CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson Jockeyvise Zimare Banks, 19, of Hickman Drive, has been charged with allegedly intimidating a witness in an Athens murder case. According to his arrest warrant. Banks intimidated a witness in the case of 22-year-old Antonio Jewell, who fell to his death last year at The View at NoDa apartment complex. He reportedly fell from an upper floor balcony while fleeing from members of the Sex, Murder, Money street gang who had pistol whipped and robbed him and another

By Joe Johnson Julio Cesar Hernandez-Bueno, 56, of Cherokee Road in Winterville, has been indicted for an incident outside of a bar downtown in which he stabbed one man and shot at another. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Superior Court. The incident occurred early in the morning of May 10th outside of Tropical Bar on West Clayton Street, A

By Dennis Rice It would disturb me greatly if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalist and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it. That's what evangelist Billy Graham had to say in 1981. Today he would be appalled that so many so called mainline churches and so many mainline ministers, some highly trained at their seminaries, who know better, are afraid to speak out. They have allowed Christian Zionism to enter

Released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Athens, Clarke County, GA (July 27, 2026) - At the request of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Athens, GA. John Weeks, age 44, of Athens, was shot and injured in the incident. No officers were injured. Preliminary information indicates that on Monday, July 27, 2026, at about 4:30 p.m., a Homeless Day Service Center employee noticed a man yelling outs

By Joe Johnson Spencer Thurlow Long, 41, of Hill Street, was arrested after he assaulted his elderly grandmother and robbed a man on consecutive days last week. The first incident happened on the afternoon of July 21st when Long assaulted his 83-year-old grandmother at their home. “She said Spencer snapped at her and began striking her, causing lacerations to her arm and face,” then smacked the phone from her hand when she tried to call 911, according the the police report, H

By Joe Johnson Andera Lashandra Howard, 41, of Vine Street, was arrested last week for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend with a car and gun. The incident happened on the afternoon of July 12th in the parking lot of Triangle Plaza on Nellie B Avenue, where the 47-year-old victim went to go shopping. The victim had no sooner parked his truck when Howard drove up and purposely sideswiped the vehicle with her car and then tried getting into the truck while holding a pistol. She

The following was released today by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department On July 27, 2026, at approximately 4:23 p.m., Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officers responded to the 400 block of North Avenue regarding a disturbance involving a subject brandishing a bladed weapon. During the incident, at least one ACCPD officer fired his weapon, striking the subject. The subject was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, where he was being trea

The following was released today by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department On July 27, 2026, at approximately 4:23 p.m., Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officers responded to the 400 block of North Avenue regarding a disturbance involving a subject brandishing a bladed weapon. During the incident, at least one ACCPD officer fired his weapon, striking the subject. The subject was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, where he was being trea

By Joe Johnson A 35-year-old Athens man has been indicted for allegedly raping his wife during a domestic violence incident earlier this year. In addition to rape, Gregory McKinley Mulligan was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, family violence battery, and possession of a controlled substance, according to the indictment filed last month in Superior Court. Police said that the incident happened on March 10th at the couple’s home on Marlin Street, where officers r

By Joe Johnson An Athens-Clarke County grand jury has declined to indict a man for murder in connection with a homeless camp death earlier this year. Joshua Robert White had been arrested in April and charged with murder for the death of 42-year-old Rodney Alford, whose body was found in the camp near Danielsville and Hull roads. At the time of the arrest White had already been in custody on an unrelated gun charge. The grand jury did charge him with possession of a firearm

By Joe Johnson A man who shot his girlfriend to death earlier this year has been indicted for her murder. Sharod Pontes Greene, 52, of Chateau Terrace, was charged with malice and felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court last month. He was arrested on May 10th after he called 911 to say that he had just shot his girlfriend. When officers arrived at Greene’s home at Arbor

We have long witnessed with deep concern ICE acting without due process against our immigrant neighbors across the country. In recent days, ICE has brought its unconstitutional and immoral actions to Athens: ● Both parents taken, their 11-year old daughter left to fend for herself. ● Workers taken from their job site. ● Disguised agents pounding on the door of homes while shouting “your car is on fire!,” then surrounding the homeowner when she rushes out. None of these indivi

Released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Conyers, GA (July 23, 2026) - The GBI has arrested and charged Paige Forte, age 30, of Conyers, GA, with Misuse of a License Plate Reader System, following an investigation into the misuse of her access to the Flock Safety System. Forte is a dispatcher supervisor at the Conyers Police Department. On July 21, 2026, the Conyers Police Department requested the GBI to investigate following an internal audit of the Flock license plat

By Joe Johnson A Superior Court judge has dismissed charges against a 39-year-old Athens man who had been arrested for allegedly shooting another man four years ago. Antwon Maurice Dixon was arrested in 2024 for the shooting that occurred two years earlier in which police said he used a .380-caliber pistol to shoot Michael Sims three times in the lower abdomen during an incident on Lombardy Circle. He was charged and subsequently indicted for aggravated assault, possession of

Released by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department On the morning of July 24, 2026, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force, with the assistance of the ACCPD Gang and K-9 Units, and FBI Safe Streets Task Force, executed multiple search warrants across Athens-Clarke County (Sayemore Drive, Massey Lane and Big Oak Circle). As a result, officers seized 12 grams of fentanyl, 24 grams of cocaine, 18 pounds of marijuana, four firearms, and $8,800 in U.S. currency. Brian

By Joe Johnson Timothy Chad Gurley, 23, of Hull, was arrested early in the morning of July 22nd for allegedly driving drunk on the wrong side of the Athens Perimeter. A police officer reported that he was patrolling the highway at around 2:15 a.m. when he saw Gurley’s car stopped in one of the northbound lanes. When the officer stopped to investigate Gurley turned the car around and began to drive south on the northbound side of the highway, according to the report. “As I a

By Joe Johnson A suspect in a Florida murder was arrested last weekend after his car was stopped in Athens for motor vehicle law violations. Officer Samuel Calderon stopped the car Sunday afternoon on Northcrest Drive for an illegal windshield tint and because the passenger wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. When checking the identities of the occupants the officer learned that the passenger was wanted for murder in Florida. Christian Tyler Edwards, 19, of West Palm Beach, had warra

Issued tonight by the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency: ‼️ MISSING ENDANGERED PERSON ‼️ Christopher Elliott, 36yo black male, bald, schizophrenic, weighing approximately 150 lbs with tattoos on forearms (wings, CASH LIFE) wearing white tank and black shorts. He was last seen at 2021 Archer Grove School Road on foot around 8:13 pm. If seen, please call 911 or 706-367-1911.

From the Athens-Clarke County government: Athens-Clarke County’s Capital Projects Department invites residents to provide general feedback on the exterior and interior design of the new Judicial Center, which will be located at 120 W. Dougherty Street in downtown Athens. An open-ended comment form, along with several design images for reference, is available at www.accgov.com/judicialcenter through Sunday, August 9. ACCGov is particularly interested in feedback related to th

From ACC Leisure Services Step away from the noise of everyday life and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the forest during the Forest Bathing Experience program at Sandy Creek Park on Saturday, August 22, from 10:00 a.m. - noon. Forest bathing isn't about hiking or exercise; it's about intentionally slowing down and engaging your senses to experience the healing benefits of nature. This program is guided by Heather Matherly, a Master Naturalist and Certified Forest T