Richmond County, GA | featured news

A man jogging along a Columbia County road Wednesday night was struck and killed by a hit and run driver, authorities said.
According to a news release, Tim Smith, 22, of Wheeler Road, Martinez, was hit about 8 p.m. He was wearing a yellow reflective vest at the time and was running facing traffic. He was taken to Doctors Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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National security officials kicked off Georgia’s largest cyber summit Wednesday by inking a deal allowing soldiers at the National Security Agency’s Fort Gordon complex to obtain degrees at Augusta University.
The articulation agreement signed by the university and NSA’s National Cryptologic School, scheduled to start this spring, will enable a pilot class of 25 military personnel at Augusta’s NSA intelligence-gathering facility the chance to earn bachelor’s degrees in one of four career tracks, such as political science and international relations.

Proposed changes to the city personnel manual are moving on to an Augusta Commission committee.
Commissioner Ben Hasan, who differed with some of consultant Jonathan Boxer’s recommendations, said the Administrative Services committee will thoroughly “vet” the revisions.
“We put too much stock in the consultant,” Hasan said.
“He presented options to us, as opposed to solutions.”
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NORTH AUGUSTA — There were plenty of tears at Ella Kate Bumgardner’s funeral Wednesday, but there were laughs, too, and the promise of reunion.
“We know where Ella is … safe in her Savior’s arms,” said Dr. Ryan Pack, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of North Augusta, who declared the service a “celebration of 10 years of life.”
And hundreds of North Augustans lined Georgia Avenue, wearing her favorite color green, as they had been asked to do when the procession left the church.

The daughter of a former Columbia County News-Times sports editor pleaded guilty to murder charges in his death on Monday, according to a North Carolina newspaper.
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Aiken police believe two men recovering from gunshot wounds may have been involved in the same shooting Tuesday evening.
Aiken Department of Public Safety officers were called to a shooting at the intersection of Abbeville and Chesterfield streets about 6 p.m. and discovered a man with a gunshot wound sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle.
While officers were on the scene, they received another call that a shooting victim had arrived at the Aiken Regional Medical Center emergency room.

Police are seeking information on an armed man who robbed a Walton Way restaurant late Tuesday.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, an unknown man who had his face covered entered Subway, 1569 Walton Way, with a gun and demanded cash around 9:45 p.m.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Investigator Lucas Grant or any violent crimes investigator at (7060 821-1020 or 821-1080.

The Augusta Richmond County Committee for Good Government
issued its endorsements Tuesday night for the upcoming election.
The group voted to support all incumbents, backing the re-elections of Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree and district school board members Marion Barnes, Barbara Pulliam and Helen Minchew.

 
Plans to operate a water taxi and convert the Fifth Street Bridge to a pedestrian walkway resurfaced during an Augusta Commission discussion about riverwalk maintenance Tuesday.
Several commissioners, including Sean Frantom and Marion Williams, and Mayor Hardie Davis went aboard The Patriot on Monday to look at options for a water taxi service in a meeting arranged by Recreation Di­rec­tor Glenn Parker, Williams said. The Patriot is a pontoon boat that provides tours on the Savannah River.

A Richmond County school board member wants athletes, cheerleaders and band members who wear school-bought uniforms to be punished if they don’t stand during the national anthem.
Frank Dolan made the recommendation during Tuesday’s monthly committee meeting at the Richmond County Board of Education. He stated his opinion as the board’s finance committee was approving $28,975 for 70 new band uniforms for Cross Creek High School.