AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – 3D printers, a sound mixer, a green screen, headphones and more are all at the Augusta Richmond County Public Library.

On Friday, the public got a first look at the new tech hub.

It’s a new space brought on by teens and what they felt would be innovative for the library.

Director Emanuel Mitchell took that feedback and brought it to life.

“For the next generation, it opens the door to let them know yes the library is a place for books, but it’s also a place to inspire you. To go from using a 3D printer to pulling books on a 3-D printer, to wanting to know more about how they work,” said Mitchell.

Inside you’ll find just about anything for the creative mind — two 3d printers, a 3d laser printer, a green screen and music production equipment.

“We also have something for the child at heart for those that have VHS and no longer can find a VCR. We have now the technology to digitize that to a thumb drive so the memories can live on,” said Mitchell.

Tonia Gibbons with the public library board of trustees says having something like this sets kids on the right path.

“A lot of times we want children to grow up and be successful, but we don’t necessarily always give them the tools, or they don’t have access, so for the library to be that place and it’s a safe space. It’s a place where they can come, relax, and do what they need to do, but learn, grow, and hopefully go off and do great things and come back to the city of Augusta,” she said.

And kids are already enjoying the space, like Maurice Norman who initially said he was not too thrilled about coming to the library until he saw the tech hub.

“I initially thought it was going to be a little boring, but after I saw lots of fun stuff, it was fun, exciting. I even wanted to 3D print something,” he said.

You can start signing up to use the tech hub on Monday.

This is only phase one. The library plans on adding a recording studio as well as a classroom for coding instruction and script writing. Construction for phase two will start next year.

The tech hub was made possible through a city grant.

You do have to have a library card to use the space.

For more information, visit the library’s website.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help finding a missing woman and man who may have information about her.

Shekema Toran, 36, was last seen Wednesday in the 4400 block of T. J. Kelly Road near Diamond Lakes Regional Park, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

She’s believed to be in a white 2004 Ford F-250 with Georgia tag RJW1158 driven by Barritz Martin, 37. They are believed to be heading to the Atlanta area, where the vehicle was last seen Wednesday.

Deputies are looking for Martin for questioning about Toran.

Authorities released a photo of Toran and said she’s 6 feet tall and weighs 215 pounds.

Deputies also released a photo of him and said he’s 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 160 pounds.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – If you haven’t finished back-to-school shopping, this weekend would be the time to do it.

While many South Carolina stores will be filled with shoppers, we can’t forget about the local organizations holding back-to-school drives for families who may need a little support.

Clothes, backpacks, pens, pencils, paper, shoes and even haircuts can all add up.

We spoke with one group working to lessen the financial stress as kids head back to the classroom.

The Augusta Dream Center is a non-profit organization that works to help underserved communities in the CSRA.

“A lot of people were finding themselves without childcare, without food resources, availability to get to where the resources were. So, it was very important to us to have this location in south Augusta to be present with the people who seem to need it the most,” said Meagan Slusser, missions pastor at Stevens Creek Church.

They provide food, clothes, health care resources, an adult computer literacy course and a hot meal every Sunday to those who need it.

Fundraising Coordinator Hallie Dickens said: “We’re seeing upwards to 250-350 families weekly. This is not people just families, so when it comes to people over the last 12 months. We’ve impacted over 30,000 people with just feeding alone.”

The Dream Center is now gearing up to help even more people on Saturday through what they call Serve Day.

They’ll be providing free haircuts, clothes, shoes, dental screenings and backpacks filled with supplies.

Slusser said: “So, if there are multiple colors or styles, they get to pick from them and really make it personal, and that just changes a kid’s world for starting out school and gives them the confidence they probably need to let them know they can do it this year, you can get through it.”

Slusser says events like this happen because of the community.

“Many companies have chipped in, and many churches have chipped in, and we love to see that grow. We never want it to be one name that’s championed, but the whole community coming together to serve our people,” she said.

To learn more about the Augusta Dream Center, visit https://www.augustadreamcenter.org/.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.