Augusta, GA

Response to safety concerns in Downtown Augusta following the shooting

Published

7 months ago

June 15, 2024

Response to safety concerns in Downtown Augusta following the shooting

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A week after the shooting on Broad Street, we talked to people in the community about how they felt about downtown.

“People shouldn’t be scared to come downtown. Like if we can get Richmond County to work with us instead of against us, we can make it better,” said Chris Mccarthy, the General Manager of Joe’s Underground.

Mccarthy is the General Manager of a popular bar and restaurant. He says that while the area is not bad, there is room for improvement.

“There are pop-up booze and food vendors all over the place. We have to go through; we have to jump through 3 hoops to have ourselves here, and you’ve got these cats just sitting up girls out on the side of the street, and they are selling booze out of coolers unregulated. That is the problem,” said Mccarthy.

In an effort to ease minds, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson released a statement reminding parents that most restaurants downtown stop serving food at 10 p.m. Also, minors MUST be accompanied by an adult if they are out past that time.

“There’s no place for a kid to be If you’re not 21. You can’t get into any of the businesses. You have no business being down here,” Mike Thomas, a patron.

Some businesses were shut down the next day because the road was blocked. People who work in the area say they wanted more information the following day because they had to close their doors.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take to fix it, but I do know it is a big problem,” said Kat Duscio, who works at Barkery. Okay, cool, great. Get more cops down here; that’s nice. But let’s make sure that they have the proper training and tools and know how to do their job appropriately and actually make people feel safe.”

That’s part of the Mayor’s plan for the downtown area. In his statement, the Mayor says that starting tonight, there will be an increase in security, patrols, and additional help from the Georgia State Patrol to keep downtown safe.

“It’s not going to stop until we as a community come together,” said Kasim, Security of Peddle Pub. “We have to come together, the cops and the citizens. We all have to come together. It’s not black or white. It’s not cop versus citizen; it’s us.”

Source link

Augusta, GA

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

Published

3 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Multiple cars crashed due to winter weather conditions on I-20 in the CSRA early Friday morning, according to authorities.

On I-20 in Augusta, the road conditions at the Washington Road exit were hazardous, according to our reporter on the interstate.

Our reporter saw another wreck on the Bobby Jones overpass from I-520 to I-20 at 10:35 a.m. We’ve reached out to learn more.

Across the river, on I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

On I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

We have reached out to learn more.

Dispatch told us crews were on the scene of a multiple-car crash on I-20 eastbound at the Walton Way extension ramp at 9:25 a.m.

Officials say at least two vehicles were involved, but more were reported, and they are unsure how many exactly.

They did however say more vehicles became involved after sliding on the road from weather conditions.

Dispatch says they are unsure of any injuries or if any lanes were blocked.

Augusta, GA

Wayfair Outlet store opens at the Augusta Exchange

Published

12 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Wayfair Outlet store opens at the Augusta Exchange

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The new Wayfair outlet is now open at the Augusta Exchange.

You will be able to find furniture and home décor at the location that used to be a Buy Buy Baby store.

It’s the latest store to open in the Augusta area.

One customer we spoke with says he thinks the store will be here for a while as it brings something different to the area.

“People are here spending money and they are here to make their house look better. I never thought I would be a dude in his 40s in an outlet, me in an outlet. But I did it today and I think it’s good,” said Carlton Ferguson.

It’s welcome news for fans of the Augusta Exchange, which has seen a bevy of closures in the past couple of years, including Subway, Genghis Grill, O’Charley’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby and Christmas Tree Shops.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Augusta takes step to hire full time EMA Director

Published

20 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Augusta takes step to hire full time EMA Director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – There can be big time disaster emergencies in Augusta, but an emergency management director is not a full-time position for the city.

“I think lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, we desperately need it as we try to recover our city as we try to prepare from the next storm,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The consolidation bill gives the mayor the authority to name an EMA director.

But for the last 20 years, the mayors have called on the fire chief to pull double duty while getting supplement pay.

But at the Mayor Johnson’s request, commissioners have approved beginning the process to hire a full time EMA director.

“You want to make sure that when disasters come, we are 100 percent fully prepared,” said Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

“A city our size deserves someone who is full time committed to that role that helps with our storm preparedness,” said Mayor Johnson.

But when commissioners approved this year’s budget in November, funding for a new EMA director was not a part of it.

“You talking about cutting budgets but yet you’re talking about increasing personnel. It comes with a cost,” said Commissioner Tony Lewis.

“It will pay for itself as we go through this recovery for Hurricane Helene, as we try to see out grant opportunities and funding opportunities for reimbursement,” said the Mayor.

For sure the city has not seen its last emergency, now the city is seeking a permanent director to manage it.

Source link