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Pressure mounts on Redwood Housing from Congressman & Commissioner

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Pressure mounts on Redwood Housing from Congressman & Commissioner


FOX54 has confirmed HUD is in receipt of the letter, but there is no response yet. You can read it in full below.

 The letter not only concerns Bon Air’s owner, Redwood Housing, it also questions HUD.

“The heat is on, for sure.” said Catherine Smith-McKnight, Augusta-Richmond County Commissioner.

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In a new letter, Congressman Rick Allen says conditions have not improved at Bon Air – to include rats, odor and gunshots. District Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight just read it. She agrees.

“I feel for them. I can’t tell you how many emails and phone calls I’ve received from residents here pleading.” said Smith-McKnight.

“There is just so much that they just are trying to cover up and y’all just don’t know. Nobody should have to live like this.” said a tenant.

“I feel like Redwood Housing has given us the run around, I’ve said it since day one.” said Smith-McKnight.

We’ve also tried to get answers, but still no response yet.

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FOX54 also obtained surveillance video showing a person firing shots out of Bon Air.

“When you see the footage, you will see pow pow pow, and it was directed aiming towards the homes behind here.” said Smith-McKnight.

“We can’t… What’s it going to take? Another loss of life?” asked Smith-McKnight.

Congressman Allen also says in his letter that Redwood has not provided an alternative renovation plan, nor have they secured backup funds. He states that was promised to him in good faith. 

“The only way renovation is going to happen is for someone else to take over this place.” said Smith-McKnight.

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Now, Congressman Allen wants HUD to answer several questions, including how HUD can take action against Redwood. He gave HUD a May 22nd deadline to respond. He also wants them to join him for a visit again. McKnight says she wants in too. 

As always, FOX54 will continue to keep you updated as this story develops.

Copyright 2023 WFXG. All rights reserved.



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Augusta, GA

Restaurant Report: See local eateries scores for this week

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Restaurant Report: See local eateries scores for this week


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – When you dine out, you trust you’re eating in a clean and safe environment – each week we go through restaurant scores in Richmond, Columbia and Aiken counties.

We show you the top three highest and lowest scores.

We also tell you how they got that grade.

It’s a 76 for Tuff Luck 2 on Milledgeville Road in Augusta.

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That’s for chicken at improper temperatures, no previous inspection posted and grease buildup.

China Wok on Tobacco Road in Hephzibah also scored a 76.

That’s for chicken stored over pork, uncovered food and food stored on the floor.

And Twin Peaks on Robert C. Daniel Parkway in Augusta scored a 78 for beef uncovered, no hair restraints and flies in the building.

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There were also a lot of perfect scores.

  • Ming House Express on Washington Road in Martinez
  • Gong Cha of Augusta on Washington Road in Augusta
  • The Soda Well on Herrington Drive in Grovetown
  • McDonald’s on Peach Orchard Road in Augusta
  • Dunkin Donuts on Walton Way in Augusta
  • Papa John’s on Walton Way in Augusta
  • Hawaiian Style BBQ II on Washington Road in Augusta
  • Chicken Salad Chick on Washington Road in Augusta
  • China 8 on East Martintown Road in North Augusta, which is also a follow-up inspection from last week. They did score a 73.
  • It’s also 100′s for Bojangles on Edgefield Road in North Augusta and Bowl Boss Acai on Georgia Avenue in North Augusta.



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Augusta, GA

Suspect sentenced in Augusta Social Security bomb threat

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Suspect sentenced in Augusta Social Security bomb threat


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A Richmond County man was sentenced after he entered a guilty plea to a federal charge related to a bomb threat last year targeting the Social Security Administration’s Augusta office, we learned on Thursday.

Keyon Tishaye Dickens, 38, of Augusta, was sentenced to 36 months after he pleaded guilty to using a telephone to make a threat to injure a person or damage a building by explosives, according to prosecutors.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Dickens to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

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“Threats of violence against workers and customers of any facility are completely unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We commend our law enforcement partners for ensuring the safety of those in the Social Security office and assisting in holding Keyon Dickens accountable for his actions.”

He could’ve gotten up to 10 years in prison.

As described in the plea agreement, Dickens received a notice in September 2023 that the Social Security Administration intended to recoup overpayments to his Supplemental Security Income from future checks.

He called the Social Security Administration office in Augusta to complain and stated, “I’m going to shoot the office up and I’m going to blow it up. I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do.”

Dickens visited the office on Oct. 10, 2023, carrying a backpack and showed a note that read “I have a bomb” to a security officer.

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The officer notified the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the building was locked down and evacuated. No bomb was found, and Richmond County deputies took Dickens into custody.

“Keyon Dickens’ malicious actions are criminal and intolerable. This sentence demonstrates that threats to Social Security employees and offices are felonious and will not be ignored. We will continue to aggressively respond to threats, investigate the perpetrators, and seek prosecution,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Acting SSA Inspector General. “I am thankful that there was no harm to SSA employees. I appreciate the immediate response from the security officers in the local SSA office, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in investigating this matter and I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.



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Augusta, GA

Man sentenced in October 2023 bomb threat at Augusta Social Security office

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Man sentenced in October 2023 bomb threat at Augusta Social Security office


File – Police respond to a bomb threat at the Social Security Administration office in Augusta, Ga., on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

A Richmond County man was recently sentenced to federal prison after threatening to blow up Augusta’s Social Security office nearly a year ago.

Keyon Tishaye Dickens, 39, of Augusta, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to using a telephone to make a threat to injure a person or damage a building by explosives, according to a news release from Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Dickens to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term, according to the release. There is no parole in the federal system.

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As described in court documents and testimony, Dickens received a notice in September 2023 that he was receiving overpayments to his Supplemental Security Income and that the Social Security Administration intended to recoup the funds from future SSI checks, according to the release.

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In response, Dickens called the Social Security Administration office in Augusta and said, “I’m going to shoot the office up and I’m going to blow it up. I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do,” according to the release.

Carrying a backpack, Dickens later visited the Social Security office and showed the security guard a note that read, “I have a bomb,” according to the release. The officer notified the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the building was locked down and evacuated.

No bomb was found, and Richmond County deputies took Dickens into custody, according to previous reporting.

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“Keyon Dickens’ malicious actions are criminal and intolerable,” said Michelle L. Anderson, acting SSA Inspector General. “This sentence demonstrates that threats to Social Security employees and offices are felonious and will not be ignored. We will continue to aggressively respond to threats, investigate the perpetrators and seek prosecution.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Man sentenced in Augusta bomb threat at Social Security Administration



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