AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A ribbon cutting was held on Friday for the new south Augusta’s Farmers Market on Windsor Spring Road.

Leaders say the grand opening represents a big milestone as the farmers market celebrates their third year of growth and community engagement.

The farmers market provides access to fresh organic produce and local homemade goods.

It’s also connecting the local community with the same farmers that grew the produce, like Kahn Hassan, in hopes of growing the industry he says needs more hands and help

“Currently what we are struggling with in the farming community right now is young farmers. We have a lot of older farmers that are passing off the knowledge to the younger ones. But as far as creating interest in farming, we want to be able to bring as many facets to it as we can,” said Hassan.

You can connect with farmers like Hassan on the third Friday of every month in south August at 6 p.m.

They will even have some information on programs where you can sign up and be part of if you are interested in farming.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The I-TEAM is working to get answers for you as the investigation into Augusta’s 911 Center and emergency response throughout Richmond County continues.

For months the I-TEAM has gathered emails, documents and reports about the Augusta Fire Department and how it responds to emergency calls.

With life-saving services, every second counts. That was the case when an entire house went up in flames on Old Louisville Road which is directly across the street from Augusta Fire Station 16.

Our I-TEAM’s report “Silent Alarm” uncovered how Teresa Ingram and Rex Williams died in that deadly house fire, despite the fire department being housed right across the street.

“How much closer can you get to a fire station? If we had a catastrophic incident, rock throwing distance to the fire department, and they can’t even get here,” said Tommy Williams.

The I-TEAM uncovered nearly 150 cases of dispatching errors when you, the people of Richmond County, called 911 for help. Firefighters have been delayed responding to calls or even missing calls altogether since late 2021.

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That included anything from medical calls, structure fires and vehicle accidents.

“Why would they let it continue all knowing that it’s not working right?” said Farrah Hembree.

As loud as the family’s calls for answers are, it’s been nothing but radio silence from the Augusta Fire Department and city leaders. But, the I-TEAM went looking for answers.

We found no response from any of your elected officials or from the head person charged with running the Augusta Fire Department. Before our report aired on April 29, we reached out to Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight on April 23.

She is the chair of the Augusta Public Safety Committee. We called Smith-McKnight, who said she was unaware of what Purvis was and didn’t know about the issue at all.

The day after our report ran, on April 30, we went to the public safety committee meeting to get answers from your elected officials. Smith-McKnight said she had not seen our report.

“I did not because I had my fundraiser and then I went out to dinner, so I didn’t see it. I need to brush up on it. I’ll brush up on it and I’ll go in there real quick and do that,” said Smith-McKnight.

Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden also gave us no comment at the meeting.

On May 1, we asked Smith-McKnight for a sit-down interview regarding the dispatching system – and including a link to our report. There was no response.

On May 3, we reached out to Smith-McKnight again for comment.

She told us in a text message, “At this time, I have no comment about the dispatch system until I see paper evidence. I will gladly do an interview once I get the facts and read up on this.”

“I did not receive your report. Whatever the case is, I wasn’t Public Safety chair two years ago. I am just hearing about this,” said Smith-McKnight.

Commissioner McKnight goes on to say, “I am in the middle of re-election so it’s a busy time. Again, once I receive an email and read everything then I can elaborate on this.”

We followed up with her again on May 6, and have not heard back.

We reached out to an Augusta Fire Department spokesperson about our report, asking for a sit-down interview with Chief Burden. We have not heard back.

The I-TEAM tracked down agendas and minutes from public safety committee and commission meetings and found this dispatching issue has not been discussed since 2019.

That’s when the contract agreement was voted on and approved.

That’s despite the fire department telling us in a statement they’re aware of the issue and are investigating it. These issues have been ongoing since 2021 when the system went online.

There’s a lack of urgency in responding to this issue – where every second matters. It could mean the difference in when or if first responders show up for your emergency.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Georgia Board of Regents will require students to take the ACT or SAT to get into four universities in the fall of 2026.

Those schools include Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and Augusta University.

Test requirements had already been restored for the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia College and State University — the system’s three most selective schools.

All of this means things are starting to return to how they were pre-COVID.

Both Richmond and Columbia county schools said just because the state put the requirement on hold, preparing students for the tests never stopped.

While the state pumped the brakes on SAT and ACT testing, Richmond County pressed the gas.

“We’ve always offered opportunities to help our students kind of hone in on those skills. We have prep classes at every high school, in addition to other resources that kids can engage in, just to kind of go ahead and maximize their potential on that SAT or ACT,” said Charlie Tudor, advanced studies program administrator for Richmond County schools.

Tudor says they start prepping students in eighth grade.

“All of our eighth graders take the PSAT in October of their eighth-grade year. We look at that data and go ahead and encourage our kids. Some of them are ready to take an AP class in ninth grade, we look at that AP potential there,” said Tudor.

Every year after, the curriculum is woven into their class schedule.

“Those skills and that knowledge are built into the curriculum already. A lot of our schools have SAT and ACT plans in there. There are also Saturday study sessions for certain targeted kids that need that extra support,” said Tudor.

Tudor says they never want cost to get in the way of academics.

“College Board and ACT, ‘ve always provided fee waivers based on your income. Here in Richmond County, if we know there’s a need for one of our students at the school level, we always make sure things happen to make sure there are no barriers or challenges as far as finances go with kids,” said Tudor.

Columbia County says they have been doing things just the same as before the pandemic as well.

All the requirements for ACT and SAT testing are set to start in the fall of 2026.

If you want to sign your child up for extra study classes, leaders say the best way is to contact the school counselor.

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