A transformer fire at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro triggered a safety alert on Tuesday. The alert was resolved once the flames were extinguished.

Soon after the announcement, the alert was terminated, according to Georgia Power. Plant conditions didn’t impact public safety, according to experts.

Trained personnel are working on recovery efforts in close coordination with federal, state and local officials, noted Georgia Power in a news release.

More: Plant Vogtle nuclear reactor back in service after a shutdown due to ‘valve issue’

An ‘alert’ signals an event occurred that could cause safety concerns, according to the release. 

“Our top priority is the safety and health of the public and our employees,” said Plant Vogtle 1 & 2 site Vice President John Weissinger.  

There was no danger to the public, according to Georgia Power

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Funding Partners.

Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.

AUGUSTA, GA — Clayton State’s Ariyonna Jones and Georgia College & State University’s Jada Warren have been named the conference-level selections for the NCAA Woman of the Year. The two will be among the 46 Division II student-athletes advancing in the selection process after being chosen from all PBC institution nominees for the award. The selections were made by the Peach Belt Senior Woman Administrator committee.

A member of the Clayton State track & field team, Jones graduated with a degree in psychology & human services, carrying a 3.59 cumulative GPA. Named to the CSC Academic All-District team, she was also named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and the PBC Presidential Honor Roll. A member of the Clayton State student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC), she also volunteered with the Community Teen Coalition.

On the track, Jones earned both indoor and outdoor USTFCCCA All-Southeast Region mention.  The native of Dublin, Ga. broke eight school records between the indoor & outdoor seasons including shattering the 200m dash and the 400m dash records in both the indoor and outdoor seasons.  At the PBC Outdoor Championships, she earned the conference crown in both the 400m dash (55.75) and in the 200m dash (24.26) and in the 4×400 meter relay (3:53.00) and took second in the 4×100 meter relay. Also at the Championships, Jones clocked NCAA DII provisional times in the 200m and the 400m dash.  She also was a three-time all-conference finisher in the Indoor PBC Championships earlier in February.  She was key as the Laker women’s track & field team placed second, as a team, in the Outdoor Championships, which is the best finish in program history.

Warren graduated from GCSU with a degree in exercise science with a 3.64 cumulative GPA. From Norcross, Ga., she graduated cum laude and received the GCSU Student Leader of the Year Bobcat Award. A member of the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and Presidential Honor Roll, she was a CSC Academic All-District selection, a member of the GCSU honors college, and named to the Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society. She also served in the GCSU student government, the Black Student Alliance and in the LIFE Mentorship Program.

On the court, Warren averaged 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 points this season for the Bobcats. Warren, who pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds against Columbus State University, grabbed 256 rebounds and shot 44.0 percent (40-of-91) from the field. She also collected 22 blocked shots, 21 assists and 13 steals. Warren was 50th in NCAA Division II and led the PBC in rebounds. She was also first in the Peach Belt in rebounds per game (8.8). Warren finished seventh in the league in blocked shots.

The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee will announce 30 finalists – 10 from each division – later this fall, then narrow that to the top three nominees in each division. The NCAA Woman of the Year award will be presented at the NCAA Convention in Nashville in January.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Golden Harvest in Augusta is opening the doors to a new Produce Rescue Center that will help feed those in need.

On Aug. 15, at 8:30 a.m., Golden Harvest Food Bank will open its doors to the community for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Produce Rescue Center, located at 3301 Commerce Drive.

This special event will bring together community leaders, elected officials, and compassionate neighbors who share a commitment to fighting hunger.

The new center will serve as a vital lifeline for over 350 hunger relief organizations and programs that provide food assistance to those in need. It will also become a welcoming space for thousands of volunteers each month, whose generosity and dedication are at the heart of the Food Bank’s mission to alleviate hunger.

This project was made possible through an initial grant award of $3.7 million by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in partnership with the City of Augusta through CARES Act funding.

This award was driven by a deep commitment to expanding the Food Bank’s capacity to serve. The new Produce Rescue Center is designed to significantly increase the distribution of fresh produce, meat, and dairy products to Golden Harvest’s partner agencies and clients across its 11,000-square-mile service area, covering 25 counties.

The center will also house Golden Harvest’s Community Impact Team, a group dedicated to ensuring that food reaches those who need it most. The goal is to have more hands on deck to get fresher produce to the community quicker.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and their visionary investment in the food bank network across the state, increasing capacity and impact to those facing food insecurity,” says Amy Breitmann, President & CEO, of Golden Harvest Food Bank. “We are also grateful for the private investors who have come alongside us to close the fundraising gap, bringing to life the reality of this new facility that will drastically increase our impact across our 25-county service area.”

Key features of the new center include large cold storage units that will increase the Food Bank’s fresh produce distribution exponentially. A dedicated volunteer space will ensure that every item is carefully sorted, inspected, and delivered with the respect our neighbors deserve. Expanded office space will provide more than 7,000 square feet for Golden Harvest’s staff and community partners to collaborate, learn, and grow together in service.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, community members and the press are invited to tour the new Produce Rescue Center to see firsthand how it will enhance Golden Harvest’s ability to meet the needs of the community.

It’s a project that is two years in the making.

In April, News 12 got a first look at some of the center’s progress.

The new center will introduce a new world of fresh food options for people across the area and help fill the food desert gap.

In their current space, Golden Harvest is able to distribute about a million pounds of fresh produce a year. Across the street at the new produce rescue center, their goal is to bump up to about two and a half million pounds.

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