Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission enters debate over future of dilapidated First Baptist Church downtown
The Augusta Commission’s discussion on the future of a downtown church Tuesday prompted questions about how the city’s Historic Preservation Commission executes its duties.
The old First Baptist Church at the corner of Eighth and Greene streets has been listed as endangered for several years by local and state historical preservationists eager to see the ornate 1902 structure saved.
The dispute over the property has sparked criticism implying that the HPC sometimes singles out owners publicly and not just the state of properties.
“The HPC has acted lawfully and appropriately per the Historic Preservation Ordinance for Augusta, Ga.,” board vice-chairman Dave Barbee told Augusta commissioners Tuesday. “The HPC is in the business of saving historic structures, not demolition by neglect.”
Augusta real-estate executive Joe Edge bought the First Baptist property in 2020 intending to renovate it, five years after the city condemned the dilapidated building.
In January, the HPC cited the property for several code violations and directed Edge to begin addressing the violations within 10 days. Edge responded by filing a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the old church, which stands on the site where the Southern Baptist Convention was established in 1845.
Edge has contended that he has paid for extensive repairs to the property, although city code enforcement officials seem to have no record of permits showing the work.
District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice and District 7 Commissioner Tina Slendak, who attended the January HPC meeting, said the commission dealt with Edge in an imperious manner.
An HPC counsel “drilled this particular owner of this church like he was in a courtroom,” Rice said, who added the line of questioning “felt like it was personal.”
District 6 Commissioner Tony Lewis also said he was at the meeting but takes issue “with the notion that (Edge) was bashed in any way. That’s not how I perceived it. I perceived it as looking for answers to a problem.”
“People have said we’re stepping out of bounds, we’re targeting,” Barbee said. “That’s the furthest thing from the truth. All we’re looking at is the building and that’s it.”
Augusta Planning and Development Director Carla Delaney suggested a more collaborative approach toward problem-solving between then HPC and property owners. Her department works with the HPC in a support role.
“A lot of times the complaint I get back as the director is that the individuals who don’t have the ability to hire an architect or pay for arbitration end up dropping and withdrawing,” she said. “So we need to look at a way to revisit this so we have the opportunity for those with less resources to be able to move forward and be able to meet the needs of the HPC.”
Augusta, GA – David Krivanek, 84, of Augusta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2025. Born in Mishawaka, Indiana, he was the son of the late Anthony and Vera R. Krivanek.
A devoted husband and loving father, David is survived by his wife, Judy, his son, Matthew, and daughter-in-law, Jenna Krivanek. Family was the center of his world, and his life was defined by his extraordinary kindness, steadfast determination, and deep devotion to those he loved.
David’s lifelong passion for aviation reflected his curiosity and sense of wonder. He loved airplanes and flying, and his enthusiasm for all things aviation never waned. Professionally, he dedicated more than 30 years to Eisenhower Army Medical Center, where he was instrumental in developing the hospital’s nuclear medicine department — work that made a lasting contribution to the Augusta community.
A man of strong faith, David was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Augusta, where he found fellowship and purpose.
A service will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Storey Chapel at First Baptist Church of Augusta, with Dr. Will Dyer and Dr. Roger Murchison officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Heart Failure Society of America, online at https://hfsa.org/foundation.
Memorial contributions may also be made to the Benevolence Mission at First Baptist Church of Augusta, 3500 Walton Way Ext., Augusta, Georgia 30909.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Mayor Garnett L. Johnson on Monday announced the partial reopening of the Augusta Canal towpath.
The announcement came in a news conference at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion.
The reopening is from the headgates to the Interstate 20 bridge.
The route has been closed since Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024, left it covered in debris and full of hazards.
The Augusta Utilities Department, in coordination with the Augusta Canal Authority, has made enough repairs to safely reopen a section of the towpath while additional restoration and safety improvements continue along other areas.
“The Canal towpath for about a mile and a half is reopened. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy it safely. There is still more work to be done, but certainly enjoy it safely with more work to be done,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to enjoy the reopened section while observing all posted safety measures:
- Towpath partially open: Access is limited to designated areas.
- Stay behind safety barriers: Do not cross or move restricted zones.
- Obey all signage: Posted notices are in place to ensure public safety and allow maintenance to continue efficiently.
Crews will continue to monitor the area to ensure safe conditions for public use.
Officials aim to get the rest of the route open by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office responded to the 600 block of Bennock Mill Road at 1:04 p.m. Sunday in reference to 3 deaths, which appears to be a double murder-suicide.
Upon arrival, three bodies were located inside the residence, officials say.
The sheriff’s office said initial investigations indicate the incident is a double murder and suicide among family members.
The Richmond County criminal investigations division and crime scene unit also responded to the residence.
Autopsies have been scheduled, and no further information is available at this time.
Officials say there is no danger to the public.
This would mark the CSRA’s fourth murder-suicide in 2025.
On April 8, officials said they found a married couple dead in their home on Springwood Drive; both had gunshot wounds.
On March 28, authorities say 71-year-old Keith Jones shot his girlfriend, 67-year-old Kathy Hydrick, and then turned the gun on himself at their home on Walnut Court.
On April 4, the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office announced that a deadly shooting at Valley Proteins Inc. was confirmed as a murder-suicide.
Deputies responded to the facility in Ward shortly before 6 p.m. Monday, where they discovered 44-year-old Willie Hopkins Jr. and 52-year-old Kimberly Leon dead.
The autopsy verified that Leon was shot multiple times by Hopkins before he turned the gun on himself.
While each story is different, and we don’t know the circumstances surrounding this most recent case, there are local groups working to teach others about the warning signs.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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