Across the area

New delays push canal draining to Jan. 26

Draining of the Augusta Canal will be delayed an additional week -- until Jan. 26 -- to allow workers to continue testing pumps and other equipment that will provide municipal drinking water during the period the canal is empty.

The drawdown previously was scheduled for Monday.

Jorge Jiminez, the project's consulting engineer, said the canal will be drained for about two months to install new water pipes and perform other work as part of an expansion of the city's drinking water system.

The emptying will be accomplished gradually over four to five days. Some water will remain in sections of the canal, though not at normal levels, Mr. Jiminez said. Most fish are expected to leave the canal through drainage points as the water draws down.

Man arrested in New Year's Day shooting

A man sought in the shooting of a 19-year-old on New Year's Day was arrested Wednesday night.

Christopher Tobias Croft, 29, of the 1400 block of Redd Street, was taken into custody at 10:45 p.m. at a home on the 300 block of York Street, according to an Aiken Department of Public Safety news release. Earlier in the day, detectives learned that Mr. Croft was at the residence, but he reportedly refused to surrender. Authorities deployed chemical munitions. There were no injuries.

Charles Michael Mosley, 21, of Aiken, also was arrested on failure to comply with a lawful order, the release states.

Civil War items stolen from history museum

Deputies are searching for suspects after someone broke into a display case at the Augusta Museum of History and stole several Civil War artifacts.

The break-in happened between Friday morning and Sunday afternoon, according to a Richmond County Sheriff's Office report. The value of the items stolen is $892.

They include a Confederate States of America $20 note , a Seated Liberty half-dollar, a Georgia $500 note, Bank of South Carolina currency for 10 cents, a City Council of Augusta 25-cent note, an Augusta $1 bill, a pair of earrings made of hair, a hair jewelry brooch and a ring link chain made of meat bones.

Firefighters find man dead inside trailer

The body of a 79-year-old Hephzibah man was found Wednesday morning when firefighters responded to a fire at a south Richmond County trailer.

Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen identified the victim as David McCracken, of the 1600 block of Keron Way. He was pronounced dead about 7:30 a.m.