AC repair inRichmond, GA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The final public meeting for Richmond County School’s 5-year master plan wrapped up on Tuesday.

The meeting ended around 4:30 p.m. where parents were able to give their final input on the plan.

The school board will only vote on next year’s portion of the plan. This includes closing A. Brian Merry Elementary School and Spirit Creek Middle School, opening up Richmond Hill Elementary School and Belair Middle School, splitting up the current Richmond Hill and Belair K-8, Tutt Middle School and Langford Middle School would combine to help construction speed up at the new Langford Middle School.

This would be the first step to get more resources to schools if approved.

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Some parents are still concerned about the overall outcome for the long-term plan.

“That’s what needs to come out of the situation, the best thing possible for the county. It’s not a one man show. It’s not a one school show you so we don’t lose the we don’t keep some, but let’s lose the ones that we have to lose. But let’s keep the ones that are definitely doing the job for these babies,” said parent Delvin Howard.

For a week, parents listened and gave their inputs on the future for the school systems.

Tiffany Prieto, a parent, said: “We have to consider the legacy that’s being built there, the legacy that has been there, and what’s to come.”

MORE | Student faces charges over threat at Grovetown Middle School

Another parent, Janice Ramirez, said: “Are we willing to make that sacrifice for somebody else’s kid? And if we are not then you know, that says a lot about the community and what we need to do.”

No matter what happens, parents say they want what is best for their kids.

“No matter how much we bicker and we’re different, we’re one team in this building and I need everybody to know that,” said Howard.

The Richmond County Board of Education will meet next week to vote on next year’s changes.

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Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Tuesday, April 2. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, we'll learn about an attempt to help people who lost Medicaid during Medicaid unwinding. Sales tax just went up in Augusta-Richmond County. And yes, the pollen is bad this year, but some relief may be on the way. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

Story 1:

Peter Biello: It's now a little more expensive to go shopping in Augusta-Richmond County. The county sales tax went up yesterday from 8% to 8.5% because of a voter-approved measure to fund the new James Brown Arena. Cedric Johnson, of the county's Coliseum Authority, says a groundbreaking for the $250 million project is expected in June.

Cedric Johnson: This has been about a 10-year planning process to get where we are today, so we're very excited and we're very thankful that the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County saw the vision that we saw that we needed a new arena.

Peter Biello: He calls the James Brown Arena an economic development tour. Demolition of the old one and construction of the new one is expected to take about three years.

Story 2:

Peter Biello: The FBI says a driver rammed a vehicle into the front gate of its Atlanta office yesterday. The federal agency says the driver's motives were not immediately known. They say the driver is not associated with the facility. No one was injured. Several special agents who were passing by took the driver into custody. The investigation is ongoing.

Story 3:

Peter Biello: The coming rain and relatively cool weather could bring temporary relief for allergy sufferers. Atlanta Allergy and Asthma's pollen monitor today reported the third-highest pollen count in its 35-year-history. The only higher pollen count the monitor has recorded came in March 2012 and March 2020. Pollen forecasts in other areas of the state showed similarly high levels.

Story 4:

Peter Biello: Over the last year, more than a half-million adults and kids in Georgia have lost their Medicaid coverage during a nationwide check of program eligibility dubbed Medicaid unwinding. Now, public health agencies are trying to fill in the gaps. GPB's Sofi Gratas has more.

Sofi Gratas: Bibb County Health Department Administrator Jimmy Smith says Medicaid unwinding has meant more people coming in uninsured and unable to pay for basic care. To help reconnect people with insurance and enroll them in other social services, Bibb's health department has hired a support worker from the Department of Family and Children's Services as part of a cost-sharing agreement with the state, signed last September.

Jimmy Smith: I don't want that family or that individual to have to make a decision about their health care based on their income, and that is a decision that a lot of people are making. But I do want the public to know we are there to help.

Sofi Gratas: So far, 15 county health departments are expected to have a worker on site by this summer. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas in Macon.

Credit: Krishna Sharma

Story 5:

Peter Biello: Georgia regulators have found in favor of a small railroad in an eminent domain dispute between the company and landowners in rural Hancock County. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.

Grant Blankenship: The Sandersville Railroad says they need a 4-and-a-half-mile ribbon of land running from Rock Quarry, just outside the town of Sparta for what's called a spur line to connect to larger regional rail lines. The families who own the land around the proposed line objected, saying commercial interests don't trump generations of tradition, which in some cases even withstood the Jim Crow era. Now, a hearing officer for the PSC has said, by promising to connect previously disjointed business interest, the spur would serve a public good. Attorney Bill Meagher represents the families.

Bill Meagher: None of these companies have anything remotely to do with the public good. They're not providing water. They're not providing power. These are companies that are serving their own interests.

Grant Blankenship: Meagher says the families will appeal, beginning with the full five-member Public Service Commission. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

Story 6:

Peter Biello: State transportation officials are awarding Norfolk Southern $8 million to fund freight rail improvements in Henry County. The railroad's line between Macon in Atlanta is an important freight rail corridor linking the Port of Savannah with metro Atlanta. The Georgia Department of Transportation grant will go toward a $21 million project to double the length of a passing track in McDonough. The project aims to ease rail congestion and reduce road blockages for trains, to improve the efficiency of the state's transportation networks.

Story 7:

Peter Biello: Warmer spring weather brings more snakes slithering around Georgia, and that makes some people uncomfortable. But most of the snakes you encounter are not dangerous. GPB's Devon Zwald reports the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is giving advice on what to do when you see one.

Devon Zwald: Daniel Sullenberger is the state herpetologist. He says you can try to identify the snake, but that can be unreliable.

Daniel Sullenberger: The problem is a lot of non-venomous snakes can look like venomous snakes.

Devon Zwald: Sullenberger says it's illegal to harm, keep, catch or kill Georgia's native non-venomous snakes because they're protected by Georgia law. He says your best bet when you see one is to give it some space.

Daniel Sullenberger: Move your body parts, your hands, your feet, whatever happens to be nearby the snake away from it. And typically you can just let them crawl away on their own.

Devon Zwald: He says only seven of Georgia's 47 native snake species are venomous, and the vast majority are beneficial and help control rodent populations. For GPB News, I'm Devon Zwald.

Story 8:

Peter Biello: The Port of Brunswick is expected to handle a wave of diverted shipments from the Port of Baltimore, where terminal traffic is reduced because of last week's bridge collapse. Baltimore is the nation's No. 1 port for automobile carriers, with Brunswick No. 2. Professor Chuck Easley directs a logistics education program at Georgia Tech.

Chuck Easley: I think what you would see is more volume. I think you'll see a greater sense of being very intentional on how things are delivered, times of day. It can absorb some of it. I think it will be a stretch if it could absorb all of it.

Peter Biello: The Port of Wilmington also is expected to pick up where Baltimore temporarily can't. It could take weeks or months for Baltimore's shipping channel to completely reopen. The Georgia Ports Authority says it's still too early to tell how much cargo will be diverted.

Story 9:

Peter Biello: In sports, The Braves are in Chicago tonight to take on the White Sox again. Third baseman Austin Riley, number 27, turns 27 today. Riley hit a three-run homer last night, one pitch after the end of a 44-minute rain delay. He batted in four of the nine runs in yesterday's shutout. In pro volleyball, the Atlanta Vibe beat the Grand Rapids Rise in four sets on the road last night, the team's third straight win. Atlanta now has at least one win over every other team in the Pro Volleyball Federation this season. And in the NBA, Dejounte Murray and the Atlanta Hawks host Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons tomorrow. The Hawks are 21 and 27 against Eastern Conference opponents.

Peter Biello: And that is it for this edition of Georgia Today. Thank you so much for tuning in. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, check out GPB.org/news and remember to subscribe to this podcast. We'll be back in your podcast feed tomorrow afternoon with all the top stories from Georgia. And if you've got feedback, send it our way by email. The address is GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Peter Biello. Thank you so much for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

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For more on these stories and more, go to GPB.org/news

Tags: Atlanta Georgia Podcast news

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About the authors

Author

Peter Biello

All Things Considered Host

Peter Biello is the host of All Things Considered on GPB.

His interviews and stories can be heard every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m. on GPB.

Jake Cook

Associate producer

Two Bryan County men have been indicted on multiple federal charges for the January 2023 bombing of a Richmond Hill residence.

Stephen Glosser, 37, and Caleb Kinsey, 34, both of Richmond Hill, Ga., are charged with Stalking; Use of an Explosive to Commit Another Felony Offense; Conspiracy to Use an Explosive to Commit a Felony; and Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device. Kinsey also is charged with False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm, and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon.

The conspiracy charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, with an additional 10 years upon conviction for the charge of using an explosive to commit a felony. There is no parole in the federal system.

The indictment in USA v. Glosser et al., returned by the March session of the U.S. District Court Grand Jury, was announced by Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg. It alleges from December 2022 to January 2023, the two men used electronic communications to place Victim 1 under surveillance “with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate,” and used a destructive device during that conduct.

The conspiracy charge describes using cell phones to “create a plan to kill, intimidate, harass, or injure the victim” through methods including shooting arrows into the victim’s front door, acquiring and releasing “a large python into the victim’s home to eat the victim’s daughter,” mailing dog feces or dead rats to the victim’s home, scalping the victim, and blowing up the victim’s home.

The indictment further alleges that Glosser located the victim’s home using internet searches, mapped out a path to the victim’s residence, and then with Kinsey acquired and built an explosive device at Glosser’s home using Tannerite that Kinsey purchased online. The two then “used a destructive device to blow up the victim’s home” on or about Jan. 13, 2023.

Both Glosser and Kinsey are in custody awaiting further court proceedings and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by Bryan County Fire and Emergency Services, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and its K-9 unit, the Savannah Fire Department, and the Grant Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office, and Prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Alexander Hamner.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The fall-out continues after an incident at the Richmond County jail led to the arrests of multiple deputies.

We first showed you this exclusive video in February after a source gave it to our I-TEAM.

Radio traffic shows the call went out as a riot at the jail after inmates popped off sprinkler heads and flooded their pod.

This happened almost two years ago, but warrants say command staff only met about it recently because someone filed a civil rights complaint about it with the FBI.

Our I-TEAM learned more employees have been suspended over this incident, and another one has been fired.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t officially confirmed this yet, but multiple sources say Jennifer Shelton was fired.

This is a photo of her when she was promoted to lieutenant in June.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Another photo posted to the RCSO website in 2018 shows Shelton being honored for 10 years of servie, so that would mean Shelton has been with the agency for at least 16 years.

We’re told she was fired for giving out warrants that had already been executed. Warrants are public records.

As we reported last month, defense attorneys asked command staff for them but were told no. We’re told she was also fired for not intervening in the jail incident.

At least from the body cam we have, she doesn’t appear to be there for the incident. From what we can tell, she comes in with several others when it’s pretty much over.

Multiple sources tell us two other sergeants, Troy Moses and Albert Parrish, were also demoted and suspended in connection to the jail incident.

The photos below are from their promotions. Parrish was just promoted this past November. Moses’promotion happened back in 2021.

Again, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has not offically confirmed this. We asked on Thursday, but we still have not received a response.

We checked with Georgia POST, the state agency that certifies law enforcement officers.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has 15 days to report firings and demotions.

So far, POST hasn’t been notified, but we’ll keep checking.

We’re also hearing other deputies have recently been disciplined because of this incident as well and are hopeful Sheriff Richard Roundtree will be transparent.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Parents and guardians of Richmond County students can share their thoughts on a “modified year-round calendar” on Thursday before the final decision.

District leaders proposed two options in modifying the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year a month ago.

Today, they want to hear from parents again before moving forward.

The modified calendar plan would still have a 7½-week summer break. The longer school year would last from July 24, 2025, to May 29, 2026.

“Overall, I attended year-round school myself as a child and I think it’s just a better option,” said parent, Corina Ludwig.

She has an 8th grader at Belair k-8 and says the system would be great for working parents.

“I know some parents aren’t as fortunate as me. I work from home, I have a really flexible schedule, so we can make due with whatever decision is made but some parents don’t have that option.”

But nothing is set in stone.

“We’re just dropping the line in the water, seeing if anybody bites on it,” said school board president, Charlie Walker. “The main goal of this was to get feedback. Not only from the board, but mostly the community; the parents, teachers, possibly students.”

MORE | Some schools face closure under new Richmond County plan

It would include a weeklong “intersession” period each semester for “intervention and enrichment.” In other words, students whose grades are perilous would need to go to class in those weeks, while other students wouldn’t.

“I think it’s a good idea, instead of waiting until the summer, pass or fail, ‘Oh, my child failed and now they’ve got to go to summer school’, instead of going that option, they are going that route of giving them that extra two weeks,” said Ludwig.

The intersession periods would adjoin a weeklong break for all students.

Students who don’t need extra help would get two weeks off.

Only some teachers would need to work during the intersession periods.

Modified year-round calendars are gaining favor across the CSRA, although they’ve made more inroads on the South Carolina side of the state line. Aiken and Edgefield counties are the largest districts in the CSRA to have adopted them so far.

The schedule, labeled Option 2, is one of two proposals the district is looking at.

Option 1 would follow a more traditional school calendar but would include a few online learning days.

Both options were outlined at Tuesday’s meeting of the Richmond County Board of Education, which is seeking public input before making a decision in March.

The proposals are posted online at https://rcboe.info/25-26RCSSCalendar, where the public can offer input until Feb. 15.

Here’s a closer look at both plans:

The school year would be from Aug. 4-5, 2025, to May 22, 2026.

It would include four digital learning days, where students complete assignments at home on their school-issued devices. On these days, parents and guardians would be able to meet with school staff.

The summer break would last 10 weeks.

Highlights:

Highlights:

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