Urban Pro Weekly

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The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER VOL.3 NO.30

APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

Photo by Vincent Hobbs Surrounded by multimillion-dollar projects, Laney-Walker Blvd’s only supermarket remains empty one year after former tenants were evicted.

12 Months Later; Still No Laney-Walker Supermarket

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

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Laney Supermarket was closed in March 2013 after the owners failed to make payments to SunTrust Bank. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

A community ready to shop

By Vincent Hobbs AUGUSTA hen SunTrust Bank padlocked the doors at Laney Supermarket a year ago, the Laney-Walker community immediately felt the negative effects of the closure. A huge customer base was lost and the remaining businesses in the plaza are struggling to stay afloat. Residents in the community, who previously could easily walk to buy groceries, now must secure transportation to shop at the nearest grocery store.

The closing of the store itself made international news and created deep dismay and anger among residents.

After missing thousands of dollars in payments to SunTrust, the tenants were evicted and the bank seized the property in March 2013. The Chios family, former owners of the Laney Supermarket, tried to arrange a food pickup by a local church for the non-perishable items. The pickup never happened. Items were dumped on the sidewalk and parking lot.

A crowd gathered to pick up grocery items that had been left outside, but were prevented from doing so by law enforcement officers. There was fear that a riot might break out.

People in the community watched as armed police guarded the removal of the groceries by workers from Thompson Wrecking. Some non-perishables were able to be donated to Golden Harvest Food Bank and the rest were hauled to the landfill.

A year has passed and there still isn’t a neighborhood grocery store in the Laney-Walker community.

Johnny Rolland, a manager at Sudz

W

City Laundry Service, said the store’s closing “did a lot of damage” to their customer base. He estimates that they lost 75% of their usual walk-in traffic. “People would bring their clothes in and leave them, go to the grocery store, and come back and pick them up. It was real nice”.

“Oh, man everybody is hollering about a store needs to be open. We got Allen Homes and M.M. Scott – now they have to go out far to buy groceries. Most of them go to Kroger on 15th Street,” Rolland said.

The distance to Kroger from the closed supermarket is almost two miles, not an easy walking distance if there is no car or public transportation available.

“They used to just walk over here to buy groceries,” Rolland said.

The co-owner of Made With Loving Hands Restaurant, a soul-food eatery preparing to open in May, would like to see a new grocery store in the area. “I think it would help all of the businesses around here. Businesses around here are struggling right now, and a new supermarket would improve business for everybody.”

Mirled Green, who lives in the community, says Kroger is just too far away. “I would like to see a new grocery store in the area,” she said.

Lil’ Pete, who runs Barefaced Records recording studio, is also hoping a new store will open. “I do think our community deserves a nice clean, grocery where people can get fresh produce.”

Dellsenia Brisbon, an employee at Its Beauty Supply, shared her disappointment with the lack of a grocery store in the area. “When the store closed over there, it seems like the customers just disappeared,” she

said. “It was more convenient. They could shop for groceries, and then come over here.”

“We need healthier foods, like a market store, because it affects the community,” Brisbon said.

All of the business owners and citizens interviewed by UPW expressed the desire to see a store with more healthy options, including fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and quality meats.

“People are crying for a local store that they can walk to,” said Augusta Commissioner Bill Fennoy during a phone call with UPW. Fennoy’s district includes the Laney-Walker community. “It wouldn’t have to necessarily be at that location, but in the area. The supermarket would help with growth in the Laney-Walker area”.

While there are several new developments in the Laney-Walker corridor, the surrounding area is still one of the poorest in Georgia, with a 41% poverty rate, according to the Centre for Research on Globalization.

“The major chains said the numbers just aren’t there,” Fennoy said.

Demographics in the community and the ability to locate a sizeable store with ample square footage remain a challenge.

“I am very hopeful that there will be a new supermarket. Maybe the city could offer some type of incentive. A co-op or non-profit store has been suggested. We are looking at all kinds of ways to make it happen,” Fennoy said.

Commissioner Fennoy also reiterated the need for healthy food options. “If we have a grocery store, we want it to be clean, smell fresh, and provide fresh fruit and vegetables. Anything else isn’t acceptable”.

a year ago . . .

On the evening of March 26, 2013 the property at 843 Laney-Walker Blvd sat empty in the heart of the city’s $34 million inner-city revitalization zone.

Earlier in the day, however, it was quite a different scene. Scores of neighborhood residents watched as city marshals began placing merchandise from the former Gurley’s Supermarket building out in the parking lot.

It appeared as if the food stuff was there for the taking. Newly elected Sheriff Richard Roundtree was on hand to make sure that there would be an orderly distribution of the goods. Instead, the bewildered residents watched as the items were loaded onto trucks allegedly headed for the county landfill. Roundtree would later say that the move surprised him as well.

SunTrust Bank, the company that ordered the eviction, owned the building but it did not own the discarded merchandise. The company however took the brunt of the negative reactions as many residents who waited and watched what unfolded thought it was an insensitive and senseless gesture.

A year ago, city officials at the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, had no comment, but said they would address the matter at some time in the future.

District 1 Commissioner Bill Fennoy said, at the time, that no one saw the closure of the supermarket coming, but to date, nothing has been done about the loss of the only supermarket in that part of town. — editor

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

Special Report: No Supermarket for Laney-Walker Dist.

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UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

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The CITY Piles of storm debris remain in the lot behind the Carrie J. Mays Community Center, weeks after the Augusta ice storm.

Piles of storm debris remain in the lot adjacent to Lake Olmstead, weeks after the Augusta ice storm.

Photos by Vincent Hobbs

The cleanup is complete, so where’s the FEMA cash?

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer AUGUSTA At the February 24, called meeting of the Augusta Richmon County Commission, the most popular four-letter word in the chamber was F-E-M-A (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

Getting reimbursed from the federal agency for the multimillion-dollar ice-storm cleanup the city faced was the chief reason that the commission capitulated 9-0 and authorized a no-bid contract with two high-priced disaster relief contractors with the promise that they would use as many local contractors as could handle the job.

That the city would authorize the contract was never in question. Even before the meeting, the mayor and the city attorney had the FEMA-required resolutions hiring AshBritt and

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UrbanProWeekly LLC Mailing Address: 3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, Georgia 30906

Leidos (the debris collection firm and monitoring firm respectively) ready to go. With the endorsement of the city emergency managment committee (the mayor, the city engineer, the interim city administrator, the procurement director and the city attorney) the assignment of the contract to “disaster” experts was a foregone conclusion.

Three very important assurances were made to skeptical commissioners that day. One, that all and any local contractors would share in the cleanup; two, the cost would not exceed $8 million, and three, FEMA and the state of Georgia would reimburse 85 percent of the costs.

Well, not all of those commitments have panned out.

Whether or not any local contractors benefitSee FEMA on next page

Publisher Ben Hasan 706-394-9411 Managing Editor Frederick Benjamin Sr. 706-306-4647

City’s status report on cleanup

RICHMOND COUNTY ICE STORM DEBRIS REMOVAL IS COMPLETE All zones in Richmond County have been cleared of ice storm debris and the contractor will not be making additional passes. Citizens are reminded that they are now under the terms and conditions of their normal solid waste collection guidelines for yard waste.

The estimated total amount of debris collected in Richmond County since the storm is approximately 730,000 cubic yards; enough to fill the Augusta Municipal Building more than 13 times or a Super Walmart three times.

“This storm was historic, bigger than anything on record in our 279 years. The whole process has been tedious and frustrating for our citizens, elected officials, and staff but, we’ve made it through. I’m very proud of city’s response to this disaster and look forward to normalcy setting back in,” said Steve Cassell, See CITY REPORT on next page

Sales & Marketing Phone: 706-394-9411 Photography and Social Media Courtesy of Vincent Hobbs

email: Ben Hasan bzhasan54@yahoo.com Frederick Benjamin Sr. editor@urbanproweekly.com Vincent Hobbs coolveestudio@gmail.com

FEMA cash on the way? from page 4 specialized service.

Now, the city has to hope that its documentation passes muster at FEMA and that is not automatic.

First, the city is probably not eligible for reimbursement for the efforts by local contractors which were part of the city’s original storm response team in the first 72 hours after the storm. It is unlikely that any of that work was documented as per FEMA standards.

Also, FEMA is notoriously stingy when it comes to approval of debris removal claims. It will approve 75 percent of “eligible” costs — not all costs.

Then, when the final accounting has been done, the government sends the check to GEMA (Georgia Emergency Management Agency) who will in turn decide how much money to kick back to the city.

The city stands to be “on the hook” for upwards of $4 million when the final numbers are tallied.

That’s the real disaster.

City’s report from page 4 Interim Deputy City Administrator.

Please note that this announcement does not apply to streets within the city limits of Hephzibah or along state highways that are maintained by the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT). These entities are performing their own respective clean-up.

Roadways in Richmond County for which Georgia DOT will provide clean-up include: Sand Bar Ferry Road (SR 28), Gordon Highway (SR 10), Jimmie Dyess Parkway (SR 383), Dean’s Bridge Road (SR 4), Peach

Orchard Road (SR 121), Mike Padgett Highway (SR 56), Robinson Avenue (SR 223), and Highway 88.

Citizens are further reminded to be on the lookout for illegal dumping, if anyone observes contractors or people putting large amounts of vegetative material or performing other illegal dumping activities on the Right-of-way to take down as much information as possible: license plate, address, company name, etc.; take a picture if possible. Then please contact the Marshal’s department at (706) 772-561.

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FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

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Harold V. Jones II ATTORNEY AT LAW

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How to register online April 21 is the deadline to register to vote in Georgia’s May 20 primary. Anyone can confirm his or her voter status online through the Georgia secretary of state’s website (www.sos.ga.gov ). If you haven’t already, here’s how to register: • Log on to the Georgia secretary of state’s website and, under the elections tab, click “Register to Vote.”

• Download and complete a voter registration application, then mail it in (http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/Elections/register_to_vote).

• Contact your local county elections office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools or other government offices for a mail-in registration form. A list can be found at http: //sos.georgia.gov / cgi-bin/countyregistrarsindex.asp.

• Check the“voter registration”box when you renew or apply for your driver’s license through the state Department of Driver Services.

• College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms or the necessary forms to register in any state in the U.S. from their school registrar’s office.

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UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

ted by working with AshBritt remains to be seen, but that is not very much in question. However, the cost of the cleanup nearly doubled and it is unlikely that FEMA will pay for anything close to 85 percent of the cleanup costs.

Well, six days ago, the city declared the cleanup “complete,” despite mounds of debris that still sit in the midst of at least three Augusta neighborhoods. In this context, “complete” means they will no longer be billed by the outside storm contractors, but work remains to be done and the cost-meter is still running.

Now the commission must sit and await FEMA’s decision of when and howmuch to reimburse the city for its claim.

At this point the only thing certain is that the contractors will get their estimated $14 million for their 45-day work session. On their way out of town the Ashbritt debris removal outfit hit the last remaining South Augusta neighborhoods that had waited six weeks for the

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UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

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OUR RELOCATION DATE HAS CHANGED The Augusta Utilities Department Customer Service Division, currently located in the Municipal Building at 530 Greene Street Room 118 will be temporarily relocating, effective April 16th and April 17th, 2014. That location will be closed. We will reopen Monday, April 21ST, 2014 @ 8:30AM. Our new temporary location will be in the ANIC Building at 925 Laney Walker Blvd-1st Floor To pay your bill, handle Customer Service transactions or Credit and Collections Services you may do so at our 2760 Peach Orchard Road location.

We will continue to offer exceptional customer service along with:  E-BILLS- the convenience of having your bill e-mailed to you.

Don’t Feel like standing in line?! No worries, we’ve got you covered!  NO FEE 24 Hour check payments by phone (706) 821-1851  NO FEE Automatic Bank Draft payments  Sign-up and view your account information online as well as make payments (a minimum convenience fee of $4.25 is charged by Chase Bank.)

Building a model community through trust

Fish Fry Ben HASAN Hosted by District 6 Candidate

Thursday, May 1, 2014

5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Gracewood Community Center

DONATION 15.00 For Tickets Call:

706-421-7568 or 706-394-9411 Please purchase tickets in advance No tickets will be for sale at the door

Always moving our community into the future

7 UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

Community

RESURRECTION SERVICE

Augusta

Convention Center 901 Reynolds Street Special Guest Performance by Gospel Recording Artist

Earnest Pugh

Worship SUNDAY APRIL 20TH Service begins at 10:15 AM Doors open at 10AM

Rev. Dr. Charles E. Goodman, Jr. Senior Pastor/Teacher Tabernacle Baptist Church

www.TBCAugusta.org

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

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Urban Sports Lens

GRU AUGUSTA’S JULIE FONTAINE keeps her eye on the ball during a singles match against North Georgia at Newman Tennis Center. The Lady Jags defeated the Lady Nighthawks 6-2 in the final overall score of the Peach Belt Conference match, which was also the last season home game for the Lady Jags. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

GRU vs North Georgia April 2, 2014 GRU AUGUSTA’S GISELA FONT returns the ball during a singles match against North Georgia at Newman Tennis Center. The Lady Jags defeated the Lady Nighthawks 6-2 in the final overall score of the Peach Belt Conference game, which was also the last season home game for the Lady Jags.

GRU AUGUSTA’S AIDA CASTANY returns the ball during a singles match against North Georgia at Newman Tennis Center. The Lady Jags defeated the Lady Nighthawks 6-2 in the final overall score of the Peach Belt Conference game, which was also the last season home game for the Lady Jags.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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COMMUNITY CORNER

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Spoken Word Christian Ministries will be hosting a Spiritual Warfare Summit. On April 11 at 7:30 p.m Apostle Viola Holmes is featured and on April 12, Pastor Aderina Lee is featured.

Spoken Word Christian Ministries will be hosting a credit counseling workshop with the help of Wells Fargo downtown Aiken

branch on April 12 starting at 10 a.m. A representative from Wells Fargo will discuss ways to improve your credit scores and handle household finance.There is a $5 fee. Light refreshments will also be served.

Spoken Word Christian Ministries is located at 1219 Edgefield Hwy, Aiken,SC 29801.For more information call (803) 295-8115 or (803) 378-2779

NEW LIFE WORSHIP CENTER ACTIVITIES APRIL 13 Palm Sunday. 11 a.m. The New Life Youth Department will be in charge of the service. Free.

APRIL 19 ANNUAL KINGDOM KIDS EASTER

PICNIC. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be food, games, prizes, and an Easter egg hunt. Open to children ages 4-11. Free.

APRIL 20 EASTER SERVICE. 11 a.m. Speaker, Elder Bruce James. Free.

PRAYER BREAKFAST The Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church Missionary Ministry will host The Annual Prayer Breakfast on April 12, 2014 @ 8:30am The Guest Speaker will be Missionary Bertha Fitts of Friendly Church of God in Christ. Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church is located at 314 Sandbar Ferry Road,Augusta, Georgia 30901.

“The Elect Lady Of God,” Bishop Rosa L. Williams is the Pastor.

GRU OFFERS FREE SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA Georgia Regents University is sponsoring the third annual Augusta Area Asthma Day Camp for children with asthma July 21-25 at Camp Tanglewood Girl Scout Camp in Columbia County.

The free camp offers kids ages 6-13 a safe environment to participate in normal summer camp activities and an opportunity to learn more about their condition. Daily activities include swimming, hiking, games, sports, arts and crafts, and one hour of asthma education. Lunch and snacks are provided.

Transportation from the GRU campus and south Richmond County will be provided on a space-available basis. A parent or guardian must attend a brief orientation and education session.

“It’s a great way for kids with asthma to relax and just enjoy being a kid,” said Kitty Hernlen, Associate Professor of Respiratory Therapy, who researches asthma management and education.

“They have so much fun, and so do we.”

Volunteer camp counselors include GRU respiratory therapy students, College of Allied Health Sciences faculty members, Richmond County school nurses, private physicians, and Georgia Regents Medical Center respiratory therapists. Volunteers from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Asthma Management Program and the CSRA Asthma Awareness Coalition also participate. Even though nearly 300,000 children in the United States have asthma, the condition is often undiagnosed. It is the leading cause of school absences for children with chronic diseases. If symptoms are uncontrolled, children may lose sleep, avoid physical activity, sidestep medication and feel embarrassed, frustrated or isolated.

For more information, contact Hernlen at 706-721-3554 or khernlen@gru.edu.

SAVING OUR SONS: Laney JROTC Cadets, along with Richmond County schools superintendent Frank Roberson (center), supported and participated in the Saving Our Sons community event that was held at Lucy Laney Gym on March 15, 2014. Operation Save Our Sons is a national initiative, launched in Jacksonville, Florida, designed to equip teenage males, particularly African-American with the life skills needed to be successful and productive. This initiative, which creates partnership between several organizations is designed to inspire males to strive for excellence for the sake of their personal future, the community, and the country.

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UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

SPOKEN WORD CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

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U W rban Pro

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Commentary

BY KRISTIE ROBIN JOHNSON

Richard Sherman: the most sane person in the NFL?

I

t’s not ver y often that a person with great inf luence uses their stage with great responsibility.

Especially young celebrities. In an age where the antics of rich and famous millennials like Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown, and Justin Bieber make us seriously question where we are headed as a society, it is beyond refreshing to encounter the thoughtfulness of Seattle Seahawks’ cornerback, R ichard Sherman.

In response to the Philadelphia Eagles’ release of wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, amid allegations of gang connections, Sherman penned a moving rebuttal to the Eagles’ decision. Drawing from his own experiences, Sherman not only showed solidarity with his fellow sportsman but he also exhibited an empathetic camaraderie with the young people from his old neighborhood who are still in the struggle. With

grace and without judgment, he shared the sentiment of likely hundreds of talented young men and women who are fortunate enough to use their gift as a catapult into success and, in many cases, out of poverty. He reminds us that even though we can physically leave friends, family, and associates behind, we can never really disconnect from the bonds built through common adversity and shared experiences. Nor should we.

From the outside looking in, it seems to me that the National Football League has a serious cultural competency problem and if leadership chooses not to take genuine steps towards repairing the problem they could end up losing a large part of their audience and disillusioning a great deal of potential f uture players. The past few seasons have been bogged down with cultur-

ally charged conversations about things like hair length, body art, gun ownership, and language.

Contrar y to popular belief, these issues have less to do with “locker room culture” and play a ver y routine role in the lives of young people ever y where—not just athletes.

It’s almost as if the league views its role as some sort of savior to would-be convicts, thugs, and drug dealers who just happened to blessed with unique athletic ability. They show little respect to the experiences and lifestyles that shape a player’s reality and too often dismiss them as deviant.

This is why Sherman’s reply is so poignant and necessar y.

And for ever y young boy who wants so desperately to be in Sherman’s shoes one day, he is a shining example of strength and eloquence emanating from a place of pride, holding no shame for

his background or his truth. We don’t need more role models. In fact, I’m not sure that so-called role models are the most effective way to combat the ills that plague us the most.

What we do need are more sensible, understanding individuals at the helms of our institutions and organizations. We need individuals in leadership who take deep consideration before making knee-jerk reactions based on appearances.

To Sherman, I say thank you.

Fame is not for ever yone, and so far, you’ve used yours with great care and wisdom. I come from the same dirt in an impoverished and notorious neighborhood in Georgia and for all the folks who remain, I stand for them and their struggle as well.

KristieRobinJo@gmail.com @KristieRobinJ on Twitter

LETTERS

Radio host out of line with education commentary

This is in response to Austin Rhodes’s March 27, 2014 Metro Spirit article titled, “So You Want to Be Our Next Superintendent.” When it comes to commenting on educational issues, Rhodes is a fish out of water.

He does not possess the educational credentials, a Mensa membership, or a Nobel Prize. For this reason, he is not in an intellectual position to make recommendations to the current or next Richmond County School System Superintendent. Not so with Austin’s wife, Bobbie Rhodes.

Mrs. Bobbie Rhodes is an educated, certified, and experienced educator. Her opinions and assessments of the Richmond County school system are informed and worthy of serious consideration. The same

consideration cannot be afforded to Austin Rhodes. In vain he attempts to appear knowledgeable about educational issues. But, all he is doing is living vicariously through his wife’s formal educational accomplishments. Therefore, Rhodes has no intellectual basis for marginalizing African-American students who happen to be underachieving or their parents.

In his article, Austin Rhodes unfairly characterized underachieving students as troublemakers and their parents as substandard. Such characterizations do not originate in the mind of a deep thinker, but a shallow thinker. President John F. Kennedy said, “Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the

discomfort of thought”.

The dysfunctional attitude of Austin Rhodes toward the Richmond County school system can best be illustrated by a biblical parable. A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The man was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. Along comes a self-righteous priest who saw the beaten man and passes by on the other side. Next, comes along a self-righteous Levite who saw the beaten man and passes by on the other side. But, along comes a despised Samaritan who notices the beaten man, has pity on him, and gives assistance. The Samaritan treats and bandages the man’s wounds. He then transports the man on his donkey to an inn and takes care of him.

In today’s world, the robbers represent selfishness, greed, and coveting. The beaten and robbed man represents Austin Rhodes’s troublemaking students and substandard parents. The self-righteous priest and Levite represent Rhodes and those who are likeminded. The Samaritan represents the intelligent response to the problem.

Finally, not only would Austin Rhodes pass by, he would go on his radio program and impugn the beaten man’s character and call the Samaritan a bleeding heart liberal for providing assistance to the victim.

Kevin Palmer Martinez, GA

Full House: Candidates Qualify for Local Elections MAYOR Helen Blocker-Adams Hardie Davis Charles Cummings Alvin D. Mason Lori Myles

COMM. DIST. 6 Bob Finnegan Roger Garvin Angela C. Harden Ben Hasan Tony Lewis

COMM. DIST. 2 Cleveland Garrison Dennis Williams

COMM. DIST. 8 Wayne Guilfoyle

COMM. DIST. 4 Melvin Ivey Tomasenia Jackson Sammie L. Sias Gwen Watts

COMM. DIST. 10 Brandon K. Dial Grady Smith STATE COURT JUDGE Richard A. Slaby

STATE COURT JUDGE David D. Watkins

BD OF ED. DIST. 7 Frank Dolan

BD OF EDUCATION BD OF ED. DIST. 2 Frank V. Beckles Jr. Monique Braswell Charlie Hannah

BD OF ED. DIST. 9 Venus D. Cain James Swanagan Jr.

BD OF ED. DIST. 3 Alex Howard BD OF ED. DIST. 6 Jark Padgett Jr.

STATE SENATE DIST. 22 Elmyria Chivers (D) Corey Johnson (D) Harold Jones II (D) STATE SENATE DIST. 23 Jesse Stone (R) Diane Evans (D)

Political Forums Turpin Hill Neighborhood Association is holding a forum for candidates at 6 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Carrie J. Mays Community Center, 1014 11th Ave. Association President Belle Clark said all five candidates had confirmed they will attend the forum, which will be moderated by Barbara Gordon, the publisher of The Metro Courier newspaper.

Political Forum • Mayor & Senate Dist. 22 Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m.

East Augusta Neighborhood Association is hosting a political forum for Augusta mayoral and state senate candidates April 17 at Eastview Community Center, 644 Aiken St. The forum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. The five mayoral candidates are businesswoman Helen Blocker-Adams, retired businessman Charles Cummings, Sen.

Be sure to VOTE on MAY 20 for • Augusta-Richmond Mayor • Commission Districts • State House & Senate • SPLOST referendum COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, for the following:

1. Speech and Language Pathology Services RFP #14-665 2. Fresh Produce and Eggs 2014-2015 RFP #14-666 3. Paper Products 2014-2015 RFQ #14-667 4. Grocery Products 2014-2015 RFQ #14-668 5. Bread 2014-2015 RFQ #14-669 6. Frozen Treats 2014-2015 RFQ #14-670 7. Milk, Dairy and Water Products RFQ #14-671 8. Towing Service RFQ #14-656 9. Xerographic Paper RFQ #14-1018 10. Small Kitchen Equipment Bid #

Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Amy Bauman in the Business Office at 706-826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org, or at the Richmond County School System, Central Office, 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Frank G. Roberson, Secretary

Hardie Davis, Commissioner Alvin Mason and language arts teacher Lori Myles.

The election on May 20 is also the date when voters across most of Augusta will decide between three Democratic candidates for state senate District 22.

There are no Republicans running for the seat, which Davis currently holds.

The senate candidates are real estate agent Elmyria Chivers, Mayor Pro Tem Corey Johnson and attorney Harold Jones.

Senate District 22 Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m.

The Augusta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in partnership with the Women’s Civic Club will hold a political forum on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum located at 1116 Phillips Street, Augusta, GA at 7:00 p.m. This forum will give the voters an opportunity to hear from candidates and make informed decisions at the poll on May 20, 2014. Senate District 22 candidates include Elmyria Chivers, Corey Johnson, and Harold Jones II. The public is invited to attend.

LEGAL NOTICE City of Augusta for the Augusta Regional Airport 30-Day Public Advisory Subject: Request for Variance Under the Provisions of O.C.G.A. 12-7-6(b) (15) Drainage Improvements and Application for Encroachment upon the 25-Foot Vegetative Buffer for One State Water Project: Drainage Improvements; BV-121-13-05 County: Augusta-Richmond The purpose of this public advisory is to provide interested parties with the opportunity to submit comments related to the proposed stream buffer variance. The City of Augusta’s Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field (the Airport) plans to perform a project to correct stormwater drainage issues on the Airport’s property, replace a culvert that was previously blown out by storms in 2011, and to improve aircraft safety within the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ). The project will consist of the construction of approximately 4,000 linear feet of new two and four lane roads and associated drainage improvements to access the southern portion of the Airport’s property to allow for the economic development of this portion of the Airport. The project will also improve Airport safety by improving access for Airport emergency and firefighting equipment and by mitigating the existing drainage issues in low lying areas within the Runway 35 approach.

The project would impact the 56 linear feet of buffer of intermittent Stream 1 by re-grading the streambank slopes, placement of riprap for channel and outlet protection, placement of the outlet of the new detention pond, and the placement of best management practices (BMPs) such as silt fences.

Site plans for the proposed construction can be viewed at the Augusta Regional Airport Engineering Office at 1501 Aviation Way, Augusta, Georgia 30906-9620, Phone: (706) 798-3236.

The public is invited to comment during the 30-day period on the proposed activity. Written comments should be submitted to: Program Manager, Non-Point Source Program, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, Georgia 30354.

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 10 - 16, 2014

Mayor • Monday, April 14, 6 p.m.

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WORSHIP Directory Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Rev. Clarence Moore, Pastor 1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903 706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – Fax E-mail address: admin@goodshepherdaugusta.org Web address: goodshepherdaugusta.org Rev. Clarence Moore Church Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church

314 Sand Bar Ferry Road Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722- 0553 Church School Sunday 9:25am Morning Worship Sunday 11am Evening Worship 6pm (1st & 3rd Sunday) Midday Prayer 12pm Wednesday Intercessory Prayer/Bible Study 6pm Wednesday

Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor

Radio Broadcast: Sundays • WKZK 103.7 FM at 7:30 a.m.

Sunday School 8:30 am Morning Worship Services: 9:45 am Evening Worship Services 6 pm (4th Sunday) Bible Study: 6pm (Mondays) Midday Bible Study: 12pm (Tuesdays) Prayer Services: 6pm (Wednesdays) Celebrate Recovery: 6pm (Fridays) and 12pm (Mondays) 2323 Barton Chapel Road • Augusta,GA 30906 706.790.8185 / 706.922.8186 (fax) Visit Us @ www.broadwaybaptistaug.org • Join us on facebook

Sunday Morning Services 10 am Wednesday Services 7 pm 2070 Brown Road, Hephzibah, GA 30815 (706) 592-9221 | www.alwc.net

Daily Morning Prayer

6:30 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.

218-548-1625 • Access Code 2331#

Dr. C. William Joyner, Jr. Senior Pastor

Start your calling today! Mount Olivet Certified Academic Institution 706.793.0091 • 706.793.0335 • www.mocai-aug.org

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