Water service is disrupted

Water service was disrupted at businesses and homes in Augusta along Washington Road north of Interstate 20 Thursday afternoon after a mishap associated with interstate construction, city officials said.

Crews relocating a water line caused a break in the main before 1 p.m. near the Washington Road/I-20 interchange, said Wes Byne, the assistant director of engineering for the city's utility department.

The disruption affected customers along Washington Road from I-20 to the area of California Dreaming south of Pleasant Home Road, Mr. Byne said. Crews were pumping air into the line about 5:30 p.m. in preparation of restoring water, Mr. Byne said. Water was expected to be restored by 6:30 p.m. Thursday, he said.

Richmond County authorities have charged a Medical College of Georgia graduate with possessing prescription drugs with intent to distribute.

Dr. Thomas Lee Chalker, 38, and Joyce Marie Todd, 25, of Aiken, were arrested on possessing hydrocodone with the intent to distribute Thursday morning, said Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force Investigator Meekail Shaheed. Investigators arrived at the Budget Inn on the 400 block of Broad Street to question Dr. Chalker about 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Investigator Shaheed said. Investigators discovered Lorcet, a brand name for hydrocodone, in the hotel room.

About 120 pills were found in the hotel room that were not prescribed for Dr. Chalker nor Ms. Todd, Investigator Shaheed said. The quantity of pills led investigators to believe Dr. Chalker planned to distribute the pills. The Medical College of Georgia confirmed Thursday evening that Dr. Chalker was a 1996 graduate of the school.

Dr. Chalker was once a resident of North Augusta, according to information Dr. Chalker submitted to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. The same self-submitted information states Dr. Chalker received his medical license in 2003 and practiced as a pathologist.

A 43-year-old Aiken man died Thursday of what appears to be natural causes in an incident where his 1994 Chevrolet Camaro ran off Dragstrip Road.

Joseph Stevens was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton. Mr. Stevens was returning from a medical appointment about 1:45 p.m. when his car left the roadway, according to Mr. Carlton.

He was restrained and "there was no evidence of significant trauma that would normally be attributed to a crash. It appeared he experienced an unknown medical event," Mr. Carlton said in a statement. An autopsy is planned for today in Newberry.

Two more men have been charged in the Christmas Eve death of a Batesburg man.

Ronnie C. Bowers Jr., 18, of Bussey Drive in Batesburg, and Sheldon Oakman, 20, of the 200 block of Bogeyville Road in Ridge Spring, have been arrested on a charge of accessory to murder after the fact. On Wednesday, Frankie L. Gantt, 17, of the 5300 block of Columbia Highway in Monetta, was charged with kidnapping and murder in the death of Jeremy P. Leaphart on Dec. 24. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office says Mr. Gantt drove the 20-year-old Batesburg man to an abandoned building on Hutto Pond Road in Aiken County and shot him in the head, back and hip with a 20-gauge shotgun.

A news release stated that Mr. Bowers and Mr. Oakman were present when Mr. Leaphart was killed and helped move his body to a home on Dozier Road in Batesburg. Authorities say more arrests will be made. Anyone with information can call the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at (800) 922-9709, or call Crimestoppers of the Midlands at (888) 559-TIPS.

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss is meeting with the public Saturday morning in Augusta.

The "coffee with Saxby" will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in a second floor courtroom at the Augusta municipal building at Fifth and Greene streets.

The event is open to everyone. Mr. Chambliss, R-Ga., has been a U.S. senator since 2002.

A 60-year-old Graniteville man has been arrested on charges that he molested a young boy in the 1970s.

William "Bucky" Hicks Jr., of the 100 block of Gregg Street, was charged Wednesday with five counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of lewd act upon a minor.

According to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, authorities received information about the sexual assaults in an e-mail. They alleged that Mr. Hicks met young people through youth sports, and that between 1973 and 1977 he sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy.

In a statement released Thursday, Sheriff Michael Hunt said authorities believe Mr. Hicks might have molested other boys. Mr. Hicks was arrested in February 2002 and charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy, a case that is pending in court. Anyone with information about Mr. Hicks is asked to call Lt. Vicky Gaskins at (800) 922-9709 or Crimestoppers of the Midlands at (888) 559-TIPS.

Richmond County sheriff's investigators responded to a shooting at a Harrisburg residence early Thursday.

Police said a man in his early 20s was shot by two men at a house in the 1700 block of Hicks Street near Crawford Avenue. The men entered the home about 3 a.m. and "just started shooting," according to Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Billy Leisey. Authorities didn't have the victim's name or his condition available Thursday night.

The Morris 100 and Friends of African American Art will sponsor an Appraisal Day at the Morris Museum of Art on Feb. 9.

Appraisers from the Neal Auction Co. of New Orleans will appraise items at the museum from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The cost is $10 per object or $25 for three objects. No more than three objects will be appraised.

Weapons, coins, war memorabilia, clothing, stamps and sports collectibles are excluded. The appraisals are not for insurance purposes.

-- From staff reports