Community Still Learning About Proposed Bibb Charter School

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – About 50 interested citizens filled the sanctuary at Northway Church Tuesday night to learn more about a proposed charter school that plans to place its focus on reading. “What works well is a well-structured, well-run school that has discipline in place where kids want to be,” says one of the school’s founders, Laura Perkins, who also…

Pollen Count Not Rising, Still Concerns in Middle Georgia

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Middle Georgia seems to be under a blanket of yellow powder. And with all that pollen comes sneezing, wheezing, and a whole slew of annoying allergies. According to the Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Macon, the pollen count in Middle Georgia hasn’t gone up, but there is still a concern. Dr. David Plaxico says the community…

Former Bibb Educators Looking for Community Input for New Charter School, Talk About Plans

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Two former Bibb County educators say that’s what they want their proposed charter school to be all about discipline, structure, and academic rigor. Laura Perkins and Esterine Stokes don’t have a one-size fits all plan for education, but what the former Westside High School educators do have is a common vision. “We both have a passion…

Authorities Find Body of Ocmulgee Drowning Victim

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After nine long days of dragging the Ocmulgee River, the search for the body of 24-year-old Aaron Cross is over. “It’s been an extensive and exhaustive search,” Captain Bob Lynn with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said. But the search came to an end around 11 a.m. Tuesday. After more than a week of combing…

Macon Crimestoppers Presents Most Wanted List

MACON, Georgia(41NBC/WMGT) – Macon Area Regional Crimestoppers stopped in our Daybreak studio to present its list of the area’s most wanted suspects. Crimestoppers offers citizens an opportunity to call in tips, remain anonymous, and possibly earn some reward money if your tip leads to an arrest. If you have a tip for investigators, call Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.   Categories: Daybreak

Audit Says From 2011 to 2012, Complaints Against MPD Rose 52%

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – From 2011 to 2012, complaints against the Macon Police Department rose 52%. That’s according to an audit by the city’s internal audit office. Its findings showed that in 2012, there were 381 allegations against officers, up from 251 in 2011. One in every five of those allegations over the two-year span were described as “Abuse of…

Budget Cuts Looming for Bibb School District, Jobs Could Be in Jeopardy

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The acting superintendent of the Bibb County School District expects millions of dollars will have to be cut from the upcoming budget, and jobs could be on the line. Susanne Griffin-Ziebart made that announcement Monday night at a called board meeting. The board voted to meet every Thursday through mid-June to work together on exactly where…

First-Ever Farm-to-Table Dinner Held at Armory Ballroom Promoting Clean Eating

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- A group in Middle Georgia is working to get fresh food to more people in the area, and Monday they raised money for that mission. Community Health Works held the first “Farm to Table” dinner at the Armory Ballroom in downtown Macon.On the menu: nothing but farm-grown, fresh food, including beef and pork options, fresh vegetables–all grown…

Byron Family Attacked by Dog Not Once, But Twice

BYRON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A stray Pit bull attacked a Byron woman’s family not once, but twice. Brittany Wilson’s life will never be the same, after her cat, Khloe, was killed by a stray pitbull in her neighborhood last Friday afternoon. Wilson and her two sons were at home when the stray dog, no stranger to their neighborhood, barged into…

Macon Man Seeks Damages After Deadly Drunk Driving Crash

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A local man is seeking damages after he says Macon police handed his car over to a drunk person. For months now, Carlos Sledge has been working to get his 1996 Chevy Impala back. In December, his car was totaled after a deadly accident at Mercer University Drive and Columbus Road. 39-year-old David Coley died in…

Bibb Schools Prep for CRCTs, Procedures in Place to Prevent Cheating

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Students are gearing up to take the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCTs) on Tuesday. The recent cheating scandal in Atlanta public schools has the Bibb County school district working to make sure nothing like that happens here in Middle Georgia. Students and staff at Heritage Elementary are in testing mode for this year’s CRCTs. It is five…

Local Dog Trainer Preps for National Dog Competition

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Perry’s Dogwood Festival is living up to its name by including four-legged friends with a dog competition; one local trainer is preparing dogs to compete. Mike Ferguson and his wife have spent their lives turning family pets into fierce competitors. This year, the Warner Robins couple has several ‘students’ competing in the events leading up…

Wilcox County School System Considers Sponsoring Prom

  ROCHELLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Wilcox County School System is now considering sponsoring an integrated prom in 2014. The announcement comes just days after a group of Wilcox County High School seniors gained national attention for their efforts to host the school’s first integrated prom. When Wilcox County schools integrated 30 years ago, the annual school sponsored prom ended….

Macon Non-Profit Hosting Fundraiser To Get Fresh Foods To More People

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon non-profit group, Community Health Works, is hosting a dinner fundraiser to help provide assistance for people to have more and easier access to local, healthy foods. As part of Community Health Works’ mission, the group raises awareness on issues that plague our community when it comes to health and well-being. The dinner fundraiser on…

Kyle And Melissa Go One On One To Prep For Final Four

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – It’s no longer a secret, between Melissa and I, no one will be picking us for their pickup game of basketball after seeing this video! To prepare for the NCAA Final Four tournament being held in Atlanta, (and to make complete fools of ourselves on TV) we played a game of P-I-G while the Final Four…

Zumba Extravaganza to Benefit Warner Robins Baby with Spina Bifida

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A local zumba instructor is using her passion for health and fitness to help a Warner Robins family. Faith Womack is hosting a Zumba Extravaganza to raise funds for Kristi Clarke who is pregnant with a baby who has spina bifida. Womack stopped by the 41NBC station to teach Daybreak Anchors Melissa Lee and Kyle…

Central Georgia Autism and Big Ring Racing to Host First Journey Century Ride

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Central Georgia Autism and Big Ring Racing will hold the first ‘Journey Century Ride for Autism.’ It’s an event promoting autism awareness and it’s open to cyclists of all abilities. John Cozart with Big Ring Racing and Janet Ward of Central Georgia Autism stopped by Daybreak with all the details. The event will accommodate cyclists starting…

Mother Accused of Killing Three Kids in House Fire Granted Bond

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon mother accused of killing her three children in a house fire was granted bond Thursday. A Bibb County judge set Colethia Williams bond at $75,000 with some restrictions. She’s not allowed to have any unsupervised contact with children. She is allowed to have supervised visits with her three-year-old son J’Lon three days a week…

Home Prices in Macon Increase

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) Home prices in Middle Georgia are increasing according to a news release from Core Logic, a property information and analytics firm. The data shows that home prices in Macon rose by 11 point one percent in February of this year, compared to this time last year. 41 NBC spoke with the Managing Broker and Chief Operating Officer…

With BRAC Looming in 2015, Former RAFB Commander Calls on Base, Union Management to Put Aside Personal Agendas

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon says Robins Air Force Base’s annual economic impact of $2.9 billion could be in jeopardy. Thursday at a 21st Century Partnership Forum at the Museum of Aviation, McMahon called on base and union management to cut down on the number of grievances filed by workers each year. In this fiscal year…

Man Accused of Murdering Hawkinsville Woman in Court Thursday

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The man arrested for the murder of a Hawkinsville will make his first appearance in court Thursday. Macon police arrested 30-year-old Brandon Sherod Davis and charged him felony murder and a superior court probation violation. Davis is accused of killing 26-year-old Chassisty LaShundra Lester. Her body was discovered in Houston County, but officers believe she died…

Weather Suspends Search Efforts for Drowning Victim

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Search efforts are on hold Thursday morning for the man believed to have drowned in the Ocmulgee River Monday. Lt. Sean Defoe with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office tells 41NBC searchers are on standby and waiting to see if the weather clears up. Sgt. Tony Fox with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says his officers…