50 Graduate from E.L. Home Study Academy

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A group of middle Georgians was given a second chance and took full advantage. 50 students graduated from Macon councilwoman Elaine Lucas’ E.L. Home Study Academy at a ceremony at St. Peter’s Baptist Church.  The school is designed for students who never quite finished high school–it gives them a second chance to earn that coveted diploma….

Double Amputee Veteran Gets New Home in Hawkinsville

HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – It was a day made for a hero. Marine Corporal Tony Mullis, who lost both his legs two years ago after a bomb exploded in Afghanistan, raised the flag at his brand new home–a gift from national non-profit group “Homes For Our Troops.” Mullis’ friend and business partner, Marine Corporal Michael Boucher, lost both his legs…

Four Killed in Macon House Fire Honored in Candlelight Vigil

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Friends, neighbors and family members gathered to remember the four killed in a horrific fire Thursday morning. Hundreds showed up at Countryside Baptist Church in the Lynmore Estates area in macon, to honor Jennifer and Elizabeth Caffee, Wendy Chapman and Holly Tucker–the mother and three daughters who died. Their pastor Rayford Johnson says the girls were…

Former Wilkinson County Teacher Accused of Child Molestation Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charges

IRWINTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One of the Wilkinson County high school teachers accused of molesting a 15-year-old student earlier this year pleaded guilty to lesser charges. On Monday, former JROTC instructor Rodney Hunter pleaded guilty to three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Wilkinson County District Attorney Fred Bright tells us he’s facing 36 months of probation…

Museum of Arts and Sciences Ready for Bug Day Saturday

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The bugs are back in town at the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Their annual Bug Day is all set for Saturday the museum on Forsyth Road in Macon. All kinds of bugs will be on hand–everything from hissing cockroaches to tarantulas.  There will be bug experts on hand with their collections, and if you’re hungry,…

Dozens of Flags Retire at Fort Hawkins on National Flag Day

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Old Glory is now 236 years old, and Friday, a historic site in middle Georgia celebrated the Star-Spangled Banner. The event at Fort Hawkins marked Flag Day, and this was the fort’s third time hosting the celebration. Patriots brought in their worn out flags for retirement, and the younger visitors got to take home miniature flags–one…

Lightning Strikes Two Jones County Men

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Two Jones County men are recovering after they were struck by lightning during Thursday night’s storms. “It was a light show, just continuous lightning, there was no let up,” Jones County EMA and Fire Rescue Chief Don Graham said. Jones County was under a severe thunderstorm warning late Thursday night. Around 10 o’clock, Graham says his…

Buca di Beppo Treats Middle Georgia Fathers to Free Cannolis

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Buca di Beppo’s Chef Kory Mack kicked off Father’s Day weekend with a delectable treat on Daybreak. National Cannoli Day is Sunday and Buca di Beppo is celebrating middle Georgia dads by treating them to free cannolis. Buca also gave away a gift card for $25 to a lucky dad Friday morning. Congratulations Sidney Andrews for…

“That Was My Best Friend, I’m Going to Miss Them”: Neighbor Escapes Burning Home Through Window that Takes Lives of Mother, Daughters

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The neighbor to the woman who lost her life in the duplex fire Thursday morning says she did everything she could to get out alive.  Teresa Walker says Jeniffer Caffee and her three daughters were like family.  Walker, who has an amputated leg, jumped through a window in her apartment to get out of the burning…

Autism-Awareness Film Premieres at Macon Amstar

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A new film chronicling the 40 day journey of a father looking for answers about his son’s autism premiered in Macon today, and local advocates for autism awareness are celebrating the movie. The United States of Autism is a documentary by Richard Everts, who wanted to know more about the disorder after his son’s diagnosis. After…

First Responders Train for Disaster Scenario

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Middle Georgia Regional Airport was a disaster zone Thursday morning, after a bomb went off in the terminal. But don’t worry, it was part of an emergency response training exercise. In light of the Boston marathon explosion, coordinators for this year’s disaster scenario training blew up a fake bomb, but the emergency response was very…

UPDATE: Former Tubman Contractor Booted from Project, Demands Explanation

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Over the last 13 years, getting the new Tubman African American Museum up and running has been a struggle, and Thursday the president of Harmon Construction, Inc.—one of the contractors that was involved that process–revealed he got the boot. Paul Harmon held a news conference saying the Tubman Board of Directors dropped him from the project,…

Bibb County Coroner: Check On Elderly During Hot Months

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The extreme heat is taking it’s toll on everyone, but Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones says this time of year it’s especially important to check on the elderly. From the blaring sun to heat waves bouncing off the pavement all over Macon you can see and feel the summer temperatures. Jones is urging family members or…

Authorities Investigate Dog Abuse Cases

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Animal abuse investigators are questioning people in the Peach Orchard neighborhood of Bibb County after a local rescue group found two severely abused dogs. Rescue group leaders believe gangs could be behind the violence and they are taking legal action to find out who is behind it. “I can’t explain what human would do something like…

Bibb Commissioners Continue Budget Talks

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County commissioners are one step closer to finalizing the 2014 budget. During Wednesday’s work session, county leaders found they had a $7 million deficit. It comes after the county took on my departments from the city, like recreation. Commissioner Joe Allen tells 41NBC the board approved to take that $7 million out of the county’s…

Air Force Reserve Band Rehearses for Final Performance

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The last members of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve are getting ready for their final performance before the group is dismantled later this year. The five member rock group called Reserve Generation is rehearsing for their encore performance during this year’s Independence Day Celebration in Warner Robins. The band is one of…

Local Celebrities Rake in Almost $12,000 Waiting Tables

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A few local celebrities traded in their day jobs Tuesday night to help fight domestic violence, and they raised almost $12,000 in just four hours. The 2nd annual “Appetites for Advocacy” was put on by the Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia. Local celebrities teamed up with servers at Cheddar’s Casual Cafe on Riverside…

One-of-a-Kind Health Clinic Opens on Flight Line at Robins Air Force Base

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Quick, convenient, and right in the middle of the action! Robins Air Force Base celebrated the opening of a facility that’s all that, located right on the flight line. Inside the FAST FORWARD facility, there’s rehab equipment and first aid gear. Commander of Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Brigadier General Cedric George, described it as…

Bibb County Pools Extend Hours

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – All of the pools in Bibb County may not be open, but that isn’t stopping residents from hopping in this summer. Memorial Park pool is one of only three open so far this summer. But today, Bibb county Commission Chairman Sam Hart announced a plan to get kids from the Bloomfield area to Memorial Park to…