Former Georgia state Sen. Hugh Gillis dies at 94
By dbiz at January 3, 2013 | 11:15 am | 0 Comment
SOPERTON, Ga. — Former state Sen. Hugh M. Gillis of Soperton, who was once honored as the longest-serving state legislator in the country with more than 50 years in the General Assembly, has died. He was 94. Gillis died Tuesday at Meadows Regional Hospital in Vidalia with his family by his side, according to Sammons Funeral Home in Soperton. The funeral home was
Columbia Commission begins setting broadband fees
By dbiz at January 3, 2013 | 11:15 am | 0 Comment
Customers soon will be able to access Columbia County’s new broadband network after commission members began setting up fees. Commissioners unanimously approved first reading of the fee schedule during their first meeting of the year Tuesday, with final approval expected at their next meeting Jan. 15. “Once the rates are officially established, companies will be able
Handful of New Year’s DUI arrests in Richmond, Columbia counties
By dbiz at January 3, 2013 | 11:15 am | 0 Comment
New Year’s Eve celebrations ended with only a handful of DUI arrests in Richmond and Columbia counties. Richmond County sheriff’s Lt. Calvin Chew said deputies arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence between Monday evening and early Tuesday, not significantly higher than any other day. In Columbia County, three people were arrested and charged
Roundtree seeks culture of change in new administration
By dbiz at January 3, 2013 | 11:15 am | 0 Comment
Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree spent the first full day of his administration implementing what he calls a “culture of change” within the sheriff’s office. After spending some time Wednesday morning meeting and greeting staff members, Roundtree toured the county jail facility on Phinizy Road. Next, he held a promotions ceremony for 10 officers
4 of Richmond County’s homicides in 2012 remain unsolved
By dbiz at December 30, 2012 | 1:33 am | 0 Comment
As the year comes to a close, four of Richmond County’s 32 homicides in 2012 remain unsolved. Two of those cases, investigators say, have gone cold. One is the Jan. 16 death of Kyle Royal. The 16-year-old was fatally shot in a vehicle outside Magic City, a nightclub then operating illegally at 3200 Mike Padgett Highway. Richmond County sheriff’s Lt. Blaise Dresser
City Ink: We must look back before we look ahead
By dbiz at December 30, 2012 | 1:33 am | 0 Comment
Janus, the mythological Roman god with two heads facing opposite directions, usually looks back on the old year and forward to make his predictions for the new year. But it was such an eventful year in Augusta politics he’s going to focus mainly on 2012 with only a glance toward 2013. JANUS LOOKS BACK read
Augusta teen still in critical condition after shooting
By dbiz at December 30, 2012 | 1:32 am | 0 Comment
An Augusta teenager remained in critical condition at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital on Saturday night after a shooting that wounded him and killed another teen at Dogwood Terrace apartments Friday night. Dontavius Payne and Trezmaine Jessie Williams, both 18, were shot when they attempted to rob Marcus Gainey, 30, on the 2000 block of Second Avenue around 6:30
Gun purchases, permit applications increase in Augusta
By dbiz at December 30, 2012 | 1:32 am | 0 Comment
Buddy Lichty estimates that his business has seen as many gun sales in the past 15 days as it did in all of June and July. “There’s no end in sight that we can see,” said Lichty, the owner of Shooters gun shop and indoor range on Patriots Way in Augusta. On Thursday the gun range swarmed with people waiting for a chance to shoot their weapons. Store manager Steve
2012 had plenty of checks on the ledger
By dbiz at December 30, 2012 | 1:32 am | 0 Comment
Prognostication skills have been a long-running joke around the office (and several former offices). Picking individual football games has never been much of a strong suit. Too often the heart or the gut or a general tendency toward recklessness get in the way of rational choice. South Carolina fans can certainly attest. For whatever reason, the Gamecocks have
Bill would exempt guns, ammo made in SC from federal regulations
By dbiz at December 29, 2012 | 6:26 am | 0 Comment
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A proposed piece of legislation intends to exempt pistols and rifles made in South Carolina from federal regulation as long as they stay in-state. The Firearms Freedom Act, pre-filed earlier this month by state Sen. Lee Bright, would mean that firearms, ammunition and gun accessories made in South Carolina aren’t subject to federal rules and
