An ogre, a love story, Irish dancers, a rom-com and two notorious murderesses are set to take the stage this season at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center.

While the previous lineups included four shows, the 2024-25 Broadway in Columbia County series will feature one-night showings of five musicals.

“Our goal is to bring in entertainment options for the community, and we had an opportunity to add an additional show this year,” says Katie Cason, the PAC assistant general manager. “We’re thrilled to have five shows.”

The season kicks off on Friday, October 4 with Shrek the Musical. Based on the Oscar-winning animated film, Shrek tells the story of a lovable ogre who finds himself on a life-changing journey with a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue.

“People of all ages know and love the story of Shrek,” says Cason.

On Monday, December 2, Hadestown will take the stage. Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, this show is a timeless love story. The musical intertwines the lives of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice and of King Hades and his wife, Persephone, as it takes the audience on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.

“Hadestown has been in the market before, but people aren’t as familiar with that name,” Cason says. “I think people will be excited to see it for that reason. It’s a great story of mythical tales.”

The third show, Riverdance 30 – The New Generation, is a twist on an old favorite with new choreography and costumes. As part of its special 30th anniversary tour, the show – perfect for a date night – is scheduled for Friday, February 14.

On Thursday, April 24, Pretty Woman: The Musical will offer a fresh take on a favorite Hollywood rom-com. “People know and love this storyline, so I think it will be popular,” says Cason.

The season wraps up on Wednesday, May 14 with Chicago. The story, set in the Windy City’s Jazz Age, follows two of Cook County Jail’s most notorious murderesses – vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart – as they become fierce rivals in their competition for headlines amid a media frenzy.

Photos courtesy of Arts in the Heart of Augusta

Art, international food, music and dance are the stars of this annual outdoor festival.

Arts in the Heart of Augusta represents cultures around the world with flair, but as one of the area’s most well-known events, it also helps the community shine.

This year the awarding-winning festival, which regularly attracts 100,000-plus attendees, will feature more than 150 juried fine arts and crafts artists from across the United States.

In addition, 20 authentic cuisine booths will populate the global food village. Food booths will include fare from Jamaica, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, China, Germany, India, France, Ireland, Laos, Sudan, South Sudan, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Lebanon, Trinidad, Philippines, Latin America and the Pacific Islands. A specialty beer garden also will be part of the festivities.

Along with international cuisine, the festival will offer five stages of non-stop entertainment that include everything from hip hop to jazz to rock. The Global Stage on the Augusta Common will feature cultural music and dance as well as popular music into the evening.

An indoor Jazz Stage offers jazz, blues and roots performances. Also indoors, the Soul Suite Stage will be the place to find poetry, storytelling, acoustic music, soul, spoken word and improv.

The Family Stage also will return with performances that appeal to children and families, and the Community Stage will showcase the area’s local talent.

Performers will include the platinum-selling Austin alt-rock band, Fastball, which will take the Global Stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 21. The band includes guitarist Miles Zuniga, guitarist/singer Tony Scalzo and drummer Joey Shuffield.

Fastball’s chart-topping hits include “The Way” and “Out Of My Head.” In addition to old favorites, the group will perform songs from its new album, Sonic Ranch.

Jazz performer Georgia Muldrow will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, September 20 on the Jazz Stage. Her Overload album was nominated for a 2020 Grammy, and she has collaborated with famed musicians such as Robert Glasper, Adrian Younge, Ambrose Akinmursire, Justin Brown’s Nyeusi and Keyon Harrold.

The large Family Area will be packed with interactive children’s activities, street performers, public art and a Young Artists Market. Atlanta puppeteer Lee “That Puppet Guy” Bryan will be a featured performance on the Family Stage.

Local artists will paint live all weekend with the return of Artzilla. The Authors Lounge, featuring Georgia authors and book signings, also will be back. Limited edition 2024 festival merchandise, including the collectible Festival Teddy Bears, will be available as well.

Arts in the Heart was named the Best Festival by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2020 and “Best for 2023” Festival – ranked 52nd best in the entire country – by Sunshine Artist.

The festival will be held on Broad Street and the Augusta Common. The festivities were slated to take place this year at its original location on and around Telfair Street. However, it was moved after the road construction schedule for Telfair Street was announced in July. Road construction on Broad Street, which initially prompted the relocation, will now start in 2025.

No pets or coolers will be allowed onsite. However, lawn chairs are welcome. The festival will be held rain or shine. Updates about inclement weather will be posted on the Arts in the Heart home page and social media.

If You Go:

What: Arts in the Heart of Augusta

When: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friday, September 20; 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, September 21 and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, September 22

Where: Downtown Augusta

How Much: $15 in advance; $20 at the gate; VIP – $80 single, $150 for two; free for children 10 and under; badges are good for the entire weekend

More Info: artsintheheartofaugusta.com

Evans recently was named one of the top five cities in Georgia by USA Today.

Using 16 different metrics, the publication’s Homefront research team ranked Evans second overall out of 32 cities for having the lowest crime rate of the 32 cities, one of the state’s lowest unemployment rates at 2.5%, top-rated schools and amenities such as Evans Towne Center Park and Savannah River access.

With a typical home value of more than three times the median household income, Evans also ranked third for home affordability.

Sally Kolar photo

Jones Creek Golf Course is slated to re-open in August 2025, the Jones Creek HOA recently announced.

The property reached an agreement with Bond Global of Aiken, which opened a driving range there in April 2023, to renovate and reopen the golf course.

Jones Creek originally was designed by Rees Jones and redone by Tom Fazio, and the design will not change.

Because of an unresolved lawsuit against Columbia County about stormwater runoff that flooded parts of the layout, the golf course has been closed since September 2018. 

The Columbia County School District Police Department recently received state certification by successfully completing the Georgia Association Chiefs of Police Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

After a rigorous application and process review, the CCSDPD joins the ranks of only 140 top law enforcement agencies to successfully demonstrate best practices for effective and professional law enforcement.

Out of 700 law enforcement agencies across the state, 41 are school police and the CCSDPD is one of only five of the state’s 180 school districts with certification. Cornerstones of the certification program include professionalism, positive community support, transparency, ethical conduct and more.

As part of the accreditation process, the CCSDPD met a required 141 standards covering nine areas essential to effective law enforcement. Additionally, the typical 36-month process was completed by the CCSDPD in 13 months.

On August 23 and 24, community members across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and now Florida are invited to help count pollinators as part of the annual Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a UGA Extension project.

Participants are asked to spend 15 minutes observing a favorite flowering plant and counting the insects that land on it, from butterflies and bees to dragonflies and beetles.

No experience is required, and all ages are invited to join the count – individuals, families, schools, youth groups, co-workers, gardeners and any other interested community members.

A census guide is available online that contains all of the details – how to count, how to identify insects that you see and how to submit the counts. There also is a counting sheet that can be printed to take to the garden.

For more information about the project, visit gsepc.org.

A multi-phased process that could bring changes to Columbia County is underway but far from over.

Déjà vu, anyone? As it did in the early 2000s, Columbia County once again is exploring the possibility of forming a consolidated government.

This time, however, the county is following a different path. Under the current scenario, the unincorporated portions of the county first would incorporate into a city, and the initial phase of the process – a fiscal feasibility study – is complete.

The study found that it would be feasible fiscally for Columbia County to incorporate its entire land area, excluding the cities of Grovetown and Harlem, into a new city and then merge with the county to create a consolidated government.

“This is something we’ve talked about for a long time. When we look at the financial aspects of this, it just makes sense,” says Scott Johnson, county manager.

While the study found that incorporation and consolidation could be feasible fiscally, it did not address the social, political or governance aspects of the proposal.

Under incorporation and consolidation, the new municipality would become Georgia’s sixth largest city. However, voters will have the final say in the matter, which could take three years to decide.

Fiscal Feasibility

A feasibility study is required by the state House of Representatives before it can consider legislation that proposes incorporation. Now that the report is complete, legislation could be drafted this year and come up for a vote the following year. “It could go before the voters the year after that,” Johnson says.

However, he says the next step is to gather public input, which could begin in late spring or early summer.

“Some people are very excited about the possibility. Some people are very apprehensive about it,” Johnson says. “We’re gathering information, and we’re going to put it before the voters.”

Conducted by Valdosta State University, the study is available online at columbiacountyga.gov.

The report concludes, “Based on our analysis, we find existing revenues of $248 million exceed likely expenditures for the services identified to be provided, projected at $191 million, and therefore have concluded that the City of Columbia is likely fiscally feasible.”

According to the study, consolidation could provide the county with additional revenue streams such as franchise fees, which are paid by companies or utilities to operate within a county or municipality.

For the purpose of the study, Georgia Power fees were examined. As of March 2023, the county franchise fees were 1.1839% of usage cost, and Georgia Power’s municipal franchise fee rate was 3.0647% of usage cost.

“Franchise fees would go up if we were inside a city,” Johnson says. “We’re missing out on $8.4 million in revenue.”

While county residents’ power bills would increase annually by about $23, he continues, the new municipality could use the fees to reduce the current millage rate of 4.895 by 0.808 mills to 4.087.

Other potential revenue sources could include an increase in hotel/motel taxes, grants and expanded code enforcements.

What About Grovetown and Harlem?

“There are a lot of unanswered questions,” says Gary Jones, Grovetown’s mayor and a lifelong Columbia County resident. “From a personal standpoint, I like the aspect of having a rural area in the county.”

In addition, Grovetown and Harlem would be landlocked with no possibility of growth through annexation.

According to the county’s Geographic Information Systems Department, Grovetown has 556 acres of undeveloped land. However, Jones says, “Areas that are undeveloped are in the inner core. We need to spread out so we don’t have so much traffic congestion.”

He says he would like to negotiate with county officials in the near future about letting the city accumulate more land through annexation.

According to the county GIS department, Harlem has 1,843 acres of undeveloped land.

“We have at least two active developments with a third having started with their infrastructure and one more development that will be a combination of commercial and residential to start in the coming months,” says Debra Moore, Harlem city manager. “These are all within what I would call Harlem proper, with areas out toward the actual city limits to still be developed on both the north side and east side of the city.”

In the study, Harlem mayor Roxanne Whitaker and Elaine Matthews, Grovetown city administrator, raised other issues as well. They included sales tax distribution, intergovernmental agreements, public safety, the organizational structure of the new government and community identity.

“We have been told that there will be no changes, that all will continue to work as it is now,” Moore says.

Johnson also says that residents would be able to keep their current mailing addresses.

“The county has always given us a voice and a seat at the table, but it is still something to consider and think about. There has been some discussion with the mayor and council, but we have no concrete comments pertaining to being in support of or not in support of this move by the county,” Moore says. “We are waiting and watching to see what the next step is and will go from there. We understand that, as a city, our residents who live within our city limits will not have a vote in this matter as it impacts those who live in the unincorporated area more directly.”