Augusta, GA

Rick Allen, other Ga. lawmakers push for postal improvements

Published

1 year ago

December 14, 2023

Rick Allen, other Ga. lawmakers push for postal improvements

AUGUSTA, Ga. – During this busy holiday shipment season, Georgia lawmakers are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to address key issues residents are reporting.

Rep. Rick Allen, R-Augusta, was among the 13 U.S. House members from Georgia who signed a letter to Postmaster General Louis Dejoy.

Rep. Mike Collins wrote the letter that said the agency’s operations are breaking down in Georgia and customers want better service.

“It’s every district in Georgia it seems like. We started reaching out to other members in the delegation here in Georgia, and they were telling us they’re seeing the same problems,” Collins said.

Collins said several of his constituents have been reporting problems.

“We’ve had people that have been calling and reporting things from mail missing, being stolen, irregular routes, people that are just not delivering the mail regularly,” Collins said.

Collins sent the letter to U.S. Postmaster Louis Dejoy on Wednesday, with signatures of support from 12 other Georgia lawmakers.

“So it’s just a simple ask of the Postal Service: What’s been going on? How are you monitoring? How are you going to fix it?” Collins said.

READ THE LETTER:

Collins told the agency he wants answers to the questions spelled out in the letter by Jan. 8, 2024.

However, this is not the first letter of concern sent to Dejoy from a Georgia lawmaker.

Back in September, Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock sent a letter to the postmaster to address the “unsatisfactory conditions” at a United States Post Office building in Greensboro becoming an eyesore and posing a “potential safety hazard.”

The U.S. Postal Service said it’s looking into specifics related to this matter.

Complaints from customers

Georgians said they want changes, especially around the holidays.

“Sometimes you show up to the post office and they say it’s open and it’s not open,” one resident said outside of the Howell Mill Midtown Atlanta post office.

Atlanta resident Adrina Phillips said: “I dropped this package off and the value of the package was like $250 and I guess they didn’t scan it in, and it went to the warehouse and supposedly got lost.”

Philips said she hopes the agency makes adjustments so holiday shipping improves.

“At least the post office being open late, and I guess more employees,” Philips said.

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Augusta, GA

New Richmond County sheriff promotes deputies, other employees

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

New Richmond County sheriff promotes deputies, other employees

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After swearing in 100 new deputies at the beginning of his tenure, Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley also addressed promotions and appointments for those in the sheriff’s office.

It happened on Friday before the winter weather got underway and impacted the region.

Brantley spoke with us after about why the new promotions, appointments and people in the sheriff’s office will benefit the community.

“For the most part, when you’re suffering from a shortage of staff like we have been and so many other agencies in the state of Georgia and around the country, I think it is a boost in the arm to onboard 100 people to help get things that we need slow down crime and stop what is plaguing our community,” said Brantley.

Brantley said it was the first step to making the community safer.

He says he has been working on improving the jail as well.

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Augusta, GA

AugustaCon returns to new location in Columbia County

Published

9 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

AugustaCon returns to new location in Columbia County

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – AugustaCon was back, but in a new home this time.

Saturday’s event was held in Columbia County at the Performing Arts Center.

The event holds video game tournaments and hosts vendors that had anime and video game-style items.

We spoke to one of the vendors, who helped run the video game tournament there.

“We really love it. It’s a great environment. We love seeing new gamers, collectors, anyone that likes anime,” said Cedric Bacon.

If you missed out on Saturday’s AugustaCon, there are ones usually in the summer and winter as well.

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Augusta, GA

Store employee fatally shot in Augusta robbery; suspect arrested

Published

17 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Store employee fatally shot in Augusta robbery; suspect arrested

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One person was fatally shot in an armed robbery on Lumpkin Road, according to authorities, and a suspect has been arrested.

The victim was identified as 29-year-old Abdallah Rubeha of Augusta.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened at the Smoke Shop at 2303 Lumpkin Road around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Deputies say they arrived to find Rubeha, an employee, had been shot at least once.

He was taken to Wellstar MCG Hospital, where he died at 7:35 a.m. Saturday, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

After the robbery, deputies were able to identify three suspects and their vehicle.

The vehicle was registered in Burke County, and Richmond County deputies reached out to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office with the information, according to officials.

Burke County deputies say they attempted a traffic stop at 11:25 p.m. Friday at Savannah Avenue and East 17th Street in Waynesboro.

Deputies in Burke County pursued the vehicle in a high-speed chase, which turned into a foot pursuit, officials say.

The driver, 22-year-old Terrance Walker, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Richmond County.