Augusta, GA

Tracing storm’s path of destruction across the CSRA

Published

1 year ago

January 5, 2023

Tracing storm’s path of destruction across the CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A day after a extreme storm left trails of destruction throughout the CSRA, Nationwide Climate Service crews are assessing the harm whereas the primary day of cleanup begins.

Attainable tornadoes touched down Wednesday on each side of the Savannah River.

Burke, Washington and Jefferson counties noticed probably the most harm on the Georgia facet, whereas Aiken and Barnwell counties received the brunt of the storm’s wrath in South Carolina.

On Thursday, Nationwide Climate Service crews from Peachtree Metropolis will probably be in Jefferson and Washington counties to find out whether or not a twister touched down or whether or not the harm was attributable to straight-line winds.

Among the many harm they noticed was a torn-up greenhouse at Cornucopia Farms in Jefferson County.

Torn-up greenhouse at Cornucopia Farms in Jefferson County.(WRDW)

Employees from the company, in the meantime, plotted the trail of a doable twister that broken houses and timber in Burke County.

The trail stretches from Keysville to the northwest, chopping a line between Hephzibah and McBean because it strikes by means of southern Richmond County to the state line.

On the South Carolina facet, the Nationwide Climate Service is investigating a number of potential twister paths:

From Johnston in Edgefield County by means of Saluda County and into western Lexington County.
From Elko in Barnwell County to Norway in Orangeburg County.
From close to Wagener in Aiken County to Woodford in Orangeburg County, plus one other one beginning close by and lengthening farther to the northeast.
Alongside Interstate 20 in Lexington County, plus one other one simply to the southeast.

Right here’s a have a look at all of the potential paths:

Monitoring the harm

The Burke County Sheriff’s Workplace reported a “path of destruction” from Story Mill Street north throughout Greiner Circle, Freeway 25, McManus Street and over to Freeway 56.

Residents had been glad they weren’t harm.

“I regarded out my window and noticed the timber blowing within the wind like they had been simply toys. I received fairly scared,” mentioned Jerry Smith, a Burke County resident.

Because the lighting cracked throughout the sky, Smith says he took cowl.

“I went into the lavatory and stayed there for some time. However the lights went out at about 10 o’clock. They got here again on at one. It was scary. After we got here out and regarded on the harm, the roofs which can be gone and all of the timber which can be down,” he mentioned.

His neighbor Deborah Veal says when she left for work Wednesday morning, she wasn’t anticipating to return residence to a torn-up yard.

“After I pulled up, I used to be like, wow, you understand, taking a look at it, you understand, it’s a bit a lot. We’ve had dangerous climate earlier than right here. However nothing this huge,” she mentioned.

Veal mentioned, “I’m not a materialistic particular person, you possibly can all the time get these issues changed, however you possibly can’t exchange a life. So the largest factor is my household and my animals as a result of they’re a household. I’m very grateful that you understand, we weren’t right here.”

Strolling round with Mary Golden, she’s been right here for 47 years, and the aftermath of the storm is one thing she’s by no means seen earlier than.

“I mentioned, ‘Oh my God.’ That’s all I mentioned,” she mentioned.

Her neighborhood was affected by branches and downed energy traces.

“I heard it out right here, and I received up, and I noticed the timber waving and the limbs flying off the timber,” she mentioned.

Tim Gradous’ home was destroyed, however he’s grateful to be alive.

“I really feel blessed. I received my spouse. I received my canine. The remainder of it’s only a factor,” he mentioned.

He mentioned, “The wind began blowing actual laborious, and the rain was coming down sideways, and proper after it began it stop, and I heard a noise, and it picked the tree up and set it on the home.”

The tree fell proper subsequent to his bed room destroying the lavatory and the whole kitchen.

He says every part occurred within the blink of an eye fixed.

“It didn’t final lengthy. It was right here and gone in just below a few minutes on the most,” he mentioned.

All through the day, the neighborhood is coming collectively to supply a hand to Gradous and others impacted.

“It’s superb since you don’t see quite a lot of that today, however out right here within the nation, so to talk, now we have to maintain one another as a result of it takes 911 some time to get out right here,” he mentioned.

All public areas had been cleaned up by Thursday morning, however work on personal property is as much as the homeowners, authorities mentioned.

SEE BURKE COUNTY DAMAGE:

In Aiken, a big tree toppled over onto a home at 835 Boardman Street, smashing a lot of the second ground of the historic-looking residence.

And likewise in Aiken County, the Salley Pavilion collapsed within the storm, in response to authorities.

SEE AIKEN COUNTY DAMAGE:

In Richmond County, timber had been reported down alongside Winter Avenue within the Hephzibah space, and a big pine tree fell throughout the roadway at Joyce Road and Kissingbower Street in Augusta.

A private climate station in Richmond County recorded a 59 mph gust.

SEE RICHMOND COUNTY DAMAGE:

In Washington County, the storm toppled pine timber that had been damaged off on the trunk, with splintered higher limbs.

Deputies reported harm alongside Freeway 540 between Deepstep Street and Linton Street. A roof was taken off a home, a home had a tree on it and an 18-wheeler rolled over, in response to deputies.

“Energy traces and timber are down in these areas from the storm,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement. “Please don’t attempt to navigate these areas unnecessarily till these areas could be cleared by emergency personnel.”

Injury was additionally reported in Jefferson County at Stapletons Crossroads, and there was wind harm a mile north-northwest of Sandersville.

SEE WASHINGTON COUNTY DAMAGE:

In Barnwell County, the Nationwide Climate Service believes a twister touched down in Blackville. Crews will survey the realm Thursday to substantiate. The wind from the storm was robust sufficient to knock a cell residence off its basis, trapping a girl inside.

Severed weather on Jan. 4, 2023, blew this mobile home off its foundation in Blackville. — Severed climate on Jan. 4, 2023, blew this cell residence off its basis in Blackville.(Contributed)

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Fire Department puts out fire at Wendy’s on Walton Way

Published

4 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Press Room

Augusta Fire Department puts out fire at Wendy’s on Walton Way

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Fire Department responded to a fire at Wendy’s on Walton Way on Monday night.

Officials say a firefighter was at a red light and saw smoke coming from Wendy’s. He notified dispatch as he went to assist.

Upon arrival, heavy smoke was visible, according to the fire department.

All employees made it out of the building safely, according to the department.

Officials say the fire happened at 8:38 p.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Augusta, GA

I-TEAM: Here’s why the Augusta mayor’s vote is on the ballot

Published

12 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

I-TEAM: Here’s why the Augusta mayor’s vote is on the ballot

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Tuesday could also mean a big change in the Augusta government.

Voters will decide on a change to the charter by voting either yes or no to giving the mayor a vote at the commission.

The charter was created when the county and city became one government nearly three decades ago.

Think of it as the game rules for the Augusta government — game rules are very different than any other consolidated government in the state of Georgia.

Politics is like tennis.

It’s your play when the ball is in your court. But Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government rules of the game are like no other in Georgia.

Players can skip a match to delay the game.

In January 2023, Commissioner Bobby Williams chose not to vote.

Voting no would have given an even split, giving the mayor the tie-breaking vote. A yes vote would have approved the contract but since he abstained, he stopped dead in the water.

In 2023, a standstill over naming an EMS provider last year.

Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams?

Williams: Abstain.

In 2024, there was a standstill over naming an administrator this year.

“We went through the process of hiring an administrator through the process that’s in the charter and we followed it to a T,” said Commissioner Sean Frantom.

The charter: A legal playbook of power born from a marriage between city and county 27 years ago.

In a May commission meeting, Commissioner Bobby Williams said: “You had basically five white districts and five black districts and to get the sixth vote someone had to work across the aisle.”

Augusta-Richmond County is one of eight consolidated governments in Georgia — one of the four with a mayor.

MORE FROM THE I-TEAM:

The balance of power varies.

The mayors of Athens-Clark and Macon-Bibb have veto powers over the commission.

Mayors of Augusta-Richmond and Columbus-Muscogee have limited power, but Columbus has a county manager responsible for the hiring, firing and management of department heads.

That power falls on our commissioners, meaning each department head answers to ten bosses.

Commissioner Tony Lewis: “Is it a reflection that you are not doing your job, or your department is not doing their job, or things are getting by your department? I mean help me out.”

Donna Williams, finance director, said: “I will certainly take ownership over anything I have control over.”

Meaning commissioners only answer to commissioners.

Commissioner Brandon Garrett said: “I’m just trying to understand we as elected officials are personally able to make changes to building projects that are taking place in our district.”

Commissioner Sean Frantom said: “I think it’s important the citizens support a charter review and I’m convinced, or someone will bring it up in the next few months because it needs to be reviewed.”

For more than two years, an interim administrator has led the city. For more than two years, an interim director has led Central Services in her absence.

The longer time goes by, the longer the line of dominoes.

A Newman Tennis Center spokesperson said, “The neglect of Newman hurt our local players but cost Richmond County millions.”

It wasn’t the conditions or the loss of a tournament, it was an EEO complaint that cost the parks and rec director his job.

Earlier this month, another resignation — the city attorney.

Four of the city’s top leadership positions are now empty left to commissioners to fill.

Frantom said: “I truly believe we need to be more of a city manager form of government. I believe the manager ought to have the ability to do the hiring and firing of the 16-17 department heads that we hire.”

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government presented information to commissioners about changing the role of administrator to county manager in the charter.

A year later, there’s been no movement by commissioners.

Now, there’s a new idea and a new game rule.

“This allows the voters of Richmond County to decide what’s best for their government, not the Commission,” said Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The best players will tell you the only way to win a game is by serving.

We asked Mayor Johnson what’s his first priority if voters vote yes on Tuesday.

He said it’s to make a motion to partner with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government for a charter review.

Carl Vinson Institute of Government, part of the University of Georgia, creates policies and charters for local governments in Georgia.

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Augusta, GA

Suspect pleads guilty in Augusta Social Security bomb threat

Published

18 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

Suspect pleads guilty in Augusta Social Security bomb threat

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A Richmond County man entered a guilty plea to a federal charge related to a bomb threat last year targeting the Social Security Administration’s Augusta office.

Keyon Tishaye Dickens, 38, of Augusta, pleaded guilty to using a telephone to make a threat to injure a person or damage a building by explosives, according to prosecutors.

He could get up to 10 years in prison.

As described in the plea agreement, Dickens received a notice in September 2023 that the Social Security Administration intended to recoup overpayments to his Supplemental Security Income from future checks.

He called the Social Security Administration office in Augusta to complain and stated, “I’m going to shoot the office up and I’m going to blow it up. I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do.”

Dickens visited the office on Oct. 10, 2023, carrying a backpack and showed a note that read “I have a bomb” to a security officer.

The officer notified the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the building was locked down and evacuated. No bomb was found, and Richmond County deputies took Dickens into custody.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing for Dickens later.

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