AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 74-year-old Augusta man has been missing for more than a week, and his family says they are desperate for answers.

Alex Paulos was last seen on Ring camera footage on Ansley Court on April 8. Richmond County deputies said he was driving a white Nissan Frontier pickup truck with a license plate reading RPV-4222. The last reported sighting of him was in his neighborhood.

Neighbors Shay and Rodger Byers have lived across the street from Paulos for years and say they spoke with him often.

“Alex is always a gift for gab,” Rodger Byers said. “When he came over, I realized that there was more to his visit than just paying us for lawn care. And so I started talking to him for about 3 hours.”

Byers said Paulos was struggling before his disappearance.

“Alex was pretty distraught about the condition of his home,” Byers said. “I was really concerned about Alex’s mental state. I offered multiple times, probably 20 times to get him help.”

Both neighbors and family say his mental state and lack of communication are fueling their concern. A neighbor and close friend called his daughter, and that call sparked the search. Before that, the family says Paulos had been struggling with his home situation and the recent loss of his brother.

“There’s just been a lot going on for him mentally and emotionally,” said Jennifer Lewis, Paulos’s daughter. “If you know him, you know that he is bubbly and fun and doesn’t meet a stranger.”

Lewis said the family is trying to remain hopeful.

“I’m an optimistic person, so I want to try to stay as optimistic as I can,” Lewis said. “I mean, but yeah, we’re worried. I mean, it’s just a long time.”

The family says since posting on Facebook, they have received an outpouring of support from the community, including people resharing the post, which has been especially helpful during this time.

Anyone who has seen Alex Paulos or his white Nissan Frontier is asked to call Richmond County deputies.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering resources to small business training programs across the state, including in Augusta.

Funds for the projects will be through bipartisan government funding legislation that became law on February 3.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy and our communities,” said Ossoff. “These projects will support their growth for years to come.”

In Augusta, the GABCC Foundation was awarded $500,000 to provide training, technical assistance, and programming to small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural East Georgia.

“Thank you to Senator Jon Ossoff for your continued support of business owners in rural East Georgia,” said Ronic West, Founder, GABCC Foundation. “This marks the second program you have supported for the CSRA region, and shows your commitment is creating real opportunities for our business community to grow and thrive.”

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Augusta Mayor’s right-hand has stepped down.

Chief of Staff, Jasmine Sims, submitted a resignation letter to Mayor Garnett Johnson Tuesday.

It’s dated April 2nd, 2026 and states:

Dear Mayor Johnson,
Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as Chief of Staff,
effective April 14, 2026. After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to move forward to pursue other professional opportunities. Serving this administration and the City of Augusta over the past three years has been both a privilege and an honor, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished together. I am committed to ensuring a smooth and orderly transition and will assist in any way possible prior to my departure. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Jasmine Chavous Sims

Advertisement

Last June, Mrs. Sims filed a grievance against Mayor Johnson in a letter to the City of Augusta Human Resources Department Office of Employee Relations.

The letter stated that Mrs. Sims was denied access to work after she allegedly did not share a personal appointment in the work group chat. She said she did inform other member’s of the staff in addition to adding it to the office calendar. At the time of the filing, Sims says nothing had been communicated to her.

No word yet on who will replace Mrs. Sims as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff.

Mrs. Sims said her good-bye’s during the Commission meeting Tuesday. In part, she states,
“It’s been an honor to be with you, ‘Mister G.’ We’re like sister and brother, and we fight and we argue, but we found common ground where it mattered. And I couldn’t be more proud of the things that we’ve accomplished – and am praying that everything that happens from this point will be ordained in your favor.”