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Arena shakeup has some irked Save Email Print
Posted: 7:13 PM Mar 25, 2008
Last Updated: 11:52 AM Mar 26, 2008
Reporter: Chris Thomas
Email Address: chris.thomas@wrdw.com

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News 12 at six o'clock, March 25, 2008

Augusta, GA---She's out of a job just 7 days after reporting to work. It is the latest in a string of firings at the James Brown Arena. "Please get that thing out of my face, and I'm gone ask....please I'm [finished]." Chairman Harry Moore was heated after the coliseum authority voted to fire the new facilities manager Julie Huggins after 7 days on the job.

"In the seven days that she was here...look at your floors...look for yourself how clean this place is. It's because of her," said Moore.

Even still, a 6 to 5 vote sent Julie home after a discrepancy in her resume. She calls herself...Director of Operations at her last job. References call her Rental Manager. "If you put your application in anywhere in America, and it is discovered one way or the other that you lied or there is a discrepancy...you don't get the job," said board member Willie Law.

"She's a super individual, she should still be in that position, it was wrong what they did today," said Moore. Moore attempted to resign, but the board did not accept his resignation. "This is my last meeting as chair, and I did not want to count the votes against her. I know it was wrong if they were gone fire her. I wanted someone else to count the vote not me," said Moore.

This comes after what is being called retaliation for firing Flash Gordon. Is it a racial issue? "If you want to see racial lines...you see racial lines. What I see are two groups of people who don't agree on everything, and I wonder how it would have been if the shoes had been flipped around."

"I'm not from here, but I will tell you I've never seen anything like this any place I've ever lived, and we're a military family," said Julie. So, what next for Julie?

"Obviously I'm open for work...if anybody's hiring," said Julie. The coliseum is expected to elect officers next month. Harry Moore says he no longer wants to be chairman.

After 4 months of pulling double duty the finance/ human resources director, Margaret Ellis, has been fired for performance issues. Arena management says a $5,000 dollar check was misplaced, financial reports were inaccurate, and paychecks were not going out on time. News 12 spoke with Margaret Ellis recently about some of the challenges.

"Sometimes you would have to be on the scene and in the department to see what actually goes on," said Ellis.

The coliseum authority has called in an Atlanta auditing company...Tabb & Tabb to review the books. They are expected to begin work within the coming weeks at a cost of $15,000 to $20, 000.

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Posted by: Agree with Ginger on Mar 27, 2008 at 12:15 PM
You are so right. I have lived in this area for several years now and the arena has been in bad shape the whole time. USC facilities are wonderful and the staff is so professional. Sounds like the new manager that was fired was cleaning things up. Maybe her ability to actually make a change and do the job scared some people.

Posted by: anonymous on Mar 27, 2008 at 09:21 AM
This is ridiculous! There was no reason to fire this lady. So what if the title of her last job did match. Did she actually do the work outlined in the resume is a better question! The coliseum authority should have cross checked all of these things before extending an offer to Mrs. Huggins. The coliseum authority is a joke as I've said on many occasions! The people in the community were not happy with Flash Gordon's performance. So what if he has lived here forever, that does not make him qualified to be the facilities manager. We need new blood in there! We need some one without biased opinions of the area. Come on, are there any adults on this so-called coliseum authority! I say give Mrs. Huggins back her job. Can someone please explain how we can get a new Coliseum Authority? That is who should be fired.

Posted by: Agree with Ginger on Mar 26, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Sorry pressed enter too soon---My family and I recently attended a function at USC and it was exceptionally clean. The staff was very professional. It is really upsetting to see the people who are supposed to run the city keep giving it a bad name and making it a laughing stock. BUT at least we found something they are good at!

Posted by: Agree with Ginger on Mar 26, 2008 at 07:55 PM
I am a retired military family member who has lived here for 4 years now. The Arena has been less than impressive for as long as I can remember. My family and I recently attended an event at USC and

Posted by: Lowdown on Mar 26, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Just another reason Augusta, GA is an embarrassing city to be affiliated with. The County Government is marred with constant strife and wrong-doing, and someone nails this lady to the wall for this?..Get a life!

Posted by: ginger on Mar 26, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Well Julie we're a military family too and I haven't seen much like this place either. It can be so beautiful if the people would just work together and stop this buffonery. This is such a pleasant area and the downtown with the Riverwalk could be quite a draw. It's a shame. As for the USC facilities, they are beautiful. We took our little ones to see the Wiggles there and the place was spotless. Everytime I've been to the arena (Christmas, craft and home shows) it's been dirty.

Posted by: Goes Elsewhere on Mar 26, 2008 at 10:16 AM
I am amazed at the fact that the "circus" arena provide their own form of "entertainment". By "voting" each other off the "island", original Huh? Only problem is NOBODY'S WATCHING!!!

Posted by: The Problem on Mar 26, 2008 at 08:08 AM
The problem with this is the board got really scared when a "female" came in and in 1 week did what no other had done---clean up the place. As for Ms. Ellis, we now know who was "fixing" the books. Looks like you found out who changed numbers just prior to the audit. For those of you who like to play the "RACE" game---get the deck ready---get set---GO!! Here is your opportunity yet again.

Posted by: Sheila on Mar 26, 2008 at 07:34 AM
Not much happens in this place as far as entertainment for all race, why do you think the new Aiken center keeps getting all the good entertainment. So why don't they just shut the whole arena down and put everybody out of their jobs. To many Cheifs trying to keep their power and not enough Indians. Thats whats wrong with this situation and alot of what happens now days.

Posted by: Murphy on Mar 26, 2008 at 02:47 AM
Its good to see that things are the same in Augusta keep up the good work usca needs the business at its new center.