CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson A house fire last month in southeastetn Athens-Clarke County was accidentally sparked by an apartment electrical issue. A resident who perished in the April 24th fire at 121 Sapphire Court was identified as 68-year-old Francine Vancuron. “The fire began in the living room, and it’s suspected that it was electrical in nature,” ACCFD Fire Marshal Kevin Kearney said. The fire department had no information about dogs that reportedly lived with the victim.

By Joe Johnson A 17-year old girl last week was traumatized by the sight of a man masturbating in Ben Burton Park. The teen told police that she was sitting on the riverbank journaling on the morning of April 30th when she saw an older white male with a handlebar mustache masturbating on a nearby trail. Witnesses reported that the girl had been “crying and acting hysterically” while telling what she had seen. The man had reportedly briefly blocked the girl’s path on the trail

By Joe Johnson Santavious Montez Davenport has been charged with fracturing a woman’s skull by assaulting her with a bicycle. The 30-year old-old homeless man was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and criminal trespass, to an indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday, The charges stem from an incident at a wooded off of Old Hull Road in February when he attacked the woman by throwing the bicycle into her tent, A responding police officer reported that th

file photo By Joe Johnson A 9-year-old boy this week was found walking along a busy Athens roadway after he wandered off from an after school program. On Wednesday afternoon the child’s mother called 911 to report that her son was missing from the program at Whitehead Elementary School on Quailwood Drive. As a search effort was being organized, a second 911 caller reported seeing a child walking on heavily-traveled Tallassee Road near Vaughn Drive. A police supervisor located

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department posted the following on its Facebook page ACCPD is seeking the community’s help in locating 16-year-old Makiya Bailey. Makiya was last seen on April 17, 2026, and was reported missing on April 29, 2026. She is approximately 5’7” tall and weighs between 110–115 pounds. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white shirt, a white sweater, and a brown wig. Makiya is believed to only have access to a Wi-Fi-enabled cellphone. It is believ

By Joe Johnson The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is investigating the death of a University of Georgia student after his body was found in his off-campus apartment. The 21-year-old student reportedly had been found deceased in the apartment’s bathroom by a roommate. He had stab wounds to his neck and a knife was on the floor beside him, according to police, “This case is still being actively investigated,” said police spokesperson Lt. Katie Jenkins, “Currently, ther

Released today by the Gwinnett County Police Department: Norcross, Ga., April 30, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police detectives have been actively investigating a missing person case involving 65-year-old Lavonne Cain. Cain was reported missing by family members after he was last seen leaving his residence at the Canopy Glen Apartments, located at 1635 Pirkle Road in Norcross, on April 23, 2026, at approximately 9:20 a.m. Family members advised that while Cain typically leaves th

By Joe Johnson Bryant Myron McLaughlin has been charged in connection with an assault on a fellow prisoner at the county jail in Athens two months ago. The 39-year-.old prisoner from Dillon, S.C., was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and rioting in a penal institution, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday. McLaughlin was being held for the U.S. Marshals Service for an unspecified reason on February 7th when he brutally beat the 44

By Joe Johnson A grand jury has indicted an Athens man on charges he killed a man when he crashed his car into the victim’s electric bicycle two months ago. Terrence Terrell White, 46, of Pittard Road, is charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday. Police said that on the night of February 21st White was driving on Olympic Drive when his car struck from behind the e-

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