George A. Crouser, age 73, passed away peacefully Friday, January 17, 2025 in Augusta, GA with family by his side. 

He is survived by his wife, Madeline; daughters: Sarah (Tony) Lonaker of Findlay, Ohio and Stacey (Kurt Williams) Wright of Augusta, Georgia; step-daughters: Lisa (Wes) Grate of Cincinnati, Ohio and Amanda (Eric) Sobul of Willoughby, Ohio; grandchildren: Ady, Shane, Maddie, Bella, Scout, and Wylie; and former spouse: Sharee. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and June (nee Dunn) Crouser, and brother, John Crouser. 

George was born May 23, 1951 in Painesville, Ohio. He attended Harvey High School, Class of 1969, where he was a multi-sport letterman. He was a jack-of-all-trades but found his career working in nuclear plants in Ohio, New Hampshire, and found his way to Augusta. 

George loved listening to music, amassing a massive record collection, and attending concerts. In his spare time, George could be found playing billiards in different leagues. He was an avid sports fan and loved watching the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Guardians but loved Ohio State the most. 

All services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Heart Association of The National Kidney Foundation. 

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A Harlem child was transfered to a local hospital after shooting himself in the shoulder, according to the Harlem Police Department.

Officials say the Harlem Police Department responded to the 200 block of North Fairview Drive just after 8 p.m. Thursday in reference to a gunshot wound.

Deputies say they offered aid to the juvenile until the Fire Department and EMS arrived.

According to authorities, the child found an unsecured gun in his father’s room and shot himself in the shoulder.

Deputies say the child was alert and conscious and is expected to make a full recovery.

Spencer Johnson has been arrested on a charge of cruelty to children in the second degree and has been transported to the Columbia County Detention Center, according to officials.

This case is still under investigation.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Friday, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to the public regarding a phone scam targeting the Augusta community.

The sheriff’s office says scammers are using tactics, including spoofing phone numbers to appear as if they are calling from the sheriff’s office, court services and other services.

The current scam involves callers impersonating sheriff’s office employees, demanding payment for services such as release from detention, electronic monitoring or other fees, according to deputies.

The sheriff’s office says in a recent case, a scammer posing as “Sgt. John Lewis” demanded over $300 for a leg monitor. The scammer later requested additional funds, directing the victim to provide payment via a bar code at a retail store.

The phone number, 706-821-1000, which is the official Richmond County Sheriff’s Office line, was spoofed during the scam to lend credibility to the fraudulent calls, deputies say.

Key reminders to avoid being scammed:

• The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says they will never demand payment over the phone.
• If you receive a call that seems suspicious, hang up immediately and contact the agency or business directly by looking up the official number on their website.
• Avoid providing money or personal information to unknown individuals, especially when payment methods involve gift cards, bar codes, wire transfers, debit cards or other non-traditional methods.

The sheriff’s office says to report the scam immediately to local law enforcement.

For questions or to report suspicious activity, contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1000.

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