Across the area

Biker dead after 3-vehicle wreck

A man is dead and a woman injured after a three-vehicle wreck Saturday morning on Interstate 20 that backed up eastbound traffic for about two hours.

The crash occurred just after 8:30 a.m. near the rest area at the 183 mile marker outside Harlem, Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy Erik Napier said.

The driver of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle was ejected when his bike struck the back of a Buick Park Avenue, driven by Lee Collins, 40, of Thomson, Deputy Napier said.

After being ejected, the man was thrown into the road and was struck by a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup pulling a trailer, driven by James Onda, 41, of Toccoa, the deputy said.

The names of the motorcyclist and a female passenger, who was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, were being withheld pending notification of family members, Deputy Napier said.

The deceased will be listed as at-fault in the wreck, he said.

Deputies directed traffic through the rest area for two hours until the wreck could be cleared, Deputy Napier said.

Soldiers arrested in gun shop burglary

Richmond County sheriff's deputies arrested two Fort Gordon soldiers in a nighttime burglary at a west Augusta gun shop and range, police records show.

Dustin A. Owens, 19, and Clay Ashby Zona, 20, both of the 369th Signal Battalion, were charged with felony burglary early Saturday morning, jail records state.

According to a police report, deputies were dispatched at 11:41 p.m. Friday to Shooters in the 1000 block of Patriots Way after an alarm sounded.

Deputies found that the ceiling in the gun range had been knocked down and found broken ceiling tiles with New Balance sneaker footprints.

They also found that money and a .45-caliber Ruger had been taken. At about the same time, police were called about gunshots near Westside High School.

The report states that another deputy found the men, who were wearing New Balance sneakers, and $231.

2-year-old's STD leads to molestation charge

Richmond County sheriff's deputies arrested a man early Saturday morning who is accused of sexually assaulting a 2-year-old girl after she was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.

Horace Ruff III, 24, was charged with aggravated child molestation and booked into the Richmond County jail, jail records state.

A police report states the investigation started in March, when the girl was brought to Medical College of Georgia Hospital.

Doctors told investigators that she had tested positive for gonorrhea and that the only way she could have contracted the disease was through sexual contact.

New Orleans voters must send ballots

Eligible New Orleans voters displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita living in the Augusta region have until Monday to mail completed absentee election ballots in the city's municipal general election, the U.S. Postal Service says.

The election is May 20. Absentee ballots must be received by the Orleans Parish registrar's office or the Louisiana Secretary of State's office by May 19.

Some new laws provide for a one-day extension of these deadlines.

Displaced voters who need additional information or an absentee ballot can contact the Louisiana Secretary of State Elections Division at (800) 883-2805 or elections@sos.louisiana.gov.

Upcoming roadwork to cause closures

The Georgia Department of Transportation announced on Friday the following upcoming construction-related traffic interruptions near Interstate 20:

- Monday through June 30, 24 hours a day: Skinner Mill Road will be closed at Cranes Creek. Motorists will be directed to use Boy Scout Road, Wheeler Road and Walton Way Extension to go around the closure.

- Monday and Tuesday, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.: Pleasant Home Road will be closed just before its intersection with Walton Way Extension. Traffic will be detoured through Professional Park.

- From 9 a.m. Tuesday through 5 a.m. Friday: The outside lane of westbound I-20 will be closed starting east of the Warren Road overpass to the Walton Way Extension overpass.

- Wednesday night: Flagmen will be directing traffic in the intersection of Walton Way Extension and Scott Nixon Memorial Parkway/Pleasant Home Road.

Crane to close part of 10th Street

Part of 10th Street in downtown Augusta will be closed Monday to park a crane in the street, according to the Augusta Engineering Department.

A news release states that 10th Street will be closed between Greene and Telfair streets from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in order to allow the crane to be parked.

The crane is being used to replace air conditioners on the roof of the Augusta-Richmond County Library.

Drivers should use James Brown Boulevard or 11th Street as detours.

Fort Gordon to begin new entry procedures

Starting Monday, everyone coming onto Fort Gordon will be asked to hand over their photo identification for inspection at the gates, the post says.

The card should be removed from any holder before arriving at the gate.

The guard must hold the card in order to check both sides to verify that the ID is authentic.

To expedite peak entry traffic at Gate 1, an additional inbound lane will be added, as the outbound lanes will be reduced to a single lane from 6 to 8 a.m.

Motorists are asked not to engage in conversation with security guards and police in order for them to inspect the identification as quickly as possible.

In addition, unless it's absolutely necessary, people who have business at Fort Gordon are asked not to come to the post after 9 a.m. Thursday because of a security exercise that will restrict entry onto the post.

For more information, call (706) 791-2572.