Living in Athens GA pretty much my entire life has its benefits. For one, we have the University of GA. Our Bulldawgs went to the National Championship this year. How exciting it was to watch them play Alabama and have a chance at winning the Natty. They came so close but yet so far but the cool part about it all was my daughter was dating one of the UGA football players. He is a senior and was playing his last year. She was able to go to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California. Then she was about to go to the SEC Championship in Atlanta Georgia.

This was so exciting to her and something she will treasure the rest of her life, I’m sure. Athens is a unique college town. My daughter is transferring from Georgia Southern to the University of GA this next fall. We have gone downtown Athens and signed a lease on a condo for her and three of her friends.

When I was a cop in 1990, I remember when Athens (formally known as Athens-Clarke County) combined with the county. We were Athens Police at the time and then we merged with the county police. Not many cities had done this at the time and it took some getting used to.

Athens is about an hour drive from Atlanta if you take Hwy 316 to 85 South. Athens officially became a town in December 1806. I wasn’t around at that time but you cannot miss some of the buildings downtown when you go. Athens is a melting pot when it comes to music and people. B52s came from Athens. REO Speedwagon, Widespread Panic, Indigo Girls, and Corey Smith to name a few.

Every summer we have something called an AthFest which is kind of an arts/music nonprofit festival. You need to check it out sometimes if you ever get to Athens.