Proposed Highway to Connect Macon to Western Half of State

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A plan for a highway that would connect Macon to the western half of the state is in the works. Not only would it relieve traffic congestion on major interstates, but it would also bring more economic development to our area. The City of Macon’s location is ideal. It is connected to major interstates on three…

Camp HOPE Aims to Provide Therapy to Kids Battling Cancer

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A local foundation is helping middle Georgia kids face with a camp. For years, Jay’s HOPE Foundation’s mission has been to improve the quality of life for children with cancer, and their families. This week, kids got the chance to play kickball, learn how to play music, and even dance all in hopes of getting their…

Macon-Bibb Fire Department Shares Tips for Summer Fire Safety

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Middle Georgians and people across the country typically take advantage of summer months by camping, grilling, and celebrating Independence Day. However, this time of the year comes with more fires according to Macon-Bibb Fire Department’s Lt. Demetrius Ellison. Lt. Ellison stopped by Daybreak with fire safety tips. Categories: Daybreak

Middle Georgians Weigh in on Paula Deen Controversy

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — If you asked the mixed crowd of lunchers at the Bear’s Den in Macon, you’ll get a lot of mixed emotion over Paula Deen’s use of the n-word. “I don’t feel comfortable using it, if I was of the other race I definitely wouldn’t use it and I wouldn’t question why there was an issue with…

Kelly Withdraws from Plea Agreement, Loses Lawyer

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The state of Georgia will seek the death penalty against another suspect charged in the killing of 58-year-old Macon woman Gail Spencer last year. 19-year-old Michael Brett Kelly is one of four charged for the death. He was 18 when the crime happened. Kelly informed his lawyer, Debra Gomez, on June 12 he wished to withdraw…

Middle Georgia School Lunch Programs Help Fight Summer Hunger

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – While most children look forward to summer, the break from the classroom raises challenges for some parents who are left wondering how they will feed their kids without school lunches. With federal budget cuts and economic instability, the hot summer months are serving up new challenges for local lunch programs. For decades, the Bibb County school…

Daybreak’s Pet Of The Week From “Have a Heart-Save a Life” In Milledgeville

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Monday’s ‘Pet of the Week’ comes from Have a Heart-Save a Life. ‘Danny Boy’ was found wandering the streets in Sparta. He was malnourished and severely matted. He is now groomed, taking medication for heart worm and flea prevention, and ready for adoption. ‘Danny Boy’ is also cat friendly and housebroken. For more information on the…

Macon Competes for Main Street Makeover

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –Soon the faded facades along Poplar Street could see a new lease on life and a fresh coat of paint, but in order to recieve the revitalization, Macon needs your vote. Macon is one of 100 cities competing for a vibrant makeover with a national online contest called “Main Street Matters”. The competition is sponsored by Benjamin…

Panthers Defensive End Puts on 2nd Annual Summer Camp in Hawkinsville

HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The NFL’s Charles Johnson is in middle Georgia this weekend teaching life and team-building skills at his foundation’s second annual two-day camp in Hawkinsville. “I wasn’t doing things perfect, but I stayed my ground and tried to maintain and surround myself with a lot of good people,” says Johnson.  “I just kept grinding, and you see…

Macon Police Officer Arrested on Drug Charges

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Macon police officer is behind bars facing charges of drug possession and child endangerment, according to the Monroe County sheriff’s office. 27 year old Kontrina Toomer, a Precinct 4 Officer, was arrested after the Monroe County Drug Squad searched her home there. Another man living in the home was also taken into custody. 30-year old…

Monroe County Softball Coach Charged with Inappropriately Touching Young Girls

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — An assistant coach for a Monroe County recreational softball team is charged with two counts of felony sexual battery after authorities say he inappropriately touched two young girls on the team. Investigator Allen Henderson with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year-old Gary Golden was assisting in the dug-out with his step-daughter’s team this year when…

Macon Central Services Building Demolished, Making Way for River Project

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The sound of sledge hammers and crumbling bricks roared through the air in downtown Macon Thursday afternoon. The city’s former central services building located on Riverside Drive was torn down. The building is the last structure on a 14-acre piece of land that’s set to be the location for the “Renaissance on the River” project. Macon…

Macon Council Includes MTA in Balanced Budget

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Public transportation in Macon and Bibb County will continue to run as usual despite talk about a loss of funding. Macon City Councilman Tom Ellington says some members of the council’s appropriations committee were concerned about a MTA personnel issue that happened earlier this year. As a result, some members voted to change the way public…

Monroe County Celebrates Official Open of New Administrative Building

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Monroe County officially celebrated the opening of its new county administrative building Thursday. The $3.2 million project was paid for in full with money from the 2008 SPLOST. Monroe County Commissioner Patsy Miller says it’s great to have a one-stop-shop for county business. “I was the tax commissioner for 13 years, I worked in the old…

The City of Fort Valley Unveils a New Playground

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A potentially dangerous plot of land gets a makeover and now kids in Fort Valley will be able to play after the city spent years getting it cleaned. For over 30 years, soil where the current park sits was contaminated with arsenic from a pesticide company. The city of Fort Valley has made sure the…

Four Charged with Aggravated Assault in Houston County

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Four suspects have been arrested in connection with an aggravated assault that took place near the 24-7 Coin Laundry located at 3501 North Highway 41. According to a news release sent out by the WRPD, a 35-year-old woman from Warner Robins was at her car in the parking lot around 4:45 Thursday morning when she…

Local Food Bank Worried About Federal Budget Cuts

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Local middle Georgia agencies are worried, but hopeful about the decision to cut billions of dollars of funding in the Farm Bill. Each day volunteers pack, stack, and move boxes full of food at the middle Georgia community food Bank hoping every family who needs it gets fed. This week congress is in talks about the…

Meals on Wheels Saddling Up for Fundraiser

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Houston County Meals on Wheels is hoping to wrangle up some cash during a fundraiser this weekend to help support the program. It’s called “Saddle Up for Meals on Wheels.” The fundraiser is a poker ride on horseback where you can play the chips and help the community at the same time. Executive director…

Conyers Man Killed in Three-Vehicle Collision in Monroe County

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A man from Conyers has been killed in a three-vehicle accident on I-75 around 11p.m. last night, according to a news release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. 42-year-old Christopher Vesely was driving northbound on the interstate in a Lincoln Towncar, when he apparently lost control of the vehicle. The Towncar veered into another lane of…

Milledgeville Native Seeks Open Congressional Seat

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Milledgeville native announced he is seeking the Republican nomination for the open 10th Congressional district seat. Stephen Simpson hopes to win the seat that is being vacated after Congressman Paul Broun announced in February he is running for the U.S. Senate in 2014. “America is on the wrong track. We face a national debt that…