Augusta, GA

Crime-plagued nightclub slapped with probation in Augusta

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2024

Crime-plagued nightclub slapped with probation in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders on Tuesday put a crime-plagued business on notice that it could lose its liquor license.

Club Rain is now on six months of probation.

The club will also need three special officers posted there anytime it’s open.

Questions were raised over whether the club is a magnet for crime after a 22-year-old man was shot dead in January at the business at 1855 Gordon Highway.

There’s precedent for Tuesday’s action, “It seems as though this is becoming an epidemic across Augusta,” said Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

In May, another bar, Level 9 Sports Bar & Grill at 3054 Damascus Road, received the same punishment after a series of shootings, one of which was fatal.

The sheriff’s office initially wanted Club Rain’s license suspended, but confusion on how a recent deadly shooting went down reduced the punishment to probation.

“At first, they said it was all in the front. Now they’re saying they found bullets in the back. I’m confused here, I really am,” said Owner Voncellies Allen.

The action against Club Rain comes as city leaders are looking at whether certain businesses have become magnets for crime.

Also in the negative spotlight is Smart Grocery, 3221 Wrightsboro Road, the site of several shootings in recent years – two of them fatal.

The owner blames the problem on a cluster of high-crime apartment complexes nearby.

The owner and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office say they’ve been working together to tame the violence, but the Augusta Commission wants to send a message and hold the business owner accountable.

Property Owner Sae Pak said, “We do have the special duty. We will continue that throughout the years. Another thing I did do is I reached out to all of the tenants, and we talked about closing up at an earlier time, and they all agreed.”

But commissioners still looked at probation for them to be fair to Club Rain.

“This was brought to us by the sheriff’s office, and in my mind, we’re not backing the sheriff’s department if we don’t support some form of probation,” said Commissioner Sean Frantom. “If there’s no action by this body, then they don’t have to do anything, so they can do what they want.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, city leaders decided against probation for Smart Grocery or Stop and Shop, another targeted convenience store.

Flooding follow-up

Also Tuesday, the commission decided to go back to the legal staff concerning flooding victims from a storm in June 2023.

After a thorough presentation on flood areas around Rocky Creek, as well as the commission admitting the city faces legal action regarding the flooding, it appeared certain items needed to be addressed.

These items include a rail track and areas that need to be cleaned out even during low-flooding storms.

Funds would come from stormwater fees and the engineering department.

The city may also try to get the Georgia Department of Transportation involved to help develop a solution, as well as for funding – even though an audit found the city takes in millions more than it spends in stormwater fees paid by utility customers.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting

The commission decided the Central Services Department will develop the scope of work needed to replace both the electrical and the floating dock systems at the Fifth Street Marina. Some community members raised concerns a few weeks ago about claims that the power and water service were being shut off at the marina, where some boat owners live on their vessels.
Commission members agreed to take a field trip to so-called slumlord areas of the city along with employees of several city departments.
Leaders approved $140,000 to create a deputy marshal commission and a corporal position and buy safety gear in support of the Richmond County Marshal’s Office’s expanded litter program.

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Augusta, GA

Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Published

1 hour ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – A year ago when Quinasia Abercrombie was a freshman, she let her work on the court do the talking as she became one of the top players in the Peach Belt Conference. Abercrombie didn’t have to be a vocal leader since the Jaguars had several upper classmen that handled that role. This year, her sophomore season, Abercrombie is still one of the best players around, but now has become the vocal leader of the team, something that didn’t come naturally.

“I’m just leading my team by voice now, not just leading by example,” Abercrombie said. “Since I don’t really talk, I think they (my teammates) were really surprised, but they’re listening.”

She leads the Augusta women in several offensive categories and has proven to be a major asset to the program.

From Greenville, S.C., Abercrombie was an all-state high school player. She gives part of that credit to her siblings, one older brother and three younger brothers. She had to scratch and claw on the basketball court with them and she’s the first to give them credit for helping make her the player she is today. Abercrombie went as fas as saying she enjoys playing against guys since they’ll push her hard to become better, and she likes the competition.

Now, she’s also being pushed by coach Celeste Stewart. So much so, it’s taking Abercrombie out of her comfort zone. But it’s all for the betterment of her.

“She’s put me in multiple, uncomfortable situations, like talking, being more verbal, and just putting me in positions I wouldn’t normally put myself in,” added Abercrombie.

With the Peach Belt Conference tournament up next for the Jaguars, Abercrombie thinks this team can find another gear and make a run. While she has elevated her game, she knows her teammates can do the same.

Even going forward as a player, Abercrombie knows there’s plenty of room for improvement. One of the most notable for her, her ball handling skills.

“I know I like to pick up my dribble a lot and give it to my point guards,” said Abercrombie. “But I know I can bring it down the court, I just need to work on my ball handling and just being confident handling the ball.”

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.

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Augusta, GA

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

Published

13 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 2025-2026 Peach Belt Conference brackets are set, and there is plenty of shakeup this year.

Starting with the women’s bracket, Augusta University secured the #4 overall seed and will face #5 seed Middle Georgia in round one.

USCA’s women’s team did not fair as well, finishing in last place of this season’s standings.

On the men’s side, USCA’s men’s team secured the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.

In a shocking turn of events, AU’s men’s team did not qualify for the tournament.

This marks the first time the program has missed the PBC tournament since Dip Metress took over the program in 2004.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.

Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.

The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.

Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.

Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.

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