This week’s column will go from one end of the spectrum to the other, illuminating some topics that we all know about and then revealing some things people are trying to keep in the background.
Let us start with the senseless killing that happened this weekend — our very first murder of the year. An 8-year-old-girl was killed in the process of a drive-by shooting over in the southside projects. As you likely were too, I was very upset not hearing from the sheriff that night. Actually, I was upset about not hearing from anyone at all.
There was “grandstanding” took place over voter registration, district lines and anything else you can think of, but when we have such violence strike our neighborhoods — not a preacher, not a activist, not a politician was anywhere in sight.
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I do appreciate the information that was later gathered in reference to the need to follow up a lead. It later turned into a clue and a description of a vehicle to look for. Someone said to me (and I believe them now) that if Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree didn’t do a press conference, he already had relevant information.
However, just think about how the community response and level of trust could have skyrocketed positively if the sheriff himself, not subordinates, would have wrapped his arms around that community that very night.
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Either way, what’s done is done, and let’s just all pray that the killer or killers are apprehended.
I also believe that if something would have been said that night we would not have had a car stolen, chased and flipped about 500 feet from the original incident, another shooting that involved three people getting shot at and two injured and another shooting that injured two and left one in critical condition.
Let’s just say this: it seems as if these people feel that they can do whatever they want because no one will stick around long enough to make sure they act right.
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Speaking of acting right, I received reports of a person or persons trying to insert themselves in an upcoming state court judge’s race. This, of course, is the race that will be to replace the retiring Judge David Watkins, slated to retire in December 2022.
According to information I gathered so far (and I know more will come), it may be a desperate attempt to find someone to run against Attorney Ashanti Lilley. In case you missed it, she announced she will be running for Judge Watkins’ seat. This comes after a failed attempt to smear Judge Watkins’ name a bit — which Lilly had nothing to do with.
Many reporters are working to get to the bottom of this evil deed as you read this column. Judge Watkins is loved and highly respected.
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There will be more shaking out around this soon. I have had a few local reporters and some local politicos who are looking into this. This is not over by any account, and the person or persons involved may have tried to throw a rock and hide their hand, but the rock had ink on it.
On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Steven B. Kendrick will be announcing his intentions to run for mayor of Augusta. Without a doubt, I will be in attendance because I am looking forward to hearing his plans about moving Augusta forward. I was planning on sitting back and waiting on the press release to see what he talked about, but when I was getting calls from some of this community’s heavy hitters from all areas, I thought it better to see for myself.
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Did someone say indictment? Well, even if you didn’t, pre-trial motions in the Commissioner Sammie Sias’s case are due by Jan. 18. I think everyone will know soon what the next course of action will be and what the soon-to-be former commissioner has decided to do.
I’ll just say this: Alvin Mason can go ahead and get comfortable in that chair.
Speaking of getting comfortable, please keep Commissioner Jordan Johnson in your prayers as we are hope for a speedy recovery. He announced last week he was battling COVID-19, and he had plenty of symptoms to go along with it. I am sure he will bounce back without any issues.
Last — and most interesting — is about these lawsuits that could be coming against Augusta; more specifically, a department head. This comes after several county employees died of COVID-19. Word is the department head was more focused on meetings in neighboring counties concerning a county contractor than they were on keeping their employees safe. If you are getting your marching orders from the former chief, you better. Well, here I go getting ahead of myself again.
Michael Meyers is a Columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
