Richmond County, GA | featured news

The future of historic Trinity CME Church in Augusta remains uncertain as Atlanta Gas Light has again delayed plans to demolish the church to receive more input from stakeholders.
The move comes just as the “Save Mo­ther Trinity” effort called for supporters to protest the company’s plans at a meeting Thursday of the Historic Preservation Commission.
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Pauline Jenkins, Waynesboro’s first black and female mayor, has died.
The Burke County Coroner’s Office confirmed her death Wednesday afternoon.
Jenkins, who was elected in 2011, had been very ill for a number of weeks, Burke County Sheriff Greg Coursey said.
“It’s a very sad day for Burke County and the city of Waynesboro,” Coursey said. “Our mayor was a great person and there’s no question she’ll be greatly missed. Greatly, greatly missed.”

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is warning about a telephone scam in which someone is identifying himself as a top-ranking officer at the department.
The caller identifies himself as Chief Deputy Patrick Clayton, according to a department news release. The person then tells the victim that they failed to report to court and are now subject to arrest unless a fine is paid. The scammer will then attempt to arrange a location to meet and collect the fine.

A charter school proposed for downtown Augusta has been denied approval by the Georgia State Charter Schools Commission.
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Smoking of tobacco or using electronic vapor products could soon be prohibited on Williston’s town property including its parks and playgrounds.
The Williston Town Council gave unanimous approval to first reading of the ordinance at its regular council meeting Monday, August 8.

The Richmond County Tax Commissioner’s Office is launching a Saturday office hours program at the South Augusta Tag Office from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.
“Our south Augusta tax office is often open on Saturdays and I have enjoyed many conversations with residents on those mornings,” Tax Commissioner Steven Kendrick said.
This weekend’s program will give residents an opportunity to interact with elected officials. The host will be District 6 Commissioner Ben Hasan.

NORTH AUGUSTA — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, in town Wednesday for a ceremonial bill signing, said Donald Trump isn’t her first choice, but she’ll vote for him and South Carolinians should, too.
Possible Supreme Court appointments and “the taxes Hillary Clinton wants to put on people” make the governor “hope and pray” Trump wins, she said.
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BARNWELL, S.C. -- An Aiken woman has died following a single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 278 outside of Barnwell near S.C. Highway 37.
Barnwell County Coroner Lloyd Ward has identified the driver as Erika Young, 34, of Trotter Run Court, Aiken. She was alone in the vehicle.

Police said an Edgefield man will face charges after he pulled a gun on a supervisor after quitting his job at Comcast on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said warrants have been filed against George Stevie Hilliard, 58, for charges of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
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ATLANTA  — Doctors who engage in sexual misconduct with patients are routinely treated as having "impairment" issues and may not be reported to law enforcement, according to new findings in an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.