Augusta, GA
Parking concerns rise after SUV crashes into N. Augusta business
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – Concerns about safety and parking in downtown North Augusta are rising after an SUV crashed through a store front.
The Town Square Olive Oil and Wine are back to business after a crash on Tuesday night on Georgia Avenue.
A 34-year-old man is behind bars on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Police say there were two kids in the car with him at the time of the crash.
Trying to find a place to park on Georgia Avenue or use the crosswalk can be dicey.
Businesses say there needs to be a change on this road, especially after Tuesday night’s crash.
“Avoiding the minor situations could ultimately lead to completely avoiding the bigger situations so just doing the small stuff can help,” said Adyson Courtney and Samantha Pinkstock, Vampire Penguin employees.
North Augusta Forward is hoping to make some changes downtown. Local businesses are hoping it will help some issues that have been around for a while.
“Parking is probably the most typical part of shopping down here. I would say I’ve tried to avoid coming down here just because of parking or having to cross the street back and forth,” said Courtney and Pinkstock.
It’s already hard to find a place to park, and even harder to get to another business on the other side of the street once you do.
“I definitely think people crossing the road, obviously doesn’t happen as much as I think it should be because of how busy the road is,” the pair said.
Some even worry about being safe on the sidewalk.
“That was really scary. A car got hit right in front of us. The tail end of their truck got hit and then it just kind of followed down two doors down. Yes. So, it was definitely a lot and I do you think it’s because people can speed on that on this road,” said Courtney and Pinkstock.
As downtown continues to grow, North Augusta Forward hopes to add more parking to some of the back-alley alleyways, more greenery and bigger crosswalks, making it safer and more enjoyable to be downtown.
“I’ve honestly parked in the parking garages sometimes just to get to something down here before which is a far walk. And I think if there was another parking lot that was accessible beside the alleyway that barely anyone knows about in the first place,” said Courtney and Pinkstock.
To see more about the plans North Augusta Forward has for downtown, visit their website.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction continues on the James Brown Linear Park in downtown Augusta, with ceiling tiles now installed inside the park structures.
The tiles feature designs showcasing the Godfather of Soul from different years in his career.
According to the city, the completed park will include an interactive water feature that will “dance” to Brown’s greatest hits. A statue of the music icon will return to a new stage at the park.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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