AUGUSTA, GA — The Peach Belt Conference has revealed the 2026 Women’s Tennis All-Academic Team, previously known as the Team of Academic Distinction. Maria Gento, Andrea Gonzalez, Julieta Palma, Giovana Patrocino, and Camila Taborga from Augusta women’s tennis earned spots on the team. The teams are part of the PBC’s larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes.

In order to be eligible for the PBC All-Academic Team, student-athletes must meet the following requirements: 

1) Participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor

2) Achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 

3) Student-Athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically

Transfer students are immediately eligible once they meet the above requirements. The Peach Belt Conference sports communications professionals oversee the program.

 

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two former guards at Augusta State Medical Prison have been found not guilty in connection with the death of an inmate.

A two-count federal indictment unsealed in August 2025 charged Robert Roberson and Marcus Phillips violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to an inmate, resulting in his death.

The indictment alleges that on Oct. 28, 2020, Roberson and Phillips became aware of a smoldering fire in an inmate’s cell.

Rather than extinguish the fire, evacuate the inmate from his cell, remediate the smoke from the cell or call a fire emergency over the radio, they willfully disregarded the substantial risk of serious harm to the inmate by leaving him in his locked cell for several hours while he slowly died from smoke inhalation, according to the indictment.

Roberson was also acquitted of a charge of falsifying a logbook to cover up misconduct.

Inmate deaths aren’t unheard of at the prison. Among the deaths there:

Mrs. Amy Elizabeth Black, age 56 of Evans, Georgia passed away on May 29, 2026, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

A native of Augusta, Georgia, Mrs. Black was born on January 8, 1970, the daughter of Cynthia Bridges Cason and the late Charles Franklin Cason. She had lived all her life in the Martinez and Evans communities and attended and graduated from Evans High School in 1988. Amy went on to pursue her degree of Education Specialist from Augusta State University. Amy was employed with the Columbia County Board of Education for 22 years as a middle school teacher. One of her favorite childhood memories was playing little league softball where she played the position of catcher.  She was married to Billy Richard Black, Jr. for 27 years and just celebrated being together for 31 years. Mrs. Black attended the Wesley United Methodist Church where she enjoyed participating in the VBS programs. She was also preceded in death by her father-in-law Mr. Billy Richard Black, Sr.

Survivors include her beloved husband, Mr. Billy Richard Black, Jr. Her son, Reagan Hugh Black; her brother, Charles F. Cason, Jr. and his wife, Katie; her sister, Lisa Ann Cason-Greene and her husband, David; her mother-in-law, Mrs. Brenda Black; her sisters-in-law, Lisa Fehrenbach and her husband Ken, and Shannon Koch and her husband Thomas; a number of nieces and nephews along with one great nephew. Amy always kept her beloved pets in fond memories they being “Kerchal”, “Grisby”, “Bear” and “Sandy”.

Funeral services for Mrs. Black will be conducted on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon at Wesley United Methodist Church 825 N. Belair Rd Evans, Ga 30809, with Rev. Greg Porterfield officiating. Interment will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Gardens 4501 Wrightboro Road, Grovetown, GA 30813.

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 12 p.m. until the service hour at the church.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers and are requested to meet at the church on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and they include; Cason Greene, Christian Greene, Wyatt Cason, Wheeler Cason, Walker Cason, David Campbell and Barrett Albert.

Arrangements are being provided by Platt’s Funeral Home, 337 N. Belair Road, Evans, GA 30809 (706) 860-6166. Please take a moment to share your condolences by signing the online guestbook at plattsfuneralhome.com.