Water Damage Restoration in Augusta, GA

Sutton Stracke may have nothing but love for her adopted home base of Los Angeles, but The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member can't help but gush about Augusta, where she was born and raised. When she's not in LA or traveling, she's heading down to Augusta, where she owns a home and has a loving inner circle waiting for her.

The change of pace just so happens to be an important aspect of Sutton's life in Augusta, where she gets away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.

“My house has four porches. You can hear the train at 4:30 a.m. It’s calming. I sleep more there. Life slows down," she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about her house in the Georgia city (more on that below).

Sutton Stracke lists some of her favorite aspects of life in Georgia

While in town for the Masters tournament earlier this spring, Sutton shed more light on her life in Augusta as well as her loved ones that she hangs with while she's in her beloved hometown. "Beautiful day in Augusta, GA with my beautiful friends. Big thank you to our hosts Will, Caroline, and Tara. Love you so much," she wrote, adding in a separate post, "Love spending time with my wonderful and caring friends in my hometown of Augusta. [Masters] is a special time to spend with all of these special people."

But, there's so much more for her to love. You see, Sutton also revealed a few more things she can't live without when in Georgia. "Love my hometown of Augusta, golf and hosting parties. My favorite annual combo. Cheers to Pimento Cheese," she captioned a post about a profile on her experience at The Masters featured in The Mirror.

During Season 14 of RHOBH, Sutton opened up more about all things Augusta, revealing in an episode: "I love Augusta, Georgia. It's where I grew up, of course. It's also where I learned the art of ballet. It's where all of my childhood friends are that I still have in my life."

See photos of Sutton Stracke's home in Augusta, Georgia

Sutton just so happens to own a stunning house in Augusta, which makes calling the city her part-time home an easy choice. While in town, Sutton has a gorgeous 4,500 square foot house impeccably decorated in neutral tones and glamorous touches.

In an interview with The Daily Dish last year, she revealed some more details about the home. "So I have had that house, I think, since 2009, and it's an old house built in [the late 1800s]. And, so, it has a lot of upkeep that it has to have. And my mother lives in the house behind it," she said. "In [the] traditional old house style, it has two houses on the property."

Sutton Stracke opens up about Tinsley Mortimer being her neighbor in Augusta

Of course, Sutton isn't the only Bravoleb to call Augusta home. The Real Housewives of New York City alum Tinsley Mortimer lives there with her husband, Robert Bovard, and stepkids.

"Yes, I have run into Tinsley," Sutton told The Daily Dish last December. She revealed that they ran into each other "at our club there and so she married a guy [Robert Bovard], that my friends that are older than me are all friends with. I think she is very happy there and I was really happy for her. I saw her with his children. I think she kind of hit the jackpot. He's a good guy and well-respected in the community. I mean, she fits right in. I'm happy to hear she is doing well."

Augusta could have adventurous visitors ziplining along the Savannah River as soon as the spring of 2026.

The Augusta Commission's Public Service Committee unanimously agreed to recommend the city pursue a proposal to establish an Outdoor Urban Adventure Center at the city's Freedom Bridge, formerly the Fifth Street Bridge.

The committee vote Tuesday was "a great response of support from them," according to Jennifer Bowen, chief strategy officer and senior vice president of Destination Augusta, the city's tourism office.

The project first must be permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers because of its river proximity.

A company called The Forge operates 16 similar adventure centers across the Chicago area, and has consulted on projects similar to the one that representatives of The Forge Georgia LLC pitched to city leaders initially two years ago.

The proposed agreement between the city and The Forge would be effective through 2030.

Under the agreement, the Forge will independently manage and operate the center, and report to the city quarterly. The Forge also will be responsible for staffing, maintenance, legal compliance and insurance.

The Forge programs and presents outdoor activities, classes, races, live music and other special events. But the feature that has grabbed the most local attention is a proposed eight-story climbing tower and riverside zipline. Cable-suspended pulleys, and gravity, provide the "zip."

Other proposed features, according to Destinantion Augusta, include:

The estimated, updated price tag: $2.95 million, much of it covered by a voter-approved funding allocation through SPLOST 8, a recent iteration of the special-purpose local option sales tax.

Other avenues of funding include a pledge from the Augusta-based Georgia Rehabilitation Institute, a private foundation dedicated to improving the lives of people with physical disabilities.

"They have actually pledged some funding that will make this attraction completely accessible to all people," Bowen said.

If Corps permitting is expedited, and after the construction materials are delivered, construction to completion would take about six months, Bowen said. The center could be ready for its first visitors by early 2026.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Authorities in Richmond and Columbia counties want to make sure the Fourth of July is safe as well as fun during local celebrations.

Boom in the Park will take place at Towne Center Park in Evans, and Augusta’s Independence Day celebration will be downtown at the Augusta Common.

Both events will start at 5 p.m. Friday.

New at Boom in the Park, youths age 16 and younger will need to be accompanied by an adult. There must be one adult for every four youths.

The change comes after a similar one a few weeks ago at the Columbia County Fair after some disputes broke out and the fair had to close early one day.

“We are asking you to bring your chairs, bring your blankets, bring your friends, bring your family, bring your refillable water cups ‘cause it’s gonna be warm, and come out and enjoy a fun night,” said Janet Wheatley, programs and events manager, Columbia County.

Meanwhile in Augusta, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will have extra staff working during the downtown event.

Fourth of July: Independence Day in the CSRA

Members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Command Staff and about 65 uniformed law enforcement officers along with plain clothes officers will be assigned specifically to the event area.

In addition, road patrol deputies and other personnel will be working throughout the county.

The usual weekend deputy presence will also be in place downtown, with at least two deputies per block downtown until 3 a.m.

“We want people to leave here with a great experience because if they come down and they have one bad experience, most of ‘em are not coming back. So we want ‘em to come down, have a great time, bring the children,” said Major Robbie Silas, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

The HEAT team – for “highway enforcement of aggressive traffic – as well as deputies from the traffic division and Georgia State Patrol will have an increased presence throughout the weekend.

Personnel from the Augusta Fire Department, Central EMS, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia and South Carolina Departments of Natural Resources, and North Augusta Public Safety will also be on hand to assist with emergency response and public safety operations.

A full medical and public safety support plan has been developed and staged for rapid deployment, if needed, deputies said.

Lost children will be taken to Room 102 of the Riverwalk Special Events Building, and road closures and traffic diversions will be in effect in the downtown area.

Fireworks safety

While fireworks are legal in Georgia under specific conditions, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone of the following laws, safety regulations and tips:

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - This week is bringing us some of the hottest temperatures so far this year.

Like other cities, Augusta experiences the urban heat island effect, which is a phenomenon where urban areas absorb more heat then rural areas because of buildings, roads and other dark surfaces.

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Augusta is known as one of the hottest spots in Georgia, and a study was done by UGA on the urban heat island effect in our area.

“Compared to other cities in Georgia, it’s bad. So it’s probably one of the worst in Georgia. So if you were thinking from a state perspective, where would you have the most impact in Georgia, Augusta would be a good place,” said Dr. Patricia Yager, director, Georgia Climate Project, UGA professor.

Grand jury subcommittee addresses issues at Richmond County jail

During their tour, documents say they became concerned about the kitchen area, mental health units, and showering areas.

Many trees were lost in Helene, and recently, downtown Augusta saw the remaining trees cut down.

The loss of trees in our city will worsen the urban heat island effect.

“If you add trees in Augusta, the trees that were there before Helene one or two years ago, were contributing to all kinds of good things, not just the temperature, water storm runoff, air pollution, and other things,” said Yager.

Excess heat in our environment can also lead to more health concerns.

Heat is really bad for the human body, and there is all kinds of data on both chronic illness due to heat and infectious diseases getting worse in the heat, waterborne diseases, tick, mosquito bites,“ said Yager.

Augusta Fire partners with Augusta Tech to launch new degree program

Beginning this fall, students can enroll in a five-term, 64-credit program at Augusta Tech.

Yager is working with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition to create solutions to this growing problem.

Trees are obviously the number one solution, but not the solution for everywhere and everything, so they also talk about green roofs, cool roofs, cool pavements and smart growth," said Yager.

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Thinking of moving to a sweet Southern town? Look no further than Augusta, GA.

Augusta, Georgia, is far more than just the iconic home of the Masters Golf Tournament. This vibrant Southern city, with a rich history and a forward-looking spirit, offers an exceptional quality of life.

Great place to grow a career and/or a family. Check.

Pretty affordable. Check.

Friendly people. Check.

Lots to do. That’s right…check!

And, of course, great golf Check, again.

1. There are plenty of fun things to do in Augusta.

Augusta is a town steeped in tradition and history; local pride in both is evident everywhere you go. From the town’s celebration of the Masters Golf Tournament every year to the number of local buildings routinely added to the National Register of Historic Places, it’s clear that Augusta loves her history. The best part? Residents are invited (and encouraged!) to join in on that love, too! For an immersive experience you won’t soon forget, take the “Canal to Cloth” tour, through which visitors get to try their hand at operating a loom and see how the Augusta Canal still generates power for Augusta today.

Augusta also has a rich tradition of celebrating Black history. Augusta is the hometown of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. At the Augusta Museum of History, the James Brown Exhibit features rare memorabilia and personal artifacts that give you a glimpse into his life via costumes, interviews, records, images and audio-visual stations highlighting concert performances, albums, studio recordings and more. Or, spend some time along the African American History Walk.

Beyond historical exporations, Augusta’s arts and culture scene is just as diverse as the city’s residents. Augusta thrives on community spirit, which is evident in the tight-knit community. There is a calendar of events that brings residents together to connect and celebrate through a myriad of festivities. The arts are alive and well through the number of local festivals, live music performances and art exhibitions that residents can find around town.

2. Get where you need to go quickly.

Augusta’s central location in Georgia provides residents unique access and proximity to other places. Not that you’ll ever want to leave!

But when the travel bug bites, August is conveniently located in close proximity to several spots, whether you’re traveling for work or leisure. The drive to both Atlanta and Savannah is just two hours from Augusta, and the drive to Florida only takes four hours, making short work trips or a quick beach weekend totally doable. Having access to the unique offerings of large cities while still living day-to-day at a laid-back pace is a rare balance that Augusta strikes well, giving their residents flexibility and options when it comes to maneuverability and getting out of town. Augusta residents, for example, have the luxury of deciding between flying via their local, regional airport or driving to Atlanta or Greenville if they need international connectivity.

3. Explore the endless outdoors in Augusta.

In the spirit of progressive urban development, Augusta takes pride in putting its green spaces first. Nicknamed “Garden City” for a reason, Augusta’s management of parks, recreation spaces and playgrounds leaves little to be desired but a lot to be utilized!

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department actively encourages citizens to get involved through events such as the Candlelight Music Series, a live music event held in Augusta Common every Sunday in the summer. Looking for something a little more…extreme? No worries! Outdoor activities abound in Augusta, with offerings such as the Savannah Rapids Pavilion, which offers rentals for kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing so you can enjoy Augusta’s natural beauty from the middle of the Savannah River. For those who prefer to stand on dry land, the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area has several beautiful towpaths that are absolutely worth exploring by foot!

4. Augusta’s job market is on the up and up.

Augusta’s unique culture and location have made it a place where established businesses can grow and thrive, but also leave room for exciting new market opportunities. With the influence of two local universities and one of the biggest medical schools in the country, Augusta’s technology and medical care sectors continue to see rapid growth, particularly at the intersection of research opportunities brought to the town by Wellstar MCG Health. Most notably, there has been some very exciting recent growth in Augusta’s opportunities for Advanced Manufacturing, with the continuous development produced by E-Z Go Textron and GF Casting Solutions, a Swiss company that invested 184 million dollars into a new facility in Augusta last year, bringing hundreds of jobs to the area with plans for continuous growth in the future. Augusta’s market growth brings exciting opportunities for its local population — maneuverability, upward growth and even complete career change are all possible here and will continue to be for a long time to come.

5. Foodies can take their pick of places to feast in Augusta.

Augusta’s foodie scene has recently been putting in some hard work, and its efforts aren’t going unnoticed! With an influx of local food and beverage offerings ranging from southern comfort to almost any international food you’re currently craving, Augusta’s newfound approach to food is exciting, yes, but it retains a core component of their sweet southern charm, making going out feel easy and inviting. Try a local brew at Savannah River Brewing Co., or grab a bite at local favorite, the Frog Hollow Tavern. In Augusta, food is so much more than a simple meal — it’s community, family and a gateway of self-expression that Augusta takes pride in celebrating, one bite at a time.