Augusta, GA
š± Rot Ken Arrested For Murder + 76 YO August Man Missing
Hey, friends! It’s Tuesday in Augusta and I’m back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what’s happening locally.
But first, your local weather:
- Tuesday: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 81 Low: 69.
- Wednesday: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 77 Low: 69.
Here are the top three stories in Augusta today:
- A North Augusta man, Parker Radford, was fatally struck by a car on Peach Orchard Road in Augusta while seeking help for car problems on Saturday night, according to authorities. The 29-year-old Radford died from his injuries early Sunday at Augusta University Medical Center. The store he approached for assistance, a 24-hour Sprint gas station, may have been closed at the time, and further details about the driver have not been released by the sheriff’s office. (The Augusta Press)
- A 19-year-old Augusta rapper known as “Rot Ken” has been arrested for murder and aggravated assault in connection with a double shooting in April that resulted in one death and one injury. Despite his criminal history, including convictions for firearm possession, burglary, and theft, Kenneth Williams has gained recognition for his music on platforms like Apple Music and YouTube. The shooting occurred outside The Estates at Perimeter, where the suspects allegedly opened fire on the victims’ vehicle before the driver fled and crashed. (The Augusta Press)
- An Augusta man with Dementia and diabetes has gone missing during his trip to Alabama after leaving his home on May 27. Ed Hicks, 76, was last seen near Clarks Mill Road on May 30, pushing a black bicycle with a black poodle in the basket. The family has reported him missing and asks for anyone with information to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. (WJBF-TV)
Today and tomorrow in Augusta:
Tuesday, June 20
- The Richmond County School System congratulates its 7 REACH Georgia Scholars who have earned a $10,000 scholarship to a HOPE-eligible institution in Georgia after fulfilling academic and attendance requirements. The scholars, including alumni from various high schools, were recognized during a recent Board of Education meeting. (Richmond County School System via Facebook)
- Augusta Technical College invites everyone to participate in their 2nd Annual Yoga on the Green event, held on June 21, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in the ITC/1000 Building Atrium. The event, celebrating International Yoga Day, offers an opportunity for mental rejuvenation, and interested individuals can register by scanning the QR code or using the provided link on the flyer. (Augusta Technical College via Facebook)
- Ed’s Barbershop, a longstanding business in downtown North Augusta in nearby N.C., will be closing its doors at the end of June after being open since 1997. The owner, Edward Vanderhoff, expressed gratitude for his customers and shared his plans for retirement and traveling with his children. (Charleston Post Courier)
That’s it for today. I’ll see you around!
ā Michelle Paul
About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.
Augusta, GA
13th Street construction continues as projects fail brick by brick
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – If you drive in downtown Augusta near the 13th Street bridge, youāve likely dealt with the construction traffic as part of Augustaās beautification. Ā
Brick-in-laid crosswalks were recently finished, and while they look great, they didnāt last long.Ā
John Ussery, assistant director of traffic, says they have already fixed some of the crosswalks on Telfair Street and 13th and Greene Street.Ā
Now, they are making their way down to Jones Street, and he says theyāre almost done with the project ā again. Ā
āIām driving. Iām like, āYay, good job, guys.ā And I hit this bump in the road, and I was like, āWhere did this bump come from? Itās a perfectly good road,āā said Jesse Cheadle, who drives in Augusta.
Just when residents thought they saw the light at the end of the tunnel, crews are back out again.Ā
āIām looking at it and the brick had literally been broken. And coming into the road,ā said Cheadle.Ā
In October, the city installed brick sidewalks at the intersection of 13th Street and Jones Street.Ā
They said the construction would take about two weeks.Ā
āItās frustrating because itās such a high-volume area,ā said Cheadle.Ā
But now, three months later, theyāre starting over.Ā
āThey laid the brick in there loosely. What did they think was gonna happen?ā said Cheadle.Ā
Ussery says they are having to redo all of the brick sidewalks because the contractor decided to try a different technique than what the manufacturer had suggested.Ā
But this time around, theyāre following the recommendation.Ā
āWell, you had one job and you failed,ā said Cheadle.Ā
Cheadle says heās hoping itās all done soon because itās not just about convenience, but also safety.Ā
āThat ambulance needs to get to a hospital in a timely manner. They donāt have time to go around I-20. They donāt have time to go around Gordon Highway,ā said Ā
Luckily, the city says they do not have to pay for them to fix the crosswalks this time around.Ā
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
āWe need helpā: Ga. airport underfunding could hinder expansions
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Municipal airports across South Georgia could see improvements paused or canceled because of a lack of funding from federal and state officials.
Regional Airports need $83.5 million per year for improvement projects, but Albany, Valdosta, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Brunswick, and Columbus only receive $16 million from the FAA and $2.8 million from the state.
Airports outside of Atlanta are receiving the shorter end of the stick when it comes to federal and state funding. Airport officials say that they hope that with more grant funding and the expansion of a few projects, it will increase more revenue right here in the Good Life City.
āIf we donāt improve our infrastructure and our facilities, we will continue to lose our business aviation to other states. Some of the other states are receiving anywhere from 30 to 80 million dollars worth of funds, where weāre getting around 19 to support 7 airports outside of Atlanta and thatās a challenge,ā officials say.
In Albany, the airport has upcoming projects to bring bigger planes, more commercial flights, and Cargo airplanes to the city. But with the lack of funding, the completion of that project is at risk.
āWeāre looking at a runway extension which will be a huge project over 100 million dollars and funding has not been identified for that project. So where would we get that money? Well, we need the Federal Administration and the State of Georgia to give us more support,ā officials say.
While officials say the airport needs some improvements, passengers say they love the convenience of being able to travel right outside their backyard.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Weāre just under two months away from baseball season and this year will be a bittersweet one for North Augustaās baseball and softball teams.
While many players would much rather play at a brand-new facility, Riverview Park has been home to the Yellowjackets for a long time now.
After this season, however, North Augusta will finally have a new place to call home.
But, they will have one more chance to close out a phenomenal season before transitioning to the new stadium next year.
Youāve seen the construction and you can see the vision.
In just a few more months, across the street from North Augusta High School will be two brand-new facilities.
The newest home of the Yellowjackets baseball and softball teams.
āItās a chance to have something that is ours,ā said Lynn. āOur own atmosphere at school. Itās going to be exciting.ā
The over $8 million project was slated to be completed ahead of this yearās season, but after multiple delays like the impact of Hurricane Helene and just how big of a project it truly is, the facilities are still several months from being ready for play.
In the event construction concludes as originally planned, Head Coach Kevin Lynn says the team has no plans to move fields in the middle of their 2025 season.
āI donāt want to have summer ball starting there, I want our kids to start a regular season there,ā said Lynn. I want them to open the season up and have a true home opener.ā
The good news is, nothing about this year will feel different for the team.
The Yellowjackets have called Riverview Park home for over 40 years and theyāll get one more chance to send it out with a grand slam.āI grew up watching my brother play here and many people before him, so being able to play here one last time feels really good.ā
āIād like to go out on a high note and finish up strong here. Our goal is to win all of our games at home since we play here all the time and know the layout more than anybody else. Itād be nice to accomplish those goals in our last season.ā
Lynnās team will open up on the road against Strom Thurmond on Feb. 11.
The Yellowjackets are 40 and 40 under Lynn as head coach.
Itās hard to believe weāre almost to baseball season, before we know it weāll be talking about the Masters.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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