Table of Contents June 15, 2017
Whine Line 4 Kris Fisher 6 Jenny is Wright 7 Insider 10 Feature 12 Metro Week What’s Up Calendar Nightlife NYT Crossword Sightings The Eight Austin Rhodes
EDIT
CREATIVE
Amy Christian
Joshua Bailey
Joe White
amy@themetrospirit.com
joshua@themetrospirit.com
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
Arts Editor/Production Director
Lead Designer
Stacey Eidson stacey@themetrospirit.com
BUSINESS Publisher
Johnny Beckworth
Staff Writer
SALES
circulation manager
jdbeckworth@gmail.com
Joe White Publisher
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
Contributors Jenny Wright, Austin Rhodes, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong
Rachael Foss Account Executive
rachael@themetrospirit.com 706-910-3461
18 19 20 24 26 27 28 30
COVER DESIGN: Kruhu COVER PHOTO: Joe White
Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.Š 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.
Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit? Call or email Joe at 706.373.3636 joe@themetrospirit.com
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WHINELINE@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM
Have something you want to get off your chest? Send your whines to whineline@themetrospirit.com. The Metro Spirit reserves the right to edit submitted whines for content, but we will otherwise print them pretty much exactly as you type them… spelling errors and all.
Why is trailer trash bad? To people trying to sell homemade goods: Use those gloves! Don’t wipe your noses on the top of your hands. Do not handle both money and foods with the same gloves on. Don’t turn to the sides and sneeze onto people, do it into our elbow. And if you sneeze onto people, don’t then immediately try to tell them to buy your stuff. And don’t say you are washing your hands when you are only pouring a water bottle onto them.
now: Power, Race, Sex, Religion. And religion is included only in the pursuit of power. “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
By now liberal heads are exploding! The James Comey interrogation revealed nothing about Trump and #Hillaryous is still a wicked, corrupt, and evil person supported by #DemWits. You are welcome.
The accumulation of slit flowing down Rae’s Creek and water pollution “killed” Lake Olmstead as a once beautiful recreation area. And, like so many other Quality of Life features they ignore, the Augusta Commission has stuck its collective head in the sand and done nothing about it.
I sure do hope the new grocery chain having a Grand Opening near Grovetown, has resolved the issues with their imported frozen food from Ireland, France, etc., and it’s not filled with horsemeat, and pork as it was a few years ago.
Apparently, everyone who posts on the daily paper’s comments section is either mentally ill or dumb as a brick. They can’t find anything positive in the world, including, amazingly, free literacy tutoring. MORONS, all of them. Reality Winner has not committed a crime. President Trump has seen all the intelligence and has repeatedly stated over the last months that there is no evidence or documentation indicating that Russia had tried to influence our last election. The information that Winner released was seen by Trump and gave specific details of Russian interference so it must be FAKE and cannot possibility be classified. Case closed. Thank you, Mr. Trump.
Austin Rhodes is such a ridiculous hypocrite. If Hillary Clinton was president and stupidly confessed to Obstruction of Justice, like Donald Trump did, Austin would be yelling at the top of his lungs for her impeachment. Instead, he acts dumbfounded at the “Left” for doing the same thing he would be doing in their shoes. You people who protest and don’t even know what it is you are protesting against….
Once a week rap concerts would be a great boost to the merchants in downtown Augusta. You cannot force a place to be cool. In fact, the constant guilt-tripping of people to support downtown makes it seem even less cool. Also making statements like, “We had 3 events downtown over the weekend and no one got shot,” just keeps reinforcing the perception that downtown isn’t safe. Downtown Augusta is a unique place. It has a unique vibe that you cannot find in the suburban sprawl of Columbia County. There are some cool bars and restaurants downtown. Keep opening more. The people will come if downtown offers something different and unique. You don’t have to shout how cool you are, because we all know that makes you look less cool. Senator McCain; if watching a ballgame causes you to become befuddled and incoherent in the following afternoon, you should be given no more authority or responsibility than well, watching ballgames. Please retire before you tarnish your legacy. Watching Comey testify and wondering what mental and moral contortions the GOP will perform to excuse their candidate this time. The party platform is basically
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“hey Dad, Watch this!” Kris Fisher Father’s Day is this Sunday. It’s a quick reminder that I’m a father of three. You might wonder why I need a reminder. Well, it’s because I often feel like I’m still about 15 years younger than I am. Then I wonder: Who are these kids and why do they keep asking me so many questions? Oh, that’s right, because I’m their dad and I am responsible for their well-being. Who in their right mind would give me this level of responsibility? I tried very hard through my twenties to prove that I was barely responsible enough to ensure my own well-being. Now I have these three miniature humans to care for. As it turns out, it’s not that hard. Or maybe I just have one of those paternal instincts that took over. Either way, I’ve discovered that parenting, basically, consist of feeding them, making sure they get to school and paying attention to them. Sounds easy enough, right? It is. Until it isn’t. I’ll explain: When they’re younger, there’s a lot of, “Hey Dad, watch this!” going on. The “this” can vary, but is usually something amazingly death-defying like your child jumping off a curb, catching a frog or dipping their head below the water in the pool and swimming several feet, pretending to be a dolphin (my son literally just did this exact move as I’m typing). But, as an 8-year-old boy, showing us these daredevil acts are his everything. So, we pay attention. As they get older, the “watch this” can get a little more complicated. My daughter is going on 13, but she looks and likes to act like she’s going on 17. Her “Hey, watch this” is more of the “Look at this outfit,” or “Do you like my new swimsuit?” variety. As a dad, who knows that there are little boys that act like I did as a teenager, this is stressful. She is a beautiful girl. If she wasn’t so smart and responsible I’d be very worried. But, I have learned over the years that attention is a necessity for little girls. Her needs are number one, attention; number two, food; and number three, shelter…in that order. So, we pay attention. Then there’s the oldest of the offspring. His “Hey, watch this” is more of a “I hope no one is looking.” He’s 15, after all. He’s just as hard-headed as I was. The problem was, someone was always looking. I got busted for absolutely everything when I was his age. So when he makes the same mistakes, it drives me crazy. I try to teach him from the mistakes I’ve made. But it’s almost like I’m just giving him ideas. Or, he’s trying to outdo me. However, I’ve found that the more distracted we are, the more he does these things. So, we pay attention. In the end, they all just want attention. They have different ways of showing it, but they do. When you stop paying attention, it’s when you start having problems. I’m a very selfish person, so I’ll admit, this is sometimes a challenge for me. But the payoff is pretty awesome. I found myself having one of those “what if” moments the other day. All three kids were arguing about whatever. I was tired, irritated and wanted to be anywhere else in the world. Then I wondered, “What would my life be like without these little hellions?” The answer: I don’t really want to know. Happy Father’s Day to all the real dads out there, paying attention. KRIS FISHER is the midday host and program director for HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. He is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well as activities most people would have outgrown years ago. djkfish.com.
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15 Things on 15 Years Jenny is Wright Because I love a lIst. especIally a (not so random) lIst. 1. Fifteen years is a long time when you really think about it. How often do people stick with anything for 15 years? I’ve been driving for more than 15 years. I’ve been able to swim for nearly 40 years. Breathing for more than 40. I’ve been married for 15 and find it to be quite an accomplishment.
9. Maybe I need to see proof of that biology grade. 10. We always said we’d have three or four children. He wanted three, I hoped for four. High-risk pregnancies led to a change of plans. We have two and wouldn’t change a thing. Willingness to adapt to and accept change is key. (See #2)
2. We are very different people than the 21-year-olds who started dating in the 1990s. At 21, we were mere babies, with so, so much to learn. At 21, you don’t have gray hairs. At 21, you can’t even rent a car.
11. He can build or fix anything. I’ve come to terms with the fact that, while it may take (a lot) longer for him to complete the task, he likes to do projects around the house and won’t ever hire anyone.
3. We knew each other when we bought our very first Nokia cell phones but hardly used them, because we had land lines that worked just fine.
12. I’m a terrible housekeeper. He deals with it. The whole not hiring anyone applies here, too, but I’m working on him. For now, we’re letting our kids handle chores we don’t feel like doing. The Boy can start the lawnmower now, and even though she uses an entire bottle of dish soap, The Girl does the dishes pretty well.
4. We were best friends before we dated. Our story starts with a bet, but probably not the one you’d imagine. We were taking a college biology class together. He slept every day. I paid attention and studied. Little did I know back then, he doesn’t have to pay attention to make a better grade than me. He’s incredibly smart. I bet him a weekend in New York that he wouldn’t make a better grade in the class. He did, and he came to New York the following summer. 5. It was while doing my internship in New York that I realized I wanted to move home and marry my best friend. I’m so glad he agreed. 6. I’ve never seen proof of that biology grade. 7. When he proposed, he told me a bunch of really nice things, but I had tunnel vision and couldn’t hear anything he said. As best he could, he reminded me later. He has a terrible memory for such things.
13. I think his gray hair is pretty cute. 14. We don’t always get along, and I don’t have any sage advice to share. We have a common goal: to see this thing through no matter what. We talk about that often, especially when things feel tense. We try to go on dates as much as we can, and when we do, we try not to talk about the kids. We aren’t anywhere near perfect, but that’s okay. We’re us, and we make a great team. 15. Fifteen years! Cheers! To many, many more. JENNY WRIGHT’S humorous observations on marriage, motherhood and living in Augusta have earned her a devoted following, both in print and on Facebook. When she’s not spying on other parents in the carpool line at school, you’ll probably find her with either a camera, tennis racquet or wine glass in her hand.
8. I used to get mad at him for not introducing me to people. I thought he was ashamed of me or something. As it turns out, he’s terrible at remembering names, too. If he doesn’t introduce me to you, that means he doesn’t know your name.
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Scandal at the Dump... Again The MArble PAlAce is still in total disbelief over longtime Augusta Environmental Services Director Mark Johnson’s abrupt resignation following allegations that he allowed an employee, on county time, to leave work with the full knowledge that this retiring employee was planning on towing a piece of city-owned excavating equipment for use on private land in Lincoln County. Suddenly, everyone is up in arms over what really happened with the city equipment in Lincoln County in mid-March. Augusta commissioners are outraged and pointing fingers at everyone from Johnson to City Administrator Janice Allen Jackson. There are calls for a full investigation of the incident and possibly criminal charges. One can’t help but recall a similar incident that occurred almost two decades ago. It was a 1997 scandal nicknamed “Gravelgate” that resulted in former Landfill Operations Manager Rob Watson being prosecuted for hauling $70 worth of gravel to the driveway of his boss’s then-fiancé. The boss, former landfill director David Smith, was removed from his director’s position, but managed to hang onto a job with the city. Here’s how the scandal went down: On Oct. 3, 1997, former Landfill Operations Manager Rob Watson delivered two loads of gravel on a county front end loader down to the private residence of another county employee. His actions opened the landfill up to an extensive criminal investigation that lasted more than four months. That investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office uncovered that waste wasn’t the only thing rotten at the landfill. Back in 1997, Watson faced two charges: making false statement to law enforcement and theft by taking of government property, which included the improper use of county equipment and the fuel contained within the front end loader. What was Watson’s explanation for his actions? He summed it up in four words, “It was common practice.” Watson claimed he was simply following the example of others working at the landfill. He insisted that David Smith, the former landfill director who was removed from his position by then-County Administrator Randy Oliver, instructed him to make sure that gravel was placed in the driveway of Smith’s then-fiancé. “I did what my boss told me to do,” Watson told the Metro Spirit back in 1998 prior to his hearing. “That’s what I did despite David Smith’s emphatic denial of it, because I was afraid of losing my job.” In his testimony, Smith denied directing Watson to move the gravel to anyone’s driveway. However, the investigation alleged Smith asked Watson to remind Dan Maas of Stevens Well Drilling, an out-of-state private company that had installed a pipeline around the landfill, to use the excess gravel to fill a dip in his then-fiancé’s driveway. Maas stated he was happy to supply the gravel but only had a Bobcat loader on hand. So, Watson used a front end loader to deliver the gravel, while Maas was in the fiancé’s driveway on his company’s Bobcoat loader leveling the stone. Once the allegations arose, Watson admitted that he had made a terrible mistake. On Oct. 17, 1997, Watson attempted to cover up his use of the county front end loader by lying during his first interview with investigators. He also provided the then-Equal Opportunity Office Director Brenda Byrd-Pelaez with a false fax from Maas. The fax stated, “Only Stevens Drilling equipment and materials were used.” A few days later, on Oct. 28, Watson was again interviewed by investigators and admitted he had lied. Watson explained he lied because he was not only afraid for his job, but also his family. He felt there were a lot of “politics” tied to the situation. Watson insisted that he didn’t pressure Dan Maas to lie for him. “I just said, ‘There have been some charges made that gravel was stolen from the landfill and that it was illegally placed in this girl’s driveway and they’d like a statement from you about that,’” Watson said, however, he later acknowledged that he might have slightly encouraged Maas to help him out. “I might have said that it would look bad for me if the county’s equipment was involved.” But what was even more discouraging than $70 worth of gravel used on Smith’s thenfiancé’s driveway was that this appeared to be a fairly common practice in the county back in the late 1990s. During the investigation, Smith admitted that he had supplied dirt “thousands of times” when working for Richmond County Road and Bridges, a former county department. When Smith was specifically asked if he had authorized the delivery of any gravel or dirt to private entities outside of Richmond County government, Smith said he had. 10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
When asked for specific names, he said he couldn’t remember them all. “I can’t name those. Good God. You’d have to go back and dig up that,” Smith said. “That went on every day.” Investigators for the sheriff’s office were shocked. “Every day?” an investigator asked Smith. “Every day,” Smith repeated. The investigation had an impact on almost every aspect of the local government including the Augusta Commission, the administrator’s office and the public works department. And much like City Administrator Janice Allen Jackson currently being criticized for her role in investigating the incident involving Mark Johnson, then-County Administrator Randy Oliver took some heat during the “Gravelgate” investigation. Investigators from the sheriff’s office accused Oliver of conducting a criminal investigation, in which he had no authority to do. “No. I was solely looking at it from a personnel matter,” Oliver told the investigators in 1997. “You know, maybe in hindsight, it should have been (investigated solely by the sheriff’s office). There’s various issues that come up as administrator that require administrative action that perhaps needs to be done with law enforcement.” Oliver provided two examples of such cases. One was the misuse of $50,000 for River Race Augusta and the other was when the Indigent Defense Committee paid salaries retroactively without the commission’s consent in the late 1990s. The investigator told Oliver that his actions concerning the gravel incident may have jeopardized their criminal investigation. “It’s not my intent to in anyway impede an investigation,” Oliver said. “I want to work as closely as I can with law enforcement. I sense that I’ve stepped on your toes and I didn’t mean to do that.” In the end, the “Gravelgate” investigation took a grueling four months, and on the surface one couldn’t help but ask: This is all over a couple of loads of gravel? But Watson believed it wasn’t over just gravel. In describing the investigation, Watson said the word “witch-hunt” came to mind. “I really felt David (Smith) was the object of their investigation and once they were unable to pin something on him, they settled for a lesser fish. Me,” Watson said. “Because I’m just a small cog in the wheel. I’m the little guy left holding the bag.” Now, two decades later, Augusta’s landfill is once again facing a scandal that could impact several departments within the county and hurt the city’s image. When will they ever learn? 15JUNE2017
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More Delicious Food Options for Columbia County
By Stacey Eidson | Photos by Joe White
WHEN FARMHAUS opened its doors on Flowing Wells Road in Columbia County a year ago, it was an instant hit. Over the past year, the trendy, locally owned hamburger restaurant has worked hard to develop a loyal and deeply devoted fan base. Clearly, attention to detail has been the key to Farmhaus’ success. Whether it’s the careful selection of local, organic ingredients for its burgers, hot dogs, salads and sides or the restaurant’s excellent customer service even on its busiest days, Farmhaus has earned an outstanding reputation as one of the best places to grab a bite in Columbia County. Just this past Saturday, Farmhaus celebrated its one-year anniversary. Sean Wight, owner of Farmhaus, is extremely proud of his Columbia County location. “This location is right on the cusp of Richmond and Columbia counties and I just think the location is really good being centrally located near I-20. It is a busy area,” Wight said. “I mean, you have Doctors Hospital out there with all of the medical offices and there are a bunch of neighborhoods down Flowing Wells Road. I just see a lot of future growth in it.” Wight, who also owns Craft & Vine and Frog Hollow Tavern in downtown Augusta, said he had always received a lot of requests over the years to open a second Farmhaus in Columbia County. One of the main reasons for Wight’s success in both Columbia County and downtown Augusta is the fact that he has put a great deal of time and thought into 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
developing the menu, the concept and the entire look of Farmhaus. Prior to opening the first Farmhaus in downtown Augusta in 2012, Wight spent four months carefully choosing small, family farms for the restaurant’s local beef and organic ingredients. Wight took the restaurant’s slogan, “Beef Up Your Local Economy,” seriously in order to help support this region and provide his patrons with a quality product. “I’ll be the first to admit, there is really nothing healthy about a burger,” Wight said, laughing. “But our
burgers are about as healthy as you can get. We use quality local angus beef, our chicken is hormone and antibiotic free and all of our hotdogs are 100 percent beef with no antibiotics, hormones or preservatives. Our buns are from H&F Bread Company in Atlanta, so everything is locally sourced in the Southeast.” The food is also always fresh and made to order, Wight said. And Farmhaus doesn’t just offer a “typical” burger. The restaurant’s menu features dry-aged double patty beef burgers with a variety of toppings. Choices on the menu include burgers such as “The Haus” burger with smoked gouda cheese, grilled onions and whole grain mustard or the “Farmstyle” with a sunny side up local farm egg, heirloom smoked bacon, smoked gouda cheese and Duke’s mayo. “We make everything in-house,” he said. “All of our sauces, our french fries are twice fried and cut in house, our sweet potato tater tots are house-made and even our milkshakes are all organic.” Those milkshakes have become a very popular item on Farmhaus’ menu, Wight said. “The milkshakes are incredible and the boozy milkshakes have been a huge hit,” Wright said, explaining that Farmhaus offers an adult version of the regular milkshakes using liquor. As a result of Wight’s attention to detail and quality food, fans of Farmhaus keep coming back for more. “The demand for a locally sourced burger place was obviously there and we were very well received,” Wight said. “Farmhaus has been successful because we keep our quality up better than chain restaurants. People know when they come into Farmhaus that it is going to be clean, the ingredients will be fresh and the food is going to be really good.”
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Decades ago, Columbia County residents mostly got to choose between fast food chains such as The Waffle House, McDonald’s or Burger King to grab a quick bite. If residents wanted a nice meal, they used to have to drive to Augusta. But that has definitely changed over the past several years. As Columbia County continues to grow, so has its wide range of food choices and, fortunately, many of the new restaurants are locally owned. Just this week, Twisted Burrito owners and longtime friends Jason Beall and Steve Fredericks opened a second location called Twisted 2 located outside of Gate 1 on Jimmie Dyess Parkway. After the success of its original location on Washington Road in Evans, these two local guys decided they would “twist” things up on Jimmie Dyess Parkway as well. Needless to say, Twisted Burrito doesn’t offer your average burrito. These are handcrafted burritos made with fresh ingredients and the owners aren’t afraid to mix things up. For example, The Jackie Chan is filled with smoked chicken, Asian slaw, crispy wontons, chow mein noodles and a sweet sesame Asian dressing. Then there is The Raging Bull, filled with blackened steak, sweet Georgia fries, bleu cheese, crispy onion straws, black beans, fire roasted corn salsa, roasted garlic aioli and twisted cheese in sauce in a flour tortilla. To make things even more unique, all burritos are served with a side of sweet Georgia fries. One of the co-owners explained that Twisted Burrito’s seasoning, which is dusted on the battered fries, includes not one, but two kinds of sugar, as well as spices like chili powder. “We wanted to do something a little different,” he said. Mission accomplished. But Twisted 2 isn’t the only new local restaurant in Columbia County. Far from it. Diablo’s Southwest Grill owners Carl Wallace and brothers Brandon and Brad Wall are all from the Augusta area and wanted to bring a unique fast-casual, southwestern style restaurant to their hometown. These “three amigos” have a passion for freshness and flavor and great customer service. Diablo’s now offers eight locations, including its new Grovetown restaurant on Gateway Boulevard that opened about three months ago. “Grovetown is just really growing and, so far, it has been a great location for us,” Brandon Wall said. “Right now, we have eight locations and our most recent location that opened is in North Augusta. It has been open for about a month and a half. So we are just really excited about Diablo’s future.” And if you are looking for fresh ingredients, Diablo’s is the place to be. It offers everything from ghost pepper cheese to spicy sour cream and fresh jalapenos. “We only have fresh ingredients. There are no freezers in-house and we get two or three deliveries a week of fresh ingredients,” Wall said. “We are constantly rotating our product in and out, so that we are delivering the freshest product possible to all of our customers in the Augusta area. We absolutely do not believe in all of those preservatives and chemicals that some restaurants use to make products last longer. It’s not our style.” For instance, Diablo’s fresh guacamole is made in-house. “We take ripe avocados and we deseed them and we hand-mash those avocados for guacamole that day,” Wall said. “We don’t use a pre-made pulp product that a lot of other people might use.” In fact, Wall said the Diablo’s owners really had to work hard to keep their product fresh. “It was actually really hard for us early on because these food reps kept pushing all these prepackaged, precooked items that were not authentic to our process and were not part of our game plan,” Wall said. “But we knew fresh ingredients was the key to our food and we weren’t going to compromise.” Now with eight locations, Wall said some patrons don’t realize that Diablo’s is locally owned. “I think people don’t realize that we are locally run and operated,” Wall said, chuckling. “But we are all three born and raised right here in the Augusta area and
we are very proud of that fact.” Over the past few decades, Columbia County has really grown up. Back in 2005, Pizza Joint owner Mike Schepis was one of the first downtown restaurant owners to open a new location in neighboring Columbia County. Schepis chose the former Fat Man’s West store located at 4301 Washington Road in Evans to recreate Pizza Joint’s casual and eclectic atmosphere. The downtown Augusta restaurant, which originally opened in 1996, quickly became popular for its pizzas, strombolis, calzones and sandwiches cooked on a traditional brick oven. As a result of Pizza Joint’s success, Schepis opened two more locations in Aiken and Columbia, S.C. The same year that Pizza Joint branched out into Columbia County, so did another long-time local favorite: Rhinehart’s Oyster Bar. First opened back in 1983, Rhinehart’s rapidly became known throughout the Garden City for its “beyond casual” atmosphere that resembles more of a beach shack on Washington Road than a seafood restaurant in Augusta. But by 2005, owners Amy and Craig Bailey brought their famous raw oysters on the half shell, spicy boiled shrimp, Alaskan snow crab legs and jambalaya to its second location at 305 North Belair Road. As more and more residents began moving into Columbia County, other restaurants began to take notice. Kevin Goldsmith, owner of Takosushi, opened a new location in Columbia County at 1202 Town Park Lane next to the Marshall Family YMCA in 2008. Takosushi began in Surrey Center more than 10 years ago featuring Goldsmith’s unique blend of southwestern and contemporary Asian dishes. The restaurant also has popular locations in Columbia, Greenville and Aiken, S.C. That same year, in 2008, Mellow Mushroom local franchise owner Shawn Ledford opened up his second restaurant at 4348 Washington Road following the booming success of his Broad Street location. In 1974, Mellow Mushroom was created by three college students in Atlanta interested in starting a restaurant featuring “classic southern pizza.” These days, the franchise exists in 18 states with more than 140 stores. “We are a franchise, but we are not your cookie-cutter franchise,” Ledford told the Metro Spirit. “We still have personality and take on the local community.” While both of his Mellow Mushroom restaurants in downtown Augusta and Evans have similar menus, they definitely have different decor styles honoring both communities. One aspect that the two restaurants have in common is Ledford has been able to duplicate his success at both locations. In fact, Ledford opened his third Mellow Mushroom in Aiken just a few years ago. “I know my business has grown every single year since we opened in 2003,” Ledford said. “So that’s saying a lot.”
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Augusta’s Renaissance Man Duane Wilson, owner of Wilco Woodwork, Inc. is transforming this area, one building at a time By Stacey Eidson THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL to Duane Wilson than an old piece of wood just calling out for a new life. “That never gets old. It still amazes me today,” said Wilson, who has owned Wilco Woodwork, Inc. for the past 20 years. “The fact that you can take a pile of what looks like garbage and come up with something amazing is incredible.” Whether it is a short drive around Augusta or trip to the Georgia statehouse, chances are you’ve seen some of Wilson’s craftsmanship. “I have been doing this since I was a child. My father, Franklin Wilson, was a carpenter and I worked with him for years with Boardman Construction Co.,” said Wilson, who is originally from Aiken. “In fact, we did all of the construction at Surrey Center. He actually started that project back when it was a little grocery store.” Wilson said his father, who passed away just last year at 83, taught him everything he knows about woodworking. “He got me into this,” Wilson said, adding that carpentry runs in his family’s blood. “The whole Wilson family were carpenters. My dad came from 16 kids and all of the brothers were all carpenters. In fact, one of my cousins, his dad and my dad worked together for years and years and years. And now that cousin, David Wilson, has been with me for about 17 years. So we are keeping it a family thing. I couldn’t do it without him.” When Duane Wilson left Boardman Construction Co. about two decades ago, it didn’t take long for his tremendous talent to be recognized across the South. “About two years after going into business, I was trimming the Governor’s Mansion in South Carolina and then I went to the statehouse to do woodwork in Atlanta,” Wilson 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
“The whole Wilson family were carpenters. My dad came from 16 kids and all of the brothers were all carpenters.” — Duane Wilson, owner of Wilco Woodwork, Inc. said. “I have also done several federal courthouse projects, doing all the woodwork in those buildings. But my favorite job that I have done has to be the giant theater in Memphis, Tennessee called the Cannon Center. It is the most amazing theater in the country, I believe.” In 2003, the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts was designed to exacting acoustic standards and currently seats about 2,000 people. It was established on the same spot as the historic Ellis Auditorium, which closed in 1996 after 77 years. 15JUNE2017
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The interior of the Cannon Center is so breathtaking that U2’s Bono described it as an “amazingly beautiful theater” during his acceptance of the Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum in 2004. “It is pretty amazing,” Wilson said, flipping through several photos of the Cannon Center. “I just recently came across these photos the other day. That was a great project. I did that job right when my wife was just about to give birth to our first child. Now, I have two daughters, one is 14 and one is going on 18, but I still haven’t taken them to Memphis to see it yet.” Of course, as teenagers, Wilson said his daughters like to give him some good-natured ribbing about his work. “My kids make fun of me because when we travel, I have done a lot of work around here, Atlanta and Columbia, so when we go somewhere, I’ll point at something and I’ll say, ‘I built that,’” Wilson said laughing. “Now, every time we go somewhere they are always in the background joking, ‘I built that. I built that.’ Just making fun of me.” As far as some of his projects in the Augusta area, Wilson did the beautiful woodwork for Beck’s on Kings Way, the Arsenal Tap Room on Monte Sano Avenue and The Alley Downtown Taproom in Aiken. Sitting at one of the gorgeous wooden booths inside of Beck’s, Wilson said the restaurant’s owner and chef, John Beck, gave him a great deal of freedom when designing the woodwork. “With John Beck, we got in and got started and he really allowed me to design and do everything we wanted to do in here,” Wilson said. “So that was a really nice experience.” When Beck’s first opened in December, John Beck said he was simply looking to create an oyster bar with a “fun, lively atmosphere” that offered quality food and good beverages.
“About two years after going into business, I was trimming the Governor’s Mansion in South Carolina and then I went to the statehouse to do woodwork in Atlanta.” — Duane Wilson 15JUNE2017
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“My favorite job that I have done has to be the giant theater in Memphis, Tennessee called the Cannon Center. It is the most amazing theater in the country, I believe.” — Duane Wilson “I like that kind of a place. I like to go in and it not be stuffy. I like to have a little bit more activity and lively atmosphere,” Beck said. “So initially we were going to do a little more of a casual place.” But when Wilson took on the project, he elevated the restaurant with his incredible woodwork and “creative genius,” Beck said. “He is really talented and just completely transformed the place,” Beck said. “It just kind of took on a life of its own. It is just beautiful inside.” In particular, Beck was floored by Wilson’s work in the back room of the restaurant that can also be rented for private events. Wilson removed some “dreary, plastic beams” from the ceiling and replaced it with a “gorgeous wood design creation that is out of this world cool,” Beck said. The back room at Beck’s was a challenge, Wilson said. “There was a partition that went straight through and broke this room in half,” Wilson said, pointing along the ceiling in the back room of the restaurant. “They took the wall out, but they couldn’t take the top part of it out because these were two different ceilings and they didn’t line up because there was a wall in between. So, we had to come up with some sort of way to just roll with it and do some sort of cool feature.” Wilson created an extravagant wood design on the ceiling and walls that is truly breathtaking. “John wanted this room to be special,” Wilson said. “When you walk into this room, we just wanted people to be like, ‘Wow.’ So we came up with this.” One of Wilson’s passions is designing projects with reclaimed wood. “I recently fell in love with working with reclaimed materials. That is how this whole thing came to be,” Wilson said, looking around Beck’s restaurant. “I partnered up with Trent Hubbard at Highland Millworks to do several projects. Trent had just gotten in a whole bunch of this oak when I was getting ready to do this place. And John said, ‘I don’t care what you use,’ so it worked out great. I have done three reclaimed projects in a row in the last couple of months. It is really hot right now.” However, after continuously doing several large projects, Wilson said he recently began focusing on smaller jobs around town. “I have been working with interior designer Lauren Robbins and she has been throwing a lot of design work at me and I’m thankful for that,” Wilson said. “I also do a ton of work for Augusta Sash & Door.”
“He is really talented and just completely transformed the place. It just kind of took on a life of its own. It is just beautiful inside.” John Beck, owner of Beck’s 16 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Wilson is extremely proud of the work that he has done in the Augusta area and beyond and so was his father. “He was super, super proud of me. In fact, when he retired, he came on to help me. He was getting up in years, but he basically walked around and grumbled,” Wilson jokingly said. “But he taught me an awful lot.” Born in Clover, S.C., Franklin Wilson moved to Graniteville after serving in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. “He married my mom and he had a job at the mill, but this preacher at the church that they were going to was a master carpenter,” Wilson said. “He taught my dad everything he knew and then my dad ended up bringing all of his brothers to work. They built tons of houses. In fact, they built Bruz Boardman’s house and it is unlike anything else --construction wise -- residential in this town. It is amazing.”
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Franklin Wilson worked for Boardman Construction Co. for 44 years and earned quite a good reputation for his skills around town. “He took great pride in his work. I learned everything from him,” Wilson said, joking that his children don’t seem interested in learning the family trade. “Well, I don’t have a son to pass it on to and, hopefully, my girls will be too smart to get sthings, but they are too cool for it now. And I have one headed to college soon. She will be studying computer science.” While his girls might not be anxious to learn the art of woodcrafting, Wilson did, however, manage to pass down another family trait to his children: a love of music. Franklin Wilson and his family had a singing group known as The Wilsons and One Accord. “My family was full of musicians. I started out playing bass when I was 8 years old and I have been playing all my life,” Duane Wilson said. “I play with several bands including Ed Turner and Number 9. I have toured with Shawn Mullins out of Atlanta and I am playing with Phillip Lee Jr. right now. He just signed a deal, so he will be going places.” It didn’t take long for both of his daughters to catch the family’s music bug, Wilson said. “I had an upright bass at home that I played. I told Emily, my oldest, that when the string programs became available at school, ‘Take this thing to school and play it,’” Wilson said, chuckling. “When the next little one got big enough to do it, she wanted to play bass, too. So now they are both dragging around basses twice as big as they are.” Wilson said he absolutely loves hearing his daughters play music. “Both of my girls are bass players and they go to Davidson (Fine Arts) or, well, the oldest just graduated but they were both in the orchestra there,” Wilson said. “So they did take that from me.” While Wilson adores woodworking, he believes his love for music may eventually take him to somewhere like Nashville to retire. “As I get older, I feel like I may end up in a music town where I could do session work instead of having to do such physical work like what I do now,” Wilson said, laughing. “But I still have some years in me. I’ll be turning 49 this Friday, so I’m not looking to retire anytime soon. But when I get my second child out of school, who knows? We might end up in Nashville one day.” For more information about Duane Wilson and his company, Wilco Woodwork, Inc., please contact 706-504-8439.
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THE COLUMBIA COUNTY AMPHITHEATER is the site of the next event brought to you by the folks at Friends with Benefits and it’s one that you won’t want to miss. Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers will take the stage for this latest concert, and they’ll be joined by openers Scarlet Begonias and special guests from the James Brown Band. Perhaps best known for his work with the band The Range in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Hornsby scored hits with songs like “The Way It Is” that featured the musician’s vocals as well as his incredible piano skills. Bruce Hornsby and the Range won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987, and Hornsby has also scored Grammys for Best Bluegrass Album in 1990 and Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1994. The Noisemakers is Hornsby’s more recent project, bluegrass-influenced work with Ricky Skaggs. He has also collaborated with the Grateful Dead and was considered an unofficial member of the band from 1990-1992, during which time he played more than 100 shows. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the show, and the Scarlet Begonias and members of the James Brown Band take the stage at 6:30 p.m. Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers are set to begin at about 8:30 p.m. Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers Columbia County Amphitheater Thursday, June 15 6 p.m. $35, general admission; $100, VIP fwbpro.com
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What’S up
Calendar: 20 | Music Listings: 24 If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
dog dayS handS to paWS, a local animal rescue that is completely foster-based, can only save as many animals from kill shelters as they have foster homes to put them in. Unfortunately, the number of animals in kill shelters continues to rise, while the number of those willing to foster these animals has stayed the same or declined. Well, Hands to Paws has decided to do something about that. There are 93 days during the summer season, and their goal is to find one new foster family in each of those 93 days. The Dog Days of Summer is what they’re calling it, and organizers are now in the midst of planning events around town in which interested families can meet animals who need temporary and permanent homes and get more information about making that happen. They hope to have their first event July 22, and will have more information about that soon. In the meantime, they’re encouraging those interested to contact them directly about what it takes to become a foster family. So if you’ve been thinking about it, think no longer: save a life. The Dog Days of Summer: 93 Fosters in 93 Days Hands to Paws Rescue 706-481-0657 hands2paws.org
thurSday
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It won’t be nearly as creepy as the chess game Windom Earle and FBI Agent Dale Cooper played in “Twin Peaks.” In fact, tonight’s meeting of the PWN AUG Chess Club, at 6:30 p.m. at the Book Tavern, will be downright fun. Open to players of all ages and skill levels, participants are encouraged to bring their own boards and have a good time regardless of how well they do. It gets a big thumbs up from us.
Always wanted to sail off into the sunset? Well, the Augusta Sailing Club probably won’t have you doing that by the end of their open house today, but after all they have planned at their Appling Clubhouse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, you’ll be well on your way. Visitors will learn about sailing, go out on boats, tour the facility and grounds, and have snacks. Preregistration recommended. Email asc.open. house@gmail.com or visit augustasailingclub. org.
The Netflix series “Thirteen Reasons Why” recently took the country by storm with its unflinching look at high school, teen suicide, sexual assault and more. Now, Augusta residents can meet the author of the book that started it all. At 4 p.m. at the Columbia County Library, Jay Asher will speak, answer questions and sign autographs. All you have to do is pre-register by calling 706-863-1946, ext. 4, or visiting 13reasonswhy.eventbrite.com.
Eryn Eubanks knows her way around a mandolin and has a lovely voice. Those who attend the Evenings in the Appleby Garden concert, tonight at 8 p.m. at the Appleby Branch Library, will experience that firsthand when she and the Family Fold take the stage. This free event is one in which audience members are invited to bring their own chairs, blankets beverages, snacks and decorations. Don’t forget the decorations; the group with the best lawn party decor will be crowned Appleby Garden Party Winner of the Week.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 20. 15JUNE2017
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visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Mon June 19
10am - noon Oil Painting 175 N. Louisville St., Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $20 per class; pre-registration required. Call 706-5566656 or visit harlemartscouncil.org.
Tue June 20
6:30pm - 8:30pm Fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop Augusta University A photography class led by Katie Jiminez. For more information or to register, visit augusta.edu/pace/photography.php.
Ongoing
Art Cart Artists Call A golf-cart/functional art installation set to be placed in downtown Augusta in July 2017 is looking for a local artist to turn the cart into a bench and bicycle rack featuring artwork. Application deadline is June 16. Applications and guidelines are available at augustaarts.com/art-in-augusta/public-art.
CAMPS Tue June 20
10am - noon Pottery Camp Church of Our Savior A camp for those ages 6-12, who will learn to create forms from clay using different techniques. $90; pre-registration required. Visit artistsguildcc.org.
1pm - 3pm Anime, Manga & Graphic Novels
SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE THE RACE FOR THE FALLEN 5K Glow Run will be held at Liberty Park in Grovetown on Saturday June 24. The Race for the Fallen is a family event that was created to honor the brave men and women who risk their lives everyday to protect our families and it is a tribute to the officers who have given their lives to protect our communities. Please come show your support for the men and women in blue. Runners, walkers of all ages, strollers and leashed dogs are welcome. Proceeds from this event benefit the Police Benevolent Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that exists to help law enforcement officers and their families restore normalcy after a tragedy. Registration can be done at raceforthefallen.com. Packet pick-up will begin at 6:30 p.m. on race day and the race will begin around 8:30 p.m.
ARTS
Church of Our Savior A camp for those ages 10-15, who will draw, develop and improve their styles while creating a graphic novel. $85; pre-registration required. Visit artistsguildcc.org.
Wed June 21
10am - noon Pottery Camp
H.O. Weeks Center, Aiken A camp for those ages 5-12 that includes activities based around each week’s theme. Camps are held weekly through August 18, and early drop-off at 7:30 a.m. and late pick-up at 5 p.m. are available. For more information, call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
DANCE Fri June 16
7pm The Art of Swing Dancing Jessye Norman School of the Arts A class held Fridays through June 30. Taught by Mario Lett of Lett’s Dance. No experience necessary and a partner is encouraged but not necessary. $7 per class. To sign up, call 706-828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
EDUCATION Thu June 15
9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Fri June 16
11:30am Estate Planning and Elder Care Workshop Columbia County Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-8631946, ext. 4, or visit gchrl.org.
Sat June 17
11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm A Petersburg Boat Captain Augusta Museum of History Part of the Voices of the Past series of character monologues. Free with museum admission. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
1pm - 3pm Anime, Manga & Graphic Novels
3pm Beyond ¡Hola!: A Free Basic Conversational Class
Church of Our Savior A camp for those ages 10-15, who will draw, develop and improve their styles while creating a graphic novel. $85; preregistration required. Visit artistsguildcc.org. r
Headquarters Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-267-9053 or email speakngrow@gmail.com.
Columbia County Library A seminar about lowering monthly TV costs through devices and services like Roku, Netflix and more. Pre-registration required. Call 706-863-1946, ext. 4, or visit gchrl.org.
Fri June 16
Ongoing
Morris Museum of Art The Tennessee-based glass artist will discuss her work. $12, members; $16, nonmembers. Catered lunch included. Preregistration required. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
10am - 1pm Photos to Paintings: Pet Portraits Aiken Center for the Arts No previous experience necessary ad all supplies are included. Participants should bring a photo of their pets. $60; preregistration required. Call 803-641-9094 or
Kroc Center A camp for those ages 5-12 in which participants will enjoy swimming, arts & crafts, group games, sports, Bible lessons and more. Before- and after-care available.
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8am - 4:30pm Summer Adventures Day Camp
Church of Our Savior A camp for those ages 6-12, who will learn to create forms from clay using different techniques. $90; pre-registration required. Visit artistsguildcc.org.
Sat June 17
Noon Art at Lunch: Tommie Rush
Members: $400 per session; non-members, $600 a session. Sessions available May 22June 16, June 19-July 14 and July 17-August 11. Pre-registration required. Call 706-3645762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
9am - 3pm Camp Kroc
Mon June 19
10:30am Cutting the Cord
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the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours are available by advanced reservation. Adults, $5; seniors, $4; kids K-12, $3; under 5 years, free. Call 706-724-0436 or visit wilsonboyhoodhome.org.
Historic Trolley Tours of Augusta Augusta Visitors Center Tours aboard the Lady Libby available at the Augusta Visitors Center with 24-hour advanced reservations. Tickets include admission to the Augusta Museum of History. Call 706-724-4067 or visit visitaugusta.org.
FLIX Thu June 15 Safe Sitter Doctors Hospital Thursday, June 15 9 a.m.-4 p.m. A class for those ages 11-13 that is also offered on Saturday, June 17. Pre-registration required. 706-651-4343 doctors-hospital.net 10:30am Tech Tuesday Computer Class Appleby Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
11:30am Women in Business Luncheon Legends Club An Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce event that will begin with networking at 11:30 a.m. and will continue with the luncheon and “Fort Gordon Growth: Moving Forward Together,” a talk by Col. Todd Turner, Fort Gordon Garrison Commander. $30, members; $40, non-members. Call 706-821-1300 or visit augustametrochamber.com.
12:30pm - 4:30pm SRS Tour Aiken County Applied Research Center Includes a safety briefing, tour of the Savannah River Ecology Lab and general driving tour of the site. Free and open to those 18 or older who are U.S. citizens and have two forms of ID. Call 803-952-8994 or visit srs.gov/general/tour/public.htm.
2pm - 4pm Microsoft Word for Beginners Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed June 21
6pm Tertulia: Spanish Conversation Group Headquarters Branch Library A group for beginner to intermediate Spanish speakers. Call 317-695-4748.
Ongoing
Professional Development Courses 15JUNE2017
Jessye Norman School of the Arts The school offers classes in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and other software programs. Call or visit the website to see a schedule of spring and summer classes. Call 706-828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
James Brown Family Historical Tour Augusta Museum of History Available each Saturday at 11 a.m. and lasting approximately two hours, this bus tour includes Brown’s elementary school, his childhood home, his statue and more. $15 fee, includes admission to the museum, which houses the largest collection of James Brown memorabilia. Reservations 24 hours in advance required. Call 803-6402090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
10:30am Summer Break Movie for Teens Appleby Branch Library Featuring a PG-13 rated movie. Participants can bring their own snacks. Call 706-7366244 or visit arcpls.org.
Fri June 16
3pm Summer Afternoon Movie Diamond Lakes Branch Library Featuring a rated G movie. Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue June 20
10am Movie Day Maxwell Branch Library Showing a PG-rated movie. Call 706-7932020 or visit arcpls.org.
Friedman Branch Library Free. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
2pm Summer Afternoon Family Movie Appleby Branch Library A movie for all ages in which participants can bring their own snacks. Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
5:45pm Free Movie Tuesdays Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 for weekly selections. Visit arcpls.org.
HEALTH Thu June 15
7pm Babies, Bumps and Bruises Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Fri June 16
10am Chair Yoga Georgia Cancer Center Open to anyone being treated at the center. Call 706-721-0472 or visit augusta.edu.
6:30pm - 9:30pm Weekend Childbirth Education Class University Hospital Class continues Saturday, June 17, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
2pm “Trolls”
Guided Tours 1797 Ezekiel Harris House Offered by appointment only MondayFriday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m. Adults, $2; children, $1. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
North Augusta Driving Tour Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Offered by appointment and includes a 30-45-minute guided tour and admission to the center. Self-guided tours are also available through an iPhone downloadable audio tour or a Google Maps-based tour. Guided tours: $5, adults; $3, students K-12. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
Tours Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson Guided tours, approximately 45 minutes long, are offered Thursday-Saturday on AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Mon June 19
1pm - 3pm Look Good Feel Better University’s Breast Health Center An American Cancer Society program that aims to help female cancer patients combat the appearance-related side-effects of chemo and radiation. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
1pm Music Therapy Georgia Cancer Center Sessions include music-assisted relaxation, drumming to the beat and group. Call 706721-0472 or visit augusta.edu.
6:30pm Refit Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-8212600 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed June 21
6:30pm Infant CPR: AHA Friends and Family AU Health Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
Columbia County Library Participants should bring their smart phones for this treasure hunt. Call 706-8631946 or visit gchrl.org.
KIDS-TEENS Thu June 15
9am - 4pm Safe Sitter Doctors Hospital A class for those ages 11-13. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctorshospital.net.
10am Father’s Day Craft Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
4pm Death by Chocolate Aiken Public Library A program for those in grades 6-12 that includes games and challenges featuring candy. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
6:30pm Meet and Greet: Geronimo Stilton
AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
Columbia County Library An event featuring stories, coloring sheets and photo ops with a favorite character. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
HOBBIES
8pm All About Frogs
7:30pm Childbirth Tour
Thu June 15
6:30pm PWN AUG Chess Club The Book Tavern A club open to all ages and skill levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their own chess sets. Call 706-826-1940 or visit booktavern.com.
Fri June 16
10:30am Chess Part III: Tournament
Reed Creek Park Part of the Nocturnal Thursdays series for those ages 5 and up, along with their parents. Free, members; $2 per child, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-210-4027 or email reedcreekpark@ columbiacountyga.gov.
Fri June 16
10am - noon Play and Grow
Columbia County Library Open to all ages. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Aiken Public Library A drop in program for those ages 0-5 that includes puzzles, toys, puppets and more. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sat June 17
10:15am Story Time Fridays
10:30am DIY Workshop North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Led by Aiken Standard columnist J. D. Norris. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Mon June 19
6pm Civil War Roundtable Meeting Goodwill’s The Snelling Center Gerald Prokopowicz, chair of the history department at East Carolina University, presents on his book, “Did Lincoln Own Slaves and Other Frequently Asked Questions about Abraham Lincoln.” Meetings are $15, including dinner. Membership is $25 per year, individual; $40, couple. Call 706-736-2909 or visit civilwarroundtableaugustaga.com.
Wed June 21
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Aiken Public Library Stories, songs and interactive activities. Story time for babies (0-23 months) begins at 10:15 a.m., toddlers (2-3 years) at 11 a.m. and preschoolers (4-5 years) at 11:45 a.m. Participants and caregivers are encouraged to participate. Call 803-6422023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
1pm - 3pm Friday Summer Fun Mistletoe State Park A naturalist-led kid-friendly activity time. Children should be dressed to play outside and should bring water and sunscreen. $3, plus $5 parking. Call 706-514-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
1:30pm Egg Drop or Bust! Reed Creek Park Part of the Simply Science Fridays series for those ages 5 and up, along with their
Rubber Duck Derby Savannah Rapids Pavilion Saturday, June 17 9 a.m.-1 p.m. An event that includes music, entertainment, kids activities and food from local vendors. The race begins at noon. Admission is free, but ducks available for purchase. $5, one duck; $25, six ducks; $100, 24 ducks; $1,000, diamond duck pack. Proceeds support the United Way of the CSRA. ccduckderby.com parents. Free, members; $2 per child, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-210-4027 or email reedcreekpark@ columbiacountyga.gov.
Sat June 17
9am - 4pm Safe Sitter Doctors Hospital A class for those ages 11-13. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctorshospital.net.
10am - noon Family Fun Fair Augusta University Literacy Center The College of Education, Porkchop Productions, Reed Creek Nature Park and the Aiken Soil and Water Conservation Center have teamed up to create an event that will include art activities, a reptile demonstration, water science activities and an interactive performance of “Cinderella.” Call 706-737-1625 or email literacycenter1401@gmail.com.
11am Family Lego Day Diamond Lakes Branch Library A themed program for all ages. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Augusta Museum of History A Monday at the Museum program for preschool-aged children that will include a visit to the Petersburg Boat exhibit, after which they will create model boats. $2, members; $4, non-members. Preregistration required. Call 706-722-8454 or email aschaffman@augustamuseum.org.
10:30am Jr. Lego Club Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
11am Morris Museum of Art Program Columbia County Library For those ages 2-6. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
1:30pm Really Cool Reptiles Reed Creek Park Part of the Amazing Animal Mondays series for those ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free, members; $2 per child, non-members. Call 706-210- 4027 or visit phobbs@columbiacountyga.gov.
5pm Build a Better World Surprise STEM Project
Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Diamond Lakes Branch Library For those ages 11-18. Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon June 19
7pm Library Lockdown: Escape Room Adventure
11am Father’s Day Story Time
10am Father’s Day Fun: Petersburg Boat
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A young adult event. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue June 20
10:30am Preschool Story Time
10am Preschool Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 3-5 that includes stories, songs, games, short movies and crafts. Pre-registration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time with the Morris Museum Headquarters Branch Library Featuring a story and an art project. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
11am and 7pm Fairy Tale Network Aiken Public Library A Youth Wing production. Call 803-6422023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Wed June 21
10am Children’s Story Time Friedman Branch Library Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Everyone Needs a Home Headquarters Branch Library A 4-H Club class in which students ages 5-9 will learn the elements that humans and animals need to create a home. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time Maxwell Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time Wallace Branch Library Pre-registration required for groups. Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
10:05am Toddler Story Time Appleby Branch Library This is a program best for children ages 18 months-3 years. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Ann Sprinkle and the Therapy Dogs Friedman Branch Library Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am EastWind Castle North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
10:30am First Day of Summer Craft Appleby Branch Library An event for those ages 3-12. Pre15JUNE2017 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989 23
Appleby Branch Library For children ages 3-5. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Story time will be followed by a craft, and juice and cookies will be provided by New Moon Cafe. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
2pm Magician Chad Crews Aiken Community Playhouse Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
5pm Unplug and Play for Teens Diamond Lakes Branch Library No electronic devices allowed. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Featuring Diann Shaddox, founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor ad author of “The Gatekeeper of Crystal Pond: Not What Lies Above, But Below.” Call 803-642-2020 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sun June 18
4pm Jay Asher Author Visit Columbia County Library Asher, author of “Thirteen Reasons Why,” will speak, answer questions and sign autographs. Light refreshments will be served. Preregistration required. Call 706-863-1946, ext. 4, or visit 13reasonswhy.eventbrite.com.
Thu June 22
The Family Y’s Summer Food Program The Family Y offers five mobile food buses, along with sites at their summer camp locations, to ensure that kids have healthy meals and snacks throughout the summer. Mobile sites are at Salem Arms Apartments on Rosier Road from 11-11:30 a.m. June 5-July 28; Providence Place Apartments on Southgate Drive from 11:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m. July 5-July 28; Cedarwood Apartments on Richmond Hill Road West from noon12:30 p.m. June 5-July 28; Cedar Grove Apartments on Richmond Hill Road West from 12:40-1:10 p.m. June 5-July 28; and Villa Marie Apartments on Deans Bridge road from 12:45-1:25 p.m. June 5-July 28. All mobile sites closed on July 4. A list of camp sites can be found at thefamilyy.org. Free to those 18 years old and younger.
Mayor’s Summer Read and Feed Headquarters Branch Library This program for those under 18 years old meets Mondays-Wednesdays June 5-July 12 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to read books, eat lunch and have fun. Free. Visit arcpls.org.
The Shepard Project Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer A teen hangout and safe space for LGBTQ+ teens, ages 14-17, and allies that meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 5-8 p.m. The group is also looking for chaperones ages 25 and older and youth mentors 18-24 years old, who must pass a background check. Call 803-617-8352 or email shepardprojectaugusta@gmail.com.
LITERARY Sat June 17
3pm Book Signing Aiken Public Library
Fri June 16
7pm Moonlight Music Cruise Augusta Canal Discovery Center Featuring Angela Easterling, this event features live music aboard a 1 1/2-hour Petersburg boat tour. Participants are invited to bring aboard snacks and beverages. $25; $23, seniors, military and students. Preregistration required. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.
Sat June 17
8am - 2pm Saturday Morning Swing
The Book Tavern A group open to older teens and up. Call 706826-1940 or email david@booktavern.com.
Eighth Street Plaza Live music from local jazz artists and performing arts groups during the Augusta Market. Call 706-627-0128 or visit theaugustamarket.com.
MUSIC
2:30pm Guitar Lessons
7pm Graphic Novel Discussion
Thu June 15
7pm Music in the Park
Ongoing
visit abbe-lib.org.
Maude Edenfield Park, North Augusta Featuring Double D. Participants can bring blankets and chairs. Free. Visit naartscouncil.org.
7pm Remembering North Augusta’s Superstar: Miss Sharon Jones North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Led by Don Rhodes. Call 803-279-5767 or
175 North Louisville Street, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class for those with beginner to intermediate guitar experience. $30. Call 706-556-3756 or visit harlemartscouncil.org.
7pm Summer Concert Series 8th Street Stage Free. Call 706-821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov.
7:30pm Candlelight Wine & Dine Concert Series
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Thursday, June 15 Live Music
Columbia County Amphitheater - Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers Fox’s Lair - Open Mic Jam w/ Thomas Langley Maude Edenfield Park (North Augusta) - Music in the Park w/ Double D The Red Pepper (Aiken) - Mike Frost Band Southbound Smokehouse- West King String Band Wild Wing - Sabo & Dave The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
Augusta Athletic Sports Bar - Karaoke Chevy’s - Karaoke w/ Ellie Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia The Loft - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane That Place Coffee - MAD Open Mic
Friday, June 16 Live Music
Hank Williams Jr. James Brown Arena Friday, June 16 8 p.m. $34.50-$89.50 877-4AUGTIX georgialinatix.com
Augusta Canal - Moonlight Music Cruise w/ Angela Easterling Bird Dog Grille- Donna Jo Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Country Club- Nick Alligood Fox’s Lair - Kim and Allen The Highlander - Gloom Cocoon, Hound of Goshen Iron Heights - Extinction Level Event James Brown Arena - Hank Williams Jr. Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Southern Meltdown Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Gavin Reily Shannon’s - Atomic Road Southbound Smokehouse- CBDB Stillwater Taproom - Laura Blackley and the Wildflowers Wild Wing - Black Cat Sunshine The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke
Saturday, June 17 Live Music
The Mason Jars Hammond’s Ferry Larder, North Augusta Wednesday, June 21 7 p.m. 803-341-9273 hflarder.com 24 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
8th Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River 8th Street Plaza - Summer Evening Concert Series Bird Dog Grille- Old Man Crazy Columbia County Amphitheater - Candlelight Wine & Dine Country Club- Gannon Adams Fox’s Lair - Roger Enevoldsen Shannon’s - Shinebox Sky City - Elementz 4 w/ Gorganus, Scotty Atl, Moses, Kobe Da Shoota, Walt C, DUB, Twisted Elementz, Dat Feelin Family, DJ Kinetiks Southbound Smokehouse- Sumilan Stillwater Taproom - Jacob Beltz Wild Wing - Bad Cash The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Chevy’s - DJ Richie Rich Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Karaoke Soul Bar - Dance Party That Place Coffee - Cushions & Caffeine Afternoon
Open Mic
Sunday, June 18 Live Music
Augusta Common - Candlelight Jazz Capri Lounge - Vivian Valium & the Lounge Lizard Divas Morris Museum of Art - The Shadow Pines The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ Mike Johnson
Monday, June 19 Live Music
Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) - Hopelands Summer Concert Series w/ Downtown Mixup Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
What’s Tonight?
Augusta Athletic Sports Bar - Sports Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Wild Wing - Trivia
Tuesday, June 20 Live Music
Appleby Branch Library - Evenings in the Appleby Garden Opening Concert w/ Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold Fox’s Lair - Irish Music w/ Dr. John Fisher and the Undefeated Army Joe’s Underground - Open Mic The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
Bar West - Trivia Capri Lounge - Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Augusta) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
Wednesday, June 21 Live Music
Hammond’s Ferry Larder (North Augusta) - The Mason Jars The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Shameless Dave Soul Bar - Live Jazz Wild Wing - Dave Love
What’s Tonight?
Augusta Athletic Sports Bar - Karaoke The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Capri Lounge - Game Night Chevy’s - DJ Richie Rich Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz
Upcoming Almost Kings, Villanova, Trust in Traitors
- Sky City June 24 Travis Tritt
- Bell Auditorium July 1 Trash Panda, The Pussywillows
- Sky City July 1 15JUNE2017
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Riverwalk Revival w/ Gov’t Mule, Galactic
- Jessye Norman Amphitheater August 1 Corey Smith
- Bell Auditorium August 12 Brian Regan
- Bell Auditorium August 25 Kansas
- Bell Auditorium October 25
Elsewhere The Producers
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta June 16 George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer
- Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth June 16 Gipsy Kings
- Chastain Park, Atlanta June 17
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Gladys Knight
- Botanical Gardens, Atlanta June 18 T.I.
- Rox Theatre, Atlanta June 18 Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie
- Chastain Park, Atlanta June 21 Chicago, The Band, The Doobie Brothers
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
- Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta June 23 John Mellencamp, Emmylou Harris, Carlene Carter
- Chastain Park, Atlanta June 27 The Major Rager w/ Umphrey’s McGee, Moon Taxi
- Symphony Park, Charlotte, NC August 10
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
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ADVICE TO WRITERS By Tom McCoy/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Drawing tool 8 One not acting alone 14 Literally, “great O” 19 Ackbar’s rank, in “Star Wars” films 20 Relating to an eye layer 22 What fan fiction is not 23 Writing tip No. 1 25 Accessory 26 Plant anew 27 Lo ____ 29 So 30 Contractor’s guidelines 33 Writing tip No. 2 38 Yearn for 39 Unlike the wind 40 Lead-in to guess or game 41 Got up there 42 Balneotherapy site 45 Bi- and bi-? 48 Train part 49 Writing tip No. 3 54 Relating to a major vessel 55 Hexagonal state 56 Invalidate 59 Restaurant chain with a flag in its logo 62 Band aids 65 Make suitable for indoors, as a plant 67 Home of Ithaca, Athens and Olympia 68 Writing tip No. 4 74 They go from town to town: Abbr. 75 That, in Tijuana 76 Ed.’s request 77 Cell parts 78 “Uh-huh” 80 German auto co. 82 Flew off the handle 85 Writing tip No. 5 93 Bill Clinton or Barack Obama 94 ____ group (structure found in proteins) 95 Old English letter 96 Shoot the breeze 97 Turn on 101 4,840 square yards 103 Cylinder-shaped pasta 104 Writing tip No. 6 109 Regarding 110 Large Hadron Collider org.
111 Hoity-toity sort 112 Became adept in 114 1983 Michael Keaton title role 116 Writing tip No. 7 123 Operative 124 Less watertight 125 Energetic pooch 126 Graph parts 127 Knights’ needs 128 Primes
51 Refuse to talk, with “up” 52 Conductance quantities 53 Like a good proof 57 “Makes sense” 58 ____ Day (June event, informally) 59 Not needing a cane, say 60 Commanded 61 Syria’s Bashar al-____ 63 Person of note? 64 Fee-free spot, briefly 66 Unruly hair, metaphorically DOWN 69 Jacob’s twin 1 Give the ax 70 Composer of many patriotic tunes 2 Poem of homage 71 Conveyor part 3 2005, to Cato 72 Course part 4 Ring bearers, maybe 73 Something tacky to hang on the 5 Bring in wall? 6 Droops 79 Stroke of luck? 7 It “knits up the ravell’d sleave of care,” 81 Bill Clinton or Barack Obama, per Macbeth informally 8 Doctrines 83 It’s mined, all mined! 9 Atop, poetically 84 Stayed on the shelf 10 RR stop 86 Homework lover, maybe 11 Up to 87 Military stints 12 Jungian inner self 88 Like some audiobooks 13 Knocked to the ground 89 Romance writer Roberts 14 Andean tuber 90 “Yikes!” 15 Like the movies “Brian’s Song” and 91 When repeated, an old sitcom “Sharknado” catchphrase 16 Circumvention 92 Leave in 17 It uses the PageRank algorithm 97 Character that goes “waka, waka, 18 Irritates waka …” 21 Classic camera brand 98 Exceed 24 Prefix with liberal 99 Wriggled 28 Vice President John ____ Garner 100 Punitive 30 Digitize, in a way 102 Goes in 31 Bounce along, in a way 103 Gently towel 32 Anticipatory days 105 Peace signs 34 Gala 106 W.W. II danger 35 Where to find some very wet 107 Cape ____ sponges 108 Early days 36 Gives in confidence 113 Patella site 37 Gosling of “La La Land” 115 Much of W. Virginia 42 Tried 117 Mike’s confectionery partner 43 Favorite 118 Dungeons & Dragons piece 44 Santa ____, Calif. 119 Like William Carlos Williams’s 46 Templeton from “Charlotte’s Web,” wheelbarrow e.g. 120 Actress Peeples 47 Visibly awed 121 Ron of the Dodgers 50 “Me, neither,” formally 122 ’17 and ’18
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SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Tristan Bell, Sarah Pacetti and Gary Bell at 24x30 Movie and Designer Meet up at Sky City
Holden Taylor, Leanne and Jeremiah Johnson at 24x30 Movie and Designer Meet up at Sky City
Christy Flaherty, Lauren Rainwater and David Nelson at 24x30 Movie and Designer Meet up at Sky City
Sarah Smith, Michelle Patel and Natalee Greubel at Craft & Vine
Autumn Pruitt with singer/songwriter Aaron Watson at the New Country Club
Sarah Dewry, Cathy Reynolds and Eileen Smith at the New Country Club
Tyson with Katie Lawrence, Rachel Thomas and Lisa Murdock at Kidneyzillas
Jessica and Josh Pierce and Josh Mason at Kidneyzillas
Samantha Hall, Rosie Adkins and Haley Adkins at the Imperial Theatre
Black White Read Esteban Patiño 15JUNE2017
Gallery Hours: Monday thru Friday 10am to 5pm Saturday 12pm to 3pm
westobou.org
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 27
THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
WONDER WOMAN
$58,520,672
$206,343,175
2
1
2
THE MUMMY
$31,688,375
$31,668,375
1
-
3
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS
$12,180,704
$44,443,216
2
2
4
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
$10,704,103
$135,830,397
3
3
5
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
$6,312,367
$366,431,539
6
4
In Theaters June 16 FAMILY “Cars 3,” rated G, starring Owen
COMEDY “Rough Night,” rated R, starring
Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper, Nathan Fillion, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shaloub, Bonnie Hunt, Kerry Washington, Bob Costas. Lightning McQueen is a little older and a little wiser. His friends still surround him, however, as well as a few new faces (grills?). Now, he has to prove to a whole new group of young racers that he’s still the best.
Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Demi Moore. People will probably want to call this a female version of “The Hangover,” but, to us, it looks more like the 1998 movie “Very Bad Things.” In that one, Jon Favreau (now a superhero movie director) and company accidentally kill a hooker during a weekend of debauchery. In this one, a male stripper accidentally bites the dust at the hands of five college buddies who reunite 10 years later for a bachelorette weekend in Miami. We’ll give this one a chance just to listen to Kate McKinnon’s ridiculous accent.
DRAMA “All Eyez on Me,” rated R, Demetrius
HORROR “47 Meters Down,” rated PG-13,
Shipp Jr. Danai Gurira, Kat Graham. More than 10 years later, people are still fascinated by rapper Tupac Shakur’s life and death. This movie bills itself as the “true and untold” story of Shakur’s life as a rapper, actor, poet and activist.
starring Mandy Moore, Claire Holt, Matthew Modine. Two sisters on vacation in Mexico decide to swim with the sharks. Something bad happens to the cage they’re in and, with little oxygen left in their tanks, the great whites start circling. Yeah, maybe that wasn’t such a smart idea after all.
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The scandal That Keeps on Giving austin rhodes There was no way xto know what he was doing when he was doing it, but Al “The Arrowslinger” Gray may have nailed a “trifecta” with his camera in Lincoln County last March, documenting possible graft, mismanagement, malfeasance, and grave dereliction of duty in no less than three areas of government in Augusta-Richmond County. For his efforts, he already has the head of Landfill Director Mark Johnson (rhetorically) mounted on his wall, and before all is said and done, there could be,v and certainly should be, professional casualties both in the administrator’s office and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. No need to review all the particulars, you have been reading about them for a few weeks now. Suffice to say what City Administrator Janice Allen Jackson apparently attempted to sweep under the rug as “no big deal”, has turned out to be just the opposite, and all this has the potential to claim collateral damage in all kinds of interesting directions. Gray documented Augusta city-owned construction equipment sitting on a piece of privately owned land in Lincoln County. When he started looking for answers, this little scheme started to peel back in pieces like the mother of all Blooming Onions. Someone made the mistake of telling Gray a quickly assembled Richmond County Sheriff’s Department “investigation report” was going to be turned over to the District Attorney’s office for evaluation, and that never happened. Not until District Attorney Natalie Paine heard about that “promise” and then went looking for the report. Sure enough, no one had sent it to her, because a decision had been made that “no criminal wrongdoing had occurred.” She didn’t like hearing that answer, and for good damn reason. In cases like this, if and when “no criminal wrong doing” is the conclusion, there had better be some very specific language and explanations attached to the logic, authored by someone with the legal credentials to do it. This is how James Comey got in trouble on the Hillary Clinton email situation. In a high profile or controversial case, cops should investigate and then hand over what they find to the district attorney (or in Comey’s case, the Attorney General), they should never declare “there is nothing here to prosecute.” In matters like this, it is simply not their job to make that call. Back in March, the responsibility for the whole fiasco was stamped on the head of now retired landfill employee McKinley Williams. The explanation that Johnson gave as to why Williams was in Lincoln County with a piece of taxpayer owned construction equipment, working on private land, during landfill business hours, was laughable. For some reason, City Administrator Jackson, Johnson’s immediate supervisor, accepted the “cock and bull” story and declared the matter closed. That was when virtually
no one knew the story. Then Al Gray sent me the pictures documenting the situation, and the rest is history. Since that time, Sheriff’s officer Rufus (Rusty) Eskew has emerged as one of the people attempting to explain Williams’ “mistake” in taking that particular piece of equipment, because he says he gave him permission to take his equipment, which he apparently keeps on city property, because he had switched front buckets on the machine, and the confusion was to be expected. If you believe all that, I have some oceanfront property in McBean you may be interested in, cheap! In the meantime, no explanation was given as to why anyone was allowed to use city owned trailers to move the stuff. When Eskew’s name appeared in print associated with this story, my phone and computer lit up with more stories than 20 sailors could tell after a drunken night in Manila. The man’s personal and professional reputation is something to behold. He was hired by Sheriff Richard Roundtree shortly after his election, and among his rather odd list of duties, procuring and tracking God knows how much or how many pieces of surplus equipment that comes into the sheriff’s department by way of giveaway, sales or property seizures. When the officer preparing the sheriff’s office’s report on this fiasco asked Eskew if he had been in Lincoln County himself, for any reason lately, Eskew reportedly said he had been up there “looking at hunting property” with Robert Partain. That would be Col. Robert Partain of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and well known confidant and No.2 best bud of the sheriff himself. The opinion of five, count them, FIVE, different career law officers I have heard from on this matter (two retired, two working, one working for a state law enforcement agency...but all with extensive RCSO experience) is that Partain “runs interference” for Eskew, who is allowed to do what he wants to do with all kinds of taxpayer owned equipment, while making the rules up as he goes. He has been described to me as a cross between Mr. Haney, the peddler on “Green Acres”, and the slickest con man on the Augusta city payroll. In case you are wondering where you might have heard that name, Rusty Eskew is the former owner of the now defunct wildlife sanctuary and zoo known as the Graystone Ranch. The Augusta Chronicle reported on the closing of the facility back in February of 2015, and by the looks of the Tracey McManus report, claims that Eskew likes to play “fast and loose” with the rules may be a generous assessment: ”The owners of Graystone Ranch in Hephzibah withdrew their application for a new operating license with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday and have relinquished all
of their exotic animals to other facilities, officials confirmed. The USDA had recently conducted a pre-license inspection at the 500-acre ranch before owner Rusty Eskew halted the process, but the findings of that inspection are not public information, according to USDA spokeswoman Tanya Espinosa. While Graystone will not pursue a new license, the USDA is still investigating allegations the owners violated federal law by exhibiting animals to the public for nearly a year without a license in 2014, Espinosa said. An Augusta Chronicle reporter took an exotic animal tour in October and interviewed another patron who viewed the animals in September. Facilities that exhibit certain animals to the public, along with research labs, breeders and dealers, are required to be licensed by USDA and regulated through annual inspections by the agency. USDA records show Graystone canceled its previous license in January 2014, but the owners continued to advertise its exotic animal tour on billboards and flyers and allowed patrons inside last year. Animal welfare advocates also called into question the conditions of the animals at the facility and the laws in place to protect captive wildlife. Since 2012 Graystone has had 10 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, a federal law meant to protect captive animals and enforced by USDA through annual inspections, but never received a penalty or punishment.” So Eskew reportedly claimed he and Partain were scouting for “hunting and fishing property” in Lincoln County. He better hope the wildlife up there doesn’t get word of how he treated their brethren a few years back. Al Grey did opine that it does play into the theory of one of his connected sources regarding this matter, that the property in question was being developed as a hunting and fishing retreat to be used by God knows who, all at the discretion and invitation of the property owners, who (oh, by the way) reportedly have business connections to the Augusta landfill operation. WHEW! If anyone can read all this and surmise that all in play here was a misunderstanding and a lone broken city policy, you have a far better imagination than most of us. Answers and accountability are needed, but fast! AUSTIN RHODES A long-time radio talk show host who can be heard weekdays on WGAC from 3-6 p.m. The views expressed are the opinions of Austin Rhodes and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.