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Table of Contents March 2, 2017
Whine Line 4 Jenny is Wright 7 Insider 8 Feature 12
The Plea Deal 12
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
Molly Swift Staff Writer
molly@themetrospirit.com
Contributors Jenny Wright, Austin Rhodes, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong
SALES
Publisher
circulation manager
jdbeckworth@gmail.com
Joe White Publisher
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
16 17 18 19 24 26 27 28 30
BUSINESS
Johnny Beckworth
Staff Writer
It Takes a Village Helping the Future... What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight Austin Rhodes
COVER DESIGN: Kruhu
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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OPINION
Jenny is Wright: 7
The Whine Line Columbia County just can’t get it right . Growin pains is tough! I wonder if the military patrons of three local eating establishments realize one of the frequent “trivia” hosts has a questionable claim of being a former Airborne Army Ranger? Deeply worried about the person who couldn’t handle their alcohol Saturday during the pub crawl. Poor thing had to vomit all over the entryway to our business. Hope they are okay, and didn’t have a terrible hangover Sunday! *Eye roll* If there was ever a time for congress to yell out YOU LIE during a State of the Union address, NOW IS THE TIME. Congratulations on Pardon’s 3rd win in the half marathon! So a Ranger finishes last in the Augusta University 5k today. How does Mr. Sleeper let this happen. Dead last. No place for a Airborne Ranger. I wish the management of St John’s Tower would try a little harder bringing in quality entertainment for the residents. Just because we may be up in age does not mean we still don’t know how to have a good time. Please bring in some music that we can dance to. The so-called concert this past weekend was just pathetic and the “performers” acted like they hated being there. We would have been better off with just having Bingo night. Thanks Metro Spirit for the report on the upcoming dart tournament. Yours is the only place with news about what sounds to be a fun weekend event. Please keep up the great work on information on local events, please! Oh, when will the downtown market be back up? Will they have new vendors? Will they get in some more local food vendors? The Georgia Dept of Transportation has created more havoc than GEN Sherman’s
Army. GO AWAY!!! Thank you, VA medical center for making the lives of some of your highly skilled medical employees a living hell. Incompetent management consistently promotes a mistrustful and hostile work environment. The fix? Look at the top heavy, inept management and excessive administrative and clerical positions and CLEAN HOUSE! We need a resistance to the resistance. Why is Donnie Boy Trump so afraid of the free press? Does Austin Rhodes know? Rhodes always says he is a “journalist”. Maybe Rhodes, with his plethora of “inside connections” can shed some light to us mere mortals about Trump’s phobia with the truth. If so, it would be so nice if Rhodes would stand up like a man and explain Trump to all of us stupid poor souls who are just living our lives and paying our taxes ( I guess we are not smart) Watching the DNC Chair Election on CSPAN was like watching Planet of the Apes. No wonder #Hillaryous and liberals lost the election.
reason against the top heavy idiots and liars we have in our government right now. And we will keep on protesting all the crazy and illegal acts that keep being pushed forward. Anybody, ANYBODY that thinks the Earth is flat is out of their mind. Your right to live in the U.S. has just been revoked - period! One week two weeks three weeks Four, we’d like MORE on the Columbia County Hostile Hiatus and Ranger Sleeper Rampage! mike sleeper defrauded voters by trotting out his lies during elections. everyone should contact the AG of the state of Georgia and ask for an investigation. All former Columbia County employees need to be interviewed to address the hostile work environment created by Scott Johnson. Why does it take some anonymous podunk blog to get the media to question what everyone else has known for YEARS? Walter Mitty was never a war hero. Sleeper was
never a Ranger. Deke was never a workingclass Joe. Every politician named Allen is related. And Rhodes isn’t a Rhodes scholar. Investigate and report on things when the suspicions are raised, not after they’ve been confirmed by some Internet random. Shame ,Shame, SHAMELESS is the word for Columbia County officials! To the individual concerned about the loss of life during the Yemen raid, where and the hell were you for the last eight years? Obama’s use of drones killed (executed) thousands of non combatants including women and children. Where in the hell was you outrage then... You ass is showing. Why can’t they reclassify weed as we all know it has medicinal uses, it’s just old rhetoric from the 60’s, clearly not as bad as alcohol and tobacco, how is it that MDMA (ectasy) is not schedule 1, now it has medical use. Come on people, I wish they would just put legalization on the ballot.!
Whether you voted for Trump or not, pray for him. Columbia County allows the construction of 4 and 5 story buildings but does not have adequate Fire Engines to put the out a fire? DUHHH Somebody is trying to catch their tail! Augusta, GA is a town full of drunks. Instead of “a town drunk”, Augusta, GA is “a drunk town”. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great place to live, but if you are not already “a drunk” then you certainly will be “a drunk” after you spend some time here in this “drunk town”. So, that being said...”carry on drunks”. Much light and love to those on the corner of 15th and Walton Way recently who made sure we know there are great voices of
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. 4 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
2MARCH2017
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15 in 5
Because I love a list. Especially a random list. Jenny is Wright 1. This weather! If you hate spring, you probably don’t like the unseasonably warm temps. I hate winter, as y’all know, so I’m happy. 2. Having yellow pollen all over everything is interesting in February. 3. What will Masters Week look like without the azaleas blooming all over Augusta? You may not care a whole lot, but out of towners expect azaleas. 4. Being a parent is an amazing thing. It’s amazing how you can go from so proud of your kid one minute to so irritated the next. I wish there was a kid manual that taught them how to not aggravate parents. Wishful thinking. 5. There’s a parking lot behind the Lamar building. It’s a large parking lot. People renting the Imperial on weekends have been able to use it for a number of years. During shows, there was a charge to park there, but it was only $5. All of a sudden there are “unauthorized blah blah blahs will be towed” signs and the parking lot sits empty. For a city with a bunch of parking complaints, this seems silly. 6. I don’t mind waiting for a parking space downtown. If it means the businesses are thriving, I’ll circle the block a couple of times looking for a space. 7. I’m not surprised Whole Foods closed, though I hate to see good businesses leave Augusta. It wasn’t ever very busy when I was in there. We still have Earth Fare and Fresh Market, though, people. 8. Although the Kroger on 15th Street wasn’t the prettiest store, a grocery in that location is necessary for the folks downtown and downtown-ish. 9. Maybe now, our dreams will come true, and a Trader Joe’s will come to town. If you’ve not been to one yet, you may not understand. If you have, well, you know what I mean. 10. I’ve heard people say, “If we can’t handle a Whole Foods, why would Trader Joe’s come here?” Please refer to #9. If you haven’t been to one, you don’t get it. Comparing
2MARCH2017
Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods is like comparing a banana to an umbrella. Maybe not that extreme, but their price points are on completely different levels. Trader Joe’s offers organic food options at very affordable prices. Don’t talk to me about that Two Buck Chuck wine they have. It’s an abomination. 11. There’s a Facebook page, “Bring Trader Joe’s to Augusta.” If you haven’t already, go click “like.” 12. I was in Trader Joe’s in Athens (because I have a regular shopping list that includes Triple Ginger Snaps, Olive Oil Popcorn, and organic ground beef), the cashier asked me where I was from. When I told her, she said, “Oh, Augusta really needs a TJ’s. People are crazy about it there. We hear it all the time.” See? Fingers crossed. 13. Speaking of crosses, I look forward to hearing your Lenten sacrifices, if you are of the appropriate faith, of course. I’ve given up chocolate for a number of years. This year, I’m gonna try to give up stuff. Like, in general. I’ve seen where people get rid of a trash bag of stuff per day for 40 days. That sounds like a lot of stuff, but I’m willing to try. 14. The Salvation Army is asking folks to put one item per day in a black trash bag, resulting in 40 items at the end of the Lenten season. Bring it to them when Lent ends. Make sure they’re good items, y’all. No garbage. 15. I’m not giving up wine. Maybe I should, because it would be a sacrifice, what with this porch weather we are having, but, after a long day, ice water doesn’t have the same get up and go as a quality Zinfandel. Cheers! 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.
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 7
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NewS
The Plea Deal: 12
See ya, Sentinel!!! It’S offIcIal. Sentinel Offender Services — the private probation company that was hit by more than a dozen lawsuits filed in both Richmond and Columbia counties — is done in the Peach State. CSRA Probation Services located in Evans announced this week that it has purchased Sentinel’s 11 offices in Georgia and has taken over the company’s existing contracts to provide private probation supervision in the Peach State. Michael Popplewell, president of CSRA Probation Services, was thrilled to announce that CSRA Probation Services would now be serving more than 150 courts in more than 35 offices throughout the state. Popplewell, who grew up in Augusta and earned degrees in both criminal justice and psychology from Augusta College in 1979, began his career as a state probation officer with the Georgia Department of Offender Rehabilitation in 1980. For almost two decades, Popplewell served as a field officer, transfer officer, circuit drug testing specialist, circuit public information officer and started and supervised a circuit-wide intensive probation supervision program. By 1997, Popplewell founded CSRA Probation Services, Inc. Since that time, Popplewell said his company has demonstrated a “standard of excellence” in the field of court services. CSRA Probation Services is dedicated to providing services that result in significant savings to the cities, counties and courts that the company serves, he said. “Our services, from managing a hands-on supervision program to assisting with administrative support, provide a direct benefit to the court, the offender, and the community,” CSRA Probation Services’ website boasts. For many Georgia residents, having Sentinel Offender Services pack their bags and leave the state will be a welcome change. After all, Sentinel’s practices were not only being challenged in court, but also by the state Legislature and many local governments. Just last year, Richmond County officials finally wised up and began to listen to the widespread concerns about Sentinel and ultimately decided to establish a public probation department here in Augusta. While the county realized it would be an expensive endeavor to properly establish public probation, officials knew it needed to be done. Back in 2015, state Rep. Gloria Frazier, who sits on the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, said she had grave concerns about Sentinel. “The company has problems,” Frazier bluntly said. In fact, Frazier said she had heard from several 8 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
constituents who told her that Sentinel had been ruthless in its attempts to collect these excessive fees in the past. “What is happening is they are going on folks’ jobs and telling them they have to pay these fines or they are going to impose jail time,” Frazier said. “What it is, is that, Sentinel made a lot of money last year on these additional fines that were imposed.” But it wasn’t just the political pressure that pushed Sentinel out of Georgia. Sentinel was also hit by a dozen lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the statute that allows its existence. The cases alleged that Sentinel overcharged probationers and illegally collected fees, in some instances using incarceration to coerce payment from probationers. Augusta Attorney Jack Long, who represented the plaintiffs in the local lawsuits against Sentinel, said the private probation company’s actions were inexcusable. “Examples of the abuses of tolling go on and on,” Long stated. “The point is that Sentinel makes money from tolling at the expense of Georgia citizens. It is debt collection aided by the threat and use of incarceration to compel payment.” Founded in 1992, Sentinel Offender Services had grown into a powerful player in criminal justice systems around the country.
Based in Irvine, California, the company had assets of nearly $32 million, and brought in nearly $5.6 million in revenues in 2012, according to disclosures filed in a separate, federal lawsuit. In Georgia, the bulk of the company’s business came from collecting fines and fees for private probation and monitoring. Elsewhere, their contracts with municipalities to provide electronic monitoring bring in millions. The state’s Department of Community Supervision reported that Sentinel had earned more than $1.6 million in supervision fees in a single quarter last year. That financial quarter made Sentinel the state’s top earning firm among Georgia’s private probation companies. “When the person on probation runs out of money and is unable to pay, the company can petition to jail them in lieu of payment,” Long said. “Thus, it is possible, even in 21st century America, to be jailed for poverty.” Now, that Sentinel is gone from Georgia, it’s CSRA Probation Services’ turn to takeover those private probation contracts. Popplewell and his company have a proven track record of treating their clients with respect. That respect will go a long way, particularly after years of Sentinel bullying people on probation in the Peach State. 2MARCH2017
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ice storm Fallout in the Peach state With the AugustA AreA experiencing summer-like temperatures all of this week, it’s hard to believe that three years ago around this time the entire CSRA was crippled by the ice storm of 2014. But those who lived in Augusta during the storm will never forget the sound of cracking limbs falling throughout the night. Every few minutes, huge pine trees were tumbling over and crashing to the ground in neighborhoods all across the Augusta and Aiken areas. These enormous limbs would fall with so much force that they literally shook entire neighborhoods. For many local residents, it was like bombshells going off throughout the night. Thousands of homeowners were left without power for at least three or four days. Cars were completely iced shut and when residents finally ventured outside, many could barely recognize their own neighborhoods because there was so much damage. Power lines were down, tree limbs were blocking streets and there was severe damage to many local homes. After the storm, the Metro Spirit spoke with several experts warning homeowners to be on guard for scams from unlicensed workers offering to help clean up neighborhoods, sometimes at an inflated price. Steve Johnston, vice president and Southeast Division Manger for the Bartlett Tree Experts, cautioned residents not to make snap decisions when hiring crews to clear their fallen branches, trim storm damaged trees or clean up their yards because they might be unlicensed, unbonded and uninsured. “If they get hurt or if they damage the property, the insurance may not cover it,” Johnston said. “If they say they are insured, you want to make sure the policy is still active.” Johnston said many problems began when local landscapers decided they are qualified to do tree removal work. “Here is the problem: This region doesn’t have enough licensed contractors who have the proper insurance to handle the entire area,” Johnston said. Therefore, many landscapers servicing the CSRA weren’t going to know how to properly remove or treat storm damaged trees, he said. “One lady we saw, they didn’t just come and clean up the branches that were on her house, they started taking down every tree in her yard,” Johnston said. “Now, that’s her prerogative. And after a storm like this, I understand and I feel that 100 percent. However, that’s a shame. Every tree doesn’t have to be taken down.” Instead of cutting every tree down, Bartlett Tree Experts recommended appropriate treatments such as pruning, installation of supportive cables or braces and even lightning protection systems to secure a tree damaged by the ice storm. Phae Howard, the executive director of the National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud, also warned residents of some serious perils of home repair. “Any contractor you deal with that walks in that door is a potential problem,” she said. “So the more you educate yourself prior to dealing with that person, the better you position yourself.” Consumer education is especially important because she said as soon as you allow anyone on your property to fix or repair your home, it can have serious consequences. And according to Howard, whose Atlanta-based nonprofit coaches homeowners so
they don’t become victims of home improvement fraud, those consequences were getting larger and harder to prevent. “I’ve been told by various sources that it’s estimated to be a $70 billion a year problem,” she said. “We know mayors, wealth managers, attorneys, doctors and police officers who have been victimized, so everybody’s at risk.” She wasn’t kidding. This week, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution exposed the fact that the entire city of Atlanta fell victim to scams and bribery during the 2014 ice storm. “In February 2014, as contractor Elvin ‘E.R.’ Mitchell Jr. paid $188,000 in bribes for Atlanta contracts, city officials awarded his company emergency work totaling $5.2 million for a devastating ice storm that month,” the AJC reported this week. “Mitchell’s Cascade Building Systems captured 65 percent of the city’s business even though it was only one of five companies hired to clear roads, haul salt and remove debris. Cascade’s prices sometimes far exceeded other companies’ cost estimates or those paid by the Georgia Department of Transportation.” The scary part is, Atlanta didn’t suffer half of the damage that Augusta experienced during the ice storm of 2014. “In one case, Cascade charged city taxpayers an overtime rate of $442 an hour for each of 20 plows with front-end loaders — about $200 an hour more than price quotes provided by three other companies that performed work for the city during the storm,” the AJC reported. “Cascade billed the city for more than 1,000 hours of overtime with that equipment. Additionally, Cascade’s straight-time rate of $295 an hour for the plows also exceeded prices quoted by other contractors by about $120 an hour. The company billed the city for 878 hours of straight-time.” The profits that Cascade made during the ice storm were exorbitant. “In all, Mitchell’s company received more than $700,000 just for the plows,” the AJC reported. “The city would have paid about $353,000 to the company providing the lowest cost estimate for that equipment.” But Cascade’s profits came at a price. E.R. Mitchell and Lithonia contractor Charles P. Richard Jr. both recently pleaded guilty to bribery charges and are scheduled for sentencing in April. It has been a disaster for the city of Atlanta and the mayor, Kasim Reed. Scandals create distrust, and these bribery charges are causing residents to think twice about Atlanta’s leadership. It doesn’t bode well for Mayor Reed and his administration’s future. The amazing thing about this is, here poor Augusta got grief after it was accused by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of breaking some federal regulations in procuring two contracts for cleanup from the 2014 ice storm. Augusta moved quickly and had two noncompetitive bid awards to companies involved in the clean-up. But anyone who was here in the Garden City during February 2014 knew that the Augusta needed emergency assistance right away. There was no time to dawdle. The 2014 ice storm wasn’t a typical storm. It was devastating. But Augusta officials got grief anyway. Maybe federal authorities should have had a closer eye on Atlanta and its emergency contracts during the ice storm rather than good ol’ Augusta, Ga.
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THE PLEA DEAL More than 20 Irish Travelers from Murphy Village have entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering and could soon be By Metro Spirit Staff facing prison time GUILTY. It has been a word occasionally used throughout the Augusta area to describe the actions committed by some local Irish Travelers living in Murphy Village. Comments such as, “Those Travelers are guilty as sin,” have been casually thrown about in North Augusta for years as local residents drive past the enormous brick mansions that line both sides of Edgefield Road less than a mile past Exit 5 off Interstate 20. These gigantic homes with aluminum foil or butcher paper covering the windows and large statues of the Virgin Mary in the front yard have long raised suspicion in North Augusta. But this week, the world “guilty” took on a whole different meaning in Murphy Village. More than 20 Irish Travelers from North Augusta walked into federal court on Tuesday, Feb. 28, and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering. It was part of a plea bargain between the federal government and a handful of wellrespected, high-priced defense attorney representing the Irish Travelers. The maximum penalty for this one count could be up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each of the defendants. In return for the guilty pleas, acting U.S. Attorney Beth Drake and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim May have agreed to drop the other federal charges against the 22 defendants. Whether the Irish Travelers will receive any significant jail time relating to these charges is yet to be seen. Sentencing will be determined at a later date. However, the defense attorneys representing the Irish Travelers insist that these allegations have already had a detrimental impact on their clients. 10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Criminal defense attorney Jack Swerling told a group of reporters outside the federal courtroom in Columbia not long after his client, Rose Mulholland, was indicted that the charges have been extremely difficult on the entire community of Murphy Village. “A lot of them are family. A lot of them are related to each other, so they are going through it together,” said Swerling, who is widely known as one of the best criminal defense lawyers in South Carolina. “At least they have each other to go through it together. But they are upset. They didn’t know this was coming.” Back in August, the more than 20 Irish Travelers were charged under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for allegedly committing crimes of fraud including schemes to obtain life insurance benefits, food stamps and Medicaid funds and providing false information involving vehicle financing. RICO is a federal law designed to combat organized crime in this country and allows prosecution and civil penalties for racketeering activity performed as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise. This 45-count federal indictment appears to have begun to pull back the curtain on some of the illegal activity allegedly occurring in Murphy Village, which is home to about 3,000 Irish Travelers. “Murphy Village is insular and isolated,” the 18-page indictment stated. “The Travelers speak a unique dialect of English and Gaelic, which is called ‘Cant,’ in addition to normal English. Travelers refer to non-Travelers as ‘country people.’ Many of the defendants are Travelers and reside in Murphy Village where they own large homes, luxury cars, and expensive jewelry and clothes, which are often acquired through the fraud schemes.” 2MARCH2017
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The indictment alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained food stamp benefits by providing the federal government with false information regarding their income and employment history. The defendants also allegedly provided false information to the government to receive Medicaid and private health and life insurance. The federal government insisted that the actions by the 22 defendants constituted an “enterprise” or criminal organization that defrauded members of the general public. One of the main purposes of this criminal organization was “defrauding victims who appeared to be vulnerable and naïve through various crimes, including but not limited to, theft, swindling and deceptive and fraudulent construction and service work,” the indictment stated. The defendants were also accused of “laundering money to conceal the source, ownership and control of the money, and to promote criminal activity, and structuring withdrawals and deposits of bank accounts to avoid the bank reporting requirements.” Those named in the indictment were Hannah Carroll, Rose M. Mulholland, Kim Mulholland, Caroline Sherlock, Catherine Carroll, Anthony Carroll, Johnny M. Sherlock, Mary Rita Sherlock, Leslie Ann Sherlock, Jimmy J. Carroll, Mary Costello, Mary Gorman Carroll, Jimmy Gorman, Leslie C. Gorman, Renee Carroll, Rose S. Mulholland, Susan Sherlock, Tommy Sherlock, William Carroll, Johnny Mack, Leonard New and Angela Askew. According to acting U.S. Attorney Beth Drake’s office, these charges came as a result of a “long-term, multiagency investigation” conducted by the FBI, the IRS’s criminal investigation division, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, as well as the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the state Department of Social Services. During the defendants first court appearance in late August, 19 of the Irish Travelers -- which included 11 women and eight men -- initially pleaded not guilty to the federal racketeering and fraud charges. Magistrate Judge Shiva Hodges released the defendants on a $25,000 unsecured bail each, but required a handful of the men charged in the indictment to be monitored by a GPS tracking device because their work required them to leave the North Augusta area. In the initial two-hour arraignment hearing, Hodges warned the Irish Travelers not to break the terms of their 2MARCH2017
bond. “You will not only face additional charges, but it would also be a violation of bond, which means I can put you in prison until this issue is resolved,” Hodges reportedly told the defendants, according to Charleston’s Post and Courier . She concluded her comments to the defendants by saying, “Stay out of trouble.” While the defense attorneys representing the Irish Travelers may have said these charges came out of the blue and surprised their clients, this investigation didn’t happen overnight. In fact, the federal government collected a great deal of evidence regarding the actions of the 22 defendants. “Members and associates of the enterprise defrauded the federal government and the state of South Carolina of food stamp benefits under the SNAP program by submitting false and fraudulent information regarding their income and employment on food stamps applications and re-certifications,” the indictment stated. “The SNAP program provides food stamps only for the poor, and members and associates of the enterprise fraudulently understated their income and employment on food stamp applications to obtain these benefits for which they were not entitled.” Of course, these are the same defendants who can somehow afford to pay for the legal services of the most prominent defense attorneys in South Carolina to represent them. But, regardless, these charges shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise to the Travelers. Anyone remotely paying attention to politics in South Carolina would have been aware of the fact that S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson has been vigorously pursing food stamp fraud cases for the past two years. Just this month, Wilson announced that more than $273,000 in restitution has been ordered to be collected in South Carolina from food stamp fraud cases in 2016. Last year, approximately 70 individuals were convicted statewide for food stamp fraud and ordered to pay restitution to the Department of Social Services. These cases were a result of a partnership between DSS and the attorney general’s office targeting abuse of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known has food stamps. Since the beginning of this program in January 2015, Wilson
stated that South Carolina has ordered restitution in the amount of more than $610,000. “At only two years old, this program has shown that food stamp fraud is absolutely a problem in South Carolina,” Wilson said in a prepared statement. “There are families and individuals who rely on this program and use it for its intended purpose.” In South Carolina, the attorney general’s office estimated that approximately 855,000 people receive food stamps. Wilson noted that while the majority of SNAP recipients use the program as intended, those who abuse it divert funds from families who rely on the program. “The criminals who are abusing this system are not only stealing money from taxpayers, but also from those in need,” Wilson stated. By pleading guilty, the Irish Travelers are also agreeing to forfeit any property seized by the government, including some
“Many of the defendants are Travelers and reside in Murphy Village where they own large homes, luxury cars, and expensive jewelry and clothes, which are often acquired through the fraud schemes.” — The 45-count federal indictment AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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“A lot of them are family. A lot of them are related to each other, so they are going through it together. At least they have each other to go through it together. But they are upset. They didn’t know this was coming.” — Defense Attorney Jack Swerling of their vehicles and homes. Specifically, the Irish Travelers who defrauded financial institutions, lenders and automobile financing companies to obtain loans for the purchase of automobiles may soon be without a ride. “Members and associates of the enterprise knowingly caused the fraudulent automobile loan applications to be filed electronically by means of wire communication in interstate commerce for the purpose of executing the scheme to defraud,” the indictment stated. “Members and associates of the enterprise frequently rolled back the odometers of their vehicles when trading or selling the vehicles and to minimize mileage under lease agreements.” Some of the vehicles fraudulently obtained according to the federal government included an Audi 4G, a BMW X5, a 2014 Cadillac, an Audi A7, a Mercedes Benz CLS400, a Dodge Ram 2500, a Jeep Cherokee, a Lexus GX460 and an Audi A6. However, the federal government also lists a total of 25 vehicles that could be “subject to forfeiture” that included everything from a a 2015 BMW X5 to a 2015 Porsche Panamera. The indictment also named at least five properties in Murphy Village that could be seized by the government including some lavish homes on Kerry Court, Mistletoe Court, Butterfly Drive and Kildare Drive in Murphy Village. While it may seem like the Irish Travelers in North Augusta are having an extremely difficult week in the public eye, they aren’t the only Travelers in this country making headlines. Just this week, an Irish Traveler in Fort Worth, Texas pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder a 69-year-old housekeeper, according to The Star-Telegram. Bernard “Little Joe” Gorman, 28, along with his father was accused of “stalking and killing” the elderly woman, Anita Fox, in 2014 with the intent of collecting on a $1 million insurance policy on her. The father and son team brutally stabbed Anita Fox, who apparently identified herself as an “English Traveler.” The father, Gerard “Big Joe” Gorman, reportedly died of suspected natural causes in Houston before he could be arrested in the case. Meanwhile, over the past few months, the FBI attempted to seize $5 million in life insurance benefits from policies that investigators claimed were fraudulently obtained for Fox. So, what does this have to do with the Irish Travelers in Murphy Village? According to a probable cause affidavit by FBI Special Agent Ronald Grosse, he specifically discussed the insurance fraud investigation that had been ongoing in North Augusta since July 2014. “Travelers have been known to be involved in life insurance scams in the past,” Grosse wrote. “These scams typically involve lying on the policy applications about income, net worth, health, identifying information, and whether other policies have been issued.” After further reviewing the insurance records, the FBI investigation revealed that North Augusta businessman Charles Mercier had a connection to the Texas case. “Charles Mercier, an insurance agent whose family writes life insurance policies almost exclusively for Travelers, had written five policies on Anita Fox in 2007 and 2MARCH2017
2008,” according to The Star-Telegram. In July 2013, one of the $1 million policies was changed to make Pat Gorman, an Irish Traveler who resided in Virginia, a co-owner of the policy and the new beneficiary. However, Texas police believe that Pat Gorman, “Big Joe” Gorman and two other relatives all paid a portion of the policy’s premiums with plans to eventually split the cash. But the temptation of the $1 million life insurance policy eventually led the two Gormans to kill Anita Fox. In court this week, Bernard “Little Joe” Gorman, who police believe drove the getaway car, pleaded guilty to a lesser count of conspiracy to commit murder, a second-degree felony, according to The Star-Telegram. On Monday, Feb. 27, a state district judge in Texas sentenced Gorman to 14 years in prison, which was a part of his plea deal. Family members of Anita Fox struggled to contain their anger during the court hearing. “I’m not going to share my memories of my mom with you,” Anita Fox’s son, Al Fox III, reportedly told Gorman in the Fort Worth courtroom. “I’m here to welcome you to your hell.” It is clear that the insurance fraud investigation that began in Murphy Village back in 2014 has opened several doors for the federal government and given investigators much more insight into the possible illegal activities occurring throughout the country involving some Irish Travelers.
“At only two years old, this program has shown that food stamp fraud is absolutely a problem in South Carolina... The criminals who are abusing this system are not only stealing money from taxpayers, but also from those in need.” — S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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It Takes a Village
Empty Bowl involves the entire community as it seeks to “end hunger together” On any gIVEn day, there are a number of fundraisers going on around the Augusta area, but none of these events involves the community to the extent that Empty Bowl does. From students and teachers to restaurants and caterers, from local businesses and artisans to volunteers, celebrity servers and diners, all participate in some form or fashion in Empty Bowl, coming up this Sunday at the Legends Club. And the person in charge of keeping all these different balls in the air is Empty Bowl Chair Susan Steinberg. “We have a committee of about 12 people,” Steinberg admitted. “We have someone in charge of volunteers, we have someone in charge of the bowl room. Actually, there are three art teachers on the committee and they took over the T-shirts and the bowls. Then we have one person on the committee who basically is the kitchen coordinator the day of the event, but she is also the person who delivered all the clay to the schools and will be picking up all the bowls and giving the kids their comp tickets. And she’ll also be folding 240 T-shirts next week. And then we have someone on the committee who does publicity, and then I pretty much handle the sponsors.” It is a massive undertaking that results in one of the most anticipated events of the year. Now in its 16th year, Steinberg said the first Empty Bowl in Augusta made about $5,000. Last year’s event made approximately $27,000. The proceeds from the event are split equally between the Augusta Jewish Community Center and the Golden Harvest Food Bank. There are many reasons for the event’s popularity. One is, of course, the food. Empty Bowl, whose mission and slogan is “Ending Hunger Together,” places the focus on soups. From enduring favorites like Silver Palm Catering’s sherry mushroom soup to chili from the new Culver’s in Grovetown, there’s a little something for everyone. “Curry Hut is donating two soups,” Steinberg said. “They’re donating their hot and sour soup, which is totally different from the Chinese hot and sour, and then sweet corn soup. Wing Express, across from Surrey Center, is donating their hot and sour soup. It’s made with chicken, which is really good for us because we don’t do anything with pork.” And it’s not all soup. The kid-friendly station (which, let’s be honest, the kids have to “share” with the adults) has hot dogs, mac and cheese, coleslaw and banana pudding, much of that courtesy of Wifesaver. Desserts for the adults will be provided by Sugarbakers of Augusta, a departure from Empty Bowl tradition. “Jackie M.’s was our dessert station sponsor, and she would come in and bring desserts and serve them until they were gone,” Steinberg explained. “Well, because her building is being sold, she couldn’t commit this year. She said she would do a dessert, but then this woman from Custom Cakes at Sugarbakers called and she’s basically doing what Jackie M. did. What she’s bringing sounds wonderful.” Food is one reason that Empty Bowl has always been such a popular event, but the massive silent auction is another. Table after table will be lined with items for diners to bid on and, while
the donations are still coming in, Steinberg said there are some exquisite finds. “Well, we have everything from wonderful gift certificates to some artwork. One of the pieces is a signed Chagall lithograph,” she said. “We’re still collecting a lot of it, but we have numerous handmade ceramic bowls that Ceramic Artists of the South East (CASE) donated. Tire City Potters, five potters and Shishir Chokshi, are donating bowls for the bowl room, but then they’re also donating pieces for the silent auction. We have a big tool set, which a man will probably love, and we also have a certificate for decorating from Design Images and Gifts. They also donated a bottle that I think is very unique.” Once done eating and shopping, participants get to pick out their bowl from the bowl room. Meant to symbolism the struggle with hunger that many face, these bowls are made by students from about 30 schools in the area. Students were also invited to enter a design in the T-shirt contest. Out of the approximately 500 entries, Chris Ali from Butler High School won for his designed featured here. It’s just one more way that the AJCC and Golden Harvest are involving the public in their fight against hunger. “What’s so neat about this, and I’ve always said this, is that it involves the entire community,” Steinberg said. “The students at the schools do the T-shirts and bowls, and the teachers also get involved. Then you have all the businesses that get involved and we have community volunteers and restaurants and caterers. And it’s so popular with the public, and I think it’s partially because of the food. I think people know this is for a very worth cause. A lot of people support Golden Harvest and support the Jewish Community Center.” Empty Bowl 2017 The Legends Club Sunday, March 5 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Adults: $20, advance; $25, door Children 2-10: $5, advance; $7.50, door 706-228-3636 emptybowlcsra.org
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Helping the Future of Veterans, While Preserving the Past WHen Brandon draWdy, who served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne, first heard about a five-month program created by the Army Corps of Engineers that uses archaeological collections to help train veterans, he honestly didn’t know what to think about it. “I go to Georgia Military College and one of my buddies told me about it,” Drawdy said. “He said it’s called the Veterans Curation Program and they help train you with stuff like records processing, data entry and database management and they even help you find a job.” Even though Drawdy was unfamiliar with the Veterans Curation Program, he thought it sounded like a good opportunity to help develop skills that would make him a stronger candidate for jobs in the private sector, federal agencies or defense contractors. Not only did he apply, but he convinced his brother and fellow veteran, Richard Drawdy, to submit an application as well. “And it was incredible because we both got hired on at the same time,” Brandon Drawdy said. “And it has been a great experience for both of us because working with veterans is a lot different than working with civilians. Veterans know where you’ve been and what you’ve been through. They understand.” Ever since 2009, the Army Corps of Engineer’s Veterans Curation Program has employed and trained across this nation more than 370 veterans, primarily those who served during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, through both part-time and full-time positions dealing with archaeological collections processing. Of the veterans working in the program, 73 percent have received permanent employment and 17 percent have continued their education at colleges and universities. Specifically, the Augusta laboratory began back in 2009 in a strip mall on Washington Road in Martinez, but moved to Enterprise Mill in downtown Augusta late last year. Over the past seven years, a total of 172 veterans have participated in the Augusta laboratory. After graduating the program, 121 have either obtained employment or enrolled in college. “Everyone here has such great resources and contacts that are so helpful,” Brandon Drawdy said. “For instance, when I came here, I was told about the Augusta Warrior Project. I had never heard of that before. So this has been an awesome program and I would suggest it to anyone.” Not only do the veterans benefit from the program, but Army Corps of Engineers also receives skilled employees to help curate one of the largest archaeological assemblages in the country, explained Alison Shepherd, the artifacts laboratory manager and an archaeologist with the Veterans Curation Program.
“We are not training them to be archeologists, but what we are trying to do instead is give them the skills that we use regularly in archeology which are easily transferable to any civilian sector,” Shepherd said. “Skills such as word processing, database creation, database management and attention to detail. They also learn how to do digital photography and the digitization of records.” Inside the Augusta laboratory are thousands and thousands of artifacts waiting to be recorded and properly stored, Shepherd said. “Everything we are working with right now is from Mississippi. We are working with what’s called the Mobile District Collections,” Shepherd explained, pointing to letters and numbers identifying each box of artifacts. “This one is from East Aberdeen in Mississippi. It was an historic site in Mississippi that was destroyed in the process of building the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It was a huge project that started in the late 1950s. This site was actually excavated back in 1978. So, basically, the site was excavated, the artifacts were put in these boxes and they sat on the shelf for years.” Veterans working at the Augusta facility have processed more than 390 boxes of artifacts, preserved more than 13 linear feet of documents and taken more than 3,055 photographs of historic and prehistoric artifacts, according to the Veterans Curation Program. “There are about 10,000 years of history in these boxes,”
Shepherd said. “Everything from the Middle Archaic Period all the way up to the 1950s. So, you never know what is going to be inside each of the boxes.” Shepherd said that the Veterans Curation Program typically hires 12 to 15 veterans each session to assist with archaeological collections. “And in addition to working with us, the veterans -depending on how many hours a week they work with us -get what’s called personal growth and development time,” Shepherd said. “For example, if they work 40 hours a week, they also get three hours a week – that is, paid time – where they can look for jobs, go to job interviews or job fairs, and we bring in people to provide resume workshops, financial planning or anything that they need to advance themselves personally and professionally.” The Veterans Curation Program was created to address two needs with one single solution, Shepherd said. “Very soon researchers, educators and the general public will have access to the digital collections created by this program through the work performed by these veterans,” she said. “And our goal is, when the veterans graduate this program, they will have meaningful employment or they will continue their education.” For more information about the Veterans Curation Program, visit VeteransCurationProgram.org.
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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.
GeT LiT anyone who loves books should head Greene Street downtown on Saturday. There, all day long at the Headquarters Branch Library, is the Sixth Annual Augusta Literary Festival. This year’s festival features a lineup of great authors; everyone from children’s author Debbie Dadey and young adult author Jackson Pearce to Brian Panowich and Kimberla Lawson Roby will be there. And they’ve all written bestsellers. In all, 25 regional authors will be at this event for panel discussions and books signings. Adults, however, aren’t the only ones who will benefit from these authors’ expertise. The Augusta Literary Festival also has several children’s events planned, from a story time with Little Red Riding Hood at 10 a.m. to a storytelling workshop for 12-15-year-olds at 10:30 a.m. and a journaling workshop for 12-18-year-olds at 11:15 a.m. It’s a day full of events that bibliophiles won’t want to miss. And if you don’t like books? Well, frankly, we just feel sorry for you. Augusta Literary Festival Headquarters Branch Library Saturday, March 4 10 a.m. augustaliteraryfestival.org
This week
Thursday
In January, the Metro Spirit did a story about the Augusta Innovation Zone, a new downtown development along Eighth and Broad streets that will include work, living and dining spaces especially targeting millenials. Tonight at 7 p.m. at 1106 Broad Street is your chance to find out more about the project at an information meeting. Personally, we can’t wait to find out more about the rooftop bar.
saTurday
It may not be cold, but there’s never a bad time for a bowl of chili. Or 15 bowls. That’s what those who attend the Chilly Chili CookOff, a Walton Foundation for Independence event, will find. At Evans Towne Center Park from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and for only $5, participants will get unlimited tastings and can vote for their favorite. No matter what the weather is, that sounds like a lot of fun.
sunday
You may not recognize the name, but Joye in Aiken is a festival started as Juilliard in Aiken. Events in this annual affair, whose aim is to showcase the world’s best young artists from The Juilliard School and beyond are going on this week. One is Bodytraffic tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the AECOM Center, a contemporary dance troupe. Don’t miss it!
Monday
If you’ve never had a corned beef sandwich from the Adas Yeshurun Synagogue, you’re missing out. So don’t let this annual fundraiser, held March 12-13, pass you by. Today is the deadline for ordering your sandwich plate, $12. Pickups during the fundraiser can be made Sunday at Cucina 503 from noon-2 p.m. or from Adas Yeshurun Synagogue. Deliveries can be made Monday as well. Call 706-736-8788 or visit cornedbeefaugusta.com.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 20. 2MARCH2017
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10am - noon Oil Painting 175 N. Louisville St., Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $20 per class; pre-registration required. Visit harlemartscouncil.org.
Tue March 7
9am - 5pm Oil Painting Workshop Aiken Center for the Arts A five-day painting workshop led by award-winning equestrian artist Booth Malone. $500. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
9am - 4:30pm Mad Potters Sale AU’s Jaguar Student Activities Center Work for sale by students of the ceramics program. Visit augusta.edu.
Wed March 8
9am - 5pm Oil Painting Workshop Aiken Center for the Arts A five-day painting workshop led by award-winning equestrian artist Booth Malone. $500. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
9am - 4:30pm Mad Potters Sale
AgamaCon Weeks Center, Aiken Friday, March 3, 1-10 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, March 5, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Includes cosplay, a vendors hall, an artist alley and panel discussions. Adult three-day badge, $40 (with one child 10 and under free); youth, senior or military three-day badge, $20; Friday, $15; Saturday, $25; Sunday, $15. agamacon.com
ARTS Thu March 2
1pm - 4pm Creative Color Mixing for Acrylics Aiken Center for the Arts $40; pre-registration required. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Sat March 4
9am - noon Spring Fling Aiken Center for the Arts Try up to three mini art classes for free, including acrylic painting, watercolors, clay and alcohol inks. Supplies and light refreshments provided. Free, pre-registration required. Call 803-641-9094 or email cathy. rumble@aikencenterforthearts.org.
10am - 2pm Paint Your Pet Kroc Center Participants ages 15 and older should bring a photograph of their pet with them to class. $35. Pre-registration required. Call 706-3645762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org. 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
10am - noon St. Patrick’s Day Wreath
10am and 2pm Job Fair Boot Camp Goodwill’s The Snelling Center A free class for job seekers: in preparation for the Spring Job Fair on March 9, from 1-4 p.m. Call 706-447-5195 or visit goodwillworks.org.
Mon March 6
3:30pm Intermediate Spanish Headquarters Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
5:30pm Beginner Spanish Headquarters Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
DANCE
Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Sun March 5
7:30pm Bodytraffic AECOM Center for the Performing Arts, Aiken Part of the Joye in Aiken schedule of events. $20, general; $10, students. Call 803648-1438 or visit joyeinaiken.com.
Tue March 7
5:45pm Adult Ballet
Noon - 2pm Crochet Class
EDUCATION
175 North Louisville Street, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $35. Fee includes yarn; - bring $5 for crochet needles. Pre-registration required. Visit harlemartscouncil.org.
Thu March 2
9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
5:45pm Basic Conversational Spanish
Aiken Center for the Arts A five-day painting workshop led by award-winning equestrian artist Booth Malone. $500. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Weeks Center, Aiken A class for ages 18 and up. March’s classes meet each Thursday and the topic will be greetings. Pricing information: 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
9am - 4:30pm Mad Potters Sale
6pm Dual Enrollment Seminar
AU’s Jaguar Student Activities Center Work for sale by students of the ceramics program. Visit augusta.edu.
Fri March 3
Tue March 7
175 North Louisville Street, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $22; pre-registration required. Visit harlemartscouncil.org.
9am - 5pm Oil Painting Workshop
1106 Broad Street An informal gathering of independent professionals, start up and tech owners, cyber investors and local government officials. Visit augustainnovationzone.com.
AU’s Jaguar Student Activities Center Work for sale by students of the ceramics program. Visit augusta.edu.
Weeks Center, Aiken Class meets Tuesdays through May 23. $120, residents; $144, non-residents. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
Mon March 6
7pm Augusta Innovation Zone Information Meeting
Georgia Military College Pre-registration required. Call 706-9932644 or email musry@gmc.edu.
2pm - 4pm Social Media for Beginners
7pm Ella Baker: Midwife of the Civil Rights Movement North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library A talk by Donald West. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Wed March 8
11:30am Brown Bag History Series Augusta Museum of History Featuring “Aiken, Yesterday and Today” led by Aiken County Historical Museum Executive Director Brenda Baratto. A Q&A session follows the lecture at 12:30 p.m. Free, members; $3, nonmembers. Call 706722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
5:30pm Open Job Lab Headquarters Branch Library Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706821-2615 or visit arcpls.org.
EXHIBITIONS Fri March 3
6pm - 9pm Young at Art Reception Artus Co-Op Artwork by area students ages 3-18 will be on display March 3-18. Visit artusco-op.com.
FLIX Thu March 2
5:45pm “Raiders of the Lost Ark” 2MARCH2017
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Augusta Museum of History A mystery game in an escape room will be available for up to 8 people per session. Sessions last about 45 minutes. For ages 18 and up, or 12 and up with parental supervision. $15, members; $20, nonmembers; $25, at the door. Call 706-7228454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
For those ages 6-12. Free. Call 803-642-7631 or visit aikenracinghalloffame.homestead.com.
4pm Clipping and Clicking for Savings
10am - noon You’re a Big Girl Now
Maxwell Branch Library Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
Doctors Hospital A class for girls ages 9-12, along with their mothers, on puberty and adolescence. Preregistration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
KIDS-TEENS Thu March 2
10am Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Mad Potters End of Semester Sale AU’s Jaguar Student Activities Center Monday-Wednesday, March 6-8, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. augusta.edu Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue March 7
5:45pm Free Movie Tuesdays Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 for weekly selections. Visit arcpls.org.
Thu March 9
11am Movie for Special Needs Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
HEALTH Thu March 2
7pm - 9:30pm Ready and Able
Sat March 4
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation
Doctors Hospital A five-session Lamaze class that continues Tuesdays through January 31. Preregistration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
6:30pm Refit
Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-8212600 or visit arcpls.org.
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation University Hospital A four-session class that continues on Mondays through March 27. Free, but preregistration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org. 2MARCH2017
Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum
10:30am Storytelling 101 with Tiara Dugger Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Augusta Literary Festival schedule of events, this is an event for those ages 12-15. Visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
11am Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
11:15am Journaling Workshop Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Augusta Literary Festival schedule of events, this is an event for those ages 12-18. Visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
Mon March 6
10:30am Jr. Lego Club
10am - noon Wellness Checks
HOBBIES
Mon March 6
10am - noon Breyer Horse Fun Day
Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Augusta Literary Festival schedule of events, this is an event for those ages 5-8. Visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
Wed March 8
Fri March 3
University Hospital Class continues Saturday, March 4, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
6pm - 10pm Kids Night Out
University Hospital A four-session class that continues on Tuesdays through March 28. Free, but preregistration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Tue March 7
Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
6:30pm - 9:30pm Weekend Childbirth Education Class
Fri March 3
Kroc Center A drop-off program for kids ages 2-12 that may include swimming, gym play and inflatables. Swimsuit and towel required. Children 4 and younger will not swim. $15, members; $20, non-members. Dinner is included. Register at the welcome desk or visit krocsales.sauss.net.
Headquarters Branch Library Free blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings and information provided by Christ Community Health Services. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
7pm Center for Women Tour
Headquarters Branch Library A special story time and craft. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time with Little Red
Thu March 2
6:30pm Augusta Archaeological Society Meeting Big Daddy’s Bar & Grill The meeting’s speaker will be USC archaeologist Dr. Christopher Moore. Dinner, 6:30 p.m.; program, 8 p.m. Call 706-829-1615.
6:30pm PWN AUG Chess Club The Book Tavern A club open to all ages and skill levels that meets the first and third Thursdays of each month. Participants are encouraged to bring their own chess sets. Call 706-826-1940 or visit booktavern.com.
Sat March 4
11am, 1pm and 3pm Museum Escape: Red Scare AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
Appleby Branch Library For children ages 3-5. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time
Tue March 7
10am Big Kids Story Time Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 3-6 that, in March, celebrate Dr. Seuss. Pre-registration recommended. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Preschool Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library For ages 3-5 - includes stories, songs, games, short movies and crafts. Preregistration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Young Children’s Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library Songs, finger plays and stories for children ages 0-3. Pre-registration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
3:30pm Paws for Literacy Maxwell Branch Library An event in which members of the community can read to therapy dogs. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
4pm Storytime in the Gardens Hopelands Gardens Each family in attendance will receive a free book. Blankets, chairs, drinks and snacks are welcome. Call 803-642-7631.
4pm Teen Tech Help Appleby Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
The Book Tavern Juice and cookies will be provided by New Moon Cafe. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
4:30pm Drawing and Painting Church of Our Savior A four session Artists Guild of Columbia County class for students 7-12 years old. Wednesdays through March 29. $80; preregistration required. Visit artistsguildcc.org.
LITERARY Sat March 4
10am Book Signing Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Augusta Literary Festival schedule of events that features bestselling children’s book author Debbie Dadey. Visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
10am Panel Discussion: Writing a Bestseller Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Augusta Literary Festival schedule of events that features bestselling author Brian Panowich. Visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
11am Panel Discussion: Crafting a Young Adult Novel Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Augusta Literary Festival schedule of events that features bestselling author Jackson Pearce. Visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
1pm Panel Discussion: Writing a Bestseller
Wallace Branch Library Pre-registration required for groups of 3 or more. Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Augusta Literary Festival schedule of events that features bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby. Visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
10am Story Time for Tots
Sun March 5
Wed March 8
10am Story Time
Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 0-3 that, in March, celebrate Dr. Seuss. Pre-registration recommended. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
MUSIC Thu March 2
Fri March 3
Brown Pavilion, Aiken $10. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Weeks Center, Aiken AgamaCon, short for Artists Gamers and Anime Members Association Convention, includes cosplay, a vendors hall, an artist alley and panel discussions. Adult three-day badge, $40 (with one child 10 and under free); youth, senior or military three-day badge, $20; Friday, $15; Saturday, $25; Sunday, $15. Visit agamacon.com.
7pm Phoenix Trio Concert
Sat March 4
2pm - 11pm The Joye of Jazz The Willcox, Aiken Part of the Joye in Aiken schedule of events. $10-$45. Call 803-641-3305 or visit joyeinaiken.com.
Sun March 5
3pm Aiken Civic Orchestra and Friends Concert St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aiken Guest choirs include The Augusta Chorale, South Boundary Singers and Belles Cantos. Free. Call 706-250-0937 or visit augustachorale.org.
4pm Rachmaninoff & Mozart
Saint Paul’s Church Featuring a free concert by pianist Petronel Malan. Lunch afterwards is $12 a person and requires reservation. Call 706-722-3463 or visit tuesdaysmusiclive.com.
7:30pm Kenyon College Chamber Singers Concert Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church Part of the Reid Arts series of concerts. Call 706-733-2275 or visit reidchurchaugusta.org.
7:30pm The Verona String Quartet St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, Aiken Part of the Joye in Aiken schedule of events. Free. Visit joyeinaiken.com.
SENIORS
Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
10:05am Toddler Story Time
2pm Author Talk and Book Signing
20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
5pm - 9pm First Friday Downtown Augusta A family friendly arts event that includes musicians, dancers, artists and other vendors. Visit artistsrowaugusta.com.
5pm - 9pm Park and Play Downtown
5pm - 8pm Wine Tasting
Noon Tuesday’s Music Live
Weeks Center, Aiken Class meets Tuesdays through May 23. $120, residents; $144, non-residents. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
10:30am Preschool Story Time
James Brown Arena $9.95. Visit gardenbroscircus.com.
Tue March 7
Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum Adam Snow and Shelley Onderdonk will give a lecture about their book, “Polo Life, Horses, Sport, 10 and Zen.” Free, but preregistration required. Call 803-642-7631 or email halloffame@cityofaikensc.gov. Morris Museum of Art Featuring painter James Michalopoulos, who exhibit “Rhythm and Movement” shows at the Morris through May 14. Free and open to the public. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
4:30pm, 7:30pm Garden Brothers Circus
600 Broad Street A monthly First Friday event presented by the Augusta Regional Collaboration that features live music, art, food and more. Visit facebook.com/600Broad.
Tue March 7
Appleby Branch Library This is a program best for children ages 18 months-3 years. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
1pm - 10pm AgamaCon
Jabez S. Hardin PAC Part of Symphony Orchestra Augusta’s Columbia County Music Series. $15.74. Call 706-826-4705 or visit soaugusta.org.
1:30pm Polo Life Lecture and Book Signing
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time
hors d’oeuvres and more. Call 706-733-1788.
9am Ballet for Seniors
10:30am Senior Tech: Typing Skills Appleby Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu March 2
5pm - 8pm First Thursday Shops of Midtown, Kings Way at Central Ave. This event features discounts in the shops,
Wine World A drop-in First Friday event. $5; $3 rebate upon purchase of a bottle of one of the featured wines. Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.
7pm - 11pm Morris Gala Morris Museum of Art A black-tie event with a Cajun theme in honor of the James Michalopoulos’ exhibit “Rhythm and Movement.” Food, live entertainment, dancing, raffles and more. For ticket information, call 706-828-3825 or visit themorris.org.
Sat March 4
10:30am - 10pm AgamaCon Weeks Center, Aiken AgamaCon, short for Artists Gamers and Anime Members Association Convention, Visit agamacon.com.
11am - 4pm Chilly Chili Cook-Off Evans Towne Center Park A fundraiser for Champions Made from Adversity that includes tastings and voting for the People’s Choice Award. $5; free, 12 and under. Call 706-823-8584 or visit cmfa.us.
1:30pm, 4:30pm and 7:30pm Garden Brothers Circus James Brown Arena $9.95. Visit gardenbroscircus.com.
6pm - 11pm Marchdi Gras 2017 Our Lady of Peace School, North Augusta 2MARCH2017
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An adults-only event that features silent and live auctions, heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages and live music by Ryan Abel and Phillip Lee Jr. Call 803-279-8396, ext. 100.
6pm - 10pm Roast & Toast Aiken County Fairgrounds A Red Cross fundraiser that includes an oyster roast, lowcountry boil, live entertainment and silent auction. $50. Visit redcross.org/news/event/local/southcarolina/Roast--Toast.
7pm “Mission to Marchs� Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
8pm “Blown Away: Wild World of Weather� Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
Sun March 5
The Legends Club A fundraiser for the Augusta Jewish Community Center and Golden Harvest Food Bank Adults: $20, advance; $25, door. Kids: $5, advance; $7.50, door. Visit emptybowlcsra.org.
2pm Bonne Sante 2017 Pine Knoll Farms, Appling A fundraiser for the National Kidney Foundation that includes wine, spirits and food prepared by local restaurateurs. There will also be a live and silent auction. $100. Visit kidney.org/events/gala/2017-bonnesantĂŠ-georgia.
Mon March 6
Corned Beef Fundraiser Deadline Adas Yeshurun Synagogue Those interested in purchasing a meal consisting of a corned beef sandwich on rye, pickle, condiments, chips, a drink and a brownie for $12 must do so by today. The fundraiser is on Sunday and Monday, March 12-13. Call 706-736-8788 or visit cornedbeefaugusta.com.
SPIRITUAL
10:30am - 4pm AgamaCon Weeks Center, Aiken AgamaCon, short for Artists Gamers and Anime Members Association Convention, Visit agamacon.com.
10:30am - 2pm Empty Bowl 2017
bigotry. This series, held the ďŹ rst Thursday of each month, is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Email outreach@isaugusta.com or visit facebook. com/ICCAOpenHouse/.
Marchk Dickens will be the guest organist. Childcare available and a reception will follow in Tyler Hall. Free and open to the public. Call 706-724-2485 or visit saintpauls.org.
Fri March 3
Fri March 3
7pm McRae Dove Concert Bethesda Baptist Church This is a free concert by the lead singer of the New Dove Brothers. A love offering will be taken and a nursery will be provided. Call 706-556-6818.
Sun March 5
5:30pm Evensong Service Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church Featuring the choir of Saint Paul’s in a service that is almost entirely sung and has no sermon. This service will feature music composed by Heard Robertson, Harold Friedell and Paul Leddington Wright, and
SPORTS-OUTDOORS 7pm - 10pm Garden City Classic Augusta Marchriott Convention Center A dart tournament presented by the Savannah River Dart Association and sanctioned by the American Darts Association $10-$15 per competition. Call 706-840-5100 or email mmchris@knology. net or tobeo89551@yahoo.com.
Sat March 4
8am 3 Bridges 5K Lake Olmstead Trailhead, Milledge Road A race on the River Levee Trail. $30. Visit active.com.
AUGUSTA JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Thu March 2
7pm - 8:30pm Lifting the Veil on Islam Islamic Society of Augusta Monthly program to engage the public in dialog about different issues in Islam. This session will address rebutting terrorism and
2017
16 Years of Ending Hunger Together Start Here. Go Anywhere. Free Application that Day Learn How to Enroll Without Military Obligation Dual Enrollment Information Available Free Financial Aid Workshops
LEGENDS CLUB
Sunday, March 5, 2017 • 10:30 am - 2:00 pm TICKETS: ADULTS....$20.00/$25.00* • KIDS 2-10....$5.00/$7.50* *at the door ALL YOU CAN EAT soups, breads and desserts donated by area restaurants & caterers. Free student created ceramic “Empty Bowlâ€? for each ticket holder. You “Canâ€? Help Raffle - Win a BIKE! • Kids’ “SOUPERâ€? Events & Eats
Activities for the Kids Free Food, Scholarship Drawings, and Giveaways
CSRA’s
Best Silent Auction
For ticket locations go to: www.emptybowlcsra.org Our Sponsors
Spring Fling Open House April 29th from 10 am—1 pm
115 Davis Rd Martinez, GA (706) 993-1123 K
Or visit www.gmc.edu Start Here. Go Anywhere.
Knight Outdoor Advertising
Admissions Questions? Email musry@gmc.edu K
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9am - 9pm Garden City Classic Augusta Marchriott Convention Center A dart tournament presented by the Savannah River Dart Association and sanctioned by the American Darts Association. $10-$15 per competition. Call 706-840-5100 or email mmchris@knology. net or tobeo89551@yahoo.com.
9:30am Swamp Saturday Hike Phinizy Swamp Nature Park A free, guided, 2.5-mile hike. Also featuring a Walk Your Pet Hike. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-2109 or visit phinizycenter.org.
10am - noon Hike and Craft Mistletoe State Park A naturalist-led hike of about one hour, followed by a craft time. $2, craft; $5, parking. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
Sun March 5
10am - 11pm Garden City Classic Augusta Marchriott Convention Center A dart tournament presented by the Savannah River Dart Association and sanctioned by the American Darts Association. $10-$15 per competition. Call 706-840-5100 or email mmchris@knology. net or tobeo89551@yahoo.com.
Mon March 6
6:30pm Liv Women’s Injury Prevention Clinic Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse An event for female cyclists that will be led by live Ambassador Stacey Williamson and physical therapist Lydia Veihman. Participants should bring a yoga mat or beach towel. Pre-registration required. Call
22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
706-724-2453 or visit andyjordans.com.
Wed March 8
Noon Under the Stars Dressage Stableview Farms, Aiken A USEF/USDF Recognized Level Two Championship Qualifier Dressage show. A schooling show starts at noon. Call 803648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
SUPPORT
Dogwood Room on the second floor. All new moms and their babies are welcome and an international board certified lactation consultant/educator/perinatal nurse will answer questions and offer resources. Call 706-721-8283 or visit augustahealth.org.
Kroc Center For those dealing with Alzheimer’s and/or caregivers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-860-5233.
4pm Breast Cancer Support Group AU Cancer Clinic Call 706-721-0472 or visit augusta.edu.
Sat March 4
Wed March 8
THEATER Thu March 2
7:30pm “Much Ado About Nothing”
6:30pm Cancer Share
Etherredge Center, Aiken And Aiken Cultural Series event presented by the Aquila Theatre. $40, general; $15, students at the box office with ID. Call 803641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
University Hospital For those with any type of cancer. Call 706774-5946 or visit universityhealth.org.
7:30pm “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Mon March 6
6:30pm Pink Pistols Meeting A group for women in their 20s and 30s dealing with breast cancer. Call for location. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
7pm Parents Healing Together University Hospital A support group for parents, families and friends who have lost infants through miscarriage, death, ectopic pregnancy or stillbirth. Call 706-774-5811.
Tue March 7
10:20am Moms Connection Augusta University Medical Center This free weekly support group for new mothers meets in the Terrace Dining
10pm Sloppy Seconds Le Chat Noir First Friday improv comedy by Schrodinger’s Cat. $5. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Thu March 2
10am Alzheimer’s Association Support Group
Schrodinger’s Cat. $10, advance; $12, door (if available). Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Bell Auditorium $60-$81. Call 877-4AUGTIX or visit georgiallinatix.com.
Fri March 3
7pm “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre Dinner begins at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. $53, civilians; $50, seniors, retirees, DA civilians, active-duty E7 and above; $40, active-duty E6 and below, students; $30, show only. Call 706-793-8552 or visit fortgordon.com.
7pm “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre Dinner begins at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Call 706-793-8552 or visit fortgordon.com.
7:30pm Ol’ Blue Eyes featuring Marchk Randisi Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center An Augusta Amusements event. $44. Call 706726-0366 or visit augustaamusements.com.
Sun March 5
2pm - 5pm “Cinderella” Auditions Jessye Norman School of the Arts An Augusta Junior Players production that will show April 28-29. Auditions are open to actors ages 6-12. Email jrplayers@ augustaplayers.org.
Wed March 8
10am “The Emperor’s New Clothes” AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre An adaptation of the Han Christian Andersen fairy tale by the Augusta University Literacy Center. Free. To reserve seating, call 706-7371625 or visit augusta.edu.
8pm xTreme Theatre Games Le Chat Noir First Friday improv comedy by
2MARCH2017
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Upcoming The High Divers, Motel Radio
- Sky City March 16 Cracker, The Shaun Piazza Band
- Sky City March 24 Rock Fore! Dough w/ Lady Antebellum, Kip Moore, Bethany and the Southside Boys
- Evans Towne Center Park April 4 The Major Rager w/ The Flaming Lips, People of the Sun (by Moon Taxi), The Eric Krasno Band, Stop Light Observations
- Augusta Common April 6 The Major Rager AFter Pary w/ Funk You, Schema
- Sky City April 6 Home Free
- Imperial Theatre April 13 Steep Canyon Rangers
- Bell Auditorium April 27 Alice Cooper
Dwight Yoakam Bell Auditorium Friday, March 3 7:30 p.m. $35-$65 877-4AUGTIX georgialinatix.com
- Bell Auditorium April 30 The Avett Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass
- Evans Towne Center Park May 27-28 Hank Williams Jr.
- James Brown Arena June 16
Elsewhere George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta March 2 Japandroids
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta March 3 Cold War Kids, Middle Kids
Thursday, March 2 Live Music
Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Mellow Mushroom (Evans) - Ruskin and Cam Wild Wing - Kenny George Band The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam Fox’s Lair - Open Mic Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia Joe’s Underground - Trivia The Loft - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
Friday, March 3 Live Music
Bell Auditorium - Dwight Yoakam Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Coyotes - Pit Boss Fox’s Lair - Chuck Holt The Highlander - Angwish Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Vicky Grady Band Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Jazz w/ Doc Easton Shannon’s - Perfect Picture Sky City - The Whiskey Gentry, Bethany and the Southside Boys Surrey Tavern - Roots of a Rebellion, TreeHouse! Wild Wing - Kingsize The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn World of Beer - Prettier Than Matt
What’s Tonight?
Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - First Friday Comedy w/ Mark 2MARCH2017
Viola, Michael Drake, Cody Puckett Oliviana - Latin Social Soul Bar - First Friday DJ Mix
Saturday, March 4 Live Music
Coyotes - Pit Boss Etherredge Center (Aiken) - Joye of Jazz Fox’s Lair - Carey Murdock Iron Heights - Foxbat, Softspoken, Call Me Ishmael Jabez S. Hardin PAC - Ol’ Blue Eyes w/ Mark Randisi Shannon’s - Chasing Savannah Stillwater Taproom - Bethany and the Southside Boys Wild Wing - Tokyo Joe The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Game Night w/ the Soul City Sirens Sky City - All Vinyl Show w/ DJs, Vendors and Collectors Soul Bar - DJ Dance Party
Sunday, March 5 Live Music
Capri Lounge - Vivian Valium & the Lounge Lizard Divas The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn Wild Wing - AcostA
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ Mike Johnson
Monday, March 6 Live Music
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Wild Wing - Trivia
- Music Farm, Columbia March 4 Ryan Adams
- Township Auditorium, Columbia March 8 Kiefer Sutherland
- Terminal West, Atlanta May 17
Tuesday, March 7 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. John Fisher Joe’s Underground - Open Mic The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
Bar West - Trivia Blue Sky Bar & Kitchen - Butt Naked Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Twisted Burrito - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper
Wednesday, March 8 Live Music
The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Wild Wing - Patterson & Nate
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes The Loft - Karaoke 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 Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 23
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SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Gail Trzonkowski, Pam Gosney, Linda James and Tina Harn at Vince Gill concert at the Bell Auditorium.
Joshua Lassiter, Ranu Hallman and Carrie Lassiter at Vince Gill concert at the Bell Auditorium.
Perry and Paige Sentell with Amy and Tim Woodall at Vince Gill concert at the Bell Auditorium.
Don and Mary Lecroy with Diamme and Bill Litchfield at Vince Gill concert at the Bell Auditorium.
Traci and Preston Moss with Paige and Brad Usry at Vince Gill concert at the Bell Auditorium.
Shania Banks, Stephanie Petrillo, Tori Vincent and Zachary D’Zio at the Wet Paint Party & Sale at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
Emily Alsdorf, Urion Franz and Melissa Ayala at the Wet Paint Party & Sale at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
Karleigh King, Heather Lowe, Regina Howard and Sharon Dairon at the Wet Paint Party & Sale at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
Bob and Michelle Stager with Barbara Henley at the Wet Paint Party & Sale at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
26 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
2MARCH2017
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UH-OH! By Bruce Haight/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Bloblike “Star Wars” character 6 Give over 10 Great shakes? 15 Low rolls 19 Auto feature 20 Julia of Hollywood 21 Ham-handed 22 Enthralled 23 Office for decoding messages? 26 The average size of its stores is 300,000 square feet 27 Had more than an inkling 28 “Rats!” 29 Bringing to mind 31 “Indubitably!” 32 Anxious condition, briefly 33 What one might sit in at a Cheech & Chong movie? 37 “Puppy Love” singer, 1960 38 Election Day affirmation 39 Oomph 40 Hauled (away) 42 WikiLeaks associates 45 Inspiration 46 Herder’s mantra? 48 Virtual dog or cat, maybe 50 Glaciate 51 Fake news site, with “The” 52 Sign on a jar at a bar 53 Mass. neighbor 54 In a pretentious manner 56 Series opener 58 Fall behind 61 Quality-control problem at Oscar Mayer? 63 Title of a book about Southern Reconstruction? 65 Nav. rank 66 Word before or after nothing 67 Doohickeys 68 Sword handle 69 They may be decorated for the holidays 70 Sauce 71 Nickname for a Miami 12-time N.B.A. All-Star 72 Goddess usually pictured with a helmet 75 Two sights in a yacht’s galley? 79 Prey for a heron or garter snake 80 French pilgrimage site
1
81 Stranger 82 Off-road transport, informally 83 ____ Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock 85 Sound heard by an exam proctor, say 86 Helpful things for killing time nowadays? 91 Fraternity letter 92 Number of French kings named Charles 95 Catch’s partner 96 Prefix with therapy 98 Draw 99 “Sign me up!” 100 Pigeon trainer, at times? 105 Crook, e.g. 106 Book of ____ (ancient Jewish text) 107 “Who ____?” 108 Kind of pad 109 Past partners 110 1988 Olympics site 111 Studied 112 Ancient manuscript DOWN 1 Of poor quality, in modern slang 2 Set apart 3 College in Lewiston, Me. 4 Steep 5 Big movie-theater chain 6 Miniature lobster lookalikes 7 Every 8 They may be put up before a fight 9 President-____ 10 Starts of many emails 11 Burma’s first prime minister 12 Warm welcome at Waikiki 13 Exams for some H.S. students 14 Singer/guitarist ____ Ray Vaughan 15 Early wheels 16 Rousing 17 Unsolved crime 18 Theater backdrop 24 Clamor 25 Onetime MGM rival 30 Trite 32 Coming up 34 Canon rival 35 Hardly ____ 36 Fishing vessel 37 In the neighborhood 40 Changing room?
41 Go-betweens 42 Fine-tuning 43 Acrobatic 44 Be overly sweet 45 Hip-hop’s ____ Def 46 Cubbyhole 47 Performing beneath one’s usual level 48 Late times, in ads 49 Bigger than big 52 The Bee Gees, for much of their career 54 Ancient market 55 Ruth’s 2,214 56 Circular things that arrive in square boxes 57 Lumberjacks 58 Narcotic 59 One carrying a torch? 60 Ending with poly62 Valhalla V.I.P. 63 Certain vacuum tube 64 “Actually, come to think of it …” 67 Egg on 69 Hiking group, with “the”? 70 Greek city mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles 71 Backs, anatomically 72 With consequences 73 As much as possible 74 Motor oil brand 75 “The Lord of the Rings” actor Billy 76 Step up or down 77 Relied (on) 78 Theme for an annual city-magazine issue 80 The inside track 83 Narc’s org. 84 Arroyos 87 Spanish kids 88 Cold War flier 89 Glow in the dark? 90 “Say cheese!” 92 Dressed to the nines, with “up” 93 Goddess of peace 94 Canon rival 97 ____ Major 98 Mother of Artemis 101 Farm call 102 Post-O.R. stop 103 Grp. of Senators 104 PC key
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THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS Jordan Peele’s creepy satire, “Get Out” ironically entices people into theatres everywhere. RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
GET OUT
$33,377,060
$33,377,060
1
N
2
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
$19,208,097
$133,214,675
3
1
3
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER TWO
$9,358,982
$74,771,682
3
4
4
THE GREAT WALL
$9,125,960
$34,831,600
2
3
5
FIFTY SHADES DARKER
$7,792,655
$103,727,870
3
2
In Theaters March 3
28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
ACTION “Logan,” rated R, starring Hugh
DRAMA “The Shack,” rated PG-13, starring Sam
Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen. Mutant road trip, X-Men fans! We’re sure nothing will go wrong at all, especially when Logan and Professor X pick up a young girl along the way. Nope, everything’s fine. Nothing to see here.
Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Tim McGraw. A heart-tugging story, a sappy theme song sung by one of the film’s stars (and his wife) and Octavia Spencer as God (maybe?). We’re sure there will be a vast audience for this one, but, to us, it just sounds like the worst.
DRAMA “T2 Trainspotting,” rated R, starring
DRAMA “Before I Fall,” rated PG-13, starring
Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner. In 1996, director Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting” was hailed as a masterpiece… a really, really difficult to watch one (ugh, that bathroom scene!), but a masterpiece nonetheless. Twenty years later, the gang’s (mostly) all back, but can they re-create the magic?
Zoey Deutch, Liv Hewson, Logan Miller, Jennifer Beals. A cross between “Groundhog Day” and “D.O.A.,” Samantha keeps reliving her last day on Earth to try and figure out how she died. Sounds uplifting.
2MARCH2017
the Game Plan for Conservative success in the trump era austin rhodes Last year I had some fantastic ideas and theories that would guarantee a Donald Trump victory if he embraced them. To his credit, he did take the ball and run with a few of these concepts. But President Trump now needs to be brutally specific, and would you look at that, he has both the House and the Senate poised to help him deliver on a specific agenda.
harshly. Also wrapped up in this proposal is the repeal of the “anchor baby” provision of the U.S Constitution. A quaint throwback to the frontier days, in modern times it is a hideous anachronism that illegals who conspire to cross a forbidden border to have a child should be rewarded with citizenship for that infant. This also should have been done years ago.
This week’s deadline has me sadly “hamstrung” on being able to reflect on what the President actually said in his first address to Congress, but I can tell you what he should have said. Here is my version of a “can’t miss” greatest hits list that this Republican President and Republican Congress should make a priority. They can thank me later!
5. superfund Crime Labs Nationwide You know this is my mission in life! Every single crime lab in the United States should directly receive federal funding to operate efficiently and in a timely manner for all. For uniformity’s sake, base all operations out of each state’s medical college complex. This is one of the few problems in America that can be fixed immediately with money, and money we got, so just do it!
1. Concealed Carry in all 50 states Conservatives believe all Americans have a right to own a gun. Most conservatives believe that qualified individuals who desire to carry a personal firearm with them, should be allowed to do so on every city street in America. I can tell you I certainly do. That we have four members of our current Supreme Court who believe local municipal governments have the right to virtually eliminate that right completely is appalling. Let’s settle this once and for all! Under this new law, states could keep their individual regulations in place if they want, however, a new federal carry permit would be made available to those who qualify, and that qualification can be as rigorous as common sense allows. The federal concealed carry permit is good all over the country, and carrying it TRUMPS state and local restrictions. Those who choose not to take the federal tests, and undergo the heightened scrutiny that would come with the permit, and adhere to their own existing state regulations. 2. ramp up the Federal Death Penalty for terrorists and Cop Killers As we have seen in recent days, domestic terrorism is sadly alive and well in America. On the rare occasion where these homegrown killers survive their rampages, they need to face the federal death penalty, and that is regardless of whether or not their attacks successfully killed innocent people. The idiot who set off the Chelsea bombs last week is a great example. Clearly he wanted to kill people, but because of his own ineptitude, and pure dumb luck, no civilians were killed. Not only did he screw that up, but he was a bad enough marksman that he only injured, and did not kill, the police officers who arrived to take him into custody. That man, and others like him, do not need to be spared the death penalty because they suck as assassins. While we are tinkering with the death penalty at the national level, we should also make the premeditated homicide of any law enforcement officer as an attack against our nation as a whole, and summarily execute all convicted of such attacks. Have high level federal judges hear the cases, with well-paid public defenders furnished to those who need them, so that when a conviction occurs, we can get on with the executions in a timely manner. Local prosecutions are far too uneven in quality and form, and virtually all the cases are subject to federal review at some point, so with this, we eliminate the middle man.
6. Decriminalize Marijuana at the National Level Just like gambling and prostitution, the Feds should allow the states to handle the legalization of marijuana as they see fit. Period. 7. Tax Simplification, Pronto. Begin the process to dismantle the IRS, with a hard and fast timetable. Consumption tax, flat tax, anything is better than what we have now. And Trump ought to know it. 8. Healthcare sanity We don’t have it now, and we need it. Repeal what doesn’t work in Obamacare, and keep what does. Above everything else, know what we are voting on and considering before it becomes the law of the land. That was not done before, and see what we got as a result. 9. FDA Reform, both Administrative and Legal The red tape and bureaucracy associated with getting prescription medication on the American market is hideous. Allow a blue ribbon committee made up of physicians and scientists to explain what needs to stay and what needs to go in the overly complicated process. Remove financial incentives for lawsuits against drug companies for anything other than intentional criminal fraud or premeditated misbehavior. In other words, clean up the morass that has become the “medical-legal” circus. 10. National adoption standards and tax Breaks If you want to provide a good home to any number of unwanted children all over the nation and world, do away with the 50 sets of rules that are different in every state when it comes to adopting children. Grant tax credits for all expenses related to the adoption, the legal and medical costs associated with adoption often make it an option only for the very wealthy. In today’s world, there is no reason for the process to be cost prohibitive for good people who want to open their home to a parentless child.
3. Mandatory Biometric ID for all Citizens. Period. We should have done this years ago. Mandate that every American citizen be issued free of charge a biometric national ID that would be mandated for all governmental business, and yes, that would include all banking transactions. Use that ID for voting, school registration, etc. Ask any cop how many problems this would solve, it won’t be a small number. 4. a Path to Citizenship for all Well-Behaved Illegals Trump will still get to build his wall, but as a compromise, all non-criminal illegal aliens (I know, that is a contradiction, bear with me) must register with the government and begin their 15-year path to citizenship. If they commit no serious crimes in 15 years, only then will they be granted full citizenship, and only then, will they be given the right to vote. The wall still needs to go up, and any new illegals have to be dealt with
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.