Dec. 3, 1998: Augusta sewage spill was bad one

DEC. 3, 1998A spill that forced raw sewage into the Savannah River was halted, but a collapsed pipe caused additional problems and water pollution.”The problem right now is, it’s so far under the ground the machines aren’t able to get down to it to fix it,” said Tom Wiedmeier, Augusta’s assistant director of utilities.The spill,…

100 Black Men of Augusta to hold COVID-19 relief, testing events

Aware of the devastating and disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on the Black community, the local chapter of a prominent Black men’s group is helping with resources like masks and hand sanitizer, where to seek financial relief and also the opportunity to join an innovative study for those at higher risk that will offer them…

Georgia COVID-19 numbers surge as more enter hospitals

ATLANTA (AP) — Leaders of some of Georgia’s hospitals told Gov. Brian Kemp in a meeting Wednesday that they’re seeing increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, although they said in some cases those infected with the coronavirus do not appear as gravely ill as patients who were hospitalized in earlier waves.The Republican governor continued to express…

Dec. 2, 1900: Sacred Heart church opens in Augusta

DEC. 2, 1900In ceremonies The Augusta Chronicle called “impressive,” the new Church of the Sacred Heart was dedicated on Greene Street.The service was elaborate, the music grand and inspiring, the day perfect and the attendance large, the newspaper noted.Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore dedicated the imposing edifice, and a solemn pontifical Mass followed.Built in a Victorian…

North Augusta Christmas tree lights up downtown

North Augusta leaders and residents sparked the Christmas season with the annual tree lighting at John C. Calhoun Park on Tuesday night.The cold air and clear skies made for a wintry night, but hundreds of multi-colored lights, the sound of a live band’s carols and an appearance by Santa Claus added up to a jolly…

‘It has to stop’: Georgia election official Sterling slams Trump, senators over fraud claims

ATLANTA — Georgia’s top election manager ripped into President Donald Trump Tuesday, as well as U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, for not doing more to tamp down unfounded claims of voting fraud after a local election worker was threatened with a noose.Gabriel Sterling, the state’s election implementation manager, called on the Republican president…

Will there be side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine? When can you get it? We answer your vaccine questions.

Vaccines are on the horizon in the U.S., and distribution could potentially begin by mid-December.Two companies – Pfizer and Moderna – have already applied for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their two-shot vaccine candidates, and more companies are expected to apply in the coming months.On Wednesday, the United Kingdom…

Columbia County seeks to form separate judicial circuit

Columbia County leaders hope to realign the county into its own standalone judicial circuit, perhaps as soon as next summer.The county’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approved a resolution asking the Georgia General Assembly to examine the issue when it reconvenes in January. The resolution cites the “public safety and financial benefits” of…

City of Augusta OKs settlement in sex discrimination case

The Augusta Commission approved a settlement Tuesday that includes the resignation of the city’s compliance director, Treza Edwards, who sued the city for sex discrimination.The commission authorized paying Edwards, an attorney, $78,500 pursuant to her last day of employment being Monday, according to the motion from General Counsel Wayne Brown.Filed a year […] Top Featured…

Augusta man indicted on federal charges in alleged dogfighting operation

An Augusta man is among seven men indicted on federal charges over an alleged dogfighting operation in Dodge County.Benjamin Shinhoster III, 40, was charged with conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act, transporting and delivering a dog for purposes of an animal fighting venture, sponsoring and exhibiting a dog in an animal fighting venture and…

Georgia secretary of state, election manager again speak out against President Trump’s rhetoric

Two Georgia election officials again called out President Donald Trump for fanning flames of violence by questioning his defeat by Joe Biden in the state.Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and other state officials have asked the president to tone down the rhetoric and Tuesday, Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department found no…

Bond issue to expand Columbia County industrial park

Columbia County development officials approved a bond issue that’s expected to more than double the size of the industrial park that attracted retail giant Amazon earlier this year.The Development Authority of Columbia County voted Wednesday morning to issue revenue bonds to buy a land parcel of more than 344 acres adjacent to the 240- […]…

Augusta man dies after being stabbed, woman arrested

The Richmond County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s offices are investigating the death of a man Monday night in Augusta.According to the sheriff’s office, John Hoard, 51, was stabbed at least one time in the 1900 block of Greene Street and was transported to AU Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.Shelia Downs, 49, was arrested and…

Dec. 1, 1889: Bon-Air hotel opens on the Hill in Augusta

DEC. 1, 1889The new Hotel Bon-Air was announced as completed and opening for business the following day.Northern tourists had been finding Augusta a delightful place to avoid winter’s chill, prompting civic booster Dr. William Tutt to conceive a grand hotel.He found the right spot, but also found out that his new hilltop neighbors didn’t want…

Fact check: Is ad linking Raphael Warnock to ‘Defunding the Police’ true or false?

This content is provided by Factcheck.org, a nonpartisan project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center. We will be providing fact-check content as we closely monitor the Georgia runoff election.A conservative group’s deceptive TV ad suggests that Democrat Raphael Warnock supports defunding the police. He has said multiple times that he doesn’t.The ad, from the […]…

Augusta teen accidentally shoots and injuries himself

An Augusta teen was injured following an accidental shooting.According to the sheriff’s office, a 14-year-old boy accidently shot himself in the hip with a handgun around 9 p.m. Sunday in the 3300 block of Tobin Street. He was transported to AU Medical Center but his injury is not considered to be life-threatening. Top Featured Tags:…

Aiken man killed in Newberry apartment complex shooting

An Aiken man was shot and killed in a Newberry apartment complex Sunday evening.Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables said they were called to Palmetto Crossing Apartments on Sandlapper Drive at 7:57 p.m. regarding a shooting incident involving a fatality. The victim, TyQuan Graham, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene from at least one gunshot…

Kirby: No joys in noise on a sleepy morning

The resounds of silence won’t stop. Top Featured Tags: – Georgia News Press Release Distribution Service

Holiday happenings include lights, shows and more

Share your holiday events with us by emailing mhendrix@augustachronicle.com. Here’s a roundup of events:ONGOINGLights of the South: Open 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 30; closed Christmas Day; 633 Louisville Road, Grovetown; holiday lights displays, concessions, $12 with ages 3 and younger free; Fast Pass $20; lightsofthesouth.comHoliday lights: 5-10 […] Top Featured Tags: – Georgia News Press…

The Way We Were: It took Dr. Archie Haggerty 50 years to clean up Augusta’s act

Our town’s early health inspector had his work cut out for him. Top Featured Tags: – Georgia News Press Release Distribution Service

Nov. 29, 1920: Lenox was Augusta’s famed Black theater

NOV. 29, 1920While many Augusta theaters through the early decades of the 1900s offered seating for black patrons in the back, there was one place where black folks could sit front and center for the latest shows and movies – The Lenox on the 1100 block of Ninth Street.Today, the spot where thousands of black…

Kirby: Here’s the last word on words that last

Civilizations crumble while language lingers. Top Featured Tags: – Georgia News Press Release Distribution Service

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