CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson Kimberly Kay Johnson, 27, of Woody Drive, was arrested on April 12th after police say she assaulted a woman who was holding young child. The incident happened when Johnson accompanied her boyfriend to see the mother of his children at her home on Westchester Drive. When an argument broke out she repeatedly punched the victim in the head and ears while she was holding her 4-year-old son, according to police. Johnson left the scene with her boyfriend and was lat

By Joe Johnson Concern for Dorothy Gardner’s welfare has grown as it’s been a year that she’s been seen or heard from by family. The 65-year-old woman has significant health concerns that require her to use mobility aids, according to her great-niece, Hannah Reese. “Her twin brother, David, is having health complications and her other siblings are all worried about her,” Reese said. Gardner became homeless after moving to Athens from Gainesville in 2023. “She last spoke to Da

From the University of Georgia The University of Georgia’s Chapel Bell will be temporarily unavailable this summer as part of a longer-term preservation effort to protect it and ensure the bell-ringing tradition can continue for years to come. The bell will remain available for ringing through Sunday, May 10. It will be removed from the tower on Monday, May 11. Temporary barricades will be in place during removal and will be taken down once the bell has been lowered. During t

By Joe Johnson Jabarris Lamar Brown Jr. has become the first person in Athens to be convicted and sentenced under the new state drive-by shooting law, In addition to convicting him of that crime, a jury found the 19-year-old guilty of five counts of aggravated assault and one count of making terroristic threats, The drive-by shooting law went into effect in July 2025 and the penalty for conviction is a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 20. Superior Court

By Joe Johnson Kingsley K. Dowman, 43, of Highland Park Drive, was arrested early in the morning of April 17th after his car struck and seriously injured a bicyclist on Oconee Street. The incident happened soon after midnight when the bicycle pulled out of Old Winterville Road and into the path of Dowman’s car on Oconee Street. Upon impact 46-year-old Joshua Clark was thrown from his bicycle into the car’s windshield. Dowman reportedly stopped, then panicked and fled the scen

By Joe Johnson An Athens police officer was searching for a wanted person in a wooded area near Danielsville and Hull roads last Friday when he came across the body of 42-year-old Rodney Ray Alford inside a tent at a homeless camp, “This is currently being investigated as a suspicious death,” said police spokesperson Lt. Katie Jenkins. “The deceased has been taken for autopsy,” she said. “There are no further information at this time.”

By T. W. Burger Mulling over the second mug of coffee this morning, reluctant to begin another day in front of the keyboard, I considered the mass of flowers in the vase at the table's center. It was a typical spring mix, several varieties of daffodil, with a smattering of giant snowdrops. It has often been said that it is a shame that flowers last such a little time before they wither. Wouldn't it be great if they could bloom all the time, some say? Yes. And no. They would n

Issued tonight by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department ACCPD is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 74-year-old Wyukia Coleman, last seen today in the area of Hunt Road and Whitehead Road around 5:00pm. She was last seen wearing a red Georgia Bulldog hat, blue jean or grey jacket, and blue jeans or grey sweats. If you see Ms. Coleman, please call 911.

ACCPD is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 74-year-old Wyukia Coleman, last seen today in the area of Hunt Road and Whitehead Road around 5:00pm. She was last seen wearing a red Georgia Bulldog hat, blue jean or grey jacket, and blue jeans or grey sweats. If you see Ms. Coleman, please call 911.

Issued by ACCPD today at 7:30 pm Missing B/F last seen Hunt Rd/Whitehead 74 yo, 5'2" 170lbs LSW red GA bulldog shirt, glasses, gray or jean jacket, gray pants and shoes.

By Joe Johnson Akasha Niema Brooks, 23, of Whitehead Road, was arrested on the night of April 8th for allegedly shooting at a 27-year-old resident at Rolling Ridge Apartments. The victim said that she and Brooks had an earlier confrontation during a road rage incident. Brooks was charged with aggravated assault. A Magistrate Court judge on April 10th granted Brooks $7,000 bail, barred her from from the victim’s apartment complex, and ordered her to undergo mental health eval

By Joe Johnson Police say they are investigating the death of a University of Georgia student who apparently shot himself this week in his off-campus apartment, The body of the 22-year-old student was found by roommates Wednesday night in the bathtub filled with water.A pistol was in his right hand and he had a bullet wound to the right temple, according to police. “Currently there is no foul play suspected in this ongoing death investigation,” police spokesperson Lt. Katie J

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office ireports that its non-emergency phone lines and jail lines are currently down due to technical issues. During this outage, all calls, including non-emergencies, should be directed to 911, as the 911 dispatch lines remain fully operational .

By Joe Johnson Timothy Lee Randles, 39, of Almond Drive, was arrested this week for possessing child sexual abuse material. The Investigation began in November with a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Randles had uploaded images of children being sexually abused to the Kik messaging app. The tip had initially been assigned to the FBI and further investigation was conducted by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department’s Special Victims U

Moc Local author and real estate professional Brian Buffington has released his debut fantasy novel, The Rules of Blackstone: The War for Ardenmark , a story that blends political intrigue, moral conflict, and high-stakes magical warfare in a richly imagined world. Set in the capital city of Blackstone—a fortress built upon mysterious energy veins that grant power to a ruling order known as the Mystics—the novel follows a society bound by ancient rules designed to maintain ba

By Joe Johnson Criminal charges have been filed against a prisoner at the county jail for throwing urine on a detention officer. The incident happened in February when 19-year-old Jabbaris Lamar Brown Jr. threw the urine onto the jailer through his cell door flap, according to this week’s court filing by the District Attorney’s Office. The filing further states that on the same day, Brown threatened to kill another detention officer. He is charged in the filing with the urine

By Joe Johnson A 24-year-old man has been indicted for a robbery at the Athens Transit bus terminal. Dontavious Qyedrekus Aikens, had been arrested on February 10th after he snatched a phone from someone’s hands at the East Broad Street terminal. He reportedly said, “Thank you, bitch” before hopping a bus with the $350 Motorola phone. The victim followed Aikens onto the bus and was able to wrestle away his phone. A transit worker flagged down a police officer about the men fi

By Joe Johnson Athens police are investigating a report that as much as $30,000 may have been stolen from a 74-year-old Jennings Mill Parkway woman by a bitcoin scam. Police were alerted to the theft by a representative of Adult Protective Services who reported that the woman had recently tried to deposit into her bank account a fraudulent $50,000 check that apparently had been issued by the scammers. She “felt like she was legitimately purchasing bitcoin through an app,” a

From ACC Leisure Services: Since 2022, comics have been creating their own opportunities and culture in the Classic City. In the wake of the pandemic locals began rebuilding their scene in Athens rock and roll fashion by starting open mics and showcases in partnership with local venues across the city. The "Athens Comedy Fest" is set for Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Morton Theatre. Ticket prices range from $25 - $65. Tickets may be purchased onlin

From ACC Leisure Services Join us for a Disco Skate Party on the Firefly Trail featuring disco beats, glow-in-the-dark fun, and a lively community atmosphere. This fun event is set for Friday, April 24 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. along the Firefly Trail. Skaters of all ages are invited to light up the trail with neon colors, flashing wheels, and retro style as we skate to classic disco and feel-good dance music. Participants are encouraged to wear bright colors, disco outfits, a