Augusta, GA

Central EMS gives city of Augusta a 2023 recap

Published

2 years ago

January 3, 2024

Central EMS gives city of Augusta a 2023 recap

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s been nine months since Central EMS took over emergency services in Augusta.

Since then, we have reported a few issues including slow service with high call volumes and issues tracking response times because of the cyber attack last May.

On the first commission meeting of 2024, the ambulance service gave commissioners their update.

Central EMS took over unexpectedly in April when Gold Cross pulled out early. It’s come with a few scrapes along the way, but Central EMS wants people to know they have more than enough resources.

“I think when we came to town, we stated what we would do, I think we’ve done what we stated,” said President Gary Coker.

More than 20 ambulances are at the ready, almost 200 personnel are on staff, a new headquarters is operating on Wrightsboro Road and new health programs are coming soon for Augustans.

Without pay, they also provided standby ambulance service to more than 40 local high school football games this season.

Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight said: “For helping out during the football season, making sure there were ambulances there at games. Hats off to you on that, thank y’all.”

It’s growth but not without its bruises.

Central EMS openly admitted to having a number of lawsuits against them since starting.

Ambulance response times are available only starting back this past September, saying it follows their contracted guidelines for when penalties would start, but also saying they took a hit when the cyber attack that happened last May.

911 Emergency Services Director Daniel Dunlap said: “We’re continuing to work with Central and the Fire Department on some of these response plans in order to use these resources effectively.”

Back in November, we found through an open records request a few internal investigations, including struggles with tracking and keeping down response times, and issues with a spinal cord procedure.

“I think you have a much better ambulance service here than you had last year at this time,” said Coker.

They’re out of the fog for now, but still in their first year of service.

Central EMS noted that while ambulance and medical bills seem high, the actual paid cost shouldn’t exceed past $1,500 to compensate for a lack of insurance.

News 12 did ask Coker about our previous coverage, but he gave no comment.

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Augusta, GA

One dead following a shooting in Richmond County

Published

4 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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One dead following a shooting in Richmond County

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said a person has died after a shooting on Division Street Saturday afternoon.

Officials say the shooting happened at the 2100 block around 4 p.m.

The victim was shot at least one time and taken to Wellstar MCG, where he later died, the coroner’s office says.

The sheriff’s office also went to Division Street at approximately 4 p.m. in reference to the incident, deputies say.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

No further information is available at this time.

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Augusta, GA

Sandusky Ohio News | Sandusky Register

Published

16 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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<br /> Sandusky Ohio News | Sandusky Register <br />

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Augusta, GA

Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with $1.85M federal grant

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

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Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with .85M federal grant

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The historic Turpin neighborhood will soon welcome more affordable homes after Augusta Habitat for Humanity was awarded $1.85 million in federal funding this week.

The grant will fund the construction of at least 12 homes in the area.

“Habitat for Humanity applied for federal funding, and they were awarded the funding,” said District 2 Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

Reviving a historic community

The Turpin neighborhood was once home to professionals, including educators, doctors, and lawyers.

“These big professionals that lived mostly over this way,” one resident said of the neighborhood’s history.

Pulliam described the area’s former prominence as “its grand days of glory, when it was the place.”

The project brings together city organizers and community partners through the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, or GICH.

“We have so many partners. We have the Housing Authority on board. We have a representative from the Hub on board,” Pulliam said. “There’s so many great partners at the table that’s helping pull all of this together.”

Federal support and future plans

The project received backing from Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

Habitat for Humanity, with support from GICH, focused its application on Turpin Hill intentionally, as officials say the community had been needing to be addressed for years.

With Habitat for Humanity continuing to advocate for more funds, Pulliam said their motivation could lead to additional housing development in the future.

“We keep going and going and going,” she said. “Now we can do 20. Now we can do multifamily. So it’s fueling our fire to get more housing, but not just housing, to clean up the area.”

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