Augusta, GA

Crime-ridden Augusta businesses could be punished soon

Published

2 years ago

February 21, 2024

Crime-ridden Augusta businesses could be punished soon

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders are trying to send a message to crime-ridden businesses: nearby violence can lead to a lost alcohol license.

It was a topic of discussion at Tuesday’s meeting of the Augusta Commission.

In the news for weeks has been Smart Grocery on Wrightsboro Road.

Although it may not be the owner’s fault, there’s been a rash of shootings at the store – at least nine in recent years with two of them fatal.

The store happens to be near a cluster of high-crime apartment complexes.

Just this past weekend, there was one right around the corner from the store at Fox Trace.

Despite years of working together with the sheriff’s office and recently hiring extra deputies to guard three days a week, shootings continue around Smart Grocery.

A 24/7 solution is too expensive for them to stay afloat.

Smart Grocery property owner, Sae Pak, cited this past weekend’s shooting as an example of how the problem is the apartments, not the store. He said Little Caesars is leaving the small shopping center because of the violence.

“There are more problems happening around the property, not just our property, surrounding properties. Please. I would challenge any of the commissioners to come down to where we’re at. Spend the day with us. You’ll see exactly what we see. And then tell us how we can fix it,” said Pak.

CSRA CRIME COVERAGE:

The store owner and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office say they’ve been working together to tame the violence, but the Augusta Commission wants to send a message and hold the business owner accountable.

Because the Smart Grocery item was labeled as “discussion” at Tuesday’s meeting and the store owners need to be given a longer notice for action, the matter is coming back before the commission in two weeks with a recommendation for six months of probation.

This wave of accountability is also coming to the Olive Road convenience store in the Glendale community, as well as Club Rain, owned by Allen Voncelillies, who also owns L9, and he got into trouble over crime there.

Commissioner Jordan Johnson said: “If you take their license away for a year, I mean, that’s his livelihood, that’s his family’s livelihood. Just like we said with the other folks. It’s their livelihood, it’s family’s livelihood. We need to make this decision off of some type of equal standard.”

At Tuesday’s meeting of the commission, deputies and Voncelillies discussed the revocation of the alcohol license for Club Climax. Deputies are even pressing to potentially close their doors altogether.

While Voncelillies was already on probation for the Level 9 club, he says he was not on Probation for Club Rain and was given no warning about the accusations against his business about a fatal shooting that happened there.

There was a heated back-and-forth discussion in which each side accused the other of not stating facts correctly, such as where the shooting took place.

Commissioners are now looking at 6-month probations for all three of these spots.

We caught up with Smart Grocery after today’s meeting and they say they’re even willing to offer a sheriff’s office substation next door to combat the shootings.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

Published

5 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Stars Special Olympics team hosted their annual Bowl with Soldiers Christmas party.

The goal was to bring together local athletes and military personnel from Fort Gordon for an evening of bowling at Bowlero.

The Augusta Stars is a Special Olympics team that offers bowling and basketball programs. The team is currently preparing for the Winter Special Olympics, which begin Jan. 30 in Marietta.

“I like the bowls because it’s fun and I like to get to play,” said Victoria Valootton, an Augusta Stars athlete.

The annual event allows soldiers to join the Special Olympics athletes for bowling and community connection.

“Personally, it’s important because Jeff Keating is one of our teammates and we want to support them,” said Sapriya McLendon, U.S. Army. “Secondly, just for the community in general, just coming out here and being part of the team that cares about us and supports us, and we’re here to serve you today.”

The Winter Special Olympics will be held in Marietta, Georgia, starting Jan. 30.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Through pain, acid victim still smiling as she recovers in Augusta

Published

17 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Through pain, acid victim still smiling as she recovers in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. – A Savannah woman faces a long road to recovery after a stranger attacked her with acid that ate through her clothes and covered 50% of her body with burns.

Ashley Wasielewski is trying to recover after receiving a first round of emergency surgery at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

The attack happened last Wednesday at Savannah’s iconic Forsyth Park when a man stepped out of the shadows and poured acid all over Wasielewski.

The recovery has been extremely difficult, according to her friend Kristen Oddi, of Marietta.

Most of the burns have been diagnosed as third-degree, covering over 50% of her body, Oddi wrote on a GoFundMe page.

She said it’s unlikely one burned area of Wasielewski’s scalp will ever grow hair again.

She added that the most crucial next step is to see if Ashley’s body will accept the cadaver skin from a recent surgery.

If that happens, skin graft surgeries will proceed, Oddi said.

Plastic surgery is ahead for her, but there’s no timetable yet.

Beyond that, Wasielewski faces rehabilitation, occupational therapy, wound management, long-term support and follow-up.

For now, she’s stable, according to Oddi.

Women suffers third-degree burns in Forsyth Park acid attack; Community concerned(WTOC)

And despite the hardship she’s been through and that lies ahead, she’s smiling in a photo from her hospital bed, with little other than her eyes and mouth visible through openings in gauze that covers her face.

“She will come back so much stronger,” Oddi said. “That, I don’t have a single doubt about.”

The investigation continues

Police are looking for the suspect and have spoken with two witnesses.

They’re hoping to speak with a third person whose photo they posted and to find the driver of a vehicle that was spotted nearby.

Meanwhile, the FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for tips.

Source link

Augusta, GA

AU’s Healthy Grandparents program holds Christmas party

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

AU’s Healthy Grandparents program holds Christmas party

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University’s Healthy Grandparents program had its Christmas party Sunday.

Santa is continuing his trip across the csra and was at the party to give presents to the kids.

The program was started in 1999 to support grandparents raising their children.

They help with necessary services like food assistance and transportation.

We spoke with one of the grandparents about the program.

“My grandchildren love it. They do a lot of things going on the year, like summer camp and all that stuff, book bag, getaways,” said Carolyn Thompson.

The program has helped more than 660 families, 900 grandparents, and 1,300 grandchildren.

Source link