Across the area

Second dig along I-20 turns up mixed wastes

Georgia authorities are excavating a second location along Interstate 20 as part of an investigation into the inappropriate disposal of mixed wastes along a Georgia Department of Transportation right of way.

Last week Georgia Environmental Protection Division workers and a contractor removed wastes mixed with trash near a new exit ramp from Interstate 20 to Washington Road.

Although the concrete rubble buried there is allowed and can be disposed of without a permit by DOT under a special provision, other items, including metal, plastic and litter, were not appropriate for the site and were removed, an official of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division said.

On Monday the Georgia Department of Transportation began an excavation near Exit 200 (River Watch Parkway) that yielded wood debris, pieces of silt fence and a few pieces of metal.

South Carolina governor plans two stops in Aiken

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will make two stops in Aiken this week to speak with residents about what officials are doing to bring jobs, attract investment and make government more efficient.

On Thursday, the Republican governor plans to visit the Aiken Kiwanis at 12:30 p.m. at Eejay's Restaurant, 1680 Richland Ave. W., Suite 180. Then at 2 p.m. he will appear at Reiter Automotive, at 1103 Powderhouse Road S.E.

Thursday's luncheon is open to the public.

Woman charged with vehicular homicide

An Augusta woman was arrested Monday and charged with second-degree vehicular homicide.

According to Richmond County jail records, Raquel Victoria Martin, 30, of the 3000 block of Jeanne Road, was charged with second-degree homicide by vehicle and driving on the wrong side of the road.

The accident report says Ms. Martin struck her neighbor, Gordon Evin Bostrom, 84, with a Chevrolet Tahoe on Oct. 22 as he was crossing the street. Mr. Bostrom died Oct. 27.

Savannah man jailed in Warrenton holdup

A Savannah, Ga., man who recently was freed from a Putnam County jail for driving under the influence is now back in jail -- this time accused of bank robbery, authorities say.

Thomas Lipscomb Shapard was taken into custody without incident shortly after the holdup of First Citizens Bank in Warrenton about 1:15 p.m. Monday, according to Warren County Sheriff Joe Peebles.

Mr. Shapard was charged with one count of bank robbery, said Gary Nicholson, special agent in-charge of the Georgia Bureau of the Investigation Region 7 Office in Thomson.

The suspect was being held in the McDuffie County Law Enforcement Center pending a bond hearing.

"There's a good chance that federal charges also will be forthcoming," said Agent Nicholson.

No one was injured during the bank robbery.

Letter inappropriate, but wasn't a threat

A letter found Sept. 30 by a Richmond County school public safety officer contained inappropriate language about a Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School teacher but no criminal threat, Superintendent Dana Bedden said Monday.

Public Safety Lt. Richard Roundtree said an officer in his department discovered the letter, which included harsh language.

It did not, however, threaten the teacher's life, as rumored.

Lt. Roundtree said his department conducted an investigation and closed it after determining that it didn't rise to the level of a criminal complaint.

The information was forwarded to the superintendent's office.

The student believed to have written the letter was suspended for several days, Dr. Bedden said.

More school laptops taken from same room

For the third time in as many months, thieves have broken into North Augusta Middle School and stolen laptop computers.

North Augusta Department of Public Safety Lt. Robbie Bell said Monday that someone broke out a rear window to the school over the weekend and stole 18 laptops. Public Safety Detective Tim Thornton said that in each of the three break-ins laptops were stolen from the same room.

Police arrest six found inside school building

Six Paine College students were arrested Sunday night after deputies found them inside Tubman Middle School.

Lt. Scott Peebles, of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, said it did not appear that they were trying to steal or break anything inside the school and were just walking around the empty building.

Two deputies came to the school after an alarm was tripped shortly after 10 p.m. One student tried to run from the deputies and was chased to the entrance of Paine College.

Those arrested on criminal trespass charges are: Coleene Kristen Jackman, 18; Rachel Marie Woods, 18; David Lee Howell, 18; Charles Jolaron Rhome, 18; and Donald Anetia Beasley, 19. Richard James Stephens Jr., 18, is charged with both criminal trespass and obstruction of an officer for attempting to run from deputies. All six live in the 1200 block of 15th Street, the report said.

Masked man robs N. Augusta retailer

A masked man robbed the Dollar General on Knox Avenue in North Augusta on Sunday night.

The manager of the store said the robber approached him and another employee as they were leaving the store with the night deposit about 9:30, according to a North Augusta Public Safety report.

The robber pointed a gun at them and ordered them to lie on the floor. He stole about $1,050.