Convicted molester receives 25 years

An Augusta man convicted of child molestation this week is among the first to receive the new mandatory minimum 25-year prison sentence.

A Richmond County Superior Court jury found Dewayne Smith, 35, guilty Thursday. Judge Michael N. Annis imposed the prison sentence, which must be served without parole, and added 25 years' probation to follow. Court records indicate it is one of the first such minimum sentences imposed locally.

Mr. Smith sexually molested a girl in 2006, said Assistant District Attorney Johnny Markwalter. The child remembered the date of the first assault because it was the day after her 11th birthday, he said.

A new law increased the punishment for child molestation from a range of one to 20 years to a minimum of 25 years in prison.

Richmond County investigators have identified a man suspected of robbing three hotels.

Thaddeus Bradshaw, 31, is wanted on charges of armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a sheriff's office news release. He was last seen driving a green Ford Explorer with a red pin stripe, square fog lights and damage to the right front side, the news release states.

The robberies occurred early Wednesday within hours of one another at Microtel Inn & Suites on 2176 Gordon Highway, Baymont Inn and Suites at 2905 Riverwest Drive, and Homewood Suites at 1049 Stevens Creek Road. Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at (706) 821-1080.

Investigators arrested a Waffle House employee Wednesday accused of stealing from her customers.

Nellie Lynnette Johnson, of the 2900 block of Arrowhead Drive, is charged with two counts of financial transaction card fraud, identity fraud and transaction card theft, according to Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Michelle Walden.

Ms. Johnson is accused of stealing a man's information while she was a receptionist at the Ramada Inn at 2650 Center West Parkway and using it to buy two meals at a Washington Road Waffle House restaurant, where she also worked. She also is accused of stealing a credit card from two Waffle House customers and using it to go shopping, Investigator Walden said.

Savannah River Site raised $21,475 and collected 1,368 pounds of food during its annual four-week campaign for Golden Harvest Food Bank.

The total surpassed the $12,000 goal and brings the site's cumulative support to the food bank to more than $200,000. All SRS organizations participated in the drive, and the total included corporate gifts from B&W Savannah River Co., Bechtel Savannah River Inc. and URS Washington Division-General Site Testing Subcontractor.

Golden Harvest serves more than 30 counties in Georgia and South Carolina and has local warehouses in Augusta and Aiken.

A three-quarter-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2700 Deans Bridge Road, from June 27-29.

The faux-granite replica is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam.

An opening ceremony will be at 9:30 a.m. June 27. The cemetery is open 24 hours a day. The wall's visit to Augusta is being sponsored by the Order of the Cross Motorcycle Ministries and Elliott Sons Funeral Home. A half-size replica of the wall came to Citizens Park in Aiken in July 2006. For more information, call (706) 399-1347.

The Columbia County Republican Party will hold a candidate forum at 7 p.m. Monday in the Evans Government Complex auditorium, 630 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans. Many area candidates are expected to attend.

The party will also hold a 10th Congressional District debate June 21 at the Columbia County Library in the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center. It will feature Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens, and his challenger, state Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem.

The county's Democratic Party will hold its own candidate forum July 7 in the government complex auditorium.

Salvation Army names new officers

The Augusta Salvation Army on Friday announced the appointment of Capt. Wilma Mason and Capt. Todd Mason as the incoming officers to take charge of local services.

The Masons will replace Maj. Leisa Hall and Maj. James "Chip" Hall, who will take on the role of divisional secretary overseeing disaster relief, property, insurance, human resources and coordinating other business matters for the two-state territory. Ms. Hall also will be in charge of women's ministries and serve as the director of social and ethical ministries.

The Masons will head the Augusta Corps church, service center, thrift stores and the development of the Kroc Center, according to a news release.

Columbia County Traffic Report

- Both lanes of Old Evans Road between Columbia Industrial Boulevard and Washington Road will be closed from 7 p.m. Tuesday until noon Wednesday to allow for the installation of tie-ins for water lines, according to an e-mail from Columbia County Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker. Motorists should prepare to seek an alternate route.

-- From staff reports