AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Ahead of the first day back, Aiken County cut the ribbon on the new Wagener-Salley High School.

On Monday, students and parents toured the new Wagener-Salley High School.

It is one of the older schools in the county and its makeover costs about $45 million.

The school was built in 1939 and was paid for by the state department and federal dollars.

School board members say a new demographic study will help offer better insight to even more schools as the population in Aiken County grows.

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Augusta, GA – Joyce Kay Carson, 85, entered into rest Monday, January 6, 2025.

Joyce was a lifelong resident of Augusta. She always had a listening ear and was a caretaker at heart. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was affectionately known as “Granny” or “Augusta GiGi”. 

Family members include her son: Michael Bryer and his wife Sharon; granddaughter: Megan Boyd and her husband William; great grandsons: Bryer and Bodie; and many other loving family members. She is preceded in death by her parents, James “Jimmy” and Vondell Carson, and grandson, Christopher M. Bryer. 

The funeral service will be held Friday, January 10, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park. 

The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A suspect who was wanted for an aggravated assault incident was arrested during a smash-and-grab burglary, we learned from authorities on Monday.

Richmond County deputies say they were dispatched to a verified burglary alarm at Barney’s Pharmacy on Furys Ferry Road on Sunday at 4:04 a.m.

Upon arrival, deputies say they observed a suspect actively shoving medication into a duffle bag.

As additional deputies arrived on the scene, the suspect attempted to flee, carrying two duffle bags, deputies said.

He exited through a broken window, which appeared to be his point of entry, according to police.

Despite repeated verbal commands, the suspect refused to comply and continued his attempt to escape running from deputies, authorities say.

One deputy deployed his taser when the suspect began to resist while shouting, “It wasn’t me.” Due to continued non-compliance, another deputy was forced to deploy his taser. The suspect was then subdued and taken into custody without further incident, according to authorities.

Central EMS responded to the scene and treated the suspect for minor hand injuries, deputies say. Following medical evaluation at Wellstar MCG, the suspect was transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

Although the suspect provided deputies with several false names, fingerprint identification at the detention center revealed his true identity as Walter Anthony Tarver. He has been charged with:

• Smash-and-grab burglary
• Obstruction of a law enforcement officer
• Giving false name and/or date of birth to a law enforcement officer

Further investigation revealed that Tarver also had active warrants for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Back in December, we reported Tarver was wanted for wanted about an aggravated assault that happened on the 200 block of Warren Road.

Sheriff-elect Eugene Brantley and Chief Blanchard stopped by muster Sunday at 5:45 p.m. to thank the deputies for a job well done and present them with some law enforcement backpacks.

Sheriff Brantley praised the deputies’ swift actions in apprehending the suspect, stating, “Their quick response and professionalism ensured that this dangerous individual was taken off the streets before further harm could be done to our community.”

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