Consumer Stories

Local publisher donates $5,000 to honor late burn surgeon

A doctor giving patients his personal cell phone number may sound a little too far-fetched, but it’s something the late Dr. Fred Mullins did all the time. Jeremy Rueggeberg decided to honor the renowned burn surgeon’s legacy by donating $5,000 to the Burn Foundation of America on behalf of his business. Rueggeberg, publisher of Medical Professionals Augusta, a magazine devoted to sharing stories about top medical professionals in the CSRA, presented the check to the Foundation on March 2. Mullins, who served as Medical Director of the Joseph M. Still

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Top Story

Local vodka sellers and drinkers refuse to take shots at Russia

In some states, people are ditching their Russian vodka shots for rum or Jack, but in Georgia, its business as usual, according to employees of local bars and liquor stores. Because of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, officials in various states, including Ohio, New Hampshire and Utah, have asked liquor stores to stop stocking Russian-made alcohol products. ABD contacted CSRA liquor stores and bars to find out if they were still selling these products. They said so far there have been no changes. An employee at Stevens Creek Wine &

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Hotel and Tourism industries try to dig out from covid

We all know the leisure and hospitality sector has been hardest hit by the pandemic. Leisure and hospitality employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has fallen from more than 28,000 pre-pandemic to 24,000 in December 2021. The leisure and hospitality sector includes hotels and restaurants as well as arts, entertainment and recreation. However, there is some good news from the hotel section of the industry as reported by Smith Travel Research. In Richmond County, both occupancy rates and revenues per available room (RevPAR) were generally higher in 2021

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Consumer Stories

Staffing company keeps employees in the loop by giving back

Families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta face numerous struggles, but employees with Loop Recruiting found a way to provide those families with a little hope and encouragement. Donald King, one of the technical staffing company’s partners, said Loop employees are required to give back to the community. King, who leads nine employees on the contingent staffing team, came up with the idea to complete a monthly community service project throughout 2022. Each month, an employee on the team chooses a local nonprofit to serve, and all

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Consumer Stories

It’s baaack! Aiken’s Bacon & Brews returns after a year off because of covid

Live music, craft beer and bacon-themed food sound like a recipe for success. It certainly has worked in Aiken’s past and organizers and business sponsors are excited for the return of the 4th Annual Aiken’s Bacon and Brews. The event went dark last year because of covid. If you are in the mood for great food and music which support children and future leaders of Aiken, mark your calendar for Saturday, March 12, 5-10 p.m. at the Newberry Street Festival Center. Event Chairman, Brad Lewis thinks of this year’s celebration

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B2B Stories

Georgia agriculture continues to grow

Although Atlanta is one of the largest metropolitan centers in the nation, Georgia is still a largely rural state. In 2021, Georgia ranked 22nd in the nation in field crop values and fourth in the Southeast, according to a report issued by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. For the year, Georgia crop values were $2.61 billion, a 20 percent jump over 2020. The bulk of that value came from cotton and peanuts. As it has for a long time, Georgia led the nation in peanut production at $774 million,

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B2B Stories

IRS changes reporting requirement for mobile payment apps

Mobile payment apps like CashApp and Venmo have been a boon for some small businesses, but a change in the tax law will increase the need for stricter accounting practices. In the past, a business could bring in $20,000 through an app without triggering any additional paperwork, but in 2022 the IRS has lowered that threshold to $600. Any amount of business transactions totaling more than $600 will require the app to send a 1099-K income form to the business. This includes apps that have accounts that hold money, like

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B2B Stories

2022’s Alamo Moment

  Don MacNeil is the former Marketing Director of Windsor Jewelers and long-time on-air radio professional.   Is it just me, or… 2022’s Alamo Moment We’re blessed in this country for many reasons, and among them is the happy geographical accident of a 3,000-mile moat on either side of us, which has served us well for our 246 years. It suggests that for us it won’t one day be the Visigoths coming over the hill but a complacent rot from within that does us in, but that’s a discussion for

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Consumer Stories

Young entrepreneur elevates his business in competitive car cosmetic market

Chandler Brewer started his car detailing business with $25 worth of products, and about six months later, he’s now living the American Dream of being a successful entrepreneur. Brewer, 22, co-founded Elevate Auto Cosmetic Lab with his fiancée, Kamalani Straus, in October. Despite his age, he’s always aspired to become a business owner. While he was still in middle school, Brewer began working with his dad on his family’s vacation rental property business in Tybee Island. Prior to launching Elevate, he also worked for Rapid Restoration Auto Lab in Evans,

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Consumer Stories

New restaurant adds a dash of heavy metal to your lunch

If you enjoy rocking out to Iron Maiden or Anthrax while you pick up your lunch, Jason and Amber Parrish have just the spot for you: Mosh Pit Eats. Located at 111 Old Evans Road, Suite D in Martinez, the family take-out restaurant offers an eclectic menu that includes sandwiches, salads, fruit bouquets and chocolate-covered strawberries while playing hard rock and heavy metal music. One of their sandwiches is called “I Love Rock n’ Roll,” inspired by Joan Jett’s classic hit. The business, which opened in November, also sells a

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