Augusta, GA

Historic Augusta home opens up to the public on James Brown tour

Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2024

Historic Augusta home opens up to the public on James Brown tour

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new stop has been added to the James Brown tour in Augusta.

It’s the first house his family lived in that James Brown bought for his father when they came back to Augusta. This, before moving to Walton Way and then over to Beech Island.

But this is a piece of history you can go inside; the family wanting to share a piece of their history with the world.

Walking inside is like you’re taking a step back in time.

“You’re not just standing in a home. This is history that happened in this home, and then a lot of the homes around here,” said Dr. Yamma Brown, James Brown’s daughter.

But the memories still feel fresh, almost everyone in James Brown’s family has memories here on Parkway Drive.

“From the late 60s all the way up until the 2000s at some point in time, somebody in our family was living in this home, and we were coming in and out of this home. So there are a ton of memories. Some we will say, some we will not,” said Dr. Deanna Brown Thomas, James Brown’s daughter.

And the history goes beyond the doors of the home.

“This is a home from the 60s, in an area that was not black, it was predominantly Caucasian. And so you have African American family that’s living here. And then not only my dad, but my grandfather, this being my grandfather’s home, coming from, you know, being like having nothing,” said Dr. Yamma Brown.

Some fans have been on the tour before and came back to be a part of the first tour allowed inside the space.

“I used to write letters to the editor for James Brown Boulevard being to be changed James Brown Boulevard. I used to send him birthday announcements in the newspaper. I used to send him Father’s Day gifts. All kinds of stuff. I was really into James brown, ”said Patrick Brissey, a James Brown fan.

Now it will hold even more memories outside of James Brown’s family.

“He would call me school boy…when he would see me. Now I listened to all the things that he did about education and so I got a PhD later on. I told him when I first met him, I was going to keep soul alive and he just busted out laughing. And so now I argue for the existence of a soul. And so it’s kind of cool to see keep the soul alive and that sort of thing,” he said.

For more information on taking the James Brown tour in Augusta, click here.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

Published

9 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Boxing Club is facing financial uncertainty after Richmond County’s 2026 budget left no room to fund nonprofit organizations.

The county’s decision removes one of the club’s main financial supporters, leaving the historic organization without a key source of funding.

The Augusta Boxing Club is one of the nation’s longest-running amateur boxing clubs and has served at-risk youth in the Augusta area.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta picks new planning and development director

Published

22 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta picks new planning and development director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County has selected a new planning and development director nearly a year after the previous director resigned.

Commissioners voted to hire Adleasia J. Cameron, who goes by Lisa, after an executive session Tuesday.

Cameron was one of two finalists for the position, along with Ryan A. Bland.

The position has been vacant since May 30, when Carla Delaney resigned as planning and development director.

“Augusta has been home to me for many years, from my time as a middle and high school student to earning my graduate degree. It has truly been a privilege to work here and contribute to the community’s growth, sustainability, and development,” Delaney wrote in her letter of resignation.

Cameron is expected to start within the next 30 days.

Her salary will be $125,000, with a moving allowance of up to $10,000 reimbursed based on receipts.

Other commission action

Commissioners also received an update that a veterans cemetery will break ground at the end of the year.

A motion passed authorizing the Marshal’s Office to purchase two vehicles at a cost of more than $115,000.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta couple returned home from Israel and Egypt just as the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury Saturday.

This happened hours before the State Department issued an urgent warning urging Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries to “depart now” due to “serious safety risks.”

Diego and Maile Sprague had been staying with a host family in Jerusalem, south of the West Bank. The host family provides self-defense training to women and children living in the West Bank.

“We moved to Jerusalem just south of the West Bank and stayed with a host family that provides self-defense training to women and children that live on the West Bank,” Maile Sprague said. “Sometimes those places aren’t the safest.”

Couple tours Egypt as operation launches

The Spragues left their host family Friday morning to tour Egypt. By Saturday morning, the U.S. and Israel had rolled out Operation Epic Fury.

The couple said their host family was forced to flee their home after two nearby Arab-developed areas were attacked.

“We got word he and his wife had to leave their home because where they live there are two Arab developed areas… and they were attacked, so he and his wife had to flee their home,” Diego Sprague said.

Maile Sprague said the host family is now sheltering with neighbors.

“They are staying in their bomb shelter because there has been constant red alerts, so they’re sharing their bomb shelter with their neighbors,” she said.

Tourism industry shuts down in Egypt

While in Egypt, the Spragues said they witnessed the country’s tourism industry — its largest — coming to a halt.

“Everything that has to do with the tourism industry was closing down. Tourists were trying to leave, and all the buses were being routed to the border for Israel to pick people up from,” Maile Sprague said.

The couple had planned to return to their host family in Israel but instead made the decision to return home to Augusta. They landed in Atlanta hours before the State Department issued its “depart now” warning Monday.

The Spragues said they are safe. Their host family remains in a bomb shelter.

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