CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson Caroline Elizabeth Strong, 44, of Mitchell Bridge Road, was arrested on January 11th after police received complaints that she was naked in the drive-thru area of McDonald’s on Prince Avenue. When officers arrived they found Strong sitting fully-clothed on the ground. “I asked Strong why she had been naked a few minutes ago and she said she was a nudist,” an officer wrote in her report. Strong was arrested for public indecency and also barred from that McDonal

Severe Weather Response Information Last Content Update: 6 minutes ago National Weather Service Alerts (as of Jan. 30, 10:46 AM) Athens-Clarke County is currently under the following watches/warnings from the National Weather Service : Winter Storm Warning - January 31, 1:00 AM EST - February 1, 1:00 AM EST Extreme Cold Watch - January 31, 7:00 PM EST - February 1, 1:00 PM EST Road / Location Updates (Updated 1/29) Ice remains present on some roads - particularly on bridges,

By Joe Johnson Benjamin Reed Heaslip, 40, of Commerce, was arrested early in the morning of January 23rd when he was found hiding in the ceiling at Earth Fare on South Lumpkin Street. Officers who responded to a 2:22 a.m. burglar alarm activation located Heaslip in the ceiling of a back storage room. It’s unclear how he got into the store, but a report notes that Heaslip was in possession of a crowbar and knife, with more burglary tools in the trunk of his car. He used the st

By Joe Johnson A county grand jury has indicted a 26-year-old Athens woman on cruelty charges for allegedly leaving several young children alone without food for over 12 hours. Janinya Chante Johnson, 26, of Towne View Place, was charged with four felony counts each of first and second degree-degree cruelty to children, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court. The indictment stems from Johnson’s arrest in August concerning her alleged neglect

ATHENS, GA — After a highly successful inaugural year, AthensComedy Fest is officially returning as an annual festival, bringing anotherweekend of top-tier stand-up comedy to the Classic City on May 1 and 2,2026, at the Historic Morton Theatre. The 2026 festival will be hosted by Karen Morgan, one of the Southeast’smost respected and beloved comedians, and produced by an expanded local team of Athens-based performers who helped build the city’s modern comedy scene. This year’

By Joe Johnson A 22-year-old man apparently froze to deathTuesday night in a homeless encampment off Old Hull Road. Dequavious Ragsdale reportedly showed up at the camp a few days earlier needing somewhere to stay and one of the residents offered to share his tent. A family member reported that he had been staying with her until he left on Sunday. The man who allowed Ragsdale into his tent called 911 at 7:25 am Wednesday to report that his guest wasn’t breathing and hadn’t

By Joe Johnson Maurice Anthony Barnes, 44, of Chalfont Lane, was arrested January 14th on a charge of trafficking fentanyl. He had been the subject of an investigation during which he reportedly sold fentanyl on three different occasions to confidential sources who were being supervision by the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force. At the time of his arrest, Barnes reportedly had over 4 grams of the deadly drug in his possession. He is being held at the county jail pend

A fundraiser is being held to help pay for the final expenses for 22-year-old Dequavious Ragsdale, who froze to death Tuesday night at a homeless camp in Athens. His GoFundMe reads as follows: Dequavious “Qua” Ragsdale was a brother, a nephew, & grandson. He was loved by many & was the type of person who would check on you before himself. He was very big on family. Anyone who knew him would say he is a good person who has been through a lot but still found a reason to look at

By Joe Johnson A county grand jury has indicted an Athens man who allegedly tried to kill a former girlfriend when he shot her inside a dentist office last month. Carl Eugene Clark, 74, of Winterville Road, was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder in a 9-count indictment that was filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court. Sheila Mobley was a 47-year-old employee of McRae Family Dental on Baxter Street on December 1st when Clark shot her multiple times in the ch

By Joe Johnson Steven Martin Williams, 37, of Social Circle, was arrested on January 17th during a traffic stop conducted on the pickup truck that he was driving recklessly through westside Athens, His Chevy Silverado was stopped at about 11:20 pm at West Broad and Newton streets by a police officer who reported seeing the vehicle speeding and weaving in traffic without using turn signals. When approaching the truck the officer could hear Williams cursing at him, and after be

By Joe Johnson Kappa Sigma has come under investigation for allegedly having students perform potentially dangerous and demeaning acts as a price of admission to the University of Georgia fraternity. According to court documents, the investigation began in September when University of Georgia Director of Greek Life Joshua Welch notified police that he was concerned about the health of a student because of things he had been coerced into doing by members of Kappa Sigma that ma

By Joe Johnson A chicken has been stolen from W.R. Coile Middle School on Old Elberton Road. The bird was said to be a black sex rock, which is a prolific egg-laying hybrid created by crossing a Rhode Island Red rooster with a Barred Rock hen. It is owned by the school’s agriculture science teacher who told police that she regularly brings animals to school for her students to interact with. Surveillance footage shows a white female dressed all in black leaning over the chic

Athens Downtown Development Authority (ADDA), the Morton Theatre Corporation (MTC) and The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (ACCGov) invite professional artists to submit qualifications for consideration for a mural in the Morton Theatre lobby. The selected artist(s) will work with stakeholders and government staff to create a mural that enhances the user experience and celebrates the contributions of the Morton Theatre in Athens and the Northeast Georgia region. D

Released this evening by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office (Gwinnett County, Ga., January 26, 2026) – On January 23, 2026, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit arrested Brandon Walker in Lithonia, Georgia. Walker had active warrants issued by the Duluth Police Department for Statutory Rape, Child Molestation by Electronic Device, Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, and Creating or Possessing a Visual Medium Depicting a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit C

M Released this evening by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office (Gwinnett County, Ga., January 26, 2026 )  – On January 23, 2026, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit arrested Brandon Walker in Lithonia, Georgia. Walker had active warrants issued by the Duluth Police Department for Statutory Rape, Child Molestation by Electronic Device, Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, and Creating or Possessing a Visual Medium Depicting a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explic

From Athens-Clarke County A Newsflash has been modified on our site. Please click on the link below to go directly to the modified posting. Description: All ACC Transit Buses will resume their regular schedule at 1:45 pm today, January 26th. This is subject to change if conditions worsen. Please, check the myStop app or call (706) 613-3430 prior to travel for the latest updates. Additional Comments: All ACC Transit Buses will resume their regular schedule at 1:45 pm today, Ja

By Joe Johnson A 34-year-old homeless man was arrested after police received reports that he was shadow boxing on top of the courthouse parking deck. When officers responded to the parking structure on East Washington Street they found Dakota Shea English shirtless and exhibiting “behaviors consistent with drug usage to include both eyes pinpointed and jerking,” police said. National EMS also responded but the man had “no issues or physical complaints at time of service.” Eng

By Joe Johnson Kappa Sigma has come under investigation for allegedly having students perform potentially dangerous and demeaning acts as a price of admission to the University of Georgia fraternity. According to court documents, the investigation began in September when University of Georgia Director of Greek Life Joshua Welch notified police that he was concerned about the health of a student because of things he had been coerced into doing by members of Kappa Sigma that ma

By Joe Johnson Kappa Sigma has come under investigation for allegedly having students perform potentially dangerous and demeaning acts as a price of admission to the University of Georgia fraternity. According to court documents, the investigation began in September when University of Georgia Director of Greek Life Joshua Welch notified police that he was concerned about the health of a student because of things he had been coerced into doing by members of Kappa Sigma that ma

By Joe Johnson Firefighters responded to three house fires Saturday night and early Sunday morning. No residents or firefighters were injured. The first fire was on McMinley Drive and was small enough that firefighters were able to put it out with a pressurized water can. The second, on Winterville Road was more involved and fire suppression crews went into the dwelling to extinguish the flames and also rescue a cat. The third fire was Sunday morning at a house on Kings Road