Augusta, GA
At Augusta event, vets get help filing PACT Act claims
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Department of Veterans Affairs Augusta Health Care System joined with the Warrior Alliance and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service on Friday.
They were at the Augusta Tech campus to offer screenings and help veterans file their PACT Act claims.
Those claims involve benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other toxic substances.
“I do what I do because I love helping fellow veterans. I was in the military myself for 25 years. What we’re seeing today is a lot of folks that may have never started the claim process, they have been out since the Vietnam era or even, more recently, post 9/11 That do need to get that process started,” said Patricia Ross, commissioner for the Georgia Department of Veterans Service.
Supervisor Yolanda Gibson said: “It’s very important to get those benefits out to veterans. We have a lot of veterans. Georgia is a big state, so we have veterans who have never filed for benefits before. Sometimes it’s from a lack of information. They may not know what benefits are available to them. We’re here to spread the word that the Department of Veterans Affairs is available to assist them in any questions they have.”
For years, our I-TEAM has been following the story of Agent Orange being tested at Fort Eisenhower and its impact there.
On information to file a claim, click here.
FROM OUR I-TEAM:
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Family pleads for help finding missing 51-year-old in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a missing 51-year-old man.
Jean Joseph Plaisir, also known as Jadan Pleakir and “Polo,” was last seen Saturday in the 3500 block of Windermere Drive wearing gray sweatpants, a gray sweatshirt and red sneakers.
Authorities released a photo of him and said he’s 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.
His family also issued an urgent plea, writing on a missing poster, “Please come home, the kids miss you” and “Please don’t hurt him.” They also wrote: “We love you.”
They believe he disappeared after his car broke down.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706- 821-1020 or 706-821-1080
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
New family-affordable community hosts grand opening in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new family-affordable community is coming to Augusta and opens on Wednesday.
Organizers say the grand opening of Walton Green community will begin around 11 a.m.
The community is built near the Legacy at Walton Green on 15th Street.
The community features:
- Spacious apartments
- An Adventure Center – A complimentary after-school enrichment program.
- It has tutoring, field trips, and counseling services for the kids.
- Learn more here: Adventure Centers — Mission 1:27 (mission127.ngo)
- A playground
- On-site management & maintenance
- A book of the month program and resident services.
They’re looking forward to serving people with excellence.
To learn more, head over to the website.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Bringing awareness to Augusta Richmond county’s number one killer
AUGUSTA, Ga. –
It’s the number one killer of 31 to 51-year old’s in Augusta-Richmond county.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health—fentanyl related deaths are on the rise.
For National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Serenity Behavioral Health Systems took time out to educate the public.
Fox 54 got the chance to hear firsthand just how dangerous and deadly this drug can be.
Timothy Stephens says he used to abuse almost every drug on the market.
“I already had my second failed marriage, I was pretty much homeless. In my head I was like hey you lost everybody, this doctor obviously cares about you so why mess that up, just go ahead and go to a recovery meeting,” said Stephens
Now Stephens, whose been drug free for over a decade, is the founder of the non-profit, Augusta Recovery Alliance.
The goal—to help people facing the challenges he once encountered.
Stephens says, “I had a beer saved for me that evening and I was like its October 18th 2012, I just threw it in the trash and said I’m going to try my very best and I haven’t had a drink or a drug since. The only way I know how to keep it is by pouring into others and showing them the way out.”
Fentanyl use is on the rise, being found in almost all counterfeit drugs.
“Right now, the findings are suggesting it could potentially be in every illegal drug that is found in the county right now. We can only speculate that maybe because it is cheaper to produce and people are mass producing counterfeit pills,” said opioid public health analyst, Beverly Brown.
Chuck Williamson with Serenity Behavioral Health says the most important thing right now is to educate.
“The street drugs the synthetic stuff, its killing people and we just need to make people aware,” said Williamson. “It’s a big-time issue, we’ve got to take it very seriously and address it. Education, education that’s the main thing.”
That’s why serenity hosted a Fentanyl Awareness Day teaching the community about the dangers surrounding this drug and how to help combat this issue.
One of the main things that can help is having Narcan on hand at all times and knowing how to use it.
You can find free Narcan at the Georgia Department of Public Health in Augusta while supplies are available.
Lifesaving information in the fight against an ever-growing problem.
“At Augusta Recovery Alliance our catch phrase is the best is yet to come, and with the buzz going on for recovery, the best is yet to come,” said Stephens.
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