In today’s Digest:
🚔 Georgia POST accepted certification-revocation recommendations for eight Richmond County school police officers.
🚧 The Storm Branch Road bridge has missed another deadline as construction enters its third year.
🔬 More than $366,000 raised by PACELINE is funding six Georgia Cancer Center research grants.
🥾 North Augusta won $100,000 for an ADA path, parking and other Palmetto Parkway Trailhead upgrades.
🎒 Richmond County registration help runs through July 29 before classes begin Aug. 5 and 6.
British Pub Fare on Georgia Avenue Since 1978
At 133B Georgia Avenue in North Augusta, The Highlander has served the River Region since David and Celia Drakeley established the British pub in 1978. The menu keeps its English roots with shepherd's pie, Scotch eggs, sausages, beer, and spirits.
The lived-in room runs on neighborhood-pub energy, with darts, Wednesday open mics, Saturday karaoke, and Friday live bands. Regulars gather over shepherd's pie and a pint in one of the CSRA's longest-running local bars.
Read more here.
Your Paycheck Has a Ceiling, This Business Doesn't
Between all the families steadily moving in, Augusta households move all year long, and most of them need a mover. Most of that work still goes to companies nobody recommends twice, which is exactly the gap Pink Zebra Moving was built to fill, with hot-pink zebra-striped trucks and a customer experience people actually rave about.
It comes from Ron Holt, who grew a single cleaning store into a $40 million, 90-location brand before selling it and pointing the same playbook at moving. Owners get comprehensive training, a recession-resistant service, and no moving experience is required because the model runs semi-absentee alongside what you already do.
The numbers show what is possible: franchisee Drue Chrisman’s location generated $2.5 million in revenue and $707,000 in net operating income in its first full calendar year, even after franchise expenses and new-truck purchases.* Across the network, franchise owners average $135,904 in net operating income.*
Augusta gets only one owner, and whoever raises their hand first gets the territory.
If you have been quietly wanting something of your own with no ceiling on the upside, tap below to explore the model and request more information directly from the Pink Zebra team.
Thank you to our local sponsors who make this publication possible!
📚 A Downtown Augusta Bookstore Built for People Who Still Love to Browse
The Book Tavern feels like the kind of place downtown is supposed to have: shelves worth wandering, staff who know what readers are actually looking for, and events that give people a reason to come back.
Inside its Broad Street shop next to Nacho Mama’s, you’ll find new, used, and rare books, plus recommendations that go beyond whatever an algorithm would hand you.
Founded in 2005, The Book Tavern has grown with Augusta through multiple downtown locations while staying focused on the same thing: good books and a stronger local community.
That shows up in the store’s book clubs, author events, local drives, and partnerships with arts and literary groups across the city.
Stop by 978 Broad Street this week and ask what the staff is recommending right now.
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this publication possible 🙏
🚔 Eight School Officers Face Certification Revocation
The Gist: The Georgia POST Council accepted recommendations to revoke the certifications of eight Richmond County school police officers in June. Investigators said officers shared answer keys for required online courses on human trafficking and de-escalation, while one officer described a department culture where cheating had become routine.
Why It Matters: The findings raise questions about training standards and oversight inside the police department responsible for Richmond County schools. The school system said it could not comment while the personnel matter remains active.
What's Next: The officers have 30 days to request a pre-hearing conference or administrative hearing and file a notarized response with the required fee.
Read more here.
🚧 Storm Branch Bridge Misses Another Deadline
The Gist: The Storm Branch Road bridge project in Beech Island missed its July target as construction stretched into a third year. SCDOT said utility coordination, right-of-way acquisition, added land needs and extra work discovered after the old bridge came down contributed to the delays.
Why It Matters: The closure has turned some five-minute trips into 20- to 30-minute detours for nearby residents. Those detours will also carry school traffic when classes resume.
What's Next: Crews still must finish the bridge deck, asphalt surface, concrete wall, pavement markings and rumble strips. SCDOT now expects the bridge to reopen later this summer, weather permitting.
Read more here.
🔬 PACELINE Funds Six Augusta Cancer Studies
The Gist: PACELINE awarded six research grants to Georgia Cancer Center scientists using more than $366,000 raised during PaceDay 2025. One recipient, Dr. Gerald Wallace, will study whether routine bloodwork can help track brain tumor treatment, recurrence and dangerous blood-clot risk.
Why It Matters: The money stays in Augusta and moves locally developed cancer research forward. PACELINE has raised more than $2 million since 2019 and funded more than 30 grants tied to the Georgia Cancer Center.
What's Next: The next PaceDay fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4.
Read more here.
🥾 North Augusta Wins $100K Trailhead Grant
The Gist: North Augusta received a $100,000 Recreation Trails Program grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for the Palmetto Parkway Trailhead. The money will pay for parking, an ADA-accessible trail connection, a privacy shelter, benches and signs.
Why It Matters: The trail already draws hundreds of users each month, and the long-term plan is to connect it with North Augusta's Greeneway system, which serves thousands. The accessibility work will make the trailhead usable for more residents.
Read more here.
🎒 Richmond County Sets School Return Dates
The Gist: Richmond County elementary students return Aug. 5, while K-8, middle, high and magnet students begin Aug. 6. Returning families must complete their annual information update and bus registration in Infinite Campus, while new and transferring students can register through the district website.
Why It Matters: Incomplete registration can delay bus assignments and class schedules, so the district is asking every family to update records before school starts.
What's Next: Schools offer registration help from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through July 29. Elementary open houses are Aug. 3, followed by K-8, middle, high and magnet open houses Aug. 4.
Read more here.
🎶 Live Music: Carolina Jamboree | Carolina Jamboree Building | North Augusta | Friday, July 17, 7:00-10:00 PM | More
A family-friendly live music show with concessions and donation-based admission.
🧱 LEGO Club | Friedman Branch Library | Augusta | Saturday, July 18, 1:00-2:00 PM | More
Young builders can sharpen their LEGO skills during an all-ages club session.
🎬 Movies at the Miller: National Treasure | Miller Theater | Augusta | Sunday, July 19, 2:00-5:00 PM | More
See National Treasure free on the big screen, with advance ticket reservations recommended.
🎨 Morris Museum of Art: Art Project | Friedman Branch Library | Augusta | Tuesday, July 21, 10:30-11:30 AM | More
Children ages 5 to 12 make art with a Morris Museum guest.
🐔 Cluck vs. Chomp: A Puppet Adventure | Jeff Maxwell Branch Library | Augusta | Wednesday, July 22, 10:30-11:30 AM | More
A registered puppet storytime for children through age 11 and their caregivers.
🎸 On the Border: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute | Miller Theater | Augusta | Friday, July 17, 8:00-10:00 PM | More
Hear classic Eagles hits, from Hotel California to Take It Easy.
🐝 Tipsy Spelling B-E-E: Nighnth Edition | Le Chat Noir Theatre | Augusta | Saturday, July 18, 8:00-11:00 PM | More
Spelling rounds and included drinks raise funds for Le Chat Noir.
🎤 Candlelight Music: A.E. The Cool | Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds | Augusta | Sunday, July 19, admission 6:00 PM, concert 7:30 PM | More
A.E. The Cool brings R&B and soul to an outdoor Sunday concert.
🧶 Sip & Stitch Club | Diamond Lakes Library | Hephzibah | Monday, July 20, 3:30-4:45 PM | More
Bring a knitting or crochet project plus tea and meet other local crafters.
🖼️ The Curated Palette | Westobou Gallery | Augusta | Thursday, July 23, 6:00-7:30 PM | More
Explore exhibition curation, make a collage, and enjoy a glass of wine.
Thanks for reading Our Newsletter! We’ll have more updates for you next week!
What did you think of this week's newsletter? |
Business owners: Want to reach our 6,000+ readers? Reply to this email.