Man convicted of 2003 murder
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An Augusta man has been convicted of charges including murder and trafficking in cocaine.
William T. Sheppard, 21, was convicted Wednesday in Richmond County Superior Court of the slaying of Neville C. Hall, who was 23 when he was shot to death.
Investigators contend the Valentine's Day 2003 slaying happened because Mr. Sheppard suspected Mr. Hall might have been a police informant. Mr. Hall's body was found behind a vacant house on Wooten Road. He had been shot in the back of the head.
Mr. Sheppard also was convicted of drug trafficking. According to reports in The Augusta Chronicle, Mr. Sheppard was found with a stash of more than 5 ounces of cocaine when arrested on the murder charge.
Perdue cheers swamp wetlands project
Gov. Sonny Perdue visited Augusta's Phinizy Swamp Nature Park on Thursday to tour the swamp's wetlands project and discuss water reuse issues.
Mr. Perdue called the water purification efforts of Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, the park's parent organization, "impressive."
Artificial wetlands developed by the academy and others at the city's Messerly Wastewater Plant have improved the quality of the treated effluent that drains into the Savannah River.
"This is using nature smartly," Mr. Perdue said. "Constructing wetlands for purification purposes is the way it was done before we invaded nature. It takes the old wetlands of the river swamp here, south of the city, and reconstructed them and utilized them in a way where the effluent, or the outflow from this, is much safer to re-inject in the river."
Mr. Perdue will return to Augusta on June 21, when the sciences academy holds a public forum at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion on Savannah River water resource issues facing Georgia and South Carolina.
24-year-old accused of child molestation
Richmond County sheriff's deputies have charged a 24-year-old man with child molestation, saying he had sex with a 14-year-old girl, officials said Thursday.
Sheriff's Lt. James Young said Troy Nathan Neely, of the 3500 block of Windsor Spring Road, was jailed Wednesday on the charge.
Lt. Young said the girl was talked into having sex with the man at her Hephzibah home in April.
Couple strike, rob men in hotel room
Two men told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that they were robbed by a couple who forced their way into their motel room early Thursday, a police report says.
The men said that at 12:50 a.m. they heard a knock on the door of their room at the Travel Lodge, in the 3000 block of Washington Road.
One of the men said that when he opened the door, a woman forced her way in and took $20, a Sony PlayStation and walkie-talkies while a man struck both of the victims over the head with a metal object.
Both men suffered large cuts on their heads and required stitches, the report states. The victims told police they didn't want to prosecute.
$900 in firearms are taken from residence
An Augusta man told Richmond County sheriff's deputies Wednesday that someone took firearms worth more than $900 from his home, a police report says.
The 66-year-old man said a semiautomatic handgun, a .38-caliber weapon and a revolver were taken between Sunday and Wednesday.
GED recipients will graduate tonight
Augusta Technical College will conduct graduation ceremonies tonight for more 100 students who have earned general equivalency diplomas.
The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. in the T.W. Josey High School gymnasium. The college's Office of Adult Literacy is conducting the ceremony for all students who passed the General Educational Development Test between spring 2004 and spring 2005.
Information on GED programs and scholarships can be obtained from the college's Adult Literacy Admissions Office, Building 300, Room 305, on the main campus, or you can call 771-4131.
Department wants input on road detour
The Georgia Department of Transportation will hold an open house at the Crossbridge Baptist Church fellowship hall, 3130 Skinner Mill Road, from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a detour for part of Skinner Mill Road as a result of improvements to Cranes Creek under Interstate 20, which are scheduled to begin in August. The public will have an opportunity to express concerns about the proposed detour.
Wildwood Park plans Saturday festivities
Lakefest will be held at Wildwood Park from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
The event will include children's rides, a DJ, arts and crafts, and food and drinks. A fireworks display over the water will begin at 9 p.m.
Aiken horticulturist holds 2nd seminar
The second of three seminars with city of Aiken horticulturist Tom Rapp will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Newberry Hall. This session will cover pruning, summer maintenance and Southern perennials.
The $20 seminar fee includes a handout and refreshments. Door prizes will be given out at the event.
For more information or to register, call (803) 649-2221.
Colonial fair will be held in North Augusta
"Colonial Times, Under the Crown" will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Living History Park, at Spring Grove and Lake avenues, North Augusta.
The free event features a re-enactment of the rebellion of the colonies in 1780. There also will be ghost stories and a Colonial dance. For more information, call 279-7560.
- From staff reports
