Augusta, GA
Augusta honors fallen service members during Memorial Day ceremony
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Community members, veterans, military families and local leaders gathered Monday at the All Wars Memorial in Olde Town Augusta to honor the men and women who died while serving the United States.
The Augusta CRSA “America 250” Memorial Day Ceremony featured patriotic music, prayers, a roll call honoring local veterans organizations and remarks from city and military leaders.
Major General Ryan Janovic with the U.S. Army at Fort Gordon says Memorial Day is a time to remember service members who never returned home.
“I myself have been deployed with a brigade who didn’t bring everybody home,” Janovic said. “I remember the faces, families and the ceremonies.”
Janovic says the day carries a deeper meaning for many veterans and military families.
“Memorial Day is an American time to get quiet and remember those who didn’t come home from serving overseas and defending our way of life,” Janovic said.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson also spoke about the connection between Memorial Day and the Augusta CSRA’s “America 250” observance, which marks the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
“We have been involved in every major conflict since this nation even became a country,” Johnson said. “From the Revoluntionary War to the Vietnam War to the Korean conflict, to World War I and II, Augusta has been the fabric of America.”
The ceremony also focused on teaching younger generations about the sacrifices made be service members.
Janovic says be believes younger people understand the importance of the day.
“I have an 18-year-old son, so that question hits home well,” Janovic said. “He knows this is a special day and his friends do as well.”
Timothy Tyler, volunteer with the Augusta Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, says he hopes people remember the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces.
“Here we have three great memorials to the different people from the CSRA who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Tyler said. “I just hope people remember all the sacrifices.”
Organizers say events like this help make sure the stories and sacrifices of fallen service members are never forgotten.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The South Augusta YMCA will not renew its lease at the Tobacco Road location, the Y confirmed.
The shopping center is being sold, and the current lease ends in October.
The Y has not announced a final day at the current location. Officials said they plan to announce that date and next steps for South Augusta later this month.
The YMCA said it still plans to serve South Augusta after the lease expires.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man who was previously wanted for questioning in an Augusta deadly shooting has now been charged with murder in the case, according to authorities.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says Kemfton Quewanaki Kenon, 27, was arrested on Friday in connection to the shooting death of Khyla Rodriguez, of Augusta.
Kenon is booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center and charged with murder and possession of a firearm during a crime, according to jail bookings.
Rodriguez, 25, was found dead after deputies received a call about a shooting on May 15 at 1:11 a.m. on Cameron Drive.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said Rodriguez was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m.
Kenon was previously wanted for questioning in the case and was located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He was interviewed and arrested on an unrelated warrant.
Deputies were also interviewed two other subjects in the case. They were not arrested in the case.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – People who live in South Augusta are raising concerns about the future of the Family Y on Tobacco Road.
Officials say the facility has been operating at a loss for years, and have had a low number of memberships. The location also has a new owner. The cost of the lease is too high and the facility is also in need of renovations, which are said to be costly.
“The reality is we couldn’t afford the current lease that we were in,” said Catie McCauley, president and CEO of Family Y of Greater Augusta. “Over the last 10 years we’ve been subsidizing this lot. So we got to look at a model that we can sustain for the next several generations not just the next couple years.”
The location is set to close in October, but officials say they are working with community members and contractors for a new building that they can move into and are committed to staying in South Augusta.
Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps
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