Augusta, GA

Black-owned businesses in downtown Augusta see traffic increase on Juneteenth

Published

9 months ago

June 20, 2025

Black-owned businesses in downtown Augusta see traffic increase on Juneteenth

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Juneteenth can increase the foot traffic for Black-owned businesses as many celebrate the holiday by supporting them.

At the beginning of June, Visit Augusta began the Bold Black Owned Business Pass.

The pass aims to connect residents to businesses so they can share culture through food, drinks and other experiences.

The pass acts as a free digital transport to connect people to these businesses and experiences.

There are many Black-owned businesses in downtown Augusta, and they appreciate the support, but Shirley Darby wants to focus on the true meaning behind the holiday.

“Juneteenth is a reminder of the fact that we have survived. We survived slavery, our ancestors survived slavery, and it’s a reminder that we should not forget,” said Darby, retired educator. “I remember my mother and the struggles that she went through, and my father and the life we lived back in the days, and it was a difficult time for us.”

With the hardships many past Black generations have endured, they created opportunities for the new ones.

“Freedom represents watching my dad be an entrepreneur and a business owner, it’s definitely been inspiring for me,” said Taryn Hooks, Cafe on Eighth, owner’s daughter.

For Rhonda Coleman, she wants to keep the momentum of supporting Black communities going.

“When we support Black businesses, we are supporting the community and we are supporting families, and we should do that,” said Coleman, owner, Coleman’s Lunchbox.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

8 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

20 hours 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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