Augusta, GA
McGinty Ties for 20th at Augusta National Women’s Amateur
![McGinty Ties for 20th at Augusta National Women’s Amateur McGinty Ties for 20th at Augusta National Women’s Amateur](https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/amt-2de65b9e374fdee8480c6e478820c380e4826a98-23SL3_9023.jpg)
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Caley McGinty wrapped up the ultimate spherical of the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Newbie on the historic Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Sunday.
McGinty tied for 20th place general with a 54-hole rating of 220 (+4).
McGinty shot her finest spherical on Thursday, firing a 70 (-2) within the second spherical of play. She carded a 75 (+3) in each rounds one and two.
This was McGinty’s second time competing on the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Newbie. She tied for 12th place in 2022.
#GoBucks
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Augusta, GA
CSRA farmers face ongoing struggles after Hurricane Helene
![CSRA farmers face ongoing struggles after Hurricane Helene CSRA farmers face ongoing struggles after Hurricane Helene](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/6UFFF6T5N5G4LJXTQYCC3PQP2Q.png?auth=563a44bba16890ab92033406b1e06a5e89a4bf9047e1a15d1c59c7f4415dd2c2&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia’s House Speaker Jon Burns and the Agriculture Commissioner are urging President Trump to extend FEMA’s application deadline for Helene.
In a letter sent to the president, Burns says, “Right now, the future is uncertain for far too many Georgia farmers, and without assistance, some of them will not make it through this growing season.”
They’re not wrong. Our local farmers are hurting.
We’re talking about damage so bad; that some people aren’t sure they can afford to rebuild.
Producers throughout our region say the aftermath is shaping up to be harder than the actual storm.
“You don’t realize the damage that was done till you start actually getting in here,” said Rosalynne Burns, owner of Double B Plant Farm.
![Augusta Transit paratransit van](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/RDYG2OGAGZB6BPYSP6RMAXE26Q.png?auth=ba738ae82d30a3d9b788ff60f0485ee880d8a7717da41e81542b38038919350c&width=1280&height=720&smart=true)
It’s one battle after another.
“We’re not the only ones in this boat. All the other growers that we know in this area are, you know, under the same, you know, circumstances that we are,” said Rosalynne.
Underneath all the destruction also lies broken irrigation systems and less salvageable products.
The Pecan Barn says cleanup is only half the battle once they realize what’s barely hanging isn’t viable either.
![Beginning February 1, the program will be available on a first-come, first-served basis...](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/2GDI6K3BDNCXTGHVVTIVWRRFEM.jpg?auth=dc2a43f7057cf262444362bcdf220551232141513f47564c056d2833e6ff82c4&width=3504&height=2336&smart=true)
“It’s definitely never good to see more things that need to be fixed or more problems,” said Jayme Powell, owner of The Pecan Barn.
Other generational businesses, like Double B Plant Farm, say it’s more than just closing doors to the public.
“It’s a type of grieving, and it comes in stages because we’ve lost not only our family business that we’re not all working together as a family anymore,” said Rosalynne.
![Fort Eisenhower generic](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/IAVHFILBDBEP5MSRWRX7K4GBGI.jpg?auth=2c81214ea4aa0476e6b833d8148d9a3cad2887728ac8a3a76213a0bcc669b978&width=1410&height=793&smart=true)
Augusta Locally Grown says 25% of its local farmers are still struggling from catastrophic damages.
They say this year’s season at the farmers market may look slimmer.
“Not only did farmers lose their crops that were in the ground, they lost their harvest because electricity was down, and they lost their means of production because the facilities were actually damaged,” said Chuck Simpson, farmer business manager for Augusta Locally Grown.
![FILE - Georgia State Capitol](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/6YEH5M3N4BAGFKQ4ZSMSEQHWDQ.jpg?auth=f65b952d226cf633fd23897fdc15526be5f7c76b3edbe2f352db4cd55389d91c&width=1920&height=1080&smart=true)
2025 will be a make-or-break year for many farmers hoping to sprout something positive to build upon.
Augusta Locally Grown and producers throughout the area are urging local support this year.
An in-person farmers market will open on March 20 and go every Thursday through the growing season.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
14 months later, upgrades still not started at Augusta park
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta’s Dyess Park is in desperate need of improvements – and city leaders agree.
In November of 2023, $6.5 million in sales tax money was set aside to revitalize the park.
The funds have been sitting on a shelf since then, and in the meantime, neighbors are paying the price.
While the city debates what to do with the community center, people who could be using this park are still stuck waiting.
At Dyess Park, playtime never stops.
“This should be their safe space,” said Mia Tate, Augusta resident, and parent.
It’s proof that joy can thrive in a place where promises fade.
“Can you be patient? You gotta be patient,” Tate said to her child.
Patience – something neighbors around Dyess Park are losing.
“I thought we did all the talking that we were going to do,” said Stanley Hawes, who lives near Dyess Park. ”All the talking over with, it’s time for action, that’s all.”
Standing in the way of progress is the locked community center.
“Literally and figuratively speaking, I weep,” said Hawes. “I weep because there are kids in my neighborhood that don’t have a chance.”
A historic building turned into an eyesore
“We can’t build communities with an empty building right there,” said Hawes.
For nearly 20 years, Hawes has lived next to the park.
“Some people got places to go, they can take their kids to the YMCA or whatever,” said Hawes. “Some of us here can’t do that, some of them got just what’s dealt to them.”
There is a playground, but other than that–
“Empty swimming pool,” said Hawes. “They have caught kids over there playing in a dangerous area because they had nothing else to do.”
![](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/GWUPXCFWK5LRLBRYKZCOETU6AA.jpg?auth=06c09bb0b1f6127f4b15334f90dd4899ea89b309f9178524788650b6ca8df477&width=953&height=503&smart=true)
It’s leaving some parents asking for change.
“If they have things that they’re able to exert their energy on versus what we will quote unquote say negative things, then we’ll see more impact on them having healthy and positive expressions on their faces and exerting of their energy there,” said Tate.
In return, they are hopeful a positive impact on the community could come about.
“If the government wants to help and the community takes it, take their part,” said Tate. “I think it would make a big impact and see everything flourish and go in the direction that everybody wants it to go.”
Commissioners say the talks about improving Dyess Park go back to 2004 and as you can see. some neighbors are tired of waiting.
“Hopefully they will decide to go ahead on and do this thing,” said Hawes.
Also Tuesday, Augusta Commission members:
- Approved supplemental funding not to exceed $15.4 million for Hurricane Helene debris removal services with Ceres Environmental Services Inc. Also approved the use of general fund fund-balance to fund these services.
- Approved supplemental funding in an amount not to exceed $1.272 million for Hurricane Helene debris removal monitoring services with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood Inc. Also approved use of general fund fund-balance to fund these services.
- Approved supplemental funding in an amount not to exceed $874,319 for Hurricane Helene debris removal coordination support services with Infrastructure Systems Management LLC. Also approved use of general fund-fund balance to fund these services.
- Approved a motion to approve task order No. 1 with an amount not to exceed $500,000 for Hurricane Helene cost recovery services through Tetra Tech.
- Agreed to have Troy Akers meet with city officials to come back with a plan for a sports facility including pickleball courts off Interstate 20 near Doctors Hospital. He’s proposing 18 championship-size tennis courts and 48 pickleball courts. He’d also like a 15,000-square-foot gym with a walking track. His goal is to bring back tennis to Richmond County and introduce and grow kickball here, which he said “would put us on the map in the state.” He said the location near I-20 would help.
- Heard from Richard Skuse about paratransit services. He’s a blind veteran who moved here in 2009. “Over the last year, it’s gone downhill, specifically in the last several months,” he said of the service. He gave an example from around Christmas when he called paratransit and was told the service was booked up and he needed to call two weeks in advance. The director of paratransit says there are issues, one being vehicles being down in an accident and also there being a 24-hour notice. Skuse says it’s not just got him, but it’s those living check to check, and having to schedule two weeks out is hard. Commissioners decided to task the administrator and her team to work with transit and come up with a plan.
- Approved purchase of video surveillance security systems for three locations along the Augusta Canal as a sole source procurement in the amount of $90,854.
- Approved Augusta Utilities’ purchase of SmartWorks MDM for AMI data integration as a sole source procurement from systems and software in the amount of $607,000.
- Approved continued funding of the current “on-call property appraisal and acquisition services for Augusta engineering” contract in the amount of $350,000.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
4 suspects from Augusta indicted on federal firearms charges
![4 suspects from Augusta indicted on federal firearms charges 4 suspects from Augusta indicted on federal firearms charges](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/FSZOKA5FWFB7HH7NWJIQOXQ5T4.jpg?auth=251c5f7974a23e15b52fe54b02d95d654c212c69310048d20a004609a7436c55&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Four people from Augusta have been indicted for illegal federal firearm possession, according to authorities.
“Getting guns out of the hands of those who can’t legally possess them is a vital part of the effort to reduce violent crime,” said Tara M. Lyons, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We applaud our law enforcement partners for their diligent work in keeping our communities safe.”
The cases are prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally possess guns.
Those indicted in February include Timothy Lee Cheeks, 37, of Augusta, was indicted in February charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Also previously indicted is Stephen Joseph Sala, 33, of Augusta, charged with possession of an unregistered firearm (referring to a short-barreled rifle.)
All indicted defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
![Pine Valley Apartments](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/VG7J5LTU3VBWVBPH6AWMIZRGYQ.png?auth=784871d3aaff2b7ed57941dac0d38b9e3c351a9bafbf12fc2ccea5dc7967f6a5&width=1833&height=1064&smart=false&focal=918%2C341)
Defendants recently adjudicated on federal firearms charges include:
- Anthony Orlando Jones, 34, of Augusta, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Richmond County deputies and the U.S. Marshals found Jones in possession of a semiautomatic pistol in November 2023 while serving him with an arrest warrant on a state felony charge.
- Deleon Alexander Jackson, 23, of Augusta, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Richmond County deputies found Jackson in possession of a rifle while investigating a reported disturbance at an Augusta store.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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