Augusta, GA

Ex-Augusta employee allegedly transported ‘millions’ worth of stolen Masters memorabilia — including Arnold Palmer Jacket

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Ex-Augusta employee allegedly transported ‘millions’ worth of stolen Masters memorabilia — including Arnold Palmer Jacket

Former Augusta National Golf Club warehouse coordinator Richard Brendan Globensky has been accused of transporting millions of dollars of stolen memorabilia related to The Masters.

Globensky, 39, allegedly carried out the scheme from 2009-22, transporting the stolen merchandise to Florida for the purposes of resale.

He is set to plead guilty on May 15, according to court documents cited by the Chicago Tribune.

Richard Globensky has been charged in federal court in Illinois in the transport of millions of dollars worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia stolen from Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, according to court documents filed Tuesday, April 16, 2024. AP

Globensky is accused of stealing “millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and historical memorabilia” from Augusta National and is alleged to have transported the stolen goods to Tampa, “knowing the same had been stolen, converted and taken by fraud.”

The charging documents did not specify what memorabilia was stolen.

However, Darren Rovell reported at Cllct that one of the items Globensky allegedly stole was Arnold Palmer’s green jacket.

The report says that an Augusta member sought the help of a middleman known to be able to locate rare memorabilia to find the jacket, for the purposes of returning it to the famous golf club.

The jacket was eventually located and the buyer agreed to purchase it for $3.6 million last March.

When the transaction went down at the seller’s home, the FBI “swarmed” the scene and “interrogated” the seller, the report said.

The jacket was ultimately seized by the feds.

Arnold Palmer's green jacket was reportedly one of the items stolen from Augusta National. — Arnold Palmer’s green jacket was reportedly one of the items stolen from Augusta National. AP

The Tribune cited real estate records as showing that Globensky and his wife sold their expansive home in Evans, Ga. for $2 million last year.

The home contains six bedrooms, is 7,300-square-foot and includes an in-ground pool and an outdoor putting green.

He currently works as a mortgage broker.

Augusta National is fiercely protective of its memorabilia, and the green jackets are never supposed to leave the club’s grounds.

In 2017, Augusta National filed a lawsuit against a Florida company seeking to stop the sale of the green jackets of one former champion and two members of the club, according to the Associated Press.

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Augusta, GA

Small plane crashed into residential Georgia neighborhood, killing pilot

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A pilot has died after a small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in a Georgia city.

The plane crashed on Thursday a little more than a half mile (1 kilometer) from Daniel Field, a general aviation airport in Augusta.

Augusta University told local news outlets that the pilot was Jason McKenzie, the associate director of philanthropy at the school. McKenzie had just taken off in a single-engine Beechcraft 36 with plans to fly to New Haven, Connecticut.

It’s unclear what caused the plane to descend. As it was coming down, it clipped a tree and hit power lines, leaving debris in the tree, and then crashed between two homes in the affluent neighborhood, bursting into flames. No one else was injured, and the plane didn’t hit any buildings.

“I think that was a miracle,” resident Lisa Lewis told WRDW-TV. “I think the Lord protected everyone else.”

Neighbors said that while it’s not unusual to hear planes so close to the airport, this one sounded much louder, followed by the boom of the crash. Firefighters knocked down flames that video showed roaring high into the air.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate. Police roped off a residential intersection with burned debris.

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Augusta, GA

‘One of a kind’: Heroic pilot is mourned in Augusta, elsewhere

Published

12 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

‘One of a kind’: Heroic pilot is mourned in Augusta, elsewhere

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The community is mourning a pilot who died Thursday morning in an Augusta plane crash – a man many are calling a hero for saving lives on the ground.

Scott McKenzie, associate director of philanthropy at Augusta University, was the only person killed when the single-engine Beechcraft 36 crashed at Hillcrest Avenue and Belmont Drive just after 7:13 a.m. Thursday.

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First responders credit McKenzie’s piloting for avoiding further deaths and injuries.

The plane, bound for New Haven, Conn., crashed in a densely populated residential neighborhood just after taking off from Daniel Field, just a couple of blocks away.

McKenzie joined Augusta University in 2020 and worked in philanthropy and alumni engagement, where he was extensively involved in building relationships and working with donors who support athletics programs.

“His passion for the university and our athletics programs was unsurpassed. We are keeping Jason’s family, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers,” AU said in a statement.

A former resident of Baton Rouge, he was on the golf team at Mississippi State University.

McKenzie worked in the broadcasting field for many years in Baton Rouge including at WAFB-TV and Guaranty Broadcasting.

But Augusta was his hometown, so he moved back here four years ago.

McKenzie was a close friend of Augusta Commission member Sean Frantom, who appeared shaken when he visited the crash site Thursday.

“He was one of kind. My friend for over 35 years,” Frantom posted on Facebook. “He loved the Lord and loved his family. He is one of the best family men I have ever seen.”

Frantom said he had the honor of being in his wedding in Baton Rouge with his bride Stephanie McKenzie.

“He loved her so much and was so excited to get married,” Frantom said, adding that McKenzie left this Earth too soon but doing what he loved.

“It will take a village to love and support your wife, son, and mom but we will be here for them,” Frantom wrote.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Christian baseball celebrates its largest signing class ever

Published

19 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

Augusta Christian baseball celebrates its largest signing class ever

MARTINEZ, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Christian baseball program has had a lot of success over the year, winning a total of six state championships.

On Wednesday, they’re celebrating another milestone.

Six seniors are putting pen to paper signing their letters of intent to play college ball.

This is the largest signing class their baseball program has ever had, and it’s headlined by Khaleel Pratt, who signed to play for the University of Kentucky.

“I couldn’t have done it without them, but especially my dad, I mean, he’s the one. He’s taught me how to play baseball since I was little. He’s been basically my only trainer that been consistently working with me. He’s done strength, done skill work, done everything with me and he’s been there. I know he’s not there as much as he wants to be right now, but he’s been there all my life, and I’m truly grateful,” said Pratt.

The defending state champions have home-field advantage in the state playoffs this year.

They’ll be back on the diamond Friday night for their second-round matchup against Pinewood.

AUGUSTA CHRISTIAN BASEBALL SIGNINGS 2024: