Augusta, GA

Want to cut down your own Christmas tree? These 4 Augusta-area farms are opening soon

Published

2 months ago

November 15, 2025

Want to cut down your own Christmas tree? These 4 Augusta-area farms are opening soon

There are plenty of options for getting a live Christmas tree, but what about one that’s so fresh, it’s still in the ground?

Christmas tree farms will soon be reopening in the Augusta area for the holiday season. Not only do these make for great photo ops, but you can get your lumberjack on and cut the tree down yourself if you’d like. If not, that’s fine, the staff will cut it down for you. Here are four we found opening nearby and what to expect:

Gay’s Christmas Tree Farm

2335 Tobacco Rd, Augusta

Opening 9 a.m. Nov. 22, Gay’s Christmas Tree Farm is growing Murray Cypress and Carolina Sapphire as well as pre-harvested Douglas and Fraser Fir. The prices are the same as last year at about $11 per foot. The farm is open 2 p.m. until dark Monday-Thursday, 2-7 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 p.m. until dark Sundays. For more info, go to gayschristmastreefarm.com.

Still Creek Tree Farm

442 Pine Log Rd, Beech Island, SC

Opening noon Nov. 21, Still Creek Tree Farm has seven different varieties in the Pine and Cyprus families ranging in price from $5 to $10 per foot. They also have imported, fresh-cut Fraser Firs at or below market price. The farm also puts on hayrides and visits with Santa Claus, but you’ll have to stay tuned to their Facebook or Instagram. Still Creek will be open 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and by appointment.

Clarks Hill Christmas Tree Farm

39 Bennie Dorn Rd, Clarks Hill, SC

Opening Nov. 22, Clarks Hill Christmas Tree Farm has a range of trees from Leyland Cypress and Carolina Saphire to Red Cedar and Clemson Greenspire. Those 7-9 feet average about $10 per foot, with higher prices for the bigger trees. The farm will be open 2-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday. For more info, go to clarkshillchristmastreefarm.com.

Tom Sawyer’s Christmas Trees

402 Uncle Duck Rd, Monetta, SC

Opening 1 p.m. Nov. 23, Tom Sawyer’s Christmas Trees grow several different types of tree like Thuja Green Giant, Blue Ice, and White Pine as well as having Fraser Firs from North Carolina. Prices vary depending on the size and kind of tree you want, but they all generally start at 6 or 7 feet between $50-$80 for all but the Fraser Firs which start at $140. The farm will be marking the beginning of their season with a special blessing of the trees. For more info, go to tomsawyerschristmastrees.com.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.

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Augusta, GA

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

Published

11 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There was a large law enforcement presence Thursday morning at a home in west Augusta near Fort Gordon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were in the area attempting to find a suspect, according to deputies.

Witnesses said around 11:25 a.m. that officers had been surrounding a home at Harper-Franklin Avenue and Covington Court.

That’s in a neighborhood of mostly two-story brick-fronted homes built in the past three or four years just east of Jimmie Dyess Parkway and a couple of blocks north of Gordon Highway.

As noon approached, law enforcement had left.

But a Facebook post from earlier did show a large presence,including marked and unmarked cars, and officers all around the house. A witness said police dogs were on the scene, as well.

News 12 has reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for information.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

Published

23 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Steven Kendrick held a town hall on Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Community Center as he prepares to challenge Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

Kendrick, who serves as chief deputy tax commissioner for Richmond County, previously ran against Johnson in 2022. The town hall was part of Kendrick’s campaign tour as he seeks to unseat the incumbent mayor.

“Some of the people felt as though we really needed to dig a little deeper and we dug a little deeper,” Kendrick said after the meeting. “But that’s how you gain understanding, where everybody’s not going to agree about everything. Some of them we didn’t agree on. I certainly enjoyed the interaction. I learned some things, and I hope they learned some things as well.”

Multiple Commission seats up for election

The mayoral race is not the only contest facing Richmond County voters. Several Augusta Commission seats are up for election across multiple districts.

District 8 will have a new commissioner because Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited and cannot run again. Michael Cioffi and Evett Williams have filed to run for the District 8 seat.

Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 are also up for election. Stacy Pulliam currently serves in District 2.

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Augusta, GA

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County deputies are investigating their first homicide of 2026, which occurred early Monday morning on Hines Street just off Laney Walker Boulevard.

The victim was 21-year-old Thaddeus Kirkland. He was found bleeding on scene around 2 a.m. and died a short time later.

Suspect wanted for questioning

Deputies are seeking 24-year-old Bruce Wesby for questioning in connection to the incident. Wesby is known to frequent the Waynesboro area. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office.

Crime data shows progress in 2025

The first homicide of 2026 happened five days into the new year, two days sooner than the first homicide of 2025.

According to the sheriff’s office data, violent crime decreased significantly in 2025 under Sheriff Eugene Brantley’s leadership. Homicides dropped 35% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025 to their lowest level since 2021.

Aggravated assaults also dropped 35% to their lowest mark since 2018. Armed robberies fell 36% year-over-year to their lowest mark since crime data for Richmond County was first recorded in 2011.

Law enforcement focused on high-risk areas, including downtown Augusta, to lower response times and keep people safe.

“What they really want is for their families that they’re raising in this area to have safe lives, just like the citizens of Augusta that vote them in,” said M. Steven Fishman, president of Sidney’s Department Store & Uniforms. “They want to be able to go to work, come home, and enjoy their lives with their children, knowing that they’re safe.”

As 2026 gets underway, the sheriff’s office is continuing upgrades for technology and equipment to continue its goal of reducing violent crime. The office sent a statement saying the progress is in large part due to the community and deputies working together.

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