Area briefs: candidate qualifying and early voting ends in Athens, police probe fight in Homer

Today is the final day for candidate qualifying in Athens, with seats on the Athens-Clarke County Commission and the Clarke County School Board among those that will be up for grabs in elections held later this year.

Today is the last day for early voting in Jackson County, where voters are deciding a special election between Cole Elrod and Joshua Sheppard. Elrod and Sheppard are running to fill the District 5 seat on the Jackson County Commission. Incumbent Marty Clark is stepping aside to run to be the Commission Chairman. The election will be decided next Tuesday.

It is a parade that will be held one week from tonight in Elberton, and the Elberton City Council has approved a waiver that will allow for on-street consumption of alcohol during the March 15 Shamrock Shuffle, a parade that will kick off St Patrick’s Day weekend in Elbert County.

It’s a ways off, but there is an invitation for the marching band at Apalachee High to perform in an upcoming New Year’s parade. The band from Barrow County will help London ring in the new year of 2026.

Residents of Winder might get a case of sticker shock when they open next month’s trash services bills: the Winder City Council has approved a $9.17 increase starting April 1.

The Banks County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported fight between two students at a school in Homer, one of whom allegedly fired an air-soft pistol. There were no injuries.

It’s a top honor for a faculty member at the University of North Georgia: UNG’s Dr. Joe Chapman has been named the Georgia Music Instructor of the Year, an award from the Georgia Music Teachers Association.

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