Augusta, GA
USDA grants $500K towards CSRA-wide farmer business program
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The USDA has granted $500,000 to Augusta Locally Grown for a CSRA-wide farmer business program that will help them expand their operations.
Augusta Locally Grown (ALG) partners with the Augusta Metro Chamber, the Richmond County Extension, and Gateway Business Services to offer robust programming to CSRA small business farmers.
This project provides tiered agricultural and entrepreneurial services tailored to beginning farmers, to help them improve and sustain farming operations.
Agricultural activities include the Homesteading Conference, individual farm plots, farm training workshops, extension classes, farmer planning meetings, farmer forums and mentorship. Entrepreneurship activities include business training/coaching in three formats (self-paced, small group, one-on-one) and general business workshops.
“This robust program and its unique partnerships stand out on a nationwide platform to strengthen to serve 200 local farmers at a time when farmers are struggling to feed themselves and the community,” Rebecca van Loenen, Executive Director of Augusta Locally Grown, says.

Classes will provide individual farm plots, mentorship, climate-smart agricultural training, business plan development, and more to help beginning farmers improve and sustain farming operations.
Program workshops will start as early as December 2024 and continue through December 2027.
For more information regarding the program, you can contact Chuck Simpson, Program Manager at chuck@augustalocallygrown.org.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
2nd annual Juneteenth trail ride draws crowds in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The second annual Juneteenth trail ride took place on Old Waynesboro Road in Augusta on Saturday.
The event featured trail rides with horses and ATVs, a mechanical bull contest and music.
People shopped at vendors, and there was entertainment for kids, including a petting zoo, inflatables and games.
“It’s really a privilege just to be able to have the opportunity to share my space, to share my area, and to share for an event with so much value, to give back to my community and a place to celebrate,” said Davon Wallace, chief of operations at Crimson Hills.
Wallace said they will be hosting more events, with a haunted trail coming in October.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
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.
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
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.
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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