Augusta, GA
‘A sense of community’: Pride is thriving in downtown Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Pride Festival is this weekend, and as with any downtown event, safety is top of mind for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The weekend kicks off Friday evening with Beats on Broad at 6 p.m. at the Augusta Common.
Then the Pride Parade will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the Augusta Pride Festival at the Common.
“Fifteen years of Augusta Pride, we’ve been in the city,” said Michael Barnard Jenkins, Augusta Pride president.
He noted it all started with an event expected to draw 100 people, and now attendance is up to more than 15,000.
It’s worth it to see the results after working on putting it together for so long.
“The people – it is always the people. Coming out and seeing it all come together after working 365 days to put it together. Standing back and seeing the smiling faces, the families just come out and being able to be themselves have a good time, being able to find resources they need,” he said.
“I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you. You know, I found a sense of belonging. I’ve found a sense of community.’ And I think that is the most important thing for me, is just continuing to do something for the greater good.”
We spoke with deputies about their safety plan for the weekend – and what their officer presence looks like during the day.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has community safety officers stationed all across downtown. They’re in yellow shirts, and either on foot or in golf carts.
Maj. Robbie Silas said with recent security additions, more people are comfortable coming downtown.
“It’s a lot safer environment and folks are able to come down and join themselves,” Silas said.
And that’s good for business.
“Especially right now with all the construction going on on Broad Street, you know, I think our downtown businesses thrive on our local festivals,” Jenkins said. “You know, Augusta Pride has had over $1.2 million worth of economic impact in one year alone for the city of Augusta.”
Festivals like Pride bring an even bigger security presence.
“With these large gatherings, we have increased presence at them. We have the Pride Festival coming this weekend and we’ve added extra security for this one and other events that are coming,” Silas said. “We have some great events coming down here, and we have adequate protection.”
Businesses will like that – especially ones that depend on foot traffic, like Grantski Records.
“We rely on in-person sales for the bulk of our revenue. So it’s tantamount that people are walking around and enjoying the city,” said Bryson Chapman, who works at Grantski. “So it means a lot to us. It’s very important.”
Part of the downtown security comes from getting to know the business owners and being there day in and day out.
That’s comforting to Diane Francis, who works at Cafe on 8th.
“We have one CSO detective, I think he’s here almost every day,” she said, “and so he’s part of what’s going on to make sure everything is OK – people from out there and even in here are safe.”
Jenkins said the festival organizers have a protocol to keep things safe.
“Rest assured we have never had any issues at our festival,” he said. “We work very closely with Richmond County, so just know the organizers work really, really hard, including myself, to put this event on and in a safe manner.”
He invites everyone to enjoy Pride this weekend.
“Come out. You can expect food vendors, craft vendors, resources for the community 365 days of the year, and overall, just a good time,” he said.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Brent McMillian is being appointed as the new director of athletics at Augusta University, President Russell Keen announced Monday.
McMillian will begin the role on June 8, 2026.
According to AU, McMillian brings 13 years of athletics experience to the position. He previously served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Engagement and Revenue Generation at Lipscomb University at Nashville.
“His vision aligns seamlessly with our goals for Jaguar Athletics: to champion student-athlete wellbeing, strengthen our competitive success, deepen community engagement, and build a vibrant, spirited campus culture,” Keen said. “His experience, combined with his personal connection to Augusta University, positions him to hit the ground running in a meaningful way.”
McMillian is a graduate of Greenbrier High School and attended Augusta University before completing his degree at the University of Tennessee.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local restaurants hosted brunches for Mother’s Day, allowing neighbors to celebrate the day with the special women in their lives.
The Brunch House of Augusta on Greene Street hosted a brunch. The restaurant served berry pancakes and French toast, waffles, ham and cheese breakfast sliders and more breakfast foods.
One of the owners said the holidays are a great time for them to make connections with the community.
“We just had a group here come here that’s been coming here every year Mother’s Day for three years, every year basically since we’ve been open, they come in every year for Mother’s Day. We have people from out of town come and travel and visit us, so it’s definitely building that connection,” said Ashley Brown, co-owner of The Brunch House of Augusta.
Brown said they will be offering some specials for the upcoming Juneteenth holiday next month.
The Frog and the Hen also hosted a Mother’s Day brunch. The restaurant had about 350 people come in as of around 3 p.m.
They served foods like fried chicken, cheddar biscuits, French toast casserole and more.
The general manager said she enjoys seeing families come in for holidays like Mother’s Day.
“I feel like these are all my children here, so I feel like this day just in general, like I get to be the mother here, and so this is like I’m mother hen, so I get to take care of all this. I love supporting all the people as well and just being able to get the best food possible, the best chicken everywhere,” said Sheridan Roberts, general manager of Frog and the Hen.
Roberts said they often have to stop making reservations a few weeks ahead of the holiday due to the amount they receive.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Dr. Russell Ray Moores, 91, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026, at home, surrounded by family in Augusta Georgia. Born on February 25, 1935, in Webster Grove, Missouri, to Floyd Russell Moores and Dorotha Campbell Moores, he lived a life marked by dedication to his family, education, and community.
Dr. Moores’ academic journey began at Arkansas State University and continued at the Medical College of Arkansas, where he graduated in 1958 at the age of 23. His post-graduate training took him to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York; Barnes Hospital in St Louis; and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he spent two years. Following his time at NIH and 2 years of active-duty service in the US Navy in Oakland, Ca., Dr. Moores joined the faculty at the Medical College of Georgia as a Hematologist/Oncologist. Over the course of an extraordinary 50-year career, he rose to the rank of Professor Emeritus before retiring at the age of 80. In addition to his academic contributions, he served as medical director for St. Joseph Hospice during the 1990’s and traveled extensively across the United States and abroad as a distinguished lecturer.
Dr. Moores was deeply committed to his Catholic faith throughout his life and was a founder of St Ignatius Antioch Melkite Catholic Church in Augusta. His passion for service extended beyond medicine and faith into numerous cultural and civic endeavors. He was the General Manager of the Augusta Opera during the 1970’s and played a pivotal role as a founder of the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. A dedicated historian and genealogist, he served as president of the Augusta Genealogical Society for many years and was actively involved in historic preservation efforts. Dr. Moores also contributed his expertise as a member of both the original Coliseum Authority and the Board of the Parapsychology Lab in Durham N.C.
An individual with diverse interests and talents, Dr. Moores loved running and completed numerous marathons and ultra-marathons over his lifetime. He was an accomplished harpsichord player who also enjoyed studying foreign languages and had a deep appreciation for fine wine.
Dr. Moores is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Helen Dorothy Byrnes Moores; their children: Russell Jr., along with his wife Missey; Darryl; Cheryl Priessman; Sean, along with his wife Danielle; Christian, along with his wife Mary Ann; Duane; and Doreen Worden, along with her husband Greg; as well as grandchildren Damian, Aaron, Colleen, Noah, Scott, Austin, Ian, Alysha, Trevor, Clayton, and Addy; and 5 great-grandchildren who brought him immense joy.
He was predeceased by his parents; his sister Marjorie Marilyn Anderson; but leaves behind countless cherished memories for those who knew him.
Special thanks are extended to Trinity Hospice and the Southern Touch Homecare for their outstanding care during Dr. Moores’ final months.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society in honor of his legacy.
May Dr. Russell Ray Moores’ memory bring comfort to all who were fortunate enough to know him. A man whose life was defined by love for others and an unwavering commitment to making a difference in every sphere he touched. He was “practically perfect in every way”.
A memorial service will be held Friday, May 15, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son with Fr. Mark Ross officiating.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 P.M., at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com
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