GOOD EVENING ... AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M AMY AUBERT.
THIS IS A LATE EDITION OF EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX.
A ROBERTA MAN IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION... AFTER A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
A NEWS RELEASE SAYS A CHEVROLET TRUCK REAR ENDED 34-YEAR-OLD DERRICK SMITH'S CAR...PUSHING IT OFF THE ROAD... AND INTO A DITCH.
IT SAYS THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK... FLED THE SCENE.
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ARRESTED 69-YEAR-OLD BOBBY LEE LEWIS... ON CHARGES OF DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND SERIOUS INJURY BY A VEHICLE.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS STILL INVESTIGATING.
A MAN IN WARNER ROBINS WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD EARLY THIS MORNING.
POLICE SPOKESWOMAN TABITHA PUGH SAYS THE MAN WAS SHOT NEAR
THE AMERICAN LEGION.. AT 15-23 MOODY ROAD.
AMERICAN LEGION PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER... AL FELTON... SAYS THE MAN WAS SHOT UP THE STREET AND RAN TO THE POST FOR HELP.
PUGH SAYS HE WAS RUSHED TO MEDICAL CENTER.. WHERE HE IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION.
ANYONE ONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS CASE IS ASKED TO CALL WARNER ROBINS POLICE AT 478-929-1170 OR USE THE DEPARTMENTS TIP SUBMIT SOFTWARE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW THAT WORKS... LOOK FOR THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE... 13 WMAZ DOT COM.
A GEORGIA MAN SHOT AND KILLED HIS WIFE AND HER MOTHER INSIDE OF A HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM.
FORT OGLETHRORPE POLICE SAY 59-YEAR OLD JAMES BENSON TURNED HIMSELF IN SHORTLY AFTER THE SHOOTING ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
IT HAPPENED AT THE HUTCHENSON MEDICAL CENTER... NEAR THE GEORGIA TENNESSEE STATE LINE.
POLICE IDENTIFIED THE VICTIMS EARLIER TODAY AS... 56-YEAR-OLD MARY BENSON... AND HER MOTHER 76-YEAR-OLD CHARLOTTE JOHNSON.
POLICE SAY BENSON AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN ARGUING FOR A WEEK.
THEY SAY HE HAD BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL DURING AN EARLIER VISIT.
GEORGIA VOTERS WILL GET TO DECIDE LATER THIS YEAR ON WHAT'S CALLED A T-SPLOST---THAT'S A REGIONAL SALES TAX THAT WOULD PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
AUSTIN LEWIS TALKED TO ONE STATE LEGISLATOR ABOUT THE T-SPLOST AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR YOU.
<<State Rep. James "Bubber" Epps: (3:00 2nd clip) The problem has been funding availability to carry forth these projects, this will resolve that.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMES BUBBER EPPS IS TALKING ABOUT THE T-SPLOST---
IT'S A ONE PERCENT SALES TAX---BASICALLY ONE CENT ON MOST EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND---
ALL FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
State Rep. James "Bubber" Epps: (2:26 2nd clip) so for one time, we are targeting transportation in the overall perspective and I think that's critical for not only metro areas but rural areas as well.
BUT THIS SPLOST ISN'T A STATE-WIDE MEASURE---EACH REGION WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO APPROVE THEIR OWN.
THE MIDDLE GEORGIA REGION CONSISTS OF 11 COUNTIES---INCLUDING BIBB AND HOUSTON
THE STATE ESTIMATES---THAT A MIDDLE GEORGIA REGION T-SPLOST COULD BRING IN 78 MILLION DOLLARS OVER TEN YEARS.
THE 11 COUNTIES WILL SPLIT THE MONEY BASED ON POPULATION AND PUBLIC ROAD MILES.
State Rep. James "Bubber" Epps: (4:55 2nd clip) Macon gets in the multimillion dollars in Bibb County. The counties that surround us based on population you look at a million, anywhere from three quarters to a million dollars a year.
AND EPPS SAYS THAT WILL MEAN ALOT FOR A COUNTY LIKE TWIGGS.
State Rep. James "Bubber" Epps: (3:54 2nd clip) The present tax rate structure maybe generates 400,000 dollars per year, under this regional splost we would be looking at doubling that
ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF THAT MONEY GOES TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND IT'S PROJECTS---AND THE REST STAYS LOCAL. IN TWIGGS...EPPS HOPES THE T-SPLOST WILL HELP EXPAND HIGHWAY 96 TO FOUR LANES WITH A MEDIAN.
State Rep. James "Bubber" Epps: (3:04 3rd clip) 96 is the big project, the enhancement of the intersection of I-16 and 96 is equally big project that's going to really be the shot in the arm not only for Twiggs County, but for Middle Georgia.
HE SAYS REJECTING THE T-SPLOST WOULD HURT THE REGION.
State Rep. James "Bubber" Epps: (5:56 3rd clip) you're not saying it's going to be a complete halt to the Middle Georgia region but it's going to be a tremendous slow down.
EPPS UNDERSTANDS VOTER MAY BE HESITANT ABOUT A TAX INCREASE---BUT HE SAYS GEORGIA ROADWAYS NEED THE HELP.
. AUSTIN LEWIS 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
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THE OTHER 9 COUNTIES THAT WILL VOTE ON A MIDDLE GEORGIA SPLOST ARE BALDWIN... CRAWFORD... JONES... MONROE...PEACH... PULASKI... PUTNAM... TWIGGS AND WILKINSON.
VOTERS WILL GET TO DECIDE IN THE 2012 GENERAL PRIMARY---IN JULY.
IF YOU'RE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-75 IN BIBB COUNTY... YOU MAY RUN INTO SOME DELAYS.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS CREWS WILL CLOSE A NORTHBOUND LANE OF THE INTERSTATE NEAR PIERCE AVENUE... AND THE NORTHBOUND PIERCE AVENUE EXIT RAMP.
THEY SAY IT LASTS THROUGH 8 O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
THE D-O-T SAYS DRIVERS WHO NEED TO GET TO THE PIERCE AVENUE AREA... WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE EXIT AT RIVERSIDE DRIVE AND ARKWRIGHT ROAD.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY IS THREE DAYS AWAY AND MITT ROMNEY IS HOLDING ONTO A DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD.
HIS RIVALS WILL ATTEMPT TO CHIP AWAY AT THE FRONTRUNNER DURING BACK-TO-BACK DEBATES.
DANIELLE NOTTINGHAM HAS THE LATEST FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
<< PKG Runs 1:34
PKG:
(NAT Romney) "THANK YOU!"
Mitt Romney is campaigning in New Hampshire with a significant lead.
(SOT Mitt Romney/(R) Presidential Candidate) (:04-:14)
"FRESH FROM THAT LANDSLIDE IN IOWA, MAYBE CAN WE DOUBLE THAT NUMBER? YOU KNOW INSTEAD OF AN 8 POINT MARGIN MAYBE 16? I SURE HOPE SO I WANNA WIN."
Romney's 20 points ahead of his rivals in the latest polls.. making him the biggest target at tonight's debate.
(NATS) SANTORUM EVENT
Rick Santorum is already taking aim at the former Massachusetts governor's experience.
(Rick Santorum/(R) Presidential Candidate) (:27-:31)
"WE DON'T NEED A MANAGER. AMERICANS DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO MANAGE WASHINGTON, THEY WANT SOMEONE TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE WASHINGTON."
Santorum will also be center stage tonight - and a target - thanks to his strong finish in Iowa.
(STANDUP Danielle Nottingham/Manchester, NH) (:39-:45)
The candidates haven't had a debate in more than three weeks. Now they have 2 back-to-back meetings in just 12 hours.
(NAT)
Newt Gingrich has delivered strong performances.. and is looking to use the platform to reverse his plummeting poll numbers.
(NATS) "GOOD TO MEET YOU"
Ron Paul is running second in New Hampshire.. and has been aggressively going after his rivals to close the gap.
New Hampshire voters have a reputation for being fickle.. and many of the undecided.. including the Ruszenas of Bedford.. will be listening closely tonight.
(Art Ruszenas, Bedford, NH) (1:12-:1:17)
SOT WE'LL WATCH HOW SEE SANTORUM DOES VERSUS ROMNEY BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE ON HIS BACK...
Jon Huntsman is also looking for attention tonight. He's the candidate that's spent the most time here and needs to finish in the top tier Tuesday to keep his campaign alive.
>>
RICK PERRY ISN'T ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE... BUT HE WILL BE ON THE STAGE FOR BOTH DEBATES. HE'S HOPING VOTERS IN THE NEXT PRIMARY STATE - SOUTH CAROLINA.. WILL BE TUNING IN.
PEOPLE FLOCKED TO CENTRAL CITY PARK TO GET RID OF THEIR OLD CHRISTMAS TREES... AND HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT WAS ALL PART OF KEEP MACON-BIBB BEAUTIFUL'S BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER EVENT.
VIDEO JOURNLIST ALLEN LINCOLN SHOWS YOU WHY SOME SAY ITS IMPORTANT TO RECYCLE.
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NATS: Tree being put in to the chipper
6sec-12secTheresa Robinson Chair of Bring one for the Chipper "this is something that we have been doing for more than 20 years, and what we ask is that residents bring their live undecorated Christmas trees to have them chipped into mulch which can be used on playgrounds:
NATS:tree being dragged on to the ground
Tim Burgamy Macon "we have been bringing out tree here ever since the chipper has been here"
NATS:tree being dragged
NATS:tree being put in to the chipper
34sec-42sec Tim Burgamy Macon"we have been interested in recycling, in fact I have got a car load of card board right now we are going to recycle some where else so this is just one more thing to do to help the environment"
NATS: boy scott" think you for recycling and helping the environment"
Theresa Robinson Chair of Bring one for the Chipper "we have the boyscotts we have the 4H'ers here today we also have city and county workers here we have georgia power and it is just something that we do every year that brings all these organizations together to help beautify the community"
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ORGANIZERS SAY THEY HAD OVER 2 THOUSAND TREES COME IN.
THOSE WHO RECYCLED TOOK HOME A SEEDLING AND SOME MULCH.
WARNER ROBINS HELD A SIMILIAR EVENT TODAY. \
ROBOTICS TEAMS FROM ALL ACROSS GEORGIA PUT THEIR SKILLS TO THE TEST TODAY... AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION IN WARNER ROBINS.
THE STUDENTS... AGES 9 TO 14... COMPETED IN A LEGO ROBOTICS COMPETITION.
IT WAS HOSTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM CALLED THE FIRST LEGO LEAGUE.
THIS YEAR'S THEME... FOOD FACTOR.
STUDENTS FOCUSED ON TEAM BUILDING... CREATIVITY... AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS BY USING LEGO MINDSTORM KITS.
TEAMS HAD 8 WEEKS TO FINISH THE PROJECT.
Wesley fondal, director of star base robins. "it's good to see students spending their whole day and a lot of times much more than just this day to meet these challenges, to have fun, and also to learn."
WINNERS WILL ADVANCE TO THE STATE COMPETITION... WHICH WILL BE HELD AT GEORGIA TECH LATER THIS MONTH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE FOR EYEWITNESS NEWS AT ELEVEN.
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WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.