Augusta, GA
Imperial Theater renovations to keep a similar style
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta’s historic Imperial Theater is undergoing its first major renovation in over 30 years, but the style is staying the same.
Painting and plaster repair is all part of phase one of the renovations to the theater.
Charles Scavullo, the Executive Director of the Imperial Theater, says it’s been a long time coming as they worked to raise the money.
“The major roadblock to being able to do anything significant is of course funding. And we’ve been able to collect money and get donations and grants over the past few years that have helped us to kick off this painting project,” said Scavullo.
The fresh paint is just a small part of the project.
“We have four or five more projects planned for the Master Plan, which totaled around $10 million,” said Scavullo.
Those projects include making the building more wheelchair accessible, reimagining the front of the theater, and fixing the HVAC system, just to name a few.
“We want people to be comfortable. We want them to enjoy their experience here. We want them to want to come back,” said Scavullo.
While it is in with the new, it is not exactly out with the old.
“This paint project and previous paint projects within the last five or six years, we relied heavily on the historic paint analysis,” said Scavullo. “We have a 105-year-old building that was built in the Art Deco style and so far, we’ve been able to maintain a lot of that aspect.”
The upgrades now will pave the way to help them keep filling the marquee and the seats.
“I think it’ll invigorate commerce, ourselves, and the community as we move forward,” said Scavullo. “I think that the work that we’re doing right now. And then the big projects that we have planned for the future will have a bigger effect, and more positive results going further.”
Scavullo anticipates it could take several years for the entire project to be finished.
The first phase, this paint project should be done by the end of July, and they are looking forward to hosting more shows starting in August.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re just under two months away from baseball season and this year will be a bittersweet one for North Augusta’s baseball and softball teams.
While many players would much rather play at a brand-new facility, Riverview Park has been home to the Yellowjackets for a long time now.
After this season, however, North Augusta will finally have a new place to call home.
But, they will have one more chance to close out a phenomenal season before transitioning to the new stadium next year.
You’ve seen the construction and you can see the vision.
In just a few more months, across the street from North Augusta High School will be two brand-new facilities.
The newest home of the Yellowjackets baseball and softball teams.
“It’s a chance to have something that is ours,” said Lynn. “Our own atmosphere at school. It’s going to be exciting.”
The over $8 million project was slated to be completed ahead of this year’s season, but after multiple delays like the impact of Hurricane Helene and just how big of a project it truly is, the facilities are still several months from being ready for play.
In the event construction concludes as originally planned, Head Coach Kevin Lynn says the team has no plans to move fields in the middle of their 2025 season.
“I don’t want to have summer ball starting there, I want our kids to start a regular season there,” said Lynn. I want them to open the season up and have a true home opener.”
The good news is, nothing about this year will feel different for the team.
The Yellowjackets have called Riverview Park home for over 40 years and they’ll get one more chance to send it out with a grand slam.”I grew up watching my brother play here and many people before him, so being able to play here one last time feels really good.”
“I’d like to go out on a high note and finish up strong here. Our goal is to win all of our games at home since we play here all the time and know the layout more than anybody else. It’d be nice to accomplish those goals in our last season.”
Lynn’s team will open up on the road against Strom Thurmond on Feb. 11.
The Yellowjackets are 40 and 40 under Lynn as head coach.
It’s hard to believe we’re almost to baseball season, before we know it we’ll be talking about the Masters.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County
SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.
The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.
Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.
“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.
The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.
Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.
Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.
Parents were told of the incident in a letter.
“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”
The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.
Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.
The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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