((>>>6pm eyewitness news open<<<))
So off you go Whitney. Off you go. (pauses) Escorted by an army of angels, to your heavenly father, when you sing before him don't you worry, you'll be good enough (applause)
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS PAID THEIR RESPECTS TO WHITNEY HOUSTON.
THE ICONIC SINGER WAS HONORED IN A PRIVATE FUNERAL TODAY... IN THE CHURCH SHE GREW UP IN.
GOOD EVENING ... AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M AMY AUBERT.
THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX.
WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE FUNERAL OF WHITNEY HOUSTON IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS... BUT FIRST... STRONG STORMS COULD BE HEADED TOWARD CENTRAL GEORGIA... METEROLOGIST JOHN BOYER IS IN THE EYEWITNESS WEATHER CENTER WITH THE LATEST.
TONIGHT... OVERCAST WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS, PRIMARILY IN SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE AREA. LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S
SUNDAY... RAIN OR STORMS LIKELY IN THE MORNING, THEN PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG OR SEVERE. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S (NORTH) TO UPPER 60S (SOUTH).
SUNDAY NIGHT... PARTLY CLOUDY WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER-TO-MID 30S.
THANKS ... WE'LL CHECK BACK WITH YOU LATER FOR AN EXTENDED LOOK AT THAT FORECAST.
**TURN**
ONE LOCAL RESTAURANT IN MACON PAID THEIR RESPECTS TO THE POP ICON... BY HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF HER TOP HITS.
Nats of DJ "I'm going to dedicate this song in rememberance to Ms. Whitney Houston"
LOCAL D-J MARVIN JOHNSON PLAYED SOME OF HOUSTON'S GREATEST HITS OUTSIDE OF THE FRANCARS ON LINDEN AVENUE.
OWNER OF THE RESTAURANT... CARL FAMBRO... SAYS HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE WHITNEY HOUSTON FAN AND WANTED TO HONOR THE LATE SINGER'S LIFE.
HOUSTON WAS THE GOLDEN GIRL OF MUSIC AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST SELLING ARTISTS.
SHE WON MULTIPLE GRAMMYS INCLUDING ALBUM AND RECORD OF THE YEAR.
SOME OF FRANCAR'S CUSTOMERS SAY THIS WAS A GREAT WAY TO HELP REMEMBER AND PAY TRIBUTE.
Maya Robinson, Macon"I think it's a very good thing that he is doing it. I feel like Whitney houston was a great icon, not only in America but internationally so for him to do this here on campus, I think is a great idea"
Allyson Horne, Macon "I think it might take the sting out a little bit because people still think about her they just haven't forgot about her"
AND MANY OF YOU WERE CHATTING ABOUT THE SUPERSTAR'S DEATH AND TODAY'S FUNERAL... ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
MATT KU-TAY SAYS... I MAY NOT WATCH IT... BUT I WILL CATCH THE HIGHLITES OF IT LATER. SO SAD TO SEE HER GO!
LISA TARPLEY NOBLES SAYS... A LOVING AND TOUCHING SERVICE... SHE WAS LOVED BY SO MANY PEOPLE.
AND RAVEN BRYANT WROTE... WHITNEY... I LOVE YOU GIRL AND MAY GOD REST YOUR SOUL... REST IN PEACE.
YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THE CONVERSATION... FIND 13WMAZ ON FACEBOOK... AND CLICK THE LIKE BUTTON.
**TURN**
EYEWITNESS NEWS CONTINUES AFTER THE BREAK... STAY WITH US.
CREWS ARE GEARING UP TO SET THE STAGE... WITH SOME BRIGHT LIGHTS... AND BIG STARS.... AT MACON'S LUTHER WILLIAMS FIELD.
IT'S ALL FOR A SCENE IN AN UPCOMING MOVIE... TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE... STARRING CLINT EASTWOOD.
COME MARCH 8TH... THE MOVIESTAR WILL LIGHT UP CENTRAL GEORGIA... FOR A SCENE IN THE MOVIE.
AND TODAY... MORE THAN 100 FOLKS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE... HOPING TO PITCH A PERFECT AUDITION... TO PLAY A ROLE.
AUSTIN LEWIS TELLS YOU WHY SOME CAME OUT WITH BASEBALL GLOVES IN HAND.... READY TO PLAY A PART... ON CLINT EASTWOOD'S TEAM.
<< HUNDREDS CAME OUT LACED UP AND READY TO GO... HOPING TO MAKE THE TEAM... ALONGSIDE A HOLLYWOOD STAR.
Hayden Hinton, Warner Robins: 00:43 I love Clint Eastwood, just to meet him would make my day.
THEY CAME OUT TO LUTHER WILLIAMS FIELD... WITH GLOVES AND BATS IN TOW....PITCHING THEIR BEST ACT... WITH HOPES TO BECOME A BALLPLAYER, COACH, OR UMPIRE...IN A NEW MOVIE STARRING CLINT EASTWOOD.
Randy Davidson, Macon: 00:25 This is kinda like one of those things on your bucket list, to be in a movie that would be great, especially Clint Eastwood's movie.
PRODUCERS OF THE FLICK... CALLED TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE... SAY WITH ONLY 20 SPOTS OPEN... MANY FOLKS STRUCK OUT.
Luke Williams, Macon: You walked out you throw one or two balls and he'd be like alright, we'll see you next time. see you later.
Mathew Davis, Fort Valley: 01:48 I got the chance to show my stuff, but I did get cut, but I gave it my best shot.
BUT A LUCKY FEW.... KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.
JASON YERBOROUGH MADE IT TO THE TOP EIGHT FOR PITCHERS....
HE SAYS FOUR PITCHERS WILL BE IN THE FILM....
Jason Yerborough, Bonaire: 02:04 Baseball was my life for a lot of years so to be able to be in one would be a good deal.
ADAM GRAHAM WAS ALSO SAFE.
HE SAYS HE'S READY TO BE ON THE MOUND....BUT NOT FOR DIRTY HARRY.
Adam Graham, Cartersville: That's more nerve-wrecking. I watch Clint Eastwood movies as a kid with my grandpa so meeting Clint Eastwood would be more nervous than playing baseball
NOW THEY HAVE A GOOD SHOT HITTING IT OUT OF THE PARK... AT THE MACON LANDMARK...
THE NEXT STEP?... WHAT TO SAY TO THE FILM STAR.
Adam Graham, Cartersville: Hi I'm Adam Graham. I like your movies, hopefully I won't stutter through blah, blah
Jason Yerborough, Bonaire: Who knows? Let's go Clint
AUSTIN LEWIS 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS. >>
JASON YERBOROUGH SAYS PRODUCERS WILL NARROW IT DOWN TO FOUR PITCHERS...WHO WILL BE IN THE MOVIE.
HE SAYS PRODUCERS TOLD HIM THAT THEY WILL CONTACT HIM SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.
EASTWOOD IS EXPECTED TO BE SHOOT A SCENE AT LUTHER WILLIAMS FIELD ON MARCH 8TH.
WE'LL HAVE YOUR FULL FORECAST... AFTER THE BREAK... STAY WITH US.
LET'S HAVE ONE LAST LOOK AT WEATHER WITH METEOROLOGIST JOHN BOYER.
TONIGHT... OVERCAST WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS, PRIMARILY IN SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE AREA. LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S
SUNDAY... RAIN OR STORMS LIKELY IN THE MORNING, THEN PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG OR SEVERE. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S (NORTH) TO UPPER 60S (SOUTH).
SUNDAY NIGHT... PARTLY CLOUDY WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER-TO-MID 30S.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE FOR EYEWITNESS NEWS AT ELEVEN.
FOR ALL YOUR NEWS... WEATHER... AND SPORTS 24-7... VISIT 13WMAZ DOT COM.
WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.