GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US... I'M AMY AUBERT.
THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.
STRONG STORMS SWEPT ACROSS SEVERAL CENTRAL GEORGIA COUNTIES THIS AFTERNOON.
JOHN BOYER HAS THE LATEST ON YOUR WEATHER.
THANKS FOR THAT LOOK AT THE FORECAST. WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES FOR AN EXTENDED OUTLOOK.
THREE MACON COUNTY FAMILIES ARE SEEKING SHELTER AFTER TODAY'S STORM.
LARA GILL... WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS... SAYS THE FAMILIES ARE STAYING AT A HOTEL AFTER THEIR HOMES WERE SEVERLY DAMAGED.
GILL SAYS THE FOUNDATION ON ONE HOME SHIFTED... ANOTHER HAD MAJOR ROOF DAMAGE... AND SHE DESCRIBES THE THIRD AS A TOTAL LOSS.
SHE SAYS THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS HELPING WITH FOOD AND SHELTER.
GILL SAYS NO ONE WAS INJURED.
MACON COUNTY WAS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH THIS AFTERNOON.
PEOPLE IN METRO ATLANTA STARTED CLEANING UP THIS AFTERNOON ... AFTER SEVERE WEATHER POUNDED THE AREA.
THE STORMS KNOCKED DOWN TREES... CUTTING POWER TO THOUSANDS OF HOMES.
HERE YOU SEE SOME OF THE DAMAGE IN COWETA COUNTY -- WHICH WAS UNDER A TORNADO WARNING AT ONE POINT.
AUTHORITIES SAY 10 HOMES WERE DAMAGED THERE.
ONE RESIDENT EXPLAINED WHAT HE HEARD AND SAW AS THE STORM MOVED IN.
It sound like a bunch of wolves howling. The wind started howling, the trees started moving back and forth and I'll tell you what, I thought all my trees were coming down. So right as the wind kind of stopped I told my wife I know there's a lot of trees come down with this.
THE STORM ALSO UNLEASHED GOLF BALL-SIZED HAIL AND CAUSED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND FLOODING.
THERE'S MORE RAIN FORECASTED FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
SEVERAL OF YOU SNAPPED VIEWER PICTURES AND GOT VIDEO OF TODAY'S SEVERE WEATHER.
HERE'S ONE OF THE HAIL ON THE GROUND IN MONROE COUNTY.
AND THIS ONE WAS SENT IN BY MARILYN PRICE.
IT SHOWS HAIL THAT FELL IN BARNESVILLE.
TO SEE MORE PICTURES AND VIDEO OF TODAY'S SEVERE WEATHER.... HEAD OVER TO OUR HOMPAGE... AT 13 WMAZ DOT COM.
NEWT GINGRCICH IS THE PROJECTED WINNER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY...
THE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER UPSET MITT ROMNEY WHO HAD BEEN LEADING THERE FOR WEEKS.
DANIELLE NOTTINGHAM HAS MORE ON THE RACE FROM COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA.
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PKG
CBS News projects Newt Gingrich is the winner of the South Carolina primary.
SOT - Newt Gingrich 5-14
Let me just say thank you to everyone in south carolina who decided to be with us...and change washington."
The former house speaker mounted a double-digit comeback in recent days to beat Mitt Romney, who came in second. Gingrich tweeted his thanks to his supporters, {GFX} asking them to help him deliver a knock-out punch in Florida, which holds its primary in 10 days.
Romney promised HIS supporters a victory in Florida which has its primary in 10 days.
{SOT - Mitt Romney/R-Presidential Candidate } 41-46
"we're now three contests into a long primary season... This is a hard fight because there's so much worth fighting for."
Gingrich won big with last-minute voters...
GFX 1
More than half of those polled said they made up their minds just over the past few days.... And of those who did, 45 percent voted for Gingrich... Only 24 percent finally decided on Mitt Romney.
{STANDUP BRIDGE: Danielle Nottingham/CBS News/Columbia, SC} 55-106
A Gingrich victory in South Carolina means that none of the candidates has won more than one state. Iowa was awarded to Rick Santorum just this week, and New Hampshire went to Mitt Romney
Ron Paul finished at the back of the pack...
SOT - Ron Paul/R-Presidential Candidate 112-117
"There's no doubt the momentum has been continuing and will continue, thank you very much."
SOT - Rick Santorum/R-Presidential Candidate 118-125
"we will go to Florida.. .And then to Arizona, and Colorado and Maine and everywhere else across this country
Rick Santorum also Both are promising to take their campaigns to delegate-rich Florida, which will host its first debate on Monday night.
>>
FLORIDA WILL HOLD THEIR PRIMARY ON JANUARY 31ST.
SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES BLEW UP TONIGHT WITH CONFLICTING REPORTS OF FORMER PENN STATE COACH JOE PATERNO'S HEALTH CONDITION.
EARLIER TODAY... A FAMILY SPOKESMAN SAID THAT PATERNO IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION AFTER EXPERIENCING HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.
THE 85-YEAR-OLD IS BATTLING LUNG CANCER AND HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION SINCE JANUARY 13TH.
EARLIER TODAY SPOKESMAN DAN MCGINN RELEASED A STATEMENT TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAYING..
"OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS JOE PATERNO HAS EXPERIENCED FURTHER HEALTH COMPLICATIONS. HIS FAMILLY WILL HAVE NO COMMENT ON THE SITUATION AND ASKS THAT THEIR PRIVACY BE RESPECTED DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME."
PATERNO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN NOVEMBER... JUST DAYS AFTER GETTING FIRED AS HEAD COACH IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CHILD SEX ABUSE CHARGES AGAINST HIS FORMER ASSISTANT JERRY SANDUSKY.
LAST WEEKEND... AN INMATE ESCAPED FROM THE DODGE COUNTY JAIL AND WAS RECAPTURED MONDAY.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BLAMES THE ESCAPE ON POOR SECURITY.. AND SAYS THE JAIL'S ONE ENTRANCE MAKES IT EASY TO ESCAPE.
AUSTIN LEWIS TALKED TO SHERIFF JEFF HINSON ABOUT HIS PLANS TO OPEN THE COUNTY'S NEW JAIL... WHICH HAS BEEN SITTING EMPTY FOR SIX MONTHS.
<< THE CURRENT DODGE COUNTY JAIL WAS BUILT IN 1972---AND ACCORDING TO SHERIFF JEFF HINSON---IT SHOWS IT'S AGE---
HE SAYS A NEW JAIL SITS EMPTY JUST TWO MILES AWAY.
Sheriff Jeff Hinson, Dodge County: 5:49 1st clip we're about 4600 hundred square feet there, we're about 60000 square feet here, it's not exactly top of the line, but we're pretty close to top of the line facility
HINSON PROPOSED A PLAN TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO OPEN THE DOORS AT THE NEW JAIL SOON.
HE SAYS TO DO IT... THEY NEED ABOUT 50 GRAND UP FRONT.
THEY'LL NEED ABOUT 17 ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS---BUT HINSON SAYS HE DIDN'T PRESENT THAT COST TO THE COMMISSION---
Sheriff Jeff Hinson, Dodge County: 1:41 1st clip As far as the salaries and everything, we didn't figure because we didn't have the unemployment insurance, retirement.
HINSON SAYS THEIR CURRENT JAIL BUDGET IS JUST OVER 560-THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR---
BUT HE MARKS THE TOTAL YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE NEW FACILITY AT JUST UNDER 1 POINT 5 MILLION.
HE HOPES TO BRING IN OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS... BY RENTING BEDS TO OTHER COUNTIES AT 35 BUCKS A DAY.
HE SAYS---THAT WILL OFFSET COSTS FOR THE ADDITIONAL STAFF.
Sheriff Jeff Hinson, Dodge County: 3:05 1st clip At this point, I have a verbal agreement, we don't have it in writing yet, we have a verbal agreement with two other sheriff's to actually house their inmates.
AND THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS CONSIDERING THE PLAN---AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT WILL FIT IN THEIR BALANCED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
Dan McCranie, Commissioner: 1:05 it looks good, and like I said there probably will be a few questions, we just want to make sure that our balanced budget , like I was telling you being passed in December, that everything fits
AUSTIN LEWIS 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.>>
THE CURRENT DODGE COUNTY JAIL CAN HOLD 70 INMATES AND THE NEW JAIL WOULD HAVE A CAPACITY OF 168.
NO OPENING DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE NEW DODGE COUNTY JAIL.
THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING IS FEBRUARY 6TH.
COLISEUM HEART INSTITUTE HELD A FREE SEMINAR ON HEART DISEASE IN FORT VALLEY THIS MORNING.
CARDIOLOGIST.... DOCTOR OBI (E-MARE-O-LAY) EMEROLE WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER.
HE SAYS HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING KILLER OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES ESPECIALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN.
HE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER THE WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE ACTION.
WOMEN ASKED QUESTIONS AND RECEIVED HANDOUTS THAT WILL HELP THEM TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND SPREAD THE WORD.
Monica Smith, Macon "I learned more about things that I can share with family and friends to help prevent this disease that is the number one killer of American woman"
DOCTORS SHARED KEY RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE... THE ROLE OF HORMONAL CHANGES... AND HOW TO TAKE THE STEPS TO TREAT AND PREVENT HEART DISEASE.
THE SEMINAR COMES ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE THE NATIONAL HEART DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH BEGINS IN FEBRUARY.
CHURCHES AROUND MACON AND SOME IN WARNER ROBINS CAME TOGETHER TO SHOW THEIR LOVE FOR GOD THROUGH FLOWERS.
SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH ON POPLAR STREET IN MACON HELD THEIR FIRST ANNUAL OLD CITY FLOWER FESTIVAL.
THE PUBLIC GOT A CHANCE TO VIEW DIFFERENT FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS DONE BY 14 LOCAL CHURCHES FROM THE MACON AREA AND WARNER ROBINS.
GUESTS SAY THE FLOWER SHOW IS A GREAT WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.. AND PAY TRIBUTE TO GOD THROUGH FLOWERS.
Brevard Hunt, Warner Robins "Its overwhelming really to see all this beautiful color and the textures with the beauty of the whole sanctuary"
Joy Morgan, Warner Robins "Bringing nature into the church and the beauty of nature coming into the beauty of the architecture of the church, the combination is just beautiful"
THE FLOWER SHOW ALSO FALLS DURING THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY THAT BEGAN ON JANUARY 19TH AND WILL RUN UNTIL JANUARY 25TH.
A VIEWER SUBMITTED A PHOTO OF SOME FLOODING AT HOUSTON LAKE ROAD... BEHIND SAINT PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH.
AND THIS PHOTO SHOWS STORM CLOUDS IN HARRISON GEORGIA.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT MORE VIEWER PICS ON HOMPAGE AT 13 WMAZ DOT COM.
THIS SUNDAY YOU CAN WATCH A CENTRAL GEORGIAN WORK ALONGSIDE AN UNDERCOVER BOSS.
DINA DWYER-OWENS... CHAIRMAN AND C-E-O OF THE DWYER GROUP... THE PARENT COMPANY FOR MR. ROOTER AND OTHER NATIONAL REPAIR BRANDS.... EMBARKS ON A GRUELING UNDERCOVER EXPERIENCE.
preview of show
YOU CAN WATCH THIS WEEK'S UNDERCOVER BOSS SUNDAY NIGHT AT 8 P.M. RIGHT HERE ON 13WMAZ.
IT WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE TO OWN A PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
TWO GUNS BELIEVED TO BE USED BY AMERICA'S MOST INFAMOUS OUTLAW COUPLE WENT UP FOR AUCTION IN KANSAS CITY TODAY.
DOZENS TURNED OUT TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE GUNS MANY HISTORIANS BELIEVE WERE USED BY BONNIE AND CLYDE.
ROBERT MAYO LED THE AUCTION... CAPPING A NEARLY TWO YEAR LONG PROCESS.
MAYO SAYS THE GUNS WERE SEIZED BACK IN 1933... WHEN POLICE RAIDED THE DUO'S APARTMENT IN JOPLIN, MISSOURI.
THE GUNS ALONE ARE TEEMING WITH HISTORY... BUT WHEN YOU ADD BONNIE AND CLYDE... YOU'VE GOT A COLLECTOR'S DREAM.
SOT ROBERT MAYO/Mayo Auction & Realty
"Just trying to keep the emotion in check. It's an emotional event, lots of energy in the room, just trying to have fun."
THE TWO GUNS CONNECTED TO THE INFAMOUS BONNIE AND CLYDE SOLD FOR A COMBINED 210 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SOME WOULD SAY IT WAS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR A PIECE OF HISTORY.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THE NEWS CONTINUES ALL DAY EVERY DAY... ON 13WMAZ DOT COM.
JOIN US AT SEVEN A-M FOR WEEKEND MORNIN.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYONE.