Augusta, GA

Augusta National Women’s Amateur golfer plays for a bigger purpose

Published

12 months ago

April 4, 2025

Press Room

Augusta National Women’s Amateur golfer plays for a bigger purpose

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The bags at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur have their own personality.

But one stands out when it’s made to blend in.

Rachel Heck is playing in her fourth tournament. However, it’s her first spotting the colors she’s worked toward for the last four years.

“I did ROTC all throughout college, started ROTC my freshman year, and then commissioned as a second lieutenant last June,” said Heck. “I’ve been in the reserves since then.”

She may be one of eight golfers from Stanford playing, but her team outside of her 9 to 5 is the stars and stripes.

“Golf is so individual, and I really wanted something that was a total opposite,” said Heck. “I wanted to be a small part of something so much bigger.”

It’s the first event she’s been able to play as an officer.

“I had a lot of military folks, you know, yelling, ‘go Air Force, go Army, go whatever,’” said Heck. “There was actually a girl who’s an ROTC cadet at Alabama, I met her today, she drove to watch me play, and it’s just so cool to have that support.”

On the course or off it, it’ll always be a game of perspective.

“It’s just, you know, when things are tough out there, when I get frustrated, I remember what I’m a part of,” said Heck.

This is Heck’s final Augusta National Women’s Amateur Tournament.

Both sit at 9-under-par with scores of 135 entering Saturday’s final round of the championship.

It’s hard not to think of them as anything but competitive golfers, but when you hear some of their stories, it makes you appreciate everything it took for them to get to this moment.

Winning the tournament is at the top of the list for everyone in this field, but at the end of the day, this has got to be one of the biggest highlights of each of their young careers.

It’s only going to get better from here.

The third and final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur will take place Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Fire to showcase progress on new Fire Station #3 construction

Published

18 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Fire to showcase progress on new Fire Station #3 construction

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta Fire is showcasing progress on its new Fire Station #3 construction site Monday with a public tour of the facility.

The tour is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon at the construction site at 2075 Powell Road.

The approximately 12,500-square-foot facility will feature three apparatus bays, modern living quarters, administrative space and support areas designed to enhance firefighter readiness and emergency response.

“The progress we’ve made on this fire station reflects our commitment to public safety and community resilience,” said Fire Chief Antonio Burden. “We’re proud of what this station represents for our community: enhanced protection, improved readiness and continued investment in the future.”

Johnson Laschober Associates designed the station. Spratlin Construction is building it in coordination with the Augusta government and the Augusta Fire Department leadership.

Representatives from Spratlin Construction will also be on-site to provide project updates.

The only entrance to the site is on Powell Road. Parking is not permitted on the construction site. Visitors should park along Powell Road and follow all posted safety guidance.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

12 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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