Push for New Business in Downtown Macon

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – There’s construction on Cherry Street in Downtown Macon and the plans are to continue to build. It’s part of a push to get new businesses and residents in downtown Macon to create an economic boom in the area. Newtown Macon is a nonprofit organization looking to revitalize the downtown area. The group focuses on increasing…

Former Wilcox County Sheriff Sentenced for Beating Inmate

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Former Wilcox County Sheriff Stacy Bloodsworth is sentenced to 10 years in prison for beating an inmate in his jail. Last October, Bloodsworth pleaded guilty in federal court for assaulting an inmate in the Wilcox County Jail and then conspiring with other officers to cover up the assault. “We expect our law enforcement officers to protect…

Cooke to Seek Death Penalty Against Suspect in Gail Spencer Murder

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney David Cooke is seeking the death penalty against a woman accused of killing her co-worker last October. Tracy Michelle Jones is accused of killing Gail Spencer. Jones worked with Spencer at Calder Pinkston & Associates, along with three other people also accused in Spencer’s murder. Cooke says there are four factors…

Helicopters Out Searching For Missing 71 Year Old Man; Update

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon Police, Macon-Bibb firefighters, Macon-Bibb EMA, the local National Guard, Georgia State Patrol’s helicopter unit, K-9 Units from the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office, Warner Robins Police, and Georgia Department of Corrections are currently at Riverside Cemetery in Macon to search for missing 71 year old David Mann. Mann’s van was found around 7:30a.m. Wednesday inside the…

UPDATE: Monroe Co. Sheriff’s Office Suspect Robbery as Motive in Double Homicide

JULIETTE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Monroe County deputies believe robbery could have been the motive behind a double homicide that happened in south Monroe County near Juliette. According to a news release, 36-year-old Russell Jacobs and 40-year-old James Pittman Wood were found dead in their home at 170 Woods Road Tuesday around 1 p.m. Jacobs was Wood’s brother-in law and lived…

Good Life Organizer Andi Willis Shares Tips for a Clean Car

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Andi Willis with Good Life Organizing is no stranger to Daybreak. Wednesday, she stopped by with tips on getting your car in order. It’s easy to find things out of place and unorganized in the set of wheels you cruise around in everyday so Willis suggests a few helpful tips to keep the inside of your…

Dying Augusta Man Seeks Corporate Sponsorship for Tombstone

AUGUSTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Georgia man dying of cancer has an unusual request at the end of his life: He’s seeking corporate sponsorship for his tombstone. David Hunter is quiet, contemplative, and determined. Three adjectives you might expect about someone who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer last year…The Augusta man has less than a year to live….

UPDATE: Monroe County Deputies Investigating Double Homicide

JULIETTE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Monroe County deputies are investigating a double homicide that happened in south Monroe County near Juliette. According to spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, Allison Willis, the victims are Russell Jacobs and James Pittman Wood. The two were found around 1 p.m. Tuesday inside a home at 170 Woods Road. Monroe County coroner Joey Proctor says the…

Family, Friends Search for Missing MGSC Student

COCHRAN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Family, friends and church members of a missing Middle Georgia State College student canvassed the Cochran campus and community passing out flyers. 19-year-old Jmaal Keyes has been missing for nearly two weeks now. Police say he left his dorm on April 25 and never came back. Now his family is pleading for a safe return. “We…

Wilkinson Co. Summer Reading Program Facing Major Budget Cuts

IRWINTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Wilkinson County’s summer reading program is facing major budget cuts. Library officials are asking for the county’s help to make up for the shortfall. The county library’s $50,000 budget is made up of funds from the City of Irwinton, McIntyre, and Wilkinson County. McIntyre cut $5,000 this year which leaves the library’s popular summer reading program…

Central State Hospital Offers Free GED Program to Employees

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – With impending closures and job cuts at Central State Hospital, officials are doing what they can to help employees who could be out of a job. The hospital is offering a free GED program to employees to gain valuable skills needed to get a job. Big changes are coming to CHS. By the end of this…

New Peach Regional Medical Center Almost Complete

BYRON, Georgia (41 NBC) – Peach County’s new medical center in Byron has been in the works for the past 12 years and is set to open on June 13. Nancy Peed, CEO of Peach Regional Medical Center, says the current building, that’s been used for the past 50 years, has been holding progress back from a growing community. “The…

Completion of Road Improvement Project in Macon

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC) – Macon and the Medical Center of Central Georgia celebrated the completion of the New and Pine Street intersection project with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday. The work improved roads, sidewalks, and traffic flow along Pine Street in front of the hospital. Before the road work, the area had broken pavement and a lack of handicapped…

Jones County Deputies Using New Technology to Identify People on the Spot

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Jones County deputies are sporting some new technology that’s helping them identify criminals within seconds. They’re using a finger print scanning system called Rapid ID. Deputies ask a for a person’s name, type it in, and then they take prints from two different fingers.  The hand-held machine then runs through state and federal databases to help…

Macon Police Torch Run for Special Olympics

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — For as long as Sgt. Charles Whitaker with the Macon Police Department can remember the Special Olympics torch run has been a tradition for MPD officers and SWAT members. “This is my fifth time doing this and it makes me feel good inside to be able to do a little bit,” said Sgt. Whitaker. MPD SWAT…

Warner Robins Police Search for Bank Robbery Suspect

  WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- The Warner Robins Police Department is looking for a man who walked into the HEA Federal Credit Union on Osigian Boulevard and robbed it. Police say the man walked up to the counter, handed the teller a note demanding money, then left the business on foot. If you have any information, or recognize the suspect,…

Orphan Drug Act Turns 30, Helps Macon Man with Rare Disease

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – It’s been three decades since legislation gave people with rare diseases more options to live a better life, and one man in Macon is living life to the fullest because of it. Jameson Atkinson has a rare condition, but because of the Orphan Drug Act passed 30 years ago, his life can be as normal as…

Unadilla Native Wins NASCAR Race in Talladega

UNADILLA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Unadilla native wins big during this year’s spring NASCAR race at Talladega Speedway. It came down to the last two laps and David Ragan pulled ahead to take the checker flag. One hundred eighty-eight laps, two major crashes, and rain delays that pushed the race into over time. With two laps to go, Ragan started…

UPDATE: Macon City Hall Returns to Work, Unattended Suitcase Left Near Building Detonated

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon City Hall was evacuated for about an hour this afternoon after an unattended suitcase was left on the side of the building. City spokesman Chris Floore told 41NBC Macon police evacuated the building around 1:30. Employees were standing outside across the street at Rosa Park Square. The Macon Police bomb squad x-rayed the suitcase, and…

College Day Sunday Prepares Local Students for Higher Education

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Mercer University’s Educational Opportunity Center is working to move more people from poverty to prosperity. This weekend, the organization hosted its second “College Day Sunday” event at Christian Fellowship Church in Warner Robins. Dozens of vendors were at hand helping families with everything from financial aid to college applications. “We know that in Houston County…

Middle Georgia Amputees Take the Plunge in Scuba Dive Class

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Losing a limb hasn’t stopped Cory Cochran from enjoying life, in fact, he’s are diving right in! When he was four, Cochran was run over by a riding lawn mower, struggling for years on the wounded leg. This October, after nearly 20 years of suffering and unsuccessful surgeries, his leg was amputated. This weekend, for the…