Blog Topic: Breaking News

In the Loop: Athens' Republican Congressmen Hate the Supreme Court's Abortion Ruling

By Blake Aued | June 28, 2016 11:37am

Pro-abortion rights protesters outside the Supreme Court.

Athens is represented in Congress by two Republicans who also happen to be Baptist ministers, so it’s no surprise that they’re extremely unhappy with yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, striking down Texas restrictions on abortion clinics that would have closed most of the clinics in the state.

Here’s Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) on the 5-3 decision:

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In the Loop: Supreme Court Rules Against Immigration Program

By Blake Aued | June 23, 2016 1:20pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

"Victoria" told Flagpole last year that her husband, a 22-year Athens resident, was deported, leaving behind her and their grandchildren, who may never see him again.

A Supreme Court ruling has put in jeopardy the Obama Administration’s plan to shield 4 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

A 4-4 tie (due to Senate Republicans’ refusal to vote on the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s replacement) announced this morning means that an injunction on expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will remain in place—for now.

DACA allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children before 2007 to remain here and work legally. Obama announced in 2014 that he would expand the programto cover newer arrivals, as well as the parents of U.S. citizens and green-card holders. Texas and 26 other states sued to stop the program.

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In the Loop: New Cedar Shoals Principal, ACC Manager Hired

By Blake Aued | June 10, 2016 12:02pm

Jestin Johnson.

The Clarke County School District has hired a new principal for Cedar Shoals High School, and a new assistant manager starts work with Athens-Clarke County next month.

The Clarke County Board of Education approved DeAnne Varitek as CSHS principal Thursday night, effective at the start of the 2016–17 school year.

ACC’s new assistant manager, Jestin Johnson, has managed the city of Bisbee, AZ since 2014.

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In the Loop: Leisure Services Director Pam Reidy Is Leaving

By Blake Aued | June 7, 2016 12:03pm

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Athens covets a lot about Greenville, SC, but Greenville apparently has coveted our Leisure Services director—and now they got her.

Pam Reidy has been named director of the Greenville Parks and Recreation Department and is resigning from ACC Leisure Services effective June 24, Athens-Clarke County announced this morning.

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In the Loop: ACC Tax Commissioner Mitch Schrader Has Died

By Blake Aued | May 31, 2016 10:48am

Clarke County Tax Commissioner Mitch Schrader died Sunday after a long illness, the Athens Banner-Herald reports. He was 54.

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Culture Briefs: Double Dutch Press Will Close in June

By Jessica Smith | May 27, 2016 6:30pm

Double Dutch Press, the fine art printmaking studio founded in 2012 by Amanda Burk and Katherine McGuire, has announced plans to close its storefront at the end of June. Operating “straight outta Normaltown,” the studio has offered press rental, screen services and numerous workshops over the past few years. In addition to designing handmade items that have made popular gifts at craft markets, the duo has also showcased multiple series of prints in exhibitions, such as the “Athens Neighborhood” collection which will open at the Lyndon House Arts Center this upcoming Thursday.

Burk and McGuire intend to continue creating and selling art, and the sad news does at least come with a bit of positive news; Indie South Fair will officially take over the Prince Avenue space to establish a brick-and-mortar headquarters offering handmade and vintage items, consultation services and workshops. Approaching its 10th anniversary this December, Indie South has demonstrated remarkable growth, expanding into a 100-vendor biannual market with smaller-scale events held throughout the year in Athens and across the Southeast.

See the official statement below.

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In the Loop: Athens Transit Wins National Award

By Blake Aued | May 26, 2016 12:42pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

People have lots of complaints about Athens Transit: Buses don’t come often enough; it doesn’t go enough places; it’s too expensive.

While those are legitimate concerns—and a study is underway to examine those issues—let us remember that Athens Transit, whatever its flaws, is really an excellent system, especially for a city this size.

In fact, on Wednesday the Community Transportation Association of America, at its annual conference in Portland, OR, named Athens Transit the Urban Community Transportation System of the Year.

In particular, CTAA cited:

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In the Loop: Collins, Knox, Meadow Win Athens Elections

By Blake Aued | May 24, 2016 11:19pm

Photo Credit: Joshua Jones

John Knox speaks to supporters at the Morton Theatre, where his former students in the band Dank performed, after winning a Clarke County Board of Education seat.

Paul Broun, the controversial former congressman from Athens, failed in his bid to return to Washington tonight, losing in the Republican primary to incumbent Rep. Doug Collins of Gainesville.

Collins received 61 percent of the vote in the 9th District, which runs from the northern edge of Athens through the Northeast Georgia mountains. Broun won 22 percent in the five-man race.

UGA geography professor John Knox edged out lawyer Kamau Hull in a much-watched nonpartisan Board of Education race. Knox received 431 votes (52 percent) to Hull's 394 in the Eastside district.

Toni Meadow—incumbent Mitch Schrader's hand-picked successor—easily won the tax commissioner's race against Dave Hudgins, 62–38, in the Democratic primary.

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In the Loop: Athens Nonprofit Closes on CCSD Headquarters

By Blake Aued | May 24, 2016 1:12pm

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems has closed on a $2.8 million deal to buy the Clarke County School District’s former headquarters on Mitchell Bridge Road, the nonprofit announced today.

The school board approved the sale earlier this month.

“This property will allow us to consolidate three of our locations in one space, enabling us to reduce our overhead costs while expanding access to those we serve,” CEO O.J. Booker said in a news release.

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In the Loop: The ADDA Just Saved Fourth of July Fireworks

By Blake Aued | May 23, 2016 3:55pm

Photo Credit: Eric Kilby/Wikimedia Commons

The Athens Downtown Development Authority has put together a last-minute Independence Day fireworks celebration after Georgia Square Mall, which has hosted the pyrotechnics display for the past two years, canceled the upcoming event last week.

No company was available to shoot off fireworks on July 4, but the ADDA board voted this afternoon to approve a $20,000 contract for a fireworks show on Friday, July 1. ADDA Executive Director Pamela Thompson said she is confident she can raise that amount through corporate sponsorships.

The fireworks will be launched starting at 9:30 p.m. from the top of the Classic Center parking deck, which is the only place downtown that the Athens-Clarke County fire marshal deemed safe, Thompson said.

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