🌱 Patch AM: Why experts say Athens is a top Southern retirement pick

Hi Athens! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why experts say Athens is a top Southern retirement pick
• How an Athens puppy neglect case led to a felony charge
• How Athens politicians are responding to Trump’s sudden strike on Venezuela

Today's riddle: What did the baby light bulb say to its mom? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Brilliant sunshine, with a high of 63 and low of 44 degrees.
• Tuesday: Warm with clouds and sun, temps: high: 67, low: 56.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy and very warm, with a high of 73 and low of 48 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 10 Best Places to Retire in the South in 2026, According to Experts (travelandleisure.com) — Athens is highlighted as one of the South’s top retirement spots, praised for its relatively low cost of living, walkable downtown, and rich cultural life tied to the University of Georgia. For locals, it underscores how parks, music venues, galleries, and lifelong learning programs make Athens attractive not just to students, but to retirees considering staying put or moving here.
   

• Athens man indicted for cruelty to puppy (classiccitynews.com) — An Athens-Clarke County grand jury has indicted a local man on a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge after authorities say his 8‑month‑old puppy suffered a severe, infected neck wound from an embedded collar. Animal Services removed the dog from a trash-strewn pen in June, and the owner is scheduled for arraignment in Superior Court on February 16.
   

• Georgia and Athens Officials React to the U.S. Strike on Venezuela (flagpole.com) — Athens-area leaders are sharply divided over President Trump’s surprise military strike that captured Venezuela’s president, with Rep. Mike Collins, Rep. Houston Gaines, and Democrat Lexy Doherty all weighing in. Their reactions tie the conflict to Athens through the Laken Riley case, local congressional races, and Mayor Kelly Girtz’s support for a peace march passing near town.
   

📸 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!

Tuesday January 6

• Meet Us in the Lobby
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 124 E Hancock Ave , Athens
  9:00 am
• HPC- Designation Committee
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 120 West Dougherty Street , Athens
  12:00 pm
• "Get Fit" at Lay Park
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 297 Hoyt St. , Athens
  1:00 pm
• "Get Fit" at Lay Park Begins
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , Lay Park 297 Hoyt St , Athens
  1:00 pm
• Mayor & Commission Regular Session
  City Hall , 301 College Avenue , Athens
  6:00 pm

Wednesday January 7

• "Pickleball" at Heard Park
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 400 McKinley Dr. , Athens
  8:00 am

Thursday January 8

• Board of Assessors Meeting
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 301 College Avenue , Athens
  4:00 pm
• "Rollin' thru the Classic City: Social Skate Night"
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 100 Dudley Park Rd , Athens
  4:30 pm

📣 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

Tuesday January 6

• Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Johnny's New York Style Pizza
  Johnny's New York Style Pizza , 3955 Highway 53 , Hoschton
  10:30 am

Thursday January 8

• Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting NuWave Health & Wellness
  NuWave Health & Wellness , 5391 Hwy 53 Suite 108 , Braselton
  3:00 pm
• Historic Preservation Commission
  Jefferson, GA Calendar , Jefferson Station 1000 Washington Street , Jefferson
  6:00 pm

Friday January 9

• Network Barrow
  Barrow County Chamber of Commerce , #6 Porter St. , Winder
  9:00 am

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! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• HELP!!
  So my cockatiel had 1 egg yesterday and another today! I put a nesting box in there but I’m not sure if that’s gonna keep them safe? Also, I don’t… (Nextdoor Heritage Sq/Park Place)
• This week near the edge of the Cedar Creek subdivision I found these rocks and barbed wire buried underneath decades of tree litter.
  Can anyone tell me what their purpose might have been? In the background of the wire photo, you can see that loops were formed at the ends of 4… (Nextdoor E Athens/Sorenson Ridge)

• Taco Bell posted a job opening for Late Night Team Member in Athens. Apply here.
• University of Georgia posted a job opening for Assistant Dean for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Athens. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Athens here.

🗞 Nearby News

Watkinsville

• Walk for Peace will march through Bishop, Watkinsville on Saturday (savannahnow.com)

Bogart

• Florida football expected to land Georgia Tech transfer QB Aaron Philo (gainesville.com)

Jefferson

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 love you watts and watts!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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