Athen's resident one of 61 charged in 'Cop City' indictment

Athens News Podcast: 9/8/23

1. Athen's resident one of 61 charged in 'Cop City' indictment

An Athens resident, Jack Morgan Beamon, 22, is among 61 individuals indicted in Fulton County in connection with mob violence at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center site. They are charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The indictment links them to "Defend the Atlanta Forest," described as an anarchist and extremist organization. Beamon is implicated in a March 5 incident where a mob overwhelmed the police, leading to charges of arson and domestic terrorism. Beamon has not been jailed yet. Of the 61 indicted, only 13 are from Georgia. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr emphasized accountability for those attacking law enforcement in the state................This from the Athens-Banner Herald

1. ACC Mayor and Commission discusses stormwater system, parklets and judicial grants

In a recent Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission meeting, various topics were discussed. Mayor Kelly Girtz highlighted the achievements of 4-H State Congress competition winners. The commission approved several items from the consent agenda. Residents and experts addressed rezoning proposals for properties on Whitetail Way and Prince Avenue. The meeting also covered the installation of a new T-Mobile tower and discussions on stormwater financial planning. A parklet proposal aimed at transforming parking spaces into outdoor seating for restaurants sparked debate, with concerns about increased parking rates. The commission also discussed court funding program grants and the implementation of solar panels, which led to debates about tree removal. Retired official Fred Smith Sr. invited participation in an event about the integration of Black students in the Clarke County School District............This from the Red and Black

1. Three new board members sworn in at Athens Technical College:

Three new members have been sworn in as directors on the Athens Technical College Board. Phil Bettendorf, a senior vice president at Synovus Bank, Cheveda McCamy, a Superior Court judge in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit, and Mike Sale, president and CEO of The Commercial Bank, have been appointed for three-year terms. These individuals bring diverse backgrounds and extensive community involvement to their roles. The board also announced Madison Mayor Fred Perriman as the new chair and Reginal Woods, retired from UGA, as co-chair. Athens Tech President Andrea Daniel expressed anticipation in working with the new board members..........This from the Athens-Banner Herald

1. Arrest made for home invasion armed robbery in Athens:

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery in Athens that occurred in August. The incident involved two individuals dressed in black with face masks who forced their way into a home on Hemlock Drive, pointing guns at a 48-year-old woman and her two children. They demanded valuables, and the male intruder pointed his gun at the children while the female pointed a gun at the resident's head. Stolen items included cash, a cellphone, and narcotics. The victims recognized the male suspect from their neighborhood but didn't know the female. The arrested suspect is 22-year-old Shadarious Lamontae Allen, facing multiple charges, while the female intruder remains unidentified............This from Classic City News

1. Everything Kirby Smart said after Tuesday's practice:

The Georgia Bulldogs have extended their win streak to 18 consecutive games, marking a program record. After a victory over an FCS opponent, Georgia is now preparing to face Ball State. In their recent game against UT Martin, Georgia's offense had a slow start but eventually picked up momentum, winning 48-7. Quarterback Beck had a strong performance with 294 passing yards and a touchdown. The defense also played a crucial role in containing UT Martin. Coach Kirby Smart expressed satisfaction with the team's practice and emphasized the need to prepare for more complex opponents in the future. He also discussed the growth of the team's young corners and the return of injured players like Raylen Wilson and Smael Mondon........This from Dawgs 247

1. Taylor-Grady House to become location for receptions, exhibits, African American museum, more:

The Athens-Clarke County commissioners have approved a new lease for the Taylor-Grady House National Historic Landmark Inc. The lease will lead to the property being renamed "Landmark Commons at Taylor-Grady House." The new tenants aim to make the property an inclusive space for education, preservation, and hospitality. Landmark Commons plans to host community events such as Historic Athens Porchfest and an African American museum on the ground floor, pending approval. They also have an event on September 17 featuring a documentary about the first five students who integrated Athens' schools in 1963, in collaboration with the Clarke County School District and The Association for the Study of African American Life and History..........This from the Athens-Banner Herald

1. UGA sophomore wins NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation competition:

University of Georgia student Ben Pumphrey, a mechanical engineering major, participated in the NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience over the summer. Pumphrey and his team of fellow students designed a system to address the growing problem of space debris polluting Earth's orbit. Their proposal aims to capture inactive satellite debris with a net system and release it closer to the atmosphere, causing it to deorbit more quickly without creating additional pollutants. The team received a $10,000 grant from NASA to advance their project and plans to apply for further funding to make their proposal a reality. Their work contributes to solving the issue of space debris and its threat to satellite systems............This from the Red and Black

Social:

From The Athens Clarke County Facebook page:

Alan Cason posted “Coming soon downtown in the old Iron Factory space on West Washington St.”

All the pictures show the inside of a new Mexican restaurant!!! Here is what others had to say!

Larry Willis “Thank God! We are finally getting a Mexican place in Athens!!”

Shannon Dixie Baine “Love the murals!”

Cindy Pendley “I was hoping for something different. “

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