AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It could be at least three more months before the Augusta Canal trail fully reopens after Hurricane Helene left it debris-strewn on Sept. 27.

Not having the trail fully reopened is a bummer for some – especially heading into a holiday weekend and the summer.

Crews are not cleaning this Memorial Day weekend, so it’s fine to kayak and canoe in the water.

But there are some areas to stay away from, like the pumping station.

Leaning trees and cracks in the embankment are hazardous, too.

Augusta Utilities Director Wes Byne says the cleanup process is lengthy and costly — totaling $10 million, including $2 million out of the city’s budget.

Also this holiday weekend, the downtown Riverwalk is still closed due to debris cleanup.

Pendleton King Park is also still closed.

Outside Augusta but stlll popular with local residents is the newly reopened West Dam recreational area at Clarks Hill Lake.

The day-use area has been closed for months for Helene cleanup but reopened Friday.

The park is missing some amenities and structures, such as tables and grills, that were damaged by the storm, but is now safe for visitors.

The reopening makes 40 of 51 Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas at the lake that have at least partially reopened since Helene.

There is still debris remaining in most parks and potential hazards remain, so visitors must use caution and avoid closed areas.

To check the status of Army Corps facilities at teh lake, visit https://www.sas.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-and-Offices/Operations-Division/J-Strom-Thurmond-Dam-and-Lake.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The FBI confirms that it’s been at the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building this week.

The agency said special agents have been at the building “conducting law enforcement activities.”

The FBI isn’t saying what that law enforcement operation might be.

We do know, however, that the city has caught the federal government’s attention in recent weeks after more than $6 million in grant money wasn’t repaid in a timely manner after it wasn’t spent, as required by law.

The money was meant to fund COVID-era programs to help people in need avoid eviction.

However, when it wasn’t used, the federal government said it wanted the money back from the Housing and Community Development Department.

It was months before the city’s top brass learned of the problem, and ultimately the money was paid back from its funds.

But not before Housing and Community Development Director Hawthorne Welcher was suspended.

City officials also decided to conduct an audit of the department.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of the 2500 block of Lumpkin Road regarding a deadly shooting Wednesday evening.

The sheriff’s office located one male on the scene with at least one gunshot wound, who died after being transported to Wellstar MCG, according to Coroner Mark Bowen.

The coroner’s office identified the victim as 26-year-old Jaquavious Watkins.

Homicide investigators were on scene as of 8:43 p.m., and no further information was released, the sheriff’s office says.

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