AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Board of Education is deeply saddened to announce the passing of board member Walter H. Eubanks.

Eubanks, who represented District 3, died Tuesday after a brief illness.

“Mr. Eubanks’ family and friends are in our thoughts during this difficult time,” the board said in a statement.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

His term was set to expire this year.

Shawnda Stovall, president of the Richmond County Board of Education, said:  

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Eubanks’ family, friends, constituents, and all who had the privilege of serving alongside him. For more than 20 years, he devoted his time, leadership, and voice to advocating for public education and helping create opportunities for generations of students, first as a teacher and later as a member of the Richmond County Board of Education. His commitment to our community and his passion for serving others will be remembered with gratitude and respect. 

“During this time of loss, we keep Mr. Eubanks’ loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. May they find comfort in the many lives he touched through his service and the lasting impact he made on behalf of Richmond County’s students and families.”

• The dispensary, operated by Fine Fettle, will open following the enactment of a new state law expanding Georgia’s medical cannabis program.
• The new state legislation allows for the sale of actual cannabis strains, an upgrade from the previously permitted low-THC oil.

A Vietnamese restaurant that closed in Columbia County more than three years ago will be the site of Georgia’s newest medical marijuana dispensary.

When Georgia’s Senate Bill 220 officially becomes law on July 1, it will expand requirements and qualifying conditions to participate in the state’s medical cannabis program. Co-sponsors of the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act” included state Sens. Lee Anderson, R-Grovetown, Harold Jones, D-Augusta, and Mark Newton, R-Augusta.

A company called Fine Fettle operates three cannabis stores in Georgia, eight in Connecticut, and two in Massachusetts.

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The Fine Fettle dispensary, slated for 4300 Towne Center Dr. in Evans, will occupy the former Pho Bac restaurant. The Asian eatery opened in 2011 but closed in 2023 when it merged with another restaurant, Pho Augusta, at 4045 Jimmie Dyess Parkway.

At the store’s June 26 grand opening, patients and their families can learn about new product categories, qualifying conditions, and how to obtain a medical cannabis card, according to the company.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta election leaders met Monday to discuss a lawsuit filed by a former mayoral candidate.

Dr. Lori Myles is suing the Augusta Commission, as well as state and local voting leaders.

Myles alleges those involved with the May 19th primary destroyed absentee ballots and eliminated from the overall vote count.

“So the Board of Elections received a lawsuit from Lori Myles contesting the election asking for a recount, said Travis Doss, the Board of Elections director. “The Board discussed in executive session and when they came out of executive session they voted to authorize the county attorney to file an answer to that lawsuit basically that answer will be asking a judge for a dismissal on that lawsuit and it will be filed tomorrow.”

WJBF NewsChannel 6 will keep you updated on the next steps of the lawsuit as that information becomes available.

Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie