Stephens News

Feb. 5A Eric J. Mitchell, 22, of Covington, was charged with probation violation.

A judge this morning sentenced 47-year-old Avery Christopher Bradford to life in prison without parole, two weeks after a Clarke County jury convicted him of preying on homeless women in Athens who he beat, raped and sodomized.

Often, when talk in this community turns to economic development issues, it can seem as if we're all trying to convince ourselves of the truth of the local article of faith that Athens has a "quality of life" which should recommend it to a variety of business and industrial prospects.

Enough is enough, says an attorney who has defended a mentally ill man since he was arrested more than five years ago on charges he attempted to murder an Athens-Clarke police officer.

An Athens business owner and a taxpayer rights advocacy group have sued the Clarke County Board of Education over the way the board has spent or plans to spend nearly $300 million in sales tax money.