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Augusta, GA

Back-to-school drives make the difference for Augusta families

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Back-to-school drives make the difference for Augusta families


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s a little over a week from kids going back to school in Richmond and Columbia County.

With the new school year approaching, backpacks and school supplies are in high demand for many families.

RISE Augusta and Smile for Shay Foundation partnered up for the annual Back to School at The Hub & Books for Shay Event at The Hub for Community Innovation on Saturday.

It’s one of several community efforts to help gear up kids for school while also providing resources like literacy booths, after-school resources and free health screenings.

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Parents like Melissa King said these efforts all make a difference for her kids and many others.

”When we were younger, we didn’t have back to school bashes all the time, there wasn’t enough in the community for those kinds of things for children to come to things like this and get the supplies they needed, or to even help them in general,” said King.

FILE - Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods speaks to reporters, Jan. 5, 2024, in...

King said she relies on community back to school events to make sure she has enough supplies to support her kids through the school year.

”Sometimes supplies can be over 150 bucks, just depending on the location that you go to, and the supplies requested by the teachers in the schools throughout the year,” said King.

Event organizers and volunteers said well over 1,000 people came out on Saturday to enjoy the resources brought. They said the event really showcases the real want and need for community support in Augusta.

“The rising cost of what parents and families have to purchase for school just continues to go up. Anything we can do to help them get them started. We are also committed to making sure we provide supplies throughout the year because we know they run out,” said Betsy VanDeusen, AU Literacy Center.

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New to Back to School at The Hub is the addition of the Books for Shay Event.

It’s one of several efforts from the Smile for Shay organization. The non-profit organization was created by the family of Shaylin Foster. She was a student at Grovetown High School when she was killed in a car accident in 2018.

One of her main passions was reading books. In honor of Shaylin, the Foster family gives back through donated books every year. Donated books from Smile for Shay were given out throughout the event for families to pick up.

The event started at 10:00 a.m. and finished at 1:00 p.m.



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Augusta, GA

2nd annual Juneteenth trail ride draws crowds in Augusta

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2nd annual Juneteenth trail ride draws crowds in Augusta


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The second annual Juneteenth trail ride took place on Old Waynesboro Road in Augusta on Saturday.

The event featured trail rides with horses and ATVs, a mechanical bull contest and music.

People shopped at vendors, and there was entertainment for kids, including a petting zoo, inflatables and games.

“It’s really a privilege just to be able to have the opportunity to share my space, to share my area, and to share for an event with so much value, to give back to my community and a place to celebrate,” said Davon Wallace, chief of operations at Crimson Hills.

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Wallace said they will be hosting more events, with a haunted trail coming in October.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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Augusta, GA

Multiple teens arrested in deadly shooting on Warren Road

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Multiple teens arrested in deadly shooting on Warren Road


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has made multiple arrests in a deadly shooting that left one teenager dead and another injured early Saturday morning.

According to deputies, the incident happened June 20, at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Warren Road, where authorities responded to reports of shots fired involving two gunshot victims.

When deputies arrived, they located two 18-year-old men from Augusta.

Officials identified the victims as Eric Markquis Bartley Miller and Joseph Lamar Thomas.

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Investigators say Miller sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thomas was also found with at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.

As of Saturday afternoon, three teenage suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

18-year-old Dmihjay Collins, 17-year-old Tayshaun Thomas, and 17-year-old Joseph Thomas have all been arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Machine Guns. They are all currently being held at the Webster Detention Center.

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A fourth teenager, 17-year-old Reante Byrd was also arrested, but investigators have not linked him to the murder case. Byrd has been charged with Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under the Age of 18. He is also being held in the Webster Detention Center.

No further details in the investigation have been released.



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Augusta, GA

Augusta Regional Airport hosts drone camp for students

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Augusta Regional Airport hosts drone camp for students


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.

12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.

Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.

“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.

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The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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