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Shootings at store draw a call for action from Augusta leader

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Shootings at store draw a call for action from Augusta leader


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Commission member wants to deal with a convenience store that seems to be a magnet for gunfire and murders.

Catherine Smith McKnight wants to consider beefing up security or closing down the Smart Grocery at 3221 Wrightsboro Road due to the number of shootings happening around there.

It’s a matter she brought up at Tuesday’s meeting of the commission.

The store has been the site of at least nine shootings in recent years, at least two of them fatal, including one on Dec. 11 claimed the life of Jeremiah Griffin, 32, of the 300 block of Fox Trace.

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McKnight’s matter is being moved to the next committee meeting of the commission so the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the store owner can speak.

Through McKnight’s communication with her district, she told News 12 it could be an issue of staffing deputies around the area, and that the owner has reached out to the sheriff’s agency for an added officer that he would pay for.

Another store in the Glendale neighborhood near the Olive Road bridge will also be discussed due to the number of shootings that also happen around here.

Smart Grocery has had a high profile in the news for all the wrong reasons.

It doesn’t help that it’s near some apartment complexes that have been trouble spots for crime, including the one where Griffin lived.

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In fact, one of the complexes – formerly known as Fox Den – had such a problem with drugs and other crime that the owner set up a mobile security tower with bright lights, cameras and a siren.

At least some of the violence from the apartments has spilled over to Smart Grocery in recent years, leading Smith McKnight to wonder at what point it becomes a public safety problem.

Smart Grocery and its immediate surroundings have been the site of several gun incidents in recent years. Among those incidents:

  • In July, one person was sent to a hospital after another shooting at the store.
  • In January 2023, a man was shot with his own gun in the 3200 block of Wrightsboro Road after an unknown person grabbed his pistol from his pocket and shot him with it as he tried to break up a fight.
  • In September 2022, Zayquantez Jones, 17, was killed in a shooting at the store.
  • In December 2021, two motorists fired gunshots at each other near the store before driving off in separate directions. One person was arrested.
  • On Nov. 23, 2021, a man pointed a gun at a woman in the parking lot of the store as part of an apparent road-rage incident.
  • In April 2021, a man was found in the parking lot of the store, injured after being shot at least twice.
  • In March 2020, a shooting there wounded a bystander after a verbal altercation in the parking lot. Marcia Laquette Wimbley, 28, of Augusta, was taken into custody
  • In November 2018, a victim was found in the parking lot of the store with at least two gunshot wounds in their mid-section.
  • In May 2017, a man suffered wounds to a hand and thigh in a shooting at the store. The injuries were not life-threatening.

Last year, commissioners vowed to bring more funding to fight crime in the area.



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Augusta, GA

Augusta Tree Service Now Offering Professional Stump Grinding Services in Augusta, GA

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Augusta Tree Service Now Offering Professional Stump Grinding Services in Augusta, GA


Augusta, GA – Augusta Tree Service, one of the top tree care companies, is excited to announce its specialized stump grinding Augusta services. The company now provides quality and efficient stump grinding to eliminate the ugly stumps and make residential and commercial properties beautiful and safe again.

If you have one stump or several after a big tree cutting job, Augusta Tree Service is equipped to remove them efficiently and on time. Their team employs modern techniques and equipment to undertake the job effectively and offer clients a stump-free area that cannot regrow eliminating the need for the client to grade the area to create a new terrain for other projects or lush greenery.

“Our new stump grinding service is designed to address a common concern among property owners — unsightly or hazardous stumps,” said a spokesperson for Augusta Tree Service. “As a trusted name in tree care, we are proud to expand our offerings and provide comprehensive solutions for all tree and stump-related needs in Augusta, GA.”

Apart from improving the appearance of the compound, stump grinding Augusta services offered by Augusta Tree Service to make certain properties don’t pose tripping hazards, pests or obstructions that may hinder mowing or other related tasks. The customer can expect the service to be fast, efficient and cost-effective.

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For more information about their stump grinding services or to request a free estimate, call (706) 535-7388 or visit their website.

About Augusta Tree Service:

Augusta Tree Service, is a tree care company that provides its services to Augusta, GA and its environs. Focused on tree removal, trimming, pruning, and now stump grinding, the company strives to offer professional and fast services at reasonable rates with regard to the client’s requirements.

Media Contact
Company Name:Augusta Tree Service
Email:Send Email
Phone: (706) 535-7388
Address:234 Broad Street
City: Augusta
State: GA 30901
Country: United States
Website:https://treeremovalaugustaga.com

Press Release Distributed by ABNewswire.com
To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Augusta Tree Service Now Offering Professional Stump Grinding Services in Augusta, GA

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Augusta, GA

Wellstar MCG helps bridge gap in Ga. health care

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Wellstar MCG helps bridge gap in Ga. health care


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s been over a year since Wellstar Health System and Augusta University Health System merged.

Since then, they have seen an increase in medical students.

Augusta University says MCG’s class size is one of the top five in the country with more than 300 students in each class.

We spoke with a doctor about how this growth is helping Georgians.

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The Medical College of Georgia is the 13th oldest medical school in the country.

After years of maturing, the college’s current first year class is projected to be the fifth largest in the country.

MCG officials say the growth is positive for pipelining more medical professionals in Georgia.

From the lab to communities, Wellstar MCG is making headway into the future of investing in Georgia’s medical workforce.

Dr. Natasha Savage with the Medical College of Georgia says her journey through the medical field has come full circle, now being able to educate the next generation.

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“I’m a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia. I know how much our faculty cares about our residents, about our students and about our patients,” said Savage.

She says expanding specialty programs is what’s keeping MCG competitive in critical areas of healthcare like their newest program, maternal-fetal medicine.

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“That is a three-year fellowship under the state under the program of OB/GYN and is fully supported by the state. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists help ensure that we have great care for our moms and their children,” she said.

MCG says they’re not slowing down because the need to grow the medical pipeline is more important than ever.

“Whether that be pediatricians or OB/GYNs or pathologists, etc. There’s many areas of the state of Georgia that have no OB/GYN or no psychiatrist and so we’re really working to fill that void,” said Savage.

Savage says MCG retains about 50% of its students each year, which is a positive sign for the future landscape of Georgia healthcare.

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“We hope to maintain them, keep them here and continue to improve healthcare through optimal teaching, research and excellence in care,” she said.

According to the Georgia Department of Community Health, more than 140 counties in Georgia are medically underserved.

With a high retention rate, officials hope to continue to bridge that gap in healthcare.



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Augusta, GA

On top of water rate hike, Augusta slaps fee on card users

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On top of water rate hike, Augusta slaps fee on card users


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Days after announcing a 4.5% rate increase just before Christmas, Augusta Utilities announced another change that will raise costs for some customers.

Beginning Jan. 1 when the rate increase takes effect, customers paying online using a credit card will also be responsible for credit card processing fees, the city announced Friday – two days after the holiday.

“This policy change reflects an effort to manage rising operational costs while maintaining our commitment to providing quality service to our customers,” the city said in an announcement.

The rate hike and credit card fee come three months after the water system was shut down for days in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene so the system could be repaired.

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“The credit card processing fee will appear as a separate line item at checkout, ensuring full transparency,” the city said in its announcement.

Augusta debris

There is no fee for paying by check, money order, or cash.

The rate hike, approved by the Augusta Commission, “is necessary to address rising operational costs, infrastructure upgrades, and ongoing investments to ensure the long-term reliability of Augusta’s water system,” the city said Monday in a news release issued just before the Christmas holiday.

For the average residential customer using 5,000 gallons of water per month, the change will mean an increase of about $2.23 each month, the city said.

CITY STATEMENT

Rate increase: You can go online to learn more

  1. “Augusta Utilities values transparency and is committed to keeping customers informed,” the city of Augusta said in a news release. “Additional details about the rate adjustment, including FAQs and resources to help manage water use and reduce costs, are available at https://www.augustaga.gov/2771/Utilities or by contacting our customer service team at 706-821-1851.”

“This rate adjustment reflects our dedication to sustaining a solid water system for current and future generations,” said Utilities Director Wes Byne. “The funds will support critical projects such as pipeline replacements, water treatment upgrades, and emergency preparedness to better serve our growing community.”

A couple of days after Helene hit the city on Sept. 27, city officials said the water system had to be shut down because too much debris was clogging the intake lines. It didn’t help that the pumps were running on generators because the electric service was out.

Augusta Commissioner Jordan Johnson

The outage lasted anywhere from 24 hours to days, depending on a customer’s location, and was followed by a boil order in case dirt and bacteria had seeped into pipes that were under low pressure.

The hike also comes as electric customers are dealing with a series of rate increases from Georgia Power, including a 3.5% hike that takes effect Jan. 1 – on top of separate increases when Unit 3 and Unit 4 went online at Plant Vogtle. There was also an increase in summer 2023 that was blamed on higher fuel costs.

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