Young Children to Participate in ‘Read for the Record Day’

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Junior League of Macon is participating in the nationwide event “Read for the Record Day” to help encourage kids to read as well as improve their literary and school readiness. Junior league members Crystal Terrill and Jennifer Sheldon stopped by Daybreak to talk about what is going on in Middle Georgia. “Read for the Record…

Government Shutdown: What You Can and Can’t Do Locally

MIDDLE GEORGIA (41NBC/WMGT) – National monuments, federal offices and other departments are all closed. People, paychecks and parks nationwide and locally are feeling the real impact of the government shutdown. On Tuesday, the gates at Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon were closed. Employees were sent home and tourists turned away. “We just hope that Congress works thing out,” said Ocmulgee…

Macon’s Mandatory Spay/Neuter Ordinance Approved

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Getting animals spayed and/or neutered is now mandatory in Macon city limits. In a 8 -5 vote on Tuesday night, council members passed the ordinance, requiring cats and dogs under the age of 6 months be sterilized. In the ordinance, it’s written that first time violators will receive a warning and from there they could be…

Macon Police Suggest Tips to Remain Safe Near Busy Roadway

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After the second fatal pedestrian traffic accident on Gray highway, Macon police officers are concerned for pedestrians’ safety while crossing the busy road. When cars race up and down Gray Highway, people crossing the street have to be aware. Samuel Riley is the Lead Traffic Investigator for the Macon Police Department. He says most times pedestrians…

Ocmulgee National Monument Closed, Employees Sent Home

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – On Tuesday, tourists were shut out of the gates of the Ocmulgee National Monument due to the government shut down. A sign at the entrance read: “Because of the federal government shutdown, this National Park Service facility is closed.”   The park’s superintendent Jim David was sent home Tuesday afternoon once he received a furlough notice….

Diabetes Support Group in Middle Georgia

PERRY, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – There is help now for parents who have children suffering from diabetes. Belinda Enamorado is a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Volunteer Family Support Group Leader, for Middle Georgia. Enamorado says she had no idea what “Type 1 Diabetes” was until her daughter was diagnosed with the disease. ” I had to take her to the…

Perry ‘Buzzard Drop’ Gearing Up for Big Debut

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The city of Perry will be celebrating the first annual “Buzzard Drop” in downtown Perry on New Year’s Eve of this year. The city along with the new Main Street Affiliate Advisory Board showed a preview of the celebration at a press conference on Tuesday. Perry Mayor Jimmy Faircloth along with Main Street Board member Susan…

Four Legged K-9 Sworn in With Handler On Bomb Unit

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A K-9 and his handler were sworn in as Macon-Bibb County sheriff’s deputies. They are the newest members of the already consolidated bomb unit. “Arco” is trained in detecting explosives, such as C-4’s, dynamite, TNT, and black powder. According to his handler, Officer Timothy Rivers the K-9’s specialty is retrieving guns. “If you throw a gun…

Macon Police Investigating Pedestrian Fatality on Gray Highway

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A woman is dead after a car struck her while she was walking down Gray Highway early Tuesday morning, according to Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones. Jones tells 41NBC a 2006 Chrysler 300 hit 62-year-old Brenda Johnson between the Murphy’s gas station and Wal-Mart on Gray Highway. The man driving the car left the scene, but…

Mercer Football Featured on ESPN, Yahoo

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – The Mercer football program and defensive back Alex Avant continue to garner national attention for his interception return as highlighted in Monday’s Yahoo Sports Minute. The highlight reel play was featured on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top10 as the top play of the day and the No. 2 play of the weekend and now headlines the latest…

Ocmulgee Alive Raises Awareness of Water Quality Importance

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Ocmulgee Alive is Macon’s annual river clean up and it’s happening this weekend. It’s an event that raises awareness of the importance of water quality and how the things middle Georgians do each day impact it. Mark Wyzalek with the Macon Water Authority stopped by 41 Today with the details of the cleanup event. The 9th…

Donated Wheelchair Gives Dog a New Lease on Life

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Princeton looks like a normal Chihuahua, until he takes his first step. The two-year-old gets around in custom-made wheelchair. Now regular play dates are just a walk in park, but five months ago, they weren’t this easy. “He was very, very thin, covered in sores, he was stained from all the waste,” said Regenia Brabham….

Lane Students Plant Veggies and Herbs For Salads

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Some McKibben Lane Elementary students learned what they eat, comes from the ground. Representatives from Bibb County’s school Nutrition Department and the USDA helped the children plant six new gardens. The children planted romaine, and arugula lettuce along with broccoli and spinach in their new vegetable gardens. They also planted a variety of herb gardens. Officials…

Motorcyclists Ride to Raise Childhood Cancer Awareness

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 41NBC continues our coverage of Childhood Cancer Awareness month. This weekend motorcyclists will ride in Jones County as part of the Hawgs 4 HOPE fundraiser. Money raised will benefit the Jay’s HOPE Foundation. Event organizer Cindy Arnold stopped by Daybreak to talk more about the motorcycle dice run. Hawgs 4 HOPE is this Saturday, September 28th…

Houston Co. Teen Battles Cancer, New Procedures Aim to Help Smaller Patients

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Three months ago, Nathan Long discovered a mysterious mass on his neck. The 16-year-old Houston County High School student immediately knew something was wrong. “Because it just kind of popped up over night,” Long said. Within days, he would begin his battle with the two ‘C’s’-cancer and chemotherapy. “And they said ‘okay Nathan, we’re just…

Community Parties with Politicians at 6th Annual Warner Robins HobNob

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Thursday night, community members and business leaders got the chance to party with the politicians in Warner Robins. At the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce 6th annual HobNob, three U.S. Senate candidates, and several people vying for local offices mixed and mingled, and of course talked politics. This was the second year Billy Fortenberry attended…

Ivey Mayor Remains in Office Following Investigation

IVEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After two hours of testimony, dozens of allegations and a month long investigation, Ivey Mayor Ann Evans will remain in office. Ivey’s four council members had a split vote following Thursday’s investigative hearing. The probe comes after the city received several citizens’ complaints back in August. From there, the council voted to launch an open investigation…

River Edge Behavioral Health Center to House Opportunity for People Living with HIV and AIDS

MACON. Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A non-profit organization has stepped in to temporarily house those in need, since the Rainbow House lost 90 percent of its funding. River Edge Behavioral Health Center typically provides affordable housing to low-income tenants with mental and physical disabilities; however, they are taking on a new project. They renovated an undisclosed building in Macon to house…

Bibb Schools Administrative Offices Could Possibly Move

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb county school system could be moving its administrative offices from downtown Macon to riverside drive to the Hutchings Career Center. Interim superintendent Steve Smith spoke today about the potential move. The school at the Hutchings Career Center, would then move to the Macon promise center on Pio Nono Avenue. Smith says a study is…

Reichert Receives Endorsements from Big Names for Runoff Election

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon Mayor Robert Reichert says he’s going to use every second he can to build a better community, between now and the upcoming runoff election against former Macon mayor C. Jack Ellis. Reichert held a news conference earlier today and had the support off major political players standing behind him; Bibb Commissioner Joe Allen, as well…