‘Very upsetting’: Families locked out of city-owned cemeteries

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2024

Press Room

‘Very upsetting’: Families locked out of city-owned cemeteries

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Debris clean-up isn’t just causing issues in our front yards.

Families hoping to visit loved ones at local cemeteries are greeted with chained-up front gates and no answers.

Many have been closed since Helene hit, but there’s no word on when they’ll reopen.

Chained and locked gates are the reality for people with loved ones buried at any of the city-owned cemeteries in Augusta.

“There’s a certain amount of peace in this cemetery,” said Thomasine Deer.

Cemeteries are a place meant to bring comfort.

“We grew up coming down to the cemetery, placing flowers on the loved one’s graves. And that comes naturally to us,” said Mary Gill.

Deer said: “It’s something that we do. I know a lot of people don’t do it.”

But no one can get in right now.

“My mother’s birthday was November 3. My father’s birthday was October 11. I like to come down and just bring some flowers. And, of course, you can’t come in,” said Deer.

Gill said: “My sister-in-law passed away, and her funeral was scheduled for October 12. We have no idea when we’re gonna be able to bury Joan. It’s very upsetting.”

Patients shop with their doctors during annual holiday event in Evans

You can look across the city and see the progress with debris pickup. But at local cemeteries, it seems like time is at a standstill.

“Every time I ask, it’s, ‘We don’t know,’” said Deer. “There are a lot of families in here that don’t have any family. And we’re speaking for them as well.”

Because for some, coming to this peaceful place is their way of coping with what they’ve already lost.

“One post I read; a lady said it was the first holiday without her mother. She was just very upset about it. And it just means a lot to a lot of people,” said Deer.

Officials say they will be getting to work on parks and cemeteries soon and they have made provisions for burials.

But their focus is completing first passes in neighborhoods and hard-affected areas.

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Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – A year ago when Quinasia Abercrombie was a freshman, she let her work on the court do the talking as she became one of the top players in the Peach Belt Conference. Abercrombie didn’t have to be a vocal leader since the Jaguars had several upper classmen that handled that role. This year, her sophomore season, Abercrombie is still one of the best players around, but now has become the vocal leader of the team, something that didn’t come naturally.

“I’m just leading my team by voice now, not just leading by example,” Abercrombie said. “Since I don’t really talk, I think they (my teammates) were really surprised, but they’re listening.”

She leads the Augusta women in several offensive categories and has proven to be a major asset to the program.

From Greenville, S.C., Abercrombie was an all-state high school player. She gives part of that credit to her siblings, one older brother and three younger brothers. She had to scratch and claw on the basketball court with them and she’s the first to give them credit for helping make her the player she is today. Abercrombie went as fas as saying she enjoys playing against guys since they’ll push her hard to become better, and she likes the competition.

Now, she’s also being pushed by coach Celeste Stewart. So much so, it’s taking Abercrombie out of her comfort zone. But it’s all for the betterment of her.

“She’s put me in multiple, uncomfortable situations, like talking, being more verbal, and just putting me in positions I wouldn’t normally put myself in,” added Abercrombie.

With the Peach Belt Conference tournament up next for the Jaguars, Abercrombie thinks this team can find another gear and make a run. While she has elevated her game, she knows her teammates can do the same.

Even going forward as a player, Abercrombie knows there’s plenty of room for improvement. One of the most notable for her, her ball handling skills.

“I know I like to pick up my dribble a lot and give it to my point guards,” said Abercrombie. “But I know I can bring it down the court, I just need to work on my ball handling and just being confident handling the ball.”

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.

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Augusta, GA

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

Published

18 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 2025-2026 Peach Belt Conference brackets are set, and there is plenty of shakeup this year.

Starting with the women’s bracket, Augusta University secured the #4 overall seed and will face #5 seed Middle Georgia in round one.

USCA’s women’s team did not fair as well, finishing in last place of this season’s standings.

On the men’s side, USCA’s men’s team secured the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.

In a shocking turn of events, AU’s men’s team did not qualify for the tournament.

This marks the first time the program has missed the PBC tournament since Dip Metress took over the program in 2004.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.

Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.

The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.

Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.

Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.

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