Augusta, GA
Bedbugs send staff scurrying into action at Augusta school
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta school is dealing with a bedbug situation.
Parents of Monte Sano Elementary students were told of it in a letter dated Wednesday.
“A kindergarten student was exposed to bedbugs outside our school,” the Richmond County School System told parents.
No other grade levels are believed to be in danger of exposure.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” all students were examined for bedbug activity and the following steps were taken:
- All kindergarten classes were removed from their normal classrooms for the school day and instruction took place at another location in the school.
- All classroom items were examined for bedbug activity.
- To ensure that no bedbugs enter family homes, kindergarten student belongings will remain on campus overnight to be treated.
- Parents and guardians of all kindergarten students received additional resources and information.

Regular classroom activity for all students will resume on Thursday.
“We understand that this event disrupted your children’s school day,” parents were told. “We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure that our classrooms are safe environments for learning.”
All about bedbugs
- Bedbugs are small, flat insects that bite people and animals at night while they sleep, feeding on their blood.
- Bedbugs are reddish-brown, are wingless and range from 1mm to roughly the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny. They can live for months without a blood meal.
- Bedbugs are not known to spread diseases to people, but they cause irritation, itching and loss of sleep.
- You can find bedbugs anywhere, from North and South America, to Africa, Asia and Europe. Bedbugs are in five-star hotels and resorts. How clean a place is does not determine whether they are present.
- Bedbug bites affect each person differently. You may have no signs or you may see small bites or suffer serious allergic reactions, although these are rare.
- When bedbugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant that prevent a person from feeling the bite when it happens. Most people do not notice the bite marks until they appear from one to several days after the initial bite.
- Bites look similar to mosquito or flea bites — a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating. The bite marks may be random or appear in a straight line.
- Signs of an infestation include exoskeletons (shed after molting), bugs in the fold of mattresses and sheets, rusty-colored blood spots on mattresses or nearby furniture, and a sweet musty odor.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
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.
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.
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.
Augusta, GA
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.
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.
Augusta, GA
10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival draws crowds despite heat
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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