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The San Francisco Giants and Augusta GreenJackets announced Wednesday a two-year extension to the current player development contract.
The contract keeps Augusta as the Giants’ Low-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League through the 2018 season. The partnership dates back to 2005 and the 2017 season will mark the 13th year between the two.
The Giants-GreenJackets agreement was the final contract inked this off-season in the South Atlantic League.

About 40 high schools students stood on the dewey football field at Westminster Schools of Augusta on Wednesday morning, joining their peers from across the area and country for the 26th annual See You at the Pole.
Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar, the students sang a couple of worship songs before splintering off into smaller groups to pray for their school, community, families and country.
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The number of light poles in a Walton Way street lighting project is increasing.
The decorative poles, a Trans­portation Investment Act-funded project, are being installed along the Augusta road between Bransford Road and 15th Street.
After the project was designed and started, however, Engineering Director Abie Ladson said contractors encountered obstacles – existing utility lines and trees.
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Those seeking certification to do business with the city of Augusta can learn about the process at the “Fast Track Certification Workshop” Wednesday afternoon at the city municipal building at 535 Telfair St., from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
The workshop, scheduled in the Compliance Department on the seventh floor, is free and open to the public. City Compliance Director Kellie Irving said nearly $25 million is earmarked for purchases and contract services each year.

An officer assigned to the Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon who is suspected of downloading child pornography waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Morris Hurwitz, 48, of Evans, also waived his right to a speedy trial. He was arrested on Sept. 16 on a charge of receipt, transport or distributing child pornography. Hurwitz is being held in custody without bond.

Employees working on the construction of two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle have filed lawsuits alleging they are forced to work overtime without compensation.
Two lawsuits against WECTEC Contractors and Fluor Enterprises were originally filed in August in Burke County Superior Court. They were transferred to U.S. District Court on Monday.
The lawsuits seek class action status for all other similarly situated employees.

Police are seeking a man for questioning in the theft of hundreds of dollars in quarters.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the man was captured on surveillance video Sept. 19 prying open the coin vault at 25 Cent Car Wash, 3743 Peach Orchard Road, about 7 a.m. and removing $300 in quarters. Anyone with information on the man is asked to contact Deputy James Price at (706) 821-1056 or 821-1080.

A man is facing multiple charges stemming from an incident Saturday where he fled from a traffic stop while a small child was in the vehicle.
Michael Donnell Jones, 25, of James Drive, was booked into the Richmond County jail Monday on charges of producing marijuana, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, fleeing and cruelty to children first degree as well as citations for failing to signal, expired license and reckless driving. Jones also had three outstanding warrants.

The three state-ranked area teams held firm in the latest Georgia Sports Writers Association High School Football Poll released Tuesday.
Thomson remained No. 2 in Class AAAA after a second consecutive bye week. The 4-0 Bulldogs will play host to Clarkston, a winless team from Class AAAAA, on Friday.
Burke County suffered its first loss this past Friday with a 28-21 defeat against Effingham County to drop three spots to No. 10 in Class AAAA. The Bears, 4-1, have a bye week before getting into region play Oct. 7 against Cross Creek.

Three public interest groups in South Carolina are opposed to a new plan to store spent nuclear fuel near Savannah River Site.
SRS Watch, the League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club have joined together to fight Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Group’s bid for a license to store spent fuel at the S.C. Advanced Technology Park on the eastern boundary ofSRS, according to a news release sent out Tuesday.
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