CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson Morton McLaughlin Wiggins, 40, of Comer, has been indicted for an armed robbery at an Athens vape shop earlier this month. He was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday. According to police, the incident happened on the morning of April 6th at The Joint Vape Shop on Hull Road, where Wiggins left without paying for a $30 canister

By Joe Johnson Jessica Vencherra Johnson, 40, of Stonybrook Circle, was arrested early the morning of April 20th when she was found passed out on the side of the road with a young child in the back seat of her car. According to police, the front of the car was in the grass and the back was on the road, with the engine still running. When officers looked inside the vehicle they found an empty vodka bottle in the driver’s side door pocket and Johnson’s 9-year-old son in the bac

From ACC Leisure Services Join a walk and talk led by Georgia-based wildlife biologist Alex Troutman to hear about JOURNEY to becoming a wild biologist, his critters field guide, and tips for enjoying nature along the way! Alex will lead a indoor discussion about his life, career, and the Critter series. Next is a book signing before a stroll on the Box Turtle Loop and Boardwalk to learn a few nature viewing tips. This special "Critter Tales" is set for Saturday, May 9 a

By Joe Johnson Athens police recently saved the life of a teenager who tried to kill himself by intentionally overdosing on fentanyl. The 19-year-old male from Winder had checked into Howard Johnson on West Broad Street after expressing suicidal ideations on social media. Police were called at around 2:30 am on April 22nd after unsuccessful attempts by others to reach him by phone. When officers entered his room the teen was lying unconscious on the bed, with fentanyl and bu

From ACC Leisure Services The Walker Park Splash Pad will open under its pre-season hours on Saturday, May 9 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Walker Park Splash Pad, located at200 Trail Creek Streetwill be open weekends only, May 9 - 17 and will then operate under regular seasonal hours starting Saturday, May 23. Splash pad hours of operation are Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The splash pad is closed on Mondays for maintenance. The Howard Park Splash Pad, lo

By Joe Johnson An Athens man has been sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to shooting into the home of a former girlfriend when her young children were present. Zapond Charbijus Byrd, 22, of Parkview Extension, was given a total sentence of 25 years, with the first six years to be served in prison and the balance on probation. The incident happened in April 2025 when Byrd went to the woman’s home on Broadacres Court and shot into her apartment when she, h

The following was released today by the Athens-Clarke County government On April 27, 2026, after consideration of the drought severity and the water resource impacts, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) declared a statewide Drought Response Level 1 for public water systems that use surface water and/or groundwater. To determine the appropriate level of drought response, the EPD considers several factors, including precipitation, stream flows, groundwater, res

Ask By Joe Johnson Tia Benson-Brown, 34, of East Broad Street, was arrested on April 20th following an argument with employees at Chipotle Mexican Grilll in downtown Athens. Police responded to the restaurant after an employee reported that Benson-Brown was making a scene by complaining about having been served the wrong order the day before. Management wanted to have her barred from the restaurant. Benson-Brown had already left the scene but was quickly located when police

By Joe Johnson His obituary provides a glimpse at the life that 42-year-old Rodney Alford had before it was ended this month in an Athens homeless camp. He was found shot to death on April 17th in the wooded encampment near Danielsville and Hull roads and another homeless man has been “ with his murder. According to the obituary, Alford had been born in Demorest and he went on to be a devoted son, father, brother, and “steadfast member of his community,” “Rodney lived a life

By Joe Johnson A University of Georgia student reported to police that he recently paid an extortionist $300 to keep sexually explicit photos of him from being sent to his family members. The 22-year-old victim told police that he had met “Kevin” through the Grindr dating app and they subsequently exchanged explicit photos themselves. The extortionist initially demanded that money be sent with a bitcoin link that he provided but the student went to Walmart and bought a $300 A

From the Mayor’s Office: Strolling up Hoyt Street a few weeks ago, just uphill from the Council on Aging, two children about three or four years old approached me, and one held out her hand to give me something, and asked if I would like a pecan. Her companion handed me another, and they let me know that I can make a great pie with them. We spoke for a few moments, and I let them know that I’m particularly fond of chocolate pecan pie, which they said would be an acceptable us

The following was released today by the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department Just before noon on April 24, 2026, the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 121 Sapphire Court on Athen’s east side. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy smoke conditions coming from the residence. Firefighters quickly initiated an aggressive interior fire attack. During operations, crews encountered significant hoarding conditions that impeded access and m

By Joe Johnson The man who was charged on Friday with murdering an Athens homeless camp resident is on probation for a first-degree arson conviction in Fulton County, Joshua Robert White, 30, was charged with murder for the death of 42-year-old Rodney Alford in a homeless camp near Danielsville and Hull roads, Police believe that Alfred had been fatally shot about a week ago and an officer found his body in a tent while looking for a suspect in an unrelated case. A detective

By Joe Johnson Authorities have identified a woman who was found dead in Athens in January. On Friday, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department identified her as Rosalinda Gurley, 74, of Statham. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’’s crime lab positively identified Gurley with assistance from ACCPD. When Gurley was found the morning of January 27th at the rear of American Pest Control on Atlanta Highway it was thought she was homeless and might have died from exposure to

By Joe Johnson Athens police today announced that have charged a suspect with murder for a recent death in a homeless camp. Joshua Robert White, 30, was charged today with aggravated assault and felony murder for the death of 42-year-old Rodney Alford, whose body was found on April 17th at a homeless camp near Danielsville and Hull roads, White had been in custody on a firearms charge since April 19th, when booked into the county jail with the Bigger Vision shelter on North

Heather is informed that Jeremy had died By Joe Johnson Heather Nicole McCall in December pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Jeremy Howard at her home on Nowhere lRoad in 2024. She was sentenced to four years in prison and six on probation. Heather in prison McCall and Howard had formerly been in a romantic relationship that involved domestic violence. After the shooting McCall explained to police that her landlord had told Howar

McCall‘s prison photo By Joe Johnson Heather Nicole McCall in December pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Jeremy Howard at her home on Nowhere lRoad in 2024. She was sentenced to four years in prison and six on probation. McCall and Howard had formerly been in a romantic relationship that involved domestic violence. After the shooting McCall explained to police that her landlord had told Howard to stay away because he had previously

I wrote this for the ABH back in 2019 on the 10th anniversary of one of the most horrific incidents in Athens history By Joe Johnson The sun shone bright over Athens on April 25, 2009. An especially festive atmosphere pervaded the downtown area as thousands gathered for the annual Twilight Criterium nighttime bicycle race. It was also a beautiful day for the annual picnic for the Town & Gown Players, a close-knit local theater group. On the last Saturday of each April, member

Mrs, G, a local rideshare driver for Uber and Lyft was on North Thomas Street when she took remarkable photos of a group of green creatures casually strolling past the News Building that formerly housed the Athens Banner-Herald.

Released today by the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department is advising residents to be aware of declining air quality conditions due to wildfire smoke drifting into the area from southern Georgia. These conditions may pose increased health risks, particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD, as well as children and older adults. The Fire Department’s Emergency Management Agency is closely monitoring