GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US..
LEAH JOHNSON..
AND I'M FRANK MALLOY.. THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.
SUPERINTENDENT ROMAIN DALLEMAND WILL PRESENT HIS STRATEGIC PLAN TO THE PUBLIC AT THE MACON CENTREPLEX TOMORROW... BUT TONIGHT... MANY PARENTS TOLD HIM WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF IT.
MORE THAN A HUNDRED PARENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FILLED THE BOARD ROOM AND LOBBY OF AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.
CANDACE ADORKA HAS MORE ON WHAT PARENTS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE MACON MIRACLE.
28 PEOPLE STEPPED UP TO THE PODIUM INFRONT OF SUPERINTENDENTDENT ROMAIN DALLEMAND AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
ALL BUT THREE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PLAN.
Brandon Lee "People talkign about miving out of town, moving out of district, everybody wanna pack up and leave because of this plan."
Shawn Johnson "There's somethings in the proposal i agree with, somethigns I don't agree with, and franky there's somethings I just dont understand."
Michael McKeever "The thing that was more appaling to me in the strategic plan was th ecutting of 300 teachers, that will increase the class sizes for students."
Andy Wilson "You can't vote for this plan without specifics, it lacks fifnancial specifics."
THERE WERE COMMON THREADS AMONG PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS... INCLUDING THE PORTFOLIO SCHOOL MODEL... TEACHING EVERY CHILD MANDARIN CHINESE... AND REALIGNING GRADE LEVELS.
Marie Harris "That's too much of an age gap there. They already trying to come into themselves, they already confused and everything and that's just too much pressure on them."
"I have an issue with losing teachers and redistricting schools and the other parents here choose the area we live in because of the safety of the community and thats were I want my kids to go to school."
"I'm all for expanding the foreign language program. I think that's a great idea but many kids don't even have a mastering of the english language so (applause) I just think that's very ambitious."
THERE WERE SOME WHO SUPPORTED THE PLAN AND ARGUED THAT WHEN DALLEMAND WAS HIRED... THE COMMUNITY WANTED CHANGE FOR THE BETTER... AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S GETTING WITH THE MACON MIRACLE.
Arthur Meriweather "I would hope that people who are really reasonable really would consider what he is offering. He's offering Macon a chance to move into the 21st century."
Erica Eaton "A quality education as well as a reduction in taxes. I really appreciate that part of the plan. I appreciate the flexiability of the plan. The benchmarks that you've set"
TODAY DALLEMAND SAID THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VOTE ON THE PLAN HAS BEEN POSTPONED... WE DON'T YET KNOW WHEN THEY WILL VOTE... BUT DALLEMAND SAYS HE WANTED TO GET MOR ECOMMUNITY INPUT ON THE PLAN.
HE SAYS THERE WILL BE PUBLIC FORUMS ON THE ISSUE.
TOMORROW YOU CAN WATCH LIVE COVERAGE OF DALLEMAND PRESENTING HIS STRATEGIC PLAN AT THE MACON COLISEUM.. ON 13 WMAZ DOT COM... AND OUR FORECAST FIRST WEATHER CHANNEL 13 POINT 3.. THAT'S CHANNEL 113 FOR CUSTOMERS OF COX ADVANCED T-V.
FRANK, LEAH..
MORE THAN 200 BIBB COUNTY STUDENTS TOOK THEIR OPPOSITION OF DALLEMAND'S RESTRUCTURING PLAN... STRAIGHT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THIS MORNING.
THEY MARCHED THROUGH DOWNTOWN FROM THE OLD GEORGIA MUSIC HALL OF FAME... TO THE DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS ON MULBERRY STREET.
RISK MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR DAVID GOWEN... CAME DOWN TO MEET THE STUDENTS. DALLEMAND'S OFFICE SAID THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ORGANIZERS BRETT FELTY AND TANNER PRUITT BROUGHT LETTERS FROM THE STUDENTS AND A PETITION.. ALONG WITH WHAT THEY CALLED THEIR MACON MIRACLE REBUTTAL.
ORGANIZERS SAY THEY'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MEET WITH DALLEMAND.
A WARNER ROBINS MAN FACES A POSSIBLE LIFE SENTENCE AFTER HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER.
A HOUSTON COUNTY JURY TODAY CONVICTED MARQUIS LOWE OF MURDER FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING DEJOHN MILTON...LAST MARCH ON TABOR DRIVE.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE HARTWIG SAID THE KILLING WAS A DRUG DEAL THAT TURNED INTO A ROBBERY.
A SECOND SUSPECT IS STILL AWAITING TRIAL.
LOWE FACES SENTENCING TOMORROW MORNING IN HOUSTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.
BERNADETTE GRAHAM OF ATLANTA IS LOOKING TO FIND PEACE TODAY... AFTER HER BROTHER WAS KILLED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IN FEBRUARY OF 2000---NEARLY TWELVE YEARS AGO.
NO WITNESSES HAVE COME FORWARD AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE...
AUTHORITIES ARE LABELING IT AS A COLD CASE.
GRAHAM SAYS SHE CAN'T REST UNTIL HER BROTHER'S KILLER IS FOUND
AUSTIN LEWIS TALKED WITH HER ABOUT HER BROTHER AND HOW SHE'S DEALING WITH NO ANSWERS AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF QUESTIONS.
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WALKING DOWN WASHINGTON AVENUE IN MACON...REMINDS BERNADETTE GRAHAM OF HER BROTHER....LARRY WESLEY
Bernadette Graham, Atlanta: 5:41 1st clip Larry loved to walk, he'll walk before he take a bus, okay, he'd figure hey he can beat the bus there.
AND HE WAS DOING WHAT HE LOVED ON THIS STREET....WHEN HE WAS KILLED---
GRAHAM SAYS HE WAS BEATEN....DRAGGED TO THIS SPOT AND LEFT FOR DEAD. SHE SAID DOCTORS TOLD HER HIS HEAD WAS BASHED WITH A BRICK.
Bernadette Graham, Atlanta: 00:47 3rd clip To take another human being life and beat him with a brick, that's very devastating.
LARRY WESLEY DIED IN AN ATLANTA HOSPITAL A FEW DAYS LATER.
Bernadette Graham, Atlanta:00:16 2nd clip I see my brother beaten all up, blood where his lip was busted and his face all swollen and he's on IV
NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR HIM SAY GOOD-BYE WILL HAUNT HER FOREVER.
Bernadette Graham, Atlanta: 3:49 2nd All the time I was talking to him even though he couldn't hear me thinking there was hope, just to see how his bones were curled up, he stayed in a coma, it was just a hurting thing..
Austin standup: Graham says being on these streets with no answers is incredibly frustrating it's also frustrating for those who are working this very cold case.
Captain Barbee: 00:03 4th clip it's frustrating to know there are people out there who may have information about these cases
GRAHAM PRAYS FOR PEACE...A PEACE THAT WILL ONLY COME FROM FINDING HER BROTHER'S KILLER.
Bernadette Graham, Atlanta: 1:10 3rd clip Whoever you is and if you still out there, and if you have a conscience and you have a heart I beg you, please turn yourself in.
AUSTIN LEWIS 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
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MACON POLICE CAPTAIN JIM BARBEE SAYS NO WITNESSES CAME FORWARD....EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE WERE COMING OUT OF A NEARBY CHURCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE-- YOU CAN CALL MACON CRIMESTOPPERS AT 877-68-CRIME. AGAIN THAT'S 877-68-CRIME.
HOUSTON COUNTY'S CORONER SAYS A CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AT ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE DIED THIS MORNING FROM A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND.
CORONER DANNY GALPIN SAID THE VICTIM WAS A 51-YEAR-OLD FORT VALLEY MAN.
ALTHOUGH THE AUTOPSY HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED YET, GALPIN SAYS HE BELIEVES THE MAN DIED OF SUICIDE.
13WMAZ NORMALLY DOES NOT REPORT SUICIDES, EXCEPT IN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE ARE REPORTING THIS DEATH BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ON THE AIR FORCE BASE, BUT ARE WITHHOLDING THE VICTIM'S NAME.
BASE SPOKESWOMAN CHRISSY MINER SAYS THE MAN WORKED WITH THE 402ND MAINTENANCE WING.
A FAMILIAR FACE IN CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND HERE AT 13WMAZ WILL BE MOVING ON SOON.
MARY THERESE TEBBE...OF WARNER ROBINS 21ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIP... SAYS SHE'S LEAVING THAT JOB NEXT MONTH.
SHE'S BECOMING THE STATE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARD...BASED IN MARIETTA.
AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS....MARY THERESE HELPED SUPPORT THE MISSION OF ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE.
YOU MAY ALSO REMEMBER HER AS A LONGTIME REPORTER AND ANCHOR HERE AT 13WMAZ.
SHE'S LEAVING THE PARTNERSHIP ON MARCH 15TH.
ben gives three day forecast
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I DECLARE! THERE'S SO MUCH ENTERTAINMENT HAPPENIN' THIS WEEKEND YOU'D THINK SOME SORT OF SPECIAL OCCASION WAS COMING UP...LIKE...LIKE VALENTINES DAY. OH YEAH. IT IS. AND I'VE GOT JUST THE SWEET PRESENT FOR YOU! BRING ON THE LOVE!
FRIDAY NIGHT, THE CURTAINS OPEN FOR WARNER ROBINS LITTLE THEATRE'S PRODUCTION OF "ANY BODY HOME?"
YOU SEE - CAUSE THERE'S THIS BODY AND...WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU MORE, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS - THIS SHOW IS HILARIOUS! I MEAN FUNNY, FUNNY STUFF.
GRAB YOUR PARTNER AND SWING 'EM ON AROUND TO CHECK IT OUT THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, EIGHT O'CLOCK. CALL 929-4579 TO MAKE RESERVATIONS.
IN FORT VALLEY, THERE'S A BIT OF A QUESTION 'BOUT - WHO DUN IT!
HIGH TOPS AND BIG HAIR...IT'S THE EIGHTIES! OR RATHER, AN EIGHTIES CLASS REUNION.
INDULGE IN A LOVELY DINNER AND FIND OUT "HOW TO KILL A CLASS REUNION" AT THE AUSTIN THEATRE THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY! GET ONLINE TO G-A-PEACH-FESTIVAL-DOT-COM TO GET TICKETS AFORE THEY ALL GIT GONE!
SATURDAY NIGHT PACKS A MIGHTY PUNCH...OF FUN! HA! ALRIGHT, SO AT SIX O'CLOCK YOU CAN STEP IT UP AT THE CENTREPLEX, WHERE THE GEORGIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME'S "BIG DANCE" IS HAPPENIN'. THE SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS STRIKE UP THE BOOGIE-WOOGIE BAND ALONG WITH THE GRAPEVINE! G-S-H-F-DOT-ORG - GET THERE FOR THE TICKET INFO.
ALSO ON YOUR SATURDAY NIGHT LINE-UP, YOU'VE GOT A DOWNRIGHT HILARIOUS EVENING OF HILARITY AT THE MACON CITY AUDITORIUM. FUNNY FOLKS WILL BE OUT IN FORCE - cough-cough "I'll be the host!" - FOR LIVE AT THE CARDIAC CAFÉ! SHAUN JONES, JULIE SCOGGINS, STEVE MINGOLLA, HOST BEN JONES...WILL ALL BRIGHTEN UP THE STAGE FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION BENEFIT. DOORS OPEN AT SIX-THIRTY...THE SHOW STARTS AT EIGHT AND YOU CAN GET THOSE TICKETS AT HEART-DOT-ORG-SLASH-CARDIAC-CAFÉ.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS NEXT EVENT'S GOT A SILENT AUCTION, LIVE MUSIC, FOOD, FUN, GOOD TIMES...IT'S A NIGHT AT THE FIVE-SIX-SEVEN! THE BOOMERS BAND KICKS OFF THE NIGHT WITH ALL YOUR ROCK 'N' ROLL FAVES AND GRINGO GRANDE WRAPS IT UP WITH SOME MAD TUNEAGE! THE PARTY STARTS 'ROUND ABOUT SEVEN AND IT'S ALL A BENEFIT FOR THE FIVE-SIX-SEVEN CENTER FOR RENEWAL. GOOD STUFF, FOLKS!
WE'RE STILL ON SATURDAY AND VALENTINES DAY IS TUESDAY! I'VE GOT TO GIVE YOU A FEW MORE AMAZING OPTIONS, SO CHECK THIS...
MONDAY, THE AWESOMENESS OF ROCK OF AGES COMES TO THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE! GET TICKETS AT THE-GRAND-MACON-DOT-COM.
TUESDAY, THE DAY OF VALENTINE, EXPERIENCE DEATH BY CHOCOLATE AT THE MACON CITY AUDITORIUM. THE TUBMAN'S ANNUAL EVENT IS ABSOLUTELY DELICOUS! AND PERFECTLY SWEET! TUBMAN-MUSEUM-DOT-COM HAS ALL YOUR EVENT INFO.
AND WRAPPING IT UP, A LITTLE DAY-AFTER THEATRE. WE TAKE IT BACK TO THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE FOR THE CLASSIC TALE - OF MICE AND MEN! AGAIN, GET YOUR TICKETS FOR GRAND OPERA HOUSE EVENTS AT THE-GRAND-MACON-DOT-COM.
GOOD GRIEF! I'M DONE! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY MIDDLE GEORGIA! HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS PRESENT OF SWEET, SWEET ENTERTAINMENT! CAUSE THAT'S A WRAP...
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AND ONE LAST QUICK LOOK AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST WITH CHIEF METEOROLOGIST BEN JONES.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.... FIRST MORNIN COMES YOUR WAY AT 5 A-M.
THE NEWS IS ALWAYS ON AT 13WMAZ DOT COM.
LETTERMAN'S GUESTS TONIGHT INCLUDE NICHOLAS CAGE..
HAVE A SAFE NIGHT EVERYONE.