Blog posts by Blake Aued, Editor
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11 Days of Christmas: Puppy Love
Blog: In the Loop
As the Flagpole staff takes a much-needed break over the holidays, we're reposting 11 of our most popular, most important, funniest and/or otherwise noteworthy stories of this most dismal of years. Look for a new post each day through Jan. 2.
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11 Days of Christmas: Winterville's Mayor Rocks
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file
As the Flagpole staff takes a much-needed break over the holidays, we're reposting 11 of our most popular, most important, funniest and/or otherwise noteworthy stories of this most dismal of years. Look for a new post each day through Jan. 2.
Yes, Winterville's mayor literally rocks. The small town just outside of Athens elected renowned local roots-rocker Dodd Ferrelle mayor last year, and he took office in January with big plans to turn the sleepy 'burg into a regional destination for arts and music.
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11 Days of Christmas: Athens Bands Want to Sell You a Car
Blog: Homedrone
As the Flagpole staff takes a much-needed break over the holidays, we're reposting 11 of our most popular, most important, funniest and/or otherwise noteworthy stories of this most dismal of years. Look for a new post each day through Jan. 2.
Ten years ago, any band with even a drop of indie cred would've been called a sellout for selling a song to a car company. In today's fractured media landscape—where everything is supposed to be "free" and the radio only plays that one song over and over—a TV commercial is about the only way musicians can put their music in front of consumers and make a nice check in the process.
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Huge New Playground Opens at Southeast Clarke Park
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Blake Aued
Athens-Clarke County officials and scores of parents and children braved frigid weather Friday to celebrate the re-opening of the all-new World of Wonder playground at Southeast Clarke Park.
The 2.5 acre playground is a replacement for the original World of Wonder, Athens’ first “destination playground,” which drew people not only from all over the county, but the region as well.
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Watch Michael Stipe Join Stephen Colbert for an 'It's the End of the World as We Know It' Remix
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: screenshot via CBS
On last night's "The Late Show," Michael Stipe joined host Stephen Colbert for a rendition of the R.E.M. classic "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." Sort of, anyway.
While 2016 may have seemed like the end of the world, Colbert changed the lyrics to "It's the End of the Year as We Know It," rattling off a list of 2016's notable (and mostly depressing) happenings, from Putin's election hack to Harambe, as a disgusted-looking Stipe—still sporting his Santa Claus beard—looks on.
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New Downtown Athens Hotel 'Tops Out'
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Blake Aued
Hyatt Place general manager Angela Smith gives a tour of the still-under-construction Hyatt Place.
Don't book your room just yet, but the new hotel next door to the Classic Center reached a milestone today, as local tourism officials and event organizers from across the Southeast gathered to celebrate the Hyatt Place's "topping out."
The nine-story, 200-room hotel's structural elements are now in place, although it won't officially open until late May or June.
Hyatt Place guests will spend $13.5 million per year, creating a $20 million economic impact, according to Mayor Nancy Denson. Seven hundred people are employed in its constrution, and the hotel will employ 75 people permanently, Denson said.
Along with other downtown hotel projects—a SpringHill Suites next door to the Holiday Inn and a Homewood Suites at The Mark, a student-housing development under construction on Oconee Street—the Hyatt Place will bring the number of hotel rooms downtown to 1,360, with another 385 rooms under construction in other parts of the city, according to Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Chuck Jones.
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What Would You Fund With a Local Transportation Tax?
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file
Athens-Clarke County will host a public forum Wednesday from 7–8 p.m. at the ACC Library for people with questions or comments about an upcoming sales-tax referendum for transportation.
The Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) will be on the Nov. 7, 2017 ballot. If approved, it will raise an estimated $104 million over five years to spend on roads, bridges, sidewalks, bike lanes and paths and public transit.
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Commissioners Propose Compromise on Radio Fences
Blog: In the Loop
Two Athens-Clarke County commissioners have filed a potential compromise on a proposed law allowing local pet owners to confine their animals using radio or wireless fences.
Radio fences—which send a small shock to a dog's collar when it crosses an invisible boundary—weren't considered fences under ACC's animal control ordinance until a recent court ruling said that they are. The ordinance requires dogs to be kept under the owner's control at all times—on a leash or inside a structure or fenced area.
The ruling led to some complaints that dogs were breaking out of the invisible fenced areas and roaming free in neighborhoods.
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Georgia Will Play TCU in the Liberty Bowl
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Emily Selby/UGA Athletics
Book your hotel in Memphis, Georgia fans. The Bulldogs received a bid this afternoon to play in the Liberty Bowl Dec. 30 against Texas Christian University.
TCU was considered a potential playoff contender in August, but stumbled to a 6-6 record that included wins over Texas and No. 17 Baylor and losses to Arkansas, No. 11 Oklahoma State and No. 12 West Virginia.
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Tornado Watch Issued for Clarke County
Blog: In the Loop
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Clarke County until 3:15 p.m. and a tornado watch until 6 p.m.
A tornado was seen near Winder at 2:42 p.m., prompting the NWS to issue the warning for Clarke, Barrow and Jackson counties as a storm system moves in from Atlanta.
The NWS urged everyone in that area to take cover by moving to the basement or an interior first-floor room, or taking shelter if outdoors.
In addition to Clarke, the tornado watch—meaning a tornado is possible but hasn’t been spotted—also covers Jasper, Hall, Morgan, Banks, Jackson, Madison and Oconee counties.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely until 10 p.m.
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Send Us Your Thanksgiving Horror Stories
Blog: Grub Notes
Thanksgiving is a time for, well, giving thanks, in addition to, as Louis C.K. put it, eating until you hate yourself.
It's also a time when the preparation of various foodstuffs can go horribly awry—not to mention an occasion for getting into epic political arguments with your Fox News Russia Today-watching relatives, plus various other wine-fueled conflicts that occur whenever you pack a bunch of people into a house who don't really like each other but are supposed to pretend they do.
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ADDA Director Pamela Thompson Is Leaving
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Blake Aued/file
Pamela Thompson is resigning effective Dec. 29 after more than three years as executive director of the Athens Downtown Development Association.
Thompson informed ADDA board chairman Chris Blackmon of her resignation in a letter on Monday.
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Koko Buni's Back and Terrapin Expands
Blog: Grub Notes
Athens brewery Creature Comforts is rereleasing its popular milk porter, Koko Buni, later this month in cans and on draft—just in time for the cold weather that a week ago seemed like it'd never come.
Koko Buni (6.8% ABV) is brewed with Ecuadorean chocolate from Condor Chocolates and 100 Faces coffee, as well as vanilla and toasted coconut. Local artist David Hale won a CNBC competition in April for his can design.
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Clarke School Board Names UGA Dean Interim Superintendent
Blog: In the Loop
The Clarke County Board of Education named former University of Georgia professor and administrator Jack Parish as interim superintendent today to replace Philip Lanoue while the board searches for a permanent replacement.
Parish recently retired as associate dean for outreach and education at the UGA College of Education. He served as superintendent of the Henry County school system from 2000–2008—where he was president of the Georgia School Superintendents Association and was a finalist for state superintendent of the year—and has experience as a teacher and principal as well. He assisted CCSD with several projects while at UGA.
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Athens Activists Organize to Stop Trump
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file
A post-Election Day protest against President-elect Donald Trump at the Arch.
Like many people, you may find yourself wondering, "What now?" after Donald Trump's stunning win Nov. 8. Athens for Everyone's answer is: "Organize!"
The local progressive group is holding a public mass meeting at 3 p.m. today at The Cotton Press (a catering facility in the Chase Park warehouses) to discuss how Trump's policies could affect Athens and how to resist the president-elect's agenda. The organization says:
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Gov. Deal Declares Drought Restrictions in Athens
Blog: In the Loop
Gov. Nathan Deal declared Athens-Clarke and other North Georgia counties to be in a "Level 2" drought today, tightening outdoor water use restrictions for more than 50 counties.
“Today’s declaration is driven by an extended period of little or no rain and increasing dryness in the impacted areas,” Richard Dunn, director of the state Environmental Protection Division, said in a news release. “What’s more, there is little hope for relief as weather forecasters expect an unusually warm, dry winter across most of the state.”
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Drunk White People Downtown Love Them Some Donald Trump
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Georgia-based sketch comedy duo Home Brewed humor took to the streets of downtown Athens last weekend to interview drunk Auburn and Georgia fans about Donald Trump's win.
The results were predictable but will nonetheless make you despair for your city, your school and (possibly) your race. Warning: Language is NSFW.
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Dan Matthews Wins Watkinsville City Council Seat
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Lee Becker
Dan Matthews, a longtime Democratic activist and a fixture in the Athens music scene for decades, has won a Watkinsville city council seat, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.
Matthews, the office manager at Eric Krasle’s law firm, beat Mark Melvin 570 votes to 568. He was declared the winner Monday after a handful of absentee ballots arrived from overseas. It was Matthews’ fourth run for local or state office.
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No, Athens Is Not on Fire
Blog: In the Loop
You've probably noticed that Athens is smoky as hell today. Nothing's on fire—at least not locally. Shifting winds are blowing in smoke from several major forest fires in Tennessee and North Georgia.
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Trump Protesters Gather at the Arch
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones
About 60 protesters gathered at the Arch Wednesday night to express their opposition to President-elect Donald Trump (it's gonna weird writing that for a while). They were joined by Trump-supporters counter-protesters as well as a number of onlookers, the Red & Blackreports.
Meanwhile, the Athens Banner-Herald describes local Republicans as "excited but cautious" about a Trump presidency.
Flagpole photographer Joshua L. Jones documented the scene at the Arch Wednesday night.
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latest stories
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In the Loop | December 25, 2016 9:00am
11 Days of Christmas: Puppy Love
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Culture Briefs | December 24, 2016 9:00am
11 Days of Christmas: Winterville's Mayor Rocks
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Homedrone | December 23, 2016 9:00am
11 Days of Christmas: Athens Bands Want to Sell You a Car
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In the Loop | December 20, 2016 9:44am
Huge New Playground Opens at Southeast Clarke Park
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Culture Briefs | December 16, 2016 11:54am
Watch Michael Stipe Join Stephen Colbert for an 'It's the End of the World as We Know It' Remix
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In the Loop | December 15, 2016 3:22pm
New Downtown Athens Hotel 'Tops Out'
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In the Loop | December 12, 2016 3:55pm
What Would You Fund With a Local Transportation Tax?
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In the Loop | December 5, 2016 11:29am
Commissioners Propose Compromise on Radio Fences
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Culture Briefs | December 4, 2016 5:07pm
Georgia Will Play TCU in the Liberty Bowl
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In the Loop | November 30, 2016 3:03pm
Tornado Watch Issued for Clarke County
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Grub Notes | November 28, 2016 1:32pm
Send Us Your Thanksgiving Horror Stories
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In the Loop | November 23, 2016 12:41pm
ADDA Director Pamela Thompson Is Leaving
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Grub Notes | November 22, 2016 5:07pm
Koko Buni's Back and Terrapin Expands
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In the Loop | November 21, 2016 5:42pm
Clarke School Board Names UGA Dean Interim Superintendent
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In the Loop | November 20, 2016 12:26pm
Athens Activists Organize to Stop Trump
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In the Loop | November 17, 2016 5:04pm
Gov. Deal Declares Drought Restrictions in Athens
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In the Loop | November 16, 2016 10:28am
Drunk White People Downtown Love Them Some Donald Trump
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In the Loop | November 15, 2016 12:26pm
Dan Matthews Wins Watkinsville City Council Seat
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In the Loop | November 10, 2016 12:57pm
No, Athens Is Not on Fire
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In the Loop | November 10, 2016 11:55am
Trump Protesters Gather at the Arch