Child Molestation Trial for Former Wilkinson County Teacher Postponed

IRWINTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The trial of a Wilkinson County High School teacher accused of molesting a 15-year-old student has been postponed. Wilkinson County Assistant District Attorney Brent Cochran tells 41NBC 29-year-old Cornelius Dontae Jones and his attorney did not show up in court on Monday. Instead, his lawyer spoke to the judge earlier and filed for a continuance. The…

Sparse Crowd at Public Hearing on Bibb Schools’ Budget

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – There are more than 150,000 Bibb County citizens, but only a few of them showed up at Monday night’s public hearing on the school district’s budget. The district has to overcome an $18.7 million deficit.  Some school consolidations and mergers were considered, but those were pushed back until later on after public outcry. Still, the system…

Perry Fire Department Opens New Station

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Perry Fire Department has two stations up and running in an effort to speed up response times. Davis Farm Station is in east Perry and will allow firefighters to respond to calls in half of the time. The $1.2 million facility sits on land donated by the Davis family. Another benefit residents will see in…

Warner Robins Police Conducting Commercial Gambling Operation

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Warner Robins police served search warrants at two gas stations on Monday as part of a crackdown on illegal gambling. Crime scene tape and police cars blocked off the Sunoco and BiLow Mart on Green Street as officers searched the businesses. Police spokeswoman Tabitha Pugh couldn’t say how many stores they’re searching or what they’re…

International Taste of Soul Coming to Tubman Museum

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – For those of you who like to add a little bit of variety to your dinner diet, maybe you should check out the upcoming ‘International Taste of Soul’ at the Tubman Museum. The fundraiser for the museum is a chance for you to try cuisine from across the globe, and help support the mission of the…

Daybreak’s Pet of the Week from Macon Bibb Animal Welfare

MACON(41NBC/WMGT) – Macon-Bibb Animal Welfare is in need of some help with the amount of dogs it has available for adoption, and with getting more dogs spayed and neutered in our community. Sarah Tenon with Macon-Bibb Animal Shelter stopped in our Daybreak studio with this week’s Pet of the Week and to encourage people to be sure to get your…

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…