Local briefs include more dynamite blasting on Athens’ east side

The dynamite blasting that began earlier this week is scheduled to resume this afternoon on Athens’ east side, with the rock blasting that is part of a road project along Lexington Road is set for 3 o’clock. It will take place on Lexington near Gaines School Road. More blasting is scheduled for Friday and City Hall says the work could continue into next week.

The largest city in DeKalb County could soon follow the lead of Athens-Clarke County: Athens-Clarke County Commissioners voted last week to impose fines of only $35 for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, effectively decriminalizing small amounts of pot. The city of Stonecrest is considering a similar move.

Elbert County Commissioners, meeting this week in Elberton, appointed David Hunt to fill the unexpired term of the late Commissioner Horace Harper, who died earlier this year. Hunt will hold the Post 1 seat on the Elbert County Commission through the end of 2024.

School officials in Elbert County say their enrollment figures have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The School District office in Elberton says 3,070 students were in classrooms for last week’s start of the new school year, just shy of the 3,075 students who were enrolled in 2019.

Tuesday was the first day of the new school year in Gainesville, with students and teachers returning to schools that are protected by armed guards. The Gainesville City School Board allocated $1 million for the extra security in a meeting last month.

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