Daily
Athens
Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
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Good morning, Athens. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 18th of June.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The Athens Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival is set for Thursday from 3—7 p.m. outside City Hall at 301 College Ave. The free event will offer live music, a public art session, a cultural marketplace, and interactive activities to honor Black history and resilience. Athens Banner-Herald
- ➤ AthFest Music & Arts Festival downtown this weekend raised over $100,000 for AthFest Educates in 2024, with the nonprofit having raised almost $700,000 for K-12 arts and music education in Athens-Clarke County. Last year, performers joined a crowdfunding effort and the winner—Smokey Jones and the 3 Dollar Pistols—is set to play the main stage Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Flagpole
- ➤ Hot Corner Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary this past weekend with food vendors, live music, and local business pop-ups at the historic Hot Corner. The week-long event began Monday with gospel revivals and ended Saturday — emphasizing empowerment of Black-owned businesses in a neighborhood rich in African American culture. WUGA
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Jason Branch, the retiring Oconee County school superintendent, said his work has led to a record-high graduation rate and improved test scores over his 13 years in office. He will retire at the end of June and next serve as deputy executive director for the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia—overseeing benefits for both retired and active teachers. Athens Banner-Herald
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Georgia will receive $126 million for opioid treatment and recovery services as part of a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. The deal will end the Sackler family's control of Purdue and restrict their ability to sell opioids in the United States while over 30 million related documents will be made public. Athens Banner-Herald
- ➤ The Athens-Clarke County Commission approved Commissioner Mike Hamby’s budget proposal that uses $6.7 million from sales tax interest to lower property taxes by 0.2 mills—saving about $20 for the average homeowner—and to fund services like raises for sheriff’s deputies and a real-time crime center. Some commissioners warned the decision might delay essential transportation projects, while Hamby said TSPLOST 2026 will cover any funding gap. Flagpole
SHOP NEWS
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SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The Athens Banner-Herald now provides full coverage of NE Georgia high school football’s 2025 season—detailing schedules and team highlights with practices starting July 28, the regular season beginning Aug. 15, and playoffs scheduled from Nov. 14 to Dec. 15 to Dec. 17—so local fans can follow every game. Athens Banner-Herald
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Athfest 2025
Various times — Downtown Athens — Free entry — Celebrate an unforgettable weekend of live music, art, and community in the vibrant city of Athens, GA.
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Country River Band Performance
7-11 p.m. — VFW Post 2872 — $10 — Enjoy classic western and honky-tonk music with line dancing during band breaks.
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pondgorl at Athfest Club Crawl 2025
7-11 p.m. — Hendershot's — Fundraiser for local music and arts education — Enjoy live music while supporting K-12 education in Athens.
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Classic City Trail Ride
12 p.m. – 6 p.m. — Athens Fairgrounds — Family-friendly activities — Saddle up for a delightful four-day trail ride event full of fun for everyone.
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Motown, R&B & Soul Night with The Original Splitz Band
7-10 p.m. — The Foundry — $10 adv (+tax/fees) — Dance the night away to the iconic sounds of Motown, R&B, and Soul classics.
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Homebuyer Education Workshop
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Athens Land Trust — $10 — Learn essential home-buying skills through this HUD-certified course for first-time homeowners in Georgia.
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Band of Horses Concert
6-10 p.m. — Georgia Theatre — $40+ — Experience the emotionally charged sound of Band of Horses as they perform their latest album and classic hits.
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Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop
10 a.m. — SpringHill Suites Athens Downtown/University Area — Book Now on Eventbrite! — Explore ancient techniques to create stunning mosaic lamps while enjoying Turkish delights.
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Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze
9:30 p.m. — Nowhere Bar — Check for entry cost — Enjoy captivating hooks and stellar songwriting from Vern Daysel and his band.
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Brad Williams Stand-Up Comedy Show
7-11 p.m. — The Classic Center — $26.00-$121.50 — Experience the hilarious high-energy performance of comedian Brad Williams, famous for his sharp and inspiring humor.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Athens
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