Athens Reporter

The Athens-Clarke County government has announced schedule and service changes for the Thanksgiving holiday. Various departments will experience closures and adjusted operations.

Animal Services will close its shelter on November 28 and 29, reopening on November 30. Officers will not be available for non-emergency calls during the closure, but emergency services will remain accessible through 911. More information can be obtained by contacting the Animal Services Department at 706-613-3540 or visiting their website.

Leisure Services facilities will also be closed on November 28 and 29, resuming normal hours on November 30. Parks are set to reopen from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on November 29, although park buildings will stay closed. Inquiries can be directed to the Leisure Services Department at 706-613-3625 or their online portal.

The Solid Waste Department announced that garbage and recycling collection outside the Downtown district would not occur on November 28 and 29. Collections typically scheduled for these days will instead take place earlier in the week, with regular Monday collections happening on November 25, Tuesday and Wednesday collections on November 26, and Thursday and Friday collections on November 27. Inside the Downtown district, services continue as usual.

Leaf & Limb services are suspended during the week of November 20 but are expected to resume in area F starting December 2. The landfill is closed over the holiday period but reopens on November 30. The CHaRM facility remains shut until December 3 due to its usual Thursday closure combined with additional holiday closures. The Materials Recycling Facility closes only on Thanksgiving Day itself.

For more details about solid waste schedules, contact their department at 706-613-3501 or visit their site.

Transit offices and services will halt operations entirely over both days of Thanksgiving celebrations. Questions can be directed to Transit Department representatives at their listed number or website.

All general administrative offices including City Hall, Courthouse, Satula Avenue Building, and Dougherty Street Governmental Building will also observe a two-day closure for Thanksgiving festivities before returning to regular hours starting December 2.