Augusta, GA

Augusta businesses discuss concerns over downtown construction

Published

10 months ago

February 25, 2025

Augusta businesses discuss concerns over downtown construction

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Monday, business owners got an update on the $42 million project happening on Broad Street.

This is a multi-phase construction project with phase one, including Milledge Road and 15th Street, already underway.

The meeting follows a previous meeting held earlier this month where local businesses weighed in on the project.

After seeing the plans, business owners decided to meet alongside city officials to talk about their concerns.

Some owners say a plan to beautify downtown Augusta could do more harm than good.

“We felt like there was a need to get together and get on the same page, have everyone express concerns,” says Penelope Ballas-Stewart, a 4th generation owner of Luigi’s.

Parking has been a huge concern. Originally, plans took the number of parking spaces from 750 to 480.

Business owners say any amount of parking lost is devastating.

“A potential solution is to convert some of these ancillary streets to one way so that we can add additional side parking,” says Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The streets being considered for this change are Ellis and Reynolds.

Columbia County homestead exemption meeting

But parking isn’t the only concern.

“It’s the staging of these different projects with projects still happening on Green Street, on Telfair, before we move on to Broad Street,” Ballas-Stewart says.

Mayor Johnson says he understands.

“We’re going to do our due diligence to make sure that we’re going to finish a product before we move forward with an additional project,” Johnson says.

Another concern is lighting.

“Parking on Ellis or Reynolds or Jones Street certainly presents a challenge with the lighting,” says Johnson. “Make sure that all of the entertainment venues that Broad Street offers will have the ability to park and enjoy it safely.”

The meeting wasn’t just about problems, but solutions too.

“It’s comforting to know that there’s at least communication now,” says Ballas-Stewart. “We’ve been told that plans are being revised, and some parking is being added back in. There’s just still the question as to what that exactly will entail.”

For people like Ballas-Stewart, it’s about being able to stay downtown.

“We just celebrated 75 years last and I would love to be down here another 75 years,” Ballas-Stewart says. “We don’t intend to break tradition and move out of downtown. We really hope that things can get worked out and the infrastructure will be here for us to remain.”

Many of these topics are being talked about tomorrow at the committee meeting.

Mayor Johnson says the focus is making sure everyone’s voices are heard.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

Published

1 hour 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.

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Augusta, GA

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

Published

13 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.

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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.

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