Augusta residents reflect on the year of the COVID pandemic Alexie Aguayo and last updated 2021-03-12 20:04:14-05 AUGUSTA â âIt is so much better now than it was a year ago,â says Tammy Dellwo, owner of the Buckhorn Bar in Augusta. When the pandemic began, COVID-19 felt a world away from small communities like Augusta. Many in the small town on the Rocky Mountain front didnât think the virus could reach them, but local health officials urged the town to be prepared. âThe county nurse here had a meeting with the heads of the church, heads of committees and all of that and like she said to us 'it's not if it happens in our small town, it's when it's gonna happen.â You know, to get us prepared,â says Dellwo.