The free eight-week concert series runs through May and June on Thursday evenings The Augusta GreenJackets will face the Hickory Crawdads through May 11 at SRP Park, 187 Railroad Ave., North Augusta. Tickets range from $10 to $19. For more information, visit milb.com/augusta A Mental Health Resource Fair will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 7, at VA Augusta Uptown Campus, 1 Freedom Way, Augusta. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page. Music in the Park will be held Thursdays through June at Maude Edenfield Park, 495 Brookside Ave., North Augusta. Swing Shift will perform at 7 p.m., May 8. For more information, visit naartscouncil.org/music-in-the-park. A Business After Hours event will be held at 5 p.m. at Security Federal Bank, 315 E. Martintown Road, North Augusta. North Augusta Chamber partners get in free, and visitors are $10. For more information, visit allevents.in. A Bracelet Workshop will be held at 5:30 p.m. Phoenix Wrestling Experience presents the Matriarch Mayhem ’25, featuring a triple threat match to crown the PWE tag team champions Thursday, May 8, the Savannah River Brewing Company, 813 5th St., Augusta. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the bell is at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit phoenixwrestling.net Gary Allan will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center, 1000 Market St., Evans, Georgia. Tickets range from $45-$80. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit garyallan.com A reception for the Grown Up 'round Us exhibit will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 9, at Better World Studios, 125 Marshall St., Graniteville. The exhibit will feature artwork by students kindergarten trough college. The exhibit will run through May 24. For more information, email mabrypm@gmail.com The Augusta Players will perform "Anastasia" at 8 p.m. Friday, May 9; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10; and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 11; at the Imperial Theatre, 749 Broad St., Augusta. Tickets range from $30 to $52. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit imperialtheatre.com The Dinner Detective True Crime Mystery Dinner Show will be performed from 7-10 p.m. Friday, May 9, at The River Club, 307 Riverside Blvd., North Augusta. Tickets are $63.99 and include the award-winning mystery theater show, full dinner, waitstaff gratuity. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thedinnerdetective.com The Aiken Standard Beach Blast will be held from 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the Newberry Street Festival Center in downtown Aiken. Tickets are $15 in advance. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit aikenstandard.com A North Augusta Healthy Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Family Life Center, 100 Jackson Ave., North Augusta. For more information, email shelly@cancersupportservices.org A Mother's Day celebration event will be held at 10:15 a.m Whiskey Run Augusta will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Sharon Jones Amphitheatre, 1001 Center St., North Augusta. For more information, visit explorenorthaugusta.com. The Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, 1 10th St., permits free admission every Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit themorris.org. The Nancy Carson Library will sponsor a free seed giveaway in connection with the Aiken Soil and Water Conservation District from 11 a.m Celebrity Waiter Night will be held Tuesday, May 13, in North Augusta. Restaurants include The Feed Sack, Iron Horse Grill, Manuel's Bread Cafe and Sno-Cap Drive-In. For more information, visit childrensplaceinc.org Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Improvements along Georgia Avenue for both pedestrian and vehicle safety are not far off but North Augusta City Council wants to get public opinion before taking action on any of the recommended fixes The last time that North Augusta sought public opinion on improving downtown Georgia Avenue was in the fall of 2022 this time to weigh in on the actual recommendations for slowing traffic and boosting safety North Augusta Planning Commission has recommend that City Council adopt almost $6 million worth of suggested improvements to Georgia Avenue the council wants the public to weigh in before it holds its own vote North Augusta City Council wants the public to weigh in on the almost $6 million worth of recommended improvements to Georgia Avenue Elizabeth Hustad is a reporter with The Post and Courier North Augusta. She covers government, growth and development, and business Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and previously worked with a Twin Cities weekly Her work has appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnPost To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers » NORTH AUGUSTA — North Augustans will have the chance to weigh in on the recommended changes to downtown Georgia Avenue with an informal public comment period now scheduled for Monday “We have made Georgia Avenue a thoroughfare from point A to B; that is not the objective,” Williams said so they’ll stop and go into those businesses.” “We want people to be able to take their children across Georgia Avenue,” he continued The planning commission’s series of votes of April 16 closely aligned with what the engineers had suggested also going a couple steps further: broaden the sidewalks and buffer the parking And opt for a roundabout intersection of Georgia, Carolina and Jackson avenues. Commissioners recommended this $3.75 million fix for “Malfunction Junction” over an earlier proposal that the city council last year had rejected in words if not in actual vote An estimated total price tag of nearly $6 million comes with pursuing all suggested fixes in that report and that the commission has now recommended Kimley-Horn's Joe Robertson updated North Augusta City Council that this figure could easily grow to nearly $7 million if the city pursued the wider sidewalks the planning commission is also recommending The information coming during a work session Council did not take any action April 28 and comments were limited and relegated largely to the realm of clarification although Councilwoman Pat Carpenter did give her take as long as these businesses have a way in and out [...] I just want to be sure that everybody on that north[bound] Georgia Avenue is happy and their business is taken care of,” Councilwoman Pat Carpenter said Carpenter also on first look said she favored that roundabout: “I think that would solve a lot of problems.” No vote on the recommendations has yet been scheduled but that more informal back-and-forth for public comment will still be held during that May 12 Council meeting on the third floor of the Municipal Building Elizabeth Hustad covers politics, government and business for The Post and Courier North Augusta. Follow her on Twitter at @ElizabethHustad Senior Gavin Rodriguez defends the ball from Midland Valley in North Augusta's final game of the season Senior Will Hughes moves the ball forward against Midland Valley on May 2 Midland Valley players celebrate scoring the first goal against North Augusta on May 2 North Augusta sophomore Landon Sweat defends the ball against Midland Valley freshman Roger Gutierrez on May 2 North Augusta senior goalkeeper Connor Brown kicks the ball back into play against Midland Valley Junior Blake Fuss celebrates a goal for North Augusta in its last game against Midland Valley on May 2 North Augusta boys' soccer is playing its best soccer at the end of the regular season After a rocky start to the year due to injuries the Jackets bounced back to finish second in Region 4-AAAA Head coach Brent DeGennaro said they actually were able to develop more depth through their early season growing pains “We've been inconsistent early in the season but I think that a lot of it was about injuries We weren't able to stay healthy early in the season and so we had to kind of move guys around and I think ultimately it ended up helping us because we were able to get some guys in and figure out where we could move guys around and build some depth but the inconsistency kind of stopped about three weeks ago.” they’ve gone on to win eight games straight to end their season North Augusta capped off its season with a dominant 6-1 win over the Mustangs at home on May 2 The victory came in part because of an effort by seniors on the team who helped to add five goals to the score line before halftime DeGennaro said their contribution throughout the season has been vital to the teams comeback “We're playing our best soccer right now,” he said “And that's what I think is really important I told them all along that we need to be playing our best soccer at the end of the season And a lot of that is attributed to a bunch of the seniors that we have that are leaders We've got a bunch of seniors and their leadership has been just absolutely critical to us doing what we're doing right now.” it was a slow start for the Jackets as they struggled to sneak the ball past Midland Valley’s goalkeeper It wasn’t until midway through the first half when they got their first goal to tie the Mustangs North Augusta backed it up with four more goals in a matter of minutes to take a 5-1 lead at halftime The second half was all defense for the Jackets they did add one more goal to make it 6-1 before the clock ran out DeGennaro said it’ll be important for them to keep creating opportunities to score as they prepare for the playoffs Even if they’re unable to capitalize every time he wants them to keep it simple to give each other the best chances put points on the board “We just have to play smart soccer,” he said We got a bunch of talented players and if we're selfless and move the ball around we play soccer the way that we know how to play we create a whole bunch of chances and we didn't even finish all of them but it's all a matter of us just doing the simple things We do a bunch of simple things really quickly and it looks complicated but it’s about doing the little things.” It will be the last playoff run for nine seniors who started their high school career with a trip to the state championship in 2022 DeGennaro said their experience in big moments like that championship has carried the team to where they are now They’ll all get one more shot at a state championship before graduating “They all contribute in so many ways,” he said And I love them to death and I'm so happy that I can be their coach.” They'll start the playoffs on their home turf after taking second place in the region behind region champs Gray Collegiate Academy Springfest was held in downtown North Augusta on April 27 Adeana Berry was commissioned to paint North Augusta Forward's next mobile mural during this year's Springfest Amanda Ling had stopped in North Augusta specifically for the baked goods at Sheila's.. More than 70 vendors were sprawled across West and Pine Grove avenues in North Augusta April 27 for Springfest hosted by North Augusta Forward and the downtown Merchant's Alliance which now has a seasonal North Augusta location off Knobcone Avenue set up shop downtown during Springfest on April 27 Sophia Obielodan crochets plushies “for little ones Ted Majowitz and his sister Janice served up their homemade pierogis and kamjak at Springfest A draw for someone looking to find a little something they maybe didn’t know was right around the corner (or a mere click away but made around the corner) April 27 in downtown North Augusta was the place to be for small business local artists and anyone hoping to catch more than a few rays of sunlight and maybe a homemade pierogi Springfest. North Augusta’s annual push to shop local The street fair this year had more than 70 vendors an expanded footprint down West Avenue and extended hours Put on by North Augusta Forward and the downtown Merchant’s Alliance it’s simply a way “to support local business bring people out and give them a different experience in downtown,” Avery Spears-Mahoney executive director for North Augusta Forward said: “help them to see all that downtown has to offer – it's shops and restaurants and businesses.” if in a serendipitous way was a bonus to the cinnamon rolls she was fetching from Sheila’s Ling said she’s going to keep an eye out for next year’s Springfest Having walked through the lineup once already she was going to double-back for Round Two And even if it was a stumble-upon visit to Springfest Ling also got the other message – its purpose Ling said she knows the potential power of a downtown market I feel like in terms of economic development this is a good idea to host regularly because it does bring people to town,” she said The commerce that cascaded down West Pine Grove on Saturday ran the gamut from live painting to live plants, the latter supplied by Cold Creek Nurseries (prime location at the head of the vendor lineup) and the former by Adeana Berry was commissioned by North Augusta Forward to paint one of the nonprofit’s mobile murals and Berry had her tent set up on the green at the corner of West and Pine Grove “It’s been nice just to have people see your art,” she said the bright colors of her work backdrop to her words it seems like there’s just a handful of places that you can display art that people know about,” she added “But this is a little bit different; everyone can come out and see what else is going on and who else is doing what.” For Augusta’s Sophia Obielodan that meant crocheting plushies “for little ones reconnect with the crochet hobby her mother taught her growing up and that six months ago she turned into her Cozy Purl business Ted Majowitz and his sister Janice were set up with the pierogis (the best in all South Carolina as the certificate at their booth attests) No strangers to the Aiken County Farmers Market, the two had their South Pole pierogis and kajmak (pronounced "kay-mack") in North Augusta for the first time this week brought to the CSRA after finding what they had at a restaurant was just a heated up frozen variety – they could do better That’s how the classics (potato and cheese) and the big “MF-ers” (mushroom feta and spinach) made their way to Aiken and now to North Augusta who serves on the board of directors for North Augusta Forward said Springfest was marketed as far away as Lexington with the goal of showing those near and far what North Augusta has to offer America’s Group announcing an acquisition is par for the course was founded nearly four decades ago and helps America’s Group continue to expand its presence in the Southeast Last week, America’s announced the purchase of North Bay Auto Auction The company added its third auction in the Peach State, announcing that it acquired South Georgia Auto Auction in Albany America’s also announced purchases of Car-Tech Auto Auction in February and auction tech platform auctionVcommerce in January The addition of Augusta Auto Auction (located just across the border from Georgia) in America’s third location in South Carolina joining America’s Auto Auction Greenville and America’s Auto Auction Charleston “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy of expanding America’s Auto Auction’s reach while maintaining the local relationships and personalized service that make each auction unique,” America’s Group CEO Chuck Tapp said in a news release “We are excited to welcome Augusta Auto Auction to our growing network and look forward to enhancing its operations with our resources and industry expertise.” the owner of August Auto Auction: “Being part of Augusta Auto Auction’s 38-year history for more than 23 years has been an incredible privilege and I’m deeply grateful for the support from our dedicated staff “Augusta Auto Auction has become a cornerstone in the wholesale auto auction market and I have no doubt that America’s Auto Auction will not only uphold the standards our employees and customers have come to expect but will also elevate Augusta Auto Auction to new heights.” The auction will continue to hold sales at 10 a.m Peppy Angell lays out a quilt in the library that was made by members of First Baptist Church of North Augusta's prayer quilt ministry Janet Martin prepares some fabrics for prayer quilts as part of prayer quilt ministry at First Baptist Church of North Augusta Janet Martin describes the a prayer quilt that will be given to a member of First Baptist Church of North Augusta Peppy Angell holds up a prayer quilt that was made by the prayer quilt ministry at First Baptist Church North Augusta Peppy Angell lays out fabric that will be used to make a quilt A prayer quilt from the First Baptist North Augusta prayer quilt ministry A patch that is sown into a prayer quilt at First Baptist Church North Augusta First Baptist Church in North Augusta has a prayer qulit minstiry that makes prayer quilts for members as a comfort during a difficult time Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star reporter a soft quilt can do more than provide warmth – it can offer comfort connection and a powerful reminder of prayer during difficult times “I think it reminds them that they are covered in prayer,” she said Angell leads the prayer quilt ministry, called Prayers and Squares, at First Baptist Church of North Augusta where volunteers gather each month to sew quilts for church members in need of comfort or encouragement The ministry was founded in June 2017 and has delivered 146 quilts since its inception The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month to cut which are later displayed in the church library for two Sundays members of the congregation are invited to pray for the recipient and tie a knot into the quilt I would like everybody to get involved in it,” she said Each knot represents a prayer offered on behalf of the recipient and every quilt includes a cross stitched onto the back Quilts typically take about three weeks to complete and are available at no cost to church members One of the ministry’s key principles is that each recipient must be willing to receive the quilt Angell said she began the ministry as a way to put her sewing and quilting skills in service of others Inspired by a book titled "Prayers and Squares," which outlined how to start a prayer quilt program She previously participated in a small knitting group in New York that shared personal stories as they created handcrafted items “I thought it was a good ministry because it got the congregation involved,” she said The ministry welcomes volunteers of all skill levels and teaches newcomers how to help whether through sewing or tasks like pressing fabric the group gave a quilt to a man who is a member of the church who expressed gratitude for the prayers and support “The people that receive them keep them on their bed or they keep them on their chair They are comforted being wrapped in prayer,” Angell said it’s sometimes delivered to a family member instead Angell recalled moments when she saw former recipients return to church “I have seen some of the recipients recover from their illness,” she said ‘I know that name – we gave them a quilt two years ago.’ Here they are serving again.” joined the church after retiring and was invited to help with sewing for both the Dolls ministry and the prayer quilt program “I feel like when we make a quilt for someone it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are so ill that they are near end of life,” she said “It means that they need prayers from us.” She added that the physical presence of the quilt becomes a reminder of the people behind it “They know when they think of that quilt and look at those knots they know that someone was praying for them,” Martin said “To have something tangible that the person can look at and feel every day knowing that someone is out there thinking of them and praying for them – it changed my perception of how I can help people.” Bianca Moorman is a reporter for the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star with a focus on community Crystal Atnipp spoke for many of the 50 or so there April 28 when she asked And why does it have to be exactly across from my children’s school?" The former Belvedere United Methodist Church at 202 Rhomboid Pl. is proposed for a new community health center that would co-locate treatment services for mental health and substance use also providing office space for Veterans Affairs and SCDPH About 50 people showed to a public listening session at Belvedere Elementary School April 28 A co-location for treating mental health and substance use is proposed for the former Methodist church across from the school “I should not have to worry when I drop [my kids] off at school who’s going to be across the street," Amber Wollford said SCDMH Deputy Director Deborah Blalock was at Belvedere Elementary April 28 in from Columbia to advocate for the Community Health Center proposed for this side of Aiken County who requested the public input session and acted as moderator that evening executive director of Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center field questions from the public during nearly two hours of back-and-forth April 28 about their proposed co-location across from Belvedere Elementary Charles Sheppard said he knows first-hand the worst-case scenario of treating mental illness having lost a nephew in a triple-homicide committed by a family member during a mental health crisis "I want you to think about it: We’re putting it literally within spitting distance of an elementary school of children that are still being molded into thriving kids and adults," Amber Wollford said Many of those present April 28 asked why treatment center for substance use and mental health would be proposed for the church property across from Belvedere Elementary Belvedere Elementary on April 28 was site for a public listening session on a new co-location for treating mental health and substance use proposed for the former church across the street from the school Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center executive director; and Brian Silas Board of Education representative for District 3-Graniteville Aiken County Councilman Sandy Haskell (District 5-Belvedere) listens to public comment on the treatments center's proposed co-location across from Belvedere Elementary Aiken County Board of Education's Brian Silas (District 3-Graniteville) said he hopes health officials will consider a different location for the treatment center Shane Massey requested the the April 28 public listening session after hearing the high volume of outcry about the center's proposed location Public outcry April 28 was forceful; and though the school district has no legal say in the matter two Aiken County Board of Education members said they hope health officials will reconsider where they co-locate the treatment center BELVEDERE — A Community Health Center that would co-locate treatment services for mental health and substance use also providing room for Veteran Affairs and basic public health needs like vaccinations has gotten backlash from citizens for its proposed location: the old Belvedere United Methodist Church directly across from Belvedere Elementary School The chosen site shows an inconsideration at the least and a gamble with kids’ safety at the worst Crystal Atnipp said in forceful remarks that summarized much of the voiced sentiment at a public input session held April 28 at Belvedere Elementary “We do not want them kinds of people that’s having health crises right across from an elementary school with no officer We do not want this in our neighborhood,” she said Shane Massey when he heard the high-volume public outcry that followed on the February rezoning of the old church property The church closed end of last June and almost immediately was taken up as possible site for the treatment center Safety, especially with Belvedere Elementary being the only North Augusta area school without an officer on site; some traffic concerns and a lot of anger over what many said was poor communication about the proposed health center – there were plenty of complaints among the 50 or so who turned up on Monday The prevailing question wasn’t so much why such a center was needed in the area “It does not belong in a neighborhood,” Atnipp said arguing that North Augusta has plenty of options – large empty storefronts – throughout its commercial areas that would be better suited for such a center And why does it have to be exactly across from my children’s school?” Atnipp was one of almost 20 people in the crowd who verbally rallied against the center's proposed location though she said a petition with nearly 500 signatures was also going around opposing it The proposed Community Health Center is not a new idea Similar models are already in place across South Carolina A co-located facility removes some of the challenges in seeking treatment Blalock is deputy director for the state’s Department of Mental Health which oversees 16 local authorities like Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health often needed together as part of a coordinated care plan plus the need to walk through only one door when the stigma of hurting is equaled only by the stigma of getting help “Co-location ensures that people don’t have to piece together support they need across providers since services are offered in one location,” Aiken-Barnwell Executive Director Tamara Smith said can also help “reduce recidivism and prevent hospital readmissions.” Smith and her counterpart in Margaret Key at Aiken Center, which operates under South Carolina’s Drug and Alcohol Commission to provide treatment for substance use, have pushed for the Community Health Center for about three years That settlement is bringing a combined $13 million by 2040 to the jurisdictions of Aiken County and the cities of Aiken and North Augusta each of which has already put a portion of their allocations to the now-published research supportive of a co-located facility for mental health and drug use treatment The Department of Veterans Affairs and South Carolina Department of Public Health would have offices there services offered at the center would include basic health department vaccinations substance use disorder assessments and peer support recovery coaching The center would not treat for sex offenses Patients with appointments during the afternoon school pick-up time would be directed not to use Monterrey Avenue “It’s meant to improve safety – crime prevention – increasing the health and wellbeing of a community and not diminishing it,” Aiken Center’s Key said Both Key and Smith said the stigma around mental illness runs deep and that many still believe that anyone with mental illness is “crazy.” But South Carolina Department of Mental Health reports that just 3% to 5% of those living with a serious mental illness end up committing violent acts Further, about one in five people experience a diagnosable mental health condition every year, and this isn’t limited to the adult population Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health already has embedded services in Aiken County schools and Smith said that more than 180 referrals to Aiken-Barnwell have come from North Augusta area schools alone “To think that it’s not in your community is absolutely incorrect; it’s here,” she said “It’s the untreated mental health issues that you need to be concerned about “We know our kids are exposed [...] but what happens when you put a beacon over there?” Charles Sheppard asked Among the referrals that Aiken Center and Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health take some of these do come from law enforcement it’s an increased risk bringing that element this close to our children mental health issues – you have a chance to regress; drug abuse – relapses all the time And you’re going to bring that right across from our children.” Sheppard has a 6-year-old daughter at Belvedere Elementary He also three months ago felt the effects of mental health crisis in his family A nephew of his in Louisiana was one of three killed by an uncle a patient with schizophrenia whom Sheppard said had “snapped” when his medicine was gotten wrong “You can say only 3-5 percent [of violent acts are committed by those in a mental health crisis] but I am not willing to risk 5 percent for my daughter.” Amber Wollford has a 4-year-old daughter at the school and an 11-year-old son in middle school “I should not have to worry when I drop them off at school who’s going to be across the street,” she said “I’m not knocking people with mental illness; I’ve got some very dear family who have mental illnesses But I want you to think about it: We’re putting it literally within spitting distance of an elementary school of children that are still being molded into thriving kids and adults.” why not combine the budget and build a new center elsewhere A different location could still be an option Aiken-Barnwell's Smith said the church property hasn’t yet been purchased by South Carolina Department of Mental Health the agency that’s taking the lead on the project Sandy Haskell, Aiken County Councilman for District 5, maintained calm in light of a couple digs the evening of April 28, explaining how the rezoning process unfolded from October through February between the county planning commission and the county council a total of five readings that elicited only a positive response in the council chambers many at the listening session decried what they said was a lack of information leading up to the property’s rezoning Though Monday’s listening session wasn’t the first (Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health and Aiken Center also hosted one last August before the rezoning of the church property even got started) many said they never got the 800 or so flyers sent out advertising that earlier session Residents also said the zoning itself wasn’t well advertised one man saying the posted signage was left lying on the ground and that the matter was hidden behind the more coded language of an ordinance number – though this language is typical of any rezoning the zoning process has it that only nearby property owners are notified The county was not obligated to do what those in attendance said they wished had happened: notification of all parents who had students at Belvedere Elementary Aiken-Barnwell's Smith said such notification of parents was at the school district’s discretion But the decision on whether the health center moves forward at the old church property is out of the school district’s hands – it's not the district’s property Smith said that top school officials were engaged at the beginning on a communication level these officials to include Superintendent Dr the district’s director of security and emergency management Aiken County Board of Education members Brian Silas each acknowledged it wasn’t their call to make while also expressing a like mind with those who showed “I don't think anybody here would disagree that mental health is a problem and a growing problem and nobody wants to keep anyone from getting treatment,” Silas said I just don’t think it's a good idea to invite folks that are struggling with mental health “I think the neighborhood spoke,” Lindell told Post and Courier Dennis Briatico became the first Democrat in years elected to North Augusta City Council Republican incumbent Jenafer McCauley awaits the election returns April 29 Robert Freitas had won out over incumbent David McGhee in the Republican primary and in Tuesday's General Election secured his spot on North Augusta City Council Republican Pat Carpenter easily won another four-year term (her ninth) on North Augusta City Council She's pictured here with North Augusta Tourism Director Karl Waldhauer and fellow Republican John Felak went into Tuesday's election unopposed while Felak will take up former Councilman Eric Presnell's unexpired term Ben Watson and Alphia Dunbar of North Augusta's Municipal Election Commission live reported Election Night returns from North Augusta Community Center Dennis Briatico upset North Augusta's election Tuesday ousting incumbent and Mayor Pro Tempore Jenafer McCauley to become the first Democrat the city's had in recent history NORTH AUGUSTA — Dennis Briatico upset North Augusta's election Tuesday We didn’t aim for party; we aimed for people We didn't run on extreme politics; we ran on the concerns of the community,” Briatico said And I spoke to the heart of my community; I laid myself open Unofficial results from the April 29 North Augusta Municipal Election show that Briatico received 1,345 votes; Republican Freitas had 1,356; Pat Carpenter earned 1,397; and McCauley got 1,213 Another 105 votes went to write-in candidates Only the number of write-in votes was available for each race on Election Night A manual review of ballots will determine the names of the individuals later this week Crystal Baskett had filed a letter of intent as an independent write-in back in December; no others did so The three full-term races were the only ones contested in this year’s election, and the other two races – that for mayor and that for the unexpired Council term held by former Councilman Eric Presnell until last fall – were anti-climactic who has been unopposed since candidate filing closed end of December with only his name registered formalized his hold on the mayor’s seat for another four years with a two-to-one win over a bevy of write-in votes attributable to a last-minute campaign from Richard Fletcher a former North Augusta planning commissioner area architect and moderator of the North Augusta 20/20 Facebook page announced online a couple weeks ahead of Election Day that he’d serve if elected as a write-in candidate – much the same type of campaign he ran for City Council two years prior The unofficial result was 1,329 votes for Williams and 774 for write-ins who beat out fellow Republican Michael Ford in the February primary contest for Presnell’s seat also went into Election Day unopposed and merely solidified his own spot on the council Unofficial results have it that Felak received 1,592 votes with another 111 going to write-in candidates so I know what it’s like to lose," Felak said and we’re looking forward to working together with our new council – every council’s a little different just really looking forward to bringing some new ideas and new experiences to Council and working hard for the citizens of North Augusta,” he said adding that he went into Election Day confident that he’s run a hard campaign A first term for three of the candidates but a ninth for Carpenter: having served 32 years Carpenter said she’ll carry her long-touted promise through in this next term “I just still want what's best for North Augusta,” she said I promise to serve with an open and honest heart And I will continue to do that the next four years.” Mayor Williams said he’s just as excited now as he was four years ago when he won his first mayoral term He also gave recognition to his mayor pro tem “Jenafer represented us incredible the past four years and it’ll be a loss not having her on Council,” he said “But that’s the great thing about elections and it’s an opportunity for all of us to work together because at the end of the day we’re trying to make North Augusta better." North Augusta’s Municipal Election Commission is scheduled to meet late in the morning on May 1 to canvas the votes and certify results Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight The 2025 North Augusta Municipal Election and Special Election are Tuesday North Augusta voters will elect their mayor for the next four years; three council members to serve full four-year terms; and one council member to serve out the final two years of former Councilman Eric Presnell’s term Know what's on the ballot and where to check your polling location (and a few other things) ahead of the April 29 North Augusta Municipal Election The North Augusta Municipal Election is Tuesday Neither the mayor’s race nor that shortened term is contested Current Mayor Briton Williams was the only person to file in the mayor’s race and effectively secured his second term when the filing period closed end of December John Felak won out over Michael Ford in the Feb. 11 Republican Primary to gain a shot at Presnell’s unexpired term With no opposition from the Democrats or from any declared write-in candidate Felak also has effectively secured his spot on the council It's the three full-term seats – those currently occupied by Pat Carpenter Jenafer McCauley and David McGhee – that are up for grabs in this month's election but McGhee lost to fellow Republican Robert Freitas in the Primary and is no longer in the running McCauley and Freitas; Democrat Dennis Briatico; and declared write-in candidate Crystal Baskett looking to either gain or regain a full term on North Augusta City Council On Election Day, voters will go to their precinct’s polling location, which can be found online at SCVotes.Gov under the “Voters” tab at top voters must have been registered by March 30 To view a sample ballot, visit SCVotes.Gov and request this under the “Voters” tab at top News, Politics & Government Dennis Briatico won a seat on the North Augusta City Council Tuesday A North Augusta man upset the status quo and won a seat on city council Tuesday News Crime & Courts | News Briefs General News | News | Politics & Government The Augusta Press encourages and welcomes reader comments; however we request this be done in a respectful manner and we retain the discretion to determine which comments violate our comment policy remove and/or not allow your comments to be posted The types of comments not allowed on our site include: Forgot your password? website@theaugustapress.com Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Ironhead Barbeque owner and founder Kurt Mueller Ironhead Barbeque will open up a physical location in North Augusta in by the end of the summer The new business will be located at 340 Edgefield Road Ironhead Barbeque which serves smoked meats such as brisket NORTH AUGUSTA — A popular barbecue truck in the CSRA known for its smoked meat will soon open a brick-and-mortar location in North Augusta Ironhead Barbeque's menu offerings currently include cole slaw pork ribs and mac and cheese as well as brisket closed on the lease for the property on 340 Edgefield Road April 30 “I think the location is great and it’s a very high-traffic area and I think this area is in need of some great barbecue,” Mueller said Mueller said there are plans to hire people and expand the menu “We are not going to get away from what has really helped us with our success and that is sticking to the basics,” he said He also said there are plans to make it more than a restaurant and would be a place to hang out with live music “I am so excited about being here in our physical location,” he said “It’s our first step in becoming a national brand.” He said the goal is for Ironhead to be nationally recognized as the best barbecue in the county and have a franchise “In order to be the best barbecue in your county to got to be the best barbecue in your town first,” he said Mueller started his business as Atomic City Smokers a few years ago and has participated on the BBQ Team on the Food Network show BBQ USA said the city is a great place to open his Ironhead's first location because the city is growing “We wanted to be where we live because we wanted to be part of the community,” he said Mueller said once the business is up and running he still will have the food trailer He said the plan is to have the new location open in either August or September More information on Ironhead Barbeque can be found at www.ironheadbbq.com, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.  WJBF The City of North Augusta held its Municipal Election on Tuesday What’s going on at this Downtown Augusta restaurant is starting to eat at some commissioners Hundreds packed the Performing Arts Center to honor fallen Columbia County Deputy Brandon Sikes Deputy Brandon Sikes was on the hearts and minds of thousands in Columbia County Monday That’s why many people decided to spend part of their morning lining the streets leading up to the Columbia County Performing Arts Center---showing support Businesses to honor fallen deputy during funeral procession 2 injured in shooting at Riverfront Marina The festival kickstarts the year for the church but also serves as a way to reach more people in the community a cook and teacher at Childcare Network on Wylds Road in Augusta The City of Augusta and the Greater Augusta Arts Council unveiled 10 new sculptures as part of the latest expansion of the Augusta Sculpture Trail on Friday People are showing a wide range of support and keeping the deputies and their families in their thoughts Crime & Courts, News Tyler Woods was arrested Sunday at the North Augusta Walmart on Knox Avenue after allegedly targeting young girls and assaulting at least one An employee captured this image at right of the arrest North Augusta police arrested a man Sunday after he allegedly targeted juvenile girls inside the Knox Avenue Walmart asked a 15-year-old stranger for a hug and wrapped his arms around her after she declined he allegedly smacked her on the buttocks and only stopped when her grandfather stepped in Officers were told by Walmart employees that different customers were complaining about Woods attempting to speak to their juvenile daughters and touching them along with a Walmart employee stating that Woods was asking for her social media information She said he had tried to assault a-14-year-old girl but ran off when her mom approached looking for young girls,” McKinney said McKinney said Woods also harassed her and asked for her social media before she ignored him and walked away It was a half-hour later when the suspect approached the 15-year-old girl The teen victim told police that the stranger approached her when she was away from her relatives near the bicycles section He asked if she had a Snapchat or Instagram The victim responded that she did and tried to walk away The strange man asked for a hug and she said no “Woods proceeded to hug the victim anyways and pick her up off the ground,” a report says he grabbed her in the buttocks and only stopped when her grandfather saw them around the corner and asked what he was doing That is when Woods let her down and then smacked her in the buttocks before leaving.” The responding officer found Woods and handcuffed him “What did she tell you?” the suspect asked the officer Woods claimed he approached the attractive girl and asked how old she was He denied touching the victim but then admitted it and claimed the girl asked him to While officers initially sought a charge of criminal sexual conduct with a minor Woods was booked for assault & battery in the first degree He was released Tuesday on a $5,000 bond from the Aiken County Detention Center Letters to the Editor | Opinion We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money North Augusta, SC—Funeral Services for Mr. John Wayne Raiford, 82, who entered into eternal life on March 18, 2025, will be conducted this Saturday at 11 o’clock from the Sweetwater Baptist Church with Dr. Paul W. Noe officiating.... View Obituary & Service Information The family of John Wayne Raiford created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne Steve Davis prays during the National Day of Prayer breakfast in North Augusta Heyward Dock prays for the local government as part of National Day of Prayer breakfast in North Augusta Ken and Donna McDowell grab some breakfast during a prayer breakfast at TrueNorth Church on National Prayer Day People fill their plates during a National Day of Prayer breakfast at TrueNorth Church in North Augusta North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams speaks at the National Day of Prayer breakfast in North Augusta A man prays during a prayer breakfast service at TrueNorth Church in North Augusta FaLawna Brown from TrueNorth Church leads a song on National Day of Prayer in North Augusta Colen Lindell poses with North Augusta City Council members David Buck and Pat Carpenter during a prayer breakfast on National Prayer Day in North Augusta The city of North Augusta held its annual National of Prayer Breakfast at TrueNorth in which members of the community came together for prayer the nation and the collective body of churches were at the heart of North Augusta’s 74th annual National Day of Prayer observance on Thursday the city’s prayer breakfast brought together local leaders and clergy from various congregations for a morning of worship Old Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church’s Rev Leonard Griffin offered a prayer for the armed services He emphasized the importance of unified spiritual support across denominations “I currently believe that the community needs to be covered in prayer and not just as individual churches but as the body of Christ coming together,” Griffin said to serve together – and the community needs it.” Heyward Dock said the service moved him deeply He added that he attended the event to show his commitment to the city and to God “I am a firm believer that prayer changes things and that prayer is powerful,” he said focusing on the need for unity and humility He prayed that divisions across the country might be healed and that Americans would seek to humble themselves before God Victory Baptist Church Assistant Pastor Josh Tesch lifted up prayers for the state’s leaders Touch our leaders and every church in this room,” he said Jason Cornwell of North Augusta Fellowship Church prayed for the economy asking that those who feel discouraged about financial struggles would find hope that God will see them through North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams also participated in the service He noted how important it was for residents to see that many of the city’s leaders are people of faith “It’s important for all of us as elected officials and citizens to know that God is in control,” Williams said He expressed excitement about the gathering particularly that multiple churches and ministers had joined together for the occasion “Jesus Christ has never been needed in the city of North Augusta more than right now,” he said local churches continued the day’s observance with an extended prayer session from 6-8 p.m. once again coming together in unity to lift up the city A North Augusta drive-thru burger restaurant could be renovated into a national coffeeshop chain's first location in South Carolina and just the second for the Augusta area Plans held by DLP Construction of Alpharetta call for the closed Checkers restaurant at 1029 Edgefield Rd just off North Augusta's Interstate 20 Exit 5 The project marks the second Augusta-area Checkers that father-and-son Checkers franchisees Andy and Drew Pye are transforming into a Caribou Coffee with that? Is Augusta losing this Walton Way restaurant to make way for a popular coffeeshop? The Augusta Chronicle first reported in October 2024 about construction plans for the Checkers at 1720 Walton Way in Augusta it would put four coffeeshops on a less-than-one-mile stretch of Walton Way between 15th and Eve streets Dunkin Donuts and the local Trellis Coffee Bar drive-thru-only North Augusta Caribou would join other fast-food offerings around the Market Plaza shopping center anchored by a Food Lion supermarket Caribou has about 750 locations across the country Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH AUGUSTA (WRDW/WAGT) - A 24-year-old man remained in a hospital Thursday trapping him under rubble in a nearly two-hour ordeal that brought dozens of rescuers to the scene confirming a happy ending to what could have been a tragic accident Police on Thursday released an incident report that shed more light on what happened in the 200 block of Vancouver Road just off Edgefield Road Wednesday as an old pool house was being torn down and the man was one of the demolition crew members The building unexpectedly collapsed as the crew was preparing the exterior for demolition the North Augusta Department of Public Safety reported Three crew members ran away from the building but one panicked and ran to the center of it who was conscious but unable to move because debris had pinned his shoulder At least 30 rescuers came to the scene from North Augusta Richmond County and the Savannah River Site Crews continued to arrive with sirens blaring nearly 50 minutes after the collapse even as neighbors gathered around to see what was going on Rescuers asked them to stay quiet so they could maintain communications with the trapped man One group of onlookers formed a small circle and held hands nearby to pray inflatable air bags and other equipment to try to lift up the rubble and relieve the pressure on the man A “Jaws of Life” extrication device was also brought in apparent oxygen tanks were rolled onto the scene Onlookers broke their silence with applause before he was whisked onto a stretcher and placed in a nearby ambulance that was taking him to a helicopter landing site he was sent to Wellstar MCG hospital in Augusta The North Augusta Department of Public Safety was thankful for the help offered by rescuers across the region “We couldn’t have done it without all of them,” Lt and as you can see from the amount of trucks and people that are here The Burke County sheriff said a fatal shooting over the weekend was not accidental and that a suspect has been arrested in the case the best feeling in the world,” Swann said (WRDW/WAGT) - At least one person is injured after a house fire on Ridgeland Drive Saturday Graniteville Fire Department responded to a house fire on Ridgeland Drive Saturday afternoon at around 3:30 p.m Crews says when they arrived they saw smoke coming from the rear of the residence Multiple agencies are involved in a police chase spanning Georgia GVW Assistant Fire Chief Cecil Scott says one woman was inside of the house when it caught fire She was transported to Doctors Hospital by Aiken County EMS with smoke inhalation and minor burns The additional agencies that responded were Langley Aiken County residents still in need of assistance with recovery from Hurricane Helene can now find help but firefighters say the wind is making it difficult to put out The owners of a French restaurant in North Augusta's Hammonds Ferry recently announced it has closed after two years in business we want to share that after two incredible years we’ve made the difficult decision to close the doors of Bistro 55," the owners this week wrote on the Bistro 55 Facebook page What started as a dream became a space filled with laughter and every moment — and your support made it all worth it." There were no further details about the closing in the Facebook post Messages to the restaurant and one of the partners were not immediately returned The restaurant originally was DiVino Ristorante Italiano established by Marion and Andrea Petruzzi to North Augusta to establish the restaurant the Petruzzis decided to close the restaurant in 2023 The current owners transformed the Italian restaurant into an icon of French life Bren Ivy talks to head coach Kevin Lynn before an at-bat against Midland Valley on April 24 Freshmen Jordan Scott pitched a complete game against Midland Valley on April 24 He has become a vital part of the young North Augusta pitching staff this season Midland Valley junior Landon Johnson during an at-bat against North Augusta on April 24 in game two of the series North Augusta's Gavin Caldwell watches a foul ball land during an at-bat against Midland Valley on April 24 Dawson Campbell stands out after sliding into second base on a play against Midland Valley on April 24 Midland Valley sophomore Caleb Arthur runs back to second base after a pitch in game two against North Augusta on April 24 The season has been a rollercoaster for the North Augusta baseball team the Jackets went from the bottom of the region to putting themselves in the position to lock up third place going into the playoffs “They know what type of team they can be,” said head coach Kevin Lynn So it was just a matter of getting comfortable and being consistent with what we were doing something good has to happen if we keep putting work in We're still not playing as well as I'd like to be going into the playoffs but still got two games left to clean that up before we have to go into the playoffs But I'm proud of them for putting themselves in the position to finish with a higher seed in the playoffs now or in the region It was a rough takeoff for the North Augusta early on with a four-game losing streak the team had a 3-7 record in the region and was on the cusp of missing the playoffs “We weren't able to hit early in the year,” Lynn said “We had a lot of games where we lost one to nothing you should be able to hit the baseball and put the ball in play It all started with a sweep of Aiken and several big wins over non-region opponents like Strom Thurmond The biggest change was finding ways to get on base and get runs across after a season full of shutouts North Augusta’s young pitching staff also started to thrive with runs on the board to back them up Pitchers like Jordan Scott and Simeon Lorier have stepped up to keep the team in games and with the hitters seeing the ball better the Jackets have quickly become a more dangerous team to face “We were at the point where we put the work in we do all the things we need to work on in practice that we're struggling with in games and we just kept going I give the boys credit because they showed up every day When you're struggling it's easy to get into a funk easy to kind of get into that negative cloud but they never did They stayed focused on what we were trying to accomplish.” they’re a close-knit group and on the field it shows in how they support each other down to the very last out North Augusta capped off the region schedule with a sweep of rival Midland Valley the Mustangs took an early 2-0 lead and despite several hitless innings for the Jackets It only took one big inning for them to take the lead with six runs in the sixth inning to take the game 8-3 Lynn said building chemistry outside of baseball is important for them to maintain high morale even during a more turbulent season but they've played together for a long time,” he said “They've been together for three or four years in the program already since seventh grade But we do a lot of things off the field together trying to get away from the field just so it's not just about baseball Enjoy being around guys and you enjoy playing hard for them too So I try to make sure we do those things as much as possible.” After improving from 3-7 in the region to 7-7 North Augusta is poised to take firm control of third place going into the playoffs although Lynn said they have some more work to do to prepare for the next challenge ahead they need to do the little things correctly to keep the momentum going into the postseason The key to keeping the success going will be limiting unearned runs and making the right plays on defense to get runners out “We still got some areas we've got to clean up if we want to win in playoffs,” Lynn said we were down late and found ways to come back and win with big innings late that's a good sign that we're not giving up came right back in and fought back and took the lead back So those are signs of things that we weren't doing early in the year that we're doing now so to me Gilbert and Airport sit at the top of Region 4-AAAA While Gilbert beat the Jackets 5-0 and 10-0 their losses to Airport were much closer later in the season (WRDW/WAGT) - The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a drive-by shooting that injured one person in North Augusta on Saturday night Aiken County dispatchers received the report of the shooting in the 1200 block of Weston Street at 9:25 p.m Officials told us one person was injured and the investigation is ongoing There were four vehicles on the scene when we arrived on the scene around 10 p.m and authorities say there is no suspect or vehicle information (WRDW/WAGT) - A downed transmission line caused nearly 5,000 Dominion Energy customers to be without power in North Augusta early Friday morning North Augusta Department of Public Safety officials told us that Dominion Energy has a transmission line down which is causing power outages in the Highway 25 north area The last time we checked in with the engineering department they told us to expect the project to be finished in 2026 But they did say the project is 75% to 80% complete There have been no fires located at any of the fire alarms North Augusta Department of Public Safety has responded The power has just been restored around 9:45 a.m. According to the Dominion Energy outage map 3,473 people were still without power at 10 a.m “The City of North Augusta is aware of a power outage affecting the general area of I-520 and I-20 We are in communication with Dominion Energy and North Augusta Public Safety is actively monitoring the situation.” Officials reminded drivers that when traffic signals are out intersections must be treated as four-way stops Please drive with caution and be mindful of others on the road As of 11 a.m., the outage had been restored, according to Dominion Energy A man was trapped beneath a small collapsed building in North Augusta on Wednesday before rescue crews managed to pull him free and transport him to a hospital Emergency and rescue crews responded to a report of the collapsed building on Vancouver Road at about 2 p.m according to a new release from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety they confirmed that a 24-year-old man was buried beneath the rubble They were able to communicate with the man as they sought to free him Agencies that arrived to extricate the victim included Merriwether Volunteer Fire Department Augusta Fire Department Confined Space Rescue Aiken County Sheriffs Office and Med Trans 1 Air "With the assistance of all these agencies the trapped male subject was safely removed from underneath the collapse after being trapped for almost (two) hours," noted public safety "He was immediately loaded into an ambulance and transported to the awaiting helicopter and then flown to Wellstar MCG Trauma Center." There was no mention of the man's current condition or the extent of his injuries in the news release Fatal wreck: Fingerprints help identify Augusta motorcyclist in fatal crash on Bobby Jones Expressway (WRDW/WAGT) - North Augusta Department of Public Safety told us crews responded to smoke at NHC Healthcare on Thursday “All patients and staff members are completely safe and enjoying their Thursday morning,” a spokesperson for the health care center told us Officers said they responded to the 300 block of Austin Graybill Road at NHC Healthcare around 9:30 a.m “It was determined that the heating and air conditioning unit in the room failed and then began filling up the room with smoke,” the North Augusta Department of Public Safety tells us The unit was removed from the wall and the smoke was cleared from the room utilizing exhaust fans A spokesperson for the health center tells us that one of the wall units showed signs of distress Crews responded to a fire on Barton Chapel Road on Tuesday night “Our maintenance team promptly repaired it They inspected the unit to ensure everything was safe on our campus,” the spokesperson said No injuries were reported and all units were cleared as of 10:15 a.m The center tells us all families have been notified about the issue and that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the continued safety of everyone there “We take the safety of our patients and staff very seriously,” said Holly Harbin “Our team acted swiftly to address the issue and we are grateful for the fire department’s prompt response and thorough inspection.” North Augusta junior Sela Gardner kicks the ball during the Jackets 4-0 win over Midland Valley on April 25 North Augusta's Danielle Mauck defending a Midland Valley player on April 25 North Augusta's Katera Garner after a play against Midland Valley on April 25 The North Augusta girls’ soccer team is on the outside looking in for the upcoming playoffs the Jackets sit in fifth place in the region after several big wins improved their record While injuries dampened the beginning of the year for them they’re getting back in the win column with more players getting back on the field but we're coming around,” said head coach Sheri Branum “We had a lot of injuries in the beginning and I think that was what affected our record early on and we are getting healed up from those injuries We're getting back to playing the kind of possession soccer that we know how to play So I think that's moving us forward with us scoring more goals and therefore winning more games.” Things started to look up with a 9-0 win over Midland Valley and a 10-0 win over Brookland-Cayce midway through April North Augusta followed it up with a victory over Aiken and another over the Mustangs On top of getting crucial players back in the game Branum said they’ve also improved their communication with each other on the field She said the growth has come as a result of how close the group has gotten off of the field “We have focused on some team-building activities and really talking a lot about the power of your words,” she said “And how you can build up your teammates with what you say or you can tear them down and really holding each other accountable to what we say and how we talk to each other So trying to encourage each other even when things aren't going well and learning how to do that individually as a player and then as a team.” Upperclassmen like Fabiola Cardenas and Danielle Mauck have become a vital part of the team’s dynamic during a season where they’ve had to face a lot of adversity from an expanded region “I would say Danielle Mauck has really become a leader on this team,” Branum said “Willing to play any position that I put her in and willing to give 110% hustle She's always a leader with the way she plays and the way she encourages teammates from the top of the roster to the bottom And then just recently Katie Gillespie's really coming on playing outside back with a lot of improvement in her soccer IQ.” Gray Collegiate Academy and Gilbert made a strong first impression early on in the season in girls' soccer The Jackets went from placing second in the region last year to hoping for a wildcard spot in the playoffs in part because of four losses to the two dominant programs to start the year North Augusta has put itself in the position for a fringe spot in the playoffs Branum said there are still areas the team will have to get better in to have a chance in the postseason we really need to play some strong defense with some good pressure on the ball,” she said “And cover behind it so we don't get burned on the backside And also finishing on the chances we do get Because we play South Aiken Monday and they're a tough team so if we get chances Here are some of our most read articles that might interest you North Augusta's DaRon Dunbar (10) rises above the Lancaster defense North Augusta's Quh'Mareon Webb (11) goes for a tough layup against Lancaster North Augusta's Jamison McKenzie (22) goes up for a floater against Lancaster North Augusta's Toian Nabriat (2) elevates to the basket against Lancaster FLORENCE — Two top-ranked teams walked into the Florence Center on March 7 in search of their first boys' basketball state championship While North Augusta came out swinging in its first state final appearance it couldn’t come back from a flat third quarter as Lancaster surged ahead to capture its first title in school history “Just disappointed for these young men,” said North Augusta head coach Tony Harrell We had a bad stretch there in the third quarter for the game we were playing catch-up a little bit after that I love what they've done for not only themselves our community and the support we got from them It was a revenge game for the second-ranked Jackets after the No 1 Bruins (27-1) sent them home early in the second round of the playoffs last season Senior DaRon Dunbar opened up the game with a slam dunk to put them on the board first which they built into an 8-0 scoring run midway through the period It didn’t take long for Lancaster to catch back up with a run of its own to tie the game at 12-all North Augusta managed to recapture the lead behind more scoring from Dunbar and fellow senior Jamison McKenzie They continued to fight off the Bruins at the net while they ate away at their lead The two seniors were scoring powerhouses in their final game in Yellow Jacket uniforms with McKenzie leading the team with 21 and Dunbar right behind with 17 points Harrell said it won’t be easy to fill the holes those two will leave in North Augusta’s offense next year after the impact they’ve made on the program They will go down in Jacket history as the senior class with the most wins at the time of graduation Both of them are just really fine young men They've learned a lot about life through the game of basketball on the court all the accolades that he's gotten has been fantastic And I appreciate everything they've done for our basketball program.” While the Jackets were able to hold onto the lead by just three points it started to go downhill as Lancaster exploded offensively in the third quarter while holding them to just six points Bruins All-State senior Jordan Watford not only led them to regain the lead after halftime but he helped to extend it beyond North Augusta’s reach It was a battle well into the third as a frustrated North Augusta tried to get its groove back at the net while also trying to contain a dominant Lancaster offense While they started to regain scoring momentum in the final eight minutes of the championship it wasn’t enough to claw back into the game with Lancaster capitalizing on late-game fouling trouble from the Jackets We just didn't have an answer there for him in the third quarter.” North Augusta finished the season as Region 4-AAAA and Lower State champions with a 26-2 overall record The game marks the end of an era for North Augusta’s seniors but Harrell is looking forward to getting several juniors back next season who have all played a big part in the Jackets' success so far He said this moment of heartbreak will do a lot to motivate them as they prepare to do it all again next season Now you'll go a little extra harder in the weight room or in individual workouts or whatever just knowing in the back of your mind where you were and what it's going to take to get back to this point.” Junior North Augusta pitcher Eleanor Brummond prepares for the next pitch against Midland Valley on April 22 Senior Midland Valley player Bailey Seabolt celebrates taking second base during the Mustangs rivalry game against North Augusta Junior Lia Allen took over in the circle for Eleanor Brummond for North Augusta in game one against Midland Valley Sophomore Chesney Rosier waits for an opportunity to score from third base against North Augusta on April 22 Freshman Macey Nelson waits for the pitch from Lia Allen from second base in Midland Valley's game one win over North Augusta Catcher Ayla Holmes gets a lead off of second base late in the game against Midland Valley on April 22 Larue Hicks finishes off the pitch against North Augusta in game one of the series of April 22 North Augusta utility player Lia Allen laughs after making it to first late in the game against Midland Valley on April 22 It’s been a season full of lessons for the Midland Valley and North Augusta softball teams Last year the two schools were battling it out for a region championship With the addition of powerhouse softball programs like Gray Collegiate and Gilbert to the schedule And the Mustangs put themselves one step closer to locking down that third-place spot with a 9-8 win over the Jackets during game one of the series on April 22 Despite a late comeback from North Augusta to send it into extra innings at seven all Midland Valley withstood the threat in the eighth with two runs and a double-play to end the game we had to win the first one,” said head coach Katie Anderson you’ve got to win the first to even give us a chance And these girls came out here and fought to the end They made some silly mistakes too but then that last play Although it was the Jackets who got the last laugh with their 5-1 win in game two to lock down the third place spot at 8-5 overall The expanded Region 4-AAAA has been a big adjustment for both programs since the schedule has become one of the most difficult in the state Anderson said getting swept by Gray Collegiate early in the season felt like a punch to the mouth for the Mustangs For North Augusta head coach Lindsey Jones the damage done earlier on was mostly self-inflicted “Unfortunately some of these losses have been by our own hand,” she said after North Augusta’s loss to Midland Valley “I consider tonight to be a loss that if we don't have that one bad inning with a couple of errors it could be a different ball game So we've got to start learning how to get rid of get rid of those innings But it’s been a season of learning curves and I keep telling them as long as we're learning as long as we're going through it and we're learning from it that's when everything can come together and be successful.” After going through a gauntlet to start the year both schools have continued to grow with their sights set on the playoffs Before losing game two to the Jackets on April 24 Midland Valley went on a nine-game winning streak that included sweeps of Aiken and South Aiken North Augusta has reached the end of its schedule with sweeps of Airport and the Hornets Morale has been huge in getting both groups back on their feet despite the adversity they've faced Anderson said her girls’ support of each other has never wavered even during some of the more difficult games Jones said the experience has toughened up the North Augusta team as it finds ways to stay in the game during the more lopsided matchups “We're getting tougher by the day,” she said There are some games that can eat at you mentally but you have to know that tomorrow's the next day and just keep fighting the only thing that truly matters at the end of it is playoffs.” Both programs' improvement was reflected in their nail-biter series for third place After a second-inning surge to take a 5-0 lead it looked like the game was going to be all Mustangs until the fifth With two home runs with two outs on the board North Augusta quickly caught up to tie up the game with just two innings left in regulation The Mustangs honed in on performing well in every phase and capitalizing on any and every opportunity the Jackets gave up “We just executed little things,” Anderson said And that's what you got to do in this kind of game We go tit for tat the whole game so I don't expect anything less but we did take advantage of those opportunities when we needed to.” The Jackets and the Mustangs are battle-tested and have punched their tickets to the playoffs at third and fourth place region newcomers Gilbert and Gray Collegiate Academy have taken full control of the leaderboard “There's still always something to fight for,” Jones said “And so you just use these games as experience The city held an election Tuesday to fill several council seats and a mayoral election One of the candidates who was elected is making history FLORENCE – Westside leaned on Khalia Hartwell in the Class AAAA high school girls basketball state championship game North Augusta’s physical style in the middle, where the Rams' 6-foot-5 sophomore is a rising star finally reached some level of success in the fourth quarter Friday afternoon and it was enough to pull away for a 50-37 win at Florence Center Hartwell finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds She scored six straight points down the stretch to get Westside (24-3) within 41-35 But six empty possessions earlier in the quarter by the Rams had let a one-point deficit get to 10 in a hurry It was just too much to overcome against North Augusta (30-1) “(Hartwell) played extremely well,” Westside coach Nicole Hood said “I wish we had gotten a few more ways to go in teams have double-teamed and triple-teamed her But I’m extremely proud of how she played.” and one of those makes was Hartwell’s 10th attempt of the season “(North Augusta) saw some shots go in (during the fourth quarter) and we didn’t on our offensive end,” Hood said It’s tough to get stops on defense when you’re not seeing it go in on the offensive end.” The Rams might’ve felt like they were in bonus time in the SCHSL playoffs after trailing by 17 points in the Upper State championship here on Monday against South Pointe. Westside had a remarkable rally and won at the buzzer “They were just pumped up about that moment I tried to give them 24 hours and then we had to get back focused on the task at hand.” POWDERSVILLE BOYS: Powdersville boys fell just short in SCHSL Class AAA state championship Westside made it to the Upper State finals last season falling to eventual state champion Riverside The Rams will return all five starters next season “'Just remember this feeling.' That’s what I told them,” Hood said We need to use this feeling over the summer to drive us to get back to work.” Todd Shanesy covers high school athletics for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail in the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at todd.shanesy@shj.com. Follow him on X, formerly called Twitter, at @ToddShanesySHJ Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here (WRDW/WAGT) - An 80-year-old woman has died after a single-vehicle crash on Knox Avenue on Wednesday The Aiken County Coroner’s Office says Brenda Beville died in the crash The coroner’s office says the crash happened at 6:29 p.m on the 1200 block of Knox Avenue in North Augusta A 25-year-old man had died after a shooting near the Springside Apartments in Aiken A 2010 Toyota Corolla was traveling south on Knox Avenue when the vehicle traveled into the median and struck a tree