Across the area

Man burned in yard fire dies

An 82-year-old Graniteville man died Tuesday after suffering burns when his clothes caught fire.

William C. Hicks Sr., of the 300 block of Avis Street, was pronounced dead at 11:50 a.m. at his home, according to the Aiken County coroner.

Mr. Hicks apparently was trying to burn dead grass on his lawn when the fire ignited his clothing, a statement from the coroner said.

He died from a cardiac arrhythmia caused by second- and third-degree burns to 95 percent of his body, Coroner Tim Carlton said.

No autopsy is scheduled.

Shooting victim dies after wounds mistaken

A 21-year-old Augusta man died Tuesday of wounds suffered in an early morning shooting in the Harrisburg area.

Daniel D. McGee was sitting on the curb near his bicycle in the 1900 block of Starnes Street when deputies arrived shortly after 4 a.m., authorities said.

He was disoriented and had a head injury, which police initially attributed to a fall from the bike, according to Lt. Scott Peebles.

It wasn't until he was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital for treatment that authorities discovered he had been shot, Lt. Peebles said.

Mr. McGee lived in the Bon Air Apartments on Walton Way with his handicapped uncle, Lt. Peebles said.

Police believe he was on his way home after purchasing drinks for the relative from the Kroger on 15th Street when he was attacked.

Investigator Paul Godden said it appears he was shot with a small-caliber weapon. A reward is being offered for information in the case.

Anyone with information can call (706) 821-1080 or (866) 939-5050.

Woman finds roommate dead inside her home

Columbia County police are investigating the death of a woman after she was found lying on the floor of her Martinez duplex on Old Petersburg Road near Kelley Park.

The 45-year-old was found by her roommate, who was returning home from work about 3 p.m., Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.

"There were no obvious signs of foul play, but foul play has not been ruled out pending an autopsy (Wednesday) morning," Capt. Morris said.

The woman's name was not being released pending family notification, Columbia County Deputy Coroner Harriet Garrison said.

Storms delay ceremony to start judicial center

Groundbreaking on Augusta's $67 million judicial center has been pushed back a week to 11 a.m. Dec. 17.

With thunderstorms in the forecast, City Administrator Fred Russell said he decided to delay today's ceremony rather than pay for a party tent.

The new building, paid for with special-purpose tax funds, will be north of Walton Way between 10th Street, James Brown Boulevard and the Augusta Canal.

A.R. Johnson school will offer open house

A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School has scheduled another open house for prospective seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders and their parents.

The open house will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday and will include a tour of A.R. Johnson's new building, an opportunity to meet with faculty and staff and a Christmas concert at 6 p.m.

Applications will be available and will be accepted Jan. 5-30.

EnergySolutions offers $2,000 scholarships

The EnergySolutions Foundation is accepting applications for its merit-based scholarship program, which recognizes high school sophomores based on academics.

Each student selected will receive a $2,000 scholarship to pursue a bachelor's degree in math, science or engineering.

A scholarship is awarded to the top sophomores from Aiken, Barnwell, Richmond and Columbia counties.

The scholarship recipient from each school is also eligible for a Distinguished Award scholarship for an additional $2,500, $5,000 and $25,000 and a laptop computer upon entering college.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 31.

Additional information is available at www.energysolutionsfoundation.org.

Bike tour postponed at Phinizy Swamp park

A holiday bicycle tour that was scheduled for Sunday at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park has been canceled, public relations and event coordinator Dana Putnam said in a news release.

The tour will be rescheduled in February, the news release says.

School board leaders re-elected a third time

AIKEN --- Dr. Christine Harkins and Rosemary English were re-elected as chairwoman and vice-chairwoman of the Aiken County Board of Education on Tuesday.

This is the third consecutive one-year term for both Dr. Harkins and Ms. English.

The board will hold a special meeting Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. to discuss grass-roots advocacy efforts.