Racetrac attempted robbery trial begins in Athens federal court for former UGA football player

Athens Script for Saturday October 21,2023

Today is Saturday, October 21stm and here are the top stories Athens is talking about presented by Drake realties.

Story 1: Racetrac attempted robbery trial begins in Athens federal court for former UGA football player

Former University of Georgia football player Ahkil Nasir Crumpton is on trial in U.S. District Court in Athens for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of a Racetrac station clerk in Oconee County in March 2021. He faces charges of attempted robbery with a firearm and violating federal firearms purchase laws. Crumpton had initially been indicted for murder in federal court, but the murder charge will now be tried in Superior Court in Oconee County. The trial centers on the attempted robbery at the gas station, where the night clerk, Elijah Wood, was killed. The jury has viewed video evidence, including the moment of the shooting, and the trial continues with witness testimony. This from the Athens Banner - Herald

Story 2: UGA excelled in diversity efforts for 10th year

The University of Georgia (UGA) has been awarded the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award (HEED Award) by INSIGHT Into Diversity for the 10th consecutive year. This national award recognizes institutions for their outstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. UGA was one of 109 institutions to receive the award this year. Recipients are chosen based on their efforts in areas such as campus initiatives, programs, outreach, student recruitment, retention, faculty and staff hiring practices, and their impact on diversity and inclusion. UGA's president, Jere W. Morehead, expressed the university's commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment on campus. The award reflects UGA's consistent dedication to diversity. The application process also helped institutions assess and improve their diversity efforts. UGA has introduced various initiatives in the past year, further strengthening its commitment to diversity and inclusion. This from the Red and Black

Story 3: UPDATE : Body Of Man Pulled From Athens River Identified

A man was found dead Sunday afternoon in a river in the area of North Avenue and Willow Street, Athens-Clarke County Police said Tuesday. Police said the man's body was retrieved around 2:15 p.m. He was identified by police as James Seay, 62. No foul play is suspected in his death, but police did not say how Seay died. Police ask anyone with information in the case to call Det. Hovie Lister, (762) 400-7333. This from The Patch

Story 4: Depression, anxiety higher among college students who aren’t same race as majority in their school

A study from the University of Georgia reveals that depression and anxiety are on the rise among college students, and this issue may be exacerbated for students who are not of the same race as the majority of their peers. At predominantly white universities, non-white students reported significantly higher rates of depression, with more than half experiencing mild depression, and 17 percent dealing with moderate to severe depression. Conversely, at historically Black colleges, non-Black students also reported higher rates of anxiety and depression. The study highlights the importance of creating inclusive and supportive environments for all students, acknowledging that different backgrounds require tailored support. The COVID-19 pandemic has further impacted students' mental health as social interactions and group activities were disrupted. This from WSB - TV

Story 5: Two Marsy's Law complaints filed against Western Circuit District Attorney

The Western Circuit District Attorney's Office is facing additional complaints from crime victims who allege violations of their rights under state law during the prosecution of defendants. These recent complaints come from attorney Kevin Epps, who represents individuals involved in a hit-and-run accident in Oconee County and a fatal bicycle accident in Athens. In both cases, the defendants were initially charged with drunk driving but had the charges dismissed. The complaints are filed under Marsy's Law, which was previously violated in a rape and child molestation case by Western Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez. The victims contend they were not properly informed about the cases' progress through the judicial system. A hearing is sought for both cases, with no set date in Superior Court yet. Epps expressed concern over Gonzalez's handling of victims' rights and said her actions were unacceptable. This from the Athens Banner – Herald

Story 6: Georgia football tight end Brock Bowers to miss time after ankle surgery

Brock Bowers, the University of Georgia's star tight end, under went tightrope surgery for a high ankle sprain he suffered in a recent game against Vanderbilt. This surgery typically has a recovery time of four to six weeks, potentially aligning with the start of the postseason. Bowers leads Georgia in receiving with 567 yards and four touchdowns this season, making him a significant loss for the team. The Bulldogs will now rely on other players, such as Oscar Delp, Lawson Luckie, Pearce Spurlin, and Ladd McConkey, to fill the void left by Bowers during his absence. Georgia has a bye week to adjust its offense before facing Florida. Bowers is reported to be in good spirits post-surgery and displayed a strong commitment to his recovery.

Story 7: Walton County Sheriff's Office mourns loss of detention officer killed in crash

The Walton County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of one of its officers. Detention Officer David "DJ" Carter reportedly was killed Tuesday night in a crash on Monroe Jersey Road while he was driving to work a second shift. Georgia State Patrol responded to the crash around 6:12 p.m. Troopers said a Chevy Tahoe driver was heading west on Monroe Jersey Road when traffic stopped in front of the SUV. Troopers said the Tahoe driver tried to avoid a rear-end crash and went into the east lane of Monroe Jersey Road. The SUV struck Carter's car head on and the detention officer died at the scene. The Tahoe driver had serious injuries. In a post on Facebook, the sheriff's office said that Carter was "committed to his job and was, in fact, headed to work an extra shift" when he was killed. This From Classic City News

Social:

Betsy A. Bishop asked in the Athens-Clarke County news Facebook page “Where are good places to look for buying local art? We need some wall art, like paintings or something like that.”

Some of the top comments were from:

Elizabeth Walker from Athens who suggested “Go to the different fall festivals. Lots of local artisans!”

And Juanita Hill Broom from Athens who said “Community, 260 N Jackson St

Bear Hug Honey, 193 E Clayton St

Mother Lode, 1005 Baxter St”

Finally Charles Nicolosi from Athens said “Fall and Holiday markets are beginning to firm up. Plenty of opportunities coming soon.”

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