<<opening for eyewitness news at eleven>>
GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US..
I'M FRANK MALLOY..
AND I'M LEAH JOHNSON..THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.
BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT... SUPERINTENDENT ROMAIN DALLEMAND HAS AMMENDED HIS STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BIBB COUNTY SCHOOLS.
THE MACON MIRACLE INCLUDED REGROUPING GRADE LEVELS.
BUT AS CANDACE ADORKA REPORTS... THAT COULD ALL CHANGE.
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THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROPOSES ENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THIRD GRADE... MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD HOUSE 4TH TO SEVENTH GRADERS... AND HIGH SCHOOL WOULD START IN 8TH GRADE.
BUT IN A STATEMENT TONIGHT... DALLEMAND SAYS THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN
HE SAID... "I have decided to provide the School Board with a second option which will maintain the current grade level configuration (i.e., K-5, 6-8, and 9-12)"
HE SAYS HE MADE THE DECISION AFTER HEARING FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS WHO FELT CHANGING GRADE CONFIGURATION WOULD MAKE THEIR CHILDREN LESS SAFE.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER LYNN FARMER SAID SHE'S GLAD THE SUPERINTENDENT IS LISTENING.
"I think its an important step in gaining some confidence from the community in the plan. I always think its a good idea when we listen to the community and make changes based on that feedback. I do believe that overwhelmingly we re hearing that parents and other stake holders are concenred about discipline in the schools and we have a current policy that is not being followed and I think we are hearing form this community that they want discipline improved before they move furthur with this plan."
DALLEMAND SAYS THERE ARE PARTS OF THE PLAN AIMED AT IMPROVING DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY.
HE SAYS HE WANTS THOSE IMPLELEMENTED BEFORE PUTTING TOGETHER A TASK FORCE IN 2014 TO REVISIT THE ISSUE.
DALLEMAND SAID THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE SAVED MORE THAN 23-MILLION-DOLLARS FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN... BUT WITH THE AMMENDMENT... THERE WOULD BE NO SAVINGS.
HE ALSO CHANGED THE PART OF THE PLAN THAT WOULD'VE EXTENDED THE SCHOOL WEEK FOR ALL STUDENTS.
THE LONGER DAYS WOULD NO LONGER BE MANDATORY... BUT HE WOULD CONTINUE TO PUSH AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
FRANK? LEAH?
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THE BIBB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SCHEDULED A FORUM TOMORROW FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE MACON MIRACLE STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE DISTRICT SAYS THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT ROMAIN DALLEMAND WILL BE PRESENT AT THE FORUM.
THAT MEETING TAKES PLACE AT 6 P.M. AT SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL ON WILLIAMSON ROAD.
ANYONE CAN COMMENT, BUT THE DISTRICT SAYS YOU MUST FILL OUT A FORM BEFORE THE MEETING TO SPEAK.
WE PLAN TO CARRY THE FORUM LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE.. 13WMAZ DOT COM.. TOMORROW NIGHT BEGINNING AT 6.
U.S. SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON SAYS THE NATION'S OVERALL SHRINKING MILITARY FORCE SHOULD BENEFIT ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE AND MAKE IT STRONGER.
ISAKSON.. A COBB COUNTY REPUBLICAN.. MADE THE REMARKS AT A MEETING OF DOWNTOWN ROTARY CLUB IN MACON.. WHERE HE SERVED AS GUEST SPEAKER.
HE ALSO DISCUSSED REDUCING FEDERAL SPENDING.. OVERHAULING ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND LOWERING TAX RATES.
BUT ISAKSON SAYS ROBINS IS IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE FUTURE.
Johnny Isakson, U.S. Senator: When people ask me about Robins, I say we've got a great leader. We have a great mission. They're providing a great return. They're having zero faults, and I think Robins Air Force Base is going to have a long, healthy and prosperous residence in Middle Georgia and it's an important asset in this entire region.
ISAKSON SAYS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF WEAPONS SYSTEMS AND MAKING AIRCRAFT FLY LONGER MEANS LOGISTIC CENTERS THAT REPAIR AND MAINTAIN THEM WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
THE LA'BERRY FROZEN YOGURT CAFE COMPANY SAYS CREDIT CARDS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED FOR SOME CUSTOMERS AT ITS WARNER ROBINS STORE.
nats :01
PRESIDENT JACK LARGENT TOLD 13WMAZ THAT AT LEAST THREE CUSTOMERS REPORTED UNAUTHORIZED PURCHASES ON THEIR CARDS AFTER THEY USED THOSE CARDS AT THE WARNER ROBINS STORE.
HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY OR HOW IT HAPPENED.
BUT HE SAYS THEY'RE TAKING "EXTRA" MEASURES TO PREVENT MORE THEFTS.
HE SAID THE BREACH APPARENTLY DID NOT AFFECT THEIR STORE IN NORTH MACON.
MACON MAYOR ROBERT REICHERT'S MOTHER DIED THIS MORNING... SIX DAYS AFTER HER HUSBAND OF 75 YEARS... ALBERT P. REICHERT SENIOR.
BIBB COUNTY CORONER LEON JONES SAYS ELIZABETH WALTON BOWEN REICHERT DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES.
HART'S MORTUARY OF MACON SAYS HER FUNERAL WILL BE HELD FRIDAY AT 11 A-M... AT VINEVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
ALBERT REICHERT SENIOR... HER HUSBAND AND THE MAYOR'S FATHER... DIED LAST THURSDAY AND WAS BURIED YESTERDAY.
HE WAS A PROMINENT MACON ATTORNEY.
THE GEORIGA HOUSE PASSED A BILL SPONSORED BY MILLEDGEVILLE REPRESENTATIVE RUSTY KIDD.
IT WOULD ALLOW DISTILLERIES IN THE STATE TO POUR SAMPLES OF THEIR DRINKS TO VISITORS.
THE BILL WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE STATE TO ISSUE PERMITS TO DISTILLERIES FOR FREE TASTINGS... AND LIMIT SAMPLES TO HALF AN OUNCE PER VISITOR DAILY.
ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS...... KIDD HELD UP A BOTTLE OF CLEAR LIQUID DURING THE DEBATE OF THE BILL AND OFFERED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE A SAMPLE OF LEGAL MOONSHINE MADE IN GEORGIA.
KIDD LATER SAID THE BOTTLE HAD WATER IN IT.
THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE GEORIGA SENATE FOR A VOTE.
ben gives three day forecast
THANKS BEN.. WE'LL TALK WITH YOU AGAIN IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
ASH WEDNESDAY IS NEARLY OVER... AND FOLKS ALL OVER CENTRAL GEORGIA PARTICIPATED...
WE'LL TAKE YOU INSIDE ONE LOCAL CHURCH TO FIND OUT WHAT THE LENTON SEASON MEANS TO THEM
TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY....THE FIRST DAY OF THE LENTEN SEASON
WE WENT TO ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH IN MACON TO CHECK OUT THEIR SERVICE.
MANY CATHOLICS AND SOME PROTESTANTS USE THIS AS A CHANCE TO GIVE UP THEIR BAD HABITS ...OR ADD SOMETHING TO THEIR LIFE TO GROW SPIRITUALLY.
DURING ASH WEDNESDAY... FATHER DAWID ((DAV-EED)) KWIATKOWSKI MARKS FOLKS FOREHEADS WITH ASHES.
AT THIS SERVICE THE PRIEST SAYS REMEMBER YOU ARE DUST AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN.
PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE SERVICE SAY IT HAS A MUCH DEEPER MEANING.
John Wagner II, Macon03:40 It's a realization that it's my spirit that will go on and my body that will stay that's just a vessel, it's a much deeper meaning.
Father Allan J. McDonald, St. Joseph Catholic Church I am really praying for that person that whatever struggles that they have, whatever temptations that they are facing whatever good they want to invite into their lives, that by God's grace that they will experience what they are asking for.
LENT ENDS ON EASTER SUNDAY...WHICH IS APRIL 8TH.
FOR GREEK ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS AND SOME OTHER CHURCHES... IT FALLS ON APRIL 15TH.
TODAY'S 13WMAZ DOT COM WEB POLL ASKS... DO YOU OBSERVE LENT?
SO FAR 19 PERCENT OF YOU SAY YOU DO...
AND 81 PERCENT SAY NO... YOU DON'T.
TO VOTE NOW... VISIT 13WMAZ DOT COM AND LOOK FOR THE QUESTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOMEPAGE.
THE MULBERRY STREET ART FESTIVAL WILL STILL HAPPEN THIS SPRING... BUT IT WON'T BE AN OFFICIAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL EVENT.
CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL CEO KAREN LAMBERT SAYS THE MIDDLE GEORGIA ART ASSOCIATION.. WHICH PUTS ON THE ANNUAL ART FESTIVAL.. HAS DECIDED NOT TO BE A SANCTIONED EVENT THIS YEAR.
SHE SAYS SANCTIONED EVENTS ARE FEATURED ON THE OFFICIAL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE.. AND REQUIRE A $250 FEE AND 10% OF THE EVENT'S GROSS INCOME.
LAMBERT DID NOT HAVE NUMBERS AVAILABLE FOR WHAT THAT INCOME WAS LAST YEAR.
THE TWO-DAY ART FESTIVAL WILL STILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 24 AND 25, WHICH IS THE SECOND WEEKEND OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL.
STUDENTS AT MERCER LAW SCHOOL CELEBRATED BLACK HISTORY MONTH TODAY BY HOLDING A FORUM ON ON THE STATE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMERICA.
THE BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION HOSTED THE DISCUSSION... WITH A GROUP OF LAWYERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THEY INCLUDED ISAIAH HUGLEY THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CITY MANAGER OF COLUMBUS GEORGIA.. AND JERRY BOYKIN.. WHO WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GRADUATE OF MERCER LAW SCHOOL.
THEY EACH GAVE THEIR PROSPECTIVE ON SOME OF THE TOP ISSUES OF SOCIAL INJUSTICES IN AMERICA.
ORGANIZER ASHLEY PRUITT SAYS TOPICS INCLUDE EDUCATION AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Pruitt: "One of the main focuses of the blsa chapter here in MAcon and just nationally is diversity and we just wanted to have something that would provoke intellectual thought and and you know just observed differnt area's of diversity in the community."
BOYKIN ALSO RECEIVED A MEDAL AND AWARD.. HONORING HIM AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GRADUATE AT THE SCHOOL.
RECAPPING TONIGHTS TOP STORY... BIBB COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ROMAIN DALLEMAND HAS AMMENDED HIS STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BIBB SCHOOLS.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROPOSES ENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THIRD GRADE... MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD HOUSE 4TH TO SEVENTH GRADERS... AND HIGH SCHOOL WOULD START IN 8TH GRADE.
BUT IN A STATEMENT TONIGHT... DALLEMAND SAYS THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.
HE SAID... "I HAVE DECIDED TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH A SECOND OPTION WHICH WILL MAINTAIN THE CURRENT GRADE LEVEL CONFIGURATION.
FOR MORE ON THIS.... LOOK FOR THIS STORY ON OUR HOMEPAGE... AT 13 WMAZ DOT COM.
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 NEXT.
HAVE A SAFE NIGHT EVERYONE.