CLASSIC CITY NEWS

The Gwinnett County Police Department has issued the following: (Duluth, Ga., Feb. 25, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police investigators make a human trafficking arrest after following up on a previous robbery arrest. On January 20, officers responded to a robbery call at 2000 Satellite Pointe. in Duluth. When officers arrived, they met with Changze Li (28, Buford) who let them into the apartment saying there was a burglary or robbery in progress.  When officers entered the apartm

Concerning the "Interfaith vigil held in Athens for ICE mass detainees" - You have the freedom in our country to peacefully support or oppose any cause you like, but have you considered the fact that your vigil in support of those who are in our country illegally was held on the second anniversary of Lakin Riley's murder? I think an apology to her family is in order. Pastor Glenn Guest Danielsville

The following was released by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department On February 21, 2026, at approximately 8:30 PM, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to an injury crash on Olympic Drive. Initial investigation indicates that the driver of a 2013 BMW 650i sedan struck a bicyclist operating a GS5 740W electric bike in the rear. Both vehicles were traveling westbound on Olympic Drive, near the intersection of Athena Drive. The bicyclist, Kul Chokhal, a 37-

By Eddie Whitlock I am obsessed with time: I will admit that. I think I always have been. Lately, though, my focus is on how little time I have left. ​Men in my family die at 70. Sometimes, death comes a little sooner; rarely, a little later. ​If I were to die on my 70 th birthday, that would mean I have 134 Saturdays left. ​I remember sitting with my father when I was very young, waiting in the car while my mother visited someone in the hospital. The old man and I played a

The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department released the following: On Monday afternoon, February 23, 2026, at approximately 2:14 p.m., the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Rhodes Drive. First arriving crews found a working fire at a two-story single-family residence, with heavy fire showing from the rear of the home. Crew initiated an interior attack but as conditions worsened, operations were transitioned to a defensive strategy to

Released by the United States Department of Justice MACON, Ga. – A North Carolina man was sentenced to the statutory maximum of five years in prison for sending antisemitic threats to Georgia's only Jewish State House Representative and the Rabbi of Temple Beth Israel in Macon after both women publicly backed the passage of Georgia House Bill 30, the state's first legislation defining antisemitism. Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, 32, of High Point, North Carolina, was sentenced to se

By Joe Johnson Firefighters are currently at the scene of a structure fire near downtown Athens. One person reportedly sustained burns in the fire on Reese Street, but details are not yet available. Fire crews several hours earlier responded to a house fire in western Athens-Clarke, where two people were injured on Rhodes Drive off of Timothy Road, The blaze was described by officials as intense and it had spread to a neighboring residence. The victims were transported to the

By Joe Johnson Two people were reported to have been injured this afternoon in a house fire in western Athens-Clarke County. Firefighters were dispatched at 2:15 p.m. to the fire at 261 Rhodes Drive, in a subdivision off of Timothy Road. Details are not yet in, but Fire Marshal Kevin Kearney said that it was an intense blaze that spread to a neighboring residence. National EMS transported two victims with minor injuries to the hospital, Kearney said.

The following was released by The Interfaith Clergy Partnership of Greater Athens A coalition of Athens-area religious groups held an interfaith candlelight vigil on Sunday in support of immigrants and others affected by mass detentions, deportations and the violent actions of poorly-trained Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “We’re here to bear witness to the lives lost due to ICE actions, their broken-hearted loved ones, to the children and families separat

By Joe Johnson In the early morning hours of February 18th Athens police responded to a report of someone threatening to commit suicide in the parking lot of Walmart on Lexington Road. Upon arrival officers found a 32-year-old homeless man holding a gas canister who had called a suicide crisis line and said he planned to kill himself by inhaling helium. After police established rapport with the man he willingly surrendered the tank of gas to them and he was transported to an

By Joe Johnson A user of the deadly drug fentanyl owes her life to an Athens-Clarke County police officer. On the evening of February 7th police responded to a report of an unconscious drug overdose victim at QuikTrip on Lexington Road. Upon arrival officers found the 37-year-old woman on the floor of the restroom, not breathing and her lips turning blue. Beside her were burnt foil and a cut straw that the officers knew to be evidence of fentanyl use. Officer Benjamin Benedic

Released by Ray Smith’s campaign: Athens, GA – A large crowd of friends, family and supporters gathered to cheer Ray Smith on Saturday at the official launch of his campaign for Georgia Senate District 46. “I intend to be the voice that we have been lacking for decades,” Smith told them. “We need housing that is affordable. We need healthcare that is available without it being the No. 1 cause of bankruptcy.  We need a full Medicaid expansion to close the coverage gap for hund

Athens-Clarke County is expected to experience cold temperatures in the coming days. A number of ongoing emergency resources and shelters are listed below, along with temporary resources.  Temporary additional emergency shelter resources or warming stations at private locations or Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) facilities may be added during severe weather.   For updates before, during, and after severe weather, visit www.accgov.com/weather . For updates abo

Released by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office A cocaine overdose of a 4 year old child led our investigators to execute a search warrant on February 20th, 2026 in Jefferson. Sheena Dawn Shumake, 35, and Joshua Tyler Shumake, 33, were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for Cruelty to Children First Degree. Thank you Georgia State Patrol, West Jackson Fire Department, Georgia Division of Family & Children Services, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for your a

In 1961, William Lederer published “A Nation of Sheep” in which he described average Americans; uninformed, lied to and misled by their own government, and disinterested in politics and foreign affairs if it did not concern them personally. He also mentioned our uninformed political leaders. Neither has changed since 1961. Few remember, for example, that just short of 60,000 American soldiers were killed in Vietnam in a war that our “leaders” knew we couldn’t win and were los

By Joe Johnson Andrea Renee Russo, 37, of Pensacola, Fla, was arrested for fighting in downtown Athens early in the morning of February 15th. Officer Clay Cochran reported that he was patrolling the area at around 2:30 am when he noticed a commotion inside the courthouse parking garage on East Washington Street, where a group of people were trying to separate Russo and the other combatant. While trying to sort out the situation, the officer learned that Russo had instigated

Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Kalki Yalamanchili today issued the following A jury of Athens-Clarke County residents returned a guilty verdict on February 17th, 2026, holding Edrick Lamont Faust accountable for his murder and sexual assault of Tara Baker on January 19th, 2001.  The jury found the defendant guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Rape, Aggravated Sodomy, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Arson, and Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony.

Released by the Gwinnett County Police Department (Dacula, Ga., Feb. 20, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police detectives have charged the mother of a four-year-old who got ahold on a gun and shot himself in the hand. On February 18, officers responded to 3470 Braselton Highway in reference to a four-year-old that had been shot.  When officers arrived, they met with Nicole Johnson (29, Winder) who said she was in a parking lot eating breakfast with her son in the car.  She told off

By Joe Johnson Angus Stewart Moller, 61, of Double Bridges Crossing in Winterville, was arrested on the afternoon of February 16th after crashing his pickup truck into the BP gas station on Lexington Road, Police said that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs and that he failed drug impairment testing at the scene. In addition to his truck crashing into another vehicle at the gas station it struck the building, according to the police report. An officer stated in th

The following was released today by the Gwinnett County Police Department Lawrenceville, Ga., Feb. 20, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police arrested a juvenile following an investigation into threats made against a victim through online platforms. On January 16, 2025, Gwinnett County Police received information regarding a victim who reported receiving threatening and harassing messages from a person she met through Roblox. After the victim ended communication, the juvenile posted