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Brooklyn Bridge view of the 9/11 attack
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A Pause and Remembrance, on the 20th Anniversary of the Attacks of 9/11/2001
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In Athens and across the nation, memorial services and remembrances have been held to recognize, commemorate, and surprisingly for our youngest Americans, to educate and share the horrors and also hopes inspired by the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. on 9/11/2001.
Among the thousands of stories of that day, few are recalled more vividly than the countless heroic acts of police and fire first responders, hundreds of whom lost their lives that day, racing to the twin towers in lower Manhattan, or on the grounds of the Pentagon.
Survivors and their family members vividly recount the dramatic exit among packed, smoked-filled stairwells of those trying to escape the buildings under assault, while firefighters passed them heading UP into those towers, carrying fire hoses, rigging and gear for fighting the fire and rescuing those trapped.
Police officers, EMT’s and other first responders were also on the ground treating the injured or racing back into the South and North Towers, moments before each collapsed, never exiting the buildings.
Heroism does not only occur in moments of crisis, but at some point this month, in remembrance for their sacrifice, please pause and consider a moment of prayer and thanks, for those who risked and many who lost everything, to protect those in the communities they were sworn to serve.
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Downtown Shooting Wounds Seven, Suspect Charged
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Shooting suspect, Devonell Williams
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While the University of Georgia Bulldogs opened their 2021 football season on the road in Charlotte, with a defense-led victory over the Clemson Tigers in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, that did not keep Athens and the Classic City from being a part of the celebration of the win.
Though unlike the typically more sedate away game weekends in Athens, with small crowds downtown, this later game night win drove celebratory crowds into Athens from surrounding communities and the partying continued right up until closing time, just after 2 a.m. early Sunday, September 5th.
But as often occurs when spirits are flowing and emotions are charged, a dispute broke out at a local pub on Clayton Street. The fight quickly spread into a much larger street brawl at East Clayton and North Jackson Streets, gunshots rang out and seven bystanders were wounded, though none critically. In this instance, none of those injured were students from the University of Georgia.
With the help of video footage from onlookers, solicited and secured by the Athens Clarke County Police Department, a suspect was quickly identified and later turned himself in.
Devonell Williams of Washington, Georgia reportedly fired his gun for several rounds into the crowd. A few of the bullets ricocheted and wounded seven people, aged 19-29, most all were treated and released by late Sunday afternoon. Williams surrendered on Monday, September 6 to authorities in Wilkes County, and he was transported to the Clarke County Jail, and booked on seven counts of aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Williams was reportedly associated with several of the individuals involved in the brawl.
https://www.classiccitynews.com/post/accused-downtown-shooter-returned-to-clarke-county-jail?postId=6fea0fc2-6c93-436a-a81a-aaa442bcad20
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Western Judicial Circuit D.A. Hires Experienced Prosecutor
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Deborah Gonzalez, District Attorney, Western Judicial Circuit
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Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney, Deborah Gonzalez, has hired a senior prosecutor, with experiencing prosecuting and securing convictions on major felony offenses, including homicide.
Gerald Henderson joined the D.A.’s office late this summer. Henderson has more than two decades of experience as a prosecutor in DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties, as well as service in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Guam and the Mariana Islands from 2008 to 2010. During 2016, Henderson was named prosecutor of the year by the Georgia Arson Control Board.
Henderson is being given some of the most severe cases in the deep backlog of the Western Judicial Circuit, including several pending homicide investigations.
Most every senior prosecutor and assistant District Attorney in the Western Judicial Circuit either resigned or left the D.A.’s office during the first few months of the administration of Ms. Gonzalez.
Henderson is expected to lead the offices Major Crimes Unit.
https://www.classiccitynews.com/post/da-gonzalez-hires-new-prosecutor-to-handle-major-cases-reduce-backlog-caused-by-pandemic?postId=28ebef29-2781-44c0-8675-46ba9a28bcb2
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Pay Raise Announced for
New ACPD Hires
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With more than 40 open uniform positions within the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Mayor Kelly Girtz announced an increase in starting officer pay within the ACPD to above $47,000 per year, with a one-time hiring bonus of $3,000. This brings first-year compensation, upon successful completion of Police Academy and swearing in as a peace officer in the department to just over $50,000.
New hire Sheriff Deputies and Corrections Officers salaries remain less than $40,000 per year. Compensation has been a major issue in officer retention across both departments.
Applicants may immediately apply online:
https://www.accgov.com/6547/Current-Jobs
Looking for a public safety position in a community that values positive engagement and equal justice for all? We would love for you to consider a position in Athens-Clarke County Police Department. $47377/year with a $3000 hiring bonus. Full details of these positions and others at https://www.accgov.com/jobs.aspx
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Event Focus
Coffee with Cops:
Monday, September 20, 2021 – 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Rashe’s Cuisine, 585 Vine Street in East Athens
Athens-Clarke County Deputy Police Chief, Keith Kelly is our program speaker, his presentation will focus on the realities and routines of Community Policing. Chief Kelly will also offer details and insights from ACPD’s recent “Fair and Impartial Policing Class,” from September 10, 2021. The training, conducted by Senior Officer Shannon Brown was free and open to the public at the ACPD East Precinct.
National Faith & Blue Weekend, October 8 – 11, 2021 – A nationwide celebration and series of community-building events between local law enforcement and the communities which they serve, facilitated by churches and members of the faith community.
In Athens, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and Young Harris Church of Athens will co-host a Faith & Blue “Meet & Greet,” at Young Harris Church, 973 Prince Avenue, on Monday, October 11, from 4-6 p.m.
All local current and retired peace officers, police officers, and sheriff deputies are welcome to attend, as well as parishioners, community members, and other faith-based community leadership.
For questions, please contact ACPD Neighborhood Service Officer Julita Sanders, Julita.Sanders@accgov.com, 762-400-7160.
(full event brochure attached below)
Calendar Items
General Membership Meetings - 6 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, downtown Athens, Magnolia Room
Monday, October 18, 2021
Monday, December 20, 2021 - Holiday Party
Coffee with Cops - 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Monday, November 15, 2021 - Speaker Athens-Clarke County Sheriff John Williams, Young Harris Church of Athens, 973 Prince Avenue
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Board Meetings - 6 - 7:30 p.m., Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty, 2405 West Broad Street, Athens (free parking onsite)
Monday, September 20, 2021
Monday, November 15, 2021
Athens Classic PAC Launch - Date & Venue To Be Announced later
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News You Can Use
Headlines and links from around the corner and around the nation, focused on public safety funding and outcomes, and a growing movement to Refund versus Defund local police departments as well as Offices of Sheriff.
Athens Banner-Herald Business Feature - Local Black-Owned Restaurants and How They Survived the Pandemic - Coincidentally, Dexter Weaver of Weaver's D's and Rashe's Cuisine are also the hosts of our Coffee with Cops community gatherings for September and November 2021
Athens Banner-Herald, Athens-Clarke County High Schools Return to Online/Virtual Learning Due to Spike in COVID19, Delta Variant Cases -
Parade Magazine, Inspiring Quotes and Recognition of First Responders on 20th Anniversary of 9/11 -
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Challenge Match Gift - Please Consider Doubling Your Money
Athens Classic, Inc. is a small, private, nonpartisan community nonprofit, founded in July of 2020. All of our events and programs our staffed and peopled by local Athens area volunteers. Though a short list of Athens area business leaders and generous donors from Bulldog Nation have made possible most of our efforts and funding to date, that base is broadening. Two recent Athens Classic meeting attendees, who have asked to remain anonymous, issued a $5000 challenge grant, for a limited time, to match all other gifts to Athens Classic, Inc., up to $5000.00. You can contribute to Athens Classic via check mailed to P.O. Box 225, Athens, Georgia 30603, or via PayPal direct giving link to -
And for those who prefer banking and payments by phone, here is our Athens Classic QR code.
Mail a donation to - Athens Classic, Inc., P.O. Box 225, Athens, GA 30303
You may set up a one-time or monthly recurring gift. For our efforts to be successful, the greater Athens community will need to come onboard. Please consider making a modest gift today, which will be matched and doubled, and no gift is too small.
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Our website – http://www.athensclassicinc.com
Our Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/KeepClassicCityClassic
If you would like to continue to receive these periodic communications as well as a monthly E-newsletter, click here.
We do not share or sell our membership and subscriber lists to anyone.
We welcome your thoughts, volunteers and ideas/programs for us to support.
Athens Classic, Inc. is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community organization focused on public safety, public education and public health. We want to keep the Classic City, classic and for Athens/Clarke County to be clean and safe for everyone.
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