Augusta, GA

“Definitely a little overwhelmed:” AU tries to get back to normal after Helene

Published

1 year ago

October 16, 2024

Press Room

“Definitely a little overwhelmed:” AU tries to get back to normal after Helene

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Cleanup is underway at Augusta University after heavy damage from Hurricane Helene.

Power is restored on campus and most of the debris is clear, but there is still caution tape up as crews clean up.

Dr. Keen says Helene left more than $5 million worth of damage.

AU leadership says although they’ve made strides with keeping the doors open, they still have a long recovery ahead.

“We can replace buildings, we can plant seeds for more trees, but we cannot replace the human beings that take part in our community,” says Russell Keen, Augusta University president.

It’s a reality Keen says they’re still trying to navigate after Helene left its mark, but he says clean-up isn’t the top issue right now.

“I think the most difficult part is, not necessarily the cleanup, it’s getting everyone else back on campus, focused and ready to go, which our faculty and staff and our students have done an amazing job,” says Keen.

Families express concerns as Richmond County kids return to classroom

Students say the transition has been mostly smooth, but it’s hard to ignore the last two weeks and what it has cost them.

“We actually had water coming through our doors,” says Riya Patel, senior at AU. “It wasn’t entirely too much, but it was enough to for us to be concerned.”

“Definitely a little overwhelmed,” says Tenbit Serbessa, a senior at AU. “You know, we didn’t have class for almost two weeks, so everything is, like, pushed until this weekend and next week.”

Students living on campus were moved to Gordon State College for refuge when power was out, and resources are still available for students like food and laundry services through the Salvation Army.

“It’s like good to see that everybody in the community stepped in to help one another out, especially the neighborhoods that were like severely impacted,” says Patel.

“I think they did the best that they could, given the circumstances,” says Serbessa.

Keen says fixing everything will be a long-term project, but he believes this will make the AU community stronger.

“The resilience that was demonstrated, and really the last couple of weeks of this institution, this community, speaks very loudly, and I’m very excited about what that might offer for our future,” says Keen.

AU leadership says they’re continuing to work with contractors to get everything cleaned up.

They’re continuing to focus on the well-being of students and faculty through hybrid classes and continuing community partnerships to fulfill their communities’ needs during this time.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

Published

8 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Boxing Club is facing financial uncertainty after Richmond County’s 2026 budget left no room to fund nonprofit organizations.

The county’s decision removes one of the club’s main financial supporters, leaving the historic organization without a key source of funding.

The Augusta Boxing Club is one of the nation’s longest-running amateur boxing clubs and has served at-risk youth in the Augusta area.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Augusta picks new planning and development director

Published

20 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta picks new planning and development director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County has selected a new planning and development director nearly a year after the previous director resigned.

Commissioners voted to hire Adleasia J. Cameron, who goes by Lisa, after an executive session Tuesday.

Cameron was one of two finalists for the position, along with Ryan A. Bland.

The position has been vacant since May 30, when Carla Delaney resigned as planning and development director.

“Augusta has been home to me for many years, from my time as a middle and high school student to earning my graduate degree. It has truly been a privilege to work here and contribute to the community’s growth, sustainability, and development,” Delaney wrote in her letter of resignation.

Cameron is expected to start within the next 30 days.

Her salary will be $125,000, with a moving allowance of up to $10,000 reimbursed based on receipts.

Other commission action

Commissioners also received an update that a veterans cemetery will break ground at the end of the year.

A motion passed authorizing the Marshal’s Office to purchase two vehicles at a cost of more than $115,000.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta couple returned home from Israel and Egypt just as the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury Saturday.

This happened hours before the State Department issued an urgent warning urging Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries to “depart now” due to “serious safety risks.”

Diego and Maile Sprague had been staying with a host family in Jerusalem, south of the West Bank. The host family provides self-defense training to women and children living in the West Bank.

“We moved to Jerusalem just south of the West Bank and stayed with a host family that provides self-defense training to women and children that live on the West Bank,” Maile Sprague said. “Sometimes those places aren’t the safest.”

Couple tours Egypt as operation launches

The Spragues left their host family Friday morning to tour Egypt. By Saturday morning, the U.S. and Israel had rolled out Operation Epic Fury.

The couple said their host family was forced to flee their home after two nearby Arab-developed areas were attacked.

“We got word he and his wife had to leave their home because where they live there are two Arab developed areas… and they were attacked, so he and his wife had to flee their home,” Diego Sprague said.

Maile Sprague said the host family is now sheltering with neighbors.

“They are staying in their bomb shelter because there has been constant red alerts, so they’re sharing their bomb shelter with their neighbors,” she said.

Tourism industry shuts down in Egypt

While in Egypt, the Spragues said they witnessed the country’s tourism industry — its largest — coming to a halt.

“Everything that has to do with the tourism industry was closing down. Tourists were trying to leave, and all the buses were being routed to the border for Israel to pick people up from,” Maile Sprague said.

The couple had planned to return to their host family in Israel but instead made the decision to return home to Augusta. They landed in Atlanta hours before the State Department issued its “depart now” warning Monday.

The Spragues said they are safe. Their host family remains in a bomb shelter.

Source link