Friends, family remember Dukes as 'miraculous person'
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misidentified Emma Gresham.
Zadel Dukes was a miraculous person who defied science, served many young people and loved her church.
She lived with a ruptured aorta for two years before passing away at University Hospital May 4 at the age of 83, said her niece, Lola Russell.
Dukes was born in Millen, Ga., on Aug. 13, 1929, the eldest of Paul and Julia Jones’ five daughters.
Augusta-area team hopes robot will win NASA prize
Chris Williamson is hoping an idea conceived in the Augusta area will be worth $1.5 million to NASA.
The Graniteville resident and his SpacePRIDE team are building two autonomous rover robots that have the capability to collect samples in space.
The robots will compete against those built by 13 other teams across the U.S. for a $1.5 million prize in NASA’s second Sample Return Robot Challenge, which will be held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Texas, in June.
Huckaby to speak at chamber breakfast
The chancellor of the Georgia Board of Regents will be the speaker for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday, and organizers are hoping recent GRU controversies don’t overshadow his visit.
Henry “Hank” Huckaby, entering his second year as chancellor of the state’s 31 public colleges and universities, is instead expected to discuss issues of higher education relevant to the chamber’s business-minded members, said the chamber’s president and CEO, Tammy Shepherd.
Nearly 900 first to get GRU degree
She has already spent 25 years in health care, including 10 years as a registered nurse, but on Friday Erica Albea was brand new – she became the first person to be handed a diploma from Georgia Regents University.
“I feel honored,” she said, clutching the tube that held her Bachelor of Science in Nursing after crossing the stage at James Brown Arena.
Software issues led to Friday's late papers
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned.
And when they don’t, we really know how much The Augusta Chronicle means to you – by your phone calls, by your e-mails, by the sight of our friends and neighbors standing in their driveways, looking for their papers.
And when things don’t go as planned, you deserve both an explanation and an apology.
Former educator gives back to Hornsby K-8
There was an explosion of sound in the W.S. Hornsby K-8 School gymnasium Friday.
They were quiet at first. About 660 pupils dressed in purple and white, their guest’s favorite colors, waited without a peep for her to walk through the doors.
It was Louise Tarver Jackson’s 90th birthday, and she was choosing to spend it at the school where she taught for almost three decades.
Mopeds' growing popularity raises safety concerns
Rick Cohen’s scooter may not have a speedometer and its exhaust pipes might be rusted, but two gallons of gas can last him 160 miles, good enough for an all-day drive through the Augusta area.
“For getting around town, they’re real economical,” said Cohen, a self-employed computer repairman from Trenton. “I’m saving up my money to buy a better one.”
The love of the Vespa is back.
Barrow 'optimistic' state will complete Savannah port expansion
U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta, championed ongoing support for the Savannah River port expansion during a visit with constituents Friday.
Barrow spoke to a few dozen members of the Martinez-Evans Rotary Club luncheon at First Baptist Church of Augusta.
When asked about the port of Savannah, Barrow said, “I’m optimistic that we’re going to complete that thing if only because the state of Georgia has a huge investment in this already.”
Convicted sex offender denied bond in assault case
Johnnie L. Baker, who has spent most of his adult life in prison, allegedly beat and raped an Augusta woman recently, about one year after his most recent release from prison.
Bond was denied Friday for Baker who faces charges of rape, kidnapping, aggravated sodomy, burglary and aggravated battery.
Bond denied for Augusta man accused in fatal shooting at Gordon Highway motel
An Augusta man accused of killing a woman two weeks ago must await possible indictment and trial in jail.
Jabali Howard, 29, was denied bond Friday in Richmond County Superior Court. He is charged with murder, aggravated assault and weapon violations in the April 30 shooting death of 23-year-old Courtney Bell.
Bond denied for man accused of running over woman with a tow truck
Bond was denied Friday for a man accused of running over a woman with a tow truck.
Larry Bussey, 40, faces charges of aggravated assault and theft in an April 10 incident involving an employee of Hide and Seek Towing Co.
Former Augusta law firm office manager indicted on bank fraud charges
A former office manager at an Augusta law office faces 30 counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for allegedly siphoning off more than $60,000.
Richard Lee Owen II was named in the federal indictment returned Wednesday. An arraignment date has not been set.
Owen worked for the Victor Hawk law firm for seven years as the office manager. According to the indictment, between January 2010 and July 2012, Owen is accused of forging and stealing deposits that were supposed to go to clients after lawsuits were settled.
Broad Street brawl happened over argument about woman, police say
Police said a Broad Street brawl last month was the result of an argument over a woman.
Richmond County sheriff’s Lt. Calvin Chew said they’ve interviewed several witnesses but have not been able to find the six to seven men and one woman who attacked a man and his girlfriend.
A video of the fight surfaced earlier this week showing people getting kicked, stomped and beaten in the 900 block of Broad Street about 2:30 a.m. April 27.
Police later found an incident report detailing the fight.
EPA gives Augusta Canal Authority $200,000 for cleanup
The federal Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $200,000 to the Augusta Canal Authority to fund Sibley Mill environmental cleanup.
According to a news release, this phase of cleanup will involve removal of contaminated soil. The canal authority will negotiate a cooperative agreement with the EPA and begin work after authorization to proceed is received. The grant requires a 20 percent match in local funds, meaning a $40,000 local allocation will be leveraged into a $240,000 in project.
Suspect arrested in Riverwalk beating; first suspect still sought
Authorities have identified both suspects in last week’s brutal beating of a couple on Riverwalk Augusta and arrested one of them in South Carolina.
Robey Moses was arrested in Newberry, S.C., and is being charged with two counts of robbery by force and aggravated assault after Richmond County authorities said he and another suspect, Kevin D. Richardson, attacked and robbed two people sitting on a bench near the former Fort Discovery on riverwalk.
Moses is also suspected in an assault on Broad Street the night before, authorities said Friday.
Riverwalk mugging suspect identified
Richmond County sheriff’s investigators have identified Kevin D. Richardson as a suspect in the beatings and robbery of Wesley Spires and Ashley Solesbee at Riverwalk Augusta last week and are asking for the public’s help in finding him.
If you have any information, call the Sheriff’s Office at (706) 821-1080. Callers may remain anonymous.
Solesbee, 25, and Spires, 27, both of South Carolina, were attacked with metal bats or pipes about 11 p.m. May 3. Both had facial fractures and head wounds, and Spires had a broken hand.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo says Georgia will be ready for South Carolina
While playing in a golf tournament Thursday morning, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo fielded a popular question from his playing partners.
What’s the game plan this fall for South Carolina superstar defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who posted a sack and two tackles for loss in the Gamecocks’ 35-7 win over Georgia last season?
“I think we’re going to do the old Burt Reynolds’ Longest Yard and not block and let (Aaron Murray) throw it as hard as he can at him,” Bobo said, laughing.
Cancer doctor Otis Brawley urges MCG graduates to focus on disease prevention
Even with a distinguished career and a top position at the American Cancer Society, Dr. Otis Brawley conceded he was envious of the new crop of physicians emerging from the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University that will benefit from advances in knowledge and treatment.
The new generation must focus on disease prevention, proven treatments supported by science and the reduction of costs that could threaten the country financially.
Letter carriers to collect food donations left by mailboxes on Saturday
Letter carriers across the nation will collect more than just mail Saturday.
The National Association of Letter Carriers and Campbell Soup Co. are sponsoring the 21st annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. It is the nation’s largest single-day food drive benefiting partner organizations of Feeding America.
In 2012, 70 million pounds of food nationwide were donated. Golden Harvest Food Bank is the local recipient of donations collected during the drive.
Aiken man charged with threatening R.E. Phelon employees
An Aiken man was arrested Thursday for making threatening phone calls to employees at the R.E. Phelon plant in Aiken.
Gary Supeau was charged with four counts of unlawful use of the telephone, according to an Aiken County Sheriff’s Office news release.
On Wednesday at 3:25 p.m., police responded to the plant at 2063 University Parkway for a complaint of threats. Following an investigation, Supeau was taken into custody at his residence without incident.
