Augusta, GA

Local veteran says ‘tradition’ helps carry on remembrance

Published

2 years ago

May 27, 2024

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Local veteran says ‘tradition’ helps carry on remembrance

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Monday, around the nation, we honored fallen service members.

It’s a day to remember for those throughout the area who served. Memorial Day allows us to take a moment to reflect.

Making sure no one lost in the line of duty is American Legion Post 178 Commander Grant Whiteley’s message on Memorial Day.

The post hosted dozens for a lunch which then turned into a ceremony.

MEMORIAL DAY COVERAGE:

“I am one about traditions. We have a lot of members that passed away and there’s one way to honor them every year,” said Whiteley.

The ceremony included naming every veteran a part of the post who has passed.

“A lot of those names were, you know, a buddy of mine here,” he said. “Had I not had this ceremony today. I wouldn’t remember them. Every time I hear their name during the ceremony. I remember. I remember who they were what they did, and a lot of them did a lot for this post.”

Following each name, a bell rang.

“All those names, we had rang a bell,” he said. “It let them know we’re thinking about them and we’re praying you know, and that they’re not forgotten.”

The playing of TAPS was followed by a prayer on their outside lawn full of white crosses representing each fallen soldier from the post.

“That’s what it’s all about, you know, so we don’t forget. There are too many things going on today. There’s no more tradition. They don’t remember you know, people hardly go out to the cemetery anymore,” Whiteley said.

Whiteley says it’s important to keep traditions moving forward. He says it’s all about not forgetting those who paid it all for our freedoms.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta government provides update on HCD audit

Published

11 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Augusta government provides update on HCD audit

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta officials say a preliminary response related to an audit of the Housing and Community Development Department was received Tuesday from Cherry Bekaert.

The audit report is not yet complete, according to the city.

After initial review, the city has requested additional information to “ensure clarity and accuracy before the process moves forward.”

“The Augusta government remains committed to transparency and will provide further updates once the requested information is received and the audit is finalized,” the city said in the news release.

In November, Augusta Commission members held a budget workshop session with much discussion about the Housing and Community Development Department.

That’s the department that left the city on the hook to pay back millions in federal grant money.

The city received more than $6 million in grant money during the COVID-19 pandemic, supposedly to help people who were in danger of eviction.

The city never spent the money for that purpose, so the government demanded it back.

The department didn’t have the money on hand, so the city had to repay it, and then some, from the general fund — $6.3 million of the original grant money and $2.1 million in penalties.

The scandal led to the exit of Housing and Community Director Hawthorne Welcher and sparked an audit of the department.

On Oct. 28, commissioners in closed executive session approved the payment of up to $32,237.32 from contingency funds for rental assistance previously approved by the Housing and Community Development Department.

This means leaders agreed to take the money from their emergency fund and use it to help people with their rent as part of a program the department had already put in place.

Mayor Garnett Johnson said at the time this was an effort to address letters that were sent out, falsely leading people to believe they were getting some emergency funds.

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Augusta, GA

Get medical care at several health events in Augusta

Published

23 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Get medical care at several health events in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several health events in Augusta on Tuesday are offering help to those who need medical care.

Department of Public Health mobile clinic

The Department of Public Health mobile clinic will be at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

Officials say the clinic makes it easier to receive care for those who don’t have transportation.

The clinic will be at the 3109 Wrightsboro Road from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

You can receive sports, work and school physicals, diabetes management, WIC referrals, vaccines and more.

The mobile clinic offers private exam rooms, wheelchair-accessible lifts and modern medical equipment.

For more information on the mobile clinic and what stops it will take, visit www.ecphd.com/wego.

Annual Horizon Truckers Clinic

The fourth annual health fair for bus and shuttle driver employees with Horizon Motor Coach will be held on Tuesday at Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad Street.

This event will start at 11 a.m.

In partnership with the Augusta Lions Club, the Augusta University’s College of Nursing, Georgia Prevention Institute, College of Allied Health Sciences, the Dental College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center make the event possible.

The health fair is designed to help prevent and identify health issues as well as providing mock DOT exams, dental examinations and nutrition advice.

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