Augusta, GA
Richmond County seniors sign to become future educators in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – For years, filling teaching positions in the Richmond County School System has been a challenge.
Last spring, we told you they had around 300 teaching vacancies.
This year, they have more than 130 positions open from pre-K to high school.
The school system is putting its efforts into a program that brings kids back home to teach.
More than 20 students signed the dotted line on Tuesday to commit to doing just that.
Deciding what the future holds for the next four years of your life can be hard, but Jordan King says his future is a no-brainer.
“I signed up to be a teacher so I can teach other students they can be self-aware. They don’t have to go with those norms, the societal norms because they’re always changing,” said King.
King and his two best friends all share a common goal — to impact the future.
Kanye Gilmore said: “I want to make a difference because obviously, there’s not a lot of black young men wanting to be a teacher. So kids will see that and they’ll want to grow up and aspire to be a teacher.”
Quintin James said: “My teacher has inspired me, like just learning about what it takes to be a teacher. I kind of put myself in their shoes and said, ‘Hey, I can be a teacher.’”
Nanette Barnes is the director of career, technical and agricultural education. She says the trios drive couldn’t have come at a better time.
“There’s a teacher shortage. So we were trying to encourage our students to increase in those pathways to be pathway completers,” she said.
The trio joined more than 20 other Richmond County seniors committing to return back home after their college graduation.
It’s a commitment Barnes said the school will continue to keep tabs on.
“They’re going to see if they actually enrolled in college. They want to reach out to them at least two or three times during the school year, during their longevity in college, so that they can continue to remind them, that you have a place at home, got a job here, once they complete your college degree, can come back,” said Barnes.
And it’s a commitment Gilmore says he won’t ever give up on.
“I feel like I owe it to the community,” said Gilmore.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A traffic stop attempt by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office ended in a rollover crash Friday afternoon after the driver refused to stop, authorities said.
Deputies attempted to stop the red 2017 Honda Civic around 2:22 p.m. on Peach Orchard Road near Mike Padgett Highway, according to the sheriff’s office. The driver continued south on Mike Padgett Highway before traveling east on Marvin Griffin Road, deputies said.
The pursuit ended near Marvin Griffin Road and Doug Barnard Parkway when the driver lost control, went into a ditch and crashed through a fence at the Augusta Water Works Wastewater Treatment Facility, according to authorities. The car overturned.
The driver had visible injuries that were described as non-life-threatening and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities said warrants will be served after the driver is released from the hospital. Charges are expected to include multiple traffic violations, including felony fleeing or attempting to elude and DUI.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The VA Augusta Healthcare System cut the ribbon on its new emergency ambulance service on Thursday.
The in-house medical transportation program is designed to ensure specialized care for veterans with complex medical needs.
“So we have two new ambulances that we have put into service officially,” said James Doelling, the interim executive director of VA Augusta Healthcare System. “This is for us to be able to, through patient safety and get veterans where they need to be, when they need to be, to make sure we’re given the best care anywhere in our nation’s heroes. We’re really excited. As you are aware, we are the only four star facility in the Augusta area, and this is only going to make us even better and deliver exceptional care to our heroes.”
The VA said it hopes the service will reduce delays and better support veterans.
Photojournalist credit: Dania Alawir
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A driver is in custody after leading Richmond County deputies on a chase that ended in a rollover crash Thursday evening.
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies say they attempted to stop a black BMW sedan with no registration plate on Tubman Home Road at Gordon Highway around 6:30 p.m.
The driver, Willie Junior Brown, 33, failed to stop and led deputies on a pursuit, according law enforcement.
Deputies say Brown lost control of the vehicle on the 2500 block of Blueberry Drive, striking an unoccupied 1999 Chevrolet Silverado.
Brown’s vehicle rolled over and he then attempted to flee on foot before being taken into custody.
Deputies say Brown was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Several criminal charges are forthcoming and the investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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