Originally created 08/21/05

Across the area

By From Staff Reports

Fire is set with 3 inside home

Investigators with the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department said someone set fire to a Hephzibah residence while three people were inside sleeping Friday morning.

According to a Richmond County Sheriff's Office incident report, Tamathia D. Turner, 39, and her 14-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son escaped out a bedroom window at 4:02 a.m. after a passerby alerted them that their home in the 3000 block of Bath Patterson Road was on fire. The fire department's Lt. G.B. Hannan said the fire started on the front porch.

Man says request in e-mail led to theft

An Augusta man told Richmond County sheriff's deputies Friday that he was scammed out of nearly $2,000 in a fake eBay e-mail.

Matthew D. Gay, 43, of the 2300 block of Tobacco Road, told deputies he recently received an e-mail he thought was from eBay asking him to update his records, according to a sheriff's office incident report.

Mr. Gay provided personal information and later noticed someone had used his debit card to make 16 transactions worth $1,972.59, the report said.

Congestion leads to traffic changes

Traffic congestion around C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet and Langford Middle school s has Richmond County school officials making changes.

School officials announced the following changes:

Departing traffic will only be allowed to turn right on Walton Way.

Buses will use one lane when dropping off pupils.

Parents will use two lanes when dropping off children and should remain in their vehicles.

Parents are asked to come back later in the day after dropping their children off if they need to speak with a teacher or principal.

Students to hear about military academies

U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, both Georgia Republicans, will hold a service academy day in Atlanta on Sept. 17 for Georgia students interested in the nation's military service academies , a news release states.

Representatives from all five service academies will be on hand to answer questions. The event is free and open to students in grades eight through 12.

It will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Naval Air Station Atlanta, 1000 Halsey Ave., Hangar 5, Marietta.

Students who plan to participate should bring a Social Security number, the number of guests attending and contact information. Reservations are required , and everyone must have a valid photo ID.

For more information, call Theresa Milligan at Mr. Chambliss' Atlanta office at (770) 763-9090 or (404) 210-1841 , or e-mail theresa_milligan@chambliss.senate.gov.

Certificate classes to be held at high school

GED preparation and other certificate classes will be held at Lucy C. Laney High School.

In partnership with Augusta Technical College, the Richmond County Board of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Center is offering certificates in application software specialist and basic shielded metal arc welding.

Registration will continue through Sept. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the school, 1339 Laney-Walker Blvd.