Pre-Trial Motion Hearings for McDaniel Murder Case Wrap Up Tuesday; Scheduled to Pick Up Again In November

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Witness testimonies for the pre-trial motions in the Stephen McDaniel murder case finished up on Tuesday, but they’re scheduled to pick up later this year. McDaniel is accused of killing Mercer law graduate Lauren Giddings. A scheduling conflict caused the motion hearings to finish up this week. Both the prosecution and defense are concerned about the…

Adam Ragan Named Guest of Honor for Charity Golf Tournament

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – Adam Ragan, has been around NASCAR all of his life his family has three generations of race car drivers. Adam is the older brother of championship NASCAR driver, David Ragan. “I went to Daytona my favorite is the Sprint Cup Race,” says Adam Ragan.. “My Dad use to race in the Winston Cup Season, now…

State Representatives Talk Future Of Consolidation

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Tuesday is Election Day for Macon and Bibb County residents. Voters will cast their ballot throughout the day in a historic election to choose the leaders for the new consolidated government next year. State Representatives Allen Peake and Nikki Randall stopped by 41 TODAY to share their thoughts on how the new consolidated government will take…

Polls Open for Macon-Bibb Consolidated Government Elections

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Tuesday is the big day in Macon and Bibb County. The community is making history as voters cast their ballots in the first ever election of the Macon-Bibb County consolidated government. “We all have a part in making Macon successful so I think it’s important for everyone to come out and vote,” voter Rhonda Eldridge said….

Plant Washington Delayed Ahead of EPA Regulations

SANDERSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The controversy surrounding a proposed coal-fired plant in Sandersville fired back up on Wednesday, as developers announced another delay ahead of new pollution regulations. Plant Washington has been a topic of tension in Washington County since 2008. After years of debate and millions of dollars in investment, it doesn’t look like the fuel dispute will end…

Recap of Day One of Pretrial Motion Hearings in McDaniel Murder Case

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The first day of pre-trial motions wrapped up on Monday for accused killer Stephen McDaniel. He’s on trial for the murder of Mercer Law graduate Lauren Giddings. Some of the biggest issues today were whether Stephen McDaniel voluntarily talked to police before being arrested, and whether a search of his apartment was consensual. Macon Police Detective David…

Pretrial Motion Hearings Underway in Stephen McDaniel Murder Case

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Motion hearings in the Stephen McDaniel murder case are underway Monday at the Bibb County courthouse. McDaniel is accused of murdering and dismembering Mercer Law grad Lauren Giddings in June 2011. Monday marks day one of five days the court has set aside to listen to dozens of motions filed by the defense. The first witness…

National Hispanic Heritage Month Fiesta Takes Members of Warner Robins Back to Latin Roots

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – National Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off with a major fiesta at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. More than 350 church and community members showed up to celebrate with song, dance and plenty of Latino dishes. Countries like: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Columbia, Costa Rico and Mexico represented the nationalities of Hispanics living in…

Disc Golf Takes Flight at Macon Junior Olympics

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –Ditching the fairways for frisbees, disc golf is continuing to take flight in Middle Georgia. This weekend Macon’s Junior Olympics offered a smaller set of hands an opportunity to grasp on to the new sport. In the midst of the Macon Riverside Optimist Club’s competitions, the game soared with the kids. After a few smooth drives, 10-year-old…

Milledgeville Man Shot in the Head While Sitting Inside Car

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Milledgeville man is in critical condition after he was shot in the head while sitting in a car. On Saturday morning, Courtney Culver was sitting in his car at the 1100 block of West Thomas Court when a bullet struck him in the back of the head. Culver identified the shooter as Michael Palmer, according…

Teen Arrested after Shots Fired into Macon Home

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A 19-year-old is under arrest after he allegedly fired shots into a home on Mercer University Drive on Sunday morning shortly after 5 a.m.. James Tolliver is charged with aggravated assault. According to the Macon Police Department, Tolliver shot at a residence at 2856 Mercer University Drive. No one was injured in the incident. Tolliver was…

Macon Named Finalist for Friendliest Town in America

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The city of Macon is one of the top five “Friendliest Towns” in America, that’s according to a Rand McNally “Best of the Road” contest. Macon Mayor Robert Reichert says there’s only one way to spell the friendliest city. “M-A-C-O-N…Macon,” he said. Rand McNally is holding a contest to find the top friendliest town in America,…

State Grants Juvenile Court Money To Decrease Delinquency

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The state is giving Bibb County Juvenile Court nearly $400,000 to reform the juvenile system, and create better programs for young re-offenders heading back to the community. Bibb County Chairman Sam Hart made the announcement this afternoon saying the court is planning to use the grant to start up therapeutic programs for at-risk youth, and help…

Houston Co. Resident Annoyed Over Bibb Co. Campaign ‘Robocalls’

CENTERVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Judy Singleton’s received at least four calls from three different candidates in Bibb County. But there’s one problem: she lives and votes in Houston County. Singleton said she’s had the same ‘478’ number for 38 years, so she was surprised when she picked up the phone and heard Macon-Bibb mayoral candidate Sam Hart’s voice. “It’s frustrating…

First Responders Remembered At 9/11 Memorial Service

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Tuesday, marked the 12TH anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when terrorist flew planes into the twin towers in New York and crashed planes in Virginia and Philadelphia, killing thousands of people including first responders. Macon and Bibb County law enforcement agencies held a memorial service in downtown Macon, to honor our own first…

Telfair Elementary School Remembers 9/11

MCRAE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One local school showed its patriotism by recognizing local heroes at their 11th annual Patriot Day celebration. Families, friends and veterans gathered at Telfair Elementary School to celebrate the lives of fallen victims, and remember a day we will never forget. 9-11 was a day most students did not experience, but they were very enthusiastic about…

Trivia 4 Kids Contest to Raise Money for Ronald McDonald House

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – This year high school students from across Middle Georgia are participating in the first Trivia 4 Kids contest. The money raised will go toward the Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia. The organizer of the event, Steve Rodgers, stopped by Daybreak Wednesday morning to talk about the contest. Trivia 4 Kids is Saturday, September 14…

Kindergartner Wins Big for College Fund

  CENTERVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One Houston County family did not expect to get a head start,but after their daughter won a sweepstakes contest, plans to begin her college fund got underway. Natalie Brantley, 6, won the Path2College sweepstakes competition for $5,529 toward her future college education. According to www.path2college529.com, this program is an investment option for anyone seeking to plan ahead…