Athens Script for Tuesday, October 24, 2023
And here is the top story Athens is talking about, presented by Drake Realty.
Story 1: UGA gets $500,000 from Google for cybersecurity clinic
The University of Georgia's CyberArch program, which provides free cybersecurity reviews to local government, school systems, and hospitals, has received a $500,000 grant from Google. This funding is part of Google.org's $20 million commitment to support cybersecurity workforce development. The CyberArch program pairs student interns with organizations in need of cybersecurity assistance, and the grant will help expand these clinics and create new ones. The program coordinator, Mark Lupo, emphasized that the funding will enhance the program's capacity to serve more students and communities, contributing to the development of a stronger cybersecurity workforce….. This from Athens – Banner Herald
Story 2: Sprinter Jayson Ross Hands 2025 Verbal to Georgia
Jayson Ross, a junior national qualifier from Vienna, Virginia, has verbally committed to the University of Georgia, where he will join in the fall of 2025. Ross, who swims with Machine Aquatics, excels in sprint freestyle events. He achieved seventh place in the 50m freestyle at the NCSA LCM Championships and secured silver in the same event at the Potomac Valley SCY Championships. His best times include 20.42 in the 50 free and 46.66 in the 100 free. Ross is currently a junior at De Matha Catholic High School and has a strong performance record in various championships…… This from Swimming World Magazine
Story 3: Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and Athens Against Cop City host benefit concert
The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and Athens Against Cop City co-hosted a benefit show featuring musical guests and speakers to protest the construction of Cop City, also known as the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The $90 million project, which began in 2021, has faced political and environmental criticism due to its extensive training facilities spanning 85 acres, including a mock city for police training. It also encroaches on Atlanta's largest greenspace, the Weelaunee Forest, which plays a crucial role in air pollution reduction and carbon storage. The protest aims to oppose Cop City's construction and calls for police accountability through the Athens Public Safety Civilian Oversight board. Despite the project's unfinished status, there have been arrests and even a fatal shooting during related protests. UGA Students Against Cop City continues to advocate against its completion….. This from Red & Black
Story 4: Guy Who Stole Billions in Bitcoin Lived a Sad Life
A Bitcoin enthusiast and early blockchain tech contributor named Jimmy Zhong, who had stolen cryptocurrency from the original Silk Road back in 2012, lived a lavish but seemingly lonely life before being apprehended in 2019. He not only stole cryptocurrency but also helped write the original Bitcoin code. Zhong was living in Athens, Georgia, where he was known for extravagant parties and spending thousands to fly friends across the country on a private jet. He even had a stripper pole in his house. However, his connections appeared shallow, and he struggled with loneliness. His fall began when his own Bitcoin was stolen, leading to government attention. Authorities found he possessed tens of millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrency, and he eventually admitted to his Silk Road theft, which netted him 50,000 Bitcoins worth $3 billion. Now 33, Zhong has been serving a prison sentence for his actions…… This from Futurism.com
Story 5: Athens man loses $40,000 in scam, but almost lost more
A 74-year-old Athens man was scammed out of $40,000 by a con artist posing as an Amazon representative. The scammer claimed the man's Social Security number was linked to criminal activity, including drug trafficking and money laundering, and persuaded him to withdraw money from his bank account. The victim was instructed to place the money in a box and hand it over to a stranger who visited his home in a car with a New Jersey tag. When the con artist demanded more money, an employee at the bank became suspicious and contacted the police, thwarting further attempts to defraud the victim. Police are providing safety measures for the victim as the suspects know his address…. This from Athens – Banner Herald
Story 6: Small family-owned grocery store chain in northeast Georgia now has new owners
A small grocery store chain in northeast Georgia has new owners. Five locations of Bell’s Food Stores have been purchased by B&T’s Food Fresh Market. According to a statement on their Facebook page, Bell’s Food Stores have a 97-year history of being a family-owned grocer…… This from WSB-TV
Story 7: Sick season: How to protect against the flu, COVID-19 and RSV
As the season of respiratory illnesses begins, including the flu, COVID-19, and RSV, it's essential to take precautions to protect yourself and the community. The CDC recommends getting flu shots in September and October, with flu season peaking in December-February. The University of Georgia's #flUGA initiative offers free flu vaccines at various campus locations. Updating your COVID-19 vaccine is also crucial to protect against variants. You can get boosters at places like CVS, Publix, Kroger, and UGA's University Health Center (UHC). Free COVID-19 tests are available through COVIDTests.gov or at retailers like CVS, Publix, Kroger, Target, and Walgreens. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe symptoms in infants and older adults. The CDC recommends RSV vaccinations for adults aged 60 and older. It's crucial to get vaccinated and tested to protect the immunocompromised and prevent the spread of these infections…. This from Red & Black
Story 8: Georgia baseball lands commitment from another Athens-area star
Wes Johnson, the head coach of Georgia baseball, has secured a verbal commitment from North Oconee standout Noah Allen. Allen, a right-handed pitcher and first baseman in the class of 2025, is 6-foot-6 and can throw a fastball at speeds up to 92 miles per hour. North Oconee baseball coach Jay Lasley expressed excitement about Allen's commitment to UGA, as it allows him to play close to home and join the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs have had success recruiting players from North Oconee, which has won two consecutive Class 4A state championships.
Social:
April Moore Skelton from Athens posted in the Old School Athens GA:1806-2013 Facebook page:
This is gonna be a deep dive and if you unearth this for me we should be friends. I want so bad to see the wallpaper from pediatrician Dr. O. Bong Kwon’s office on Chase Street in the 1980s. It was in the waiting room but also the exam rooms. It had a repeat of treehouses with Disney characters: Mickey, Donald, Goofy, but also those weird “Jim Crows?” These images are seared into my hardwiring because I was sick a lot as a kid. Come on, sleuths! Anybody else a patient of Dr. Kwon? I loved him so much.
Some of the top comments were from:
Kathy McCorkle Brinson from Sautee said:
My kiddos also went to Dr Kwon )1980-1992)!! Cheeseburgers, French fries, Miss America,……and if the children were crying when he walked in the room he would start waving and saying “Bye bye.. good bye” and they would stop crying (thinking he was leaving the room)! He was a wonderful clinician!!!!
Christy Wall from Athens commented:
YES, I was his patient!! My mama told me that I would fake being sick just so I could go see him. She said I would hold up my pointer finger and say, Dr. One!
And finally Layne A. Spratlin said:
Loved Dr. Kwon! He always took care of my kids if they got sick while we were here visiting family. Always called my daughter, “Ah! Miss America!” And when he checked my son’s stomach he’d say, “Ah! Let me check your hamburger.” I’m sure all the little girls were Miss America and “hamburgers” were checked as necessary. Wonderful man.
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