Augusta, GA
Helene spawns curfews in Augusta, elsewhere across CSRA
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta joined other local communities in ordering a curfew as the city grapples with hazards from a direct hit by Category 1 Hurricane Helene early Friday.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson declared a state of emergency Friday after the storm swept through the CSRA as a Category 1 storm, knocking down trees, tossing power lines and debris across roads and causing widespread flood flooding.
Augusta announced the curfew at 9:59 p.m. Friday – and it began one minute later at 10.
All bars and places of amusement must close at 10 p.m. and remain closed through 6 a.m. Saturday, the order states.
Beginning Saturday, there will be a curfew enforced by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. until further notice.
It came after the mayor and other local officials on Friday urged people to stay at home because roads and some other public areas aren’t safe, with storm debris, trees and power lines blocking thoroughfares or teetering on the brink of falling.
Columbia County imposed a curfew from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
“This decision comes as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our community during ongoing efforts to remove debris, downed trees, and downed powerlines with community partners from the major thoroughfares throughout the county,” the Columbia County government said in a statement.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Under an emergency declaration, Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt instituted a curfew for Aiken County from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Essential workers for local businesses and services and responders will be exempt from this curfew.
“This act is being used as a deterrence for anyone who would want to take advantage of our citizens who have been greatly impacted by the storm,” Hunt said. Violators and looters will be arrested, he said.
There’s also a curfew in Saluda County from 6:30 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. on Saturday. That’s because there are so many highways and secondary roads with downed trees and power lines.
Jefferson County had a curfew overnight Thursday, expiring at noon Friday.
Although it stopped short of a curfew, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office issued an advisory for everyone to avoid leaving their homes for any reason.
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Helene came ashore overnight in the Big Bend of Florida as a Category 4 storm, then cut a path due north through Georgia.
It was expected to veer westward toward Atlanta but instead headed straight for Augusta, which got a direct hit.
The CSRA felt the worst of the storm between 4 and 6 a.m.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The South Augusta YMCA will not renew its lease at the Tobacco Road location, the Y confirmed.
The shopping center is being sold, and the current lease ends in October.
The Y has not announced a final day at the current location. Officials said they plan to announce that date and next steps for South Augusta later this month.
The YMCA said it still plans to serve South Augusta after the lease expires.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man who was previously wanted for questioning in an Augusta deadly shooting has now been charged with murder in the case, according to authorities.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says Kemfton Quewanaki Kenon, 27, was arrested on Friday in connection to the shooting death of Khyla Rodriguez, of Augusta.
Kenon is booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center and charged with murder and possession of a firearm during a crime, according to jail bookings.
Rodriguez, 25, was found dead after deputies received a call about a shooting on May 15 at 1:11 a.m. on Cameron Drive.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said Rodriguez was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m.
Kenon was previously wanted for questioning in the case and was located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He was interviewed and arrested on an unrelated warrant.
Deputies were also interviewed two other subjects in the case. They were not arrested in the case.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – People who live in South Augusta are raising concerns about the future of the Family Y on Tobacco Road.
Officials say the facility has been operating at a loss for years, and have had a low number of memberships. The location also has a new owner. The cost of the lease is too high and the facility is also in need of renovations, which are said to be costly.
“The reality is we couldn’t afford the current lease that we were in,” said Catie McCauley, president and CEO of Family Y of Greater Augusta. “Over the last 10 years we’ve been subsidizing this lot. So we got to look at a model that we can sustain for the next several generations not just the next couple years.”
The location is set to close in October, but officials say they are working with community members and contractors for a new building that they can move into and are committed to staying in South Augusta.
Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps
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