Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission members meet to discuss several items
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/RBOW7DCAXJDWXKYL7MPBJZZU3I.png "Augusta Commission members meet to discuss several items")
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders approved a number of motions today through their bi-monthly commission meeting at 2 p.m.
One item approved on the agenda is for the infamous Olive Road Bridge: a new GPS for the bridge, following a number of accidents where large vehicles have been known to crash and wedge themselves in the underpass.
While suggestions for hanging something over the bridge were thrown in, John Ussery with Augusta Traffic and Engineering said the city would be liable for any damages the sign would bring to vehicles.
The rail company that controls the bridge, CSX, said, “The rail bridge is not the cause of the vehicle strikes. The issue here is with drivers, not the railroad. The road authority would be the appropriate entity to provide comments on potential solutions for motorists. We continue to urge vehicle operators to pay attention when driving, adhere to the posted bridge clearance signs, and make sure that their vehicle can safely clear before proceeding.”
Commissioner for District One, Jordan Johnson, also weighed in, “I think people should use common sense when going in or out of our bridge. If you’re local, you know if your vehicle is too large you’ll hit the bridge. That’s not news to anyone who lives here.”
Commissioners are also honoring the late former commissioner, Andy Cheek, by renaming city athletic ball fields after him.
His contributions span 35 years with the Savannah River National Laboratory, being an instrumental influence in the creation of Diamond Lakes Regional Park and serving on five Augusta Committees.
They are also moving forward on the process to rename the utilities building for Tom Wiedmeier, the late and former director of the utility department who died in 2020 due to COVID.
Commissioner Sean Frantom expressed his frustration over the process being delayed for years.
“It still doesn’t make sense. If this body had 6 votes to approve it over two years ago, an applicant can basically at any time remove their request even though this body voted to move forward?” asked Frantom.
There’s still a delay in setting up the terms for potentially bringing a piece of Augusta’s government to the new Junior Achievement Discovery Center in Columbia County.
In a previous commission meeting, the discovery center laid out a $10,000 annual commitment across five years, for a total of $50,000, to create and sustain an Augusta City Government booth inside the facility.
Interim Administrator, Takiyah Douse, proposed an MOU recommendation with these same terms, but leaders plan to visit an example site in Savannah this weekend before approving anything.
Mayor Garnett Johnson still expressed his excitement for what the center could bring “It provides teaching and learning that I think will benefit not only the school system, but benefit our kids,” he said.
Crews working on the JA Discovery Center have already broken ground on construction, and the facility is going to be utilized as an education facility for field trips, mainly by middle school-aged children.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re just under two months away from baseball season and this year will be a bittersweet one for North Augusta’s baseball and softball teams.
While many players would much rather play at a brand-new facility, Riverview Park has been home to the Yellowjackets for a long time now.
After this season, however, North Augusta will finally have a new place to call home.
But, they will have one more chance to close out a phenomenal season before transitioning to the new stadium next year.
You’ve seen the construction and you can see the vision.
In just a few more months, across the street from North Augusta High School will be two brand-new facilities.
The newest home of the Yellowjackets baseball and softball teams.
“It’s a chance to have something that is ours,” said Lynn. “Our own atmosphere at school. It’s going to be exciting.”
The over $8 million project was slated to be completed ahead of this year’s season, but after multiple delays like the impact of Hurricane Helene and just how big of a project it truly is, the facilities are still several months from being ready for play.
In the event construction concludes as originally planned, Head Coach Kevin Lynn says the team has no plans to move fields in the middle of their 2025 season.
“I don’t want to have summer ball starting there, I want our kids to start a regular season there,” said Lynn. I want them to open the season up and have a true home opener.”
The good news is, nothing about this year will feel different for the team.
The Yellowjackets have called Riverview Park home for over 40 years and they’ll get one more chance to send it out with a grand slam.”I grew up watching my brother play here and many people before him, so being able to play here one last time feels really good.”
“I’d like to go out on a high note and finish up strong here. Our goal is to win all of our games at home since we play here all the time and know the layout more than anybody else. It’d be nice to accomplish those goals in our last season.”
Lynn’s team will open up on the road against Strom Thurmond on Feb. 11.
The Yellowjackets are 40 and 40 under Lynn as head coach.
It’s hard to believe we’re almost to baseball season, before we know it we’ll be talking about the Masters.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.
The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.
Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.
“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.
The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.
Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.
Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.
Parents were told of the incident in a letter.
“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”
The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.
Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.
The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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