Miles Benson
Featured, Local News, Monroe County

Officials provide update on Monroe County teacher accused of sexual exploitation of children

Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman, Monroe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman and Towaliga Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jonathan Adams hosted a public forum Monday night.
Tucker Sargent,

Monroe County Sheriff’s OfficeFORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –  Mary Persons High School band director, teacher and coach Miles Benson posted $12,000 bail Friday after being arrested the day before and charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and sexual conduct by person with supervisory authority. That’s according to Towaliga Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jonathan Adams, who said he requested…
Elections, Featured, Houston County, Local News, Politics, WMGT

Warner Robins Mayor Patrick officially takes oath of office

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick took the oath of office just after 5 p.m. Monday.
Ariel Schiller,

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Monday was the day many people in the city of Warner Robins had been waiting for. Mayor LaRhonda Patrick took the oath of office just after 5 p.m. “A sense of pride knowing that history has been made for the first time in our city,” Patrick said. “It brightens my spirit to see how people…

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Featured, Local News, Weather

Staying cool and sunny Tuesday

Cecilia Reeves,

Overnight lows will be dropping into the 30s and 20s under clear skies, but at least the gusty winds have calmed down. Tuesday will be another pleasant, but cool day in the area with sunshine expected all day. By Wednesday we will begin our increase in some cloud cover, ahead of our next cold front. Thursday is our next chance…
Bibb County, Featured, Health, Health & Fitness, Local News, Medical, Unpublished, WMGT

Setting S.M.A.R.T. New Year’s resolutions

Ariel Schiller,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)— New Year’s resolutions are as cliché as it gets, but that doesn’t stop people from creating a new list of goals to start off each year. According to Forbes.com studies show that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail. Madison Couch, a registered dietitian with Atrium Health Navicent, says the best way to set New Year’s resolutions…
Featured, Local News, Monroe County

Teenager shot and killed at Walmart in Forsyth

41NBC Web Producer,

The GBI is investigating a shooting at the Wal-Mart in Forsyth that left one person dead. A little after 6pm on Sunday the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center received a call from a person inside Walmart indicating that someone was firing shots inside the store. Monroe County deputies and Forsyth Police officers responded to the scene. The preliminary investigation…

Motel6
Bibb County, Featured, Local News

Search for suspect in Motel 6 personal armed robbery

41NBC Web Producer,

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in helping identify and locate a female who is wanted for questioning in connection to a personal armed robbery investigation. The original incident occurred just before 8:00a.m on December 31, 2021, at the Motel 6, located at 105 Riverside Drive. Anyone with information in reference to the identity or…

Houston Galleria Mall
Entertainment, Featured, Houston County, Local News, Unpublished, WMGT

Kids celebrate “Noon Year’s Eve” at Houston Galleria Mall

Ariel Schiller,

CENTERVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)— Kids in Houston County didn’t have to be up past their bedtime to ring in the New Year Friday. The Galleria Mall hosted its Noon Year’s Eve celebration, dropping a bunch of balloons once the clock struck noon. There was also a balloon artist, face painting, glitter tattoos, and party favors for the kids. We spoke with…
Bibb County, Featured, Local News

Bibb Clerk’s Office, Sheriff’s Office closing to public due to ‘office-wide COVID outbreak’

The offices are scheduled to reopen on Monday, January 10. Online services will be available until then for residents to file complaints and get answers.
Tucker Sargent,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County Clerk’s Office and Sheriff’s Office will be closed to the public starting Monday, January 3, due to an “office-wide COVID outbreak.” That’s according to a release from Chief Judge Pamela White-Colbert of the Bibb County Civil & Magistrate Court. “We have had a number of employees test positive for COVID,” White-Colbert wrote. “And…

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Featured, Local News, Monroe County

Forsyth New Year’s Ball Drop

Cameron Branscomb,

MONROE, Ga(41NBC/WMGT) – Downtown Forsyth is getting ready for its annual new years eve Forsythia Ball Drop   This is the sixth year for the downtown event.  There will be food vendors, live music and the ball drops at midnight,  some local shops are staying open late as well The ball drop will be held at the intersection of West Johnston…

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Baldwin County, Bibb County, Featured, Houston County, Laurens County, Local News, Treutlen County, Washington County

A look back at Middle Georgia’s top local stories of 2021

The pandemic and social justice once again dominated national headlines, but other stories were happening across the nation and in Middle Georgia.
Tucker Sargent,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –  2021 started much like 2020 ended: Much of the nation remained focused on the pandemic. Following vaccine approval and a slower than anticipated rollout, the state opened four mass drive-thru sites in January. One of them was in Macon. Meanwhile, Macon-Bibb’s new mayor, Lester Miller, hit the ground running.  The Brookdale Elementary School building opened as…

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COVID-19, Education, Featured, Health

Dublin City Schools reinstate temporary mask mandate

Haley Janes,

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Dublin City Schools will be requiring students and staff to wear masks for indoor activities effective January 4th. Superintendent Dr. Fred Williams polled members of the Board of Education who joined with him to reinstate a temporary mask mandate after hearing updates and data concerning the surge in COVID-19 infections in Dublin and Laurens county tied…
Bibb County, Crime, Featured, Local News, WMGT

BCSO investigating armed robbery at Family Dollar

Investigators say the suspect entered the Family Dollar on Houston Avenue with a handgun, demanding money.
Clayton Poulnott,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that happened Thursday night. Investigators say the suspect entered the Family Dollar on Houston Avenue with a hand gun, demanding money. After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect ran out of the store. No one was injured during the incident. The Sheriff’s Office says…
COVID-19, Featured, Georgia News, Laurens County

Demand for COVID-19 tests increases in rural Middle Georgia

The South Central Health District says COVID cases are going up again and so is the demand for COVID testing.
Peyton Lewis,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –  COVID-19 testing sites across Middle Georgia are seeing an increase in testing. Hundreds of people showed up to a testing site in Laurens County on Wednesday. Melissa Brantley with the South Central Health District says the staff was so busy they did not even have time for water breaks. “We realized yesterday how they were getting…

Allman Brothers Museum
Business, Entertainment, Featured, Local News

Allman Family Revival concert, scheduled for Friday night, postponed

The Allman Family Revival concert, scheduled for Friday night, is postponed due to tour members testing positive for Covid.
Ariel Schiller,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Allman Family Revival concert, scheduled for Friday night, is postponed due to tour members testing positive for Covid. Devon Allman posted the news on his Instagram account Wednesday. The new show date for Macon will be February 11. We visited the Big House Museum, which is seeing a lot of guests who were in town…

New Year's Eve Celebrations
Bibb County, Business, Featured, Health, Health & Fitness, Local News, Medical, Unpublished, WMGT

Health officials say celebrating New Year’s Eve at home is safest this year

Health officials says we're at the beginning of a fifth wave of Covid due to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Ariel Schiller,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Health officials says we’re at the beginning of a fifth wave of Covid due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. With New Year’s Eve on Friday, Chief Operating Officer for Piedmont Macon Scott Strong says it’s best to celebrate at home this year. “There have been a lot of waves of Covid, so it is a…

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Featured, Local News, Peach County

Fort Valley mayor says farewell after 8 years

Fort Valley Mayor Barbara Williams is leaving office after eight years.
Cameron Branscomb,

Fort Valley Mayor Barbara WilliamsFORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –  Fort Valley Mayor Barbara Williams is leaving office after eight years. Mayor Williams says she considers all of Fort Valley as her family and that she will miss contributing to the community and seeing people enjoy themselves at events. “Carry on the in the spirit of excellence,” she said. “Fort Valley…

Screenshot 59
Bibb County, Featured, Local News

DPH offers list of places to get tested for Covid-19

Covid-19 cases continue to surge, and hospitals say you shouldn't go to emergency rooms to get tested.
Cameron Branscomb,

Atrium Health Navicent provides update on Omicron variantOmicron VariantMACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Covid-19 cases continue to surge, and hospitals say you shouldn’t go to emergency rooms to get tested. Officials from Piedmont Macon say healthcare systems across Georgia have sharp increases in hospitalizations due to Covid-19. Chief Clinical Officer for Navicent Health Sandy Duke says the best places to be…

Screenshot 58
Bibb County, Local News, WMGT

Atrium Health Navicent warns of the dangers around New Year’s Eve

The new year is right around the corner, which usually means a lot of celebratory fireworks and parties.
Lizbeth Gutierrez,

New Years Eve Celebration DangersAtrium Health NavicentMACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The new year is right around the corner, which usually means a lot of celebratory fireworks and parties. Atrium Health Navicent wants you to be aware of the dangers that come with the holiday. Dr. John Wood, the Director of the Atrium Health Navicent Emergency Room, says there are a…

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Crime, Education, Featured, Local News

Mary Persons High School Band director arrested for sexual exploitation of children

Haley Janes,

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Mary Persons High School’s Band director who also works as a coach has been arrested on felony warrants for Sexual exploitation of children and sexual conduct by person with supervisory authority. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, a complaint was reported that Bryant Miles Benson transmitted sexually explicit material with a a juvenile, who was…

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Local News, Monroe County

Multi-car crash blocks lanes in Monroe County

Haley Janes,

Forsythe, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A multiple-car crash earlier Wednesday left multiple lanes blocked in Monroe County. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, it happened on I-75 southbound near exit 184 around 12:50 p.m. the wreck involved a total of 7 vehicles, with 6 of them being passenger cars and 1 a tractor trailer. Marilynne Fitts from the MCSO says…

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Crime, Featured

Armed Robbery at Circle K in Baldwin County leads to search for suspect

Haley Janes,

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Circle K in Baldwin County was robbed at gunpoint on Monday, authorities are still looking for the suspect. According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the man behind the robbery entered the Circle K at North Columbia Street brandishing a handgun and demanding money from the clerk, who was the only one in the store…

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Crime, Featured, Houston County

Centerville traffic stop turns into drug bust

Haley Janes,

CENTERVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A man was arrested in Centerville after what started as a traffic stop turned into a drug bust. The Centerville Police Department says that early Wednesday at 2 A.M., officers stopped a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe that was driving at a high speed on Houston Lake. When officers spoke with Robby Brandon, the driver, they smelled…

Bs Report
Sports

BS Report: December 29th – The Orange Bowl

As Georgia prepares to face Michigan in the Orange Bowl, Bill Shanks is here to tell you why the loss to Alabama shouldn't have Dawgs fans worried.
David Tufts,

As Georgia prepares to face Michigan in the Orange Bowl, Bill Shanks is here to tell you why the loss to Alabama shouldn’t have Dawgs fans worried.     Categories: Sports

Summer Shopping
Featured, Happening Now, Local News, Money

Top 5 tips for post-Christmas shopping

According to RetailMeNot.com, this is one of the best times of the year to get good deals.
Peyton Lewis,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As Christmas wraps up, a new season of shopping has begun, and with it comes post-holiday deals many shoppers have been waiting for all year long. “Post-Christmas and New Year’s sales are huge,” RetailMeNot blogger Kristin McGrath said. “They’re actually one of the best times of year to shop, which is great because you’ve spent a…