New Entertainment Complex Opens in Warner Robins on Friday

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – This Friday, an entertainment megaplex is set to open in Warner Robins. The Rigby Entertainment Center is a full restaurant equipped with a bowling alley, skating rink, laser tag center and conference rooms. Developer Steve Rigby said multi-million dollar fun center is far from child’s play. “If we can get the adults here to have…

Federal Decision Causes Uncertainty at Local Airport

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) –  After the U.S. House of Representatives voted to suspend all FAA furloughs, officials at Middle Georgia Regional Airport had hopes that they were in the clear from avoiding the upcoming closure of their air traffic control tower this summer. 41 NBC spoke with officials there who aren’t quite sure what all is included in that…

Former Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Death of His Girlfriend

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The former corrections officer facing a murder conviction for killing his girlfriend plead guilty to lesser charges in court Monday. Russell Holt is charged with voluntary manslaughter for shooting Jessica Wolfe last March. Wolfe’s family is not happy with this decision and believes justice was not served. “He took everything away from us,” Melanie Robinson, Jessica…

“Dream Finally Realized”: Wilcox County’s First Integrated Prom

ABBEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Dressed in glorious ball gowns and tuxedos, Wilcox County seniors slipped into limousines headed off to senior prom; it’s a celebration of the school’s year end and the beginning of a new era. “I feel like we are living Martin Luther King’s dream,” said Alexis Miller. Miller, a Caucasian student at Wilcox County High School, dates…

Central Georgia CASA Discusses The Importance of Supporting Foster Children

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – If you are unfamiliar with the processes and life-changing experiences foster care children go through, let Central Georgia CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) show you what these children go through. Susanna Patterson of Central Georgia CASA sat down with us in our Daybreak studio to shed some light on the topic, and the importance of having…

Support Well Digging in Africa By Running a 5k

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Lace up your running shoes for this weekend’s 5k at Stone Edge Church in Macon! The event will have something for everyone, even activities for the kids. If that’s not enough to convince you to join in, the 5k is a fundraiser to help dig wells for people living in desolate areas in Africa so they…

Olives Soon To Be The New ‘Peach’ For Georgia?

HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Move over peaches and pecans, olives may soon start to  grow into Georgia’s number one cash crop. Just ask Bob Krueger in Hawkinsville. He saw Georgia’s potential about a year ago when he planted a farm of olive trees. More specifically, he’s planting olive trees to produce olive oil. “I’ve got 22 acres here, and I’ve…

Layoffs, Position Cuts Coming for Bibb School District

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As part of a Reduction in Force plan approved by the Bibb County School Board Thursday night, 101 school employees could be laid off. The board voted 6-2 to approve the plan, with board members Lester Miller and Jason Downey voting against it. 74 of the 101 are teacher positions.  13 are other employees like janitors…

Local Band Performs to Raise Money for Food Bank

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A local band from Warner Robins is doing their part to raise money for a good cause. The Alex Tjoland Band will be playing two concerts to raise funds for the Middle Georgia Food Bank.It’s going on as part of the “Attorney General’s Legal Food Frenzy,” a statewide program for the legal community to donate money…

Bibb County District Attorney Opens Child Witness Room

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – The office of the District Attorney for the Macon Judicial Circuit opened the Vernon R. Beinke Child Witness Room with a ribbon cutting on Thursday. According to a news release sent from the District Attorney’s Office, the room will “provide child witnesses with their very own space before court proceedings.” The child witness room was…

Forsyth Police, Local Pharmacy Working to Get Extra Pills Out of Homes

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Pharmacist Jep Castleberry says there are a slew of side effects that could become reality when prescription drugs fall into the wrong hands. “There’s so many things that could go wrong by these people some of them taking advantage of other people’s medication that they can get their hands on,” said Castleberry. In September, Castleberry Drug…

Pedestrian Killed in Milledgeville

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A pedestrian has been killed early this morning near West Campus Drive, at U.S. Highway 441, according to a news release sent out by the Georgia State Patrol. The victim, 22-year-old Victor Chatfield of Milledgeville, was hit by a Hyundai Sonata at around 5:20am. The Sonata was being driven by 45-year-old Jeffery Ledbetter of Eatonton, Georgia,…

7 Bibb County Students Receive Al Lucas Memorial Scholarships

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Each year, a group of hard-working student athletes in Bibb Countyis rewarded scholarships in memory of a fallen Macon native. Al Lucas, son of Georgia State Senator David Lucas and Macon City Councilwoman Elaine Lucas, played football at Northeast High.  He went on to play in college at Troy University and then in the National Football…

Macon Wellness Center Receives Grant to Expand Program

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – When people are diagnosed with cancer, they and their families do anything they can to get the mind off of the stress and worry it causes. 41 NBC spoke with a few people at the Wellness Center in Macon about the program they have in place that does just that and their recent good news. The…

Local Gamers Rev Up for ‘Need for Speed’ Filming

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Since film crews with “Need for Speed” announced they would make a pit stop in Macon, the video game that inspired the motion picture has been flying off shelves. The Hollywood buzz is creating big business at the Land of the Gods video game store. Gamer Neressa Miller picked up her copy today. After a few…

Candidate Qualifies for Mayor in Style

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – Candidate David Cousino rode into Bibb County Board of Elections Office on a horse. Cousino walked into the office, saddle bag in tow, and filled out the paperwork he needed to qualify for Mayor.  He paid the majority of his $3000 qualifying fees, in gold coins. The rest with cash. Cousino explained why he came…

‘Need for Speed’ Starts Filming in Macon

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Traffic on the off-ramp at Hardeman Avenue transformed into a motion picture high-speed chase on Wednesday. “Need for Speed”, a DreamWorks studio production, started shooting scenes near the Fountain Car Wash early Wednesday morning. The movie is an adaption of the poplar racing video game with the same name. Cast members include Michael Keaton from “Batman”,…

Karats and Keepsakes Raising Autism Awareness With Cocktails and Cupcakes

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — In an effort to raise autism awareness, Karats and Keepsakes will host Cocktails and Cupcakes, a party and silent auction benefiting Central Georgia Autism. Karats and Keepsakes owner Julie Evans joined Daybreak with details Wednesday. The event is Thursday, April 25 from 5P.M. to 8P.M. Entry tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling (478)…

Macon Plans to Enter Joint Lawsuit Against FAA

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Nearly 150 air traffic control towers across the country are set to close down on June 15, including the one at Middle Georgia Regional Airport.  In an effort to prevent that from happening, the City of Macon is planning to join a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration. Tuesday, the Public Properties Committee unanimously approved the…

Macon Arts Alliance Partners with Mercer’s Center for Collaborative Journalism

MACON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – The Macon Arts Alliance has received a big grant to support an arts journalism partnership with Mercer’s Center for Collaborative Journalism.The program is called “Art Matters,” and the grant is $40,000. Students involved will create news articles, blogs, video reports and more. 41 NBC spoke with Director of Communications for the Macon Arts Alliance, Jonathan Dye,who stressed the importance…