Augusta, GA
🌱 Suspect Wanted In Budgetel Shooting + Piedmont Augusta Expands
Good morning, friends. I’m here with your Thursday edition of the Augusta Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the most important things happening locally.
But first, your local weather:
- Thursday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 83 Low: 67.
- Friday: Pleasant with clouds and sun. High: 83 Low: 68.
Here are the top three stories today in Augusta:
- The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a suspect in the downtown Augusta Budgetel shooting on May 1. The suspect, 21-year-old Brian Mann, is said to frequent hotels along Gordon Highway; he is also reported to have associates in and around Sibley Road. Anyone with information on Mann’s whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1034. (WRDW)
- Piedmont Augusta is set to open a new branch in nearby Appling on Wednesday, beginning with a 3:00 p.m. ribbon cutting. In 2021, officials announced a $6 million commitment to build the occupational health and prompt-care center. Piedmont Augusta, formerly known as University Health Care System, aims to provide affordable and high-quality health care services. (WFXG)
- An Augusta student is representing the city in the 95th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland. Sai Lakkimsetti, who hails from Stallings Island Middle School, secured a spot in the national competition after emerging victorious in the Georgia state bee held in mid-March. Lakkimsetti previously qualified for the prestigious event once before, when he was in the third grade. (WRDW)
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Today and tomorrow in Augusta:
- Live Music With Jay Johnson Duo At Top Dawg Tavern (4:00 PM)
From my notebook:
- Want to help local seniors stay cool for the summer? Now through Jun. 16, the Richmond County Marshal’s Office will be collecting new boxed fans for distribution. Donations can be left at the Marshal’s Office on Deans Bridge Road, or at the Augusta Municipal Building on Telfair Street. (WFXG)
- The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System has officially kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program as of today, Jun. 1. This year’s programming will include both in-person events and virtual offerings, with a full event schedule available here. (WFXG)
- DiVino Ristorante Italiano, a longstanding staple of North Augusta, announced its permanent closure via social media. As of the time of publication, it is unknown what will fill the space of the former eatery. (Charleston Post Courier)
You’re all caught up for today! See you all soon for another 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
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, you’ve likely dealt with the construction traffic as part of Augusta’s beautification.
Brick-in-laid crosswalks were recently finished, and while they look great, they didn’t last long.
John Ussery, assistant director of traffic, says they have already fixed some of the crosswalks on Telfair Street and 13th and Greene Street.
Now, they are making their way down to Jones Street, and he says they’re almost done with the project — again.
“I’m driving. I’m like, “Yay, good job, guys.” And I hit this bump in the road, and I was like, “Where did this bump come from? It’s a perfectly good road,’” 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.
“I’m looking at it and the brick had literally been broken. And coming into the road,” said Cheadle.
In October, the city installed brick sidewalks at the intersection of 13th Street and Jones Street.
They said the construction would take about two weeks.
“It’s frustrating because it’s such a high-volume area,” said Cheadle.
But now, three months later, they’re starting over.
“They laid the brick in there loosely. What did they think was gonna happen?” said Cheadle.
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.
But this time around, they’re following the recommendation.
“Well, you had one job and you failed,” said Cheadle.
Cheadle says he’s hoping it’s all done soon because it’s not just about convenience, but also safety.
“That ambulance needs to get to a hospital in a timely manner. They don’t have time to go around I-20. They don’t have time to go around Gordon Highway,” said
Luckily, the city says they do not have to pay for them to fix the crosswalks this time around.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
‘We need help’: 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.
“If we don’t 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 we’re getting around 19 to support 7 airports outside of Atlanta and that’s a challenge,” 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.
“We’re 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,” 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) – We’re just under two months away from baseball season and this year will be a bittersweet one for North Augusta’s 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.
You’ve 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.
“It’s a chance to have something that is ours,” said Lynn. “Our own atmosphere at school. It’s going to be exciting.”
The over $8 million project was slated to be completed ahead of this year’s 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.
“I don’t want to have summer ball starting there, I want our kids to start a regular season there,” said Lynn. I want them to open the season up and have a true home opener.”
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 they’ll get one more chance to send it out with a grand slam.”I grew up watching my brother play here and many people before him, so being able to play here one last time feels really good.”
“I’d 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. It’d be nice to accomplish those goals in our last season.”
Lynn’s team will open up on the road against Strom Thurmond on Feb. 11.
The Yellowjackets are 40 and 40 under Lynn as head coach.
It’s hard to believe we’re almost to baseball season, before we know it we’ll be talking about the Masters.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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