Atlanta, GA

‘Miracles happen’: Volunteers join robust search effort for missing Atlanta teacher on Lake Oconee

Published

1 year ago

February 14, 2025

‘Miracles happen’: Volunteers join robust search effort for missing Atlanta teacher on Lake Oconee

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – On Friday, dozens of volunteers joined sheriff’s deputies and crews from the Department of Natural Resources to try and locate the body of Gary Jones, an Atlanta teacher, who went missing on Lake Oconee Saturday, along with his fiancée Joycelyn Wilson.

“I think that some of us are still hopeful that we will not only find him but that maybe that you know, miracles happen,” said Dana Chambliss, whose two sons were taught by Jones at Westminster Schools in Atlanta.

Chambliss joined other volunteers from the Westminster community on Friday to try and locate Jones, who was an 8th grade science teacher and a high school track coach.

The body of Wilson was found on the surface of Lake Oconee, roughly a mile from the Long Shoals Boat Ramp.

Search crews found a pair of Jones’ shoes roughly 200 yards from Wilson’s body earlier this week.

“I’ve got video of them launching the boat and I zoomed in on it and they’re the identical shoes,” said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.

“Initially you want to think perhaps they’re alive and need help and things like that. I don’t think that at this juncture,” said Sills, in an interview with Atlanta News First on Friday.

Sills said he is investigating the death for foul play. He said that is standard in cases like this.

“There’s nothing on that nature that I can comment on,” said Sills, when asked if Wilson’s death is suspicious in nature.

Sills said their investigation goes beyond the confines of Lake Oconee. He said they recently acquired the phone records of Wilson and Jones.

Sills called this search effort the most robust search he’s seen at Lake Oconee, where he’s been sheriff of Putnam County for nearly 30 years.

“In all my years I’ve never seen this many people searching for a body in the lake,” said Sills.

Game Wardens from the Department of Natural Resources continued their efforts using SONAR scanning tools as part of surface and shoreline sweeps.

A DNR K-9 team searched in the woods near the lake on Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office launched a K-9 team to help sniff for a body on Lake Oconee.

“The challenge in every drowning type situation, if I know where you go down, that’s where you’re going to be. But we don’t know where they went down,” said Sills.

Volunteer search crews said they will continue their efforts on Saturday morning.

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Atlanta, GA

Power outage impacts more than 5,000 customers in Midtown Atlanta

Published

22 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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Power outage impacts more than 5,000 customers in Midtown Atlanta

Updated on: March 27, 2026 / 9:48 AM EDT
/ CBS Atlanta

Thousands of people are without power in Midtown Atlanta as crews work to restore service following an equipment failure, according to Georgia Power.

The outage affected nearly 5,300 customers, stretching from Currier Street Northeast to 11th Street.

Georgia Power said the outage was caused by an equipment issue, and crews are on-site making repairs.

Officials added that, thanks to smart grid technology, service is expected to be remotely restored to more than half of affected customers soon.

An estimated restoration time was listed at 10:15 a.m.

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Atlanta, GA

The Best Vintage Shops in Atlanta

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

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Vogue’s guide to the best vintage stores in Atlanta is part of our directory of the very best vintage around the world, curated by editors from all over. Whether you’re traveling and searching for some superb stores to visit on your trip or are curious about your local vintage treasure chests, Vogue’s directory has you covered.

Come to Atlanta for its southern charm and lush greenery, stay for its vintage. The Hollywood of the South has a lot more than on-set locations and an upcoming roster of FIFA World Cup games, and whether exploring shops along the Beltline, losing your voice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or itching for the eccentric pleasures of a roadside antique mall, these vintage gems make the journey to the A more than worth it.

Photo: Courtesy of The Clothing Warehouse

Dutch field pants, netted shirts, prairie dresses, and a floor-to-ceiling selection of cowboy boots are a few of the many goods awaiting your search at this Atlanta mainstay. Opened by Jim Buckley in 1992, the Clothing Warehouse now calls the hipster Little 5 Points home. Its redbrick exterior is hard to miss—head upstairs for womenswear and union-made dresses, then downstairs to a room of seriously color-coded tees—it’s likely you will find plenty of Atlanta history in the form of 1996 Summer Olympics shirts. Plus, its wholesale location is a 15-minute drive away in West Midtown, if you’re up for an afternoon dig.

Address: 420 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta

At the vintage and makers market Mother Lode, there’s something for every lover of old things. Founder Lindsay Short’s estate sale background is well-reflected in the shop’s range of garments, decor, and wares. Find 1930s beach pajamas beside bowling shirts and Edwardian tunics at Fellows Vintage’s booth, or ’60s wedding dresses that seem more Factory Girl than bride-to-be from Iron Pony. The hunt continues at Mother Lode’s sister location in college town Athens, which opened in 2023.

Address: 3429 Covington Hwy Ste B, Decatur

Monet Brewerton-Palmer first got her love for bridal from her grandmother, who was a shop seamstress. Then, after shopping for her own wedding dress in 2014 and ending up with four, her interest (and personal collection) only grew. Now, Brewerton-Palmer offers brides an array of dresses by Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Catherine Rayner, and more. Standout pieces include a 1959 one-of-one from Jacques Heim, a silk rose-covered Christian Dior for the romantic, and a fur-accented Muriel Martin for the nontraditionalist.

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Atlanta, GA

Former Atlanta principal back at his old school as its new handyman:

Published

2 days ago

March 26, 2026

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Former Atlanta principal back at his old school as its new handyman:

Retirement did not last long for one Atlanta school principal.

After 10 years leading Burgess Peterson Academy, David White is back, and this time he’s making sure everything inside the school’s building runs smoothly.

White retired last September from being the school’s principal, but home didn’t suit him for long.

“I found myself really kind of lonely and disconnected,” White said. “I had lost my sense of community, for sure, so when this position became available, I kind of laughed because I used to say that it would be the perfect retirement job.”

Retirement didn’t suit former principal David White, so now he’s back as the handyman at the Atlanta school he led to make sure everything runs smoothly.

CBS News Atlanta

White applied for the open site manager position and got the job. Now he enjoys being back in the same halls that bring him joy.

He is six weeks into the new job.

“I find myself now always looking to see if there are lights that are burned out, if there are issues that need to be addressed,” said White. “There’s always the need for touch-up painting, right? Because kids have dirty little hands, and they love to pick paint.”

During CBS News Atlanta’s visit, White was repairing a broken lightbulb in the boy’s bathroom.

“The light started flickering, like, just blinking off and on, and so of course the kids were saying it was haunted,” he said.

Around the school, his impact hasn’t faded.

Students and staff light up when they see him.

“It’s been really great to see their excitement to be here every day and to see Mr. White,” said principal Dr. Holly Brookins. “I really feel that having him back has added so much value to our community, and it’s really been a joyful thing for all of us.”

With a tool belt and new titles, White proves that no matter the role, some people never stop showing up for the places they love.

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