Augusta, GA
🌱 Augusta Rowing Club Relocates + Augusta Man Charged With Fraud
Hello, neighbors! I’m here with your fresh copy of the Augusta Patch newsletter, filled with all the local information you need to know right now.
But first, your local weather:
- Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 84 Low: 64.
- Friday: Pleasant with periods of sun. High: 87 Low: 65.
Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that’s you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.
Here are the top three stories in Augusta today:
- Augusta Rowing Club is in need of a new home due to mold issues at their current facility, The Boathouse. Augusta Commissioners have unanimously voted to demolish the building, leaving the club searching for a new location. The Rowing Club has suggested that the city either remove the mold or provide them with a similar-sized building, but one commissioner has proposed using shipping containers to store the club’s boats, which the club argues is not a viable solution. (WJBF-TV)
- Maurice Sturgis, a 24-year-old from Augusta, has been charged with insurance fraud and forgery, according to Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King. Sturgis allegedly submitted two additional claims for pet examinations using the same invoice as the initial claim, and on the third attempt, he added a “3” in front of the previous dollar figure in an attempt to receive $352.00. Warrants have been issued against Sturgis in Richmond County, and he is currently detained on unrelated charges. (WRDW)
- Georgia is one of five states with the highest homelessness rates for veterans. While homelessness among veterans dropped by almost 56% between 2010 and 2022, the rising rental prices have made it challenging for many to find affordable housing. The Charlie Norwood Veterans Medical Center is planning to turn two unused wings into 76 units of housing to help address the issue. (WRDW)
Today and tomorrow in Augusta:
- Augusta Air Show At Augusta Regional Airport (All Day)
- Waterpalooza At Augusta Utilities (4:00 PM)
From my notebook:
- Warm weather means the “gnat line” is approaching Augusta. Learn more about the pests at the link. (WRDW)
- Mother’s Day is this weekend! Check out the list of great Augusta-area restaurants to treat mom. (The Augusta Chronicle)
- New homes have been listed for sale in the Augusta area! Get all the property details at the link. (Patch)
You’re all caught up for today! See you soon for your next update.
— 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
First look at Augusta’s new grocery store ahead of opening day
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We got an inside look at Augusta’s newest grocery store, FreshTake.
It’s located next to the Outback Steakhouse on Washington Road, where Whole Foods used to be.
FreshTake touts itself as an elevated shopping experience with a focus on fresh, ready-to-eat meals.
There is a butcher shop, seafood counter, specialty food stations like sushi, pizza, pasta, juices and smoothies and a Starbucks coffee shop located inside the store.
There’s also a beer and wine bar inside the grocery store and a BBQ smoker outside.
“I always wanted to have a store that had an abundance of food service offerings on one side just like you see here. I’m super happy and excited I was able to bring this to the Augusta community to enjoy,” said Jackson Mitchell, CEO of FreshTake.
FreshTake opens its doors to the public on Monday at 10 a.m. for its soft opening with a grand opening set for January 30.
The store tells us it is also committed to ensuring no food goes to waste and is partnering with Golden Harvest Food Bank.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
What the Tech: Device and software that turns your car into a self-driving one
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Self-driving cars are no longer a futuristic concept; they’re on the roads today. One might have passed you on the way to work.
But what if you don’t want to buy a brand-new car to experience this technology? The Comma 3X device and Openpilot software offer a solution, turning your existing car into a self-driving vehicle.
How Does it Work?
The Comma 3X connects to your car’s safety features, such as lane assistance and adaptive cruise control. It uses cameras to monitor the road and the driver, and the Openpilot software takes control of the car’s steering, acceleration, and braking.
“It’ll never jerk the wheel,” said Comma’s Adeeb Shihadeh at CES 2025. “The system is best at, you get on the highway click the engage button on your steering wheel and you sit back and you watch it.”
Users have uploaded dozens of videos to YouTube of Comma and Openpilot on their commutes and on long drives on the interstate.
“You can let the system just run on the highway for hours without intervention,” Shihadeh said. “We have experimental mode with red lights, stop signs. We have a lot of users driving around with that. They drive in the city and they’re really happy with that.”
Comma’s “chill mode” is best for anyone not quite ready for a device to take over all of the driving.
How safe is it?
Shihadeh says he believes it’s actually safer than a human behind the wheel making all of the decisions.
“We have lots of data that shows that driving with open pilot does change the driver a bit and you end up being a more attentive driver. And it’s really interesting because you don’t know when you’re distracted. It’ll beep and say, ‘hey, look at the road and it keeps escalating from there,” he said.
The Comma device can be installed easily by users and there are many helpful videos and instructions available on YouTube. There are also active communities of Openpilot drivers on Reddit and Discord.
Features and Benefits
- Lane Keeping: The system helps keep your car centered in its lane, reducing the risk of drifting.
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a safe following distance from the car ahead, adjusting speed as needed.
- Driver Monitoring: A camera inside the car ensures the driver stays attentive. If the driver’s eyes wander, the system issues a warning and can even slow the car down.
- User-Friendly: The device is easy to install and use, and the software is regularly updated with new features and improvements.
- Affordability: At $1,000, it’s a more affordable option than buying a new self-driving car.
Safety and Reliability
Comma boasts that users have logged over 100 million miles with Openpilot, and the software is constantly being refined.
The driver monitoring system helps ensure safety by keeping the driver engaged. However, it’s important to remember that the driver is still responsible for the car and must be ready to take control at any time.
Openpilot works with over 275 car models. You can check the Comma website to see if your car is compatible.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta leaders decide fate of Old First Baptist Church
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Historic Preservation Commission decided on the future of the Old First Baptist Church building on Thursday.
The organization is giving the property owner 10 days to take action in repairing the building.
We spoke with officials about the building’s structural issues.
After testimonies from people with code enforcement, neighboring businesses and Historic Augusta, the Preservation Commission decided that the owner wasn’t making routine repairs and maintenance to keep the property safe and up to code.
That means a potential legal battle if the ball doesn’t get rolling soon.
One of the biggest pieces of downtown Augusta’s history is in danger of structurally failing.
The Augusta Historic Preservation Commission says after hearing testimonies and gathering evidence of the state of the building, they’re concerned for the future.
“It is on the endangered property list for historic Augusta but is on the state endangered property list. So, we’re not making up that it’s there’s a problem. There is a very serious problem with this building,” said Tara Conway, chair of the Augusta Preservation Commission.
The city’s code enforcement says the building is breaking several code violations, including making Augusta’s blight list dating back to 2021.
The property owner, Joe Edge, says he’s spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs to keep the structural integrity of the church stable, like installing a new roof on the back of the building to prevent it from collapsing.
“We’ve secured the front keeping the homeless out. We’ve had to secure not just put salt on. We’ve had to install wrought iron fencing around the basement to keep vagrants out of there,” said Edge.
However, code enforcement says there are no permits pulled for almost all of the projects Edge claimed there was work done.
It’s an issue historical stakeholders say they’re glad action is being taken because you can’t just rebuild historical markers.
George Bush with the Preservation Committee Historic Augusta said: “This is not just a local building. This is where the Southern Baptist Convention started. This is a national asset, and we are just trying to save it, and we’re doing everything we can.”
The city will now issue a notice to Edge for him to file a Certificate of Appropriateness, or COA, which is a permit with the city to allow him to start making external repairs.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech
-
Science6 days ago
Metro will offer free rides in L.A. through Sunday due to fires
-
Technology1 week ago
Las Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosion
-
News1 week ago
Photos: Pacific Palisades Wildfire Engulfs Homes in an L.A. Neighborhood
-
Education1 week ago
Four Fraternity Members Charged After a Pledge Is Set on Fire
-
Technology6 days ago
Amazon Prime will shut down its clothing try-on program
-
News1 week ago
Mapping the Damage From the Palisades Fire
-
News1 week ago
Mourners Defy Subfreezing Temperatures to Honor Jimmy Carter at the Capitol