Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

CSRA businesses scramble for employee healthcare coverage as Humana exits Group Medical Plans

Major insurer Humana is leaving group commercial healthcare and major medical plans to focus on government-funded programs, and ancillary benefits such as ambulance transportation, blood, drugs, and medical supplies. This impacts employers and their employees under plans which are fully insured, self-funded, and those with Federal Employees Health Benefits medical plans. “Employers need to prepare for changing their insurance provider, for some disruption, and potential rate changes,” advised Tom Mastny, CEO of The Pennant Group. For Michael Harrison, owner of Flow Pro Plumbing in Augusta, Humana’s announcement last week was

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Consumer Stories

Medical helicopter has new home at Augusta Regional Airport

Augusta University Health’s AirCare helicopter’s recently completed hangar was dedicated on Feb.23 at Augusta Regional Airport. Dr. Phillip Coule, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Augusta University Health System, said they knew AirCare was needed, especially to help serve the rural parts of Georgia. However, he didn’t anticipate how much of an impact the helicopter would have, or how far it would range. Numbers show AirCare, operated by Metro Aviation in partnership with AU Health, has logged 700 transports in its first eighteen months. The majority have been within

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Consumer Stories

Cost doubles for CSRA Public Safety HQ

Businesses and taxpayers are footing the bill for an extra $10 Million plus of cost overruns in North Augusta—but the people who keep everyone safe say it couldn’t be avoided. After years of discussion and debate, officials held a groundbreaking ceremony, Friday at the site of the new public safety headquarters. Discussions for the building started more than eight years ago. Not until 2020, did the city move forward in earnest. The original plan was to build on East Buena Vista Avenue near the current headquarters. The cost was estimated

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Consumer Stories

Local IT firm donates $2,500 to nonprofit that serves trauma victims, families

Dealing with trauma can be a major challenge for children, but a local IT firm has donated $2,500 to a non-profit organization that serves these victims and their families. IntelliSystems made the donation to Children’s Place Inc., which provides counseling and other services to families in five South Carolina counties: Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield, and McCormick. The company’s donation will be used for the nonprofit’s Guardian Angel program, which provides clothing, classroom supplies, and other items for the children it serves. Each December, Children’s Place takes kids on a shopping

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Consumer Stories

Recreation center for special needs children to celebrate grand opening

LaToya Roper’s son was diagnosed with autism at age 3, which prompted her to establish a local recreation center for children with special needs. Roper is the owner and Executive Director of Love and Care ECC (Exceptional Children’s Childcare) located at 106 SRP Drive, Suite A in Evans. The center, which offers an after-school program and summer camp for children ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade, will celebrate the grand opening of its new facility tomorrow, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., with vendors and a fun zone for kids.

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Consumer Stories

New Starbucks to open near I-20 in Martinez

The CSRA will soon have its 25th Starbucks location, according to Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate. Construction appears to be nearing completion on a new coffee shop at 421 South Belair Road, near I-20 and next door to Popeyes in Martinez. Other locations include Grovetown, Evans, Augusta, North Augusta, and Aiken, as well as Fort Gordon. Starbucks can also be found in many retail stores, including Kroger, Target, and Barnes & Noble located in the Augusta Mall. It’s the U.S.’s largest coffee chain with more than 15,000 locations nationwide. The

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: A Town Wings

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday, he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.

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Consumer Stories

Grammy Award-winning musician kicks off local college’s annual capital campaign

You may recognize CeeLo Green from his time on “The Voice” or his smash hit, “Forget You,” but the five-time Grammy Award-winning singer is now helping to raise funds for a local college. Green serves as visiting professor and artist-in-residence for Paine College, which announced the kick-off of its 2023 annual capital campaign, “Growing Paine,” yesterday. The college’s goal is to raise $6 million in 60 days, funding that will be used for a variety of purposes, including improving student housing, renovating campus buildings, and buying new technology. The college

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Consumer Stories

Evans wellness studio to offer better health through stretching

If you’ve been dealing with stress, muscle tension, and achy joints, you’re certainly not alone. But a new wellness studio coming to Evans wants to help its clients stretch their way to better health. In Motion Wellness Studio is scheduled to open next Wednesday, March 1 at 3118 William Few Parkway, Suite 6 between Ocean Nails and Master Park’s World Class Tae Kwon Do in Riverwood Town Center, according to a local franchisee, Mike Montarbo. Montarbo was part of the original ownership of Evans Fitness when it launched in December

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Consumer Stories

Evans auto repair shop covers cost of funeral for employee’s granddaughter

Ken Lucas estimates his Columbia County automotive repair business performs $20,000 to $30,000 in free vehicle repairs each year. But the company recently helped one of its own team members who’s dealing with a family tragedy. Lucas owns the Evans location of Christian Brothers Automotive at 4481 Washington Road in Evans. The Christian-based company has more than 250 locations nationwide. One of his employees, Ernie Randall, lost his 13-year-old granddaughter, Julia Chavez, last Monday, Feb. 13. Chavez, a Harlem Middle School student, died of leukemia. “We have a foundation in

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