Augusta, GA

Downtown murals encourage people, pets to become part of the art

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2023

Downtown murals encourage people, pets to become part of the art

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Downtown Augusta is known for its murals, but now local artists and community organizations are encouraging the spectators to become the subjects.

Augusta’s latest murals encourage you to do more than just look at it.

It was created by kids at the Morris Museum of Art’s mural camp led by Jason Craig.

“I think that everybody’s going to take a picture in front of a mural. So you might as well have some that they can be a part of,” said Craig.

It’s meant to look like the person in front of the picture is being abducted by aliens.

“Whenever you take a photo like it really has the illusion that you’re being pulled up into the UFO,” said Craig.

It’s not the only participation mural downtown, and the other isn’t just for people to bring their human friends: it’s for furry friends too.

Beautify Augusta oversaw the mural and Jeremy Rueggeberg, the co-founder of Beautify Augusta, said it’s the only pet mural for pets in the area.

“We wanted to do something uniquely fun,” said Rueggeberg. “We’ve had a lot of people come down with their pets take pictures, send them to us, so we just want people that play and have fun.”

It’s to promote a healthier, safer, and happier city.

“We really hope that when people see pictures of their pets or somebody else’s pets on there, it just brings laughter and it brings a moment of joy for them,” said Rueggeberg.

The mural was sponsored by Azalea Drugs, and Sumner Aesthetics.

Melissa Sumner, one of the business owners who sponsored the mural, said she hopes it brings more visitors downtown.

“I feel like Augusta has a really long history of supporting the arts and street art in particular is growing in Augusta. I’m hoping the mural will allow people to come and explore Augusta,” said Sumner.

Whether it’s being discovered by pets or people, locals or tourists, Craig said murals show people the soul of a city.

“I think that whenever you go to different parts, even if it’s just one block over from your normal loop, it just opens your eyes to other possibilities. It just shows them more of their city that maybe they didn’t notice, so it really lets you know what the city is about,” said Craig.

Rueggeberg said he wants people to bring all their pets to the mural, and that includes everything from cats to ferrets to monkeys.

If you would like to check out these murals for yourself, the wings for people and pets are located at the Jones Street entrance to the Scene Nightclub.

The alien abduction Mural is at 116 James Brown Boulevard on the back of the building.

Source link

Augusta, GA

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

Published

4 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.

The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.

Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.

“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.

The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.

Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.

Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.

Source link

Augusta, GA

WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows

Published

12 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.

Parents were told of the incident in a letter.

“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”

The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.

Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.

The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting

Published

20 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting

GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A suspect has been arrested in connection to an apartment complex shooting in Grovetown, officials announced Wednesday morning.

Isaiah Bautista, 20, of Augusta, was located near Windsor Spring Road and Meadowbrook Drive, still riding in the suspect vehicle that was observed fleeing the scene of the earlier shooting, Grovetown Police Department says.

Bautista had a firearm at the time of his arrest and had multiple outstanding felony warrants through both Richmond County and Reidsville, Ga., police say.

Bautista was transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on the outstanding warrants. Additional warrants will be secured by Grovetown Investigators for his charges regarding tonight’s shooting.

This investigation continues as investigators are working to identify the second suspect.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in apprehending Bautista.

The Grovetown Police Department says they received a 911 call Tuesday at 5:02 p.m. about a shooting at the 1000 block of Joiner Circle in Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.

Police Chief Jamey Kitchens told us he was on the scene around 5:34 p.m.

When officers arrived they discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper chest.

Officials say the victim was conscious when they arrived and is in a local hospital in surgery. He does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.

He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, and one of the suspects fired several rounds hitting the victim once.

Officials say they responded Tuesday afternoon to Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.(WRDW)

Officials used local cameras and doorbell cameras to capture the suspects fleeing on foot to a nearby vehicle and exiting the complex.

One of the suspects was wearing a mask and both were wearing dark-colored hoodies.

Multiple people were in the home at the time, including an infant who was within a few feet of the victim when he was shot. No other parties were injured.

They have a loose vehicle description and several leads are being pursued, according to Kitchens.

The victim was not a resident of the home where the incident occurred.

Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and that this appears to be a targeted attack.

A witness said she saw 17 police cars on the scene around 6 p.m. and that it appeared officers were searching up and down some nearby railroad tracks.

Police were clustered around one apartment in particular. The door was open and crime scene tape hung outside the entry.