Blog Topic: Breaking News

In the Loop: Cyclist Killed in Collision With Bus in East Athens

By Blake Aued | September 21, 2016 1:48pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

53-year-old Anthony Zackery was killed Tuesday night while riding his bike on Nelly B Avenue in East Athens when he collided with an Athens Transit bus.

According to Athens-Clarke County officials, Zackery was riding on the sidewalk at 8:05 p.m. when the bus activated its turn signal on and turned left onto Martin Circle. Zackery braked but fell off his bike into the street and was hit by one of the bus' tires. The driver stopped the bus, and the dispatcher called 911. Zackery was pronounced dead at the scene.

Read More...
In the Loop: Mayor Denson Delays Discrimination Vote Again—Maybe Forever

By Blake Aued | September 19, 2016 1:54pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

Mayor Nancy Denson listens as Mokah Jasmine Johnson speaks about a local anti-discrimination ordinance at the ACC commission's Aug. 16 meeting.

Mayor Nancy Denson has taken a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance off the Athens-Clarke County Commission’s agenda for the second straight month, and may never put it back on.

“I’m not sure what to do with it,” Denson said. “I haven’t decided when or if it’s coming back yet.”

The ordinance would require bars to post dress codes and private events at the door, and bars that are found to use dress codes or fake private events to keep out certain customers could have their alcohol licenses suspended or revoked.

Read More...
In the Loop: Driver Accused of Killing Cyclist Had Record of DUI Charges

By Blake Aued | September 15, 2016 3:23pm

Photo Credit: Clarke County Sheriff's Office

Whitney Baker Howard's booking photos.

The woman who police say killed one cyclist and severely injured another while driving impaired Monday was charged with two other DUIs in the months leading up to the crash, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

Whitney Baker Howard, 31, was high on prescription drugs and using her phone when her Jeep swerved into the other lane on Athena Drive and hit three cyclists, Ashley Block, Mitchell Enfinger and Brian Molloy. Block was killed, Enfinger remains hospitalized, and Molloy suffered minor injuries.

Read More...
Homedrone: Slingshot Founder Kai Riedl Takes Moogfest Job

By Gordon Lamb | September 13, 2016 3:05pm

Photo Credit: Jeremy Ayers

Kai Riedl, the creator and director of Athens' Slingshot Festival, has accepted a job as executive producer for Moogfest in Durham, NC.

Riedl's new duties include handling all production aspects of the electronic and experimental-music event, which was formerly held in Asheville but moved to Durham last year.

Read More...
In the Loop: Georgia Group Launches Ad Aimed at Stopping 'State School Takeover'

By Blake Aued | September 13, 2016 1:51pm

A Georgia group has launched its first TV ad educating voters about a November education referendum’s ballot language, which it calls “deceptive.”

Amendment 1, also known as the Opportunity School District, is an initiative championed by Gov. Nathan Deal that would allow the governor's appointee to take over public schools it deems to be “failing.” Critics say the plan is unworkable and would siphon money and power away from locally run public schools—perhaps to private corporations.

Read More...
In the Loop: One Cyclist Killed, Another Injured by Alleged DUI Driver

By Blake Aued | September 13, 2016 10:40am

A possibly impaired driver killed one cyclist and severely injured another on Athena Drive in northeastern Clarke County Monday evening, Tim Bryant of WGAU 1340 AM reported this morning.

Ashley Block, a 25-year-old University of Georgia PhD student from Minneapolis, has been indentified as the cyclist who was killed. The name of the injured cyclist has not been released. Bryant described him as "critically injured," and he was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: Avid Is Opening a Second Bookshop in Five Points

By Blake Aued | September 12, 2016 12:25pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued/file

Avid Bookshop owner Janet Geddis

Independent bookstore Avid Bookshop—which celebrates its fifth anniversary next month—is opening a second location in Five Points, in addition to its Prince Avenue store.

The new store, at 1662 S. Lumpkin St., will open this fall. Owner Janet Geddis reports:

Read More...
In the Loop: Daily Groceries Is (Probably) Moving Into the 100 Prince Development

By Blake Aued | September 6, 2016 5:12pm

Photo Credit: Smith Planning Group

It's not completely set in stone yet, but the Daily Groceries Co-op has signed a tentative deal to move into a much larger retail space in the new 100 Prince development slated for the St. Joseph Catholic Church property.

Daily announced to its owner-members today that it's signed a nonbinding letter of intent with developer Homes Urban of Greenville, SC to move into a 14,000 square-foot retail space in 2018.

"This is the first step of a really, really long process for the co-op," Delene Porter, chairwoman of Daily's board of directors, told Flagpole.

Read More...
In the Loop: CCSD Superintendent Phil Lanoue Is Resigning

By Blake Aued | September 1, 2016 8:26pm

Philip Lanoue is resigning effective Mar. 1 after more than seven years as Clarke County School District superintendent, he announced after a school board meeting tonight.

Lanoue's statement did not give any specifics on why he is leaving or his next move, saying only that he plans to "pursue new opportunities."

Read More...
In the Loop: Greyson Lambert Will Start Against North Carolina

By Blake Aued | September 1, 2016 12:20pm

Photo Credit: John Kelley/UGA Athletics

While Georgia fans may be clamoring for Jacob Eason, head coach Kirby Smart has opted to start senior Greyson Lambert against North Carolina on Saturday, according to the AJC.

Lambert, a transfer from Virginia, started 12 games for Georgia. He set an NCAA record for highest completion percentage against South Carolina last year, completing 24 of 25 passes, but otherwise was mediocre and briefly lost his job to Faton Bauta, who’s since left the program.

Read More...