Augusta, GA

Augusta leaders discuss progress on city cemetery clean-up

Published

9 months ago

March 14, 2025

Augusta leaders discuss progress on city cemetery clean-up

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – In December, we told you that the city-owned Augusta cemeteries were locked, and fam ilies have not been able to visit their loved ones.

Now, two months later and five months after Hurricane Helene, leaders spoke at a forum to discuss an audit of the parks and recreation department and progress on restoring the cemeteries.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson and new parks and recreation leader Tameka Williams gave updates.

Williams said she visited the Cedar Grove, West View and Magnolia cemeteries that the city owns.

She said the debris had been removed, but areas deemed unsafe are still blocked off.

Williams also offered a new time frame when the cemeteries may reopen.

“We are looking to within the next couple of weeks,” said Williams. “Our biggest work was getting the debris removed once we hit one cemetery, then we moved to another, and we finished with Magnolia Cemetery.”

Williams said staff would be on site to help people when the cemeteries reopen.

Johnson gave his thoughts on the cleanup as well.

“Most of the roads are clear, a lot of the debris have been removed, it’s the spring time of year and everyone wants to go visit their loved ones,” said Johnson. “Our ceemteries were severely damaged as a result of the hurricane and we’ve asked that they just give us some patience as our primary focus was cleaning up our cities.”

Regarding the audit for the parks and recreation department, leaders gave an update saying they will have to choose a new firm to perform a new audit no later than April 15.

We will keep you updated on that process.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

Published

6 hours ago

December 16, 2025

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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

18 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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