Augusta, GA

Man sentenced in October 2023 bomb threat at Augusta Social Security office

Published

1 year ago

September 26, 2024

Man sentenced in October 2023 bomb threat at Augusta Social Security office

File – Police respond to a bomb threat at the Social Security Administration office in Augusta, Ga., on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

A Richmond County man was recently sentenced to federal prison after threatening to blow up Augusta’s Social Security office nearly a year ago.

Keyon Tishaye Dickens, 39, of Augusta, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to using a telephone to make a threat to injure a person or damage a building by explosives, according to a news release from Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Dickens to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term, according to the release. There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and testimony, Dickens received a notice in September 2023 that he was receiving overpayments to his Supplemental Security Income and that the Social Security Administration intended to recoup the funds from future SSI checks, according to the release.

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In response, Dickens called the Social Security Administration office in Augusta and said, “I’m going to shoot the office up and I’m going to blow it up. I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do,” according to the release.

Carrying a backpack, Dickens later visited the Social Security office and showed the security guard a note that read, “I have a bomb,” according to the release. The officer notified the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the building was locked down and evacuated.

No bomb was found, and Richmond County deputies took Dickens into custody, according to previous reporting.

“Keyon Dickens’ malicious actions are criminal and intolerable,” said Michelle L. Anderson, acting SSA Inspector General. “This sentence demonstrates that threats to Social Security employees and offices are felonious and will not be ignored. We will continue to aggressively respond to threats, investigate the perpetrators and seek prosecution.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Man sentenced in Augusta bomb threat at Social Security Administration

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Augusta, GA

Rain leads to parade cancellations, delays in Augusta, Grovetown, Waynesboro

Published

9 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Press Room

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The cities of Augusta and Grovetown have canceled and postponed some of its Christmas celebrations due to weather.

Augusta

The city of Augusta has canceled its parade that was scheduled for Saturday due to weather.

The Christmas Light Up Event will be rescheduled for Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. at the Augusta Common.

The parade will not be rescheduled.

Grovetown

The city of Grovetown has postponed its Christmas parade and festival events due to weather.

The event scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 has been postponed until Dec. 13, according to city officials.

The parade will be held on the same route and will at 10 a.m.

The festival will be at Liberty Park and will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

City officials say they feel that the decision is in the best interest of event participants, organizers and attendees.

Waynesboro

Saturday’s parade has been postponed until , Dec. 13 at 1 p.m., Waynesboro officials said on Facebook.

“Your safety is our top priority and we look forward to seeing you then,” the city said.

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Augusta, GA

Watchdog for Augusta spending ethics approved by charter committee

Published

21 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Press Room

Watchdog for Augusta spending ethics approved by charter committee

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It’s the charter committee’s answer to the government’s P.R. problem.

“People say all the time we have to restore public trust. I argue that we haven’t ever had it. This is kind of the way we work towards that where we can trust our officials,” said Sheffie Robinson, of the Charter Review Committee.

To get that trust, the committee approved new ethics rules and the creation of a citizens panel to investigate ethics complaints of the government.

“Any time there are complaints and there are issues you want to make sure they are dealing on the highest ethical grounds that they can,” said Clint Bryant of the Charter Review Committee.

With issues swirling around city spending, the committee approved putting a financial watchdog in the charter, creating an independent auditor position to follow the taxpayer’s money.

“I think the internal auditor will not necessarily find fraud, but can increase productivity,” said Lee Powell, Charter Review Committee member.

“An attempt to get back to transparency and accountability. You won’t support a tax increase when you think that money is going to be frittered away,” said Charter Committee Chair Marcie Wilhelmi.

But an internal auditor would be a new mandated position, costing the taxpayers.

“The money they will save this government will much more than pay for their department,” said Powell.

The committee is making its move and if state lawmakers and voters agree, these steps to improve ethics and watch over tax dollars will be written into the new city charter.

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Augusta, GA

Empty Stocking Fund event draws crowd to Boys & Girls Club

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Press Room

Empty Stocking Fund event draws crowd to Boys & Girls Club

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The United Way of Augusta distributed toys to more than 1,700 children Thursday during its annual Empty Stocking Fund event at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Augusta.

Cars lined the parking lot and Chafee Avenue as families waited to receive toy bags for their children.

The United Way purchased hundreds of toys for both boys and girls ahead of the distribution.

Parents were able to sign up in advance to receive bags for their children.

United Way President and CEO Brittany Barnette said the organization has more buying power to purchase toys for pennies on the dollar, similar to Golden Harvest Food Bank when buying food.

Families who participated in the toy distribution also received information about applying for SNAP benefits and details about Golden Harvest Food Bank services.

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