AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University is partnering with Open Arms Outreach to place lifesaving materials throughout downtown Augusta using a $66,000 grant from State opioid settlement money.

Nicoll Gentry knows the importance of a second chance at life. The co-founder of Open Arms Outreach has been sober for three years after someone used Narcan to save her life during an overdose.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Narcan,” Gentry said.

She co-founded Open Arms Outreach to help people struggling with addiction. The organization provides resources without judgment for those battling drug addiction.

“My life today is something I could have never even prayed for. I wouldn’t have known to pray for it,” Gentry said. “We are allowing them the open door to know, hey, there’s a resource out there that I can reach out to that didn’t judge me, that helped me stay alive.”

Two state grants totaling $66,000 will allow Augusta University to place lifesaving materials in 40 downtown businesses, 10 vape shops and 25 buildings across all five of its campuses.

They have 20 on the Summerville campus already.

The goal is to have help at every street corner, with Narcan and test strips in bars and restaurants downtown, so no one is ever more than a few doors away from lifesaving help.

Dr. Aaron Johnson, director of the Institute of Public and Preventive Health at Augusta University, said the Augusta area had a real need for something that would save a life immediately.

“Public health by definition is community facing, and so we want to have a presence and a partnership with people throughout the community,” Johnson said.

The Richmond County Coroner’s Office reported 76 drug deaths in 2025, with 37 related to opioids. The county is among the highest in the state for drug-related deaths.

“It normalizes the fact that it’s okay to help somebody overdosing. It’s okay to help save somebody’s life,” she said. “I get to be a mother today to my almost 21-year-old daughter. She can count on me to do things. I wasn’t the best of the community, but I give back every day to make up for that.”

Dr. Johnson said they had their first meeting to discuss next steps and reaching out to businesses to start placing the boxes downtown.

Open Arms Outreach will refill the boxes once they’re installed and continue training people across Augusta to help save lives when there’s an opportunity in front of them.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – United Way of the CSRA and Piedmont Augusta hosted a public community resource fair on Wednesday.

The event was in honor of 211 Day — the annual day to raise awareness for the 211 helpline.

PHOTO GALLERY: COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR

In the CSRA, the service connects thousands of families to utility assistance, food pantries and health care resources every year.

The event was held in the Piedmont Hospital Cafeteria, 1350 Walton Way, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There were be representatives from the United Way of the CSRA, leadership from Piedmont Augusta and local community resource providers.

Organizers said the aim was to bridge the gap between residents and the essential services they need, including food, housing, and veteran support.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta commissioners are moving forward with plans for a long-promised water park in South Augusta, but the city will not build the facility alone.

The city set aside $5 million in taxpayer money to help jump-start the water park project.

Instead of building it itself, Augusta is trying to recruit a private company to contribute additional funding and operate the park.

The city administrator said Destination Augusta has been collecting proposals and intends to meet with potential partners Tuesday.

Residents push for updates on water park progress

The water park remains in the early planning stages, with no confirmed location or timeline. Voters approved the $5 million in funding through SPLOST in 2021.

Frank Howard, who lives near Diamond Lakes Park, has pushed commissioners for months about the project.

“South Augusta is hungry, we are hungry for some change, for some improvement, for something coming to South Augusta,” Howard said.

Melvin Ivey, another area resident, said he wants transparency about the project’s status.

“We have voted on it twice and no one has said anything. No one has presented any plans or anything. I want to know what’s going on,” Ivey said.

Diamond Lakes Park sees improvements while water park plans develop

While water park plans continue, Diamond Lakes Park is adding three new shaded areas that are currently under construction.

Howard showed the improvements at the park, saying the additions are “much better” and “only the beginning.”

Ivey believes Diamond Lakes Park would be the ideal location for the water park because the site spans more than 250 acres.

“I think Diamond Lakes is the ideal location,” Ivey said. “Diamond Lakes is over 250 acres and all you need is depending on the size.”

Both residents emphasized the need for a quality facility that serves the entire community.

“If you gonna bring water park over here, bring a water park that’s going to be satisfactory to everybody in South Augusta. Not only South Augusta, but the whole Richmond County,” Howard said.

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