AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Downtown Augusta businesses are working through ongoing construction as the city center continues to take shape.

Andi Klinginsmith, general manager of Sosal, said the work has required extra effort to keep customers informed.

“When they’re doing construction directly in front of your building and the sidewalks open, but the road is closed, it’s about letting people know that, hey, we are still open,” Klinginsmith said. “There is still room to get by. Flagging them in and coming down to see us so they know that we’re still in business, still rocking and rolling.”

Evan Grantski, owner of Grantski Records, said his business plans to use social media and email to communicate with customers if access becomes more difficult.

“If it gets worse, we’ll just reach out to our people on social media and let them know or send them an email,” Grantski said. “But I’m sure they’ll be able to get to us and everything will be okay.”

Business growth trending up

Margaret Woodard, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said business growth is moving in a positive direction.

“Last year I believe it was around 45 net businesses opened up on the Broad Street quarter and as of today we’ve got 15,” Woodard said. “So we are pacing in the right direction.”

The Downtown Development Authority said new development projects are designed to bring more foot traffic into downtown. Woodard said the James Brown Linear Park will be part of that effort.

“There are some amenities in the streetscape projects such as the James Brown Linear Park that’s gonna attract visitors and residents downtown, where there’s actually an interactive park and things to do,” Woodard said.

Klinginsmith said the return of the arena will also draw people to the area.

“I think we need a place that everybody can come together and celebrate and be excited and the arena coming back will be a big part for that,” Klinginsmith said. “It’s gonna bring people into the city as well who aren’t from here. People who don’t normally come downtown will come more this way because of that.”

Grantski said he hopes the improvements will bring more activity to downtown.

“Life downtown, people walking the sidewalks and shopping and eating and drinking and bringing families,” Grantski said.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta woman was arrested Tuesday after surveillance video showed her stepping on a child at Circle City ABA on Wheeler Road, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Aaniyah Brown, of Augusta, was charged with cruelty to children in the first degree.

Deputies were dispatched to the location at 1:23 p.m. Tuesday in reference to cruelty to children. A complainant told deputies Brown assaulted a juvenile.

The complainant said the incident occurred at 11:31 a.m. and was brought to her attention. She said she consulted the security video system and observed Brown push the child away with her foot twice, then held the child down by stepping on his lower back, officials say.

The complainant said as the child was trying to get up, Brown placed a foot on his face and pushed him away, according to the incident report.

Authorities say deputies watched the video and saw the events as described.

According to the incident report, Brown said she was only using her foot to keep the child from harming her.

Brown was then arrested at around 4:20 p.m. and transported to the Richmond County Jail, officials say.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Wellstar MCG is launching a new mobile market this week through a partnership with Golden Harvest and Augusta Locally Grown.

The market aims to give families access to healthy food options. People will receive shelf-stable food boxes from Golden Harvest, while Augusta Locally Grown provides fresh fruits and vegetables. Wellstar provides health education services.

“Wellstar approached us and asked if we would be interested in partnering with them and Golden Harvest to do a food distribution here in the Harrisburg or in the downtown area,” said Diane Kerekanich, operations director for Augusta Locally Grown. “And they felt that this was a really good location because we do have a lot of residents here, and this is considered a food swamp.”

The market is funded with a $50,000 grant to the Wellstar Foundation.