More than a dozen students in grades five through 12 from schools in North Augusta were recognized at the Dec. 20 city council meeting.
The students were the winners of a writing contest launched by Mayor Briton Williams at the Nov. 1 city council meeting. The students were asked to write an essay on the topic “If I were Mayor of North Augusta, what would I do to make the city a better place to live.”
“This is about giving our youth a voice,” said Williams before announcing the winners. “I was very surprised by the themes around social issues that were pretty consistent throughout all the essays. Not surprised in a bad way, but I really did not know what to expect. One thing that was evident to me in these writings was that we have a younger generation that is very concerned about the environment. They see the issues of litter in our community; the need to protect our natural resources and the importance of being good stewards of nature.”
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One winner from each grade was selected from the seven public schools in North Augusta along with Our Lady of Peace Catholic School and Victory Christian School.
The winners are: McKenna Hunsaker, Grade 5, Belvedere Elementary School; Rayna Behr, Grade 5, Hammond Hill Elementary School; Natalie Bodkin, Grade 5, Mossy Creek Elementary School; Cyrus Howard, Grade 5, North Augusta Elementary School; Bryanna Rich, Grade 6, North Augusta Middle School; Marianne Fleury, Grade 6, Emma Sherman, Grade 7, Amber Thomason, Grade 8, Paul Knox Middle School; Aliyah Raquel Sabo, Grade 7, Our Lady of Peace School; Nataley Ferguson, Grade 7, Victory Christian School; Megan Arnold, Grade 9, Gage Runyan, Grade 10, Kinder Alexander, Grade 11, Lia Murphy, Grade 12, North Augusta High School.
Each of the students was called forward to be thanked by the mayor. They were given certificates to memorialize their winning essay along with a City of North Augusta lapel pin.
There was also a contest for students in grades one through four. The students were asked to draw “What Superpower Does the Mayor of North Augusta Need” as their theme. More than 80 drawings were received. They are hanging in the lobby of the municipal building near the Arts and Heritage Center.
In other action, council members approved a contract with G&P Construction, Hauling and Environmental, LLC for just over $10,000. The company will remove asbestos from the remains of a motel on the Georgia Avenue site where a new public safety headquarters will be built.
City Administrator Jim Clifford said at an earlier meeting he anticipates the asbestos abatement could be finished by early January. After that, city crews will remove the motel.
Council members also approved recommendations from the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee on how to disburse $76,065.13 among eight organizations.
MORE: North Augusta accommodations tax revenue being distributed
The committee decided the amount of disbursements during its Dec. 8 meeting.
The funds will go to the Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, $25,000; Arts and Heritage Center, $2,000; Spring Concert at Sharon Jones Amphitheater/Friends with Benefits, $10,000; Spring River Event, $10,000; Vaughn Taylor Championship, American Junior Golf Association, $5,000; Pole Barn with fireplace, Olde Towne Preservation Association, $6,564.13; Sharon Jones Amphitheater Concert Series/NAPRT, $15,000; Entertainment Event MFOCTA/BLOA Joint Academy City of North Augusta, $2,500
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
