Augusta, GA

Leaders want you to conserve water, but they say rumors about shutoffs aren’t true

Published

1 year ago

September 29, 2024

Leaders want you to conserve water, but they say rumors about shutoffs aren’t true

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Leaders in Augusta and other communities grappling with recovery from Hurricane Helene are urging people to conserve water – but they disavow rumors going around that they’ll shut off water use after a certain hour.

The rumors of water shutoff took flight Saturday, apparently fueled by social media.

That led Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson to make a statement at a news conference that the rumor was not true.

The rumor was perhaps fueled by a mixture of a curfew that’s been ordered as well as a request to conserve water.

But Johnson said at a news conference Saturday that it’s absolutely not true that either the city of Augusta or neighboring Columbia County will cut off water use for people.

He said it’s true that city officials are asking the public to conserve water.

A line of cars waits to get to the Kroger Marketplace along Jimmie Dyess Parkway near Fort...

And it’s true that in some cases utility workers have to isolate some water mains long enough to repair them, though that’s hard because of all the uprooted trees.

But the city is working to provide as much water as possible, he said.

Despite that claim, News 12 has gotten phone calls from viewers in south Augusta who complain that their water flow is down to a trickle, if that.

Requests for water conservation are being made by communities across the CSRA as widespread electrical outages continue. That’s electricity that normally pumps water from wells and refills water tanks.

Georgia Power is working to restore electric service

Leaders want to keep water tanks as full as possible to meet demand, so they are asking people not to water their yards and to otherwise conserve water.

Among the requests:

The cities of Girard, Vidette and Waynesboro request that water be conserved. If you need water, bring clean containers with lids and go to Burke County Emergency Management Agency stations at Spring Branch Church Road, Hephzibah-Keysville Road, Highway 305 in Gough, Story Mill Road, Highway 56 South between Waynesboro and Midville, and EMA headquarters in Waynesboro. Water is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at these stations.
The Allendale Water Department posted these tips on how to conserve water on a daily basis both inside and out, including turning off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving, reducing flushing and using washing machines for full loads only.
The Edgefield County Water and Sewer is asking all customers to conserve water in the aftermath of Helene. All facilities are currently operating on generator power, but fuel supplies are limited at this time. Please use water for cooking, bathing and bathroom use only.
The New Ellenton Commission of Public Works asks its customers to conserve water until power is restored. This will help the utility conserve water that’s currently in the tanks.
Also asking for conservation of water is the Montmorenci-Couchton Water & Sewer District. Without power, the utility can’t operate its wells to pump water back into the tanks.
The water system lost pressure in Jackson, and officials on Saturday asked that when service resumes, boil water before consuming it until further notice.

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Augusta, GA

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

Published

6 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There was a large law enforcement presence Thursday morning at a home in west Augusta near Fort Gordon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were in the area attempting to find a suspect, according to deputies.

Witnesses said around 11:25 a.m. that officers had been surrounding a home at Harper-Franklin Avenue and Covington Court.

That’s in a neighborhood of mostly two-story brick-fronted homes built in the past three or four years just east of Jimmie Dyess Parkway and a couple of blocks north of Gordon Highway.

As noon approached, law enforcement had left.

But a Facebook post from earlier did show a large presence,including marked and unmarked cars, and officers all around the house. A witness said police dogs were on the scene, as well.

News 12 has reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for information.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

Published

18 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Steven Kendrick held a town hall on Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Community Center as he prepares to challenge Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

Kendrick, who serves as chief deputy tax commissioner for Richmond County, previously ran against Johnson in 2022. The town hall was part of Kendrick’s campaign tour as he seeks to unseat the incumbent mayor.

“Some of the people felt as though we really needed to dig a little deeper and we dug a little deeper,” Kendrick said after the meeting. “But that’s how you gain understanding, where everybody’s not going to agree about everything. Some of them we didn’t agree on. I certainly enjoyed the interaction. I learned some things, and I hope they learned some things as well.”

Multiple Commission seats up for election

The mayoral race is not the only contest facing Richmond County voters. Several Augusta Commission seats are up for election across multiple districts.

District 8 will have a new commissioner because Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited and cannot run again. Michael Cioffi and Evett Williams have filed to run for the District 8 seat.

Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 are also up for election. Stacy Pulliam currently serves in District 2.

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Augusta, GA

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County deputies are investigating their first homicide of 2026, which occurred early Monday morning on Hines Street just off Laney Walker Boulevard.

The victim was 21-year-old Thaddeus Kirkland. He was found bleeding on scene around 2 a.m. and died a short time later.

Suspect wanted for questioning

Deputies are seeking 24-year-old Bruce Wesby for questioning in connection to the incident. Wesby is known to frequent the Waynesboro area. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office.

Crime data shows progress in 2025

The first homicide of 2026 happened five days into the new year, two days sooner than the first homicide of 2025.

According to the sheriff’s office data, violent crime decreased significantly in 2025 under Sheriff Eugene Brantley’s leadership. Homicides dropped 35% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025 to their lowest level since 2021.

Aggravated assaults also dropped 35% to their lowest mark since 2018. Armed robberies fell 36% year-over-year to their lowest mark since crime data for Richmond County was first recorded in 2011.

Law enforcement focused on high-risk areas, including downtown Augusta, to lower response times and keep people safe.

“What they really want is for their families that they’re raising in this area to have safe lives, just like the citizens of Augusta that vote them in,” said M. Steven Fishman, president of Sidney’s Department Store & Uniforms. “They want to be able to go to work, come home, and enjoy their lives with their children, knowing that they’re safe.”

As 2026 gets underway, the sheriff’s office is continuing upgrades for technology and equipment to continue its goal of reducing violent crime. The office sent a statement saying the progress is in large part due to the community and deputies working together.

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