Parents Upset Over Proposed Reconfiguration of Jones, King-Danforth Schools

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County parents were loud and clear Wednesday, voicing their opinions at the first of a series of public forums about big changes that could come to four elementary schools. Some parents are not pleased about the school district’s proposal to reconfigure grades at Jones and King-Danforth Elementary Schools. The district says the move would save…

Who is ‘Molly’? What Parents Need to Know

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – “Have you seen Molly?” The trendy drug is making waves across the music industry and in Middle Georgia. The new form of ecstasy is catching on with a younger audience, for parents who haven’t heard of “Molly”, health officials are urging them to become familiar with her. “It sounds innocent and benign,” said Dr. Gaylord Lopez,…

Pop Up Boutique Coming to Macon’s First Friday

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A unique shopping opportunity is “popping up” in downtown Macon this Friday. Main Street Macon is sponsoring a pop up boutique at 466 First Street from 5 to 8pm as part of First Friday. The boutique will feature designs from Mint, Blush Kennesaw, Rumor and Betsy Pittard Designs. A pop-up boutique concept often found in big…

More Travelers Flying with Middle Georgia Airline

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Silver Airways is taking the Middle Georgia Regional Airport to new heights. Since the airline took off two months ago, more passengers are choosing to fly out of Macon and they are enjoying the new option. Craig Smith travels from Florida to Macon once a month for business. He says that trip is easier now that…

One ‘Halluva Auction’ Coming to Macon Friday

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — It’s going to be one Halluva auction Friday night, and 41NBC got a sneak peek of some of the items up for grabs! From autographed baseballs to a Luke Bryan guitar, there’s more than 200 prizes to bid on. All proceeds benefit three big organizations: NewTown Macon, the Cherry Blossom Festival, and the Georgia Sports Hall…

Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder Kicks Off Tomorrow

HAMPTON, GA – With the calendar turning to June and the summer temperatures rising, it’s a signal that Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder racing series is back for another season of short-track racing on the quarter-mile “Thunder Ring.” Cheaper than a matinee movie, the weekly summer racing series will once again combine intense racing among the hopeful future stars of…

Parents Get Efficacy Training in Bibb County

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Administrators in Bibb County Schools want parents to take steps to help their kids succeed. They went to the welcome center for workshops to learn about efficacy and other ways to be active in their child’s education. Wednesday was the first of four sessions to show parents how to keep their kids motivated and help them…

Man Falls To His Death After Running From Macon Police

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A man is dead after running from police early Wednesday morning. Macon police officers were patrolling buildings in the Presidential Parkway Shopping Center around 3:30 when they noticed two men parked behind one of the closed buildings. Officers used pepper spray on one man after they both became combative. The other man ran from the scene,…

Monroe County Wants to Connect With Bibb Through Radio System

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Bibb County Sheriff David Davis says Monroe County wants in on new radio technology. Davis welcomed the idea of Monroe County connecting to Bibb’s new 800 mHz radio system when it’s up and running. “Anything like this to expand that footprint anywhere that our officers can speak from Bibb County to Monroe County and eventually in…

Bibb County Attorney Planning to Send DOJ Response to Election Issue This Week

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Bibb County attorney Virgil Adams says his goal is to send a letter at the end of the week responding to all of the Department of Justice’s questions regarding nonpartisan elections. This comes after Adams met with seven of the eight members of the Bibb County Legislative Delegation Monday. State representative Allen Peake was not there….

Crawford County EMA Says Sirens Are Ok After Confusion

ROBERTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Emergency alarm sirens in Crawford County are now working correctly after they went off accidentally a few weeks ago. EMA Director Jake Watson and other officials scrambled to figure out why. “The sirens activated because of a lighting strike that was in the area for the controller for the siren system,” Watson said. Residents were on…

New Study Shows Georgians Lacking in Civic Health

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A new, first of its kind report released Tuesday shows Georgians are lacking when it comes to civic health. According to the Georgia Civic Health Index, the Peach State’s rate of civic engagement is among the lowest in the nation. The study is based on four indicators: social connectedness, community involvement, political action, and confidence in…

Warner Robins Councilman Daron Lee Running for Mayor

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Another Warner Robins City Council member says he’s ready to take the lead of the International City. Surrounded by family and close friends, council member Daron Lee announced he will run for mayor of Warner Robins. “I will represent all of the people, not some of the people,” Lee said during a news conference on…

McDaniel’s Lawyers Ask For Lower Bond

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Stephen McDaniel’s lawyers argue his bond is too high in the case where McDaniel is accused of killing Mercer Law graduate Lauren Giddings in June 2011. In a motion filed Monday, McDaniel’s defense team asked that his bond be reconsidered. They argued that the $850,000 bond is excessive and that the withdrawal of the death penalty…

UPDATE: Milledgeville Ethics Committee Investigates Complaint Against City Councilman

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Milledgeville Ethics Committee found parts of the complaint filed against a city councilman are valid and they are opening an investigation. The board met Tuesday night. It took them almost two hours to review the complaint filed against Councilman Phillip Joiner. They will look into two of the three allegations. The complaint claims Joiner didn’t…

Citizens Mostly Quiet at Warner Robins Budget Hearing

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Only one Warner Robins citizen spoke up Monday in a public hearing about the fiscal year 2014 budget. That citizen told Mayor Chuck Shaheen and council he hadn’t seen a copy of the budget.  Shaheen explained the budget has been available for the last two weeks in the city clerk’s office and on the city’s…

Rochelle Residents Claim Racial Bias in Sewage Dumping Lawsuit

ROCHELLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A lawsuit may force the city of Rochelle to rethink its sewage system. Residents on the north side of town say every time it rains, raw sewage flows from the pipes getting into their homes and yards. John Jackson and his neighbors believe local officials are avoiding the filth because the problems are in a predominantly…

Bibb County Interim Superintendent Sworn In

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Hugs, hand shakes, and standing ovations greeted Dr. E. Steven Smith at the Bibb County Board of Education Monday afternoon. Dr. Smith took his oath of office as the interim superintendent of Bibb Schools in front of a packed house, and energetic crowd. He said he was flattered by the show of support from former colleagues,…

United Methodists Bag Food to Help Stop World Hunger

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Every day, 25,000 people die from hunger and related illnesses. On Monday, hundreds of people packed bags of food. They say it is a small thing they can do to help combat this worldwide problem. “It’s about helping those who are in need, those who are less fortunate,” volunteer Mark Hardin said. And you don’t have…

McDaniel’s Defense Files Motion To Ban Wearing Color Pink During Trial

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Stephen McDaniel’s lawyers filed a motion asking the court to prohibit wearing the color pink during trial. McDaniel is accused of killing Mercer Law graduate Lauren Giddings in June 2011. After filing 17 new motions late Thursday, lawyers Floyd Buford and Franklin Hogue added one more motion to the pile Friday afternoon. The latest motion stated,…