CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson Maki Odai Grant has received a 15-year sentence for shooting Dennis Lee Collins last year at Rolling Ridge Apartments. Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard ordered the 21-.year-old to serve the first year in jail and the balance on probation. The sentence was in accordance with a negotiated plea agreement between Grant and the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Grant shot the 41-year old victim in April 2024 during a physical altercation at

By Joe Johnson John Fitzhugh Orchard, 31, of Kennington Drive, has been indicted for vehicular homicide in connection with a drunk-driving crash last year that killed his passenger. He was charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, DUI, and following another vehicle too closely, according to the indictment filed November 4th in Superior Court. The deadly crash happened on the evening of December 17, when Orchard was driving a Toyota MR2  on Macon Highway and struck a Jee

The United States Department of Justice has released the following ATHENS, Ga. – A Georgia man who admitted to sexually exploiting a child by sending explicit instructions for the abuse of a young girl over social media was sentenced to serve more than 21 years in prison for his crime. William Barnett, II, 33, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III, on Nov. 10,

The following was issued today by the Gwinnett County Police Department (Lawrenceville, Ga., Nov. 18, 2025) – The Gwinnett County Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing 37-year-old from Lawrenceville. Victoria was last seen leaving Northside Gwinnett Hospital on November 8.  She is five foot two inches tall and weighs 170 pounds.  She has brown and pink braids in her hair.  She was last carrying a pink and light blue backpack.  Anyone wi

By Joe Johnson A University of Georgia law professor is being investigated for allegedly not disclosing his HIV-positive status before having sex with an Athens man. According to police, the 23-year-old man reported that he met the professor through the Grindr social networking app in November 2024 and they had sex at the professor’s home. Police said the professor is being investigated under the state law that makes it a felony “for a person living with HIV to knowingly en

By Joe Johnson A University of Georgia law professor is being investigated for allegedly not disclosing his HIV-positive status before having sex with an Athens man. According to police, the 23-year-old man reported that he met the professor through the Grindr social networking app in November 2024 and they had sex at the professor’s home. Police said the professor is being investigated under the state law that makes it a felony “for a person living with HIV to knowingly en

By Joe Johnson A 75-year-old man was arrested early Sunday morning at the Bulldog Inn on Commerce Road where police say he assaulted his 56-year old-,old wife and two motel employees, The incident was reported at 3;34 a.m. by one of the employees who called 911 to report having been stabbed. He and another employee had gone to the room occupied by Lester Bernard Ramey to tell hm that his wife wanted him gone. He also wanted Ramey to leave because he had busted a window in hi

The following was released today by the candidate Today, political content creator and outspoken advocate for working families Suzanna Karatassos announced her run for Georgia State House District 120, firing the opening shot of a people-powered campaign determined to put affordability and dignity back at the center of state politics. She is promising to bring urgency, compassion, and unapologetic honesty to a district that has been ignored for far too long. Karatassos, a mot

The downtown scene after the Georgia-Alabama game in September By Joe Johnson More than 50 people were booked into the county jail following Saturday night’s football game at the University of Georgia. It had been a highly anticipated match up between the Georgia Bulldogs and University of Texas Longhorns with playoff implications. It was also the first time the Longhorns had traveled to Athens to play on UGA’s home turf. Officials at the Athens airport said that Friday had b

From Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Come gather ‘round the fire with your instrument and play along to campfire classics at this casual open jam session. All skill levels and abilities are welcome, whether you want to sing, play, or just clap along to the music! The inaugural  "Sandy Creek Hootenany" is set for Sunday, November 16 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Sandy Creek Park. This program is free of charge, however the $2 per person park admission is still in effect.  On

By Joe Johnson Jonathan Lanier Dunn, 17, of Westwood Drive was arrested on the night of October 25th after he tried to take a gun from a police officer. Dunn had another run in with the police in September at Clarke Central High School where he caused a major disruption that began with him allegedly threatening to shoot students and then being chased inside the building by officers before they could arrest him. Last month’s incident happened at about 9 p.m. when police respo

By Suzanna Karatassos Right now, families across Georgia are opening their refrigerators and doing math they shouldn’t have to do. The federal government has shut down again, and with it, SNAP benefits, the primary food assistance for 1.6 million Georgians, are being delayed and reduced. These are not abstract numbers. These are parents, children, seniors, disabled workers, and service industry employees who already live on the thinnest possible margins.       There is a solu

T he The Director of the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency and his wife have been arrested on cruelty to children charges, more than a month after their son was convicted and sentenced for a list of rape and child molestation charges. The crimes were against three different girls of varying ages, all of whom were under the age of 18 at the time of the crimes, between May 2020 and December 2021. Bryson Bullock was 16 to 17 years old at the time of the crimes. followin

The following has been released by the United States Department of Justice ATHENS, Ga. – A dozen defendants involved in a major methamphetamine ring operating between Mexico and a conversion site in Monroe, Georgia, responsible for converting and distributing thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine shipped in from Mexico and hidden in boxes of jalapeños, are being held accountable for their crimes at the federal level in an Operation Take Back America investigation. “This O

The Clarke County School District has released the following The Clarke County School District invites the Athens-Clarke County community to join us as we share our vision for the future of the historic West Broad School complex. There will be two public presentations on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the District Office - located at 595 Prince Avenue , in Athens. Each meeting will cover the same material

By Joe Johnson A 66-year-old man was severely injured last weekend by someone forced their into his daughter’s home in a westside Athens apartment complex. The incident happened at about 1 a.m. Sunday on Weir Circle in Parkview Homes when the suspect showed up at the apartment demanding money while armed with a boxcutter, police said. When the man said that he didn’t have any money the suspect forced his way in and rummaged through the home looking for money. He cut up a

Released by Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Mindful planetarium is a time for adults to unwind. No cell phones, no talking, and no children.  Coffee and tea will be served before and after the mindful time. Attendees will spend time listening to music and watching the night sky.  Put away your phones, turn off your voices, and spend quiet time in the planetarium This planetarium program is for adults. The information presented is aimed at older audiences. This program,

photo by Mandy King By Joe Johnson Residents of Georgia Heights apartments were evacuated Thursday night while firefighters investigated the source of a fire alarm activation which turned out to be burnt food on a stove. A resident of the fourth-floor apartment had already extinguished the fire, but firefighters needed to check for possible extension into the walls, said Athens Fire Marshal Rick Vaughn. “This incident serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of staying

By Joe Johnson Brodia Demonta Williams was arrested on the afternoon of October 29th after polic say she stabbed her partner in their apartment on The Preserve Drive. The 32-year-old victim reported from her SUV on West Broad Street that she has been stabbed by someone at a car wash. Responding officers found her holding a towel on a bleeding puncture wound on her thigh. She was transported to the hospital by ambulance and later released, Details the victim gave about the st

By Joe Johnson Firefighters responded Thursday night to an alarm at the apartments over the West Broad Street CVS, Evacuated residents were seen on the sidewalk outside and the road was closed to traffic for about an hour, Classic City News has reached out to the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department for further information. Photos by Mandy King