Augusta, GA
Mentor uses personal experience as guidance for youths in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re heading into the summer months and while kids are out of school, they are in need of things to keep them on the right path and away from trouble.
We’ve spoken to organizations like Living in Purpose and The Manhood Tour, which are two examples of people trying to reach kids at a young age.
Aaron Kinzer is a facilitator with The Manhood Tour. His one-of-a-kind experience motivated him to do something to turn his life around so that others may learn from it.
He spent 13 years in federal prison. He was charged with several counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, crack cocaine and money laundering.
He says he was first introduced to drugs during his youth. By the time he was 21, he was a full-time drug dealer.
Kinzer says he lacked guidance, direction and stability, and carries with him a lot of the same problems many youth in our community face today.
While Kinzer was in prison, he wrote two books. A poem book titled, “Outside the Margin of Error,” and a children’s book titled, “All You Can Be.”
“It’s a collection of poems from a prisoner,” Kinzer read from “Outside the Margin of Error.” “That prisoner was me.”
At age 28, Kinzer says he was indicted by the federal government and later on, convicted and sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking.
“I served 13 years and two months of that federal sentence. And during that time is when I was able to discover a passion and a purpose and work on changing myself,” he said.
He says he was able to find his way to Augusta due to his family relocating here.
“My brother relocated and he was a great support network while I was inside and we had promised that he was going to be one when I got out,” said Kinzer. “When he and his wife made a move to Augusta when he got out of the military, I made my move in my mind. I was coming here and changed my release address to Augusta, Georgia, and the rest is history.”
Kinzer says he was released to a halfway house here. Two months later, he went to house arrest with a GPS monitor. And on Aug. 2, 2023, he had an ankle monitor cut off and became a free man.
“What I’ve done and what I’ve experienced and what I’ve seen in my life and my walk, anyway I can use that as a tool to help people fix their lives and not go the route that I went. That is my mission. That is my purpose. And that is what I’m doing. And that’s what I’m living and striving to do every day that I wake,” said Kinzer.
As victims of crime seem to get younger and younger, Kinzer wants to reach the youth before they head down the path he once walked.
“They’re scared in their own neighborhoods. They’re scared in their own communities. I’ve seen those areas, I’ve been in those areas prior to me coming to prison, that’s what led me to prison is being in those areas and living that life,” he said.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Volunteers came together Saturday to help clean up an Augusta neighborhood.
The cleanup took place on Wheeless Road and Dorn Road.
Jeremiah Atkinson started the event as a way to clean up trash dumped in the area and help the community.
He said they had at least 30 bags picked up as of Saturday morning.
“My message is if you see one piece of trash, pick it up and help Augusta clean it up because I feel like that would be more efficient, just pick up one piece of trash a day, just one to help out the community,” Atkinson said.
Organizers also provided snacks for volunteers.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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Madison Lovelle posts videos online while going through and cleaning her childhood home after her father died.
Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.
Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.
Best city to buy a home in Georgia?
Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.
Augusta real estate prices
According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.
The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.
Augusta cost of living
The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.
Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.
Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?
The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.
What are the best cities to buy a home in US?
- Flint, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Surprise, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Akron, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Memphis, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Senate candidate Derek Dooley made several visits to the area on Friday.
Dooley had stops in both Lincolnton and Augusta on May 29 and was joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for his “Georgia First” tour. He spoke about one of the issues he finds in politics.
“But the other piece of it is the corruption. People sit on these committees. They have access to information that none of us have. And then you look up 2 or 3 years down the road and their wealth is just skyrocketing,” Dooley said. “You’re outperforming every investor out there. And I think it’s shameful. I think it erodes trust. It’s something that I will never do.”
“Politicians were out there getting paid. They were coming back home. They’re raising money and campaigning while the government shut down,” Kemp said. “What Derek’s saying, if he’s up there, we’re not going to allow legislators to get paid. We’re going to take away their benefits. That way, you won’t ever have another shutdown again.”
Dooley is facing Congressman Mike Collins in a runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
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