Blog Topic: Bummertown

In the Loop: Todd Gurley Is Now a Political Football

By Blake Aued | October 17, 2014 2:05pm

Georgia running back/one-time Heisman hopeful/possible demigod Todd Gurley won't be on the field against Arkansas tomorrow, but Gov. Nathan Deal and Democratic challenger Jason Carter are counting on him to help run up the score Nov. 4.

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Culture Briefs: UGA AD McGarity Releases Statement on Gurley

By Blake Aued and Gabe Vodicka | October 10, 2014 7:00pm

Photo Credit: UGA Athletic Association

Music Editor Gabe Vodicka is officially on suicide watch. From the AJC:

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Culture Briefs: Florida Fan Bryan Allen Named as Gurley Snitch

By Blake Aued | October 10, 2014 6:50pm

Photo Credit: believekevin/Flickr

Someone in Athens paid suspended god-like tailback Todd Gurley $400 to sign 80 autographs last spring, then ratted him out to UGA's compliance office, according to Sports Illustrated.

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Culture Briefs: Todd Gurley Is Suspended and It's OK to Cry

By Blake Aued | October 9, 2014 5:50pm

Welp. There goes the season. Heisman Trophy candidate (until about 15 minutes ago) Todd Gurley has been suspended indefinitely, and we have no idea why. Here's the full two-paragraph statement from the Bulldogs:

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In the Loop: Jack Lumpkin Is Retiring as ACC Police Chief

By Blake Aued | September 12, 2014 7:08pm

Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jack Lumpkin will retire by Jan. 18, he announced today.

But Lumpkin's career may not be over. He's one of the three finalists for the open police chief's position in Savannah, the Morning News reported.

Lumpkin explained his decision as a financial one: He has two grandchildren and wants to be able to send them to college. By retiring in Athens, he can draw his pension as well as a salary from another community.

His full statement is below:

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In the Loop: Flagpole Contributor Rachel Bailey Suffers Head Injury, Friends Seek Donations for Medical Bills

By Gabe Vodicka | August 4, 2014 2:49pm

Word came in yesterday that Rachel Bailey, a longtime Flagpole contributing writer who has penned many great arts and music features over the last several years, fell and suffered a rather serious head injury Friday, Aug. 2.

Though Rachel is now home and expected to make a full recovery, friends are seeking donations to help offset the costs of her hospital stay.

From the Rachel's Noggin blog:

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In the Loop: Athens Loses Commercial Airline Service

By Blake Aued | July 15, 2014 2:48pm

Photo Credit: seaportair.com

Athens is likely to lose commercial air service at the end of September, after the Federal Aviation Administration pulls a $1.6 million annual subsidy, the Athens-Clarke County government announced today.

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Culture Briefs: We Live-Tweeted the USA's Crushing Defeat at the World Cup

By Blake Aued | July 2, 2014 10:57am

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Me, Flagpole music editor Gabe Vodicka, beer writer Jacob Yarbrough and film critic Derek Hill, that is. It went about like you'd expect.

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In the Loop: UPDATE: The Sunshine Cycles Mural Is Gone

By Blake Aued | June 30, 2014 2:23pm

Photo Credit: Frances Berry

People are bummed that the mural on the side of the former Sunshine Cycles store on West Washington Street (it moved to Baxter Street in April) has been painted over.

Philanthropy—the Tennessee-based Christian women's clothing store that is taking over the space—posted a message from landlord Corky Sams on Facebook explaining the decision:

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In the Loop: Athens' Income Inequality Is Ridiculously High

By Blake Aued | April 24, 2014 3:01pm

And it's only gotten worse. Chart via Wikipedia.

Athens has the eighth-highest income inequality in the country, according to Bloomberg News.

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