Across the area

Armed man robs Wachovia Bank

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Authorities are investigating an armed robbery Monday afternoon at a Washington Road bank.

At about 3:15 p.m., Wachovia Bank employees said a man holding a black handgun entered the bank, 2835 Washington Road, and demanded cash, said Richmond County sheriff's Lt. Scott Peebles.

Several witnesses inside the bank described the robber as about 6 feet tall and weighing between 150 and 175 pounds. He was wearing a dark-blue jumpsuit, Lt. Peebles said.

"He was also wearing a paintball-type mask over his face and a white cloth or T-shirt over his head," Lt. Peebles said.

Deputies attempted to track the robber with a police dog and obtained a photo of the robber from the bank's video surveillance system.

Officials say man was shot leaving his home

Authorities released further information Monday about a McDuffie County man who they said was shot last weekend.

Gary Nicholson, the special agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation office in Thomson, said Percy Dorsey, of the 4400 block of Dorsey Drive in Dearing, apparently was leaving his home when he was shot.

Other authorities said Mr. Dorsey was taken to McDuffie Regional Medical Center by family members, then was flown to Medical College of Georgia Hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman said her facility could provide no information on Mr. Dorsey or his condition.

Man in fair condition after skull fracture

Richmond County sheriff's deputies are investigating the assault of a man who suffered a fractured skull, officials said Monday.

Lt. James Young said Leon George Butler Jr., 23, was taken to the Augusta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, then transferred for surgery to Medical College of Georgia Hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman said Mr. Butler was listed in fair condition Monday afternoon.

Lt. Young said Mr. Butler originally told deputies that he was struck in the face at Robbie's Sports Bar on Washington Road, but he said investigators talked to a witness who said he was assaulted at an apartment on Arrowhead Drive.

Legislator to discuss 'fair tax' at 1 p.m.

U.S. Rep. John Linder, R-Ga., will visit North Augusta today to discuss tax reform, business incentives and the "fair tax."

Mr. Linder will speak at 1 p.m. at North Augusta Community Center.

Reservations are requested. Call (803) 279-2323.

Rare coins are taken as home is ransacked

Richmond County sheriff's deputies are investigating a burglary at a home on Magnolia Drive in which rare coins were taken, a police report states.

A 26-year-old woman told deputies that someone entered her home in the 1000 block of Magnolia Drive on Sunday and ransacked it.

A wooden box with rare coins and bills was taken, in addition to electronics, a jewelry box and rolled change, the report states.

Businessman indicted in income tax case

An Augusta businessman has been indicted on charges he cheated on his federal income tax returns.

Alvin W. Johnson, who lives in South Carolina but runs S Corporation Professional Boiler Service Inc. in Augusta, was indicted in U.S. District Court on charges of making false personal and business tax returns in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

The indictment alleges Mr. Johnson failed to report a total of $252,899 in income for those years. The maximum punishment for a conviction is three years in prison and $750,000 in fines.

Victim of 2-car wreck is in good condition

An Aiken County woman remained at Medical College of Georgia Hospital on Monday after being injured in a two-car accident during the weekend.

According to a report from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Betty Smith, 60, of Wagener, was injured at about 7 p.m. Friday when a 1994 Ford Explorer ran a stop light and struck the 2000 Cadillac DeVille driven by Mrs. Smith's husband, the Rev. George Smith, of Macedonia Baptist Church, Martinez.

The wreck occurred at the intersection of River Watch Parkway and Pleasant Home Road.

On Monday, an MCG spokeswoman said Mrs. Smith was in good condition.

McCormick County fires claim 100 acres

Forestry investigators are trying to find out what started two fires during the weekend that burned more than 100 acres in McCormick County.

Ken Cabe, an information officer for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, said the cause of the fires near Mount Carmel is still under investigation.

The first one began Saturday and burned 108 acres, destroying a home and storage structure, Mr. Cabe said. Firefighters were dispatched at about 4 p.m. Saturday to the fire and worked most of Sunday to put it out. It was still smoldering Monday.

The second fire flared up Sunday night, according to Tom Love, the chief of the Little River Fire Department in McCormick County. It burned 10 acres northwest of Mount Carmel.

Chief Love said that an elderly woman owned the home that was destroyed and that she suffered minor injuries. No one else was hurt.

City council approves new developments

North Augusta City Council unanimously approved plans for two developments on a third and final reading at its meeting Monday.

Hamrick Farms, a 178-acre mixed-use development on the east side of West Martintown Road between Knobcone Avenue and Interstate 20, will include up to 284 single-family houses, 384 apartments and 285,900 square feet of commercial property. The project, which is scheduled for completion in 2010, also will include 34 acres of green space.

Wando Woodlands is a 179-acre development north of Bergen Road between Martintown Road and Bergen Place West subdivision. A total of 307 single-family houses is planned for the development, which is scheduled to be finished by 2013.

- From staff reports