Augusta, GA

Turn Back the Block fights blight firsthand in Augusta

Published

2 years ago

April 23, 2024

Turn Back the Block fights blight firsthand in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The growing problems of blight and crime are two hand-in-hand issues neighbors say have been going on for years.

They say they want a permanent solution.

Last month, we tagged along with commissioners, other city leaders and some nonprofits on a tour of these neighborhoods hit the hardest by blight – from Harrisburg to Laney Walker.

We touched on issues from code enforcement process, demolition chain of responsibility, abandoned property owners, blight challenges and more.

It’s a growing problem that’s talked about year after year.

One of the nonprofits on the tour was Turn Back the Block. Its goal is to help families in this city get better, safer and affordable housing.

The group recently opened a duplex complex in Harrisburg and will soon break ground on more land to achieve its goal of revitalizing the Harrisburg and Laney Walker neighborhoods and guiding folks in the right direction.

Ashley Brown said she believes homeownership to be the solution to the blight and crime created by uninvested landlords and absentee property owners.

She says homeownership is a reliable way to build economic mobility and stability for the families of Harrisburg.

“I remember this neighborhood when it was vibrant, and full of families and children running in the streets and I see that coming back,” said Brown.

Brown says Turn Back the Block has renovated eight homes, newly constructed nine and they currently have 24 vacant lots.

Shanovia Howard is one of the homeowners Turn Back the Block has helped.

“I just kept pushing forward until I got to the place that I was safe and secure at,” said Howard. “Your kids deserve to have somewhere that they can call home. They don’t deserve to be pulled from one place to the next, renting this apartment, having to rent that apartment.”

Once a month Turn Back the Block hosts “Block Parties” where volunteers clean up the Harrisburg neighborhood.

Find out more by visiting their website.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

3 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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