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Local swimmer Olivia Stewart is headed to Olympic Trials

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Local swimmer Olivia Stewart is headed to Olympic Trials


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Evans and current Aiken-Augusta Swim League star Olivia Stewart is headed to Indianapolis for Olympic Trials.

There, she’ll be joined by Augusta Prep graduate and current South Carolina swimmer Amy Riordan.

Stewart will compete in the 100M breaststroke event, where her time of 1:10.13 earned her a spot against some of the best in the world. Riordan will compete in the 200M freestyle. The South Carolina swimmer holds the school record at 1:44.08.

Stewart shaved 2 seconds off her initial starting time this season to qualify, “I knew from the start, it was a far reach. I mean, two seconds. It might not sound like a lot, but it’s like a good chunk of time, two seconds. I wasn’t gonna lose anything if I didn’t try. So I just talked to my coach about it. We figured out what kind of splits are needed, what time I we need to go out and the first 50 back and the last 50. And so pretty much from maybe January or November to now we’ve just been slowly working at it, trying to get those splits right,” said Stewart.

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“Two years ago, this wasn’t even a thought like I would have been irresponsible for me to even talk about it with her. She’s had a pretty meteoric rise, and I’m pretty excited about that,” said Stewart’s ASL Coach Greg Gillette.

She had 13 attempts at 100M breaststroke to get it right.

The Olympic rings are mounted on the Eiffel Tower Friday, June 7, 2024 in Paris. The Paris...

“When you fail 12 times in a row, it should wear on you. Most kids, it would kind of wear on them and get them into a negative headspace. But she never once wavered. She was enthusiastic the whole time,” said Gillette.

In one weekend, Stewart swam the event six times. She still failed.

There’s a reason they call it lucky number 13.

“When I hit the wall, and I heard everyone just like screaming and cheering for me it was it was like the most exciting moment of my life. It was so it was incredible,” said Stewart.

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Knowing that she’ll be up against some of the fastest in the world isn’t phasing her a bit.

“Just to kind of take a look back at four years ago, when the last Olympic trials was going on. I was barely starting swimming. The more big meets you go to, the more used to it you get. You’ve got to look at it as no one’s really looking at me. Like I’m there for myself. When I’m racing, the whole building isn’t staring at me like, ‘Is she gonna go whatever time?’ It’s just me and trying to go my best time, so I’m competing against myself,” said Stewart.



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Augusta, GA

Multiple teens arrested in deadly shooting on Warren Road

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Multiple teens arrested in deadly shooting on Warren Road


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has made multiple arrests in a deadly shooting that left one teenager dead and another injured early Saturday morning.

According to deputies, the incident happened June 20, at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Warren Road, where authorities responded to reports of shots fired involving two gunshot victims.

When deputies arrived, they located two 18-year-old men from Augusta.

Officials identified the victims as Eric Markquis Bartley Miller and Joseph Lamar Thomas.

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Investigators say Miller sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thomas was also found with at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.

As of Saturday afternoon, three teenage suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

18-year-old Dmihjay Collins, 17-year-old Tayshaun Thomas, and 17-year-old Joseph Thomas have all been arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Machine Guns. They are all currently being held at the Webster Detention Center.

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A fourth teenager, 17-year-old Reante Byrd was also arrested, but investigators have not linked him to the murder case. Byrd has been charged with Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under the Age of 18. He is also being held in the Webster Detention Center.

No further details in the investigation have been released.



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Augusta, GA

Augusta Regional Airport hosts drone camp for students

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Augusta Regional Airport hosts drone camp for students


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.

12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.

Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.

“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.

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The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival draws crowds despite heat

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10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival draws crowds despite heat


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.

Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.

Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.

“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.

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The festival runs until 10 p.m.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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