James Folker
Augusta Chronicle
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Past articles by James:
North Augusta council hears from animal advocates
North Augusta is doing better in taking care of its stray animals, but one more step would make a big, positive difference, city council members were told Monday night during a presentation by Friends of North Augusta Animals. The city has a contract with a veterinarian at its animal holding facility, but only for euthanasia. If that vet could give rabies shots, volunteers could be brought in to… → Read More
North Augusta approves ballot language to bond sales tax proceeds
North Augusta City Council held a brief called meeting Monday night to give final approval to two measures with deadlines. In a unanimous vote with all members present, council voted to approve language that will appear on the November ballot along with Capital Project Sales Tax 4. North Augustans will be asked whether they approve of the tax overall and whether they approve of letting the city… → Read More
Aiken County 911 experiencing difficulty with calls
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office was experiencing trouble with incoming 911 calls, due to problems with AT&T, according to a news release. → Read More
North Augusta council rejects Mountaineer Pest request on overlay district
North Augusta City Council rejected Mountaineer Pest Service's request to exempt it from the city's Neighborhood Preservation Overlay in a 3-3 vote Monday night. Mayor Bob Pettit and Councilmen Bob Brooks and David McGhee voted for the request. James Adams, Fletcher Dickert and Ken McDowell voted against. Councilwoman Pat Carpenter recused herself from the vote after opponents of the request… → Read More
Loverboy will headline Jack O'Lantern Jubilee in North Augusta
Crowds at this year's Jack O'Lantern Jubilee will be entertained by Mark Chesnutt, Diamond Rio and Loverboy.And it won't cost a dime. The annual event is → Read More
North Augusta council gives preliminary OK to Mountaineer expansion
The North Augusta City Council gave preliminary approval Monday night to a request to remove property owned by Mountaineer Pest Control from the → Read More
Federal judge denies DOE's request to stay injunction on MOX
A federal judge has denied the Department of Energy’s request to stay her injunction keeping it from shutting down construction of the mixed oxide → Read More
Columbia County man gets 23 months in prison in MOX fraud case
COLUMBIA — Phillip Thompson, who headed a conspiracy to steal millions from the mixed oxide fuel project at Savannah River Site, was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday.Thompson also must pay $4,580,469.83 in restitution, which is due immediately, and serve three years of supervised release after prison.Despite Thompson’s repeated pleas for a sentence of home confinement because of his poor… → Read More
North Augusta council hears construction update on Riverside Village
GreenJackets’ fans should be able to wash down some Southbound Smokehouse barbecue with a cold beer from Sweetwater Brewing Co. by late July to early August, but those will probably be the last of the retail openings inside the stadium this season, North Augusta City Council was told Monday night.But Chris Schoen of Greenstone Properties said in a Riverside Village construction update, all the… → Read More
Judge doesn't rule on plan to scrap MOX; jobs still in limbo
COLUMBIA — Unless a judge issues a temporary restraining order, the Department of Energy could fire all the workers building the mixed oxide facility at Savannah River Site on Monday.DOE’s plans were discussed during a hearing in federal court Tuesday, where lawyers for South Carolina’s attorney general argued that losing the workforce means MOX will never be finished and South Carolina will end… → Read More
North Augusta council delays decision on preservation district
The North Augusta City Council heard Monday night from a host of residents for and against allowing changes in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District requested by Mountaineer Pest Control and decided that it needed more time to make a decision.Mountaineer’s request was tabled again, after having been removed from the table for discussion by a 4-3 vote. Mayor Bob Pettit and Councilmen Bob… → Read More
North Augusta residents blast city over fire station plans, threaten lawsuit
Tempers flared Monday night among a group of residents who oppose North Augusta's plans to build a fire station next to the historic district, and the → Read More
North Augusta to re-examine zoning overlay
A standing-room-only crowd of North Augusta residents packed into the city council’s conference room Monday night for a study session on rezoning and overlay districts.There was an elephant in the room, too.While the discussion among members of the council and planning commission focused on a request by Mountaineer Pest Control to amend the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District, many of the… → Read More
USCA grads urged to make most of what they've earned, learned
AIKEN — If they took to heart the words they heard at commencement Wednesday night, USC Aiken graduates didn’t sleep in this morning. → Read More
North Augusta council looks ahead to lock and dam funding
North Augusta City Council voted Monday night to add the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam to its list of projects to be considered for funding under Capital Projects Sales Tax 4 – just in case other efforts to preserve the river level fall short.No dollar amount will be designated for the lock and dam, but the city could find opportunities to shift sales tax dollars within CPST4 over the next… → Read More
Aiken County school bond referendum passes
A $90 million bond issue for Aiken County's schools was approved by voters Tuesday.With 91 of 92 precincts reporting, the vote was 54 percent yes and 46 → Read More
3 sought in shooting, robbery of man
Aiken County deputies were searching Sunday for three suspects in the robbery and shooting of a man in Warrenville, according to a new release.Deputies → Read More
3 sought in shooting, robbery of man
Aiken County deputies were searching Sunday for three suspects in the robbery and shooting of a man in Warrenville, according to a new release.Deputies → Read More
Irish Travelers sentenced in federal racketeering case
Four more defendants in the Irish Traveler racketeering case have been sentenced.Johnny Mack was ordered to serve 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy. He also was sentenced to three years on supervised release and was ordered to pay $805,498.68 in restitution.Jimmy Gorman and Leslie C. Gorman each were sentenced to 21 months' incarceration, followed by two years of supervised… → Read More
MOX defendant asks judge for home confinement
COLUMBIA — Phillip Thompson, one of two contract employees at Savannah River Site accused of stealing more than $4 million from the mixed oxide fuel project, is too old and too sick to go to prison, his lawyer told a federal judge Monday during a sentencing hearing.Further, if the government lets Thompson serve his sentence under home confinement, it won’t have to pay his high medical bills,… → Read More