Augusta, GA

The next stage: Augusta Mini Theatre looks to the future

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2024

The next stage: Augusta Mini Theatre looks to the future

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Mini Theater has been producing, hosting performances and educating youths for almost 50 years.

The theater continues to serve as a space for youth to pursue education in the arts, no matter their financial status.

The drama school has been planning an expansion of a 250-seat theater since 2008.

It’s a concept more than 16 years in the making.

Over the years, it’s had trouble getting the funds necessary to make that a reality.

The Augusta Commission poured SPLOST money into the theater and has given multiple extensions.

The scope of the project ultimately had to be cut down because the theater couldn’t raise enough funds to meet the deadline.

According to the commission’s Dec. 5 meeting, the scope of the project was reduced by 60%. Instead of 250 seats, the new theater will only have 100.

Nevertheless, it is still an accomplishment for the school to move to a more updated space with state-of-the-art equipment to continue to carry on its mission of not only teaching drama and theatrical classes, but life skills for the students to take with them for the rest of their lives.

Tyrone Butler says his vision of what the mini theater is supposed to capture is about to come true.

“I want to create something for people like me, people like me, who got the desire, got the talent,” said Butler.

The expansion will finally give his students a proper theater and space for the community to watch.

Butler says the same mentality of giving people an opportunity 50 years ago is being shown back.

“The community came together, really came together. And our alumni, they were amazing, you know, from all over the country. We have 8000 alums out there. And they gave to the campaign,” said Butler.

Not all alumni go on to continue the arts, but it’s the lessons his staff instilled in Augusta’s youth that matter.

“The band director at Gleaners High School. He took piano lessons right here will several out teachers with students who took art that teaching art in the school system right here. And but they started here. We have students that have gone to Broadway,” said Butler.

The final phase of a project that Butler hopes will continue to inspire the next generation of successful adults.

“We just use the arts to get there,” he said.

Butler says groundbreaking will start in early October and is expected to finish by the organization’s 50th anniversary next year.

Many of the school’s plays focus on social issues and education like drug awareness and education.

As it has been in the past, the Augusta Mini Theater aims to remain a pillar of the community.

The theatre is also preparing to send its students over to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to perform for the International Black Theatre Festival on August 3.

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Augusta, GA

Inmate recovering after being stabbed multiple times at Augusta jail

Published

1 hour ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

Inmate recovering after being stabbed multiple times at Augusta jail

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta inmate is now recovering after he was stabbed multiple times at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center last week, according to authorities.

Deputies say they responded to the jail on Jan. 22 and met with medial personnel at the jail.

Medical staff informed deputies that an inmate was stabbed multiple times in F Pod, according to the incident report.

Deputies say after the inmate was stabbed, his clothes, facility issued tablet and Store Call were stolen.

According to the report, the inmate told deputies he is a part of local gang, and the person who stabbed him is part of another gang.

Deputies say they found nine stab wounds and lacerations on the inmate, including on his left arm, left shoulder and his head.

While searching the F Pod, deputies found a uniform top with blood on it under another inmates mattress. They also found the injured inmate’s jail wristband under the mattress.

During the search, deputies say they also found a six inch sharpened metal object that appeared to have blood on it.

According to the report, five inmates were involved in the incident.

Officials say the inmate suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is now in stable condition.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta government provides update on HCD audit

Published

13 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Augusta government provides update on HCD audit

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta officials say a preliminary response related to an audit of the Housing and Community Development Department was received Tuesday from Cherry Bekaert.

The audit report is not yet complete, according to the city.

After initial review, the city has requested additional information to “ensure clarity and accuracy before the process moves forward.”

“The Augusta government remains committed to transparency and will provide further updates once the requested information is received and the audit is finalized,” the city said in the news release.

In November, Augusta Commission members held a budget workshop session with much discussion about the Housing and Community Development Department.

That’s the department that left the city on the hook to pay back millions in federal grant money.

The city received more than $6 million in grant money during the COVID-19 pandemic, supposedly to help people who were in danger of eviction.

The city never spent the money for that purpose, so the government demanded it back.

The department didn’t have the money on hand, so the city had to repay it, and then some, from the general fund — $6.3 million of the original grant money and $2.1 million in penalties.

The scandal led to the exit of Housing and Community Director Hawthorne Welcher and sparked an audit of the department.

On Oct. 28, commissioners in closed executive session approved the payment of up to $32,237.32 from contingency funds for rental assistance previously approved by the Housing and Community Development Department.

This means leaders agreed to take the money from their emergency fund and use it to help people with their rent as part of a program the department had already put in place.

Mayor Garnett Johnson said at the time this was an effort to address letters that were sent out, falsely leading people to believe they were getting some emergency funds.

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Augusta, GA

Get medical care at several health events in Augusta

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Get medical care at several health events in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several health events in Augusta on Tuesday are offering help to those who need medical care.

Department of Public Health mobile clinic

The Department of Public Health mobile clinic will be at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

Officials say the clinic makes it easier to receive care for those who don’t have transportation.

The clinic will be at the 3109 Wrightsboro Road from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

You can receive sports, work and school physicals, diabetes management, WIC referrals, vaccines and more.

The mobile clinic offers private exam rooms, wheelchair-accessible lifts and modern medical equipment.

For more information on the mobile clinic and what stops it will take, visit www.ecphd.com/wego.

Annual Horizon Truckers Clinic

The fourth annual health fair for bus and shuttle driver employees with Horizon Motor Coach will be held on Tuesday at Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad Street.

This event will start at 11 a.m.

In partnership with the Augusta Lions Club, the Augusta University’s College of Nursing, Georgia Prevention Institute, College of Allied Health Sciences, the Dental College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center make the event possible.

The health fair is designed to help prevent and identify health issues as well as providing mock DOT exams, dental examinations and nutrition advice.

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