Blog Topic: Breaking News

In the Loop: Former Athens Tech President Named Tennessee Chancellor

By | December 27, 2016 6:10pm

Photo Credit: Chattanooga State Community College

The Tennessee Board of Regents voted unanimously today to confirm former Athens Tech president Flora Tydings to lead the state's university system, capping a rapid rise that started when she left Georgia less than 18 months ago.

Tydings served as president of Athens Tech from 2003–2015, then served stints as interim president of two other Georgia technical colleges before taking a job as president of Chattanooga State Community College in July 2015.

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Homedrone: Team Clermont Co-Founder's Comments Led to Staffer Resignations

By Gabe Vodicka | December 15, 2016 2:43pm

In September, several employees of the Athens-based music-PR firm Team Clermont resigned abruptly. Now, the reason for the staff shake-up has been clarified.

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In the Loop: Horton Wins Oconee Commission Seat

By Lee Becker | December 7, 2016 1:11pm

Former commissioner Chuck Horton defeated Marcus Wiedower by a 520-vote margin Tuesday night in the special election runoff for the open Post 2 seat on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners.

Horton carried seven of the county’s 13 precincts, including the two largest, to get 56.8 percent of the vote overall.

A total of 3,845 voters cast a ballot, representing 15.6 percent of the county’s 24,657 registered voters.

In other county action tonight, the Board of Commissioners postponed a decision on a requested rezone in the western part of the county for a solar farm.

The board also approved a change in the county’s alcohol ordinances to allow for Sunday sale of beer and wine in groceries and convenience stores and beer, wine and alcoholic drinks in restaurants. The ordinance goes into effect immediately.

For more, visit Oconee County Observations.

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Culture Briefs: Georgia Will Play TCU in the Liberty Bowl

By Blake Aued | December 4, 2016 5:07pm

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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In the Loop: Tornado Watch Issued for Clarke County

By Blake Aued | November 30, 2016 3:03pm

Photo Credit: Justin Hobson

A tornado in Manitoba, Canada in 2007.

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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In the Loop: Clarke School Board Names UGA Dean Interim Superintendent

By Blake Aued | November 21, 2016 5:42pm

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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In the Loop: Gov. Deal Declares Drought Restrictions in Athens

By Blake Aued | November 17, 2016 5:04pm

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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In the Loop: No, Athens Is Not on Fire

By Blake Aued | November 10, 2016 12:57pm

Photo Credit: Duluth Police Department

Firefighters battle a forest fire in North Georgia.

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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In the Loop: The ABH Has Endorsed Donald Trump

By Blake Aued | November 6, 2016 1:09pm

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

This is the man Athens Banner-Herald owners Billy and Will Morris think should be president.

And what a great endorsement it was.

Please don't put us in jail, Mr. President.

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In the Loop: Man Accused of Harassing Voters at ACC Library

By Blake Aued | November 4, 2016 12:03pm

Photo Credit: courtesy of Tim Denson

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections has received several complaints about a man holding up anti-Hillary Clinton headlines in front of voters in line at the ACC Library.

On Thursday, the man was sitting in a reading room located adjacent to a hallway where people were lined up for early voting. He was pressing a tabloid with an anti-Clinton cover up against the glass facing the hallway.

"It's obvious he wanted to be seen," ACC Elections and Voter Registration Supervisor Cora Wright said. "He's not just sitting there reading."

Athens for Everyone President Tim Denson said the man was "harassing" voters. He sent Flagpole a video of a confrontation with the man.

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