Augusta, GA

Record July 4 travel expected in 2-state region, across U.S.

Published

2 years ago

July 1, 2023

Record July 4 travel expected in 2-state region, across U.S.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – It’s the start of another busy holiday travel weekend for Georgia and South Carolina residents.

Georgians will travel in record numbers for Independence Day. AAA forecasts more than 1.6 million Georgians will take at least one trip of 50 miles or more between Friday and Tuesday. That’s 68,000 more holiday travelers than the previous record high, set last year.

Nationally, travel figures are also expected to set new records. An estimated 50.7 million Americans are forecast to travel for the holiday weekend. That’s nearly 2.1 million more travelers than last year’s holiday and almost 1.8 million more than the previous high, set back in 2019.

Nearly 85% of all travelers will take a road trip. AAA predicts 43.2 million Americans will drive to their destinations. In Georgia, more than 1.4 million are forecast to take a holiday road trip. That’s over 41,000 more than last year.

Prices at the pump will be well lower this year than last. The Georgia average gas price was $4.31 per gallon on July 4, 2022. So far this summer, gas prices have been somewhat erratic, but the state average has remained below $3.39 per gallon, thanks to the lower cost of oil.

A record-setting 4.17 million Americans will fly to their destinations this Independence Day weekend. That surpasses the previous July Fourth weekend air travel record of 3.91 million travelers, which was set in 2019.

An estimated 124,463 Georgians are forecast to fly this year. That’s over 12,000 more than the previous year.

Officials expect 260,000 people to pass through the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta on Thursday alone.

Transportation Security Administration workers say Friday will be one of the busiest days, with 370,000 people passing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Delays and cancellations kicked off the week due to weather mixed with logistics issues. United was the leader in cancellations Thursday across the country due to bad weather at its hub in Newark. Their CEO is blaming the FAA for staffing shortages and not being able to handle the number of flights.

“There needs to be more resources for air traffic control. That’s why we’re hiring 1,500 more controllers this year. We’ve got plans for another 1,800 controllers next year,” said Pete Buttigieg, transportation secretary.

Delays and cancellations remained relatively minimal Thursday at Hartsfield-Jackson.

On the road

If you’re driving, know that troopers will be out on the roadways watching you in both Georgia and South Carolina.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol said troopers will be out in full force in both marked and unmarked cars because this is their busiest weekend of the year.

AAA said if you are heading out of town, the best time to hit the road is before noon.

With more people on the road, troopers said you should be extra careful and patient behind the wheel.

South Carolina troopers responded to 1,036 crashes across the Peach State during last year’s July Fourth weekend, with a dozen of those being deadly.

The top three reasons for those crashes were:

Driving too fast.
Not yielding to the right of way.
Improper lane changes and usage.

Lance Cpl. Lena Butler with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said it is important to go back to the basics to avoid ruining your holiday weekend.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to buckle up, be mindful of posted speed signs and look out for other drivers as well,” Butler said. “We never want to see anyone get into an accident. That’s why we do enforcement, so we can decrease the number of fatalities and collisions that we see on our roadways.”

Butler also said if alcohol is a part of your holiday celebration, make sure you have a designated driver or use a ride-share app like Uber or Lyft.

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Augusta, GA

North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park

Published

3 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re just under two months away from baseball season and this year will be a bittersweet one for North Augusta’s baseball and softball teams.

While many players would much rather play at a brand-new facility, Riverview Park has been home to the Yellowjackets for a long time now.

After this season, however, North Augusta will finally have a new place to call home.

But, they will have one more chance to close out a phenomenal season before transitioning to the new stadium next year.

You’ve seen the construction and you can see the vision.

In just a few more months, across the street from North Augusta High School will be two brand-new facilities.

The newest home of the Yellowjackets baseball and softball teams.

“It’s a chance to have something that is ours,” said Lynn. “Our own atmosphere at school. It’s going to be exciting.”

The over $8 million project was slated to be completed ahead of this year’s season, but after multiple delays like the impact of Hurricane Helene and just how big of a project it truly is, the facilities are still several months from being ready for play.

In the event construction concludes as originally planned, Head Coach Kevin Lynn says the team has no plans to move fields in the middle of their 2025 season.

“I don’t want to have summer ball starting there, I want our kids to start a regular season there,” said Lynn. I want them to open the season up and have a true home opener.”

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) looks on during pre-game warm-ups before an...

The good news is, nothing about this year will feel different for the team.

The Yellowjackets have called Riverview Park home for over 40 years and they’ll get one more chance to send it out with a grand slam.”I grew up watching my brother play here and many people before him, so being able to play here one last time feels really good.”

“I’d like to go out on a high note and finish up strong here. Our goal is to win all of our games at home since we play here all the time and know the layout more than anybody else. It’d be nice to accomplish those goals in our last season.”

Lynn’s team will open up on the road against Strom Thurmond on Feb. 11.

The Yellowjackets are 40 and 40 under Lynn as head coach.

It’s hard to believe we’re almost to baseball season, before we know it we’ll be talking about the Masters.

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Augusta, GA

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

Published

11 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.

The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.

Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.

“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.

The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.

Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.

Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.

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Augusta, GA

WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows

Published

19 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.

Parents were told of the incident in a letter.

“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”

The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.

Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.

The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

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