Augusta, GA
Local Goodwill gains support as kids go back to school
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As you’re wrapping up back-to-school shopping, one store is reminding its customers that every dollar matters.
At Goodwill, donations and purchases support education opportunities and job training programs.
As you’re looking around at all of those school items, it may be time for you to head to the classroom yourself.
“The back-to-school rush is heating up. I was just putting some backpacks out the other day for prospective students, so I’m very excited,” said Regional District Manager Joseph Cochran.
While you can find those back-to-school essentials at Goodwill, know you are supporting someone else’s education journey.
More than 86 cents of every dollar go toward Goodwill’s job training and placement services.
“It’s not just this is money going somewhere. There are legitimate programs we have here to serve the community and individuals in need,” said Cochran.
For those in need, they provide case management and intensive services through their job connection career centers.
“We try to serve mostly the underserved population of the disabled, previously incarcerated, and also individuals that are on the verge of homelessness,” said Cochran.
Cochran has been with Goodwill for 16 years and worked his way up the ladder.
He says Goodwill helped him when he was in grad school.
“The company was able to give me a tuition reimbursement so that way I was going to be in a better position coming out of school and after I graduated so it was very awesome that they were able to provide me with that,” he said.
Helms College is supported through Goodwill and offers everything from a GED to a college degree.
“Our Helms College, which has longer degree programs in health services in culinary arts, but we also have what’s called Helms Continuing Education and so we offer more short-term training and certifications,” said Cochran.
He encourages everyone to come visit.
“We’re glad to have you not only shopping, dining and donating with us, but should you be thinking about going back to school, it is an affordable option,” said Cochran.
They recently added an ESL course through Helms College.
You can also take phlebotomy, administrative and office skills and a forklift operator program through Helms College.
These programs are funded through their retail stores.
To sign up, visit https://goodwillcareerdevelopment.my.site.com/HCE/s/programs or any job connection career center.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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