Augusta, GA
Georgia opens new behavioral health crisis center in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday marked the opening of Georgia’s newest behavioral health crisis center.
The new state-of-the-art facility, operated by Serenity Behavioral Health Systems, officially opened at 3421 Mike Padgett Highway.
The center was made possible through a state investment, including nearly $14 million in construction funding and $9.4 million for operations provided by the state.
The center replaces Serenity’s previous 16-bed crisis stabilization unit, which served the community for 17 years with funding support from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Expanded capacity
The new facility significantly expands crisis response capacity and includes:
- 24 crisis stabilization unit beds.
- 16 temporary 23-hour observation chairs,
- Capacity to serve up to 40 people at once.
- Staff increases from about 200 to 245
“We care. We’re here to help people. We’re here to serve,” said Chuck Williamson, the CEO of Serenity Behavioral Health.
The center will provide short-term stabilization, assessment and treatment services for individuals experiencing behavioral health or substance use crises.
People can seek services voluntarily or be referred through law enforcement, hospitals or the courts. The typical stay is three to five days but can be as long as 10 days.
Meeting community need
Bethany Trapp and Lt. Sean Rhodes say they head into encampments and wooded areas twice a month, connecting people in crisis to help.
“We go out and seek out these individuals that aren’t coming for resources, that may be suffering from a mental health situation,” said Rhodes, a lieutenant with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Homeless Outreach Team.
“We actually came across a couple of folks this morning who are in the middle of drug use, who said, ‘I want to get clean,’” said Trapp, program coordinator for CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority’s Marion Barnes Center.
Rhodes said law enforcement is often first on scene, and with emergency rooms and jails serving as the overflow for people in crisis, the need for this expansion goes beyond the new facility.
“This will take a lot of pressure off of the courts, off the jails, off law enforcement. There’s finally a place that’s very much dedicated and specialized in helping people when they have a crisis of those types,” Williamson said.
Part of statewide strategy
The opening of the Augusta Behavioral Health Crisis Center is part of Georgia’s broader strategy to build a stronger, more responsive behavioral health system focused on early intervention, crisis stabilization and long-term recovery support.
In the past five years, the state has started developing five new crisis center locations in Clayton, Fulton, Laurens and Richmond counties.
“This center represents hope for individuals and families experiencing a behavioral health or substance use crisis while also providing critical support to hospitals, law enforcement, and emergency responders throughout the region,” Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kevin Tanner said at Wednesday’s ceremony.
“For the first time, in my lifetime, I see that behavioral health and mental health is being given respect and parity with primary care and physical health care,” Williamson said.
Officials with Serenity Behavioral Health said the timeline to move into the new facility is still being finalized, but they expect the transition to take place in June.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Board of Education is deeply saddened to announce the passing of board member Walter H. Eubanks.
Eubanks, who represented District 3, died Tuesday after a brief illness.
“Mr. Eubanks’ family and friends are in our thoughts during this difficult time,” the board said in a statement.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
His term was set to expire this year.
Shawnda Stovall, president of the Richmond County Board of Education, said:
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Eubanks’ family, friends, constituents, and all who had the privilege of serving alongside him. For more than 20 years, he devoted his time, leadership, and voice to advocating for public education and helping create opportunities for generations of students, first as a teacher and later as a member of the Richmond County Board of Education. His commitment to our community and his passion for serving others will be remembered with gratitude and respect.
“During this time of loss, we keep Mr. Eubanks’ loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. May they find comfort in the many lives he touched through his service and the lasting impact he made on behalf of Richmond County’s students and families.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Medical marijuana is having a moment in clinical trials
Cannabis has medical promise, but doctors still can’t prescribe it. A Harvard psychiatrist explains why science and policy lag behind.
A Vietnamese restaurant that closed in Columbia County more than three years ago will be the site of Georgia’s newest medical marijuana dispensary.
When Georgia’s Senate Bill 220 officially becomes law on July 1, it will expand requirements and qualifying conditions to participate in the state’s medical cannabis program. Co-sponsors of the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act” included state Sens. Lee Anderson, R-Grovetown, Harold Jones, D-Augusta, and Mark Newton, R-Augusta.
A company called Fine Fettle operates three cannabis stores in Georgia, eight in Connecticut, and two in Massachusetts.
The Fine Fettle dispensary, slated for 4300 Towne Center Dr. in Evans, will occupy the former Pho Bac restaurant. The Asian eatery opened in 2011 but closed in 2023 when it merged with another restaurant, Pho Augusta, at 4045 Jimmie Dyess Parkway.
At the store’s June 26 grand opening, patients and their families can learn about new product categories, qualifying conditions, and how to obtain a medical cannabis card, according to the company.
Fine Fettle received a provisional license from the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission in 2023 to start growing and selling cannabis products statewide. Evans was one of its proposed locations with an original opening for a low-THC oil dispensary planned for spring 2024, but the new state legislation upgraded the product level from the lower-potency oil to actual strains of cannabis.
Another cannabis company, Trulieve, opened its fifth Georgia store in Evans in September 2023 at 4218 Washington Road in Evans, near the shopping center anchored by Academy Sports.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta election leaders met Monday to discuss a lawsuit filed by a former mayoral candidate.
Dr. Lori Myles is suing the Augusta Commission, as well as state and local voting leaders.
Myles alleges those involved with the May 19th primary destroyed absentee ballots and eliminated from the overall vote count.
“So the Board of Elections received a lawsuit from Lori Myles contesting the election asking for a recount, said Travis Doss, the Board of Elections director. “The Board discussed in executive session and when they came out of executive session they voted to authorize the county attorney to file an answer to that lawsuit basically that answer will be asking a judge for a dismissal on that lawsuit and it will be filed tomorrow.”
WJBF NewsChannel 6 will keep you updated on the next steps of the lawsuit as that information becomes available.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
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