Augusta, GA
Augusta offers warming shelters as temps drop below freezing
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta is offering day and night warming shelters to provide residents with a safe and warm environment as temperatures will get below freezing on Friday.
With temperatures expected to drop into the low 20s on Friday, the city is stepping up to help those stay warm.
Friday morning will be below freezing in the upper 20s and low 30s. The highs will be in the upper 50s wind will be out of the northeast between 5-10 mph.
Augusta will have daytime centers, however, free bus service is not provided to those sites. The locations include:
- Carrie J. Mays Center: 1014 11th Ave., Augusta, 706-821-2827, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Bernie Ward Center: 1941 Lumpkin Road, Augusta, 706-790-0588, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Blythe Center: 3129 Highway 88, Blythe, 706-592-4988, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Henry H. Brigham Center: 2463 Golden Camp Road, 706-771-2654, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- May Park: 622 Fourth St., 706-724-0504, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- McBean Center: 1155 Hephzibah-McBean Road, 706-560-2628, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sand Hills Center: 2540 Wheeler Road, 706-842-1912, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- W.T. Johnson Center: 1606 Hunter St., 706-821-2866, 9 a.m. to noon
- Warren Road Center: 300 Warren Road, 706-860-2833, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Diamond Lakes Regional Park, 4335 Windsor Spring Road, 706-826-1370, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The city will offer free bus rides to overnight warming centers.
Augusta Transit pick-up locations:
- Broad Street Transfer Facility, 1546 Broad St.
- May Park Community Center, 622 Fourth St.
Drop-off locations:
- Augusta Rescue Mission, 526 Walker St. (Route 3 Gold Line/East Augusta)
- Garden City Rescue Mission, 828 Fenwick St. (Route 6 Brown Line/Gordon Highway)
- Salvation Army Center of Hope, 1384 Greene St. (Route 3 Gold Line/East Augusta)
The bus service will run continuously until 8 p.m. People unable to get to the pickup locations and in need of a ride should call 706-821-1719 before 8 p.m.
The city has not opened additional night shelters unless the partner shelters reach full capacity. If this occurs, the partners will notify officials before taking further action.
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Those without a place to call home are needing somewhere to stay warm.
“No one wakes up and says ‘I’m going to be homeless today,’” said Janelys Villalta, Salvation Army marketing and public relations manager.
“We care about them,” said Patrick Feitsel, Garden City Rescue Mission executive director. “We want to see their lives change around or where they don’t have to do this anymore.”
Feitsel says it really is a matter of life or death.
During times like these, they also open their doors during the day.
“Getting enough money for rent, for an apartment is not as easy as it used to be,” said Feitsel. “So people are finding themselves on the streets, where they would have never two years ago thought they might have been in this situation and the storm has displaced people on top of it”
To stay at one of these shelters you have to have clearance and ID.
People in need of a background check to stay at an overnight shelter can go to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office before 5 p.m. to get documentation from the records bureau. If it’s after 5 or if they’re unable to go to the records bureau, they can call 706-821-1080 and a deputy will come to them.
During this time of year, these shelters encourage you to donate items like winter clothing and blankets to help keep people warm.
Next week, the temperatures will rise again to the mid-60s.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Florida, Georgia wildfires prompt evacuations, travel chaos
Fast-moving Florida, Georgia wildfires prompt evacuations, travel chaos
Scripps News
Firefighters are battling wildfires in two southeastern states, prompting officials in one to issue its first ever burn ban, authorities said on April 22.
The blazes, created by “extreme drought,” are burning across parts of southern Georgia and northeast Florida, forcing road closures and destroying homes and buildings in their path, officials said.
In Georgia, the state’s Forestry Commission reported more than half of the state’s 159 counties had burn bans in effect. At the same time, burn bans were in effect for more than 40 counties in the Sunshine State, according to the Florida Forest Service.
“My office and I are working closely with the Georgia Forestry Commission to respond to the increasing threat of wildfires in South Georgia,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp wrote on X April 21. “If you are in a directly affected area, please adhere to guidance from your local officials to keep you and your family safe.”
The burn ban order prohibits the outside burning of trash and yard debris and agriculture material in the affected area. Campfires, fireworks and burn barrels are also not permitted.
The commission reported it marked the first time in the agency’s history that a mandatory ban on outdoor burning has been issued.
Slated to remain in effect for at least 30 days, the Georgia Forestry Commission said the ban includes regions below Atlanta and covers Harris County to Columbia County, south to the Florida line.
As of April 22, there were about a half dozen wildfires burning in the Peach State, USA TODAY data showed.
The Pineland Road fire, discovered on April 18 in Clinch County, about 13 miles northwest of Fargo, also continues to burn. As of the early afternoon of April 22, the fire had spread to nearly 9,000 acres and was 10% contained.
Where are wildfires burning in Georgia? See map.
The Georgia Forestry Commission reported 98% of Georgia’s total land area is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought conditions, and the number of wildfires statewide has now risen above Georgia’s five-year average.
The chance of rain is unlikely for most of the affected area in the coming days, the Georgia Forestry Commission said.
“The extreme drought conditions across Georgia are putting agriculture and forestry at significant risk, and I want to strongly encourage all Georgians to do the right thing and adhere to the Georgia Forestry Commission’s burn ban while these conditions persist,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper said in a news release.
Where are wildfires burning in Florida? See map.
At the same time, there were 135 wildfires burning almost 21,000 acres in Florida, the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
Roads in Franklin and Levy counties remained closed there due to smoke, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The law enforcement agency was urging motorists to use caution.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Two Augusta-area Walmarts are among 13 Georgia locations that the retail giant plans to remodel and modernize in 2026.
In the past five years, the company said it has spent $961.5 million to upgrade its stores statewide.
Now, the company plans to change store layouts and services in its Augusta and Grovetown locations to make shopping faster and more convenient.
The locations are the Augusta Walmart Supercenter at 3338 Wrightsboro Road, near Augusta Mall, and the Grovetown Walmart Neighborhood Market at 5303-A Wrightsboro Road, where Wrightsboro and Harlem-Grovetown roads meet.
The Augusta location has been undergoing renovations since last fall.
The stores, when completely renovated, will include updated pharmacies offering vaccines, free delivery and clinical services such as basic health screenings and same-day testing for strep, the flu and COVID-19. Vision Centers also will be redesigned for improved privacy.
Also, computer apps will help customers better navigate stores, scan products’ prices and find exclusive app-only shopping deals.
Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Sunday, April 19, 2026. Mr. James Byron Duncan, 80, was the loving husband of Estelle Mulherin Duncan as well as devoted father, doting grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.
Byron was born and raised in Augusta, GA, the son of W.B. and Kathleen Duncan. After graduating from Butler High School in 1965, Byron’s kind heart called him into Social Work. He earned his Bachelor of Sociology from Augusta College in 1969. After 34 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia, Byron retired in 2003 as Director of Jefferson County Family and Children Services. He devoted his life wholeheartedly to both service to others and dedication to his family, working in the tough field of social work while remaining a fiercely loving, spirited and unwaveringly passionate man.
His deepest commitments were to his wife, children, granddaughters, siblings, church, the Knights of Columbus and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Byron was deeply rooted in his faith and community. He was an active member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, where he had served as an usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and finance committee member. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Walsh Council 677 and Assembly 174, the Irish American Heritage Society and the Rotary Club of Louisville, GA. A true Georgia Bulldog at heart, Byron never missed an opportunity to cheer for his Dawgs, whether they were playing football, basketball, baseball or any other sport. He loved the simple joys of life – days at the beach, Jimmy Buffett, beach music and shagging, and a house full of family and friends. For many years, Byron delighted young and old alike by donning the red suit and playing Santa Claus at various events as well as visiting the classrooms at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School as St. Nicholas.
Byron possessed the gift of gab! He never met a stranger and could often be observed enthusiastically carrying on a deep conversation with old friends or a stranger he just met on the street. No conversation with him was brief!
Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Estelle Mulherin Duncan; his children Sean M. Duncan (Jennifer), Matthew M. Duncan and Megan E. Duncan; his bonus daughter, Allison Crow (Joe), and his treasured grandchildren Riley, Emma and Harper Duncan, who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his brother Keith Duncan; sisters Sheryl Werrick and Marcia Golden; brothers-in-law Dr. Joe Mulherin, Robert Gibson and Tom King; sister-in-law Janet M. Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Ross as celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. A Rosary service will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M., followed by visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aquinas High School, 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 or St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 for the Our Faith Our Future Capital Campaign.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at thomaspoteet.com
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