Latest news with #WJBF
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Augusta Riverwalk opens again, playground remains closed
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Residents and visitors can once again enjoy the Riverwalk, the City of Augusta announced Friday. 'The Augusta, Georgia Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that the Ed McIntyre Riverwalk is now officially reopened to the public following recent debris removal efforts from Hurricane Helene,' the city in said in a statement on May 30. Although the path and surrounding areas is now open, the playground section remained closed for safety reasons. According to the city, repairs and inspections are ongoing in that area, and public access will be restored once it is deemed safe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SRNS awards surpass $1 Million in Mini Grants for local STEM education
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – Savannah River Nuclear Solutions' (SRNS) Education Outreach Programs (EOP) celebrated surpassing $1 million in Mini Grants for local STEM education this month. Since the initiative began in 2009, thousands of dollars have been awarded to educators from 4K through 12th grade across public, private and charter schools. This year, 110 educators received a total of $75,000 at a special reception at Newberry Hall in Aiken on May 15. According to SRNS, nearly 25,000 students across 74 schools will benefit from the Mini Grants, which provide $500, $750, or $1,000 to purchase STEM equipment, materials and supplies to enhance classroom instruction. 'Winning a Mini Grant for the third year in a row is a tremendous support for our science program,' said Joseph Cordova, Richmond County Copeland Elementary Educator. 'Last year, we used the funds to create a mobile science cart with essential science materials since we lack dedicated science classrooms. This year, the funds will support our fifth graders' Exhibition projects, bringing their prototypes to life with a 3D printer, which otherwise wouldn't be possible.' The winners are chosen based on their anonymously reviewed project proposals by a panel of 50 judges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Richmond County Sheriff's Office meeting with downtown businesses owners
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – This effort is part of Sheriff Eugene Brantley's plan to build the relationship between the sheriff's office and downtown business owners. Part of the new Downtown Safety Plan is to have at least two deputies on each downtown block of Broad street from 9pm-3:30am. This plan has been fully implemented, and one business owner says he has already seen the impacts. 'I think it's pretty amazing to see how this is almost an overnight difference, in 6 months to have this difference of policing and the initiative that they're trying to do and how they're going about it is pretty amazing and you don't see this very often,' said Dylan Pope, Augusta Business Owner. There was a chance for business owners to be able to meet with and ask members of the sheriff's office any questions they had. Pope says it's imperative for not only the sheriff's office but also the Augusta commission to speak and listen to business owners and residents. 'I think that's what we've all been talking about, the lack of communication, the lack of transparency in the past and to see that the commission wants to have these meetings, to see that the sheriff wants to have these meetings, it goes to show that we're trying to make these steps in the right direction for a better downtown,' Pope said. Pope continued to say, 'We all want a better downtown, and we all want downtown to grow in a positive and safe way and Sheriff Brantley and his staff have definitely given that route and have already made big changes in the last 6 months.' Statistics show crime has decreased tremendously since Sheriff Brantley took office but he says there are always things they can improve. 'I think you could hear that what we've down thus far is better than what was previously being done. We still have some things we have to tweak and work on to continue to make downtown safer,' said Eugene Brantley, Richmond County Sheriff. The sheriff's office plans to have these meetings every 4 months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
McDuffie Co. school leaders expect to open new elementary school in time for upcoming school year
THOMSON, Ga. (WJBF) – It's been just over a year since McDuffie County school leaders broke ground on a state-of-the-art elementary school. Now they're working to finish construction in time for the upcoming school year. At last year's groundbreaking, school leaders were expecting to finish construction on the new J.A. Maxwell Elementary School this week. But, this week also marks 8 months since Hurricane Helene hit our area, which put a pause on this $36 million project. The hurricane, along with snow storms during the winter months, pushed back construction by two weeks. Despite the minor setback, the project is back on schedule. 'Right now, we're probably at 95 to 98% complete. We should be finishing up soon. We'll have a fire marshal inspection on June 13th, which we hope will get a temporary CO so we can start getting furniture moved in,' said Director of Administrative Services, Neal Tam. Work crews have been on the grounds the last several months getting the structure built. With most of the outside complete, the last phase is getting the inside in top notch shape. 'You're going to have high efficiency HVAC systems, you're going to have state-of-the-art LED lights—and all of that saves energy for us as residents and taxpayers,' Tam said. Superintendent Dr. Mychele Rhodes says there's other key features for the new school that will set itself apart from others in the county. 'This school will have an outdoor classroom area at the front of the school, we have a track for our Pre-Kindergarten students to ride their tricycles. This school also has 4 STEM labs, and that is going to be a huge part of instruction here on a daily basis,' said Rhodes. She says it will also be easy to access for parents. 'We'll have a Pre-Kindergarten entrance that is separate for our smaller students, we have a car rider entrance for our K through 3, and we'll also have our bus rider entrance. The design of this school will allow for easy flow of traffic off of the Thomson Bypass, and it also allows our buses to enter the rear of this school from our current middle school—which also eliminates some traffic on the Bypass and White Oak Road,' Rhodes said. Rhodes also served in various roles for Maxwell Elementary nearly 20 years ago. She couldn't be more excited for the school's future. 'It's just going to be something that the children in this community will enjoy for many years to come, and it's going to provide a state-of-the-art education for our children,' said Rhodes. Rhodes says after a few more finishing touches, she expects construction to finish by the end of June, and will open the school just in time for the 2025-26 school year. 'We are right now planning to have teachers in in the next couple of weeks, because it's important to our district that the faculty and staff of this school see their building first. Then after we begin the move-in process in mid-June, we will be announcing a community ribbon cutting—but that has not been scheduled yet,' Rhodes added. The new J.A. Maxwell Elementary School will hold approximately 740 students from Pre-K through 3rd grade, and will combine students from the current Maxwell Elementary school and Thomson Elementary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
USC Aiken to offer degree in electrical engineering starting in Fall 2026
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – The University of South Carolina Aiken has announced it will add a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) beginning the Fall 2026 semester. According to the school, the degree program will be focused on educating students to design, build, test and maintain electrical and electronic systems. The program was developed in response to local industry needs and aligns with the university's goal of supporting local economic growth and workforce development. 'Aiken and the CSRA have a great need for engineers,' says Scott McKay, Dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering. 'As a regional university, it is our job to support the economy and workforce development in those industries by meeting their demands for highly skilled engineers and scientists.' The forthcoming BSEE joins degree programs in mechanical, process and software engineering already offered by the College of Sciences and Engineering. USC Aiken states students interested in the electrical engineering program but entering in Fall 2025 may complete a year of prerequisites that will meet the requirements of the BSEE. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
