CLASSIC CITY NEWS

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has released the following: Investigators have charged a Carlton woman with felony murder for the Wednesday night, February 25, shooting death of a Carlton man. MCSO deputies responded to a home in the 7000 block of Hwy. 72 E. at approximately 8:15 p.m. Deputies located an unresponsive man in the living room who had been shot in the head. Madison County EMS responded, and he was pronounced deceased. Investigators identified the victim as Gr

By Joe Johnson Shaitiria Quinya Sherod, 22, of Hull Road, was arrested the night of February 16th for simple battery on her sister during a domestic dispute. She compounded her legal problems by obstructing officers, resisting arrest, and spitting on and kicking them. When police arrived at her residence, Sherod reportedly tried to evade arrest by climbing out of a window, When an officer stopped her escape by grabbing her, Sherod kicked and spit at him. After being taken int

Released by the Gwinnett County Police Department: (Norcross, Ga., Feb. 27, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing 29-year-old from Duluth. Hector Eduardo Rodriguez Montano was last seen on Shackleford Court in Norcross on February 16.  He is six feet tall, and 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, gray pants, and gray and white shoes.  He has dark brown eyes and may currently have a shaved head and

ATLANTA, Feb. 25 — The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released today its 2026 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state. Sites on the list include: Boggs Rural Life Center in Keysville (Burke County); Civilian Conservation Corps Camp at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge (Morgan County); Egleston Hall at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta (Fulton County); Legion Pool at the University of Georgia in Athens (Clarke County); McCranie Turpentine Still in Willaco

By Joe Johnson A grand jury has indicted a 26-year-old Monroe man for the alleged sexual assault of an Athens juvenile last summer. Darius Lamar Hardin was charged with statutory rape, child molestation, and sexual battery of a juvenile, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. The victim was 14 at the time of the assault in October 2025, court records indicate. Hardin is free on bond and scheduled to be arraigned on April 14th.

Released by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office On February 18, 2026, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office arrested D’Evin Brown and Serina Johnson. GCSO Special Investigations Section (SIS) and Gwinnett Metro Task Force (GMTF) personnel assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with the execution of a search warrant at a Gwinnett County residence. During the search, approximately 1,450 grams of fentanyl were recovered,

By Joe Johnson Terrance Terrell White last year pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of oxycodone and was sentenced to 12 months on probation. The 46-year-old Pittard Road resident now is again suspected of being intoxicated on drugs when he struck and killed a man on an electric bicycle last Saturday night. According to police reports, White was driving a BMW sedan west on Olympic Drive when he struck the e-bike operated by 37-year-old Kul Chokhal of Barnett Shoals

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