represents the state, charges defendants and negotiates pleas. According to Edward Brumby, staff attorney under Judge Lawton Stephens and former prosecutor in District Attorney Ken…
-
Athens-Clarke County
UGA Student Launches Cookie Business From Scratch
At 4 a.m. on a weekday, most University of Georgia students are still asleep, but Baylee Marsh might still be putting the finishing touches on custom cookie orders. Marsh is the owner of Baylee Bakes, an organically grown (and lovingly baked), custom cookie decorating business in Athens, Georgia. Her success…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Emergency Medical Service Shortage Affects Northeast Georgia
A nationwide shortage of Emergency Medical Service personnel has swept the nation, including counties all across Georgia. Because of these shortages, EMS workers in affected areas have had to work a lot of overtime, and in extreme cases, ambulances have had to stop operations for lack of employees. In Madison…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Use of Death Penalty in Georgia is Declining
Georgia jurors have not handed down a death sentence in the past five years as the prevalence of capital punishment in the state continues to decrease. Not only are juries supporting the death sentence less often, prosecutors aren’t seeking it nearly as much either. Over the past two decades, prosecutors…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Athens Masonic Association to Host Event to Help Restore Historic Reese Street School
Marvin Nunnally, the chairman of the Athens Masonic Association, is working with the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation to raise money for the restoration of the 105-year-old Reese Street school building. The Athens Masonic Association bought the building in 1968 and uses some rooms in the building to hold meetings. They have…
-
High School Sports
Oconee County Community Gathers to Remember Life of Sam Elsner
Prior to last night’s game, the Oconee County High School baseball team held a ceremony to honor former student and second baseman Sam Elsner. Elsner was killed in a car accident on July 12, 2018. He had graduated from OCHS two months earlier. Everything a warrior is supposed to be,…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Clarke County Crime at 10-Year Low, Still Above National Average
Data analyzed from the Athens-Clarke County crime report webpage reveals that crime has hit an all-time low over the past decade. Since peaking in 2008, overall crime incidents have decreased 42.8 percent in Clarke County. In total, 20,403 crime incidents occurred in 2008, compared to 11,666 in 2018. When adjusted…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Jury Trials Fade as Plea Bargains Remain The Norm Both Locally and Nationally
The public defender’s office for Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties handles thousands of cases in a given year, but the overwhelming majority of those cases will never see the inside of a courtroom. Most cases are resolved through plea bargaining, a process in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in…