Be safe (and warm) this winter! Sig Cox will check all of your heating system’s connections, the gas pressure, burner combustion and your heat exchanger (A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation). Improperly operating gas (or oil) heating systems are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems.
Call today to schedule your pre-season checkup. 706.722.5304 www.sigcox.com
Table of Contents February 23, 2017
Whine Line 4 Jenny is Wright 6 Kris Fisher 7 Insider 8 Feature 12 Luck of the Draw What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight
18 19 20 24 26 27 28
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 Molly Swift Staff Writer
molly@themetrospirit.com
Contributors Jenny Wright, Austin Rhodes, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong
Publisher
Johnny Beckworth
Staff Writer
stacey@themetrospirit.com
BUSINESS
SALES
circulation manager
johnny@themetrospirit.com
Joe White Publisher
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
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
V28|NO8
OPINION
Jenny is Wright: 6 | Kris Fisher: 7
The Whine Line
The first sign of spring in Augusta is here! The ticket sellers have started to appear, just 2700 feet or so from the golf course! Looks like we have a nasty swamp we need to drain in Columbia County. Sleeper, Johnson, and Cross need to go. Just read that the Young Democrats will have former Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker as their keynote speaker. Sorry, no matter what the article says..... he is a not a rolemodel for our youth who have political aspirations! There are so many other people that could have been picked... not someone with 127 felony convictions.
Dear God help us for we know not what we have done!
One word sums it up for Columbia County Leadership: RANSID Details of the third Party Scandal investigation in Columbia County needs to go public,,,, or will it really even happen????
Today is Saturday February 18, 2017. Did I just see President Donald Trump step off of Air Force One (US Government Property) and deliver a campaign speech in Melbourne, FLA? Did this guy not promise to “drain the swamp” and here he is using government property for his own political campaign purposes? There was no government business reason for this trip and appearance! Which side of his mouth is this guy speaking out of today? How are we supposed to believe anything he has to say?
The Augusta Commission is clueless. Now they want to build a new, more costly landfill (the Dixon landfill) within 80 feet of an Augusta drinking water facility. Not too long ago I had nothing but distain for the American media. But the more Trump opens his mouth the more I see the great importance of a free media, regardless of how I may at times disagree with what they have to say. Go First Amendment! Mike Sleeper could clear up this whole mess about his questionable military history by publishing his military record Form DD-214. Living in Evans GA is nice but the furor between politicians makes me sick. Commissioner Cross needs to call a MAN to MAN sit down with his Son in Law to demand rectification of his true Military achievements, Even if he was actually Private Neophyte status. At his Florida rally, our “Commander -In-Chief” refers to a fictitious terror incident in Sweden, then later says he obtained his information from a Fox News report? Obviously neither he nor his inept staff know how to properly investigate information before spreading the fake news (normal people call these rumors).
to be he could have ended this fiasco immediately. Instead Mike Sleeper maintains he is attempting to get his records “corrected”. That is one of the biggest excuses a fraud uses. A true Ranger would never have allowed his records to get messed up. I’m calling out Mike Sleeper for the fraud he is. Any who choose to support this disgrace should check their “hole” card and know that many of my brothers and sisters are familiar with shysters like Mike Sleeper who play on people’s patriotic feelings. You’re not the first one This Ain’t Hell has called out and you won’t be the last. You are about to become Google famous Mike Sleeper.
My grandpa has severe dementia. He lives in his own imaginary world. The other day I was sitting outside. I heard him inside having an episode, carrying on, complaining, raging, agry, ranting, whining, and not making any sense. I called grandma to calm him down, give him his pills. She came back outside telling me, grandpa was asleep. I knew I just heard him, so I went in the house to check. He was indeed asleep. The voice I heard was on tv. It was Donald Trump having a press conference.
SO, the Columbia County Fire Chief retired gracefully after a Horrid fire causing myriads of lawsuits AND the Emergency Manager resigns claiming Hostility in the workplace? Read between these nasty lines. It is past time to tax the biggest entertainment rip off scam going. Religion. Untold billions of $$ we could get to fund education etc. Pony up, lotus eaters!! Mike Sleeper-you don’t need to wait for records or speak to an attorney. Just answer a simple question. Did you graduate from Ranger School? Yes or No.
Mike Sleeper is a lying fraud and never served in the US Army Rangers. Had he been an honorable Ranger rather than the lying wannabe politician he is trying
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
23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
The Boy Is 13 Jenny is Wright BECAUSE I ALWAYS CHECK WITH HIM, I asked The Boy what I should write about his thirteenth. He was 13 on the 17th of this month. that’s crazy. At the risk of sounding cliché, how in the heck did we get here? I understand the passage of time, the logical side of it. That’s over 4,700 days. But 13? A teenager? I was baffled when they turned five. They were in kindergarten. Teeth loosened and the Tooth Fairy came. Suddenly, they were avid readers. They could efficiently wipe their own behinds. It was a magical time. When he was five, he said he couldn’t wait to be a teenager, so he could eat how ever many cookies he wanted. Ten shocked me, too. I was surprised by how emotional I was when they each got to the double digit milestone. Ten year olds, if raised up right, are pretty independent little people. Both of mine could do a load of laundry by 10, and they handle the dishes every day. He makes a mean cheese quesadilla, and she is my little baker. They started staying home for small bits of time without an adult. A level of freedom that blew my mind. Certainly they weren’t old enough. But they were. I was babysitting at 10.
When he was 10, he said he couldn’t wait to be a teenager, so he could stay up as late as he wanted. Lo and behold, he turned 13. Thirteen! He seems different all of a sudden. It’s not a physical change, though it is, ahem, that time. It’s an only-moms-notice kinda change. Sure, his legs are longer and his voice is deeper than it was a year ago. It’s something else, and I’m not sure I can adequately explain it. I told y’all I asked if I could write about him this week. He said, “of course!” I reminded him that, not only do I tell crazy stories about him all the time, but I’ve written about his birthday quite a bit. He said, “You should keep doing it, even if I ask you not to. They’ll be fun to read someday.” You heard it here, folks. I got permission. I also asked him what I should say about him. “Tell them I’m the perfect son. Your favorite son. Even though they know I’m your only son. Tell them I’m the smartest kid you know. I make you laugh all the time and no one compares to me, the best kid in the world. Well, maybe besides my sister.” He was kidding, of course. He may be confident, but he isn’t cocky. He also knows there are plenty of kids smarter than he is and that he’s nowhere near perfect. But. for me, he is the perfect son. He’s brilliantly funny and has talent for days. He’s only mildly embarrassed by me, and that’s when I’m trying to be obnoxious. He’ll still give me a snuggle and discreetly hold my hand. I can’t believe he’s 13. My baby boy. The best kid in the world. Well, maybe besides his sister. 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.
Tax refund
Sale
Our Best Selling Powered Speaker, the Thump 12 MKII.
$299
Les Paul Tribute 2017 with Slim Taper Neck profile & Gibson Humbucker pickups
$899 $359
MicroKorg Synth with vocoder.
Dixon Spark 5pc Kit includes Cymbals, Hardware, and Throne.
$499
Lessons available on all instruments! 4020 Washington Road, Augusta | 706.738.1651 portmansmusic.com
V28|NO8
Spring Has Sprung Kris Fisher DO YOU REMEMBER THREE WEEKS AGO: That pivotal day of the year when we look to a rodent for our seasonal weather forecast? It seems that Punxatawny Phil got it wrong this year. He emerged from his manmade groundhog dwelling, inside of which he must be living like a king because each year he emerges a little fatter and a little more smug-looking. Then he said in groundhog language, “I see my shadow. We’ll have six more weeks of winter.�
AUGUSTA JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Well here we are, Phil. Three weeks after your prognostication and there’s no winter to be found. In fact, there wasn’t much of a winter to begin with. Phil should have said, “I thought I was taking this year off due to winter only lasting about two and a half weeks.� It just goes to show that Phil has no regard for humans and our need to prepare for spring with copious amounts of allergy meds, especially when the wife insists on sleeping with the window open. Truth be told, I like to have the windows open this time of year, too. But when I wake up with only one working nostril, it’s her fault. Sure, the open window seems like a great idea when you feel the cool, crisp air during the night. But, when the morning sniffles and congestion comes it’s a different story. Kind of like the nights we sit around and polish off a bottle of wine on a weeknight. It’s all fun and games until you wake up at 6 a.m. with that headache and still have to power through the day because kids and work don’t care how you spent your Tuesday night. I’m not mad at the spring weather. This is my favorite time of year. I just wonder if we’ll actually get a spring. With forecasts (from human meteorologists) already into the 80s, I imagine we’ll be into the 90s and summer weather by the time Phil’s predicted end of winter rolls around. Which reminds me, I have a looooong way to go with my winter coat: I still have about 30 pounds to lose. Anyone have any ideas? I’ve tried almost everything. I mean, I could lay off of the tacos and beer but, let’s be realistic. I have needs for survival and they include, but are not limited to: beer, tacos, cheese puffs, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, French fries, sesame chicken and Chewy Sprees. Spring weather is here. I may not exactly be ready for it, but I like it. Get out and enjoy it! There’s so much to do in this awesome city: kayaking, biking, boating, washing pollen off of your car, etc. For me, it means riding the motorcycle more often. So, keep an eye out for me and the thousands of others that will be doing the same. Now, who’s up for some tacos and beer?
2017
16 Years of Ending Hunger Together 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
CSRA’s
Best Silent Auction
For ticket locations go to: www.emptybowlcsra.org Our Sponsors
K
Knight Outdoor Advertising
K
KRIS FISHER is the midday host and program director for HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. He is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well as activities most people would have outgrown years ago. djkďŹ sh.com. 23FEBRUARY2017
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 7
V28|NO8
NewS
Columbia County’s Smoke Screen: 12
Timothy Moses was a No-Show LocaL ciTizeNS were Shocked when The Insider revealed a few weeks ago that former local attorney Timothy Moses actually had the nerve to sue a former client for an outstanding bill he’d been holding over her head. The irony of Moses trying to collect money he claimed he was owed was too much for many Augustans to stomach. After all, Moses was disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court last April and voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law in Georgia last year after being caught stealing from his former law firm, Hull, Towill, Norman, Barrett & Salley. The law firm estimated that Moses stole at least $77,000. It was stunning news because Moses had worked for the Hull Barrett law firm for more than 15 years. He had also made the “Best Lawyers in America” list for several years in a row and managed former Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver’s two campaigns. But, apparently, after Moses abruptly resigned from the Hull Barrett law firm in 2011, the attorneys in the practice became suspicious after a client contacted the firm and claimed to have received a bill for $500 from Moses asking for the client to pay him directly for legal services. The client knew that the firm typically sent him a direct bill for the services and found Moses’ request to be odd. In October of 2011, one of the partners in the firm confronted Moses about the billing abnormality. At first, Moses feigned ignorance, but by the next day he admitted to the partner that he had sent the bill to the Hull Barrett law firm’s client. Moses told the partners that he was “embarrassed and horrified” by the fact that he may have accidentally deposited the check into his personal account. As a result, Moses agreed to repay the $500, plus interest to the firm. But the firm’s executive committee was suspicious about the “error” and hired a computer forensics expert to examine Moses’ laptop to ascertain whether there were other instances of improper billing. And lo and behold, the forensic examination uncovered approximately $77,000 in improper invoices, dating from August 2009 through September 2011. The computer expert also testified there had been two attempts to “scrub,” or completely erase, the computer’s hard drive. The expert said those attempts were largely successful, as there was evidence of other invoices that could not be recovered. After discovering the extent of Moses’ actions, the firm immediately filed complaints against him in both Georgia and South Carolina. It took a few years, but Moses’ actions caught up with him and caused him to lose his licenses to practice law in both states. But that wasn’t before he continued to do legal work for clients who were completely unaware of the accusations against him. One such client was a widow of a well-respected local family, who was forced to settle 8 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
her case involving her family’s business because Moses’ reputation and legal research was immediately called into question after being disbarred. This client, who is the mother of two children, was forced to settle her case and accept what she could get from the opposing side. The sad part about it was this client had no idea Moses was accused of stealing from his former law firm, even though she was originally a client of the Hull Barrett law firm. She only followed Moses to his private practice because he had been working on her case while at the Hull Barrett law firm. In fact, this client learned about the accusations against Moses by reading about it in the newspaper. Not the best way to find out that your lawyer is facing the possibility of being disbarred. But, despite all of her trials and tribulations with Moses, once her case was settled, she did not pursue any legal actions against him. She just wanted it all over. However, that’s when she received the $15,000 bill that Moses claimed she owed him. And when she refused to pay it, Moses filed a civil claim against her for the money. Her legal nightmare still wasn’t over. The stress of this lawsuit loomed over her head. Finally, this week, she entered the AugustaRichmond County Judicial Center prepared to present her side of the story to Judge Scott Allen. In order to explain the circumstances surrounding her case, she had subpoenaed four prominent attorneys in town: Neal Dickert, Jim Ellison, John Bell and Doug Batchelor. All of them had background information about Moses and the legal work he had performed for her. With her friends and family supporting her in the courtroom, she took her seat at the defendant’s table. The hearing was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. As Judge Allen entered the courtroom, Moses’ seat was empty. Moses was a no-show. Since the judicial center’s parking lot was extremely packed that day, Allen announced that he would give Moses a few minutes before proceeding with the case. So, everyone in the courtroom waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, after more than 15 minutes, Allen announced that he would grant the defendant’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. “Thank you, your honor,” the defendant said. She collected her things, hugged her family and friends and simply said, “I’m just relieved it’s over.” But the truth is, she shouldn’t have been put through the stress of a lawsuit, especially when Moses didn’t even bother to attend the hearing. Obviously, Moses doesn’t have any respect for the judge, members of his former law firm, other local attorneys or his former client. It’s safe to say, Moses no longer belongs anywhere near a courtroom. 23FEBRUARY2017
THE FORT GORDON DINNER THEATRE PRESENTS
tHe
by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield “Stupendous, anchorless joy” – The Times
“Pithier than Python. Irresistible!” – New York Times
March 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 Directed by
Elizabeth Nelson Walpert
MENU
Mixed Garden Salad with Ranch/Italian/Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Beet Risotto • Tortellini with Vodka Blush Sauce • String Bean Medley Steamed Seasonal Vegetable Mix • Herb Roasted Chicken Carved Top Round with Red Wine Demi • Dessert
TICKETS
Civilians: $53 | Seniors (65 & over), Retirees, DA Civilians, Active-Duty E7 & above: $50 Active-Duty E6 & below, Students with ID: $40 | Show only: $30
For reservations, please call 706-793-8552 (SEASON TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE)
V28|NO8
Mike sleeper Needs to Tell the Truth A few weeks Ago, the Metro Spirit wrote a cover story detailing troubling questions surrounding Columbia County Board of Education member Mike Sleeper’s military history. Sleeper, who also happens to be the son-in-law of Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross, was being called out by the website, “This Ain’t Hell: But you can see it from here,” in a blog called “Michael Sleeper, Fake Ranger.” This particular website reviews accusations of stolen valor across the country. “We have reports of (Sleeper) claiming to have been deployed to Iraq during Desert Storm. Mike also likes to tell people he was a Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment during conversations. He backs up those kind of claims with pictures on his FB profile,” blogger Dave Hardin posted on the website thisainthell. us. “It sounds like some actual Desert Storm veterans found discrepancies in his stories.” Posted on the blog is a document titled, “Information Releasable Under the Freedom of Information Act” about Michael Norman Sleeper. The document states that Sleeper’s dates of active duty service are from Aug. 13, 1985, to Oct. 25, 1988. It indicates Sleeper was discharged at the rank of private. The document also states he was an infantryman in Alaska from Jan. 24, 1986, to October 25, 1988. The document adds, “No record of service beyond 1988.” “That one page alone tells us all we need to know,” Hardin wrote in his blog. “Not a Ranger. No deployment to Desert Storm and he was discharged after a few years as a Private. He spent his time in Alaska as an 11B Grunt and he was not a Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment. His only award listed is the Army Service Ribbon. It appears the Army got tired of dealing with Pvt. Sleeper and sent him back home early.” The blog demands that Sleeper address these questions surrounding his military record. “Private Sleeper should probably come clean with some people who are under a false impression that he is something that he is not,” Hardin wrote. “Particularly the kids in his school district.” After reviewing the documents produced by Hardin, the Metro Spirit also asked that Sleeper set the record straight. And he didn’t. 10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
All Sleeper told a Metro Spirit reporter was, “I recognize there are shortcomings in the military documentation of my military history and I’m attempting to have them corrected.” That is a pretty weak response. At this point, Sleeper should be able to provide some kind of evidence that he was, in fact, an Army Ranger. Whether it is a photo, a name of someone he served with who could verify his story or any kind of military documentation, Sleeper should be able to prove it by now.
But he hasn’t. And Columbia County residents should be bothered by that fact. As a result of the recent questions surrounding Sleeper’s military history, the Metro Spirit asked that Columbia County Board of Education members consider demanding answers from Sleeper. Thankfully, Columbia County Board of Education Chairman David Dekle stepped up to the plate. Last Tuesday, he read from a prepared statement during the Feb. 14 BOE meeting. He was direct and extremely respectful in addressing his concerns over the questions regarding Sleeper’s military record. “Two weeks ago, last Friday, I received an email from an unknown individual pointing me to a website and blog post dedicated to exposing individuals who have misrepresented or embellished their military service record or claimed military honors they had not earned,”
Dekle stated during the public meeting. “The email and the blog alleged that my fellow board member, Mr. Mike Sleeper, had claimed to be a former Army Ranger when, in fact, the documentation requested and received from the military through an FOIA request showed no such history. The blog showed a picture of a Ranger Tab hanging in Mr. Sleeper’s garage and a post by Mr. Sleeper where he had claimed that it was a companion to the one on his shoulder.” Dekle said those researching Sleeper’s military history found some discrepancies. “In contrast, the documentation posted on the website shows that Mr. Sleeper received a general discharge from the Army after two years as an infantryman while serving in Alaska. There is no mention of earning a Ranger Tab or Scroll,” Dekle said. “Initially, I viewed this as a personal matter of Mr. Sleeper’s that should be dealt with on a personal level by him and without any comment by me or involvement by the Board of Education. The following Monday, Austin Rhodes ran the story and invited Mr. Sleeper on to his show to set the record straight. Mr. Rhodes went so far as to say that if Mr. Sleeper has misrepresented his military service, he would be the first to ask him to step down from the Board. Mr. Sleeper chose not to go on the Austin Rhodes show that day and has maintained that he will not comment until he has had an opportunity to correct his military record.” But the questions didn’t end there. “In the past week, both the Metro Spirit and the Columbia County News-Times wrote pieces highlighting the facts which have been presented regarding his service record. These news outlets point out that Mr. Sleeper has been described in the media in the past several years as a former Army Ranger, a fact which if untrue, Mr. Sleeper has never denied or corrected,” Dekle stated. “This Board of Education has also presented Mr. Sleeper to the public as an Army Ranger in an open meeting. In recognizing our veterans on Veterans Day in 2014, we proudly displayed a photo of Mr. Sleeper in uniform identifying him as an Army Ranger. We honored him that day as a Ranger for serving our country in that capacity.” As a result, Dekle said he had become concerned about the accuracy of Sleeper’s military history. 23FEBRUARY2017
“So, I cannot view these allegations against a board member to be merely of a personal nature,” Dekle said. “As public servants representing this school district, we must hold ourselves to the same or higher standards that we hold our Superintendent, our employees, and our students. I am not a veteran, so I cannot truly empathize with those members and former members of our armed forces who are offended and frustrated by stolen valor. Nor am I the judge and jury in this case, so I am not saying that Mr. Sleeper has not earned one of the most difficult and prestigious awards bestowed upon our bravest and toughest soldiers. However, I do see unrefuted evidence that raises serious questions, and I see the passage of an inordinate amount of time without answers. This is not good for our school district.” Dekle then turned directly to Sleeper and demanded answers. “Mr. Sleeper, for the good of the Columbia County School District, I respectfully ask that you provide a full and complete explanation of your military service without further delay,” Dekle said. “Please confirm that you are in fact a former Army Ranger, having completed the necessary requirements to legitimately claim that distinction — that you did in fact earn
your Ranger Tab or Scroll during your period of service. If not, please correct the record and end this distraction so that this Board may return its full attention to the business at hand.” Dekle was frank and very professional in addressing his concerns about Sleeper’s record. And what was Sleeper’s response? “Honestly, I just at the moment, pity you,” Sleeper stated. “That’s all I have to say.” If that isn’t shedding some light on Sleeper and his military service, nothing will. Sleeper had the opportunity to speak up and defend his military record. If he is a Ranger, say it loud and say it proud. Find someone, anyone, to corroborate your military service. Show some kind of evidence. Any kind of valid evidence. Instead, Sleeper verbally attacked the person asking questions. That kind of response will get him nowhere fast. It shows he’s vulnerable and that he’s trying to shame those seeking the truth. Mr. Sleeper, that won’t work. The truth will come out. It is only a matter of time.
V28|NO8
Interim Fire Chief Jeremy Wallen served as Columbia County Fire Rescue’s public information officer during the Marshall Square fire in 2015. But, in that role, Wallen didn’t provide much information to the public at all. By Stacey Eidson EARLIER THIS MONTH, Columbia County announced that Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Wallen had been promoted to interim fire chief following the recent retirement of Columbia County Fire Rescue Chief Doug Cooper. Moving into that slot means a lot of additional responsibilities for Wallen. One such responsibility is continuing to address the unanswered questions regarding the June 2, 2015, fire at the Marshall Square retirement community that killed 91-yearold resident Dorothy Carpenter and displaced more than 80 senior residents. Back in 2015, Wallen served as an administration chief for Columbia County Fire Rescue and the public information officer during the Marshall Square fire. The public may recall that Wallen was the spokesperson for the fire department during the county’s press conference on the day of the fire. On June 2, 2015, Wallen told the public that the conditions inside Marshall Square were much worse than what firefighters originally expected when they arrived on the scene. “The fire was larger than it appeared on arrival because it was throughout the attic already,” Wallen explained on June 2, 2015. “It takes time for that to come out and be actually visible. But there was much more fire from the very beginning than it appeared from the outside.” Upon arrival, Wallen told the public that the fire department immediately began assisting with the evacuation of the Marshall Square residents with the help of the sheriff ’s office and Gold Cross EMS. “We also began staging an accountability system, to determine how many persons had come out of the building,” he said. “I believe most of the residents were out within the first hour.” Unfortunately, not everyone made it out of the building during that first hour. Former Marshall Square resident Rhetta Cadle somehow survived after being trapped in her third-floor apartment for almost seven hours with the ceiling crashing down around her, while 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Carpenter lost her life in the early morning blaze. Over the past year, local attorneys have taken several depositions in the civil cases against the owners and some of the employees of the former $27 million Marshall Square retirement community, as well as depositions involving employees of the Columbia County Fire Rescue. One such deposition taken last July was of Wallen and his account of the Marshall Square fire. Now that Wallen is serving as the interim fire chief for Columbia County, the Metro Spirit thought local residents might be interested in Wallen’s views regarding one of the most devastating fires in the history of the county. Wallen, who first began with the fire department back in January 1994, told attorneys involved in the Marshall Square case that he started his career as a dispatcher in the department after working at the West Lake County County’s golf pro shop for many years. He also went through training to be a volunteer firefighter and eventually began driving a fire truck for approximately two years, Wallen said.
“You know what an oath is, right? To tell the truth?” — Tom Mazziotti 23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
“Do you believe that the public has the right to know what happened in this fire?” — Harry Revell “And that would have been the end of the fire part in my career,” Wallen said during his July 19, 2016, deposition. “Then, I went over to an administrative job. So I did the books, the accounting, and some minor IT work at that time.” In addition, Wallen said he served as the public information officer for the fire department during the Marshall Square fire. According to Wallen’s testimony, he arrived on the scene of the Marshall Square fire at 4:07 a.m. after a dispatcher contacted him that morning. By the time he reached Marshall Square, he said the fire was already coming out of the roof. “When I first got there, I looked for the incident commander. I can’t remember who that was at the moment. But I always go to the incident commander to let them know that I’m there for accountability, so they know that I’m there,” Wallen said. “I don’t have protective clothing, so I don’t pull people out or something like that. So I’m letting him know that I’m there and asking if there’s something that I can do, would be the standard function I would serve.” Wallen said his main role that day was to provide the media a “single point of contact” and try to address some of the reporters’ questions. He said the main questions asked that day related to the inspection of the building and the investigation of the fire, but because Columbia County Fire Rescue wasn’t responsible for those two items, Wallen referred those questions to county officials and the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office. Staten Bitting, an attorney representing Marshall Square Retirement Community, LLC, asked Wallen if he had talked to anyone from the State Fire Marshal’s Office on the day of the fire. “Oh, yes, sir,” Wallen said, adding that he had spoken to Michael Crosby, a fire investigator for the State Fire Marshal’s Office. “Do you recall what information he gave you?” Bitting asked. Wallen appeared surprised by the question. “That he gave me?” Wallen asked. “Ultimately, he gave me their spokesman’s name. That’s about it — other than friendly, you know, banter, that was about it.” Bitting asked whether Crosby offered any information about the fire. “Oh, goodness, no. No, absolutely not,” Wallen said. “That’s not something I’m going to — I don’t want to know that. So I won’t — I’m not going to ask him.” Bitting seemed perplexed by Wallen’s response. “You don’t want to know what the State Fire Marshal’s Office is finding?” Bitting asked, pointing out that Wallen was serving as the fire department’s public information officer. “Am I going to ask him what his investigation is?” Wallen asked. “Absolutely not. I’m not going to be the person that’s asking him about an active investigation. No, I don’t want to be that person.” Bitting then began asking Wallen about how information 23FEBRUARY2017
was collected for the incident report regarding the Marshall Square fire. “Were you involved in any way in the preparation of the incident report?” Bitting asked. “I was in the room when they were discussing some of these pieces, but as far as creating it, so to speak, no, sir,” Wallen said. Wallen explained that he attended a meeting with Fire Chief Doug Cooper, Columbia County Fire Rescue Operations Chief Danny Kuhlmann, Battalion Chief Jimmie Paschal and Captain Gary Griffith shortly after the fire to prepare the incident report. One of the questions surrounding the Marshall Square case has been who decided to manually shut off the sprinklers inside the retirement community during the morning of the fire. Marshall Square Property Manager Chris Bryde had previously stated that he turned off the sprinkler system, but only after he was specifically directed to do so by a firefighter with Columbia County Fire Rescue shortly after an engine arrived on the scene around 3:30 a.m. “Was there any discussion in that meeting about whether any officer of Columbia County Fire Rescue had made a decision to shut down the sprinkler system?” Bitting asked. “No, sir. Not that I recall,” Wallen responded. “Was there any discussion in there as to whether there were issues being raised about whether the search was done — whether there was a search done properly at the time of the response to the fire?” Bitting asked. “Not that I recall,” Wallen repeated. Bitting seemed amazed that during a meeting to prepare an incident report regarding the fire that none of those topics were even raised. “Well, what was discussed?” Bitting asked. “It was mainly about milestones is really what I remember,” Wallen said. “You know, identifying what pieces needed to be in a narrative, the report narrative.” Bitting then asked specifically about some of the wording in the incident report. “In the incident report we have a sentence that says,
‘While fire crews began searching for the source of the fire, additional crews began evacuations from the facility on the third floor,’” Bitting pointed out to Wallen. “Do you recall who would have discussed the searching that was referred to in that incident report?” “No, sir,” Wallen said. “No recollection at all?” Bitting asked. “No, sir,” Wallen said once again. But Wallen wasn’t let off the hook that easily. Rob Braithwaite, attorney for Resort Lifestyle Communities, Inc. — the Nebraska-based company that owned Marshall Square — asked Wallen if he had recorded or taken any notes of the meeting between those involved in the Marshall Square fire, considering he was the public information officer. Wallen said he had not taken any notes. “You would agree with me this is the biggest, most significant fire that y’all have fought in many years?” Braithwaite asked. “Yes, sir,” Wallen said. “All right. So you would agree that this would be a meeting of some significance?” Braithwaite asked. Wallen again agreed. “So did anybody transcribe or make notes or prepare minutes of what y’all discussed?” Braithwaite asked. “Not that I recall,” Wallen said. Braithwaite then turned to an audio recording of radio communications between the firefighters during the early
“You don’t want to know what the State Fire Marshal’s Office is finding?” — Staten Bitting AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 13
V28|NO8
“Am I going to ask him what his investigation is? Absolutely not. I’m not going to be the person that’s asking him about an active investigation.” — Jeremy Wallen morning hours of June 2, 2015. On the recording, a male voice can be heard saying, “All right. Let’s shut off the sprinkler system as soon as we can.” “Did you recognize the voice?” Braithwaite asked Wallen. “Yes,” Wallen said. “I believe it was Chief Kuhlmann.” Braithwaite then asked what were Wallen’s thoughts about the recording. “I really don’t have an opinion on it,” Wallen said. Braithwaite asked Wallen if he had talked to Kuhlmann about the recording. Wallen admitted that he had spoken to Kuhlmann. “All right, sir. And tell me how that conversation went,” Braithwaite asked. “I don’t remember, you know, specifics of the conversation,” Wallen said. Braithwaite asked Wallen about another audio recording that occurred almost one minute later at 3:44 a.m. inside the retirement community. On this recording, a male voice can be heard saying, “I’ve got Engine 3 on their way. We’re by the sprinkler system control valve.” “Did that sound like Chief Kuhlmann also?” Braithwaite asked. “Yes, sir,” Wallen said. Braithwaite again asked Wallen if he recalled discussing those audio files with Kuhlmann, but Wallen insisted that he didn’t remember specifics about the discussion. “Did he admit to those being his voice — or do you remember that?” Braithwaite asked. Wallen said he did not recall. Braithwaite then asked Wallen if he remembered Fire Chief Doug Cooper ever having a conversation with the firefighters regarding the sprinklers being turned off.
14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
During Cooper’s deposition in the case, the chief said he specifically told the firefighters, “If anybody cut that sprinkler system off, they better own up and let me know.” Cooper said no one came forward and admitted to turning off the sprinklers. The fire chief insisted that, while the sprinkler system may not have been able to totally extinguish the fire, it definitely would have helped suppress it. Cooper said turning off the sprinklers was “detrimental” to the situation and, if a firefighter had turned them off, it would be a “career-ending move.” “Okay. If he had said that at the meeting, do you think it was something you would have remembered?” Braithwaite asked Wallen. “I don’t know,” Wallen replied. Realizing he was getting nowhere fast, Braithwaite then turned to details included in the incident report. He asked Wallen about the time that the report stated he arrived on the scene. “It indicates that Jeremy Norman Wallen arrived — well, he was dispatched at 3:56:22, and that he arrived at 4:07:52,” Braithwaite said. “How did you get there?” Wallen said he drove his own car close to the scene and then got a ride with a member of the fire department to Marshall Square. “I’m just looking here. You weren’t with Chief Cooper, though, right?” Braithwaite asked. “No, sir,” Wallen replied. “But his time for arriving is exactly the same as yours, correct?” Braithwaite asked. “Yes, sir,” Wallen said. “And also Robert Rosier’s time is the same as yours; is that right?” Braithwaite continued. “And then Brent Willis, Chief Willis’ time for arriving is the same as yours; is that correct?” Wallen acknowledged that was correct. “And I mean to the second, right?” Braithwaite asked, as Wallen agreed. “Okay. I’m just trying to figure this out. You guys didn’t ride together?” Wallen said they had not. “Okay. So do you know why they have you guys being notified and arriving all at 4:07:52?” Braithwaite asked. “I do not,” Wallen stated. This line of questioning still wasn’t over for Wallen. Tom Mazziotti, an attorney representing Goodman Company, which manufactured the packaged terminal air conditioner that was located in Marshall Square’s billiard room, began by asking if Wallen was familiar with the Goodman Company. “No, sir, I’m not familiar,” Wallen said. Somewhat surprised, Mazziotti asked if Wallen knew anything about the PTAC unit located in Marshall Square’s billiard room. “No, sir,” Wallen said.
23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
“Why did Dot Carpenter die in this fire? And why was Rhetta Cadle left for six or seven hours before she was rescued in this fire?” — Harry Revell So, the public information officer for the fire department didn’t know anything about the PTAC unit located in the billiard room where the fire began? “I take it you haven’t done any type of investigation into the cause of the fire?” Mazziotti asked. Wallen said he had not. Mazziotti then referred back to Wallen’s discussion with Kuhlmann regarding the sprinklers. “Tell me how it came about that you spoke to him,” Mazziotti asked, but Wallen insisted that he couldn’t remember. But Mazziotti didn’t back down. “You don’t remember why you would have
talked to him?” Mazziotti asked. Wallen continued to say he didn’t have any idea. “Do you know if anybody else was present?” Mazziotti asked. “I don’t know,” Wallen said. “You don’t know what y’all talked about?” Mazziotti asked one last time. “No, sir,” Wallen said. At that point, Mazziotti wanted to spell out the seriousness of Wallen’s testimony in this case. “You know what an oath is, right?” Mazziotti asked Wallen. “To tell the truth?” Wallen said he understood. “Okay. And you’re telling us here today you
have no recollection whatsoever as to what the two of you talked about after listening to this recording?” Mazziotti asked. “No, I do not,” Wallen said. “I’m telling you, I don’t remember when specifically and what exactly we talked about. I just do not remember.” Mazziotti found it hard to believe that Wallen didn’t remember anything about his conversation with Kuhlmann. “And you don’t remember if he said, ‘I did not turn off the sprinkler,’” Mazziotti asked. “Do you remember if he even said that?” Wallen said he did not recall. “Do you remember if he said, ‘I did not instruct anybody to turn off the sprinkler?’” Mazziotti asked. Wallen said he couldn’t remember. “Okay. How do you even remember that you had a conversation with Chief Kuhlmann, then?” Mazziotti asked. All Wallen would say was that he remembered people in the department talking about the sprinkler system being turned off on the morning of the fire, but he didn’t recall specifics. “It’s been talked about in front of me,” Wallen said. “Tell me about it. How many times — how many discussions, at least the ones you can remember, tell us what you remember,” Mazziotti asked, practically begging. But Wallen said he couldn’t offer any details other than he heard that Chris Bryde had turned off the sprinklers. “Has anybody in the Columbia County Fire Department denied instructing someone at Marshall Square to turn off the sprinklers?” Mazziotti asked. “Denied to who?” Wallen asked. Mazziotti’s patience was clearly running thin. “To anybody,” Mazziotti said. “During these discussions, has anybody said nobody at the Columbia County Fire Department ever instructed this person to turn off the sprinklers?” Wallen insisted that Columbia County firefighters would not instruct someone to turn off the sprinklers. “And, to your knowledge, Chief Kuhlmann has not said to you that he asked (Chris Bryde) to turn off the sprinklers?” Mazziotti asked. Wallen said he had not. “Has Chief Kuhlmann denied in front of you instructing someone to turn off the water sprinklers?” Mazziotti asked. “Aren’t you curious?” Wallen seemed offended by the question. “Am I curious?” Wallen asked. “I don’t believe that he did it. I mean, I don’t have to accuse him or relate to that. I don’t believe that he did it.” But Mazziotti asked Wallen, if Kuhlmann did instruct Bryde to turn off the sprinkler, what would that mean. “To have someone turn off the sprinkler system in these circumstances would be a gross dereliction in duty?” Mazziotti asked
Wallen. “Correct?” “Yes,” Wallen replied. “Have you ever heard of anybody being reprimanded or disciplined as a result of any actions on June 2nd, 2015?” Mazziotti asked. “No, sir,” Wallen said. Before Wallen could call it a day, attorney Harry Revell — whose law firm is representing the Carpenter family, as well as Rhetta Cadle — wanted to ask the fire department’s public information officer a few questions. “As the public information officer for the Columbia County Fire Rescue Department, do you believe that the public has the right to know what happened in this fire?” Revell asked Wallen. “Yes,” Wallen replied. “And do you believe Columbia County Fire Rescue Department can benefit from an after-event meeting to sort out what happened so they can do different or better next time?” Revell asked. Wallen didn’t want to answer that question. “I think I would refer that to the operational folks to determine how they would make those decisions,” Wallen said. However, Revell didn’t give up. He wanted real answers from Wallen. “What is the reason to have the meeting if not to use it as a learning event or a teaching moment?” Revell asked. Wallen said the purpose of the meeting was to put together the incident report. “But every fire does not warrant an afterevent meeting to prepare the incident report, correct?” Revell asked. “So what we have here is — what I understand is the largest fire that anybody in the fire department can remember, correct?” Wallen said that was true. “And we have a woman, Ms. Dot Carpenter, who died in the fire, right?” Revell asked. “Yes, sir,” Wallen said. “And we have another woman, Rhetta Cadle, who survived for some six or seven hours before she was found, correct?” Revell asked. “Yes, sir,” Wallen said. “And we have a situation where the primary search that’s called for under the Columbia County Fire Rescue policy was not initiated in this incident, right?” Revell asked. Wallen denied being aware of that fact that there was no primary search conducted by the fire department at the Marshall Square fire. A primary search includes evacuating those apartments that are closest to the fire and then expanding outwards from there. In the case of the Marshall Square fire, the apartments of Rhetta Cadle and Dorothy Carpenter were located right next to the third-floor billiard room, where the fire is believed to have originated. However, their apartments were never searched by the fire department in the first hour of that fire. “You’re not aware of that?” Revell asked Wallen. “Nobody’s ever told you that?
V28|NO8
But Revell continued to press Wallen. “Well, you heard the words, sir,” Revell said. “You understand the English language?” “Of course I do,” Wallen replied. Again, Revell asked Wallen what he thought Kuhlmann was trying to say in the two recordings. “I’m telling you that I don’t know what someone in a room that I’m not in, under conditions that I don’t know, I have no idea what he’s attempting to do,” Wallen said. Revell told Wallen that wasn’t his question. “Let’s try one more time,” Revell said. “What do you think he said?” Finally, Wallen said that he didn’t want to “speak for someone” else and that the recordings of Kuhlmann should speak for themselves. Revell then discussed a deposition taken of Resort Lifestyle Communities CEO Breck Collingsworth, who stated that representatives from Marshall Square had informed the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Columbia County Fire Rescue that Bryde had been instructed by fire
“No, sir,” Wallen replied. Astonished, Revell asked if Wallen was aware that there were serious questions surrounding the sprinkler system being cut off. Wallen said he was aware of that fact. “And you just listened to two audiotapes of Chief Kuhlmann transmitting a radio message that he was at the sprinklers and was thinking about turning them off, or words to that effect,” Revell asked. “Do you remember that?” Wallen agreed that he had heard the recordings. “How do you interpret his radio transmission as to the message he was relaying that you just listened to within the last hour?” Revell asked. “Exactly how he said it,” Wallen replied. “All right,” Revell said. “What does it mean to you? Wallen seemed confused by the question. “I don’t know,” Wallen said. “I don’t know what he specifically means by radio transmission in a room that I wasn’t in and an incident that I wasn’t watching.”
16 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
“And you, as a public information officer, did nothing to try to find answers to those questions.” — Harry Revell personnel to turn off the sprinklers. “Are you aware of that?” Revell asked Wallen. Wallen said he had never heard that information. “Okay. In this after-event session, did anybody talk about why did Ms. Carpenter die in this fire?” Revell asked. “No, sir. Not that I recall,” Wallen answered. “Did anybody talk about why Ms. Cadle was not found and rescued until she was some six or seven hours after the fire started?” Revell asked.
23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
“Not that I recall,” Wallen repeated. Revell could barely believe what he was hearing. “Nobody talked about that?” Revell asked. “What in the hell did y’all talk about — if not that? Aren’t those the most burning questions that you, as a public information officer, would expect the public and these families to want to know?” Wallen said he simply didn’t recall those items being discussed at the meeting. “Well, aren’t those fair questions for the public to ask? Why did Dot Carpenter die in this fire?” Revell asked. “And why was Rhetta Cadle left for six or seven hours before she was rescued in this fire?” “Yes,” Wallen replied. “Aren’t those fair questions for the public?” Revell asked. “Aren’t those fair questions for their families?” “Yes,” Wallen said again. “And you, as a public information officer, did nothing to try to find answers to those questions,” Revell stated. Wallen said he is not an investigator, so that wasn’t part of his duties “You’re a public information officer,” Revell said. “So I’m asking you as a public information officer, do I understand you to say you personally did nothing to find out answers to those two questions?” Wallen insisted that he presented the information that he was given to the public. “No one asked me those two questions,” Wallen added. “The questions were never asked to me. So I did not provide that information to someone.” Revell insisted there was no time like the present. “Well, I’ll ask you right now,” Revell said. “Why did Dot Carpenter die in this fire?” “I don’t know,” Wallen replied. “Why did Rhetta Cadle have to sit in her condition five or six hours before she was rescued?” Revell asked. “I do not know,” Wallen replied. “Why was the sprinkler system cut off?” Revell asked. “I do not know,” Wallen said one last time. “No further questions,” Revell said. The two-hour deposition of Wallen was over. As a result, the attorneys involved in the Marshall Square case left with very little new information courtesy of Wallen, the fire department’s public information officer.
23FEBRUARY2017
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 17
V28|NO8
Luck of the Draw
for many competitors in the upcoming Garden city classic, the blind draw is where it’s at the GarDen city cLassic, the Savannah River Dart Association’s annual tournament, is a three-day event that includes Cricket and 501 competitions for singles and pairs for men and women, as well as mixed pairs. The real fun, however, takes place on Friday and Saturday night with the blind draw competitions. “It’s really just to get all the people who are arriving from out of town and, hopefully, staying at the hotel, together,” said SRDA member Matt Flynn. “Of course, there’ll be some drinking and some food, but you’ll pay your $10 to enter and you could get teamed up with the absolute best player in town that day or, you know, you might get me.” Why is your partner so important? Because of the little matter of prize money. The top 16 pairs will get their money back and the winning pair will get $280 of the $940 purse. “So for a $10 investment, it’s a lot of fun,” Flynn said. The Blind Draw is so popular that they added it for a second night on Saturday. “This is the first time we’ve done that,” he said. “They usually just run different competitions into the evening, but this seems to be really popular. People love it. It’s just a fun time, you meet some really good people and, hopefully, learn a little bit.” Saturday, the tournament will begin in earnest with Cricket, the traditional pub dart game in which players try to hit targets 15-20 and the bullseye three times each. Whoever does that first and scores the most points wins and advances. Sunday is the 501 competition in which players start with 501 points and work their way down to 0. “But your last dart has to be a
18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
double,” Flynn explained. “So if you need 16, your last dart has to be a double 8.” Darts is a pretty laid-back sport and the tournaments, if the Garden City Classic is any indication, are too. Players sign up and pay their entry fees shortly before play begins. That doesn’t mean that play isn’t serious. The Garden City Classic is sanctioned by the American Darts Organization and standards, which is what darters call the boards, are regulation. But that also doesn’t mean you can’t have the traditional pint while you’re playing. In addition to the 40 or so standards that will be set up in a big convention hall room at the Marriott, there will also be a bar and food. “It kind of goes hand in hand,” Flynn said of darts and beer. “In fact, I kind of like to balance it: beer in the left hand, darts in the right. If I don’t have the beer, it’s just odd.” The Marriott is offering a special room rate for darters, and spectators are encouraged to come and check out the games and vendors. Flynn said they expect about 100 people from the SRDA to join about 200 regional darters in competition.
Most importantly, the tournament is open to anyone who wants to play. “There will be some amazing darters there, but it’s also beginner friendly, especially the blind draws,” Flynn said. “So if you just want to come and dip your toe in the water, you should come check it out.” GarDen city cLassic Marriott Augusta Convention Center Friday, March 3, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 9 a.m. Sunday, March 5, 10 a.m. $10-$15 per competition 706-840-5100 mmchris@knology.net tobeo89551@yahoo.com
23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
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.
LAsT hURRAh FOR The UNiNiTiATeD, Mardi Gras’ Fat Tuesday is one final time to overindulge in every vice you can imagine before Ash Wednesday ushers in Lent, a season that traditionally includes fasting and simple living. Good news: Here in Augusta we have, at least for the past six years, celebrated Fat Saturday with a downtown pub crawl benefitting the Greater Augusta Arts Council. That means you have three extra days to overindulge. Of course, you may not need it after participating in Fat Saturday, given that 17 downtown bars and restaurants are getting into the debauchery by offering drink and, in many cases, food specials to those bearing passports. All you need is to show up — preferably in a costume bearing the green, gold and purple Mardi Gras color scheme — purchase your passport and start hitting the streets. Those who turn in a completely stamped passport at the end of the night will be entered into a prize drawing. It’ll be just like you are in New Orleans. Except, you know, three days earlier. FAT sATURDAY pUb CRAwL Headquarters: 11th and Broad streets Saturday, February 25 4 p.m., presale; pub crawl, 8-11 p.m. $10 augustaarts.com
This week
ThURsDAY
It’s a refreshing change to see public officials who actually want to speak to their constituents. Today, from 5-8 p.m., you can tell new Marshal Ramone Lampkin and his staff how you feel at May Park Community Center, where they will be introducing themselves. Then, from 5:30-7 p.m., you can do the same with Mayor Hardie Davis and District 4 Commissioner Sammie Sias, who will conduct office hours at the Diamond Lakes Community Center. 23FEBRUARY2017
FRiDAY
Looking for a career change? Well, did you know that the median salary for an entry level web developer in the CSRA is between $35,000 and $45,000? That’s not too shabby, and theClubhou.se has a class that could just help you on your way to developing a new skill. But the deadline for registering for the Code Bootcamp, held March 20-June 19, is today. For more information or to apply, visit augustacodeschool.com.
sATURDAY
People assume that life got better for former slaves during Reconstruction, but did it really? Find out today at 10 a.m. at Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site. That’s where the program The African-American Experience: Reconstruction will be held. It includes a tour and stories of what life was like for freedmen and their families in the decade immediately following the Civil War.
MONDAY
Have you always toyed with the idea of acting, but been too afraid to give it a shot? Then you might want to gather up your courage and head down to Le Chat Noir tonight at 7 p.m. to audition for Quickies 2017, a short play festival that will be held April 14-15 and 20-22. Veteran and newcomer actors are welcome and look at it this way: they’re short plays so you won’t be on stage for that long.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 20. AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 19
V28|NO8
Tue Feb 28
6pm - 8pm Furys Ferry Road Widening Public Information Meeting Riverside Middle School cafeteria A drop-in open house for Columbia County residents. Email sexley@columbiacountyga.gov.
Wed Mar 1
11:30am - 1:30pm Open Job Lab Diamond Lakes Branch Library Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Thu Mar 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 - 6:30pm Basic Conversational Spanish Weeks Center, Aiken A class for those ages 18 and up. March’s classes meet each Thursday and the topic will be greetings. $30, residents; $38, non-residents. For the three-month set of classes that continues through May: $80, residents; $104, non-residents. Call 803642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
Augusta University Half Marathon and 10K Lake Olmstead Sunday, February 26 7:30 a.m. Visit augustahalf.org
ARTS Thu Feb 23
1pm - 4pm Creative Color Mixing for Watercolors Aiken Center for the Arts $40; pre-registration required. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Sat Feb 25
they need crochet needles. Pre-registration required. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Mon Feb 27
10am - noon Oil Painting 175 N. Louisville St., Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $20 per class. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
6pm Dual Enrollment Seminar Georgia Military College Pre-registration required. Call 706-9932644 or email musry@gmc.edu. southcarolinaparks.com/redcliffe.
2pm Ancient Civilizations in our Backyard: Archaeology and the Great Mississippian Civilization Headquarters Branch Library A talk by Dr. Adam King. Call 706-821-2612 or visit arcpls.org.
Sun Feb 26
7pm Augusta Innovation Zone Information Meeting 1106 Broad Street Topics covered include the project inspiration board, what people can expect on the inside of the AIZ once it is completed, timelines, uses and roof-top dining. Visit augustainnovationzone.com.
Conference Registration Deadline
EXHIBITIONS
Thu Feb 23
The 2017 Impacting Student Learning Conference will be held Saturday, March 11, from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call 706-667-4368 or visit jwilso24@augusta.edu.
4:30pm 38th Annual Markwalter Youth Art Exhibition Awards Ceremony and Reception
Aiken Center for the Arts $50; pre-registration required. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon Feb 27
10am - 1pm Painting with Acrylics: Spring Landscapes
Fri Feb 24
Kroc Center $35, members; $40, non-members. Preregistration required. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
theClubhou.se This class on web development and coding is March 20-June 19. Classes are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit augustacodeschool.com.
10am - 3pm Abstract Painting Intro Aiken Center for the Arts $75; pre-registration required. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
10am - 3pm Drawing for Beginners
10am - 2pm Pastel Animals Aiken Center for the Arts $60; pre-registration required. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Noon - 2pm Crochet Class 175 North Louisville Street, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $35. Fee includes yarn; participants should bring $5 if 20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
EDUCATION 9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners
Code Bootcamp Registration Deadline
Sat Feb 25
10am - noon The African-American Experience: Reconstruction Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site $9, adults; $6.50, South Carolina seniors; $1, ages 6-16 and students with ID. Call 803827-1473, email redcliffe@scprt.com or visit
Wed Mar 1
5:30pm Beginner Spanish
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art The 2017 competition will showcase work inspired by the theme “United Through Art” created by K-12 students from public, private and homeschools in Aiken, Burke, Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties. Call 706-722-5495 or visitghia.org.
Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Ongoing
3:30pm Intermediate Spanish Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
6pm - 8pm Responsible Pet Owner Class Graced Kennel & Grooming A free class in which pet owners will learn about topics such as as heartworm prevention, vaccinations and pet safety. Guest speaker Sharon Broady will discuss changes that went into effect in 2017 for Richmond County residents and their pets. Pre-registration required. Call 706-738-7168 or visit brassknucklepinupsrescue.com/classes.html.
“Discover the Stories of Civilization: Stories of Beauty, Power, Love, Glory and Faith” Traveling Exhibit Headquarters Branch Library Visit bit.ly/arcplscarlos.
Black History Month Exhibit Headquarters Branch Library A collection of rare and antique books on loan from local historian and writer Elvin Thompson. The exhibit will run through 23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
March. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
Outliers: The Art of Printmaking Westobou Gallery A satellite exhibition, in conjunction with the Southern Graphics Council International’s 2017 Conference, in celebration of printmaking featuring artwork from eight local, regional and national printmakers. Call 706-755-2878 or visit westoboufestival.com.
The African-American Professional Nursing Experience Exhibition Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History A Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority exhibition that shows through February 26 at the museum. Call 706-724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
Exhibitions Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art Exhibits include Between Earth and Sky: Sculpture by Molly Sawyer in the main gallery and works from Lillie Hardy Morris in the Creel-Harison Community Gallery. The exhibits will be on display through February 24. Call 706-722-5495 or visit ghia.org.
Winter Exhibitions Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta The main gallery exhibition features the work of photographer and painter Luke Andrews and sculptor Wesley L. Stewart. The Balcony Gallery features the work of abstract painter and Augustan Darlene Williams. Both exhibitions will be on display through March 3. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
3 Friends’ Exhibit Jessye Norman School of the Arts Three friends, Frances Force, Marian Owens and Pat Tante, present a collaborative show. Call 706-828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
FLIX Fri Feb 24
6:45pm Family Movie Night Kroc Center A free movie showing. Concessions will be available for purchase. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/.
University Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Fri Feb 24
6:30pm - 9:30pm Weekend Childbirth Education University Hospital Class continues Saturday, February 25, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Sat Feb 25
9am - 4:30pm Short and Sweet Doctors Hospital A weekend childbirth education class that continues Sunday, February 26, from 1-5 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-6512229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Mon Feb 27 6:30pm Refit
Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-8212600 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed Mar 1
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation University Health A four-week class meeting Wednesdays through March 22. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
HOBBIES Sat Feb 25
10am - noon Knitting 175 North Louisville St., Harlem A Harlem Arts Council Class. $35, including yarn. Knitting needles are $5 or bring size 8, 5mm needles. Call 706-556-6656, 706-5132634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
11am, 1pm and 3pm Museum Escape: Red Scare Augusta Museum of History A mystery game in an escape room. 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.
KIDS-TEENS
Tue Feb 28
Fri Feb 24
Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 for weekly selections. Visit arcpls.org.
Aiken Public Library For those ages 0-5. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
HEALTH
4:30pm Lego Club
5:45pm Free Movie Tuesdays
Thu Feb 23
7pm Babies, Bumps and Bruises Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
7pm Infant CPR 23FEBRUARY2017
10am - noon Play & Grow Activity
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library For those in grades K-5. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sat Feb 25
11am Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Mon Feb 27
10am Story Time for Tots
Augusta Museum of History Part of the Mondays at the Museum series for those ages 2-6 and an accompanying adult. $2, members; $4, non-members. Preregistration required. Call 706-722-8454 or email aschaffman@augustamuseum.org.
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time
10am Presidents Day: Political Buttons
10:30am Jr. Lego Club Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
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. Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
10:05am Toddler Story Time
7pm Teen Trivia Night
Appleby Branch Library This is a program best for children ages 18 months-3 years. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
10:30am Preschool Story Time
Tue Feb 28
10am Big Kids Story Time Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 3-6. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Preschool Story Time
Appleby Branch Library For children ages 3-5. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Juice and cookies will be provided by New Moon Cafe. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 3-5. Call 706-7722432 or visit arcpls.org.
LITERARY
Wed Mar 1
Maxwell Branch Library This month’s selection is “The Big Test: The Secret History of the American Meritocracy” by Nicholas Lemann. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
10am Story Time Wallace Branch Library Pre-registration required for groups of 3 or more. Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Thu Feb 23
10am - noon Morning Book Club
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 21
V28|NO8
Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu Feb 23
10am - 6pm Wee-Peats Spring and Summer Consignment Sale 3069 Washington Road, Martinez Visit weepeatsconsignment.net.
10:30am - noon and 6:30 - 8pm Community Open House Columbia County Library Sponsored by NECCO, this is an event for anyone interested in becoming a foster family or adoption. Call 706-210-3435 or visit necco.org.
5pm - 8pm Meet and Greet May Park Community Center Featuring new Marshal Ramone Lampkin and his staff. Visit augustaga.gov.
5:30pm - 7pm Mayor’s Office Hours Diamond Lakes Community Center Mayor Hardie Davis and District 4 Commissioner Sammie Sias will be available for residents who want to share ideas, ask questions, address concerns and meet their neighbors. Free and open to the public. Call 706-821-1831 or visit augustaga.gov.
“9 to 5: The Musical” Imperial Theatre Friday-Saturday, February 24-25, 8 p.m. Sunday, February 26, 3 p.m. Tickets for this Augusta Players production are $20-$48. 706-826-4707 augustaplayers.com
6pm 109th Annual Meeting Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center This Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce event will feature keynote speaker Rob Engstrom on “The Business Agenda in a New Administration.” $60, members; $75, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-821-1300 or visit augustametrochamber.com.
Fri Feb 24 7pm - 9pm Graphic Novel Discussion The Book Tavern This meeting the group, open to older teens and up, will discuss “March Book One” by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. Call 706826-1940 or email david@booktavern.com.
Fri Feb 24
7pm - 9pm Author Reading and Signing The Book Tavern Featuring Michael Loyd Gray, author of the new book “Still Sort of Original in Unoriginal Times.” Call 706-826-1940 or visit booktavern.com.
Wed Mar 1
6pm Page Turners Book Club Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
MUSIC Thu Feb 23
7:30pm AU Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Concert 22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
AU’s Maxwell Theatre $5, general; free, students, faculty and staff. Call 706-667-4100 or visit augusta.edu.
Fri Feb 24
7:30pm The Delphi Trio AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre $25, general; $5, students; free, AU students, faculty and staff. Call 706-667-4100 or visit hjcms.org.
Sat Feb 25
2:30pm Guitar Lessons 175 North Louisville Street, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class for those with beginner to intermediate guitar experience. $30. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
6pm Black History Jazz Concert Smith-Hazel Community Center, Aiken Featuring live music from the Soul City Band and Revue, door prizes and light hors d’oeuvres. $10, advance; $15, door. Preregistration recommended. Call 803-642-
7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
10am - 6pm Wee-Peats Spring and Summer Consignment Sale
7:30pm All Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
3069 Washington Road, Martinez Visit weepeatsconsignment.net.
First Baptist Church of Augusta Part of Symphony Orchestra Augusta’s Symphony Series. $20.37-$43.52. Call 706826-4705 or visit soaugusta.org.
7:30pm Soiree: Jazz + Wine Jessye Norman School of the Arts Featuring classic live jazz and wines selected by the host. $7. Call 762-233-5299 or visit jazzsoiree.com.
Tue Feb 28
7pm Richmond County All Elementary School Choral Festival Sacred Heart Cultural Center Free and open to the public. Call 706-8264700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org
SENIORS Thu Feb 23
11am Classic Movie for Seniors Diamond Lakes Branch Library
2pm - 6pm Augusta Home and Garden Show James Brown Arena $7.50, general $6.50, seniors; free, those 16 and under and active-duty military. Visit augustahomeandgardenshow.com.
6:30pm - 10pm Paint Your Palate Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta An event that featuring food, drinks, live music, silent and live auctions, and more. $70, members; $75, non-members. Call 803-4414380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
7pm Wine Tasting Seminar Wine World, North Augusta Featuring My Favorite Wines from the Southern Hemisphere with jean-Pierre Chambas. Participants will taste 10 wines, which will be accompanied by cheese, french bread and other snacks. $25. Pre-registration required. Call 23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
803-279-9522 or wineworldsc.com.
Sat Feb 25
9am - 9pm The Battle of Aiken 1210 Powell Pond Road, Aiken In addition to battle reenactments, there will be living history presentations, reproductions of medical facilities, an engineer and signal service and civilian portrayals. Food vendors will be available. $12, adults; $6, ages 6-12; free, under 5. Visit battleofaiken.org.
9am - noon Wee-Peats Consignment Sale Dollar Dash 3119 Washington Road Visit weepeatsconsignment.net.
10am - 7pm Augusta Home and Garden Show James Brown Arena $7.50, general $6.50, seniors; free, those 16 and under and active-duty military. Visit augustahomeandgardenshow.com.
Noon - 3pm Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic Pendleton King Park An Augusta Animal Services event in which rabies vaccinations will be $5, parvo/ distemper will be $10 and microchipping will be $15. Call 706-796-6836 or visit augustaga.gov.
5pm - 7pm The Initiative: Afro-Centric Festival AU’s Maxwell Theatre Featuring performances by Augusta University Jazz students, the Augusta University Gospel Choir, the Davidson Fine Arts Dancers, Divine Intelligence, Marcus “hashtag” Munlin, Nigel “OP4” Issac, and Unspoken Word. $8, general $3, students. Call 706-667-4100 or visit augusta.edu.
7pm “Follow the Drinking Gourd” 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.
w8pm “Explorers of Mauna Kea” 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 - 11pm Fat Saturday Pub Crawl 11th and Broad streets Presale starts at 4 p.m. and the first 500 to register get a free T-shirt. $10. Visit augustaarts.com.
Sun Feb 26
11am - 5pm Augusta Home and Garden Show James Brown Arena $7.50, general $6.50, seniors; free, those 16 23FEBRUARY2017
and under and active-duty military. Visit augustahomeandgardenshow.com.
Registration is open through April 7. Call 803642-7648 or email cmiller@cityofaikensc.gov.
Mon Feb 27
Run Fit Club
8am - 9:30am Pet Food Pantry Vineyard Community Church Those who need pet food assistance should bring their ID and one pet food holder per pet (up to three). For more information, email bkurevents@gmail.com.
Tue Feb 28
11am - 1:30pm JUSTGeorgia Coalition Luncheon Beulah Grove Baptist Church This lunch and community engagement session features members from this group of children’s policy and advocacy organizations and is sponsored by Augusta’s Interfaith Coalition. RSVP to pperkinscarn@ interfaithchildrensmovement.org.
5pm - 8pm Spayghetti Dinner SPCA Albrecht Center, Aiken A benefit for the center’s low-cost spay and neuter program. $8, advance; $10, door. Call 803-648-6863 or visit letlovelive.org.
SPIRITUAL Thu Mar 2
7pm - 8:30pm Lifting the Veil on Islam Islamic Society of Augusta Part of a monthly program to engage the public in dialog about different issues in Islam. This session will address rebutting terrorism and bigotry. This series, held the first Thursday of each month, is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Email outreach@isaugusta.com or visit facebook.com/ICCAOpenHouse/.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Sun Feb 26
7:30am Augusta University Half Marathon and 10K Lake Olmstead Visit augustahalf.org.
Wed Mar 1
3pm - 9pm Under the Stars Jumper Night Stable View Farm Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
Ongoing
City Cup Corporate Challenge City of Aiken Offered by the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, the City Cup Corporate Challenge provides area businesses the opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles, establish leadership roles, develop employee relationships, enhance existing corporate fitness programs, promote friendly competition, provide company exposure to the community, improve personal skills and boost employee morale.
Kroc Center A club for those ages 16 and older that will meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in March at 5:30 a.m. Pre-registration required. $10, members; $20, non-members. Call 706922-0171 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
SUPPORT Mon Feb 27
Noon Holistic Grief Support Group Ronald McDonald House For caregivers, family members, students and employees. Call 706-721-2929.
Tue Feb 28
10:20am Moms Connection Augusta University Medical Center This free weekly support group for new mothers meets in the Terrace Dining 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.
6pm - 9pm CSRA Parkinson Support Group St. John Towers dining room Featuring Aubrey Rhodes of Rhodes Law Firm, who will reveal the weaknesses of a simple will plan and discuss alternative planning designed to better care for the individual, families and life savings. Free and open to the public. Call 706-364-1662.
Wed Mar 1
1pm - 3pm The Lactation Club University Hospital A breastfeeding support group for mothers of NICU babies. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
5:30pm Girl Talk Support Group Doctors Hospital A support group for those who have pelvic health issues. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
THEATER Thu Feb 23
7:30pm “Crimes of the Heart” Auditions Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre Two men and four women are needed to play characters in this Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre production that shows May 5-20. Call 706-7938552 or email danny.f.posey.naf@mail.mil.
Fri Feb 24
7:30pm “Romeo and Juliet” Aiken Community Playhouse An Aiken Community Playhouse Youth
Wing production. $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
8pm “9 to 5: The Musical” Imperial Theatre Tickets for this Augusta Players production are $20-$48. Call 706-826-4707 or visit augustaplayers.com.
Sat Feb 25
7:30pm “Romeo and Juliet” Aiken Community Playhouse An Aiken Community Playhouse Youth Wing production. $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
8pm “9 to 5: The Musical” Imperial Theatre Tickets for this Augusta Players production are $20-$48. Call 706-826-4707 or visit augustaplayers.com.
Sun Feb 26
3pm “9 to 5: The Musical” Imperial Theatre Tickets for this Augusta Players production are $20-$48. Call 706-826-4707 or visit augustaplayers.com.
3pm “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” Auditions Aiken Community Playhouse The musical production will show in May and June. For more information, call 803-6481438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Mon Feb 27
7pm “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” Auditions Aiken Community Playhouse The musical production will show in May and June. For more information, call 803-6481438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
7pm Quickies 2017 Auditions Le Chat Noir The short play festival featuring nine original scripts by local authors will take place April 14-15 and 20-22 at Le Chat Noir. Veterans and newcomers are encouraged to audition, and the audition will consist of cold readings from the scripts. Call 706-7223322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
8pm Tales from the Box Le Chat Noir Comedy and improv by Schrodinger’s Cat. $10, advance; $12, door. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
V28|NO8 V28|NO8
Coyotes - Westbound 40 Fox’s Lair - Taylor Swan Iron Heights - Open Mic Night Jessye Norman School of the Arts - Soiree: Jazz + Wine Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Downtown Mixup Shannon’s - Shinebox Smith-Hazel Recreation Center (Aiken) - Black History Jazz Concert w/ Soul City Band and Revue Tin Lizzy’s - Lundy Wild Wing - Big Scene The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar on Broad - Sip & Shop Downtown Augusta - Fat Saturday Pub Crawl Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Karaoke Soul Bar - DJ Dance Party
Sunday, February 26 Live Music
Capri Lounge - Vivian Valium & the Lounge Lizard Divas Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Jason Shepard (Scarlet Begonias) The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ Mike Johnson
Monday, February 27 Live Music
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words Soul Bar - Vanessa Silberman, Chelsea Logue
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Wild Wing - Trivia
Tuesday, February 28 Live Music
Liz Brasher w/ Chris Hardy The Soul Bar Thursday, February 23 9 p.m. No cover facebook.com/ lizbrashermusic/ Thursday, February 23 Live Music
Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio w/ Sunny’s Groove Mellow Mushroom (Augusta) - John Kolbeck Mellow Mushroom (Evans) - Shep & Jeff The Red Pepper (Aiken) - Mike Frost Band Sky City - Trae Pierce & the T-Stones Soul Bar - Liz Brasher Wild Wing - Brandon Reeves 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
24 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. John Fisher Joe’s Underground - Open Mic The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
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, February 24 Live Music
Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Country Club - Walker McGuire Coyotes - Matt Brantley Band Fox’s Lair - Fat Bone The Highlander - Me Bad Eye, Special Guest Iron Heights - Invoking the Abstract, Awake at Last, Occido, Subatech Joe’s Underground - Oh, Pilgrim, Gnostic Gospels, Village Sticks
The Loft - Kelly Cheats Polo Tavern (Aiken) - All Bets R Off Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Jazz w/ Doc Easton Shannon’s - The Unmentionables Stillwater Taproom - Sweet Lilies Wild Wing - Black Cat Sunshine The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Oliviana - Latin Social Sky City - ‘90s Night Soul Bar - Disco Hell
Saturday, February 25 Live Music Cork & Bull (Aiken) - Wit’s End Country Club - Ray Fulcher
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 1 Live Music
Bell Auditorium - Styx The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Soul Bar - A Step Up
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 23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8 Home Free
- Imperial Theatre April 13 Steep Canyon Rangers
- Bell Auditorium April 27 Alice Cooper
- 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 Colin Hay
Styx Bell Auditorium Wednesday, March 1 7:30 p.m. $39-$69 877-4AUGTIX georgialinatix.com
- City Winery, Atlanta February 23-24 Martina McBride
- Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta February 24 Joe Bonamassa
- Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah February 25 Arlo Guthrie
- Symphony Hall, Atlanta February 26 Sting
Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
Upcoming
Cracker, The Shaun Piazza Band
- Tabernacle, Atlanta February 27
- Sky City March 24
Young the Giant
Rock Fore! Dough w/ Lady Antebellum, Kip Moore, Bethany and the Southside Boys
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
- The Music Farm, Columbia March 1
Dwight Yoakam
- Evans Towne Center Park April 4
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta March 2
- Bell Auditorium March 3
The Major Rager w/ The Flaming Lips, People of the Sun (by Moon Taxi), The Eric Krasno Band, Stop Light Observations
Japandroids
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta March 3
- Augusta Common April 6
- Terminal West, Atlanta May 17
The Whiskey Gentry, Bethany and the Southside Boys
- Sky City March 3 The High Divers, Motel Radio
- Sky City March 16
23FEBRUARY2017
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
The Major Rager AFter Pary w/ Funk You, Schema
- Sky City April 6
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
Kiefer Sutherland Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 25
V28|NO8
SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Chris and Autumn Robertson at Wild Wing Cafe.
Emily Fields and John Venuti at Wild Wing Cafe.
Pete DeLarosa and Kristi Hawkins at Wild Wing Cafe.
Justina Larocque and Brad Fischl at Farmhaus.
Chris Dalton and Brittany Bennett at Farmhaus.
Josh Compton and Brady Adams at Farmhaus.
Larry and Anne Moss at Whiskey Bar (Kitchen).
Josh Talburt and Meghan Gauntt at Whiskey Bar (Kitchen).
Brittany Mims and Eric Marsden at Whiskey Bar (Kitchen).
26 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
23FEBRUARY2017
V28|NO8
DO THE SPLITS By Lynn Lempel/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Topic for Dr. Ruth 7 Reimbursed expense for a commuter, maybe 14 As yet 19 Sound system? 21 Major export of Florida 22 Blue hue 23 Berate some guy for getting too much sun? 25 Like most “Quo Vadis” characters 26 Altar spot 27 “A bit of talcum / Is always walcum” writer 28 Banquet 29 For whom Nancy was first lady 30 Gives an order 32 Remain undecided 33 Fabric from flax 34 Bearded animal 37 Suggestion to a bored short-story writer? 40 Book reviewer?: Abbr. 43 Having less heft 45 Swinging Ernie 46 35-nation alliance, briefly 47 Drive-____ 48 Fasten 49 Kids’ TV character who refers to himself in the third person 51 Greenhorn on the force 54 Horse for hire 55 Result of a serious wardrobe malfunction at the beach? 57 Hit one out 58 Clean with a pressurized spray 60 First name in daredevilry 61 Turbid 62 Weighty matters? 63 He can be seen at the western end of the National Mall, informally 64 Pens for hens 65 Toast word 67 M, on a form 69 March movement 73 It may deliver a punch 74 Scientist’s dilemma regarding work vs. play? 76 “My only love sprung from my only ____!”: Juliet 77 Entry 79 Wild revelry 80 Archives material 81 Gist
1
2
3
4
5
6
19
82 Sight at Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park 83 Gist 84 It’s a drain 85 Entry on an I.R.S. form: Abbr. 86 Dismaying announcement about disaster aid? 91 What’s right in front of the tee? 92 Photographer Arbus 94 Old gang weapons 95 Heart of the matter? 97 Bit of cushioning 99 Arrears 100 Glitch 101 “Waterloo” band 105 Corroded 106 Roker’s appeal before gastric bypass surgery? 109 Turn aside 110 Bad look 111 Five-alarmer 112 Irritable 113 Spreadsheet contents 114 Dripping DOWN 1 Tour grp. since 1950 2 Breakfast chain 3 Disapproving sounds 4 Gather 5 “What’s the ____?” 6 Alito’s Supreme Court predecessor 7 Creature on the movie poster for “The Silence of the Lambs” 8 With 34-Down, longtime public radio host 9 Some space vehicles 10 It must turn over to start 11 Docket 12 With 42-Down, “Frosty the Snowman” singer 13 Super suffix? 14 Pacific island wrap 15 Worry of stratospheric proportions 16 “That villain in comics has sure gotta be sore!”? 17 Desiccated ____ Sea 18 Tear apart 20 Plunger alternative 24 Deputy: Abbr. 29 Dentist’s directive 31 Tip 32 Traffic cone 33 Those who need sound memories, per Montaigne
34 See 8-Down 35 W. Hemisphere treaty of 1994 36 What a cash-strapped beau might take you on? 38 Pay 39 Certain rod 41 Was a busybody 42 See 12-Down 44 Beatrix Potter’s genre 47 Conveyance for soldiers 49 Timeline sections 50 ____ Palmas (Spanish province) 51 Talk wildly 52 Way to go: Abbr. 53 Pricey French fashion label 55 Club cousins 56 Utah’s ____ State University 59 Cap similar to a tam-o’-shanter 61 London tea accessory 63 Fleshy-leaved succulent 64 1950s French president René 65 Steamed seafood dish 66 Abductor of Persephone 67 Exhibitor at 1863’s Salon des Refusés 68 Something easy, so they say 69 “Grand Hotel” star, 1932 70 A.A. or AAA 71 Group’s basic beliefs 72 Tool parts used for bending things 74 Run out 75 High hairdos 78 Jeer 80 Take some shots 83 Annoys 84 Ad-agency output 86 Devil-may-care 87 “Aha!” 88 Mystical doctrine 89 Talk wildly 90 Gaming trailblazer 93 Sluggish 96 Having no room for more 97 Fuel from a fen 98 Building’s rain diverter 99 Sobel who wrote the Pulitzer-nominated “Galileo’s Daughter” 100 Editor’s override 102 One with a lot of tweets 103 Treat for a dog 104 Presently 106 Supplied 107 Parliamentary support 108 Corp. bigwig
7 20
23
35
36
43
11
12
13
14
37
49
54
39
45
46
50
51
59
67
77
78
81
82
85
68
87
69
109
110
112
113
103
104
76 80 84
88
89
90
91
95
99 106
72
70
94
98
71
61
79
105
42
64
83
86
41
57
75
93
40
53
60
74
92
52
63
66
18
47
56
62
73
17
33
38
55
58
16
29
32
44
15
25 28
31
48
97
10
22
27 30
65
9
24
26
34
8
21
96
100
101
107
102
108 111 114
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS P A D D I N G
O C O N N O R
I M E A N N O
L G B T
E U R O
A M E N
S P A C O L I M B R S L I L O G A D H B E T
N T E S T H I E R E T K D N I B Y A K I T Y O R U E I G D E I N O C T Y
R E A D I N T A R D I S
S T R E A K E D O H G E E Z
T R A I H I S L A D I O E A S R N E E N N O T E I W I N P O S A L E G L A R E E E R A T N F O E Y O
W I D T H
I S E E A
N E G E V
C U R I E
E L E N A
N I E T O
E F R O N
C A S H
T S O T S I
G G Y O P O F T A S G U S A
D E A N S
S C R I P I T E S S U P N O S I S H C E I E N S E I E R M A S T E L E X E R E E R P T Y S
T H A T C H E R
A L I S T E R S
N O N O
D E S K
L P A E V P
M O O L I N G A D E R X I L E A B L E R I O R A G O N E K E O L O S R O U T A W T O
V28|NO8
THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS Three new films were no match for The Batman, even in Lego form. RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
$32,655,114
$97,221,428
2
1
2
FIFTY SHADES DARKER
$20,276,260
$88,972,715
2
2
3
THE GREAT WALL
$18,469,620
$18,469,620
1
-
4
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER TWO
$16,216,961
$58,409,044
2
3
5
FIST FIGHT
$12,201,873
$12,201,873
1
-
In Theaters February 24
HORROR “Get Out,” rated R, starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison
ACTION FAMILY “Collide,” rated PG-13, starring Nicholas Hoult, Felicity “Rock Dog,” rated PG, starring Luke Wilson, Eddie Izzard,
Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford. Ever since the secret midnight screening of this movie at the Sundance Film Festival, we’ve been excited for it to come to a theater near us. After all, it’s an idea conceived of by Jordan Peele, one half of the hilarious Key & Peele. Peele also directed this one, about an interracial couple who travels to visit her parents in a town where the boyfriend begins to suspect that something is not quite right. We hope Peele is half as good at horror as he is at comedy.
Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley. Poor Casey: All this reformed car thief is trying to do is have a nice, relaxing wander around Europe with the love of his life. Unfortunately, she gets nabbed by Hannibal Lecter himself, and he has to do this evil drug lord’s bidding to save her. We’d dismiss this one immediately were it not for Anthony Hopkins’ presence and Ben Kingsley’s showboating. He’s seriously over the top.
28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
J.K. Simmons, Lewis Black, Kenan Thompson, Matt Dillon, Sam Elliott. A dog decides he wants to be a rock star instead of a guard, which is apparently the family business. So he attempts to follow in the footsteps of his hero, a cat (?)named Angus Scattergood. Eh, it’ll probably keep the kids occupied for an hour or two. That’s the goal, right?
23FEBRUARY2017
“CELEBRATING 34 YEARS”
Learn to be an
technologist
U
niversity Hospital’s Stephen W. Brown, M.D. School of Radiography, now in its 34th year, is accepting applications for classes beginning in July 2017. This 24-month program is accredited through the JRCERT, www.jrcert.org. Applicants must possess a minimum of an Associates Degree in any discipline and an overall grade point average of 2.25. College Algebra and English (or Communication) are also required. After completing the
Stephen W. Brown, M.D. School of Radiography University Hospital 1350 Walton Way Augusta, GA 30901-2612 706/774-5010
program, students receive a Certificate of Radiography and are eligible for the National ARRT Registry Exam. applications are available online at www.universityhealth.org/allied-health/ school-of-radiography. For information, contact Patty Graham or Nancy Elliott at 706/774-5010, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or write to the address below. Class size is limited. To meet the eligibility deadline, all material must be received by May 15, 2017.
www.universityhealth.org/allied-health