AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shepeard Community Blood Center is kicking off its 2nd Annual Botox for Blood event starting on Monday.

Anyone who gives blood at any Shepeard Blood Drive during the event until July 3, will earn a free Botox treatment from Southern Dermatology.

“Blood usage typically increases around the July 4th holiday,” says Shepeard CEO Benjamin Prijatel. “Botox for Blood ensures that local doctors and nurses have the lifesaving tools they need to respond to emergencies.”

Participating donors will receive a $150 gift certificate that can be used for Botox or a similar treatment at Southern Dermatology in Augusta or Aiken.

The certificates are non-transferable and limited to one per person. Donors must meet donor and patient eligibility requirements to qualify for the free Botox treatment.

The event would not be possible without the owners of Southern Dermatology, Mike and Dr. Briana Brown. All Botox treatments are generously donated to Shepeard by Southern Dermatology free of charge.

The inaugural Botox for Blood event in 2023 was very popular, and Shepeard expects even more people to participate this year.

Appointments are strongly encouraged.

A complete list of donation locations can be found at https://shepeardblood.org/botox-for-blood/.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

Appling, GA – Entered into rest on June 27, 2024, Mr. Ellis “Nick” Young III, husband of 54 years to Patricia Walls Young. He is also survived by his son: Matthew Ellis Young (Summer); daughter: Amy Nicole Baisden (Bob); grandchildren: Banks Ellis Young, Justice Ann Pennington, Nicholas Patrick Pennington, William Matthew Young and Jacob Robert Baisden. Other family members include Jean and the late Danny Posey, Frank Bennett and Family, Ron and Lisa Wheatley, Chelsea and Ben. 

Nick was a native and lifelong resident of the Augusta area. He attended Houghton Elementary School, Tubman Middle School and the Academy of Richmond County. At the age of 16, he began working in the family roofing business, Young’s Roofing, with his father and later with his son Matt. He loved his family and friends with all of his heart, and they loved him. His smile would light up a room and his laughter was infectious. 

Nick was co-owner of Neptune Dive and Ski. He was an avid scuba diver into his old age and skier in his younger days. He traveled everywhere in the world Scuba Diving, seeing everything from shipwrecks to huge sea turtles and feeding sharks. Nick helped teach and oversaw countless beginner divers; both training them in the pool and caravanning them to West Palm Beach and other places for their first dive in “open water”. He was a patient assistant instructor and a great diver himself. To know him underwater, people could not believe his agility and laughed about his ability to sleep and chew tobacco 100 feet under the water. Sharing his love of the ocean and adventure brought him the most joy. Scuba diving with his three oldest grandchildren was one of his proudest moments. Chances are that he and his close friend Danny Posey are diving in the depths of the ocean that they could never dive here on earth.

The funeral service will be Monday, July 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Thomas Poteet and Son Funeral Directors with Rev. Greg Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at Bellevue Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Sunday, June 30, 2024, from 3:00 until 6:00 PM at the funeral home. 

Pallbearers will be Richard Bradshaw, Frank Bennett, Keith Anderson, Banks Young, Nick Pennington, Bob Baisden, Dan Posey and Ron Wheatley. Memorial contributions may be made to the Florida Hawksbill Project: 4419 West Tradewinds Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33308.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A two-passenger plane crashed in Saluda County Sunday morning, according to the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office.

The plane crashed between Persimmon Hill Golf Course and the Saluda County Airport, according to a Facebook post from the Sheriff’s Office.

Officials say Sheriff Deputies, EMS, and the Saluda County Fire Service responded to the scene.

Two passengers were flown via Life Net to receive medical treatment, officials say.

No further information is available at this time.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.