Across the area

Accident kills motorcyclist

An Aiken motorcyclist died early Saturday after losing control of his Kawasaki on Whiskey Road, according to the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

Thomas Anthony Barrett, 41, was pronounced dead at Aiken Regional Medical Center at 12:15 a.m., Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said.

Mr. Barrett was heading south on Whiskey Road near Coker Springs Road when his motorcycle hit the curb. Police said he was not wearing a helmet.

Mr. Barrett had been at Aiken Brewing Co. for about four hours before the crash, Mr. Carlton said. Police are awaiting toxicology reports but said alcohol is suspected in the crash.

Collision is fatal for Johnston woman, 32

A 32-year-old Johnston, S.C., woman died in a car collision Friday on Long Cane Road, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Police said Taimeka Williams, 32, crossed over the center line in her Ford Explorer and hit a woman driving a Mercury Sable. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, police said.

Ms. Williams died at the scene at about 4:55 p.m., Edgefield County Deputy Coroner David Burnett said.

Hydrant causes delay in putting out fire

A worn fire hydrant delayed efforts to put out a North Augusta house fire Saturday afternoon, but no one was reported injured.

The fire, which broke out after 3 p.m., sent plumes of smoke in the air from the home in the 1100 block of Weston Street as firefighters struggled to attach hoses to a nearby hydrant.

North Augusta Public Safety Officer David Harris called it "very frustrating" that each time the hose was connected, water was turned on and the hose popped off. The threads on the steamer cap were too worn to hold the hose on.

The problems caused a two-or three-minute delay in putting the fire out, he said.

Driver admits hitting house, police say

A man was arrested Friday after a hit-and-run accident involving a house, according to a North Augusta Department of Public Safety report.

Leland Vance Golden, 20, was charged with driving under the influence, driving without a licence and leaving the scene of an accident, the report said.

At about 11:30 p.m. Friday, police say, he drove his car into the home of Heather Shirey in the 700 block of West Buena Vista Avenue, causing an estimated $4,000 in damage.

According to the report, Mr. Golden admitted to the accident. He had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.11, the report said.

Indecent exposure reported to police

A man exposed himself to 8- and 10-year-old children while at the Salem Arms Apartments swimming pool Friday, a Richmond County Sheriff's Office report said.

The man, who was thought to be about 20 years old, asked whether they wanted to see something and exposed himself under water, the report said.

The mother of one of the victims confronted the man, who left with a woman and another man in a black Cadillac with a Pennsylvania license plate.

Two guns are stolen from Hephzibah home

Someone broke into a Hephzibah home last week and stole two handguns, according to a Richmond County Sheriff's Office report.

A Beretta 9 mm semiautomatic and a Colt Delta Elite 10 mm semiautomatic gun were stolen, the report said. Both guns had been stored in a closet at the home in the 2100 block of Hephzibah-McBean Road.

The value of the guns was listed as $730, the report said.

Fort Gordon will hold meeting Wednesday

Fort Gordon will have its monthly community information briefing Wednesday, a news release states.

It will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Gordon Club on 19th Street. The meeting will provide information on community events and projects and will be open to questions and comments.

The next briefing will be held Sept. 20. For more information, call (706) 791-3639.

Garrison commander will hand over duty

Fort Gordon will welcome a new garrison commander at 8 a.m. Aug. 17 during change-of-command ceremonies at Freedom Park.

Col. Karen Adams, who is being assigned to a station in Germany, will hand over her position to Col. John Holwick. His last assignment was as a deputy communications officer in South Korea.

The garrison commander, similar to a city administrator, is responsible for many of the post's day-to-day operations including law enforcement, utilities, facilities, energy management and emergency services.