Across the area

Car crashes into ambulance

The driver of a 1987 Dodge Diplomat smashed into a Wilkes County ambulance that was taking a 92-year-old critically ill patient to University Hospital on Thursday morning, according to officials.

Richmond County Sheriff's Cpl. Bert Gates said ambulance driver John Clemmons, 39, was transporting Tom Clark to the hospital when Richard Merkerison, of Bath , crashed into the ambulance at the intersection of 15th Street and Walton Way.

Cpl. Gates said the ambulance was traveling south on 15th Street, and Mr. Merkerison was turning left onto 15th Street from Walton Way when the vehicles collided at about 11 a.m.

A Rural/Metro ambulance arrived minutes after the wreck to take Mr. Clark to University Hospital, where he was in serious condition Thursday evening, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Neither driver was cited, but Mr. Clemmons was considered to be at fault, with Mr. Merkerison contributing to the collision, Cpl. Gates said.

Man says he was robbed outside bar

An Augusta man told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that three men beat and robbed him outside a city bar Friday morning.

According to a sheriff's office incident report, the man said he went behind the Surrey Tavern, in the 400 block of Highland Avenue, to urinate at about 2 a.m.

Three men approached and began to beat and kick him. They also took $150 from his pocket, the report said.

Woman says SUV driver struck her

A Hephzibah woman told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that a sport utility vehicle struck her while she was carrying her 1-year-old son in the parking lot of Kmart on Gordon Highway on Thursday.

The woman, 21, said the vehicle, a dark blue or purple Chevrolet Suburban with flames on the front, chrome rims and a right tail light out, stopped to let her walk across the parking lot at about 9:30 p.m., according to a sheriff's office incident report.

The driver then revved his engine, pulled forward and struck her while she was holding her son, the woman said.

Man says someone stole train parts

An Augusta man told Rich­mond County sheriff's deputies that someone stole $10,000 worth of Lionel train parts from his home between 1 and 7 p.m. Thursday.

According to a sheriff's office incident report, David A. Sideman, of the 2800 block of Cornelia Road, said someone entered his home by breaking a glass pane on his back door.

The home had been ransacked, and the thief also had taken a portable television and a phone, the report said.

Employee reports theft of $822 from office

An Augusta automobile sales employee told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that someone stole $822 in cash and coins from his office between 8 p.m. Wednesday and 4 p.m. Thursday.

According to a sheriff's office incident report, Ave Marie Peoples said the money was inside a white envelope placed in a locked briefcase on top of a desk at Sammie's Auto Sales, in the 2300 block of Wheeless Road.

Woman says someone fired shots at window

An Augusta woman told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that someone fired a BB gun or a small-caliber handgun at her apartment window sometime between 4 p.m. Tuesday and 11:45 a.m. Thursday.

According to a sheriff's office incident report, the woman, who lives in the 2200 block of Walden Drive, said she noticed the damage while she assembled her Christmas tree.

NAACP will meet at branch office Monday

The Augusta branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold its annual membership meeting Monday at the branch office at 1101 11th St.

The Augusta branch will hold its 31st Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Jan. 17 at the Augusta Towers on Perimeter Parkway.

Tickets cost $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight. For information and tickets, call (706) 724-0390. Proceeds will benefit the NAACP's Augusta branch.

Christmas trees can become free mulch

Columbia and Richmond County 4-H clubs are sponsoring Bring One in for the Chipper Day from 9 a.m. to

4 p.m. Jan. 8 for people who want to recycle their Christmas trees into mulch.

To participate, bring your Christmas tree to Home Depot on Bobby Jones Expressway on or before Jan. 8.

Those dropping off trees Jan. 8 will receive free mulch and a dogwood or red maple seedling while supplies last.

Fort Gordon ID card office changes hours

Operating hours for Fort Gordon's identification card office will change starting Jan. 6.

The new hours will be from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays.

The ID card office, which handles information cards for all military personnel, civilians and retirees, is in Room 130 of Darling Hall.

For more information, call 791-2914.

Shepeard will hold holiday blood drives

Shepeard Community Blood Center will hold special holiday blood drives during the week after Christmas to help boost blood supplies during the typically slow holiday donation season.

The center will hold drives Monday through Thursday, with giveaways on different days.

Movie tickets will be given away Monday and Tuesday; Chick-fil-A sandwich coupons will be given away Wednesday; and Papa John's Pizza coupons will be given away Thursday.

Blood donors will receive a free long-sleeved T-shirt while supplies last and a free cholesterol screening.