Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What’s next for the proposed hotel behind UGA’s President’s House?

Also, don't miss "Get Fit" at Lay Park on the Athens Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Monday January 12th Patch AM
Monday January 12th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey hey Athens! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What’s next for the proposed hotel behind UGA’s President’s House?
  • Why Carson Beck’s SEC jab might sting some Athens fans
  • How does Athens’ gas price compare to the rest of Georgia?

Today's riddle: What did one elevator say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Athensfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Monday: Sunny, with a high of 51 and low of 29 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 58, low: 36.
  • Wednesday: Clouds giving way to sun, with a high of 57 and low of 33 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Attempt to rezone UGA President's House denied by planning commission (onlineathens.com) — A proposed hotel behind the historic UGA President’s House on Prince Avenue hit a major hurdle after the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission voted 5–1 to recommend denying a needed zoning change. The issue now heads to the mayor and commission, with public comment planned at meetings on January 20 and February 3 before a final decision.
   

Find out what's happening in Athensfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

2. Carson Beck trolls SEC on social media after Miami's win over Ole Miss (saturdaydownsouth.com) — Athens Georgia fans get a brief shoutout as former Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck, now at Miami, needled the SEC on social media after knocking Ole Miss out of the College Football Playoff. His last‑second touchdown run in the Fiesta Bowl sent Miami to the national title game, and his “It just means more” post stirred SEC — and some Georgia — emotions.
   

3. Pump Prices in Georgia Remain Steady, Up Only One Cent (aaa.com) — Athens drivers are paying about $2.70 per gallon this week, making the city one of Georgia’s more expensive metro areas for gas, though still below last month and last year. Statewide prices are holding steady around $2.66, and AAA says soft demand and stable crude costs are keeping fuel relatively affordable for now.
   

4. Republicans Hit Sen. Ossoff on Laken Riley's Birthday (newsmax.com) — National Republicans are invoking the 2024 killing of nursing student Laken Riley in Athens to attack Sen. Jon Ossoff’s immigration record as the 2026 campaign ramps up. The piece explains how her death in Athens became the namesake for the Laken Riley Act, now law, and outlines the sharp partisan fight over border enforcement and detention policies.
   

5. Spiritual young man's life ended in street outside Athens church (classiccitynews.com) — An Athens resident, 26-year-old Anargyros “Cole” Mantas, died after being shot near Redeemer Presbyterian Church at Pulaski and West Broad streets, with a suspect later arrested on murder and related charges. Loved ones remember him as deeply spiritual, passionate about justice and mental health, and suggest memorial donations to victim service groups, including Project Safe in Athens.
   

📸 Around Athens

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Athens

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

📣 Athens Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Athens PatchAM possible:

  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Edit: *If anyone has any resources for a place that will actually be able to take her I will find a way to keep her in our yard next time I see her.
    I just don’t have the space to safely keep her in our home away from the pets I already have. * Found on Jockey Club Dr. We saw her a couple weeks… (Nextdoor Greenbrier)
  • Today, I saw a dog running down McDuffy Drive on the East side of Athens.
    I think it may have been the dog in this image. If anyone sees him, please call or text his mom Simone. Thank you! (Nextdoor Green Acres-Crestwood Cooperative)
  • Asset Living posted a job opening for Porter in Athens. Apply here.
  • Hut American Group, LLC posted a job opening for Team Member in Athens. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Athens here.

Ok Athens! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I think I’m coming down with something!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Athens