Connect with us

Augusta, GA

Photos: Golf legend Gary Player through the years

Published

on

Photos: Golf legend Gary Player through the years


Gary Player is a golf giant.

A nine-time major champion, Player earned the nickname “The Black Knight” thanks to his dashing looks and outfit choices on the course.

Born on Nov. 1, 1935, and with more than 150 worldwide career wins to his name, Player has been much more than just a champion golfer. He has dedicated his life to growing the game throughout his native South Africa and the world.

Player became just the fourth golfer to earn a career grand slam with his win at the 1965 U.S. Open at Bellerive. From there, he would go on to five more majors. As a senior, Player would tack on nine more major championships.

Advertisement

Following his playing career, Player continued his work as a global ambassador for the game. Sharing stories, swing tips and even showing off his fitness prowess, Player has been an endearing figure within the game throughout eight decades.

From helping underprivileged children across the globe to having a hand in designing over 400 golf courses, Player has made an impact well past his wins on Tour.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Augusta, GA

I-TEAM: Hurricane Helene damages historic cemeteries in Augusta

Published

on

I-TEAM: Hurricane Helene damages historic cemeteries in Augusta


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – City leaders have focused hurricane recovery efforts on the living but Helene disturbed the dead, causing damage to cemeteries throughout Augusta.    

If you’re thinking about taking a stroll through any of the city’s historic cemeteries, let us stop you.   

They have all been shut down since the hurricane hit more than a month ago with no date in sight to reopen.  

They’re closed up, and people are locked out.  

Advertisement

But revealed behind the rusted padlocks, barbed wire and crumbling brick walls are signs of history re-written by Hurricane Helene.   

Each step farther into the cemetery is anything but a place of rest. 

“This is the worst hit,” said Joyce Law, curator for Fitten Street Cemetary. 

MORE FROM THE I-TEAM:

From sunken remains of war heroes to movers and shakers, moved and shaken out of their final resting place. 

Advertisement

“The historic Smiley family, they were entrepreneurs here in Sand Hills Historic District,” said Law.  

Some sites might look like they are out of a ghost story.  

“You can see a lot of the flags were snapped in half by the force of the wind,” said Law. 

The stories here belong on the pages of history books.  

“So, there are over 50 military veterans spanning from the Spanish-American War through Vietnam,” she said.  

Advertisement

Law’s own military career prepared her to uncover the lost history buried at Summerville cemetery — Fitton Street cemetery. 

“Back in 2018 when I was collecting information for World War One memorials, I just made a promise that when I had more time, I would devote my time to this cemetery because there is so much history here that is not documented for the general public,” said Law. 

Augusta-Richmond County’s website states that not much is known of this cemetery except that supposedly 12 Black Summer Hill residents bought the land in 1906 for a Black cemetery. The location of the record book is unknown or if it even exists.  

But through military records and oral histories from family members, Law was able to uncover more. 

She’s been piecing together the incredible history of the Sand Hills community.  

Advertisement
Columbia County Parks

“Borkin Wright was the state attorney general at one time and where he lived his home is utilized now on the Summerville campus of Augusta University and there are a number of the estate workers that are buried here at the cemetery, so we are looking at the 1870s forward into the 1950s,” said Law.  

The men and women of the historic Sand Hills community not only served their influential neighbors but built Augusta and the system for Black Augustans to prosper. 

“To the left that is James Magnect. He is second generation general contractor, and he was one of the chief stone masons for the sluskey building which is now the headquarters for RW Allen,” said Law. 

“The gentleman that we are going to, Afra Barrington, was one of the charter directors for the penny savings and loan,” she said. 

“Thomas J. Walker is one of the founding members of the Tribunal Life Insurance Company. This is his older brother Rev. Samual Walker. He was the third pastor at Elim and Walker Baptist Institute.” 

She’s been uncovering the stories buried under these unmarked graves for the past six years.  

Advertisement

“So, we have a lot of tremendous stories of wealth and achievement as well as some heartbreak,” said Law. 

ANOTHER I-TEAM INVESTIGATION:

She felt her own heartbreak when she saw the destruction by Hurricane Helene.  

“I thought about all of our work that had just been done that had been obliterated,” she said. 

The Fitton Street Cemetery is privately owned, but Augusta-Richmond County maintains it.   

Advertisement

The city itself owns five cemeteries, all of which have yet to reopen since the Hurricane hit more than a month ago. 

“Then I thought about it because we had been working on it, other people will say yes. This is a valuable piece of Augusta history that we need to continue to maintain and celebrate,” said Law. 

But the story of Summerville Cemetery Fitton Street has only just begun.  

The mayor does not yet know how much it will cost to repair the city’s cemeteries, like at Magnolia, but he’s hopeful FEMA will help out.   

Fitten Street is another story though. It’s privately owned.   

Advertisement

The cost estimate for the repairs is at $50,000. 



Source link

Continue Reading

Augusta, GA

Federal funds secured for Augusta Regional Airport

Published

on

Federal funds secured for Augusta Regional Airport


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff announced they have secured over $14,000 in grants to the Augusta Regional Airport.

The funds were made possible through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, officials said.

Airports being awarded are:

  • Augusta Regional Airport (taxiway construction and upgrades) – $8,008,660
  • Columbus Airport (runway reconstruction) – $24,472,527
  • Dalton Municipal Airport (runway upgrades) – $2,400,000
  • DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (runway upgrades) – $8,585,711
  • GDOT (planning funds) – $1,000,000
  • Polk County Airport (runway upgrades) – $3,950,000
  • Savannah/HHI Airport (taxiway construction) – $11,465,048
  • Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany (infrastructure upgrades) – $3,764,809″

U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff today announced new Federal resources to upgrade Georgia’s airports through the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock announced airports in Atlanta and Augusta will receive over $19 million through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Terminal Program (ATP).

Advertisement

The Federal resources can be used to build, modernize and upgrade airport facilities and strengthen transportation options for passengers.

Debris CSRA

“Georgia’s airports are a key driver of job creation and economic competitiveness. Alongside Senator Reverend Warnock, we are pleased to announce this funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law for airport upgrades across the State of Georgia. Our bipartisan infrastructure law will continue to deliver long-overdue upgrades to Georgia’s infrastructure for years to come,” Sen. Ossoff said.

“This new investment is a testament to the good we can accomplish when we reach across the aisle and center the people in policymaking,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Georgia is one of the most important aviation states in the nation, and as a member of the committee responsible for transportation policy, I will continue working to strengthen Georgia’s aviation economy.”

More information on these Federal grants can be found below:

  • Augusta Regional Airport, $4,000,000 – This award partially funds expanding the existing passenger security screening checkpoint.
  • Atlanta Regional Airport – Falcon Field, $1,000,000 – This award funds the design of a new sponsor-owned airport traffic control tower.
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, $14,300,000 – This award funds the rehabilitation, modernization, and expansion of public restrooms in the terminal concourses.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to upgrade Georgia’s airport infrastructure.

In September, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock secured over $60 million in Federal investments for Georgia’s airports.

In May, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock delivered over $120 million in Federal grant funding for airport infrastructure upgrades.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Augusta, GA

1 dead after a shooting on Helsinki Drive in Augusta

Published

on

1 dead after a shooting on Helsinki Drive in Augusta


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One man is dead after a Richmond County shooting on Wednesday evening, according to officials.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says they responded to the 2300 block of Helsinki Drive in reference to shots fired with one person down at 6:23 p.m.

When deputies arrived, they found one male had been shot at least once.

Wreck on I-20 causes full lane closures near Walton Way exit

He was taken to Wellstar/MCG by EMS. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 8:07 p.m., according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

Advertisement

While deputies were at the hospital, another person arrived with at least one gunshot wound, deputies said. They are unsure if the two victims who were shot were involved in the same shooting or a different incident.

Investigators were on scene at 9 p.m. and they had no additional information at the time, deputies said.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending