Blog Topic: R.I.P.

In the Loop: RIP Peter Appel, Barry Hollander and Rich Rusk

By Blake Aued | January 31, 2018 9:28am

Athens recently lost three prominent members of the community in activist Rick Rusk and University of Georgia professors Barry Hollander and Peter Appel.

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In the Loop: RIP Former Commissioner Charles Carter

By Blake Aued | November 17, 2017 4:46pm

Photo Credit: Lord & Stephens

Former ACC commissioner Charles Carter died on Thursday morning at the age of 91.

The Winterville native, a cattle farmer, represented District 1 in rural eastern Clarke County from unification in 1991 until his retirement in 2006.

“He was a man of few words, so when he spoke, everyone listened,” said Sharyn Dickerson, who worked for ACC when he was a commissioner and now represents District 1.

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Homedrone: RIP Athens Musician Ash Rickli

By Gabe Vodicka | November 13, 2017 3:50pm

Photo Credit: Desiree Sharpe

The sad news came in over the weekend that Ash Rickli, an Athens musician known for playing in the experimental rock band Strictly Rickli, among other projects, died after suffering a cardiac emergency earlier in the week.

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In the Loop: Athens Man Shoots Woman, Shot At by Officer, Shoots Himself During Domestic Dispute

By Blake Aued | October 16, 2017 9:10pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Police Chief Scott Freeman (right) shows reporters video from an officer's body camera.

A man shot and killed a woman during a domestic dispute off Hawthorne Avenue this afternoon, then turned the gun on himself.

An Athens-Clarke County police officer responded to a call at about 4 p.m. about a domestic dispute involving a handgun at the Columbia Brookside apartment complex.

The shooting started "immediately, as soon [the officer] as arrived and got out of his car," ACCPD Chief Scott Freeman told reporters at a news conference tonight. "The officer witnessed this shooting, and he returned fire in an effort to stop the threat."

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In the Loop: Memorial Service Planned for Tree Surgeon John Conaway

By Pete McCommons | October 11, 2017 12:49pm

Photo Credit: Emuel Aldridge

John Conaway, a skilled and popular local tree service operator, fell to his death Wednesday, Oct. 4 while working on Holman Avenue. A limb to which he had attached his safety rope broke off and carried him down with it.

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Homedrone: RIP Versatyle tha Wildchyld

By Blake Aued | September 18, 2017 10:25pm

Athens rapper Versatyle tha Wyldchild died in his sleep Sunday night, friends of the popular musician and activist confirmed tonight.

Versatyle (real name Anthony Bernard Little) had been in poor health for some time, but his death was unexpected, according to friends.

He was a fixture on the local hip-hop scene for many years. He was part of the socially conscious Dreaded Mindz collective and more recently had formed his own clique of younger artists, The Wild Wolf Pack. Flagpole ran a three-part series on Little's life and career in 2014.

He was also active politically, volunteering in schools, working with the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and speaking out about issues facing the African-American community. Sunday, he attended Tim Denson's Athens-Clarke County Commission District 5 campaign kickoff at Bishop Park.

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Homedrone: RIP Athens Musician Juan Molina

By Gabe Vodicka | August 28, 2017 11:42am

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Juan Molina, a longtime Athenian known for playing in the bands Little Tigers, Time Toy and Go Van Go, among other groups, died Friday, according to reports on social media. No cause of death has been given.

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Homedrone: RIP Athens Musician Mark Cunningham

By Gordon Lamb | May 30, 2017 11:15am

Americana singer-songwriter, friend, father and husband Mark Cunningham passed away suddenly the morning of Friday, May 26.

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In the Loop: RIP Ed Turner, Athens' First Black City Councilman

By Blake Aued | May 18, 2017 12:41pm

Photo Credit: courtesy of Eric Turner

Edward L. Turner, an Athens civil rights pioneer who was the first African American elected to the Athens City Council (before city-county unification) in 1970, died Tuesday at the age of 73.

Athens Anti-Discrimation Movement leader Mokah Jasmine Johnson passed along this obituary from Turner's wife, Deborah, and lawyer Ken Dious.

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Homedrone: RIP Col. Bruce Hampton

By Gordon Lamb | May 2, 2017 11:15am

Col. Bruce Hampton, a Georgia music legend and an inspiration for generations of Athens artists, passed away suddenly last night, May 1.

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