Augusta, GA

Augusta city leaders discuss downtown parking project changes

Published

6 months ago

June 28, 2025

Augusta city leaders discuss downtown parking project changes

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders discussed adding changes to the TIA Projects that spread across downtown on Thursday.

John Ussery of the Traffic Engineering Division presented a plan that would add a night shift for construction workers downtown. Right now, they only work a day shift.

Ussery said this could potentially shave a year off of the completion date, which is currently sometime in 2028, but would add $13 million to the project cost.

Commissioners did not decide on the change on Thursday, moving the item to July 8.

Director of Engineering Hameed Malik recommended moving forward with the plan.

The project is already causing headaches for business owners as traffic cones and equipment have piled up.

“If you go down to 13th Street, beyond 13th, down to St. Sebastian, all the way to 15th, how long has that been tore up,” said Marty Koger, owner of Tip Top Taps. “Is that the way it’s going to look up here too?”

“They don’t realize how much they are affecting people who live and walk down here, how much they’re affecting our lives, our income, our living,” said Michelle Tiedeman, Halo Salon and Spa Master cosmetologist.

Koger disagrees with moving parking to different streets.

“If you ask me what they should be doing is moving the traffic to Greene and to Reynolds. Use Greene to go east and Reynolds to go west. That will take a tremendous burden off the traffic here on Broad Street, and then you can make it a pedestrian-friendly culture, which is what we need,” said Koger.

Tiedeman thinks the city doesn’t realize how they are affecting people with the project.

“It seems small for them, but it’s big for us,” said Tiedeman.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

Published

7 hours ago

December 16, 2025

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Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Stars Special Olympics team hosted their annual Bowl with Soldiers Christmas party.

The goal was to bring together local athletes and military personnel from Fort Gordon for an evening of bowling at Bowlero.

The Augusta Stars is a Special Olympics team that offers bowling and basketball programs. The team is currently preparing for the Winter Special Olympics, which begin Jan. 30 in Marietta.

“I like the bowls because it’s fun and I like to get to play,” said Victoria Valootton, an Augusta Stars athlete.

The annual event allows soldiers to join the Special Olympics athletes for bowling and community connection.

“Personally, it’s important because Jeff Keating is one of our teammates and we want to support them,” said Sapriya McLendon, U.S. Army. “Secondly, just for the community in general, just coming out here and being part of the team that cares about us and supports us, and we’re here to serve you today.”

The Winter Special Olympics will be held in Marietta, Georgia, starting Jan. 30.

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Augusta, GA

Through pain, acid victim still smiling as she recovers in Augusta

Published

19 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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Through pain, acid victim still smiling as she recovers in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. – A Savannah woman faces a long road to recovery after a stranger attacked her with acid that ate through her clothes and covered 50% of her body with burns.

Ashley Wasielewski is trying to recover after receiving a first round of emergency surgery at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

The attack happened last Wednesday at Savannah’s iconic Forsyth Park when a man stepped out of the shadows and poured acid all over Wasielewski.

The recovery has been extremely difficult, according to her friend Kristen Oddi, of Marietta.

Most of the burns have been diagnosed as third-degree, covering over 50% of her body, Oddi wrote on a GoFundMe page.

She said it’s unlikely one burned area of Wasielewski’s scalp will ever grow hair again.

She added that the most crucial next step is to see if Ashley’s body will accept the cadaver skin from a recent surgery.

If that happens, skin graft surgeries will proceed, Oddi said.

Plastic surgery is ahead for her, but there’s no timetable yet.

Beyond that, Wasielewski faces rehabilitation, occupational therapy, wound management, long-term support and follow-up.

For now, she’s stable, according to Oddi.

Women suffers third-degree burns in Forsyth Park acid attack; Community concerned(WTOC)

And despite the hardship she’s been through and that lies ahead, she’s smiling in a photo from her hospital bed, with little other than her eyes and mouth visible through openings in gauze that covers her face.

“She will come back so much stronger,” Oddi said. “That, I don’t have a single doubt about.”

The investigation continues

Police are looking for the suspect and have spoken with two witnesses.

They’re hoping to speak with a third person whose photo they posted and to find the driver of a vehicle that was spotted nearby.

Meanwhile, the FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for tips.

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Augusta, GA

AU’s Healthy Grandparents program holds Christmas party

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

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AU’s Healthy Grandparents program holds Christmas party

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University’s Healthy Grandparents program had its Christmas party Sunday.

Santa is continuing his trip across the csra and was at the party to give presents to the kids.

The program was started in 1999 to support grandparents raising their children.

They help with necessary services like food assistance and transportation.

We spoke with one of the grandparents about the program.

“My grandchildren love it. They do a lot of things going on the year, like summer camp and all that stuff, book bag, getaways,” said Carolyn Thompson.

The program has helped more than 660 families, 900 grandparents, and 1,300 grandchildren.

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