Commercial Roof Repair in Augusta, GA

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Hundreds of elementary school students in Richmond County may be headed to a new school next year. The school board is considering closing Terrace Manor Elementary and Willis Foreman Elementary and moving those students to other schools in the district.

This is part of a restructuring plan called rightsizing that was proposed at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

The board is considering this rightsizing plan to optimize its resources. They say enrollment is down and continuing to drop.

Student enrollment is only at 50 percent capacity in each of the two elementary schools. The proposal would merge all of Terrace Manor’s students into Wheeless Road Elementary and Willis Foreman students would be split up across several nearby schools.

Some are concerned about what will happen to faculty and staff if the plan is approved.

“What about the teachers? How are the teachers feeling about this? Are those teachers going to move to the new facilities? What is going to happen to those teachers? Are you going to uproot them from what they’ve known? Because sometimes at elementary schools there are teachers that have been teaching there for 30 something odd years,” said Alexander Marshall, a Richmond County resident.

Another reason rightsizing is being considered is saving money. If the school board votes to go forward with the plan it is looking at saving more than $1.7 million each year.

Many also have concerns about how this could affect transportation, in a district already short on bus drivers.

“It’s going to be overcrowding of the buses. There’s going to be overcrowding of the classrooms to an extent, because– it’s just going to be ridiculous. Because now those bus drivers are going to have to drive further, those bus rides are going to have to be longer, now cutting into their time they could be spending with their family,” Marshall said.

The board wants to hear from parents about the plan. They will be hosting 4 public hearings on the matter.

Photojournalist: Will Baker.

EVANS, Ga (WJBF)- For many, it seems like road construction in Columbia County has been going on forever with no end in sight. The major projects are on Flowing Wells Road, Lewiston Road, and Furys Ferry Road.

Officials are hoping to wrap up the projects Flowing Wells and Lewiston in the next few months, but Furys Ferry has a ways to go.

Crews have been working for nearly a year on a nearly 4-mile stretch of Furys Ferry.

The widening project is currently in its first phase. Construction crews are working on water mains, sewer lines, and fiber optic cables among other things to prepare for the major construction phase.

Kyle Titus, Director of Engineering, told NewsChannel 6 that the project is on schedule despite a few setbacks.

“They’re currently on schedule. If you’re considering holidays and weather delays is a big one, it usually goes on a little beyond that original construction duration of about four years. We’re currently projecting it to end, for them to wrap up or be substantially completed around mid to late 2025,” he explained.

He said the work being done now in phase one is almost complete. Phase two may have more of an impact on traffic in the area.

“The contractor will switch into a grading phase where you’ll see a lot of earth moving, a lot of trucks, bulldozers, motor graders, stuff like that. It will actually look like road construction at that point. We expect to start sometime between now and mid summer,” said Titus.

So if you travel through there a lot you may want to consider alternate routes when you can once that part of the project begins.

Though the other two projects are almost done there is still more to come. Titus said once the Lewiston Road work is finished, they will begin on Horizon South Parkway.

Photojournalist: Will Baker.

The menu for the most famous dinner in golf is officially set.

On Wednesday afternoon, Augusta National announced the cuisine for the annual Masters Champions Dinner, revealing the picks selected by first-time champ (and world No. 1) Scottie Scheffler.

The theme of the menu would appear to be Southern barbecue, with the typically understated Scheffler returning to his Texas roots with what will surely be an elevated interpretation of a classic cookout.

To start, Scheffler will serve an appetizer course of cheeseburger sliders (“Served Scottie-Style”) and firecracker shrimp, followed by warm Tortilla soup garnished with avocado, crispy blue tortilla strips, sour cream, cilantro and lime.

Attendees will choose between Texas ribeye or blackened redfish for their mains, which will come with a host of traditional southern sides (mac & cheese, jalapeño creamed corn, fried Brussels sprouts and seasoned fries) served family style.

It’s always important to leave room for dessert, and particularly so on Scottie’s menu, which features a gooey chocolate chip cookie served on a warm skillet with milk-and-cookies ice cream, perhaps a riff off the famed ice cream served at New York City’s Milk Bar.

The Champions Dinner is a decades-old tradition. Each year, the club works with the previous year’s champion to build a menu for the dinner, which is held on the Tuesday of tournament week.

Traditionally, first-time winners have chosen menus reflective of their heritage and upbringing. Last year, Hideki Matsuyama’s Champions Dinner featured a dizzying blend of high-end Japanese cuisine, ranging from sushi to prized Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye.

Last month, Scheffler admitted to reporters at the Genesis Invitational that he remained ”clueless” about several details of the dinner.

“I don’t know exactly what you’re supposed to say that night. I haven’t really gotten too much info,” he said. “I’ve got to talk to a few of the guys and figure out what actually goes on that night because I’m still kind of clueless. I’m hoping that it will be a fun night.”

The 26-year-old said he was working in concert with his wife, Meredith, in building the menu.

“I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do, but it will be fun. It’s fun kind of planning it out. My wife, Meredith, she’s very creative,” Scheffler said. “She’s been helping me kind of think my way through it because I’m not really good at that, so she’s been helping me out.”

Scheffler, who four-putted the final hole of the 2022 Masters and still won by three, will host the Champions Dinner at a controversial time. His first dinner will also be the first since the formation of LIV Golf, with some LIVers (including Phil Mickelson) expected in attendance.

“Gathering all those guys together in a room, I mean, it should be a lot of fun,” Scheffler said. ”It’s an historic group of people, Masters champions, and I’m sure that we’ll all put our personal opinions aside and just have a good night and just kind of enjoy what the night really is.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta University hosted their CEO lunch series on Wednesday, featuring the CEO of a national- and local- tradition since 1937.

We spoke with Stephanie Stuckey about her journey.

Stephanie took over Stuckey’s in 2019 when it was six figures in debt. When asked why she wanted to take over the company, she said it’s because she loves her grandfather.

“It’s particularly gratifying because I’m reviving a family company,” said Stuckey. “And, so, it’s not just for the Stuckey family, it’s for all families out there who are struggling with their family business, or if they’ve lost their family business and they want to get it back. I want to say ‘you can do it’, ‘it’s possible’.”

Known for its famous pecan log roll, Stuckey’s was the first roadside retail shop of its kind.

Stephanie says the words “Every traveler is a friend” has always been the foundation of the family business’ mission.

“We were never segregated,” said Stuckey. “And we were in the movie The Green Book. And if you’ve seen the movie, there’s a scene at a Stuckey’s for the very reason. I think that’s a really important part of our history that I want to stress and share with people. That we continue to be a welcoming, inclusive company where everyone is welcome.”

A new Stuckey’s location just opened on Main Street in Wrens.

Stephanie tells us that being in the number one state for pecan production is special for a company known for delicious pecan treats.

She says that, in continuing her family’s legacy, she wants to remind all entrepreneurs that they are not alone.

“We closed out last year over 13 million in sales,” said Stuckey. “And we are profiting. There’s a whole community out there supporting entrepreneurs. Another takeaway is don’t be afraid to pivot, embrace change and, then- the most important thing is- have a sense of purpose. If you are a purpose-driven company, you will last through the hard times because you are doing it about something more than just making a profit…it’s about building a community and having an emotional connection with the brand.”

Stuckey tells us she is delighted to now be in Jefferson County and looks forward to creating pathways to prosperity for the community through her family legacy.

Upon Augusta Commission approval, the city acquired the home for further community economic development as part of the Laney Walker/Bethlehem revitalization.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - In a ceremony Wednesday, the city of Augusta marked the purchase of the Rev. Charles T. Walker house at 1011 Laney Walker Blvd. from Historic Augusta Inc.

The purchase is meant to preserve the home as part of the Laney Walker Bethlehem revitalization project.

“We will work to protect his heritage, we will work to preserve its legacy, and we will surely work to create an economic instrument cherished by all who visit the Boulevard,” Augusta Housing and Community Development Director Hawthorne Welcher Jr. said.

Walker was born into slavery in the 1800s but made his way out as a founder of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, which grew into one of the region’s largest congregations.

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The Richmond County Board of Education named a school in his honor in the 1930s.

When Gwinnett Street was renamed Laney Walker Boulevard in the 1970s, famed educator Lucy Craft Laney and Walker were chosen to be honored.

Subsequently, the surrounding neighborhood and National Register Historic District were also named for Laney and Walker.

Walker’s fame as a preacher and evangelist spanned continents, and he was known as “the Black Spurgeon” in reference to a famous British evangelist of that time.

Historic Augusta recognized the home on its endangered properties list in 2009 and acquired the property in 2015.

The organization, whose mission is to preserve historic sites and structures in Augusta and Richmond County, utilized its revolving fund and a grant from the 1772 Foundation, the Knox Foundation, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to stabilize the property.

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Upon Augusta Commission approval, the city acquired the home for further community economic development as part of the Laney Walker/Bethlehem revitalization project and overarching master plan.

“It goes really deep. This is really the mecca of the Black history portion of Augusta, Georgia,” said Leon Maben, Laney Walker neighbor.

Maben has lived here on and off for 60 years. He says it was about 10 years ago when he heard about the city’s revitalization plan that he moved back.

“I feel real good right now for what I see, but what I don’t want to happen is for the community, with this revitalization, to lose its character and its history of the community,” he said.

The Augusta Housing and Community Development says that growth is in the six to eight plots of land they have acquired through the help of the city and the land bank.

Welcher said: “Allows for us now to truly have the conversation about a grocery store, to truly have a conversation about delis, to truly have a conversation about coffee shops,” he said.

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Commissioner for District 1 Jordan Johnson said: “This is just the beginning of what we believe will be the revitalization and the rebirth of not just Laney Walker as a neighborhood, but as a thriving community.”

But it’s not without its worries.

Maben said: “I hope with this new prosperity coming in, that it does not force my old neighbors out.”

The Augusta Housing and Community Development says they’ll unveil another major announcement for this revitalization the week after Masters.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

Leaders in Columbia County are looking at the possibility of establishing a city outside of Harlem and Grovetown.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Leaders in Columbia County are looking at the possibility of establishing a city outside of Harlem and Grovetown.

Right now, those are the only two cities in the county. The rest are unincorporated communities.

There could be a study looking at what it could look like if Columbia County were to become its own city.

Leaders hope once this study goes out, it’ll come back with clear information on how Columbia County becoming a city may look. They are optimistic the study will show the pros outweigh the cons.

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“There would not be an additional layer of government. There would not be any additional taxes. This would be a means to lower taxes,” said Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson.

But some residents are skeptical. Lee Muns says he doesn’t see any benefits to the change.

“Governance-wise, no. Sheriff’s department-wise, no. Fire department-wise, no. Water and sewer, no,” he said.

Johnson says this change wouldn’t impact the way the current government and sheriff’s office do things. Johnson says there are negatives to this.

“The cities of Harlem and Grovetown, they would have the same land area that they have today,” he said.

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The bill for a study can go up to $100,000. Something Johnson says is well worth the price tag.

“We’re looking for an efficiency and functionality study. It has to do with consolidation and cooperation,” he said.

This isn’t the first time this has been attempted. The county has looked into this as early as 2006, and the county as a whole becoming a city isn’t the normal way of doing things.

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“It’s never been done exactly the way Columbia County would have to do it before. We are very much an anomaly. So I think it is a heavy lift,” said Johnson.

For some, they wished communication was a little clear about the move the county is making.

Muns said: “At the end of the day, you need to do a very good job of explaining the wholesale change to the community before you start putting that out there.”

Johnson says the study isn’t where this would end. Afterward, the county is looking to make sure they hold public input meetings for all voices to be heard.

All that would be before Columbia County will look to make this legislation that will go through the statehouse. Then it would be on the ballot for voters to decide. This vote won’t be for another year to a year and a half.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.