Wayne Ford

6 days ago | onlineathens.com | Wayne Ford

A Commerce, Georgia woman was threatened after confronting a phone scammer impersonating a Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy. The scammer initially claimed the woman missed jury duty and had a warrant out for her arrest. Jackson County Sheriff Kevin McCook advises against engaging with such scammers. A Commerce woman reported Wednesday to authorities that after discovering a caller was trying to scam her she called the person back only to become frightened by the response.

1 week ago | onlineathens.com | Wayne Ford

A group of birdwatchers, led by wildlife experts, spotted 40 bird species on a farm in Oconee County, Georgia. The Summer Tanager, a migratory red bird, was a highlight of the birdwatching expedition. Birdwatching is a growing hobby that contributes to tourism and conservation efforts. Early on a Sunday morning, Brett Albanese arrived at a sprawling farm in southern Oconee County prepared for one thing – to find birds.

1 week ago | onlineathens.com | Wayne Ford

Athens-Clarke police are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine why a man was found dead at his burning house last week. When police arrived about 12:20 p.m. April 8, an officer reported that John Francis Willcutts, 62, had already been pulled from his home along the 2600 block of Winterville Road. Willcutts was dead at the scene, police said. A man leaving his home on nearby Sartain Drive reported seeing smoke and flames coming from Willcutts' home.

1 week ago | onlineathens.com | Wayne Ford

Oconee County schools Superintendent Jason Branch is retiring effective June 30, the school system has announced. Branch, who took the job in 2012, told the Oconee County Board of Education of his decision on Monday. He will assume the role of deputy executive director of the Teachers Retirement System on July 1.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Wayne Ford

Two lawyers and a judge traded ideas Wednesday on the handling of bail for a man who attacked a mental health worker in an assault in March that left the woman unconscious. The 32-year-old Covington man, who has not been indicted on the aggravated assault charge, was seeking a bond, but his mental health issues complicated a decision that caused Western Judicial Circuit Judge Eric Norris to delay the hearing for at least two more weeks.