AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County has hired an emergency management director.

Kymber Keaton was hired after a competitive multi-round interview process involving several applicants and input from key public safety stakeholders.

It’s been a goal for quite some time to hire a full-time Emergency Management Agency director.

In recent years, Antonio Burden has been acting in that role in addition to serving as fire chief.

Augusta hasn’t had a full-time director for more than 20 years.

Keaton, originally from Scottsdale, Ariz., brings nearly a decade of high-level experience in emergency management, disaster response, public safety and homeland security spanning local, state, federal, tribal and international operations.

Her career includes service with the Air Force, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the White House Operations Center.

She has played key roles in operations, planning, training, mitigation, and recovery for some of the nation’s most complex emergencies, including COVID-19, wildfires, earthquakes, severe storms, flooding and civil disturbances.

Keaton has contributed to three presidential administrations, collaborating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Secret Service and the National Park Service. She has also been involved in both national and international disaster relief efforts with Team Rubicon and Volunteer Nepal, supporting efforts to strengthen emergency readiness and improve coordination across partner agencies.

Keaton holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Emergency Management and has completed advanced emergency response and disaster risk training.

“I am excited to begin my service with Augusta-Richmond County,” she said. “This community made a lasting impression on me during Hurricane Helene, and the resilience I witnessed here stayed with me. When the opportunity to join Augusta arose, it felt like the right place to contribute and lead. My focus now is to enhance preparedness and ensure every resident feels informed, supported, and ready for any emergency.”

Keaton will oversee emergency preparedness, disaster response, outreach and training, working with local, state and federal partners.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Imperial Theatre and Miller Theatre will dim their lights at 9:45 p.m. tonight in honor of Scott Seidl.

The artistic director of the Augusta Players died Sunday. The marquees will go dark for one minute, a tradition when the theatre community loses someone important.

A leader who brought the Players home

Seidl was known as a leader who worked alongside his performers. After the Players had been homeless for 80 years, he finally put a roof over his theatre family’s head.

“Scott brought us home. It’s because of him that we’re in this space,” said Amy Patton, Augusta Players Board of Director Chair.

In May, the Players cut the ribbon on the group’s first-ever building. In an interview after the celebration, Seidl said the building wasn’t his.

“There are four or five of us who are on the staff, and we manage this space, but it’s not our space. And it’s everybody else’s — it’s your home. It belongs to you and anyone else who wants to be part of the Augusta Players family,” Seidl said.

Supporting the arts community

Seidl was a strong advocate for all arts organizations in downtown Augusta, not just the Augusta Players.

“Was such a strong force and a strong advocate for the arts, especially in downtown Augusta. Doesn’t matter if Le Chat Noir was doing something. Doesn’t matter if the Augusta Symphony was doing something. We were all going to try our hardest to be there. But he would be there,” said Ansleigh Davis, Development Director.

Ryan Abel, a performer, said Seidl was dedicated to the organization.

“He was the first to show — the last to leave — he was a true servant of this organization. And through his service, he led,” Abel said.

Christina DeCarlo, Associate Artistic Director, said the goal is to continue his legacy.

“Our goal is to continue his legacy because we know that’s what he would want us to do,” DeCarlo said.

The Augusta Players’ next show is “The Grinch That Stole Christmas.”

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A food giveaway was held at the Julian Smith Casino on Monday.

Several local churches came together for the event on Nov. 24, just days before the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We do this because we’re servants the churches of Christ. We want to serve the community,” said Johnny Kinsey of Churches of Christ. “We’ve been doing this for almost 19 years now and with that, we’re just grateful for the people who come out. You know there are a lot of folks and we take Thanksgiving for granted. There’s a lot of folks come out that don’t know where their next meal is coming from, so we invite them in to sit down and have a good meal and if they want some food to-go, we give them two plates to-go.”

Organizers say they hope to continue the giveaway for years to come.

Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps