UPDATE: Macon Teen Dead, Another Injured in Apparent Drive-By Shooting

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One Macon teen is dead and another is injured after an apparent drive-by shooting Thursday night. The shooting happened outside a home at 2008 Cedar Avenue in South Macon.  Bibb County coroner Leon Jones says the teens were shot around 8:15 p.m. According to a news release from the Macon Police Department, a 16-year-old female teen…

Macon Troops Prepare for Afghanistan Mission

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon is sending off some of its own for deployment in Afghanistan. More than 200 Georgia National Guardsmen of the 48th Infantry Brigade will deploy to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom. They’re expected to conduct training and security missions in 2014 as the United States works to transition security operation to the Afghan government. The…

Hit and Run Suspect Denied Bond

LIZELLA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A driver arrested for running down a cyclist, made his first appearance in magistrate court, Thursday and was denied bond. Michael Shaun Bryant was taken into custody Wednesday, by Crawford County deputies. He was wanted for running over 36-year-old cyclist, Ricky Bacchus, during a hit and run, Nov. 12, on Sandy Point Road near Creekview Drive….

Smash and Grab Suspects Sought for Stealing More Than 64 Weapons

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – Thieves stole more than 64 handguns and rifles during a smash and grab robbery, Thursday. The burglary happened around 12:30 a.m., at Classic Firearms on Columbus Road. The heist was caught on surveillance video tape. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, Sean Defoe, says one of…

Macon Man is the “King of the Castle”; Meets HGTV Host

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One lucky Macon man is the “king of the castle” and he’s got $65,000 to prove it. Steve Bell is the national winner of the “Dove Men plus Care Hair” contest. He and his family, met up with HGTV host Jonathan Scott to talk about home improvements at Bell’s home. The money from the contest will…

Macon and MCCG Launch New Website for Cancer Survivors and Caregiver Support

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Residents in Macon who have, or know someone living with cancer, can now share their experiences on a new website hoping to bring people together. Thursday, city officials along with representatives from Ulyanovsk, Russia launched, StandTogether, a new initiative that will connect cancer survivors and those battling the disease from all over the world. The goal…

Georgia Aquarium Celebrates Holidays with ‘Festival of SEAsons’

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — With the holidays around the corner, the Georgia Aquarium wants to celebrate with the “Festival of SEAsons.” Georgia Aquarium’s Public Relations Specialist, Bailey Rogers stopped by 41 Today with all the details on the aquarium’s holiday extravaganza. The “Festival of SEAsons” introduces “FanstaSEA in Lights” this year as a one-of-a-kind indoor light show inside the grand…

Sneak Peek of Kali Dance Studio’s ‘Mardi Gras Holiday’ Recital

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Dozens of Middle Georgia dancers at the Kali Dance Studio in Macon are gearing up for their recital this weekend. Studio owner Terra Gallemore and some young dancers stopped by Daybreak to tell us more about the performance and give us a sneak peek at the show. The Mardi Gras Holidy performance is Sunday, November 24…

Operation Christmas Child Collecting Items for Needy Children Across the World

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The holiday season is quickly approaching and what better way to get in the Christmas spirit than by donating some time and much needed items to children all over the world. Ingleside Baptist Church Missions Minister Lisa call stopped by Daybreak to tell us more about Operation Christmas Child. The drive is collecting small toys, toiletries,…

Bibb County Jail Using New Video Visitation System

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — If you’ve got a loved one who’s in the Bibb County Jail, now you can check in on them from the comfort of your own home. For the friends and family of inmates in the jail, Sheriff David Davis says the days of shouting over others just to talk with your loved for a few minutes…

‘Helping Hands, Helping People’ Youth and Family Day Promotes Self Improvement

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Several local community service organizations are teaming up this weekend to provide Macon youth and their families with a fun day geared towards self improvement. Clarence Thomas from Helping Hands Community Outreach stopped by 41 Today to tell us about this year’s “Helping Hands, Helping People” Youth and Family day event. The event is targeted for…

Overcoming the Grief of Losing a Pet

As many of us can attest, getting over the loss of a pet can be difficult.  While there are some who are able to grieve quickly (and do some of us wish we could do that!), many of you probably took a while to get over your a pet not being with you anymore.  The first annual Pet Grieving Expo and Seminar…

Macon Regional Crimestoppers Counts on Community for Tips

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Law enforcement often count on the community to call in tips or share information to help investigators solve crimes. Macon Regional Crimestoppers Executive Director, Officer Chris Paul shared who investigators need help finding and how citizens can help. If you have information leading to an arrest, call 1-877-68-CRIME. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for…

Locals Tee Off for Macon’s St. Peter Claver Catholic School

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Dozens of people hit the links at Healy Point Country Club in Macon Monday to raise scholarship money for Saint Peter Claver Catholic School. About 70 golfers paid $100 to participate, and more than 20 local businesses and supporters paid $125 each to sponsor the event. Bishop Gregory J. Hartmyer of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah…

Forsyth Drug Task Force Arrests 7 in Illegal Gambling, Alcohol Distribution Bust

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Forsyth-Monroe County Drug Task force, and other local law enforcement agents, arrested seven people for their involvement with illegal gambling and alcohol distribution. According to a news release from the task force, the bust happened last night at two homes in Forsyth on Jones Street, and Lovers Lane. 59-year-old Thamon Chambliss and 63-year-old Thelma Simmons…

NewTown Macon Announces ‘Focused on the Future’ Fundraising Chair

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – NewTown Macon has an existing campaign aiming to boost residential and commercial traffic in the downtown area. The organization launched “Focused on the Future”-their 5 year campaign plan-earlier this year, targeting three major parts of the city hoping to add 125 lofts, and increase the number of businesses by 25 percent. Today, Dan Speight with State…

Volunteers Prep for ‘Operation Christmas Child’

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Middle Georgia volunteers are making millions of children’s season brighter through ‘Operation Christmas Child.’ Box after box, they pack away shoe boxes filled with toiletries, small toys and school supplies for under privileged children overseas. Ingleside Baptist Church’s mission minister, Lisa Calls, believes serving others is the true meaning of the season. “The reason why I…

Three Sentenced to Life in Prison after Murder of Macon Secretary

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Three of the four people charged in the death of Macon legal secretary, Gail Spencer, will serve life in prison. A crowd of family and friends, dressed in red, looked on as Bibb Superior Court Judge Tillman Self handed out the ruling. Tracy Michelle Jones, Michael Brett Kelly, and Kelly’s half-sister, Courtney Nicole Kelly, all pleaded…

All About Animals Suspect Arrested After Police Tip

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A tipster help police solved the All About Animals case, which left three dogs dead and 13 dogs injured. Macon Police held a news conference today, to release more information surrounding the All About Animals incident. All About Animals is a dog shelter, located at 101 Riverside Road, in Macon Macon police say on Oct. 17,…

Two Middle Georgia Kids to Perform in Los Angeles at IPOP

    MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A couple of Middle Georgia kids are getting ready to make big career moves. Katherine Hoffman, 16, and Tyler Brown, 8, auditioned for roles on Disney at the Armory Ballroom in August. Recently, the young thespians made the cut out of 400 other children to move on to perform in front of national and…

Wesleyan College Hosting Banquet to Raise Funds for Family Counseling Center of Central Georgia

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Wesleyan College is hosting a charity banquet to raise funds for the Family Counseling Center of Central Georgia. The counseling center is a non-profit offers therapy, counseling, and various services free of charge to those in need all across Middle Georgia. Rhonda Green-Barnes with Wesleyan College stopped by 41 Today to share more information on how…