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Consumer Stories

Part of Jones Creek Golf Course will reopen next month

Jones Creek Golf Course is getting a fresh breath of air after lying dormant for five years. Bond Golf Global of Aiken is working to open The Practice Club, a Top Tracer facility, on the driving range. The facility is expected to be open by April 3. “Being the golf course it was, it didn’t need to be closed,” said Andrew Brooks, owner and founder of Bond Golf. “What we decided to do, in conjunction with golf course owner, Julian Saul, is inject some life and start the ball rolling.

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Consumer Stories

Two CSRA creatives partner on possible national business

Many retired business owners spend their days playing golf, but Ed Durant has enjoyed his “retirement” by designing larger-than-life golf tees. Durant, the former owner of The Frame Shoppe and founder of Durant-Durant, LLC, and local artist, Cole Phail, have produced two 30-foot, 2,000-pound tees. In Dec. 2021, their first creation was unveiled at First Tee of Augusta on Damascus Road. That project took 14 months to complete. “It was my idea and my design,” Durant said. On Monday, their second tee, which is exactly the same weight and size

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Consumer Stories

Flights and staff added for Masters Week

Less than 30 days away and the buzz begins. Augusta Regional Airport will be a hub of activity when more than 40,000 patrons pour in for the first major of the year. Both American Airlines and Delta are upping their game by adding direct flights to additional cities. The airlines already offer direct flights to Washington, D.C. and Dallas, from April 2 through April 10, but gearing up for tournament week, American Airlines will provide direct flights to Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York (LaGuardia), Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix,

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Consumer Stories

Businesses lay groundwork for future hires at career expo

More than 30 CSRA businesses will be looking for future employees at this week’s Columbia County Career & College Expo. Alison Couch is one of them. She owns Ignite Accounting & Business Advisors in Harlem and is currently looking for staff accountants. Couch also wants to talk to local high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in accounting. The third annual Career & College Expo on Thursday, March 9, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown should provide an opportunity for

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B2B Stories

Urgent care clinic to open ninth location in CSRA

A local urgent care clinic with multiple locations plans to open a new office in a building formerly occupied by a similar business. MedNow Urgent Care plans to open a new location at 210 Bobby Jones Expressway next to Cheeseburger Bobby’s, according to Laura Bell, Marketing Director with RW Allen Construction, LLC, which has been hired to work on the project. “We just started working there, so we don’t have a timeline yet,” Bell said. The new MedNow Urgent Care will replace Martinez Urgent Care, which was formerly located at

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B2B Stories

First air show in 20 years brings Thunderbirds and economic boost to Augusta

Look! Up in the sky! An air show will return to the skies over Augusta Regional Airport, pumping money into the economy, costing the airport nothing, and creating opportunities for vendors and sponsorships. The two-day event will be on May 13 and 14. It will feature attack helicopter demonstrations by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, stunt pilots, and the United States Special Operations Parachute Team. The centerpiece will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, flying F-16 Fighting Falcons and performing solo maneuvers and in formation. Members of the Aviation Commission

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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

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

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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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Upper-tier hotels have the upper revenue hand

Last week, I reported occupancy rates and revenue per available room for the hotel industry in Richmond County. Averages, however, do not provide information on the complete distribution. Upper-tier hotels had a better year than the average. Occupancy rates were up 0.7% (the average was a decrease of 8.8%), and revenue per available room was also up 0.7% (the average was down 4.5%). Total revenue for upper-tier hotels was 7.7% higher compared to a 4% decline on average. Upper-tier hotels represent 23 percent of all hotels in Richmond County, and

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