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
Mother’s Day concert brings gospel music to Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several artists came together for a Mother’s Day concert Bethel Community Church Family Life Center.
Lucresha Thomas with Psalm 100 Entertainment said the event honors mothers.
“I think that is very important to honor the mothers because there’s some people that don’t have mothers due, the mothers passing away and mothers not being local,” Thomas said. “So this helps bring them together and they’re able to fellowship with other mothers and just be positive, bringing some gospel to the community where they can fellowship together, be blessed and maybe receive a blessing.”
Host Tommy Ingram said groups from across the area participated in the concert.
“We got a live, a lot of groups coming from all over the area to make sure that all the mothers in the area have a good time today,” Ingram said.
Host Adrian Monet said the free concert gives back to the community.
“Well, okay, yeah, a lot of mothers enjoy some good gospel singing. They love gospel concerts,” Monet said. “And this one is a give back, you know, to the community because it’s completely free. And so it’s a chance for people to bring their mothers to enjoy the music that they love so much.”
Erica and Jessica Harris, co-owners of Sophisticated Soul Food, said they wanted to celebrate mothers.
“Okay, we’re out here today for this pre-Mother’s Day event, and we’re just, we just want to give back to the community and celebrate all mothers,” the co-owners said. “And so we’re so excited to be out here. And we have great soul food for everybody that wants to come out.”
Kenneth Medlock, Tyrell Gibson and Gary Durham of The Country Boys, a gospel group from Thomson, said they were honored to participate.
“So we’re just so grateful to be here and honored to be able to stand up and let the world know how good God is through our songs and our praise,” the group said.
Anthony Gallant and Lamont McDowell, members of a gospel group from the Carolinas, said celebrating mothers is important.
“Oh yeah, I think it’s extremely important because mothers work hard throughout the year. They’re very diligent,” Gallant and McDowell said. “And I think at least if you could celebrate them one time, just make them feel special and that the queens that they are, I think it’s important and they’ll feel that love.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident
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Augusta, GA
Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.
Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.
Campaign priorities
Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.
“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”
Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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