Blog Topic: Government

In the Loop: Your Practical Guide to Thanksgiving in Athens

By Blake Aued | November 25, 2015 11:31am

“I’m sorry, we don’t accept refugees who are a different religion from us. You might kill us all and take over the country.”

Breaking news, y’all: Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and a lot of stuff is going to be closed.

Athens-Clarke County’s trash and recycling pickup schedule has changed. Buses are running on a holiday schedule this week and will be shut down entirely tomorrow. Parks are closed Thursday and Friday. Click here for details.

UGA buses are running on an intercession schedule today, then will not run again until Monday.

If the dog eats your turkey and you find yourself looking for some non-Waffle House food options—or if you just need to get a drink and get away from your relatives—look no further.

And here’s a bunch of ISIS-related stuff in case you decide you want to ruin the holiday by arguing with said relatives.

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In the Loop: Attorney General, Ethics Watchdog Call for Investigation Into Former UGA Administrator

By Blake Aued | November 19, 2015 1:57pm

Photo Credit: UGA News Service

Deborah Dietzler.

The Georgia Attorney General’s office is calling for an investigation into accusations that a former UGA administrator falsified travel reimbursement forms and used state money to take personal trips, according to WSB-TV.

Underlings reported that former Director of Alumni Relations Deborah Dietzler skipped work regularly and forced her staff to find alumni to meet with her when she wanted to run marathons out of town so she could charge it to UGA, among other financial misdeeds.

An internal investigation in 2013 recommended that her contract not be renewed, but instead she was given another job for six months, until the University of Louisville hired her as associate vice president for alumni relations at a higher salary. She is now on leave as UL investigates the charges.

Senior Assistant Attorney General David McLaughlin told WSB that “this matter warrants further inquiry,” and he is concerned that no one ever reported it to his office. He has asked the University System Board of Regents to investigate.

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In the Loop: Attorney: Ort's Yard Is Finally Clean

By Blake Aued | November 17, 2015 2:32pm

Photo Credit: Ben McElhannon

Ort's yard as of today.

William Orten “Ort” Carlton is still waiting to hear whether he’ll have to serve a stint behind bars, but his yard is finally, FINALLY cleaned up, according to his attorney, Bill Overend.

“Athens Habitat For Humanity graciously lent a hand yesterday and today, and Ort’s yard is now surely in compliance,” Overend said. “They have also addressed the sliding glass door issue that was the subject of discussion last Monday when the judge ordered Ort to jail.

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In the Loop: ACC Manager Alan Reddish Is Retiring

By Blake Aued | November 13, 2015 12:05pm

Forget the mayor. Forget the commission. The guy who really runs Athens is Manager Alan Reddish—and he’s retiring.

Reddish’s last day will be Feb. 6, Athens-Clarke County announced today.

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In the Loop: Ort Doesn't Have to Report to Jail

By Blake Aued | November 10, 2015 4:28pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued/file

Popular local writer, DJ and town character William Orten “Ort” Carlton won’t have to report to jail today as he awaits the result of an appeal his attorney intends to file in a 17-month battle with Athens-Clarke County over his messy yard.

In a move that took both the defense and prosecutors by surprise, on Monday Municipal Court Judge Leslie Spornberger Jones sentenced Ort to spend the rest of his six-month probationary period—five days—in jail, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.

But Ort’s attorney, Bill Overend, told Flagpole that he has filed an intent-to-appeal notice with the Clarke County Superior Court, which will keep Ort out of jail until the appeal is resolved. Overend said he doesn’t know how long that will take.

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In the Loop: Protesters Disrupt Board of Regents Meeting

By Blake Aued | November 10, 2015 2:43pm

Photo Credit: Freedom University via Facebook

About 40 protestors disrupted a University System of Georgia Board of Regents meeting in Atlanta today demanding an end to the system’s policy barring undocumented students from attending UGA and other public universities.

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In the Loop: Clarke County Graduation Rates Are Way Up

By Blake Aued | November 10, 2015 11:03am

The graduation rate at Clarke Central rose by 15 points last year.

More than 80 percent of Clarke County School District students graduated within four years in 2015, the district announced Monday—by far the highest mark since the current measurement standard was implemented.

The statewide graduation rate rose from 72.5 percent to 78.8 percent.

The overall graduation rate for the district rose from 63.2 percent last year to 80.3 percent. (That’s an increase of 17 percentage points or 27 percent, not 17 percent as the district stated in its news release.)

At Clarke Central High School, it rose from 68.2 percent last year to 83.3 percent. At Cedar Shoals, it rose from 71.3 percent to 84.2 percent. At Classic City, the alternative school, it rose from 20.7 percent to 50.7 percent.

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In the Loop: Oconee Critic: 'I Will Not Be Intimidated'

By Lee Becker | November 9, 2015 11:12am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Sarah Bell, sporting a sticker from her run against Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis in 2012.

Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis called the owner of the property where Sarah Bell plans to locate her We Care animal shelter one week after Special Master James Warnes dismissed Bell’s ethics complaint against Davis.

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In the Loop: Commission Passes Sewer Plan in Epic Fashion

By Blake Aued | November 4, 2015 4:33pm

As Athens-Clarke County commissioners took a preliminary vote on a 20-year, $240 million plan for water and sewer service Tuesday night, the main issue on their minds was how the plan will tackle the environmental hazard of aging and failing septic tanks in sensitive areas.

As complex an issue as this is, it wasn't nearly as complicated as the parliamentary equivalent of a Benny Hill chase scene that followed. Everyone in Athens now has asthma from the dumpster-fire pollution.

Here’s how it went down (illustrated with GIFs):

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In the Loop: UGA Students Support Food Trucks Downtown

By Blake Aued | November 3, 2015 8:57am

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

A food-truck festival held downtown in September.

The University of Georgia Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution last week in favor of easing Athens-Clarke County regulations on food trucks, which is up for a vote tonight. Read it below the jump.

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