AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – More than 200 high school seniors across our area got their acceptance letters to Augusta University on Wednesday.  

This is through the university’s Early Action Program. 

Richmond County students at A.R. Johnson got a special surprise along with their letters on Wednesday.  

Students funneling into the media center at A.R. Johnson High School were oblivious. 

Not one clue or idea. All 19 of them were in for the surprise of a lifetime. 

“I would like to be the first to congratulate you on being admitted to AU the freshman class of 2025,” Director of Undergraduate Admissions Nathan Rice said during the surprise. 

With more than 3,000 early applicants, AU says the senior class of 2024 is their biggest and most competitive class yet. 

And Richmond County students are shattering records. 

“This year, A.R. Johnson had the most applicants in early action that we’ve ever received from any Richmond County High School, and the most early admits that we’ve ever had from any Richmond County school,” said Rice. 

It’s a wish they no longer have to stick on an early Christmas list. 

Alyssa Bryant, senior at A.R. Johnson, said: “It’s very exciting to be in one of the largest groups. AU is a really good school, and I’m thinking about going there. That’s one of my top choices. They really have a good health care program, and I really feel like that’s going to help me get into the nursing career.” 

It’s a sense of peace now within reach, just in time for the holidays. 

Addyson McPhee, senior at A.R. Johnson, said: “One of the heaviest things on my mind was like, am I gonna get in? Am I gonna get in? But like, now I can eat my Thanksgiving meal and be like, I’m going to AU.” 

The Augusta University student body continues to grow. 

Leaders say they’ve seen a 12.5% increase in early action this year with more than 2,900 students admitted in early action. 

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After months of back and forth, Augusta commissioners agreed to move forward with a plan regarding city credit card expenses on Tuesday.

This comes after Mayor Garnett Johnson asked commissioners for reimbursements to his personal credit card he used for city purchases.

The policy the administrator presented to commissioners laid out the credit card policy for all elected officials, including the mayor.

Prior to this policy, the mayor did not have a city credit card and there was no policy for him when it came to him using his own personal credit card for city spending.

For several months now commissioners have tossed around what they think the limit should be for the mayor.

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There are two other elected officials that use a city credit card, the sheriff who has a monthly limit of $5,000, and the marshal who has a monthly limit of $20,000.

Commissioners decided to give the mayor a monthly limit of $15,000 with no daily limit and if any other elected official decides to use a city credit card, their limit will also be $15,000.

“It better reflects our budget in that oftentimes the mayor has to make either travel plans or plans to receive guests,” said Johnson. “Sometimes at the very last moment, we shouldn’t have the hurdles of calling authorizers to approve us with having the ability to entertain guests, having approvals to travel as we need.”

Commissioners also approved the audit of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Commissioner Sean Frantom says they are close to hiring a permanent director and in order to set that individual up for success, they needed to go ahead and audit the department.

This now goes to the full commission for a vote on Tuesday.

Also discussed at the meeting, Augusta’s newly-hired City Administrator, Tamekaa Allen highlighted her plans for the first 180 days in her role.

That involves identifying organization goals, formulating an action agenda and tackling the city’s priorities.

Allen says a “long-range strategic approach” is the key to holding everyone accountable for their performance, as well as clear and honest communication.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – To help support caregivers of veterans, the VA Augusta Health Care System will host a veteran caregiver resource fair from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at its uptown campus.

Titled “Caregiving: Refresh and Renew,” the resource fair will offer those who attend an opportunity to:

• Discuss caregiving with VA Augusta caregiver support staff.
• Gain resources from VA Augusta and other veteran-advocate agencies.
• Connect with other Veteran caregivers.

The event will be in Room 3B-125 at the uptown campus, 1 Freedom Way.

To learn more about the VA Caregiver Support Program visit www.caregiver.va.gov.

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Later this week, VA Augusta Health Care System will host a Stand Down for Veterans experiencing homelessness from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the second-floor gymnasium of the uptown campus.

Veterans can get life-essential items like toiletries and blankets, as well as a boxed lunch, a VA eligibility screening, the opportunity to register for VA health care, local community agency information, and HUD-VASH and other veteran housing information.

Veterans can also contact sabrina.faircloth@va.gov for help.

Homeless veteran programs housed nearly 48,000 veterans across the U.S. in Fiscal Year 2024, surpassing the annual goal by 16.9%. Locally, VA Augusta exceeded its annual goal by 245.7%, which leads VA facilities across the nation.

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