Augusta, GA

Finding Solutions: Augusta Woman’s Club leads “Katherine’s 100 Trees” project at Diamond Lakes

Published

4 months ago

January 16, 2026

Finding Solutions: Augusta Woman’s Club leads “Katherine’s 100 Trees” project at Diamond Lakes

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Volunteers planted nearly 60 trees at Diamond Lakes Park Friday to bring shade to families and runners who use the trail during hot summer afternoons.

The tree planting was part of a project called “Katherine’s 100 Trees” led by the Augusta Women’s Club. Students from Westminster, Augusta Parks and Recreation, Augusta Fire and the Savannah Riverkeeper participated in the morning planting.

“Feels good knowing that people will get to enjoy this and our hard work will pay off,” Banks Carter, an eighth-grader at Westminster participating in service day, said.

Project honors 95-year-old board member’s dream

Mary Jacobson with the Augusta Women’s Club said the project started when a 95-year-old board member shared her final wish.

“One of our board members that was about 95 and at a board meeting she was sitting beside me and said Mary you want to know what I want to do before I die, she said I want to plant 100 trees,” Jacobson said.

The organization has planted more than a couple thousand trees across Georgia since the project began.

“This has been this lady’s dream and I love seeing it through. It warms my heart,” Jacobson said.

Adding to previous plantings

The Augusta Women’s Club planted 45 trees at Diamond Lakes a few years ago and added 56 more today. Some of the new trees are expected to grow 50 feet tall in an area where shade is needed.

“We live down the road and have these walking tracks that in the summertime are absolutely brutal, so we are trying to put in shade trees along the walking track,” Jacobson said.

Tonya Bonitatibus, executive director for Savannah Riverkeeper, said the organization’s participation represents a long-term commitment to the Augusta and Savannah areas.

“This is just a long term commitment specifically within the Augusta and Savannah areas to try and be engaged outside the river in attempt to get others to come into the river space with us,” Bonitatibus said.

Carter encouraged others to get involved in their community.

“Just make sure you always give back to your community. Make sure you see the beauty in your community because someone worked to do that and always give back when you have the chance,” he said.

The Augusta Women’s Club gave away 2,000 trees to residents for Earth Day. The organization has 1,000 trees coming next month and plans another community giveaway.

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Augusta, GA

Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident

Published

8 hours ago

May 9, 2026

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Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident | News | wfxg.com

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Augusta, GA

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

Published

20 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.

Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.

Campaign priorities

Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.

“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”

Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

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Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.

It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”

The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.

The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.

A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.

He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.

The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.

The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.

The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.