Augusta, GA

Leaders, businesses push for entertainment district in downtown Augusta

Published

2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

Press Room

Leaders, businesses push for entertainment district in downtown Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – City leaders are planning to create an entertainment district in downtown Augusta.

The idea is to model it after cities like Savannah with similar open container rules.

Right now, current downtown Augusta ordinances don’t allow for open containers or bars to have outdoor seating. The rules impact several businesses.

Pedal Pub is fairly new to the area. With the current rules, they cannot use their pub on the pedals.

Charity Jones and Syderist Manuel are sisters and co-owners.

“Once this entertainment district is done and completed, we’ll definitely see a definite change in our business. Without being able to take alcohol on the bikes, a lot of people are like ‘Okay, well we can go other places to enjoy it,’” they said.

They are not the only place with this problem. It’s starting to catch the attention of those in charge.

Commissioner Sean Frantom said: “Between Augusta University, the cyber center, and all the residential going up, it’s time for us to kind of up our game in downtown Augusta. You’d be able to have a designated cup that each establishment would have where you can only have your drink in this cup as you go from establishment to establishment, as well as the fact that it would be able to carry this drink to the James Brown arena.”

Right now, it’s just a matter of getting everyone on board.

“We want the blessing of the sheriff’s office and kind of what they think and what they see in this. Obviously, it’ll only be a certain timeframe. It won’t be until 2 a.m., it’ll be maybe towards 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. Again, we want to be respectful of that,” said Frantom.

As for businesses, they are also in planning mode.

Manuel and Jones said: “How can we work? What is it that we want as bars to be able to see the entertainment district represent for us, you know, we would like to be at the forefront of that, making sure that it is something that would benefit us.”

Many stakeholders are involved in the planning from the Downtown Development Authority to the Convention Center.

One of the main things they’re considering is safety when it comes to allowing open containers.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta community, leaders gather for National Day of Prayer

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2024

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Augusta community, leaders gather for National Day of Prayer

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Thursday was the National Day of Prayer, and local leaders came together for breakfast to honor the day.

Augusta Mayor Garnet Johnson and Fort Eisenhower Brigadier General Paul Howard were in attendance for the event at the First Baptist Church of Augusta.

This is for the community to pray for our community leaders.

District Attorney Jared Williams was the keynote speaker for the event.

“It’s really easy to get burnt out when you are carrying the weight of stories and cases. We pray to God he will continue to use us to make a positive impact not just in public safety but the community as a whole,” said Williams.

This is the 73rd annual Day of Prayer.

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Augusta, GA

Small plane crashed into residential Georgia neighborhood, killing pilot

Published

10 hours ago

May 2, 2024

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — A pilot has died after a small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in a Georgia city.

The plane crashed on Thursday a little more than a half mile (1 kilometer) from Daniel Field, a general aviation airport in Augusta.

Augusta University told local news outlets that the pilot was Jason McKenzie, the associate director of philanthropy at the school. McKenzie had just taken off in a single-engine Beechcraft 36 with plans to fly to New Haven, Connecticut.

It’s unclear what caused the plane to descend. As it was coming down, it clipped a tree and hit power lines, leaving debris in the tree, and then crashed between two homes in the affluent neighborhood, bursting into flames. No one else was injured, and the plane didn’t hit any buildings.

“I think that was a miracle,” resident Lisa Lewis told WRDW-TV. “I think the Lord protected everyone else.”

Neighbors said that while it’s not unusual to hear planes so close to the airport, this one sounded much louder, followed by the boom of the crash. Firefighters knocked down flames that video showed roaring high into the air.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate. Police roped off a residential intersection with burned debris.

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Augusta, GA

‘One of a kind’: Heroic pilot is mourned in Augusta, elsewhere

Published

17 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

‘One of a kind’: Heroic pilot is mourned in Augusta, elsewhere

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The community is mourning a pilot who died Thursday morning in an Augusta plane crash – a man many are calling a hero for saving lives on the ground.

Scott McKenzie, associate director of philanthropy at Augusta University, was the only person killed when the single-engine Beechcraft 36 crashed at Hillcrest Avenue and Belmont Drive just after 7:13 a.m. Thursday.

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First responders credit McKenzie’s piloting for avoiding further deaths and injuries.

The plane, bound for New Haven, Conn., crashed in a densely populated residential neighborhood just after taking off from Daniel Field, just a couple of blocks away.

McKenzie joined Augusta University in 2020 and worked in philanthropy and alumni engagement, where he was extensively involved in building relationships and working with donors who support athletics programs.

“His passion for the university and our athletics programs was unsurpassed. We are keeping Jason’s family, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers,” AU said in a statement.

A former resident of Baton Rouge, he was on the golf team at Mississippi State University.

McKenzie worked in the broadcasting field for many years in Baton Rouge including at WAFB-TV and Guaranty Broadcasting.

But Augusta was his hometown, so he moved back here four years ago.

McKenzie was a close friend of Augusta Commission member Sean Frantom, who appeared shaken when he visited the crash site Thursday.

“He was one of kind. My friend for over 35 years,” Frantom posted on Facebook. “He loved the Lord and loved his family. He is one of the best family men I have ever seen.”