New name suggestions for ASU-GHSU consolidation might appear in July
After more than 1,200 people sent in suggestions for a new name for the consolidated university that will replace Augusta State and Georgia Health Sciences universities, three finalists might be revealed in mid-July, officials said Wednesday.
At the first public meeting of the Consolidation Working Group that is working on the change, officials said more than 1,250 people had offered up to three suggestions through a Web site. GHSU President Ricardo Azziz called it a “massive number of suggestions.”
Aimee Copeland shows signs of improvement fighting flesh-eating bacteria, family says
While visiting his 24-year-old daughter in the intensive care unit at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center Tuesday, Andy Copeland told her she is as special as the Mona Lisa. Aimee Copeland gave him a look and brought her hand to her face.
“But I have..,” she mouthed.
Copeland was telling her father she could not be the Mona Lisa because she had eyebrows.
“I didn’t even realize the Mona Lisa didn’t have eyebrows,” her sister, Paige Copeland said.
Augusta State bookstore prepares for new school name, logo
Augusta State University is looking to lighten its load of official school merchandise in anticipation of a new name and logo in coming months.
When Augusta State’s merger with Georgia Health Sciences University is complete and the two schools are combined under one name, all the coffee mugs, mouse pads, T-shirts, ball caps and other items at the bookstore will be obsolete.
That’s one reason the bookstore is having a 25 percent-off sale for everything that carries the ASU brand, said Karl Munschy, the director of business services at Augusta State.
NRC mulls first Vogtle license amendment request
Southern Nuclear asked federal regulators Wednesday for a “no objection” finding by June 1 that would allow construction at Plant Vogtle to continue while a formal license amendment request involving uneven concrete is studied.
During a meeting in Atlanta with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, company officials said there are no safety risks associated with minor settling beneath the Unit 3 reactor’s concrete “mud mat” that made it a few inches off level.
GBI investigates May 5 shooting by Richmond County narcotics officer
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is putting together a case file to present to the district attorney on a Richmond County officer-involved shooting May 5.
GBI Special Agent-in-Charge Mike Ayers said it’s the standard procedure for any case in which an officer is involved in a shooting.
“No matter how open or shut it may be,” Ayers said.
The GBI was called to investigate after a narcotics officer shot Phillip Jernodd Johnson, 22, in the foot.
Inmate charged with attacking jailer
An inmate at the Columbia County Detention Center was charged Tuesday in assaulting a jailer.
Dennis Joe Tilley, 23, of Grovetown, was charged with willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer after he lunged at and punched a deputy jailer when told to pack his property and move to a different section of the jail, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Look for growth from consolidation of ASU and GHSU, leaders say
As Augusta State and Georgia Health Sciences universities consolidate, the greatest opportunity is on the undergraduate side, GHSU President Ricardo Azziz said Wednesday.
“The real growth potential of this consolidation is at this university,” he told a packed ballroom at ASU.
But that also raises concerns about class size, which are in the 20s for biology, and the intimate feel of those classes, said Dr. Rich Griner, chair of biology at ASU.
ASU creating new chemistry forensics study
Augusta State University is creating a new chemistry track for students who want to become behind-the-scenes scientists.
The Department of Chemistry and Physics will debut a forensic science track in fall 2012, which can lead to jobs testing blood stains on clothes from crime scenes or determining types of drugs found in the bloodstream.
“We are a very hands-on department,” said Stephanie Myers, professor of chemistry and forensic science advisor. “Students get lots of real lab experience. They’re not watching someone else do it.”
Augusta's drinking water met quality standards in 2011
Augusta’s water system fared favorably in a routine test to identify potential threats to public drinking water.
An assessment of drinking water in 2011 by the Augusta Utilities Department found that the city’s three water treatment plants had no violations of federal and state water quality standards. Levels of fluoride, chlorine, lead, copper and other organic substances did not exceed the maximum contaminant level.
“Our water is high quality, it’s safe and it’s been tested to meet every parameter,” said Tom Wiedmeier, director of utilities.
Atlanta opens new airport terminal
ATLANTA — The new $1.4 billion international terminal at the world’s busiest airport opened today.
The sleek launching pad for millions of passengers is designed to help Atlanta grab a growing share of the lucrative market for global travelers.
The 1.2-million-square-foot terminal opened today after years of planning. Hundreds of passengers and airport employees milled around the terminal, checking out restaurants and watching flights from the expansive windows.
Ga. Power bills to drop
ATLANTA — Georgia Power customers will see their monthly bills drop by about $8 starting next month.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that state utility regulators on Tuesday approved the average 6 percent decrease.
The reduction is the result of a lower amount that the utility says it needs to buy fuel to make electricity — such as natural gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable energy. Georgia Power said in March it would reduce fuel charges on customer bills by $567 million a year over the next two years.
Some see Hugo Diaz case as referendum on national immigration issue
From the beginning, the Hugo Diaz case has served as a referendum on national immigration issues. Tuesday’s sentence hearing in federal court was no exception.
The Evans-based homebuilder was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for harboring illegal aliens after an hour-long hearing that included a reading of the poem inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty and a condemnation of hiring practices that hurt American businesses.
“This case reveals to all of us the difficulties we face as a nation with the issue of immigration,” U.S. District Judge Randal Hall said.
Court action likely to delay Augusta Commission, school board candidate qualifying
U.S. District Judge Randal Hall said it will take him only a few days to draft an alternate voting map for Augusta-Richmond County, but he expects to postpone candidate qualifying for five Augusta Commission and five Richmond County school board posts from next week to August.
Fort Gordon conducts controlled burn today
Fort Gordon’s Wildland Fire Team will conduct a controlled burn of 253 acres today in Training Area 38, beginning at noon.
Quincy Murphy hosts information breakfast
State Rep. Quincy Murphy will be hosting a community information breakfast Saturday.
The public is invited to attend the breakfast at Sue Reynolds Community Center, 1345 Community Park Road, at 9 a.m.
U.S. Rep. John Barrow, Augusta-Richmond County Engineering Director Abie Ladsen, Board of Elections Chair Mtesa Cottemond Wright and a representative from the Georgia School Boards Association, who will assess the Charter Schools Amendment, will be presenters at the event.
For more information, call Murphy at (706) 790-4600 or quincy.murphy@house.ga.gov.
Barge threat closes Columbia bridge
COLUMBIA — A bridge in Columbia has been closed after heavy rain caused a barge holding a construction crane to shift, threatening the structure.
Authorities said the bridge that carries U.S. Highway 176 over the Broad River was shut down Tuesday evening as a precaution.
Officials say the bridge will remain closed until crews can check it and the barge after the sun comes up Wednesday to see if there is any danger to the public.
Detours have been set up for the Wednesday morning rush hour.
School board votes not to delay magnet school opening
Although acceptance letters have yet to be mailed to students and teachers still haven’t been hired for Augusta’s new magnet school, the Richmond County Board of Education said it will open on time in August.
The board voted unanimously Tuesday to remove the option of delaying the opening of the Richmond County Career Technical Magnet School as administrators finalize the cash-strapped 2012-13 budget.
Columbia County Commission OKs $7 million bid to build exhibition hall
The Columbia County Commission approved a bid of more than $7 million Tuesday to build an exhibition hall in Gateway shopping center near Grovetown.
Augusta-based McKnight Construction Co. won the nearly $7.3 million project to build the multipurpose hall, which also will house a Family Y.
Construction is expected to start the first week of June and is scheduled to be completed early next year, said Matt Schlachter, the county’s construction and maintenance services director.
Weekly garbage collection returning to Augusta
For the first time in a dozen years, Augusta households will see the garbage man only once a week.
The Augusta Commission voted 6-3-1 to adopt the “concept” of weekly pickup, with a graduated rate based on the amount of trash produced and new incentives to encourage recycling, which will continue to be collected once a week. The changes go into effect in January.
Commissioners Alvin Mason, Bill Lockett and Wayne Guilfoyle voted against the move. J.R. Hatney abstained from voting.
Lack of trust in Facebook could limit ad sales
NEW YORK — Facebook’s reach is wide but not deep. Few users surveyed in an Associated Press-CNBC poll say they click on the site’s ads or buy the virtual goods that make money for it.
More than 40 percent of American adults log in to the site – to share news, personal observations, photos and more – at least once a week. In all, some 900 million people around the world are users. But many of them don’t have a very high opinion of Facebook or trust it to keep their information private.
Latest from The Augusta Chronicle »
- New name suggestions for ASU-GHSU consolidation might appear in July
- Aimee Copeland shows signs of improvement fighting flesh-eating bacteria, family says
- Augusta State bookstore prepares for new school name, logo
- NRC mulls first Vogtle license amendment request
- GBI investigates May 5 shooting by Richmond County narcotics officer
