Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission approves more than $1.1 million in new street lighting purchases
There was at least one bright spot in Tuesday’s Augusta Commission meeting.
Multiple purchases were unanimously approved which will bring new lights to different streets in the area. Here is what’s coming:
New lighting on Grand Boulevard between 15th and Turpin streets, which is about half-a-mile long and is near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. According to the agenda, it was discovered during routine maintenance that this street lighting system is no longer safe to operate, is beyond its serviceable life and can no longer be repaired. The entire system will need to be replaced along Grand.
New solar lighting with poles on Windsor Spring Road between Meadowbrook Drive and Crosscreek Road, which is about a mile long and is in the Hephzibah area. Addressing this was a direction by the commission given to Augusta Engineering on Sept. 5.
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New solar lighting on Wrightsboro Road between North Leg Road and Highland Avenue, which is about 2 miles long running along Augusta University’s Forest Hills campus and Daniel Field Airport. This is part of a major rebuild of this section of Wrightsboro.
New lighting on Jimmie Dyess Parkway between Wrightsboro and 2,500 feet south of the Richmond County line, which is in the Belair area. Funding for this was approved in January.
All of these purchases come out to about $1.18 million combined. The funds will come from a combination of Augusta’s street lighting operations fund, the American Rescue Plan, and SPLOST 6.
Augusta, GA
Augusta Regional Airport hosts drone camp for students
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival draws crowds despite heat
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta Dream Center sees surge in families needing food as summer begins
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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