🌱 Patch AM: Why a Watkinsville cybersecurity expert now faces decades in prison

Greetings Watkinsville! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why a Watkinsville cybersecurity expert now faces decades in prison

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 59 and low of 38 degrees.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 59, low: 49.
• Saturday: Periods of rain, with a high of 55 and low of 40 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• US cybersecurity experts plead guilty to BlackCat ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com) — A Watkinsville resident, former cybersecurity professional Ryan Clifford Goldberg, has pleaded guilty in a high-profile federal ransomware case tied to the BlackCat group. Prosecutors say he and two others attacked companies nationwide and shared in ransom payments; he now faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for March 12, 2026.
   

📸 Around Watkinsville

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📣 Watkinsville Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday January 1

• Audit Committee Meeting
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 301 College Avenue , Athens
  10:30 am
• "First Day Hike" at Ben Burton Park
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 616 Mitchell Bridge Rd , Athens
  2:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Event
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar Athens, GA 30601
  9:00 am

Monday January 5

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

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

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
• "Let's Dance" at Heard Park
  Athens-Clarke County, GA Calendar , 400 McKinley Dr. , Athens
  6:00 pm

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 Watkinsville 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

• BOS Staffing posted a job opening for Staff Accountant in Watkinsville. Apply here.
• Domino's Pizza posted a job opening for Domino's Assistant Manager (04179) in Watkinsville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Watkinsville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Athens

• Athens-Clarke police investigating death of man on train track (onlineathens.com)
• Bubble Trouble (flagpole.com)
• Whiskey Wednesday: My Bourbon Advent Calendar, Part 4 (pjmedia.com)

Bogart

• Cheapest gas stations in Athens (wfxg.com)

Ok Watkinsville! 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 just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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