Police Step Up

When a delivery driver quit mid-route and dumped more than 70 packages on a sidewalk, police officers in Athens sprang into action.

Splitting the work among shifts, officers hand-delivered every last package.

The department praised officers for going “above and beyond” during the busy holiday season.

The delivery company had declined to recover the items, saying it preferred to replace them.

  Special Election Poised to Flip GOP Seat

Democrat Eric Gisler claimed a narrow victory in Tuesday’s low-turnout special election for an Athens-area state House seat, a win that would flip a reliably Republican district.

Democrats said the results showed the party is gaining favor with voters, while the Oconee Republican Party blamed the loss on low voter turnout.

Unofficial results showed Gisler leading Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest 51% to 49% in the voting to replace GOP state Rep. Marcus Wiedower, who resigned to focus on business interests.

The win would be another Democratic pickup in a low-turnout special election in Georgia, following the party’s wins last month in two state Public Service Commission races.

Braves Eye Pitching at Winter Meetings

The Atlanta Braves are spending baseball’s winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, focused on adding pitching depth.

Braves President Alex Anthopoulos said the team is open to trades or signing top free agents.

On Tuesday, the Braves missed out on one of the top six spots in the MLB Draft Lottery held as part of the winter meetings, and will get the No. 9 pick in next summer’s draft.

Elsewhere at the meetings, new manager Walt Weiss hinted star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. may move to the leadoff spot to provide a spark at the top of the batting order.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ State: Georgia Power and the state Public Service Commission’s staff announced a milestone deal Monday to lower residential and small business bills by requiring data centers and other large energy users to pay more. PSC members are set to vote on the plan on Dec. 19. (More)

➤ DeKalb County: Gregory Padrick, a 28-year veteran with the county’s police department, was named police chief after serving as interim chief since February. (More)

➤ Fort Stewart: A shelter-in-place order was lifted after an undisclosed threat involving a soldier triggered a large law enforcement response. (More)

➤ Atlanta: Defense attorneys called for a delay in next week’s scheduled execution of double murderer Stacey Humphreys, claiming unmet conditions in an agreement that led to the lifting of the state’s pandemic-era hold on executions. State officials dispute the claim. (More)

➤ Henry County: The family of a 32-year-old man who died from an asthma attack last year alleged emergency workers could not provide adequate treatment due to equipment failure. County officials were not immediately available for comment. (More)

Enjoy reading The Georgia Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.✈️

➤ The Atlanta Falcons enter tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 4.5-point underdogs. (More)

➤ Georgia football canceled a home-and-home series with Louisville that was set to start next season. The team’s full 2026 schedule will be announced tonight. (More)

➤ Brunswick High School football coach Garrett Grady resigned after nine seasons, during which he led the team to three regional championships. Brunswick and Gainesville were involved in an on-field brawl during this year’s high school playoffs. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stiff joints? Excruciating bone-on-bone pain? You can easily get rid of it with this odd but super-efficient “peanut butter hack”. Just like more than 85,000 people already did. It’s so easy, you won’t believe it: all you need is a peanut butter jar and 10 seconds of your day. You’ll finally stop the joint pain, and enjoy the flexibility, energy and strength you once had. Start by watching this video here: Peanut Butter Hack For Instant Joint Relief

➤ Main Street Market Antique Mall in Swainsboro was voted Georgia Business Journal’s Best Antique Store in Georgia for the fifth year, drawing global visitors and housing the free Music Memories Museum. (More)

➤ Georgia’s average gas price was $2.79 per gallon as of Monday, down 3 cents from a week earlier. (More)

➤ Lewis Barbecue opened its first Georgia location at Ansley Mall in Atlanta, featuring brisket, beef ribs, and a rooftop smokehouse. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade your kitchen with this ultra-durable Titanium Cutting Board from TIBO, designed to resist scratches, odors, and bacteria. Its sleek, non-porous surface protects your knives while offering unbeatable stability for everyday prep. Easy to clean and built to last, it’s the premium board serious home cooks swear by. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Remove the target on your back

Scammers don’t need to hack you — they just buy your info.

Your name, phone number, and address are currently on dozens of public websites, making you an easy target for phishing, fake calls, and financial fraud.

Incogni automatically scrubs your personal data from those sites so scammers can’t find you. Or get their Unlimited plan and send their privacy experts links to websites that aren’t covered by their automatic removals.

No data, no scam.

Protect yourself today — save 55% with code FLYOVER.

➤ Sixty children in Savannah received beds through the YMCA’s A Place to Dream program, which has given out more than 600 beds since 2019. (More)

➤ Mercer University’s medical school launched the Rural Georgia Voices podcast, featuring weekly expert interviews and stories focusing on health care challenges and triumphs in rural areas. (More)

➤ Consumer advocates urge caution as online shopping scams rise during the holidays, noting that 30% of scams reported to the Better Business Bureau last year involved fake retail sites and other online shopping schemes. (More)

Have you noticed an increase in your power bill this year?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you have a Christmas tree in your home?

1. Yes: 65%
2. No: 35%

Which city is home to the original Fresh Air Bar-B-Que? 

Show me the answer