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🌱 Patch AM: Where to warm up in Athens as temperatures drop this week

Coming up: Christmas with John Berry on the Athens Patch calendar

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Good morning Athens! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Where to warm up in Athens as temperatures drop this week
  • Why are so many Athenians fighting to save Legion Pool?
  • How a routine Kroger trip turned terrifying near UGA’s campus

Also on today's calendar: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones Jingle All the Way and 5 more events.

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

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Athens? Post it to Athens photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

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Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 58 and low of 41 degrees.
  • Thursday: A couple of afternoon showers, temps: high: 57, low: 44.
  • Friday: Windy in the morning; sunny, with a high of 53 and low of 30 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. ACC Government provides winter warming resources (wuga.org) — Athens-Clarke County officials are sharing winter resources as cold, near-freezing temperatures approach, including emergency shelters and a pop-up warming tent at Lay Park. Local organizations like Bigger Vision of Athens, Salvation Army, Athens Area Homeless Shelter, and Family Promise of Athens are offering space, with more warming options possible during severe weather.
   

2. Public Comment Skews Heavily in Favor of UGA Keeping Legion Pool Open (flagpole.com) — UGA is weighing whether to close historic Legion Pool and replace it with parking and greenspace, despite overwhelming public comments from Athens-area residents urging the university to keep it open. Speakers argued the pool strengthens town-gown ties, is historically significant, and could attract more students with better outreach, while UGA cites repair costs, water loss, and low current usage.
   

3. Driver pulled from car after plowing into Athens Kroger near UGA campus; employee trapped, shoppers rush to help (11alive.com) — A car crashed through the front of the Kroger on Alps Road in Athens Tuesday morning, injuring four people and pinning an employee in the self-checkout area. Shoppers rushed to move debris and help free victims as Athens-Clarke County Police investigated what caused the driver to slam into the busy store near UGA’s campus.
   

4. More students nationwide applying to the University of Georgia (wsbradio.com) — Applications to the University of Georgia in Athens are up nearly 13% for fall 2026, with especially strong growth from out-of-state students. UGA officials also report higher four- and six-year graduation rates, placing the Athens campus among the nation’s top-performing public universities for student success.
   

📸 Around Athens

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
    FOUND on December 15, 2025 in Athens, GA 30607 near Near the intersection of Club Drive and Bunker Drive Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest… (Nextdoor Hwy 441)
  • This dog is in my yard at 505 club drive.
    He won't come to me so I can check his tag. 🫤 (Nextdoor Country Club Estates)
  • The Scion Group posted a job opening for Porter, Full-Time in Athens. Apply here.
  • David's Bridal, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Alterations Specialist 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 don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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