Officers direct partygoers off the section of High Street between West State and West Carpenter after a small trash fire late Saturday night. (Dustin Lennert | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Police shut down High Fest late Saturday night after students briefly took over and trashed a section of the road.
Athens police shut down High between West State and West Carpenter after students reportedly began throwing cans and bottles into the street.
The Athens Fire Department extinguished a small fire that consumed trash, chairs and furniture on that section of High, said Chief Robert Troxel.
As pouring rain soaked the street at 11 p.m., students began sweeping broken glass, plastic cups and beer cans from the road outside 91 High St. Officers warned residents not to let others onto their porches.
Students approached by The Post were unwilling to give their names. Lt. Dave Williams of the Athens Police Department was unavailable for comment late Saturday night. Officers said he would be available in the morning.
Saturday's block parties on High and Ark streets were the first spring fests of 2010. Students traditionally throw about six booze-soaked fests each year.
Last year's bash on Palmer Street turned into what police described as a near riot. Revelers lit several fires on the street and pelted firefighters and police with bottles as they tried to extinguish the blaze. Police eventually donned riot gear and cleared the street by force.
The disturbance prompted the City Council to propose several ordinances designed to limit noise and restrict rooftop activity. The proposed measures have drawn strong opposition from students.
Debris litters the section of High Street between West State and West Carpenter after a small trash fire late Saturday night. (Dustin Lennert | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Dave Hendricks
