How to protect older homes as cold temps sweep in

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2024

How to protect older homes as cold temps sweep in

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – With temperatures dipping dangerously low in the CSRA, you might be getting creative trying to keep warm.

This time of year, we see a lot of home fires. So many that it’s consistently earned Augusta a top spot in the country for the most home fires.

Back in 2021, Augusta ranked third out of 150 cities. In 2023, we improved a little but not enough to get out of the top 10 coming in ninth.

One reason is the age of our homes.

A map of the average age of homes in the metro shows the spots shaded red are areas where most homes are 80 years or older.

Most of the city of Augusta falls into that category, making home fires more likely and often more deadly.

For Christy Beckham, there are photos containing many lessons learned when it comes to her historic home on Greene Street.

“These houses are not efficient but there are things you can do to make them more efficient,” said Beckham.

She says when she bought the at-risk home four years ago, there were many unknowns.

“We ended up spending so much money that we really didn’t understand or didn’t plan for properly. Electrical plumbing, HVAC, the things you don’t see,” she said.

Beckham says they had to replace some original windows, add mini split cooling and heating units and do other renovations because it affects how heat is distributed.

“Some people go to kind of drastic measures to keep your house warm and sometimes it can lead to fires, or you know, damage,” said Beckham.

The American Red Cross says home heating is one of the leading causes of home fires and injury in the country.

Many of these homes were built in the 1960s with not in mind of all the appliances and devices we leave plugged in now.

Beckham says an older home takes time, money and energy to keep safe, but it’s worth it if it’s done right.

“They were so necessary, and they were huge upgrades. This house is now much safer and much more efficient, much warmer in the winter,” said Beckham.

Experts say space heaters should never be left plugged in overnight or plugged into an extension cord.

A fire should never be left burning unattended, and all furnaces, chimneys and stoves should be inspected yearly, especially in older homes that could have more wear and tear.

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Finding Solutions: Augusta Juvenile Court receives grant for gang prevention

Published

6 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Finding Solutions: Augusta Juvenile Court receives grant for gang prevention

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Juvenile Court received a grant of more than $1 million to prevent youth from joining gangs by addressing underlying factors that lead to criminal behavior.

The grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will allow the court to expand services beyond its current programs and serve a broader population of at-risk youth.

“This allows us to build on the work we are currently doing. It also allows us to serve a different population of youth that we have not been able to serve on such an extended level, so we have additional funds that will serve even more kids and to hopefully assist the sheriff and district attorney in not having youthful offenders become adult offenders that they have to obtain and prosecute,” said Chief Judge Tianna Bias.

Addressing root causes

The funding will target factors that make youth vulnerable to gang recruitment, including poor school attendance and reading difficulties.

“Whether it’s that they have poor school attendance, not reading on grade level. One thing we’ve seen is that when you are not reading on grade level that has an impact on many other areas of your life. It’s really just an opportunity to offer wrap-around support for these kids so we can prevent them from getting into unfortunate situations that they may not end up in front of a juvenile court judge later,” Bias said.

Dr. Audrey Armistad, chief intake officer for the juvenile court, said the court’s goal is rehabilitation rather than detention.

“We put them in programs and services that help them to be able to develop mentally, socially and physically when it comes to kids involved with the juvenile court,” Armistad said.

Expanding services

The juvenile court currently serves at-risk youth through the THRIVE program. The court is also expanding services with a new computer lab set to open next month.

“It helps us to be able to provide instruction to kids getting GEDs, parents wanting GEDs, as well as we provide learning loss instruction to kids enrolled in Richmond County who may need remediation in math and reading,” Armistad said.

A gang prevention expert will meet with the juvenile court team to provide recommendations on how the grant money should be spent.

Bias said success will be measured by fewer teens in courtrooms and more in classrooms.

“We are meant to rehabilitate not to punish and we want to help these parents get kids on track so we can see a better Augusta for everyone,” Bias said.

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Augusta, GA

AU to cut ribbon on new Student Health Services building

Published

18 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

AU to cut ribbon on new Student Health Services building

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University is set to cut the ribbon on a new Student Health Services building on Friday.

The ribbon cutting will be held at 2:30 p.m. at 1465 Laney Walker Boulevard in Augusta.

The event will showcase the field of college health and the role the services have on students’ personal development and academic success.

The clinic relocated to the new space last month to make way for AU’s advanced research and clinical innovation, according to officials.

At the event, there will also be snacks, interactive games and clinic tours.

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Augusta, GA

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There was a large law enforcement presence Thursday morning at a home in west Augusta near Fort Gordon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were in the area attempting to find a suspect, according to deputies.

Witnesses said around 11:25 a.m. that officers had been surrounding a home at Harper-Franklin Avenue and Covington Court.

That’s in a neighborhood of mostly two-story brick-fronted homes built in the past three or four years just east of Jimmie Dyess Parkway and a couple of blocks north of Gordon Highway.

As noon approached, law enforcement had left.

But a Facebook post from earlier did show a large presence,including marked and unmarked cars, and officers all around the house. A witness said police dogs were on the scene, as well.

News 12 has reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for information.

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