Criminal Defense Lawyer in Augusta, SC

The pumpkin patch at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in North Augusta is open for the season through Oct. 28.

Or through the 30th, if there’s still any left.

The shipment of some 5,000 pumpkins arrived from the Atlanta Farmer’s Market on Oct. 13, the load retrieved by North Augusta’s own Darrell Griffis Trucking. It’s the 28th year that St. Bartholomew’s has filled its hillside with the orange and rotund, the white and oblong, the green and mottled — pumpkins, but gourds and squash, too.

Out of all 5,000 pumpkins, just three were a bad sort.

Joe Zellers, who helps organize the St. Bart’s pumpkin patch each year, said the broken ones get donated to farmers whose pigs enjoy them and whose chickens warm themselves by them.

Students from North Augusta High School made quick work of it, passing pumpkins from trailer to hand to pallets set up on the uppermost portion of the St. Bart’s hillside.

And then came the little kids.

Not just a pumpkin patch, St. Bartholomew parishioners volunteer each year to host a Halloween story time during the weekday mornings, and on one fine Friday morning, a dozen 3-year-olds from Grace United Child Development Center heard volunteer John Good tell the story of "Spookley the Square Pumpkin."

Abby Croft, who had son Liam with her, said she was happy to be getting into the fall spirit. A few yards away, Mimi Murray helped son Link onto a hay bale so he could peek through the cutout face of a painted wood scarecrow.

Grace CDC 3K teacher Lauren Vande-Stouwe said the kids have been learning about pumpkins leading up to their visit to the patch: how they’re grown, how they can be used.

So, by the time Friday came around, pumpkins “were all they could talk about,” she said.

Each of the kids who come by for story time are then sent home with a trick-or-treat bag and a pumpkin.

“It’s just absolutely amazing to see their faces — they love the pumpkins, they love the stories,” Zellers said. The kids’ "eyes get big and their mouths open,” and after more than two dozen years, those who had come to the patch as kids themselves are now bringing their own youngsters, he added.

North Augusta, SC (October 21, 2024) – A tragic motorcycle accident occurred early Sunday morning, resulting in the death of one rider and leaving another severely injured. The collision took place on October 20, at approximately 4:15 a.m. in the 6000 block of Jefferson Davis Highway, as reported by the Aiken County Coroner’s Office.

According to Coroner Darryl Ables, a group of motorcyclists was traveling along Jefferson Davis Highway when one rider lost control of their motorcycle. This led to a collision with the motorcycle operated by 47-year-old Troy Johnson, a resident of Pamplico. Johnson’s motorcycle veered off the right side of the road, crashing into a guardrail before colliding with several roadside signs.

Emergency responders arrived on the scene shortly after the incident, but unfortunately, Johnson was pronounced dead at 5:05 a.m. due to the injuries sustained in the crash. The other motorcyclist involved in the accident was transported to a local hospital and is currently listed in severe condition. Further updates on the surviving rider's status have not yet been released.

No additional injuries were reported in connection with this incident. At this time, it remains unclear whether either of the motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. The investigation into the accident is ongoing, with toxicology tests pending as part of the inquiry led by the coroner’s office and the North Augusta Department of Public Safety.

Motorcycle Accidents in South Carolina

Motorcycle accidents in South Carolina can often lead to devastating outcomes, as evidenced by this tragic incident. Each year, numerous riders face serious injuries or fatalities due to collisions, many of which are caused by factors such as loss of control, impaired driving, or failure to adhere to traffic regulations.

The impact of motorcycle accidents extends beyond the immediate physical injuries. Victims and their families often endure emotional trauma and significant financial burdens, including medical expenses and loss of income. Those affected by such accidents need to understand their rights and the legal options available to them.

When involved in a motorcycle accident, it is crucial to seek legal guidance promptly. An experienced attorney can help navigate the complexities of personal injury claims, ensuring that victims receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries and losses.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident in South Carolina, it is vital to take action. Consulting with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can provide clarity and support during this challenging time.

Local Accident Reports is your trusted resource for post-accident support. We’ve compiled essential information and resources for accident victims like you. Our comprehensive database provides key details and support options for those affected by accidents. Let us help you understand your options and find the support you require during this difficult time. Contact us today to learn how we can assist in your recovery journey.

Updated: Oct. 22, 2024 at 4:21 PM PDT

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - On the South Carolina side, North Augusta bore the brunt of Helene’s damaging winds.

One month later, debris continues to pile up as neighbors cut away the aftermath, causing quite the eyesore.

FEMA offers the incentive of paying for cleanup, as long as it’s finished within the first 90 days.

North Augusta however, is already estimating cleanup could last into April of next year.

The city, out-of-state businesses and local crews are all working to get the CSRA cleaned up as quickly as possible and back to a new normal, but officials are saying it’ll be months before that could happen.

On Monday, the North Augusta City Council approved two contractors to help with debris removal. Southern Disaster Recovery to help remove debris, and Tetra Tech Inc. to monitor the cleanup on city roads.

The city council also approved for the city to move forward with contract negotiations for R and R Tree Service to help cut trees and remove debris for places like the Greeneway and parks in the city.

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“It has been hectic,” said Nicholas Mantooth, with Southern Grind Stump and Tree Removal. “Pure chaos since the beginning.”

It’s been weeks of working around the clock for Mantooth and the rest of the Southern Grind team.

“The first six hours, we had over 1,000 phone calls,” he said. “I think we’re on day 21 or 22 of the storm, and we’re still cutting trees off of houses.”

“It’s just constantly staying at 400 to 500 estimates of people that still need trees down, that are wind damaged, that need to come down,” said Mantooth.

They’re doing up to five jobs a day, without an end in sight anytime soon.

“Coming March, will be 10 years that I have been doing tree removal on a professional level, and I have never seen this,” he said. “I have friends and colleagues that are still in business, been in business for 30 plus years, and they have never seen anything like this. This is a once-in-millennial storm.”

They are clearing away a sight nobody wants to see and everyone is working hard to get rid of it.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to go, but it’s going to be for a while, and we’re going to be here to help as long as we possibly can,” said Mantooth.

The counties are all hoping to hit that 90-day mark to get the full reimbursement for debris cleanup from FEMA, or else it will drop to 75%.

On Monday, North Augusta city leaders approved cleanup hours for debris removal.

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The city says it is allowing cleanup to last until April 19th, with workers out from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.

City officials say if you need to take personal debris you can bring it to the Barden C and D Landfill.

If you have a leaning tree, they say you should contact the city clerk.

It’s not just adults ready for this, even kids say they’re ready for the fallen trees to be gone so it’s safer to go outside.

“It’s hard because you could trip and fall and hurt yourself,” said North Augusta resident, Audrey Fowley. “We played soccer a lot, and the ball went into the bushes and we couldn’t get it back because there was a big tree there, and the ball got stuck in there.”

The city is encouraging people to be patient as crews continue to cleanup.

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The city of North Augusta is asking residents to stay off those portions of the Greeneway still closed after Tropical Storm Helene felled numerous trees along the trail and left many others still in a state of ponderous overhang.

That means the trail is also closed to volunteers.

North Augusta City Administrator Jim Clifford said Monday the city has received offers of help in cleaning up the Greeneway but that the work is more than “somebody with a weekend to spare and a gas or electric powered chainsaw” and instead a situation requiring “major work with major equipment."

North Augusta Area Government

“It would be quite an operation to get somebody who went even 200-300 yards into the Greeneway, through some of the deadfall there,” he said.

Many parks, too, remain closed. Even some recreational facilities that look okay to the eye have been assessed and found to be structurally dubious until repairs are made.

Clifford said he recognized the value citizens both locally in North Augusta and regionally place on the Greeneway and iterated that the end goal is to make its mileage passable from “end to end,” an effort that will likely see the city contracting out for the work after the priority areas – notably the main roadways and neighborhood streets that are primary school routes – are cleared.

“This is going to be a months’ effort, not a weeks’ effort,” Clifford said.

The city of North Augusta is partnering with Aiken County through a cooperative purchasing agreement for clearing city and county roads.

The city will also be contracting with South Carolina Department of Transportation for debris removal on all state-owned roads, which comprise about 70% to 75% of all of North Augusta’s road network. SCDOT was expected to begin its sweep in both Aiken and Edgefield counties Oct. 14.

“Debris removal is going to be the largest hurdle,” Clifford said, likening the logistics of it to power restoration throughout the city: “I envision this being very similar; debris removal is going to have to be a block-by-block effort with our partners across multiple organizations.”

Part of the logistics is documentation.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that any local government receiving federal aid for storm recovery hire a separate contractor to monitor debris removal, to measure and count every limb and mark it down.

Aiken County, with whom North Augusta is partnering on some of the cleanup, contracted earlier this month with Southern Disaster Recovery out of Greer for the backhaul itself and with Tetra Tech, which has offices in Aiken and Charleston, for monitoring that cleanup.

Structural debris – including siding and shingles – will not be picked up and residents should either hire a company to remove this kind of debris or take it themselves to one of the county’s recycling centers.

Both Dominion Energy and Aiken Electric Co-op have fully restored power to all of North Augusta, although some residents may still need to hire an electrician to re-connect their homes. This is the case for homes that had weatherheads or meters damaged in the storm.

Dominion Energy has confirmed to the city of North Augusta that it will prioritize its own cleanup of “transformers, wire and broken poles” in areas near schools.

Aiken County forecasts $31.5M in cleanup; cost in N.A. still TBD

Aiken County is estimating its total countywide clean-up bill, before any FEMA assistance or other aid, at $31.5 million.

Debris collection and removal throughout Aiken County is estimated at $25 million, while the first phase of recovery – removal of trees themselves – has been estimated at just $300,000.

Aiken County's contract with monitoring group Tetra Tech could reach an additional $6.2 million.

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Leftover debris from Hurricane Helene in North Augusta is still causing traffic delays and school route issues.

City leaders say with power pretty much being fully restored; debris clean-up is their main priority moving forward.

“I know there is still large debris piles throughout town and people are going to get frustrated pretty quickly about what’s going on,” says Jim Clifford, North Augusta city administrator.

North Augusta city leaders say although we’re over two weeks out from Helene – they’re far from being out of the trenches.

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Low-hanging power lines, fallen trees and debris have raised significant safety issues for students in the Hammond Hills neighborhood of North Augusta.

“I think when we go into this stage of recovery debris removal is going to be the largest hurdle,” says Clifford.

Low-hanging wires and debris are still blocking roads and causing problems for Aiken County school bus routes – delaying school for two hours in the morning.

North Augusta’s Park and Recreation director says a little less than half of the city’s parks are closed to the public, including spots like the popular Greeneway trail, but he says there are safety reasons behind it.

“It’s not work that can be done in-house,” says Rick Meyer, director of North Augusta’s Parks and Recreation. “It’s not work that volunteers can do. We’re just protecting the people of North Augusta, as much as we want them to use our parks, we want to make sure they’re not in danger.”

The city says they know debris removal will be a long process, but they are hopeful after making huge strides in power restoration.

“I think it’s a positive outlook for the city of North Augusta, that Dominion and Aiken Co-Op, are pretty much at 100%,” says Meyer.

A long effort to put the city back together, but they’re in it for the long haul.

“We just have to take it one day at a time and one day every day, the city of North Augusta will make progress, and things will be brighter for our people,” says Meyer.

The city is also working together with contractors hired by the City of Aiken and Aiken County, and with SCDOT to clear roadways.

A long road ahead but the county is working together to hopefully speed up the process.

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